EXHIBIT A
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
Dated as of March 13, 2008
among
PALISADES SAFETY AND INSURANCE ASSOCIATION
APOLLO HOLDINGS, INC.
and
NATIONAL ATLANTIC HOLDINGS CORPORATION
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I THE MERGER..................................................A-1
1.1. The Merger..................................................A-1
1.2. Effective Time of the Merger................................A-1
1.3. Closing.....................................................A-1
1.4. Effects of the Merger.......................................A-2
1.5. Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of Surviving
Corporation.................................................A-2
1.6. Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation.........A-2
1.7. Subsequent Actions..........................................A-2
ARTICLE II TREATMENT OF SHARES.........................................A-2
2.1. Conversion of Securities....................................A-2
2.2. Surrender of Capital Stock; Stock Transfer Books............A-3
2.3. Company Stock Awards........................................A-5
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY...............A-6
3.1. Organization, Standing and Corporate Power..................A-6
3.2. Capital Structure...........................................A-7
3.3. Subsidiaries................................................A-7
3.4. Authority...................................................A-8
3.5. Board Approval..............................................A-8
3.6. Vote Required...............................................A-8
3.7. Noncontravention; Consents..................................A-8
3.8. SEC Filings.................................................A-9
3.9. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act of 2002.................................A-10
3.10. Statutory Financial Statements.............................A-11
3.11. No Undisclosed Liabilities.................................A-11
3.12. Absence of Certain Changes or Events.......................A-12
3.13. Benefit Plans..............................................A-12
3.14. Taxes......................................................A-14
3.15. Compliance with Applicable Laws............................A-16
3.16. Litigation.................................................A-16
3.17. Insurance Regulatory Matters...............................A-16
3.18. Reserves...................................................A-18
3.19. Intellectual Property......................................A-18
3.20. Real Property..............................................A-19
3.21. Labor Matters..............................................A-19
3.22. Proxy Statement............................................A-19
3.23. Operations Insurance.......................................A-20
3.24. Brokers....................................................A-20
3.25. Takeover Laws..............................................A-20
3.26. Title to Assets............................................A-20
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3.27. Affiliate Transactions.....................................A-20
3.28. Contracts..................................................A-21
3.29. Opinion of Financial Advisor...............................A-21
3.30. Draft Audited Financial Statements.........................A-21
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB....A-21
4.1. Organization, Standing and Corporate Power.................A-21
4.2. Authority..................................................A-22
4.3. Noncontravention; Consents.................................A-22
4.4. Compliance with Applicable Laws............................A-23
4.5. Litigation.................................................A-23
4.6. Information Supplied.......................................A-23
4.7. Financing..................................................A-24
4.8. Brokers....................................................A-24
4.9. Merger Sub.................................................A-24
4.10. Parent Ownership of Company Securities.....................A-24
ARTICLE V COVENANTS RELATING TO THE CONDUCT OF BUSINESS..............A-24
5.1. Conduct of Business of the Company.........................A-24
ARTICLE VI ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS......................................A-27
6.1. Preparation of Proxy Statement; Shareholders Meetings......A-27
6.2. Access to Information......................................A-28
6.3. Reasonable Best Efforts....................................A-28
6.4. Acquisition Proposals......................................A-29
6.5. Fees and Expenses..........................................A-32
6.6. Certain Actions............................................A-32
6.7. Indemnification; Directors' and Officers' Insurance........A-33
6.8. Delisting..................................................A-34
6.9. Public Announcements.......................................A-34
6.10. Additional Agreements......................................A-34
6.11. Rule 16b-3.................................................A-34
6.12. Employee Benefit Matters...................................A-34
6.13. Non-Compete................................................A-35
ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.......................................A-36
7.1. Conditions to Each Party's Obligation To Effect the
Merger.....................................................A-36
7.2. Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub.........A-36
7.3. Conditions to Obligations of the Company...................A-37
ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT..................................A-38
8.1. Termination................................................A-38
8.2. Effect of Termination......................................A-39
8.3. Amendment..................................................A-40
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8.4. Extension; Waiver..........................................A-40
ARTICLE IX GENERAL PROVISIONS.........................................A-40
9.1. Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties..............A-40
9.2. Notices....................................................A-41
9.3. Interpretation.............................................A-42
9.4. Counterparts...............................................A-42
9.5. Entire Agreement; No Other Representations; No Third
Party Beneficiaries........................................A-42
9.6. Governing Law..............................................A-43
9.7. Assignment.................................................A-43
9.8. Termination Damages; Enforcement...........................A-43
9.9. Consent to Jurisdiction ...................................A-44
9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.......................................A-45
9.11. Severability...............................................A-45
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INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS
Section
Acquisition Proposal....................................................6.4(a)
Actuarial Report..........................................................3.18
Actuary...................................................................3.18
Affected Employee......................................................6.12(a)
Agreement.............................................................Preamble
Amplified Coverage......................................................6.7(b)
Applicable Laws.........................................................2.2(f)
Award Consideration........................................................2.3
Awards.....................................................................2.3
Certificate of Merger......................................................1.2
Change in Recommendation................................................6.4(d)
Closing....................................................................1.3
Closing Date...............................................................1.3
Code....................................................................2.2(g)
Commercial Court...........................................................9.9
Company...............................................................Preamble
Company Common Stock....................................................2.1(a)
Company Disclosure Letter..........................................Article III
Company Employee Benefit Plan..........................................3.13(a)
Company Insiders..........................................................6.11
Company Insurance Subsidiary...........................................3.17(a)
Company Policy............................................................6.13
Company SAP Balance Sheets................................................3.10
Company SAP Financial Statements..........................................3.10
Company SEC Documents......................................................3.8
Company Shareholders Meeting............................................6.1(d)
Company Stock Plans.....................................................3.2(a)
Company Termination Fee.................................................8.2(b)
Confidentiality Agreement...............................................6.2(b)
DOBI....................................................................6.3(a)
Effective Time.............................................................1.2
ERISA..................................................................3.13(c)
Exchange Act...............................................................3.7
Exchange Agent..........................................................2.2(a)
Exchange Period.........................................................2.2(b)
Fairness Opinion..........................................................3.29
Form A Submission Date..................................................6.3(b)
GAAP....................................................................3.1(b)
Governmental Entity........................................................3.7
HSR Act....................................................................3.7
Indemnified Liabilities.................................................6.7(a)
Indemnified Parties.....................................................6.7(a)
Insurance Laws.............................................................3.7
Intellectual Property.....................................................3.19
Liens......................................................................3.3
Material Adverse Effect.................................................3.1(b)
Material Contract.........................................................3.28
Material Event..........................................................9.8(d)
Merger................................................................Preamble
Merger Consideration....................................................2.1(a)
Merger Sub............................................................Preamble
New York Court.............................................................9.8
NJBCA......................................................................1.1
Option.....................................................................2.3
Option Consideration.......................................................2.3
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Outside Date............................................................8.1(c)
Parent................................................................Preamble
Parent Disclosure Letter............................................Article IV
Per Share Amount........................................................2.1(a)
Permits................................................................3.15(a)
Post Closing Plans.....................................................6.12(b)
Proxy Statement.........................................................6.1(a)
Required Company Vote......................................................3.6
Requisite Regulatory Approvals..........................................7.1(c)
SAP.....................................................................3.1(b)
SAR........................................................................2.3
SAR Consideration..........................................................2.3
SEC.....................................................................3.1(b)
Securities Act.............................................................3.8
Specified Person........................................................9.8(e)
Subsidiary..............................................................3.1(b)
Superior Proposal.......................................................6.4(f)
Surviving Corporation......................................................1.1
Tax....................................................................3.14(h)
Tax Return.............................................................3.14(h)
Taxing Authority.......................................................3.14(h)
Tail Coverage...........................................................6.7(b)
Tail Period.............................................................6.7(b)
Voting Debt.............................................................3.2(b)
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER dated as of March 13, 2008 (as amended
and restated as of April 17, 2008, this "Agreement") among PALISADES SAFETY AND
INSURANCE ASSOCIATION, an insurance exchange organized under NJSA 17:50-1 et
seq. ("Parent"), APOLLO HOLDINGS, INC., a New Jersey corporation wholly owned by
Parent ("Merger Sub") and NATIONAL ATLANTIC HOLDINGS CORPORATION, a New Jersey
corporation (the "Company").
WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company
have approved, and deem it advisable and in the best interests of their
respective shareholders or member policyholders to consummate, a business
combination transaction upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
herein (the "Merger");
WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company
have each determined that the Merger and the other transactions contemplated
hereby are consistent with, and in furtherance of, their respective business
strategies and goals; and
WHEREAS, Parent, Merger Sub and the Company desire to make certain
representations, warranties and agreements in connection with the Merger and
also to prescribe various conditions to the Merger.
WHEREAS, this Agreement is being amended and restated on April 17,
2008, provided, however, that all references herein to the "date of this
Agreement" or the "date hereof" shall mean March 13, 2008.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, the
parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
1.1. The Merger. At the Effective Time and upon the terms and subject to
the conditions set forth herein and in the New Jersey Business Corporation Act
(the "NJBCA"), the Merger Sub shall be merged with and into Company, the
separate legal existence of the Merger Sub shall cease and Company will continue
as the surviving corporation (the "Surviving Corporation") in the Merger.
1.2. Effective Time of the Merger. Subject to the provisions of this
Agreement, a certificate of merger (the "Certificate of Merger") shall be duly
prepared, executed and acknowledged by Merger Sub and the Company in accordance
with the NJBCA and thereafter filed with the office of the Secretary of State of
the State of New Jersey pursuant to the NJBCA. The Merger shall become effective
upon the filing of the Certificate of Merger, or at such time thereafter as is
provided in the Certificate of Merger (the "Effective Time").
1.3. Closing. The consummation of the Merger (the "Closing") will take
place at a time and date (the "Closing Date") to be agreed by Parent and the
Company that is within 1 business day following the satisfaction or waiver of
the conditions set forth in Article VII (excluding conditions that, by their
terms, are to be satisfied on the Closing Date), unless another date is agreed
to in writing by the parties hereto. The Closing shall be held at the offices of
▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LLP, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, unless
another place is agreed to in writing by the parties hereto.
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1.4. Effects of the Merger. At the Effective Time, the effect of the Merger
shall be as provided in this Agreement, the Certificate of Merger and the
applicable provisions of the NJBCA. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation
will succeed to and assume all of the rights, privileges, immunities,
properties, powers and franchises of the Company and Merger Sub.
1.5. Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of Surviving Corporation. The
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company as in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation. The Bylaws of Merger Sub as in
effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the Bylaws of the
Surviving Corporation.
1.6. Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation. The directors of
Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time will be the directors of the
Surviving Corporation, with each director holding office until the next annual
meeting (or the earlier of their resignation or removal) and until their
respective successors are duly elected and qualified, as the case may be. The
officers of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time will be the
officers of the Surviving Corporation until the earlier of their resignation or
removal or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, as
the case may be.
1.7. Subsequent Actions. If, at any time after the Effective Time, the
Surviving Corporation shall consider or be advised that any deeds, bills of
sale, assignments, assurances or any other actions or things are necessary or
desirable to vest, perfect or confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving
Corporation its right, title or interest in, to or under any of the rights,
properties or assets of either of the Company or Merger Sub acquired or to be
acquired by the Surviving Corporation as result of, or in connection with, the
Merger or otherwise to carry out the terms of this Agreement, the officers and
directors of the Surviving Corporation shall be authorized to execute and
deliver, in the name and on behalf of either the Company or Merger Sub, all such
deeds, bills of sale, assignments and assurances and to take and do, in the name
and on behalf of each of such corporation, all such other actions and things as
may be necessary or desirable to vest, perfect or confirm any and all right,
title and interest in, to and under such rights, properties or assets in the
Surviving Corporation or otherwise to carry out the terms of this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
TREATMENT OF SHARES
2.1. Conversion of Securities. As of the Effective Time, by virtue of the
Merger and without any action on the part of the Merger Sub, the Company or the
holder of any of the following securities:
(a) Conversion of the Company Capital Stock. Each share of the common
stock, no par value of the Company (the "Company Common Stock"), issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than any shares of
Common Stock to be canceled or to remain outstanding pursuant to Section 2.1(b))
shall be cancelled and extinguished and be converted into the right to receive
$6.25 (the "Per Share Amount") in cash payable to the holder thereof, without
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interest, upon surrender of the certificate or certificates representing such
Company Common Stock. The cash into which the shares of Company Common Stock and
outstanding Awards, as set forth in Section 2.3, are to be exchanged, subject to
adjustment as provided in Section 2.2(h) or as otherwise provided in this
Agreement, is referred to herein as the "Merger Consideration."
(b) Cancellation of Treasury Stock; Continuation of Indirectly-Owned
Shares. Each share of Company Common Stock held in the treasury of the Company
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be canceled and extinguished, and
no payment or other consideration shall be made with respect thereto. Each share
of Company Common Stock owned by any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the
Company immediately prior to the Effective Time shall remain as outstanding
stock of the Company, and no payment or other consideration shall be made with
respect thereto.
(c) Conversion of Merger Sub Capital Stock. Each share of common stock, no
par value, of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall thereafter represent one validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable share of common stock, no par value, of the Surviving Corporation
with the same rights, powers and privileges as the share so converted, and the
shares so converted shall constitute the only outstanding shares of capital
stock of the Surviving Corporation.
2.2. Surrender of Capital Stock; Stock Transfer Books.
(a) Exchange Agent. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall designate at
its own cost and expense a bank or trust company (reasonably acceptable to the
Company) to act as agent for the holders of the Company Common Stock (the
"Exchange Agent") to receive the funds necessary to make the payments
contemplated by Sections 2.1 and 2.3. At or prior to the Effective Time, Parent
shall deposit, or cause to be deposited, in trust with the Exchange Agent for
the benefit of holders of the Company Common Stock, the Merger Consideration.
(b) Exchange Period. Each holder of a certificate or certificates
representing any shares of the Company Common Stock canceled upon the Merger
pursuant to Section 2.1(a) may thereafter surrender such certificates or
certificates to the Exchange Agent as agent for such holder, to effect the
surrender of such certificate or certificates on such holder's behalf for a
period ending one year after the Effective Time (the "Exchange Period"). Parent
agrees that promptly after the Effective Time it shall cause the distribution to
holders of record of shares of the Company Common Stock as of the Effective Time
of appropriate materials, including a letter of transmittal, to facilitate such
surrender, which materials shall be reasonably acceptable to Parent. Upon the
surrender of certificates representing the Company Common Stock, Parent shall
cause the Exchange Agent to pay the holder of such certificates in exchange
therefor cash in an amount equal to the Per Share Amount multiplied by the
number of shares of the Company Common Stock represented by such certificate
immediately prior to the Effective Time. Until so surrendered, each such
certificate (other than certificates representing the Company Common Stock
canceled pursuant to Section 2.1(b)) shall represent solely the right to receive
the aggregate Per Share Amount relating thereto.
