-----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, Hha24vHvVTMc8upqkwflJZiwGV7QP/jMAP949ePVFr/gFWBItfvC1GPz7CUXe3Pc vK0j7/dJ8V7wu7oubRotKA== 0000914760-06-000148.txt : 20061214 0000914760-06-000148.hdr.sgml : 20061214 20060913165837 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000914760-06-000148 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: CORRESP PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 20060913 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: FIRST MERCURY FINANCIAL CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000929186 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331] IRS NUMBER: 383164336 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: CORRESP BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 29621 NORTHWESTERN HWY STREET 2: PO BOX 5096 CITY: SOUTHFIELD STATE: MI ZIP: 48034 BUSINESS PHONE: 8103584010 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 29621 NORTHWESTERN HGWY STREET 2: PO BOX 5096 CITY: SOUTHFIELD STATE: MI ZIP: 48086 CORRESP 1 filename1.htm

 

 

 

Boston Brussels Chicago Düsseldorf London Los Angeles Miami Munich

New York Orange County Rome San Diego Silicon Valley Washington, D.C.

Heidi Steele

Attorney at Law

hsteele@mwe.com

312.984.3624

 

 

September 13, 2006

VIA FACSIMILE AND OVERNIGHT MAIL

Securities and Exchange Commission

Division of Corporation Finance

100 F Street, N.E.

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Attention: Ibolya Ignat

 

Re:

First Mercury Financial Corporation

Amendment No. 2 to Form S-1 Registration Statement

File No. 333-134573

Ladies and Gentlemen:

On behalf of our client, First Mercury Financial Corporation (the “Company”), in connection with your oral request for additional information regarding the Company’s response to the comment 13 of the staff (“Staff”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) which was provided in a letter from the Company to the Staff, dated August 23, 2006, the following is a brief timeline of the process undertaken by the Company in determining whether to proceed with an initial public offering.

Timeline

o             August 17, 2005: Date that Glencoe Capital acquired over 50% of the capital stock of First Mercury Holdings, Inc. the parent corporation of the Company.

 

September 13, 2006

Page 2

 

o             November 2005: The Company interviews advisors to help the Company with strategic planning, including an evaluation of the long range financial needs of the Company.

o             March 21, 2006: Selection of investment bank to assist the Company in an initial public offering.

o             May 30, 2006: Filing of the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1. Filing the registration statement put the Company in a position to move forward with an initial public offering if market conditions are right, but does not diminish Glencoe’s control over the Company. Glencoe remains in control of the Company and has ultimate decision power to determine whether market conditions and other factors are optimal before deciding to proceed. If Glencoe initially decides to proceed with an initial public offering and subsequently finds the market clearing price is lower than it believes is equitable, Glencoe has control to terminate the offering.

o             August and September 2006: The Company continues to evaluate whether to proceed with the initial public offering. Glencoe continues to have majority control over the Company.

Please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned at (312) 984-3624 if you have further questions or comments.

Sincerely,

 

/s/ Heidi J. Steele

 

Heidi J. Steele

 

Enclosures

 

Cc:

Mary K. Fraser

 

Richard Smith

 

Louis Manetti, Glencoe Capital

 

Edward Best, Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw

 

 

 

 

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