Commercial: We are the fifth largest writer of commercial lines property and casualty insurance distributed through independent agencies in the United States, based on 2009 net written premiums, according to A.M. Best data. We offer insurance coverage for commercial multiple peril, commercial automobile, workers compensation, general liability and other commercial risks to small and mid-size
EX-10.125 116 b80759a2exv10w125.htm EX-10.125 exv10w125
Exhibit 10.125
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
This Amended and Restated Investment Management Agreement (this Agreement) is made and entered into this 1st day of January 2010 by and between Peerless Insurance Company (the Company), a New Hampshire stock insurance company and Liberty Mutual Investment Advisors LLC (the Advisor), a Massachusetts limited liability company and supersedes the prior agreement between the parties dated May 1, 2000.
WHEREAS, the Company desires to enter into a contract for the purpose of appointing the Advisor to manage the assets of its Account (hereinafter defined) in accordance with the terms hereof; and
WHEREAS, the Advisor is willing to manage the assets of the Account in accordance with the terms hereof;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Company and the Advisor hereby agree as follows:
1. Appointment. The Company hereby authorizes and appoints the Advisor as its investment advisor and, as its agent and attorney-in-fact, to exercise the investment discretion set forth below with respect to the assets of the Companys Account. Account shall mean the assets which Company notifies the Manager shall be included in the Account, together with the income, proceeds and profits thereon. The Company hereby authorizes and appoints the Advisor, as its agent and attorney-in-fact, to (i) execute all documentation on the Companys behalf necessary to open additional accounts in the Companys name to facilitate investments made within the investment discretion set forth in the Investment Guidelines, as defined below, and (ii) to execute all documentation, on the Companys behalf, to facilitate investment in securities for the Account.
2. Scope of Authorization for Investment Discretion. The Advisor shall manage the Companys Account in accordance with the investment policy and guidelines set forth on Appendices A and B respectively (such guidelines, the Investment Guidelines), as such may be amended from time-to-time by written agreement between the parties hereto. In connection therewith, the Advisor shall have full power to supervise and direct the investment and reinvestment of the cash, securities and other assets and to engage in such transactions on behalf of the Company as the Advisor may deem appropriate, in the Advisors absolute discretion and without prior consultation with the Company, subject only to this Agreement and the Investment Guidelines. The Company hereby acknowledges that the Advisor need not seek approval prior to engaging in any transaction where such transaction complies with the terms and conditions of the Investment Guidelines. The Company acknowledges that performance objectives referred to in Appendices A and B are intended as goals and not as an assurance or guarantee of performance.
In performing its duties under this Agreement, the Advisor will act in the interests of the Company, except as otherwise provided herein. The Advisor will not deal with the assets in the Companys Account in its own interest or for its own account and, in particular, will not, without prior written consent of the Company, as principal, sell assets to, purchase assets from, or borrow money or other property from the Companys Account.
Without limiting the foregoing, the Company hereby authorizes the Advisor:
(a) to act as the Companys agent and attorney-in-fact with respect to the Companys Account and to have complete discretionary control over the composition of the assets in the Account, including the power to make such acquisitions and disposals of investments as the Advisor considers appropriate, but always in accordance with the Investment Guidelines;
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(b) to issue to brokers instructions to buy or to sell or otherwise trade in or deal with any asset in the Account;
(c) to instruct any custodian of any asset in the Account to deliver any security or other asset sold, exchanged or otherwise disposed of from the Account;
(d) to pay any fee incurred on behalf of the Company in providing services under this Agreement, including commission expenses, attendant Securities and Exchange Commission transaction fees and National Association of Insurance Commissioners transaction fees which shall be paid from the Account in the conventional manner;
(e) to delegate any of its responsibilities, duties and authority set forth herein to, or otherwise to utilize the investment management services of, any of its affiliates provided that the Advisor will be fully accountable for any acts or omissions of an affiliate pursuant to such an arrangement, as if such acts or omissions were its own;
(f) to place any securities on deposit with any governmental authority as may be necessary or desirable to comply with applicable law, and to substitute other securities in their place;
(g) to perform any other act necessary or desirable to enable the Advisor to carry out its obligations under this Agreement; and
(h) unless directed otherwise by the Company, to vote proxies on behalf of the Account, solicited by or with respect to the issuers of securities in which the assets of the Account may be invested, pursuant to proxy voting guidelines maintained by the Advisor.
3. Reports and Compliance. Advisor shall promptly furnish to or place at the disposal of the Company, as appropriate, such information, reports, evaluations, analysis, and opinions as the Company may, at any time or from time to time, reasonably request. Additionally, Advisor shall furnish such information, reports and evaluations as the Company may from time to time reasonably request which may be necessary or appropriate in order to enable the Company to maintain oversight over the Account and assure compliance with the Investment Guidelines.