(c) Payment to Other Persons. If payment of cash in respect of canceled
shares of the Company Common Stock is to be made to a person other than the
person in whose name a
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surrendered certificate or instrument is registered, it shall be a condition to
such payment that the certificate or instrument so surrendered shall be properly
endorsed or shall be otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the person
requesting such payment shall have paid any transfer and other Taxes required by
reason of such payment in a name other than that of the registered holder of the
certificate or instrument surrendered or shall have established to the
satisfaction of Parent or the Exchange Agent that such Tax is not payable.
(d) Transfer Books. At the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of
Parent shall be closed and there shall not be any further registration or
transfer of any shares of the Company Common Stock thereafter on the records of
Parent. If, after the Effective Time, certificates for shares of the Company
Common Stock are presented to the Surviving Corporation they shall be cancelled
and exchanged for cash as provided in Section 2.1(a). No interest shall accrue
or be paid on any cash payable upon the surrender of a certificate or
certificates which immediately prior to the Effective Time represented
outstanding shares of the Company Common Stock.
(e) Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. In the event any certificates
representing the Company Common Stock shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed,
the Exchange Agent shall issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed
certificates, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the holder
thereof, the Per Share Amount in respect of the shares of the Company Common
Stock represented by such lost, stolen or destroyed certificates; provided,
however, that Parent may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the
issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed
certificates to enter into an indemnity agreement with respect to any claim that
may be made against Parent or the Exchange Agent with respect to the
certificates alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.
(f) Conclusion of Exchange Period. Promptly following the expiration of the
Exchange Period, subject to all orders, laws, statutes, regulations, rules,
ordinances, writs, injunctions, directives, judgments, decrees, principles of
common law, constitutions or treaties enacted, promulgated, issued, enforced or
entered by any Governmental Entity (as defined below) applicable to a party
hereto or to any of the Subsidiaries of the Company or Parent, or any of their
respective businesses, properties or assets, as may be amended from time to time
("Applicable Laws"), the Exchange Agent shall deliver to Parent all cash
(including any interest received with respect thereto), certificates and other
documents in its possession relating to the transactions contemplated hereby,
and the Exchange Agent's duties shall terminate. Thereafter, each holder of (i)
a certificate representing the Company Common Stock (other than certificates
representing the Company Common Stock canceled pursuant to Section 2.1(b)), or
(ii) an Award shall be entitled to look to the Surviving Corporation with
respect to the aggregate Per Share Amount or the aggregate Award Consideration,
as applicable, payable upon due surrender of their certificates by holders of
certificates, and payable as soon as practicable to holders of Awards, without
any interest thereon. Notwithstanding the foregoing, subject to Applicable Law,
neither Parent nor the Surviving Corporation nor the Exchange Agent shall be
liable to any holder of a certificate representing the Company Common Stock or
any holder of an Award for any amount delivered to a public official pursuant to
any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Law. Any portion of the
Merger Consideration remaining unclaimed by holders of the Company Common Stock
or Award as of a date that is immediately prior to such time as such amounts
would otherwise escheat to or become property of any Governmental Entity shall,
to the
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extent permitted by Applicable Law, become the property of the Surviving
Corporation free and clear of any claims or interest of any person previously
entitled thereto.
(g) Withholdings. The Company, its Subsidiaries, the Surviving Corporation,
the Exchange Agent and Parent will be entitled to deduct and withhold from any
amounts payable under this Agreement any withholding Taxes or other amounts
required to be deducted and withheld under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (including all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the
"Code"), or any other Applicable Laws. To the extent that amounts are so
withheld or deducted by Parent, the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, the
Surviving Corporation or the Exchange Agent, such withheld amounts shall be
treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the beneficial
holder of the relevant shares.
(h) Certain Adjustments. If, between the date of this Agreement and the
Effective Time, the outstanding Company Common Stock shall have been changed
into a different number of shares or different class by reason of any
reclassification, recapitalization, stock split, split-up, combination or
exchange of shares or a stock dividend or dividend payable in any other
securities shall be declared with a record date within such period, or any
similar event shall have occurred, the Merger Consideration shall be equitably
adjusted to eliminate the effects of such event.
2.3. Company Stock Awards. The right to receive shares of the Company
Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of each vested and unvested option for the
Company Common Stock (each, an "Option") that is outstanding immediately prior
to the Effective Time shall be canceled and exchanged for the right to receive
an amount of cash equal to the product obtained by multiplying (x) the total
number of shares of the Company Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the
unexercised portion of such Option by (y) the excess, if any, of the Per Share
Amount over the exercise price per share of the Company Common Stock under such
Option (with the aggregate amount of such payment rounded up to the nearest
cent), less any required withholding taxes (in the aggregate, the "Option
Consideration"). The right to receive cash pursuant to the exercise of each
vested and unvested stock appreciation right (each, a "SAR") that is outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be canceled and exchanged for the
right to receive an amount of cash equal to the product obtained by multiplying
(x) the total number of shares of the Company Common Stock to which the
unexercised portion of the SAR relates by (y) the excess, if any, of the Per
Share Amount over the applicable per share base price of the SAR (with the
aggregate amount of the payment for all such SAR stock units rounded up to the
nearest cent), less any required withholding taxes (in the aggregate, the "SAR
Consideration," and together with the Option Consideration, the "Award
Consideration"). As of the Effective Time, all such Options and SARs (together,
"Awards") shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and
retired and shall expire and cease to exist and each holder of such Awards shall
cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive such
holder's pro rata portion of the Award Consideration. Parent agrees that the
Company may amend the Company Stock Plans (as defined below) as necessary for
the sole purpose of implementing the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.3;
provided, however, prior to any amendment the Company consults with Parent as
to, and provides Parent with a copy of, the terms of any such proposed
amendment. The cash amounts resulting from the conversions pursuant to this
Section 2.3 shall be paid as soon as practicable after the Effective Time, but
no later than five (5) business days thereafter.
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ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
Except as set forth in (x) the written disclosure letter delivered by the
Company to Parent in connection with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement (the "Company Disclosure Letter") or (y) any Company SEC Documents (as
defined below) filed on or after January 27, 2005 and before January 1, 2007
(excluding any exhibits thereto, any disclosure as to risk factors, any
forward-looking statements and other similarly cautionary or generic disclosure
contained or incorporated by reference therein, and provided that the relevance
to this Article III of any item contained therein is apparent on its face), the
Company represents and warrants to Parent and Merger Sub as follows:
3.1. Organization, Standing and Corporate Power.
(a) The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the State of New Jersey and has the requisite
corporate power and authority to carry on its business as now being conducted.
Each of the Subsidiaries is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is
incorporated and has the requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its
business as now being conducted. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is
duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing
in each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or the ownership or
leasing of its properties makes such qualification necessary, other than in such
jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing
(individually or in the aggregate) would not have a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company. The Company has previously delivered or made available to Parent
accurate and complete copies of the certificates of incorporation, bylaws and
other comparable documents of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries.
(b) As used in this Agreement, (x) the word "Subsidiary" means any entity
of which 50% or more of the effective voting power or equity or other ownership
interest of such entity is directly or indirectly owned by such party, and (y)
the term "Material Adverse Effect" means, an event (including without limitation
a natural catastrophe), change, circumstance, state of facts or effect that has
had or is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on (A) the
condition (financial or otherwise), properties, assets, liabilities, businesses,
operations or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as
a whole, or Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, as the case may be,
except to the extent that any such material adverse effect results from (1)
changes in the economy in general in the United States, to the extent that such
changes do not have a disproportionate effect on the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole relative to other participants in the industry in
which the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct business, or Parent and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole, as the case may be; (2) changes in United States
or global financial or securities markets or conditions, including those caused
by acts of war, hostility or terrorism, to the extent such changes do not have a
disproportionate effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole
relative to other participants in the industry in which the Company and its
Subsidiaries conduct business, or Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole,
as the case may be; (3) changes or events affecting the insurance industry
generally so long as such changes or events do not have a materially
disproportionate
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effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole relative to other
participants in the industry in which the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct
business, or Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, as the case may be
(it being agreed that such changes or events shall not include any named
hurricane that is identified as a Category 3 or higher hurricane, but shall
otherwise include natural catastrophes); (4) changes in United States generally
accepted accounting principles or in statutory accounting practices ("GAAP" or
"SAP" respectively) after the date of this Agreement prescribed by the
applicable domiciliary state regulation, including accounting pronouncements by
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), the National Association of
Insurance Commissioners and the Financial Accounting Standards Board; or (5) the
announcement of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, or (B) the ability of the Company or Parent, as the case
may be, to perform its obligations hereunder on a timely basis.
3.2. Capital Structure.
(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 50,000,000
shares of the Company Common Stock, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, no
par value per share. As of December 31, 2007, (i) 11,425,790 shares of the
Company Common Stock are issued and 11,007,487 outstanding, (ii) 1,000,000
shares of the Company Common Stock are reserved for issuance under The National
Atlantic Holdings Corporation 2004 Stock and Incentive Plan and The National
Atlantic Holdings Corporation Nonstatutory Stock Option Plan (collectively, the
"Company Stock Plans"), and (iii) no shares of preferred stock are issued and
outstanding. Section 3.2(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a complete
and accurate list of all award recipients under the Company Stock Plans and the
number of shares subject to such award, the date of grant and the price per
share at which any option may be exercised. All outstanding shares of capital
stock of the Company are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid,
nonassessable and free of any preemptive rights. There are no restrictions upon
the voting or transfer of any shares of the Company Common Stock pursuant to the
Company's certificate of incorporation or bylaws and neither the Company nor any
of its Subsidiaries is a party to any voting trust, proxy, or other agreement or
understanding with respect to the securities of the Company. Except for awards
issued or to be issued under the Company Stock Plans and listed on Section
3.2(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there is no outstanding option,
warrant, right, subscription, call, unsatisfied preemptive right or other
agreement or right of any kind to purchase or otherwise acquire from the Company
any capital stock of the Company. There is no outstanding security of any kind
convertible into such capital stock, and there is no outstanding contract or
other agreement of the Company or any other party to purchase, redeem or
otherwise acquire any outstanding shares of capital stock or any other equity
security of the Company.
(b) No bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness having the right to
vote on any matters on which shareholders may vote ("Voting Debt") of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries are issued or outstanding.
3.3. Subsidiaries. Section 3.3 of the Company Disclosure Letter lists each
Subsidiary of the Company. All the outstanding shares of capital stock of each
Subsidiary of the Company have been duly authorized, validly issued and are
fully paid, nonassessable, free of any preemptive rights and are owned by the
Company either directly or through a Subsidiary of the Company free and clear of
all pledges, claims, liens, charges, encumbrances and security
A-7
interests of any kind (collectively, "Liens"). None of the outstanding shares of
capital stock of any Subsidiary of the Company was issued in violation of
preemptive or other similar rights of any security holder of such Subsidiary.
There are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, convertible or
exchangeable securities or other rights granted to or by the Company or any
Subsidiary to purchase shares of common stock or other securities of any
Subsidiary. Other than the capital stock of the Subsidiaries, the Company
neither directly nor indirectly owns equity securities, or securities that are
or might become convertible into or exchangeable for equity security,
representing 5% or more of the effective voting power or equity or other
ownership interest of any person or entity.
3.4. Authority. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority
to enter into this Agreement and, subject to the approval of this Agreement by
the holders of a majority of the Company Common Stock, to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement by the Company and, subject to the approval of this Agreement by the
holders of a majority of the Company Common Stock, the consummation by the
Company of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized and
approved by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and no
other acts or proceedings on its part are necessary to authorize the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly and validly
executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming this Agreement constitutes
the valid and binding agreement of Parent, constitutes a valid and binding
obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with
its terms, except that (i) such enforcement may be subject to applicable
bankruptcy, receivership, moratorium, conservatorship, reorganization,
insolvency or other similar laws, now or hereafter in effect, affecting
creditors' rights generally and (ii) the remedy of specific performance and
injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to equitable
defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor
may be brought.
3.5. Board Approval. The Board of Directors of the Company, by resolutions
duly adopted by vote (with no dissenting votes) at a meeting duly called and
held, has (i) determined that this Agreement and the Merger and other
transactions contemplated hereby are fair to and in the best interests of the
Company and its shareholders, (ii) approved and adopted this Agreement and the
plan of merger contained herein and (iii) recommended that shareholders of the
Company approve this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby
(including the Merger).
3.6. Vote Required. The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by
holders of the Company Common Stock entitled to vote on the plan of merger
("Required Company Vote") is the only vote of the holders of any class or series
of the Company's capital stock necessary to approve this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby (including the Merger).
3.7. Noncontravention; Consents. The execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement by the Company, the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby and the compliance by the Company with any of the provisions hereof do
not and will not (i) conflict with, or result in a breach or default (with or
without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, any of the provisions of the
certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company or the comparable
A-8
documents of any Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) violate, conflict with or
result in the breach of any of the terms of, result in any modification of,
accelerate or permit the acceleration of the performance required by, otherwise
give any other contracting party the right to terminate, or constitute (with or
without notice or lapse of time, or both) a default under, give rise to any
requirement to obtain any authorization, consent or approval under, or create
any lien, pledge, security interest or other encumbrance on any assets pursuant
to, any contract applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (iii)
violate any statute, law, regulation or order, judgment, injunction, award or
decree of any federal, state, local or foreign government, court,
administrative, regulatory or other governmental agency, commission, or
authority or any non-governmental United States or foreign self-regulatory
agency, commission or authority or any arbitral tribunal ("Governmental Entity")
against, or binding upon, or any agreement with, or condition imposed by, any
Governmental Entity, foreign or domestic, with respect to the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries, which, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) of this Section
3.7 would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company. No consent, approval or authorization of, or declaration or filing
with, or notice to, any Governmental Entity, is required by or with respect to
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement, the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby or the compliance by the Company with any of the provisions
hereof except for (i) the filing with the SEC of a proxy statement relating to
the approval of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby by the
Company's shareholders and such reports, filings and statements under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") as may be
required in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby, (ii) the filing of the certificate of merger with the office of the
Secretary of State of the State of New Jersey, (iii) the filing of premerger
notification and report forms under the ▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇ Antitrust Improvements
Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR Act"), (iv) compliance with any applicable
requirements of the Nasdaq National Market, (v) the approvals, filings and
notices required under the applicable insurance statutes and laws, rules,
regulations, directives, orders or decrees of the Governmental Entity charged
with supervision of insurance companies of such jurisdiction and court decisions
relating to the foregoing (the "Insurance Laws") of the jurisdictions set forth
in Section 3.7 of the Company Disclosure Letter, (vi) such other consents,
approvals, authorizations, declarations, filings or notices as are set forth in
Section 3.7 of the Company Disclosure Letter and (vii) such other consents,
approvals, authorizations, declarations, filings or notices which if not
obtained or made would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company.
