-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, AKwXXUUfL+8tanUB2RmUUDUKXsoq04+sjDMH11Q8gt2pizehvh7Dn4fr6envVqgB Eq1sMmkiqsIyGAeyicbjJg== 0000950137-06-011841.txt : 20061106 0000950137-06-011841.hdr.sgml : 20061106 20061106095903 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950137-06-011841 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 13 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20060930 FILED AS OF DATE: 20061106 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20061106 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Specialty Underwriters Alliance, Inc. CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001297568 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331] IRS NUMBER: 200432760 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-50891 FILM NUMBER: 061188882 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 222 S. RIVERSIDE PLAZA CITY: CHICAGO STATE: IL ZIP: 60606 BUSINESS PHONE: (312) 277-1600 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 222 S. RIVERSIDE PLAZA CITY: CHICAGO STATE: IL ZIP: 60606 10-Q 1 c09635e10vq.htm QUARTERLY REPORT e10vq
 

 
 
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
     
þ   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For The Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2006
or
     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Transition Period from                      to                     
Commission file number 000-50891
SPECIALTY UNDERWRITERS’ ALLIANCE, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in the charter)
     
Delaware   20-0432760
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
     
222 South Riverside Plaza
Chicago, Illinois
  60606
(Address of principal executive office)   (Zip Code)
(888) 782-4672
(Registrant’s telephone number including area code)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirement for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (check one):
Large accelerated filer o           Accelerated filer þ           Non-accelerated filer o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12-b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ
As of November 1, 2006, there were 14,680,688 shares of common stock, or Common Stock, $0.01 par value, outstanding and 674,274 shares of non-voting Class B common stock, or Class B Common Stock, $0.01 par value, outstanding.
 
 

 


 

SPECIALTY UNDERWRITERS’ ALLIANCE, INC.
INDEX
         
    Page No.  
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
    3  
 
       
Item 1: Financial Statements
    3  
 
       
Item 2: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
    13  
 
       
Item 3: Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
    19  
 
       
Item 4: Controls and Procedures
    20  
 
       
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION
    22  
 
       
Item 1: Legal Proceedings
    22  
 
       
Item 1A: Risk Factors
    22  
 
       
Item 2: Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
    22  
 
       
Item 3: Defaults Upon Senior Securities
    22  
 
       
Item 4: Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
    22  
 
       
Item 5: Other Information
    22  
 
       
Item 6: Exhibits
    23  
 
       
Signatures
    24  
 
       
Certifications
       

2


 

PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1: Financial Statements
Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc.
Balance Sheets
(dollars in thousands)
                 
    As of     As of  
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2006     2005  
Assets
  (unaudited)        
Fixed maturity investments, at fair value (amortized cost: $133,629 and $95,760)
  $ 132,635     $ 94,129  
Short-term investments, at amortized cost (which approximates fair value)
    18,744       8,862  
 
           
Total investments
    151,379       102,991  
Cash and cash equivalents
    2,726       5,329  
Insurance receivables
    62,707       44,868  
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid loss and loss adjustment expenses
    82,267       88,997  
Prepaid reinsurance premiums
    2,366       3,492  
Investment income accrued
    1,018       1,102  
Equipment and capitalized software at cost (less accumulated depreciation of $3,256 and $1,488)
    7,603       5,566  
Intangible assets
    10,745       10,745  
Deferred acquisition costs
    16,148       11,279  
Other assets
    2,216       2,794  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 339,175     $ 277,163  
 
           
Liabilities
               
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves
  $ 134,211     $ 104,870  
Unearned insurance premiums
    77,098       58,595  
Insured deposit funds
    10,681       7,159  
Accounts payable and other liabilities
    6,539       5,724  
 
           
Total liabilities
    228,529       176,348  
 
           
Commitments (Note 4)
               
Stockholders’ equity
               
Common stock Class A at $.01 par value per share - 30,000,000 shares authorized; 14,680,688 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005
    147       147  
Common stock Class B at $.01 par value per share - 2,000,000 shares authorized; 652,011 shares and 223,694 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005
    6       2  
Paid-in capital — Class A
    128,079       127,256  
Paid-in capital — Class B
    4,588       1,770  
Accumulated deficit
    (21,180 )     (26,729 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
    (994 )     (1,631 )
 
           
Total stockholders’ equity
    110,646       100,815  
 
           
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 339,175     $ 277,163  
 
           
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

3


 

Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc.
Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(dollars in thousands)
(unaudited)
                                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30,     September 30,  
    2006     2005     2006     2005  
Revenues
                               
Earned insurance premiums
  $ 31,712     $ 8,271     $ 80,198     $ 11,773  
Net investment income
    1,628       874       4,204       2,710  
Net realized gains (losses)
    273             271       (1 )
 
                       
Total revenues
    33,613       9,145       84,673       14,482  
 
                       
 
                               
Expenses
                               
Loss and loss adjustment expenses
    18,250       6,414       46,722       9,204  
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs
    6,701       1,383       17,432       2,123  
Service company fees
          2,188             6,596  
Other operating expenses
    5,019       3,984       14,785       9,885  
 
                       
Total expenses
    29,970       13,969       78,939       27,808  
 
                       
 
                               
Pretax income (loss)
    3,643       (4,824 )     5,734       (13,326 )
Federal income tax expense
    61             185        
 
                       
Net income (loss)
    3,582       (4,824 )     5,549       (13,326 )
Net change in unrealized gains and losses for investments held, after tax
    2,273       (1,109 )     637       (1,184 )
 
                             
 
                       
Comprehensive income (loss)
  $ 5,855     $ (5,933 )   $ 6,186     $ (14,510 )
 
                       
 
                               
Earnings (loss) per share available to common stockholders (in dollars)
                               
Basic
  $ 0.24     $ (0.32 )   $ 0.37     $ (0.90 )
Diluted
  $ 0.24     $ (0.32 )   $ 0.37     $ (0.90 )
 
                               
Average Shares Outstanding (in thousands)
                               
Basic
    15,293       14,782       15,162       14,748  
Diluted
    15,293       14,782       15,162       14,748  
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

4


 

Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc.
Statement of Stockholders’ Equity
(dollars in thousands)
(unaudited)
                                                         
                                          Accumulated          
    Common     Paid-in     Common     Paid-in     Retained     Other     Total  
    Stock     Capital     Stock     Capital     Earnings     Comprehensive     Stockholders’  
    Class A     Class A     Class B     Class B     (Deficit)     Income (Loss)     Equity  
Balance at December 31, 2005
  $ 147     $ 127,256     $ 2     $ 1,770     $ (26,729 )   $ (1,631 )   $ 100,815  
 
                                                       
Net income
                                    5,549               5,549  
 
Net change in unrealized investment losses, net of tax
                                            637       637  
 
                                                       
Stock issuance
                    4       2,818                       2,822  
 
                                                       
Stock based compensation
            823                                       823  
 
                                         
Balance at September 30, 2006
  $ 147     $ 128,079     $ 6     $ 4,588     $ (21,180 )   $ (994 )   $ 110,646  
 
                                         
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

5


 

Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc.
Statements of Cash Flows
(dollars in thousands)
(unaudited)
                 
    Nine Months  
    Ended  
    September 30,  
    2006     2005  
Cash flows from operations
               
Net income (loss)
  $ 5,549     $ (13,326 )
 
           
Charges (credits) to reconcile net income to cash flows from operations:
               
Change in deferred income tax
    185        
Net realized (gains) losses
    (271 )     1  
Amortization of bond discount
    296       227  
Depreciation
    1,768       1,258  
Write off of capitalized software
          428  
Net change in:
               
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid loss and loss adjustment expense reserves
    6,730       6,381  
Loss and loss adjustment expense reserves
    29,341       1,143  
Insurance premiums receivable
    (17,839 )     (41,923 )
Unearned insurance premiums
    18,503       47,565  
Deferred acquisition costs
    (4,869 )     (8,679 )
Prepaid reinsurance premiums
    1,126       (4,549 )
Insured deposit funds
    3,522       4,321  
Other, net
    2,124       4,028  
 
           
Total adjustments
    40,616       10,201  
 
           
Net cash flows from (used for) operations
    46,165       (3,125 )
 
           
 