4. Fees. The Advisor shall be entitled to compensation for its services hereunder as set forth in Appendix C attached hereto, and which is made part of this Agreement. Commission expenses and attendant Securities and Exchange Commission transaction fees resulting from transactions executed on behalf of the Company shall be paid from the Account assets. Compensation amounts owing between the parties shall be settled between the parties on a quarterly basis and payments of amounts owing shall be made within 45 days after the end of the calendar quarter.
5. Limits on Advisor Responsibility.
(a) The Advisor shall not be responsible for the solvency of or the performance of the obligations of any third party bank, clearing organization, broker, intermediary, nominee or agent appointed or employed by the Advisor in good faith for the performance of its duties but the Advisor shall assign to the Company such rights (if any) as the Advisor may have against such person in the event of the insolvency of any of the above or its failure properly to perform such obligations and shall give, without further compensation, such assistance as the Company may reasonably require to exercise such rights.
(b) The Advisor shall be fully protected in acting and relying upon any written advice, certificate, notice, instruction, request or other paper or document which the Advisor in good faith believes to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by an authorized person or other proper
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party or parties, and may assume that any person purporting to give such written advice or other paper or document has been duly authorized to do so unless contrary instructions have been delivered to the Advisor by the Company.
(c) The Advisor shall not be liable to the Company for any acts or omissions by the Advisor, its employees and agents under and in connection with this Agreement, except by reason of acts or omission constituting gross negligence, willful misconduct or fraud on the part of the Advisor, including its employees. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing to the contrary, the provisions of this Section 5 shall not be construed to provide for the exculpation of the Advisor or any affiliate from any liability to the extent that such liability may not be waived, modified or limited under applicable law, but shall be construed so as to effectuate the provisions of this Section 5 to the fullest extent permitted by law.
(d) The Company shall reimburse and indemnify the Advisor for, and hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense, including, without limit, reasonable counsel fees, incurred on the part of the Advisor arising out of or in connection with its acceptance of, or the performance of its duties and obligations under, this Agreement, as well as the costs and expenses of defending against any claim or liability arising out of or relating to this Agreement unless such loss, liability or expense is the result of acts or omissions by the Advisor constituting gross negligence, willful misconduct or fraud; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall constitute a waiver or limitation of any rights which the Company may have under applicable securities or other laws.
6. Representations and Agreements.
(a) The Advisor represents to and agrees with the Company that:
(1) the terms of this Agreement do not violate any obligation by which the Advisor is bound, whether arising by contract, operation of law or regulation, or otherwise;
(2) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Advisor and constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Advisor enforceable in accordance with its terms, and the Advisor has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform its duties hereunder;
(3) it shall maintain at all times during the term of this Agreement competent personnel to perform the duties required of it hereunder, and the Advisors expenses in connection therewith shall be borne by the Advisor; and
(4) the representations and warranties contained herein shall continue and remain in effect during the term of this Agreement, and, if at any time during the term of this Agreement any event occurred which would make any of these foregoing representations untrue, incomplete or inaccurate in any respect, the Advisor will promptly notify the Company of such event.
(b) The Company represents to and agrees with the Advisor that:
(1) the terms of this Agreement do not violate any obligation by which the Company is bound, whether arising by contract, operation of law or regulation, or otherwise;
(2) the Company is the sole owner of the assets covered hereby and such assets are free and clear of any and all liens and restrictions on their transfer or sale, except for applicable transfer restrictions under various securities laws;
(3) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable in accordance with its
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terms, and the Company has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform its duties hereunder;
(4) the Account is not subject to the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA);
(5) it is not a Benefit Plan Investor, as defined under ERISA;
(6) the Company will deliver or cause to be delivered to the Advisor in writing, all the information, documents and instruments that the Advisor may reasonably request in order to perform its duties hereunder; and
(7) the representations and warranties contained herein shall continue and remain in effect during the term of this Agreement, and, if at any time during the term of this Agreement any event occurred which would make any of these foregoing representations untrue, incomplete or inaccurate in any respect, the Company will promptly notify the Advisor of such event.
