-----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, AZkd0db7gVFw8b+mRsxloouWzwAbdAs18eqY/t21NUBtSLTd8G0YuUzZ99Ja66MA kaNHiP8cKzQUTWq05xsZ9g== 0000950135-97-000203.txt : 19970124 0000950135-97-000203.hdr.sgml : 19970124 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950135-97-000203 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 19970106 ITEM INFORMATION: Changes in control of registrant ITEM INFORMATION: Financial statements and exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 19970123 SROS: NASD FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: NORTH EAST INSURANCE CO CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000352162 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331] IRS NUMBER: 010278387 STATE OF INCORPORATION: ME FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K/A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-11184 FILM NUMBER: 97509354 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 482 PAYNE RD CITY: SCARBOROUGH STATE: ME ZIP: 04074 BUSINESS PHONE: 2078832232 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 482 PAYNE RD CITY: SCARBOROUGH STATE: ME ZIP: 04074 8-K/A 1 NORTH EAST INSURANCE COMPANY AMENDMENT 1 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K/A CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of report: January 6, 1997 (Date of earliest event reported) NORTH EAST INSURANCE COMPANY (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Maine 0-11184 01-0278387 (State or other jurisdiction of (Commission (I.R.S. Employer incorporation or organization) File No.) Identification No.) 482 Payne Road, Scarborough, Maine 04074 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code) Registrant's telephone number: (207) 883-2232 2 ITEM 1. Change in Control of Registrant. On January 6, 1997, Ballantrae Partners, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company("Ballantrae"), acquired 810,000 shares of Common Stock of North East Insurance Company ("NEIC" or the "Company") that were beneficially owned by Bernard D. Gershuny. Purchase of these shares was made pursuant to a Purchase Agreement dated as of May 14, 1996, as subsequently amended as of August 22, 1996 and December 17, 1996. In its amended Schedule 13D report on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Ballantrae reported that the purchase price for these shares was $719,250, plus certain fees and expenses of Mr. Gershuny (not to exceed $30,000), less reasonable expenses (including legal and accounting fees) incurred by Ballantrae (not to exceed $150,000). At closing, Ballantrae delivered $568,750 to a Settlement Agent appointed by Ballantrae and Mr. Gershuny, in satisfaction of amounts due under the Purchase Agreement. The shares purchased from Mr. Gershuny represent approximately 27% of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company. Mr. Gershuny's shares had been held of record by Stephen F. Dubord, as Trustee under a Non-Voting Trust Indenture dated February 3, 1987. Under applicable law, Ballantrae's purchase of the shares required prior regulatory approval from the Maine Bureau of Insurance and the New York Insurance Department. As previously reported, the Company and Ballantrae entered into a Standstill Agreement, dated August 22, 1996, concerning Ballantrae's purchase and sale of NEIC stock and certain matters regarding control of the Company. Based in part on the provisions of the Standstill Agreement, NEIC's Board of Directors agreed to support Ballantrae's applications for regulatory approval in Maine and New. The Standstill Agreement is described in a Form 8-K report of the Company filed August 28, 1996, and a copy of the Agreement is included as an exhibit to that report. Ballantrae obtained the requisite regulatory approvals from the Maine Bureau of Insurance on September 20, 1996 and from the New York State Insurance Department on November 26, 1996. In each case, approval was granted subject to certain stated conditions. On January 6, 1997, on the basis of certain representations from Ballantrae regarding the satisfaction of all necessary legal and contractual requirements, NEIC entered into a Termination Agreement to terminate the Non-Voting Trust Indenture. The other parties to the Agreement are Ballantrae, Mr. Gershuny, and Mr. Dubord, as Trustee. The Termination Agreement had previously been approved as to form by the Maine Bureau of Insurance. Mr. Gershuny is a party to a settlement arrangement among parties 3 to two pending legal actions, United States v. Bernard Gershuny and David Gershuny, (U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, 1992) and The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of American Motor Club, Inc. v. Bernard Gershuny, et al. (U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, 1992). Under that settlement arrangement, Mr. Gershuny has agreed that the net proceeds from his sale of NEIC Common Stock will be paid to certain claimants. The primary claimants are (i) a restitution fund established for victims of a fraud involving International Tillex Enterprise, Ltd. and (ii) a committee of unsecured creditors of