Cash flows from investing activities
               
Net increase (decrease) in short-term investments
    (9,882 )     41,549  
Sales of fixed maturity investments
    13,590       6,834  
Purchases of fixed maturity investments
    (51,493 )     (47,886 )
Unsettled net investment purchases
          (1,000 )
Purchase of equipment and capitalized software
    (3,805 )     (2,673 )
 
           
Net cash flows (used for) investing activities
    (51,590 )     (3,176 )
 
           
 
Cash flows from financing activities
               
Issuance of common stock
    2,822       817  
 
           
Net cash provided by financing activities
    2,822       817  
 
           
 
Net (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents during the period
    (2,603 )     (5,484 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period
    5,329       8,986  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period
  $ 2,726     $ 3,502  
 
           
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

6


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — SPECIALTY UNDERWRITERS’ ALLIANCE, INC.
(dollars in thousands) (unaudited) — (Continued)
Note 1. Basis of Presentation
     The Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) include the accounts of Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc., or SUA or the Company, and its consolidated subsidiary, SUA Insurance Company. SUA completed an initial public offering, or IPO, of its common stock on November 23, 2004. Concurrent with the IPO, SUA completed the acquisition of Potomac Insurance Company of Illinois, or Potomac. For accounting purposes Potomac is considered an accounting predecessor. Potomac has subsequently been renamed SUA Insurance Company.
     The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, or GAAP. Certain financial information that is normally included in annual financial statements, including certain financial statements footnotes, prepared in accordance with GAAP, is not required for interim reporting purposes and has been condensed or omitted. These statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in SUA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC.
     The interim financial data as of September 30, 2006, and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005 is unaudited. However, in the opinion of management, the interim data includes all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s results for the interim periods. The results of operation for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period financial statement line items to enhance the comparability of the results presented.
Note 2. Net Income (Loss) Per Share
     Basic earnings per share are based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, while diluted earnings per share includes the weighted average number of common shares and potential dilution from shares issuable pursuant to stock options using the treasury stock method. Outstanding options of 747,466 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 have been excluded from diluted earnings per share, as they were anti-dilutive.
                 
    Three Months Ended   Three Months Ended
    September 30, 2006   September 30, 2005
Net income (loss)
  $ 3,582     $ (4,824 )
Average common shares outstanding (basic and diluted) (in thousands)
    15,293       14,782  
Net income (loss) per share (in dollars) (basic and diluted)
  $ 0.24     $ (0.32 )

7


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — SPECIALTY UNDERWRITERS’ ALLIANCE, INC.
(dollars in thousands) (unaudited) — (Continued)
                 
    Nine Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
    September 30, 2006   September 30, 2005
Net income (loss)
  $ 5,549     $ (13,326 )
Average common shares outstanding (basic and diluted) (in thousands)
    15,162       14,748  
Net income (loss) per share (in dollars) (basic and diluted)
  $ 0.37     $ (0.90 )
Note 3. Income Taxes
     As of September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, the Company had tax basis net operating loss carryforwards of $18,506 and $26,136, respectively. The Company also accumulated start-up and organization expenditures through December 31, 2004 of $2,364 that are deductible on a tax basis over a 60 month period commencing on November 23, 2004. The unamortized portion of these costs were $1,462 and $1,815 at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 the Company generated a GAAP and tax basis profit. The Company has not, however, paid any federal income tax since inception. As such, the Company has recorded a full valuation allowance against all potential tax assets, until such time as its operating results and future outlook produce sufficient taxable income to realize these tax assets.
     The Company has recorded a tax provision in the quarter and expects a tax provision for the year equal to the current year increase in deferred tax liabilities associated with indefinite lived intangible assets. Because of the indefinite nature of these intangible assets for financial reporting purposes, these deferred tax liabilities do not represent a source of income to realize the Company’s deferred tax assets.
Note 4. Commitments
     On February 3, 2005, the Company entered into a lease agreement, or Lease, for its home office space that commenced on May 1, 2005 and terminates on April 30, 2020. On April 24, 2006, the Company amended the Lease to include additional premises effective September 1, 2006. The Company’s net Lease obligations are $1,871 for years 1 through 5, $3,294 for years 6 through 10 and $3,753 for years 11 through 15. Included in the Lease terms are scheduled rent escalations, improvement incentives and rent abatements all of which are recognized on a straight line basis over the Lease term in relation to square footage occupied by the Company. To secure the Lease, the Company is required to hold an irrevocable standby letter of credit in the amount of $1,500.
     The Company has the option to terminate the Lease at August 31, 2011. Upon notice of termination, the Company is obligated to pay nine months of the then current rent and the unamortized balance of abated rent, brokerage commissions, and construction allowance. If the

8


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — SPECIALTY UNDERWRITERS’ ALLIANCE, INC.
(dollars in thousands) (unaudited) — (Continued)
Company opted to terminate as of August 31, 2011, the Company would be obligated to pay approximately $2,440 plus operating expenses, taxes, and brokerage commissions.
Note 5. Stock Options
     The Board of Directors approved the Stock Option Plan, or Plan, during 2004. The Plan authorizes the grant of options to certain personnel for up to 850,000 shares of the Company’s common stock. All options granted have ten-year terms and vest in equal annual installments over either a three or four year period following the date of grant. All grants of options under the Plan must be approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, which consists entirely of outside directors. The number of shares available for the granting of options under the Plan as of September 30, 2006 was 102,534.
     In December 2004, the FASB issued FAS No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment,” or FAS 123R. FAS 123R replaces FAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” or FAS 123, and supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” or APB 25. The Company adopted FAS 123R at the beginning of the first quarter of 2006, applying the “modified prospective application,” which requires the Company to value stock options granted prior to its adoption of FAS 123R which have not vested under the fair value method and expense those amounts over the stock option’s remaining vesting period. Stock options granted subsequent to the adoption of FAS 123R are valued using the fair value method and expensed over the vesting period. In adopting the modified prospective application, the Company will not restate results for earlier periods. Under FAS 123R, the Company has opted to use the binomial lattice option pricing model to determine fair value. In addition, FAS 123R requires the Company to reflect the tax savings resulting from tax deductions in excess of expense reflected in its financial statements as a financing cash flow, rather than as an operating cash flow. The amount of financing cash flows recognized for such excess tax deductions was zero for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, as no options were exercised during that period.
     Compensation expense recognized for stock-based compensation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $278 and $823, respectively. Had compensation expense for the Company’s stock-based compensation been determined based on the fair value at the grant dates for awards made prior to 2006, under the Plan and consistent with FAS 123R, the Company’s net income per share would have been adjusted to the pro forma amounts indicated below:
                 
    Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
    September 30, 2005     September 30, 2005  
    (in thousands, except per share amounts)  
Net loss as reported
  $ (4,824 )   $ (13,326 )
Deduct: compensation expense
    (238 )     (720 )
 
           
Pro forma net loss
  $ (5,062 )   $ (14,046 )
 
           
Basic and diluted net loss per share:
               
As reported
  $ (0.32 )   $ (0.90 )
Pro forma
  $ (0.34 )   $ (0.95 )

9


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — SPECIALTY UNDERWRITERS’ ALLIANCE, INC.
(dollars in thousands) (unaudited) — (Continued)
     The remaining unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested awards at September 30, 2006 is approximately $1,354 and the weighted-average period of time over which this cost will be recognized is 1.3 years.
     The fair value of each option grant is estimated at the date of grant using the binomial lattice option pricing model with the following assumptions used for grants issued in 2005: risk free interest rate range of 3.50% — 4.33%; expected life range of 3.7 — 6.9 years; expected volatility of 45%; and expected dividend yield of 2% beginning after five years. The following assumptions were used for grants issued in 2006: risk free interest rate range of 4.56% — 4.60%; expected life range of 3.1 — 7.5 years; expected volatility of 45%; and expected dividend yield of 2% beginning after five years.
     The following table presents activity under the Plan as of September 30, 2006:
                                 
            Weighted Average           Weighted Average
            Exercise Price Per   Aggregate Intrinsic   Contractual
Option Plan Activity   Number of Shares   Share   Value   Remaining Life
    (actual dollar and share amounts)        
Balance at January 1, 2006
    727,466     $ 9.40     $ 0     8.97 years
Options granted
    25,000     $ 6.22       N/A       N/A  
Options exercised
    0       N/A       N/A       N/A  
Options forfeited
    (5,000 )   $ 6.22       N/A       N/A  
Balance at September 30, 2006
    747,466     $ 9.32     $ 51,600     8.25 years
 