3.8. SEC Filings. The Company and its Subsidiaries have filed or furnished,
as applicable, on a timely basis, all required forms, reports, schedules,
registration statements, certificates and other documents and exhibits thereto
with or to the SEC since January 27, 2005 and through the business day prior to
the date of this Agreement (the "Company SEC Documents"). As of their respective
dates of filing with or publicly furnishing to the SEC (or, if amended or
supplemented by a filing prior to the date hereof, as of the date of such latest
filing), the Company SEC Documents, and the financial statements of the Company
and its Subsidiaries included in or incorporated by reference into the Company
SEC Documents filed or furnished to the SEC after the date of this Agreement,
complied or will comply, as the case may be, in all material respects with the
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"),
or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the
SEC thereunder, and none of the Company SEC Documents or the financial
statements of the
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Company and its Subsidiaries included in or incorporated by reference into the
Company SEC Documents filed or furnished to the SEC after the date of this
Agreement, when filed with or publicly furnished to the SEC (or, if amended or
supplemented by a filing prior to the date hereof, as of the date of such latest
filing) contained or will contain, as the case may be, any untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. The financial statements of the Company
and its Subsidiaries included in the Company SEC Documents and the financial
statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries included in or incorporated by
reference into the Company SEC Documents filed or furnished to the SEC after the
date of this Agreement complied or will comply, as the case may be, as of their
respective dates of filing with the SEC (or, if amended or supplemented by a
filing prior to the date hereof, as of the date of such latest filing), in all
material respects with all applicable accounting requirements and with the
published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, have been or
will be, as the case may be, prepared in accordance with GAAP and fairly present
in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and
its consolidated Subsidiaries and the consolidated results of operations,
changes in shareholders' equity and cash flows of such companies or entities as
of the dates and for the periods shown (subject, in the case of any unaudited
interim financial statements, to normal and recurring year-end adjustments that,
individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company).
3.9. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act of 2002. The Company has been and is in compliance
in all material respects with (A) the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes
Oxley Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and (B) the
applicable listing and corporate governance rules and regulations of NASDAQ.
Without limitation to Section 3.11 below, the Company and its Subsidiaries have
designed and maintain a system of internal controls over financial reporting (as
defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) sufficient to
provide reasonable assurances regarding the reliability of financial reporting
and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance
with GAAP. The Company has designed and maintains disclosure controls and
procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) and
such disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information
required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits
under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within
the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms and is accumulated and
communicated to the Company's management as appropriate to allow timely
decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company's principal executive
officer and principal financial officer have disclosed, based on its most recent
evaluation of such disclosure controls and procedures prior to the date hereof,
to the Company's auditors and the audit committee of the Company (A) any
significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of
internal controls over financial reporting that are reasonably likely to
adversely affect the Company's ability to record, process, summarize and report
financial information and (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves
management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company's
internal controls over financial reporting and the Company has provided Parent
with copies of any material written materials relating to the foregoing and a
written summary thereof. Since December 31, 2006, any change in internal
controls over financial reporting required to be disclosed in any Company SEC
Document has been so disclosed, and (i) the Company has no knowledge of any
complaint, whether written or oral, regarding the accounting or auditing
practices, procedures,
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methodologies or methods of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their
respective internal accounting controls and (ii) no attorney representing the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, whether or not employed by the Company or
its Subsidiaries, has reported evidence of a violation of the securities laws,
breach of fiduciary duty or similar violation, by the Company or its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors, employees or other
representatives, in each case, relating to periods after December 31, 2006.
Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, or has any
commitment to become a party to, any joint venture, partnership agreement or any
similar contract or agreement (including any contract or agreement relating to
any transaction, arrangement or relationship between or among the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any unconsolidated affiliate,
including any structured finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity or
person, on the other hand (such as any arrangement described in Section
303(a)(4) of Regulation S-K of the SEC)) not reflected in or disclosed on the
Company's consolidated financial statements.
3.10. Statutory Financial Statements. The Company has previously delivered
to Parent copies of (i) the audited statutory-basis balance sheet of each
Company Insurance Subsidiary (as defined in Section 3.17) as of December 31,
2006, and the unaudited statutory-basis balance sheets of each Company Insurance
Subsidiary (as defined in Section 3.17) as of (ii) ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇, ▇▇▇▇, (▇▇▇) June
30, 2007 and (iv) ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ((▇), (▇▇), (▇▇▇) and (iv) collectively,
the "Company SAP Balance Sheets") and the related statements of income,
stockholders' equity and cash flows for the periods then ended, together with
the notes to such financial statements (together with the Company SAP Balance
Sheets, the "Company SAP Financial Statements"). The Company SAP Financial
Statements, and the statutory-basis balance sheets of each Company Insurance
Subsidiary and the related statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash
flows for the periods then ended, together with the notes to such financial
statements, filed after the date of this Agreement, have been or will be, as the
case may be, prepared in conformity with SAP and, together with the notes,
exhibits or schedules thereto, and presented or will present fairly, as the case
may be, in accordance with SAP, in all material respects the admitted assets,
liabilities, capital and surplus of such Company Insurance Subsidiary at their
respective dates and the results of operations and cash flows of such Company
Insurance Subsidiary for the periods then ended (subject, in the case of the
quarterly statement, to year-end adjustments made in the ordinary course of
business).
3.11. No Undisclosed Liabilities. Except as disclosed in Section 3.11 of
the Company Disclosure Letter and except for (A) those liabilities that are
fully reflected or reserved for in the consolidated financial statements of the
Company included in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
September 30, 2007, as filed with the SEC prior to the date of this Agreement,
(B) liabilities incurred since September 30, 2007 in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice and which individually or in the
aggregate have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company, and (C) liabilities incurred pursuant to this
Agreement and the transactions expressly contemplated hereby, the Company and
its Subsidiaries do not have, and since September 30, 2007, the Company and its
Subsidiaries have not incurred, any liabilities or obligations of any nature
whatsoever (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise and whether or
not required to be reflected in the Company's financial statements in accordance
with GAAP).
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3.12. Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as otherwise
contemplated by this Agreement, since December 31, 2007, the Company and its
Subsidiaries have conducted their business in the ordinary course, and there has
not occurred: (a) any event or change that has had or would reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or its Subsidiaries;
(b) any material damage or destruction to, or loss of, any material assets or
property owned, leased or used by the Company or its Subsidiaries (whether or
not covered by insurance); (c) any sale of property of the Company or its
Subsidiaries except in the ordinary course of business; (d) except in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, any increase in
compensation payable by the Company or its Subsidiaries to any director or
executive officer of the Company or its Subsidiaries; (e) a settlement or
agreement by the Company or its Subsidiaries to settle any action except in the
ordinary course of business; (f) a declaration or payment of any dividend by the
Company or its Subsidiaries on any shares of its capital stock (other than any
dividend between or among the Company and its Subsidiaries); (g) except in the
ordinary course of business, the entrance into any reinsurance or retrocessional
agreement, either as a ceding company or reinsurer; (h) except in the ordinary
course of business, any change in material underwriting, reinsurance, marketing,
pricing or claim processing procedures or practices of the Company or any
Subsidiaries; or (i) any agreement by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries to
do any of the matters set forth in clauses (a) through (h) above.
3.13. Benefit Plans.
(a) Section 3.13 of the Company Disclosure Letter lists each "employee
benefit plan" (as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA (as defined below)), each
equity-based plan, and each material bonus, deferred compensation, severance,
employment, consulting or other plan or agreement relating to compensation,
retirement benefits, employee benefits or fringe benefits maintained by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party, or under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
is obligated to pay premiums or benefits ("Company Employee Benefit Plan"). The
Company has delivered or made available to Parent copies of (i) each Company
Employee Benefit Plan reduced to writing and a summary of material terms for
each Company Employee Benefit Plan not reduced to writing, (ii) the most recent
summary plan description for each Company Employee Benefit Plan for which such a
summary plan description is required, (iii) the most recent favorable
determination letters from the Internal Revenue Service with respect to each
Company Employee Benefit Plan intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the
Code, and (iv) the three most recent Forms 5500 for each Company Employee
Benefit Plan for which such forms are required to be filed.
(b) Each Company Employee Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified
under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter
covering all current terms of the Plan from the Internal Revenue Service (or the
deadline for seeking such a letter has not yet passed) and, to the knowledge of
the Company, no event has occurred and no condition exists that is reasonably
likely to result in the revocation of any such determination.
(c) Each Company Employee Benefit Plan is and has been maintained, operated
and administered in compliance in all material respects with all applicable
provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
("ERISA"), the Code, all Applicable Laws and the operative documents for each
such plan. All required contributions to,
A-12
and premium payments on account of, each Company Employee Benefit Plan for all
periods ending on or before the Closing Date have been made on a timely basis
and, to the extent not due, have been appropriately accrued.
(d) No Company Employee Benefit Plan is a "multiemployer plan" (as defined
in Section 3(37) of ERISA) and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
nor any other entity that would be treated as a single employer with the Company
under Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (n) of the Code or Section 4001(b) of ERISA
("ERISA Affiliate") has been obligated to contribute or has any liability to any
multiemployer plan as so defined within the last six years.
(e) No liability under Title IV of ERISA has been incurred by the Company
or its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate that has not been satisfied in full
when due, and no condition exists that could result in liability to the Company
or any ERISA Affiliate under Title IV of ERISA (other than for the payment of
insurance premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation). No Employee
Benefit Plan maintained by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate subject to the
minimum funding requirements of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA
or any trust established thereunder has incurred any "accumulated funding
deficiency" (as defined in Section 412 or Section 4971 of the Code).
(f) Except as disclosed in Section 3.13 of the Company Disclosure Letter,
neither the execution and delivery of the Agreement nor the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement (whether alone or together with any
other event or agreement) will (i) entitle any employee to severance pay,
unemployment compensation or any other payment, or (ii) accelerate the time of
payment or vesting, or increase the amount of compensation due any employee.
(g) Except as disclosed in Section 3.13 of the Company Disclosure Letter,
and except as required under Sections 601 through 609 of ERISA, no Company
Employee Benefit Plan provides or has any liability to provide health, life,
severance or disability benefit coverage upon or following retirement or other
termination of employment.
(h) Each Company Employee Benefit Plan which is subject to the requirements
of Section 409A of the Code has been adopted and administered including with
respect to tax reporting and withholding obligations in good faith compliance
with such Section and the guidance issued by the Department of the Treasury
thereunder from January 1, 2005 to date.
(i) There are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened
claims by or on behalf of any Company Employee Benefit Plan, by any employee,
beneficiary, or other person covered or claiming coverage under any Company
Employee Benefit Plan or otherwise involving any Company Employee Benefit Plan
(other than routine claims for benefits). No Company Employee Benefit Plan is
or, within the last six years has been, the subject of an examination, audit,
inquiry, review, proceeding, claim, or demand by a Governmental Entity, or is
the subject of an application or filing under, or is a participant in, a
government-sponsored amnesty, voluntary compliance, self-correction or similar
program.
(j) Except as disclosed in Section 3.13 of the Company Disclosure Letter,
no Material Contract and no Company Employee Benefit Plan provides,
conditionally or otherwise,
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for any payment or benefit that could constitute, in whole or in part, an
"excess parachute payment" (as that term is defined in Code Section 280G) with
respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or that could
reasonably be expected to be nondeductible by reason of Code Sections 162 or
Code Section 404.
(k) Each holder of an Award has entered into a Stock Option and Stock
Appreciation Rights Cancellation Agreement in the form previously provided to
Parent.
3.14. Taxes.
(a) All income Tax Returns and other material Tax Returns filed or required
by Applicable Laws to be filed with any Taxing Authority by, or on behalf of,
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have been filed properly when due (after
taking into account all extensions to file applicable thereto) in accordance
with all Applicable Laws, and all such filed Tax Returns are true, correct and
complete in all material respects;
(b) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has timely paid or caused to
be paid all material amounts of Taxes (whether or not shown as due on such filed
Tax Returns) to the extent such Taxes were due and payable;
(c) There are no Liens for any material amount of Taxes upon the assets or
property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than (i) statutory
Liens for Taxes not yet due and payable, and (ii) Liens for Taxes that (1) are
being contested in good faith and (2) have been accrued for on the most recent
financial statements included in the Company SEC Documents in accordance with
GAAP;
(d) There is no claim, audit, examination, action, suit, proceeding, or
investigation now pending or in process or, to the Company's knowledge,
threatened in writing against or with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries
in respect of any material Tax;
(e) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered into a
"listed transaction" within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section
1.6011-4(b)(2);
(f) There are no outstanding written requests, agreements, consents or
waivers to extend the statutory period of limitations applicable to the
assessment of any material amount of Taxes or deficiencies (other than pursuant
to extensions of time to file Tax Returns obtained in the ordinary course of
business);
(g) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any
contractual obligation relating to Tax sharing or Tax allocation with a third
party (i.e. other than the Company and its Subsidiaries), and neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has executed any power of attorney with
respect to any Tax, other than powers of attorney that are no longer in force;
(h) The Company has made adequate provision in the consolidated financial
statements of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries (in accordance with GAAP)
included in the Company's SEC Documents for all material amounts of Taxes not
yet due of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries;
A-14
(i) The Company has and each of its Subsidiaries has in all material
respects complied with all Applicable Laws relating to the payment and
withholding of Taxes (including all reporting and record keeping requirements)
and has, within the time and manner prescribed by law, withheld and paid over to
the proper Taxing Authority all material amounts of Taxes required to be
withheld and paid over by them;
(j) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will be required to
include any material item of income in, or exclude any material item of
deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period (or portion thereof)
ending after the Closing Date as a result of any (i) change in method of
accounting for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date that was
initiated or requested by the Company or a Subsidiary, or (ii) "closing
agreement," as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding
provision of state, local or foreign law), entered into on or prior to the
Closing Date, or (iii) any ruling received from the Internal Revenue Service;
(k) Since December 31, 2006, there has not occurred: (i) any material
change in any Tax elections made by the Company or by any of its Subsidiaries;
(ii) any settlement or compromise of any material Tax liability by the Company
or by any of its Subsidiaries; (iii) the filing of any amended Tax Return with
respect to any material Tax; or (iv) any material change in any method of Tax
accounting or of any annual Tax accounting period by the Company or by any of
its Subsidiaries, except insofar as may be required by Applicable Laws;
(l) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has been a member
of an affiliated group filing a consolidated federal income Tax Return (other
than a group the common parent of which was the Company) or (ii) has any
liability for a material amount of Taxes of any person (other than the Company
or one of its Subsidiaries) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any
similar provision of state, local or foreign law), as a transferee, successor,
by contract or otherwise;
(m) To the knowledge of the Company (i) Parent has been provided with all
work and other papers of the Company and of its Subsidiaries relating to FASB
Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, and (ii) the
Company has and each of its Subsidiaries has made available to Parent complete
and correct copies of all income Tax Returns, examination reports and statements
of deficiency, closing agreements and letter rulings filed or received by the
Company or by any of its Subsidiaries since December 31, 2002; and
(n) Since January 1, 2005, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
has been a "distributing corporation" or a "controlled corporation" within the
meaning of Code Section 355(a)(1)(A).
