Winston & Strawn
Priviledged and Confidential
November
26, 2002
To the
ULLICO Board of Directors:
On April
29, 2002, I accepted your appointment as Special Counsel to investigate the
events surrounding ULLICO’s 1998 and 1999 stock purchase offers to
directors and senior officers, its stock repurchase programs and the Global
Crossing investment. After seven months of investigation by Winston &
Strawn, more than 40 interviews and the review of thousands of documents, I
believe we have a sound understanding of the events at issue.
ULLICO
recorded an extraordinary return of approximately $486 million on its $7.6
million investment in Global Crossing. The Global Crossing investment was
consistent with ULLICO's philosophy of supporting investments which might
create opportunities for its labor constituency.
In 1997,
before the success of the Global Crossing investment became apparent, ULLICO's
Board of Directors changed the manner in which ULLICO distributed profits to
shareholders. It reduced, and eventually eliminated, dividends and adopted a
formal stock repurchase program. ULLICO also continued its practice of
repurchasing stock from time to time under an informal repurchase program
administered by its Chairman.
As a
result of the confluence of certain events the repurchase programs as
implemented in later years led to disproportionate distributions to certain
officers and directors. What may have begun as appropriate programs supported
by legitimate business purposes developed into programs that were not in the
best interest of all the Company's shareholders.
Certain
ULLICO officers and Board members arguably acted inappropriately and to the
detriment of the rights of ULLICO institutional shareholders. As a result of
their actions, certain officers and directors received preferential treatment
in the sale of their ULLICO stock. It is important, in these times of highly
publicized cases of deliberate corporate malfeasance, to distinguish what
happened at ULLICO from these other cases by emphasizing that we have not found
evidence of criminal intent.
In the
following pages we set forth an executive summary of our report and thereafter
the details of the evidence gathered in the investigation, our legal analysis
thereof; and our findings and recommendations. The recommendations are designed
to remedy what occurred, to prevent its reoccurrence and to guide future
corporate governance of the Company. We emphasize that changes in ULLICO's
corporate governance are essential and should be undertaken promptly.
Executive
Summary of Special Counsel Report 1
Factual Background
Legal Analysis 1
•Fiduciary Duties 5
•Securities Law 10
• Criminal Law 11
• Findings and
Recommendations 12
• 1997 Stock Repurchase
Program 18
• 1998 Employee Incentive, Stock Offer and Stock
Repurchase Programs 22
•1998 Employee Incentive
Programs 22
•Global Incentive Program 22
•"Top Hat" Non‑Qualified
Deferred Compensation Plan 23
•1998 Director/Officer Stock
Purchase Offers 25
• 1998 Stock Repurchase
Program 28
• 1999 Stock Offer and
Repurchase Programs 30
•1999 Director/Officer Stock
Offer Program 30
•1999 Stock Repurchase
Program 34
• 2000 Stock Repurchase
Programs 35
•Proposed
"Extraordinary" Stock Repurchase Program 35
•Discretionary Stock
Repurchases 38
•Actual 2000 Stock
Repurchase Program 40
•November 3, 2000 Board
Meeting 40
• Tender Offer and Other
Repurchases at $146.04 44
• 2001 Stock Repurchase
Program 49
• 2002 Stock Repurchase
Program 49
Chairman
Georgine’s Employment Agreements 50
• Stock Purchase and Credit Agreement 51
• Employment Agreement Addendum 52
Legal
Analysis 54
• Statutory Duties Imposed on Directors Under Maryland
Law 55
• Subsection 2‑405.1(a)(1)‑"Good Faith" 56
•1998 and 1999 Stock Offers
to Directors
and Senior Officers 56
• 2000 Stock Repurchase
Program 56
• Subsection 2‑405.1(a)(2)‑"Reasonable
Belief' Requirement 57
• 1998 and 1999 Stock Offers to
Directors
and Senior Officers 58
• 2000 Repurchase Program 59
• Subsection 2‑‑405.1(a)(3)‑‑"Ordinarily
Prudent Person" 61
• 1998 and 1999 Stock Offers to
Directors
and Senior Officers 61
• 2000 Stock Repurchase
Programs 62
• Business Judgment Rule 63
• Fiduciary Duties Imposed on Officers Under
Maryland Law 63
• Fiduciary Duties Under the Federal Labor Laws 65
Securities Law 65
• General 65
• Disclosure Issues 67
• Deceptive Acts or Practices Issues 72
• Intent, Causation and Reliance Issues 75
• State Securities Law Issues 76
Criminal
Law 76
Role of
Counsel and Other Professionals 76
Disgorgement,
Rescission and Ratification 81
• Disgorgement or Rescission
• Ratification 82
Corporate
Governance 83
• Introduction
83
• Board Independence 84
• Board and Committee Performance 85
• Board and Committee Membership 85
• Shareholder Participation 86
• Corporate
Governance Committee 87
•
The Global Crossing Investment 88
•
Stock Repurchase Programs 88
•
Stock Offers to Directors and Senior Management 89
•
ULLICO Management and Corporate Governance 90
•
Fiduciary Obligations of Directors and Officers 91
•
Securities Law 92
•
Non‑Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan 93
•Role
of Counsel and Other Professionals 94
•
Lack of Criminal Intent 94
Recommendations 95
•Remedial Recommendations and Commentary 95
• Corporate Governance Recommendations 102
List
of Interviews Conducted and Submissions Received 108
• Directors 108
•ULLICO Executives 109
•Advisors 109
•Others 109
Special
Counsel Staff 138
Notice 138
In 1987,
ULLICO, Inc. ("the Company" or "ULLICO") was formed as a
holding company for the Union Labor Life Insurance Comvany and various
subsidiaries which provide insurance, pension, health and investment management
and lending services to unions, union members and union pension funds. The by‑laws
of the Company authorize a 32‑member Board of Directors, which has
historically consisted primarily of present or former officers of major unions
and pension funds that are substantial ULLICO shareholders.
A clear
purpose in forming the holding comnanv in 1987 was to rise capital - first
through a bond sale and then a stock offering (the preferred certificate
program) under which many union pension funds became shareholders for the first
time. New subsidiaries were added, debt was reduced, and outside investments
were proposed. Returns on core operations, however, continued to be variable,
and in certain years operating losses were incurred.
Beginning
in or about 1991, the ULLICO Board of Directors and senior management decided
to undertake an aggressive investment program. To this end, ULLICO Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer Robert A. Georgine hired Michael R. Steed as the Senior
Vice President of Investments, and Steed proposed that the Company make a
variety of private equity investments. One investment proved extraordinary by
any measure: in February 1997, the Executive Committee of the Board on the
recommendation of Chairman Georgine and Steed, approved a $7.6 million
investment in a new company called
Nautilus LLC, the predecessor of Global Crossing. This investment eventually
resulted in an incredible gross profit to ULLICO of about $486 million, or a
return of approximately 6,390%.
In May
1997, well before the success of the Global Crossing investment became
apparent, the Board agproved a formal stock repurchase program under which the
Company would repurchase shares of ULLICO Class A and B Stock acquired through
the preferred certificate program. This stock repurchase program was intended
to replace the historically high ((often 9% cash and 10% stock) annual
dividends paid by the Company which dividends were reduced in 1997 and
eliminated in 1999. The use of the stock repurchase program to replace
dividends was a key element in the Company's strategy to improve the credit
ratings of its insurance subsidiaries.
As
initially envisioned and developed in consultation with Credit Suisse First
Boston, the formal repurchase program was intended to allow the Company to
repurchase $180 million in Class A and Class B Stock over 11 years, with $30
million of stock being repurchased in 1997 and $15 million of stock being
repurchased in each of the following 10 years. The Company's other type of
stock, Capital Stock, was not eligible for repurchase in the formal repurchase
program.
1
The
formal repurchase program had to be considered and approved by the Board of
Directors or its Executive Committee each year it was offered, as there was no
assurance that sufficient funds would be available to fund the program in each
of the ten years after 1997.
The
formal repurchase program, according to Chairman Georgine, was intended to be a
"means for [ULLICOI] to provide liquidity to [its] larger
stockholders." This formal program, along with an informal,
"discretionary" repurchase program that had apparently been in
existence for a number of years but not formally authorized by the Board until
November 2000, was overseen principally by Chairman Georgine and the Company’s
chief Legal Officer, Joseph A. Carabillo. Capital Stock was eligible for
repurchase through the "discretionary" program.
To
facilitate the stock repurchase programs, the price for the Company's stock,
which historically had been set at $25 per share, was annually set by the
Company beginning in May 1997 based on ULLICO's prior year‑end audited
book value per share. Book value per share was calculated by dividing the
Company's total stockholders' equity by the number of shares of ULLICO Capital,
Class A and Class B Stock outstanding. The initial price set in May 1997, upon
the adoption of the first formal repurchase program, was $27.06 per share, the
per share book value of the Company’s stock as of December 31, 1996. The
price established for the repurchase programs
was also used to value shares sold by the Company from time‑to‑time.
When
Global Crossing completed its initial public offering in August 1998 and the value
of ULLICO's Global Crossing investment skyrocketed, the book value of ULLICO's
stock followed. By the end of 1999, ULLICO's unrealized and after‑tax
realized gains on its Global Cross' investment were more than $1 billion, or
approximately 85% of the Company's total stockholders equity. Because the
ULLICO stock price was set only once a year (in May, based upon the audited
financial statements for the prior calendar year), any ULLICO shareholder
considering whether to redeem or purchase ULLICO stock had advance notice,
based upon Global Crossing’s stock price performance, as to whether
ULLICO's shares would likely be higher or lower the following year.
As Global
Crossing's value rose dramatically in 1998 and 1999, it was a good time to buy
ULLICO stock, an each director and senior officer (but no other authorized
ULLICO investor) was given an opportunity by the company to buy up to 4,000
shares in the second half of 1998 and another 4,000 shares in December 1999.
The purchase price for the shares offered was $28.70 in 1998 and $53.94 in
1999, the book values per share as of the December 31 preceding the dates of
purchase. The stated purpose for the stock offers, which were purportedly
approved by the Compensation Committee, was to align the interests of officers
and directors with shareholders. All of the senior officers and most o the directors bought stock pursuant to this offer. Some bought 8,000 shares, others less. Many of those who participated in the stock offers made substantial profits.
2
ULLICO's
senior officers received additional benefits as a result of the success of the
Global Crossing investment. In July 1998, the Compensation Committee, in
consultation with William M. Mercer and Company, an executive compensation
consulting firm, approved a "Global Incentive Program" bonus under
which the five most senior executives received a four‑year special bonus
(in addition to their base compensation and regular annual bonus) based on the
performance of ULLICO's Global Crossing investment. By 2001, the five ULLICO
executives, Georgine, Carabillo, James W. Luce, John K. Grelle and Steed (who
received only two payments before he resigned), received a total of $5.67
million through this bonus program.
In July
1998, the Compensation Committee also authorized a "top hat" non‑qualified deferred compensation plan for ULLICO's senior officers, Georgine, Steed, Carabillo, Grelle and Luce. The purpose of the deferred compensation plan was
to allow senior executives to defer income (and thereby defer income tax) on a
portion of their earnings and to make deemed investments of such deferred
income in one or more investment alternatives. Amounts deferred under the plan
are not required to be actually
invested in the available investment alternatives. Rather, the investment
alternatives simply provide a measure of return to plan participants. One of
the investment alternatives was Class A Stock.
ULLICO's
senior offcers took advantage of the flexible terms of the deferred
compensation plan to exploit the large, but short‑lived, increase in the
book value per share of ULLICO's stock between 1998 and 2000. When the stock
price was attractive in 1998 and late 1999, the senior officers allocated
deferred compensation to deemed investments in ULLICO stock under the plan. When the book value per share peaked in 2000, these same officers withdrew all
amounts allocated to the Ullico investment stock account under the plan. This
simple and quite common retirement planning vehicle was the source of
approximately $4 million of earnings by
Georgine over a two‑year period from 1998 to 2000. ULLICO's other senior
officers who participated in the plan each received between $350,000 and
$600,000 during tie m period.
On May
10, 2000, the Executive Committee of the Board approved a record‑high
stock price of $146.04 per share, based on the book value per share from the
Company's audited financial statements as of December 31, 1999. At the same
meeting, the Board also conditionally approved an "extraordinary"
stock repurchase program based on the Global Crossing investment success. Under
this program, ULLICO would repurchase from all shareholders (including holders
of Capital Stock) up to 20% of ULLICO's outstanding stock having an aggregate
value of approximately $240 million. The "extraordinary" repurchase
program provided that, in the event the offer were over‑subscribed,
holders of 100 or fewer shares would be able to redeem all of the shares they
tendered in the program while larger shareholders would be subject to
proration. The "extraordinary" stock repurchase
3
program
was subject to several conditions, including that the price of Global Crossing
stock had to be not less than $43 per share. However,
by November 2000, Global Crossing's stock price had not reached the $43 trigger
price, and the Board determined, on November 3, 2000, to replace the
"extraordinary" program with a $30 million stock repurchase program.
Under this replacement program, if the offer were over‑subscribed,
shareholders who held fewer than 10,000 Class A and Class B shares could redeem
100% of their stock at the $146.04 per share price. These shareholders were
principally the officers and directors who had bought stock pursuant to the
1998 and 1999 stock offers. In
contrast, ULLICO's large institutional shareholders owning 10,000 or more
shares who tendered their stock pursuant to the repurchase program would be
subject to proration in the event the offer were over‑subscribed. This
10,000 share threshold had been included in prior programs approved by the Board. The 2000
stock repurchase program, unlike the repurchase programs in 1997 through 1999,
also contained a condition that all shareholders who owned more than 2% of the
outstanding stock subject to the program had to tender a1l of their respective
shares for repurchase in the program. This 2% Rule ensured that holders of
10,000 or more shares would be severely prorated given that those shareholders
who were subject to the 2% Rule collectively held more than $800 million in
stock in a repurchase program capped at $30 million. Under the
terms of the 2000 repurchase program, if the 2% Rule were not satisfied, the
Chairman would have had limited authority to waive that condition of the
program. The Chairman did not need to exercise this power because, as it turned
out, the 2% Rule was satisfied. In fact, ULLICO’s shareholders holding
10,000 or more shares collectively tendered about $1.1 billion of stock in the
2000 stock repurchase program. Under the proration rules of the program, the
Company could repurchase only 2.2% of the shares tendered by each of these
large shareholders. Thus, for example,
a union or a pension fund that owned 10,000 shares could only redeem 220 shares
at $146.04 per share through the 2000 repurchase program and receive $32,129.
In contrast, however, a director or officer who owned 9,999 shares could redeem
all of his or her shares at S146.04 per share and receive $1,460,254. Paradoxically,
the November 2000 $30 million stock repurchase program under which proration
was a virtual certainty, set a higher proration threshold than the May 2000
$240 million "extraordinary" repurchase program, which treated all
shareholders (other than those holding 100 or fewer shares) equally. The result
was that, under the $30 million replacement repurchase program, insiders
received a substantially lager Percentage
of the funds distributed than the would have received under the previously
proposed $240 million "extraordinary" program. The
November 2000 stock repurchase program failed to treat all shareholders equally
and indeed greatly favored the very people, ULLICO's directors and officers,
who had formulated, approved and implemented the program. Since dividends had
been
4
eliminated
and there was no liquid market for ULLICO stock, the formal repurchase program
was, other than the "discretionary" repurchase program discussed
below, the only practical method by which a ULLICO shareholder could redeem
Company stock. Under the
"discretionary" repurchase program administered by Chairman Georgine,
a shareholder could sell shares of ULLICO stock, including Capital Stock.
Historically, under long‑time criteria, the Chairman exercised this
discretion when a shareholder died, an officer or director resigned, or a union
had a financial emergency. On November 3, 2000, Chairman Georgine told the
directors that the "discretionary" program was "neither
advertised nor encouraged." However, between May 2000 and April 2001, when
the ULLICO stock price remained at $ 146.04 per share, the Chairman approved
approximately $14.7 million in stock repurchases, mostly from insiders, through
the "discretionary" program, even though most of these repurchases
did not satisfy the traditional criteria. By April
2001, twenty ULLICO directors and officers, who collectively owned less than 2%
of the Company's outstanding stock as of May 2000, received $13.7 million, or
31% of the approximately $44,6 million paid to ULLICO's shareholders through
the formal and "discretionary" programs in 2000 and early 2001 at the
$146.04 per share price. In contrast, the pension funds and unions that owned
90% of the Company's stock received approximately $28 million, or about 63% of
all sums distributed. (The remaining 6% of shareholders held fewer than 10,000
shares but were not directors or officers.) Despite
the Chairman's comment at the November 3, 2000 Board meeting that ULLICO
"is a long‑term investment and has been a long‑term investment
since 1925," our current senior officers (Georine, Carabillo, Grelle and
Luce) who bought stock in 1998 and 1999 pursuant to the exclusive stock offers
sold virtually all of these shares to the Company at the $146.04 per share
price. Of the 20 directors (excluding Georgine) who bought shares in 1998 and
1999 pursuant to the exclusive stock offers, 15 sold most, if not all, of their
shares to the Company at the $146.04 per share
price. Only three current directors (Biller, Kruse and Sweeney) and one former
director (Upshaw) still hold all of the ULLICO Class A Stock they purchased in
1998 or 1999. ULLICO's
directors and executive officers have fiduciary duties to the Company's
shareholders under Maryland state law, where ULLICO is incorporated. Under
state statutory law, directors must perform their duties: (1) in good faith;
(2) in a manner they reasonably believe to be in the best interests of the
Company; and (3) with the care that an ordinary, prudent person in a like
position would use under similar circumstances. Officers owe duties of loyalty,
obedience and care to the Company. 5 Legal Analysis
Fiduciary Duties
The
Company's 1998 and 1999 stock offers and 2000 stock repurchase programs
resulted in numerous self‑interested transactions, ie, transactions with
the Company in which the directors and officers stood to personally benefit. In
general, self-interested transactions that are approved by a majority vote
of disinterested directors after full disclosure and consideration of all
relevant information are not void or voidable solely because of the involvement
of interested directors.
The
Company has identified five potential disinterested directors who voted to
approve the November 3, 2000 Board resolutions. Four of these five directors
held no Class A Stock at the time of this Board meeting (Directors Hurt, Joyce,
Miller and O'Sullivan). However, three directors (Directors Hurt, Joyce and
Miller) held Capital Stock that could have been repurchased through the "
discretionary” program which the Board approved on November 3, 2000. Only
Director, O'Sullivan, who was appointed
to the board in 2,000, held no stock, Capital or Class A, as of November 3,
2,000. Finally, outside Company counsel1 have suggested that the
fifth director, Chairman Georgine, although he held Class A and Capital Stock,
was disinterested because, by virtue of the put rights in his employment
agreements, he could redeem his shares without participating in either the 2000
formal repurchase program or the "discretionary"
program.
While
there are questions as to whether these five directors were both disinterested
and fully informed of the relevant information, Maryland law requires only one
disinterested director to approve self‑interested transactions concerning
other directors. Outside Company counsel have argued that at least one of these
five directors was fully disinterested and fully informed, and that the
transactions approved at the November 2000 Board meeting would not be void or
voidable on the sole basis that they are self‑interested transactions as
to other directors.
However,
compliance with Maryland law on approving self‑interested transactions
does not excuse the requirement that directors fulfill their fiduciary duties
under Maryland law, i.e., that they act in good faith, in a manner they
reasonably believed is in the best interests of the company and with due care
in approving the transactions. Under the facts discovered in the investigation,
a compelling argument exists that directors, particularly those who benefited
from self‑interested transactions, did not satisfy these requirements. An
equally forceful argument applies to the principal officers, Georgine and
Carabillo, who were instrumental in creating and implementing the stock offer
and repurchase programs, and who benefited from ULLICO stock transactions.
Good
faith is the absence of any desire to obtain a personal benefit and is
synonymous with adherence to what is referred to in many other states as a duty
of loyalty or the duty of fair dealing. Most directors who approved the stock
offer and repurchase programs had the opportunity to personally benefit from
them, and many
--------------------------------
1
“Outside Company counsel” refers to the lawyers hired by the
Company in connection with this investigation, includrcng Feder Servo Clark
& Bard, P.C. and Sidley Austin Brown & Wood.
6
of them
did. The stock offers were made available exclusively to directors and senior
officers, and the repurchase programs were structured and administered in a
manner that, intentionally or not, favored directors and officers over other
(largely institutional) shareholders.
In
performing his or her duties, a director must have a rational basis for his or
her action and have knowledge of that basis when taking such action. We have
been unable to discern the precise business purpose or basis for the 1998 and
1999 stock offers to directors and officers. Some directors and officers we
interviewed believed that the stock offers were intended, at least in part, as
compensation. Others, including Georgine and outside Company counsel, have
disagreed.
To the
extent the 1998 and 1999 stock offers were designed to provide directors and
officers with a bona fide investment opportunity, these offers carried little
or virtually no investment risk. The July 1998 offer to buy 2,000 shares
occurred shortly before the Global Crossing initial public offering, which
foreseeably would, and in fact did, substantially increase the value of
ULLICO's Global Crossing investment and the book value of ULLICO's shares. The
October 1998 stock purchase offer of 2,000 shares
carried even less investment risk as ULLICO's unrealized gain on its Global
Crossing investment had increased even further by that time.
Even
though the price of Global Crossing stock could fluctuate up or down in 1998,
downside risk on the ULLICO shares purchased by directors and officers in 1998
was limited. Any of the shares purchased in 1998 could have been redeemed at
their cost through the formal repurchase program later that year.
The
December 1999 stock purchase offer of 4,000 shares carried virtually no
investment risk because: (1)the offer closed on December 29, 1999, two days
prior to the date used to calculate the 1999 book value per share of $146.04;
(2) the Company had earlier in the year realized approximately $193 million in
a partial sale of its Global Crossing holdings, essentially ensuring that its
book value would increase in 2000; and (3) Global Crossing's share price was
near its all‑time high in December
1999. Further underscoring the lack of risk in the December 1999 offer is the
fact that three executive officers (Georgine, Carabillo and Grelle) took the
unusual step of incurring a one‑year bank loan to purchase their
respective 4,000 shares.
If the
stock offers were designed to align the interests of ULLICO's directors and
officers with those of ULLICO's shareholders, as Chairman Georgine and others
asserted„ they were poorly suited to achieve that purpose. Any
"alignment" of interests was very short‑lived since almost 90%
of the shares purchased by directors and officers in 1998 and 1999 were
repurchased by the Company by January 2001.
To the
extent the stock offers were intended as compensation, as some directors have
asserted, the offers may have resulted in excessive compensation to several
ULLICO directors, and perhaps officers as well. More importantly, if the stock
offers were a means of compensation, then these offers should have been treated
as such with
7
appropriate
standards set to determine what amounts, if any, should be paid to directors
and officers and without tying the payment of those amounts to shareholder
repurchase programs. These repurchase programs were purportedly for the equal
benefit of all shareholders but were implemented in a manner that
disproportionately favored directors and officers by allowing them to redeem
all of the Class A Stock they purchased in 1998 and 1999.
Moreover,
a serious question exists as to whether the 1998 and 1999 stock offers were
properly authorized. The Compensation Committee purported to approve the stock
offers, but did not have the authority to issue stock and its members were
prohibited from deciding any matter relating to their own compensation. Thus,
one could make a strong argument that the members of the Compensation Committee
in approving the stock offers violated their fiduciary duties by approving
matters outside their authority.
In light
of questions raised regarding the Compensation Committee's authority to approve
the stock offers, certain members of the Company's management, and others, have
suggested that the authority for the stock offers may have come from a
resolution of the Board adopted at its May 6, 1997 meeting. Pursuant to this
resolution, the Board purported to authorize Georgine "in his sole
discretion to offer shares of the Corporation's Stock that have been
repurchased and returned to the status of authorized, but unissued
shares[.)" However, it is at best questionable whether this delegation was
intended to cover the exclusive stock offers to directors and officers and,
even if so intended, it is questionable that such a wholesale delegation of
authority by the Board would have been consistent with the directors' fiduciary
duties.
Similarly,
the investigation revealed no coherent "rational basis" for the
Board's action in approving the 2000 formal repurchase program containing the
10,000 share threshold. The threshold led directly to a fundamental disparity
in the way ULLICO's individual shareholders (mostly officers and directors) and
its institutional shareholders (mostly union and pension funds) were treated
under the program.
While
there may have been a rationale for the 10,000 share proration threshold in
1997 when the long‑term repurchase program was initially adopted, we
could discern no meaningful rationale for that threshold in 2000. In fact, the
use of the threshold in 2000, under the then‑existing circumstances,
seemed inconsistent with Chairman Georgine's statement to the Board in 1997
that the repurchase program was a means for "[the Company] to provide
liquidity to (its) larger shareholders." (Emphasis added.) In any event, it is
likely that whatever objectives the Board intended to achieve through the use
of the 10,000 share proration threshold could largely have been achieved
through other means that did not so significantly favor ULLICO's insiders at
the expense of its large institutional shareholders.
In
approving both the stock offer and repurchase programs, certain of ULLICO's
directors did not act as an "ordinarily prudent person" would act in
a "like position
8
under
similar circumstances." The stock offers lacked a clear business purpose
and involved an excessive, and perhaps unauthorized, delegation of
responsibilities. The terms of the repurchase program. at least in 2000, and
the foreseeable proration effect, were (at least) not adequately considered,
particularly given the extent to which officers and director’s personally
benefited from this program.
Outside
Company counsel submits that the directors should have the benefit of the so‑called
“business judgement rule," which has essentially been codified under
Maryland law for directors. In a court case, a procedural presumption in favor
of directors' actions. This procedural presumption can be rebutted by a showing
of a lack of either good faith or an informed basis for the directors'
decisions. Under the facts of this case, it cannot be said with any reasonable
degree of certainty that the business judgment rule would protect those
directors who benefited from the programs at issue.
In
addition to the directors, Georgine and Carabillo bear responsibility for the
defects in the stock offer and repurchase programs from which they benefited.
These officers were heavily involved in the creation, evaluation and
implementation of the programs. Georgine exercised almost unfettered discretion
in administering the "discretionary" repurchase program, and the
Compensation Committee granted Georgine the discretion to determine the timing
of all the stock offers. Each year's repurchase program was approved by the
Board and/or the Executive Committee in the form presented by management.
Carabillo, as ULLICO's Chief Legal Officer, assisted and provided legal advice
to Georgine and the Board in connection with these matters. It is unclear under
Maryland law whether officers' decisions are subject to the procedural
protection of the business judgment rule.
Finally,
outside Company counsel have indicated that the actions by directors and
officers in connection with the stock offer and stock repurchase programs were
based upon advice of both the Company's Chief Legal Officer Carabillo and
outside counsel. Significantly, the burden is on the proponent of the advice of
counsel defense (which is not a complete defense but, instead, provides
evidence of good faith) to establish reasonable reliance on independent legal
advice. This is a difficult burden to satisfy because Carabillo could not be
deemed "independent" counsel as he stood to benefit from, and
assisted in the structuring of, the transactions at issue. Moreover, while
outside counsel provided significant legal services to the Company, it does not
appear that they were ever specifically requested to evaluate the fiduciary
duty issues implicated by the stock offer and repurchase programs. As
important, the critical issues presented here were not legal issues, but rather
primarily involved the appropriateness of certain business decisions, such as
the timing of the exclusive stock offers and the design and implementation of
the repurchase programs. These factual judgments diminish the relevance of any
reliance on counsel defense in connection with the transactions at issue.
9
Traditional
remedies for a breach of fiduciary duty resulting in profits to a director or
officer include the return of profits received from the transactions at issue,
or rescission of the transactions themselves.
Federal
securities laws prohibit a person from making material misstatements or
omissions in connection with the purchase or sale of securities. These laws
also prohibit any scheme, device or practice which acts as a fraud or deceit
upon any person. In order to violate federal securities laws, a person or
company must generally act with "severe recklessness," a higher
standard than the gross negligence required for a breach of fiduciary duty.
Under the
federal securities laws, a statement or omission is material if there is a
substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor would consider it important
in making an investment decision. The tender offer documents for the 2000
repurchase program arguably contained material misstatements and omissions.
Specifcally,
the tender offer documents did not disclose the individual stock ownership of
directors and officers, nor the July 1998 or December 1999 exclusive stock
offers. The documents did not disclose a 40,000 share stock bonus afforded
Chairman Georgine in 1999 and financed by ULLICO, nor the existence of
Georgine's put rights under his employment agreements. The documents did not
disclose the existence of the "discretionary" repurchase program
administered by the Chairman or the fact that directors and officers sold a
significant number of shares pursuant to this program in 2000 at the $146.04
per share stock price. The tender offer documents also did not clearly disclose
the potential impact of the repurchase program's proration provisions, which
were particularly significant in 2000.
The
tender offer documents not only may have failed to provide sufficient
disclosure regarding the purchase of sale of stock by directors and officers,
but (at least in 2000) they also may have misled ULLICO shareholders regarding
management's position on, and participation in, the formal repurchase program.
For example, the 2000 tender offer documents stated that ULLICO and its Board
of Directors believed shares of the Company`s Capital Stock were an
"excellent investment opportunity for the investors seeking long‑term growth of
capital."
The
documents also stated, apparently with little or no basis for doing so, that
ULLICO "has not been advised that any of its directors and executive
officers presently intend(s) to tender any shares personally owned by them
pursuant to theoffer." Finally, the disclosure documents contained the
statement that "neither the Company nor its Board of Directors makes any
recommendation as to whether any shareholder should tender any or all of such
shareholder's shares pursuant to the offer." It is difficult to reconcile
these statements with the fact that, around the same time these statements were
being made, officers and directors were selling a substantial amount of their
ULLICO shares.
10
The
juxtaposition of the 1998 and 1999 exclusive officer and director stock
purchase offers with the terms of the 2000 formal stock repurchase program
(including the 10,000 share proration threshold) and the
"discretionary" repurchase program arguably constituted deceptive or
manipulative acts or practices which were implemented through
misrepresentations and material omissions in violation of federal securities
laws.
While
directors may have acted negligently in approving the 2000 formal stock
repurchase program and the "discretionary" repurchase program, in our
view neither the Company nor the directors acted with the severe recklessness
required to establish a federal securities law violation. Further, even if one
were to demonstrate that certain of ULLICO's directors and officers acted with
severe recklessness in formulating, approving and implementing the stock offer
and repurchase programs, it is not
clear that the other elements of a federal securities law claim based upon
material misrepresentations or omissions in the tender offer disclosure
documents, such as causation and reliance, could be satisfied.
While we
have not analyzed the state securities, or Blue Sky, laws of all 50 states,
some jurisdictions apply a negligence standard for liability as a result of
material misstatements or omissions in connection with the purchase or sale of
securities. Therefore, with this lower intent standard it is possible that
ULLICO and its directors and officers who approved, implemented and benefited
from the stock offer and repurchase programs could be subject to civil
securities claims under state law.
Finally,
because of the highly technical nature of the applicable federal securities law
requirements and the fact that outside securities counsel were specifically
hired to review these requirements, a reliance on counsel defense may be
available in connection with federal securities law claims. However, the
reliance on counsel defense may not be available in connection with claims
based on applicable state securities laws which may be violated by negligent
acts.
Underlying
every criminal prosecution is the element of criminal intent. In a financial
fraud prosecution, a prosecutor is required to demonstrate beyond a reasonable
doubt that a defendant had the specific intent to defraud his victim. Civil
liability, on the other hand, can be established by showing negligence or
severe recklessness under a lesser burden of proof. While the evidence gathered
in the investigation demonstrates that
certain ULLICO officers and directors were treated far more favorably than
institutional shareholders in the sales of their ULLICO stock, their actions in
connection with these sales, while arguably improper, were not criminal. Based
on the information available to the Special Counsel, no evidence of criminal
intent has been discovered.
11
The
Special Counsel's findings and recommendations are set forth on pages 88
through 107.
12
Exhibits
referenced in the following Report are located at the end of the Report.
Documents
referenced in the following Report with a "U_, Tab_" designation are
located in a separate Appendix submitted with the Report.
13
On April
29, 2002, ULLICO's Board retained Governor James R. Thompson, Chairman of
Winston & Strawn, "as counsel to render legal advice and make
recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding the facts and circumstances
surrounding the ...Company['s] issuance and repurchase of its own stock since
1997, and any actions of the Company and persons associated with the Company in
connection with the initial public offering of Global Crossing, Inc., and such
other matters as he may deem appropriate." (U 17424, Tab 1)
In connection with this Report, Winston & Strawn
interviewed over 40 witnesses, including ULLICO directors, officers, employees,
outside consultants and attorneys who are identified on pages 108‑109.
Winston & Strawn also reviewed thousands of documents provided by the
Company and others and consulted an expert on Maryland state corporate law and
federal and state securities laws.2 We have done our best, given the
available time and resources, to conduct a careful and impartial investigation.
However, there were practical and legal limitations on the information
available to us. For example, we had no power to compel third parties to submit
to interviews, produce documents or otherwise provide information.3
In addition, certain directors were unavailable.4
------------------------
2 This expert is Mark A. Sargent, Dean and Professor of Law, Villanova University School of Law. A brief summary of Dean Sargent's evaluation of certain matters contained in this Report is attached as Exhibit 8.
3
Credit Suisse First Boston, for example, declined our request for an interview,
as did ex-director Upshaw.
4
The Company advised us that directors Biller, Maddaloni and West were
unavailable because of health problems. Former directors Cullerton and Wynn are
deceased.
14
Factual Background
ULLICO
Inc. ("ULLICO" or the "Company"), located in Washington,
D.C., is the holding company for several insurance companies that principally
serve union members and their families. Formed in 1925 as Union Labor Life
Insurance Company ("Union Labor Life") by the American Federation of
Labor, the Company was created in large part because union members in high-risk
jobs had difficulty obtaining life insurance coverage.
Union
Labor Life offered life insurance and, through its subsidiaries, other
insurance products. By 1987, Union Labor Life had grown to the point where it
was decided, for capital creation purposes, to form a holding company called
ULLICO Inc. In 1987, ULLICO had 10 subsidiary companies under its umbrella. By
1997, it had 24 subsidiaries.
ULLICO,
through it subsidiaries, offers group life and health benefits and property and
casualty insurance through agents and through direct response marketing. It
also provides, among other things, pension fund, mortgage lending and real
estate investment services.
ULLICO is
managed by an executive staff headed, since December 1990, by Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") Robert A. Georgine. ULLICO's bylaws
authorize a 32‑member Board of Directors ("Board"), which
historically has consisted primarily of executives or retired executives of the
unions and pension funds that ULLICO serves. These unions and pension funds are
also ULLICO's major shareholders. Approximately two‑thirds of the present
directors were recommended for nomination to the Board by Georgine. (Georgine
Interview)
ULLICO is
a private stock company. Between 1925 and 1996 (inclusive), the stock was
effectively valued at $25 per share. The Company paid substantial dividends
throughout this period. For example, during the 10 years prior to 1992, ULLICO
and its predecessor, Union Labor Life, paid 10% stock dividends per year, and
9% cash dividend in eight of those 10 years. (U 030314, Tab 9)
Prior to
1997, if a shareholder wanted to sell the shareholder's stock, the shareholder
had to first offer the stock to the Company, which could repurchase it at the
$25 per share price. (U 030545, Tab 2) If the Company did not exercise its
right to repurchase the tendered stock, the shareholder could sell it to
another qualified shareholder (generally unions, organizations or individuals
affiliated with the union movement) with the Company's approval. (U 030545, Tab
2)
ULLICO's
mission statement includes a promise to "provide fair and equitable
returns for our labor partners‑‑OUR STOCKHOLDERS." (U 18157,
Tab 18)
15
Prior to
1992, the Company had issued only voting capital stock (“Capital
Stock”). In 1992, the Board approved the sale of up to 12 million
preferred certificates at a purchase price of $25 per certificate. The
preferred certificates were convertible at any time by the holder into Class A
voting shares ("Class A Stock") or, under certain circumstances,
Class B non voting shares ("Class B Stock") .5 Three years
following the issuance of the preferred certificates, ULLICO had to redeem the
preferred certificates for cash or convert them into shares of Class A or B
Stock.
Approximately
$232 million in preferred certificates were sold over three years (1992‑1995)
and the vast majority of the certificates were converted over a three-year
period into a like number of shares of Class A or B Stock. Prior to their
conversion, the certificates provided semi‑annual cash payments at an
annualized rate of 8% of the $25 face value of the certificate. Upon
conversion, another $1 was paid to holders of preferred certificates, making
the last year dividend equivalent to 12%. The proceeds from the preferred
certificate offering were used for operations, expansion and investment.
The
preferred certificate program was aimed specifically at attracting pension
funds as new ULLICO shareholders, although existing shareholders could also
participate. (Steed Interview) All of the preferred certificates were converted
by June 1998, by which time. the Company had issued and outstanding about
256,000 shares of Capital Stock, 6.7 million shares of Class A Stock and
753,000 shares of Class B Stock.
In 1991,
Chairman Georgine hired Michael Steed6 as an outside financial
advisor. Steed knew leaders associated with ULLICO as a result of his work as
the Executive Director of the Democratic National Committee. In 1992, Steed
formally joined the Company as Senior Vice‑President of Investments. His
job was to devise a strategy to increase ULLICO's assets and returns thereon.
(Steed Interview)
On
February 14, 1997, as a result of Steed's connections with Gary Winnick (the
founder of Global Crossing), the Executive Committee, on Georgine's
recommendation, approved an investment of up to $10 million in Nautilus LLC,
which eventually became Global Crossing. (U 17350‑51, Tab 3)
ULLICO’s actual investment was $7.6 million, and this investment was made
through MRCo., a subsidiary of the Company. Union Labor Life loaned MRCo. $8
million to consummate this transaction. (U 000018, Tab 5) An LLC membership
interest of approximately 10% in Nautilus LLC was received by MRCo. Other
founding
---------
5
Class B Stock has the same par value of $1.00 per share as Class A Stock. (U
027989, Tab 47) The Company issues Class B Stock, which is non-voting,
stock, to large shareholders to avoid running afoul of ULLICO's by‑laws
requirement that no shareholder hold more than 9% of the Company’s voting
stock. (U 030547, Tab 2; Carabillo Interview)
6
Michael Steed, former Senior Vice‑President of Investments, left ULLICO
on December 10,1999. He filed a federal ERISA claim against ULLICO in
June 2001. In connection with ULLICO's failure, among other things, to pay him all amounts he was allegedly owned under the Global Crossing Incentive award program, The case has been settled.
