Document:

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                                                                    Exhibit 10.2
                            FIFTH AMENDMENT TO LEASE

         This FIFTH AMENDMENT TO LEASE dated as of May 14th, 2001 (this
"Amendment") between RCPI LANDMARK PROPERTIES, L.L.C., a Delaware limited
liability company, having an office c/o Tishman Speyer Properties, L.P., 45
Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York 10111 ("Landlord"), and LEVIN MANAGEMENT
CO., INC., a Delaware corporation, having an office at One Rockefeller Plaza,
New York, New York 10020 ("Tenant").

                                 WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, Landlord's predecessor-in-interest, Rockefeller Center
Properties, and Tenant's predecessor-in-interest, John A. Levin & Co., Inc.,
entered into that certain Lease dated December 20, 1993, as amended by
Supplemental Indenture, dated March 2, 1995 (the "Supplemental Indenture"), the
First Amendment to Lease, dated June 23, 1997 (the "First Amendment"), the
Second Amendment to Lease, dated as of January 22, 1998 (the "Second
Amendment"), the Third Amendment to Lease dated as of December 31, 1998 ("the
"Third Amendment"), and the Fourth Amendment of Lease, dated July 18, 2000 (the
"Fourth Amendment"), in respect of Space 'D' on the 3rd floor of the Building
(the "Third Floor Premises"), Space 'A' on the 19th floor of the Building (the
"19th Floor Premises"), Space 'A' on the 25th floor of the Building (the "25th
Floor Premises") and Space 'P' on the 22nd floor of the Building (the "Storage
Space" and, together with the 3rd Floor Premises, the 19th Floor Premises and
the 25th Floor Premises, collectively the "Premises") of the building known as
One Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York (the "Building") (the Lease, as
heretofore amended by the Supplemental Indenture, the First Amendment, the
Second Amendment, the Third Amendment and the Fourth Amendment, is hereinafter
called the "Original Lease").

         WHEREAS, Landlord and Tenant desire to modify the Original Lease to (i)
provide for the leasing by Tenant of the entire fourth floor of the Building,
designated as Space 'A', and being more particularly shown on Exhibit A attached
hereto (the "4th Floor Premises"), (ii) provide for the extension of the term of
the Original Lease in respect of the 19th Floor Premises and the 25th Floor
Premises and (iii) otherwise modify the terms and conditions of the Original
Lease, all as hereinafter set forth (the Original Lease, as modified by this
Amendment, the "Lease").

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein
contained, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Landlord and Tenant agree as
follows:

         1. Capitalized Terms. All capitalized terms used and not otherwise
defined in this Amendment shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in
the Original Lease.

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         2. Lease of 4th Floor Premises. (a) Landlord hereby leases to Tenant,
and Tenant hereby leases from Landlord, subject and subordinate to the Qualified
Encumbrances, the 4th Floor Premises for a term commencing on the later to occur
of (i) July 1, 2001 and (ii) the date that Landlord delivers possession of the
4th Floor Premises to Tenant (the "4th Floor Premises Commencement Date") and
ending on the 2001 Extended Expiration Date (as hereinafter defined), or such
earlier date upon which the term of the Lease may expire or be terminated
pursuant to any of the conditions of limitation or other provisions of the Lease
or pursuant to law, upon all of the terms and conditions of the Original Lease,
as modified by this Amendment.

         (b) Landlord shall not be liable for failure to deliver possession of
the 4th Floor Premises to Tenant on any specified date, and such failure shall
not impair the validity of this Amendment. Landlord shall be deemed to have
delivered possession of the 4th Floor Premises to Tenant upon the giving of
notice by Landlord to Tenant stating that the entire 4th Floor Premises are
vacant, broom-clean, free of moveable furniture and fixtures, free of all
tenancies and occupants and available for Tenant's occupancy (subject to such
notice being factually correct). There shall be no postponement of the 4th Floor
Premises Commencement Date for any delay in the delivery of possession of the
4th Floor Premises to Tenant that results from any Tenant Delay. The provisions
of this Section 2(b) are intended to constitute "an express provision to the
contrary" within the meaning of Section 223-a of the New York Real Property Law
or any successor Requirement. If Landlord fails to deliver vacant possession of
the 4th Floor Premises in accordance with the terms of this Lease prior to
December 31, 2001, as extended by any delays resulting from force majeure (the
"Outside Delivery Date"), Tenant shall have the right within 30 days after the
Outside Delivery Date, as its sole and exclusive remedy therefor, to cancel this
Amendment by giving notice of cancellation to Landlord. If Tenant timely
delivers the aforesaid cancellation notice, this Amendment shall terminate 30
days after the date of such notice, unless Landlord delivers vacant possession
of the 4th Floor Premises within such 30 day period, in which case Tenant's
cancellation notice shall be void and this Amendment shall continue in full
force and effect. Failure by Tenant to exercise such right to cancel this
Amendment within such 30-day period shall constitute a waiver of such right;
time being of the essence with respect thereto.

         (c) Effective as of the 4th Floor Premises Commencement Date, Tenant
shall lease the 4th Floor Premises upon all of the terms and conditions of the
Original Lease, except as follows:

                  (i) The fixed rent payable under the Lease with respect to the
       4th Floor Premises shall be an amount equal to (A) $1,294,784.00 per
       annum ($107,898.67 per month) for the period commencing on the date that
       is the fourth-month anniversary of the 4th Floor Premises Commencement
       Date (the "4th Floor Premises Rent Commencement Date") and ending on the
       day immediately preceding the 5th anniversary of the 4th Floor Premises
       Commencement Date,

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       both dates inclusive; and (B) $1,395,939.00 per annum ($116,328.25 per
       month) for the period commencing on the 5th anniversary of the 4th
       Floor Premises Commencement Date and ending on the 2001 Extended
       Expiration Date, both dates inclusive.

                  (ii) The 4th Floor Premises shall be deemed to consist of
       20,231 rentable square feet for all purposes of the Lease.

                  (iii) Tenant shall pay all additional rent payable pursuant to
       the Original Lease including Article Twenty-Four thereof, except with
       respect to the 4th Floor Premises only, (A) the clause "110% of" in
       Section 24.1 of the Original Lease shall be deemed to be deleted in both
       places in which it appears, (B) the clause "110% of" in Section 24.2(b)
       of the Original Lease shall be deemed to be deleted in both places in
       which it appears, (C) the term "Base Real Estate Taxes" shall mean the
       R.E. Tax Share of the Real Estate Taxes for the Tax Year beginning on
       July 1, 2001 and ending on June 30, 2002, (D) the term "Base COM" shall
       mean the O.E. Share of the Cost of Operation and Maintenance for the
       Computation Year beginning on January 1, 2001 and ending on December 31,
       2001, and (E) the term "Tenant's Area" shall mean 20,231 rentable square
       feet.

                  (iv) Tenant has inspected the 4th Floor Premises and agrees
       (A) to accept possession of the 4th Floor Premises in the "as is"
       condition existing on the 4th Floor Premises Commencement Date, (B) that
       neither Landlord nor Landlord's agents have made any representations or
       warranties with respect to the 4th Floor Premises or the Building except
       as expressly set forth herein, and (C) except for Landlord's Additional
       Contribution, (as hereinafter defined) Landlord has no obligation to
       perform any work, supply any materials, incur any expense or make any
       alterations or improvements to the 4th Floor Premises to prepare the 4th
       Floor Premises for Tenant's occupancy. Tenant's occupancy of any part of
       the 4th Floor Premises shall be conclusive evidence, as against Tenant,
       that (1) Tenant has accepted possession of the 4th Floor Premises in its
       then current condition, and (2) the 4th Floor Premises and the Building
       are in a good and satisfactory condition as required by this Amendment.

                  (v) Tenant shall modify, to the extent necessary, as part of
       its initial Alterations of the 4th Floor Premises and thereafter maintain
       in good order and repair, a sprinkler system and fire-alarm and
       life-safety system serving the 4th Floor Premises. Such modification and
       maintenance shall be performed by Tenant in accordance with this Lease,
       the rules and regulations and all Requirements. If the Fire Insurance
       Rating Organization or any Governmental Authority (as hereinafter
       defined) or any of Landlord's insurers requires or recommends any
       modifications or Alterations be made or any additional equipment be
       supplied in connection with the sprinkler system or fire-alarm and
       life-safety system serving the Building or the 4th Floor Premises by
       reason of

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       Tenants business, or the location of the partitions, trade fixtures, or
       other contents of the 4th Floor Premises, Landlord (to the extent such
       modifications or Alterations are structural, affect any building system
       or involve the performance of work outside the 4th Floor Premises), or
       Tenant (to the extent such modifications or Alterations are
       nonstructural, do not affect any building system and do not involve the
       performance of work outside the 4th Floor Premises) shall make such
       modifications or Alterations, and supply such additional equipment, in
       either case at Tenant's expense. Landlord represents and warrants to
       Tenant that, as of the 4th Floor Premises Commencement Date, the
       sprinkler system and fire-alarm and life-safety system serving the 4th
       Floor Premises shall be in good working order.

            (vi) Except as provided in this Amendment, all references in the
       Original Lease to the "Premises" shall be deemed to include the 4th Floor
       Premises for all purposes of the Lease. With respect to the 4th Floor
       Premises only, all references in the Original Lease to "term" or "term of
       this Lease" or words of similar import shall be deemed to refer to the
       term of the leasing of the 4th Floor Premises (i.e., the portion of the
       term from and after the 4th Floor Premises Commencement Date).

            (vii) (x) Landlord agrees to pay to Tenant, toward payment of the
       cost of the work to be performed by Tenant in the Premises and/or the 4th
       Floor Premises (the "Additional Installations"), an amount not to exceed
       $445,082.00 ("Landlord's Additional Contribution"), provided that as of
       the date on which Landlord is required to make payment pursuant to
       Section 2(b)(vii)(y): (i) the Lease is in full force and effect, and (ii)
       no event of default under the Lease then exists. Tenant shall pay all
       costs of the Additional Installations in excess of Landlord's Additional
       Contribution. Landlord's Additional Contribution shall be payable solely
       on account of (A) labor directly related to the Additional Installations
       and materials delivered to the Premises or the 4th Floor Premises in
       connection with the Additional Installations, except that Tenant may
       apply up to 10% of Landlord's Additional Contribution to pay "soft costs"
       incurred in connection with the Additional Installations, which shall be
       limited to the actual architectural, consulting and engineering fees
       incurred by Tenant in connection therewith, (B) overtime freight elevator
       charges incurred by Tenant in connection with any such Additional
       Installations and (C) the installation of computer and telecommunications
       wiring, cable and conduit. Tenant shall not be entitled to receive any
       portion of Landlord's Additional Contribution not actually expended by
       Tenant in the performance of the Additional Installations in accordance
       with this Section 2(b)(vii)(x), nor shall Tenant have any right to apply
       any unexpended portion of Landlord's Additional Contribution as a credit
       against Rent or any other obligation of Tenant hereunder.

            (y) Landlord shall pay Landlord's Additional Contribution to Tenant
       following commencement of Tenant's business operations at the 4th Floor
       Premises and the final completion of the Additional Installations, within
       30
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       days following the submission by Tenant to Landlord of a written
       requisition, signed by the chief financial officer of Tenant and
       accompanied by (i) copies of paid invoices covering all of the Additional
       Installations, (ii) a written certification from Tenant's architect
       stating that (A) the Additional Installations described on such invoices
       have been completed in accordance with the plans and specifications
       approved by Landlord, (B) such work has been paid in full by Tenant and
       (C) all contractors, subcontractors and materialmen have delivered to
       Tenant waivers of lien with respect to such work (copies of which shall
       be included with such architects certification), (iii) proof of the
       satisfactory completion of all required inspections and the issuance of
       any required approvals and sign-offs by Governmental Authorities having
       jurisdiction with respect thereto, (iv) certificates of final approval of
       such Additional Installations required by any Governmental Authority, and
       shall furnish Landlord with copies thereof, together with "as-built"
       plans and specifications for such Additional Installations prepared on an
       Autocad Computer Assisted Drafting and Design System (or such other
       system or medium as Landlord may accept) using naming conventions issued
       by the American Institute of Architects in June, 1990 (or such other
       naming convention as Landlord may accept) and magnetic computer media of
       such record drawings and specifications, translated into DXF format or
       another format acceptable to Landlord, and (v) such other documents and
       information as Landlord may reasonably request. The right to receive
       Landlord's Additional Contribution is for the exclusive benefit of
       Tenant, and in no event shall such right be assigned to or be enforceable
       by or for the benefit of any third party, including any contractor,
       subcontractor, materialman, laborer, architect, engineer, attorney or any
       other person or entity. For purposes hereof, "Governmental Authority
       (Authorities)" shall mean the United States of America, the City, County
       or State of New York or any political subdivision, agency, department,
       commission, board, bureau or instrumentality of any of the foregoing, or
       any landmarks preservation agency (or other entity designated or accepted
       for such purpose by any Governmental Authority or landmarks preservation
       agency), now existing or hereafter created, having jurisdiction over the
       Building, the Land or the Center.

            (viii) The provisions of Article Five of the Original Lease shall be
       applicable to the 4th Floor Premises, except that the reference to "four
       watts" in the first sentence of Section 5.1 shall be deemed to be deleted
       and reference to "six watts" substituted therefor.

            (ix) Section 6.1(e)(ii) of the Original Lease is amended by
       restating the proviso at the end thereof to read in its entirety as
       follows:

            "; provided that in connection with any work or Alterations to be
            performed by Tenant in the Premises or the 4th Floor Premises after
            the 4th Floor Premises

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            Commencement Date, such reasonable charges shall not include a
            Landlord supervisory fee."

            (x) The second sentence of Section 6.1(e)(ix) of the Original Lease
       is hereby deleted.

            (xi) The following provisions of the Original Lease shall not be
       applicable to the leasing of the 4th Floor Premises: Section 20.2 and
       Articles Twenty-Seven, Thirty, Thirty-One and Thirty-Two.

            (xii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the
       Lease, if in connection with the Additional Installations in respect of
       the 4th Floor Premises only, Requirements mandate that asbestos or
       asbestos containing material located within the 4th Floor Premises be
       abated, removed, or encapsulated, Landlord shall perform such work to
       comply with Requirements ("Landlord's Asbestos Work") provided (i) such
       work does not require abatement, encapsulation, or removal of any
       asbestos-containing materials located in the Building's core or
       perimeter, core toilets, behind perimeter heating units or in shafts,
       columns, beams, floor tiles, wet stacks, ceiling tile mastic or in the
       mechanical and fan rooms not demised to Tenant, and (ii) such Additional
       Installations are being performed by Tenant strictly in accordance with
       approved plans. Tenant shall use commercially reasonable efforts to
       minimize the extent of such abatement. Other than Landlord's Asbestos
       Work, Tenant, at its sole costs and expense, shall be solely responsible
       for any abatement, removal, or encapsulation that may be required to
       comply with any and all applicable Requirements. In the event Landlord is
       required to perform Landlord's Asbestos Work as aforesaid, Landlord shall
       perform the same following the 4th Floor Premises Commencement Date at a
       time to be mutually agreed upon by Landlord and Tenant. Tenant will
       afford Landlord and its employees, contractors and agents access to the
       4th Floor Premises at all reasonable times for the performance of
       Landlord's Asbestos Work and for the storage of materials reasonably
       required in connection therewith, and Tenant will avoid any interference
       by Tenant, its agents, contractors, subcontractors, employees, invitees
       or licensees (collectively, "Tenant Parties") with the performance of
       such work. Upon Landlord's request, all Tenant Parties shall vacate the
       4th Floor Premises during the performance of Landlord's Asbestos Work
       (and Landlord shall not be obligated to perform Landlord's Asbestos Work
       if any Tenant Party fails to do so). Tenant shall, at Tenant's sole cost
       and expense, remove or relocate Tenant's property in the 4th Floor
       Premises during the performance of Landlord's Asbestos Work so as not to
       interfere with the performance of Landlord's Asbestos Work and to protect
       same against damage or loss during the performance of Landlord's Asbestos
       Work (and Landlord shall not be obligated to perform Landlord's Asbestos
       Work if any Tenant Party fails to do so), Landlord shall have no
       obligation to employ contractors or labor at overtime

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       or other premium pay rates or to incur any other overtime costs or
       additional expenses whatsoever. There shall be no Rent abatement or
       allowance to Tenant for a diminution of rental value, no delay of the 4th
       Floor Premises Commencement Date, no actual or constructive eviction of
       Tenant, in whole or in part, no relief from any of Tenant's other
       obligations under the Lease, and no liability on the part of Landlord, by
       reason of inconvenience, delay, annoyance or injury to business or to
       Tenant's installations (or the performance of Alterations) or Tenant's
       property in the Premises arising from the performance of Landlord's
       Asbestos Work or the storage of any materials in connection therewith.
       Following the completion of Landlord's Asbestos Work, Landlord shall
       provide Tenant with a Form ACP-5 reflecting the completion of such work.

         3. Extension of Term: Rent. (a) Landlord and Tenant hereby acknowledge
and agree that the Extended Expiration Date (as defined in the Second Amendment)
is January 31, 2008. The term of the Original Lease with respect to the 19th
Floor Premises and the 25th Floor Premises only is hereby extended for the
period (the "2001 Extension Period") commencing on February 1, 2008 (the "2001
Extension Period Commencement Date") and ending on September 30, 2011 (the "2001
Extended Expiration Date"), or such earlier date upon which the term may expire
or be terminated pursuant to any of the conditions of limitation or other
provisions of the Lease or pursuant to law, upon all of the terms and conditions
of the Original Lease, as modified by this Amendment. All references in the
Original Lease with respect to the 19th Floor Premises and/or the 25th Floor
Premises to the expiration date of "September 30, 2004" or the Extended
Expiration Date shall be deemed to be references to the "2001 Extended
Expiration Date" and all references to "term" or "term of this Lease or words of
similar import shall be deemed with respect to the 19th Floor Premises and the
25th Floor Premises only to refer to the term of the Original Lease as extended
by the 2001 Extension Period.

            (b) The fixed rent payable under the Lease for the 2001 Extension
Period with respect to the 19th Floor Premises only shall be an amount equal to
$1,155,312.00 per annum ($96,276.00 per month) payable at the times and in the
manner specified in the Lease for the payment of Rent, provided that,
notwithstanding the foregoing, Tenant shall be entitled to a credit against the
first two installments of fixed rent payable as provided above, provided no
default has occurred hereunder and is then continuing, of $96,276 for each such
month and of $192,552 in the aggregate for such two months.

            (c) The fixed rent payable under the Lease for the 2001 Extension
Period with respect to the 25th Floor Premises only shall be an amount equal to
$1,221,696.00 per annum ($101,808.00 per month) payable at the times and in the
manner specified in the Lease for the payment of Rent, provided that,
notwithstanding the foregoing, Tenant shall be entitled to a credit against the
first two installments of fixed rent payable as provided above, provided no
default has occurred hereunder and

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is then continuing, of $101,808 for each such month and of $203,616 in the
aggregate for such two months.

            (d) During the 2001 Extension Period with respect to the 19th Floor
Premises and the 25th Floor Premises only, (i) the term "Base Real Estate Taxes"
shall mean the R. E. Tax Share of the Real Estate Taxes for the Tax Year
beginning on July 1, 2001 and ending on June 30, 2002 and (ii) the term "Base
COM" shall mean the O.E. Share of the Cost of Operation and Maintenance for the
Computation Year beginning on January 1, 2001 and ending on December 31, 2001.

            (e) The term of the Original Lease with respect to the Storage Space
only is hereby extended for the period (the "Storage Space Extension Period")
commencing on October 1, 2004 (the "Storage Space Extension Period Commencement
Date") and ending on September 30, 2009 (the "Storage Space Extended Expiration
Date"), or such earlier date upon which the term may expire or be terminated
pursuant to any of the conditions of limitation or other provisions of the Lease
or pursuant to law, upon all of the terms and conditions of the Original Lease,
as modifed by this Amendment. All references in the Original Lease with respect
to the Storage Space or to the expiration date of "September 30, 2004" shall be
deemed to be references to the "Storage Space Extended Expiration Date" and all
references to "term" or "term of this Lease" or words of similar import shall be
deemed with respect to the Storage Space only to refer to the term of the
Original Lease as extended by the Storage Space Extension Period.

