Document:

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                                                                   Exhibit 10.17

                                   QUOTA SHARE
                              REINSURANCE CONTRACT

                                    Issued to

                           Century Surety Company
                 (Hereinafter referred to as the "Company")

                                       By

                    Evergreen National Indemnity Company
                (Hereinafter referred to as the "Reinsurer")

ARTICLE I - CLASSES OF BUSINESS REINSURED

A.    By this Contract the Company obligates itself to cede to the Reinsurer and
      the Reinsurer obligates itself to accept 100% quota share reinsurance of
      the Company's gross liability under policies, contracts and binders of
      insurance (hereinafter called "policies") issued or renewed on or after
      the effective date hereof and classified by the Company as Landfill and
      Contract Surety business as defined in Schedule A attached to and forming
      part of this agreement.

B.    The liability of the Reinsurer with respect to each cession hereunder
      shall commence obligatorily and simultaneously with that of the Company,
      subject to the terms, conditions and limitations hereinafter set forth.

ARTICLE II - COMMENCEMENT AND TERMINATION

A.    This Contract shall become effective on January 1, 2004 with respect to
      losses occurring on or after that date and shall continue in force
      thereafter until December 31, 2006.

B.    Either party may terminate this Contract on any January 1 following the
      first two year term by giving the other party not less than 90 days prior
      notice by certified mail.

C.    Unless the Company elects otherwise, reinsurance hereunder on business in
      force on the effective date of termination shall remain in full force and
      effect until expiration, cancellation or next premium anniversary of such
      business, whichever first occurs, but in no event beyond 12 months (plus
      up to 6 months odd time) following the effective date of termination.

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ARTICLE III - ORIGINAL CONDITIONS

A.    All reinsurance under this Contract shall be subject to the same rates,
      terms, conditions and waivers, and to the same modifications and
      alterations as the respective policies of the Company. The Reinsurer shall
      be credited with its exact proportion of the original premiums written by
      the Company, whether collectible or not, prior to disbursement of any
      dividends, but after deduction of premiums, if any, ceded by the Company
      for inuring reinsurance.

B.    Nothing herein shall in any manner create any obligations or establish any
      rights against the Reinsurer in favor of any third party or any persons
      not parties to this Contract.

ARTICLE IV - COMMISSION

A.    The Reinsurer shall allow the Company a 5% commission on all premiums
      ceded to the Reinsurer hereunder. The Company shall allow the Reinsurer
      return commission on return premiums at the same rate.

B.    It is expressly agreed that the ceding commission allowed the Company does
      not include taxes, and all board, exchange and bureau assessments, and all
      other expenses of whatever nature, or loss adjustment expenses.

ARTICLE V - LOSS IN EXCESS OF POLICY LIMITS/ECO

A.    In the event the Company pays or is held liable to pay an amount of loss
      in excess of its policy limit, but otherwise within the terms of its
      policy (hereinafter called "loss in excess of policy limits") or any
      punitive, exemplary, compensatory or consequential damages, other than
      loss in excess of policy limits (hereinafter called "extra contractual
      obligations") because of alleged or actual bad faith or negligence on its
      part in rejecting a settlement within policy limits, or in discharging its
      duty to defend or prepare the defense in the trial of an action against
      its policyholder, or in discharging its duty to prepare or prosecute an
      appeal consequent upon such an action, or in otherwise handling a claim
      under a policy subject to this Contract, 100% of the loss in excess of
      policy limits and/or 100% of the extra contractual obligations shall be
      covered under this Contract.

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B.    An extra contractual obligation shall be deemed to have occurred on the
      same date as the loss covered or alleged to be covered under the policy.

C.    Notwithstanding anything stated herein, this Contract shall not apply to
      any loss in excess of policy limits or any extra contractual obligation
      incurred by the Company as a result of any fraudulent and/or criminal act
      by any officer or director of the Company acting individually or
      collectively or in collusion with any individual or corporation or any
      other organization or party involved in the presentation, defense or
      settlement of any claim covered hereunder.

D.    Recoveries from any form of insurance or reinsurance which protects the
      Company against claims the subject matter of this Article shall inure to
      the benefit of this Contract.