16
shareholders
included Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, CNA Insurance, and Pacific Capital
Group (an entity controlled by Winnick). (Steed Interview)
By the
time of Global Crossing's initial public offering ("IPO") in August
1998, ULLICO's stake in Global Crossing was worth more than 30 times its
original investment. (U 000927‑000925, Tab 25) Eventually, due to stock
splits, ULLICO would own 33 million Global Crossing shares.
The
Global Crossing IPO had a six‑month underwriter lock‑up. (U 044741,
Tab 4) The founders also signed a Shareholders Agreement and a Registration
Rights Agreement that restricted the sale by founders of their respective
Global Crossing shares for two years, with certain exceptions such as tender
offers. (U 044750, Tab 6; U 044782, Tab 7)
At first,
it was comtemplated that the ULLICO senior officers and directors would have
the opportunity to purchase shares in the IPO as part of a "friends and
family" program. (Steed Interview) Senior officers were subsequently
removed from the friends and family list, but directors could, and some did,
participate in that program.
In June
1999 ULLICO sold 9% of its Global Crossing stock in a tender offer made by US
West for $192,688,809. The original lock‑up restrictions on the sale of
ULLICO's Global Crossing stock expired in March 2000 when the founders'
Shareholders Agreement was terminated. (U 044750, Tab 6; Carabillo Interview)
In April
2000, ULLICO sold 2,568,160 shares in a secondary offering at $32.01 per share,
resulting in gross proceeds of $82,206,801. As part of the secondary offering
terms, ULLICO was once again restricted from further sales for 90 days.
In
September 2000, ULLICO sold an additional 960,000 shares of Global Crossing
stock through Merrill Lynch at $35.34 per share, resulting in gross proceeds of
$33,929,617. In October 2000, ULLICO sold another three million shares in a
block sale through Credit Suisse First Boston ("CSFB") at $26.91 per
share, resulting in gross proceeds of $80,730,000. (U 045715, Tab 11; Linehan
Interview) Also in October 2000, ULLICO entered into a prepaid forward sale
with respect to five million Global Crossing shares through Bear Stearns. This
prepaid forward sale protected those shares from further price erosion and
provided ULLICO with an immediate payment of approximately $95 million.
(Exhibit 5)
As of the
end of October 2000. ULLICO held almost 19 million Global Crossing shares7
and did not dispose of any more shares until the Spring of 2002 when, between May
14 and June 5, it sold 11,216,959 shares at an average price of 7 1/2 cents per
share and received gross proceeds of $843,834. As of June 5, 2002, ULLICO held
7,364,403 of Global Crossing shares. (McKean Interview)
---------
7It was Chairman Georgine's decision to hold the 19 million shares. Others in the Company suggested earlier in the year to sell one‑third, hedge onethird and hold one‑third of the Companys Global Crossing shares. (Grelle Interview) it does not appear from the Company's corporate record that ULLICO's liquidation strategy with respect to the Global Crossing investment was ever meaningfully discussed with the Board or the Executive Committee.
17
Through
2001, ULLICO's after tax gains on its Global Crossing investment totaled $305,100,000.
(U 045567, Tab 10; U 045715, Tab 11; Stephani Interview) This amount is more
than 10 times ULLICO's net income for 1997, the last year before any gains on
the Global Crossing investment were recorded. (Exhibit 4) During the period
from 1999 through 2001, while ULLICO was realizing gains on its Global Crossing
investment, it was incurring substantial losses on its non‑investment
business operations. (Exhibit 4)
ULLICO's Stock Offer, Stock Repurchase and Employee Incentive Programs
In 1997,
ULLICO decided to abandon its fixed price share valuation in favor of a
"book value" valuation method. In May 1997, the book value of each
share was established at $27.06 based on ULLICO's audited balance sheet as of
December 31, 1996. The Executive Committee minutes explain that "[book
value" per share is calculated "by taking the `Total of Stockholders
Equity' as shown on the financial statement and dividing it by the total number
of shares outstanding of Class A, Class B, Capital Stock and any Preferred
Certificates still outstanding."8 (U 000014, Tab 5)
On May 5,
1997, William Egan of CSFB made a presentation concerning a proposed stock
repurchase program to the Executive Committee. According to the minutes,
"Mr. Egan, from [CSFB, explained] that the value added to the corporation
in book value as a measure of value was practical, and passing along this
measure to the stockholders aligned both the stockholders' interests and the
Company's interests. The Company benefits by being able to retain capital for
future growth, the stockholders benefit by participating in that growth more
directly than they ever have in the history of the Company." (U 000013,
Tab 5)
The
minutes further reflect that "several officers participating in the
discussion indicated that this repurchase program created a market, therefore,
set the price for stockholders, especially those which are pension funds and
need to record this in their portfolio." Another indicated that "one
of the issues which has concerned rating' agencies is the payment of large
dividends which has hampered investment in future growth, and in this
competitive environment, that has become a critical factor in the future of the
Company." (U 000013, Tab 5)
According
to Steed, tax issues were another primary motivation for the repurchase
program. That is, dividends are taxed as ordinary income whereas repurchases
could be taxed at capital gains rates. These tax benefits, however, affected
individual investors only because unions and pension funds are tax‑exempt.
(Steed Interview)
On May 6,
1997, after another presentation by Egan of CSFB, the Board adopted a stock
repurchase program under which the Company intended to repurchase $180
---------
8According
to Kenneth Hugessen of the corporate consulting firm William M. Mercer &
Company (ULLICO's former compensation consultant, it is not uncommon for
closely‑held companies to use “book value" to value stock, and
it is common for such companies to set such book value once a year.
18
million of Class A and B Stock over an 11‑year period. Under this program, the Company would offer to repurchase $30 million of stock in 1997 and, "subject to having sufficient earnings and cash flow from operations," $15 million of stock in each of the subsequent 10 years. (U 000033, Tab 12) The per share repurchase price would be determined pursuant to the "book value" formula described above.
In his
May 6, 1997 prepared statement to the Board outlining the repurchase program,
Chairman Georgine stated that "the repurchase program is a means for us to
provide liquidity to our larger stockholders." (Emphasis added) (U
001210, Tab 13; see also U 000017, Tab 5) That is, the repurchase program was
intended to essentially replace dividends as the principal returm mechanism for
shareholders. (Steed Interview) The Board thus decreased its cash dividend from
8% ($2.00) per share in 1996 to 2% ($0.54) her share in 1997. (U 000032, Tab
12) No dividends have been paid since 1998.(Exhibit 4)
The Stock
Repurchase Program Term Sheet attached to the May 6, 1997 Board minutes
explains the following repurchase program procedure: "If more shares are
tendered than the Company has agreed to purchase, shares will be taken up pro
rata and new certificates will be issued for returned shares. Tenders by
holders of 10 or fewer shares will be accented without pro ration. There is no
minimum number of shares that must be tendered." (U 000033, Tab 12) As
discussed below, this 10 share threshold was later replaced by a 10,000 share
threshold prior to the commencement of the 1997 repurchase program.9
Although the stock repurchase program did not include Capital Stock shareholders, the Stock Repurchase Program Term Sheet addressed this issue: "Although the offer would not be made for Capital Stock, the Company intends in the future to offer the greater of book value or $25 per share to repurchase Capital Stock when exercising its right of first refusal upon the death of a shareholder. In the event a holder of Capital Stock gives notice of a desire to transfer such shares, the Company intends to offer to repurchase the shares at book value." (Emphasis added) (U 000033, Tab 12) This statement is the closest the Board came, until November 2000, to expressly approving the so‑called "discretionary" repurchase program administered by Chairman Georgine (and further discussed below)."
Also on
May 6, 1997, the Board authorized, directed and empowered the Chairman,
"at his sole discretion to offer shares of the Corporation's Stock that
have been repurchased and returned to the status of authorized, but unissued
shares, to
-------
9
The Company has noted that, as of May 1997,18 shareholders held fewer than
10,000 Class A shares, 14 of these shareholders held fewer than 5,000 Class A
shares, 10 of these shareholders held fewer than 1,000 Class A shares, one
shareholder held 100 or fewer Class A shares and no shareholder held 10 or
fewer Class A shares. In 1997, only one shareholder who participated in the
repurchase program held fewer than 10,000 shares, but that shareholder did not
tender 100% of the shares and, therefore, did not satisfy all of the conditions
of the 10,000 share proration exception. As of 2000, 43 shareholders held fewer
than 10,000 Class A shares, 34 shareholders held fewer than 5,000 Class A shares,
17 shareholders held fewer than 1,000 Class A shares and 3 shareholders held
100 or fewer Class A shares. In addition, unlike in 1997, 19 shareholders
(including 14 directors or officers) avoided proration under the 2000 formal
repurchase program's 10,000, share proration threshold. (U 018243‑44, Tab
87; U 27713, Tab 88). This issue is discussed in more depth below.
10
This statement is repeated in the term sheets used for future stock purchase
programs. (see,e,g., 048222, Tab 8; U 019359, Tab 14; U 001368, Tab 15)
19
authorized
investors as specified in the Corporation's Charter and By‑Laws." (U
000030, Tab 12) This is the closest the Board came to authorizing Georgine to
make the 1998 and 1999 stock offers to senior officers and directors discussed
below.
On June
15, 1997, Georgine sent a letter to ULLICO's shareholders describing the new
stock repurchase program. This letter notified shareholders that, although
holders of Capital Stock could no redeem their stock in the program, they could
offer their stork for repurchase by the Company' "Holders of Capital
Stock, while not included within the formal repurchase program, still are
expected to comply with the requirement that any company stock be offered for
sale to the Corporation first, and so long as the Corporation is able; and it
is within a good corporate policy, we will continue our past practice of
repurchasing Capital Stock when offered by a holder of Capital Stock." (U
027721, Tab 16) As far as we could determine, this statement (and a similar
statement in 1998 discussed infra) is the closest the Company came to disclosing the
Chairman's "discretionary" repurchase program to its shareholders.
The
Chairman would employ this "discretionary" program in subsequent
years to redeem not only Capital Stock but Class A as well.
The May
5, 1997 Executive Committee resolutions stated that the repurchase offer should
take place on June 1, 1997 or "as soon thereafter as is practical‑-with
repurchase to be effective on June 30, 1997." The offer did not actually
commence until November 1997.
On
November 10, 1997, pursuant to the Board's May 6, 1997 authorization, ULLICO
formally offered to repurchase $30 million of its Class A and B Stock at $27.06
per share. (U 001059, Tab 17) This tender offer remained open until December
10, 1997, and was over‑subscribed.
The draft
tender offer documents initially adopted the 10 share, threshold reflected in
the original Stock Repurchase Program Term Sheet discussed above. During the
review process, however, that threshold was changed to 100 shares and then to
10,000 shares. (LJ 035240, Tab 19; U 035108, Tab 20) No person interviewed has
been able to explain at whose direction these changes were made.
The
tender offer documents explained how the 10,000 share threshold impacted stock
repurchases in the following terms:
The Company, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer, will accept for purchase, without proration, all Shares properly tendered and not withdrawn before the Expiration Date by or on behalf of holders of fewer than 10,000 Shares .... To avoid proration, however, such holder must properly tender all Shares that such holder beneficially owns. Partial tenders will not qualify for purchase without proration. The offer to purchase without proration is not available to owners of 10,000 or more shares even if such owners have separate stock certificates for fewer than 10,000 Shares. (U 001066, Tab 17)
20
Accordingly,
pursuant to the repurchase program, holders of 10,000 or more shares (defined
as Class A and Class B Stock) could tender all of their respective shares but
would be prorated if the offer were over‑subscribed. In contrast, holders
of fewer than 10,000 shares could avoid proration so long as they tendered all
of their respective shares.
In 1997,
shareholders tendered 3,099,490 shares for repurchase and 1,108,647 were
repurchased, resulting in a 35.76% proration. (Exhibit 6) Only one shareholder,
a pension plan, holding fewer than 10,000 shares participated in the 1997
program. That shareholder, however, did not tender 100% of its holdings and,
therefore, was prorated at the same level as the shareholders holding 10,000 or
more shares. (U 046998‑99, Tab 67)
Neither
the Executive Committee nor the Board expressly approved the 10,000 share
threshold in 1997. This threshold was adopted in subsequent years of the
repurchase program and, in 2000, as discussed below, resulted in ULLICO's
larger shareholders being able to redeem only 2.2% of their tendered shares while
its under‑10,000 shareholders, mostly directors and officers, were able
to redeem 100% of their tendered shares.
One
purpose behind a proration threshold, whether 10,000 shares or some another
number, was reportedly tax‑driven. According to ULLICO executives,
outside counsel advised ULLICO that if every shareholder were to participate
equally, the repurchase program would be treated as a dividend with unfavorable
tax consequences to individual shareholders."
Dividend
is taxed at rates applicable to ordinary income while gains on‑the sale
of stock held for more than one year are taxed at more favorable rates
applicable to long‑term capital gains. Significantly, unions and pension
funds, ULLICO's largest shareholders, are exempt from taxation. According, any
tax motivation for the 10,000 share threshold was necessarily designed for
individual shareholders, the vast majority of whom were officers and directors.
Two directors indicated in their interviews
that a reason for the 10,000 share threshold was to benefit officers and
directors, many of whom owned fewer than 10,000 shares.
Another
purported purpose behind the 10,000 share threshold was to eliminate small
shareholders. Eliminating small shareholders would ease administrative burdens
and help keep the total number of shareholders under 500, which is the limit
for a privately-held company to avoid certain Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC") reporting requirements. (Carabillo Interview)
----------------
11
No attorney interviewed in this investigation recalled proviiding such advice.
But this advice may have come from David Woodward, of LeBoeuf Lamb, who died in
1998. The tender offer documents warned that the IRS could view the redemptions
as dividend income, regardless of how the transactions had been structures.
21
1998 Employee Incentive, Stock Offer and Stock Repurchase Programs
In August
Global Crossing completed its IPO, resulting in a large unrealized gain in the
value of ULLICO’s investment in Global Crossing. The success of ULLICO's
investment in Global Crossing resulted in the creation of several programs
designed to benefit ULLICO's senior executives, who some have contended were
historically under‑compensated when compared to their peers. (Carabillo
and Manley Interviews)
According
to the Company, each of these employee incentive programs was developed by
ULLICO with the assistance of one or more of the following advisors: CSFB,
PricewaterhouseCoopers ("PwC"), Mercer, Arnold & Porter and
LeBoeufy Lamb, Greene & MacRae, LLP ("LeBoeuf Lamb"), although
which firm provided advice in connection with the implemented stock offer
program for directors and officers is not clear.
Other
than the October 1998 stock offer to directors and officers of ULLICO stock
discussed below, which was disclosed in connection with the 1998 stock
repurchase program, none of ULLICO's employee incentive programs were disclosed
to ULLICO's shareholders. (U 009093, Tab 27)
On July
27, 1998 the Compensation Committee considered a compensation report provided
by consultant William M. Mercer & Company ("Mercer") and approved
an incentive program, referred to as the Global Incentive Program, for certain
senior executives. This program was tied to ULLICO's profits on its Global
Crossing investment.12 (U 011974, Tab 21; U 000324, Tab 22; U
020216, Tab 23; U 020102, Tab 24)
In his statement to the Compensation Committee on July 27 1998 Georgine said: “We will disclose this plan (the Global Incentive Program] to the Executive Committee at its next meeting, and ask them to ratify the action taken today. Partly, because this is the first program of its kind at ULLICO and because we want to set the stage for a more structured approach to long‑term compensation.” (U 000930, Tab 25) According to our records, the next Executive Committee was held on November 30, 1998, but there was no mention of the Global Incentive Progam at that meeting or, as far as we could determine any Executive Committee or Board meeting.
The Global
Incentive Program payments to ULLICO's five senior executives
(Georgine,
Steed, Grelle, Luce and Carabillo) from 1998 through 2001 totaled $5,673,824.
These payments, and each executive's total cash compensation for each
-----------
12
Mercer was not told that the Company intended to make to ULLICO stock purchase
offers to directors and senior officers discussed infra, but Kenneth Hugessen of Mercer
did not believe that this shock purchase program would have substantially
changed his recommended Global Incentive Program. (Hugessen Interview)
22
year in
the period 1996 through 2001 (including earnings under the non‑qualified
deferred compensation plan and profits on the sale of ULLICO stock), are
reflected in Exhibit 2.
Senior
executives also were able to participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan
effective as of August 1, 1998. (U 021800, Tab 26) Edward Bintz of Arnold &
Porter prepared this program for the Company. (Bintz Interview)
On July
27, 1998 the Compensation Committee approved the ULLICO NonQualified
Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Deferred Compensation Plan"), which
allowed eligible participants to defer up to 25% of their base salary and up to
100% of their bonuses (including incentive awards under the Global Incentive
Program) under the Plan. The purpose of the Deferred Compensation Plan was to
allow senior executives to defer income (and thereby defer income tax) on a
portion of their earrings and to make deemed investments of such deferred
income in one or more investment alternatives. Amounts deferred under the Plan
are not required to be actually invested in the available investment
alternatives. Rather, the investment alternatives simply provide a measure of
return to Plan participants.
ULLICO is
obligated under the Deferred Compensation Plan to distribute deferred amounts
and deemed interest and earnings on such amounts upon the request of Plan
participants (subject to certain restrictions). The Deferred Compensation Plan
was intended to be, and appears to satisfy the requirements of, a non‑qualified,
"top‑hat" plan under ERISA. Top‑hat plans are not subject
to ERISA's fiduciary requirements." The participants under the Deferred
Compensation Plan were Georgine, Carabillb, Grelle, Luce and Steed. See Tab
109)
Deferred
compensation plans, such as ULLICO's, are quite common and, in many cases,
appropriate retirement planning vehicles for highly‑compensated
executives. However, ULLICO's senior executives received a windfall in 2000 and
2001 as a result of "deemed" purchases and sales of ULLICO stock
under the Deferred Compensation Plan. These deemed purchases and sales of
ULLICO stock under the Deferred Compensation Plan raise some of the same issues
as the exclusive stock offers in 1998 and 1999 and the Company's repurchase
programs in 2000 and 2001.
The
Deferred Compensation Plan allowed participants to elect among several deemed
investment alternatives, including: "ULLICO Stock (which shall be valued
at its current book value from time to time, as set each year by the Board of
Directors of the Company or such Board's Executive Committee)."14
The Deferred Compensation Plan also allowed a participant to:
---------
13 29 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(1).
14
In addition to the ULLICO stock account, participants in the Deferred
Compensation Plan Initially could also allocate deferred income to three
Separate Accounts in Union Labor Life or an account which bore interest at the
rate of the 15‑year treasury rate plus 2%. These other investment
alternatives appear to have changed over time.
23
elect to change the deemed investment of his Account as of any Valuation Date (but no more than once in any calendar quarter) by giving at least 30 days' advance notice to the Company's Vice President of Human Resources on such election form as may be prescribed by the Company's Vice President of Human Resources.
The
Deferred Compensation Plan defines the term "Valuation Date" to mean
the last day of each calendar month.
From the
information provided to us during the investigation, it appears as if Georgine,
Carabillo, Luce and Grelle deferred a significant portion of their earnings in
1998 and 1999 under the Deferred Compensation Plan, a substantial part of which
was deemed to have been invested in ULLICO stock. Deemed investments in ULLICO
stock in 1998 were made at the price of $28.70 per share, while deemed
investments in 1999 were made at the price of $53.94 per share. Deemed
investments in ULLICO stock were revalued annually following the adjustment to
the book value per share approved by the Board or the, Executive Committee.
So for
example, in September 1998, Georgine deferred $716,727 of his bonus under the
Global Incentive Program and elected to have such amount allocated to the
ULLICO Class A Stock investment account. His deemed investment was made at
$28.70 per share. As a result of the increase in the book value per share of
ULLICO's stock to $53.941 per share in May 1999, Georeine's $716.727 deferral
was revalued to approximately $1.35 million in 1999. In August 1999, Georgine
deferred an additional $656,366 and such amount was allocated to the ULLICO
stock investment account at a price of $53.94 per share. In 2000, when the book
value per share of
$146.04
was approved by the Executive Committee, Georgine's deferred investment account
grew to over $5.4 million, representing an almost 300% return on his original
vestments.
ULLICO's
other senior officers also experienced extremely large returns on their deemed
investments in ULLICO stock, although somewhat lower than Georgine. (Exhibit 2)
In addition, unlike Georgine, who until 2001 had invested only in the ULLICO
stock investment account under the Plan, Carabillo, Grelle and Luce changed
their investment elections in December 1999 to shift all amounts allocated to
non‑ULLICO investment accounts into the ULLICO stock investment account.
Deemed investments in ULLICO stock as a result of these change in investment
elections were made at $53.94 per share, just prior to the date used to
calculate the 1999 book value, i.e., December 31, 1999. Amounts allocated to
the ULLICO stock investment account in December 1999 by Carabiilo, Grelle, and
Luce almost tripled when the book value per share was adjusted less than six
months later.
Notwithstanding
their exceptional investment success under the Deferred Compensation Plan,
Georgine, Carabillo, Grelle and Luce each shifted all amounts allocated to
their ULLICO stock account to other investment accounts after the book value
per share of ULLICO stock rose to $146.04 per share in May 2000 and before the
book value per share declined to $74.87 in May 2001. Carabillo, Grelle and Luce
24
did so in
June 2000. Georgine apparently did so in 2001.15 Amounts withdrawn
from the ULLICO stock account were reallocated to deemed money market accounts
by Georgine, Carabillo and Grelle. Carabillo apparently withdrew all deferred
income and deemed earnings (a total of approximately $606,000) from the
Deferred Compensation Plan sometime in 2001 or early 2002. Luce reallocated his
deemed investment in ULLICO stock to several investment alternatives.
Finally,
directors and senior officers were able to participate in exclusive stock
offers, under which the participants were granted the opportunity to purchase
ULLICO Class A Stock at the price per share most recently established by the
Board. There were no restrictions on the ability of participants in this
program to subsequently sell any shares that they purchased. This program was
new for ULLICO in the post‑preferred certificate program period era, but
the concept of allowing directors and officers to purchase stock was not
unprecedented. Georgine's predecessor, Daniel O' Sullivan, occasionally
provided directors and officers the opportunity to purchase Capital Stock at
$25 per share. (Carabillo, Luce, Brown, Boede, McNulty and Steed Interviews)
Prior to 1997, however, the value of ULLICO's stock was effectively fixed at
$25 per share.
On February 11. 1998, the Executive Committee, pursuant to Article VI,§ 1 of the by‑laws, appointed a Compensation Committee, which consisted of Directors Barry, West and Wynn. The Compensation Committee was "authorized to act on all matters concerning compensation and the establishment and administration of all programs and agreements relating to compensation, whether current or deferred." The resolution added: "No member of the Committee shall participate in the determination of any matter affecting his own compensation. (Emphasis added) (U 17329, Tab 28)
On July
27, 1998, pursuant to this purported authority and "because of the unusual
nature of this significant event," i.e., the Global Crossing investment
success, the Compensation Committee "decided to authorize the offer of
2,000 shares of Class A Stock of ULLICO Inc. to each Director and Officer of
the Company and instructed the Chairman to make that available at the earliest
opportunity." (U 000325, Tab 22) Chairman Georgine also reported to the
Compensation Committee at this meeting that: "Each Director and Officer
will have the opportunity to buy ULLICO stock, up to 2000 shares (can go up
to 4000) at the
current 28.70 book value." (Emphasis added) (U 000929, Tab 25) The
Compensation Committee minutes, however, do not reflect the authorization for
the "up to 4000" stock purchase opportunity."
-----------------
15
Outside Company counsel have indicated that Georgine may have shifted his
deferred income out of the ULLICO stock investment account as a result of a
change in the plan administrator under the Deferred Compensation Plan. He
apparently did so, however, just prior to the time ULLICO's stock price
decreased from $146.04 to $74.87 per share.
16
Frank Manley, ULLICO's former compensation expert, characterized this offer as
similar to “in the money” options; that is; an equity benefit
without investment risk. He also felt that the Company could not justify a
significant award to directors based on the Global Crossing investment success
given
25
"Each
Director and Officer" eligible to participate in the stock offer program
included those directors on the Compensation Committee. This action by the
Compensation Committee members was contrary to the February 11, 1998 Executive
Committee resolution discussed above, which expressly prohibited members of the
Compensation Committee from participating in a matter directly affecting their
own compensation.
By letter
dated July 29, 1998 Chairman Georgine offers each senior officer and director
of ULLICO the right to purchase 2,000 shares at the $28.70 per share stock
price, stating:
In recent years the subject of corporate governance has been frequently debated. The idea is that management and the board of directors should have their interests in line with the stockholders, and good common sense tell us that this is a good idea. If the stockholders, the true owners of the corporation, do well then the officers and directors should also do well. And the officers and directors in conducting their everyday business should have the interests of the stockholders foremost in their minds.
In this
letter, Georgine also said: "Over the years I have purchased ULLICO stock
whenever it was available, and I intend to purchase additional stock at this
time." (U 028021, Tab 29)
By letter dated October 13 1998 Chairman Georgine offered each senior officer and director the right to purchase an additional 2,000 shares of Class A Stock at the $28.70 stock price. In this letter, Georgine explained that the offer "reinforces our belief that it is important to have Directors who participate in the Company's equity.”17 The stock offer program for directors and senior officers had the effect of creating more small shareholders, the antithesis of one of the stated administrative goals of the 10,000 share proration threshold in the formal repurchase program. (U 028019, Tab 30)
It is unclear how the Compensation Committee was able to authorize Georgine to make the 1998 stock offers (as well as the 1999 stock offer discussed below) consistent with the Company's by‑laws. Arnold & Porter, in a memorandum dated July 9, 2002 (prepared pursuant to our request), asserted that such authority came from the Executive Committee. (CJ 047020, Tab 31) But even if, as Arnold & Porter asserts, "ULLICO's By‑Laws provide that compensation of directors and certain officers is to be fixed (or in the case of appointed officers, approved) by the Executive Committee," the by‑laws (Art. VI, § 2) expressly state that "the Executive Committee ...shall not have authority to ...issue Stock." (Emphasis added.) (U 030552, Tab 2) As discussed above, the Compensation Committee obtained its
-----------------
16
that the directors had a minimal
role in connection with that investment. (Manley Interview) Georgine did not
dispute the fact that the directors had a minimal role in the investment.
(Georgina Interview)
17
Exhibit 1 is a chart that shows those officers and directors who purchased
stock pursuant to the July 1996 and October 1998 stock offers, as well as a
subsequent 4,000 share offer in 1999, and the sums received when some of them
redeemed those and other ULLICO shares they owned at a price of $146.04 per
share in 2000‑01.
26
authority
from the Executive Committee. Accordingly, based on a plain reading of the by‑laws
themselves, it appears that the Compensation Committee lacked authority
"to...issue Stock" and, in particular, "to authorize the offer
of 2,000 shares of Class A Stock of ULLICO Inc. to each Director and Officer of
the Company°
Chief
Legal Officer Joseph A. Carabillo acknowledged that the Compensation Committee
lacked authority to instruct Georgine to make stock offers to directors and
senior offcers. (Carabillo Interview) Nevertheless, according to Carabillo and
Arnold & Porter, Georgine did not need authorization from the Compensation
Committee to make these offers because, on May 6, 1997, the Board authorized,
directed and empowered the Chairman, "at his sole discretion to offer
shares of the Corporation's Stock that have been repurchased and returned to
the status of authorized, but unissued shares, to authorized investors as
specified in the Corporation's Charter and By‑Laws." (U 000030, Tab
12; U 047020, Tab 31) In addition to the issue of whether this purported
approval involved an excessive, and perhaps impermissible, delegation of
authority, this argument, however, may be flawed for at least two reasons.
First,
Article TI(B) § 2 of the by‑laws defines authorized investors of
ULLICO to include, among others, "such Directors or Officers as may be
elected or employed by the Company, as the Board of Directors may from time
to time grant the right of purchase." (Emphasis added.) (U 030546, Tab 2) Neither
Carabillo nor Arnold & Porter has addressed the fact that the by‑laws
authorize directors and officers to purchase stock only "as the Board
of Directors may from time to time grant[s] the right of purchase." (Emphasis added.) The
Board, in its May 6, 1997 resolution at issue, did not delegate to Georgine the
specific authority to "grant the right of purchase" to "directors
or officers." Therefore, an issue remains as to whether the May 6, 1997
Board resolution discussed above authorized Georgine to offer stock to officers
and directors.
Second,
even if the May 6, 1997 resolution authorized Georgine to offer stock to other
directors and officers, there is no indication that the Board authorized
Georgine to issue stock to himself. When asked if Georgine had the authority to
approve his own purchases of ULLICO Class A stock, Carabillo replied that this
was a good question. (Carabillo Interview).
Georgine,
when interviewed, said that his intent in making the 1998 and 1999 stock offers
was to provide directors and officers with a long‑term investment
opportunity and not compensation.18 However, he believed that
directors and officers should be able to sell their shares whenever they needed
money. As discussed below, most of the stock purchased by directors and
officers in 1998 and 1999 was sold back to the Company in 2000 and 2001, and no
stock offers have been made to directors or officers since 1999. Georgine also
said he relied upon Carabillo's advice regarding his authority to issue stock.
--------------------------------
18
Georgine's counsel, in subsequent discussions, indicated that regardless of the
original intent underlying the 1998 and 1999 stock offers, those offers should
be viewed as compensatory.
27
The July
1998 offer to buy 2,000 shares occurred shortly before the Global Crossing
initial public offering, which foreseeably would, and in fact did, substantially
increase the value of ULLICO's Global Crossing investment and the book value of
ULLICO's shares. The October 1998 stock purchase offer of 2,000 shares carried
even less investment risk as ULLICO's unrealized gain on its Global Crossing
investment had increased even further by that time. Even though the price of
Global Crossing stock could fluctuate up or down in 1998, downside risk on the
ULLICO shares purchased by directors and officers in 1998 was limited. Any of
the shares purchased in 1998 could have been redeemed at their cost through the
formal repurchase program later that year.
Based
upon the facts that (1) the stock offer was purportedly approved by the
Compensation Committee allegedly pursuant to its authority to fix directors'
and officers' compensation, (2) the Compensation Committee alluded to the
success of ULLICO's investment in Global Crossing as a basis for making the
offer, and (3) the purchases carried minimal investment risk, it is clear that
the 1998 stock offers (as well as a similar offer made in 1999 and discussed
below) had the effect of providing additional compensation to ULLICO's
directors and officers when they later sold their stock.
1998 Stock Repurchase Program
On May 4,
1998, the Executive Committee authorized a $15 million repurchase program for
Class A and B Stock at a "book value" price of $28.70 per share. (U
17326‑27, Tab 32)
On May 5,
1998, the Chairman told the Board that the stock price had risen to $28.70 per
share, but the minutes make no mention of the 1998 stock repurchase program
adopted by the Executive Committee. (U 000034, Tab 106) The Board did, however,
adopt a 2% cash dividend (or $0.57 per share). (U 000036, Tab 106)
On June
30, 1998, Georgine sent a letter to ULLICO's shareholders announcing the 1998 stock
repurchase program. In this letter, Georgine explained: "Capital
Stockholders will be treated as they have been in the past with liquidity
provided whenever possible by the Corporation, in accordance with sound
corporate practice, based on a request for repurchase from a holder of Capital
Stock. Therefore, Capital Stock is not considered to be within the repurchase
program." (U 027307, Tab 107) As far as we could determine, this statement
did not appear in letters to shareholders describing stock repurchase programs
in subsequent years.
On
November 9, 1998, ULLICO formally offered to repurchase $15 million of its
stock at $28.70 per share. (U 009065, Tab 27) This offer included the 10,000
share threshold used in the 1997 tender offer documents. (U 009071, Tab 27)
Before the tender offer documents were finalized, however, outside counsel
Douglas Beck of LeBoeuf Lamb raised a question of whether repurchases of stock
from the under 10,000 shareholders could cost the Company more than the
$15 million made
28
available
in the repurchase offer." (U 037894, Tab 33) This question highlighted the
disproportionate impact the proration threshold could have on shareholders. The
issue was never addressed in the tender offer documents or, as far as we could
determine, elsewhere.
The 1998
repurchase offer was under‑subscribed: there were only 149,693 shares
tendered, and therefore shareholders holding 10,000 or more shares were not
prorated. (Exhibit 6) The Company repurchased only $4.3 million of stock. This
was likely due to the upward trend in Global Crossing's stock price during 1998
and an expectation that the increase in Global Crossing's stock price would
result in a significantly higher book value for ULLICO stock.
In August
1998, Global Crossing was trading at $25 per share. When the 1998 repurchase
offer was initiated on November 9, 1998, Global Crossing's stock price had
risen to $32 per share. Global Crossing's stock price closed at $37 on December
lst, and reached $43 on December 9th. The 1998 repurchase offer was open until
December 1lth. Consistent with this trend, Steed recalled that the Qualified
Pension Asset Managers ("QPAMs"), who managed pension funds that were
major ULLICO shareholders, came to the conclusion that the ULLICO stock price
would be higher in 1999. (Steed Interview)
The
October 1998 stock purchase offer to directors and officers, but not the July
1998 stock purchase offer, was disclosed in the 1998 repurchase offer
disclosure document sent to all ULLICO shareholders. Apparently, only purchases
within 40 business days preceding the commencement of the repurchase offer were
disclosed. (U 009093, Tab 27) It is not clear why ULLICO adopted this 40
business day standard, although it is similar to a specific disclosure standard
applicable to public company tender offers.
On
November 30, 1998, Chairman Georgine hailed the success of the Global Crossing
investment in his report to the Executive Committee. He explained that ULLICO's
"original 80 thousand shares had transformed themselves into 16,590,130
shares, with additional warrants for another 349,000 shares, which have not yet
been exercised. Our per share acquisition cost is well below $1 per share on
the original investment. As of Friday, November 27th, the stock was trading at
$37 3/8ths. On paper, not considering taxes and other questions, it is worth
$620 million as of close of business on Friday."21 (U 17325,
Tab 34)
-------------
19
Before August 1998, Carabillo chiefly relied on David Woodward at LeBoeuf Lamb
for legal advice. Douglas Beck, another LeBoeUf Lamb corporate partner, and
Arnold & Porter took more active roles in advising the Company on corporate
law matters after Woodward passed away suddenly in the Summer of 1998. (Beck
Interview)
20
LeBoeuf Lamb counsel Douglas Beck's subsequent comment on a draft of the 2000
tender offer document that the number of shares held by fewer than 10,000
shareholders should be specifically disclosed was not adopted by the Company.
(U025692, Tab 85).
21
A few months after this statement, in March 1999, Global Crossing announced a 2
for 1 stock split, doubling the shares ULLICO owned.
29
1999
Stock Offer and Repurchase Programs
1999 Director/Officer Stock Offer Program
On
February 13, 1999, the Executive Committee, pursuant to Article VI § 1 of
the by‑laws, appointed the Compensation Committee (consisting of
Directors Barry, Cullerton, West and Wynn) with "full authority to act on
all matters concerning compensation of officers and other employees, including
all current and deferred compensation, and including the establishment and
administration of all plans, programs, and agreements, and including the
issuance stock."
(Emphases added) (U 17318, Tab 35) Although the underscored phrase is new, it
does not change the fact that this attempt to delegate authority conflicts with
Article VI, § 2 of the bylaws, which expressly states that "the
Executive Committee ...shall not have authority to ...issue Stock." (Emphasis added) (U 030552,
Tab 2) The Executive Committee resolution also states that; "No member of
the Committee shall participate in the determination of any matter affecting
his, own compensation." (U 17318, Tab 35)
On May
13, 1999, the Compensation Committee (Cullerton not attending) authorized
Georgine to offer up to 4,000 shares of ULLICO stock to senior officers and
directors. "That offer would be at book value [i. e., $53.94 per share]
and will be made some time during the course of the year 1999 at the
Chairman's discretion."
(Emphasis added) (U 000328, Tab 36; U 001580, Tab 37) Providing the Chairman
with absolute discretion to determine the timing of the offer in 1999 differed
from the Compensation Committee resolution approving the 1998 stock offer,
which specifically instructed the Chairman to make the shares available "at
the earliest opportunity."
As previously discussed, the Compensation Committee lacked authority to issue stock under ULLICO's by‑laws. In addition, because the stock purchase offers were clearly in the nature of compensation, Directors West, Barry and Wynn participated in determining their own compensation in contravention of the February 13, 1999 Executive Committee resolution.
On
December 10, 1999, Chief Legal Officer Carabillo sent the Chairman a memo
attaching a draft letter offering stock to officers and directors and
discussing several issues in connection with such offer. In the memo, Carabillo
first explains that, based on a discussion with Edward Bintz and Dennis Lyons
of Arnold & Porter, "there are issues involved in any sale at this
time."22 Nevertheless, according to Carabillo, "there
appear to be no prohibitions on us going forward [with] the sale of stock to
officers and directors." (U 021378, Tab 38) Second, Carabillo explains
that one potential issue concerning the stock offer was the "possibility,
however remote, that the [Internal Revenue Service ("IRS")] on audit
could question a sale at this stage of the year arguing that there was an
intrinsic value." (U 021378, Tab 38) Third, Carabillo explains to Georgine
that his authority to make these stock offers came from the May 6, 1997 Board
resolution that authorized the Chairman "to sell stock
-------------
22
Neither Brintz nor Lyons recalled this conversation. (Bintz Interview, Lyons
Interview)
30
that has
been retired through prior acquisitions" and from the Compensation
Committee. (U 021378, Tab 38) As discussed above, this legal analysis is
subject to challenge. The Chairman, in his interview, stated that he relied
upon Carabillo's advice for his authority to make the offer.
By letter
dated December 17, 1999, Chairman Georirine offered each senior officer and
director the right to purchase up to 4,000 shares of Class A Stock at a price
of $53.94 per share, the book value per share based on ULLICO's December 31,
1998 audited balance sheet. Again, the Chairman explained: "Over the years
I have purchased ULLICO stock whenever it was available, and I intend to
purchase additional stock at this time." (U 007090, Tab 44) This letter
was distrisbuted on the date the 1999 stock repurchase program expired and a
week after Steed resigned from the Company.