"Tax" means any and all federal, state, county, provincial, local, foreign
and other taxes, including, without limitation, all net income, gross income,
gross receipts, premium, estimated, sales, use, ad valorem, property, transfer,
franchise, profits, license, single business, withholding, payroll, employment,
excise, severance, VAT, GST, consumption, stamp, occupation, customs duties,
capital stock, social security (or similar, including FICA), unemployment,
disability, real property, personal property, registration, value added,
alternative or add-on minimum, or other contributions or similar tax of any kind
or any charge of any kind in the nature of (or similar to)
A-15
taxes whatsoever together with any interest, additions to tax or interest, and
penalties with respect thereto imposed by any Taxing Authority (including any
liability for the payment of any such amounts as a result of being a member of
an affiliated, consolidated, combined, or unitary group for any period).
"Tax Return" means any return, report or statement filed or required to be
filed with respect to any Tax (including any attached schedules) including any
information return, claim for refund or declaration of estimated Tax, and
including, where permitted or required, combined, consolidated or unitary
returns for any group of entities that includes the Company or any Subsidiaries
thereof, as well as any amendments thereof.
"Taxing Authority" means the Internal Revenue Service or any other
Governmental Entity responsible for the administration of any Tax.
3.15. Compliance with Applicable Laws.
(a) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have in full force and effect
all material approvals, authorizations, consents, variances, exemptions, orders,
registrations, licenses and permits of all Governmental Entities (collectively,
"Permits") necessary for it to own, lease or operate its properties and assets
and to carry on its business as now conducted. The Company and each of its
Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all such Permits
and are in compliance with all terms required for the continued effectiveness
thereof. No investigation or proceeding is pending or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened, which would reasonably be expected to result in the
amendment, failure to renew, limitation, modification, suspension or revocation
of any such Permit, where such amendment, failure to renew, limitation,
modification, suspension or revocation would be material to the Company or any
Subsidiary.
(b) The Company and its Subsidiaries are (i) in compliance with the terms
of their respective certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other
charter or organizational documents and (ii) in compliance in all material
respects with all Applicable Laws.
3.16. Litigation. Except as may be disclosed in Section 3.16 of the Company
Disclosure Letter, no action, suit, investigation, inquiry or proceeding by or
before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator
involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or its or their properties or
assets is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened, other
than any insurance claims incurred in the ordinary course of business of any
Company Insurance Subsidiary. With respect to those actions, suits or
proceedings that are insurance claims incurred in the ordinary course of
business of any Company Insurance Subsidiary, none contains any allegation of
bad faith on the part of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, seeks
extra-contractual or punitive damages from the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, or seeks class action status on behalf of any claimants, except as
disclosed in Section 3.16 of the Company Disclosure Letter.
3.17. Insurance Regulatory Matters.
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(a) Section 3.17 of the Company Disclosure Letter lists all Subsidiaries of
the Company that are licensed to write insurance business (each, a "Company
Insurance Subsidiary") and lists all jurisdictions in which each such Subsidiary
is licensed to write insurance business.
(b) The Company has made available to Parent copies of all financial
examination reports of state insurance departments with respect to any Company
Insurance Subsidiary which have been completed and reports issued since January
1, 2005. Since January 1, 2005, no material violations of Applicable Laws of any
Company Insurance Subsidiary have been asserted in writing by any Governmental
Entity, other than any violation which has been cured or otherwise resolved to
the satisfaction of such Governmental Entity.
(c) Since January 1, 2005, the Company and its Subsidiaries have filed all
material reports, statements, documents, registrations, filings or submissions
required to be filed by such entity with any Governmental Entity, and all such
reports, registrations, filings and submissions are in compliance (and complied
at the relevant time) in all material respects with Applicable Laws and no
material deficiencies have been asserted in writing by any such Governmental
Entity since January 1, 2005 with respect to any material reports, statements,
documents, registrations, filings or submissions required to be filed with
respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries with any Governmental Entity that
have not been remedied. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is or
has been since 2005 a "commercially domiciled insurer" under the laws of any
jurisdiction or is or since 2005 has otherwise been treated as domiciled in a
jurisdiction other than its jurisdiction of organization.
(d) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any
written agreement, consent agreement or memorandum of understanding with, or is
a party to any commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or is subject to any
order or directive by, or has adopted any resolutions at the request of, any
Governmental Entity that by its terms restricts in any material respect the
conduct of the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries nor has the Company
been advised in writing by any Governmental Entity since January 1, 2005 that it
is considering issuing or requesting any such agreement. There are no insurance
policies issued, reinsured or assumed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
that are currently in force under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
may be required to pay dividends to the holders thereof.
(e) To the extent required under Applicable Laws, all policies, binders,
slips or other agreements of insurance and other agreements and materials that
are issued or used in connection with the Company Insurance Subsidiaries'
business, including applications, brochures and marketing materials, premium
rates and reinsurance agreements, (i) are in all material respects, on forms
approved by applicable insurance regulatory authorities or filed and not
objected to by such authorities within the period provided for objection, and,
in either case, not subsequently disapproved or required to be withdrawn or
retired from issuance or use which have not been so withdrawn or retired and
(ii) (A) all homeowners and dwelling and fire policies in place as of December
31, 2007 contain an exclusion for oil tank/environmental liability, (B) the
exclusion is effective on all policies beginning with the first renewal on or
after September 1, 2007 unless the policy holder has purchased any endorsement
to buy-back oil tank/environmental coverage, (C) no renewal policies will be
able to purchase the buy-back endorsement after September 1, 2008, and (D) for
homeowners and dwelling and fire policies renewing between September 31, 2007
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and December 31, 2007 less than 1% have purchased the buy-back endorsement. Any
rates of the Company Insurance Subsidiaries required to be filed with or
approved by any applicable Governmental Entity have in all material respects
been so filed or approved and the rates applied by each of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries conform in all material respects to the relevant filed or
approved rates.
(f) No Company Insurance Subsidiary is in default under or violation of any
material order, stipulation, decree, award or judgment entered into with or
issued by any Governmental Entity charged with enforcement of Insurance Laws,
nor has any Company Insurance Subsidiary received any notice of any such default
or violation which remains uncorrected.
3.18. Reserves. The Company has delivered to Parent true and complete
copies of all actuarial reports prepared since December 31, 2005 with respect to
and on behalf of any Company Insurance Subsidiary that are in the possession of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries relating to the loss and loss adjustment
expense reserves of any of the Company Insurance Subsidiaries. All reserves for
losses and loss adjustment expenses reflected in the Company SAP Balance Sheets
(i) met the requirements of the Insurance Laws of Bermuda and the State of New
Jersey, (ii) were computed in accordance with generally accepted loss reserving
standards and principles and (iii) as of the date of such Company SAP Balance
Sheets, made a reasonable provision in the aggregate for all unpaid losses and
loss adjustment expense obligations of the Company Insurance Subsidiaries under
the terms of their respective insurance policies (it being understood that no
representation or warranty is made herein to the effect that such reserves will
in fact be adequate to cover the actual amount of such liabilities that are
eventually paid after the date thereof). The Company has delivered to Parent a
true and complete copy of the most recent report (the "Actuarial Report"),
prepared by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Actuarial Services, Inc. (the "Actuary"). The Actuary has
not issued any further adjustment or errata with respect to the Actuarial
Report. Any historical information and data furnished to the Actuary by the
Company and the Company Insurance Subsidiaries in connection with the
preparation of the Actuarial Report was true and complete in all material
respects and was not inconsistent in any material respect with the Company SAP
Financial Statements.
3.19. Intellectual Property. To the knowledge of the Company, the Company
and its Subsidiaries own, possess, license or have other rights to use, on
reasonable terms, all material Intellectual Property. Intellectual property
means all patents, patent applications, trade and service marks, trade and
service ▇▇▇▇ registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade
secrets, technology, know-how and other intellectual property (collectively, the
"Intellectual Property") necessary for the conduct of the Company's business as
now conducted. Except as set forth in Section 3.19 of the Company Disclosure
Letter, (a) there are no rights of third parties to any Intellectual Property
owned by the Company or its Subsidiaries; (b) there is no material infringement
by third parties of any Intellectual Property owned by the Company or its
Subsidiaries; (c) there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the Company's
rights in or to any such Intellectual Property, and to the knowledge of the
Company, there are no facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such
claim; (d) there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened
action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity or scope of
any Intellectual Property owned by the Company or its Subsidiaries, and, to the
knowledge of the Company, there are no facts which would form a reasonable basis
for any such claim; (e)
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there is no pending or threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others
that the Company infringes or otherwise violates any patent, trademark,
copyright, trade secret or other proprietary rights of others, and, to the
knowledge of the Company, there is no other fact which would form a reasonable
basis for any such claim; (f) to the knowledge of the Company there is no U.S.
patent or published U.S. patent application which contains claims that dominate
or may dominate any Intellectual Property owned by to the Company or that
interferes with the issued or pending claims of any such Intellectual Property;
and (g) the Company does not hold any U.S. patent issued by the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office.
3.20. Real Property. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries owns or
leases all such properties as are necessary to the conduct of its operations as
presently conducted. The Company has heretofore made available to Parent true
and complete copies of the real property leases and all amendments thereto.
Subject to such exceptions as would not be material to the Company's business,
(i) each lease is valid, binding and in full force and effect and neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in breach of or default under, or has
received written notice of any breach of or default under, any such lease, and
(ii) to the knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred that with notice or
lapse of time or both would constitute a breach or default thereunder by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any other party thereto.
3.21. Labor Matters.
(a) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound
by any collective bargaining agreement.
(b) As of the date hereof, there is no labor strike or similar dispute,
slowdown or stoppage pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened
against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. As of the date hereof, there is
no unfair labor practice complaint, grievance or charge against the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened
before the National Labor Relations Board or any other Governmental Entity
involving current or former employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(c) As of the date hereof, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
has implemented any plant closing or layoff of employees that would reasonably
be expected to require notification under the WARN Act or any similar state,
local or foreign law or regulation.
3.22. Proxy Statement. Subject to the accuracy of the representations and
warranties of Parent and Merger Sub set forth in Section 4.6, the Proxy
Statement (as defined in Section 6.1), and any amendments or supplements
thereto, will not, on the date they are first mailed to the holders of Company
Common Stock, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made,
not misleading, and will not, at the time of the Company Shareholders Meeting
(as defined in Section 6.1), omit to state any material fact necessary to
correct any statement in any earlier communication from the Company with respect
to the Company Shareholders Meeting which shall have become false or misleading
in any material respect. The Proxy Statement will comply as to form in all
material respects with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company
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makes no representation or warranty with respect to information supplied by or
on behalf of Parent or Merger Sub that is included or incorporated by reference
in the Proxy Statement.
3.23. Operations Insurance. Section 3.23 of the Company Disclosure Letter
contains a true and complete list and description of all liability, property,
workers compensation and other similar insurance policies or agreements that
insure the business, operations, or affairs of the Company and each of its
Subsidiaries. Excluding insurance policies that have expired and been replaced
by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, no
insurance policy has been canceled within the last three years, and, to the
knowledge of the Company, no written threat has been made to cancel any such
insurance policy of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries during such period.
All such insurance policies will remain in full force and effect with respect to
periods before and through the Closing Date.
3.24. Brokers. No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other
person, other than Banc of America Securities LLC, the fees and expenses of
which will be paid by the Company, is entitled to any broker's, finder's,
financial advisor's or other similar fee or commission, or reimbursement of
expenses, in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company or its Subsidiaries.
The Company has previously provided to Parent a good faith estimate of the
amount of costs and expenses incurred by the Company to date in connection with
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and of the amount of such costs
and expenses that the Company expects to incur by the Closing, including the
fees and expenses of the Company's financial advisors and the Company's legal
and other advisors.
3.25. Takeover Laws. None of the business combination provisions of the
NJBCA, Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the Amended and
Restated Bylaws of the Company are applicable to the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement because such provisions do not apply by their terms or because
any required approvals of the Board of Directors of the Company have been
obtained.
3.26. Title to Assets. The Company and its Subsidiaries have good title to,
or a valid leasehold interest in, the material tangible assets they use
regularly in the conduct of their business.
3.27. Affiliate Transactions. Except for compensation or other employment
arrangements in the ordinary course and arrangements contemplated by this
Agreement, there are no, and since September 30, 2007, there have not been any,
transactions, agreements, arrangements or understandings or series of related
transactions, agreements, arrangements or understandings nor are there currently
proposed any such transactions, agreements, arrangements or understandings
between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any
affiliate (including any director or officer) thereof, but not including any
wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, on the other hand, that would be
required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the
Securities Act in the Company's Form 10-K or proxy statement pertaining to an
annual meeting of stockholders, and there will have been no additional
disclosure required to be included in connection with any such transactions,
agreements, arrangements or understandings in the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10K when filed or amended, or incorporated therein after such filing or
amendment.
