Document:

exv10w25

 

Exhibit 10.25

AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS
AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the
“Agreement”) is dated August 17,
2005 and is effective as of August 17, 2005 (the “Effective Date”), by and between First
Mercury Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Jerome M. Shaw
(“Executive”). In satisfaction of a condition to the Stock Contribution Agreement dated as
of August 17, 2005 by and among the Company, Executive, First Mercury Holdings, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (“Holdings”), FMFC Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and the
other signatories thereto, this Agreement amends and restates in its entirety that certain
Employment Agreement by and between the Company and the Executive effective as of July 7, 2004.

PREAMBLE:

The Company, for itself and on behalf of its subsidiaries, desires to employ Executive and to
obtain the benefits of the covenants by, and restrictions imposed on, Executive contained herein;
and

Executive desires to be employed by the Company and is willing to be bound by the covenants and
restrictions imposed on Executive herein, all on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

THEREFORE, the Company and Executive hereby agree as follows:

1. EMPLOYMENT.

The Company, directly or through one of its subsidiaries, shall employ Executive and Executive
hereby accepts such employment, on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

2. POSITION AND DUTIES.

2.1 Position. Executive’s duties shall be to serve as Vice Chairman of the Company, and to
perform such duties consistent with the positions of Vice Chairman as the Board of Directors of the
Company (the “Board of Directors”) directs from time to time; provided, however, that such
duties and the performance of such duties shall be wholly consistent in both nature and extent with
that which was required of Executive prior to the inception of this Agreement. Executive shall
devote his best efforts and all business time, attention, skill and energies to the business and
affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries in performance of his duties as required hereunder.
Executive shall at all times act in a manner reasonably believed by Executive to be in the best
interest of the Company and not in Executive’s own interest or the interest of another person or
entity.

2.2 Other Activities. Executive shall be entitled to make and manage personal investments
consistent with Article 9 of this Agreement and engage in community and/or charitable activities,
so long as such activities do not interfere with the proper performance of his duties and
responsibilities to the Company as required hereunder.

 

 

3. EMPLOYMENT PERIOD.

Executive’s employment shall commence as of the Effective Date and shall continue until terminated
in accordance with Article 6 (the “Employment Period”).

4. SALARY AND BENEFITS.

4.1 Salary. During the Employment Period, the Company shall pay to Executive a salary at
the annual rate of $1,000,000 (the “Salary”). Executive’s Salary shall be payable in
installments in accordance with the Company’s usual payroll practices. Executive’s Salary shall be
subject to withholding and other applicable taxes. No additional compensation shall be payable to
Executive by reason of the number of hours worked or any hours worked on Saturdays, Sundays or
holidays, by reason of special responsibilities assumed (whether on behalf of the Company or any of
its Affiliates), special projects completed, or otherwise.

4.2 Benefits. During the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to such employment
benefits as are generally made available by the Company to its executive employees (the
“Benefits”). In addition, the Company will continue to provide the Executive with (i) the
use of a company automobile including insurance thereon and (ii) the use of an office at the
Company’s headquarters and secretarial support.

4.3 Taxation of Payments and Benefits. The Company shall undertake to make deductions,
withholdings and tax reports with respect to payments and Benefits under this Agreement to the
extent that it reasonably and in good faith believes that it is required to make such deductions,
withholdings and tax reports. Payments under this Agreement shall be in amounts net of any such
deductions or withholdings. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to require the Company to
make any payments to compensate Executive for any adverse tax effect associated with any payments
or Benefits or for any deduction or withholding from any payment or benefit.

4.4 Exclusivity of Payments and Benefits. Executive shall not be entitled to any payments
or benefits other than those provided under this Agreement or as otherwise required by applicable
law. Compliance with the provisions of this Article 4 shall in no way create or be deemed to
create any obligation, express or implied, on the part of the Company or any of its Affiliates with
respect to the continuation of any particular benefit or other plan or arrangement maintained by
them or their subsidiaries as of or prior to the date hereof or the creation and maintenance of any
particular benefit or other plan or arrangement at any time after the date hereof. For purposes of
this Agreement, “Affiliates” shall mean with respect to any person, trust, organization or
entity, any other person, trust, organization or entity that directly, or indirectly through one or
more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, such specified
person, trust, organization or entity.