As
previously discussed, the Compensation Committee left the timing of this stock
offer to Chairman Georgine's discretion. He waited until December 17, 1999 to
make the offer. Carabillo stated in his interview that he repeatedly urged
Georgine to make the offers in the Fall 999, but Georgine was preoccupied with
other matters. (Carabillo Interview) Georgine had no recollection of the reason
he waited until December 17, 1999, to make the offer, but he denied that the
timing of this offer had anything
to do with Steed's departure from the Company or the term of the 1999 stock
repurchase program. (Georgine Interview)
At its
December 17, 1999 meeting, the Compensation Committee again addressed the
"concept of having the directors and senior officers participate through
an offer of stock in the Company at $53.94." At this meeting, "the
concept was advanced by Mr. Carabillo that since the corporation is not
publicly traded and stock options do not have the same effect as in a publicly
traded corporations, whether the Committee would desire to make loans to
individuals to facilitate the purchase of the stock." But "[t]he
Committee declined to make such an offer of financing."'23 (U
011990, Tab 39; 024743, Tab 40) Georgine stated that he opposed having the
Company make loans to the officers and directors to buy stock. (Georgine
Interview)
Nevertheless.
on December 28, 1999, Chairman Georgine sent a letter acknowledging the
assignment of 4,000 shares of ULLICO stock to Mellon Bank (MD)N.A.
("Mellon Bank") as collateral for a one‑year loan of $215,760
to Carabillo and Karin E. Vaughn. This amount was needed to buy 4,000 shares of
ULLICO stock pursuant to the December 17, 1999 offer. This lettere also granted
Mellon Bank the absolute right, exercisable at anytime, to put the shares of
stock to ULLICO "for an amount sufficient to repay any borrowing by
[Carabillo], including principal amount, interest outstanding and/or
penalties." (U 009945‑46, Tab 41) Also on December 28, 1999,
Chairman Georgine sent an identical letter to Mellon Bank
---------
23
At this same meeting, the Compensation Committee approved a Stock Purchase and
Credit Agreement with Georgine pursuant to which Georgine was offered the
opportunity to purchase 40,000 shares of ULLICO stock with the proceeds of a
loan provided by ULLICO. The loan would be forgiven over the ensuing five‑year
period, provided that Georgine remained employed by the Company. The Stock
Purchase and Credit Agreement also allowed Georgine to put the 40,000 shares to
the Company as the loan was forgiven or repaid. This agreement is discussed the
more depth below.
31
concerning
a $215,760 loan to Chief Financial Officer John K. Grelle and his wife, and
Carabillo sent an identical letter to Mellon Bank concerning a $215,760 loan to
Georgine and his wife. (U 009947‑50, Tab 42 and 43)
These
letters likely constituted indirect guarantees by ULLICO of the loans made by
Mellon Bank to the officers personally.24 We are unaware of any action
taken by the Board of Directors or any of its committees authorizing Georgine
and Carabillo to deliver these letters. Nor was there anything in the corporate
records to indicate that such letters were ever disclosed to the Board or any
of its committees. In their interviews, Grelle and Carabillo stated that they
had never previously borrowed money to buy stock in any company. Georgine, in
his interview, noted that he had done so only once before. (Grelle, Carabillo
and Georgine Interviews).
According
to Carabillo, Paul Berger and Edward Bintz of Arnold & Porter approved
chairman Georgine's December 17, 1999 stock offer. (Carabillo Interview) Bintz
denied that he even knew about the actual stock offer, although he was involved
in discussions concerning a potential stock offer and Company loans to officers
and directors in late 1999. (Bintz Interview) Berger said he first learned of
this stock offer in 200225 (Bergen Interview)
Obligation
to disclose this offer to shareholders. (Carabillo Interview) PwC's Gary
Stephani, however, asserted that while, in his view, United States generally
accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") did not necessarily require
the Company to disclose stock offers and repurchases to or from directors in
its audited financial statements, PwC did not advise ULLICO on required
disclosure in its formal repurchase offer disclosure documents. (Stephani
Interview) Douglas Beck of LeBoeuf Lamb denied that he knew about the December
17, 1999 stock offer until mid 2002. (Beck Interview) Teresa Valentine, ULLICO
in‑house counsel who worked on the stock repurchase programs, confirmed
that she never spoke with Beck concerning the stock offers to directors and
officers. (Valentine Interview)
Each
senior officer of ULLICO eligible to participate in the 1999 stock offer
purchased the maximum of 4,000 shares. (It cost each officer $215,760 to
purchase 4,000 shares at the $53,94 stock price) Twelve directors {other than
Georgine) participated in the 1999 stock offer, purchasing an aggregate of
15,400 shares.
All the stock purchases by officers and directors were recorded in the stock ledger on December 29, 1999, two days before the date used to calculate the 1999 "book value," i.e., December 31, 1999. At this point, Global Crossing's stock price had risen to $50 per share (even after a two‑for‑one stock split in March 1999). In
------------
24
In addition, on February 1, 2000, Chairman Georgine signed a promissory note
payable to the Company for $215,780‑‑the precise cost of 4,000
shares of Class A Stock at the $53.94 stock price. According to the note,
“no interest shall accrue if the principal sum is paid prior to February
15, 2000." (U 008959, Tab 46) Neither Georgine nor his counsel could
explain why this note was executed.
25
In or about June 1999, Arnold & Porter represented Georgine in his personal
capacity in connection with certain income and estate planning issues. (U
043064, Tab 51) Arnold & Porter also represented Steed in the Fall of 1999
in connection with the formation of a new private equity fund to be managed by
Steed. (U 038743, Tab 52)
32
addition,
the Company had earlier in the year realized $192 million in a partial sale of
its Global Crossing holdings, virtually ensuring that ULLICO's book value would
increase significantly in 2000. Accordingly, the officers and directors had
strong reason to believe that, at the time of their respective stock purchases
pursuant to the December 17, 1999 offer, the Global Crossing investment success
would result in a much higher Company share price when set by the Board in the
Spring of 2000 based upon the Company's December 31, 1999 book value.
Although
Steed was not offered the opportunity to purchase stock after he resigned in
December 1999, he claims to have believed that the Company's stock price would
increase based on the December 31, 1999 financial statements, perhaps even
double. Similarly,Grover McKean, who replaced Steed as Senior Vice President of
investments, offered that any reasonable investor could have concluded in
December 1999 that the Board would adopt a book value in May 2000 that was
significantly higher than the prior year's book value. (McKean Interview)
A similar
observation caused PwC, in connection with the 2001 audit, to restate the
Company's 2000 financial statements. PwC revised the accounting for officer and
director stock purchases in 1998 and 1999 due to the lack of investment risk
assumed by the purchasers. According to PwC, in order for the stock purchases
by officers and directors to receive the original (more favorable) accounting
treatment, these investors would be required to make a "substantive
investment and be at risk for a significant period of time." In the course
of expanded audit procedures undertaken by PwC in early 2002, PwC reviewed
director and officer stock transactions between 1998 and 2000 (including sales
and repurchases) and concluded that the criteria for the original accounting
treatment was not satisfied. (Grelle and Stephani Interviews)
ULLICO
included a note in the Company's 2001 audited financial statements explaining:
"For 2000, this revision caused an increase in sales, general and
administrative expenses [i.e., compensation expenses] of $11.7 million and a
like amount decrease in net income." (U 027993, Tab 47) According to Gary
Stephani of PwC and others, ULLICO has not yet addressed the tax consequences
of the 2000 restatement, including the possibility of amending its tax returns
to take a tax deduction for the increase in compensation expense. The Company
has not asked us, to analyze the appropriateness of the tax treatment by the
Company or individual ' directors and officers of the 1998 and 1999 stock
offers. The determination that the Company should take a compensation expense
tax deduction could cause all or a portion of the funds received by directors
and ofcers from the stock repurchases to be taxable as ordinary income as
opposed to capital gains.28 (Stephani Interview)
ULLICO has not made shares available for purchase to its officers and directors since the December 1999 offer. Carabillo recalled asking Georgine in 2000 whether
-----------
28
Another note was added to the 2001 audited financial statements disclosing
40,000 shares purchased by “stockholder” (i.e. Chairman Georgine)
with the proceeds of a loan from UILICO. The loan was forgivable it certain
conditions were met, See discussion on pages 51 through 52. (U 028010, Tab 47;
Staphani and Grelle Interviews)
33
Georgine
wanted to again offer to directors and officers the opportunity to buy ULLICO
stock. Carabillo, through his counsel, stated that Georgine's response was that
he had already done enough for the officers and directors and that at ULLICO's
current price ($146.04) no one would participate.
1999
Stock Repurchase Program
On May
17, 1999 the Executive Committee authorized a $15 million repurchase program at
a "book value" price of $53.94 per share. (U 17314‑15, Tab 48)
At the meeting “the Chairman discussed the decision to authorize a stock
repurchase again for 1999. He commented that this decision was not without
substantial discussion since Management is not recommending any cash dividend
this year." (U 17314, Tab 48) The Executive Committee resolution approving
the 1999 stock repurchase program made no mention of a 10,000 share proration
threshold, but the threshold was mentioned in the repurchase program term
sheet. (U 048222, Tab 8)
On May
18, 1999, the Chairman made the following comments to the Board: "The
Corporation experienced a tremendous gain in the value of ULLICO Inc. stock--based
primarily on unrealized gains from Global Crossing. The Executive Committee
voted a repurchase program yesterday based on book value for year end 1998 at
$53.94 per share‑‑,a gain of more than 87%." (Emphasis added) (U 00004
i, Tab 49) The Chairman further noted that "Global Crossing is a wonderful
event, but it has the potential of overshadowing our true mission‑the way
we serve the labor movement." The Board minutes made no mention of the
10,000 share proration threshold. No dividend was authorized in 1999.
On
September 21 and 22, 1999, the Executive Committee and the Board, respectively,
received a report on the status of ULLICO's operating results, including
ULLICO's receipt of a gross realized gain of $185.2 million ($108.4 million
after taxes) on the sale of 9% of its Global Crossing stock in response to a US
West tender offer in June 1999. (U 17307; Tab 50; U 17381, Tab 53)
Moreover
at the September 22, 1999 Board meeting, Cullerton made a motion on behalf of
the Compensation Committee members to "authorize a five‑year
employment agreement for Mr. Georgine as Chairman, President and CEO."
After discussion, the Board moved unanimously to award this five‑year
term of employment to Georgine and to delegate to the Compensation Committee
the full authority to negotiate all terms and conditions of the contract. (U
17383, Tab 53) The Board, however, did not specifically delegate any authority
to the Compensation Committee to issue stock or lend corporate funds to
Chairman Georgine. This issue is discussed in more detail below.
On
November 16, 1999, ULLICO formally offered to repurchase $15 million of its
stock at $53.94 per share. (U 026662, Tab 54) The repurchase offer, which
expired on December 17, 1999, was over‑subscribed, but the proration of
shares tendered by
34
shareholders
holding 10,000 or more shares was slight as 91.93% of the shares tendered were
redeemed.' (Exhibit 5)
The offer
repeated the 10,000 share threshold used in the 1997 and 1998 tender offers. (U
026668, Tab 54). Although outside counsel Douglas Beck commented that the
10,000 share threshold disclosed in the draft tender offer documents was
"awfully high," the threshold was never altered. (Beck Interview; U
026280, Tab 55)
Information
about the officers and directors' stock offer program was not in the repurchase
program tender offer disclosure document sent to shareholders on November 16,
1999, because the disclosure document only included information about purchases
or sales by officers and directors within the 40 business days prior to
commencement of the repurchase offer. (U 026698, Tab 54) The actual purchases
of ULLICO shares by directors and officers pursuant to the December 17, 1999
offer letter occurred shortly after the 1999 tender offer closed.
Even
though ULLICO's stock price had virtually doubled between 1998 and 1999, no
officer or director sold in 1999 the stock acquired by him in 1998. Presumably,
the officers and directors correctly believed that ULLICO's stock price would
increase further the following year.
Proposed "Extraordinary" Stock Repurchase Program
On May
10, 2000, the Executive Committee adopted a repurchase price of $146.04 per
share based on the Company's "book value" calculated as of December
31, 1999. According to the minutes, "management recognizes that the Global
share price is down and that we may repurchase at a premium. The Company has a commitment to
honor in the repurchase program. It would not be appropriate for the Company to
act inconsistently in 2000. Management believes that Global Crossing will again
return to its previous trading values as it did in 1999." (Emphasis added)
(U 17285, Tab 57)
The Executive Committee also discussed and approved an "extraordinary" stock repurchase program based on the Global Crossing investment success. Under this program, ULLICO would repurchase up to 20% of ULLICO's outstanding stock (having an aggregate value of approximately $240 million) from all shareholders, including holders of Capital Stock, at $146.04 per share. To pay for this program and obtain additional cash, the Company planned to sell $360 million of its Global Crossing shares by the end of 2000. (U 17284‑85, Tab 57)
The Executive Committee established certain conditions for this "extraordinary" repurchase program. One condition was that the market price of Global Crossing
----------
27
By letter dated January 5, 2000 to Carabillo, Stanley R, Heimbigner, the
Secretary‑Treasurer of a local affiliate of the Bakery, Confectionery,
Tobacco Workers & Grain Millers International Union expressed concerns
about the manner in which ULLICO valued its stock in the 1999 repurchase
program. (U 007182, Tab 56) Heimbigner noted that the use of the per share book
value as of December 31,1998, significantly under‑valued the
Cornpany’s stock given the success of the Global Crossing Investment
during 1999. Heimbigner noted, in particular, that even if the Company utilized
the unaudited stockholders' equity as of June 30, 1999, the book value per
share would have been nearly $102. Georgine responded to Heimbigner's letter
without raising his concerns to the Board.
35
stock had
to be not less than $43 per share at the closing of the offer. The Chairman
explained to the committee that although Global Crossing traded at $50 per
share by the end of 1999 (the stock price used to calculate "book
value" as of December 31, 1999), the stock was trading at only about $33
per share in May 2000 The $43 "trigger" price was necessary to give
the Company "a reasonable opportunity to realize its gain on the stock in
order to fund this offer." In addition, the "extraordinary"
repurchase program was conditioned upon either 93% of all shares outstanding
being tendered, or all shareholders holding 1% or more of the Company's
outstanding stock participating in the tender offer. (U 17284, Tab 57)
Finally,
instead of adopting the 10,000 share threshold used in prior years, the
"extraordinary" repurchase program term sheet states: "Tenders
by holders of 100 or fewer shares will be accepted in total." (U 17287,
Tab 57)
On May
11, 2000, the Board approved this "extraordinary" stock repurchase
program with the same conditions described above. Chairman Georgine explained
that the condition requiring that either 93% of all shares outstanding be
tendered or all shareholders holding 1% or more of the Company's outstanding
stock tender their respective shares protected the Company "from a
significant reapportionment of the ownership of the Corporation through a
repurchase of this magnitude." Chairman Georgine further explained that
the reason for requiring all shareholders with 100 or fewer shares to tender
all of their respective shares if thev intended to participate in the program
was "to eliminate unnecessary bookkeeping ‑ we have many
shareholders with less than 100 shares of Capital Stock, our older form of
stock, that have been on the books for many years." (U 000049, Tab 58)
Under
this proposed program, any shareholder holding more than 100 shares, including
directors and officers, would have been treated equally. If all shareholders
tendered all of their respective shares in the offering then each shareholder
would have been able to redeem 20% of the shareholder's ULLICO holdings.
According
to the minutes, "Credit Suisse First Boston evaluated the [extraordinary]
repurchase program and they have issued an opinion, which was included with the
agenda item. They concluded that the offer is favorable to our stockholders and
has been balanced in a manner so it will not jeopardize the Corporation's well
being." (U 000050, Tab 58) In a memorandum dated May 10, 2000, to Chairman
Georgine, Jonathan Plutzik and Paul W. Brown of CSFB explained the basis for
this opinion:
Because ULLICO's by‑laws state that Shares may not be transferred without giving ULLICO the option to purchase the Shares for $25.00, in the absence of an alternative repurchase offer from ULLICO the value of the Shares is effectively capped at $25.00 per Share. This is the case even if ULLICO failed to exercise its option to purchase in a particular instance ‑ it is unlikely that anyone else would agree to pay more than $25.00 for Shares that would continue to be subject to the same $25.00 purchase option in the hands of the new shareholder. The Repurchase Price of $146.04 is significantly in excess of price that a
36
shareholder could obtain in absence of the Repurchase. (U 046890,
Tab 59)
As far as
we could determine, however, when the extraordmary $240 million stock
repurchase program was abandoned in November 2000 because Global Crossing had
not hit the $43 trigger price, CSFB did not prepare an evaluation of the
replacement $30 million repurchase program (discussed below) or its components,
including its 10,000 share proration threshold. In spite
of several references to a “100” share threshold in the documents
related to the $240 million proposed extraordinary repurchase program,
Georgine, when interviewed, said that he believed the "100" reference
was a typographical error and should have been “10,000.” Several
other (directors) indicated that the reference to a “100” share
threshold may have been “100" share threshold may have been a
"typo." We were not able to find supporting evidence for the
assertion that the "100" share threshold resulted from a
typographical error. At its
May 2000 meeting, the Board also authorized Chairman Georgine to appoint
members of a new committee on Corporate Governance which was requested "to
examine our practices and procedures as we begin the Year 2000, and a new
millennium of service." (U 000047, Tab 58; U 040602, Tab 60) On August 29,
2000, the Executive Committee appointed Georgine (as Chair), Bahr, McCarron and
Cullerton as members of the Corporate Governance Committee. (U 17278‑79;
Tab 61) It
appears, however, that the creation of the Corporate Governance Committee may
have been designed to preempt questioning from a director or shareholder on the
issue of executive compensation disclosures. In or about April 2000, Carabillo retained
Arnold & Porter to address potential questions from directors and
shareholders concerning the disclosure of executive compensation, particularly
the compensation received by Chairman Georgine, and other issues."28
(U 038605, Tab 63; U 044491, Tab 64; Smith Interview) Arnold & Porter
prepared a "ULLICO 2000 Strategy Book" that addressed potential
issues or challenges that could be raised at the May 2000 Board meeting
together with various possible responses. (U 039819, Tab 65; Baltz and Smith
Interviews) This
memorandum suggests the appointment of a "blue ribbon" corporate
governance committee as a "pre‑emptive strike" against
questions concerning "disclosure of ULLICO's executive compensation
practices at the Board meeting." (U 039822‑24, Tab 65) Arnold &
Porter drafted potential areas of inquiry for the committee, but the firm
apparently did not provide ULLICO with further advice concerning this matter.
(U 038854, Tab 66) As it turned out, no director or shareholder raised
questions concerning executive compensation at the May 2000 Board and
shareholder meetings. Nonetheless, based -------------- 28
A memorandum on the rights of shareholders to obtain Company information which
management viewed as confidential was previously prepared by Dennis
Lyons of Arnold & Porter on December 14,1995. (U 037202, Tab 62). 37
on
information obtained through certain director interviews, it appears as though
the Corporate Governance Committee has convened.
Several
shareholders asked to have certain of their shares repurchased by the Company
in the Summer and early Fall of 2000 pursuant to the so‑called
"discretionary" stock repurchase program historically administered by
the Chairman. Under this program, which was not formally approved by the ULLICO
Board until November 2000. Georgine entertained requests by shareholders to
have some or all of their respective shares (Class A, Class B or Capital Stock)
repurchased on an ad hoc basis. As indicated above, the practice of allowing the
Chairman to repurchase stock on a discretionary basis dates back many years. In
general, however, this practice was limited to repurchasing shares when a
shareholder died, an officer or director resigned or a union had a financial
emergency. (Carabillo Interview)
The 2000
repurchases pursuant to the "discretionary" repurchase program were
not so limited. Between May and November 2000, Georgine authorized ULLICO to
repurchase the following shares from non-retiring officers and directors: (1)
3,000 Class A shares from Carabillo on May 31, 2000; (2) 4,000 Class A shares
from Grelle (CFO) on June 1, 2000; (3) 4,000 Class A shares from Georgine on
July 20, 2000 (4) 4,000 Claca A shares and 1,250 Capital shares from West
(director) on August 9, 2000; (5) 3,386 Class A shares and 886 Capital shares
from Luce (Executive Vice President) on August 9, 2000; (6) 8,664 Class A
shares from Bernard (director) on September 13, 200029, and (7)
2,000 shares from Maddaloni (director) on October 10, 2000 (U 047005‑‑06,
Tab 67) ULLICO created a specific "Director/Officer
Request for Repurchase" form that was used to facilitate discretionary
repurchase from officers and directors. (U 027121, Tab 68)
At this
point, the $146.04 stock price adopted by the Board was, by far, the highest
stock price in the history of ULLICO and its predecessor. During the Summer of
2000, the market price of Global Crossing's stock remained well‑below the
$50 per share price as of December 31, 1999.
It
appears that officers and directors redeemed stock through the
"discretionary" program for one or more of the following reasons: (1)
to redeem only some of their shares, which was not permitted without proration
under the formal program; (2) to redeem Capital Stock, which was not
historically included in the formal repurchase program; (3) because they needed
the money; or (4) because they wanted to take advantage of the record‑high
share price. (Carabillo, Georgine and other Interviews) For example, John
Grelle, the Company's Chief Financial Officer, told us that in June or July
2000 he received a note saying that the Chairman was
---------------
29
Director Bemard held more than 10,000 shares of Class A Stock as of May 11,
2000, when the Board set ULUCO's stock price at $146.04 per share. Bernard
received 7,894 shares of Class A Stock through the 1992 preferred certificate
program and a total of 3,000 shares in the 1998 and 1999 director and officer
stock purchase offers. This discretionary redemption of 6,664 shares of Class A
Stock from Bernard allowed hin to redeem all of his remaining Class A shares
pursuant to the 2000-01 formal repurchase program as an under-10,000
shareholder. Bemard would have been able to redeem only 2.2% of his Class A
shares if he had not participated in the "discretionary' repurchase
program.
38
redeeming
some of his shares. He then decided to redeem the shares he purchased in 1998
to pay off the loan he incurred in connection with the shares he purchased in
1999. (Grelle Interview)
None of
the discretionary repurchases were contemporaneously, if ever, disclosed to the
full Board. They also were not disclosed in the 2000 tender offer disclosure
document, which in fact suggested that directors and officers would not
participate in the formal repurchase program and that they "believe[d] the
shares represent[ed] an excellent long‑term investment opportunity."
(U 000213, Tab 82)
On
September 9, 2000 in connection with his work on the Steed dispute, Carey Smith
of Arnold & Porter authored an e‑mail expressing doubt that
discretionary stock repurchases were authorized by the Board.30 (U
038452, Tab 70) Arnold & Porter eventually suggested that the Company
formalize the "discretionary" repurchase program through a Board
resolution and at least attempt to ratify prior "discretionary" purchases.
(Lyons Interview)
Dennis
Lyons of Arnold & Porter believed the discretionary reuurchases from
directors reflected a degree of self‑dealing. Lyons advised Carabillo in
or about the Fall of 2000 to have disinterested directors review these repurchases
(although he did not recall if he used the term "self‑dealing"
in his conversation with Carabillo). Lyons further recommended that all
information concernin these repurchases be fully disclosed to these directors.
Such disclosures should identify the officers and directors involved, the
number of shares repurchased, and other relevant information. (Lyons Interview)
Lyons and
Carabillo also discussed drafting resolutions for the November 2,000
Board meeting. Lyons susggested to Carabillo that the Board pass a resolution
requiring disinterested Board members approved the discretionary repurchases of
ULLICO stock from other directors and officers. Carabillo, however, took the
position that instead of having a disinterested committee of the Board vote to approve
these stock repurchases, this issue should be handled by requiring reports to
the Compensation
Committee of discretionary repurchases from offcers and directors. (Lyons
Interview) Lyons apparently did not advise Carabillo that this approach would
be inappropriate.
An Arnold
& Porter e‑mail dated October 17, 2000, indicates that Carabillo was
"reluctan[t] to have specific information on repurchases go to the
Comp[ensation] Committee or board." (U 043461, Tab 71; Smith Interview)
Georgine, however, apparently felt that a report of repurchases from officers
and directors should be made from time to time to the Compensation Committee.
According to another Arnold & Porter e‑mail dated November 1, 2000,
Carabillo told Georgine that this
------------
30
An Arnold & Porter memorandum dated July 9, 2002 (which was prepared in
response to our inquiry), conflicts with the conclusion reached by Carey Smith.
Accordfig to that memorandum, Article V, § 3 of the by‑taws grants
Chairman Georgine "full authourity and responsibility for the management,
conduct and control of the affairs of the Company," and this authority
allowed Georgine to administer the `discretionary" repurchase program even
before if was formalized in November 2000. See MGCL §§ 2‑103(10),
2‑310 (a)(1). (U 047020, Tab 31)
39
approach
"was not strictly necessary," but it "buttressed the
optics." (U 038397, Tab 72; U 038401, Tab 73; Smith Interview)
Additional
officer and director discretionary repurchases occurred after the November 3,
2000 Board meeting, where, as discussed below, an attempt was made by the Board
to ratify the Chairman's discretionary power to redeem stock. These
repurchases, made at $146.04 per share, included the following: (1) 7,312 Class
A shares from Casstevens (director) on January 16, 2001; (2) 1,50(? Class A
shares from Cullerton (director) on January 16, 2001; (3) 2,900 Class A shares
from Luce on January 16, 2001; (4) 12,523/4,345 Capital shares from Georgine on
February 14, 2001; (5) 1,097 Capital shares from Gentleman on March 2, 2001;
and (6) 1,535
Capital
shares from McNulty (director and Union Labor Life General Counsel) on March 2,
2001. In sum, directors and officers redeemed 62.6% of all shares repurchased
through the "discretionary" program at the $146.04 stock price.
In the
end, it appears that the director and officer repurchases were disclosed to,
but not specifically approved by, the Compensation Committee during its March
6, 2001 meeting."31 These discretionary repurchases of 62,728
shares approved by the Chairman and having an aggregate value of $9.2 million
were neither disclosed to, nor expressly approved by, the Board, the Executive
Committee or ULLICO's shareholders.
On August
29, 2000, the Executive Committee reported a $478.8 million decline in the
market value of ULLICO's Global Crossing investment since December 31, 1999. (U
017283, Tab 61) The August 30, 2000 Board meeting minutes further state:
"Future
volatility in the carrying value of the Global stock will continue to impact
stockholders' equity until such time as all Global shares have been divested or
securitized" (U 17402, Tab 75)
As
discussed below, this decline in Global Crossing's stock caused the Company to
abandon its proposed "extraordinary" repurchase program and adopt a
new repurchase program that-along with the 1998 and 1999 stock purchase offers
to directors and officers and the "discretionary" repurchase program
described above-are at the core of this investigation.
On
November 3, 2000, the Board abandoned the "extraordinary" repurchase
program conditionally approved in May 2000 because the market price of Global
Crossing did not hit the $43 trigger price. (U 000055, Tab 76) At the time,
Global Crossing stock was trading at only $23 5/8 per share. Accordingly, a
replacement repurchase program providing for the repurchase of up to $30
million of Class A and Class B Stock at $146.04 per share was approved, and no
dividend was authorized Notwithstanding the significant decline in the value of
ULLICO's Global Crossing
-----------------
31
We only have draft minutes of that meeting. (U 021066, Tab 74) Carabillo did
not befieve that these minutes were ever finalized. (Carabillo Interview)
40
investment,
it does not appear as if the Board considered or discussed a lower repurchase
price that more accurately reflected its then‑existing book value per
share.
Arnold
& Porter assisted ULLICO in drafting the November 2000 Board resolutions.
(U 039236 37, Tab 77) Edits to draft versions of the November 2000 resolutions
by two Arnold & Porter attorneys reflect a proposal to change the 10,000
share proration threshold to a 5,000 share threshold.32 (U 044317,
Tab 78; U 039168, Tab 79; Baltz
and Smith Interviews) It is unclear what led to this proposed change and why it was not adopted, but it appears that the Company decided to act consistently with past programs. On July 24, 2000 Carabiilo sent a memo to Georgine explaining that the Company should keep the 10,000 share threshold consistent with prior years "For credibility reasons" despite the fact that the Global Crossing investment success "has significantly distorted our numbers."33 (U 047022, Tab 69)
Prior to the November 2000 Board meeting, there was also a debate concerning whether shareholders holding fewer than 10,000 shares should be categorically exempt from proration, even if they did not tender all of their respective shares. For example, a draft memorandum from Cambillo to Georgine dated October 31, 2000 (attached to a fax from Carabillo to Baltz and Smith of Arnold & Porter) describes this proposal:
The fifth (v), is a "Resolved" that allows you to treat Shareholders who hold 10,000 shares or less in two fashions. One, it specifies they are not subject to the prorating provisions‑this allows the Corporation to buy back the entirety of their shares‑but also gives you the authority in your discretion to repurchase a portion thereof. I do not believe that we want to force those holders to come in for their entire holding of stock and this will allow us to consider them on a discretionary basis for a portion thereof.
(Emphasis
added) (U 044939‑40, Tab 80). The proposed resolution stated:
"Tenders of shares of Stock by stockholders who hold 10,000 shares or less
of Stock. . . will not be subject to the prorationing provisions[.]" (U
040355, Tab 81) This proposal (that under‑10,000 shareholders be
categorically exempt from proration regardless of whether they tender 100% of
their respective shares) conflicts with Carabillo's statement at his interview
that one of the two principal purposes of the 10,000 share threshold was to
eliminate small shareholders, which, according to him, were shareholders
holding fewer than 10,000 shares.
This proposed modification of the 10,000 share threshold was rejected, but it is not clear why or by whom. The 10,000 share threshold actually submitted to, and adopted by, the Board was consistent with the threshold adopted in the prior years, with one exception. Unlike in prior years, the resolution gave the Chairman the
-------------------
32
In his interview, Grover McKean expressed his belief that a 5,000 share
threshold would have been more appropriate to accomplish the goal of
eliminating small ULLICO shareholders. (McKean Interview)
33
Rick Baltz of Arnold & Porter told Carabiilo that 10,000 shares was not a
typical “odd lot” as defined under the SEC's tender offer rules,
which define an “odd lot” as fewer than 100 shares. (Baltz
interview).
41
discretion
to have the Company repurchase outside of the formal program some, but not all,
shares held by a shareholder who tenders 10,000 shares or fewer. In addition,
this resolution purports to ratify the "discretionary" repurchases
made by the Chairman before November 3, 2000:
A tender of shares of Stock by a stockholder who holds 10,000 shares or fewer of Stock and who properly tenders all shares of Stock that such stockholder beneficially owns will not be subject to the prorationing provisions nor in the aggregate to the overall limit on purchases set forth above. A tender of shares of Stock by a stockholder who holds 10,000 shares or fewer of Stock and who properly tenders less than all shares of Stock that such stockholder beneficially owns will be subject to the prorationing provisions and in the aggregate to the overall limit on purchases set forth above. Purchases from such stockholders otherwise may be made by the Chairman at or below the price from time to time last established by the Board of Directors, whether or not during the pendency of the tender offer provided for by this resolution, at any time from the date of the annual meeting in the year 2000 to the date next preceding of the annual meeting in the year 2001. Such purchases shall be of the entirety of the Stock held by the stockholder ofering the same or, at the discretion of the Chairman, of a portion thereof.
(Emphasis
added) (U 000059‑‑60, Tab 76).
The implementation of the 2000 repurchase program was also subject to the Corporation receiving tenders of 100% of the shares beneficially owned by each and every stockholder that held in excess of 2% of the outstanding shares of Class A and B Stock (the so‑called "2% Rule"); provided that management could modify or waive such condition at the discretion of the Chairman so long as the repurchase would not cause a "significant redistribution of equity." (U 000060, Tab 76) The 2% Rule was apparently intended to avoid a significant reallocation of shareholder ownership and ensure compliance with the by‑laws' requirement that no ULLICO shareholder own more than 9% of the Company's voting stock. (U 030545, Tab 2; Carabillo and Brown Interviews)
The
combination of the high stock price ($146.04) and the 2% Rule‑under which
the Company should have expected shareholders to tender collectively stock
worth at least $883 million in an offering capped at $30 million‑‑virtually
guaranteed that shareholders holding more than 10,000 shares would be subject
to extreme proration. (Beck Interview)
At the
November 3, 2000 Board meeting,' Chairman Georgine delivered a detailed
statement reflected in the minutes. (U 000055‑58, Tab 76) Georgine
generally described the revised repurchase program and the history of the
Global Crossing investment. The Chairman explained: "As we have said from
the very beginning,
---------
34
The November 3, 2000 Board meeting was attended by directors Bahr, Barry,
Bernard, Boede, Casstevens, Cullerton, Georgine, Hurt, Joyce, La Sala, Maloney,
McCarron, McNulty, Miller, o'Sullivan, West, Wynn, Wyse as well as officers
Carabillo, Grelle, Luce and McKean. Directors who did not attend included
Biller, Brown, Coia, Gentleman, Knise; Maddaloni, Sombro#o, Sweeney, Upshaw,
Wilhelm and Hanley.
42
ULLICO
Inc. is a long‑term investment and has been a long‑term investment
since 1925." He also indicated that additional funds that might otherwise
have been available for the repurchase program.thereby allowing a tender offer
of greater than $30 million, had been set aside for the contemplated purchase
by ULLICO of Amalgamated Bank of Chicago. (U 000057, Tab 76) Because of a
failure to receive regulatory approval, this proposed transaction was never
completed. (Grelle and Luce Interviews)
The Board
then addressed several other matters. First, the Board authorized the informal
"discretionary" repurchase program described above under which
Georgine could approve stock repurchases outside of the formal repurchase
program at a price no greater than that most recently specified by the Board (so
long as the repurchase with respect to any particular stockholder did not
exceed 1% of the total outstanding Class A, Class B and Capital Stock). (U
000058, Tab 76) In his prepared remarks for the Board, Georgine explained:
“We do not advertise this [program] and we do not encourage it.” (Emphasis added) (U
000057, Tab 76)
Second, the Board resolved that only stockholders who are currently eligible to purchase stock could participate in the formal and informal stock repurchase programs. (UT 000059. Tab 76) This resolution had the effect of precluding Steed and Maloney, both former ULLICO officers, from participating in the program. (Carabillo Interview)
Finally,
the Board passed the following general ratification resolution: "That any
and all actions taken by the Chairman or other appropriate officers of the
Corporation falling within the scope of any of the preceding resolutions and
consistent therewith taken at any time, whether prior or subsequent hereto, are
hereby confirmed, ratified, and approved." (U 000061, Tab 76)
The
discretionary repurchases from directors and officers from May to October 2000
that the Board purported to ratify were actually not specifically disclosed to
the Board. Moreover, as discussed below, no aspect of the
"discretionary" repurchase program was disclosed in the 2000 tender
offer documents. (U 00211, Tab 82)
Arnold
& Porter never provided ULLICO with a formal opinion as to whether the
ratifications at the November 2000 Board meeting would be deemed effective
under applicable law. (Baltz Interview; U 041079, Tab 83). At Paul Berger's
request, Carey Smith prepared a memo to the file in connection with an Arnold
& Porter opinion concerning the Company's dispute with Steed. In this memo,
Smith disclaims opining on Carabillo's "view" that the purported
ratification in the above‑quoted resolution was legally effective. (U
041079, Tab 83; Smith Interview)
Sometime
prior to the November 2000 Board meeting, in a conversation with Carabillo
concerning the November 2000 proposed Board resolutions which would approve the
actual 2000 repurchase program, Arnold & Porter attorney Dennis Lyons
identified a potential issue. He explained that, pursuant to the proposed
resolution, those director shareholders who owned fewer than 10,000 shares of
ULLICO stock
43
would be
asked to approve a transaction that would grant them preferential treatment
over other shareholders, i.e., those shareholders holding 10,000 or more
shares. Lyons, therefore, advised Carabillo that this program needed to be
approved by a majority of disinterested directors. Lyons emphasized that no
interested director should be permitted to vote for the November 2000 stock
program.
(Lyons
Interview) However, this issue was never presented to the Board and all
directors who attended the November 2000 meeting were allowed to vote on the
program, which was unanimously approved without any discussion of the potential
preferential treatment. Carabillo. through his counsel, has denied that Lyons
provided this advice to him.
On
November 21, 2000, Georgine sent a letter to ULLICO's shareholders announcing
the change in the 2000 repurchase program. In this letter, Georgine incorrectly
stated that all shareholders would be prorated and, therefore, "share
equitably in the offering":
The Company anticipates receiving shares in excess of the $30 million it is offering to repurchase, so it will pro‑rate each submission so all participating Stockholders share equitably in the offering. Other terms and conditions of the repurchase will be described in the Offering Memorandum.(Emphasis added) (U 027728, Tab 84) Notably, this letter did not indicate that shareholders holding fewer than 10,000 shares could avoid proration.
On
December 14, 2000, ULLICO formally offered to repurchase $30 million of its
Class A and Class B Stock (but not Capital Stock) at $146.04 per share. (U
000211, Tab 82) The offer ended on January 16, 2000. Notwithstanding the
inaccurate statement in Georgine's November 21, 2000 letter described above,
the 10,000 share proration threshold in the formal repurchase program was fully
disclosed in tender offer documents.35 (U 000219, Tab 82) What was
not disclosed in the tender offer documents,however, was the
"discretionary" repurchase program, including the ability of the
Chairman to repurchase through the "discretionary" program all or any
portion of the shares held by holders of fewer than 10,000 shares,
notwithstanding the terms of the formal repurchase program. Nor did the
offering documents disclose (1) that all ULLICO senior executives and
directors, except Georgine, who owned ULLICO stock (a total of 24, excluding
former executives Steed and Maloney) held fewer than 10,000 shares of Class A
Stock, or (2) that several of the directors and officers redeemed shares
through the Chairman's "discretionary" program several months before
the 2000 tender offer commenced.
Moreover,
the following language suggested by Doug Beck of LeBoeuf Lamb in the
"Introduction" to the tender offer disclosure document was never
incorporated into
----
35
The 10,000 share threshold adopted by the Board applied to holders of
“10,000 shares or fewer, "but the tender offer described the 10,000
share threshold as applyng to holders of "fewer than 10,000
shares.”This discrepancy did not appear to have any effect on the
implementation of the program.
44
the final
version: "In addition, the Company also hereby offers to purchase all
Shares held by any holder of fewer than 10,000 Shares as of [date] that tenders
all of the Shares beneficially owned by such holder. As of [date], there were
[__]Shares held by holders of fewer than 10,000 Shares." (U 025691, Tab
85) This language would have given shareholders some idea as to the amount of
the $30 million that might be paid to shareholders holding fewer than 10,000
shares of stock. It is unclear why this suggested revision was rejected.
As in
prior years, the tender offer documents included the following statement:
"The Company has not been advised that any of its directors and executive
officers presently intend to tender any Shares personally owned by them
pursuant to the Offer." (U 000217, Tab 82) There appears to have been no
attempt by the Company, however, to determine whether officers and directors intended
to participate in the program. (Valentine Interview) Nor did ULLICO disclose
the "discretionary" repurchase progra or the substantial repurchases
from directors and officers under that program in the Summer and early Fall of
2000.