7. Acknowledgements and Consents. The Company acknowledges that:
(a) the Advisor may place orders for the execution of transactions with or through such brokers, dealers or banks as the Advisor may select in its sole discretion. In selecting such broker, Advisor will give primary consideration to obtaining the most favorable price and efficient execution. The Advisor may consider, in addition, the financial stability and reputation of brokers and dealers and the brokerage and research services (as those terms are defined in Section 28(e) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) provided by brokers and dealers that may benefit the Company. The Advisor may, and is authorized to, consistent with its duty of best execution and in compliance with all applicable securities laws, pay a commission for executing a transaction which may be greater than the amount of the commission another broker or dealer might have charged for effecting that transaction, provided that the Advisor determines in good faith that such amount of commission was reasonable in relation to the value of the brokerage and research services provided. Subject to the foregoing, the Company acknowledges that such research services rendered may be useful in providing services to clients other than the Company, and that not all such information will necessarily be used by the Advisor in connection with rendering services to the Company. The Company understands and agrees that it will not direct brokerage, and that the choice of brokers is in the Advisors sole discretion;
(b) (i) the Advisor acts as adviser to other clients and may give advice, and take action, with respect to any of those clients which may differ from the advice given, or the time or nature of action taken, with respect to the Companys Account; (ii) where there is a limited supply of a security, the Advisor will use its best efforts to allocate or rotate investment opportunities in a fair and equitable manner, and the Company acknowledges that the Advisor cannot assure, and assumes no responsibility for, equality among all accounts and customers; (iii) affiliates of the Advisor and officers, directors and employees of the Advisor and such affiliates of the Advisor may engage in transactions, or cause or advise other customers to engage in transactions, which may differ from or be identical to transactions engaged in by the Advisor for the Account and the Company acknowledges that the Advisor and affiliates of the Advisor and officers, directors and employees of the Advisor and such affiliates of the Advisor may at any time acquire, increase, decrease or dispose of positions in securities or other assets which are, at the same time being acquired, held or disposed of for the Companys Account; and (iv) the Advisor shall not have any obligation to recommend any transaction or initiate the purchase or sale of any security or other asset for the Account which any of such affiliates or any of the officers, directors or employees of Advisor or such affiliates may engage in for their own accounts or the account of any other customer, except as otherwise required by applicable law;
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(c) from time to time the Advisor may determine, in its reasonable judgment, to sell a security for the Company that certain of the Advisors investment advisory clients or the clients of its affiliated broker-dealer wishes to buy, or buy a security that certain of the Advisors investment advisory clients or the clients of its affiliated broker-dealer wishes to sell. Such an agency-cross transaction could result in the payment of fees to the Advisor by both the Company and such other client. By execution of this agreement, the Company authorizes and grants consent to the Advisor to participate in agency-cross transactions involving the Account. The Company may revoke its consent at any time by written notice to the Advisor; and
(d) the Advisor may aggregate sales and purchase orders for the Companys Account with similar orders being made concurrently for other accounts managed by the Advisor, if in the Advisors reasonable judgment such aggregation shall result in an overall economic benefit to the Companys Account, taking into consideration the selling or purchase price, brokerage commission and other expenses; in such case the actual prices applicable to the transaction will be averaged among the accounts for which the transaction is effected, including the Companys Account.
8. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated by the Advisor upon 180 days written notice to the Company, and terminated by the Company at any time upon written notice to the Advisor, termination effective upon receipt of such notice by the Advisor (the Termination Date). Upon termination, the Advisor shall have no further investment management responsibility for assets in the Account, but shall have reasonable time, not to exceed 90 days, to transfer assets to a custodian of the Companys selection. The fee payable to the Advisor pursuant hereto will be prorated to the Termination Date and any unearned portion of prepaid fees will be refunded to the Company.
9. Enforceability. If any provisions of this Agreement are held invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision, and the Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such provisions had not been included.
10. Assignment. No assignment of this Agreement, including by operation of law, may be made by any party to this Agreement without the consent of the other parties hereto. Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, their successors and assigns.
11. Arbitration. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the breach of the same, shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association, or another nationally recognized arbitration association mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto. Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. All arbitration expenses shall be borne equally by the Advisor and the Company. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing to the contrary, the provisions of this Section 11 do not constitute a waiver of any right provided by any applicable law, including the right to choose the forum, whether arbitration or adjudication, in which to seek resolution of disputes.
12. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with applicable federal law and, to the extent not preempted, the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts without regard to its conflict of laws principles.
13. Counterparts and Facsimile. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one and the same instrument.
14. Entire Agreement/Amendment. This Agreement, including the Appendices hereto, constitutes the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all previous agreements, promises, representations, understandings and negotiations, whether written or
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oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement, including the Appendices hereto, may not be amended except in writing signed by each of the parties hereto.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Investment Management Agreement to be executed as of the date set forth above.