ARTICLE VI - LOSSES AND LOSS ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES

A.    Losses shall be reported by the Company in summary form as hereinafter
      provided, and the Reinsurer shall have the right to participate in the
      adjustment of losses subject to this Contract as its own expense.

B.    All claim or loss settlements made by the Company, whether under strict
      policy conditions or by way of compromise, shall be binding on the
      Reinsurer, and the Reinsurer shall pay or allow, as the case may be, 100%
      of each such settlement as provided in Article VIII.

C.    In the event of a claim under a policy subject hereto, the Reinsurer shall
      be liable for 100% of loss adjustment expenses incurred by the Company in
      connection therewith (including litigation expenses and interest on
      judgments, but not including office expenses or salaries of the Company's
      regular employees), and shall be credited with 100% of any recoveries of
      such expense.

ARTICLE VII - SALVAGE AND SUBROGATION

The Reinsurer shall be credited with its proportionate share of salvage (i.e.,
reimbursement obtained or recovery made by the Company, less the actual cost,
excluding salaries of officials and employees of the Company and sums paid to
attorneys as retainer, of obtaining such reimbursement or making such recovery)
on account of claims and settlements involving reinsurance hereunder. The
Company hereby agrees to enforce its rights to salvage or subrogation relating
to any loss, a part of which loss was sustained by the Reinsurer, and to
prosecute all claims arising out of such rights.

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ARTICLE VIII - REPORTS AND REMITTANCES

A.    Within 45 days after the end of each month, the Company shall report to
      the Reinsurer:

      1.    Ceded written premiums for the month;

      2.    Ceding commission on (1) above;

      3.    Ceded losses and loss adjustment expenses paid during the month;

      4.    Ceded unearned premiums as of the end of the month;

      5.    The ceded reserves for losses and loss adjustment expenses
            outstanding at the end of the month.

      The positive balance of (1) less (2) less (3) shall be remitted by the
      Company with its report. Any balance shown to be due the Company shall be
      remitted by the Reinsurer to the Company as promptly as possible after
      receipt and verification of the Company's report.

B.    Quarterly, the Company shall furnish the Reinsurer with such information
      as the Reinsurer may require to complete its Annual Convention Statement.

ARTICLE IX - OFFSET

The Company or the Reinsurer shall have, and may exercise at any time and from
time to time, the right to offset any balance or balances, whether on account of
premiums or on account of losses or otherwise, due from one party to the other
under the terms of this Contract. However, in the event of the insolvency of any
party hereto, offset shall only be allowed in accordance with applicable law.

ARTICLE X - ACCESS TO RECORDS

The Reinsurer, by its duly appointed representatives, shall have the right at
any reasonable time to examine, and take copies of, all records of the Company
referring to business effected hereunder.

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ARTICLE XI - ERRORS AND OMISSIONS

Inadvertent delays, errors or omissions made in connection with this Contract or
any transaction hereunder shall not relieve either party from any liability
which would have attached had such delay, error or omission not occurred,
provided always that such error or omission will be rectified as soon as
possible after discovery.

ARTICLE XII - INSOLVENCY

In the event of the insolvency of the Company, this reinsurance shall be payable
directly to the Company or to its liquidator, receiver, conservator or statutory
successor on the basis of the liability of the Company without diminution
because of the insolvency of the Company or because the liquidator, receiver,
conservator or statutory successor of the Company has failed to pay all or a
portion of any claim. It is agreed, however, that the liquidator, receiver,
conservator or statutory successor of the Company shall give written notice to
the Reinsurer of the pendency of a claim against the Company indicating the
policy or bond reinsured which claim would involve a possible liability on the
part of the Reinsurer within a reasonable time after such claim is filed in the
conservation or liquidation proceeding or in the receivership, and that during
the pendency of such claim, the Reinsurer may investigate such claim and
interpose, at its own expense, in the proceeding where such claim is to be
adjudicated, any defense or defenses that it may deem available to the Company
or its liquidator, receiver, conservator or statutory successor. The expense
thus incurred by the Reinsurer shall be chargeable, subject to the approval of
the Court, against the Company as part of the expense of conservation or
liquidation to the extent of a pro rata share of the benefit which may accrue to
the Company solely as a result of the defense undertaken by the Reinsurer.