ULLICO,
however, did disclose that, "[a]s of September 30, 2000, the Company's
directors and executive officers as a group (33 persons) beneficially owned an
aggregate of 100,971 outstanding Shares (Class A Common Stock) representing
approximately 1.3% of the outstanding Shares." (U 000217, Tab 82) In
comparison, the 1999 tender offer documents disclosed that "[a]s of
September 30, 1999, the Company's directors and executive officers as a group
(33 persons) beneficially owned an aggregate of 63,929 outstanding Shares (Class
A Common Stock) representing approximately 0.8% of the outstanding
Shares." (U 026666, Tab 54) Outside Company counsel contends that a
shareholder who had received both documents could have deduced from this
comparison that directors and executive officers as a group were given some
opportunity to purchase collectively at least 37,042 Class A shares.
In
addition, the proxy statement for the May 2000 stockholders meeting disclosed
the number of voting shares of ULLICO stock owned by each director. (U 17467‑68,
Tab 45) A shareholder could have compared this proxy statement to the proxy
statements for the May 1999 and May 1998 stockholder meetings to determine
which directors purchased and redeemed stock during this period. (U 17472, Tab
86; U 17474‑75, Tab 108) In addition, the proxy statement revealed that
all directors, other than Georgine, held fewer than 10,000 shares of Class A
Stock.
The 2000
repurchase offer was over‑subscribed, and the proration for shareholders
holding 10,000 or more shares of Class A and Class B Stock was extreme, as only
2.2% of their tendered shares were redeemed. (Exhibit 6). In contrast, the
Company repurchased at the $146.04 stock price all of the shares tendered by
senior officers and directors, a substantially larger amount than they would
have otherwise received if the earlier proposed "extraordinary"
program had been similarly over‑subscribed. In other words, management
and the Board implemented a replacement 2000 formal repurchase program that
reduced the amount available to shareholders from $240
45
million
to $30 million while potentially providing a larger portion of the funds
available for repurchase to the class of shareholders that included directors
and officers (i.e., under‑10,000 shareholders).
Following
the expiration of the 2000 repurchase program in January 2001, and prior to the
May 2001 Board meeting at which a substantially lower share price was
established, Chairman Georgine approved additional share repurchases at the
$146.04 stock price other than the director and officer repurchases discussed
above. For example, the Chairman authorized the Company to repurchase half of
the number of shares tendered by four unions and pension funds. (U 038895, Tab
91; U 038896, Tab 92; U 012558, Tab 93; U 047011, Tab 67; Grelle Interview)
On
January 23, 2001, Chairman Georgine received a fax from Carabillo listing which
shareholders would not be prorated because they held fewer than 10,000 shares.
According to this list, 14 of the 19 shareholders who were able to take advantage
of the under-10,000 proration exception were officers or directors of the
Company.36 01824 27713,
Tab 88)
The list also reflects that four directors and the family
member of a fifth director requested and received "exceptions" to the
10,000 share threshold procedures. Finally, this shareholder list reflects that
four of the seven shareholders who redeemed Capital Stock at the $146.04 stock
price were directors (although
Director Hurt eventually decided not to redeem his (Capital Stock)37
(U 018245 Tab 87) The list shows that shareholders holding 10,000 or more
shares were prorated drastically and only
redeemed 2.2% of their tendered shares.38
When interviewed, Georgine said that the 2.2% proration was not apparent to him when he reviewed the list. When offered a specific example of how a director received more under the repurchase program than a pension fund which tendered more than forty times the number of shares tendered by the director, Georgine's response was to refer to the rules of the program. The Chairman and his Chief Legal Officer participated in designing these rules, which, in 2000, favored themselves and other insiders.
ULLICO
repurchased a total of 305,636 shares of Class A and Capital Stock in 2000‑01
at the $146.04 per share stock price through the formal and
"discretionary"
----------------
36
This list, which is dated January 19, 2001, does not include the redemption of
4,345 shares of Capital Stock held by Georgine on February 14, 2001. The
Company did not send checks to shareholders who participated in the 2000‑01
stock repurchase program until almost one month after the offer expired, on
February 20, 2001.
37
Hurt sent a request dated January 9, 2001, to Georgine asking to redeem 100 of
his 110 shares of Capital Stock. (U 027500, Tab 89) On April 4, 2001,
Carabillo granted Hurt's request conditioned on Hurt tendering the original
stock certificate. (U 027505, Tab 90) Hurt decided not to tender any of his
shares due to a comment made by Carabillo in early 2001 that directors normally
did not ask to have Cauital Stock repurchased until they retired. (Hurt
Interview) However, the 2000‑01 redemptions of certain other non‑retiring
directors (West, Gentleman, McNulty and Casstevens)
and one officer (Luce) included Capital shares redeemed at the $146.04 share
price pursuant to the Chairman's “discretionary” program.
(Exhibit
1)
38
The Company has asserted that ULLICO's shareholders received a huge benefit
simply from the increased value of their shares. However, in a private company
with limited and discretionary redemption rights and a stock price set once a
year, realizing the increased share value is problematic, as evidenced by the
2.2% proration in 2000.
46
programs, utilizing approximately $44.6 million in Company funds. The 20 directors and officers who redeemed Class A and Capital shares at the $146.04 price in 2000-01 redeemed a total of 93,923 shares and received a total of $13.7 million or 31% of the total funds distributed by the Company while its stock price was set at $146.04 per share. (Exhibit 1)
About
$9.63 million of the $13.7 million was used to repurchase shares originally
purchased by the directors and officers in the 1998 and 1999 stock offers.
About $1.54 million of the $13.7 million related to shares of Class A Stock
received through the conversion of preferred certificates. About $1.38 million
of the $13.7 million related to shares of Capital Stock redeemed through the
"discretionary" program. (The remaining $1.17 million related to the
8,000 shares Georgine redeemed pursuant to his Stock Purchase and Credit
Agreement.)
Approximately
$4 million of the $13.7 million was paid to the directors and officers through
the formal repurchase program, and the remainder ($9.7 million) was paid to
directors and officers through the "discretionary" repurchase
program. The directors and officers realized a collective pre‑tax profit
of at least $10.7 million.
Exhibit 1
(attached) lists those directors and officers who took advantage of the
exclusive opportunity to buy up to 8,000 Class A shares in 1998 and 1999. This
chart also shows the repurchases by ULLICO at the $146.04 stock price of most
of these purchased shares (as well as, in some instances, Capital Stock and
Class A Stock acquired in the preferred certificate program) through the formal
and/or "discretionary" repurchase programs.
The
directors we interviewed expressed mixed reactions to the repurchases of stock
at the $146.04 stock price from officers and directors under the formal and
"discretionary" programs as compared with the repurchases of stock
from other shareholders.
Director
Wyse was surprised to learn that officers and directors received about one-third
of the funds paid to shareholders through the formal and
"discretionary" programs at the $146.04 stock price. Had he known
that this would be the result, he probably would have spoken out on the issue.
(Wyse Interview) Director Bahr stated that had he known about the severe
proration that large shareholders would suffer in the 2000 program he would not
have approved the program. (Bahr interview)
Director
McNulty, who is also the General Counsel of Union Labor Life, expressed no
concerns about the effects of the 10,000 share threshold because no one
objected to the program. But had he known about the severe proration impacting
larger shareholders he would have considered whether this raised fiduciary duty
issues. (McNulty Interview)
Directors
Sweeney and Chavez‑Thompson expressed concerns about whether repurchases
of stock from officers and directors were consistent with positions taken by
the AFL‑CIO. (Sweeney and Chavez‑Thompson Interviews) Several
directors
47
were
surprised or shocked by the $13.7 million in director/officer repurchases at
the $146.04 price. (Wilhelm, Hanley, Chavez‑Thompson and other
Interviews)
In
contrast, Kenneth Brown, a former director, had no reaction to these
repurchases and feels that the repurchase program is sound. (Brown Interview)
Director Hurt was not surprised by these repurchases. (Hurt Interview) Director
Kruse voiced no concern about the stock offer and repurchase programs because
he relied on professionals for advice concerning these programs. (Kruse
Interview) Director Casstevens and other directors made similar remarks and
felt that the director repurchases posed a public relations problem, but not a
legal problem, and therefore the special investigation was not needed.
(Casstevens and other Interviews) Director Joyce stated that the repurchase
program in 2000 was structured to provide directors and officers with additional
compensation, and these directors and officers were entitled to this money
because they had earned it. He also noted that shareholders holding 10,000 or
more Class A or B shares would have only been able to each redeem only a few
more shares than they would have redeemed if the threshold had been 100 instead
of 10,000. (Joyce Interview)
Several
directors noted that the Board was kept in the dark as to certain matters,
including executive compensation, and believed that compensation information
should be given to the Board and the shareholders.
In the
course of our interviews, several directors and officers suggested that the
repurchase programs were a "win‑win" situation for both
insiders and other ULLICO shareholders. They essentially argued that all
shareholders benefited from share repurchases at increasingly higher prices
between 1997 and early 2001 and that even the lower repurchase prices in the
latter part of 2001 and in 2002 were above the $25 per share price that most
ULLICO shareholders paid for their stock.
While
most ULLICO shareholders who participated in the share repurchase programs
profited in an absolute sense, smaller shareholders (primarily insiders) were
certainly treated more favorably in a relative sense. By virtue of the 10,000
share proration threshold, smaller shareholders were able to sell all of their
shares in the formal repurchase program, while larger shareholders were not.
This was particularly stark in 2000, where larger shareholders were only able
to sell approximately 2.2% of the shares they tendered. Smaller shareholders
were treated more favorably under the "discretionary" repurchase
program as well, typically being permitted to redeem 100% of their shares while
the few larger shareholders who participated in the "discretionary"
program were frequently only able to redeem 50% of their tendered shares. As a
result of this disparate treatment between smaller and larger shareholders,
insiders received a disproportionate amount of the funds paid to shareholders for
shares repurchased by the Company at $146.04 per share between May 2000 and May
2001.
At his
interview, Georgine stated that the directors deserved some credit for the
Global investment by ULLICO since they approved it. He did not believe their
action
48
merited a
cash bonus. However, he did not view the stock offer programs as a bonus
program.
On May 7,
2001, the Executive Committee authorized a $15 million repurchase program at a
"book value" price of $74.87 per share, based on the Company's
December 31, 2000 audited financial statements. (U 17269‑70, Tab 94)
At, its
May 8, 2001 meeting, the Board adopted the identical program, which included
the same 10,000 share proration threshold used in the 2000 formal repurchase
program. At this meeting, the Chairman announced that
(U 000064, Tab 95)[T]he value had been reduced substantially from the value set in May of 2000, when ULLICO Inc.'s Board adopted a value of $146.04. But considering the market turmoil, and the impact on the overall market and Global Crossing in particular, which was trading at around fifteen dollars at year end, ULLICO Inc.'s stock held up well.
On
December 17, 2001, ULLICO formally offered to repurchase $15 million of its
Class A and Class B Stock (but not Capital Stock) at $74.87 per share. (U
026756, Tab 96) The offer expired on January 17, 2002, and was substantially
oversubscribed. The proration for holders of more than 10,000 shareswas
again extreme at 2.657%. (Exhibit 5). Even though the directors and officers
should have been aware that holders of 10,000 or more shares suffered a 2.2%
proration in the 2000 program, no changes were made to the repurchase program
to prevent the reoccurrence of similarly severe proration in the 2001 program.
Five
under‑10,000 shareholders, including one officer (Executive Vice
President Luce), participated in the formal 2001 repurchase program. Luce was
allowed to redeem 1,100 of his 1,500 Class A shares. That he was allowed to do
this under the formal repurchase program (as opposed to tendering all of his
share holdings) indicates that he was granted an exception to the condition
that holders of fewer than 10,000 shares tender all of their shares to avoid
proration.
One
director, Martin Maddaloni, redeemed 800 of his shares at the $74.87 price
pursuant to the Chairman's discretionary authority in October 2001. (U 047011,
Tab 67)
At its
recent Board meeting in May 2002, the Board set a $46.58 stock price and
approved another $15 million repurchase program. Director Linda Chavez‑Thompson
moved to suspend the 2002 stock repurchase program pending the completion of
Winston & Strawn's internal investigation. That motion received no support
and was withdrawn. (Chavez‑Thompson Interview) Director Wilhelm indicated
he wanted to make a motion to eliminate the 10,000 share proration threshold in
the 2002 proposed program, but according to Wilhelm, Chairman Georgine did not
allow him to make
49
the
motion. (Wilhelm Interview) Chairman Georgine denies that he knowingly kept
Wilhelm from making the motion. (Georgine Interview)
As of the
date of this Report, only four individuals (Biller, Kruse, Sweeney and Upshaw)
who bought shares pursuant to the 1998 or 1999 stock offers to directors and
senior officers still retain all of those shares. Their action appears to be
consistent with the stated purpose of the stock offers, i.e., to align the
interests of directors with other shareholders through a long‑term
investment in the Company.
Chairman
Georgine's base salary, annual bonus, and payments from the Global Incentive
Program discussed above, totaled $1,627,273 in 1998, $1,316,025.50 in 1999,
$1,466,862.57 in 2000 and $1,254,166.50 in 2001. (Exhibit 2) In addition,
Georgine received earnings on his non‑qualified deferred compensation
investments of $4,051,060 (Exhibit 2) Finally, Georgine received gross proceeds
of $3,047,563 (yielding an estimated net pre‑tax profit of $2,595,303)
from the Company's repurchase of 16,523 shares of Class A Stock and 4,345
shares of Capital Stock at the $146.04 per share price in 2000‑2001.
(Exhibit 1) This stock purportedly was repurchased pursuant to Georgine's
employment agreements entered into in the latter part of 1999. It is unclear,
however, whether those agreements were duly authorized.39
On September 22, 1999, ULLICO's Board, in Executive Session, unanimously approved and authorized a five‑year agreement employing Georgine as Chairman, President and CEO, and delegated to the Compensation Committee "full authority to negotiate all terms and conditions of the contract." (U 17383, Tab 53)
The
members of the Compensation Committee and Chairman Georgine entered into the
employment agreement contemplated by the Board in December 1999, with an
effective date of October 1, 1999 ("Employment Agreement"). (U
041221, Tab 97) As part of his compensation package, Georgine also entered into
a Split‑Dollar Life Insurance Agreement dated February 9, 2000. (U
041237, Tab 97) As indicated above, he also participated in the Deferred
Compensation Plan. (U 041220, Tab 97)r' Moreover, Georgine had, in the past,
entered into a Supplemental Retirement Agreement dated August 30, 1994 (U
041247, Tab 97; U 041266, Tab 97), and a Trust Agreement dated November 5, 1994
(U 041256, Tab 97). While these agreements and arrangements appear to have been
duly authorized, two other agreements with Georgine, a Stock Purchase and
Credit Agreement and an Addendum to Georgine's Employment Agreement, may not
have been.
-------------
39
Georgine also received a salary from the AFL‑CIO until he retired in or
about April 2000. He donated his net salary from the AFL‑CIO to charity
from 1995 to 2000.
50
The December
17, 1999 and December 27, 1999 Compensation Committee minutes reflect that the
committee approved a "bonus" to Georgine of 40,000 shares of Class A
Stock. (U 011989, Tab 39; U 011987, Tab 99; U 038443, Tab 100) There is no
indication in the corporate records provided to us that this bonus was
expressly approved or contemplated by the Board in its September 1999
resolution discussed above or otherwise. Carabillo expressed his view, however,
that this bonus was consistent with the Board's intent. However, he was not at
the Executive Session during which this issue was discussed. (Carabillo
Interview)
On the
basis of the Compensation Committee action in December 1999, Georgine and each
member of the Compensation Committee executed a Stock Purchase and Credit
Agreement. (U 039222, Tab 101) This agreement allowed Georgine to purchase
40,000 shares of Class A Stock at $53.94 per share with a loan from the Company
of $2,157,600. The loan would be forgiven ratably over a five‑year
period, so long as Georgine continued to serve as Chairman, President and CEO.
The loan was secured by a pledge of the 40,000 shares, which pledge would be
released as the loan was forgiven.
The Stock
Purchase and Credit Agreement is dated December 30, 1999, and Georgine received
the 40,000 shares on or about February 1, 2000. Georgine, however, did not
execute the agreement until February 11, 2000, and Directors Wynn, West, Barry
and Cullerton did not execute the agreement until February 28, 2000, April 6,
2000, April 6, 2000, and May 10, 2000, respectively. (U 005762, Tab 98; U
039229, Tab 101) The delay in the execution of this agreement has not been
explained and, according to Arnold & Porter attorney Bintz, may raise tax
and accounting issues. (Bintz Interview) This agreement was never expressly
disclosed to
directors
or shareholders. However, the proxy statement for the May 2000 Stockholders
Meeting reflected that Georgine owned 52,868 shares of voting stock, which
would have included the 40,000 shares received pursuant to the Stock Purchase
and Credit Agreement. (U 17467, Tab 45) Also, in a footnote to the financial
statements in the 2001 Annual Report (note 14) there is an oblique reference to
the issuance of the 40,000 shares to a "stockholder," but few details
are provided and Georgine's name is not mentioned."40 (U
028010, Tab 47)
The Stock Purchase and Credit Agreement contains a put option: "At Employee's election, Employee may, upon thirty (30) days' advance written notice to the Corporation, require the Corporation to purchase from Employee, in cash, all or any portion of the Purchased Shares (i.e., the 40,000 shares issued pursuant to the Stock Purchase and Credit Agreement] that no longer constitute Collateral, and the Corporation shall promptly so purchase such shares at a purchase price per share equal to Fair Market Value." (U 039227, Tab 101)
--------
40
Frank Manley, ULLICO's former compensation expert, believed that Georgine's
employment agreements, including the incentive bonus, were not unusual for the
industry. (Manley Interview)
51
The
December 27, 1999 Compensation Committee minutes explain the rationale
underlying this put option, as follows:
(U 011987, Tab 99)It was also noted that it would be important for Mr. Georgine to be able to realize value on the shares of stock he owns in order to meet his assignment. Recognizing that ULLICO is not a public market stock a `Put' option should be included in the document to allow Mr. Georgine the right to submit shares of stock at will, for a price consistent with that established by ULLICO's Executive Committee, or the Board of Directors, pursuant to its responsibilities.
Carabillo
further explained that the put option allowed Georgine to put the shares at his
discretion to pay taxes resulting from the loan forgiveness. (Carabillo
Interview)
Georgine
sold the first 8,000 shares released under this agreement on February 14, 2001
at $146.04 per share, although it is unclear whether he gave the required 30
days advance written notice to the Company of his election to exercise the put
option. (U 047010, Tab 67) Aside from this minor issue, there is a serious
question as to whether the 40,000 share bonus and the corresponding loan
granted to Georgine pursuant to the Stock Purchase and Credit Agreement were
duly authorized.
First,
although the Board on September 22, 1999 approved and authorized a five
year agreement employing Georgine as Chairman, President and CEO, and delegate
to the Compensation Committee "full authority to negotiate all terms and conditions
of the contract," the Board did not expressly authorize the Compensation
Committee to enter into the Stock Purchase and Credit Agreement in addition
to the five year
Employment Agreement. Nor did the Board authorize the Compensation Committee to
issue any stock to Georgine. (U 17383, Tab 53)
Second,
the Compensation Committee lacked the authority to issue stock on its own
accord and, therefore, could not have issued the 40,000 share bonus to Georgine
without express authority from the Board. On February 13, 1999, the Executive
Committee appointed the Compensation Committee with "full authority to act
on all matters concerning compensation of officers and other employees,
including all current and deferred compensation, and including the establishment
and administration of all plans, programs, and agreements, and including the
issuance of stock."
(Emphasis added) (U 17318, Tab 35) Notwithstanding the emphasized phrase, which
purports to grant the Compensation Committee authority to issue stock, the bylaws
make it clear that "the Executive Committee ...shall not have authority
to... issue Stock"
(Emphasis added) (U 030552, Tab 2) Accordingly, the authority to issue stock
delegated by the Executive Committee to the Compensation Committee described
above is suspect.
In
addition to the 8,000 share repurchase discussed above, ULLICO repurchased from
Georgine the 8,000 shares he purchased in 1998 and 1999 pursuant to the
exclusive director/officer stock offers, 523 Class A shares purchased through
the
52
preferred
certificate program as well as 4,345 shares of Capital Stock, all at the
$146.04 stock price. ULLICO repurchased 4,000 of these shares on July 20, 2000,
and the remainder of these shares on February 14, 2001. (U 047005, Tab 67, U
047010, Tab 67)
In the
Fall of 2000, Carabillo discovered that Georgine's October 1, 1999 Employment
Agreement (as opposed to the Stock Purchase and Credit Agreement) did not
include a put option that would have authorized the July 20, 2000 repurchase.
(Carabillo Interview) Accordingly, the July repurchase of 4,000 shares of
Georgine's stock necessarily was made pursuant to the "discretionary"
program administered by Georgine himself as opposed to his Employment
Agreement. (U 039238, Tab 102; U 038451, Tab 103; U 043461, Tab 71) This
obviously created a conflict of interest.
Carabillo
brought this issue to the attention of the Compensation Committee. (Carabillo
Interview) On October 20, 2000, just before the Board approved the 2000 formal
stock repurchase program and the "discretionary" repurchase program
on November 3, 2000, the Compensation Committee concluded that it was intended
that the October 1, 1999 Employment Agreement was to include a put option that
would have authorized Georgine's July 20, 2000 redemptions. But, "through
an oversight," such put option was inadvertently omitted from Georgine's
Employment Agreement. The Compensation Committee then approved an Addendum to
Georgine's October 1, 1999 Employment Agreement and explained that the put
option in this Addendum was "pursuant to the grant of authority from the
Board of Directors." (U 012273, Tab 104) For the reasons previously stated
concerning the compensation committee's apparent lack of authority to issue stock
or approve the Stock Purchase and Credit Agreement, this explanation is also
suspect.
The
Addendum is undated, but it is deemed to have modified "the Original Agreement
effective retroactively to the Effective Date," i.e., October 1, 1999. (U
006306‑07, Tab 105) The put option in the Addendum gave Georgine the
right "at any time during or after the Employment Term" to
"require, at Employee's election, the Corporation to purchase from
Employee, in cash, all or any portion of the Shares [Class A or Capital], and
the Corporation shall promptly so purchase such Shares as a purchase price per
Share equal to Fair Market Value [i.e., book value]"
On March
6, 2001‑after the repurchases discussed above were completed‑the
Compensation Committee again discussed Georgine's put options and, according to
the draft minutes of that meeting (we have not been provided with the final
minutes), unanimously approved and ratified the repurchase of all shares
Georgine sold to the Company in 2000 and 2001. (U 021067, Tab 74) The Board, however,
never expressly ratified the repurchase of Georgine's stock in July 2000
discussed above.
53
The
Company's 1998 and 1999 stock offers and 2000 stock repurchase programs
resulted in numerous self‑interested transactions, i.e., transactions
with the Company in which the directors and officers stood to personally
benefit. These transactions may not be voidable solely on the ground that they
were self‑interested transactions. However, under the facts discovered in
the investigation, a compelling argument exists that directors, particularly
those who benefited from self‑interested transactions, did not satisfy
their fiduciary duties to the Company and its shareholders in connection with
the exclusive stock offers to directors and senior officers in 1998 and 1999
and the formal and "discretionary" repurchase programs in 2000. An
equally forceful argument applies to the principal officers, Georgine and
Carabillo, who were instrumental in creating and implementing the stock offer
and repurchase programs,
and who benefited from ULLICO stock transactions.
Section 2‑419
of the Maryland General Corporate Law ("MGCL") provides that a
transaction is not void or voidable solely because of the presence of an interested
director at the meeting in which the transaction was approved if:
(a) The fact of the interest is disclosed or known to the board of directors and the board of directors authorizes the transaction by the affirmative vote of a majority of the disinterested directors even if less than a quorum; or
(b) The fact of the interest is disclosed or known to the stockholders and the stockholders, other than stockholders who are interested in the transaction, approve the transaction; or
(c) The contract or transaction is fair and reasonable to the corporation.
Maryland
law does not require a separate vote of disinterested directors, nor does it
require that a committee of disinterested directors be formed. Moreover, a
single disinterested director may approve a contract or transaction. See James
J. Hanks, Jr., Maryland Corporation Law § 6.22 (Aspen 2001)
("Hanks"). If a majority of disinterested and informed directors
approves a transaction, then that transaction cannot be attacked solely on the
basis that it is a self‑interested transaction.
The
Company has identified five potential disinterested directors who voted to
approve the November 3, 2000 Board resolutions. Four of these five directors
held no Class A Stock at the time of this Board meeting (Directors Hurt, Joyce,
Miller and O'Sullivan). But three of these directors held Capital Stock that
could have been repurchased through the "discretionary" program,
which the Board approved on November 3, 2000. Only Director O'Sullivan, who was
appointed to the Board in
54
2000,
held no stock, Capital or Class A, as of November 3, 2000. Finally, outside
Company counsel have suggested that Chairman Georgine, although he held Class A
and Capital Stock, was disinterested because, by virtue of the put rights in
his employment agreements, he had no need to participate in either the 2000
formal repurchase program or the "discretionary" program.
While it
is questionable whether these five directors were both disinterested and fully
informed of the relevant information, Maryland law requires only one fully
informed, disinterested director to approve self‑interested transactions
to invoke the protection of Section 2‑419. Outside Company counsel have
argued that at least one of these five directors was fully disinterested and
fully informed, and that the transactions approved at the November 2000 Board
meeting would not be void or voidable on the sole basis that they were self‑interested
transactions as to other directors.
However,
compliance with Section 2‑419 in approving self‑interested
transactions does not satisfy the directors' statutory duties under Maryland
law, i.e., that they act in good faith, in a manner they reasonably believe to
be in the best interests of the company and with due care in approving the
transactions.
Certain
duties are imposed on the directors of ULLICO, which is a Maryland corporation,
as a matter of Maryland law. Section 2‑405.1 (a) of the MGCL provides
that a director shall perform his or her duties:
(1) in
good faith;
(2) in a
manner he reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation;
and
(3) with
the care that an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use under
similar circumstances.
MGCL
§ 2‑405.1 (a) (2002). The failure by a director to satisfy any one
of these statutory standards would constitute a breach of the director's
fiduciary duties.
MGCL
section 2‑405.2, however, allows a Maryland corporation to limit the
recovery of damages from officers or directors for certain breaches of
fiduciary duty. Pursuant to this statute, ULLICO's Articles of Incorporation
were amended on May 24, 1989, to provide that ULLICO's directors and officers,
when acting in their capacities as directors or officers, shall not be liable
for money damages to the Company or its stockholders except: (1) "to the
extent it is proven that they actually received
an improper benefit or profit in money, property, or services, for the amount
of the benefit or profit in money, property, or services actually
received"; or (2) "to the extent that a judgment or other final
adjudication adverse to the person is entered in a proceeding based on a
finding in the proceeding that the person's action, or failure to act, was the
result of active and deliberate dishonesty and was material to the cause
of action adjudicated in the proceeding." (U 030377, Tab 113) This
55
provision
of the Articles of Incorporation provides the maximum protection to directors
and officers permitted under Maryland law.
Based on
MGCL section 2‑405.2 and ULLICO's Articles of Incorporation, those
directors who did not personally benefit from the transactions at issue would
not likely be held liable for money damages to the Company or its stockholders.
"Good
faith," as applied to a director pursuant to subsection 2‑405.1(a)(1),
is the absence of any desire to obtain a personal benefit or a benefit for some
person other than the corporation. See Yost v. Early, 589 A.2d 1291,
1298 (Md. App. 1991). "Good faith is generally synonymous with adherence
to what is referred to in other states as the duty of loyalty or the duty of
fair dealing." Hanks § 6.6(b)."41 The obligation of
good faith includes a duty of candor with the stockholders to reveal to them
all facts about important matters involving the corporation: This duty arises
in order to provide stockholders with sufficient information to, among other
things, decide how to vote in the election of directors and whether to continue
to hold their shares or sell them. See Hanks at § 6.6(b).
1998 and 1999 Stock Offers to Directors and Senior
Officers
While the
precise business purpose for the 1998 and 1999 stock offers is unclear, the
stock offers undoubtedly had the effect of compensating certain of ULLICO's
directors and senior officers. The Compensation Committee purportedly approved
the 1998 and 1999 stock offers in direct conflict with the Executive Committee
resolution stating: "No member of the Committee shall participate in the
determination of any matter affecting his own compensation." Moreover,
under ULLICO's by‑laws, the Compensation Committee was not authorized to
issue stock. Therefore, one could make a strong argument that those members of
the Compensation Committee who purported to approve the 1998 and 1999 stock
offers violated their fiduciary duties to the Company and its shareholders by
approving matters outside their authority from which they derived a substantial
personal benefit.
2000 Stock Repurchase Program
On
November 3, 2000, the Board approved the 2000 formal stock repurchase program
and purported to ratify the "discretionary" stock repurchase program.
At that point in time, a majority of the Board members had a specific interest
in the repurchase program and benefited from the fact that the formal
repurchase program as well as the Chairman's "discretionary" program
(which was not generally "advertised") afforded the interested
directors the ability to tender 100% of their shares while significantly
limiting the sale opportunities available to shareholders owning 10,000 shares
or more (other than Georgine).
--------------
41
Demonstrating that a drector has an interest in a transaction creates a prima
facie case that the director was not acting in good faith supporting the
transaction but is not conclusive on the issue. A director is not required,
just because he is director, to forego acting in one other capacity in which he
is dealing with the corporation. See Waterfall Farm Sys.. Inc. v. Craig,
914 F. Supp.1213,1228 (D. Md.1995).
56
Management was not forthcoming in explaining to the Board the purpose or effect of the 10,000 share threshold or the foreseeable impact of the threshold upon the Company's larger shareholders. However, it should have been clear to a director exercising due care that the 2000 formal repurchase program would result in a severe proration to the holders of 10,000 or more Class A shares. It should also have been clear to the directors that any of them who participated in the repurchase program (all of whom but Georgine owned fewer than 10,000 Class A shares) could disproportionately benefit by redeeming 100% of their tendered shares."'
The
Board's action in approving the 2000 formal repurchase program and the
"discretionary" repurchase program administered by the Chairman
occurred at a time when ULLICO had eliminated conventional cash and stock
dividends, which historically had been as high as 18% per year. The only
distributions afforded shareholders were through the formal and
"discretionary" repurchase programs, the latter available to only
those shareholders who were familiar with it. There was no guarantee that in
the future ULLICO would be able to offer future dividends or large formal
repurchase programs.
A strong
argument exists that those directors who participated in, and
disproportionately benefited from, the 2000 formal stock repurchase program did
not act in good faith in approving that program. These directors acted to the
detriment of ULLICO's larger shareholders who, unlike the directors, would be
subject to proration under the program. Moreover, those directors who
participated in the "discretionary" repurchase program before
November 3, 2000, voted in favor of ratifying these stock repurchases without
fully disclosing the transactions to the full Board. As a result, many
directors were unaware of all the prior discretionary repurchases that they
purportedly ratified at the Board meeting. Likewise, Georgine, who administered
the "discretionary" program, may have breached his duty of good faith
by failing to fully disclose the benefits received by other directors under the
program while, at the same time, asking the Board to ratify the undisclosed
transactions.
The
"reasonable belief” requirement under Maryland law means that there
must be some rational basis for a director's action, that the director must
have knowledge of that basis when taking such action and that his performance
must be based upon that knowledge. See Martin Marietta Cor,. v. Bendix Corp.,
549 F. Supp. 623, 633‑34 (D. Md. 1982). Moreover, directors are required
to act in a manner they reasonably believe to be "in the best interests of
the corporation," rather than the best interests of
--------------
42 The high likelihood that the 2000 repurchase offer would be over‑subscribed was apparently well-known. Georgine, in a letter to stockholders on November 21, 2000, in which he summarized the upcoming repurchase offer, stated: “The Company anticipates receiving shares in excess of the $30 million it is offering to repurchase .. ." (U 027728, Tab 84)
57
any
particular stockholder or group of stockholders. See Werbowskk v. Collomb,
766 A.2d 123, 133 (Md. App. 2001).43
1998 and 1999 Stock Offers to Directors and
Senior Officers
We have
been unable to discern the business purpose for the 1998 and 1999 stock offers
to directors and senior officers. Chairman Georgine, in correspondence to
directors and senior officers, stated that the purpose of these stock offers
was "that management and the board of directors should have their
interests in line with the stockholders[.]" Some directors and officers we
interviewed postulated additional or different purposes. For example, certain
directors stated that they believed the stock offers and repurchases were
intended to be a form of director compensation while others viewed the stock
offers as an "equity opportunity."
Even if
one were to assume that the business purpose for the stock offers was that
expressed by Chairman Georgine, the offers were not structured to achieve that
purpose. For example, unlike typical director or employee equity awards, the
stock offers at issue here‑which arguably were made at below fair market
value (particularly the stock offers made in December 1999}‑contained no
vesting conditions or restrictions on the ability of directors and officers to
immediately sell stock purchased in the program. In fact, several directors and
officers did just that. Of the 86,565 shares purchased by directors and
officers in the 1998 and 1999 stock offers, 68,063 shares were repurchased by
ULLICO at the $146.04 stock price in 2000 and early 2001.
Therefore, it is unclear to us whether the 1998 and 1999 stock offers had any coherent business purpose and, if so, what that purpose was. At best, the stock offers appear to have been ill‑suited to achieve ULLICO's stated objective. The stock offers resulted in only a short‑lived alignment of the interests of directors and officers with those of ULLICO's other shareholders since 20 out of 24 directors and officers who purchased stock in 1998 and 1999 (excluding Michael Steed and Mark Maloney) sold most, if not all, of their shares to the Company by 2001, in most cases at $146.04 per share. This ultimately resulted in directors and officers being disproportionately favored over ULLICO's other shareholders in the repurchases made in 2000 and 2001 at the $146.04 per share stock price pursuant to the formal and "discretionary" repurchase programs. The sales by directors and officers in 2000 and 2001 were also contrary to Georgine's statement to the Board at the November 2000 Board meeting, at which the 2000 formal repurchase program and the "discretionary" repurchase program were approved, that ULLICO "is a long‑term investment and has been a long‑term investment since 1925."
--------------
43
A Maryland corporation has the general power to acquire any of its own stock.
MGCL § 2‑103(10). In addition, Maryland law provides specific grants
of authority in two different sections that allow a corporation to acquire is
own shares. See MGQ § 2‑309(a) (“if authorized by its
board of directors, a corporation may make distributions to its stockholders,
subject to any restriction in it charter and the limitations in § 2‑311.”);
id § 2‑310(a)(1) (Subject to the provisions of its charter
and § 2‑31...if authorized by its board of directors, a corporation
may acquire the corporation’s own shares.”).
58
While the
stock repurchase program may have been originally designed in 1997 with the
"reasonable belief” that the program was in the Company's best
interests, the program, as implemented in 2000, worked largely to the benefit
of certain directors and executive officers of the Company at the expense of
the other shareholders. There does not appear to have been any "rational
basis" for this disparate treatment.
In
particular, the investigation revealed no rational basis for the Board's action
in approving the 2000 formal repurchase program containing the 10,000 share
proration threshold. The threshold led directly to a fundamental disparity in
the way ULLICO's individual shareholders (mostly officers and directors) and
its institutional shareholders (mostly unions and pension funds) were treated
under the program. Even ULLICO's own outside counsel noted that the 10,000
share proration threshold was "awfully high" and that a threshold of
below 100 shares, known commonly as an odd lot, is standard.44
ULLICO's
management has put forward two principal reasons for exempting holders of fewer
than 10,000 shares from proration in the formal repurchase program. The first
is that the threshold was "tax driven." According to management, a
10,000 share demarcation line was needed because a repurchase program that
essentially treated all shareholders equally would be viewed as a dividend by
the IRS and would affect each shareholder's ability to receive capital gains
tax treatment on any profits realized from such shareholder's stock sale.45
Unions and pension funds, which held a substantial majority of ULLICO's shares,
are tax exempt and would have had no interest in this tax‑driven
motivation. Accordingly, the principal beneficiaries of the proration
threshold, from a tax perspective, were the officers and directors who sold
their shares. This justification is inconsistent with Chairman Georgine's
statement to the Board in 1997 that "the repurchase program. . . is a
means for us to provide liquidity to our larger stockholders." ('Emphasis added)
Management's
second rationale for the 10,000 share threshold was that it was designed to
eliminate small shareholders, thereby reducing administrative expenses and
avoiding potential reporting requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the "Exchange Act") that would apply if the Company had more
than 500 shareholders.46 This second rationale is also not
persuasive and is at odds with the effect of the 1998 and 1999 stock offers,
which resulted in more, not fewer, "small" shareholders. Nor was
ULLICO particularly close to the 500 shareholder ceiling.
--------
44
The resolution adopted by the Board in connection with the first repurchase
program in 1997 provided for a 10 share proration. Leboeuf Lamb
incorporated the same in its first draft, only to change it to 100 shares
thereafter. The Company then appears, without Board approval, to have changed
the proration threshold to 10,000 shares. Outside counsel in subsequent years
suggested the 10,000 share threshold was too high. Indeed, the resolution for
the $240 million repurchase program conditionally adopted in may 2000, but
later abandoned, provided for a 100 share proration threshold, which is more
typical for partial tender offers. Outside counsel then suggested that the $30
million repurchase program adopted by the Board in November 2000 have a 5,000
share proration threshold, which also was rejected by the Company.
45
The formal tender offer documents warned that even with the 10,000 demarcation
line the IRS might still view a repurchase of stock as a dividend.
46
Companies with assets in excess of $10 million and more than 500 shareholders
are required to register their equity securities under Section 12 of the
Exchange Act.
59
Finally,
the Company likely could have achieved the same or similar objectives without
so disadvantaging ULLICO's large shareholders through other means, such as: (1)
using a lower, more reasonable proration threshold; (2) including Capital Stock
in the repurchase program; (3) limiting the aggregate number of shares that
would be exempted from the proration threshold; or (4) limiting or precluding
repurchases from insiders under the proration threshold.
It seems
clear that while the precise business purpose for the 1998 and 1999 stock
offers is unclear, the stock offers, which arguably were made at below fair
market value, undoubtedly had the effect of compensating certain of ULLICO's
directors and senior officers. Maryland law allows directors to set their own
compensation as long as the compensation is reasonable: See MGCL §
2‑419(d)(2)(2002). However, if the true purpose for the 2000 stock
repurchase program, as well as the redemptions through the
"discretionary" repurchase program in 2000 and 2001, was, as some
have suggested, to compensate directors and certain executives, the program
still would have lacked sufficient business justification.