5. REIMBURSEMENTS.

During the Employment Period, Executive shall be entitled to receive reimbursement by the Company
for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by him on behalf of the Company in performing
his duties hereunder, including all reasonable travel and entertainment expenses, in accordance
with the Company’s policies for executive employees as approved by the Company’s Board of Directors
or Compensation Committee and in effect from time to time. As a condition

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to reimbursement, Executive must present such documentation and records as the Company’s Board of
Directors, Compensation Committee, policies and applicable regulations shall from time to time
require.

6. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.

6.1 Termination by Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall have the right to
terminate the Employment Period at any time for any reason in its sole discretion. Upon
termination of the Employment Period pursuant to this Section 6.1, the Company shall have no
obligation to pay to Executive any severance or similar amounts; provided, however,
that, in lieu of any such severance benefit, the Company shall, subject to Section 10.2, pay to
Executive the Salary and Benefits, in accordance with the Company’s past practice, until the
earlier of (i) 5 years from the Effective Date or (ii) the occurrence of an event described in
Section 6.2 or 6.3, provided that Executive executes a release, in the form of Exhibit A,
releasing the Company and its Affiliates and otherwise complies in all material respects with all
of Executive’s duties and covenants hereunder.

6.2 Death or Disability. In the event of the death of Executive, the Employment Period
shall automatically terminate, and Executive shall be entitled only to the amounts specified in
Section 6.4 (and not the amounts specified in Section 6.1).

6.3 Change of Control or Public Sale. In the event of a Change of Control or a Public Sale
after the date hereof, the Employment Period shall automatically terminate, and Executive shall be
entitled only to the amounts specified in Section 6.4 (and not the amounts specified in Section
6.1). For purposes of this Agreement “Change of Control” shall mean (i) a merger or
consolidation of the Company or Holdings with or into another corporation or other entity, pursuant
to which a Third Party beneficially owns at least a majority of the voting power of the outstanding
equity securities of the surviving corporation or entity immediately after such merger or
consolidation, (ii) the sale, lease, license, conveyance or transfer of all or substantially all of
the assets of the Company or Holdings other than to Glencoe or an entity in which a majority of the
voting power is beneficially owned by Glencoe, (iii) any purchase of shares of capital stock of the
Company or Holdings (either through a negotiated stock purchase or a tender for such shares) by a
Third Party, through one, or a series of related transactions, the effect of which is that the
Third Party beneficially owns at least a majority of the voting power of the Company or Holdings
immediately after such purchase, or (iv) any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company
or Holdings, whether voluntary or involuntary; provided, that after such event, the
business of the Company or Holdings is not owned or operated by Glencoe or by an entity in which a
majority of the voting power is beneficially owned by Glencoe. For purposes of this Agreement,
“Third Party” means a person or entity other than Glencoe or an entity in which a majority
of the voting power is beneficially owned by Glencoe. For purposes of this Agreement,
“Glencoe” means Glencoe Capital, LLC, FMFC Holdings, LLC and each of their respective
affiliates. For the purposes of this agreement, “Public Sale” shall mean a sale of the
stock of Holdings (or any material subsidiary of Holdings) to the public pursuant to an offering
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any successor statute, the aggregate
price being paid for such stock being at least (i) $75,000,000 or (ii) $65,000,000 if after
completion of such offering Glencoe owns less than a majority of the fully diluted common stock of
Holdings.

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6.4 Payment of Accrued and Unpaid Salary and Benefits Upon Termination. Upon termination
of the Employment Period pursuant to Sections 6.2 or 6.3 hereof, the Company shall promptly pay
Executive his accrued and unpaid Salary for the period prior to the termination and Executive shall
be entitled to all accrued and unpaid Benefits as are required to be paid under the terms of
applicable benefit plans (other than severance plans) or applicable law, provided that Executive or
his personal representative executes a release, in the form of Exhibit A, releasing the
Company and its Affiliates and otherwise complies in all material respects with all of Executive’s
duties and covenants hereunder.