            (f) The fixed rent payable under the Lease for the Storage Space
Extension Period with respect to the Storage Space only shall be an amount equal
to $9,538 per annum ($794.83 per month) payable at the times and in the manner
specified in the Lease for the payment of Rent.

            4. Modifications. Effective as of the date hereof, the Original
Lease shall be amended as follows:

               (a) The provisions of Article Five of the Original Lease shall be
        applicable to the 25th Floor Premises, except that the reference to
        "four watts" in the first sentence of Section 5.1 shall be deemed to be
        deleted and reference to "six watts" substituted therefor.

               (b) Paragraph 6(e)(C) of the Second Amendment is hereby amended
        by deleting the reference to "June 1, 2001" contained therein and by
        substituting "July 1, 2004" therefor.

               (c) Section 6(k)(i) of the Original Lease is hereby amended by
        deleting the reference to "$3,000,000" and "$5,000,000" contained
        therein and by substituting "$5,000,000" and "$10,000,000" therefor,
        respectively.

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               (d) Section 7.2.1 of the Original Lease is amended by adding the
following sentence at the end thereof:

         "Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Section 7.2.1 to the
         contrary, the Tenant named herein shall have the right to sublet one or
         more portions of the 25th Floor Premises for a term expiring no later
         than the 5th anniversary of the 4th Floor Premises Commencement Date in
         each case without any obligation, in each case, to comply with the
         provisions of this Section 7.2.1. Such subleases by Tenant shall not be
         subject to Landlord's right to terminate this Lease pursuant to Section
         7.2.2 but shall be subject to the other provisions of this Article,
         including Section 7.2.5."

               (e) Section 7.2.3 of the Original Lease is amended by inserting
the following sentence at the end thereof:

         "The term 'Applicable Rental Rate' as used in this Article with respect
         to (A) the 4th Floor Premises only shall mean (x) $64.00 per annum for
         the period commencing on the 4th Floor Premises Commencement Date and
         ending on the day immediately preceding the 5th anniversary of the 4th
         Floor Premises Commencement Date, both dates inclusive, and (y) $69.00
         per annum for the period commencing on the 5th anniversary of the 4th
         Floor Premises Commencement Date and ending on the 2001 Extended
         Expiration Date, both dates inclusive, and (B) the 19th Floor Premises
         and the 25th Floor Premises only shall mean $72.00 per annum during the
         2001 Extension Period."

               (f) Section 7.2.5(a) of the Original Lease is hereby amended by
deleting the words "either the Landlord or a subsidiary or affiliate of the
Landlord" contained therein and by substituting "the Landlord" therefor.

               (g) Paragraph 7 of the First Amendment is deleted from the Lease.

               (h) The penultimate sentence of Section 13.1 of the Original
Lease is deleted from the Lease.

            5. Landlord shall install new electric meters on the 4th and 25th
floors of the Building to measure Tenant's consumption of electricity in the 4th
Floor

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Premises and the 25th Floor Premises. Tenant shall reimburse Landlord for
one-half of the cost thereof within 30 days after demand therefor and thereafter
pay for the maintenance thereof.

            6. Brokerage. Each of Landlord and Tenant represents and warrants to
the other that it has not dealt with any broker in connection with this
Amendment other than Tishman Speyer Properties, L.P. ("TSP") and Colliers ABR,
Inc. (the "Broker") and that, to the best of its knowledge, no other broker
negotiated this Amendment or is entitled to any fee or commission in connection
herewith. Landlord shall pay TSP and Broker any commissions which they may be
due in connection with this Amendment pursuant to separate agreements. Each of
Landlord and Tenant shall indemnify, defend, protect and hold the other party
harmless from and against any and all losses, liabilities, damages, claims,
judgments, fines, suits, demands, costs, interest and expenses of any kind or
nature (including reasonable attorneys' fees and disbursements) incurred in
connection with any claim, proceeding or judgment and the defense thereof which
the indemnified party may incur by reason of any claim of or liability to any
broker, finder or like agent (other than TSP or Broker) arising out of any
dealings claimed to have occurred between the indemnifying party and the
claimant in connection with this Amendment, or the above representation being
false. The provisions of this Section 6 shall survive the expiration or earlier
termination of the term of the Lease.

            7. Representations and Warranties. Tenant represents and warrants to
Landlord that, as of the date hereof, (a) the Original Lease is in full force
and effect and has not been modified except pursuant to this Amendment; (b) to
the best of Tenant's knowledge, there are no defaults existing under the Lease;
(c) to the best of Tenant's knowledge, there exist no valid abatements, causes
of action, counterclaims, disputes, defenses, offsets, credits, deductions, or
claims against the enforcement of any of the terms and conditions of the Lease;
(d) this Amendment has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Tenant
and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of Tenant; (e) Landlord
has paid all amounts and performed all work required to be paid or performed
under the Lease in connection with Tenant's initial occupancy of the Premises
under the Lease; and (f) to the best of Tenant's knowledge, Landlord is not in
default of any of its obligations or covenants under the Lease.

            8. Nondisturbance Agreement. Any subordination, nondisturbance and
attornment agreement obtained pursuant to Section 13.1 of the Lease shall cover
the 4th Floor Premises as well as the Premises and the Conduit License Agreement
dated the same date as this Amendment between Landlord, as licensor, and Tenant,
as licensee.

            9. Miscellaneous. (a) Except as set forth herein, nothing contained
in this Amendment shall be deemed to amend or modify in any respect the terms of
the Original Lease and such terms shall remain in full force and effect as
modified hereby. If there is any inconsistency between the terms of this
Amendment

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and the terms of the Original Lease, the terms of this Amendment shall be
controlling and prevail.

            (b) This Amendment contains the entire agreement of the parties with
respect to its subject matter and all prior negotiations, discussions,
representations, agreements and understandings heretofore had among the parties
with respect thereto are merged herein.

            (c) This Amendment may be executed in duplicate counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed an original and all of which, when taken together,
shall constitute one and the same instrument.

            (d) This Amendment shall not be binding upon Landlord or Tenant
unless and until Landlord shall have delivered a fully executed counterpart of
this Amendment to Tenant.

            (e) This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
Landlord and Tenant and their successors and permitted assigns.

            (f) This Amendment shall be governed by the laws of the State of New
York without giving effect to conflict of laws principles thereof.

            (g) The captions, headings, and titles in this Amendment are solely
for convenience of reference and shall not affect its interpretation.

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            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Landlord and Tenant have executed this Amendment
as of the day and year first above written.

                                            LANDLORD:

                                            RCPI LANDMARK PROPERTIES, L.L.C.
                                            By: Tishman Speyer Properties, L.P.,
                                            its Agent

                                            By: /s/ Geoffrey P. Wharton
                                              ____________________________
                                              Geoffrey P. Wharton

                                            TENANT:

                                            LEVIN MANAGEMENT CO., INC.

                                            By: /s/ Glenn A. Aigen
                                              ____________________________
                                              Name: Glenn A. Aigen
                                              Title: SVP & CFO

The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that
the terms and conditions contained in the
Original Lease, as amended by the above
Amendment, are considered part of the
obligations guaranteed by the undersigned
pursuant to that certain Guaranty executed
on July 31, 1996, and the undersigned hereby
confirms that its obligations under such
Guaranty are ratified and shall remain and
continue in full force and effect with
respect to the Lease.

 JOHN A. LEVIN & CO.

 By: /s/ Norris Nissim
     ____________________________
     Name: Norris Nissim
     Title: VP & General Counsel

                                       12

<PAGE>   13

                                    EXHIBIT A

The floor plan that follows is intended solely to identify the general location
of the 4th Floor Premises of the Building and should not be used for any other
purpose. All areas, dimensions, and locations are approximate, and any physical
conditions indicated may not exist as shown.

                                                                   See Attached
<PAGE>   14
            [FLOOR PLAN SHOWING APPROXIMATE DIMENSIONS AND LOCATIONS
                      OF 4TH FLOOR PREMISES OF BUILDING.]<PAGE>   1

                                                                 EXHIBIT 10.1(A)

                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                            DATED AS OF JULY 20, 2001

                                  BY AND AMONG

                        CAPITOL TRANSAMERICA CORPORATION,

                              ABC ACQUISITION CORP.

                                       AND

                              ALLEGHANY CORPORATION
<PAGE>   2
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                                                               <C>
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS.......................................................................................       1

   Section 1.1   Definitions................................................................................       1

ARTICLE II THE MERGER.......................................................................................       8

   Section 2.1   The Merger.................................................................................       8
   Section 2.2   Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.......................       8
   Section 2.3   Board of Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation...............................       9

ARTICLE III CONVERSION OF SECURITIES AND RELATED MATTERS....................................................       9

   Section 3.1   Conversion of Capital Stock................................................................       9
   Section 3.2   Payment....................................................................................       9
   Section 3.3   Company Stock Options......................................................................      11

ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY....................................................      12

   Section 4.1   Corporate Existence and Power..............................................................      12
   Section 4.2   Corporate Authorization....................................................................      12
   Section 4.3   Governmental Authorization.................................................................      13
   Section 4.4   Non-Contravention..........................................................................      13
   Section 4.5   Capitalization.............................................................................      14
   Section 4.6   Subsidiaries...............................................................................      14
   Section 4.7   The Company SEC Documents..................................................................      16
   Section 4.8   Financial Statements; Reserves.............................................................      16
   Section 4.9   Agents and Producers; Fronting.............................................................      18
   Section 4.10    No Material Undisclosed Liabilities......................................................      19
   Section 4.11    Information to Be Supplied...............................................................      20
   Section 4.12    Absence of Certain Changes...............................................................      20
   Section 4.13    Interests of Directors and Officers......................................................      22
   Section 4.14    Intellectual Property....................................................................      22
   Section 4.15    Contracts................................................................................      23
   Section 4.16    Litigation...............................................................................      25
   Section 4.17    Tax Matters..............................................................................      25
   Section 4.18    Officers, Directors and Key Employees....................................................      27
   Section 4.19    Employees and Employee Benefits..........................................................      28
   Section 4.20    Investment Securities....................................................................      31
   Section 4.21    Compliance with Laws.....................................................................      31
   Section 4.22    Insurance Matters........................................................................      32
   Section 4.23    Directors' and Officers' Insurance Policies..............................................      34
   Section 4.24    Environmental Matters....................................................................      34
   Section 4.25    Title to Property; Leases................................................................      34
   Section 4.26    Real Property............................................................................      34
   Section 4.27    Absence of Bank, Savings and Loan or Investment Company Status...........................      35
   Section 4.28    Insurance Ratings........................................................................      35
   Section 4.29    Operation of OMV Business................................................................      35
   Section 4.30    Aggregate Materiality....................................................................      36
   Section 4.31    Finders' Fees; Opinion of Financial Adviser..............................................      36
   Section 4.32    Required Vote; Board Approval............................................................      36
   Section 4.33    State Takeover Statutes; No Rights Plan..................................................      37
</TABLE>

                                       -i-
<PAGE>   3
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                                                               <C>
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGERSUB............................................      38

   Section 5.1   Corporate Existence and Power..............................................................      38
   Section 5.2   Corporate Authorization....................................................................      38
   Section 5.3   Governmental Authorization.................................................................      38
   Section 5.4   Non-Contravention..........................................................................      39
   Section 5.5   Information to Be Supplied.................................................................      39
   Section 5.6   Finders' Fees..............................................................................      39
   Section 5.7   Financing..................................................................................      39
   Section 5.8   Ownership of Company Common Shares.........................................................      40

ARTICLE VI COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.........................................................................      40

   Section 6.1   The Company Interim Operations.............................................................      40
   Section 6.2   Company Shareholders Meeting...............................................................      42
   Section 6.3   Acquisition Proposals; Board Recommendation................................................      42
   Section 6.4   Certain Litigation.........................................................................      44
   Section 6.5   Certain Tax and Company Employee Plan Matters..............................................      44
   Section 6.6   Control of Operations......................................................................      45

ARTICLE VII OTHER COVENANTS.................................................................................      45

   Section 7.1   Indemnification, Exculpation and Insurance.................................................      45
   Section 7.2   Reasonable Best Efforts....................................................................      46
   Section 7.3   Certain Filings; Cooperation in Receipt of Consents........................................      46
   Section 7.4   Public Announcements.......................................................................      47
   Section 7.5   Access to Information; Notification of Certain Matters.....................................      48
   Section 7.6   Certain Matters............................................................................      49
   Section 7.7   Further Assurances.........................................................................      49

ARTICLE VIII CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER.......................................................................      49

   Section 8.1   Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party................................................      49
   Section 8.2   Conditions to the Obligations of the Company...............................................      49
   Section 8.3   Conditions to the Obligations of Parent and MergerSub......................................      50

ARTICLE IX TERMINATION......................................................................................      52

   Section 9.1   Termination................................................................................      52
   Section 9.2   Effect of Termination......................................................................      53
   Section 9.3   Termination Fee and Expenses...............................................................      54

ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS.....................................................................................      55

   Section 10.1    Notices..................................................................................      55
   Section 10.2    Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants after the Effective Time...........      56
   Section 10.3    Amendments; No Waivers...................................................................      56
   Section 10.4    Successors and Assigns...................................................................      56
   Section 10.5    Governing Law............................................................................      56
   Section 10.6    Counterparts; Effectiveness; Third Party Beneficiaries...................................      57
   Section 10.7    Jurisdiction.............................................................................      57
   Section 10.8    Waiver of Jury Trial.....................................................................      57
   Section 10.9    Enforcement..............................................................................      57
   Section 10.10   Entire Agreement.........................................................................      58
</TABLE>

                                      -ii-
<PAGE>   4
                             EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES

<TABLE>
<S>               <C>
EXHIBIT A         Employment Agreement

EXHIBIT B         List of Company SEC Documents

EXHIBIT C         Required Insurance Related Consents and Approvals

EXHIBIT D         Company Interim Operations

EXHIBIT E         Form of Legal Opinion of Counsel to the Company
</TABLE>

                                       -i-
<PAGE>   5
                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                  AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (the "Agreement"), dated as of
July 20, 2001, by and among Capitol Transamerica Corporation, a Wisconsin
corporation (the "Company"), ABC Acquisition Corp., a Wisconsin corporation
("MergerSub") (the Company and MergerSub being the constituent corporations in
the Merger (as hereinafter defined)), and Alleghany Corporation, a Delaware
corporation and the owner of all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital
stock of MergerSub ("Parent") (Parent joining as an additional party, not being
a constituent corporation in the Merger (as hereinafter defined)).

                                    RECITALS

                  WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Parent and the
Company have determined that a merger between MergerSub and the Company is
advisable and in the best interests of their respective companies and
shareholders, and accordingly have agreed to effect the merger provided for
herein upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein; and

                  WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and as a condition and inducement to Parent and MergerSub's
willingness to enter into this Agreement, the Company and a key employee of the
Company (the "Executive") have entered into an Employment Agreement dated as of
the date of this Agreement and attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Employment
Agreement"); and

                  WHEREAS, by resolutions duly adopted, the respective Boards of
Directors of Parent, MergerSub and the Company have approved and adopted this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and of the
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, and
intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I
                                   DEFINITIONS

                  Section 1.1 Definitions.

                  (a) As used herein, the following terms have the following
meanings:

                  "Acquisition Proposal" means any offer or proposal for, or
indication of interest in, a merger, consolidation, share exchange, business
combination, reorganization, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or other
similar transaction involving, or any purchase or acquisition of, 20% or more of
(i) any class of equity securities of the Company or (ii) the consolidated
assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, other than the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
<PAGE>   6
                  "Actuarial Report" means the Report on Loss and Loss
Adjustment Expense Reserves prepared for Capitol Indemnity Corporation by Alan
J. Hapke, FCSA, MAA, doing business as Aspect, Inc., dated April 30, 2001, a
true and correct copy of which has been delivered to Parent.

                  "Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other
Person, directly or indirectly, controlling, controlled by, or under common
control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, the term "control"
(including the correlative terms "controlling," "controlled by" and "under
common control with") means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise.

                  "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or
one on which banks are authorized by law to close in New York, New York.

                  "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

                  "Company Balance Sheet" means the Company's consolidated
balance sheet included in the Company 10-K relating to its fiscal year ended on
December 31, 2000.

                  "Company Common Share" means one share of common stock of the
Company, $1.00 par value per share.

                  "Company Insurance Policies" means all policies of insurance
(excluding retrocession agreements and similar agreements) maintained by the
Company or by any of its Subsidiaries as of the date hereof with respect to
their respective properties and the conduct of their respective businesses.

                  "Company SEC Documents" means the following documents, all as
filed with the SEC prior to the date hereof: (i) the annual report on Form 10-K
of the Company (the "Company 10-Ks") for the fiscal years ended December 31,
1999 and 2000, (ii) the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of the Company (the
"Company 10-Q") for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2001, (iii) the Company's
proxy statement dated April 6, 2001 relating to the 2001 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders (the "Company Proxy Statement"), and (iv) all other reports,
filings, registration statements and other documents filed by the Company with
the SEC since December 31, 1999.

                  "Contracts" means all contracts, agreements, undertakings,
indentures, notes, debentures, bonds, loans, instruments, leases, mortgages,
commitments or binding arrangements.

                  "Employee Program" means "any employee benefit plan" (as that
term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA), as well as any other plan,
arrangement or Contract involving direct or indirect compensation, in which any
current or former directors, officers, employees, consultants, agents or other
independent contractors of the Company

                                      -2-
<PAGE>   7
or any of its Subsidiaries participate, or to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries has any liability or under which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries has any present or future obligations or liability on behalf of
their respective current or former directors, officers, employees, consultants,
agents or other independent contractors or the dependents or beneficiaries of
any of the foregoing, including but not limited to, each retirement, pension,
profit-sharing, thrift, savings, target benefit, employee stock ownership, cash
or deferred, multiple employer, multiemployer or other similar plan, each other
deferred or incentive compensation, bonus, stay bonus, stock option, employee
stock purchase, "phantom stock" or stock appreciation right plan, each
employment agreement, stay bonus agreement, severance agreement, change in
control agreement or similar agreement, each other plan providing payment or
reimbursement for or of medical, dental or visual care, psychiatric counseling,
or vacation, sick, disability or severance pay and each other "fringe benefit"
plan or arrangement.

                  "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

                  "ERISA Affiliate" shall mean any entity which has ever been
considered a single employer with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under
Section 4001(b) of ERISA or Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code.

                  "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

                  "Governmental Entity" means any Federal, state, municipal or
local governmental authority, any foreign or international governmental
authority, or any court, administrative or regulatory agency or commission or
other governmental agency.

                  "Insurance Contracts" means all Contracts, treaties, policies
or other written arrangements to which any of the Company's Subsidiaries is a
party or by or to which any of them is bound or subject providing for insurance,
ceding or assumptions of reinsurance, excess insurance or retrocessions,
including, without limitation, all insurance policies, reinsurance policies, and
retrocession agreements, in each case as such Contract, treaty, policy or other
written arrangement may have been amended, modified or supplemented, other than
the Company Insurance Policies.

                  "knowledge" when used in the phrases "to the knowledge of the
Company" or "the Company has no knowledge" or words of similar import shall
mean, and shall be limited to, the knowledge of any of Messrs. George Fait, Paul
Breitnauer, Joel Fait, Ed Halloran, Robert Miller, Charles Minerman, James
Schlacks, James Smirz and Jess Wadle.

                  "Law" means all laws, statutes and ordinances and all
regulations, rules and other pronouncements of Governmental Entities having the
effect of law of the United States, any foreign country or any foreign or
domestic state, province, commonwealth, city, country, municipality, territory,
protectorate, possession or similar instrumentality or any Governmental Entity
thereof.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>   8
                  "Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien,
pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such
asset; provided, however, that the term "Lien" shall not include (i) liens for
water and sewer charges not yet due and payable or being contested in good faith
(and for which adequate accruals or reserves have been established by the
Company), (ii) mechanics', carriers', workers', repairers', materialmen's,
warehousemen's and other similar liens arising or incurred in the ordinary
course of business, (iii) any lien for Taxes not yet due or delinquent or being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings for which adequate reserves
have been established in accordance with GAAP, and (iv) such liens, defects of
title, easements, restrictive covenants and similar encumbrances or impediments
which, individually or in the aggregate, would not be reasonably likely to
materially impair or interfere with the ability of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to conduct their respective businesses
substantially in the manner as such businesses are now being conducted.