According
to the 2000 tender offer documents, "the Company's directors and executive
officers as a group (33 persons) beneficially owned ...approximately 1.3% of
the outstanding Shares." (Emphasis added) Nevertheless, the Company repurchased from
directors and senior officers about $13.7 million (or approximately one‑third) of the approximately $44.6
million of shares repurchased in 2000‑‑01 at the $146.04 share
price through the formal and "discretionary" programs. The pre‑tax
profits realized in 2000 and 2001 by the 16 directors (excluding Georgine) who
sold their shares amounted to more than $5.7 million. We are unaware of any
legitimate business justification for distributing compensation through this
type of transaction as opposed to simply increasing directors' fees or awarding
bonuses. In addition, if these stock profits represented compensation to
directors, such compensation would not appear to be justified by the limited
services they performed for the Company (except perhaps as to those directors
who received nominal amounts).47
ULLICO's four senior officers who sold stock to the Company during this period collectively received pre‑tax profits of approximately $4.9 million. The amounts received by the senior officers as a result of their stock sales also may have been unreasonable under the circumstances, particularly given the fact that these officers were already being directly and substantially compensated for the success of the Global Crossing investment under the Global Incentive Program, the Deferred Compensation Plan and other employee compensation programs.
In sum,
if the 2000 stock repurchase program was intended, in part, to compensate
directors and officers, that purpose was not adequately disclosed or
considered, and the program itself was poorly designed to achieve that purpose
in an equitable manner.
--------
47
For example, Bernard's pre‑tax profit was $1,329,620; West's pre‑tax
profit was $989,060; Casstevens's pre‑tax profit was at least $809,628;
and Joseph Maloney's pre‑tax profit was $418,1380. In contrast, Brown's
pre‑tax profit was $4,605.
60
Section 2‑405.1(a)(3)
of the MGCL requires a director to act with the same care that an
"ordinarily prudent person" would act in a "like position under
similar circumstances." The principal focus of § 2‑405.1(a)(3)
regarding directors executing their duties as a reasonably prudent person is on
"the process by which the decision is made, not the wisdom of the decision
or the results." Hanks § 6.6(b). While the process by which a
director makes his decision will necessarily vary with the significance,
complexity and other aspects of the decision, as a general rule, board members
should have available to them all information material to the decision and
should have some opportunity to ask questions of management and to meet and
evaluate the matter with other directors and management.
While
section 2‑405.1(a)(3) appears to impose an ordinary negligence standard,
Maryland courts to date have continued to require proof of gross negligence as
the basis for recovery against directors for a breach of the "ordinarily
prudent person" standard. See Biilman v. Maryland Deposit Ins. Fund
Corp., 593 A.2d 684, 697 (Md. App. 1991); Mountain Manor Realty, Inc. v.
Buccheri, 461 A.2d 45, 50 (Md. App. 1983) (general rule is that court will
not interfere with proper exercise of business judgment by board unless
plaintiff presents evidence of gross or culpable negligence).
1998 and 1999 Stock Offers to
Directors and Senior Oflfcers
The
approval of the stock offers involved an excessive, and perhaps impermissible,
delegation of authority by the Board. The Compensation Committee purported to
approve the stock offers but, as discussed earlier, may not have been
authorized to do so under ULLICO's by‑laws. Moreover, the Compensation
Committee did not impose nor; as far as we could determine, consider any
reasonable conditions on the terms of the stock offers, including the timing of
the stock offers. Instead, the Compensation
Committee delegated this discretion solely to Chairman Georgine. Finally, based
on ULLICO's corporate records, it does not appear as if the approval of the
stock offers by the Compensation Committee or the participation by directors
and officers in the stock offer program was reported to ULLICO's Board or
Executive Committee.
In light
of questions raised regarding the Compensation Committee's authority to approve
the 1998 and 1999 stock offers, certain members of the Company's management and
others have suggested that the authority for the stock offers may have come
from a resolution of the Board adopted at its May 6, 1997 meeting. Pursuant to
this resolution, the Board purported to authorize Georgine "in his sole
discretion to offer shares of the Corporation's Stock that have been
repurchased and returned to the status of authorized, but unissued
shares[.]" (U 000030, Tab 12) It could be
argued that, in effect, the Board properly delegated its authority to issue
stock to a Board committee, consisting solely of Georgine.
61
Under
MGCL Section 2‑411, a board of directors may delegate to a committee
composed of one or more directors the power to issue stock if the board has
"establish[ed] a method or procedure for determining the maximum number of
shares to be issued." Here, the Board established no "method or
procedure" for determining the maximum number of shares to be issued,
other than to restrict Georgine from issuing more stock than the Company had
repurchased. Given that, under the "discretionary" repurchase
program, Georgine had sole discretion to repurchase shares from time‑to‑time,
one could argue that there was no meaningful restriction on his authority to
issue stock and, therefore, no "method or procedure" for determining
the maximum number of shares to be issued.
Moreover,
the Board's authorization did not set any parameters regarding the procedure
for offering the stock, the price at which the stock was to be offered, the
amount of stock to be offered or when or to whom the stock would be offered.
Even assuming the Board's delegation was permissible under MGCL Section 2‑411,
which is unclear, it is doubtful that such a wholesale delegation of authority
by the Board was intended. If the Board did intend such a wholesale delegation
of authority, it is questionable whether such delegation was consistent with
the directors' duty of due care. As provided in Section 2‑411 (d) of the
MGCL, "the appointment of a Committee, the delegation of authority to it,
or action by it under that authority does not constitute, of itself, compliance
by any director, not a member of the committee, with [his or her fiduciary
duties] under §2‑405.1 [.]"
Certain
directors similarly may have failed to exercise due care in approving the
formal and "discretionary" repurchase programs in 2000. Based on our
review of corporate records and interviews with directors, there appears to
have been little meaningful discussion regarding the terms of the formal
repurchase program in 2000. In fact, most directors were unable to articulate a
clear justification for the 10,000 share threshold, other than the fact
that the same threshold had been used in the previous years. Although a few
directors viewed the 10,000 share threshold as a means to compensate directors,
this purpose, as far as we could tell, was never discussed at the Board
meeting.
In our
view, an "ordinarily prudent person" should have realized that the
10,000 share proration threshold, when combined with the 2% Rule, would have
resulted in severe proration to the shareholders holding 10,000 or more shares.
At a minimum, a prudent director should have at least requested information
from management regarding the impact of these components of the 2000 repurchase
program on the directors and the shareholders as a whole. Directors should have
inquired into how much stock was owned by individual directors and officers
and, therefore, how much stock would be eligible to be resold in the repurchase
program without proration. Likewise, before ratifying the
"discretionary" program, directors should have made themselves aware
of all stock repurchases from insiders under that program.
62
Certain
directors commented to us that if they had been aware of the severe proration
that would result in the 2000 repurchase program or the insider repurchases
under the "discretionary" program, they would not have voted to
approve the programs. A strong argument exists that the formal repurchase
program, at least as structured and implemented in 2000, was not in the best
interests of the Company's shareholders. It appears that due care was not
exercised by the directors in approving the programs at issue, particularly
those directors who participated in these programs and were, therefore, well
aware of the programs' benefits to insiders. That is, it is questionable
whether the directors adequately informed themselves prior to approving the
2000 formal repurchase and "discretionary" programs.
The
business judgment rule creates the presumption that in making business
decisions, the directors of a Maryland corporation have acted in accordance
with the fiduciary duties imposed by Section 2‑405.1(a). See Yost v.
Early, 589 A.2d 1291, 1298 (Md. App. 1991); MGCL § 2‑405.1(e).
The effect of the business judgment rule under Maryland law is to place upon
the person attacking the directors' action the burden of proving, prior to any
further inquiry, lack of good faith or an informed basis for the decision. Once
sufficient evidence is presented to rebut the presumption, the burden of proof
is on the directors to present evidence that they satisfied their fiduciary
duties. See Hanks at § 6.8.
Under the facts of this case, it cannot be said with any reasonable degree of certainty that the business judgment rule would protect the actions of those directors who benefited from the programs at issue. There is a greater likelihood that those directors at the time of the November 3, 2000 Board meeting who did not profit from the stock offer and repurchase programs would be deemed to have satisfied their fiduciary duties by virtue of the presumption under the business judgment rule. These directors include Directors Biller, Coia, Hanley, Hurt, Joyce, Kruse, Miller, O'Sullivan, Sombrotto, Sweeney, Upshaw and Wilhelm.
While
there is no statutory standard of conduct for corporate officers under Maryland
law, officers are subject to general agency principles. See Hanks at
§ 6.19. Under Maryland law, an officer, as an agent of the corporation,
owes the corporation duties of loyalty, obedience and care. See Ins. Co. of
N. Am. v. Miller. 765 A.2d 587, 59698 (Md. App. 2001). A corporation
acts under the supervision and direction of its board of directors. Implicit in
an officer's duties of loyalty and care is the obligation of the officer to
disclose to the board all information in his possession that is required by the
members of the board to perform their corporate responsibilities. See id.
at 597; Impala Platinum Ltd. v. Impala Sales (U.S.A.). Inc., 389 A.2d
887, 903 (Md. 1978) (quoting Herring v. Offutt, 295 A.2d 876, 879
(1972)) (recognizing duty of fiduciary "to make full disclosure of all known
information that is significant and material to the affairs" of the
fiduciary relationship); see also Hanks § 6.19. Unlike
63
with
directors, it is unclear whether officers can invoke the protection of the
business judgment rule. That is, there may not be a presumption that officers
acted in a manner consistent with their fiduciary duties.
The
obligation of an officer to disclose information is heightened when the officer
has an interest that conflicts with the interests of the corporation or its shareholders.
When faced with a conflict of interest, an offcer is required to disclose the
conflict prior to acting on behalf of the corporation. The taking of any action
by an officer prior to such disclosure would constitute a breach of such
officer's duties of loyalty and care. See Ins. Co. of N. Am., 765 A.2d
at 597 (citing RESTATEMENT (SECOND) OF AGENCY § 389 (1958)).
Georgine and Carabillo were heavily involved in the formulation and implementation of the 1998 and 1999 stock offers, the formal stock repurchase program and the "discretionary" stock repurchase program. In fact, Georgine exercised almost unfettered discretion in administering the "discretionary" repurchase program, and the Compensation Committee granted Georgine the discretion to determine the timing of the stock offers. Carabillo, as ULLICO's Chief Legal Officer, assisted and provided legal advice to Georgine in connection with these matters. The terms of the repurchase program (including the 10,000 share threshold) were ultimately approved by the Board and/or the Executive Committee in the form presented by management.
Notwithstanding
their significant involvement in the stock offer and repurchase programs,
certain officers of ULLICO, principally Georgine and Carabillo, failed to.
adequately disclose to the Board their personal interests in these programs.
Nor did they disclose to the Board the extent to which they personally
benefited from ULLICO stock transactions. In fact, our investigation revealed
that senior management engaged in a concerted effort to withhold executive
compensation information from the Board, including compensation received
indirectly from the stock offer and repurchase programs.
In the
course of our investigation, we found several instances where the Board was asked
to act without receiving all relevant information. For example, in November
2000, the Board was asked to ratify various stock repurchases under the
"discretionary" program without being informed that a substantial
portion of the repurchases had been made from directors and officers. To the
contrary, the Chairman emphasized at the Board meeting that ULLICO "is a
long‑term investment and has been a long‑term investment since
1925." The Board was also not informed of the reasons for, or the impact
of, certain terms of the programs it was asked to approve, including the 10,000
share proration threshold in the formal repurchase program. Finally, management
had access to detailed information concerning participation in the stock offer
and repurchase programs and was aware of the disparate treatment between under‑10,000
Class A shareholders (primarily officers and directors) and the remaining Class
A and B shareholders (primarily unions and pension funds). This information was
not fully shared with the Board members.
64
Had
management made adequate and complete disclosure of all relevant information
regarding the stock offer and repurchase programs to the Board, including their
personal interests in these programs, it is possible that the Board and its
committees would have acted differently. In fact, several directors told us
that they might not have voted to approve these programs had they been aware of
the extent to which certain insiders profited from such programs at the expense
of the other shareholders.
Fiduciary
duties similar to those imposed by Maryland law which may be applicable to
self-interested transactions involving officers and directors may also arise
under the Federal Labor-Management Disclosure and Reporting Procedure Act
("LMDRA") (29 U.S.C. § 5O1 et seq.) and the Employment Retirement
Income Security Act ("ERISA") (29 U.S.C. § 1100 et seq.). These statutes impose
fiduciary duties upon individual directors who may be officers of unions or
trustees of pension funds who are ULLICO shareholders. These duties are
sirnilar to the statutory and fiduciary duties discussed above. However,
outside Company counsel have advised the
Special Counsel that the Special Counsel's mandate does not extend to the consideration
of the applicability of these statutes to the conduct by individual directors
because of the union or pension fund positions that they hold. Therefore, we
have not analyzed these issues.
ULLICO
provides pension fund administrative services. The Company has advised us that
it does not make any investment decisions for, and therefore has no fiduciary
duties under ERISA to, the pension funds for which it provides administrative
services. Finally, ULLICO makes investment decisions for its own pension fund.
ERISA fiduciary obligations exist in connection with acts by ULLICO's pension
trustees (including Georgine and Carabillo) who also were heavily involved in
the formulation and implementation of the repurchase programs. However, outside
Company counsel have advised the Special Counsel that the Special Counsel's mandate
does not extend to the consideration of the applicability of ERISA to the
conduct by ULLICO pension fund trustees. Therefore, we have not analyzed these
issues.
As part
of our investigation, we evaluated the impact of the Cornpany's actions through
its officers and directors under applicable federal securities laws, including
the general anti-fraud provisions of the Exchange Act as set forth in Section
lO(b) and Rule 10b-5 and, in connection with tender offers, as set forth in
Section 14(e) and the rules promulgated thereunder. We have also considered the
applicability of the anti-fraud provisions of state securities, or "Blue
Sky," laws. A brief discussion of potential liability issues under Blue
Sky laws is included at the end of this section.
65
Rule l Ob‑5(b)
proscribes, in connection with the purchase or sale of a security where
interstate commerce or the mails are used, the making of "any untrue statement
of material fact or... [omitting] to state a material fact necessary in order
to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading." Rule lOb‑5 also prohibits a
"device, scheme or artifice to defraud" under subsection (a) thereof
and, under subsection (c), any act, practice or course of business which acts
as a "fraud or deceit" upon any person.48
Section
14(e) is a component of the Williams Act provisions regulating tender offers.
Section 14(e) provides that: "It shall be unlawful for any person ...to
make any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances
under which they are made, not misleading, or to engage in any fraudulent,
deceptive, or manipulative acts or practices, in connection with any tender
offer."
Section
14(e) also delegated to the SEC rulemaking authority to prescribe "means
reasonably designed to prevent such acts and practices as are fraudulent,
deceptive, or manipulative."49 Section 14(e) is a "broad
antifraud prohibition" that was modeled on the antifraud provisions of
Section 10(b) and Rule lOb‑5. It supplements the more precise disclosure
provisions found elsewhere in the Williams Act while requiring disclosure
"more explicitly addressed to the tender offer context than that required
by Section 10(b)."50 In addition, it has been interpreted as
indicating Congressional intent "to assure basic honesty and fair
dealing" in connection with tender offers."51
People
who control primary violators may also be liable for violations of Section
10(b), Section 14(e) or the rules promulgated thereunder.52
--------
48
To establish liability under Section.10(b) of the Exchange Act and under Rule
10b-5, subsection (b), a plairitfff must show that “(1) the defendent
made a false statement or omission of material fact (2) with scienter (3) upon
which the plaintiff justifiably relied (4) that proximately caused the
plaintiffs damages." Phillips v. LCI Intl.Inc, 190 F.3d 609, 613
(4th Cir.1999). Federal courts in D.C. impose an identical standard. See,
ICT Corp v. eGlobe Inc., 140 F. Supp. 2d 30, 32‑33 (D.D.C. 2001).
Scienter in this context means “an intent to deceive or defraud” See
Media Gen., Inc. v. Tomtin. 2001 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11712, at 12 (D.D.C. Aug.
9,2001).
In
addition to the "misrepresentation or omission" prongs of 10b‑5,
the Rule also imposes liability for “any device, scheme, or artifice to
defraud" (Rule 10b (a)) or any other “act, practice or course of
business" that "operates ...as a fraud or deceit" Rule 10b‑5(c).
Subsections (a) and (c) argualby do not require a misrepresentation or
omission. See Affiliated Ute Citizens of the State of Utah v. United States.
406 U.S.128,152‑53 (1972) (“To be sure, the second subparagraph of
[Rule 10b-5] specifies the making of an untrue statement of a material fact and
the omission to state a material fact. The first and third paragraphs are not
so restricted.”) See also Shores v. Sklar, 647 F.2d 462, 469‑70
(5th Cir.1981); Ross v. Bank South, NA.. 885 F.2d 723, 729‑30 n.10
(11th Cir.1989) (following Shores but noting that scienter requirement met by
showing of “severe recklessness"). In Santa Fe Indus.. Inc. v.
Green, 430 U.S. 462 (1977), the Court determined that 10b‑5 was not
violated in the absence of any “deception, misrepresentation or
nondisclosure,” lending support to the argument that
"deception” could occur, even in the absence of a misrepresentation
or nondisclosure. Id. at 476, In two recent Supreme Court decisions on
Rule 10b‑5, the Court emphasizes that Rule 10b‑5 should be broadly
interpreted to meet its remedial purposes., See S.E.C. v. Zandford,122
S. Ct. 1899 (2002); Wharf Ltd. v. United Intl Holdings,Inc., 532 U.S.
588 (2001).
49
15 U.S.C. 78n(e) (1994). LeBoeuf Lamb provided a detailed memorandum to ULLICO
discussing the rules and requirements of Section 14(e) on March 27,1997.
50
Schreiber v. Budineton Northern. Inc,. 472 U.S.1,10‑11 (1985)
(citations omitted).
51
Macfadden Holdings, Inc, v JB Acquistions Corp., 802 F.2d 62, 66 (2d
Cir.1986).
52
Section 20(a) provides: “Every person who, directly or indirectly,
controls any person liable under any provision of this Act or of any rule or
regulation thereunder shall also be liable jointly and severally with and to
the same extent as such controlled person is liable, unless the controlling
person acted in good faith and did not directly or indirectly induce the act or
acts constituting the violation or cause of action.”
66
To prove
a violation of Section 10(b) or Section 14(e), the alleged wrongdoer needs to
have acted with extreme or severe recklessness. In re Baan Co. Sec. Litig.,
103 F. Supp. 2d 1, 19 (D.D.C. 2000) (finding scienter based on allegations of
extreme recklessness). In Baan, the district court stated that scienter
can be found based on "facts that constitute circumstantial evidence of
either reckless or conscious behavior...A reckless statement is one involving
not merely simple, or even excusable negligence, but an extreme departure from
the standards of ordinary care, and which presents a danger of misleading
buyers or sellers that is either known to the defendants or is so obvious that
the actor must have been aware of it." Baan 103 F. Supp. 2d at 20‑21;
see also Chris‑Craft Indus. Inc. v. Piper Aircraft Corp., 480 F.2d
341, 343 (2d Cir. 1973) ("In determining whether 14(e) violations were
committed ...we shall follow the principles developed under Rule lOb‑5
regarding the elements of such violations.") 53
In 1997,
the cash dividend paid to shareholders was substantially reduced from 8% to 2%
and eliminated totally by 1999. The only method for distributions to most
shareholders was the formal repurchase program and, to those shareholders who
were aware of it, the "discretionary" repurchase program administered
by the Chairman. In 1998 and 1999, during the time ULLICO's shareholder's
equity was increasing because of the success of the Global Crossing investment,
directors and officers only were allowed to purchase more shares.
There was
little or no investment risk associated with the purchase of these shares
because of the timing of the purchases and the manner in which ULLICO set its
yearly share price, which did not timely account for this increase in
stockholders' equity. These same directors and officers were allowed to sell
their shares back to ULLICO at the highest possible price ($146.04) in 2000 and
early 2001 due to the following factors: (1) all but one of the directors' and
offcers' holdings were below the 10,000 share proration threshold, allowing
them to redeem 100% of their tendered shares in the formal repurchase program;
(2) the discretionary authority of the Chairman to redeem shares in his
discretion and, in the case of the offcers and directors, included all that
they tendered; and (3) the put options under Georgine's employment agreements.
The
directors who participated in the Company's repurchase programs voted to
approve the formal repurchase program and ratify the "discretionary"
repurchase program at the November 3, 2000 Board meeting, except for three
directors who benefited but did not attend that meeting. Those three directors
nonetheless were
--------
53
There is no private right of action for aider and abettor liability for a 10b‑5
violation, although the SEC can pursue the same under Section 17 of the Act. See
Newcome v. Esrey. 862 F.2d 1099 (4th Cir.1988). Also, mere breaches of
fiduciary duty, not constituting deception or manipulation, do not violate
Section 10(b) and Rule 10b‑5. See Santa Fe Indus. v. Green, 430
U.S. 462 (1977). In a suit brought under Rule 10b‑5,the plaintiff must
show both ‘loss causation‑that the misrepresentations or omissions
caused the economic harm‑and transaction causation‑that the
violations in question caused the [plaintiff] to engage in the transaction in
question.’’’ Bennett v. United States Trust Co,. 770
F.2d 308, 313 (2d Cir.1985). A direct or proximate relationship between the
loss and the misrepresentation must be shown. See id. at 314..
67
aware, or
should have been aware, of the resolution effectuating the programs in which
they participated, and they did not object to their implementation or otherwise
disclose to the Board their interests in the approved transaction.
The
Company's two principal officers, Georgine and Carabillo, were instrumental in
the design of the repurchase programs, and were directly responsible for their
implementation and the disclosures made to the Board and the Company's
shareholders. When announcing the 2000 formal repurchase program to the
shareholders in a letter dated November 21, 2000, Chairman Georgine stated that
all shareholders would "share equitably in the offering." After
reviewing relevant transactions, it is clear that they did not. In fact, holders
of fewer than 10,000 shares who participated in the repurchase programs
(primarily directors and officers) were treated significantly better than
ULLICO's other shareholders.
The
disclosure documents delivered in connection with the formal repurchase program
arguably contained material misstatements or omissions in violation of the
disclosure requirements of Rule l0b‑5 and Section 14(e) of the Exchange
Act. Under these provisions, a statement or omission is material if "there
is a substantial likelihood that a reasonable investor would consider it
important [in making an investment decision.]" Put another way, there must
be a substantial likelihood that the disclosure of the information "would
have been viewed by the reasonable investor as having significantly altered the
`total mix' of information made available."
The
disclosure documents used under the formal repurchase program prior to 2001 did
not disclose the individual stock ownership of directors and officers, nor the
July 1998 or December 1999 exclusive stock offers. The documents did not
disclose the 40,000 share stock bonus afforded Chairman Georgine in 1999 and
financed by ULLICO, nor the existence of Georgine's put rights under his
employment agreements. The documents did not disclose the existence of the
"discretionary" repurchase program administered by the Chairman or
the fact that directors and officers sold a significant number of shares
pursuant to this program in 2000 at the $146.04 per share price. The repurchase
offer documents also did not clearly disclose the potential impact of the
repurchase program's proration provisions, which were particularly significant
in 2000 and 2001. Nor did they clearly disclose how these proration provisions
benefited directors and officers. Arguably, these disclosures would have been
material to the decision by shareholders to participate in the repurchase
offers.
The possible inadequacy of ULLICO's repurchase offer disclosure is most apparent in the case of the 2000 repurchase program, given the stock issuances to ULLICO's directors and officers in 1998 and 1999 and the substantial stock repurchases by ULLICO at $146.04 per share in 2000, much of which occurred prior to the commencement of the formal repurchase program. Moreover, it was or should have been apparent to the directors and the principal officers of ULLICO that the 2% Rule
--------
54
TSC Indus Inc. v. Northway, Inc., 426 U.S. 438, 449 (1976).
68
in the
2000 program, together with the record‑high share price, would result in
severe proration to holders of 10,000 or more shares. In our view, this impact
was foreseeable and should have been better disclosed. As to the Chairman's
"discretionary" repurchase program, he personally advised the Board
at the November 3, 2000 meeting that it was not a program which he
"advertised." In fact, the tender offer disclosure documents did not
disclose the existence of the "discretionary" repurchase programs or
any repurchases thereunder, including repurchases from insiders, other than
possible repurchases of Capital Stock upon the death of a shareholder.
The
repurchase offer disclosure documents may not have only failed to provide
sufficient disclosure regarding the purchase and sale of stock by directors and
officers, but they also may have contained specific disclosures that were
arguably misleading, at least in the 2000 formal repurchase program. For
example, the disclosure documents in each year stated that ULLICO "has not
been advised that any of its directors and executive officers presently intend[s]
to tender any shares personally owned by them pursuant to the Offer." In
fact, according to witness accounts, ULLICO never asked directors or officers
whether or not they intended to participate in the formal tender offers,
raising a question as to whether ULLICO had any basis for making this
disclosure.
Again,
this is particularly true in 2000, when several officers and directors did
participate in the formal repurchase program and tendered a significant number
of shares pursuant to the "discretionary" repurchase program and, in
the case of Chairman Georgine, his employment agreements. During 2000 and early
2001, ULLICO repurchased approximately $13.7 million of stock from directors
and officers at a price of $146.04 per share, pursuant to the formal and "discretionary"
repurchase programs and the Georgine employment agreements, both before and
after the tender offer was made. None of these repurchases were clearly
disclosed to shareholders.
The 2000 tender offer disclosure documents also stated, as did the tender offer documents used in prior years, that ULLICO and its Board of Directors believed the shares to be an "excellent investment opportunity for investors seeking long‑term growth of capital." Chairman Georgine made similar statements to directors and shareholders in correspondence relating to stock purchases as well as at Board meetings. It is difficult, however, to reconcile these statements, at least those made in 2000, with the fact that officers and directors (including Chairman Georgine) were, at the same time these statements were being made, selling a substantial amount of ULLICO shares. In light of these statements, it is unclear how the disclosure of repurchases by ULLICO from directors and officers would not have been viewed as material to a shareholder's decision to participate in the formal repurchase program.
--------
55
It is interesting to note that this statement was deleted from the 2001
repurchase offer.
69
During
the period between 1997 and 2001, the only director and officer stock
transactions that were specifically disclosed in the tender offer documents
were the purchases by directors and officers in the Fall of 1998. The purchases
made in the Summer of 1998 and the Winter of 1999 were never clearly disclosed
to shareholders, nor were any repurchases from directors or officers pursuant
to the formal or "discretionary" repurchase programs or the Georgine
employment agreements.
The
apparent rationale for not disclosing these transactions was that they fell
outside a "40 business day" standard used in the disclosure
documents. The tender offer disclosure documents contained disclosure stating
that "based upon ULLICO's records and upon information provided to ULLICO
by its directors and executive officers, neither ULLICO nor any of its
subsidiaries nor, to the best of ULLICO's knowledge, any of the directors or
officers of ULLICO,...has effected any transactions in ULLICO's shares during
the 40 business days prior to the date [of the relevant disclosure
document]"
We have
been unable to ascertain precisely why ULLICO used a "40 business
day" cut‑off in determining its disclosure obligation. However, an
outside attorney for ULLICO indicated that it may have been used by analogy to
a specific disclosure rule applicable to public company tender offers. However,
this specific disclosure requirement should not have superseded the general
disclosure requirement under Rule l0b‑5 and Section 14(e), which
prohibits the making of "any untrue statement of material fact or. ..
[omitting] to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
made, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading."
(Emphasis added.)
Information regarding purchases and repurchases from directors and officers that was omitted from the tender offer disclosure documents arguably could have been material to the investment decision being asked of ULLICO's shareholders. The information may also have led certain shareholders to oppose, or seek to enjoin, the formal repurchase program. Moreover, ULLICO may have made matters worse by providing limited disclosure to the effect that no stock transactions had occurred within the preceding "40 business days." While literally true, this disclosure, in the context of the other disclosures in the tender offer documents, arguably created a misleading impression that ULLICO's officers and directors were not actively engaged in the sale of Company stock.
Finally,
the tender offer disclosure documents did not contain any information regarding
executive compensation, nor was executive compensation information (including
information regarding the Georgine employment agreements) available to
shareholders from any other source. In fact, in the course of our
investigation, we found substantial evidence that ULLICO management engaged in
a concerted effort
70
to
withhold executive compensation information from members of ULLICO's Board of
Directors and its shareholders.56
There is a plausible argument that compensation information regarding ULLICO's executives would not have been material to ULLICO's shareholders in making their decisions as to whether to participate in the formal repurchase program and, therefore, disclosure was not required. Moreover, executive compensation disclosure is generally not included in tender offer disclosure documents for public companies (although the information is always available through another publicly‑available filing). However, where, as here, a substantial amount of the benefits received by ULLICO's senior officers and directors (particularly Chairman Georgine) was in the form of stock issued and repurchased by ULLICO pursuant to transactions and agreements that were not otherwise disclosed, one could take the position that some disclosure of executive financial benefits should have been made, particularly in 2000 and 2001 when the bulk of the stock repurchases from management occurred.
Another
disclosure issue in connection with ULLICO's tender offer documents involves
its recommendation with respect to the offer. Rule 14e‑2 under the
Exchange Act provides that the subject company of a tender offer must, within
10 business days from the dissemination of the tender offer, make a statement
to its shareholders that it: (1) recommends acceptance of the offer, (2) recommends
rejection of the offer, (3) is remaining neutral; or (4) is unable to take a
position.57 ULLICO facially complied with this rule by including in
the tender offer disclosure documents a statement that "neither the
Company nor its Board of Directors makes any recommendation as to whether any
shareholder should tender any or all such shareholder's shares pursuant to the
offer.58
However, as previously discussed, the 2000 repurchase offer disclosure document also stated that ULLICO and its Board of Directors believed that the shares represented "an excellent investment opportunity for investors seeking long‑term growth of capital" and that ULLICO "had not been advised that any of its directors and officers intended to tender any shares pursuant to the offer." Despite possible technical compliance with Rule 14e‑2, it is difficult to reconcile the disclosure contained in ULLICO's repurchase documents with the actions of ULLICO's directors and officers, particularly in 2000.
In 2000,
at the same time that ULLICO took a neutral position with respect to the
repurchase offer, denied knowledge of any intention by the directors and
officers to participate in the repurchase offer, and endorsed the shares of
ULLICO as an excellent long‑term investment opportunity, ULLICO
management was aware that
--------
56
In a memorandum dated December 14,1995, Dennis Lyons of Arnold & Porter
advised the Company that some authorities had contended that under state
corporate law a corporation that solicits proxies for an annual meeting, even
though not subject to the SEC proxy rules, has an obligation to make available
to the Company's shareholders information regarding the Company's senior
management, including canpensation Information.
57
See Rule 14e‑2.
58
This statement is taken from the ULLICO Offer to Purchase dated December 14,
2000. There are similar statements in each years repurchase offer disdosure
document.
71
several
directors and officers were selling a substantial number of shares pursuant to
a "discretionary" repurchase program and, in the case of Georgine,
his employment agreements.
While the
disclosure in ULLICO's repurchase offer documents clearly could have been
better, reasonable persons could disagree over whether the disclosure
deficiencies are actionable. For example, while ULLICO did not disclose in the
2000 repurchase offer disclosure documents that all directors and executive
officers (other than Georgine) owned fewer than 10,000 shares and, therefore,
would benefit from the proration threshold, ULLICO's proxy materials,
distributed several months earlier, did disclose individual director share
ownership. Similarly, a very conscientious shareholder could have compared
annual proxy materials between 1998 and 2001 and inferred that the Company was
issuing and repurchasing stock from insiders. Moreover, the impact of the
Global Crossing investment on the Company's shareholders' equity (and book
value per share) was discussed in the Company's disclosure documents and a
reasonable investor would likely have concluded in 2000, based on the
disclosure provided and information generally available, that it was a good
time to sell ULLICO stock. Therefore, one could conclude that the disclosure
inadequacies, while significant, should not give rise to a claim under Rule lOb‑5
or Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act. There also is an argument that even if
material, the disclosure deficiencies were not the primary cause of any harm
suffered by ULLICO's larger shareholders.
As
discussed above, Rule lOb‑5 prohibits any person, directly or indirectly,
by the use of any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce ...from (a)
employing "any device, scheme, or artifice to defraud"... or (c)
engaging in "any act, practice, or course of business which operates or
would operate as a fraud or deceit upon any person," in connection with
the purchase or sale of any security. In addition, Section 14(e) prohibits a
person from engaging in any "fraudulent, deceptive, or manipulative acts
or practices, in connection with any tender offer." Section 14(e) also
delegates to the SEC rulemaking authority to prescribe "means reasonably
designed to prevent" . such acts and practices as are "fraudulent,
deceptive or manipulative."60
Arguably, the stock issuances in 1998 and 1999 and the subsequent repurchases pursuant to the formal and "discretionary" repurchase programs constituted deceptive or manipulative acts or practices in violation of Rule lob‑5(a) and (c) and Section 14(e). A central element of the formal repurchase program is that it has treated holders of fewer than 10,000 shares in a significantly different manner than ULLICO's other shareholders. In addition, there is evidence that in the
--------
59United
States v. O’Hagan. 521 U.S. 642, 667, 673 (1997). .
60
The Supreme Court has interpreted this phrase to authorize SEC prohibition not
only of the “core” activity, namely fraud, but also of sufficiently
related activity that, although not necessarily frauduient, nonetheless falls
within the prophylactic scope of a rule “reasonably designed" to
prevent the core activity (such as deceptive or manipulative acts or
practices). Id.
72
"discretionary"
repurchase program, smaller shareholders (principally directors and officers)
were treated preferentially. As discussed earlier, we have not been able to
discern the precise business purpose or basis for distinguishing between
smaller shareholders (principally directors and officers) and ULLICO's other
shareholders under the formal and "discretionary" repurchase programs
in such a significant manner.
In
particular, it is unclear why ULLICO adopted and retained the 10,000 share
proration threshold in the 2000 repurchase program. Although certain of
ULLICO's directors and officers have offered explanations for the threshold,
none appears compelling and it should have been apparent, particularly in 2000,
that the threshold would result in a dramatic disparity in the treatment of
ULLICO's shareholders under the formal repurchase program. Both LeBoeuf Lamb
and Arnold & Porter questioned the appropriateness of this 10,000 share
threshold, but these concerns apparently were ignored.61
In
addition, one could argue that the stock purchases made by the directors and
officers in 1999 (and perhaps in 1998) violated Rule 14e‑3. Rule 14e‑3
was adopted in an effort to regulate insider and tippee trading in the tender
offer context.62 In United States. v. O'Hagan,63
the Supreme Court approved Rule 14e‑3 as a preventative rule designed to
prevent violations of Section 14(e). Rule 14e‑3(a) is triggered if any
person has taken a "substantial step" to commence a tender offer.
This rule applies both before and after a tender offer has commenced and,
indeed, even if a tender offer never commences as long as a substantial step has
been taken.64
Under Rule 14e‑3, once a company has taken a "substantial step" to commence a tender offer, it is illegal for those who possess material information regarding the
--------
61
Although ULLICO is not a public company, by way of comparison, its proration
provisions would not have compiled with the rules goveming tender offers for
public companies. Rule 13e‑4 of the Exchange Act governs tender offers by
public companies of their own equity securities (so‑called “issuer
tender offers"). Under the Rule, in a situation where an issuer is making
a tender offer for less than all of the outstanding securities of any class, if
the offer is over‑subscribed, the issuer must purchase those securities
tendered on a pro‑rata basis. A limited exception to this rule is for
holders of fewer than 100 shares of a security (an”odd‑lot")
who may sell all of their securities without proration. This practice is often
used to eliminate “odd lot” owners of a security.
62
Rule 14e3(a) provides in pertinent part:
If any
person has taken a substantial step or steps to commence, or has commenced, a
tender offer (the “offering person”), it shall constitute a
fraudulent, deceptive or manipulative act or practice within the meaning of
Section 14(e) of the [1934] Act for any other person who is in possession of
material information relating to such tender offer which information he knows
or has reason to know is nonpublic and which he knows or has reason to know has
been acquired directly or indirectly from: (1) The offering person, (2) The
issuer of the securities sought or to be sought by such tender offer, or (3)
Any officer, director, partner or employee or any other person acting on behalf
of the olferirg person or such issuer, to purchase or sell or cause to be
purchased or sold any of such securities or any securities convertible into or
exchangeable for any such securities or any option or right to obtain or to
dspose of any of the foregoing securities, unless within a reasonable time
prior to any purchase or sale such information and its source are publicly
disclosed by press release or otherwise.
63
521 U.S. at 672‑73.
64
See SEC v. Mayhew, 121 F.3d 44, 53 (2d Cir.1997) (citing SEC. v. Malo
51 F.3d 623 (7th cir.1995) (meeting of officials “much more serious than
any previous discussion between the parties" satisfies substantial step
requirement); SEC v. Musella. 578 F. Supp. 425 443 (S.D.N.Y.1984)
(retaining law firm before tender offer is substantial step); Camelot Indus.
Con. v. Vista Res.. Inc., 535 F. Supp.1174,1183 (S.D.N.Y.1982) (meeting
between officers is a substantial step)).
73
tender
offer to purchase or sell securities of that company prior to the time the
tender offer is publicly disclosed. Although we have not identified a reported
case in which Rule 14e‑3 was applied in a similar context, it could be
argued that the purchases of stock by directors and officers in 1998 and 1999
violated Rule 14e‑3(a).
The 1999
purchases, in particular, were completed on December 29, 1999, pursuant to
offers made by Chairman Georgine on December 17, 1999. The purchases were
effected at the price. per share established by ULLICO's Board of Directors in
May 1999 based on the book value per share as of December 31, 1998.
Accordingly, the purchase price for the shares offered in December 1999 was
based on financial information that was almost one‑year old. During this
one‑year period, the price of Global Crossing stock had, on a split‑adjusted
basis, more than doubled.
ULLICO's
stockholders' equity experienced an even greater increase during the course of
1999. ULLICO's stockholders' equity increased by nearly 90% from December 31,
1998 to June 30, 1999 and by an additional 40% from June 30, 1999 to the end of
the year, largely based on unrealized gains from ULLICO's investment in Global
Crossing. Moreover, based on our investigation, it is quite clear that, at the
time, management was aware of the significant increase in the value of this
investment and its corresponding effect on the book value of ULLICO's stock.