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3.28. Contracts. Each of the Material Contracts (defined below) is valid
and binding on the Company (and each such Subsidiary of the Company party
thereto) and, to the knowledge of the Company, each other party thereto, and is
in full force and effect, and enforceable in accordance with its terms and
neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries that is a party thereto, nor, to
the knowledge of the Company, any other party thereto, is in breach of, or
default under, any such Material Contract, and no event has occurred that with
notice or lapse of time or both would constitute such a breach or default
thereunder by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or, to the knowledge of
the Company, any other party thereto. The Company has not received any notice
from any counterparty that such counterparty intends to terminate, or not renew,
any Material Contract, or is seeking the renegotiation thereof in any material
respect or substitute performance thereunder in any material respect. As of the
date hereof, true and complete copies of all Material Contracts (including all
exhibits and schedules thereto) have been (i) publicly filed with the SEC or
(ii) made available to Parent. "Material Contract" means (i) each contract that
involves performance of services or delivery of products by the Company and/or
its Subsidiaries of an amount or value in excess of or equal to $100,000, (ii)
each contract that involves performance of services or delivery of products to
the Company and/or its Subsidiaries of an amount or value in excess of or equal
to $100,000 and (iii) each contract that could reasonably be expected to result
in the payment of an amount or value in excess of or equal to $100,000 by the
Company and/or any Subsidiary other than commercial arrangements entered into in
the ordinary course of business and containing customary and usual
indemnification or expense reimbursement provisions.
3.29. Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Board of Directors of the Company
has received the opinion of Banc of America Securities LLC, financial advisor to
the Company, to the effect that, as of March 9, 2008 and based upon various
qualifications and assumptions, the Per Share Amount to be received by the
holders of shares of Company Common Stock in the Merger is fair from a financial
point of view to such holders (the "Fairness Opinion").
3.30. Draft Audited Financial Statements. Parent has been provided with
draft audited financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 as intended to be included in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K to be filed with the SEC, and such draft financial
statements will not differ in any non-trivial respect from the Form 10-K that
will be filed with the SEC in respect of the fiscal year then ended.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB
Except as set forth in the written disclosure letter delivered by Parent to
the Company in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement (the
"Parent Disclosure Letter"), Parent and Merger Sub represent and warrant to the
Company as follows:
4.1. Organization, Standing and Corporate Power. Parent is an insurance
exchange duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of
the State of New Jersey and has the requisite legal power and authority to carry
on its business as now being conducted. Merger Sub is a corporation duly
incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State
of New Jersey and has the requisite corporate power and authority to carry on
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its business as now being conducted. Each of Parent and Merger Sub is duly
qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in
each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or the ownership or
leasing of its properties makes such qualification necessary, other than in such
jurisdictions where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing
(individually or in the aggregate) would not have a Material Adverse Effect on
Parent.
4.2. Authority. Each of Parent and Merger Sub has the requisite legal power
and authority to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by
each of Parent and Merger Sub and the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of
the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized and approved by
all necessary action on the part of Parent and Merger Sub and no other acts or
proceedings on the part of Parent or Merger Sub are necessary to authorize the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby. No action by the member policyholders of
Parent is necessary to authorize the execution and delivery by Parent of this
Agreement and the consummation by Parent of the transactions contemplated
hereby. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by each
of Parent and Merger Sub and, assuming this Agreement constitutes the valid and
binding agreement of the Company, constitutes a valid and binding obligation of
each of Parent and Merger Sub, enforceable against each of them in accordance
with its terms except that (i) such enforcement may be subject to applicable
bankruptcy, receivership, moratorium, conservatorship, reorganization,
insolvency or other similar laws, now or hereafter in effect, affecting
creditors' rights generally and (ii) the remedy of specific performance and
injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to equitable
defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor
may be brought.
4.3. Noncontravention; Consents. The execution, delivery or performance of
this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub, the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby by Parent and Merger Sub and the compliance by Parent and
Merger Sub with any provisions hereof do not and will not (i) conflict with, or
result in a breach or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both)
under, any of the provisions of the certificate of incorporation, bylaws or
other organizational documents of Parent or any Subsidiaries of Parent
(including Merger Sub), (ii) violate, conflict with or result in the breach of
any of the terms of, result in any modification of, accelerate or permit the
acceleration of the performance required by, otherwise give any other
contracting party the right to terminate, or constitute (with or without notice
or lapse of time, or both) a default under, give rise to any requirement to
obtain any authorization, consent or approval under, or create any lien, pledge,
security interest or other encumbrance on any assets pursuant to, any contract
applicable to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries including Merger Sub or (iii)
violate any statute, law, regulation or order, judgment, injunction, award or
decree of any Governmental Entity against, or binding upon, or any agreement
with, or condition imposed by, any Governmental Entity, foreign or domestic,
with respect to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries including Merger Sub, which,
in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, would, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent. No consent, approval or
authorization of, or declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental
Entity, is required by or with respect to Parent, Merger Sub or any of the
Affiliates of Parent in connection with the execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement by each of Parent and Merger Sub or the consummation by each
of them of any of the transactions contemplated hereby, except for (i) the
filing with the SEC of such reports,
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filings and statements under the Exchange Act as may be required in connection
with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) the filing of
the certificate of merger with the office of the Secretary of State of the State
of New Jersey, (iii) the filing of premerger notification and report forms under
the HSR Act, (iv) compliance with any applicable requirements of the Nasdaq
National Market, (v) the approvals, filings and notices required under the
Insurance Laws of the jurisdictions set forth in Section 4.3 of the Parent
Disclosure Letter, (vi) such other consents, approvals, authorizations,
declarations, filings or notices as are set forth in Section 4.3 of the Parent
Disclosure Letter and (vii) such other consents, approvals, authorizations,
declarations, filings or notices which if not obtained or made would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.
4.4. Compliance with Applicable Laws.
(a) Parent and each of its Subsidiaries have in full force and effect all
material Permits necessary for it to own, lease or operate its properties and
assets and to carry on its business as now conducted, except in any case in
which the failure so to have in full force and effect all material Permits would
not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on Parent. Parent and each of its Subsidiaries are in compliance
in all material respects with all such Permits and all terms required for the
continued effectiveness thereof. No investigation or proceeding is pending or,
to the knowledge of Parent, threatened, which would reasonably be expected to
result in the amendment, failure to renew, limitation, modification, suspension
or revocation of any such Permit, where such amendment, failure to renew,
limitation, modification, suspension or revocation would be material to Parent
or any Subsidiary.
(b) Parent and its Subsidiaries are (i) in compliance with the terms of
their respective certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other
charter or organizational documents and (ii) in compliance in all material
respects with all Applicable Laws.
4.5. Litigation. No action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or
governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving Parent or any
of its Subsidiaries or its or their property is pending or, to the best
knowledge of Parent, threatened that (a) would reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on the consummation of any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or (b) would reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect on Parent.
4.6. Information Supplied. The information supplied in writing by Parent
that is included or incorporated by reference in the Proxy Statement will not,
on the date it is first mailed to the holders of Company Common Stock or at the
time of any amendment or supplement thereto, contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, and will not, at the
time of the Company Shareholders Meeting, omit to state any material fact
necessary to correct any statement in any earlier communication with respect to
the Company Shareholders Meeting which shall have become false or misleading in
any material respect.
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4.7. Financing. Parent has or will have, prior to the Effective Time,
sufficient cash in immediately available funds to pay or cause Merger Sub to pay
the Merger Consideration pursuant to Article II hereof and to consummate the
Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby.
4.8. Brokers. No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other
person, other than ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇, Inc., the fees and expenses of which
will be paid by Parent, is entitled to any broker's, finder's, financial
advisor's or other similar fee or commission, or reimbursement of expenses, in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon
arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent or Merger Sub.
4.9. Merger Sub.
(a) True and complete copies of the organizational documents of Merger Sub,
each as in effect as of the date of this Agreement, have previously been made
available to the Company.
(b) Merger Sub was formed by Parent solely for the purpose of effecting the
Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Except as
contemplated by this Agreement, Merger Sub does not hold and has not held any
material assets or incurred any material liabilities, and has not carried on any
business activities other than in connection with the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(c) The authorized capital stock of Merger Sub consists of ten (10) shares
of common stock, par value $100.00 per share, all of which have been validly
issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by Parent free and clear
of any Lien.
(d) Parent, as sole shareholder of Merger Sub, has approved this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby, and no other vote or other action of
the shareholder of Merger Sub is required by the Applicable Laws, the
organizational documents of Merger Sub or otherwise in order for Merger Sub to
consummate the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby.
4.10. Parent Ownership of Company Securities. Parent and its affiliates do
not own of record or beneficially any shares of the Company Common Stock,
preferred stock of the Company or any options, warrants or other rights to
acquire the Company Common Stock or preferred stock of the Company.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS RELATING TO THE CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
5.1. Conduct of Business of the Company. Except as provided for in this
Agreement or as set forth in Section 5.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter, from
the date of this Agreement to the Closing Date, the Company shall, and shall
cause its Subsidiaries to, carry on their respective businesses only in the
ordinary course of business and, to the extent consistent therewith, use
reasonable best efforts to preserve intact their current business organizations
and their relationships with agents, insureds and others having business
dealings with them. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, from the
date of this Agreement to the Closing Date,
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except as contemplated by this Agreement, the Company shall not, and shall not
permit any of its Subsidiaries to, without the prior consent of Parent:
(a) (i) declare, issue, make, set aside or pay any dividends on, or make
any other distributions (whether in cash, stock, property or other thing of
value) in respect of, any of the Company's or any Subsidiary's outstanding
capital stock, (ii) split, combine, subdivide or reclassify any of its
outstanding capital stock or issue or authorize the issuance of any other
securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for shares of its
outstanding capital stock or (iii) purchase, redeem, retire or otherwise acquire
any shares of outstanding capital stock of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or any rights, warrants or options to acquire any such shares;
(b) issue, sell, grant, pledge or otherwise encumber any shares of its
capital stock, any other voting securities or any securities convertible into,
or any rights, warrants or options to acquire, any such shares, voting
securities or convertible securities;
(c) sell, lease, license or otherwise dispose of (including by way of
reinsurance), or pledge, subject to a lien or otherwise encumber, any of its
assets, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice
(it being understood that any such actions taken regarding investment assets
which comply with the Company's investment guidelines currently in effect, or
those of its respective Subsidiaries, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be
taken in the ordinary course of business);
(d) (i) amend or change its certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other
comparable organizational documents or (ii) merge with or into or consolidate
with any other person or entity;
(e) (i) acquire (including by way of portfolio reinsurance, merger,
consolidation or acquisition of stock or assets) any person or entity or
division thereof, or a material portion of the assets of any of the foregoing,
(ii) liquidate, dissolve or wind up its business or (iii) organize any new
subsidiary;
(f) (i) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee or otherwise
become responsible for any such indebtedness of another person or entity, except
in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or (ii) make
any loans or make or receive any capital contributions or other equity
investment other than as to such matters related to the investment portfolio of
the Company or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice;
(g) abandon, modify, waive, terminate or otherwise change any material
Permit of the Company or any Company Insurance Subsidiary except (i) as may be
required in order to comply with Applicable Laws or (ii) in the ordinary course
of business consistent with past practice;
(h) terminate or materially amend any Material Contract, other than (i)
terminations or amendments in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice and (ii) renewals on substantially the same terms; or enter into
or amend any contract of a type that would meet the definition of Material
Contract if entered into on the date hereof other than in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice or as otherwise provided under this
Agreement;
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(i) unless required by Applicable Laws or to comply with changes in GAAP or
SAP, change in any material respect any of its methods, policies, practices or
principles with respect to financial or statutory accounting, reserving, hedging
or investing or otherwise engaging in derivatives transactions, underwriting or
claims administration or reinsurance;
(j) pay, discharge, settle or satisfy any claims, litigation, liabilities
or obligations (absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent or
otherwise), other than (i) payment, discharge, settlement or satisfaction fully
reserved against in the most recent consolidated financial statements of the
Company included in the Company SEC Documents or (ii) on liabilities incurred
since the date of such financial statements, payment, discharge, settlement or
satisfaction in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(k) amend or terminate any Company Employee Benefit Plan, except as may be
required by Applicable Laws; or with respect to any employee, enter into or
amend any employment or consulting contract or agreement, or increase
compensation, wages or bonuses other than in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice (provided there will be no increase in
compensation, wages or bonuses paid to any officers or directors of the Company
or its Subsidiaries), or commit or agree to any changes in its severance terms
or policies; or change in any material respect the terms for, or policies with
respect to, the payment of commissions to any of its agents;
(l) except as required by Applicable Laws (i) settle or compromise any
material Tax liability of the Company or its Subsidiaries that has not been
fully accrued for in accordance with GAAP on the most recent financial
statements that are included in the Company SEC Documents (ii) file any amended
Tax Returns with respect to any material Taxes; (iii) make or change any
material Tax election; (iv) change any annual Tax accounting period; (v)
surrender any right to claim a material Tax refund; or (vi) waive or extend the
statute of limitations in respect of material Taxes (other than pursuant to
extensions of time to file Tax Returns obtained in the ordinary course of
business);
(m) enter into, amend or modify any reinsurance agreement or treaty or
amend, modify or otherwise revise any forms of insurance policy other than
facultative reinsurance;
(n) make or agree to make any capital expenditure or expenditures in an
amount that, in the aggregate, exceeds the aggregate amount of capital
expenditures set forth for the period between the date of this Agreement and the
Closing Date on Section 5.1(n) of the Company Disclosure Letter; or
(o) agree or commit in writing or otherwise to take any of the actions
prohibited by this Section 5.1.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement is intended to give the
Parent or Merger Sub, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the
business or operations of the Company or its Subsidiaries at any time prior to
the Effective Time. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company and its
Subsidiaries shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, complete control and supervision over their own business and
operations.
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ARTICLE VI
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
6.1. Preparation of Proxy Statement; Shareholders Meetings. (a) As promptly
as practicable after the date hereof, and in any event within 90 days following
the date hereof, the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC a preliminary
proxy statement relating to the Company Shareholders Meeting (together with any
amendments thereof or supplements thereto, the "Proxy Statement") in compliance
with the applicable provisions of the Exchange Act. The Company will use its
reasonable best efforts to respond promptly to (and in any event within 14 days
of receiving) any comments made by the SEC with respect to the Proxy Statement.
The Company will include in the Proxy Statement (i) the recommendation of the
Board of Directors that the stockholders of the Company vote in favor of the
adoption of this Agreement and (ii) the Fairness Opinion. Parent shall cooperate
with the Company in connection with the preparation of the Proxy Statement, and
shall furnish all information concerning Parent and Merger Sub as the Company
may reasonably request in connection with the preparation of the Proxy
Statement. The Company will provide Parent with a reasonable opportunity to
review and comment on the Proxy Statement, any amendment or supplement to the
Proxy Statement and any written response to any comments or inquiry from the SEC
prior to filing or providing such to the SEC, shall include in such document or
response any comments reasonably proposed by Parent and will provide Parent with
a copy of all such filings made with the SEC.
