EXHIBIT 10(b)

 

SENIOR EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION BONUS PROGRAM

 

The Senior Executive Bonus Program is a measure of three areas often reviewed
when comparing results of different companies or in comparing current company
results from one year to the next.

 

PURPOSE

1.

To provide a motivational tool in the form of compensation to help executives
focus on specific organizational goals to improve profits, surplus and service
in all areas of the corporation.

 

2.

To maintain competitive advantage in terms of recruitment and retention of
senior executives.

 

3.

To provide a plan based on EMC results and industry results, to provide a better
measure of performance.

 

4.

Reward superior results more appropriately.

 

5.

Provide a maximum bonus difficult to attain so there is incentive to strive for
better results.

 

6.

To provide a measure of safety to the company so that senior officers' total
compensation is reduced if company performance declines.

 

GENERAL BONUS CALCULATION

The bonus plan uses production, surplus growth and the combined ratio, all valid
measures of performance, as follows:

 

1.

EMC WRITTEN PREMIUM - Compares consolidated written premium to a goal that is
established each year.

 

2.

CHANGE IN SURPLUS

 

3.

COMBINED RATIO - Compares EMC combined ratio to a target ratio established by
the Committee each year. Also compares EMC's combined ratio to that of the
industry.

 

Seventy-five percent of any bonus will be based on the Industry estimate
published in January by A.M. Best and paid at that time. The remaining
twenty-five percent will be paid when final numbers are released by A.M. Best
(generally in March).

 

ALL CALCULATIONS ARE ROUNDED TO THE NEAREST ONE TENTH OF ONE PERCENT.

The factors in each of the formulas, as shown on Schedule A, as amended, are
subject to change each year with final approval by the Senior Executive
Compensation and Incentive Stock Option Committee.

 

WRITTEN PREMIUM

This component is based on actual net written premium growth compared to a
consolidated written premium goal established each year and approved by the
Committee.

 

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Achieving goal results in a bonus contribution of plus 7.5 percent of salary.
This changes by 1.5 percent for each 1.0 percent variation from goal, subject to
a maximum contribution of plus 15.0 percent and a minimum contribution of minus
15.0 percent.

 

The written premium component is determined as follows:

Percent of actual change, minus goal, plus 5.0, times 1.50.

 

Example 1:

The goal equals 8.5 percent premium growth.

The actual change equals 7.5 percent premium growth.

7.5 percent minus 8.5 percent equals minus 1 plus 5.0, equals 4.0 times 1.50
equals 6.0.

The contribution in this example of written premium towards the total bonus is
equal to 6.0 percent.

 

Example 2:

The goal equals 5.7 percent premium growth. The actual change equals minus 1.3
percent premium growth.

Minus 1.3 percent minus 5.7 percent equals minus 7.0 plus 5.0 equals minus 2.0
times 1.50 equals minus 3.0.

 

Example 3:

The goal equals 4.7 percent premium growth.

The actual change equals 9.8 percent premium growth.

9.8 percent minus 4.7 percent equals 5.1 percent plus 5.0 equals 10.1 times 1.50
equals 15.2 percent. The contribution in this example of written premium towards
the total bonus equals plus 15.0 percent.

 

(This component not to exceed plus or minus 15.0 percent of total bonus.)

 

SURPLUS

 

The component of surplus is based on the actual change in surplus. Each one
percent increase in surplus represents a change in bonus equal to 1.00 percent
of salary subject to a maximum of 25.0 percent. Each one percent decrease in
surplus represents a two percent decrease of salary subject to a maximum of
minus 20.0 percent.

 

The surplus component is determined as follows:

Positive change in surplus times multiplier of 1.00

Negative change in surplus times multiplier of 2.00

 

Example 1:

Change in surplus equals plus 4.6 percent.

Contribution towards total bonus from surplus component equals 4.6 percent times
1.00 equals 4.6 percent.

 

Example 2:

Change in surplus equals a minus 2.4 percent. Contribution towards total bonus
from surplus component equals minus 2.4 percent times 2.00 equals minus 4.8
percent.

 

Example 3:

Change in surplus equals a plus 10.7 percent. Contribution towards total bonus
from surplus component equals 10.7 percent times 1.00 equals 10.7 percent.

 

COMBINED RATIO

The component for combined ratio is based on EMC's consolidated combined ratio
relative to a target combined ratio on a trade basis, adjusted by a comparison
of the EMC combined ratio to that of the industry.

 

The target ratio is subject to Committee approval each year. For each 1.0
percent change in the combined ratio, the bonus contribution changes 5.0 percent
subject to a maximum contribution of plus 65.0 percent and a minimum
contribution of minus 40.0 percent.

 

 

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First determine EMC's relationship to the industry by subtracting EMC's combined
ratio from that of the industry.

 

The initial Industry estimate published in December or January by A.M. Best will
be the number used in the calculation. Adjustments will be made as required when
A.M. Best releases final numbers, generally in March.

 

If the result is a positive number, subtract result (not to exceed 3.0 percent)
from EMC's combined ratio to obtain adjusted combined ratio. Subtract adjusted
combined ratio from target combined ratio, add 6.0, multiply by 5.00 to equal
the bonus produced by the combined ratio component.

 

If the result is a negative number or 0.0, no adjustment is necessary and the
EMC combined ratio is the adjusted combined ratio. Subtract the adjusted
combined ratio from the target combined ratio, add 6.0, multiply by 5.00 to
equal the bonus produced by the combined ratio component.