Peerless Insurance Company | ||||
By: | ||||
Name: | Michael J. Fallon | |||
Title: | Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | |||
Liberty Mutual Investment Advisors LLC | ||||
By: | ||||
Name: | A. Alexander Fontanes | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer | |||
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Appendix A
STATEMENT OF INVESTMENT POLICY
The investment policy of the Company like that of the other portfolios managed for the accounts of Liberty Mutual Group of Companies (LMG) has been formulated with two basic tenets in mind. First, as property and casualty insurance companies, the primary purpose of the investment portfolio is to support the Companys insurance operations and to be consistent with the Companys objectives for long-term financial strength in order to meet its obligations to policyholders. Second, as insurance company, the preponderance of risk assumed should be in the underwriting of the Companys insurance products, not in the investment of its assets. Within these broad risk parameters, management of the portfolio will focus on maximizing the long-term after-tax total rate of return on invested assets through disciplined asset allocation and security selection, balanced with the need for the portfolio to produce investment income, stable cash flow, and sufficient liquidity. Asset management should also provide safety through adequate diversification of risk, the preservation of principal, and the avoidance of unacceptable levels of asset/liability mismatches. Within this context, individual investment decisions will be based on fundamental economic, financial, credit and security analysis/selection combined with relative value considerations among securities and market sectors. The specific terms and conditions of individual securities and the specific assets fit within the total portfolio framework will be evaluated prior to investment. The overall policy will be managed through adherence to a set of broadly defined policy guidelines designed to give the advisor discretion in meeting portfolio objectives. This investment policy and the investment guidelines, all of which will be reviewed on a periodic basis in conjunction with changing regulatory and business requirements, are subject to the final approval of the Companys Board of Directors or a duly appointed and authorized committee thereof.
The ongoing implementation of the investment policy will be the responsibility of the investment advisor through the authority granted by the Companys Board of Directors. The investment advisor consists of the same group of investment professionals responsible for managing the other insurance companies investment assets of LMG, currently totaling over $50.0 billion. As such, the implementation and maintenance of the investment policy will occur within the same basic framework, as LMGs other portfolios and adjusted, when and where appropriate, to accommodate the specific requirements of the Company. All investment related decisions and transactions will be implemented by those individuals with proven abilities to do so effectively and that have been granted that authority by the Companys Board of Director through the Chief Investment Officer of LMG. All investment transactions will be reported to the respective Boards at its regularly scheduled meetings.
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Appendix B
INVESTMENT GUIDELINES
The investments will be managed on a full discretionary basis, subject to the guidelines and constraints described below and in a manner consistent with the overall policy framework. Table 1 below presents broad policy guidelines as to the percent of total long-term assets that may be invested in any particular asset category. The level of exposure within the established range will be governed by the fundamental long-term outlook for total returns within the given asset category in relation to assessed risk combined with shorter-term tactical or technical issues. Any investment in assets classes other than those outlined in Table 1 will be reviewed with the Companys Boards of Directors prior to purchase.
Table 1
Asset Category Guidelines
Asset Category Guidelines
Maximum % of Invested | ||||
Asset Category | Assets or Surplus | Limits Within Asset Category | ||
Debt Obligations: | ||||
Noninvestment Grade | Lesser of 5% of assets or 50% of surplus | 0.5% of invested assets per issuer | ||
Equities: | ||||
Public Common Securities | Lesser of 10% of assets or 50% of surplus | 2% of invested assets per issuer | ||
Preferred Securities / Direct Investments | Up to 10% of assets | 2% of invested assets per issuer | ||
Limited Partnership, LLCs or other investment fund vehicles | Lesser of 10% of invested assets or 50% of surplus | Limited partnerships limitation of 5% aggregate |
Maturity Constraints: The expected average maturity of the Companys holdings of debt obligations will not exceed 15 years.
OTHER AUTHORIZED INVESTMENT PRACTICES
Reverse repurchase-agreements may be entered into for purposes of liquidity management and yield enhancement to the degree that the total amount outstanding does not exceed 25% of portfolio assets and the original term does not exceed 90 days. Such reverse repurchase agreements will be executed in a manner consistent with standard industry practices regarding the pledging of collateral, marking-to-market, et cetera.
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Appendix C
to
Investment Management Agreement
by and among
to
Investment Management Agreement
by and among
Peerless Insurance Company
and
Liberty Mutual Investment Advisors LLC
and
Liberty Mutual Investment Advisors LLC
Compensation
Advisor shall receive a quarterly management fee calculated as follows:
{(the market value under US GAAP of all cash and securities in the Company Account on the first day of each calendar quarter plus the market value under US GAAP of all cash and securities in the Company Account on the last day of that same calendar quarter) divided by two} times .00045.
For the purposes of the above calculations, the market value of the securities shall be determined as of the close of business on the first and last days of each quarter.
Company shall be responsible for all custody related charges and wire transfer fees originating from the custody account.
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