                               
Total options vested at September 30, 2006
    242,501     $ 9.40     $ 3,334     8.22 years
     A summary of the status of the Company’s non-vested shares as of September 30, 2006 and changes during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 is presented below:
                 
            Weighted Average  
            Grant Date Fair  
    Number of Shares     Value  
    (actual dollar and share amounts)  
Non-vested balance at January 1, 2006
    530,526     $ 4.46  
Options granted
    25,000     $ 2.89  
Options vested
    (45,561 )   $ 3.66  
Options forfeited
    (5,000 )   $ 2.93  
Total non-vested options at September 30, 2006
    504,965     $ 4.47  

10


 

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — SPECIALTY UNDERWRITERS’ ALLIANCE, INC.
(dollars in thousands) (unaudited) — (Continued)
     The weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and September 30, 2005 were $2.89 and $3.84, respectively. The grant-date fair value of options vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $167. No options vested during the nine months ended September 30, 2005. There were no options exercised during the quarters ended September 30, 2006 and September 30, 2005.
Note 6. Unpaid Loss and Loss Adjustment Expense Reserves
     Loss and loss adjustment expense (LAE) reserves, or loss and LAE reserves, are estimates of amounts needed to pay claims and related expenses in the future for insured events that have already occurred. The Company establishes estimates of amounts recoverable from its reinsurers in a manner consistent with the claims liability covered by the reinsurance contracts. The Company’s loss and LAE reserves represent management’s best estimate of reserves based on a composite of the results of the various actuarial methods, as well as consideration of known facts and trends.
     At September 30, 2006, the Company reported gross loss and LAE reserves of $134,211, of which $73,943 represented the gross direct loss and LAE reserves of Potomac, which is fully reinsured by OneBeacon Insurance Company, or OneBeacon. At December 31, 2005, the Company reported gross loss and LAE reserves of $104,870, of which $86,736 represented the gross direct loss and LAE reserves of Potomac, which are fully reinsured by OneBeacon.
     Potomac was a participant in the OneBeacon Amended and Restated Reinsurance Agreement. Under that agreement, Potomac ceded all of its insurance assets and liabilities into a pool, or Pool, and assumed a 0.5% share of the Pool’s assets and liabilities. On April 1, 2004, Potomac ceased its participation in the Pool and entered into reinsurance agreements whereby Potomac reinsured all of its business written with OneBeacon effective as of January 1, 2004. As a result, Potomac will not share in any favorable or unfavorable development of prior losses recorded by it or the Pool after January 1, 2004, unless OneBeacon fails to perform on its reinsurance obligation. The following table details our reserves as of September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005.
                 
    As of     As of  
    September 30,     December 31,  
    2006     2005  
Company gross reserves
  $ 60,268     $ 18,134  
Potomac gross reserves
    73,943       86,736  
 
           
Gross reserves
    134,211       104,870  
Ceded reserves
    82,267       88,997  
 
           
Net reserves
  $ 51,944     $ 15,873  

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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — SPECIALTY UNDERWRITERS’ ALLIANCE, INC.
(dollars in thousands) (unaudited)
     Included in the reserves for the Company is tabular reserve discount for workers’ compensation and excess workers’ compensation pension claims of $861 as of September 30, 2006 and $187 as of December 31, 2005. The reserves are discounted on a tabular basis at four percent using the 2001 United States Actuarial Life Tables for Female and Male population.
Note 7. Recent Accounting Pronouncements
     In September 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty of Income Taxes, an interpretation of SFAS No. 109,” or FIN 48. FIN 48 provides guidance on the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The interpretation also provides guidance on the related derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting for interim periods, disclosure and transition of uncertain tax positions. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company believes that implementation of this new interpretation will have no material impact on its financial statements.
     In September 2006, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements,” or SAB 108. We expect that SAB 108 will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

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Item 2: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
     This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Those statements include, but may not be limited to, the discussions of our operating and growth strategy. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, those set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Business section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005. Although we believe that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could prove to be inaccurate, and therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that our objectives and plans will be achieved. We undertake no obligation to publicly release any revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events and circumstances occurring after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Overview
     We were formed on April 3, 2003 for the purpose of offering products in the specialty commercial property and casualty insurance market by using an innovative business model. Specialty insurance typically serves niche groups of insureds that require highly specialized knowledge of a business class to achieve underwriting profits. This segment has traditionally been underserved by most standard commercial property and casualty insurers, due to the complex business knowledge and the investment required to achieve attractive underwriting profits. Competition in this segment is based primarily on client service, availability of insurance capacity, specialized policy forms, efficient claims handling and other value-based considerations, rather than just price.
     On November 23, 2004 we completed our initial public offering, or IPO, and concurrent private placements and completed the acquisition of Potomac Insurance Company of Illinois, or Potomac. After giving effect to the acquisition, we changed the name of Potomac to SUA Insurance Company.
     Prior to our IPO, all activities consisted of start-up activities related to our IPO and costs to establish the infrastructure required to commence insurance operations.
     On January 1, 2005 we commenced our insurance operations. However, due to the lead time necessary to quote and place business, we did not effectively begin writing policies until March 2005.

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Results of Operations
Three Months Ended September 30, 2006 as compared to the Three Months Ended September 30, 2005
     Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2006 was $3.6 million. This compares to a net loss for the three months ended September 30, 2005 of $4.8 million.
     Gross written premiums for the three months ended September 30, 2006 were $38.9 million, compared to gross written premiums of $28.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005.
     Our Partner Agent, Risk Transfer Holdings, Inc., or RTH, specializes in providing workers’ compensation coverage to professional employer organizations, or PEOs, which are organizations that provide small employers with human resource services, employee benefits and workers’ compensation insurance. Currently, we are writing business in California, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Texas, Illinois and Nevada. RTH produced total gross written premiums of $15.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006, compared to $9.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005.
     American Team Managers, or ATM, specializes in general liability coverage for artisan contractors (electricians, plumbers and other trades) and general contractors and workers’ compensation for small to midsize businesses all within California. ATM also offers general liability, commercial auto and garage coverages for local and intermediate trucking in California. ATM produced total gross written premiums for the three months ended September 30, 2006 of $8.9 million, compared to $7.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. ATM’s premium growth continues, especially outside of workers’ compensation.
     AEON Insurance Group, Inc., or AEON, our Partner Agent specializing in commercial auto, general liability, inland marine and property coverages for tow truck operators and vehicle repossessors, on a national basis, produced total gross written premiums of $8.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006, compared to $4.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005.
     Specialty Risk Solutions, LLC, or SRS, specializes in providing general liability to the public entity segment including schools, municipalities and special districts. SRS signed a Partner Agent program agreement with us in May 2005. SRS produced total gross written premiums of $2.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006, compared to $7.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. SRS’ production was impacted by not renewing a large account written in the third quarter of 2005.
     Appalachian Underwriters, Inc., or AUI, specializes in providing commercial general liability and commercial auto liability to residential and small commercial contractors in mid-south and central states. AUI signed a Partner Agent program agreement with us in October 2005 and began writing business in December 2005. Total gross written premiums for the three months ended September 30, 2006 were $3.5 million.