                  "Material Adverse Effect" means a material adverse effect on
the financial condition, business or results of operations of a Person and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than effects caused by or resulting from
(i) changes in general economic conditions, securities markets conditions or
interest rate levels, and (ii) in the case of the Company, effects caused by or
resulting from actions taken by Parent prior to the date of Closing. "Parent
Material Adverse Effect" means a Material Adverse Effect in respect of Parent
and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and "Company Material Adverse Effect"
means a Material Adverse Effect in respect of the Company and its Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole.

                  "Material Contract" means any Contract required to be set
forth on Section 4.15 of the Company Disclosure Schedule.

                   "Merger Shares" means each Company Common Share outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than shares to be cancelled in
accordance with Section 3.1(b) hereof).

                  "OMV Business" means the senior living facility located in
Mankato, Minnesota which is owned and operated by Capitol Indemnity Corporation,
a Subsidiary of the Company.

                  "Person" means an individual, a corporation, a limited
liability company, a partnership, an association, a trust or any other entity or
organization, including any Governmental Entity.

                  "Proxy Statement" means the proxy statement used for the
solicitation of proxies by the Company at the Company Shareholders Meeting,
together with any amendments or supplements thereto.

                  "Rating Agency" means either of A.M. Best Company, Inc. or
Standard & Poor's Ratings Group.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>   9
                  "Retiree" means (i) any retired or former director, officer or
employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any former
consultant, agent or other independent contractor of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries.

                  "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                  "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

                  "Subsidiary", when used with respect to any Person, means any
other Person, whether incorporated or unincorporated, of which (i) more than
fifty percent of the securities or other ownership interests or (ii) securities
or other interests having by their terms ordinary voting power to elect more
than fifty percent of the board of directors or others performing similar
functions with respect to such corporation or other organization, is directly
owned or controlled by such Person or by any one or more of its Subsidiaries.

                  "Superior Proposal" means a bona fide written proposal made by
a Person other than Parent which is (A) for a merger, consolidation, share
exchange, business combination, reorganization, recapitalization, liquidation,
dissolution or other similar transaction involving, or any purchase or
acquisition of, (i) more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the
Company Common Shares or (ii) all or substantially all of the consolidated
assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and (B) otherwise on terms which the
Company's Board of Directors determines in good faith (after consultation with
its investment advisers and outside legal counsel) would result in a
transaction, if consummated, that is more favorable to the Company's
shareholders, from a financial point of view (which determination of the Board
of Directors shall take into account, among other things, the legal, financial,
regulatory and other aspects of the proposal, including conditions to
consummation and the identity of the offeror), than the transactions
contemplated hereby (after duly considering any revised proposal made by Parent
as contemplated by Section 6.3(d) of this Agreement).

                  "Tax" and "Taxes" mean all income, profits, gains, gross
receipts, net worth, premium, value added, ad valorem, sales, use, excise,
stamp, transfer, franchise, withholding, payroll, employment, occupation,
workers' compensation, disability, severance, unemployment insurance, social
security and property taxes, and all other taxes, levies, fees, imposts, duties
and charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest, penalties and
additions thereto imposed by any Governmental Entity ("Taxing Authority"),
including all amounts imposed as a result of being a member of an affiliated or
combined group.

                  "Tax Return" means all returns, reports, elections, estimates,
declarations, information statements and other forms and documents (including
all schedules, exhibits, and other attachments thereto) relating to, and
required to be filed or maintained in connection with the calculation,
determination, assessment or collection of, any Taxes (including estimated
Taxes).

                                      -5-
<PAGE>   10
                  (b) Each of the following terms is defined in the Section set
forth opposite such term:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                Term                                         Section
                ----                                         -------
<S>                                                       <C>
Acquisition Proposal                                      Section 1.1(a)
Actuarial Analyses                                        Section 4.8(e)
Actuarial Report                                          Section 1.1(a)
Affiliate                                                 Section 1.1(a)
Agreement                                                 Preamble
Articles of Merger                                        Section 2.1(b)
Broker                                                    Section 4.9(a)
Business Day                                              Section 1.1(a)
Certificate                                               Section 3.2(b)
Closing                                                   Section 2.1(d)
Code                                                      Section 1.1(a)
Company                                                   Preamble
Company 10-Ks                                             Section 1.1(a)
Company 10-Q                                              Section 1.1(a)
Company Assets                                            Section 4.25
Company Audited Financial Statements                      Section 4.8(a)
Company Balance Sheet                                     Section 1.1(a)
Company Common Share                                      Section 1.1(a)
Company Employee Plan                                     Section 4.19(a)
Company GAAP Financial Statements                         Section 4.8(a)
Company Government Approvals                              Section 4.3
Company Insurance Policies                                Section 1.1(a)
Company Insurance Subsidiaries                            Section 4.6(b)
Company Interim Financial Statements                      Section 4.8(a)
Company Material Adverse Effect                           Section 1.1(a)
Company Option                                            Section 3.3(a)
Company Proxy Statement                                   Section 1.1(a)
Company Recommendation                                    Section 6.2
Company SEC Documents                                     Section 1.1(a)
Company Securities                                        Section 4.5(b)
Company Shareholder Approval                              Section 4.32(a)
Company Shareholders Meeting                              Section 6.2
Company Statutory Financial Statements                    Section 4.8(b)
Confidentiality Agreement                                 Section 6.3(a)
Continuation Coverage                                     Section 4.19(g)
Contracts                                                 Section 1.1(a)
Effective Time                                            Section 2.1(b)
Employee Program                                          Section 1.1(a)
Employment Agreement                                      Recitals
End Date                                                  Section 9.1(b)
Environmental Laws                                        Section 4.24(b)
ERISA                                                     Section 1.1(a)
</TABLE>

                                      -6-
<PAGE>   11
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                Term                                         Section
                ----                                         -------
<S>                                                       <C>
ERISA Affiliate                                           Section 1.1(a)
ESOP                                                      Section 4.19(j)
Exchange Act                                              Section 1.1(a)
Executive                                                 Recitals
Fund                                                      Section 3.2(a)
GAAP                                                      Section 4.8(a)
Governmental Entity                                       Section 1.1(a)
HSR Act                                                   Section 4.3
Indemnified Parties                                       Section 7.1(a)
Insurance Contracts                                       Section 1.1(a)
Intellectual Property                                     Section 4.14(a)
Intellectual Property Rights                              Section 4.14(b)
Investment Securities                                     Section 4.20
knowledge                                                 Section 1.1(a)
Law                                                       Section 1.1(a)
Liabilities                                               Section 4.10
Lien                                                      Section 1.1(a)
Material Adverse Effect                                   Section 1.1(a)
Material Contract                                         Section 1.1(a)
Merger                                                    Section 2.1(a)
Merger Consideration                                      Section 3.1(a)
Merger Shares                                             Section 1.1(a)
MergerSub                                                 Preamble
OMV Business                                              Section 1.1(a)
Original Ratings                                          Section 8.3(i)
Parent                                                    Preamble
Parent Government Approvals                               Section 5.3
Parent Material Adverse Effect                            Section 1.1(a)
Paying Agent                                              Section 3.2(a)
Person                                                    Section 1.1(a)
Proxy Statement                                           Section 1.1(a)
Rating Agency                                             Section 1.1(a)
Real Property                                             Section 4.26
Reinsurance Contracts                                     Section 4.22(c)
Representatives                                           Section 6.3(a)
Retiree                                                   Section 1.1(a)
SEC                                                       Section 1.1(a)
Securities Act                                            Section 1.1(a)
Subsidiary                                                Section 1.1(a)
Superior Proposal                                         Section 1.1(a)
Surviving Corporation                                     Section 2.1(a)
Tax, Taxes                                                Section 1.1(a)
Taxing Authority                                          Section 1.1(a)
Tax Return                                                Section 1.1(a)
Termination Fee                                           Section 9.3(c)
</TABLE>

                                      -7-
<PAGE>   12
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                Term                                         Section
                ----                                         -------
<S>                                                       <C>
Third-Party Intellectual Property Rights                  Section 4.14(b)
WBCL                                                      Section 2.1(a)
</TABLE>

                                   ARTICLE II
                                   THE MERGER

                  Section 2.1 The Merger.

                  (a) At the Effective Time, MergerSub shall be merged (the
"Merger") with and into the Company in accordance with the terms and conditions
of this Agreement and of the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law (the "WBCL"),
and the separate corporate existence of MergerSub shall cease. Following the
Effective Time, the Company shall be the surviving corporation (sometimes
hereinafter referred to as the "Surviving Corporation").

                  (b) Not later than the second Business Day after satisfaction
or, to the extent permitted hereby, waiver of the conditions set forth in
Article VIII (other than conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at
the Closing, but subject to those conditions), the Company and MergerSub will
file articles of merger (the "Articles of Merger") with the Department of
Financial Institutions of the State of Wisconsin and make all other filings or
recordings required by the WBCL in connection with the Merger. The Merger shall
become effective at such date and time (but not later than the close of business
of the date of Closing) which the parties hereto shall have agreed upon and
designated in the Articles of Merger filed with the Department of Financial
Institutions of the State of Wisconsin in accordance with the WBCL as the
effective time of the Merger (the "Effective Time").

                  (c) From and after the Effective Time, the Merger shall have
the effects set forth in the WBCL. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, all properties, rights,
privileges, powers and franchises of MergerSub and the Company shall vest in the
Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities and duties of MergerSub and
the Company shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving
Corporation, and the Surviving Corporation shall continue its corporate
existence under the WBCL.

                  (d) The closing of the Merger (the "Closing") shall be held at
the offices of Dewey Ballantine LLP, 1301 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY
(or such other place as agreed by the parties) at 10:00 a.m. New York City time
on a date to be specified by the parties, which shall be no later than the
second Business Day after satisfaction or, to the extent permitted hereby,
waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VIII (other than conditions that
by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to those
conditions), unless the parties hereto agree to another date or time.

                  Section 2.2 Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the
Surviving Corporation. The articles of incorporation of MergerSub, as in effect
immediately prior

                                      -8-
<PAGE>   13
to the Effective Time, shall be the articles of incorporation of the Surviving
Corporation until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by
applicable Law. The bylaws of MergerSub, as in effect immediately prior to the
Effective Time, shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until
thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by applicable Law.

                  Section 2.3 Board of Directors and Officers of the Surviving
Corporation. From and after the Effective Time (until successors are duly
elected or appointed and qualified), (i) the directors of MergerSub at the
Effective Time shall be the directors of the Surviving Corporation and (ii) the
officers of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the
officers of the Surviving Corporation. Immediately following the Effective Time,
the headquarters of the Surviving Corporation shall be located in Madison,
Wisconsin.

                                  ARTICLE III
                  CONVERSION OF SECURITIES AND RELATED MATTERS

                  Section 3.1 Conversion of Capital Stock.

                  (a) At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger, each
Merger Share shall be cancelled and extinguished and converted into the right to
receive $16.50 in cash, without interest (the "Merger Consideration").

                  (b) At the Effective Time, each Company Common Share held by
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or owned by Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries, immediately prior to the Effective Time shall cease to be
outstanding, be cancelled and retired without payment of any consideration
therefor and cease to exist.

                  (c) At the Effective Time, each share of common stock of
MergerSub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall
be converted into one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of
common stock of the Surviving Corporation.

                  Section 3.2 Payment.

                  (a) Paying Agent. Promptly after the date hereof, Parent shall
appoint a commercial bank or trust company reasonably acceptable to the Company
as a paying agent (the "Paying Agent") for the benefit of holders of Company
Common Shares. At or immediately prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall
provide to the Paying Agent, for payment in accordance with this Section 3.2,
through the Paying Agent, cash in an amount equal to (1) (x) the Merger
Consideration multiplied by (y) the number of Merger Shares (such cash being
hereinafter referred to as the "Fund"). The Paying Agent shall, pursuant to
irrevocable instructions in accordance with this Article III, deliver to the
holders of Company Common Shares and Company Options the cash contemplated to be
issued pursuant to this Article III out of the Fund. Except as contemplated by
this Section 3.2, the Fund shall not be used for any other purpose. Such funds
shall be invested by the Paying Agent as directed by Parent; provided, however,
that such

                                      -9-
<PAGE>   14
investments shall only be in obligations of or guaranteed by the United States
of America. Earnings from such investments shall be the sole and exclusive
property of Parent, and no part of such earnings shall accrue to the benefit of
holders of the Company Common Shares. If for any reason (including losses) the
Fund is inadequate to pay the cash amounts to which holders of shares of Company
Common Shares and Company Options shall be entitled, Parent shall in any event
remain liable to pay such amounts to such holders, and shall make available to
the Paying Agent additional funds for the payment thereof. The Fund shall not be
used for any purpose, except as expressly provided in this Agreement.

                  (b) Payment Procedures. As promptly as practicable after the
Effective Time, Parent shall send, or will cause the Paying Agent to send, to
each holder of record of a certificate or certificates (each, a "Certificate")
that formerly represented outstanding Company Common Shares that were converted
into the right to receive Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 3.1, a letter
of transmittal and instructions (which shall be in customary form reasonably
approved by the Company prior to the Effective Time and specify that delivery
shall be effected, and risk of loss and title shall pass, only upon delivery of
the Certificates to the Paying Agent) for use in the exchange for payment
contemplated by this Section 3.2. Upon surrender of a Certificate to the Paying
Agent, together with a duly executed letter of transmittal, the holder of such
Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor the amount of
Merger Consideration which such holder has the right to receive pursuant to the
provisions of this Article III (after giving effect to any required withholding
Tax). In no event will holders of Company Common Shares be entitled to interest
on the Merger Consideration. Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section
3.2, each Certificate shall be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to
represent only the right to receive the Merger Consideration. If any portion of
the Merger Consideration is to be paid to a Person other than the Person in
whose name the Certificate is registered, it shall be a condition to such
payment that the Certificate so surrendered shall be properly endorsed or
otherwise be in proper form for transfer and that the Person requesting such
payment shall pay to the Paying Agent any transfer or other Taxes required as a
result of such payment to a Person other than the registered holder of such
Certificate or establish to the satisfaction of the Paying Agent that such Tax
has been paid or is not payable. If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen
or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person
claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by
Parent, the posting by such Person of a bond, in such reasonable amount as
Parent may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it
with respect to such Certificate, the Paying Agent will deliver, in exchange for
such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate, the proper amount of the Merger
Consideration, as contemplated by this Article III.

                  (c) No Further Ownership Rights in the Company Common Shares.
As of the Effective Time, all Company Common Shares shall automatically be
cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a Certificate
representing any such Company Common Shares shall cease to have any rights with
respect thereto, except the right to receive, upon surrender of such
Certificate, the Merger Consideration. As of the Effective Time, the stock
transfer books of the Company shall be closed and there shall be no further
registration of transfers on the Company's stock transfer books of Company

                                      -10-
<PAGE>   15
Common Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. If, after the
Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the Surviving Corporation for any
reason, they shall be cancelled and exchanged for payment as provided in this
Section 3.2.

                  (d) Return of Merger Consideration. Upon demand by Parent, the
Paying Agent shall deliver to Parent any portion of the Fund deposited with the
Paying Agent that remains undistributed to holders of Company Common Shares six
months after the Effective Time. Holders of Certificates who have not complied
with this Section 3.2 prior to such demand shall thereafter look only to Parent
for payment of any claim to the Merger Consideration.

                  (e) No Liability. Neither Parent nor the Paying Agent shall be
liable to any Person in respect of any Company Common Shares for any amounts
paid to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat
or similar Law.

                  (f) Withholding Rights. Parent shall be entitled to deduct and
withhold from the Merger Consideration payable hereunder to any Person such
amounts as it is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of
such payment under any provision of Federal, state, local or foreign income Tax
Law. To the extent that Parent so withholds those amounts, such withheld amounts
shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the
holder of Company Common Shares in respect of which such deduction and
withholding was made by Parent.

                  Section 3.3 Company Stock Options.

                  (a) Subject to the last sentence of Section 3.3(b) below, at
the Effective Time, each outstanding option to purchase Company Common Shares
(each, a "Company Option") shall entitle the holder to receive in settlement and
cancellation thereof a lump sum cash payment equal to (x) the product of (i) the
total number of Company Common Shares subject to such Company Option immediately
prior to the Effective Time and (ii) the excess of the Merger Consideration over
the exercise price per Company Common Share subject to such Company Option, less
(y) the amount of any Federal, state and local and foreign income and employment
Taxes required to be deducted and withheld by the Company and/or any Subsidiary
from, or with respect to, the exercise of the Company Option.

                  (b) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company and Parent shall
take all actions (including, if appropriate, amending the terms of the Company's
stock option plan and other compensation plans or any Employee Program) that are
necessary to give effect to the transactions contemplated by Section 3.3(a).
Section 3.3(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete
list of all outstanding Company Options, including the holder, number of Company
Common Shares subject to each such Company Option and exercise price per Company
Common Share. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Company agrees to use its
reasonable best efforts (i) to enter into with each holder of an outstanding
Company Option an amendment of the terms of the agreement pursuant to which such
Company Option was granted, which amendment shall be in a form satisfactory to
Parent and shall provide for the disposition of the Company Option as
contemplated by Section 3.3(a), and (ii) to obtain the consent of each holder of

                                      -11-
<PAGE>   16
an outstanding Company Option to such amendment. It shall be a condition to the
payment to any holder of a Company Option of the amounts contemplated by Section
3.3(a) that such holder consent to the amendment of the terms of the agreement
pursuant to which such Company Option was granted as contemplated by this
Section 3.3(b).

                                   ARTICLE IV
                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

                  Except (i) as disclosed in the Company Disclosure Schedule
attached hereto, which Company Disclosure Schedule identifies the Section (or,
if applicable, subsection) to which such exception relates and (ii) as
specifically disclosed in the Company SEC Documents filed with the SEC prior to
the date hereof and listed on Exhibit B hereto, the Company represents and
warrants to Parent and MergerSub that:

                  Section 4.1 Corporate Existence and Power. The Company is a
corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the
Laws of the State of Wisconsin, and has all corporate powers required to carry
on its business as now conducted. The Company is duly qualified to do business
as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the
character of the property owned or leased by it or the nature of its activities
makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified
would not be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Company Material Adverse Effect. Section 4.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule
sets forth a true and complete copy of each of the articles of incorporation and
bylaws of the Company as currently in effect.

                  Section 4.2 Corporate Authorization. The Company has full
corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and, except for the
Company Shareholder Approval (as hereinafter defined) in connection with the
consummation of the Merger, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company and,
except for the Company Shareholder Approval in connection with the consummation
of the Merger, the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby
have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the
part of the Company, and no other corporate proceedings on the part of the
Company are necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions
contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the
Company and, assuming that this Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and
binding obligation of each of Parent and MergerSub, constitutes a legal, valid
and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with
its terms.

                  Section 4.3 Governmental Authorization. The execution,
delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation
by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby require no action by or
in respect of, or filing with, any Governmental Entity other than (i) the filing
of the Articles of Merger in accordance with the WBCL; (ii) compliance with any
applicable requirements of the

                                      -12-
<PAGE>   17
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the "HSR Act"); (iii)
compliance with any applicable requirements of the Exchange Act; (iv) the filing
of the applications and notices with applicable Commissioners of Insurance and
the approval of such applications or the grant of required licenses by such
authorities or the expiration of any applicable waiting periods thereunder, in
each case as listed on Exhibit C hereto, and (v) all other consents, approvals,
actions, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings except
for those the failure of which to be obtained or made would not be reasonably
likely, individually or in the aggregate, to materially impair or interfere with
the ability of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to conduct
their businesses substantially in the manner as such businesses are now being
conducted or otherwise have a Company Material Adverse Effect (collectively, the
"Company Government Approvals"); provided, however, that no representation is
made with respect to any of the foregoing that Parent, MergerSub or the Company
may be required to obtain because of its specific legal or regulatory status or
any other facts that specifically relate to Parent or MergerSub or any business
in which they engage.