7. THIRD PARTY AGREEMENTS AND RIGHTS.

Executive hereby confirms that Executive is not bound by the terms of any agreement with any
previous employer or other party that restricts in any way Executive’s use or disclosure of
information or Executive’s engagement in the business contemplated by this Agreement. Executive
represents to the Company that Executive’s execution of this Agreement, Executive’s employment with
the Company and the performance of Executive’s proposed duties for the Company will not violate any
obligations Executive may have to any such previous employer or other party. In Executive’s work
for the Company, Executive will not disclose or make use of any information in violation of any
agreements with or rights of any such previous employer or other party, and Executive will not
bring to the premises of the Company or its subsidiaries any copies or other tangible embodiments
of non-public information belonging to or obtained from any such previous employment or other
party.

8. LITIGATION AND REGULATORY COOPERATION.

During and after Executive’s employment, Executive shall cooperate fully with the Company and its
Affiliates in the defense or prosecution of any claims or actions now in existence or which may be
brought in the future against or on behalf of the Company or its Affiliates or predecessors that
relate to events or occurrences that transpired while Executive was employed by the Company.
Executive’s full cooperation in connection with such claims or actions shall include, but not be
limited to, being available to meet with counsel to prepare for discovery or trial and to act as a
witness on behalf of the Company or its Affiliates or predecessors at mutually convenient times.
During and after Executive’s employment, Executive also shall cooperate fully with the Company and
its Affiliates in connection with any investigation or review of any federal, state or local
regulatory authority as any such investigation or review relates to events or occurrences that
transpired while Executive was employed by the Company. The Company shall reimburse Executive for
any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with Executive’s performance of
obligations pursuant to this Article 8.

9. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES.

Executive agrees, while he is employed by the Company, to offer or otherwise make known or
available to the Board of Directors of the Company and without additional compensation or
consideration, any business prospects, contracts or other business opportunities that Executive may
discover, find, develop or otherwise have available to Executive in the business of the Company’s
or its Affiliates’ general industry and further agrees that any such prospects, contacts or other
business opportunities shall be the property of the Company.

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10. REMEDIES.

10.1 Injunctive Relief. Executive agrees that any breach of Article 8 or 9 above will
result in irreparable damage to the Company for which the Company will have no adequate remedy at
law, and, therefore if such a breach should occur, Executive consents to any temporary or permanent
injunction or decree of specific performance by any court of competent jurisdiction in favor of the
Company enjoining any such breach, without prejudice to any other right or remedy to which the
Company shall be entitled and without requirement of a bond or other security.

10.2 No Entitlement to Payments. In the event Executive breaches (subject to any
applicable cure periods) in any material respect Article 8 or 9 of this Agreement or any of the
covenants set forth in the Non-Competition and Confidentiality Agreements during or after the
Employment Period, Executive shall not thereafter be entitled to the payment of any Salary or
Benefits or other amounts. For the purposes of this Agreement, the “Non-Competition and
Confidentiality Agreements” shall refer collectively to the following agreements: (i)
Non-Competition and Confidentiality Agreement between the Company and Executive dated June 7, 2004,
(ii) Non-Competition and Confidentiality Agreement between American Risk Pooling Consultants, Inc.,
a Michigan corporation, and Executive dated June 14, 2004, and (iii) Non-Competition and
Confidentiality Agreement between Holdings and Executive dated of even date herewith.

10.3 Construction. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be
interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision
of this Agreement or the application thereof to any party or circumstance shall be prohibited by or
invalid under applicable law, including, without limitation, by reason of its being extended over
too great a period of time or too large a geographic area or over too great a range of activities
or otherwise, such provision shall be ineffective to the minimal extent of such prohibition or
invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of
this Agreement or the application of such provision and, if applicable, such provision shall be
interpreted to extend only over the maximum period of time, geographic area or range of activities
as to which it may be enforceable.