At the
time of the December 1999 stock purchases by officers and directors, it is
likely that ULLICO had already taken "substantial steps" to commence
the 2000 tender offer, as such term has been interpreted under Rule 14e‑3.
The Board approved an 11‑year $180 million repurchase program in 1997.
While the terms of each specific tender offer were thereafter approved annually
by the Board, the repurchase program was a long‑term program designed to
replace cash dividends as the principal means of making distributions to ULLICO's
shareholders, and ULLICO never significantly deviated from the program (other
than the proposed "extraordinary" program adopted in May 2000 that
was later abandoned). In fact, the terms of the program, including the manner
in which ULLICO's shares were valued and the 10,000 share proration threshold,
remained very consistent between 1997 and 2001, and we found no evidence that
either ULLICO's management or Board of Directors considered abandoning or
significantly altering (other than with respect to size) the repurchase program
during this time period.
In
December 1999, at least certain directors and officers were clearly in a better
position than ULLICO's other shareholders to predict the substantial increase
in ULLICO's book value per share that would be used for purposes of the 2000
repurchase offer. Directors and offcers were also in an inherently more
favorable position to assess the likelihood of the 2000 repurchase offer being
approved and the probable terms of the offer.
Therefore,
one could argue that the stock purchases made by directors and officers in 1999
(and perhaps in 1998 as well) were made in anticipation of the subsequent
year's tender offer at a higher price per share after ULLICO had undertaken
74
"substantial
steps" to commence such tender offer. As a result, if one were to conclude
that at the time of the stock purchases directors and officers possessed
material, inside information regarding the following year's repurchase offer,
these purchases could arguably constitute deceptive practices within the
meaning of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act.65 In our view,
however, the hurdles to establishing a violation of Rule 14e‑3 would be
quite significant.
Intent, Causation and Reliance
Issues .
Any violation of the federal securities laws requires that the violator acted with at least extreme or severe recklessness. While directors may have acted negligently in approving the 2000 stock repurchase program and the "discretionary" repurchase program, in our view they did not act with severe recklessness.
In
addition, given the highly technical nature of the applicable securities law
requirements, and the fact that numerous lawyers and law firms were aware of
the 1998 and 1999 stock offers and were provided the opportunity to review the
structure of the repurchase programs and the disclosure documents prepared in
connection with those programs, the Company and certain of its directors and
officers may have a viable reliance on counsel defense to any federal
securities law claim.
Finally,
even if one were to demonstrate that certain of ULLICO's directors and officers
acted with severe recklessness in formulating, approving and implementing the
stock offer and repurchase programs, it is not clear that the other elements of
a federal securities law claim relating to material misrepresentations or
omissions in the tender offer disclosure documents, such as causation and
reliance, could be satisfied
In
addition to the federal securities laws, securities transactions are subject to
the general antifraud provisions of state securities, or `Blue Sky," laws.66
These laws typically provide for criminal and civil penalties and, in some
cases, private remedies for investors injured as a result of violations. They
also generally provide for control person liability.
The state
securities laws of a jurisdiction may be applied whenever there has been an
offer or sale of securities in that jurisdiction, regardless of the offeror's
state of incorporation or its place of business. Accordingly, in a situation
such as here, where
--------
65
Moreover, paragraph (d) of Rule 14e3 makes it unlawful for any person to
communicate material nonpublic information relating to a tender offer if it is
foreseeable that the communication is likely to result in an improper purchase,
except for specified communications that are generally necessary to the tender
offer process. To the extent that ULLICO's directors and officers communicated
with each other or others regarding the terms of any tender offer undertaken
during the relevant period, it is possible that they did so in violation of
Rule 14e3(d).
66
We have not included in the Report an analysis of the subject transactions
under a common law fraud theory (fraudulent misrepresentation or concealment)
since Rule 10b‑5 has generally been held to be substantively broader, and
subject to a lower burden of proof, than a common law fraud action. However, in
situations involving corporate mismanagement, it is possible that the common
law may provide redress in areas where Rule l0b-5's application has been
somewhat limited.
75
ULLICO
made offers to sell and repurchase securities to shareholders residing
throughout the United States, the Blue Sky laws of many states could be
implicated.
In
contrast to federal law, there is a lower standard for culpability under the
Blue Sky laws of many states in the context of a civil securities claim
relating to inaccurate or misleading disclosures in offering documents. While
we have not analyzed the Blue Sky laws of all 50 states, in many states, if a
plaintiff proves material misstatements or omissions in an offering document,
to avoid liability, the defendant must then establish that he did not know, and
in the exercise of reasonable care could not have known, of the misstatement or
omission." In effect, these states apply a negligence standard.
It is
therefore possible that, because of the lower intent standard, ULLICO and its
"control persons" who designed, approved, implemented and, in some
cases, benefited from the stock offer and repurchase programs could be subject
to claims of civil liability under the Blue Sky laws of certain states in which
offers were made. A reliance on counsel defense may not be available for
violations of those state securities laws where the culpability standard is
negligence. See Idaho v. Montgomery, 135 Idaho Rptr. 348, 351 (2001); Colorado
v. Terranova, 38 Col. App. 476, 481‑82 (1976).
Underlying
every criminal prosecution is the element of criminal intent. For example, in a
financial fraud case, a prosecutor is required to demonstrate beyond a
reasonable doubt that a defendant had the specific intent to defraud the
victim. Civil liability, on the other hand, can be established through a
showing of severe recklessness or even negligence, depending upon the legal
theory used. While the evidence gathered in our investigation demonstrates that
certain ULLICO officers and directors were treated more favorably than other
shareholders in the sales of their ULLICO stock, their actions in connection
with these sales, while arguably improper, were not criminal. Based on the
information available to the Special Counsel, no evidence of criminal intent
has been uncovered and therefore, in our opinion, a prosecutor, based upon the
present record, should not conclude that criminal statutes reviewed as part of
our investigation have been violated.
In our
investigation, several directors and officers of ULLICO indicated that, with
respect to the design and implementation of the exclusive stock offer and
repurchase programs, they relied on inside and outside counsel as well as other
professionals, including CSFB and PwC.
In
performing his or her duties on behalf of the corporation, a director may rely
on information, opinions, reports and statements prepared by an officer or
employee of
--------
67
See, eg.. Maryland, District of Columbia, Michigan, Indiana,
Massachusetts and Wyoming.
76
the
corporation whom the director reasonably believes to be reliable and competent
in the matters presented. MGCL Section 2‑405.1(b)(1)(i). A director may
similarly rely on information provided by a professional or expert, including a
lawyer, investment banker or certified public accountant, as to matters the director
reasonably believes to be within that person's professional or expert
competence. MGCL Section 2‑405(b)(1)(ii).68 The burden of
proof is on the director defendant to demonstrate that he or she meets the
requirements of Section 2‑405.1(b). Yost v. Early, 589 A.2d 1291,
1299 (Md. App. 1991). Reliance on counsel is not a complete defense but,
instead, constitutes evidence of good faith. Moreover, "[a] director is
not acting in good faith if he has any knowledge concerning the matter in
question which would cause such reliance to be unwarranted." MGCL Section
2‑405(b)(2).
Officers
may invoke a common law advice of counsel defense. To invoke an advice of
counsel defense under Maryland law, a defendant must show "(1) that he or
she communicated to counsel all facts he or she knew or reasonably should have
known; and (2) that he or she relied in good faith upon the advice given."
VF Corps. v. Wrexham Aviation Corp., 686 A.2d 647, 653 (Md. App. 1996).
"Seeking and relying upon the advice of an attorney not only constitutes
no evidence of fraud, but it is evidence of the contrary." VF Corp. v.
Wrexham Aviation Corp., 715 A.2d 188, 198 (Md. 1998).69 As with
directors, the burden of proof is on the officer defendant to demonstrate that
he or she has a valid advice of counsel defense. SEC v. Scott, 565 F.
Supp. 1513, 1534 (S.D.N.Y. 1983).
Outside
Company counsel have contended that the directors and officers of the Company
relied heavily on outside counsel, specifically two law firms, LeBoeuf Lamb and
Arnold & Porter. Both firms provided advice during the relevant period,
with LeBoeuf Lamb being principal outside corporate counsel until some time in
1999, and Arnold & Porter thereafter assuming that role. Both firms at
various times also reviewed the disclosure documents related to the 1997
through 2001 formal repurchase programs.
As to
LeBoeuf Lamb, David Woodward, who for many years was the principal LeBoeuf Lamb
attorney servicing the ULLICO account, died suddenly in 1998. Douglas Beck, a
younger partner at LeBoeuf, took over for Woodward but did not serve ULLICO in
the same role Woodward had, ie., as de facto outside general counsel. By the
Fall of 2000, LeBoeuf Lamb's role had significantly diminished.
--------
68
See also Billman v. Maryland Deposit Ins. Fund Corp.. 593 A.2d 684,697
(Md. App. 1991); Pittsburgh Terminal Core. v. Baltimore & Ohio R.R.,, 875 F.2d 549, 552 (6th Cir.1989). A
director may also rely upon information and other reports from board
committees. However, It the appointment of any committee, the delegation of
authority to it, or action by it under that authority does not constitute, of
itself, compliance ...with the standard provided in § 2‑405.1.]"
Yost v Early 589 A.2d 1291,1299 (Md. App.1991).
69
“A defendant must establish that he actively sought and relied on the
advice of counsel...” SEC v. Scott, 565 F. Supp.1513,1535 (S.D.
N.Y.1983). A defendant seeking to assert the advice of counsel defense must
also apprise his counsel of all the material facts. Id. at 1534.
(Defendant failed “to apprise his counsel of all the material facts and
therefore cannot rely on his counsel’s advice to shield him from
culpablity.”).”Good faih reliance on the advice of counsel means
more than simply supplying counsel with information. Corporate executives have
an independent duty to insure that proper disclosures are made.” SEC v.
Enter. Solutions, Inc..142 F. Supp. 2d 561, 576 (S.D.N.Y. 2001).
77
While
Beck reviewed the tender offer disclosure documents for the 2000 repurchase
program (whose elements significantly favored the director and officer
shareholders), it does not appear that he was asked to consider the broader
issues about the program, including its fairness to all of ULLICO's
shareholders and potential self‑interested transactions. In addition,
there is no evidence that LeBoeuf Lamb knew, at the time, of the stock purchase
offers to directors and officers in July 1998 and December 1999.
Arnold
& Porter was more substantively involved during the critical period leading
up to the implementation of the 2000‑01 stock repurchases. Arnold &
Porter lawyers were involved in drafting and/or reviewing the May and November
2000 Board resolutions which approved the programs at issue. Arnold &
Porter was also involved in a substantive review of the terms of, and the
disclosure documents pertaining to, the 2000 formal repurchase offer. In
addition, Arnold & Porter lawyers were aware of substantial repurchases of
stock from directors and officers pursuant to the "discretionary"
program in the Summer and early Fall of 2000 as well as the 1998 and 1999 stock
offers.
The
Company and its directors and officers have contended that because of Arnold
& Porter's work for the Company in 2000, and the information available to
the law firm, the potential fiduciary duty issues related to the repurchase
programs should have been apparent to Arnold & Porter. However, the
evidence is not persuasive that Arnold & Porter or, for that matter,
LeBoeuf Lamb, was specifically requested to consider the fiduciary duty issues
implicated by the approval of the 1998 and 1999 stock offers and 2000
repurchase programs through which certain officers and directors significantly
benefited. These law firms deny having been given this assignment and Chief
Legal Officer Carabillo denies specifically giving such an assignment.
Nevertheless, Arnold & Porter arguably had access to sufficient information
about the stock offers, the "discretionary" repurchase program and
the structure of the formal 2000 repurchase program such that, if asked, it
could have provided advice concerning the fiduciary duty implications of these
programs.
In fact,
there is evidence that one Arnold & Porter partner, without being asked by
ULLICO, did recognize potential issues related to director self‑interested
transactions in connection with the repurchase programs approved in November
2000 and communicated certain concerns to the Company. Dennis Lyons, a senior
partner at Amold & Porter, stated at his interview that he advised
Carabillo in connection with the preparation of the November 3, 2000 Board
resolutions that there was an issue in connection with the Board approving a
repurchase program from which certain directors would benefit. Lyons stated
that he told Carabillo that it was advisable that ULLICO have an independent
committee of the Board comprised of disinterested directors approve the 2000
formal repurchase program and review any repurchases from directors through the
"discretionary" program. According to Lyons, Carabillo responded that
he intended to have the information related to prior "discretionary"
stock repurchases disclosed to the Compensation Committee instead of having
these transactions approved by the Board or one of its committees. It appears
that Carabillo's
78
decision was not objected to by Arnold & Porter. This advice by Arnold & Porter, not followed by Carabillo, appears to be the only advice affirmatively provided by outside counsel relevant to the fiduciary duty issues discussed in this Report.
Outside
Company counsel and counsel for ULLICO's directors and officers have
nonetheless asserted that the outside law firms, given the information in their
possession, had a professional responsibility to identify and make the Company
aware of the potential. fiduciary duty implications of the stock offer and
repurchase programs. Even assuming that such a duty existed, Maryland law does
not allow directors to satisfy their fiduciary duties based on a mere
assumption from outside counsel's silence that the transactions at issue did
not raise fiduciary duty concerns. To the contrary, the pertinent Maryland
statute allows directors to rely on information contained in an affirmative
"opinion, report, or statement" but makes no reference to the ability
of directors to rely on. the absence of legal advice. MGCL Section 2405.1(b).
Similarly, Maryland common law requires reliance "in good faith upon the
advice given."
VF Corp., 686 A.2d at 653 (emphasis added). Therefore, it is unlikely
that the Company, its directors and officers could succeed in meeting their burden
of showing that an advice of counsel defense is warranted under this theory.
Moreover,
advice of counsel would not shield officers and directors from liability based
on poor business, as opposed to legal, decisions. As one commentator noted in
connection with the advice of counsel defense:
Many defendant officers and directors, in the course of litigation against them, seek to justify their actions through a claim that they relied on the advice of their legal counsel. Technically speaking, this is not a defense in and of itself, but rather only an evidentiary fact relevant in certain causes of action in helping to establish the defendant's reliance upon the business judgment rule...
A corporate officer or director is expected to have his own good business judgment and the fact that he or she relied upon an attorney's business judgment would not absolve the officer or director from having exercised due care.
Dan L.
Goldwasser, Reliance on Advice of Counsel 623 PLI/Comm 181, 183 (June 4,
1992).
Similarly,
in Hines v. Dataline Sys. Inc., 787 P.2d 8, 19 (Wash. 1990) (en banc),
the Washington State Supreme Court stated as follows:
Reliance on counsel regarding the materiality of facts does not sustain the officer's burden of proof that he didn't know of the existence of the facts by reason of which liability is alleged to exist. .. We agree with the Court of Appeals that a director cannot "wash his hands of all corporate decisions particularly when he has access to the same facts as counsel did in the case at hand."
(Emphasis
added.)
79
Accordingly,
directors may also have difficulty meeting their burden of establishing an
advice of counsel defense to a fiduciary duty claim given that the transactions
at issue primarily involved business, as opposed to legal, decisions.70
Any reliance on counsel by directors and officers would also not likely shield
them from responsibility for their actions based on the facts they knew or
should have known. In short, a strong argument exists that the exercise of good
business judgment and due care should have led a reasonably prudent director
and officer to conclude that the repurchase programs as structured and
implemented, at least in 2000, impermissibly benefited insiders.
To the
extent directors and officers claim that they relied on advice provided by
Chief Legal Officer Carabillo, such reliance may not be sufficient to provide a
defense given that Carabillo's advice was neither independent nor objective.
Carabillo could not be deemed "independent" legal counsel given that
he helped design the programs at issue and personally benefited from those
programs. See, e.g., SEC v. Cavanagh, 1 F. Supp. 2d 337, 374 (S.D.N.Y.
1998) (holding advice of counsel defense unavailable because defendant
"could not reasonably have expected [counsel] to render an independent
opinion as to the legality of the transaction given his personal involvement in
structuring it and his financial stake in its completion"). Although we have
not found a Maryland case on point, Maryland statutory law is consistent with
this principle in that it states: "A director is not acting in good faith
if he has any knowledge concerning the matter in question which would cause
such reliance to be unwarranted." MGCL Section 2‑405(b)(2).
As
indicated above, however, the advice of counsel inquiry is different in the
federal securities law context. Given the highly technical nature of the
applicable securities law requirements, and the fact that numerous lawyers and
law firms were aware of the 1998 and 1999 stock offers and were provided the
opportunity to review the structure of the repurchase programs and the
disclosure documents prepared in connection with those programs, the Company
and certain of its directors and officers may have a viable reliance on counsel
defense to any federal. securities law claim. However, a reliance on counsel
defense may not be available for violations of those state securities laws
where the culpability standard is negligence.
As to the
other professionals providing advice to ULLICO, only PwC and CSFB have been
identified as companies upon which management and the Board relied in
implementing the programs at issue. However, our investigation revealed that
PwC did not provide advice on the substantive terms of the stock offers or
repurchase programs but was principally involved in providing and verifying
financial information contained in the tender offer documents. While CSFB
helped design the 1997 repurchase program and reviewed the 2000
"extraordinary" repurchase program, we were provided with no evidence
that CSFB ever reviewed the 1998 and
--------
70
The civil application of the reliance on counsel defense is different than in
the criminal context where, “good faith reliance on advice of counsel by
a criminal defendant may rebut a showing of criminal intent" SEC v. Enter.
Solutions, Inc..142 F. Supp. 2d 561, 576 (S.D.N.Y. 2001).
80
1999
stock purchase offers or the stock repurchase programs (formal and
"discretionary") adopted by the Board in November 2000.
“Disgorgement
is an equitable remedy designed to deprive a wrongdoer of his unjust enrichment
and to deter others from violating the securities laws." SEC v. First
City Fin. Corp., 890 F.2d 1215, 1230 (D.C. Cir. 1989). The concept of
disgorgement is applied similarly whether the violations at issue constitute
securities fraud or breaches of fiduciary duty.
Courts
have broad equitable powers to order disgorgement in securities fraud cases. See
SEC v. First Pac, Bancorp.. 142 F.3d 1186, 1191 (9th Cir. 1998) ("The
district court has broad equity powers to order the disgorgement of ‘ill‑gotten
gains’ obtained through the violation of the securities laws.”); see
also First City Fin. Corps, 890 F.2d at 1230 ("We see no indication in
the language or the legislative history of the Exchange Act that even implies a
restriction on the equitable remedies of the district courts."). Courts
will typically order defendants to disgorge their "ill‑gotten
gains" where it is necessary to prevent unjust enrichment and deter others
from violating the securities laws." In ordering disgorgement, courts may
only exercise their equitable power over property causally related to the wrongdoing.
First City Fin. Corp., 890 F.2d at 1231. However, "disgorgement
need only be a reasonable approximation of profits causally connected to the
violation." Id.
Similarly, "there are many potential remedies for a
breach of fiduciary duty, including restitution, rescission, disgorgement of
profits, and constructive trusts". Avianca. Inc. v. Corriea, 1993
WL 797455, at *4 (D.D.C. 1993). "It is well established that a court has
extraordinary powers when confronted with a violation of a fiduciary
duty." Id. "The reason such unusual remedies are
tolerated—even encouraged-is that there is a pressing need for remedies
in fiduciary duty cases, remedies that will serve to deter violations of
fiduciary duty." Id. Maryland law recognizes
both restitution and disgorgement as remedies for breaches of fiduciary duty. Lerner
Corp. v. Three Winthrop Pros., Inc., 723 A.2d 560, 566 (Md. App. 1999).
In lieu
of disgorgement, the Company could also consider rescission. Under this remedy,
the Board could declare some or all of the transactions under review as void at
their inception, and treat the transactions as if they had never happened.
Rescission is commonly used as a remedy in securities fraud cases. See
United States ex rel. Rahman v. Oncology Assocs., 198 F.3d 489, 498 (4th
Cir. 1999).
--------
71
See SEC v. Fischbach Corp., 133 F.3d 170,175 (2nd Cir.1997) (“The
primary purpose of disgorgement orders is to deter violations of the securities
laws by depriving violators of their ill‑gotten gains.”) First
Pacific Bancorp..142 F.3d at 1190 (9th Cir.1998) (“Disgorgement is
designed to deprive a wrongdoer of unjust enrichment, and to deter others from
violating securities laws by making violations unprofitable.”); SEC v.
Johnston,143 F.3d 260, 262 (6th Cir.1998) ("The purpose of
disgorgement is to force [a] defendant to give up the amount by which he was
unjustly enriched rather than to compensate the victims of fraud..
81
Similarly,
courts have broad equitable powers to order rescission as a remedy for breaches
of fiduciary duty. See Arkrotirianakis v. Burroughs, 262 F. Supp. 918,
924 (D. Md. 1967); see also Avianca. Inc., 1993 WL 797455, at *4
("There are many potential remedies for a breach of fiduciary duty,
including ... rescission.").
In
determining whether to recommend disgorgement or rescission, the Company, in
consultation with its tax counsel, should consider the potential.tax
consequences each remedy will trigger.
In
general, a self‑interested or unauthorized transaction between a
corporation and one of its directors or officers is not void or voidable on
those grounds if disinterested directors or disinterested stockholders approve
the transaction at issue. MGCL § § 2419(a), (b); Wittman v.
Crooke, 120 Md. App. 369, 707 A.2d 422 (Md. App. 1998) ("Maryland has
long recognized the proposition that a board of directors is not `liable to
stockholders for acts ratified by them."').
To have a valid ratification, the interest must be fully
"disclosed or known" to the board, committee or stockholders approving
the transaction. MGCL § 2‑419(b)(1). Moreover, a majority of
disinterested directors or shareholders must vote to approve the transaction. Id.
§ 2‑419(b)(1)(i) & (ii). The presence of interested directors at
the meeting where the board approves the transaction and the counting of the
interested director's vote does not vitiate the ratification, so long as a
majority vote of disinterested directors approves the transaction. Id.
§§ 2‑419(a)(2) & (3). The vote may occur either
prospectively to approve the transaction or retrospectively to ratify it, and
approval "is effective without regard to the size of the benefit that the
director may receive from the contract or transaction." Hanks §
6.22[b] at 220.4.72
--------
72
In addition to director or shareholder approval, the Maryland statute allows
for ratification of an interested director transaction by “any procedures
authorized by Section 2‑418.” MGCL § 2‑419(e). The
procedures referred to in § 2.418 are those for a determination of
eligibility for indemnification by a special counsel. Id. § 2‑418
(e)(2). Interested directors may participate in the selection of special legal
counsel if a quorum of disirterested board members cannot be established. Id.
§ 2‑4l8(e)(2)(ii).
82
During
our investigation, it has become apparent that many of the significant issues
related to ULLICO's sales and repurchases of its own stock might have been
avoided had the Company implemented and enforced sound corporate governance
policies. ULLICO's Board took an important first step in this regard by
establishing a Corporate Governance Committee in 2000.
Sound
corporate governance necessarily implicates a host of important issues,
including board composition, director qualifications and executive and director
compensation. A critical element of corporate governance and accountability is
"independence." A corporation should be managed under the direction
and supervision of a board of directors that is independent from management.
Our investigation revealed that management too often injected itself into and
was permitted to direct the Board's deliberative process. Moreover, the Board
too often wholly delegated core responsibilities (such as executive
compensation) to committees, the members of which were essentially chosen by
the Chairman (U 30552, Tab 2), raising questions as to whether Board or
committee actions were inappropriately influenced by management. Committee
actions were not adequately disclosed to or monitored by the Board.
Senior
management and the Board must collaborate, but it is critical that the Board
make its own informed and independent business judgments. Moreover, in those
areas where there is or may be a conflict of interest with management,
independent directors should have exclusive control, e.g., audit, compensation,
. nominating/governance committees. Management and those directors affiliated
with members of management should not be on these committees and should not
participate in their deliberations. Moreover, the members of these committees
should be selected by the Board as a whole, or by an independent committee of
the Board, and not by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
Another
fundamental element of corporate governance and accountability is the full and
complete disclosure of all material matters and developments to the company's
governing body: the board of directors. The board of directors of a corporation
is ultimately responsible for governing the corporation. Management operates
under the supervision and at the direction of the board of directors. A board
can only act in the best interests of shareholders if it is adequately
informed. It is rarely, if ever, appropriate for management to withhold
important information from members of a company's board of directors, even if
management concludes that disclosure is not legally required. In those
instances where withholding information may have a legitimate business purpose,
that determination should be made not by management, but rather through a
process that includes a disinterested group of directors.
83
The New
York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") and NASDAQ recently adopted proposed
listing standards that would require that independent outside directors
comprise a majority of the Board and that key committees (e.g., audit,
compensation, and nominating/govemance committees) be made up solely of
independent directors. Institutional investors and other organizations,
including CalPERS, TIAA‑CREF and AFL‑CIO, have established voting
guidelines that highlight the importance of independent directors. See e.g.,
AFL‑CIO Proxy Voting Guidelines (1997); TIAA-CREF Policy
Statement on Corporate Governance (1997); CalPERS U.S. Corporate
Governance‑Core. Principles & Guidelines (1998); Damon Silvers
Testimony to NYSE (AFL‑CIO) (May 2002).
ULLICO's
Board currently has only two management‑directors, and most directors
would likely be considered "independent" as that term has been
historically defined. However, the concept of director independence has
recently received substantial attention and many have suggested tightening the
definition of "independent" director.
The NYSE,
for example, has proposed listing standards that would disqualify any director
from being "independent" if he or she has a "material relationship"
with the company on whose board the director serves. The NYSE has also proposed
specific relationships that are "per se" bars to independence. In our
view, it is important that ULLICO's Board thoroughly evaluate all circumstances
and relationships that might result in actual or potential conflicts of
interest, or that might bear on the issue of director independence. In making
independence determinations, the Board should consider all relevant facts and
circumstances.
Relationships
that could impair director independence may include commercial relationships
with a director or a director's affiliated union, personal or business
relationships with members of management, or familial relationships. In this
regard, we note that numerous ULLICO directors have affiliations with the
Building and Construction Trades Department of the AFL‑CIO, of which Mr.
Georgine served (until recently) as president.73 In situations where
ULLICO or members of its management do have a relationship with a particular
director, the Board should determine whether or not it compromises the
director's independence.
The
Board's basic criteria for making independence.determinations, and specific
findings that a given relationship is not sufficiently material to compromise a
director's independence, should promptly be disclosed to ULLICO's shareholders.
See. e.g,., NYSE Corporate Accountability and Listing Standards Report
(June 2002); NYSE Corporate Governance Rule Proposals (August 2002). The
Board may wish to require that different persons hold the positions of Chairman
and CEO since the
--------
73
Approximately two‑thirds of present Board members were recommended for
nomination to the Board by Chairman Georgine.
84
Chairman's
duty to oversee management could be compromised if self‑monitoring is
required. AFL‑CIO Proxy Voting Guidelines (1997).
ULLICO's
Board has historically been comprised of leaders in the United States labor
movement. The Board is extremely large as compared to peer companies, and it
meets infrequently, typically twice a year. Attendance at Board meetings is
poor. The average attendance at Board meetings from May 1997 through April 2002
is about 70%. (Exhibit 7) There may have been compelling business or personal
reasons why directors were unable to attend these Board meetings. However, when
such reasons significantly interfere with the ability of a director to perform
core director functions, such as attending meetings, the director should
resign.
Several
notable commentators have recently suggested that the performance of a board,
its committees and individual members should be regularly evaluated to help
focus corporate responsibility and promote accountability. See Jay A.
Conger et al., Corporate Boards: Strategies For Adding Value At The Top
(Jossey‑Bass 2001); Harvard Business Review On Corporate Governance
(Harvard 2000). In this regard, specific governance objectives and director
responsibilities should be clearly defined, perhaps in formal corporate
governance policies and committee charters that describe responsibilities,
objectives and powers, and provide for periodic self‑evaluations.
In addition, the Board may wish to evaluate its Board composition and the frequency of its meetings. See NYSE Corporate Accountability and Listing Standards Report (June 2002). A large board can lead to excessive delegation and make it difficult to convene and to keep all members fully informed. A somewhat smaller board may enhance director participation and result in effective and timely decision‑making. To draw on the talents of former directors and other prominent leaders, ULLICO could form an advisory board. In addition, the Board should delegate only specific, clearly defined responsibilities to its committees, and committees should regularly report to the Board. Members of these committees should be selected by the Board as a whole or an independent committee of the Board. The Board might also want to consider rotating committee assignments to better draw on the talents of Board members. `
The
directors serve to protect the best interests of the shareholders. AFL‑CIO
Proxy Voting Guidelines (1997). In recruiting directors, the Company should
consider the expertise and knowledge of individual directors so that the Board
as a whole has the ability to understand and play a meaningful role in the
Company's core business, significant management issues and shareholder
concerns. Jay A. Conger et al., Corporate Boards: Strategies For Adding
Value At The Top (Jossey‑Bass 2001); Harvard Business Review On
Corporate Governance (Harvard 2000).
Specifically,
the Company should consider diversifying its Board by recruiting not only
leaders from the labor movement but also those with significant finance,
85
accounting,
legal, and management experience. The Company may also want to encourage
individual Board members to attend corporate governance training seminars, so
that members are kept apprised of current financial, legal and ethical
developments that impact their service as directors. NASDAQ Corporate
Governance Proposals (July 2002).
A
properly functioning audit committee is critical to effective corporate
govemance. Members of the audit cormmittee should have financial and accounting
experience, and at least one member of the audit committee should be a
financial expert. See, e.g., Sarbanes-Oxley Act (July 31, 2002); NYSE
Corporate Accountabilitv and Listing Standards Report (June 2002). In view
of the size and scope of ULLICO's operations, the audit committee should play a
more significant and active role in the governance and oversight of the
Company. This is particularly true in situations that pose actual or potential
conflicts of interest with management.
Meaningful
shareholder participation depends, in large part, on disclosure to
shareholders, including the disclosure of each director's potential conflicts
of interest and material relationships with the Company. NYSE Corporate
Accountability and Listing Standards Report (June 2002); Harvard
Business Review On Corporate Govemance (Harvard 2000). The Board should
conduct a thorough evaluation of ULLICO's communications with its shareholders,
both formal and informal, including a review of proxy and annual report
disclosures.
Disclosures
should be sufficient such that the shareholders, the ultimate owners of the
Company, can make meaningful and informed decisions regarding the election of
directors and other matters requiring a shareholder vote and whether or not to
continue to hold their shares. In particular, the Board should evaluate
policies on disclosure of executive compensation, related party transactions
and stock issuances and repurchases. In the "discretionary" program,
for example, Chairman Georgine stated that the repurchase program was neither
"advertise[d] nor encourage[d.]" Yet, some (but not necessarily all)
shareholders were clearly aware of the program. There would seem to be
something inherently inappropriate about a program that could so significantly
impact shareholders but that is not fully disclosed to all shareholders.
In
addition, ULLICO should provide full and complete disclosure of executive and
director compensation to all ULLICO shareholders, unless, and only to the
extent, the Board determines that there is a valid business purpose for
withholding that information. AFL-CIO Proxy Voting Guidelines (1997); NASDAQ
Corporate Governance Proposals (July 2002). To the extent specific
compensation information is not disclosed, the Board should provide an
explanation to shareholders of its compensation policies (particularly with
respect to CEO compensation) and the rationale for withholding specific
compensation information.
The Board
should also consider seeking shareholder approval for those material matters
that are either unusual or pose inherent conflicts of interest, even if
86
shareholder
approval is not legally required. Examples of these matters would include
Company loans to directors or executive officers as well as equity‑based
compensation programs.
The
Company and its advisors recognized the need for a corporate governance
committee in 2000, and indeed the Board may wish to revisit some of the
recommendations regarding the proposed responsibilities of that committee. (U
38853‑55, Tab 66). For example, in its August 3, 2000 memo faxed to
Joseph Carabillo, Arnold & Porter suggested that the Corporate Governance
Committee review the composition of the Audit Committee and observed that
"[m]ost public companies have adopted audit committee charters setting
forth the duties of the audit committee. In addition, audit committee members
must be `independent' and meet certain financial sophistication
requirements." (U 38854, Tab 66) Arnold & Porter also suggested that
the Board consider reducing its size and creating an advisory board. (Id).
Most significantly, Arnold & Porter suggested that the Corporate Governance
Committee might consider reviewing the Company's policies relating to the
repurchase of stock from shareholders and the compensation of directors and
officers. (Id. at 38855) Indeed, ULLICO might have avoided its current
difficulties had the Corporate Governance Committee formulated clearly defined
standards relating to the issuance and repurchases of stock as well as executive
compensation.
Following
up on the Arnold & Porter recommendations, the Board might decide to
delegate to the Corporate Governance Committee the task of developing
comprehensive corporate governance guidelines and a code of business conduct
and ethics that address, among other things, director qualification standards,
director responsibilities and company policies regarding executive officer and
director compensation, conflicts of interest, confidentiality, the protection
and proper use of company assets and compliance with laws and regulations. NYSE
Corporate Accountability and Listing Standards Report (June 2002); NASDAQ
Corporate Governance Proposals (July 2002); NYSE Coroorate Governance
Rule Proposals (August 2002).
87
In 1997,
ULLICO made a $7.6 million investment in Global Crossing that yielded a return
of about $486 million. Without doubt, this 6295% return was extraordinary by
any measure. Further, this return occurred when the Company was in need of capital
to support its core business operations.
The Chief
Financial Officer recommended in the Summer of 2000 that the Company sell one‑third
of its Global Crossing stock, hedge one‑third of the stock and retain the
remaining one‑third of the stock. The Chairman decided to sell or hedge
40% and hold 60% (or 19 million shares) of the Company's Global Crossing stock
in the hope that the stock price would rebound. While 18 months later Global
Crossing was bankrupt, and the stock became virtually worthless, the Chairman's
decision not to sell further shares was not unreasonable given the sentiment of
market professionals at the time.74
The Chairman and other executive officers, and to a much lesser extent the Board, deserve credit for the Global Crossing investment success. Therefore, it did not appear unusual for the executive officers, and to some extent the Board, to have been rewarded for this success. However, as discussed at length in this Report, the method by, and the extent to which, management and the Board were effectively compensated through certain stock transactions were inappropriate.
The
November 3, 2000 decision by the. Board to implement the 2000 formal repurchase
program with a combination of (1) the condition requiring all shareholders
holding more than 2% of Class A and B shares to tender all of their shares; (2)
the 10,000 share proration .threshold; and (3) an inflated repurchase price,
ensured that there would be severe proration of shares tendered by the Company's
largest shareholders participating in the program. The directors and officers,
meanwhile, would be able to redeem 100% of their holdings.
The
repurchase program approved in November 2000 replaced a
"extraordinary" repurchase program conditionally approved in May
2000. The replacement repurchase program reduced the amount available to
shareholders in the formal repurchase program from $240 million to $30 million
while potentially providing a larger portion of the funds available for
repurchase to the class of shareholders that included directors and officers
(i.e., under‑10,000 shareholders). In addition, the directors and
officers could, and did, take advantage of the Chairman's
"discretionary" repurchase program, which the directors also approved
at the November 3, 2000 meeting.
--------
74
Perhaps the only criticism of the Chairman's action is that, given the
significance of the Global Crossing investment to ULLICO's financial condition,
decisions concerning the disposition of that asset should have been made by the
Board after informed debate.
88
In the
course of our interviews, many of the Company's directors‑and advisors
were unable to articulate the purpose for using the 10,000 share proration
threshold in the 2000 formal repurchase program, other than that it had been
used in prior years. The Company's management and certain directors have
indicated that the 10,000 share threshold was originally implemented to
eliminate small shareholders and for tax reasons. However, neither rationale is
persuasive, at least with respect to the 2000 repurchase program.
The
Company created more,.not fewer, small shareholders through its officer and
director stock offers in 1998 and 1999. Moreover, unions and pension funds did
not pay taxes on the sale of their ULLICO stock, so any tax benefit occurred
only to individual shareholders, mostly the directors and officers. The Company
likely could have achieved the same or similar objectives through other means
without so disadvantaging its larger shareholders. Therefore, without passing
on the wisdom of the repurchase program in general, we have concluded that the
specific terms of the 2000 repurchase program were materially flawed given the
circumstances that existed at the time. These flaws redounded to the benefit of
certain directors and officers at the expense of ULLICO's large institutional
shareholders.
The 1998
and 1999 stock offers were implemented and purportedly approved (with
questionable authority) by Georgine or the Compensation Committee in
anticipation of the prospect that after Global Crossing's IP0 the value of
ULLICO stock would increase. Indeed, the ULLICO stock price nearly doubled from
1998 to 1999 and nearly tripled from 1999 to 2000. During this time, only
directors and officers were given the opportunity to purchase additional shares
of ULLICO stock.
While we
have been unable to discern the precise business purpose for the 1998 and 1999
stock offers, it clearly had the effect of compensating certain of ULLICO's
directors and officers. The stock offers carried little or no investment risk
and thus did not, as Chairman Georgine suggested, align the interests of
management and the Board with those of other ULLICO shareholders.
Twenty of
the twenty‑four directors and officers who purchased stock in 1998 and
1999 (excluding Steed and Mark Maloney) sold most, if not all, of their shares
back to the Company by 2001, in most cases at $146.04 per share. Of the
approximately $44.6 million paid to shareholders selling shares at the $146.04
per share price in 2000‑01, $13.7 million was paid to officers and
directors, with sixteen directors (other than Georgine) who sold stock,
receiving almost $7.5 million of this amount. These directors received
preferential treatment over other shareholders, and such preferential treatment
was never disclosed. Further, except perhaps for those directors who received
nominal amounts, it is questionable whether the profits received by those
directors who sold their stock at $146.04 were reasonably related to the
services they performed for the Company.
89
It is
unclear whether the total compensation paid to ULLICO's senior officers
(Georgine, Carabillo, Luce and Grelle) was reasonable when compared to the
compensation received by executives at peer companies. However, these
executives were already receiving a bonus, separate from their regular annual
bonus, under the Global Incentive Program and significant earnings under the
Deferred Compensation Plan tied to their deemed investment in ULLICO stock.
Therefore, these officers may not have been entitled to another
"bonus" tied to the Global Crossing investment success, which the
stock offer program represented.
Even if
one were to assume, however, that the total compensation paid to the directors
and senior officers was reasonable, the method by which they received
compensation under the repurchase programs was not appropriate. Compensation
should not have been paid to the directors and officers at the expense of
shareholders holding 10,000 or more Class A and Class B shares through the
formal repurchase program. Nor should it have been paid through the
"discretionary" repurchase program that was originally designed for a
different purpose and administered solely by the Chairman.