                  Section 4.4 Non-Contravention. The execution, delivery and
performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation by the Company
of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (i) contravene or
conflict with the articles of incorporation or bylaws (or other comparable
organizational documents) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii)
assuming compliance with the matters referred to in Section 4.3, contravene or
conflict with or constitute a violation of any provision of any Law, judgment,
injunction, order or decree binding upon or applicable to the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries, (iii) constitute a breach or default (or an event which, with
notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a breach or default) under or
give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any right
or obligation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or to a loss of any
benefit or status to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is entitled
under any provision of any Contract binding upon the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or any license, franchise, permit or other similar authorization
held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) result in the creation
or imposition of any Lien on any asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
other than, in the case of each of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv), any such items
that would not, individually or in the aggregate, (x) be reasonably likely to
have a Company Material Adverse Effect or (y) prevent or materially impair the
ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.

                  Section 4.5 Capitalization.

                  (a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of
15,000,000 Company Common Shares. As of the close of business on June 25, 2001,
there were (i) 10,950,403 Company Common Shares issued and outstanding, (ii)
232,755 Company Common Shares held by the Company in its treasury, (iii) 377,812
Company Common Shares held by the Subsidiaries of the Company, and (iv)
outstanding stock options to purchase an aggregate of up to 235,449 Company
Common Shares. All outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been
duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable (subject
to the provisions of Wis. Stats. Sec. 180.0622(2)(b) or any other statutes
imposing liability for unpaid wages). Neither the

                                      -13-
<PAGE>   18
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liability for unpaid wages except
for wages due for the current payroll cycle.

                  (b) Except (i) as set forth in this Section 4.5 and (ii) for
changes since May 31, 2001 resulting from the exercise of stock options, there
are no outstanding (x) shares of capital stock or other voting securities of the
Company, (y) securities of the Company convertible into or exchangeable for
shares of capital stock or voting securities of the Company, or (z) options,
warrants or other rights of any kind (including, without limitation, preemptive
rights or subscription rights) to acquire from the Company, and there is no
obligation of the Company to issue, any capital stock, voting securities or
securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock or voting
securities of the Company (the items in clauses (x), (y) and (z) being referred
to collectively as the "Company Securities"). There are no outstanding
obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or
otherwise acquire any Company Securities.

                  Section 4.6 Subsidiaries.

                  (a) Section 4.6(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets
forth a true and complete list of the Subsidiaries of the Company. Each
Subsidiary of the Company is a corporation duly incorporated or an entity duly
organized, and is validly existing and in good standing, under the Laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, has the requisite corporate power
and authority required to carry on its business as now conducted and is duly
qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in
each jurisdiction where the character of the property owned or leased by it or
the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary, in each case
with such exceptions as, individually or in the aggregate, would not be
reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Section 4.6(a) of
the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth (i) true and complete copies of the
articles of incorporation and bylaws (or other comparable organizational
documents) of each of the Subsidiaries of the Company as currently in effect and
(ii) a true and correct list of the current officers and directors of each of
the Subsidiaries of the Company.

                  (b) The Company conducts its insurance operations through the
Subsidiaries listed in Section 4.6(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule
(collectively, the "Company Insurance Subsidiaries"). Each of the Company
Insurance Subsidiaries is (i) duly licensed or authorized as an insurance
company in its jurisdiction of incorporation, (ii) duly licensed or authorized,
or otherwise eligible to act, as an insurance company in each other jurisdiction
where it is required to be so licensed, authorized or eligible, and (iii) duly
licensed, authorized or eligible in its jurisdiction of incorporation and each
other applicable jurisdiction to write each line of business reported as being
written in the Company Statutory Financial Statements (as hereinafter defined).
Section 4.6(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete
list of the insurance licenses, authorizations and other approvals of the
Company and each of the Company Insurance Subsidiaries (including the
jurisdictions in which the Company and each of such Company Insurance
Subsidiaries possess such insurance licenses, authorizations or other
approvals), together with true and correct copies of such licenses. To the
knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any of the Company

                                      -14-
<PAGE>   19
Insurance Subsidiaries is improperly transacting any insurance or reinsurance
business in any jurisdiction in which it is not authorized or permitted to
transact such business. All of the licenses and authorizations set forth on
Section 4.6(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule are valid and in full force
and effect. None of the Company Insurance Subsidiaries has at any time after
January 1, 1991 had its license or qualification to conduct insurance business
in any jurisdiction revoked or suspended and, to the knowledge of the Company,
(i) none of the Company Insurance Subsidiaries has at any time prior to January
1, 1991 had its license or qualification to conduct insurance business in any
jurisdiction revoked or suspended and (ii) no proceeding is pending in any
jurisdiction with a review to revocation or suspension of such license or
qualification. To the knowledge of the Company, since January 1, 1991, none of
the Company Insurance Subsidiaries has been involved in a proceeding in any such
jurisdiction with a view to revocation or suspension of any such license. The
Company has made all required filings under applicable insurance holding company
statutes except where the failure to file, individually or in the aggregate,
would not be reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. None
of the Company Insurance Subsidiaries is commercially domiciled for insurance
regulatory purposes in any jurisdiction.

                  (c) All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of, or
other ownership interests in, each Subsidiary of the Company have been duly
authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable (subject to
the provisions of Wis. Stats. Sec. 180.0622(2)(b), Wis. Stats. Sec. 611.33(1)(d)
or any other statutes imposing liability for unpaid wages), and are owned,
directly or indirectly, by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, free and
clear of any Lien and free of any other limitation or restriction (including any
limitation or restriction on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of
such capital stock or other ownership interests). There are no outstanding (i)
securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for shares of capital stock or other voting
securities or ownership interests in any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) options,
warrants or other rights of any kind (including, without limitation, preemptive
rights or subscription rights) to acquire from the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, and no other obligation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
to issue, any capital stock, voting securities or other ownership interests in,
or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any
capital stock, voting securities or ownership interests in, any of its
Subsidiaries, or (iii) obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to
repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any outstanding securities of any of its
Subsidiaries or any capital stock of, or other ownership interests in, any of
its Subsidiaries. Except for the Investment Securities (as hereinafter defined),
the Company does not directly or indirectly own any interest in any corporation,
partnership, joint venture or other business association or entity other than
the Subsidiaries.

                  Section 4.7 The Company SEC Documents.

                  (a) The Company has delivered or made available to Parent
copies of the Company SEC Documents listed on Exhibit B hereto. The Company has
filed all reports, filings, registration statements and other documents required
to be filed by it with the SEC since December 31, 1998. No Subsidiary of the
Company is required to file any form, report, registration statement or
prospectus or other document with the SEC.

                                      -15-
<PAGE>   20
                  (b) As of their respective filing dates or, if amended, as of
the date of the last such amendment filed prior to the date hereof, each Company
SEC Document complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements
of the Securities Act and/or the Exchange Act, as the case may be.

                  (c) (i) No Company SEC Document filed pursuant to the Exchange
Act contained, as of its filing date or mailing date, as applicable, any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in
order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading, and (ii) no Company SEC Document
filed pursuant to the Securities Act, as amended or supplemented, if applicable,
contained, as of the date such document or amendment became effective, any
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading.

                  Section 4.8 Financial Statements; Reserves.

                  (a) The audited consolidated financial statements included in
the Company 10-Ks (the "Company Audited Financial Statements") were prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") consistently
applied throughout the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes
thereto regarding the adoption of new accounting policies). The Company Audited
Financial Statements have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, and present fairly
in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and
its Subsidiaries at the respective dates thereof and the consolidated results of
operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the respective periods then
ended. The unaudited consolidated interim financial statements included in the
Company 10-Q (the "Company Interim Financial Statements", and together with the
Company Audited Financial Statements, the "Company GAAP Financial Statements")
were prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the
periods involved and in a manner consistent with that employed in the Company
Audited Financial Statements. The Company Interim Financial Statements contain
limited footnote disclosures and are subject to normal recurring year-end
adjustments, but otherwise present fairly in all material respects the
consolidated financial condition and consolidated results of operations of the
Company and its Subsidiaries as of the dates and for the periods indicated
therein except as otherwise set forth therein.

                  (b) The Company has delivered or made available to Parent true
and complete copies of the NAIC Annual Convention Statement for the years ended
December 31, 1998, 1999 and 2000 and the Quarterly Convention Statement for the
quarterly period ended March 31, 2001 of each of the Company Insurance
Subsidiaries as filed with the applicable insurance regulatory authorities,
including all exhibits, interrogatories, notes, schedules and any actuarial
opinions, affirmations or certifications or other supporting documents filed in
connection therewith (collectively, the "Company Statutory Financial
Statements"). Except as expressly set forth in the notes, exhibits or schedules
thereto, the Company Statutory Financial Statements fairly present in all
material respects, in conformity with statutory accounting practices prescribed
or

                                      -16-
<PAGE>   21
permitted by the applicable insurance regulatory authority applied on a
consistent basis, the statutory financial position of such Company Insurance
Subsidiaries as at the respective dates thereof and the statutory results of
operations of such Subsidiaries for the respective periods then ended. The
Company Statutory Financial Statements complied in all material respects with
all applicable Laws when filed, and no deficiency has been asserted with respect
to any Company Statutory Financial Statements by the applicable insurance
regulatory body or any other governmental agency or body. The annual statutory
balance sheets and income statements included in the Company Statutory Financial
Statements have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, and the Company has delivered
to Parent true and complete copies of all audit opinions related thereto.

                  (c) The Company's methodology for providing insurance loss
reserves on the Company GAAP Financial Statements and on the Company Statutory
Financial Statements is accurately described in the Actuarial Report.

                  (d) (i) The reserves carried on the Company Statutory
Financial Statements of each Company Insurance Subsidiary for the year ended
December 31, 2000 and the three-month period ended March 31, 2001 for unearned
premiums, losses, loss adjustment expenses, claims and similar purposes
(including claims litigation) are in compliance with the requirements for
reserves established by the insurance departments of the jurisdiction of
domicile of such Company Insurance Subsidiary, were determined in accordance
with commonly accepted actuarial standards of practice and principles
consistently applied, were based on actuarial assumptions that were in
accordance with or stronger than those called for in relevant policy and
Contract provisions, and are fairly stated in accordance with commonly accepted
actuarial and statutory accounting principles; (ii) to the knowledge of the
Company, as of the dates of submission of the Company Statutory Financial
Statements for the year ended December 31, 2000 and for the three-month period
ended March 31, 2001, the reserves reflected thereon were in the aggregate
adequate to cover the total amount of all liabilities of the Company and each
Company Insurance Subsidiary under all outstanding insurance, reinsurance and
other applicable agreements as of the respective dates of such Company Statutory
Financial Statements, and as of such dates the admitted assets of the Company
and each Company Insurance Subsidiary as determined under applicable Laws are in
an amount at least equal to the minimum amounts required by applicable Laws; and
(iii) there are no agreements to which any Company Insurance Subsidiary is a
party concerning the maintenance of any reserves by any of the Company Insurance
Subsidiaries that go beyond normal legal requirements of Law.

                  (e) The Company has delivered or made available to Parent true
and complete copies of all actuarial reports, actuarial certificates and loss
and loss adjustment expense reserve reports prepared and signed by Alan J.
Hapke, FCSA, MAA, doing business as Aspect, Inc., and any other report prepared
by any third-party actuarial consultant on behalf of or made available to the
Company or any of its Affiliates, in each case relating to the adequacy of the
reserves of any of the Company Insurance Subsidiaries for any period ended on or
after December 31, 1996 (the "Actuarial Analyses"). To the knowledge of the
Company the information and data furnished by the Company or any of the Company
Insurance Subsidiaries to its independent actuaries in

                                      -17-
<PAGE>   22
connection with the preparation of the Actuarial Analyses were accurate and
complete in all material respects as of their respective dates of delivery.

                  Section 4.9 Agents and Producers; Fronting.

                  (a) Section 4.9(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets
forth each Contract with any agent, broker, intermediary, manager or producer
("Broker") to place or sell any insurance or reinsurance policies on behalf of
any Company Insurance Subsidiary since January 1, 1999. Except as set forth on
Section 4.9(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, no single Broker generated
more than 5% of the aggregate gross written premium of the Company Insurance
Subsidiaries during each of the years ended December 31, 1999 or December 31,
2000. To the knowledge of the Company, each Broker with more than 1% of the
aggregate gross written premium of the Company Insurance Subsidiaries during the
year ended December 31, 2000 is duly licensed (to the extent that such licenses
are required) in each jurisdiction in which the Broker places or sells insurance
or reinsurance on behalf of the Company Insurance Subsidiaries, and to the
knowledge of the Company, each such Broker is duly authorized and appointed by
the applicable Company Insurance Subsidiary pursuant to applicable insurance and
reinsurance Laws in all material respects. To the knowledge of the Company, all
Contracts between any Broker, on the one hand, and any Company Insurance
Subsidiary, on the other hand, are in compliance with all applicable insurance
and reinsurance Laws. Section 4.9(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets
forth the Company's procedures for handling disciplinary actions or proceedings
involving Brokers. To the knowledge of the Company, no Broker or Brokers who
individually accounted for more than 1% of the aggregate gross written premiums
of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the year ended December 31, 2000, or
in the aggregate accounted for more than 10% of the aggregate gross premium
during the year ended December 31, 2000, have given or been given written notice
of termination or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened or been
threatened with termination, or threatened or been threatened with a substantial
reduction in the amount of premiums to be written by such Person on behalf of
the Company Insurance Subsidiaries. There is no dispute material to the Company
pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries by any Broker.

                  (b) Section 4.9(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets
forth a complete and accurate list of the pools and fronting agreements,
Contracts or other instruments providing for insurance services (excluding
Insurance Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business) to which
any Company Insurance Subsidiary has been a party since January 1, 1996, all of
which either (i) have been terminated prior to the date hereof or (ii) may be
terminated at the option of the Surviving Corporation on or after the date of
the Effective Time without the payment of any penalty.

                  (c) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any
managing general agency Contracts or other similar arrangements under which an
independent party has authority to perform underwriting analysis and issue
insurance or reinsurance policies on behalf of any of the Company Insurance
Subsidiaries or otherwise bind any of

                                      -18-
<PAGE>   23
the Company Insurance Subsidiaries without prior approval of the individual
insurance or reinsurance policy by the applicable Company Insurance Subsidiary.

                  Section 4.10 No Material Undisclosed Liabilities. (i) There
are no liabilities or obligations of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the
Company of any kind whatsoever, whether accrued, contingent, absolute,
determined, determinable or otherwise ("Liabilities") that would be required by
GAAP to be and were not reflected on or reserved against in the Company Balance
Sheet or disclosed in the notes thereto, and (ii) to the knowledge of the
Company, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the Company had any such
Liabilities whether or not required by GAAP to be reflected or reserved against
in the Company Balance Sheet, other than in the case of clauses (i) and (ii),
(w) liabilities or obligations disclosed or provided for in the Company Balance
Sheet or disclosed in the notes thereto; (x) liabilities or obligations incurred
or arising after December 31, 2000 and disclosed in the Company 10-Q or provided
for in the Company balance sheet (or notes thereto) included in the Company
10-Q; (y) liabilities or obligations arising pursuant to Insurance Contracts
entered into after December 31, 2000 in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice; and (z) other liabilities or obligations which
would not be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Company Material Adverse Effect or prevent or materially impair the ability of
the Company to consummate any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.

                  Section 4.11 Information to Be Supplied.

                  (a) The Proxy Statement, at the time of the mailing thereof
and at the time of the Company Shareholders Meeting (as hereinafter defined),
will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
misleading. The Proxy Statement will comply in all material respects with the
provisions of the Exchange Act and all SEC regulations and with the WBCL.

                  (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no
representation or warranty with respect to any statements made or incorporated
by reference in the Proxy Statement based on information supplied in writing by
Parent expressly for use therein.

                  Section 4.12 Absence of Certain Changes. Since December 31,
2000, except as (i) disclosed in (x) the Company 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2000 included in the Company SEC Documents or provided for in the
financial statements (or notes thereto) included therein or (y) the Company 10-Q
included in the Company SEC Documents or provided for in the financial
statements (or notes thereto) included therein, or (ii) set forth on Section
4.12 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company and its Subsidiaries have
in all material respects conducted their business in the ordinary course
consistent with past practice, and since such date there has not been any
action, event, occurrence, development, change in method of doing business, or
state of circumstances or facts that, individually or in the aggregate, has had
or would be reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Since
December 31,

                                      -19-
<PAGE>   24
2000, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has:

                  (a) changed (x) any accounting principles and methods from
those in effect at December 31, 2000, except as required by changes in GAAP or
statutory accounting practices prescribed by applicable insurance regulatory
authorities, (y) any material policies or practices relating to underwriting,
establishment of reserves, investment or claims adjustment or (z) the Company's
fiscal year;

                  (b) made, modified or revoked any Tax election or entered into
any settlement or compromise of any Tax liability that in either case is
material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

                  (c) paid, discharged, settled or satisfied any claim,
liability or obligation (absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent
or otherwise) other than (x) for claims, liabilities or obligations not in
excess of $500,000 individually or $1 million in the aggregate, (y) an insurance
claim arising in the ordinary course of business, and (z) ordinary course
repayment of indebtedness or payment of contractual obligations when due;

                  (d) incurred any capital expenditures or any obligations or
liabilities in respect thereof involving expenditures or proceeds in an amount,
individually or in the aggregate, in excess of $1 million;

                  (e) except for acquisitions in the ordinary course of the
investment activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries consistent with past
practice that did not exceed $1 million, acquired (whether pursuant to merger,
stock or asset purchase or otherwise) in one transaction or series of related
transactions any assets of or equity interests in any Person;

                  (f) incurred any indebtedness for borrowed money, obligations
under capital leases or obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of
property or services, or guaranteed any such indebtedness or obligation or
issued or sold any debt securities or warrants or rights to acquire any debt
securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or guaranteed any debt
securities of others or requested any advances in respect of, or made any
drawdowns on, any existing indebtedness which indebtedness incurred,
obligations, advances or drawdowns exceeded $500,000 individually or $2 million
in the aggregate;

                  (g) made any material changes in its indemnity, underwriting,
reinsurance, marketing, investment or claims adjusting, settlement, processing
or payment policies and practices or the lines of business in which it engages,
or types of risks it underwrites, or the geographic areas in which it conducts
business;

                  (h) suffered any physical damage, destruction or casualty
loss, whether covered by insurance or not, affecting any of the Real Property,
Company Assets, Intellectual Property or other property of the Company, which
has had or would be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate,
a Company Material Adverse Effect;

                                      -20-
<PAGE>   25
                  (i) forgiven or permitted any cancellation of any material
claim, debt or account receivable, or effected the release of any material right
or claim, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice in the settlement of claims arising under Insurance Contracts;

                  (j) directly or indirectly made any payment, discharge or
satisfaction of any liability or obligation before the same became due in
accordance with its terms, other than in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice, or as fully reflected or reserved against in the
Company GAAP Financial Statements and the Company Statutory Financial
Statements;

                  (k) made any revaluation of any assets or properties or
write-down or write-off of the value of any assets or properties or change in
the basis of valuation thereof (including, without limitation, any receivables)
in an amount in excess of $250,000 individually or $500,000 in the aggregate;

                  (l) entered into any joint venture or partnership arrangement
with any Person;

                  (m) accelerated the collection, or sale to third parties, of
any material amounts of receivables, or delayed the payment of any material
amounts of payables, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice, or as fully reflected or reserved against in the Company
GAAP Financial Statements and the Company Statutory Financial Statements;

                  (n) entered into any Contract to do any of the foregoing;

                  (o) purchased any Company Common Shares, in open market
purchases, privately negotiated purchases or otherwise; or

                  (p) taken any other action described in Section 6.1 of this
Agreement.