(b) The Company will advise Parent as promptly as practicable after it
receives notice of any request by the SEC for amendment of the Proxy Statement
or comments thereon and responses thereto or requests by the SEC for additional
information.
(c) The Company agrees that none of the information supplied or to be
supplied by the Company for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy
Statement or any supplemental proxy, at the time of mailing thereof and at the
time of the Company Shareholders Meeting, will contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. Parent agrees that none of the information
supplied or to be supplied by Parent for inclusion or incorporation by reference
in the Proxy Statement or any supplemental proxy, at the time of mailing thereof
and at the time of the Company Shareholders Meeting, will contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(d) The Company shall duly call, give notice of, convene and hold an annual
or special meeting of the Company's shareholders (the "Company Shareholders
Meeting") as promptly as reasonably practicable within 60 days following the
SEC's approval of the filing of the Proxy Statement for the purpose of obtaining
the Required Company Vote with respect to the Merger and the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and, in connection therewith, the Company shall
mail the Proxy Statement to the holders of Company Common Stock in advance of
such meeting in a timely manner in compliance with all Applicable Laws and with
the Company's organizational documents. The Company shall take all lawful action
to (i) solicit from the holders of Company Common Stock proxies in favor of the
adoption of this Agreement and approval of the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and (ii)
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take all other actions necessary or advisable to secure the vote or consent of
the holders of Company Common Stock required by Applicable Law to obtain such
approval, including confirming its approval and recommendation of the terms of
this Agreement upon request; provided that the Company may (and at the request
of the Parent shall) extend the date of the Company Shareholders Meeting to the
extent (A) necessary in order to obtain a quorum of its shareholders or (B) the
Company reasonably determines that such delay is required by Applicable Law. At
the Company Shareholders Meeting, Parent and its Affiliates will vote all Shares
owned by them, if any, in favor of adoption of this Agreement and approval of
the Merger. The Company shall not be required to hold the Company Shareholders
Meeting if this Agreement is terminated before that meeting is held.
6.2. Access to Information. (a) Upon reasonable notice, the Company shall,
and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, afford to the officers, employees,
accountants, counsel, financial advisors and other representatives of Parent
(including representatives of a nationally recognized rating agency, if
requested by Parent), access, during normal business hours during the period
prior to the Effective Time, to all properties, books, contracts, records,
commitments, officers and employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries and,
during such period, the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, make
available to Parent (i) a copy of each report, schedule, registration statement
and other document filed or received by the Company and its Subsidiaries during
such period pursuant to the requirements of federal or state securities laws, or
the HSR Act, state insurance laws or the rules and regulations of self
regulatory organizations (other than reports or documents which it is not
permitted to disclose under Applicable Laws) and (ii) all other information
concerning the Company's and its Subsidiaries' business, properties and
personnel as Parent may reasonably request. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries shall be required to provide access to
or to disclose information where such access or disclosure would violate or
prejudice the rights of its customers, jeopardize the attorney-client privilege
of the institution in possession or control of such information or contravene
any Applicable Law.
(b) The parties will hold any such information which is nonpublic in
confidence to the extent required by, and in accordance with, the provisions of
the Confidentiality Agreement dated November 2, 2007 between the Company and
Parent (the "Confidentiality Agreement"), which Confidentiality Agreement will
remain in effect.
6.3. Reasonable Best Efforts.
(a) Each of the Company and Parent shall, and shall cause its respective
Subsidiaries to, use all reasonable best efforts (i) to take, or cause to be
taken, all actions necessary, proper or advisable to comply promptly with all
legal requirements which may be imposed on such party or its Subsidiaries with
respect to the Merger and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement as promptly as practicable and (ii) to obtain, and to cooperate with
the other party to obtain, any consent, authorization, order or approval of, or
any exemption by, any Governmental Entity and/or any other public or private
third party that is required to be obtained by such party or any of its
Subsidiaries in connection with the Merger and the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, including without limitation, the necessary approvals from the
New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance ("DOBI") with respect to the
acquisition of control of the Company by Parent and the other consents and
approvals required under Sections
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3.7 and 4.3; provided, however, that neither Parent nor any of its affiliates
shall be obligated (i) to accept any approval of the acquisition of control by
DOBI which does not also include (as part of such approval or pursuant to a
separate approval) authorization by DOBI that that the Surviving Corporation and
its Subsidiaries may non-renew at least 7,000 of the homeowners policies in the
DOBI New Jersey Wind Map zip codes as in effect on the date of this Agreement
that the Company had in effect on December 31, 2007 (plus a number at least
equal to the number of any additional such policies written by the Company since
that date), (ii) to divest any of their respective assets or any of the assets
being acquired under this Agreement, or (iii) to accept any condition imposed by
any Governmental Entity that in Parent's reasonable judgment would materially
effect the respective businesses of the Parent, any of its affiliates or the
Surviving Corporation, or otherwise materially reduce the benefits to Parent,
any of its affiliates or the Surviving Corporation resulting from the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In connection
with the foregoing, Parent will use its reasonable best efforts to enlist
unaffiliated third parties to provide coastal capacity for the affected
non-renewed customers in the DOBI New Jersey Wind Map zip codes contemplated
above. In addition, the Company's directors and officers will cooperate and
participate in Parent's efforts to obtain a rating confirmation; provided,
however, that this shall not be deemed to be a requirement that an actual rating
confirmation be obtained by Parent or the Surviving Corporation.
(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Parent agrees that
within 21 days from the date hereof, it will cause a completed submission of a
draft Form A to be made to DOBI with respect to its acquisition of control of
the Company (such date of filing, the "Form A Submission Date"). Parent agrees
that it shall respond to all comments to such draft application, and requests
for additional information in connection with such draft application, made by
DOBI within 10 days after receipt thereof. Parent shall keep the Company
apprised of the status of all applications to, and proceedings before,
Governmental Entities in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and the Company shall reasonably cooperate in the preparation of the
Form A application. Parent shall provide to the Company copies of all filings to
Governmental Entities in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and Parent shall keep the Company apprised of all discussions and the
outcomes thereof between Parent and any Governmental Entity in connection with
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
6.4. Acquisition Proposals.
(a) The Company agrees that after the date hereof it shall not, and it
shall, (x) cause it and its Subsidiaries' officers, directors and employees not
to, and (y) direct, and use its reasonable best efforts to cause, its and its
Subsidiaries' agents and representatives (including any investment banker,
attorney or accountant retained by it or any of its Subsidiaries) not to,
directly or indirectly, (i) initiate, solicit, encourage or knowingly facilitate
any inquiries or the making of any Acquisition Proposal (as defined below), (ii)
have any discussions with, or provide any confidential information or data to,
any person relating to an Acquisition Proposal, or engage in any negotiations
concerning an Acquisition Proposal, or knowingly facilitate any effort or
attempt to make or implement an Acquisition Proposal, (iii) waive, terminate,
modify or fail to enforce any provision of any contractual "standstill" or
similar obligation of any person or entity other than Parent or its affiliates,
or (iv) approve, adopt or recommend, or propose to approve, adopt or recommend,
or execute or enter into, any letter of intent, agreement in principle, merger
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agreement, asset purchase or share exchange agreement, option agreement or other
similar agreement related to any Acquisition Proposal or propose or agree to do
any of the foregoing. As used in this Agreement, the term "Acquisition Proposal"
when used with respect to any party means (1) any proposal or offer with respect
to, or a transaction or series of transactions to effect, (x) a merger,
reorganization, share exchange, consolidation, business combination,
recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction or (y) any
acquisition in any manner of 20% or more of the Company's consolidated assets
(including stock of its Subsidiaries), or (2) any purchase or sale of, or tender
or exchange offer for, the Company's equity securities that, if consummated,
would result in any person or group of persons (or the shareholders of such
person or group) beneficially owning securities representing 20% or more of its
total voting power.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provisions of this
Agreement, the Board of Directors of the Company shall be permitted, prior to
the Company Shareholders Meeting, and subject to compliance with the other terms
of this Section 6.4 and to first entering into a confidentiality agreement with
such initiating person that contains provisions no less favorable to the Company
than those in the Confidentiality Agreement, to engage in discussions and
negotiations with, and provide nonpublic information or data to, or waive any
"standstill" agreement with, any person that has made a bona fide unsolicited
written Acquisition Proposal that the Board of Directors of the Company has
determined in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisor and
outside legal counsel, (A) is, or is reasonably likely to lead to, a Superior
Proposal and (B) for which the failure to take such action in connection
therewith would reasonably be expected to result in a violation of its fiduciary
duties under Applicable Laws; provided, that contemporaneously with furnishing
any non-public information to such initiating person, the Company furnishes such
non-public information to Parent to the extent such information has not been
previously furnished to Parent.
(c) The Company shall promptly (and in any event within 24 hours) notify
Parent after receipt of any Acquisition Proposal, or any request for nonpublic
information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by any third
party that informs the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that such third party
is considering making, or has made, an Acquisition Proposal, or any inquiry from
any third party seeking to have discussions or negotiations with the Company
relating to a possible Acquisition Proposal, and shall provide Parent a copy of
any such Acquisition Proposal (or a written summary of the material terms of any
such Acquisition Proposal not made in writing). The Company shall also promptly
(and in any event within 24 hours) notify Parent in writing if it enters into
discussions or negotiations concerning any Acquisition Proposal with, or
provides nonpublic information or data to, any third party in accordance with
Section 6.4(b), including the identity of such third party, and keep Parent
informed of the status and terms of any such proposals, offers, discussions or
negotiations on a current basis. The Company agrees that it and its Subsidiaries
shall not enter into any confidentiality agreement with any person subsequent to
the date hereof which prohibits the Company from providing the information
contemplated in this Section 6.4(c) to Parent.
(d) The Board of Directors of the Company shall not (i) withhold, withdraw,
amend, change, qualify or modify in a manner adverse to Parent, or publicly
propose to withhold, withdraw, amend, change, qualify or modify in a manner
adverse to Parent, its recommendation to the holders of shares of the Company
Common Stock in favor of the Merger; (ii) take any
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action or make any recommendation or public statement in connection with a
tender offer or exchange offer other than a recommendation against such offer;
or (iii) approve, adopt or recommend or publicly propose to approve or recommend
to the stockholders of the Company or enter into any letter of intent,
memorandum of understanding, agreement, option agreement or similar agreement or
arrangement with respect to any Acquisition Proposal (any of the actions
described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii), a "Change in Recommendation").
Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to obtaining the Required Company Vote: (A)
in response to an Acquisition Proposal that did not arise directly or indirectly
from a material breach of this Section 6.4, the Company's Board of Directors
may, if it determines in good faith, after consultation with its independent
legal and financial advisors, that the failure to take such action would be
reasonably likely to result in a breach of the Company's Board of Directors'
fiduciary duties to the Company's stockholders under Applicable Law, make a
Change in Recommendation; provided, that the Company's Board of Directors has
determined in good faith that such Acquisition Proposal constitutes a Superior
Proposal; or (B) in circumstances other than those described in (A) above, the
Company's Board of Directors may, if it determines in good faith, after
consulting with its independent legal and financial advisors, that the failure
to take such action would be reasonably likely to result in a breach of the
Company's Board of Directors' fiduciary duties to the Company stockholders under
Applicable Law, take any of the actions described in clause (i) of the
definition of "Change in Recommendation" and shall not be required to solicit
proxies in favor of approval of the Merger and shall not be required to mail the
Proxy Statement or hold the Company Shareholders Meeting; provided, that (1) the
Company has notified Parent in writing that the Company's Board of Directors is
prepared to make the determination set forth in this clause (B) setting forth
the reasons therefor in reasonable detail, and (2) at least five days following
effective delivery of such notice to Parent, the Company's Board of Directors,
after the conclusion of the negotiations and five-day notice period provided for
by Section 6.4(f) below, if applicable, remains prepared to make the
determination described in this clause (B) after taking into account
adjustments, if any, proposed by Parent to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary and to the extent allowed under
Applicable Law, any such withdrawal, modification or change of the
recommendation of the Company's Board of Directors, or recommendation or
proposed recommendation of any Superior Proposal shall not change the approval
of the Company's Board of Directors for purposes of causing any state takeover
statute or other state Law to be inapplicable to the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, including the Merger; and, provided further, that, prior to
making any Change in Recommendation, the Board of Directors of the Company shall
cause the Company to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Article VIII hereof,
and any purported termination of this Agreement pursuant to this sentence shall
be void and of no force or effect, unless the Company pays the Parent the
Company Termination Fee in accordance with Section 8.2(b) concurrently with such
termination.
(e) The Company agrees that (i) it will, and will cause its Subsidiaries,
and its and their officers, directors, agents, representatives and advisors to,
cease immediately and terminate any and all existing activities, discussions or
negotiations with any third parties conducted heretofore with respect to any
Acquisition Proposal, and (ii) it will not release any third party from, or
waive any provisions of, any confidentiality or standstill agreement to which it
or any of its Subsidiaries is a party with respect to any Acquisition Proposal.
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(f) For purposes of this Agreement, "Superior Proposal" means a bona fide
written Acquisition Proposal which the Board of Directors of the Company
concludes in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisors and
outside legal advisor, taking into account all legal, financial, regulatory and
other aspects of the proposal and the person making the proposal (including any
break-up fees, expense reimbursement provisions and conditions to consummation),
(i) is more favorable to the shareholders of the Company from a financial point
of view than the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and (ii) is fully financed or reasonably capable of being fully
financed; provided, however, that, for purposes of this definition of "Superior
Proposal," the term "Acquisition Proposal" shall have the meaning assigned to
such term in Section 6.4(a), except that the reference to "20% or more of its
total voting power" in the definition of "Acquisition Proposal" shall be deemed
to be a reference to "80% or more of its total voting power" and the reference
to "20% or more of its consolidated assets" shall be deemed to be a reference to
"80% or more of its consolidated assets"; and provided, further, that no
Acquisition Proposal shall be deemed a Superior Proposal unless and until (x)
the Company has given Parent at least five (5) business days' prior written
notice of the current terms and conditions of any such Acquisition Proposal and
have contemporaneously provided a copy of the relevant proposed transaction
agreement and other material documents (and in the event of any material change
to the financial or other material terms of such Acquisition Proposal, the
Company shall, in each case, have delivered to Parent an additional notice and
the notice period shall recommence), (y) the Company has negotiated in good
faith with Parent during such notice period, to the extent, if at all, Parent
wishes to negotiate, to enable Parent to propose changes to the terms of this
Agreement that would cause such Acquisition Proposal to no longer constitute a
Superior Proposal, and (z) the Board of Directors of the Company shall have
considered in good faith (after consultation with independent financial advisors
and outside legal counsel) any changes to this Agreement proposed in writing by
Parent and shall have determined that the Acquisition Proposal would continue to
constitute a Superior Proposal if such changes were to be given effect.