ULLICO's
Board has historically been comprised of leading leaders in the United States
labor movement. The Board is extremely large as compared to peer companies, and
it meets infrequently, typically twice a year. Attendance at Board meetings is
poor. On average, from 1997 to 2002, only 70% of Board members have attended
Board meetings. (Exhibit 7) The. Company does not have any informal or formal
director training program.
The Board
has never adopted corporate governance guidelines delineating director
responsibilities and fundamental corporate policies. The Board delegates key
corporate decisions to various Board committees and management, often in a
wholesale manner. In some cases, it appears that the delegations were not
permissible. For example, the stock offers were purportedly approved by the
Compensation Committee notwithstanding the fact that the committee had no
authority to issue stock and its members were barred from setting the terms of
their own compensation.
In
addition, committee decisions have not always been reported to the Board in a
timely manner. Candidates for the Board are identified, and members of key
Board committees (including the Executive Committee and the Compensation
Committee) are selected, by the Chairman. There are no term limits on Board or
committee membership. The role of the Chairman in the selection of Board and
committee members, and the involvement by senior management generally in the
deliberations of the Board and its committees, casts doubt on the independence
of Board and committee actions.
A
properly functioning and active audit committee is a key component of corporate
governance. The Board's Audit Committee, which until recently had not kept
90
meeting
minutes, historically has been passive. The Audit Committee could benefit from
the addition of more members with financial expertise.
The
composition of the Board, and the manner in which it has discharged its
responsibilities, has made it difficult for it to play a significant and active
role in the governance and oversight of the Company. In connection with the
matters under investigation, the extent of involvement by senior management
(particularly Georgine and Carabillo) in Board and committee decisions, and the
passiveness of the directors in discharging their duties, resulted in the
inability of the Board to exercise independent and informed business judgments.
This is particularly true with respect to the 1998 and 1999 stock offers and
the 2000 formal and "discretionary" repurchase programs, where senior
management had both conflicts of interest and substantial involvement.
Under the
facts discovered in the investigation, a compelling argument exists that
directors, particularly those who benefited from self‑interested
transactions, did not satisfy their fiduciary duties to the Company and its
shareholders in connection with these transactions. An equally forceful
argument applies to the principal officers, Georgine and Carabillo, who were
instrumental in creating and implementing the stock offer and repurchase
programs, and who benefited from ULLICO stock transactions. Directors'
fiduciary duties have been codified under Maryland state law. Officers' duties
are governed by common law.
The
Company's 1998 and 1999 stock offers and the 2000 stock repurchase programs
resulted in numerous self‑interested transactions. Under Maryland law, a
transaction is not void or voidable solely because of the presence of an
interested director at the meeting in which the transaction was approved if the
transaction is approved by at least one fully informed, disinterested director.
It is questionable whether any fully informed, disinterested director was
present at the November 2000 Board meeting at which the 2000 formal repurchase
program and the "discretionary" repurchase program were approved.
However, the existence of a disinterested director at the November 2000 Board
meeting is not at all dispositive of whether members of the Board satisfied
their statutory fiduciary duties in approving the programs.
Compliance
with the Maryland law provision concerning self‑interested transactions
means. only that the transactions at issue are not void or voidable solely
because of the involvement of interested directors. It does not excuse the
requirement that directors fulfill their fiduciary duties under Maryland law,
i.e., that they act in good faith, in a manner they reasonably believe to be in
the best interests of the company and with due care in approving the
transactions.
Under the
facts revealed in this investigation, a compelling argument exists that those
directors who benefited from the transactions at issue did not satisfy these
requirements. The exclusive stock offers and the 2000‑01 repurchase
programs, as structured, and implemented,. improperly benefited directors and
officers at the
91
expense
of ULLICO's larger shareholders. Our investigation uncovered no clear rationale
for the approval of the exclusive stock offers or the Board's approval of the
2000 formal repurchase program containing the 10,000 share proration threshold.
Moreover, the approval of the stock offers involved excessive, and perhaps
impermissible, delegation of authority by the Board.
The
process by which the Compensation Committee and the Board evaluated and
approved the stock offer and repurchase programs raises questions of whether
ULLICO's directors satisfied their duty of due care under Maryland law. Certain
directors were either inadequately informed (through their own and management's
fault) about the purposes and impact of the programs, or knowingly approved
programs that a reasonably prudent director should have realized (under the
circumstances existing at the time) were not in the best interests of the Company
or its shareholders. In this regard, certain directors failed to give due
consideration to, or provide an adequate justification for, the substantial and
disproportionate benefits received by directors and officers under the stock
offer and repurchase programs.
Outside
Company counsel have argued that the directors would have the benefit of the
business judgment rule. In a court case, the business judgment rule would
provide a procedural presumption in favor of directors' actions. This
procedural presumption can be rebutted by a showing of a lack of either good
faith or an informed basis for the directors' decisions. Under the facts of
this case, it cannot be said with any reasonable degree of certainty that the
business judgment rule would protect the actions of those directors who
benefited from the programs at issue.
A
forceful argument exists that certain senior officers of the Company,
principally Georgine and Carabillo, violated their duties of loyalty and care
to the Company. Georgine and Carabillo were heavily involved in the creation,
implementation and disclosure of the exclusive stock offer and repurchase
programs, and personally profited from these programs. Georgine and Carabillo
also failed to adequately disclose to the Board and the Company's shareholders
the extent to which they (and other insiders) participated in and benefited
from ULLICO stock transactions. In addition, Georgine and Carabillo should have
been more forthcoming with members of the Board and shareholders regarding the
reasons for, and the impact of, the stock offer and repurchase programs
(including the 10,000 share proration threshold) and other matters that may
have influenced the directors' decisions to approve the programs. Georgine and
Carabillo were also primarily and most directly responsible for the Company's
disclosure documents that were, in some cases, incomplete and potentially
misleading. The law is unclear as to whether officers could even attempt to
invoke the business judgment rule which, in any event as noted, can be
overcome.
ULLICO is
a private company not subject to most of the requirements of the federal
securities laws relating to tender offers. However, the securities transactions
under
92
the stock
offer and repurchase programs were subject to the anti‑fraud provisions
of Sections 10(b) and 14(e) of the Exchange Act.
The
repurchase offer disclosure document used by the Company in connection with the
2000 formal repurchase program may have contained material misstatements or
omissions in violation of the anti‑fraud provisions of the federal
securities laws. In addition, the juxtaposition of the 1998 and 1999 stock
purchase offers made exclusively to directors and officers with the terms of
the 2000 formal repurchase program (including the 10,000 share proration
threshold) and the "discretionary" repurchase program arguably
constituted deceptive or manipulative acts or practices implemented through
misrepresentations and material omissions in violation of these laws.
However,
any violation of these laws require that the person act with "severe
recklessness." While directors may have acted negligently in approving the
2000 stock repurchase program and the "discretionary" repurchase
program, in our view they did not act with the severe recklessness required to
establish a federal securities law violation, particularly given their reliance
on counsel concerning securities law matters. Even if one were to demonstrate
that certain of ULLICO's directors and officers acted with severe recklessness
in formulating, approving and implementing the stock offer and repurchase
programs, it is not clear that the other elements of a federal securities law
claim relating to material misrepresentations or omissions in the tender offer
disclosure documents, such as causation and reliance, could be satisfied.
While we
have not analyzed the state securities, or Blue Sky, laws of all 50 states,
some jurisdictions apply a negligence standard for liability as a result of
material misstatements or omissions in connection with the purchase or sale of
securities. Therefore, with this lower intent standard, it is possible that
ULLICO and its directors and officers who approved, implemented and benefited
from the stock offer and repurchase programs could be subject to civil
securities claims under the securities laws of those jurisdictions in which
offers or sales of securities occurred.
Non‑Qualified
Deferred Compensation Plan
The large
increase in the book value of ULLICO stock between 1998 and 2000 allowed ULLICO's
senior officers, Georgine, Carabillo, Grelle and Luce, to make substantial
returns on amounts deferred under ULLICO's Deferred Compensation Plan. This
simple and quite common retirement planning vehicle, for example, was the
source of approximately $4 million of earnings by Georgine over a two‑year
period from 1998 to 2000. ULLICO's senior officers took advantage of the
flexible terms of the Deferred Compensation Plan to exploit the large, but
short‑lived, increase in the book value per share of ULLICO's stock
between 1998 and 2000. When the stock price was attractive in 1998 and late
1999, the senior officers allocated deferred compensation to deemed investments
in ULLICO stock under the Plan. When the book value per share peaked at
$146.04. in 2000, these same officers
93
withdrew
all amounts allocated to the ULLICO investment stock account under the Plan.
The
opportunity to so easily exploit the terms of the Deferred Compensation Plan to
generate such large returns based on the short‑lived increase in the book
value of ULLICO stock was the result of either a serious design flaw in the
Plan or the purposeful decision by the Compensation Committee to permit the
Company's senior officers. to earn substantial additional compensation under
the Plan. In the course of our investigation, we found no evidence that the
latter was intended or, if intended, adequately considered.
In light
of the evidence developed in the investigation, it appears unlikely that a
defense based on the advice of counsel or other professionals would be
available to ULLICO's officers and directors in connection with a breach of
fiduciary duty claim. Although attorneys prepared the November 2000 Board
resolutions, there is limited evidence that attorneys or other professionals
provided ULLICO with advice concerning whether the 1998 and 1999 stock purchase
offers, the "discretionary" stock repurchase program or the formal
2000 stock repurchase program raised fiduciary duty concerns. Moreover, the
issues present here primarily involve the appropriateness of certain business,
as opposed to legal, decisions, such as the timing of the exclusive stock
offers and the design and implementation of the repurchase programs.
In
contrast, a defense based on reliance on counsel may be available to certain
directors and officers, as well as the Company, in connection with any federal
securities law claims. It is less clear, however, whether such a defense is
available in connection with state securities laws which can be violated
through negligent acts.
Based
upon the information available to the Special Counsel, there is no basis to
conclude that any person acted with criminal intent in connection with the
transactions at issue.
94
Recommendations
We
recommend that the Board create a committee comprised of disinterested
directors (that is, those directors who did not hold stock as of November 3,
2000 or who have been appointed as a ULLICO director since that date) that
will, based upon full consideration of the events described in this Report,
decide the appropriate remedies. This special committee should decide either to
recommend return to the Company of the profits received by directors and officers
as a result of those sales or to ratify the sale of shares purchased in the
1998 and 1999 stock offers (which arguably were not properly authorized in the
first instance).
Our
remedial recommendations discussed below include a strong recommendation that
directors and certain officers return profits made on the sale of stock they
bought in 1998 and 1999. We also recommend that the special committee consider
whether other amounts received by directors and officers should also be
returned.
Any breach
of directors' and officers' duties outlined in this Report is not predicated on
whether the amounts received by the directors and officers were or were not
compensation or, if compensation, whether the compensation was reasonable. Even
if the stock offers were a means of compensation, these offers should have been
treated as such with appropriate standards set to determine what amounts, if
any, should be paid to directors and officers and without tying the payment of
those amounts to shareholder repurchase programs. These programs were
purportedly for the equal benefit of all shareholders but were implemented in a
manner that disproportionately favored directors and officers over large
institutional shareholders by allowing the former to redeem all of their Class
A Stock, and leaving the latter with the ability to redeem only 2.2% of their
Class A Stock.
Some of
the directors and officers in their interviews, and their lawyers in recent
submissions to the Special Counsel, have suggested that the stock offer and
repurchase programs should or could be viewed as a form of compensation as
support for their argument that no funds should be returned. As discussed in
detail throughout this report, the precise business purpose of the 1998 and
1999 stock offers and the preferential treatment of directors and officers
received under the repurchase programs is unclear. Some of the directors and
officers we interviewed believed that the stock transactions were intended, at
least in part, as compensation. Others, including Georgine and outside Company
counsel, disagreed. In any event, whether intended or not, the manner in which
the stock offers and repurchases were structured and implemented did, in fact,
provide substantial financial benefits to certain of ULLICO's directors and
senior officers.
Just
prior to the release of this Report, outside Company counsel provided us with a
preliminary study of the compensation paid to the directors and senior officers
of ULLICO between 1991 and 2001 prepared by a recognized compensation
consulting
95
firm. The
compensation study was apparently commissioned by counsel to Chairman Georgine
and essentially concludes that, even considering the stock transactions, the
compensation paid to Company directors and officers during this time period was
competitive and reasonable.
We were
engaged by ULLICO to investigate the events surrounding the 1998 and 1999 stock
offers, the Company's repurchase programs and the Global Crossing investment.
We were not engaged to evaluate the reasonableness of compensation paid to
ULLICO's directors and officers, although we have attempted to identify those
programs and arrangements that may properly be reviewed as compensation and the
legal issues related thereto.
To the
extent the disinterested committee of the Board, in considering and
implementing the recommendations outlined in the Report, believes it is
important to evaluate the fairness and reasonableness of the compensation or
other amounts paid to ULLICO's directors and senior officers, we urge it to
employ a process that truly ensures an objective and impartial analysis. If the
retention of experts or advisors becomes necessary, the disinterested
committee, not management or interested directors, should select the experts
and advisors and outline the parameters of their engagement. The experts and
advisors should have no prior association or affiliation with management or
interested directors (or their affiliates) that could even arguably taint their
independence.
Finally,
in considering or evaluating any report of outside experts or advisors, the
disinterested committee should ensure that the outside expert or advisor is
fully informed about all aspects that could affect its analysis, and critically
evaluate the assumptions, methodology and analysis contained in the report. In
this regard, the study recently submitted by management makes numerous
assumptions, findings and comparisons that a diligent committee member might
reasonably question. For example, the study suggests that there was "improving
corporate performance at ULLICO" during this period from 1998 to 2001. It
also concludes that, based on several of the "metrics" they used to
measure corporate performance, ULLICO's performance has been
"superior" over this time period compared to the performance of a
"peer group" The members of the peer group are not identified in the
study.
The
compensation study also concludes that ULLICO's management team demonstrated
"superior performance" based, again, on a comparison to this
unidentified peer group. In its comparable company and transaction analysis,
the study compares ULLICO to companies that do. not appear at all comparable.
For example; the study cites to a recent study of equity compensation paid at
Fortune 50 companies. The study also evaluates ULLICO's Global Incentive
Program and other compensation programs in the context of transaction bonuses
and awards paid by clearly distinct companies, such as JP Morgan, Chase
Manhattan Corp., and Chevron, involved in significantly different transactions.
96
As
mentioned earlier, we are not compensation experts and a review of the
reasonableness of the compensation or other amounts paid to ULLICO's directors
and officers through the stock transactions, the Global Incentive Program, the
Deferred Compensation Plan and other programs. is outside our mandate. However,
to the extent the disinterested committee finds it appropriate to conduct or
commission this analysis, it should do so in a careful and impartial manner.
For example, in evaluating the Company's operating and management performance
over the past several years, compared to peer group companies, the committee
should consider not only the Global Crossing investment success but also the
apparent financial difficulties in certain of the Company's core operations.
(Exhibit 4) Moreover, in constructing the appropriate peer group, the committee
should carefully evaluate whether such companies are truly comparable to
ULLICO. Given management's apparent involvement with the preliminary.
compensation study furnished to us, we would suggest that the disinterested
committee give it little or no weight in considering and implementing our
recommendations.
In
addition to the compensation study, just prior to the release of this Report
outside Company counsel provided the Special Counsel with a legal memorandum on
certain issues of Maryland law prepared by Jim Hanks, a notable authority on
Maryland law, and a legal memorandum prepared by outside Company counsel on the
availability of a reliance on counsel defense to ULLICO's directors and
officers under Maryland law. We were well aware of Hanks's treatise on Maryland
corporate law prior to receiving his memorandum and, in preparing the Report,
carefully considered the arguments made by Hanks and outside Company counsel in
their respective memoranda. We also consulted extensively with our own expert
on Maryland corporate law, Dean Mark A. Sargent. A summary of Dean Sargent's
evaluation of the memoranda prepared by Hanks and outside Company counsel is
attached as Exhibit 8. For the reasons outlined in this Report, we concur with
Dean Sargent's evaluation.
Our
specific remedial recommendations are as follows:
1. Directors and certain officers should return to the Company profits from sales of; ULLICO stock purchased in 1998 and 1999. These pre‑tax profits are as follows:
Morton Bahr
$35,202
John J. Barry
$280,730
William G. Bernard
$326,780
Marvin J. Boede
$234,680
Kenneth J. Brown
$4,605
Joseph A. Carabillo
$720,420
Bill J. Casstevens
$603,080
John E. Cullerton
$176,010
John J. Gentleman
$29,335
Robert A. Georgine
$837,760
97
James LaSala
$88,005
Martin J. Maddaloni
$234,680
Joseph F. Maloney
$418,880
Douglas J. McCarron
$418,88075
James F.M. McNulty
$95,189
Jacob F. West
$837,760
Roy Wyse
$23,025
William H. Wynn
$234,680
Total
$5,599,701
Commentary. We strongly recommend that the return of the profits received by those directors who sold stock in 2000 and 2001 which they had purchased in 1998 and 1999 be the remedy in a matter where the directors and officers were so disproportionately favored.
We also strongly recommend that Chairman Georgine be asked to return the profits he received from the repurchases at the $146.04 price of the 8,000 shares of Class A Stock he purchased pursuant to the 1998 and 1999 stock offers. His pre‑tax profits were $837,760. Georgine is the Chairman of the Board, administered the stock offer program, determined the timing of the stock offers, voted for and implemented the repurchase programs at issue and, as CEO and President, played a principal role in sponsoring these programs. The shares Georgine purchased. in 1999 were also financed by a loan from Mellon Bank, for which the Company provided credit support that apparently was not authorized by the Board or any of its committees. Moreover; there is a serious question regarding whether Georgine was authorized by the Board to issue stock to himself.
Even if Georgine's profits from the sale of shares he acquired in 1998 and 1999 were deemed a form of compensation for the Global Crossing investment success, the return of such profits may well be appropriate given that the Compensation Committee (which purported to approve the stock offers) was not authorized to issue stock and Georgine received more than $2 million pursuant to the Global Incentive Program, which was intended to reward him for the Global Crossing investment success. He also (1) received approximately $4 million in profits between 1998 and 2000 under the Company's Deferred Compensation Plan, (2) received a 40,000 share stock bonus under the Stock Purchase and Credit Agreement, and (3) participated in several other compensation and fringe benefit programs. (Exhibit 2) Our conclusions would be the same whether the repurchases of Georgine's ULLICO stock occurred through the "discretionary" program or pursuant to the put option contained in the Addendum to Georgine's Employment Agreement, which was entered into under questionable circumstances.
--------
75 Before the issuance of this Report, Director McCarron voluntarily agreed to return to the Company the profits made on his slodc purchases.
98
Finally, we strongly recommend that Chief Legal Officer Carabillo be asked to return the profits he received from the repurchases at the $146.04 price of the 7,000 shares of Class A Stock he purchased pursuant to the 1998 and 1999 stock offers. His pretax profits were $720,420. He was principally involved with, and benefited from, all of the transactions at issue‑i.e., the 1998 and 1999 stock offer programs, the formal 2000 stock repurchase program with its 10,000 share threshold and the "discretionary" stock repurchases from directors and officers. The shares Carabillo purchased in 1999 were also financed by a loan from Mellon Bank, for which the Company provided credit support that apparently was not authorized by the Board or any of its committees. Moreover, Carabillo supervised the preparation of the tender offer disclosure documents to ULLICO's shareholders. As the Company's Chief Legal Officer, Carabillo was the officer most directly responsible for ensuring that the programs and disclosures at issue were legal and proper.
Even if Carabillo's profits were deemed to be a form of compensation for the Global Crossing investment success, return of such profits may well be appropriate given that the Compensation Committee (which purported to approve the stock offers) was not authorized to issue stock and Carabillo has received about $750,000 under the Global Incentive Program, which was intended to reward him for the Global Crossing investment success. He also received approximately $320,000 in profits between 1998 and 2000 under the Company's Deferred Compensation Plan and participated in other compensation programs.
Assuming the special committee decides that return of the profits is the appropriate remedy, the Board should then decide whether to distribute the returned proceeds to other shareholders who tendered stock in the 2000 formal repurchase program and were prorated, or otherwise retain and reinvest these funds. If the committee ratifies some of the transactions at issue, it should decide whether shareholder ratification would also be prudent.
2. Determine whether a return of profits by Chairman Georgine is appropriate in connection with his Stock Purchase and Credit Agreement.
Commentary. The special committee should consider whether to recommend return of profits received by Georgine on the repurchase at $146.04 per share of 8,000 of the 40,000 shares he acquired under the Stock Purchase and Credit Agreement in December 1999 at the $53.94 stock price.
As discussed above, there is a serious question as to whether the issuance of the 40,000 shares acquired pursuant to the Stock Purchase and Credit Agreement was duly authorized. In addition, the timing of this bonus raises several questions that should be reviewed by the special committee.
In his interview, Carabillo explained that the Compensation Committee initially intended to grant a $2 million bonus to Georgine in .1999, but decided instead to offer Georgine the opportunity to purchase 40,000 shares financed by a loan provided by ULLICO, with the loan to be forgiven over a five‑year period. According to
99
Carabillo, the stock issuance was more favorable to Georgine from a tax perspective. At the time the Stock Purchase and Credit Agreement was purportedly approved by the Compensation Committee (December 1999), ULLICO's stock price was $53.94 per share, based on the book value per share as of December 31, 1998. Accordingly, 40,000 shares would have been valued at $2,157,600. The Stock Purchase and Credit Agreement, however, is dated December 30, 1999, one day before the date used to calculate the 1999 "book value." At this point, it had to have been clear to those involved that, based on the increased value of ULLICO's Global Crossing investment, the 40,000 shares would be worth significantly more than $2,157,600.
In fact, the Stock Purchase and Credit Agreement was not executed by Georgine and the Compensation Committee members until well after December 31, 1999. Significantly, Director Cullerton, the last member of the Compensation Committee to execute the Stock Purchase and Credit Agreement, signed the agreement on May 10, 2000, the very same day the Executive Committee adopted a ULLICO stock price of $146.04 per share. Arguably, therefore, at the time the Stock Purchase and Credit Agreement was fully executed, the 40,000 shares acquired by Georgine were worth $5,841,600, almost triple the intended bonus of $2 million.
The special committee should evaluate these circumstances and determine whether the terms of the Stock Purchase and Credit Agreement are consistent with what the Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors intended. The committee should then decide whether to consider ratification of that agreement and the stock repurchases pursuant to that agreement or seek to amend that agreement and/or require a return of the profits to the Company. If the special committee chooses to ratify the redemption of Georgine's 8,000 bonus shares in February 2000 (under which Georgine received $1.17 million), it may wish to seek a limitation of the remaining shares he is entitled to redeem under the Stock Purchase and Credit Agreement. The committee should also consider whether to ratify or seek to invalidate the Addendum to Georgine's Employment Agreement to the extent that there is any question concerning the authorization for, and the repurchases under, that Addendum.
3. Determine whether a return of profits or ratification is the appropriate remedy for the director and officer redemptions of Capital Stock and Class A Stock acquired through the preferred certificate program ("Class A Preferred Stock"). The pre‑tax profits from these redemptions are as follows:
William G. Bernard ‑ $1,002,839 (Class A Preferred Stock)
Bill J. Casstevens ‑ $166,604 (Class A Preferred Stock) and at least $39,943 (Capital)76
John F. Gentleman ‑ at least $132,780 (Capital)
--------
76 We have been unable to determine the cost basis for those directors and officers who redeemed Capital Stock in 2000 and 2001. Although we assumed a cost basis of $25 per share, Capital Stock received as dividends would have a cost basis of zero, thus increasing the profits stated above.
100
Robert A. Georgine ‑ $66,378 (Class A Preferred Stock) and at least $525,918 (Capital)
James F. M. McNulty ‑ at least $185,796 (Capital)
Jacob F. West ‑ at least $151,300 (Capital)
Commentary. The special committee should evaluate the repurchases of Capital Stock and Class A Preferred Stock from directors and officers at the $146.04 stock price. These transactions did not result from the 1998 and 1999 stock offers. However, these transactions may have nonetheless been inappropriate because: (1) most of the transactions occurred through the "discretionary" repurchase program, which was not fully disclosed to ULLICO's directors or shareholders; or (2) the repurchases occurred through the formal repurchase program and the directors benefited from the 10,000 share proration threshold. Again, the committee should decide whether to ratify these transactions or to recommend return of the profits to the Company.
4. Determine whether a return of profits is appropriate in connection with the stock profits received by officers Luce and Grelle. These pre‑tax profits are as follows:
John K. Grelle ‑ $837,760 (all Class A from 1998 and 1999 stock offers)
James W. Luce ‑ at least $789,299 ($582,270 Class A from 1998 and 1999 stock offers, $99,787 Class A Preferred Stock and at least $107,241 Capital Stock)
Commentary. The special committee of disinterested shareholders should determine the reasonableness of the "compensation" received by the senior officers other than Georgine and Cambillo (i.e., Grelle and Luce") in the form of stock sales. These executives did not appear to be significantly involved in the creation or promotion of the 1998 and 1999 stock offer programs, the 2000 stock repurchase program or the "discretionary" stock repurchase program. Nor does it appear that they were directly responsible for recommending or approving any of these programs. It is also unclear whether the overall compensation received by these executives (including gains on stock repurchases) is disproportionate to the market value of their respective services. Accordingly, even if the special committee recommends return of profits from the directors and other senior officers, it may nonetheless be reasonable for the committee to ratify the stock purchases and repurchases of these two officers.
The committee should pay particular attention, however, to those repurchases from senior officers pursuant to the "discretionary" stock repurchase program given that this program was not fully disclosed to ULLICO's directors or shareholders. Further, the committee should recognize that Luce and Grelle were already being compensated for the success of the Global Crossing investment through the Global Incentive Program, with each officer receiving aggregate bonuses of about $750,000
--------
77 Steed and Maloney were unable to participate in the 2000‑01 stock repurchase program.
101
under the Program between 1998 and 2001. In addition, Grelle and Luce also received approximately $570,000 and $605,000 in profits, respectively, under the Company's Deferred Compensation Plan between 1998 and 2000. (Exhibit 2) The committee should thus consider whether. the profits made by Luce and Grelle on the sale of Class A Stock purchased in 1998 and 1999 represent an additional and unwarranted bonus.
Finally, the committee may decide to distinguish between Luce and Grelle, given: (1) Grelle's larger role in the programs as Chief Financial Officer; (2) his detailed understanding of the impact of the Global Crossing success on the calculation of book value per share; (3) his necessary involvement in the accounting issues surrounding the restatement of ULLICO's 2000 financial statements; and (4) the fact that he incurred a loan from Mellon Bank that was indirectly supported by the Company to finance the purchase of 4,000 Class A shares pursuant to the December 1999 stock offer.
5. Determine conditions for future sale of stock bought by officers and directors in 1998 and 1999 and still held.
Commentary. The special committee should determine whether those directors who purchased shares in 1998 and 1999 and have not sold the same may keep those shares. We suggest that the special committee determine that such action would be appropriate given that these directors apparently purchased their respective shares of ULLICO stock to align their interests with the shareholders, consistent with the stated purpose of the stock offers. If the committee adopts this recommendation, however, it should decide what restrictions, if any, should be placed upon the sale of these shares in the future.
6. Re‑examine the manner in which ULLICO sets the value of its stock and impose adequate safeguards to ensure that the stock price utilized in connection with any purchase or sale of Company stock represents a reasonable approximation of the fair value of such stock.
Commentary. ULLICO currently sets the value of its stock five months after year-end. While at its inception this practice may have been appropriate, this practice over time created opportunities for self‑interested transactions which led to this investigation and Report. The Company should revisit its stock price valuation practices and periodically evaluate whether the practices makes sense in view of general market conditions, variations in its operating and investment results, fluctuations in its stockholders' equity and alternative valuation methodologies.
Corporate Governance Recommendations
We strongly urge that the Board and its Corporate Governance Committee develop comprehensive corporate governance guidelines and a code of business conduct and ethics that address, among other things, director qualification standards, director responsibilities and company policies regarding director and officer compensation,
102
conflicts of interest, confidentiality and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. While ULLICO is not a public company and its mission is to provide "fair and equitable returns" to its labor partner shareholders, there is no reason to believe that many of the corporate governance reforms that have swept public companies should not have equal application and benefit to a company like ULLICO. The duties of loyalty and care are at the core of most corporate governance reforms.
While it is important that the Board and the Corporate Governance Committee tailor these guidelines and standards to fit ULLICO's unique corporate culture and mission, we would recommend, at a minimum, that, as soon as possible, they consider the following recommendations.
1. Adopt comprehensive written corporate governance guidelines and a code of conduct and ethics within 60 days.
Commentary. ULLICO, which does not have a comprehensive code addressing the conduct of directors and officers, should adopt and publicize a code of conduct and ethics for directors, offcers and employees with effective reporting and enforcement mechanisms. The code of conduct should address, among other things: conflicts of interest; corporate opportunities; confidentiality; compliance with laws, riles and regulations, including ERISA; and reporting on illegal and unethical behavior.
The adoption of clear corporate governance guidelines is equally important. These guidelines should address, among other things: a strategic planning process; director qualification standards and responsibilities; director orientation and continuing education; director compensation; annual board and committee evaluations; establishment of an effective system of internal controls; and plans for succession of management.
2. Appoint, within 60 days, a Chief Compliance Officer to administerthe code of conduct and ethics and to report semi‑annually to the Board on all compliance efforts.
Commentary. The Company should appoint a Chief Compliance Officer who is knowledgeable about corporate governance and will be directly responsible for the administration of the code of conduct and ethics and its standards and procedures. This person should be a senior member of management and should report semiannually to the Board on all compliance efforts and issues. Board minutes should reflect the reporting.
3. Distribute the code of conduct and ethics to all directors, officers and employees for signature and maintain a file of acknowledgement forms.
Commentary. It is essential that all directors, officers and employees sign a certification form acknowledging the reading and receipt of the code of conduct and ethics.
103
4. Eliminate the "discretionary" repurchase program immediately and, if necessary, replace it with a limited program, approved by the Board, that is designed to accommodate the needs of estates, retirees and shareholders demonstrating an immediate financial need. Any such program should set clear written standards for the limited repurchase of shares. These standards should be disclosed to all shareholders.
Commentary. As originally envisioned, the discretionary repurchase program was designed to provide liquidity and accommodate the needs of estates, retirees and shareholders demonstrating an immediate financial need. This salutary purpose became secondary in 2000 and 2001. The discretionary repurchase program should return to its original limited purpose with clear written standards.
5. Institute and maintain a training and education program, within 60 days, for all directors and officers in regard to: (a) their legal and ethical responsibilities as directors; (b) the financial condition, the principal operating risks and the performance factors materially important to the business of ULLICO; and (c) the operation, significance and effects of compensation and incentive programs and related party transactions.
Commentary. The need of all corporate directors and officers to fully understand their statutory and management responsibilities has never been greater. Regular training and continuing education of officers and directors will best address this need and ensure their understanding of current best practices and legal and industry developments. New Board members should have an opportunity to confer with senior management and generally be briefed on the strategies, goals and risks of the Company as well as its major business concerns. Jon F. Elliott, Directors' and Officers' Liability § I‑3.F 3 (2002)
6. Require that, effective immediately, the Corporate Governance Committee, the Audit Committee or ULLICO's shareholders review and approve each proposed material transaction between the Company and any director or officer of the Company, including any loan, guaranty or redemption program of the Company. Such review and approval shall include:
(a) a written explanation of why the transaction is in the best interests,of the Company without regard to the interest or desire of the individual;
(b) a documented rationale for engaging in the transaction;
(c) a specific determination of the fairness of the transaction; and
(d) written disclosure regarding all material terms of the transaction to all directors and, in the event shareholder approval is sought, all shareholders a substantial period of time prior to the Company entering into the transaction.
104
Commentary. Our investigation indicated that a significant number of directors did not fully understand the monetary benefits granted to other directors and to officers under the programs at issue. The Corporate Governance Committee must focus on related party transactions and procedures.
7. Disclose in the annual proxy statements all significant transactions between the Company and its directors, officers and other affiliates.
Commentary. The only way that the shareholders with a vested legal interest in the Company can realistically understand all significant transactions between the Company and its directors, officers and other affiliates is through full written disclosure in the annual proxy statements.
8. Require information relating to officer and director compensation of all types ‑(e.g., salary, bonus, fees, equity, loans, retirement plans and perquisites) be disclosed by the Compensation Committee in writing to the Board and to the shareholders at least on an annual basis unless, and only to the extent, the Board determines in writing that there is an important business purpose for withholding such information. In addition, the Company's overall compensation policies should be disclosed to shareholders.
Commentary. There is likely no greater focus today in corporate governance than on officer and director compensation. Shareholders are entitled to a full understanding of this compensation. The structure of management compensation should directly link the interests of management to the interests of all shareholders, and that structure and linkage should be disclosed not only to the full Board but to all shareholders.
9. Reduce the size of the Board to allow it to function efficiently and effectively.
Commentary. The ULLICO Board at present is authorized to have 32 members. Directors have attended an average of only 70% of the Board meetings even though ULLICO has fewer Board meetings than most comparably‑sized public companies. (Exhibit 7) One part of the attendance solution may be to significantly reduce the size of the Board. The size of the Board should be determined with a view to the Board's ultimate effectiveness in decision‑making. Former Board members could still assist the Company as part of an advisory group.
10. Require that at least a majority of the members of the Board be independent.
Commentary. Because of its labor origin, mission and values, most ULLICO directors have had close ties to senior Company management. Independent directors will increase the quality of Board oversight and lessen the possibility of damaging conflicts of interest. We also recommend that the Board be expanded to include persons who have not served as union presidents or pension fund trustees. This recommendation in no way suggests that independent directors not be fully committed to the labor movement and the traditional mission and values of the Company.
105
11. Require that the Board meet at least four times annually.
Commentary. Board meetings have not been held in a uniformly consistent manner. (Exhibit 7) The issues that ULLICO faces requires regular oversight by a Board that holds at least four meetings annually.
12. Require that independent Board members, or a committee of independent directors, determine committee assignments.
Commentary. Many committee members have been recommended for nomination solely by Georgine. A Nominating Committee consisting solely of independent directors should assume this responsibility.
13. Require the Board to delegate only specific, clearly defined responsibilities to its committees, and, effective immediately, further require all committees to maintain minutes and report regularly to the Board.
Commentary. There have been few charters at ULLICO to guide and define committee responsibilities and to evaluate committee performance. Charters for Audit, Corporate Governance and Nominating Committees can address: (a) the committee's purpose; (b) the committee's goals and responsibilities; and (c) annual performance evaluations. The preparation and distribution of accurate and complete meeting minutes is important in evaluating director performance and maintaining proper corporate records.
14. Require that all members of the Audit, Compensation, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees be independent.
Commentary. Independent directors are essential to sound and responsible committees and lessen the probability of damaging conflicts of interest.
15. Rotate committee assignments regularly to ensure director independence and to better draw on the talents of Board members.
Commentary. It is important to receive new input and to draw on the talents of new directors on committees. Regular rotation of committee assignments increases the likelihood of achieving this goal. Directors who have special qualifications (e.g., legal or financial qualifications) may sit on a specific committee for extended periods.
16. Authorize committees to engage independent advisors as necessary.
Commentary. In the course of fulfilling their duties, committees may need and want to engage independent advisors. The committees should be empowered to retain such advisors without seeking Board or management approval.
17. Amend ULLICO's by‑laws to provide for the removal of any director who, absent exceptional circumstances, fails to attend three consecutive Board meetings.
106
Commentary. A diligent director should attend board meetings on a regular basis and, if a member of a committee of the board, committee meetings as well. Regular attendance ensures that a director is knowledgeable about the plans, programs and developments of the company. Jon F. Elliott, Directors' and Officers' Liability § I3.B 3 (2002). Parenthetically, public reporting companies must disclose in their proxy materials the identity of any incumbent director not attending at least 75% in the aggregate of meetings of the board and committees on which the director sits. A significant number of UlLICO directors missed several consecutive Board meetings between 1997 and 2001. While directors may have other important business commitments, that does not excuse the failure of directors to regularly attend Board meetings. If directors' other commitments are too great, they should resign from the ULLICO Board and permit those who can regularly attend Board meetings to serve. Each director who misses a meeting must fully inform himself or herself of the matters discussed, and actions taken, at that meeting.
18. Require that all members of the Audit Committee have financial and accounting experience and at least one member of the Audit Cornmittee be a "financial expert" as that term shall be defined by the Securities and Exchange Comrnission pursuant to the considerations outlined in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Commentary. The increasing importance of audit cornmittees cannot be overstated. Public and private companies need to ensure that at least one member of the committee is a financial expert. The ULLICO audit committee would be well served to have several members with significant financial and/or accounting experience.
19. Consider barring loans to or arranging financing for directors and officers (in Sarbanes-Oxley).
Commentary. Loans to executive officers and directors have come under increased scrutiny due to the inherent conflicts of interest they present. To the extent the Cormpany grants such loans, such loans should be fully disclosed to and approved in advance by the full Board or the shareholders.