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     American Patriot Insurance Agency, Inc., or API, specializes in small to medium roofing contractors, providing commercial general liability and commercial auto liability both directly and through retail brokers. API signed a Partner Agent program agreement with us in January 2006 and wrote $0.6 million of business in the three months ended September 30, 2006.
     Total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2006 consisted of earned premium of $31.7 million, investment income of $1.6 million and net realized gain of $0.3 million, compared to earned premium of $8.3 million and investment income of $0.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005. Total expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2006 were $30.0 million, compared to $14.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2005.
     Total expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2006 consisted of loss and loss adjustment expense of $18.3 million, amortization of deferred acquisition cost of $6.7 million and other operating expenses of $5.0 million. By comparison, total expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2005 consisted of loss and loss adjustment expense of $6.4 million, amortization of deferred acquisition cost of $1.4 million, service company fees of $2.2 million and other operating expenses of $4.0 million. We did not incur any service company expenses during the three months ended September 30, 2006 because we terminated our service company contract effective December 31, 2005. We have assumed the responsibilities previously provided by our service company which expenses are included in other operating expenses. We remain committed to operating efficiently and increasing staff only as our business volume requires.
     Other operating expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2006 included $1.4 million of salaries and benefit costs (excluding $1.1 million of salary and benefit costs classified as loss adjustment expenses and acquisition expenses), $0.9 million of professional and consulting fees, $0.8 million of depreciation and amortization and $1.9 million of other expenses. Also included in other expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2006 was compensation expense of $0.3 million associated with our stock option program. This represents a change in our accounting policy through the adoption of FAS No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment,” or FAS 123R, whereby we recognize compensation expense for stock options. Prior to the first quarter of 2006 we followed the accounting principles under the intrinsic value method of APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” or APB 25.
     By comparison, other operating expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2005 included $1.2 million of salaries and benefit costs (excluding $0.8 million of salary and benefit costs classified as loss adjustment expenses and acquisition expenses), $0.7 million of professional and consulting fees, $0.4 million of depreciation and amortization and $1.7 million of other expenses.
     Tax expense of $0.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2006 represents deferred tax credits associated with our acquisition of Potomac, which have an indefinite life and therefore cannot be offset with tax loss carryforwards.

15


 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006 as compared to the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2005
     Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was $5.5 million. This compares to a net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 of $13.3 million.
     Gross written premiums for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 were $107.2 million, compared to gross written premiums of $61.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005.
     RTH produced total gross written premiums of $56.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared to $32.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005.
     ATM produced total gross written premiums of $23.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared to $14.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005.
     AEON produced total gross written premiums of $15.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared to $7.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005.
     SRS signed a Partner Agent program agreement with us in May 2005. They produced total gross written premiums of $2.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006, compared to $7.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. SRS’ production was impacted by not renewing a large account written in the third quarter of 2005.
     AUI signed a Partner Agent program agreement with us in October 2005 and began writing business in December 2005. Total gross written premiums for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 totaled $8.5 million.
     API signed a Partner Agent program agreement with us in January 2006 and wrote $1.0 million of business during the nine months ended September 30, 2006.
     Total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 consisted of earned premium of $80.2 million, investment income of $4.2 million and net realized gain of $0.3 million, compared to earned premium of $11.8 million and investment income of $2.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005.
     Total expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 were $78.9 million, compared to $27.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2005. Total expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 consisted of loss and loss adjustment expense of $46.7 million, amortization of deferred acquisition cost of $17.4 million, and other operating expenses of $14.8 million. By comparison, total expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 consisted of loss and loss adjustment expense of $9.2 million, amortization of deferred acquisition cost of $2.1 million, service company fees of $6.6 million and other operating expenses of $9.9 million. We did not incur any service company expenses during the nine

16


 

months ended September 30, 2006 because we terminated our service company contract effective December 31, 2005.
     Other operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 included $4.2 million of salaries and benefit costs (excluding $3.2 million of salary and benefit costs classified as loss adjustment expenses and acquisition expenses), $3.1 million of professional and consulting fees, $1.8 million of depreciation and amortization and $5.7 million of other expenses. Also included in other expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 was compensation expense of $0.8 million associated with our stock option program. By comparison, other operating expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2005 included $3.4 million of salaries and benefit costs (excluding $2.0 million of salary and benefit costs classified as loss adjustment expenses and acquisition expenses), $1.8 million of professional and consulting fees, $1.3 million of depreciation and amortization and $3.4 million of other expenses.
     Tax expense of $0.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 represents deferred tax credits associated with our acquisition of Potomac, which have an indefinite life and therefore cannot be offset with tax loss carryforwards.
     Our premiums in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 were primarily concentrated in California and Florida. Our gross written premiums by state as a percentage of total gross written premium for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 and for the year ended December 31, 2005 were as follows:
                         
    For the Three   For the Nine   For the
    Months Ended   Months Ended   Year Ended
    September 30,   September 30,   December 31,
    2006   2006   2005
California
    35.2 %     33.3 %     39.4 %
Florida
    28.8 %     36.8 %     42.6 %
Other States
    36.0 %     29.9 %     18.0 %
 
                       
Total
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
 
                       
     Our business written for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 was heavily weighted in workers’ compensation. Our gross written premium by line of business as a percentage of total gross written premium for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 and for the year ended December 31, 2005 were as follows:
                         
    For the Three   For the Nine   For the
    Months Ended   Months Ended   Year Ended
    September 30,   September 30,   December 31,
    2006   2006   2005
Workers’ compensation
    45.0 %     57.8 %     68.8 %
Commercial automobile
    22.6 %     16.7 %     10.4 %
General liability
    30.0 %     23.7 %     11.8 %
All other
    2.4 %     1.8 %     9.0 %
 
                       
Total
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
 
                       

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     Our workers’ compensation business was impacted by rate decreases in California and could be further impacted by future decreases in that state and others. Our net loss and loss adjustment expense ratio has improved for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006 compared to the three and nine months ended September 30, 2005. This reflects our adherence to conservative pricing and underwriting in an increasingly softer insurance industry market as well as an improved unallocated loss adjustment expense ratio arising from increased premium. Our ratio of all other expenses to gross written premium also improved due to increased premium. The table below provides key operating statistics and ratios:
                                 
    For The Three   For The Three   For The Nine   For The Nine
    Months Ended   Months Ended   Months Ended   Months Ended
    September 30, 2006   September 30, 2005   September 30, 2006   September 30, 2005
Gross premium written
  $ 38.9     $ 28.2     $ 107.2     $ 61.7  
Net premium earned
  $ 31.7     $ 8.3     $ 80.2     $ 11.8  
Net loss and loss adjustment expense ratio
    57.6 %     77.5 %     58.3 %     78.2 %
Ratio of amortization of deferred acquisition expense to earned premium
    21.1 %     16.7 %     21.7 %     18.0 %
Ratio of all other expenses to gross written premium
    12.9 %     21.9 %     13.8 %     26.7 %
Liquidity and Capital Resources
     We are organized as a holding company and, as such, have no direct operations of our own. Our assets consist primarily of investments in our subsidiary, through which we conduct substantially all of our insurance operations.
     As a holding company, we will have continuing funding needs for general corporate expenses, the payment of principal and interest on future borrowings, if any, taxes and the payment of other obligations. Funds to meet these obligations are expected to come primarily from dividends and other statutorily permissible payments from our operating subsidiary. The ability of our operating subsidiary to make payments to us will be limited by the applicable laws and regulations of Illinois. There will be restrictions on the payment of dividends by our insurance subsidiary to us.
     For the nine months ended September 30, 2006, net cash from operating activities was $46.2 million, principally consisting of premium and deposit collections exceeding losses and expenses paid out. These positive cash flows are a direct result of our continued premium growth. Cash used for investing activities was $51.6 million representing purchases of investments and additions to equipment and capitalized software. Further, we had cash flows from financing activities of $2.8 million from sales of Class B Common Stock to Partner Agents.
     For the nine months ended September 30, 2005, net cash used for operating activities was $3.1 million. As indicated in our discussion of Results of Operations, in our early stages of development, premium collections and investment income were insufficient to fund operating

18


 

expenses. Further, cash used in investment activities was $3.2 million, principally representing purchases of investments and additions to equipment and capitalized software. Further, we had cash flows from financing activities of $0.8 million from sales of Class B Common Stock to Partner Agents.
     Our investment portfolio consists of marketable fixed maturity and short-term investments. All fixed maturity investments are classified as available for sale and are reported at their estimated fair value based on quoted market prices. Realized gains and losses are credited or charged to income in the period in which they are realized. Changes in unrealized gains or losses are reported as a separate component of comprehensive income, and accumulated unrealized gains or losses are reported as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income in stockholders’ equity.
     The aggregate fair market value of our fixed maturity investments at September 30, 2006 was $132.6 million compared to amortized cost of $133.6 million. The aggregate fair market value of our fixed maturity investments at December 31, 2005 was $94.1 million compared to amortized cost of $95.8 million.
Item 3: Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
     Market risk can be described as the risk of change in fair value of a financial instrument due to changes in interest rates, creditworthiness, foreign exchange rates or other factors. We will seek to mitigate that risk by a number of actions, as described below.
Interest Rate Risk
     Our exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates is concentrated in our investment portfolio. We monitor this exposure through periodic reviews of our consolidated asset and liability positions. We model and periodically review estimates of cash flows, as well as the impact of interest rate fluctuations relating to the investment portfolio and insurance reserves.
     The table below summarizes the estimated effects of hypothetical increases and decreases in market interest rates on our investment portfolio:
                             