10.4 Costs of Enforcement. In the event either party brings an action or proceeding to
enforce any provision or provisions of this Agreement or to obtain damages as a result of a breach
of this Agreement or to enjoin any breach of this Agreement, the prevailing party in such action or
proceeding shall be entitled to recover from the non-prevailing party any and all reasonable costs
and expenses (including without limitation attorneys’ fees) incurred by such prevailing party in
connection with such action or proceeding.

11. NOTICES.

Any notice required to be given with respect to this Agreement shall be in writing, and shall be
deemed to have been duly given:

	 	(a)	 	when delivered personally;
	 	 
	 	(b)	 	two (2) business days after being deposited with a nationally recognized
overnight courier with instructions for next day delivery;

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	(c)	 	five (5) business days after deposited in the mails, certified or registered,
return receipt requested, and with the proper postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

	 	 	 
	If to the Company:
	 	First Mercury Financial Corporation
	 
	 	29621 Northwestern Highway
	 
	 	Southfield, Michigan 48034
	 
	 	Attention:  Richard Smith
	 
	 	 
	With copies to:
	 	Glencoe Capital, LLC
	 
	 	222 West Adams Street
	 
	 	Suite 1000
	 
	 	Chicago, Illinois 60606
	 
	 	Attention:  Douglas Patterson
	 
	 	 
	With a copy to:
	 	McDermott, Will & Emery
	 
	 	227 West Monroe Street
	 
	 	Chicago, Illinois  60606-5096
	 
	 	Attention:  Scott M. Williams
	 
	 	 
	If to Executive:
	 	Jerome M. Shaw
	 
	 	3 Grove Isle
	 
	 	Penthouse 1
	 
	 	Coconut Grove, Florida 33133
	 
	 	 
	With a copy to:
	 	Spilkin, Shapiro & Feeney, P.C.
	 
	 	29621 Northwestern Hwy.
	 
	 	Southfield, Michigan 48034
	 
	 	Attention:  Larry J. Spilkin

The address of any party hereto may be changed by a notice in writing given in accordance with the
provisions hereof.

12. MISCELLANEOUS.

12.1 Prior Agreements. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and understanding of
the parties relating to the subject matter hereof. The parties hereto specifically agree that all
prior agreements, whether written or oral, relating to Executive’s employment by the Company and
its predecessors and subsidiaries, including, without limitation, that certain Employment Agreement
between Executive and Mercury Management, Inc., a Michigan corporation and predecessor of the
Company, dated January 1, 1995, are hereby fully abrogated and shall be of no further force or
effect from and after the date hereof.

12.2 Headings. The descriptive headings of the several sections of this Agreement are
inserted for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of
the provisions hereof.

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12.3 Benefit. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the
Company and its successors and assigns. The duties of Executive hereunder are personal in nature.
Therefore, this Agreement may not be assigned by Executive.

12.4 GOVERNING LAW. THE VALIDITY AND EFFECT OF THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL SUBSTANTIVE LAWS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION
WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING
OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY JUDGMENT ENTERED BY ANY COURT IN RESPECT THEREOF
BROUGHT IN ILLINOIS OR THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS, AND HEREBY
FURTHER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT IN ILLINOIS OR IN
SUCH DISTRICT COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVE ANY
RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF, OR WITH RESPECT TO, THIS
AGREEMENT AND AGREE THAT ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE TRIED BEFORE A COURT AND NOT
BEFORE A JURY.

12.5 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall constitute one and the same instrument.

12.6 Delivery by Facsimile. This Agreement and any amendments hereto, to the extent signed
and delivered by means of a facsimile machine, shall be considered to have the same binding legal
effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. No party hereto
shall raise the use of a facsimile machine to deliver a signature or the fact that any signature or
agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of a facsimile machine as a
defense to the formation or enforceability of this Agreement and each such party forever waives any
such defense.