                  Section 4.13 Interests of Directors and Officers. Neither (i)
any officer or director of the Company or any officer or director of an
Affiliate of the Company (including any of its Subsidiaries) nor, to the
knowledge of the Company, any member of any such Person's immediate family or
any entity controlled by one or more of the foregoing, nor (ii) any Affiliate of
the Company (excluding Subsidiaries): (A) is a party to any transaction with the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, any Contract,
commitment or understanding (other than (A) any Insurance Contract entered into
in the ordinary course of business, and (B) any arrangement not subject to
written agreement and terminable by the Surviving Corporation at any time
involving payment of not more than $1,500 annually) (x) providing for the
furnishing of services (except in such Person's capacity as an officer or
director) by, (y) providing for the rental, lease or license of Real Property,
Company Assets, Intellectual Property or other property from, or (z) otherwise
requiring payments to (other than for services as officers or directors), or
from, any such Person; (B) to the knowledge of the Company, owns, directly or
indirectly, any interest in (excepting less than 1% stock holdings for
investment purposes in securities of publicly held and traded companies), or is
an officer,

                                      -21-
<PAGE>   26
director, employee or consultant of, any Person that is, or is engaged in
business as, a competitor, lessor, lessee, Broker or customer of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries; (C) owns, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part,
any Real Property, Company Assets, Intellectual Property or other property that
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries uses in the conduct of its business; or
(D) has any claim whatsoever against, or owes any amounts to, the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries, except for claims in the ordinary course of business,
including, without limitation, such as for accrued vacation pay or accrued
benefits under Company Employee Plans.

                  Section 4.14 Intellectual Property.

                  (a) The Company or one of its Subsidiaries owns, or is
licensed or otherwise possesses legally enforceable rights to use, all patents,
trademarks, trade names, service marks, copyrights, and any application
therefor, technology, know-how, computer software programs or applications, and
tangible or intangible proprietary information or materials (collectively, the
"Intellectual Property") that are used in the business of the Company and its
Subsidiaries as currently conducted, except for any such failures to own, be
licensed or possess that would not be reasonably likely to, individually or in
the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect. All patents, trademarks,
trade names, service marks and copyrights owned by the Company or one of its
Subsidiaries are valid, except for any such items the absence of which would not
be reasonably likely to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company
Material Adverse Effect.

                  (b) Except as would not be reasonably likely to, individually
or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect:

                  (i) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is, nor
         will it be as a result of the execution and delivery of this Agreement
         or the performance of its obligations hereunder, in violation of any
         licenses, sublicenses or other agreements as to which the Company or
         any of its Subsidiaries is a party and pursuant to which the Company or
         any of its Subsidiaries is authorized to use any third-party patents,
         trademarks, service marks, or copyrights ("Third-Party Intellectual
         Property Rights"); and

                  (ii) no claims with respect to (A) the patents, registered and
         unregistered trademarks and service marks, registered copyrights, trade
         names, and any applications therefor owned by the Company or any of its
         Subsidiaries (the "Intellectual Property Rights"); (B) any trade secret
         material to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or (C) Third-Party
         Intellectual Property Rights, are pending or, to the knowledge of the
         Company, threatened by any Person.

                  Section 4.15 Contracts.

                  (a) Section 4.15(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule
contains a true and complete list of all of the following Contracts (excluding
Insurance Contracts and Contracts which are the subject of Section 4.9) to which
the Company or any of its

                                      -22-
<PAGE>   27
Subsidiaries is a party or by or to which any of them or their assets or
properties are bound or subject, as each such Contract may have been amended,
modified or supplemented:

                  (i) material partnership or joint venture Contracts;

                  (ii) Contracts limiting the freedom or ability of the Company
         or any of its Subsidiaries to engage in any line of business, engage in
         business in any geographical area or compete with any other Person;

                  (iii) Contracts in any individual case involving amounts in
         excess of $100,000 relating to the borrowing of money, or the direct or
         indirect guaranty of any obligation for borrowed money, or Contracts to
         service the repayment of borrowed money or any other obligation or
         liability in respect of indebtedness for borrowed money of any other
         Person, including, without limitation, any Contract relating to (A) the
         maintenance of compensating balances, (B) any lines of credit, (C) the
         advance of any funds to any other Person outside the ordinary course of
         business, (D) the payment for property, products or services that are
         not conveyed, delivered or rendered to any such party or (E) any
         obligation to keep-well, make-whole or maintain working capital or
         earnings or perform similar requirements;

                  (iv) lease, sublease, rental, licensing, use or similar
         Contracts with respect to personal property providing for annual
         rental, license, or use payments in any individual case in excess of
         $100,000 or the guaranty of any such lease, sublease, rental or other
         Contracts;

                  (v) Contracts (A) outside the ordinary course of business for
         the purchase, acquisition, sale or disposition of any assets or
         properties or (B) for the grant to any Person (excluding the Company or
         its Subsidiaries) of any option or preferential rights to purchase any
         assets or properties;

                  (vi) employment Contracts with any current or former officer,
         director or employee providing in any individual case for compensation
         of $50,000 or more per annum (the name, position or capacity and rate
         of compensation of each such Person and the expiration date of each
         such Contract being accurately set forth in Section 4.15(a) of the
         Company Disclosure Schedule);

                  (vii) Contracts (other than employment Contracts and other
         than Employee Programs) with any current or former officer, director,
         any Person known by the Company to be a beneficial owner of 5% or more
         of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, employee or
         consultant, or, to the knowledge of the Company, with an entity in
         which any of the foregoing is a controlling person;

                  (viii) Contracts pursuant to which in any individual case
         there is either a current or future obligation of the Company or any of
         its Subsidiaries to make payments of more than $100,000 annually (other
         than Contracts relating to

                                      -23-
<PAGE>   28
         investments in the ordinary course of business and other than leases of
         real property);

                  (ix) Contracts under which the Company or any of its
         Subsidiaries agrees to indemnify any Person or to share Tax liability
         of any Person (other than commercial contracts entered into in the
         ordinary course of business consistent with past practice which include
         incidental indemnification obligations on the part of the Company or
         one of its Subsidiaries); and

                  (x) any other Contract material to the business of the Company
         or any of its Subsidiaries (for purposes of this clause (x), a Contract
         shall be deemed to be material if it would be required to be filed as
         an exhibit to a report filed by the Company with the SEC pursuant to
         Item 601 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC).

                  (b) The Company has heretofore delivered or made available to
the Parent true and complete copies of all of the Material Contracts set forth
in Section 4.15(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule. Each of the Material
Contracts is a valid and binding obligation of the Company and the Subsidiaries
party thereto and, to the knowledge of the Company, is a valid and binding
obligation of any other Person party thereto, and is in full force and effect
enforceable against the parties thereto in accordance with its terms. Except as
specified in Section 4.15(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (i) none of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries is in breach or violation of, or default
under, any of the Material Contracts, except for such breaches, violations and
defaults as would not be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) no consent by the other Person
party to any of such Material Contracts to the transfer of such Material
Contracts from the Company to the Surviving Corporation by operation of Law as a
result of the Merger is required.

                  Section 4.16 Litigation. There is no action, suit,
investigation, claim, arbitration or proceeding pending, or to the knowledge of
the Company, threatened against or affecting, the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their respective assets or properties before any
arbitrator or Governmental Entity other than (i) actions, suits, claims or
proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business which, if determined
adversely to the Company or such Subsidiary, would not to the Company's
knowledge be reasonably expected to involve payment by the Company or such
Subsidiary of an amount in excess of $50,000 (determined on an individual
basis); and (ii) actions, suits, claims or proceedings arising out of, or based
upon, Insurance Contracts which neither (x) would be reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect nor (y)
assert a cause of action based upon action allegedly taken in bad faith by the
Company or by any of the Company Insurance Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of
the Company, by any agent or broker acting on behalf of the Company or any of
the Company Insurance Subsidiaries. There is no action, suit, investigation,
arbitration or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened against any current or former officer or director of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries, or against any other person whom the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries has agreed to indemnify, concerning such person's conduct as a
director,

                                      -24-
<PAGE>   29
officer or employee of, or other activity in connection with, the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries. There is no outstanding order, writ, judgment, injunction,
fine, award, determination or decree of any court, other Governmental Entity or
arbitrator against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their
respective assets or properties which would be reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

                  Section 4.17 Tax Matters.

                  (a) The Company is the common parent of an affiliated group of
corporations (within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code) eligible to
file consolidated Federal income Tax Returns, of which the Company and each of
the Subsidiaries is a member. For all periods for which the relevant statutes of
limitations have not expired, the Company has included (or, with respect to the
taxable year ending on the Effective Time, will include) each of its
Subsidiaries in its consolidated Federal income Tax Return as a member of the
affiliated group of which the Company is the common parent.

                  (b) (i) For all periods for which the relevant statutes of
         limitation have not expired, the Company and each of the Subsidiaries
         have filed (or joined in the filing of) when due all Tax Returns
         required by applicable law to be filed with respect to the Company or
         any of its Subsidiaries and all Taxes shown to be due on such Tax
         Returns have been paid;

                  (ii) all such Tax Returns were true, correct and complete in
         all material respects as of the time of such filing;

                  (iii) all Taxes relating to periods for which the relevant
         statutes of limitation have not expired owed by the Company or any of
         its Subsidiaries (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) if required
         to have been paid, have been paid (except for Taxes which are being
         contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been
         provided on the Company GAAP Financial Statements);

                  (iv) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has (or
         will have) any liability under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502.6
         (or analogous state, local or foreign provisions) by virtue of having
         been a member of any "affiliated group" or other group filing on a
         consolidated, combined or unitary basis (other than a group including
         only the Company and the Subsidiaries as members) for any taxable
         periods for which the relevant statutes of limitation have not expired
         ending on or before the Effective Time;

                  (v) to the knowledge of the Company, there is no action, suit,
         proceeding, investigation, audit or claim now pending against, or with
         respect to, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of any
         Tax or assessment, nor is any claim for additional Tax or assessment
         being asserted by any Taxing Authority;

                                      -25-
<PAGE>   30
                  (vi) since January 1, 1991, no claim has been threatened or
         made by any Taxing Authority in a jurisdiction where the Company or any
         of its Subsidiaries does not currently file a Tax Return that it is or
         may be subject to Tax by such jurisdiction;

                  (vii) there is no outstanding request for any extension of
         time within which to pay any Taxes or file any material Tax Returns;

                  (viii) there has been no waiver or extension of any applicable
         statute of limitations for the assessment or collection of any Taxes of
         the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and no power of attorney granted
         by or with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary for Taxes is
         currently in force; moreover, no closing agreement pursuant to Section
         7121 of the Code (or any predecessor provision) or any similar
         provision of any state, local or foreign law has been entered into by
         or with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary;

                  (ix) no property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is
         "tax-exempt use property" within the meaning of Section 168(h) of the
         Code;

                  (x) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party
         to any lease made pursuant to former Section 168(f)(8) of the Internal
         Revenue Code of 1954;

                  (xi) no excess loss account (within the meaning of Treasury
         Regulations Section 1.1502-19) exists with respect to the Company or
         any of its Subsidiaries;

                  (xii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
         filed any agreement or consent under Section 341(f) of the Code;

                  (xiii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a
         party to any agreement, whether written or unwritten, providing for the
         payment of Taxes, payment for Tax losses, entitlement to refunds or
         similar Tax matters;

                  (xiv) no ruling with respect to Taxes (other than a request
         for determination of the status of a qualified pension plan) has been
         requested by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

                  (xv) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been
         a United States real property holding corporation within the meaning of
         Section 897(c)(2) of the Code during the applicable period specified in
         Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code;

                  (xvi) to the knowledge of the Company, the Company and each of
         its Subsidiaries has withheld and paid all material Taxes required to
         be withheld in connection with any amounts paid or owing to any
         employee, creditor, independent contractor or other Person;

                                      -26-
<PAGE>   31
                  (xvii) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has, or will
         have, on or before the Effective Time, any liability for Taxes
         resulting from an acceleration of an "intercompany transaction" within
         the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-13(d) (or any
         analogous or similar provision under state, local of foreign law or any
         predecessor provision or regulation);

                  (xviii) no Subsidiary is a passive foreign investment company
         within the meaning of Section 1297 of the Code; and

                  (xix) no Subsidiary is a controlled foreign corporation within
         the meaning of Section 957 of the Code.

                  Section 4.18 Officers, Directors and Key Employees. Section
4.18 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth (i) the name, title and total
compensation (payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) of each officer
and director of the Company and the Subsidiaries and of each other employee and
consultant of the Company and the Subsidiaries whose total compensation (so
payable and including bonuses and commissions) for the year ended December 31,
2000 equaled or exceeded $60,000 or who will receive compensation (including
bonuses and commissions) for the year ending December 31, 2001 equal to or in
excess of $60,000, (ii) all bonuses and other incentive compensation received by
such Persons since January 1, 2000, and any accrual for such bonuses and
incentive compensation, and (iii) all Contracts or commitments by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries to increase the compensation or to modify the conditions
or terms of employment of any of their respective officers or directors, or
other employees or consultants of the Company and the Subsidiaries whose total
compensation (including bonuses and commissions) exceeds $60,000 per annum.

                  Section 4.19 Employees and Employee Benefits.

                  (a) Section 4.19(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets
forth an accurate, correct and complete list of every Employee Program existing
at the date hereof or within the five-year period prior thereto, maintained,
administered or contributed to by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or
with respect to which an obligation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to
make any contribution exists (except that employment Contracts set forth on
Section 4.15(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule need not be included on
Section 4.19(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule). Any Employee Program listed
in Section 4.15(a) or Section 4.19(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule is
referred to below as a "Company Employee Plan."

                  (b) The Company has made available to Parent with respect to
each Company Employee Plan accurate and complete copies of (i) all written
documents comprising such Company Employee Plan (including amendments,
individual agreements, service agreements, trusts and other funding agreements)
or, in the absence of any such written documents, a written description of such
Company Employee Plan, (ii) the three most recent annual returns in the Federal
Form 5500 series (including all schedules thereto), if any, filed with respect
to such Company Employee Plan, (iii) the most recent audited financial
statements and actuarial reports, if any, pertaining to such Company Employee
Plan, (iv) the summary plan description currently in effect and all

                                      -27-
<PAGE>   32
material modifications thereto, if any, for such Company Employee Plan, (v) any
employee handbook which includes a description of such Company Employee Plan,
(vi) the most recent Internal Revenue Service determination letter, if any, for
such Company Employee Plan, and (vii) any other written communications to any
employee or employees, or to any other individual or individuals, to the extent
that the provisions of such Company Employee Plan described therein differ
materially from such provisions as set forth or described in the other
information or materials furnished under this subsection (b).

                  (c) To the knowledge of the Company, each Company Employee
Plan which is (or ever was) intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code
is so qualified (or, if applicable, was so qualified upon its termination). Each
such Company Employee Plan has received a determination letter from the Internal
Revenue Service which states that such plan is so qualified, and on which the
Company and its Subsidiaries may currently rely.

                  (d) Each Company Employee Plan has been maintained in all
material respects in accordance with its terms and with all applicable laws, and
no failure to so maintain any Company Employee Plan will result from the
completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (either alone or
upon the occurrence of any additional or subsequent event or events). Neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any unsatisfied material liability,
or any unpaid material fine, penalty or Tax, with respect to any Company
Employee Plan or any other Employee Program. There has been no "prohibited
transaction" (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the
Code), or any breach of any duty under ERISA, any other applicable law or any
agreement, with respect to any Company Employee Plan which could subject the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries to material liability either directly or
indirectly (including, without limitation, through any obligation of
indemnification or contribution) for any damages, penalties, Taxes or any other
loss or expense. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has made full and
timely payment of all contributions required to be made by it to each Company
Employee Plan by the terms of such plan or under the applicable law. There have
been no material violations of any reporting or disclosure requirements under
ERISA or the Code with respect to any Company Employee Plan, including any
requirement to file an annual return.

                  (e) No litigation or claim (other than routine claims for
benefits), and no governmental administrative proceeding, audit or
investigation, is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened with
respect to any Company Employee Plan.

                  (f) No Employee Program which has ever been maintained,
administered or contributed to by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or to
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has ever had any obligation to make
a contribution, is or ever was (i) a "multiemployer plan", as defined in Section
3(37) of ERISA, a "multiple employer plan", as described in Section 413(c) of
the Code or a "multiple employer welfare arrangement", as defined in Section
3(40) of ERISA, (ii) subject to the funding requirements of Section 302 of ERISA
or Section 412 of the Code, (iii) subject to Title IV of ERISA, (iv) an unfunded
plan of deferred compensation, (v) a "voluntary

                                      -28-
<PAGE>   33
employees' beneficiary association" within the meaning of Section 501(c)(9) of
the Code, or (vi) maintained outside of the United States.

                  (g) All health and medical benefit coverage, and all death
benefit coverage, under each Company Employee Plan is provided solely through
insurance. No Company Employee Plan provides health or medical coverage, life
insurance coverage, or coverage for any other welfare benefit to any Retiree,
except for continuation coverage required by Section 4980B of the Code or
Sections 601 to 608 of ERISA ("Continuation Coverage"). Any Continuation
Coverage provided under any Company Employee Plan is paid for solely by the
individual receiving such coverage. Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has any liability, with respect to any Company Employee Plan which
is funded wholly or partly through an insurance policy, in the nature of a
retroactive rate adjustment, a loss sharing arrangement or any other actual or
contingent liability arising from any event occurring on or before the Closing.

                  (h) No employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or
any other individual, shall accrue or receive additional benefits, additional
credit for service, accelerated vesting or accelerated rights to payment of any
benefit under any Company Employee Plan, or become entitled to any severance,
termination allowance or similar payments or to the forgiveness of any
indebtedness, as a result of the execution and delivery of, or the transactions
contemplated by, this Agreement (either alone or upon the occurrence of any
additional or subsequent event or events). Such execution and delivery, or the
occurrence of such transactions, shall not result in any increase in the
contributions required to be made to any Company Employee Plan. No payment made
or contemplated under any Company Employee Plan, or by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, constituted, or would constitute, either (i) an "excess parachute
payment" within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code or (ii) a payment which
is not deductible by reason of Section 404 of the Code.

                  (i) To the knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries has received services from (i) any individual whom the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries has treated as an independent contractor, but
who should have been treated as a common-law employee, or (ii) any individual
who is treated as a leased employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
under Section 414(n) of the Code, and who must be taken into account for
purposes of determining whether any Company Employee Plan meets the requirements
of Section 414(n)(3) of the Code which apply to such Company Employee Plan.

                  (j) Except for the adoption of (i) an amendment to the ESOP or
(ii) a plan amendment which is needed to bring the plan documents into
conformity with statutory or regulatory changes enacted or promulgated in recent
years and as to which the period referred to in Section 401(b) of the Code will
not have ended prior to December 31, 2001, neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries is under any obligation (express or implied) to modify any Company
Employee Plan, or to establish any new Employee Program. The Company or one of
its Subsidiaries has expressly reserved to itself the right to amend, modify or
terminate each Company Employee Plan (and any service or funding agreement or
arrangement for each Company Employee

                                      -29-
<PAGE>   34
Plan), at any time without liability or penalty to itself (other than routine
expenses). No Company Employee Plan requires the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to continue to employ any employee, director or officer, or to
continue to use the services of any independent contractor. No Company Employee
Plan has invested in (i) insurance or annuity Contracts issued by an insurance
company with an A.M. Best Company, Inc. rating of claims-paying ability below
A++ or (ii) except for any Company Employee Plan which constitutes an "employee
stock ownership plan", within the meaning of Section 4975(e)(7) of the Code (an
"ESOP"), any employer securities or employer real property.

                  (k) There has been no amendment, interpretation or
announcement by the Company relating to any Company Employee Plan which would
materially increase the expense of maintaining such plan above the level of
expense incurred with respect to that plan for the year ended December 31, 2000.

                  (l) No ERISA Affiliate has any unpaid material liability,
fine, penalty or Tax with respect to any Employee Program for which the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries could be liable.

                  (m) Since January 1, 1998, there have been no repricings,
cancellations and regrants, or substitutions of any options to purchase Company
Common Shares awarded under any Company Employee Plan.

                  Section 4.20 Investment Securities. Attached as Section 4.20
of the Disclosure Schedule are the reports regarding the stocks, bonds and other
securities (the "Investment Securities") held in the Company's investment
portfolio, each of which reports is true and complete as of the date indicated
thereon. The Investment Securities were acquired by the Company and its
Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business. The acquisition and ownership
by the Company and its Subsidiaries of the Investment Securities complies with
all applicable insurance, trust and other Laws. The Company has good and valid
title to all such Investment Securities shown as assets in the balance sheet
included in the Company 10-Q (unless disposed of in the ordinary course of
business after the date of such balance sheet), free and clear of all Liens
except for restrictions in respect of deposits, statutory premium reserve
requirements and statutory pledges with state regulatory authorities disclosed
in the Company SEC Documents. None of the Company's Investment Securities are in
default in the payment of principal or interest or dividends or are materially
impaired. The NAIC Annual Convention Statements of the Company Insurance
Subsidiaries contain a complete description of all securities of the Company
Insurance Subsidiaries on deposit with each state insurance department as of
December 31, 2000.