                Estimated    
            Assumed Change   Fair Value After   Increase
    Fair Value   in Relevant   Change in   (Decrease)
    at 9/30/06   Interest Rate   Interest Rate   in Carrying Value
    (dollars in thousands)
Total Investments
  $ 151,379       100 bp decrease   $ 155,580     $ 4,201  
 
          50 bp decrease   $ 153,547     $ 2,168  
 
          50 bp increase   $ 149,138     $ (2,241 )
 
          100 bp increase   $ 146,805     $ (4,574 )
Credit Risk
     Our portfolio includes primarily fixed income securities and short-term investments, which are subject to credit risk. This risk is defined as default or the potential loss in market value resulting from adverse changes in the borrower’s ability to repay the debt. In our risk

19


 

management strategy and investment policy, we earn competitive relative returns while investing in a diversified portfolio of securities of high credit quality issuers to limit the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer.
     The portfolio of fixed maturities consists solely of high quality bonds at September 30, 2006 and December 31, 2005. The following table summarizes bond ratings at market or fair value:
                                 
    9/30/2006     12/31/2005  
    Market Value     Percent of     Market Value     Percent of  
    (dollars in thousands)     Portfolio     (dollars in thousands)     Portfolio  
US Govt & Other Bonds
  $ 75,321       56.8 %   $ 41,279       43.9 %
AA Rated
    18,456       13.9 %     15,940       16.9 %
A Rated
    38,858       29.3 %     36,910       39.2 %
 
                       
 
  $ 132,635       100.0 %   $ 94,129       100.0 %
 
                       
     We also have other receivable amounts subject to credit risk, including reinsurance recoverables from OneBeacon Insurance Company. To mitigate the risk of counterparties’ nonpayment of amounts due under these arrangements, we established business and financial standards for reinsurer approval, incorporating ratings by major rating agencies and considering then-current market information.
Item 4: Controls and Procedures
     Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. Disclosure controls and procedures are our controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in our reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
     As required by SEC Rules 13a-15(b) and 15d-15(b), we have evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report. This evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer. Based on this evaluation, these officers have concluded that the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

20


 

     Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. There were no changes to our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, these internal controls.
     Inherent Limitations on Effectiveness of Controls. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Because of inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues, if any, within a company have been detected. Accordingly, our disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls over financial reporting are designed to provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of our disclosure control and internal control over financial reporting systems are met.

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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1: Legal Proceedings
     None.
Item 1A: Risk Factors
     There have been no material changes to the Risk Factors previously disclosed in Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.
Item 2: Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
     None.
Item 3: Defaults Upon Senior Securities
     None.
Item 4: Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
     None.
Item 5: Other Information
     None.

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Item 6: Exhibits
     Exhibits:
     
Exhibit    
Number   Description
31.1
  Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
   
31.2
  Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
   
32.1
  Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
32.2
  Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
   
99.1
  Amendment No. 2 to the Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc. Partner Agent Program Agreement – Appalachian Underwriters, Inc.
 
   
99.2
  Amendment No. 1 to the Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc. Partner Agent Program Agreement – Specialty Risk Solutions, LLC
 
   
99.3
  First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Securities Purchase Agreement between Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc. and AEON Insurance Group, Inc.
 
   
99.4
  Amendment No. 3 to the Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc. Partner Agent Program Agreement – American Team Managers
 
   
99.5
  First Amendment to the Securities Purchase Agreement between Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc. and American Patriot Agency, Inc.
 
   
99.6
  Amendment No. 3 to the Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc. Partner Agent Program Agreement – American Patriot Insurance Agency, Inc.
 
   
99.7
  First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Securities Purchase Agreement between Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc. and Risk Transfer Holdings Inc.
 
   
99.8
  First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Securities Purchase Agreement between Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc. and American Team Managers

23


 

SIGNATURES
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
             
    SPECIALTY UNDERWRITERS’ ALLIANCE, INC.    
    (Registrant)    
 
           
Dated: November 6, 2006
  By:   /s/ Courtney C. Smith
 
   
    Name: Courtney C. Smith    
    Title: President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)    
 
           
Dated: November 6, 2006
  By:   /s/ Peter E. Jokiel
 
   
    Name: Peter E. Jokiel    
    Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer)    

24


 

Exhibits Index
     
Exhibit    
Number   Description
31.1
  Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
   
31.2
  Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
   
32.1
  Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
   
32.2
  Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
   
99.1
  Amendment No. 2 to the Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc. Partner Agent Program Agreement – Appalachian Underwriters, Inc.
 
   
99.2
  Amendment No. 1 to the Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc. Partner Agent Program Agreement – Specialty Risk Solutions, LLC
 
   
99.3
  First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Securities Purchase Agreement between Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc. and AEON Insurance Group, Inc.
 
   
99.4
  Amendment No. 3 to the Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc. Partner Agent Program Agreement – American Team Managers
 
   
99.5
  First Amendment to the Securities Purchase Agreement between Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc. and American Patriot Agency, Inc.
 
   
99.6
  Amendment No. 3 to the Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc. Partner Agent Program Agreement – American Patriot Insurance Agency, Inc.
 
   
99.7
  First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Securities Purchase Agreement between Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc. and Risk Transfer Holdings Inc.
 
   
99.8
  First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Securities Purchase Agreement between Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc. and American Team Managers

25

EX-31.1 2 c09635exv31w1.htm 302 CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER exv31w1
 

Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION
I, Courtney C. Smith, certify that:
  1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc.;
 
  2.   Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
  3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
  4.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
  (a)   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
  (b)   Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principals;
 
  (c)   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
  (d)   Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
  5.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
  (a)   All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’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 registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
         
Date: November 6, 2006
       
 
       
 
  /s/ Courtney C. Smith
 
Courtney C. Smith
   
 
  President and Chief Executive Officer    

 

EX-31.2 3 c09635exv31w2.htm 302 CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER exv31w2
 

Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION
I, Peter E. Jokiel, certify that:
  1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc.;
 
  2.   Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
  3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
  4.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
  (a)   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
  (b)   Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principals;
 
  (c)   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
  (d)   Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
  5.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
  (a)   All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’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 registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Date: November 6, 2006
         
 
  /s/ Peter E. Jokiel
 
Peter E. Jokiel
   
 
  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer    

 

EX-32.1 4 c09635exv32w1.htm 906 CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER exv32w1
 

Exhibit 32.1
Certification pursuant to
18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
as adopted pursuant to

Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     I, Courtney C. Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc. (the “Company”), pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, do hereby certify as follows:
     (i) The quarterly report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the period ended September 30, 2006 fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
     (ii) The information contained in such Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Certification this 6th day of November, 2006.
         
 
  /s/ Courtney C. Smith
 
Courtney C. Smith
   
 
  Chief Executive Officer    
A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc. and will be retained by Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

EX-32.2 5 c09635exv32w2.htm 906 CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER exv32w2
 

Exhibit 32.2
Certification pursuant to
18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
as adopted pursuant to

Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     I, Peter E. Jokiel, Chief Financial Officer of Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc. (the “Company”), pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, do hereby certify as follows:
     (i) The quarterly report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the period ended September 30, 2006 fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
     (ii) The information contained in such Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Certification this 6th day of November, 2006.
         