12.7 Amendments. This Agreement may not be amended and the terms or covenants hereof may
not be waived, except by a written instrument executed by the Company (by a proper officer
designated by the Board after Board approval for such amendment or waiver shall have been obtained
(which approval shall include a majority of the directors designated by FMFC Holdings, LLC)) and
Executive or in the case of a waiver, by the party waiving compliance. The failure of either party
at any time or times to require performance of any provisions hereof shall in no manner affect the
right at a later time to enforce the same. No waiver by either party hereto of the breach of any
term or covenant contained in this Agreement, whether by conduct or otherwise, in any one or more
instances, shall be deemed to be or construed as a further or continuing waiver of any such breach,
or a waiver of the breach of any other term or covenant contained in this Agreement.

12.8 Survival. In addition to those provisions hereof which expressly survive the
expiration of the Employment Period and termination of employment, Articles 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12
shall

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survive the expiration of the Employment Period and termination of employment as set forth therein.

12.9 Executive’s Acknowledgement. Executive acknowledges (i) that he has consulted with or
has had the opportunity to consult with independent counsel of his own choice concerning this
Agreement and has been advised to do so by the Company, and (ii) that he has read and understands
this Agreement, is fully aware of its legal effect, and has entered into it freely based on his own
judgment.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year
first above written.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	EXECUTIVE:  
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	/s/ Jerome M. Shaw
	 	 	 
	 	 	Jerome M. Shaw
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	COMPANY:
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	First Mercury Financial Corporation
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	Richard H. Smith
	 

	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Name:
	 	 	Title:

 

 

EXHIBIT A

GENERAL RELEASE AND WAIVER OF CLAIMS

     The undersigned, Jerome M. Shaw, a resident of the State of Michigan (“Releasor”), in
accordance with and pursuant to the terms of Article 6 of the Employment Agreement dated as of June
7, 2004, between First Mercury Financial Corporation (the “Company”) a Delaware
corporation, and Releasor (as amended and restated, the “Agreement”), hereby, in exchange
for the Company’s compliance with the Agreement, remises, releases and forever discharges and
covenants not to sue, and by these presents does for his, her or its legal representatives,
trustees, beneficiaries, heirs, legatees, executors and administrators (Releasor and such persons
referred to herein, collectively, as the “Releasing Parties”), First Mercury Holdings,
Inc., a Delaware corporation, and the Company, and their subsidiaries, owners, affiliated entities,
successors and assigns (collectively, the “Company”), their respective officers, directors,
employees, equity holders, agent and representatives and all of their respective successor and
assigns (each a “Released Party” and collectively, the “Released Parties”) of and
from any and all manner of actions, proceedings, claims, causes of action, suits, debts, sums of
money, accounts, reckonings, bonds, bills, specialties, covenants, controversies, contracts,
leases, agreements, promises, variances, trespasses, damages, judgments, executions, claims and
demands, of any nature whatsoever, and of every kind and description, choate and inchoate, known or
unknown, at law or in equity (collectively, “Claims”), which the Releasing Parties, or any
of them, now have or ever had, or hereafter can, shall or may have, for, upon or by reason of any
matter, cause or thing whatsoever, against the Released Parties, and each of them, from the
beginning of time to the date hereof;

     (i) arising from Releasor’s employment, compensation, commissions, deferred
compensation plans, insurance, employee benefits, and other terms and conditions of
employment or employment practices of Company or the Company under federal, state or local
law or regulation, including, but not limited to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, as amended;

     (ii) relating to the termination of Releasor’s employment or the surrounding
circumstances thereof;

     (iii) relating to payment of any attorneys’ fees incurred by Releasor in connection
with his employment or the surrounding circumstances thereof (other than as contemplated by
Section 10.4 of the Agreement);

     (iv) based on any alleged discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex,
age, national origin, handicap, disability or another category protected by any federal,
state or local law or regulation, including, but not limited to, the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act (29 U.S.C. §§ 621 et seq.), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
(42 U.S.C. §§ 2000et seq.), Sections 1981 through 1988 of Title 42 of the United
States Code (42 U.S.C. §§ 1981-88), the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 12101
et seq.), the Fair Labor Standards Act (29 U.S.C. §§ 201 et seq.), the Older
Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990, or Executive Order 11246 (as any of these laws or
orders may have been amended) or any other similar federal, state or local labor, employment
or anti-discriminatory laws;