American Motor Club, Inc. In anticipation of the closing of the purchase of these shares, Ballantrae and Mr. Gershuny entered into a Settlement Agreement under which the net purchase price was paid to a Settlement Agent. Under the Settlement Agreement, the sale proceeds (net of certain deductions to cover additional expenses incurred by Ballantrae) are to be paid over to relevant claimants pursuant to (i) final and non-appealable orders of a court of competent jurisdiction allocating such proceeds or (ii) a written agreement among Mr. Gershuny, Ballantrae and all interested parties. Under the terms of the Standstill Agreement, Ballantrae is entitled to nominate three members to the Board of Directors of NEIC within 30 days of Ballantrae's purchase of Mr. Gershuny's shares. Although the Board of Directors has not yet taken any action with respect to such nominees, it is anticipated that the Board will take the appropriate actions in the near future. Additional information regarding the Purchase Agreement, Ballantrae's Form A application, and the Standstill Agreement is contained in prior Form 8-K reports of the Company and in Schedule 13D reports by Ballantrae, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits. (a), (b) Not applicable. (c) The following is filed as an exhibit to this report. 99.1 Termination Agreement dated January 6, 1997, among the Company, Ballantrae Partners, L.L.C., Bernard D. Gershuny, and Stephen F. Dubord, as Trustee under the Non-Voting Trust Indenture dated February 3, 1987. 4 SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized. NORTH EAST INSURANCE COMPANY Date: January 21, 1997 By: /s/ Graham S. Payne -------------------- Graham S. Payne Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer 5 INDEX TO EXHIBITS Exhibit Number Description Page - ------- --------------------------------------- ---- 99.1 Termination Agreement dated January 6, 1997, among the Company, Ballantrae Partners, L.L.C., Bernard D. Gershuny, and Stephen F. Dubord, as Trustee under the Non-Voting Trust Indenture dated February 3, 1987. EX-99.1 2 TERMINATION AGREEMENT-NON VOTING TRUST INDENTURE 1 Exhibit 99.1 TERMINATION AGREEMENT RE: NON-VOTING TRUST INDENTURE This Termination Agreement, entered as of the 6th day of January 1997, between NORTH EAST INSURANCE COMPANY, a Maine corporation, chartered as an insurer under the laws of the State of Maine, (hereinafter called "NEIC"), and BERNARD D. GERSHUNY, of Delray Beach, Florida, (hereinafter "Gershuny"), as follows: WHEREAS, NEIC, Gershuny and Stephen F. Dubord, Esq., as Trustee, entered into a Non-Voting Trust Indenture (hereinafter the "Indenture") concerning 810,000 shares of capital stock of NEIC (the "Trust Shares") on February 3, 1987; and WHEREAS, Gershuny has entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement with Ballantrae Partners, LLC (hereinafter "Ballantrae") for acquisition by Ballantrae of the Trust Shares; and WHEREAS, the Maine Bureau of Insurance has issued a Decision and Order authorizing acquisition of the Trust Shares by Ballantrae subject to certain terms and conditions referenced therein, including the termination of the Indenture; and WHEREAS, Gershuny and Ballantrae acknowledge that all conditions to closing of said Agreement have been satisfied or waived; and WHEREAS, NEIC and Gershuny have agreed to terminate the Indenture in connection with the consummation of the transaction contemplated by the Purchase and Sale Agreement and the Decision and Order; and WHEREAS, the Trustee has consented to act under this Termination Agreement for the purposes herein provided; NOW THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED THAT, pursuant to Paragraph 12(c) of the Indenture, NEIC and Gershuny agree this day to the termination of the Indenture, subject to the following conditions: 1) Delivery and exchange of the Trust Certificates for the Trust Shares as contemplated by Section 5 of the Indenture and transfer of the Trust Shares to Ballantrae as contemplated by the Purchase and Sale Agreement; and 2) Payment of accrued but unpaid compensation to the Trustee through the date the Trust Shares are transferred to Ballantrae in an amount not to exceed $15,000, such payment to be made by NEIC and Gershuny in equal shares. 2 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Termination Agreement as of the date first written above. North East Insurance Company /s/ Robert G. Schatz ---------------------------- By Robert G. Schatz Its President, CEO /s/ Bernard D. Gershuny ---------------------------- Bernard D. Gershuny SEEN AND AGREED TO: /s/Stephen F. Dubord ---------------------------- Stephen F. Dubord, Trustee Ballantrae Partners, LLC /s/ Murry N. Gunty ---------------------------- By Murry N. Gunty Its Managing Director * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Pursuant to Paragraph 12(c) of the Non-voting Trust Indenture, this Termination Agreement has received prior approval by me on this 23rd day of December, 1996. /s/ Brian K. Atchinson ---------------------------- Brian K. Atchinson, Superintendent -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----