 
  /s/ Peter E. Jokiel
 
Peter E. Jokiel
   
 
  Chief Financial Officer    
A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc. and will be retained by Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

EX-99.1 6 c09635exv99w1.htm AMENDMENT NO.2 TO SPECIALTY UNDERWRITERS' ALLIANCE, INC. PARTNER AGENT PROGRAM AGREEMENT exv99w1
 

Exhibit 99.1
AMENDMENT NO. 2
TO THE
SPECIALTY UNDERWRITERS’ ALLIANCE, INC.
PARTNER AGENT PROGRAM AGREEMENT
     This amendment (“Amendment”) is made and entered into as of the 14th day of July, 2006 (“Effective Date”) by and between Appalachian Underwriters, Inc. (“Partner Agent”) and Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc. and its property and casualty insurance subsidiaries and affiliates (collective, the “Company”), and amends the PARTNER AGENT PROGRAM AGREEMENT (“Agreement”), entered into by the parties on October 11, 2005, as amended. Any terms defined in the Agreement and used herein shall have the same meaning in this Amendment as in the Agreement. In the event that any provision of this Amendment and any provision of the Agreement are inconsistent or conflicting, the inconsistent or conflicting provision of this Amendment shall be and constitute an amendment of the Agreement and shall control, but only to the extent that such provision is inconsistent or conflicting with the Agreement. Any capitalized terms not defined herein shall be defined as in the Agreement.
     Now, therefore, in accordance with Section IX, D of the Agreement and in consideration of the mutual agreements and covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties wish to amend the Agreement as follows:
  1.   The following provision shall be added under Section IX. General Provisions:
K. Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by both parties, each party agrees that during this Agreement and for a period of one (1) year after the termination or expiration of this Agreement, it shall not directly or indirectly recruit, solicit or hire any employee of the other party, or induce or attempt to induce any employee of the other party to discontinue his or her employment relationship with the other party.
  2.   The word “treaty” shall be deleted from Exhibit B, Legend, Table 1, Line 1.
 
  3.   The following clause shall be deleted in its entirety from Exhibit B, Legend, Table 1, Line 1.:
     “specifically related to Eligible Business purchased by the Company for the Profit Sharing Year.”
  4.   Exhibit B, Legend, Table 1, Line 15. shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
     “Profit Sharing Factor shall be 50%. A minimum total Eligible Written Premium of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) and minimum program Eligible Written Premium of five million dollars ($5,000,000) for each program must be achieved during the Profit Sharing Year to be

 


 

paid out under the profit sharing calculation. The profit sharing calculation will be completed regardless of whether Partner Agent meets its minimum requirements.”
  5.   The following sentence shall be deleted in its entirety from Exhibit B, Other Defined Terms used in this Agreement, Paragraph B:
     “Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Initial Profit Sharing Year of this Agreement shall be from the Effective Date to December 31st following the Initial December Date if the Effective Date is between April 1 and December 31st. Subsequent Profit Sharing Years, if any, shall be January 1st to December 31st.”
     This Amendment may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
     This Amendment shall be deemed to be made in and in all respects shall be interpreted, construed and governed by and in accordance with the law of the State of Delaware without regard to principles of conflicts of laws that would require application of the law of a jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed on their behalf by their duly authorized officers as of the day, month and year above written.
         
SPECIALTY UNDERWRITERS’ ALLIANCE, INC.    
 
       
BY:
NAME:
  /s/ William S. Loder
 
William S. Loder
   
TITLE:
  Senior Vice President, Chief Underwriting Officer    
 
       
APPALACHIAN UNDERWRITERS, INC.    
 
       
BY:
NAME:
  /s/ Robert J. Arowood
 
Robert J. Arowood
   
TITLE:
  President    

 

EX-99.2 7 c09635exv99w2.htm AMENDMENT NO.1 TO SPECIALTY UNDERWRITERS' ALLIANCE, INC. PARTNER AGENT PROGRAM AGREEMENT exv99w2
 

Exhibit 99.2
AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO THE
SPECIALTY UNDERWRITERS’ ALLIANCE, INC.
PARTNER AGENT PROGRAM AGREEMENT
     This amendment (“Amendment”) is made and entered into as of the 15th day of July, 2006 (“Effective Date”) by and between Specialty Risk Solutions, LLC (“Partner Agent”) and Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc. and its property and casualty insurance subsidiaries and affiliates (collective, the “Company”), and amends the PARTNER AGENT PROGRAM AGREEMENT (“Agreement”), entered into by the parties on May 11, 2005. Any terms defined in the Agreement and used herein shall have the same meaning in this Amendment as in the Agreement. In the event that any provision of this Amendment and any provision of the Agreement are inconsistent or conflicting, the inconsistent or conflicting provision of this Amendment shall be and constitute an amendment of the Agreement and shall control, but only to the extent that such provision is inconsistent or conflicting with the Agreement. Any capitalized terms not defined herein shall be defined as in the Agreement.
     Now, therefore, in accordance with Section IX, D of the Agreement and in consideration of the mutual agreements and covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties wish to amend the Agreement as follows:
1.   The following provision shall be added under Section IX. General Provisions:
  K.   Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by both parties, each party agrees that during this Agreement and for a period of one (1) year after the termination or expiration of this Agreement, it shall not directly or indirectly recruit, solicit or hire any employee of the other party, or induce or attempt to induce any employee of the other party to discontinue his or her employment relationship with the other party.
2.   The word “treaty” shall be deleted from Exhibit B, Legend, Table 1, Line 1.
3.   The following clause shall be deleted in its entirety from Exhibit B, Legend, Table 1, Line 1.:
     “specifically related to Eligible Business purchased by the Company for the Profit Sharing Year.”
4.   Exhibit B, Legend, Table 1, Line 15. shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
     “Profit Sharing Factor shall be 50%. A minimum total Eligible Written Premium of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) and minimum program Eligible Written Premium of five million dollars ($5,000,000) for each program must be achieved during the Profit Sharing Year to be paid out under the profit sharing calculation. The profit sharing calculation will be completed regardless of whether Partner Agent meets its minimum requirements.”

 


 

5.   The following sentence shall be deleted in its entirety from Exhibit B, Other Defined Terms used in this Agreement, Paragraph B:
     “Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Initial Profit Sharing Year of this Agreement shall be from the Effective Date to December 31st following the Initial December Date if the Effective Date is between April 1 and December 31st. Subsequent Profit Sharing Years, if any, shall be January 1st to December 31st.”
     This Amendment may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
     This Amendment shall be deemed to be made in and in all respects shall be interpreted, construed and governed by and in accordance with the law of the State of Delaware without regard to principles of conflicts of laws that would require application of the law of a jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed on their behalf by their duly authorized officers as of the day, month and year above written.
         
SPECIALTY UNDERWRITERS’ ALLIANCE, INC.    
 
       
BY:
NAME:
  /s/ William S. Loder
 
William S. Loder
   
TITLE:
  Senior Vice President, Chief Underwriting Officer    
 
       
SPECIALTY RISK SOLUTIONS, LLC    
 
       
BY:
NAME:
  /s/ Scott H. Keller
 
Scott H. Keller
   
TITLE:
  Managing Member    

 

EX-99.3 8 c09635exv99w3.htm FIRST AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT exv99w3
 

Exhibit 99.3
FIRST AMENDMENT
TO THE
AMENDED AND RESTATED
SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
     This amendment (“Amendment”) is made and entered into as of the 16th day of July, 2006 (“Effective Date”) by and between AEON Insurance Group, Inc. (“AEON”) and Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc., and amends the AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT(“Agreement”) entered into by the parties on September 28, 2005. Any terms defined in the Agreement and used herein shall have the same meaning in this Amendment as in the Agreement. In the event that any provision of this Amendment and any provision of the Agreement are inconsistent or conflicting, the inconsistent or conflicting provision of this Amendment shall be and constitute an amendment of the Agreement and shall control, but only to the extent that such provision is inconsistent or conflicting with the Agreement. Any capitalized terms not defined herein shall be defined as in the Agreement.
     NOW, THEREFORE, and in consideration of the mutual agreements and covenants set forth, the parties wish to amend the Agreement as follows:
     The following shall be inserted at the end of subsection (c) of Section 1: Sale and Purchase of Securities; Closing,:
Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Installment Date, the Company shall not issue, and the Purchaser shall not be required to make Payment for, any Shares if the issuance of such Shares would result in (i) the aggregate number of all Shares issued pursuant to this Agreement being greater than 19.9% of the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock issued and outstanding on the date hereof (exclusive of any shares held by affiliates of the Company) or (ii) the Company being in violation of any listing requirements, corporate governance rules or any other rules and regulations of the NASD or the Nasdaq National Market or any other market or exchange on which the Company’s Common Stock is then listed or quoted; in which case the Company and the Purchaser will, if legally permissible, adjust the amount of the Payment due, and the number of Shares to be issued, so that the conditions specified in sub-clauses (i) and (ii) would be satisfied.
     Subsection (m) of Section 9: Miscellaneous shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
  (m)   Approval. The Purchaser acknowledges that (i) the Company has not sought, or received, stockholder approval as may be required under the rules and regulations of the NASD or Nasdaq National Market in respect of transactions that may result in, among other things, a change of control or the issuance of more than 20% of a company’s outstanding common stock, (ii) all of the Company’s representations and warranties contained herein are deemed modified by the disclosures in this Section 9(m), (iii) the restrictions on the issuance of Shares set forth in the last