 

The combined ratio formula is determined as follows:

Target combined ratio minus the adjusted combined ratio plus 6.0 times 5.00.

 

In the examples below, a target combined ratio of 103.0 is used.

Example 1:

Industry ratio equals 101.6 percent.

EMC ratio equals 97.1 percent.

Adjustment * 101.6 minus 97.1 equals 3.0 (maximum

adjustment allowed).

Adjusted ratio * 97.1 minus 3.0 equals 94.1 percent. Target ratio equals 103.0
percent.

103.0 percent minus 94.1 percent equals 8.9 plus 6 equals 14.9 times 5.00 equals
74.5 percent. (Capped at 65.0)

The contribution towards total bonus from the combined ratio component equals
65.0 percent.

 

Example 2:

Industry ratio equals 101.6 percent.

EMC ratio equals 100.1 percent.

Adjustment * 101.6 minus 100.1 equals 1.5 percent.

Adjusted ratio * 100.1 minus 1.5 equals 98.6 percent.

Target ratio equals 103.0 percent.

103.0 percent minus 98.6 percent equals 4.4 percent plus 6.0 equals 10.4 percent
times 5.00 equals

52.0 percent.

The contribution towards the total bonus from the combined ratio component
equals 52.0 percent.

Example 3:

Industry ratio equals 101.6 percent.

EMC ratio equals 110.1 percent.

Adjustment - None (If EMC performance is worse than the industry average, use
the EMC ratio in the formula).

Adjusted ratio * 110.1.

Target ratio equals 103.0 percent.

103.0 percent minus 110.1 percent equals minus 7.1 plus 6.0 equals minus 1.1
times 5.00 equals

minus 5.5.

The contribution towards the total bonus from the combined ratio component
equals minus 5.5 percent.

 

 

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Assuming each example represents one year, the bonus for the three years would
be as follows:

Component

 

Example 1

 

Example 2

 

Example 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Written Premium

 

6.0%

 

-3.0%

 

15.0%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Surplus

 

4.6%

 

-4.8%

 

10.7%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Combined Ratio

 

65.0%

 

52.0%

 

-5.5%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Bonus

 

50.0%

 

44.2%

 

20.2%

 

* Maximum bonus for Vice President is 50.0 percent.

This represents the bonus for Vice Presidents. Factors would be applied as
follows to arrive at the bonus calculations for Senior Vice Presidents,
Executive Vice Presidents, and President.

 

Position

 

 

 

Example 1

 

Example 2

 

Example 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vice President

 

 

 

50.0%

 

44.2%

 

20.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior VP

 

Multiply by 1.10

 

55.0%

 

51.3%

 

22.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive VP

 

Multiply by 1.20

 

60.0%

 

55.9%

 

24.2%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

President

 

Multiply by 1.30

 

65.0%

 

60.6%

 

26.3%

 

MAXIMUM BONUS

For Vice Presidents, the total bonus is the sum of the three components subject
to a maximum of 50 percent of salary.

 

Maximum Bonus

For Vice Presidents, the percent of salary is

50.0 %

 

For Senior Vice Presidents, multiply the bonus percentage by 1.10.

55.0 %

 

For Executive Vice Presidents, multiply the bonus percentage by 1.20.

60.0 %

 

For President, multiply the bonus percentage by 1.30.

65.0 %

 

 

EXECUTIVES ELIGIBLE FOR BONUS

All members of the Policy Committee, with the exception of the President of EMC
National Life, will be eligible for an executive bonus as provided in this
Program. In addition, persons holding the positions of Department Head of
Marketing, Department Head of Commercial Underwriting and Director of Internal
Audit will be eligible for an executive bonus. Each bonus will calculated
according to the terms and conditions of the Program and according to each
executive’s status as an officer.

 

 

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PLAN ADMINISTRATION

 

1.

An executive must be on the payroll a minimum of six months before he/she is
eligible for a bonus payment.

 

2.

An executive terminating employment with the companies prior to the end of the
year in which a bonus is earned will not be paid such bonus.

 

3.

Executives retiring or becoming deceased or disabled before the date earned for
bonuses will receive a bonus on the basis of the portion of the year he/she was
on the payroll.

 

4.

If an executive becomes a member of the Policy Committee at some time during the
year, they will receive a pro-rata bonus for that portion of the year they are a
member.

 

5.

If an executive is promoted during the year and/or given a salary increase, the
bonus will be prorated on the basis of the position and/or the salaries paid for
the specific position.

 

6.

Deductions for federal and state income taxes, and FICA, if applicable, will be
made from each bonus on the basis of IRS regulations.

 

7.

The Executive Compensation Committee may, at its discretion adjust the bonus
calculation for unusual or extenuating circumstances.

 

8.

The EMC Employee Contingent Salary Plan provides that employees eligible under a
separate “bonus” program will receive the larger of the “bonus” and the
“contingent salary” for the plan year. In the unlikely event the “contingent
salary” is larger than the “senior executive bonus” the Executive Compensation
Committee may, at its discretion, approve payment of the “contingent salary” in
lieu of the “senior executive bonus”.

 

9.

If there is a disagreement or misunderstanding of the basis for the bonus or in
the calculation in the amounts, the decision of the Senior Executive
Compensation and Incentive Stock Option Committee will be final.

 

 

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