ARTICLE XIII - ARBITRATION

A.    As a condition precedent to any right of action hereunder, in the event of
      any dispute or difference of opinion hereafter arising with respect to
      this Contract, it is hereby mutually agreed that such dispute or
      difference of opinion shall be submitted to arbitration. One Arbiter shall
      be chosen by the Company, the other by the Reinsurer, and an Umpire shall
      be chosen by the two Arbiters before they enter upon arbitration, all of
      whom shall be active or retired disinterested executive officers of
      insurance or reinsurance companies or Lloyd's of London Underwriters. In
      the event that either party should fail to choose an Arbiter within 30
      days following a written request by the other party to do so, the
      requesting party may choose two Arbiters who shall in turn choose an
      Umpire before entering upon arbitration. If the two Arbiters fail to agree
      upon the selection of an Umpire within

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      30 days following their appointment, each Arbiter shall name three
      nominees, of whom the other shall decline two, and the decision shall be
      made by drawing lots.

B.    Each party shall present its case to the Arbiters within 30 days following
      the date of appointment of the Umpire. The Arbiters shall consider this
      Contract as an honorable engagement rather than merely as a legal
      obligation and they are relieved of all judicial formalities and may
      abstain from following the strict rules of law. The decision of the
      Arbiters shall be final and binding on both parties; but failing to agree,
      they shall call in the Umpire and the decision of the majority shall be
      final and binding upon both parties. Judgment upon the final decision of
      the Arbiters may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.

C.    Each party shall bear the expense of its own Arbiter, and shall jointly
      and equally bear with the other the expense of the Umpire and of the
      arbitration. In the event that the two Arbiters are chosen by one party,
      as above provided, the expense of the Arbiters, the Umpire and the
      arbitration shall be equally divided between the two parties.

D.    Any arbitration proceedings shall take place at a location mutually agreed
      upon by the parties to this Contract, but notwithstanding the location of
      arbitration, all proceedings pursuant hereto shall be governed by the law
      of the state in which the Company has its principal office.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Contract to be executed
by their duly authorized representatives at:

_________________________, this ____ day of _____________________________, 20__.

                  ______________________________________________________________
                  Century Surety Company

_________________________, this ____ day of _____________________________, 20__.

                  ______________________________________________________________
                  Evergreen National Indemnity Company

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                                   Schedule A

Bond business classified by the Company as Landfill Closure Bonds, Landfill
Post-Closure Bonds, Landfill Collection Bonds, Surety and Miscellaneous Bonds
underwritten and issued by the Company and/or Evergreen/UNI.

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.18

                           SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT

      THIS SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made to be effective
as of January 1, 2004 (the "Effective Date") and is by and among CENTURY SURETY
COMPANY, an Ohio corporation ("Century"), EVERGREEN NATIONAL INDEMNITY COMPANY,
an Ohio corporation ("Evergreen"), and CONTINENTAL HERITAGE INSURANCE COMPANY
("CHIC"). Evergreen and CHIC are hereinafter sometimes referred to collectively
as the "Companies" and each individually as a "Company." All references herein
to the "parties" or a "party" refer to Century, on the one hand, and the
Companies (or either of them), on the other hand.

                                    RECITALS

      WHEREAS, Century, Evergreen and CHIC entered into a Reinsurance Pooling
Agreement dated as of January 1, 1995 (the "Pooling Agreement") whereby the
three parties each agreed, inter alia, to share the costs and expenses of
developing certain proprietary software known as CIMS as further identified on
Schedule 1 attached hereto (the "Software"), the development of which was
undertaken for the mutual benefit of the parties;

      WHEREAS, the Software development and the authorship of the source code
for the Software was undertaken and performed in-house by information technology
employees of Century in the course of their regular job duties for Century;

      WHEREAS, the parties desire to define their respective rights with respect
to the Software; and

      WHEREAS, in recognition of the shared expense of the Software development,
Century desires to grant, and each Company desires to obtain, a fully paid-up,
royalty free, non-exclusive, perpetual license to the Software under the terms
and conditions of this Agreement.

      NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises, and for good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, and of the mutual covenants and conditions hereinafter set forth,
the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE 1.
                                  LICENSE TERMS

      1.1 LICENSE GRANT. Century hereby grants to each Company, and each Company
hereby accepts, a non-exclusive, fully paid up, royalty free, perpetual license
to use and modify the Software as it currently exists as of the Effective Date,
for each Company's respective business operations. This license grant shall be
sufficiently broad to permit each Company to make as many copies of the Software
as reasonably necessary to use the Software in connection with each Company's
respective business operations. The license grant also shall permit each Company
to modify, or have third-party vendors modify the Software solely for such
Company's business operations.
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      1.2 LICENSE RESTRICTIONS. In addition to the restrictions set forth in
Section 4.9, the license granted herein shall not permit the Companies, and the
Companies shall be prohibited from, copying the Software for sale, license,
lease, rental or other transaction to any third-parties (other than an affiliate
(within the meaning of Ohio Revised Code Section 3901.32) of such party,
provided that such affiliate may use and disclose the Confidential Information
only if and to the extent that the Companies may do so under the terms of this
Agreement); provided further, that the Companies shall not be prohibited from
providing copies of the Software to a third-party who is not a competitor of
Century for the sole purpose of permitting such third-party to provide
integration or similar services to the Companies, for their own internal
business purposes, so long as the Companies by contract prohibit such third
party from disclosing or using the Software for any purpose other than to
provide such services to the Companies.

      1.3 NO ROYALTY PAYMENTS. So long as a Company is in compliance with the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, that Company shall owe no royalty or
other payments of any kind to Century for its exercise of the license granted
herein, and its use of the Software as described herein.

      1.4 NO NEW VERSIONS. It is understood and agreed by the parties that the
software license grant as contained in this Article 1 shall only cover the
Software as it exists as of the Effective Date. Nothing herein shall be
construed to grant any license, ownership, or rights of any kind to any new
versions, upgrades, updates, patches, bug-fixes, or other iterations of the
Software, and nothing herein shall be construed to require Century to license or
provide any additional software, versions, upgrades, updates, batches, bug
fixes, or any other items created, developed, enhanced or improved after the
Effective Date.

                                   ARTICLE 2.
                             LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

      IN NO EVENT SHALL CENTURY BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OF ANY KIND,
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE,
INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF ANTICIPATED PROFITS OR
ECONOMIC LOSS, IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT.

                                   ARTICLE 3.
                            DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES

      THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY CENTURY ON AN "AS IS" AND "WHERE IS" BASIS AND
CENTURY SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS,
IMPLIED, OR OTHERWISE ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT, INCLUDING,
WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE, EACH OF WHICH IS HEREBY EXCLUDED BY AGREEMENT OF THE PARTIES. THE
PARTIES FURTHER AGREE THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THE UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE SHALL
NOT APPLY TO THIS AGREEMENT.

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                                   ARTICLE 4.
                                     GENERAL

      4.1 ASSIGNMENT. The rights and obligations of the parties under this
Agreement are personal and not assignable, either voluntarily or by operation of
law, without the prior written consent of the non-assigning party, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld. Any attempted or purported assignment which
is not in compliance with this Section 4.1 shall be null and void. Subject to
the foregoing, all provisions contained in this Agreement shall extend to and be
binding upon the parties hereto or their respective successors and permitted
assigns.

      4.2 RELATIONSHIP OF PARTIES. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be
deemed or construed by the parties, or by any third party, to create the
relationship of partnership or joint venture between the parties hereto, it
being understood and agreed that no provision contained herein shall be deemed
to create any relationship between the parties hereto other than the
relationship of independent parties. Neither Company nor Century has, and shall
not hold itself out as having, any authority to enter into any contract or
create any obligation or liability on behalf of, in the name of, or binding upon
the other, other than as provided in this Agreement.

      4.3 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Ohio.

      4.4 NOTICE. All notices which either party may be required or desire to
give to the other party shall be in writing and shall be given by personal
service, telecopy, registered mail or certified mail (or its equivalent), or
overnight courier to the other party at its respective address or telecopy
telephone number set forth below. Mailed notices and notices by overnight
courier shall be deemed to be given upon actual receipt by the party to be
notified. Notices delivered by telecopy shall be confirmed in writing by
overnight courier and shall be deemed to be given upon actual receipt by the
party to be notified.