                  Section 4.21 Compliance with Laws. The Company and its
Subsidiaries have all material licenses, permits and qualifications necessary to
conduct their businesses and own their properties in each jurisdiction in which
the Company or its Subsidiaries currently do business or own property, or in
which such license, permit or qualification is otherwise required. The Company
and its Subsidiaries have complied in all material respects with all Laws
applicable to their businesses. The present use by the Company and its
Subsidiaries of their respective properties, and the business conducted

                                      -30-
<PAGE>   35
by the Company and its Subsidiaries, does not violate any such Laws, in each
case except for such violations as would not be reasonably likely, individually
or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received notice of violation of any Law
or is in default with respect to any order, writ, judgment, award, injunction or
decree of any Governmental Entity which would affect any of their respective
assets, properties or operations, except for such violations or defaults as
would not be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Company Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
has received notice of any investigation or review being undertaken by, or
notice of any intention to conduct an investigation or review from, any
Governmental Entity with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries or any of
their officers or employees (in their capacities as such), and, to the knowledge
of the Company, no such investigation or review is threatened. To the knowledge
of the Company, since January 1, 1996, the Company and its Subsidiaries have
timely filed all insurance related reports and returns required by Law and all
such returns and reports are true and correct in all material respects, and
there are no material deficiencies with respect to such filings or submissions.
Section 4.21 of the Company Disclosure Schedule indicates the most recent date
of the last completed insurance regulatory examination and audit, regular or
special, as the case may be, as to the Company and each of the Company Insurance
Subsidiaries for the jurisdictions listed therein, and a copy of the most recent
report of such examination has heretofore been delivered to Parent. There is no
agreement or understanding between the Company or any of the Company Insurance
Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any regulatory authority, on the other hand,
concerning the payment of dividends by the Company or such Company Insurance
Subsidiary or the maintenance of any NAIC Insurance Regulatory Information
System Ratio. To the knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any of
its Subsidiaries, nor any director, officer, employee or agent of any of them,
on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, has (i) used any funds for
unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful payments relating
to political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic
governmental official or employee or to any foreign or domestic political party
or campaign or violated any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of
1977, as amended, or (iii) made any other unlawful payment.

                  Section 4.22 Insurance Matters.

                  (a) Policy Forms; Rates; Other filings. Each form of insurance
policy, policy endorsement or amendment, reinsurance Contract, application form
and sales material issued by the Company Insurance Subsidiaries in any
jurisdiction since December 31, 1999, was, as of its respective date of
issuance, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws and,
to the extent required under applicable Law, has been approved (or has been
submitted for approval, which is pending, or has been filed and not objected to
within the period provided for objection), where required by the appropriate
insurance regulatory authorities of such jurisdiction. Any premium rates with
respect to insurance or reinsurance policies or Contracts currently issued by
the Company and the Company Insurance Subsidiaries which are required to be
filed with or approved by any Governmental Entity have been so filed or approved
in accordance with applicable Law, and such premiums charged thereon conform
thereto, except where the

                                      -31-
<PAGE>   36
failure to file, obtain such approval or conform would not be reasonably likely,
individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
Since December 31, 1999, the Company and the Company Insurance Subsidiaries have
made all filings with statistical agents and rating organizations required by
applicable regulatory authorities, except where the failure to make such filings
would not be reasonably likely, individually or in the aggregate, to have a
Company Material Adverse Effect.

                  (b) Underwriting Management and Administration Agreements. All
underwriting management and/or administration agreements entered into by the
Company and any of the Company Insurance Subsidiaries as now in force are set
forth in Section 4.22(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule and, to the extent
required under applicable Law, are in a form acceptable to applicable regulatory
authorities (or have been submitted for approval which is pending, or have been
filed and not objected to by such authorities within the period provided for
objection), except where the failure to obtain such approval or make such filing
would not be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Company Material Adverse Effect.

                  (c) Reinsurance and Retrocession.

                  (i) Section 4.22(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule
         contains a true and complete list of all Contracts, treaties or
         arrangements entered into after December 31, 1990 (including any
         terminated or expired treaty or agreement under which there remains any
         outstanding liability with respect to paid or unpaid case reserves in
         an individual amount in excess of $200,000 regarding ceding or
         assumption of reinsurance, coinsurance, excess insurance, or
         retrocessions ("Reinsurance Contracts")) to which any of the Company
         Insurance Subsidiaries is a party or by or to which any of them are
         bound or subject, as each such Reinsurance Contract may have been
         amended, modified or supplemented. To the knowledge of the Company,
         each of the foregoing Reinsurance Contracts is a valid and binding
         obligation of the parties thereto, is in full force and effect and is
         enforceable in accordance with its terms. None of the Company Insurance
         Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any other party
         thereto is in default in any material respect with respect to any such
         Reinsurance Contract. There are no material disputes as to reinsurance
         or retrocessional coverage pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
         threatened with respect to any such Reinsurance Contract. No such
         Reinsurance Contract contains any provision providing that any such
         other party thereto may terminate, cancel or commute the same by reason
         of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                  (ii) Except as reflected on Schedule F of the Company
         Statutory Financial Statements, each of the Company Insurance
         Subsidiaries is entitled under applicable Law to take full credit in
         its Company Statutory Financial Statements for all amounts recoverable
         by it pursuant to any Reinsurance Contract, and all such amounts
         recoverable have been properly recorded in the books and records of
         account of the Company Insurance Subsidiaries and are properly
         reflected in the Company Statutory Financial Statements. To the

                                      -32-
<PAGE>   37
         knowledge of the Company, all such amounts recoverable by the Company
         or any of the Company Insurance Subsidiaries are fully collectible in
         due course. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
         received notice that any other party to any Reinsurance Contracts
         intends not to perform under any such Reinsurance Contracts, and, to
         the knowledge of the Company, the financial condition of any other
         party to any Reinsurance Contract pursuant to which the Company and its
         Subsidiaries have ceded any premiums is not impaired to the extent that
         a default thereunder is reasonably anticipated.

                  Section 4.23 Directors' and Officers' Insurance Policies. The
Company does not have in effect any directors' and officers' insurance policies.

                  Section 4.24 Environmental Matters.

                  (a) To the knowledge of the Company, no written notice,
notification, demand, request for information, citation, summons, complaint or
order has been received or made by, and no investigation, action, claim, suit,
proceeding or review is pending or threatened by any Person against, the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries, with respect to any applicable Environmental Law (as
hereinafter defined). Except as would not be reasonably likely, individually or
in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and
its Subsidiaries are and have been in compliance with all applicable
Environmental Laws, and (ii) there are no liabilities or obligations of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any kind whatsoever, whether accrued,
contingent, absolute, direct or indirect, determined, determinable or otherwise,
arising under or relating to any Environmental Law (including, without
limitation, liabilities or obligations relating to divested properties or
businesses or predecessor entities).

                  (b) For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Environmental
Laws" means any international, national, provincial, regional, Federal, state,
local, municipal and foreign Laws, judicial decisions, decrees, regulations,
ordinances, rules, judgments, orders, codes, injunctions, permits or
governmental agreements or other requirements relating to human health and
safety, to the environment, including, without limitation, natural resources, or
to pollutants, contaminants, wastes, or chemicals, petroleum products,
by-products or additives, asbestos, asbestos-containing material,
polychlorinated biphenyl's, radioactive material, hazardous substances or
wastes, or any other substance (including any product) regulated as harmful or
potentially harmful to human health or the environment.

                  Section 4.25 Title to Property; Leases. The Company and its
Subsidiaries have good, marketable and valid title to, or a valid leasehold
interest in, or valid right under Contract to use, all of the real and tangible
personal property purported to be owned by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or used in or reasonably necessary for the conduct of their
respective businesses, free and clear of all Liens (collectively, the "Company
Assets"). The tangible Company Assets, taken as a whole, have been maintained in
a reasonably prudent manner, are in good operating condition and repair
(ordinary wear and tear excepted), and no maintenance with respect thereto has
been

                                      -33-
<PAGE>   38
deferred or delayed in a manner that is reasonably likely to have a Company
Material Adverse Effect.

                  Section 4.26 Real Property. Section 4.26 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule contains a description that is complete and accurate in all
material respects of all real property and interests in real property owned by
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and all leases of real property to which
the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which any of them holds a
leasehold interest that in any individual case involves the payment, pursuant to
the terms of such lease, by or to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, of
more than $50,000 annually (collectively, "Real Property"). There are no persons
other than the Company and its Subsidiaries in possession of any of the Real
Property or any portion thereof and there are no Contracts granting to any
person or persons other than the Company and its Subsidiaries the right of use
or occupancy of any portion of the Real Property. Neither the Company nor any of
its Subsidiaries is obligated under or bound by any option, right of first
refusal, purchase Contract, or other instrument to sell or otherwise dispose of
any Real Property or any other interest in any Real Property.

                  Section 4.27 Absence of Bank, Savings and Loan or Investment
Company Status. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) is an
"insured bank" or is eligible for Federal deposit insurance within the meaning
of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended; (ii) is a "savings
association" for purposes of the Regulations for Savings and Loan Holding
Companies, 12 CFR Sections 583-584 and the Regulations for the Acquisition of
Control of Savings Associations, 12 CFR Section 574; (iii) accepts deposits
within the meaning of 12 U.S.C. Section 378; (iv) is a "bank" or a "bank holding
company"; (v) owns or "controls" 5 percent or more of the voting securities of a
"bank" or "bank holding company," as such terms are defined in the Bank Holding
Company Act of 1956, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder;
(vi) is regulated as a bank under the Laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation;
(vii) is a "savings and loan holding company"; (viii) "controls" any "savings
association," as such terms are defined in 12 CFR Sections 574 and 583; (ix) has
acquired by purchase or otherwise, or retains, more than 5 percent of the voting
stock or shares of a "savings association" or "savings and loan holding
company," as such terms are defined in 12 CFR Section 583; (x) is regulated as a
savings and loan institution under the Laws of its jurisdiction of
incorporation; or (xi) is, "controls," or is "controlled by" or acting on behalf
of any Person that is, an "investment company" or "investment adviser" as such
terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

                  Section 4.28 Insurance Ratings. To the Company's knowledge,
there is no reason to believe that (i) any rating from A.M. Best Company, Inc.
held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any financial strength
rating by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group held by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is or may be likely to be modified downward, qualified (other than
in a positive way), lowered or placed under surveillance for a possible
downgrade for any reason.

                  Section 4.29 Operation of OMV Business. All licenses, permits
and qualifications issued by Governmental Entities with regard to the operation
of the OMV

                                      -34-
<PAGE>   39
Business are set forth on Section 4.29 of the Company Disclosure Schedule. To
the knowledge of the Company, Capitol Indemnity Corporation has all licenses,
permits and qualifications necessary to conduct the OMV Business. Capital
Indemnity Corporation has not had any license or qualification to conduct the
OMV Business revoked or suspended or been involved in a proceeding to revoke or
suspend any such license or qualification. Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has received notice of any investigation or review being undertaken
by, or notice of any intention to conduct an investigation or review from, any
Governmental Entity with respect to possible revocation or suspension of any
license or qualification to conduct the OMV Business, and, to the knowledge of
the Company, no such investigation or review is threatened. Since January 1,
1999, Capitol Indemnity Corporation has not received notice of violation of any
Law applicable to the operation of the OMV Business. Neither the Company nor any
of its Subsidiaries has received notice of any investigation or review being
undertaken by, or notice of any intention to conduct an investigation or review
from, any Governmental Entity with respect to the operation of the OMV Business
and, to the knowledge of the Company, no such investigation or review is
threatened.

                  Section 4.30 Aggregate Materiality. There are no events,
situations, obligations or liabilities of the types described in this Article IV
and excepted therefrom solely because individually they would not reasonably be
likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect which, in the aggregate, would
be reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

                  Section 4.31 Finders' Fees; Opinion of Financial Adviser.

                  (a) Except for Lazard Freres & Co. LLC, there is no investment
banker, broker, finder or other intermediary who might be entitled to any fee or
commission from the Company, the Surviving Corporation or any of their
respective Affiliates in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company. Prior to
the date hereof, the Company has provided to Parent true and correct information
regarding fees payable to, and a copy of its written agreement with, Lazard
Freres & Co. LLC.

                  (b) The Company has received the opinion dated the date hereof
of Lazard Freres & Co. LLC addressed to the Board of Directors of the Company to
the effect that, as of such date and subject to the exceptions stated therein,
the Merger Consideration is fair from a financial point of view to the holders
of Company Common Shares (other than Parent and its Affiliates), a copy of which
opinion has been delivered to Parent.

                  Section 4.32 Required Vote; Board Approval.

                  (a) Assuming the accuracy of the representation and warranty
made by Parent pursuant to Section 5.8 of this Agreement and compliance with the
covenant made by Parent pursuant to Section 7.6 of this Agreement, the only vote
of the holders of any class or series of capital stock of the Company required
by Law to approve this Agreement, the Merger and/or any of the other
transactions contemplated hereby is the

                                      -35-
<PAGE>   40
affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding Company Common
Shares to adopt and approve this Agreement and the Merger (the "Company
Shareholder Approval").

                  (b) The Company's Board of Directors has (i) determined that
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby are in the best
interests of the Company and its shareholders, (ii) approved this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby and (iii) resolved to recommend to such
shareholders that they vote in favor of adopting and approving this Agreement
and the Merger in accordance with the terms hereof.

                  Section 4.33 State Takeover Statutes; No Rights Plan. The
"business combination," "moratorium," "interested shareholder," "affiliated
transaction," "control share" or other anti-takeover provisions of the WBCL and
any regulations enacted thereunder consist solely of those set forth in Sections
180.1130, 180.1131, 180.1132, 180.1133, 180.1134, 180.1140, 180.1141, 180.1142,
1180.1143, 180.1144 and 180.1150 of the WBCL. To the knowledge of the Company,
no other "business combination", "moratorium," "control share," "fair price,"
"interested shareholder," "affiliated transaction," or other anti-takeover laws
or regulations enacted under state or federal laws in the United States apply to
this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby. Prior to the time
that this Agreement was executed, the Board of Directors of the Company has
taken all action required to be taken by it with regard to this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby in order to exempt this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby from the "business combination" provision set
forth in Section 180.1141 of the WBCL, and accordingly, assuming the accuracy of
the representation and warranty made by Parent pursuant to Section 5.8 of this
Agreement and compliance with the covenant made by Parent pursuant to Section
7.6 of this Agreement, and further assuming that subsequent to the date hereof
and prior to the date of the Company Shareholders Meeting, no Person acquires
shares of Company Common Stock representing in excess of 20% of the voting power
in the election of directors of the Company, (i) the restrictions contained in
Section 180.1141(1) of the WBCL do not and will not apply to the consummation of
the Merger, (ii) the supermajority vote requirement set forth in Section
180.1131 of the WBCL does not and will not apply to the consummation of the
Merger and (iii) the provisions of Section 180.1150 of the WBCL will not have
the effect of reducing the voting power of any shares of Company Common Stock
with regard to the vote by holders of the outstanding Company Common Shares to
adopt and approve this Agreement and the Merger. The Company does not have a
"shareholder rights plan" or other arrangement of similar effect.

                                      -36-
<PAGE>   41
                                   ARTICLE V
             REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGERSUB

                  Except as disclosed in the Parent Disclosure Schedule attached
hereto, which Parent Disclosure Schedule identifies the Section (or if
applicable, subsection) to which such exception relates, Parent and MergerSub
jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Company that:

                  Section 5.1 Corporate Existence and Power. Each of Parent and
MergerSub is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good
standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has all
corporate powers required to carry on its business as now conducted. Parent is
duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing
in each jurisdiction where the character of the property owned or leased by it
or the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary, except where
the failure to be so qualified would not be reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Parent has
heretofore delivered to the Company true and complete copies of each of the
restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws of Parent and the certificate
of incorporation and bylaws of MergerSub, all as currently in effect.

                  Section 5.2 Corporate Authorization. Each of Parent and
MergerSub has full corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement
and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery
and performance of this Agreement by each of Parent and MergerSub and the
consummation by each of them of the transactions contemplated hereby have been
duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of
either of them, and no other corporate proceedings on the part of Parent or
MergerSub are necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement by Parent and MergerSub and the consummation by them of the
transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by each of Parent and MergerSub and, assuming that this Agreement
constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, constitutes
a legal, valid and binding obligation of each of Parent and MergerSub,
enforceable against it in accordance with its terms.

                  Section 5.3 Governmental Authorization. The execution,
delivery and performance by Parent and MergerSub of this Agreement, and the
consummation by Parent and MergerSub of the transactions contemplated hereby
require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any Governmental Entity
other than (i) the filing of the Articles of Merger in accordance with the WBCL;
(ii) compliance with any applicable requirements of the HSR Act; (iii)
compliance with any applicable requirements of the Exchange Act; and (iv) the
filing of the applications and notices with applicable Commissioners of
Insurance and the approval of such applications or the grant of required
licenses by such authorities or the expiration of any applicable waiting periods
thereunder, in each case as listed on Exhibit C hereto (collectively, the
"Parent Government Approvals"); provided, however, that no representation is
made with respect to any of the foregoing that Parent, MergerSub or the Company
may be required to obtain because of the specific legal or regulatory status of
the Company or any other facts that

                                      -37-
<PAGE>   42
specifically relate to Company or any business engaged in by the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries.

                  Section 5.4 Non-Contravention. The execution, delivery and
performance by each of Parent and MergerSub of this Agreement and the
consummation by Parent and MergerSub of the transactions contemplated hereby do
not and will not (i) contravene or conflict with the restated certificate of
incorporation or bylaws of Parent or the certificate of incorporation or bylaws
of MergerSub, (ii) subject to receipt of the Parent Government Approvals,
contravene or conflict with or constitute a violation of any provision of any
Law, judgment, injunction, order or decree binding upon or applicable to Parent
or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) constitute a breach or default (an event
which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a breach or
default) under or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or
acceleration of any right or obligation of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or
to a loss of any benefit or status to which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is
entitled under any provision of any Contract binding upon Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries or any license, franchise, permit or other similar authorization
held by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) result in the creation or
imposition of any Lien on any asset of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries other
than, in the case of each of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv), any such items that
would not, individually or in the aggregate, (x) be reasonably likely to have a
Parent Material Adverse Effect or (y) prevent or materially impair the ability
of Parent or MergerSub to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.

                  Section 5.5 Information to Be Supplied. The information to be
supplied in writing by Parent expressly for inclusion or incorporation by
reference in the Proxy Statement will, at the time of the mailing thereof and at
the time of the Company Shareholders Meeting, not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.

                  Section 5.6 Finders' Fees. Except for Merrill Lynch & Co.,
whose fees will be paid by Parent, there is no investment banker, broker, finder
or other intermediary who might be entitled to any fee or commission in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon
arrangements made by or on behalf of Parent.

                  Section 5.7 Financing. Parent has and at the Effective Time
will have sufficient funds (i) to enable it to perform its obligations under
this Agreement and any other agreements contemplated hereby, and (ii) to pay all
of the related fees and expenses of Parent and MergerSub in connection with the
foregoing.