 


 

      sentence of Section 1(c) are intended to ensure that the Company does not violate any rules, regulations or listing requirements of the NASD or the Nasdaq National Market, and (iv) if the Company ever needs to seek shareholder approval with respect to such matters, the Purchaser shall not be entitled to vote on such matters.
     Schedule C shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
INSTALLMENT SCHEDULE
$50,000 due and payable at the closing of a Qualified Equity Offering (as defined herein), $50,000 due and payable 180 days after the closing of a Qualified Equity Offering, $100,000 due and payable on the one year anniversary after the closing of a Qualified Equity Offering (the “Anniversary”), $50,000 due and payable on the first day of the month following 180 days after the Anniversary and on the first day of each month thereafter. For purposes hereof, a “Qualified Equity Offering” shall mean a private equity offering of the capital stock of the Company pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, other than pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or any successor or similar form, in each case in which the proceeds to the Company are not less than $100,000,000, before deduction of underwriting commissions, placement agent fees or similar charges, and other offering expenses.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed on their behalf by their duly authorized officers as of the day, month and year above written.
         
SPECIALTY UNDERWRITERS’ ALLIANCE, INC.    
 
       
By:
Name:
  /s/ William S. Loder
 
William S. Loder
   
Title:
  Chief Underwriting Officer    
 
       
AEON INSURANCE GROUP, INC.    
 
       
By:
Name:
  /s/ Lee Wendleton
 
Lee Wendleton
   
Title:
  President    

 

EX-99.4 9 c09635exv99w4.htm AMENDMENT NO.3 TO SPECIALTY UNDERWRITERS' ALLIANCE, INC. PARTNER AGENT PROGRAM AGREEMENT exv99w4
 

Exhibit 99.4
AMENDMENT NO. 3
TO THE
SPECIALTY UNDERWRITERS’ ALLIANCE, INC.
PARTNER AGENT PROGRAM AGREEMENT
     This amendment (“Amendment”) is made and entered into as of the 18th day of July, 2006 (“Effective Date”) by and between American Team Managers (“Partner Agent”) and Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc. and its property and casualty insurance subsidiaries and affiliates (collective, the “Company”), and amends the PARTNER AGENT PROGRAM AGREEMENT (“Agreement”), entered into by the parties on May 1, 2004, as amended. Any terms defined in the Agreement and used herein shall have the same meaning in this Amendment as in the Agreement. In the event that any provision of this Amendment and any provision of the Agreement are inconsistent or conflicting, the inconsistent or conflicting provision of this Amendment shall be and constitute an amendment of the Agreement and shall control, but only to the extent that such provision is inconsistent or conflicting with the Agreement. Any capitalized terms not defined herein shall be defined as in the Agreement.
     Now, therefore, in accordance with Section IX, D of the Agreement and in consideration of the mutual agreements and covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties wish to amend the Agreement as follows:
  1.   The following provision shall be added under Section IX. General Provisions:
 
  L.   Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by both parties, each party agrees that during this Agreement and for a period of one (1) year after the termination or expiration of this Agreement, it shall not directly or indirectly recruit, solicit or hire any employee of the other party, or induce or attempt to induce any employee of the other party to discontinue his or her employment relationship with the other party.
 
  2.   The word “treaty” shall be deleted from Exhibit B, Legend, Table 1, Line 1.
 
  3.   The following clause shall be deleted in its entirety from Exhibit B, Legend, Table 1, Line 1.:
     “specifically related to Eligible Business purchased by the Company for the Profit Sharing Year.”
  4.   Exhibit B, Legend, Table 1, Line 15. shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
     “Profit Sharing Factor shall be 50%. A minimum total Eligible Written Premium of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) and minimum program Eligible Written Premium of five million dollars ($5,000,000) each for Artisan and General Contractors; E-Comp.; Intermodal/Trucking; and each other program must be achieved during the Profit Sharing Year to be paid out under the

 


 

profit sharing calculation. The profit sharing calculation will be completed regardless of whether Partner Agent meets its minimum requirements.”
     This Amendment may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
     This Amendment shall be deemed to be made in and in all respects shall be interpreted, construed and governed by and in accordance with the law of the State of Delaware without regard to principles of conflicts of laws that would require application of the law of a jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed on their behalf by their duly authorized officers as of the day, month and year above written.
         
SPECIALTY UNDERWRITERS’ ALLIANCE, INC.    
 
       
BY:
NAME:
  /s/ William S. Loder
 
William S. Loder
   
TITLE:
  Senior Vice President, Chief Underwriting Officer    
 
       
AMERICAN TEAM MANAGERS    
 
       
BY:
NAME:
  /s/ Chris Micheals
 
Chris Micheals
   
TITLE:
  President and CEO    

 

EX-99.5 10 c09635exv99w5.htm FIRST AMENDMENT TO SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT exv99w5
 

Exhibit 99.5
FIRST AMENDMENT
TO THE
SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
     This amendment (“Amendment”) is made and entered into as of the 5th day of September, 2006 (“Effective Date”) by and between American Patriot Insurance Agency, Inc. (“API”) and Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc., and amends the SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT(“Agreement”) entered into by the parties on January 24, 2006. Any terms defined in the Agreement and used herein shall have the same meaning in this Amendment as in the Agreement. In the event that any provision of this Amendment and any provision of the Agreement are inconsistent or conflicting, the inconsistent or conflicting provision of this Amendment shall be and constitute an amendment of the Agreement and shall control, but only to the extent that such provision is inconsistent or conflicting with the Agreement. Any capitalized terms not defined herein shall be defined as in the Agreement.
     NOW, THEREFORE, and in consideration of the mutual agreements and covenants set forth, the parties wish to amend the Agreement as follows:
     The following shall be inserted at the end of subsection (c) of Section 1: Sale and Purchase of Securities; Closing,:
Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Installment Date, the Company shall not issue, and the Purchaser shall not be required to make Payment for, any Shares if the issuance of such Shares would result in (i) the aggregate number of all Shares issued pursuant to this Agreement being greater than 19.9% of the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock issued and outstanding on the date hereof (exclusive of any shares held by affiliates of the Company) or (ii) the Company being in violation of any listing requirements, corporate governance rules or any other rules and regulations of the NASD or the Nasdaq National Market or any other market or exchange on which the Company’s Common Stock is then listed or quoted; in which case the Company and the Purchaser will, if legally permissible, adjust the amount of the Payment due, and the number of Shares to be issued, so that the conditions specified in sub-clauses (i) and (ii) would be satisfied.
     Subsection (m) of Section 9: Miscellaneous shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
  (n)   Approval. The Purchaser acknowledges that (i) the Company has not sought, or received, stockholder approval as may be required under the rules and regulations of the NASD or Nasdaq National Market in respect of transactions that may result in, among other things, a change of control or the issuance of more than 20% of a company’s outstanding common stock, (ii) all of the Company’s representations and warranties contained herein are deemed modified by the disclosures in this Section 9(m), (iii) the restrictions on the issuance of Shares set forth in the last

 


 

      sentence of Section 1(c) are intended to ensure that the Company does not violate any rules, regulations or listing requirements of the NASD or the Nasdaq National Market, and (iv) if the Company ever needs to seek shareholder approval with respect to such matters, the Purchaser shall not be entitled to vote on such matters.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed on their behalf by their duly authorized officers as of the day, month and year above written.
         
SPECIALTY UNDERWRITERS’ ALLIANCE, INC.    
 
       
By:
Name:
  /s/ Williams S. Loder
 
William S. Loder
   
Title:
  Chief Underwriting Officer    
 
       
AMERICAN PATRIOT INSURANCE AGENCY, INC.
   