      If to Century:          Century Surety Company
                              465 Cleveland Avenue
                              Westerville, Ohio 43082
                              Attn: John A. Marazza, Executive Vice President
                                      and Secretary
                              Telephone: 614-895-2000
                              Facsimile: 614-895-2707
                              jmarazza@procentury.com

      If to the Companies:    Evergreen National Indemnity Company and/or
                              Continental Heritage Insurance Company
                              465 Cleveland Avenue
                              Westerville, Ohio 43082
                              Attn: Roswell P. Ellis, President
                              Telephone: 614-895-2000
                              Facsimile: 614-895-2707
                              rellis@centurysurety.com

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      A party may change its address or addresses set forth above by giving the
other party notice of the change in accordance with the provisions of this
section.

      4.5 HEADINGS. The section headings in this Agreement are solely for
convenience and shall not be considered in its interpretation. The recitals set
forth on the first page of this Agreement are incorporated into the body of the
Agreement. The Schedule referred to in this Agreement is attached to this
Agreement and is incorporated into this Agreement. Unless the context clearly
indicates, words used in the singular include the plural, words in the plural
include the singular and the word "including" means "including but not limited
to".

      4.6 WAIVER. The failure of either party at any time to require performance
by the other party of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect in any
way the foil right to require the performance at any subsequent time. The waiver
by either party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not be
taken or held to be a waiver of the provision itself. Any course of performance
shall not be deemed to amend or limit any provision of this Agreement.

      4.7 SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or
unenforceable for any reason, the invalidity shall not affect the validity of
the remaining provisions of this Agreement, and the parties. shall substitute
for the invalid provisions a valid provision which most closely approximates the
intent and economic effect of the invalid provision.

      4.8 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement, including the Schedule, sets forth
all of the promises, agreements, conditions and understandings between the
parties respecting the subject matter hereof and supersedes all negotiations,
conversations, discussions, correspondence, memorandums and agreements between
the parties concerning the subject matter. This Agreement may not be modified
except by a writing signed by authorized representatives of both parties to this
Agreement: This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one
and the same instrument.

      4.9 CONFIDENTIALITY. Each party acknowledges that the Software and all
business information relating thereto is propriety and confidential and contains
confidential information, trade secrets and other valuable proprietary
information (collectively with the Software, the "Confidential Information").
Each party agrees not to, directly or indirectly, disclose, disseminate or share
the Confidential Information to or with any competitor of the other party
without the prior written consent of the other party; provided however, that no
party shall be prohibited hereby from disclosing, disseminating or sharing the
Confidential Information with a competitor who, at the time of such disclosing,
disseminating or sharing, is either (a) an affiliate (within the meaning of Ohio
Revised Code Section 3901.32) of such party, provided that such affiliate may
use and disclose the Confidential Information only if and to the extent that the
disclosing party may do so under the terms of this Agreement; or (b) performing
due diligence in connection with discussions regarding a possible acquisition or
affiliation, provided that such competitor enters into a confidentiality
agreement with the disclosing party which prohibits such person's use or
disclosure of the Confidential Information.

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      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties to this Agreement have caused it to be
executed by their duly authorized officers as of the day and year first written
above. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.

<TABLE>
<S>                                       <C>
CENTURY:                                  EVERGREEN:

Century Surety Company                    Evergreen National Indemnity Company

Accepted By:                              Accepted By:
            ------------------------                   -------------------------

Printed Name:                             Printed Name:
              ----------------------                   -------------------------

Title:                                    Title:
      ------------------------------            --------------------------------

                                          CHIC:

                                          Continental Heritage Insurance Company

                                          Accepted By:
                                                      --------------------------

                                          Printed Name:
                                                       -------------------------

                                          Title:
                                                --------------------------------
</TABLE>

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                                   EXHIBIT "A"

                             SOFTWARE BEING LICENSED

         Description of CIMS Software to be governed by this Agreement:

CIMS

The CIMS Software System consists of the following modules:

-     Policy System

-     Claims System

-     Billing System

-     Quote System

-     Audit System

-     Management Reporting

-     Expense System

-     Regulatory Communication and Control System (RCCS)

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