                  Section 5.8 Ownership of Company Common Shares. Other than as
a result of the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Voting
Agreements entered into by and between Parent and certain shareholders of the
Company dated the date hereof pursuant to which such shareholders have agreed to
vote their Company Common Shares in favor of adopting and approving this
Agreement and the Merger, as

                                      -38-
<PAGE>   43
of the date hereof, neither Parent, MergerSub, nor, to Parent's knowledge, any
Affiliate of Parent is a "significant shareholder" of the Company as that term
is defined in the WBCL.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                            COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

                  The Company agrees that:

                  Section 6.1 The Company Interim Operations. Except as set
forth in Exhibit D hereto or as otherwise expressly contemplated hereby, without
the prior written consent of Parent, from the date hereof until the Effective
Time, the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, conduct
its business only in the ordinary course consistent with past practice and use
its commercially reasonable best efforts to (i) preserve intact its present
business organization, (ii) maintain in effect all licenses, approvals and
authorizations, including, without limitation, all licenses and permits that are
required by applicable Laws and Environmental Laws for the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries to carry on its business, and (iii) preserve the existing
relationships and goodwill with its key employees, its key agents, and its
material customers. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as
set forth in Exhibit D hereto or as otherwise expressly contemplated hereby,
from the date hereof until the Effective Time, without the prior written consent
of Parent, the Company shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries
to:

                  (a) amend its articles of incorporation or bylaws (or other
comparable organizational documents);

                  (b) take any action with the intention or purpose of
preventing or impairing the ability of the Company to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including actions that would be
reasonably likely to (x) result in a failure of a condition to the obligations
of Parent and MergerSub to consummate the Merger or (y) prevent or impair the
ability of the Company, Parent or any of their Subsidiaries to obtain any
consent, registration, approval, permit or authorization required to be obtained
from any Governmental Entity prior to the Effective Time in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

                  (c) split, combine or reclassify any shares of capital stock
of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or declare, set aside or pay any
dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, stock or property or any
combination thereof) in respect of its capital stock, or redeem, repurchase or
otherwise acquire or offer to redeem, repurchase, or otherwise acquire any of
its securities or any securities of any of its Subsidiaries, except for (i)
regular quarterly cash dividends paid by the Company (having customary record
and payment dates, not in excess of $0.08 per Company Common Share) and (ii)
intercompany dividends paid by Subsidiaries of the Company to the Company in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and subject to

                                      -39-
<PAGE>   44
the regulatory restrictions established by the Commissioner of Insurance for the
State of Wisconsin;

                  (d) (i) issue, deliver or sell, or authorize the issuance,
delivery or sale of, any shares of its or any of its Subsidiaries' capital stock
of any class or any securities convertible into or exercisable for, or any
rights, warrants or options to acquire, any such capital stock or any such
convertible securities, other than the issuance of Company Common Shares upon
the exercise of stock options or pursuant to the express requirements of a
Company Employee Plan in accordance with its present terms; (ii) except for the
amendments of the agreements evidencing grants of Company Options contemplated
by Section 3.3(b) hereof, amend in any respect any term of any outstanding
security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (iii) consent, including
consent by the applicable committee, to any transfer of a Company Option;

                  (e) manage its Investment Securities other than in the
ordinary course consistent with past practice;

                  (f) sell, lease, encumber or otherwise dispose of any assets,
other than (i) in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice
and (ii) equipment and property no longer used in the operation of the Company's
business;

                  (g) (i) amend, modify, terminate or enter into any Material
Contract of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) otherwise waive,
release or assign any material rights, claims or benefits of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries thereunder, except, in the case of clause (ii), in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice in the settlement of
claims arising under Insurance Contracts;

                  (h) (i) except as required by Law, increase the amount of
compensation of any director or officer or make any increase in or commitment to
increase any employee benefits, (ii) except as required by Law, adopt any
severance program or grant any severance or termination pay to any director,
officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) adopt or
implement any employee retention program or other incentive arrangement not in
existence on the date hereof, (iv) adopt any Employee Program that, had it been
in effect on the date of this Agreement, would have been required to be set
forth on Section 4.15(a) or Section 4.19(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule,
(v) grant any awards under any Company Employee Plan (including, without
limitation, the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock based
or stock related awards, performance units or restricted stock, or the removal
of existing restrictions in any benefit plans or agreements or awards made
thereunder), (vi) except as may be expressly required by the present terms of an
existing Company Employee Plan or an existing award granted pursuant thereto, or
as required by Law, make or agree to make any contribution to, or payment in
respect of, any such plan or award, or (vii) except as required by Law, amend in
any respect any Company Employee Plan or any award granted pursuant thereto;
provided that nothing in this Section 6.1(h) shall prohibit the Company from
amending the agreements evidencing grants of Company Options in the manner
contemplated by Section 3.3(b) hereof or from amending each Company Employee
Plan which prior to the Effective Time constitutes an

                                      -40-
<PAGE>   45
ESOP in such manner as Parent shall reasonably request pursuant to Section 6.5
hereof; or

                  (i) agree or otherwise commit to do any of the foregoing.

Parent and MergerSub acknowledge and agree that any action described in clauses
(a) through (i) above which is taken by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries
after receipt of the prior written consent of Parent shall not be deemed to
constitute a violation or breach of any representation or warranty set forth
herein.

                  Section 6.2 Company Shareholders Meeting. The Company shall
cause a meeting of its shareholders (the "Company Shareholders Meeting") to be
duly called and held for the purpose of obtaining the Company Shareholder
Approval as promptly as practicable after the date hereof (taking into account
the requirements of all applicable Laws). Except as expressly provided in this
Section 6.2, (i) the Company's Board of Directors shall submit this Agreement to
the shareholders of the Company and shall recommend to its shareholders the
approval and adoption of this Agreement and the Merger (the "Company
Recommendation"), and (ii) the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to
solicit the Company Shareholder Approval. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the Company agrees that its obligations under this Section 6.2 to
duly call and hold the Company Shareholders Meeting shall not be affected by the
commencement, public proposal, public disclosure or communication to the Company
of any Acquisition Proposal or the withholding, withdrawal or modification by
the Board of Directors of the Company Recommendation. The Board of Directors of
the Company shall be permitted to (x) withhold the Company Recommendation or (y)
withdraw or modify in a manner adverse to Parent the Company Recommendation, in
each case only if the Board of Directors of the Company determines in its good
faith judgment (after consulting with its outside legal counsel) that such
action is necessary for the Board of Directors to comply with its fiduciary
duties under applicable Law.

                  Section 6.3 Acquisition Proposals; Board Recommendation.

                  (a) The Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries, and
its and their officers, directors, employees, financial advisers, attorneys,
accountants and other advisers, representatives and agents (collectively,
"Representatives") to cease and cause to be terminated immediately any
discussions or negotiations with any parties that may be ongoing with respect
to, or that could reasonably be expected to lead to, an Acquisition Proposal.
The Company agrees that it shall not, nor shall it permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, nor shall it authorize or permit any of its Representatives,
directly or indirectly, to (i) solicit, initiate, facilitate or encourage
(including by way of furnishing information) the submission, making or
announcement of any Acquisition Proposal, (ii) initiate or engage in any
discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish or disclose to any Person any
information with respect to, or take any other action to facilitate or in
furtherance of any inquiries or the submission, making or announcement of any
proposal that constitutes, or may be reasonably expected to lead to, any
Acquisition Proposal, (iii) grant any waiver or release under any standstill or
similar agreement with respect to any class of the Company's equity securities
or (iv) enter into any agreement,

                                      -41-
<PAGE>   46
arrangement or understanding with respect to any Acquisition Proposal or enter
into any agreement, arrangement or understanding requiring the Company to
abandon, terminate or fail to consummate the Merger or any other transaction
contemplated hereby; provided, however, that at any time before the Company
Shareholder Approval is obtained, solely in response to an unsolicited bona fide
written Acquisition Proposal that did not result from the breach of this Section
6.3 and following delivery to Parent of notice of such Acquisition Proposal in
compliance with its obligations under Section 6.3(c) hereof, the Company may (i)
furnish information to the party making the Acquisition Proposal, (ii) in
response to an unsolicited bona fide written Acquisition Proposal, initiate
and/or engage in discussions or negotiations regarding the Acquisition Proposal
and/or (iii) grant any waiver or release under any standstill or similar
agreement with respect to any class of the Company's equity securities to the
third party making the Acquisition Proposal, but only if (x) the Board of
Directors of the Company reasonably determines in its good faith judgment (A)
after consulting with its outside legal counsel, that such action is necessary
for the Board of Directors to comply with its fiduciary duties under applicable
Law and (B) after consultation with a financial adviser of nationally recognized
reputation, that such Acquisition Proposal constitutes, or is reasonably likely
to result in, a Superior Proposal, and (y) prior to furnishing any information
to such Person, such Person shall have entered into a confidentiality agreement
with the Company on terms no less favorable to the Company than the
Confidentiality Agreement between the Company and Parent dated as of April 9,
2001 (the "Confidentiality Agreement").

                  (b) Unless the Company's Board of Directors has previously
withheld, withdrawn, or is concurrently therewith withdrawing, the Company
Recommendation, neither the Company's Board of Directors nor any committee
thereof shall recommend any Acquisition Proposal to the Company's shareholders.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained in this Section 6.3(b) or
elsewhere in this Agreement shall prevent the Company's Board of Directors from
complying with Rule 14e-2 under the Exchange Act with respect to any Acquisition
Proposal or making any disclosure required by applicable Law.

                  (c) Within one day following the date of receipt by the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or any of their respective directors,
officers, agents or advisers) of any Acquisition Proposal, any inquiry or
contacts concerning, or any request for information or for access to the
properties, books or records of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any
request for a waiver or release under any standstill or similar agreement, by
any Person that has made an Acquisition Proposal or indicates that it is
considering making an Acquisition Proposal, the Company shall (i) notify Parent
that a Person has made or may be considering making an Acquisition Proposal,
(ii) notify Parent of the identity of such Person and of the terms and
conditions of such Acquisition Proposal, inquiry, contact, or request, and (iii)
provide copies of any written materials received by the Company in respect of
the foregoing. The Company agrees that it shall keep Parent reasonably informed
of the status and details (including amendments or proposed amendments) of any
such Acquisition Proposal, inquiry, contact or request, and keep Parent
reasonably informed as to the material details of any information requested of
or provided by the Company and as to the material details of all discussions

                                      -42-
<PAGE>   47
or negotiations with respect to any such request, Acquisition Proposal or
inquiry. The Company agrees that it shall simultaneously provide to Parent any
non-public information concerning the Company provided to any other Person or
group in connection with any Acquisition Proposal which was not previously
provided to Parent.

                  (d) Upon notice and in accordance with the terms of Section
9.1 hereof, the Company may terminate this Agreement at any time before the
Company Shareholder Approval is obtained if (i) the Company's Board of Directors
shall have authorized the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, to enter into a binding agreement concerning a transaction that
constitutes a Superior Proposal, (ii) the Company notifies Parent that it
intends to enter into such agreement, specifying the material terms and
conditions of such agreement and provides Parent with four Business Days (during
which period of four Business Days the Company shall refrain from entering into
such Agreement) to propose and agree to enter into a modification of this
Agreement, (iii) the Company's Board of Directors has duly considered any
proposals that Parent may make during the four Business Day period described in
(ii) above and the Company has fully cooperated with Parent during such four
Business Day period (including, without limitation, by complying with Section
6.3(c) of this Agreement) and the Company, after consideration of any proposals
made by Parent, determines in good faith that the Acquisition Proposal remains a
Superior Proposal, (iv) Parent has received the Termination Fee (as hereinafter
defined) contemplated by Section 9.3(b), and (v) the Company intends, in good
faith, to enter into a definitive agreement to effect the Superior Proposal
immediately following such termination.

                  Section 6.4 Certain Litigation. The Company agrees that it
shall not settle any litigation commenced after the date hereof against the
Company or any of its directors by any shareholder of the Company relating to
the Merger or this Agreement without the prior written consent of Parent. In
addition, the Company shall not cooperate with any third party that may
hereafter seek to restrain or prohibit or otherwise oppose the Merger and shall
cooperate with Parent and MergerSub to resist any such effort to restrain or
prohibit or otherwise oppose the Merger.

                  Section 6.5 Certain Tax and Company Employee Plan Matters. The
Company shall, or shall cause its Subsidiaries to, prepare and file all Tax
Returns of or including the Company and/or its Subsidiaries that are required to
be filed (with extensions) on or before the Effective Time and shall pay all
Taxes due with respect to such Tax Returns. All such Tax Returns will be made
and filed by the Company and its Subsidiaries in a manner consistent with the
prior practice of the Company and its Subsidiaries. The Company, prior to but
effective as of the Effective Time, shall adopt such amendments to each Company
Employee Plan which prior to the Effective Time constitutes an ESOP, in such
manner as Parent shall reasonably request to convert such ESOP into a plan which
is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code but which is no longer an ESOP.

                  Section 6.6 Control of Operations. Nothing contained in this
Agreement shall give Parent or MergerSub, directly or indirectly, the right to
control or direct the operations of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries of
the Company prior to

                                      -43-
<PAGE>   48
the Effective Time. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall exercise,
consistent with and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
complete control and supervision over its operations and the operations of the
Subsidiaries of the Company.

                                  ARTICLE VII
                                 OTHER COVENANTS

                  Section 7.1 Indemnification, Exculpation and Insurance.

                  (a) Parent agrees to cause the Surviving Corporation to
maintain in effect in accordance with their terms all rights to indemnification
and exculpation from liabilities for acts or omissions occurring at or prior to
the Effective Time now existing in favor of the current or former directors or
officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries (collectively, the "Indemnified
Parties") as provided in either (x) their respective articles of incorporation
or bylaws (or comparable organizational documents) set forth in Section 4.1 of
the Company Disclosure Schedule or Section 7.1 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule and/or (y) the indemnification agreements in effect as of the date
hereof set forth in Section 7.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, copies of
which have been delivered to Parent. In the event that, prior to the Effective
Time, the Company presents to Parent a proposal for the purchase of a policy for
directors' and officers' insurance covering actions of directors and officers
prior to the Effective Time, Parent agrees to consider approval of such
proposal, provided that (i) the aggregate cost to be incurred by the Company in
connection with the purchase of such policy does not exceed $100,000 and (ii)
neither Parent nor the Surviving Corporation shall have any obligation to
procure any such policy subsequent to the Effective Time. To the extent that
Parent approves in writing a proposal for the purchase of directors' and
officers' insurance as contemplated by the preceding sentence of this Section
7.1(a), the existence of such policy at the Effective Time shall not be deemed
to constitute a violation or breach of any representation or warranty set forth
herein.

                  (b) This Section 7.1 shall survive the consummation of the
Merger and shall be binding on all successors and assigns of Parent and the
Surviving Corporation.

                  (c) The provisions of this Section 7.1 are intended to be for
the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, the Indemnified Parties and his or
her heirs and legal representatives.

                  Section 7.2 Reasonable Best Efforts. Subject to the terms and
conditions hereof, each party agrees that it will use its reasonable best
efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be
done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as promptly as
practicable after the date hereof, including, without limitation, (i) preparing
and filing as promptly as practicable all documentation to effect all necessary
applications, notices, petitions and filings and obtaining as promptly as
practicable all consents, waivers, licenses, orders, registrations, approvals,
permits and authorizations necessary or advisable to be obtained from any third
party and/or any

                                      -44-
<PAGE>   49
Governmental Entity in order to consummate the Merger or any of the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) taking all reasonable steps as
may be necessary to obtain all such consents, waivers, licenses, orders,
registrations, permits and authorizations (including, without limitation, making
an appropriate filing of a Notification and Report Form pursuant to the HSR Act
with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby as promptly as practicable
after the date hereof and supplying as promptly as practicable any additional
information and documentary material that may be requested pursuant to the HSR
Act and taking all other actions reasonably necessary to cause the expiration or
termination of the applicable waiting periods under the HSR Act as soon as
practicable), and (iii) defending of any lawsuits or other legal proceedings,
whether judicial or administrative, challenging this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby, including seeking to have any stay or
temporary restraining order entered by any Governmental Entity vacated or
reversed. Nothing in this Section 7.2 shall require or be construed to require
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries to sell, license, hold separate or otherwise
dispose of or conduct their business in a specified manner, or agree to sell,
license, hold separate or otherwise dispose of or conduct their business in a
specified manner, or permit the sale, holding separate or other disposition of,
any assets of the Company, Parent or their respective Subsidiaries or the
conduct of their business in a specified manner, whether as a condition to
obtaining any approval from a Governmental Entity or any other Person or for any
other reason.

                  Section 7.3 Certain Filings; Cooperation in Receipt of
Consents.

                  (a) As promptly as practicable after the date hereof, the
Company shall prepare and file with the SEC a preliminary Proxy Statement. The
Company shall give Parent a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the
Proxy Statement, and any revision, amendment or supplement thereto, prior to
filing or transmission of such material to the SEC, and shall not so file or
transmit any such material to which Parent reasonably objects. The Company shall
use its reasonable best efforts to respond to any comments of the SEC or its
staff and to cause the Proxy Statement to be mailed to the shareholders of the
Company as promptly as practicable (taking into account the requirements of all
applicable Laws) and, if necessary, after the Proxy Statement shall have been so
mailed, to promptly circulate amended, supplemental or supplemented proxy
material and, if required in connection therewith, resolicit proxies. The
Company will advise Parent, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of any
request by the SEC for revision or amendment of the Proxy Statement or comments
thereon or requests by the SEC for additional information, and shall provide
Parent with an opportunity to review and comment on any responses to such
comments or requests prior to filing with, or transmission of such material to,
the SEC, and shall not so file or transmit any such material to which Parent
reasonably objects. If at any time prior to the Effective Time any information
relating to either party, or any of their respective Affiliates, officers or
directors should be discovered by the Company or Parent that should be set forth
in an amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement, so that the Proxy
Statement would not include any misstatement of a material fact or omit to state
any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the party that
discovers such information shall promptly notify Parent or the Company, as the
case may be, and the Company shall promptly file an appropriate

                                      -45-
<PAGE>   50
amendment or supplement describing such information with the SEC and, to the
extent required by Law, disseminate such amendment or supplement to Shareholders
of the Company. The Company shall not mail to its shareholders any Proxy
Statement, or any amendment or supplement thereto, to which Parent reasonably
objects.

                  (b) The Company and Parent shall cooperate with one another in
(i) determining whether any other action by or in respect of, or filing with,
any Governmental Entity is required, or any actions, consents, approvals or
waivers are required to be obtained from parties to any Material Contracts, in
connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and
(ii) seeking any such other actions, consents, approvals or waivers or making
any such filings, furnishing information required in connection therewith and
seeking promptly to obtain any such actions, consents, approvals or waivers.
Each party shall permit the other party to review, in advance of any filing or
submission, and comment on any communication proposed to be filed or submitted
by it with, and shall consult with each other in advance of any hearing, meeting
or conference with, any Governmental Entity, A.M. Best, Standard & Poor's,
Moody's or other rating agency, or, in connection with any proceeding by a
private party, with any other Person, and to the extent permitted by the
applicable Governmental Entity or other Person, give the other party the
opportunity to attend and participate in such hearings, meetings and
conferences, in each case in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby.

                  Section 7.4 Public Announcements. The parties shall consult
with each other before issuing, and provide each other a reasonable opportunity
to review and comment upon, any press release or public statement with respect
to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and, except as may be
required by applicable Law or any listing agreement with any national securities
exchange or the Nasdaq, will not issue any such press release or make any such
public statement prior to such consultation.

                  Section 7.5 Access to Information; Notification of Certain
Matters.

                  (a) From the date hereof until the Effective Time, the Company
shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, (i) give to Parent, its counsel,
financial advisers, auditors and other authorized representatives full access at
all reasonable times upon reasonable advance notice to their respective offices,
properties, books and records, Contracts, accountants, actuaries, management and
consultants, (ii) promptly furnish or make available to Parent, its counsel,
financial advisers, auditors and other authorized representatives such financial
and operating data and other information as such Persons may reasonably request
and (iii) instruct its employees, counsel, financial advisers, auditors and
other authorized representatives to cooperate with the reasonable requests of
Parent in its investigation. Any investigation pursuant to this Section 7.5(a)
shall be conducted in such manner so as not to interfere unreasonably with the
conduct of the business of the Company. All such information shall be governed
by the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement. No information or knowledge
obtained in any review or investigation made by Parent to the date hereof or
pursuant to this Section 7.5(a) shall affect or be deemed to modify any
representation or warranty made by the Company hereunder.