 
       
By:
Name:
  /s/ Lysa Saran
 
Lysa Saran
   
Title:
  President    

 

EX-99.6 11 c09635exv99w6.htm AMENDMENT NO.3 TO SPECIALTY UNDERWRITERS' ALLIANCE, INC. PARTNER AGENT PROGRAM AGREEMENT exv99w6
 

Exhibit 99.6
AMENDMENT NO. 3
TO THE
SPECIALTY UNDERWRITERS’ ALLIANCE, INC.
PARTNER AGENT PROGRAM AGREEMENT
     This amendment (“Amendment”) is made and entered into as of the 12th day of September, 2006 and is effective as of September 1, 2006 (“Effective Date”), by and between American Patriot Insurance Agency, Inc. (“Partner Agent”) and Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc. and its property and casualty insurance subsidiaries and affiliates (collective, the “Company”), and amends the PARTNER AGENT PROGRAM AGREEMENT (“Agreement”), entered into by the parties on January 24, 2006, as amended. Any terms defined in the Agreement and used herein shall have the same meaning in this Amendment as in the Agreement. In the event that any provision of this Amendment and any provision of the Agreement are inconsistent or conflicting, the inconsistent or conflicting provision of this Amendment shall be and constitute an amendment of the Agreement and shall control, but only to the extent that such provision is inconsistent or conflicting with the Agreement. Any capitalized terms not defined herein shall be defined as in the Agreement.
     Now, therefore, in accordance with Section IX, D of the Agreement and in consideration of the mutual agreements and covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties wish to amend the Agreement as follows:
     Exhibit A, Section A shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
  A.   Except as otherwise provided in this Commission Schedule, Partner Agent’s Commission shall be as follows:
         
Program Description   Line of Business   Maximum Rate of Commission
Roofing Contractors in the states specifically described in the underwriting guidelines of the Company
  General Liability and Commercial Automobile   16% for business written through retail brokerage; 12% for business written direct or through American American Builders & Contractors Supply Co., Inc. also d/b/a ABC Supply Co., Inc.; provided that the overall rate of commission shall not exceed 15%

 


 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed on their behalf by their duly authorized officers as of the day, month and year above written.
         
SPECIALTY UNDERWRITERS’ ALLIANCE, INC.    
 
       
BY:
NAME:
  /s/ William S. Loder
 
William S. Loder
   
TITLE:
  Senior Vice President, Chief Underwriting Officer    
 
       
AMERICAN PATRIOT INSURANCE AGENCY, INC.    
 
       
BY:
NAME:
  /s/ Lysa Saran
 
Lysa Saran
   
TITLE:
  President    

 

EX-99.7 12 c09635exv99w7.htm FIRST AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT exv99w7
 

Exhibit 99.7
FIRST AMENDMENT
TO THE
AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
     This amendment (“Amendment”) is made and entered into as of the 21st day of September, 2006 (“Effective Date”) by and between Risk Transfer Holdings, Inc. (“RTH”) and Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc., and amends the AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) entered into by the parties on June 10, 2005. Any terms defined in the Agreement and used herein shall have the same meaning in this Amendment as in the Agreement. In the event that any provision of this Amendment and any provision of the Agreement are inconsistent or conflicting, the inconsistent or conflicting provision of this Amendment shall be and constitute an amendment of the Agreement and shall control, but only to the extent that such provision is inconsistent or conflicting with the Agreement. Any capitalized terms not defined herein shall be defined as in the Agreement.
     NOW, THEREFORE, and in consideration of the mutual agreements and covenants set forth, the parties wish to amend the Agreement as follows:
     The following shall be inserted at the end of subsection (c) of Section 1: Sale and Purchase of Securities; Closing,:
Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Installment Date, the Company shall not issue, and the Purchaser shall not be required to make Payment for, any Shares if the issuance of such Shares would result in (i) the aggregate number of all Shares issued pursuant to this Agreement being greater than 19.9% of the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock issued and outstanding on the date hereof (exclusive of any shares held by affiliates of the Company) or (ii) the Company being in violation of any listing requirements, corporate governance rules or any other rules and regulations of the NASD or the Nasdaq National Market or any other market or exchange on which the Company’s Common Stock is then listed or quoted; in which case the Company and the Purchaser will, if legally permissible, adjust the amount of the Payment due, and the number of Shares to be issued, so that the conditions specified in sub-clauses (i) and (ii) would be satisfied.
     Subsection (m) of Section 9: Miscellaneous shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
  (o)   Approval. The Purchaser acknowledges that (i) the Company has not sought, or received, stockholder approval as may be required under the rules and regulations of the NASD or Nasdaq National Market in respect of transactions that may result in, among other things, a change of control or the issuance of more than 20% of a company’s outstanding common stock, (ii) all of the Company’s representations and warranties contained herein are deemed modified by the disclosures in this Section 9(m), (iii) the restrictions on the issuance of Shares set forth in the last sentence of Section 1(c) are intended to ensure that the Company does not violate any rules, regulations or listing requirements of the NASD or the Nasdaq National

 


 

      Market, and (iv) if the Company ever needs to seek shareholder approval with respect to such matters, the Purchaser shall not be entitled to vote on such matters.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed on their behalf by their duly authorized officers as of the day, month and year above written.
         
SPECIALTY UNDERWRITERS’ ALLIANCE, INC.    
 
       
By:
Name:
  /s/ William S. Loder
 
William S. Loder
   
Title:
  Chief Underwriting Officer    
 
       
RISK TRANSFER HOLDINGS, INC.    
 
       
By:
Name:
  /s/ Paul R. Hughes
 
Paul R. Hughes
   
Title:
  Chief Executive Officer    

 

EX-99.8 13 c09635exv99w8.htm FIRST AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT exv99w8
 

Exhibit 99.8
FIRST AMENDMENT
TO THE
AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT
     This amendment (“Amendment”) is made and entered into as of the 25th day of September, 2006 (“Effective Date”) by and between American Team Managers (“ATM”) and Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc., and amends the AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) entered into by the parties on September 8, 2005. Any terms defined in the Agreement and used herein shall have the same meaning in this Amendment as in the Agreement. In the event that any provision of this Amendment and any provision of the Agreement are inconsistent or conflicting, the inconsistent or conflicting provision of this Amendment shall be and constitute an amendment of the Agreement and shall control, but only to the extent that such provision is inconsistent or conflicting with the Agreement. Any capitalized terms not defined herein shall be defined as in the Agreement.
     NOW, THEREFORE, and in consideration of the mutual agreements and covenants set forth, the parties wish to amend the Agreement as follows:
     The following shall be inserted at the end of subsection (c) of Section 1: Sale and Purchase of Securities; Closing,:
Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Installment Date, the Company shall not issue, and the Purchaser shall not be required to make Payment for, any Shares if the issuance of such Shares would result in (i) the aggregate number of all Shares issued pursuant to this Agreement being greater than 19.9% of the number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock issued and outstanding on the date hereof (exclusive of any shares held by affiliates of the Company) or (ii) the Company being in violation of any listing requirements, corporate governance rules or any other rules and regulations of the NASD or the Nasdaq National Market or any other market or exchange on which the Company’s Common Stock is then listed or quoted; in which case the Company and the Purchaser will, if legally permissible, adjust the amount of the Payment due, and the number of Shares to be issued, so that the conditions specified in sub-clauses (i) and (ii) would be satisfied.
     Subsection (m) of Section 9: Miscellaneous shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
  (p)   Approval. The Purchaser acknowledges that (i) the Company has not sought, or received, stockholder approval as may be required under the rules and regulations of the NASD or Nasdaq National Market in respect of transactions that may result in, among other things, a change of control or the issuance of more than 20% of a company’s outstanding common stock, (ii) all of the Company’s representations and warranties contained herein are deemed modified by the disclosures in this Section 9(m), (iii) the restrictions on the issuance of Shares set forth in the last

 


 

      sentence of Section 1(c) are intended to ensure that the Company does not violate any rules, regulations or listing requirements of the NASD or the Nasdaq National Market, and (iv) if the Company ever needs to seek shareholder approval with respect to such matters, the Purchaser shall not be entitled to vote on such matters.
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed on their behalf by their duly authorized officers as of the day, month and year above written.
         
SPECIALTY UNDERWRITERS’ ALLIANCE, INC.    
 
       
By:
Name:
  /s/ William S. Loder
 
William S. Loder
   
Title:
  Chief Underwriting Officer    
 
       
AMERICAN TEAM MANAGERS    
 
       
By:
Name:
  /s/ Chris Michaels
 
Chris Michaels
   
Title:
  Chief Executive Officer    

 

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