(g) Nothing contained in this Section 6.4 shall prohibit the Company or the
Board of Directors of the Company from (i) taking and disclosing to the holders
of the Company Common Stock a position with respect to a tender or exchange
offer by a third party pursuant to Rules 14d-9 and 14e-2(a) promulgated under
the Exchange Act or (ii) making any disclosure to the holders of the Company
Common Stock if, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the
Company, after consultation with its independent legal advisors, failing to make
such disclosure would be inconsistent with Applicable Law, including the federal
securities laws; provided that any such disclosure shall be deemed to be a
Change of Recommendation unless such disclosure contains a recommendation
against any Acquisition Proposal and a reaffirmation of the Board's
recommendation in favor of the Merger, or the Company Board publicly reaffirms
its recommendation in favor of the Merger within two (2) business days of a
request by Parent to do so.
6.5. Fees and Expenses. Whether or not the Merger is consummated, all costs
and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such expense, except as
otherwise provided in Section 8.2.
6.6. Certain Actions. Parent (i) for a period of not less than 12 months,
will use its reasonable best efforts to provide homeowners new business capacity
to Company partner
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agents, appointed or already appointed by Parent subject to underwriting
guidelines established and on file by the Parent, and (ii) for a period of not
less than 12 months, homeowners customers of appointed agents who are eligible
for renewal, except those coastal policies non-renewed as set forth in Section
6.3(a), will be offered renewals subject to underwriting guidelines established
by the Parent.
6.7. Indemnification; Directors' and Officers' Insurance. (a) From and
after the Effective Time, Parent shall, or shall cause the Surviving Corporation
to, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Laws, indemnify, defend and
hold harmless, and provide advancement of expenses to, each person who is now,
or has been at any time prior to the date hereof or who becomes prior to the
Effective Time, an officer or director of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, in their capacity as such and not as stockholders or option
holders of the Company or its Subsidiaries (the "Indemnified Parties") against
all losses, claims, damages, costs, expenses, liabilities or judgments or
amounts that are paid in settlement of or in connection with any claim, action,
suit, proceeding or investigation based in whole or in part on, or arising in
whole or in part out of, the fact that such person is or was a director or
officer of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, and pertaining to any
matter existing or occurring, or any acts or omissions occurring, at or prior to
the Effective Time, whether asserted or claimed prior to, or at or after, the
Effective Time (including matters, acts or omissions occurring in connection
with the approval of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby) ("Indemnified Liabilities") to the same extent such persons
are indemnified or have the right to advancement of expenses as of the date of
this Agreement by the Company pursuant to the Company's Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws, as in effect on the date hereof.
(b) For a period of six years after the Effective Time, Parent shall cause
to be maintained in effect the current policies of directors' and officers'
liability insurance maintained by the Company (provided that Parent may
substitute therefor policies with a substantially comparable insurer of at least
the same coverage and amounts containing terms and conditions which are no less
advantageous to the insured) with respect to claims arising from facts or events
which occurred at or before the Effective Time; provided, however, that prior to
the Closing Date the Company will arrange for the provision of, and as of the
Closing Date the Company will have in effect, and will have prepaid any annual
premiums applicable to, policies of directors' and officers' liability insurance
in effect for a period of six years following the Closing Date (the "Tail
Period") with aggregate coverage limits no less than $50,000,000 and at a total
cost at or below $4,000,000 and which are otherwise substantially similar to, or
better, in the coverages and exclusions from coverages and the terms and
conditions provided for or contained in the directors' and officers' policies
currently maintained by the Company (the "Tail Coverage"). The Company may not
act as its own insurer for the Tail Coverage. Parent shall, within one day of
notice of the purchase of the Tail Coverage by the Company, or upon the purchase
of substantially comparable, or better, directors' and officers' liability
insurance coverage that will go into effect prior to the Effective Time that
provides a commitment by the insurer to continue such coverage through the Tail
Period (the "Amplified Coverage"), reimburse the Company for up to $1,000,000 of
the amount paid by the Company for the Tail Coverage or the Amplified Coverage
(but not both). The parties acknowledge that such reimbursement shall be
non-refundable to Parent, except that the Company shall promptly return to
Parent 100% of any amount in which Parent reimbursed the Company for its
purchase of the Tail Coverage or the Amplified Coverage if (i) the Company shall
terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section
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8.1(b), Section 8.1(c), Section 8.1(e) or Section 8.1(g) or (ii) Parent shall
terminate this agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(b), Section 8.1(c), Section
8.1(d), Section 8.1(f), Section 8.1(g) or Section 8.1(h).
(c) The provisions of this Section 6.7 are intended to be for the benefit
of, and shall be enforceable by, each Indemnified Party, his or her heirs and
representatives and are in addition to, and not in substitution for, any other
rights to indemnification or contribution that any such person may have by
contract or otherwise.
6.8. Delisting. The parties agree to cooperate with each other in taking,
or causing to be taken, all actions necessary to delist the Company Common Stock
from the Nasdaq National Market and to terminate registration under the Exchange
Act; provided, however, that such delisting and termination shall not be
effective until after the Effective Time.
6.9. Public Announcements. Parent and the Company shall use reasonable best
efforts (i) to develop a joint communications plan regarding this Agreement and
the Merger, (ii) to ensure that all press releases and other public statements
with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby shall be consistent with
such joint communications plan, and (iii) to consult with each other before
issuing any press release or, to the extent practical, otherwise making any
public statement with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby. In addition to the foregoing, except to the extent disclosed in or
consistent with the Proxy Statement in accordance with the provisions of Section
6.1, no party shall issue any press release or otherwise make any public
statement or disclosure concerning the other party or the other party's
business, financial condition or results of operations without the consent of
such other party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
6.10. Additional Agreements. In case any further action is necessary or
desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement or to vest the Surviving
Corporation with full title to all properties, assets, rights, approvals,
immunities and franchises of the Company, the proper officers and directors of
each party to this Agreement shall take all such necessary action.
6.11. Rule 16b-3. The Board of Directors of the Company may adopt a
resolution in advance of the Effective Time providing that the disposition by
Company Insiders (as defined below) of equity securities of the Company
(including derivative securities with respect to the equity securities of the
Company), in each case in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby,
is intended to be exempt pursuant to Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. For
purposes of this Agreement, "Company Insiders" means those officers and
directors of the Company and its subsidiaries who immediately prior to the
Closing are subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the
Exchange Act with respect to equity securities of the Company.
6.12. Employee Benefit Matters.
(a) For a period of 18 months immediately following the Closing Date, the
compensation, benefits and coverage provided to those individuals who are
employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries immediately prior to the
Closing Date and continue to be employees of the Surviving Corporation or its
Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date (each such employee, an "Affected Employee")
pursuant to employee benefit or compensation plans or
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arrangements maintained by Parent or the Surviving Corporation and its
Subsidiaries shall be, in the aggregate, substantially comparable (determined
without regard to equity-based plans and programs) to those provided to such
Affected Employees immediately prior to the Closing Date. Nothing in this
Section 6.12(a) shall be construed to require the continuation of the employment
of any Affected Employee for any period of time, or to change the at-will
employment status of any Affected Employee.
(b) Parent shall, or shall cause the Surviving Corporation and its
Subsidiaries to, use reasonable best efforts to, give the Affected Employees
full credit for purposes of eligibility and vesting (and for purposes of
determining the amount of vacation and paid time off) for such Affected
Employees' service with the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company under
employee benefit plans (other than equity-based plans) of Parent, the Surviving
Corporation or its Subsidiaries to the same extent recognized by the Company or
such Subsidiary of the Company immediately prior to the Closing Date except to
the extent that recognition of such service results in the duplication of
benefits. With respect to any employee benefit plan or arrangement established
by Parent or the Surviving Corporation after the Closing Date (the "Post Closing
Plans") for the benefit of the Affected Employees, service shall be credited in
accordance with the terms of such Post Closing Plans subject to the preceding
sentence.
(c) Parent shall, or shall cause the Surviving Corporation and its
Subsidiaries to use reasonable best efforts to, (i) waive all limitations as to
preexisting conditions, exclusions and waiting periods with respect to
participation and coverage requirements applicable to the Affected Employees
under any welfare benefit plan established by such Affected Employees, in which
such Affected Employees may be eligible to participate after the Closing Date,
other than limitations or waiting periods that are already in effect with
respect to such Affected Employees and that have not been satisfied as of the
date of such establishment under any welfare plan maintained for the Affected
Employees immediately prior to the Effective Time, and (ii) provide each
Affected Employee with credit for any co-payments and deductibles paid prior to
the date of such establishment and paid within the same plan year as the year in
which the Closing Date occurs in satisfying any applicable deductible or
out-of-pocket requirements under any welfare plans that such Affected Employees
are eligible to participate in after the Closing Date for such year.
(d) Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries to
honor all employment, severance, consulting and retention agreements or
arrangements and all Company Employee Benefit Plans; provided, however, that
this Section 6.12 is not intended to prevent Parent or the Surviving Corporation
from exercising its respective rights with respect to such agreements or
arrangements and all Company Employee Benefit Plans in accordance with their
terms, including, but not limited to, the right to alter, terminate or otherwise
amend all such agreements and arrangements and Company Employee Benefit Plans.
6.13. Non-Compete. If Parent shall at any time be required to pay the
termination damages set forth in Section 9.8(a), from such date until the second
anniversary thereof, neither Parent nor its Affiliates shall solicit any holder
of a Company Policy, other than by way of general solicitations not specifically
targeted to a holder of a Company Policy, nor shall Parent or its Affiliates
utilize any agents or brokers appointed by both the Company and Parent to
solicit
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any Company Policy. "Company Policy" means any policy of the Company in effect
on date that any termination damage payment is required to be paid under
Section 9.8(a).
ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
7.1. Conditions to Each Party's Obligation To Effect the Merger. The
respective obligation of each party to effect the Merger shall be subject to the
satisfaction prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions, unless
waived by both Parent and the Company:
(a) Shareholder Approval. The Company shall have obtained the Required
Company Vote.
(b) HSR Approval. The applicable waiting periods (and any extension
thereof) under the HSR Act shall have expired or been terminated.
(c) Regulatory Matters. Other than the filing provided for by Section 1.2,
all material authorizations, consents, orders, approvals of or declarations or
filings with, and all expirations of waiting periods required from, any
Governmental Entity that is required to be obtained in connection with the
consummation of the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby (all of the
foregoing, the "Requisite Regulatory Approvals") shall have been filed, have
occurred or been obtained. All Requisite Regulatory Approvals shall be in full
force and effect without any unsatisfied conditions, restrictions or
requirements and any conditions imposed in connection with the foregoing,
individually or in the aggregate, shall not be inconsistent with the proviso of
Section 6.3(a).
(d) No Injunctions or Restraints; Illegality. No temporary restraining
order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other order issued by any court of
competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the
consummation of the Merger shall be in effect and there shall not be any action
taken, or any statute, rule, regulation or order enacted, entered, enforced or
deemed applicable to the Merger, by any Governmental Entity of competent
jurisdiction that makes the consummation of the Merger illegal or otherwise
prevents or prohibits the Merger.
7.2. Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub. The obligations of
Parent and Merger Sub to effect the Merger is subject to the satisfaction of the
following conditions unless waived by Parent:
(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of
the Company set forth in (A) Sections 3.2 and 3.12(a) shall be true and correct
as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on
and as of the Closing Date, and (B) all other Sections of this Agreement,
disregarding all qualifications and exceptions therein relating to materiality
or Material Adverse Effect, shall be true and correct as of the date of this
Agreement and, except to the extent such representations and warranties speak as
of an earlier date, as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the
Closing Date, subject to such exceptions as do not have and would not reasonably
be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect
on the Company, and Parent shall have received a
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certificate signed on behalf of the Company by the Chief Executive Officer and
the Chief Financial Officer of the Company to such effect.
(b) Performance of Obligations of the Company. The Company shall have (A)
performed or complied with all agreements and covenants required to be performed
by it under Sections 5.1(a), 5.1(b) and 5.1(d) in all respects, and (B)
performed or complied with the agreements and covenants required to be performed
by it under all other Sections of this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date
that are qualified as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect and shall have
performed or complied in all material respects with all other obligations
required to be performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing
Date, and Parent shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the
Company by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the
Company to such effect.
(c) Other Conditions.
(i) The Tail Coverage shall be in effect and shall have been procured
for less than the amount specified in Section 6.7(b).
(ii) As of the end of the Company's most recent fiscal quarter or
fiscal year, as applicable, for which financial statements have been filed with
the SEC or statutory statements with DOBI, as applicable, the total
stockholders' equity of the Company, as determined on a consolidated basis and
in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis, shall not be less than
$129,600,000, and the total capital and surplus of Proformance Insurance
Company, as determined in accordance with SAP applied on a consistent basis and
set forth in the statutory statements of admitted assets, liabilities, and
capital and surplus, shall not be less than $113,400,000; provided, that, the
net reserves reflected in such statements shall be not less than the amount
equal to the sum of (A) the minimum amount in the range of net reserves
recommended in the most recent Actuary report at or prior to the time of
Closing, plus (B) 45% of the difference between the maximum amount of such range
and the minimum amount of such range. In the case of each of the foregoing, the
determination of such amounts shall not give effect to (i) any costs of the
financial advisor which have been disclosed pursuant to Section 3.24 and (ii)
premiums paid by the Company for the purchase of the Tail Coverage or the
Amplified Coverage (less any reimbursement thereof by Parent).
(iii) No investigation or proceeding by any Governmental Entity, in
each case involving matters that give rise to allegations of criminal activity
or fraud, involving the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their
respective directors or officers in their capacity as such, shall be pending
which could reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(iv) The A.M. Best Financial Strength Rating of Proformance Insurance
Company shall be at least "B-" (B-minus), or better.
7.3. Conditions to Obligations of the Company. The obligation of the
Company to effect the Merger is subject to the satisfaction of the following
conditions unless waived by the Company:
(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of
Parent and Merger Sub set forth in this Agreement, disregarding all
qualifications and exceptions
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therein relating to materiality or Material Adverse Effect, shall be true and
correct as of the date of this Agreement and, except to the extent such
representations and warranties speak as of an earlier date, as of the Closing
Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date, subject to such exceptions as
do not have, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent, and the Company shall have
received a certificate signed on behalf of Parent by the Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of Parent to such effect.