107
List of Interviews Conducted and Submissions Received
Directors
1. Morton Bahr, ULLICO Director (President, Communication Workers of America)
2. John J. Barry, ULLICO Director (International President Emeritus, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers)
3. William G. Bernard, ULLICO Director (President Emeritus, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators & Asbestos Workers)
4. Marvin J. Boede, ULLICO Director (Former President, United Association of Journeymen & Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada)
5. Kenneth J. Brown, ULLICO Director (Former President, Graphic Communications International Union)
6. Bill J. Casstevens, ULLICO Director (Former Secretary‑Treasurer, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America Union ("UAW “)
7. Linda Chavez‑Thompson, ULLICO Director (Executive Vice‑President, AFL‑CIO)
8. John F. Gentleman, ULLICO Director (Former President, ULLICO, Inc.) (oral proffer by counsel)
9. Frank H. Hanley, ULLICO Director (General President, International Union of Operating Engineers)
10. Frank D. Hurt, ULLICO Director (President, Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers & Grain Millers International Union)
11. John T. Joyce, ULLICO Director (Former President, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers)
12. Earl J. Kruse, ULLICO Director (President United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers)
13. James LaSala, ULLICO Director (President, Amalgamated Transit Union)
14. Joseph F. Maloney, ULLICO Director (Secretary‑Treasurer Emeritus, Building & Construction Trades/AFL‑CIO)
15. Douglas J. McCarron, ULLICO Director (General President, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America)
16. James F. M. McNulty, ULLICO Director (General Counsel, The Union Labor Life Insurance Company)
17. Lenore Miller, ULLICO Director (Former President, Retail, Wholesale & Department Store Union)
18. Terrence M. O'Sullivan, ULLICO Director (General President, Laborers' International Union of North America)
19. James H. Rankin, ULLICO Director (President, Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers International Union)
20. Vincent R. Sombrotto, ULLICO Director (President, National Association of Letter Carriers) (Written Submission)
21. John J. Sweeney, ULLICO Director (President, AFL‑CIO)
22. John W. Wilhelm, ULLICO Director (General President, Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union)
23. Roy Wyse, ULLICO Director (Former Secretary‑Treasurer, UAW)
108
ULLICO Executives
24. Erin Barrow, Senior Corporate Legal Assistant
25. Joseph A. Carabillo, Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Assistant Secretary
26. Robert A. Georgine, Chairman, CEO and President
27. John K. Grelle, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
28. Joseph Linehan, Vice‑President, Private Capital
29. James W. Luce, Executive Vice‑President
30. Grover L. McKean, Senior Vice President, Investments
31. Teresa Valentine, Assistant Vice‑President and Chief Compliance Officer
Advisors
32. Zeyad Awad, Auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers
33. Richard Baltz, Attorney, Amold & Porter
34. Douglas Beck, Attorney, LeBoeuf Lamb
35. Paul Berger, Attorney, Arnold & Porter
36. Edward Bintz, Attorney, Arnold & Porter
37. Kenneth Hugessen, Director, Mercer & Co., Outside Compensation Consultant, 1998‑1999
38. Dennis Lyons, Attorney, Arnold & Porter
39. Frank Manley, Outside Compensation Consultant
40. Carey Smith, Attorney, Arnold & Porter
41. Gary Stephani, Lead Engagement Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers
Others
42. John Hiatt, General Counsel, AFL‑CIO
43. Damon Silvers, Assoc. General Counsel, AFL‑CIO
44. Michael R. Steed, Former ULLICO Executive Vice‑President, Investments
109
Exhibit 8
Privileged and Confidential
Attorney‑Client Privilege
Attorney Work Product
MEMORANDUM
TO: Winston & Strawn
FROM: Mark A. Sargent
DATE: November 22, 2002
RE: ULLICO
I am Dean and Professor of Law at the Villanova University School of Law. Prior to assuming my present position I taught corporate and securities law at the University of Maryland and University of Baltimore law schools for over 15 years. I also served as Chairman of the Corporation Laws Committee of the Maryland State Bar Association.
At your request and pursuant to the protections of the attorney‑client privilege and work product doctrine, I have reviewed the Report of the Special Counsel, ULLICO Stock Purchase Offer and Repurchase Programs and Global Crossing Investment (the Report); Affidavit of Lenore Miller, dated November 12, 2002; Declaration of John T. Joyce, dated November 12, 2002; a Memorandum of Jim Hanks to Baker Botts L.L.P and Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP dated November 13, 2002; and a Memorandum of Thomas C. Green to Winston & Strawn dated November 13, 2002. You have asked me to review Hanks' and Green's analysis and conclusions with respect to the application of Maryland law to the ULLICO stock purchase offer and repurchase programs (the Programs). I have not undertaken an independent investigation of
118
the facts and circumstances relating to the Programs. My observations in this letter are thus based entirely on my review of the documents referenced above and my familiarity with Maryland law. My general conclusion is that nothing in the Hanks or Green Memoranda undermines the analysis or conclusions contained in the Report. I have also found nothing distinctive in Maryland law that would mandate analysis or conclusions different from those contained in the Report.
1. The Hanks Memorandum.
While accurate in some respects in its description of certain aspects of Maryland corporation law, Mr. Hanks' memorandum does not address, let along dispel, the most important fiduciary concerns raised by the Report, and reaches some conclusions that are largely irrelevant.
A key example is his extended discussion of section 2‑419 of the Maryland General Corporation Law (MGCL), through which he reaches the conclusion that the repurchase programs are not void or voidable because of their approval by an interested director. This discussion is largely irrelevant, because the Report acknowledges that the repurchase programs . seem to have been approved by at least one disinterested director. The Report's concerns are with the broader question of whether approval of the transactions nonetheless constituted a breach of the standard of conduct required of directors. Mr. Hanks acknowledges that this question must be considered even when a transaction is not voidable under section 2‑419.
Even though Mr. Hanks' conclusions about section 2‑4.19 are irrelevant, it should be noted that several of his assumptions about the applicability of section 2‑419 are questionable. For example, it is my understanding from the Report that fewer of the directors were disinterested at least with respect to the 2000 Formal Repurchase Program and the Informal
119
Repurchase Program than Mr. Hanks seems to assume. More important, Mr. Hanks' conclusion that the stock purchase offers were "fair and reasonable" to the corporation under section 2419(c) seems to me to be questionable. His analysis of this issue argues that the offers were "fair and reasonable" for the following reasons: granting directors and officers stock in the corporation, even without charge, is common, as is granting in‑the‑money options; the directors and officers were required to pay for the stock; selling stock to directors and officers at a price below their underlying value is not inherently problematic; the directors were at economic risk when they purchased the stock; there was no evidence of a plan on the part of the members of the Board to benefit themselves at the expense of the stockholders; stockholders other than directors and officers were given the opportunity to have their shares repurchased at the same price as the directors and officers; and Maryland law permits a director to be compensated for board service and for a board to set its own compensation.
This analysis combines points of little relevance, questionable assumptions and an avoidance of the major issues actually raised. For example, it may be true that directors and officers are often compensated for their services with stock, and sometimes with in‑the‑money options, that they are sometimes allowed to purchase stock for less than their underlying value, and the boards may set their members' compensation, but none of those observations address the specific concerns raised by the Report about these particular transactions. Similarly, the observation that outside stockholders were given the opportunity to purchase the shares at the same price as the directors and officers may also be true, but does not in itself compel the conclusion that the offers were fair, when the transactions are viewed in light of the whole sequence of events. Furthermore, it is my understanding that there is significant disagreement
120
about whether the directors and officers did in fact assume any meaningful risk associated with their purchases of ULLICO stock. For example, Mr. Hanks' argument that the fact that some directors chose not to purchase the stock suggests that the stock presented economic risk is a non sequitur. There may have been other reasons personal to each director that led them to not participate in the purchase program. Outside directors also simply may not have understood the type of economic windfall the opportunity represented. Furthermore, Mr. Hanks downplays the importance of the Global Crossing investment to the value of the ULLICO stock by pointing out that the investment represented only 30% of ULLICO's total assets at its highest point. More significant to the question of economic risk, however, was the fact that the Global Crossing investment represented a substantially greater percentage of ULLICO's shareholders' equity, the key determinant of the stock's value, and hence the economic risk to the directors and officers who purchased the stock.
Most important, the conclusion that the stock purchase offers as a whole were "fair and reasonable to the corporation" fails to take into account the questionable relationship between the amount of "compensation" paid to the directors and the minimal services they provided in connection with the Global Crossing investment; the unauthorized delegation of power to issue stock to Robert A. Georgine; the unauthorized actions of the Compensation Committee in setting its members' own compensation; and Georgine's failure to meet his duty of candor in informing the board and the stockholders of all material facts relating to the transactions. It also is worth noting that on page 14 of his Memorandum Mr. Hanks does not address the question of whether the preferential impact of the 10,000 share provision in the Formal Repurchase Program was
121
"fair and reasonable." He simply dismissed the 10,000 share requirement as "irrelevant" because he claims that the transaction was approved by disinterested directors.
Thus, if the stock offers and the repurchase programs were to be evaluated pursuant to section 2‑419(b)(2), there would be a significant possibility that they would not be found "fair and reasonable." In any event, Mr. Hanks' conclusion that they would be found"fair and reasonable" is essentially a red herring, because the Report does not depend upon a finding that the repurchase programs were voidable under section 2‑419.
A similar red herring is his extended discussion of the meaning of fiduciary duty under the MGCL. While it is correct that the MGCL does not use the term "fiduciary," the Maryland courts certainly do, as Mr. Hanks concedes, particularly in cases involving the duty of loyalty. Furthermore, section MGCL § 2‑405.1 is, in effect, a codification of the concept of fiduciary duty. The failure to use the specific term is thus of little significance. Mr. Hanks uses the distinction to make the obvious point (and one universal in American corporate law) that the director of a corporation does not have the same level of fiduciary obligation as a trustee. Whatever practical significance that distinction may have it is completely irrelevant here, because the Report does not assume that the directors had some type of heightened trustee‑type duty. The Report analyzes the conduct of the directors explicitly under the statutory standard of conduct applicable to them under section 2‑405.1.
To get to the heart of the matter, Mr. Hanks' analysis of the programs under section 2405.1 is conclusory and, in my opinion, not substantiated by the facts, thus leaving intact the serious concerns raised by the Report under that section.
122
First, with respect to the question of "good faith," Mr. Hanks seems to conclude that the directors acted in good faith primarily upon the basis of self‑serving assertions by two directors that they acted in good faith. Obviously, self‑serving assertions such as these are of little weight. Furthermore, their representations do not establish the state of mind of the other directors, many of whom were tainted by a conflict of interest. The assertion by the two directors that they sought the advice of Arnold & Porter also does not in itself establish good faith. In addition, there is not only a good faith problem but a possible breach of the duty of loyalty on the part of those directors who stood to receive substantial benefits through approving the stock purchase offers and repurchase programs. The taint of conflict of interest will undermine any presumption under Maryland law that the directors acted in "good faith" for purposes of section 2‑405.1.
Second, his conclusion that the directors acted "[i]n a manner he [or she] reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation," ignores the serious questions raised by the Report as to whether the Programs were in fact designed and implemented to achieve their avowed objectives as opposed to enriching insiders.
Third, Mr. Hanks' conclusion that the directors acted "with the care of an ordinarily prudent person under the circumstances" seems to be based upon an assumption that they .. spent an adequate amount of time in meetings and were adequately briefed and advised. These facts do not take into account the Board's grossly negligent and unauthorized delegation of stock issuance authority to Georgine without "providing for or establishing a method or procedure for determining the maximum number of shares to be issued," as required by MGCL § 2‑411(b); its failure to supervise Georgine's conduct of the Informal Repurchase Program; its failure to prevent the Compensation Committee's unauthorized determination of its members' own compensation; and its failure to prevent material
123
misstatements and omissions in public disclosures to shareholders. Furthermore, even those directors who approved the repurchase programs but did not participate in them may not have acted with due care, because they apparently failed to consider the preferential impact of the repurchase and the enrichment of other directors and officers at the expense of the stockholder.
In short, in my opinion, the Report has identified facts and provided a legal analysis raising the significant possibility that there was a material and widespread failure on the part of the members of the ULLICO board to meet the required standard of conduct under the Maryland statute. Nothing in Mr. Hanks' analysis on pp. 15‑16 alters that conclusion.
2. The Green Memorandum
While the Green Memorandum is correct that reliance upon counsel can be used in defense of a fiduciary duty claim under section 2‑405.1(b)(1), the Report indicates that there are significant factual questions about: (i) what information was actually communicated to ULLICO's outside counsel and by whom; (ii) what counsel reasonably would infer about the Programs from what was communicated; (iii) what advice was sought from that counsel with respect to the Programs; (iv) what advice actually was provided and; (v) the extent to which that advice was communicated to the full board and actually relied upon.
Even more important, much of the "reliance" asserted in the Green memorandum seems to have been reliance on counsel's silence, i.e., an argument that because sophisticated counsel knew something about the transactions and did not object, the client could rely on counsel's silence to assume that the transaction was proper. Furthermore, recognition of a defense of reliance on a counsel's silence seems singularly inappropriate when the directors who would substantially benefit from the repurchase programs were called upon to approve the transactions, especially when the scale of that benefit would be grossly disproportionate
124
to the directors' ordinary fee‑based compensation. Under those circumstances, the directors should have sought more detailed and specific assurance of the legality and the fairness of the transactions from independent counsel and other outside experts in order to invoke the reliance on counsel defense.
In my opinion, there is thus a serious legal question under Maryland law as to whether reliance upon counsel's silence is sufficient to establish a reliance upon counsel defense under section 2‑405.1(b)(1).
125
MARK A. SARGENT
Villanova University School of Law
299 North Spring Mill Road
Villanova, Pennsylvania 19085‑1682
(610)519‑7007; (610) S19‑6472 (Fax)
sargentelaw.villanova.edu
PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT
1. Dean and Professor of Law
Villanova University School of Law (July 1, 1997‑Present)
2. University of Maryland School of Law ‑(UMSL)
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (1994‑1,997)
Piper & Maxbury Professor of Law (1993‑1997)
Professor of Law (1989‑1997)
Director, Law and Entrepreneurahip Program (1989‑1997)
Faculty Editor, The Business LAw3rer (1991‑1997)
3. Southern Methodist University School of Law
Visiting Associate Professor of Law (Spring 1988)
4. Washington College of Law, American University.
Visiting Professor of Law (Fall 1987)
5. University of Baltimore School of Law (UBSL)
Professor of Law (1987‑1989)
Associate Professor of Law (1983‑1987)
Assistant Professor of Law (1980‑1983)
6. Csaplar & Bok
Boston, Massachusetts
Private Practice (1978‑1980)
ARTICLES
1. "Blue Sky Mysteries of the National Securities markets
Improvements Act," 23 Sec. Reg. L.J. 172 (1997).
2. "Compounding the Enigma: Are LLC Interests Securities?," 2 NASAA
Enforcement L. Rep. 185 (1994).
3. "A Future for Blue Sky Law," 61 U.Cinn. L. Rev. 471 (1993)
(symposium piece).
4. "Are Limited Liability Company Interests Securities?." 18 Pepperdine L. Rev. 1069 (1992) (symposium piece).
5. "The New Regulation D: Deregulation, Federalism and the Dynamics of Regulatory Reform," 68 Wash. U. L.Q. 225 (1990) (reprinted at 22 Sec. L. Rev. 3 (1991)).
6. "Two Cheers for the Maryland Directors and Officers Liability
Statute," 18 U. Balt. L. Rev. 278 (1989) (symposium piece).
7. "State Disclosure Regulation and the Allocation of Regulatory
Responsibilities," 66 Md. L. Rev. 801 (1987) (symposium piece) (reprinted in Comtempary Issues in Securities Regulation.
Butterworth, 1988, at 143‑48).
126
MARK A. SARGENT
PAGE 2
8. "Do the Second Generation State Takeover Statutes Violate the
Commerce Clause?," 8 Corp. L. Rev. 3 (1985) (reprinted in Tender Offers: Developments and Commentaries, Quorum Books, 1985, at 75‑103).
9. "State Limited and Private Offering Exemptions: The Maryland
Experience in a National Perspective," 13 U. Balt. L. Rev. 496 (1984) (symposium piece).
10. "A Reexamination of the Agency Doctrine of Election," 36 U: Miami L. Rev. 411 (1982) (Co‑author: Arnold Rochvarg).
11. "On the Validity of State Takeover Regulation: State Responses to MITE and Kidwell,' 42 Ohio St. L. J. 689 (1981) (reprinted at 14 Sec. L. Rev. 221 (1982)).
EDITING PROJECTS
1. "Symposium: Religion and Investing," 3 Vill. J. L & Investment
Mgmt.___ (2002)
2. "Symposium: The National Securities Markets Improvements Act One
Year Later," 53 Bus. Law. 507 (1998).
3. "Check‑the‑Box and Beyond: The Future of Limited Liability
Entities," 52 Bus. Law. 605 (1997) (Co‑editor: Larry Ribstein).
4. "Review of Developments in State Securities Regulation ‑ Blue Sky
Law in Cyberspace," 52 Bus. Law. 315 (1996).
5. "Symposium on the Maryland Director and Officer Liability
Statute," 18 U. Balt. L. Rev. 225 (1989).
6. "Symposium on State Securities Regulation," 13 U. Balt. L.Rev.
435 (1984).
REPORTS
1. "Report and Recommendations on Mental Health Inquiries on the
Maryland Bar Application," October 1995 (report prepared for the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, Maryland State .Bar Association) .
2. "Report on State Merit Regulation of Securities Offerings," 41
Bus. Law. 785 (1986) (prepared for the ABA State Regulation of Securities Committee).
SHORTER ARTICLES
1. "Legal Defense: When Sued, How Should the Church Behave?," Commonweal, June 14, 2002, at 13.
2. "The Real Scandal: Enron's 'Crimes' Were Legal," Commonweal,
March 8, 2002, at 10.
127
MARK A. SARGENT
PAGE 3
3. "An Alternative to the Sectarian Vision: the Role of the Dean in
an 'Inclusive' Catholic Law school," 13 U. Toledo L. Rev. 171 (2001) (symposium piece).
4. "Another Mouse that Roared: Maryland's Leadership in the Law of
Business Organizations," 30 Md. B.J. 15 (Jan./Feb.1997).
5. "Immigration Law: The Maryland Law School Experience," 30 Md. Bar
J.1 (May/June 1997).
6. "State Treatment of LLC Interests as Securities,' 3 J. Lim. Liab.
Co. 137 (1997) .
7. "What Does it Take? The Hallmarks of a Business Lawyer,"
Business Law Today, July/August 1996, at 11.
8. "LLCs as Securities ‑ California Style," 1 J. Lim. Liab. Co. 181
(1995) .
9. "Are LLC Interests Securities? ‑ Part I," 1 J. Lim. Liab. Co. 34
(1994); "Are LLC Interests Securities? ‑ Part II," 1 J. Lim. Liab. Co. 127 (1994).
10. "Will Limited Liability Companies Punch a Role in the Blue Sky?", 21 Sec. Reg. L. J. 429 (1993).
11. “tNo More Tinkering!", Business Law Today, July‑Aug. 1992, at S.
12. "SCOR One for the Issuer," N. Y. L. J., June 1, 1992, at 7.
13. "A Blue Sky State of Mind: The Meaning of 'Willfully' in Blue Sky Criminal Cases," 20 Sec. Reg. L. J. 96 (1992).
14. "UL0E: New Hope, New Challenge," 45 Bus. Law. 1319 (1990) (coauthor: Hugh Makens).
15. "The SCOR Solution," 18 Sec. Reg L. J. 93 (1990).
16. "RUSA Revisited," 16 Sec. Reg. L. J. 79 (1989).
17. "Director Liability Statutes Placed in Perspective," Nat'l L.J., July 4, 1988, at 23.
18. "Blue Sky Enforcement Actions ‑ Some Practical Considerations," 14 Sec. Reg. L. J. 343 (1987).
19. "Some Thoughts on the Revised Uniform Securities Act," 14 Sec. Reg. L. J. 62 (1986).
20. "State Regulation of Investment Companies ‑ Sources of the Current Controversy," 13 Sec. Reg. L. J. 167 (1985).
21. "The Challenge to Merit Regulation ‑ Part II," 12 Sec. Reg. L. J. 367 (1985).
128
MARK A. SARGENT
PAGE 4
22. "The Challenge to Merit Regulation ‑ Part I," 12 Sec. Reg. L. J. 276 (1984).
23. "Bluer Skies in Maryland: An Introduction to the New Maryland Exemptions for Limited and Private Offerings," 1983 V. Balt. L. Forum 22 (Co‑author: K. H. Matney).
24. "Research in Securities Regulation Revisited," 79 Law Libr. J. 259 (1987) (co‑author: Melanie L. Senter).
25. "Research in Securities Regulation: Access to the Sources of the Law,"
75 Law Libr. J. 98 (1982) (Co‑author: Emily R. Greenberg).
COMMERCIAL PUBLICATIONS
1. Proxy Rules Handbook (Clark Boardman Callaghan 8th ad. 2000) (Co author: Dennis R. Honabach).
2. D&O Liability Handbook (Clark Boardman Callaghan 10th ed. 2000) (Co‑author: Dennis R. Honobach).
3. Limited Liability Company Handbook (Clark Boardman Callaghan 9th ad. 2000) (Co‑author: Walter D. Schwidetsky?.
BOOK REVIEW
1. Review of Ercole, Levine et al., Maryland Limited Liability Company Forms and Practice Manual, Daily Record (Baltimore), Dec. 31, 1993, at 12.
2. Review of Hanks, Maryland Corporation Law, and Schulman,, Moscow &
Lesser, Michigan Corr»oration Law and Practice, 47 Bus. Law. 1355
(1992) .
3. “A Sense of Order: The Virtues and Limits of Doctrinal
Analysis," review of Loss & Seligman, Securities Regulations, vole. I‑IV, 104 Harvard L. Rev. 634 (1990) .
4. Review of Moscow & Makens, Michigan Securities Regulation, 39 Bus. Law. 359 (1983).
5. Review of Karmel, Regulation by Prosecution, and Seligman, The Tranformation of Wall Street, 12 U. Balt. L. Rev. 371 (1982).
DRAFTING PROJECTS
1. Co‑Reporter, Revision of the Uniform Securities Act, National Conference of Commissioners on uniform state Laws, 1982‑83.
2. Reporter, Revision of the Maryland Securities Act, Maryland State Bar Association, 1985‑88.
129
MARK A. SARGENT
PAGE 5
3. Principal Draftsman, Maryland Securities Division Regulations .09
and .15, private and limited offering exemptions under the Maryland Securities Act, 1981‑82.
COURSES
Securities Regulation; Securities Regulation Workshop; Business Associations; Business Crime; Business Planning; Business Lawyering; Mergers & Acquisitions; Law & Finance of High Technology.
LAW SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY SERVICE
1. Chair, UMAB Presidential Search Committee (June 1993‑February
1994) .
2. Chair, UMAB Defining Quality Advisory Committee (1992‑93).
3. Chair, UMSL Strategic Planning Committee (1990‑92).
4. Law School Representative, Task Force for the Unification of the University of Maryland at Baltimore and the University of
Maryland ‑ Baltimore County; Chair, Mission Statement Writing
Group (1991‑1992).
5. Chair, UBSL Long‑Range Planning Committee (1988‑89).
6. Chair, UBSL AALS Self‑Study Committee (1982‑83).
7. Coordinator, UBSL Faculty Colloquium on Business organizations
(1983‑85).
8. Coordinator, UBSL Faculty Workshop (1986‑87, 1988‑89).
9. Adviser, Maryland Law Review (1990‑1991).
10 Adviser, Maryland Journal of International Law and Trade (1989-1991).
11. Adviser, UMSL Business Law Society (1989‑1992).
DISTINCTIONS
1. Teacher of the Year, University of Maryland School of Law 1994‑95.
2. Member, American Law institute (1991‑Present).
3. Spirit of Excellence Award, University of Baltimore 1984.
EDITORIAL POSITIONS
1. Co ‑Editor‑in‑Chief, Villanova Journal of Law and Investment Management (1998‑Present).
2. Member, Editorial Board, The Business Lawyer (1997‑1999).
130
MARK A. SARGENT
PAGE 6
3. Faculty Editor, The Business Lawyer (1992‑1997).
4. Member, Board of Editors, Journal of Limited Liability Companies (1994‑1999).
5. Member, Board of Contributing Editors and Advisers, Securities Regulation Law Journal (1992‑1995).
BAR LEADERSHIP
1. Chair, Corporation Laws Committee, Maryland State Bar Association
(1996‑1997).
2. Chair, Committee on Representing Emerging Companies, Maryland
State Bar Association (1990‑1994).
3. Chair, Section Council, Section of Legal Education and Admission
to the Bar, Maryland State Bar Association (1995‑96).
4. Member, Section Council,. Section of Business Law, Maryland State
Bar Association (1990‑1993).
BOARDS
1. Member, Board of Trustees, Wilmington Trust Mutual Funds, 2002 present.
2. Independent General Partner, Fiduciary Capital Partners SBIC (1998‑2002).
3. Member, Board of Directors, Saint Thomas More Society of Pennsylvania (1998‑Present)
4. Member, Board of Directors, Empowerment Zone Legal Services, Ins.
(1996‑1997)
5. Member, Advisory Board, UMBC Technology Enterprise Center (1989‑
1995).
6. Member, Board of Trustees, Handel Society of Baltimore (1989‑94)
MISCELLANEOUS
1. Member, National Adjudicatory Council, National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (2000‑Present)
2. Arbitrator, American Arbitration Association (1998‑Present)
3. Arbitrator. National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (1988‑92).
4. Arbitrator, SEC v. Prudential Securities. Inc, Settlement (1994-1996).
131
MARK A. SARGENT
PAGE 7
5. Hearing officer, Division of securities, Office of the Maryland Attorney General (seven matters, 1982‑89).
6. National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Fellowship,. Stanford Law School (1982).
7. Continuing legal education program chairman and instructor: ALIABA; Practicing Law Institute; ABA Section of Business Law; ABA Torts and Insurance Practice Section; Warren Gorham Lamont; Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers; Michigan Institute of Continuing Legal Education; Minnesota Institute Legal Education; Maryland State Bar Association; North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA); Northwest Securities Institute; SMU School of Law; Suffolk University Law School; Maryland Lawyers for the Arts.
8. Pro Bono Consultancies: ABA; NASAA; Michigan State Bar; Virginia Corporation Commission; Maryland Division of Securities.
9. Executive Producer, "Insight out," (October, 1995) (a training video for use with a campus‑wide Americans with Disabilities Act evaluation survey).
EDUCATION
1. Wesleyan University
B.A., magna cum laude, 1973
Member: Phi Beta Kappa
‑High Honors: Comprehensive Examinations in the College of Letters ‑Junior Fellow, Wesleyan Center for the Humanities
‑Connecticut State Scholar (1969‑73)
2. Cornell University
M.A., Medieval and Renaissance History, 1975
‑Danforth Fellowship
3. Cornell Law School
J.D., 1978
‑Student research assistant: Cornell Institute on organized Crime
PERSONAL
1. Admitted to Massachusetts Bar, 1978.
2. Born April 28, 1951, New London, Connecticut.
3. Married to Joan Taranto Sargent with one child, Alexander.
132
Mark A. Sargent
May 31, 2002
Representative Presentations
1. Presenter, "A Vision of an `Inclusive' Catholic Law School," Conference on Catholics in the Public Square, Pew Foundation and Commonweal Magazine, Malibu, CA, Febrnmty 24, 2002.
2. Panelist, "The Forces of Secularization in the Legal Academy," Conference of Religiously Affiliated Law School, Malibu, CA. February 22, 2002.
3. The Phillip Hallie Lecture, "The Crisis in Catholic Social Thought," College of Letters, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, October 24, 2001.
4 ."The Role of Independent Directors in Mutual Fund Governance," Conference on Mutual Fund Regulation in the Next Millennium, New York Law School, New York, N.Y., February 4, 2000.
5. "Will Lawyers Be the Providers of Legal Advice in the 21' Cenuny?," Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., January 6, 2000.
6. Chair, Panel Discussion, "The National Securities Markets Improvements Act: Unanswered Questions," North American Securities Administrators Association, Annual Meeting, Nashville, Tennessee, October 5,1998.
7. "A Program in Law & Entrepeneurship," AALS Workshop on Teaching Business Associations, Washington, D.C., May 1, 1998.
8. "The (Un)importance of SEC‑Mandated Disclosure of Executive Compensation," Symposium on Corporate Disclosure and its impact on Corporate Morality, Columbus School of Law, Catholic University, Washington, D.C., April 16,1998.
9. "Subject‑Matter Focused Externships," Conference on Externship Pedagogy: Theory and Practice, Columbus School of Law, Catholic University, Washington, D.C., March 7, 1998.
10. "When are LLC Interests Securities?", New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New. Jersey, November 20, 1996.
11. "Conversions Into LLCs," Suffolk University Law School, Boston, November 8, 1996. 12. "Raising Capital via Private Placements ‑ Legal Issues,". Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship, University of Maryland. September 16, 1996.
133
13. "Problems of Fiduciary Obligation in LLC Law", Minnnesota Institute of Legal Education, Minneapolis, MN, May 2, 1996.
14. "Non‑Tax Issues in LLC Law: An Overview", Maryland Institute fur Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers (MICPEL), Baltimore, Maryland, May 1, 1996.
15. Organizer and Panelist, Panel Discussion on "Hopwood v. Texas: Its Implications for Affirmative Action in Legal Education," Maryland State Bar Association Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, Baltimore, Mmyyland, April 29, 1996,
16. "The Evolution of Limited Liability Entities", Maryland Judicial Institute, Annapolis, Maryland, April 19,1996.
17. Testimony on the "Capital Markets Deregulation and Liberalization Act of 1995," before the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance Subcoammittee of the Committee on Commerce, US. House of Representatives, December 5, 1995.
19. "Fiduciary Problems in LLCs," Suffolk University Law School, Boston, November 29, 1995.
19. "Why Mandatory CLE?," Maryland State Bar Association Annual Meeting, Ocean City,, Maryland, June 9, 1995.
20. "Living Within the Securities Laws," Limited Liability Conference, Warren Gorham & Lamont, Hilton Head, South Carolina, June 6, 1995.
21. Panelist; "The Role of the Character Committee Interview in the Bar Admissions Process," Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the Maryland State Bar Association, Annual Meeting, Baltimore, May 3, 1995.
22. "New Approaches to Regulating LLCs," North American Securities Administrators Association, ABA Subcommittee on State Securities Regulation, Annual Meeting, Boston. MA. Oct 10, 1994.
23. "Legal Constraints on Private Placements," Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship, University of Maryland‑Baltimore County, October 4, 1994.
24. "Experiential Learning and the Training of Business Lawyers," Morgan, Lewis & Bockius (Securities Law Department), Washington, D.C., September 19, 1994. _ .
25. "Are LLC Interests Securities?," "Should a Law Firm Be an LLC or an LLP?," Minnesota Institute of Legal Education. Minneapolis, MN. June 15. 1994.
26. "Access to Private Capital for Small Businesses," Baltimore Chamber of Commerce,Baltimore, MD, April 26,1994.
134
27. "Main Currents in D&O Liability," Program on Developments in the Law Affecting Corporate Officers and Directors, ABA Torts and Insurance Practice Section, Baltimore, MD, December 14, 1993.
28. "Creating an Entrepreneurial Culture," Maryland Partnership Symposium, Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship, University of Maryland‑College Park, September 14, 1993.
29. "Intellectual Property Dilemmas in the Life‑cycle of Entrepreneurial Companies," Program for the .Maryland Department of Economic and Employment Development, Baltirnme, MD, July 27,1993.
30. "Goals of Externship Programs in Business Law," Clinical Legal Education Association Conference on Extenships, McLean, VA. May 5, 1993.
31. "Professional Practice Plans in Legal Education," University of Maryland School of Social Work, Baltimore, March 4,1993.
32. "A Critical Analysis of the SEC's Small Business Initiative," Northwest Securities Institute, Vancouver, BC, February 27, 1993.
33. "Financial Resources for Early‑Stage Biotechnology Companies," Greater Baltimore Committee Biotech Professionals' Forum, Baltimore, January 14, 1993.
34. "A Future for Blue Sky Law," Washington‑Baltimore Corporate Law Teachers Working Group, George Washington University National Law Center, Nov. 11, 1992; University of Maryland School of Law Faculty Workshop, Nov. 19, 1992.
35. "Venture Capital Financing Agreements," MICPEL, Business Document Drafting Series, Baltimore, Oct. 21, 1992.
36. "The New SEC Rules for Small Business Securities Offer," Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA), Securities Law Committee Program, Baltimore, Oct. 2,1992.
37. "Review of Recent Maryland Corporation and Partnership Law Decisions," MSBA Section of Business Law Program, MSBA Annual Meeting, Ocean City, MD, June 11, 1992.
38. "Duties, Rights and Liabilities of Directors of Non‑pmfit Corporations," First Annual Non‑profit Organizations Institute, Goucher College, Towson, MD, May 28, 1992.
39. "A Program in‑Law & Entrepreneurship." AHA Section of Business Law, Committee on Legal Education, Annual Section Meeting, Orlando, FL, April 10,1992.
40. "Are Limited Liability Company Interests Securities?", Symposium on Current Issues in Securities Regulation, Pepperdine School of Law, Malibu, CA, Feb. 22,1992.
135
41. "Origins of the Fiscal Crisis," Teach-In on Maryland's Fiscal Crisis, University of Maryland School of Law, Baltimore, Jan. 29,1992.
42. "Fear and Loathing in the Law World," The Breakfast Club, Baltimore, Feb.13,1992.
43. "The Maryland Court of Appeals in Review," MSBA Section of Judicial Administration, Mid‑year Meeting, Baltimore, Nov. 9, 1991.
44. "Private Placements Under the State Securities Laws,” PLI Program On Private Placements 1991, New York, NY. Apr. 12, 1991.
45. "A Legal Primer for Maryland Arts Organizations," Maryland State Arts Council, Baltimore and Easton, MD, Oct. 13 and Nov. 10, 1990.
46. "A Defense of Socratic Teaching: Comments on Jerold Israel," University of Maryland School of Law (UMSL) Orientation Program, Baltimore, Aug. 23, 1990.
47. "Procustes' Bed: The Impact of Merit Regulation on Business Financing," ABA Section of Business Law, Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, Aug. 7, 1990.
48. "Problems in Planning Exempt Transactions Under Federal and Maryland Securities Law," MICPEL Program on Raising Money Privately, College Park, MD. Nov. 3,1989.
49. "Comments on the Revised Uniform Securities Act," ABA Section of Business Law, State Regulation of Securities Committee, Annual Section Meeting, Houston, TX, April 1,1989.
50. "Blue Sky. Internationalization," North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), Annual Meeting, Santa Fe, NM, Oct. 12, 1988.
51. "Analysis of the New Michigan Fair Price Takeover Statute," Michigan Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Ann Arbor, MI, July 29, 1988.
52. "The New State Takeover Statutes: Constitutional Considerations," ALI‑ABA Program 'on State Takeover Regulation Today, Philadelphia, PA, Oct 27, 1988.
53. “The Legal Framework of Blue Sky Enforcement," SMU School of Law, Program on Blue Sky Law Today, Dallas, TX, Oct. 22,1987.
54. "Sources of the D & O Liability Crisis," University of Baltimore School of Law, Progmm on the Current Crisis in Directors' Liability, Baltimore, Feb. 24, 1987.
55. "Maryland Corporation Law Decisions 1983‑86," MSBA Mid‑Year Meeting, Bethesda, MD, Jan. 9,1987.
136
56. "What is Merit Regulation?," ABA Young Lawyers Division, Program on Merit Regulation, ABA Annual Meeting, New York, NY, Aug, 12,1986.
57. "Edgar v. MITE Corp, and the Origins of the Second Generation State Takeover Statutes," ALI‑ABA Program on New Directions in State Takeover Regulation, San Diego, CA, May 10, 1986.
58. "Law School Twenty‑five Years Ago and Today," Serjeant’s Inn, 25th Anniversary Dinner, Baltimore, Dec. 11, 1985.
59. "Blue Sky Regulation of Real Estate Securities Offerings," ALI‑ABA Program on Modem Real Estate Transactions, Charlottesville, VA. June 26, 1985.
60. "The Historical Development of the Dual Regulatory System," ABA Section of Business Law, Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA, March 29, 1985.
61. "Blue Sky Law: The Current Controversy," University of Maryland School of Law Symposium on Corporate and Securities Law Developments, Baltimore, Nov. 1,1984.
62. "Securities Disclosure: Myth & Meaning," NASAA Analysts Symposium, St. Louis, MO, Aug. 21,1985.
63. "Introduction to State Regulation. of Real Estate Securities Offerings;" ALI‑ABA Program on the Effect of Securities Regulation on Real Estate Transactions, New York, NY, Oct. 24, 1983.
64. "After the Fall," University of Baltimore School of Law, Program on New.Directions in State Takeover Regulation, Baltimore, March 30, 1983.
65. "Revising the Uniform Securities Act During the Financial Revolution," NASAA Financial Institutions Forum, Baltimore, Jan. 24, 1983.
66. "MITE and its Progeny," NASAA Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA, Oct 6, 1982.
67. "On Revising the Uniform Securities Act," NASAA Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA. Oct. 4,1982.
137
Special Counsel Staff
The senior members of the Special Counsel staff, all lawyers at Winston & Strawn, have substantial experience in corporate internal investigations, securities regulation, securities litigation and criminal law.
Special Counsel James R. Thompson, Chairman of Winston & Strawn, is the former Governor of Illinois (1977‑1991) and United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois (1971‑1975). Governor Thompson is a member of numerous corporate boards.
Special Counsel Staff Director Robert W. Tarun is co‑author of the treatise Corporate Internal Investigations and has supervised scores of internal investigations. Mr. Tarun is a former Executive Assistant United States Attorney and has substantial criminal defense and regulatory experience. Stephen J. Senderowitz supervised, as the Deputy Chief of Special Prosecutions Division in the United States Attorney's Office, financial markets prosecutions, and in private practice has concentrated his practice in civil and criminal securities and derivatives litigation. Daniel A. Ninivaggi specializes in corporate finance and securities transactions. Timothy M. Broas and Charles B. Klein are litigators experienced in both complex civil and criminal law as well as corporate internal investigations.
Attorneys Jon J. Kramer, Christopher M. McClellan and Raymond W. Mitchell provided substantial assistance in connection with the legal research and analysis thereof used in the Report. Attorneys Thomas P. Fitzgerald, Barry J. Hart and Karen M. Kowalski assisted on tax issues, and Attorney Michael S. Melbinger provided advice on employee benefit plans.
Paralegal services were provided by Megan Bushor, Kevin J. Behan and John D. Frier. Abbe L. Wright provided graphics assistance.
138
Notice
The following changes have been made to the Report since it was first issued on November 26, 2002:
1. The name "Wilhelm" was added to footnote 34 on page 42 and also at the end of the third full paragraph on page 63.
2. The names "Wyse, McCarron" were deleted from the third line from the bottom of page 38, as the reference quoted from their interviews related to the formal program and not the discretionary program as indicated.
3. Director Hanley's name was added to the end of footnote 34 on page 42.
4. In the first full paragraph on page 40, the following reference "(4) 12,523 Class A shares from Georgine; (5) 4,345 Capital shares from Gentleman (director and former officer) on March 9, 2001;" was corrected to read as follows: "(4) 12,523 Class A / 4,345 Capital shares from Georgine on February 14, 2001; and (5) 1,097 Capital shares from Gentleman on March 2, 2001;".
5. The name "Bernard" was deleted from footnote 37 on page 46.
139
Return to Laborers.org
(c) All orginal work Copyright Laborers.org 1998. All rights reserved..