 

 

     (v) based on any contract (relating to his employment), tort (based on his
termination), whistleblower, personal injury (arising from his termination), or retaliatory
or wrongful discharge theory; and

     (vi) based on any other federal, state or local constitution, regulation, law (whether
statutory or common), or legal theory relating to his employment or the term thereof.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Releasing Parties do not release (a) any vested rights
under any retirement plan, (b) any rights arising under the Stock Purchase Agreement dated March 1,
2004 regarding the sale of American Risk Pooling Consultants, Inc. and Public Entity Risk Services
of Ohio, Inc. and the transactions contemplated thereby and (c) any rights arising solely in their
capacities as stockholders of the Company.

     Releasor represents and warrants on behalf of the Releasing Parties that there has been, and
there will be, no assignment or other transfer of any right or interest in any Claims which he, she
or it has or may have against the Released Parties, and Releasor hereby agrees to indemnify and
hold each Released Party harmless from any Claims, costs, expenses and attorney’s fees directly or
indirectly incurred by any of the Released Parties as a result of any person asserting any right or
interest pursuant to his, her or its assignment or transfer of any such right or interest.

     Releasor agrees that if any Releasing Party hereafter commences, joins in, or in any manner
seeks relief through any suit arising out of, based upon, or relating to any of the Claims released
hereunder, or in any manner asserts against any Released Party any of the Claims released
hereunder, then Releasor will pay to such Released Party, in addition to any all damages and
compensation, direct or indirect, all attorney’s fees incurred in defending or otherwise responding
to such suit or Claims.

     Releasor acknowledges that (i) he, she or it has received the advice of legal counsel in
connection with this General Release and Waiver of Claims, (ii) he, she or it has read and
understands that this is a General Release and Waiver of Claims, and (iii) he, she or it intends to
be legally bound by the same.

     Releasor acknowledges that he has been given the opportunity to consider this Agreement for
twenty-one (21) days and has been encouraged and given the opportunity to consult with legal
counsel of his choosing before signing it. Releasor understands that he shall have seven (7) days
from the date on which he executes this General Release and Waiver of Claims (as indicated by the
date below his signature) to revoke his signature and agreement to be bound hereby by providing
written notice of revocation to Company within such seven (7) day period. Releasor further
understands and acknowledges this Agreement shall become effective, if not sooner revoked, on the
eighth day after the execution hereof by Releasor (the “Effective Date”).

 

 

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Releasor has executed and delivered this General Release and Waiver of
Claims on behalf of the Releasing Parties as of the day and year set forth below.

	 	 	 	 	 
	Dated:                                         , 200                    	 	RELEASOR:
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Signature:
	 

	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Name:
	 	Jerome M. Shawexv10w28

 

Exhibit 10.28

Offer Letter

December 8, 2005

Mr. Jeff Wawok

1226 West Melrose

Unit # 3 

Chicago, Illinois 60657

Dear Jeff:

This is to formally offer you the position of Executive Vice President of First Mercury Financial
Corporation with the following compensation and benefits:

	 	§	 	Base Compensation: $225,000
	 
	 	§	 	Bonus Target: $225,000 — Guaranteed First Year
	 
	 	§	 	Customary Benefits:
	 
	 	§	 	Qualified Stock Options: Five (5) options for 16.5 shares at $6,000 per share, existing
plan provisions, five (5) year vesting.
	 
	 	§	 	Two (2) year severance upon termination other than “for cause”.

The appropriate title will be determined by you and me before your start date. The initial duties
will include responsibility for reinsurance, ARPCO oversight, planning and corporate development.
In addition it includes the role of CFO of First Home Financial Corporation.

As we have discussed many times, I am committed to your development in an operating role in First
Mercury and look forward to working closely with you. As we also have discussed, we are committed
to working with you on an appropriate transition from your current position, as the relationship
with Cochran, Caronia & Company is important to our organization.

We are very excited about you joining our organization and look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,

FIRST MERCURY FINANCIAL CORPORATION

Richard H. Smith

President & COO

RHS:ee

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