                                      -46-
<PAGE>   51
                  (b) Each party hereto shall give notice to each other party
hereto, as promptly as practicable after the event giving rise to the
requirement of such notice, of:

                  (i) any communication received by such party from, or given by
         such party to, any Governmental Entity in connection with any of the
         transactions contemplated hereby;

                  (ii) any notice or other communication from any Person
         alleging that the consent of such Person is or may be required in
         connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

                  (iii) the existence of any event, circumstances or fact which
         would be reasonably likely to (x) cause any representation or warranty
         contained in this Agreement to be inaccurate or untrue in any material
         respect, (y) cause any condition to Closing contained in this Agreement
         to be incapable of being satisfied, or (z) result in a Material Adverse
         Effect on such party;

                  (iv) any material failure of such party to comply with or
         satisfy any covenant or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by
         such party pursuant to this Agreement; and

                  (v) any actions, suits, claims, investigations or proceedings
         commenced or, to its best knowledge, threatened against, relating to or
         involving or otherwise affecting such party or any of its Subsidiaries
         that, if pending on the date of this Agreement, would have been
         required to have been disclosed on Section 4.16 of the Company
         Disclosure Schedule, or that relate to the consummation of the
         transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

provided, however, that the delivery of any notice pursuant to this Section
7.5(b) shall not modify the representations, warranties, Disclosure Schedules,
covenants, agreements or conditions set forth herein or limit or otherwise
affect the remedies available hereunder to the party receiving such notice.

                  Section 7.6 Certain Matters. Parent agrees that, without the
prior written consent of the Company, from the date hereof until the Effective
Time, (i) Parent will not purchase any shares of Company Common Stock and (ii)
Parent will not otherwise become the "beneficial owner" (within the meaning of
Section 180.1130 of the WBCL) of any shares of Company Common Stock.

                  Section 7.7 Further Assurances. At and after the Effective
Time, the officers and directors of the Surviving Corporation will be authorized
to execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of the Company, any deeds,
bills of sale, assignments or assurances and to take and do, in the name and on
behalf of the Company, any other actions and things to vest, perfect or confirm
of record or otherwise in the Surviving Corporation any and all right, title and
interest in, to and under any of the rights, properties or assets of the Company
acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Corporation as a result of, or in
connection with, the Merger.

                                      -47-
<PAGE>   52
                                  ARTICLE VIII
                            CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER

                  Section 8.1 Conditions to the Obligations of Each Party. The
obligations of each party to consummate the Merger are subject to the
satisfaction of the following conditions:

                  (a) the Company Shareholder Approval shall have been obtained;

                  (b) any applicable waiting period under the HSR Act relating
to the Merger shall have expired or been earlier terminated; and

                  (c) no Governmental Entity of competent authority or
jurisdiction shall have issued any order, injunction or decree, or taken any
other action, that is in effect and restrains, enjoins or otherwise prohibits
the consummation of the Merger, and there shall be no pending or threatened
suit, action or proceeding by any such Governmental Entity that seeks to
restrain, enjoin or otherwise prohibit consummation of the Merger.

                  Section 8.2 Conditions to the Obligations of the Company. The
obligations of the Company to consummate the Merger are subject to the
satisfaction of the following further conditions:

                  (a) (i) each of Parent and MergerSub shall have performed in
all material respects all of its obligations hereunder required to be performed
by it at or prior to the Effective Time, (ii) the representations and warranties
of Parent contained in this Agreement that are qualified as to materiality or
Material Adverse Effect shall have been true and correct, and those that are not
so qualified shall have been true and correct in all material respects, in each
case, when made and at and as of the Effective Time as if made at and as of the
Effective Time (except (x) to the extent any such representation or warranty
expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case it shall be true and
correct, or true and correct in all material respects, as the case may be, as of
such date and (y) for such inaccuracies that would not be reasonably likely to
prevent or materially impair the ability of Parent or MergerSub to consummate
the Merger), and (iii) the Company shall have received a certificate, dated the
date of the Closing, signed by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial
Officer of Parent on behalf of Parent to the foregoing effect; and

                  (b) the parties shall have obtained or made all consent,
approvals, actions, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations,
announcements and filings contemplated by Section 4.3 and Section 5.3 which if
not obtained or made (i) would render consummation of the Merger illegal or (ii)
would be reasonably likely to prevent or materially impair the consummation of
the Merger.

                                      -48-
<PAGE>   53
                  Section 8.3 Conditions to the Obligations of Parent and
MergerSub. The obligations of Parent and MergerSub to consummate the Merger are
subject to the satisfaction of the following further conditions:

                  (a) (i) The Company shall have performed in all material
respects all of its obligations hereunder required to be performed by it at or
prior to the Effective Time, (ii) the representations and warranties of the
Company contained in this Agreement that are qualified as to materiality or
Material Adverse Effect shall have been true and correct, and those that are not
so qualified shall have been true and correct in all material respects, in each
case, when made and at and as of the Effective Time as if made at and as of the
Effective Time (except to the extent any such representation or warranty
expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case it shall be true and
correct, or true and correct in all material respects, as the case may be, as of
such date), and (iii) Parent shall have received a certificate, dated the date
of the Closing, signed by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer
of the Company on behalf of the Company to the foregoing effect;

                  (b) the parties shall have obtained or made all consent,
approvals, actions, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations,
announcements and filings contemplated by Section 4.3 and Section 5.3 which if
not obtained or made (i) would render consummation of the Merger illegal or (ii)
would be reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company
Material Adverse Effect;

                  (c) (i) except as disclosed in the Company Disclosure
Schedule, since December 31, 2000, there shall not have occurred any change in
the financial condition, business or results of operations of the Company and
its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that has had or would be reasonably likely
to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect,
and (ii) Parent shall have received a certificate, dated the date of the
Closing, signed by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the
Company on behalf of the Company to the foregoing effect;

                  (d) there shall be no suit, action or proceeding pending or
threatened by a Governmental Entity seeking to restrain, enjoin, prohibit or
restrict the Merger or which would materially and adversely affect the benefits
which Parent could reasonably expect to derive from the Merger;

                  (e) no action or proceeding before any court or regulatory
authority instituted by any Person other than a Governmental Entity which seeks
to prevent or delay the consummation of the Merger or which would materially and
adversely affect the benefits which Parent could reasonably expect to derive
from the Merger shall be pending;

                  (f) all consent, approvals, actions, orders, authorizations,
registrations, declarations, announcements and filings contemplated by Section
4.3 and Section 5.3 shall have been obtained, made or given and shall be in full
force and effect, without the imposition upon the Parent, the Company or its
Subsidiaries, or any of their respective Affiliates, of any material condition,
restriction or required undertaking or any conditions or restrictions which,
individually or in the aggregate, would be reasonably likely to (i)

                                      -49-
<PAGE>   54
materially impair or interfere with the ability of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to conduct their respective businesses
substantially in the manner as such businesses are now being conducted, (ii)
cause Parent or Merger Subsidiary to incur any material additional costs, or
(iii) impair or interfere with the ability of any Affiliate of the Parent to
conduct its business substantially in the manner as such business is now being
conducted if such impairment or interference, individually or in the aggregate,
is material to the business of the Parent and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

                  (g) (i) all consents and approvals shall have been obtained
except for consents and approvals the failure of which to be obtained would not
be reasonably likely, individually or in the aggregate, to materially impair or
interfere with the ability of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole, to conduct their respective businesses substantially in the manner as
such businesses are now being conducted or otherwise have a Company Material
Adverse Effect, and (ii) to the extent that consents are required to be obtained
pursuant to clause (i), Parent shall have received written evidence reasonably
satisfactory to Parent that all such consents and approvals have been obtained;

                  (h) Parent and MergerSub shall have received an opinion letter
from Foley & Lardner, special counsel to the Company, dated the Closing Date,
which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Parent
and MergerSub and shall address the matters set forth on Exhibit E attached
hereto;

                  (i) as of the Closing Date, each of the Company Insurance
Subsidiaries shall hold the same rating from A.M. Best Company, Inc. and the
same financial strength rating by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group held on the
date hereof (the "Original Ratings"); as of the Closing Date, neither Rating
Agency shall have downgraded or modified downward the Original Rating held by
any of the Company Insurance Subsidiaries; with regard to the ratings assigned
by A.M. Best Company, Inc., none of the Original Ratings held by the Company
Insurance Subsidiaries shall have been assigned a negative outlook which
assignment of negative outlook remains in effect as of the Closing Date; with
regard to the ratings assigned by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group, none of the
Original Ratings held by any of the Company Insurance Subsidiaries shall have
been placed on CreditWatch with developing or negative implications or assigned
a negative outlook which CreditWatch with developing or negative implications or
assignment of negative outlook remains in effect as of the Closing Date; and
neither the Company nor any of the Company Insurance Subsidiaries shall have
received any notice from a Rating Agency that a downgrade of any rating held by
any of the Company Insurance Subsidiaries is being contemplated which notice has
not been withdrawn prior to the Closing Date; provided, however, that the
obligation of Parent and MergerSub to consummate the Merger shall not be
affected by a failure of the condition set forth in this Section 8.3(i) to the
extent that (x) A.M. Best Company, Inc. and/or Standard & Poor's Ratings Group
shall have reversed a downgrade or downward modification of an Original Rating
and restored the Original Rating prior to the Closing Date or (y) A.M. Best
Company, Inc. and/or Standard & Poor's Ratings Group advise that the downgrade
would be reversed and the Original Ratings would be restored, or that the action
regarding a possible or contemplated downgrade would be terminated, or the
CreditWatch with

                                      -50-
<PAGE>   55
developing or negative implications or assignment of a negative outlook would be
terminated, upon a contribution by Parent after the Effective Time to the
capital of the affected Company Insurance Subsidiaries in an amount not
exceeding $6,200,000 in the aggregate;

                  (j) the holders of at least 90% of the outstanding Company
Options listed in Section 3.3(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule shall have
consented to the amendment of the terms of the agreements pursuant to which such
Company Options were granted as contemplated by Section 3.3(b); and

                  (k) the Employment Agreement shall be in full force and
effect; provided, however, that the obligation of Parent and MergerSub to
consummate the Merger shall not be affected by a failure of the condition set
forth in this Section 8.3(k) to the extent that the Employment Agreement is not
in full force and effect as a result of the death or disability of the
Executive.

                                   ARTICLE IX
                                   TERMINATION

                  Section 9.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at
any time prior to the Effective Time by written notice by the terminating party
to the other party (except if such termination is pursuant to Section 9.1(a)),
whether before or after the Company Shareholder Approval shall have been
obtained:

                  (a) by mutual written agreement of Parent and the Company;

                  (b) by either Parent or the Company, if

                  (i) the Merger shall not have been consummated by January 21,
         2002 (the "End Date"); provided, however, that the right to terminate
         this Agreement under this Section 9.1(b)(i) shall not be available to
         any party whose breach of any provision of or whose failure to perform
         any obligation under this Agreement has been the cause of, or has
         resulted in, the failure of the Merger to occur on or before the End
         Date;

                  (ii) there shall be any Law that makes consummation of the
         Merger illegal or otherwise prohibited or any judgment, injunction,
         order or decree of any Governmental Entity having competent
         jurisdiction enjoining the Company, Parent or MergerSub from
         consummating the Merger is entered and such judgment, injunction, order
         or decree shall have become final and nonappealable and, prior to such
         termination, the parties shall have used their respective reasonable
         best efforts to resist, resolve or lift, as applicable, such Law,
         judgment, injunction, order or decree; provided, however, that the
         right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 9.1(b)(ii) shall
         not be available to any party whose breach of any provision of or whose
         failure to perform any obligation under this Agreement has been the
         cause of such Law, judgment, injunction, order or decree; or

                                      -51-
<PAGE>   56
                  (iii) at the Company Shareholders Meeting (including any
         adjournment or postponement thereof), the Company Shareholder Approval
         shall not have been obtained.

                  (c) by the Company, (i) if a breach of or failure to perform
any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of Parent or
MergerSub set forth in this Agreement shall have occurred which would cause the
condition set forth in Section 8.2(a) not to be satisfied, and such condition
shall be incapable of being satisfied by the End Date or (ii) as contemplated by
Section 6.3(d); or

                  (d) by Parent, (i) if the Company's Board of Directors shall
have (A) amended, modified, withdrawn, conditioned or qualified the Company
Recommendation in a manner materially adverse to Parent, (B) recommended any
Acquisition Proposal to the Company's shareholders, and/or (C) failed to make
the Company Recommendation; (ii) if a breach of or failure to perform any
representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of the Company set
forth in this Agreement shall have occurred which would cause the condition set
forth in Section 8.3(a) not to be satisfied, and such condition is incapable of
being satisfied by the End Date or (iii) if the Company terminates this
Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(c)(ii) of this Agreement.

                  Section 9.2 Effect of Termination. If this Agreement is
terminated pursuant to Section 9.1 (including any such termination by way of
Section 9.1(c)(ii)), there shall be no liability or obligation on the part of
Parent or the Company, or any of their respective officers, directors,
shareholders, agents or Affiliates under this Agreement, except (a) as set forth
in Section 9.3, (b) the provisions of Section 9.2, Section 9.3 and Article X of
this Agreement and the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement shall remain
in full force and effect and survive any termination of this Agreement, and (c)
notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, neither
the Company nor Parent shall be relieved of or released from any liabilities or
damages arising out of its willful and material breach of its representations,
warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement prior to
termination of this Agreement.

                  Section 9.3 Termination Fee and Expenses.

                  (a) Whether or not the Merger is consummated, all fees and
expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such expenses, except
as set forth in this Section 9.3.

                  (b) The Company shall pay Parent the Termination Fee (as
hereinafter defined) if this Agreement is terminated as follows:

                  (i) if (w) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section
         9.1(b)(iii) (provided that, prior to the relevant Company Shareholder
         Meeting, an Acquisition Proposal shall have been publicly announced) or
         Section 9.1(d)(ii) (provided that the breach or failure to perform
         giving rise to the termination of the Agreement by Parent is a willful
         and material breach or failure to perform by the Company), (x) at any
         time after the date of this Agreement and prior to the date

                                      -52-
<PAGE>   57
         this Agreement is terminated, an Acquisition Proposal shall have been
         publicly announced, and (y) within twelve months of the termination of
         this Agreement, the Company enters into a definitive agreement with any
         third party with respect to a transaction similar to an Acquisition
         Proposal or any such transaction with respect to the Company is
         consummated; or

                  (ii) if this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section
         9.1(c)(ii), Section 9.1(d)(i) or Section 9.1(d)(iii).

                  (c) "Termination Fee" means a non-refundable fee equal to the
sum of (i) $4.5 million and (ii) all actual and documented expenses (not to
exceed $1.5 million) incurred by or on behalf of Parent and MergerSub in
connection with the proposed Merger, this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and
expenses of their counsel, accountants, and financial advisers).

                  (d) The Termination Fee required to be paid pursuant to
Section 9.3(b) shall be paid prior to, and shall be a pre-condition to the
effectiveness of, termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(c)(ii).
Any other payment of the Termination Fee required to be made pursuant to Section
9.3(b) shall be made not later than two Business Days after (i) the consummation
of a Business Combination with the Company, in the case of a termination of this
Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(b)(i), Section 9.1(b)(iii) or Section
9.1(d)(ii), or (ii) the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section
9.1(d)(i) or (iii).

                  (e) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the
Company shall not be required to pay a Termination Fee to Parent if Parent is in
material breach of this Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE X
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

                  Section 10.1 Notices. Except as otherwise expressly set forth
in Section 6.3(c), all notices, requests and other communications to any party
hereunder shall be in writing (including facsimile or similar writing) and shall
be given,

                  if to Parent, to:

                         Alleghany Corporation
                         375 Park Avenue
                         New York, New York 10152
                         Attention:  Robert M. Hart, Esq.
                                       Senior Vice President, General
                                       Counsel and Secretary
                         Facsimile: (212) 759-8149

                                      -53-
<PAGE>   58
                  with a copy to:

                         Dewey Ballantine LLP
                         1301 Avenue of the Americas
                         New York, New York 10019
                         Attention:  Aileen C. Meehan, Esq.
                         Facsimile: (212) 259-6333

                  if to the Company, to:

                         Capitol Transamerica Corporation
                         4610 University Avenue
                         Madison, Wisconsin  53705
                         Attention:  George Fait
                                       Chairman and President
                         Facsimile: (608) 231-0067

                  with a copy to:

                         Foley & Lardner
                         Firstar Center
                         777 East Wisconsin Avenue
                         Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202-5367
                         Attention: Patrick G. Quick, Esq.
                         Facsimile: (414) 297-4900

or such other address or facsimile number as such party may hereafter specify
for the purpose by notice to the other party hereto. Each such notice, request
or other communication shall be effective upon receipt.

                  Section 10.2 Survival of Representations, Warranties and
Covenants after the Effective Time. The representations and warranties contained
herein and in any certificate or other writing delivered pursuant hereto shall
not survive the Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement. The
covenants contained in Articles II and III and Sections 7.1, 7.6, 10.2, 10.4,
10.5, 10.6, 10.7, 10.8, 10.9 and 10.10 shall survive the Effective Time.

                  Section 10.3 Amendments; No Waivers.

                  (a) Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived
prior to the Effective Time if, and only if, such amendment or waiver is in
writing and signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Company, Parent and
MergerSub or in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to
be effective; provided, however, that after the Company Shareholder Approval, no
such amendment or waiver shall, without the further approval of such
shareholders, be made that would require such approval under any applicable Law.

                                      -54-
<PAGE>   59
                  (b) No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right,
power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any
single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and
remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or
remedies provided by Law.

                  Section 10.4 Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto
and their respective successors and assigns, provided that no party may assign,
delegate or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under this
Agreement without the consent of the other party hereto. Any purported
assignment in violation hereof shall be null and void.

                  Section 10.5 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed
in accordance with and governed by the internal Laws of the State of Delaware
without reference to its principles of conflicts of laws, except to the extent
that the laws of the State of Wisconsin are mandatorily applicable hereto.

                  Section 10.6 Counterparts; Effectiveness; Third Party
Beneficiaries. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall
be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures on each counterpart
were upon the same instrument. This Agreement shall become effective when each
party hereto shall have received counterparts hereof signed by the other party
hereto. Except as set forth in Section 7.1, no provision of this Agreement is
intended to confer upon any Person other than the parties hereto any rights or
remedies hereunder.

                  Section 10.7 Jurisdiction. Except as otherwise expressly
provided in this Agreement, the parties hereto agree that any suit, action or
proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising
out of or in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby shall be brought in the United States District Court for the District of
Delaware or any other Delaware State court (and in the appropriate appellate
courts), and each of the parties hereby (i) consents to the exclusive
jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding, (ii)
irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by Law, any objection which
it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action
or proceeding in any such court or that any such suit, action or proceeding
which is brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum,
and (iii) agrees not to bring any action related to this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby in any other court (except to enforce the
judgment of such courts). Process in any such suit, action or proceeding may be
served on any party anywhere in the world, whether within or without the
jurisdiction of any such court. Without limiting the foregoing, each party
agrees that service of process on such party as provided in Section 10.1 shall
be deemed effective service of process on such party.

                  Section 10.8 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO
HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL
PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

                                      -55-
<PAGE>   60
                  Section 10.9 Enforcement. The parties agree that irreparable
damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement
were not performed in accordance with their specific terms. It is accordingly
agreed that the parties shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms
hereof, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at
law or in equity.

                  Section 10.10 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (together with
the Disclosure Schedules, exhibits, agreements and other documents delivered in
connection herewith) and the Confidentiality Agreement constitute the entire
agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and
supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both oral and written,
between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. Any fact or item
disclosed by the Company or Parent, as applicable, on any Schedule to this
Agreement shall be deemed disclosed on all other Schedules to this Agreement to
which such fact or item may reasonably apply so long as such disclosure is in
sufficient detail to enable a party hereto to identify the facts or items to
which it applies. Any fact or item disclosed on any Schedule hereto shall not by
reason only of such inclusion be deemed to be material and shall not be employed
as a point of reference in determining any standard of materiality under this
Agreement.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the
day and year first above written.

                                      -56-
<PAGE>   61
                                      ALLEGHANY CORPORATION
Attest:

/s/ Robert M. Hart                    By  /s/ John J. Burns, Jr.
------------------------------            -------------------------------------
                                          Name:  John J. Burns, Jr.
                                          Title:  President and chief executive
                                                      officer

                                      ABC ACQUISITION CORP.
Attest:

/s/ Robert M. Hart                    By  /s/ David B. Cuming
------------------------------            -------------------------------------
                                          Name:  David B. Cuming
                                          Title:  President and Treasurer

Attest:                               CAPITOL TRANSAMERICA CORPORATION

 /s/ Jane F. Endres                   By  George A. Fait
------------------------------            -------------------------------------
                                          Name: George A. Fait
                                          Title: President

                                      -57-

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