(b) Performance of Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub. Parent and Merger
Sub shall have performed or complied with all agreements and covenants required
to be performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date that
are qualified as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect and shall have
performed or complied in all material respects with all other obligations
required to be performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing
Date, and the Company shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of
Parent by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial
Officer of Parent to such effect.
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT
8.1. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the
Effective Time:
(a) by mutual consent of Parent and the Company in a written instrument;
(b) by either Parent or the Company, upon written notice to the other
party, if a Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction which must grant a
Requisite Regulatory Approval has denied approval of the Merger and such denial
has become final and unappealable; or any Governmental Entity of competent
jurisdiction shall have issued an order, decree or ruling or taken any other
action permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Merger,
and such order, decree, ruling or other action has become final and
unappealable; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement
under this Section 8.1(b) shall not be available to any party whose failure to
comply with Section 6.3 or any other provision of this Agreement has been the
cause of, or resulted in, such action;
(c) by either Parent or the Company, upon written notice to the other
party, if the Merger shall not have been consummated on or before September 5,
2008 (the "Outside Date"); provided, however, that the right to terminate this
Agreement under this Section 8.1(c) shall not be available to any party whose
failure to comply with any provision of this Agreement has been the cause of, or
resulted in, the failure of the Effective Time to occur on or before such date
if such failure to comply constitutes a breach of this Agreement;
(d) by Parent, upon written notice to the Company that (A) the Board of
Directors of the Company or any committee thereof shall have for any reason
effected a Change in Recommendation; (B) the Company fails to include the
recommendation of the Board of Directors of the Company in favor of this
Agreement in the Proxy Statement; (C) the Company fails to convene and hold the
Company Shareholders Meeting within 60 days following the
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SEC's approval of the filing of the Proxy Statement as required by Section
6.1(d); or (D) the Board of Directors of the Company shall have failed to
publicly reconfirm its approval and recommendation of the terms of this
Agreement prior to the Required Company Vote within two (2) business days of a
written request from Parent to do so provided that, except as otherwise provided
herein, Parent shall only be entitled to two such requests;
(e) by the Company pursuant to Section 6.4(d);
(f) by either Parent or the Company, upon written notice to the other
party, if there shall have been a breach by the other party of any of the
covenants or agreements or any of the representations or warranties set forth in
this Agreement on the part of such other party, which breach, either
individually or in the aggregate, would result in, if occurring or continuing on
the Closing Date, the failure of the condition set forth in Section 7.2(a) or
(b) or Section 7.3(a) or (b), as the case may be, and which breach has not been
cured within 60 days following written notice thereof to the breaching party or,
by its nature, cannot be cured within such time period; provided, that the right
to terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.1(f) shall not be available to
any party that is then in material breach of this Agreement and that such
material breach would result in the closing conditions set forth in Sections
7.1, 7.2 or 7.3 not being satisfied;
(g) by either Parent or the Company, if the Required Company Vote shall not
have been obtained upon a vote taken on this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement at the duly convened Company Shareholders
Meeting; or
(h) by Parent, upon written notice to the Company, if there shall have been
a failure of the condition set forth in Section 7.2(c)(iv) at any time following
the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date.
8.2. Effect of Termination. (a) In the event of termination of this
Agreement by either the Company or Parent as provided in Section 8.1, this
Agreement shall forthwith become void and there shall be no liability or
obligation on the part of Parent or the Company or their respective officers or
directors, except with respect to Section 6.9, this Section 8.2 and Article IX,
which shall survive such termination and except that, other than as set forth in
Section 8.2(b), no party shall be relieved or released from any liabilities or
damages arising out of any fraud in connection with or any material breach of
this Agreement.
(b) The Company shall pay Parent as promptly as reasonably practicable
(and, in any event, within two (2) business days following such termination
described below) and Parent shall accept as its exclusive remedy, by wire
transfer of immediately available funds, the sum of $2,100,000 of Merger
Consideration (the "Company Termination Fee") if this Agreement is terminated as
follows:
(i) if Company shall terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section
8.1(e) or Parent shall terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(d); or
(ii) if (A) either party shall terminate this Agreement pursuant to
Section 8.1(g) because the Required Company Vote shall not have been received,
(B) at any time after the date of this Agreement and at or before the date of
the Company Shareholders Meeting an
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Acquisition Proposal with respect to the Company shall have been publicly
announced, and (C) within twelve months after the date of such termination of
this Agreement, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries enters into any
definitive agreement with respect to, or consummates, any Acquisition Proposal,
then the Company shall pay the Company Termination Fee upon the earlier of the
date of such execution or consummation.
(iii) If the Company fails to pay all amounts due to Parent on the
dates specified, then the Company shall pay all costs and expenses (including
legal fees and expenses) incurred by Parent in connection with any action or
proceeding (including the filing of any lawsuit) taken by it to collect such
unpaid amounts, together with interest on such unpaid amounts at the prime
lending rate prevailing at such time, as published in The Wall Street Journal,
from the date such amounts were required to be paid until the date actually
received by Parent.
(c) Subject to subsection (b)(ii) of this Section 8.2, if either party
shall terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(g) because the Required
Company Vote shall not have been obtained, all costs and expenses incurred by
Parent and Merger Sub in connection with this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be reimbursed by the Company (up to an amount not to
exceed $1,500,000).
8.3. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto at any
time before or after approval of the matters presented in connection with the
Merger by the shareholders of the Company or of Parent, but, after any such
approval, no amendment shall be made which by law requires further approval by
such shareholders without such further approval. This Agreement may not be
amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the
parties hereto.
8.4. Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time, the
parties hereto may, to the extent legally allowed, (i) extend the time for the
performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other party hereto,
(ii) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained
herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto and (iii) waive compliance
with any of the agreements or conditions contained herein. Any agreement on the
part of a party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if
set forth in a written instrument signed on behalf of such party. The failure of
a party to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not
constitute a waiver of those rights. No single or partial exercise of any right,
remedy, power or privilege hereunder shall preclude any other or further
exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege.
Any waiver shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific
purpose for which given and shall not constitute a waiver to any subsequent or
other exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder.
ARTICLE IX
GENERAL PROVISIONS
9.1. Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties. None of the
representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement or in any schedule,
instrument or other document
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delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Effective Time, except
for those covenants and agreements contained herein and therein which by their
terms apply or are to be performed in whole or in part after the Effective Time.
9.2. Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other
communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed
given if delivered personally, sent by facsimile (which is confirmed) or sent by
overnight courier (providing proof of delivery) to the parties at the following
addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like
notice):
(a) if to Parent, to:
Palisades Safety and Insurance Association
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Corporate Center II
▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, President
Facsimile: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
with a copy to:
Palisades/High Point Corporate Law
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, SPHR
Chief Legal Officer
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
and
Ropes & ▇▇▇▇ LLP
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Fine
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
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(b) if to the Company, to:
National Atlantic Holdings Corporation
▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
with a copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
9.3. Interpretation. When a reference is made in this Agreement to an
Article, Section, Exhibit or Schedule, such reference shall be to an Article or
Section of, or an Exhibit or Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise
indicated. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are
for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words "include," "includes" or
"including" are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by
the words "without limitation." The phrase "made available" in this Agreement
shall mean that the information referred to has been made available if requested
by the party to whom such information is to be made available. The words
"hereof," "herein" and "hereunder" and words or similar import when used in this
Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular
provision of this Agreement. All terms defined in this Agreement shall have the
defined meanings when used in any certificate or other document made or
delivered pursuant hereto unless otherwise defined therein. The definitions
contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural
forms of such terms and to the masculine as well as to the feminine and neuter
genders of such term. Any agreement, instrument or statute defined or referred
to herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means
such agreement, instrument or statute as from time to time amended, modified or
supplemented, including (in the case of agreements or instruments) by waiver or
consent and (in the case of statutes) by succession of comparable successor
statutes. References to a person shall include both natural persons and legal
entities, and are also references to such person's permitted successors and
assigns.
9.4. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall be
considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or
more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the
other party.
9.5. Entire Agreement; No Other Representations; No Third Party
Beneficiaries. This Agreement (including any exhibits and schedules hereto) and
the Confidentiality Agreement constitute the entire agreement, and supersede all
prior agreements, understandings,
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representations and warranties, both written and oral, among the parties with
respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. Parent acknowledges that
neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or officer, director, employee,
representative or advisor of any of them makes or has made any representation or
warranty, express or implied, to Parent except as specifically made in this
Agreement or in any certificate or other document delivered pursuant hereto.
Except for the provisions of Article II (which shall be for the benefit of the
holders of the Company Common Stock), Section 6.7 (which shall be for the
benefit of the Indemnified Parties), this Agreement is not intended to confer
upon any person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.
9.6. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with (a) the laws of the State of New Jersey with respect to matters,
issues and questions relating to the fiduciary duties of the Board of Directors
and officers of each of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub and other matters to
which the laws of the State of New Jersey are mandatorily applicable, and (b)
the laws of the State of New York with respect to all other matters, issues and
questions regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable
principles of conflicts of laws.
9.7. Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or
obligations under this Agreement shall be assigned, in whole or in part, by
operation of law or otherwise by either of the parties hereto without the prior
written consent of the other party. Any assignment in violation of the preceding
sentence shall be void. Subject to the preceding two sentences, this Agreement
will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the
parties and their respective successors and assigns.
9.8. Termination Damages; Enforcement.
(a) In the event that (i) the conditions to Closing are satisfied under
Section 7.1 and Section 7.2 hereof prior to the Outside Date, (ii) no Material
Event has occurred and is continuing and (iii) Parent fails to close the Merger
within the period provided for in Section 1.3 hereof, Parent shall pay to the
Company termination damages of $8,000,000 upon termination of this Agreement by
the Company; provided, such amount shall be reduced to $6,000,000 following the
Form A Submission Date.
(b) In the event that (i) the conditions to Closing are satisfied under
Section 7.1 and Section 7.2 hereof prior to the Outside Date, (ii) a Material
Event has occurred and is continuing and (iii) Parent fails to close the Merger
within the period provided for in Section 1.3 hereof, Parent shall pay to the
Company termination damages of $5,000,000 upon termination of this Agreement by
the Company; provided, such amount shall be reduced to $3,000,000 following the
Form A Submission Date.
(c) The amount of any termination damages payable to the Company pursuant
to Section 9.8(a) or Section 9.8(b) shall be reduced (or, following the Form A
Submission Date, further reduced) by $2,000,000 if, at any time subsequent to
the date of this Agreement but prior to the date this Agreement is terminated,
the A.M. Best Financial Strength Rating of Proformance Insurance Company shall
be "B" or "B-" (B-minus).
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(d) "Material Event" shall mean (i) any representation or warranty of the
Company, made as of the date of this Agreement or as of the date that all other
conditions in Section 7.1 or Section 7.2 have been met, not having been true and
correct in all respects as of either such date, disregarding all qualifications
and exceptions therein relating to materiality or Material Adverse Effect;
provided that the effect from all such breaches would be reasonably expected to
result in liabilities, expenses, losses and damages to Parent and/or Company
which in aggregate exceed $5,000,000; and provided, further, that no liability,
expense, loss or damage in an individual amount reasonably expected to be less
than $10,000 shall be included in the aggregate $5,000,000 calculation set forth
in the preceding proviso; (ii) the failure of the condition in Section
7.2(c)(ii) to be met had the reference to "$129,600,000" been replaced with a
reference to "$136,800,000" or had the reference to "$113,400,000" been replaced
with a reference to "$119,700,000" or (iii) any pending action, suit,
litigation, investigation, inquiry or proceeding by any Governmental Entity, in
each case involving matters that give rise to allegations of criminal activity
or fraud involving the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their
respective directors or officers in their capacity as such.
(e) Any payment made pursuant to Section 9.8(a), Section 9.8(b) or Section
9.8(c) shall be deemed to be termination damages for any and all losses or
damages suffered or incurred by the Company in connection with the matter
forming the basis for such termination. The parties agree that the Parent's
payment of the foregoing termination damages shall be the sole and exclusive
remedy of the Company and its Subsidiaries against Parent, Merger Sub and any of
their respective former, current or future directors, officers, employees,
agents, partners, managers, members, affiliates, stockholders, assignees or
representatives of any of the foregoing (each a "Specified Person") for any loss
or damage suffered by the Company, its Subsidiaries or any other person or
entity as a result of such failure of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the
Merger, and upon the termination of this Agreement and Parent's payment of the
foregoing termination damages, none of Parent, Merger Sub or any of their
respective Specified Persons shall have any further liability or obligation
relating to or arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement except as set forth in Section 6.13.
(f) The parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that
any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed by the Company in
accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached and that, prior
to termination pursuant to Section 8.1, Parent and Merger Sub shall be entitled
to specific performance of the terms hereof. Accordingly, the parties
acknowledge and agree that in the event of any breach or threatened breach by
the Company of any of its covenants or obligations set forth in this Agreement,
Parent and Merger Sub shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to
prevent or restrain breaches or threatened breaches of this Agreement by the
Company and to specifically enforce the terms and provisions of this Agreement
to prevent breaches or threatened breaches of, or to enforce compliance with,
the covenants and obligations of the Company under this Agreement, in addition
to any other remedy that may be available at law or in equity.
9.9. Consent to Jurisdiction . Each of the parties hereto (a) consents to
submit itself to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of the Commercial Division
of the New York Supreme Court, County of New York (the "Commercial Court") in
the event any dispute arises out of this Agreement or any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and (b) agrees that it will not attempt to deny
or defeat such personal jurisdiction or venue by motion or other request for
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leave from the Commercial Court, and (c) agrees that it will not bring any
action relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement in any court other than the Commercial Court.
9.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY
IN ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED
WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
9.11. Severability. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this
Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be
invalid, void, unenforceable or against its regulatory or public policy, the
remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired
or invalidated. Upon any determination that any term, provision, covenant or
restriction is invalid, void, unenforceable or against its regulatory or public
policy, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this
Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as
possible to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Laws in an acceptable
manner to the end that the transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the
extent possible.
[Remainder of page is intentionally blank. Signatures follow.]
A-45
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
a duly authorized officer of Parent, Merger Sub, and Company as of April 17,
2008.
PALISADES SAFETY AND INSURANCE
ASSOCIATION
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: President
APOLLO HOLDINGS, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: President
NATIONAL ATLANTIC HOLDINGS
CORPORATION
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Chief Executive Officer