R&W Insurance Q&A

Representations and Warranties Insurance Q&A

Q: What is Representations and Warranties Insurance?

A: Inaccuracies in representations and warranties made by the seller or the target company in connection with a merger or acquisition can result in costly liabilities. Without representations and warranties insurance, buyers can be left without the ability to recover net operating losses, and sellers can be forced to hand back a portion of the purchase price.

Ultimately, representations and warranties insurance helps protect both buyers and sellers involved in transactions from financial loss if inaccuracies in representations and warranties are made. By purchasing representations and warranties insurance, buyers can distinguish a bid, sellers can reduce indemnity obligations, and both parties can close deals with ease, speed, and confidence.

It’s important to note that representations and warranties insurance does not cover payment obligations or purchase price adjustments that could occur under an acquisition agreement.

 Q: Is Representation And Warranty Insurance New?

A: Representations and warranties insurance is not a new insurance product. It has been in Canada since the early 1990s and has been used globally for longer.

Q: How Often Is Representation And Warranties Insurance Used?

A: In a recent article by Curtis A. Cusinato and Timothy Chubb of Stikeman LLP, they stated, “The representation and warranties insurance marketplace has continued its rapid development, maturing to the point that representation and warranties insurance is becoming a fundamental component of M&A transactions in Canada.” It is also projected that the number of times representation and warranty insurance were used in an M&A deal globally doubled in 2013.

Q: What’s The Benefit Of Representations And Warranties Insurance?

A: M&A deals involving public companies or private equity firms can fail for many reasons, including the inability of the parties to agree on a price and the failure to accurately assess the value of the assets and liabilities of the acquisition target. By transferring risks like indemnity obligations and tax exposure, unknown litigation representations and warranties insurance products can solve problems that might not otherwise be addressed in the terms and conditions of a deal.

In Summary, The Main Benefits Of Representations And Warranties Insurance Are:

  • Can ensure a transaction is closed within a required time frame.
  • Can accelerate the speed with which a transaction can be completed.
  • Can result in greater post-transaction flexibility.
  • Avoid post-transaction indemnity obligations.
  • Additional post-transaction financing can be expedited.

Q: What Are Some Examples of Reps And Warranties Insurance Claims?

A: Below are two examples of insurance claims related to Representations and Warranties insurance policies:

1. A Canadian manufacturing company (seller) has been reorganized under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) and is selling a subsidiary. The seller and the buyer agree to all the terms, including the amount of indemnity supporting certain representations and warranties in the Sales & Purchase Agreement (SPA). They agree that the amount of the indemnity should be limited to $10,000,000; however, they do not agree on the security supporting the indemnity. The buyer wants the full amount of $10,000,000 secured with funds held in escrow, while the seller is willing to agree to only $2,000,000. A representations and warranties insurance policy with coverage limits of $8,000,000 was placed in excess of the $2,000,000 indemnity that the seller agrees to secure can bridge the gap which facilitated the closing of the sale. The policy later responded to an alleged breach of representations and warranties made by the seller.

2. Two Canadian companies involved in a transaction agree to all of the terms of acquisition except for the duration of the indemnity supporting certain representations and warranties. The seller offers a 12-month indemnity, while the buyer insists on 24 months. A seller’s representations and warranties policy was placed to bridge the gap and help facilitate the closing of the deal. The policy later responded to breaches of the representations and warranties discovered after 12 months and prior to 24 months from the date of the sale.

To learn more about representations and warranties insurance or inquire as to whether it would make sense for a specific deal, get a quote or contact us. After reaching out, an expert insurance broker from our team will help answer your questions or get you comprehensive insurance coverage from a trusted insurance company.

ALIGNED Insurance is 100% Canadian-owned and a premiere insurance brokerage that serves thousands of clients across the country. ALIGNED’s offices in Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver are supported by a national operations centre in Cambridge, Ontario. Uniquely within the industry, ALIGNED creates, negotiates, and delivers the best business insurance and risk management strategies/solutions to organizations like yours.

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