MARKEL CORP
8-K, 1995-06-13
INSURANCE AGENTS, BROKERS & SERVICE
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<PAGE>   1

                                 UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, DC  20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)     May 30, 1995



                               MARKEL CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

<TABLE>
<S>                                   <C>                 <C>
           Virginia                      0-15458                54-0292420
(State or other jurisdiction of        (Commission           (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization)        file number)        identification number)
</TABLE>

                4551 Cox Road, Glen Allen, Virginia  23060-3382
                    (Address of principal executive offices)
                                   (Zip code)

                                 (804) 747-0136
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                      NONE
              (Former name, former address and former fiscal year,
                         if changed since last report)





                                      1

<PAGE>   2
Item 2. Acquisition or Disposition of Assets

On May 30, 1995 Markel Corporation (the Registrant) acquired all of the issued
and outstanding shares of common stock of Lincoln Insurance Company (Lincoln)
from Lincoln Insurance Group, Inc. (LIGI) an operating unit of The Thomson
Corporation. Total consideration for the stock of Lincoln and certain other
agreements was approximately $24.3 million. Markel funded the transaction with
available cash on hand and borrowings of $17.0 million under existing lines of
credit with Crestar Bank, Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association) and First
Union National Bank of North Carolina. LIGI also provided an Indemnification
Agreement with respect to adverse development in reserves for loss and loss
adjustment expenses and reserves for uncollectible reinsurance. The
Indemnification Agreement is guaranteed by The Thomson Corporation.

Markel expects to significantly reorganize Lincoln and renew certain portions
of Lincoln's business in Essex Insurance Company (Essex), an existing
subsidiary of the Registrant.  Lincoln is a Delaware domiciled excess and
surplus lines insurance company.  Lincoln's total assets, total liabilities and
net worth at March 31, 1995, as adjusted to reflect certain preacquisition
transactions, were approximately $80.7 million, $52.4 million and $28.3
million, respectively.


Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits

     a)  Financial Statements of Business Acquired

         The following financial statements for Lincoln Insurance Company are
         included as part of this report:

         Independent Auditor's Report
         Balance Sheets December 31, 1994 and 1993
         Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 1994 and 1993
         Statements of Stockholder's Equity December 31, 1994 and 1993
         Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 1994 and 1993
         Notes to Financial Statements

     b)  Pro Forma Financial Information (Unaudited)

         The following pro forma financial information is included as part of
         this report:

         Pro Forma Consolidated Balance Sheet March 31, 1995
         Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Income for the three months ended
           March 31, 1995
         Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Income for the year ended
           December 31, 1994

     c)  Exhibits

         The Exhibits listed on the Exhibit Index are filed as part of this
         report.





                                       2
<PAGE>   3
Item 7a.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF BUSINESS ACQUIRED


Price Waterhouse LLP
Thirty South Seventeenth Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-4094
Telephone 215 575-5000


                       REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

March 29, 1995

To the Board of Directors of
Lincoln Insurance Company

In our opinion, the accompanying balance sheets and the related statements of
operations, of stockholder's equity and of cash flows present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial position of Lincoln Insurance Company (the
Company) at December 31, 1994 and 1993, and the results of its operations and
its cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles. These financial statements are the responsibility of the
Company's management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these
statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards which
require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about
whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit
includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and
disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles
used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above.

As discussed more fully in Note A and Note E to the financial statements, in
1994 the Company's parent announced its intention to sell all the common stock
of the Company. In addition, in 1994, the Company implemented a new accounting
pronouncement for investments and, in 1993, implemented new accounting
pronouncements related to accounting for income taxes and reinsurance.


Price Waterhouse LLP





                                       3
<PAGE>   4
                           LINCOLN INSURANCE COMPANY
        (A wholly-owned subsidiary of the Lincoln Insurance Group, Inc.)

                                 Balance Sheets


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                   December 31,
                                                                                         --------------------------------
                                                                                              1994               1993    
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                                      <C>                 <C>
ASSETS
Investments, available for sale:
   Bonds, at estimated fair value in 1994 (amortized cost $80,612,043)
     and at amortized cost in 1993 (estimated fair value $70,758,034)                    $ 77,862,188        $ 70,018,605
   Short-term investments, at estimated fair value,
     which approximates cost                                                                1,000,000                  --
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                           78,862,188          70,018,605
Cash and cash equivalents                                                                     651,713           1,479,251
Accrued investment income                                                                   1,287,230           1,044,248
Notes receivable--affiliates                                                               44,660,000          44,660,000
Agents' balances, less allowances (1994--$245,000 and 1993--$210,000)                       4,615,721           4,313,208
Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid claims and claim
    adjustment expenses, less allowances (1994--$625,000 and 1993--$505,000)                7,663,082           5,489,032
Reinsurance and deductible recoverables on paid claims and claim adjustment expenses,
    less allowances (1994--$247,947 and 1993--$250,975)                                       583,729             572,739
Unearned reinsurance premiums                                                                 274,308             390,281
Deferred income taxes, net                                                                  4,550,877           3,260,464
Deferred acquisition costs                                                                  2,869,190           2,522,465
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               TOTAL ASSETS                                                              $146,018,038        $133,750,293
=========================================================================================================================

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY
Unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses                                              $ 36,651,246        $ 29,511,005
Unearned premiums and deposit premium liabilities                                          11,422,987          10,070,085
Reinsurance balances payable                                                                3,145,297           3,133,875
Federal income taxes payable                                                                3,325,881                  --
Dividends payable to stockholder                                                            1,121,181             858,333
Payable to affiliates                                                                         480,921             568,609
Drafts outstanding                                                                            402,093             483,560
Accrued expenses and other liabilities                                                        626,532             598,845
Redeemable preferred stock                                                                 50,000,000          50,000,000
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               TOTAL LIABILITIES                                                          107,176,138          95,224,312
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commitments and contingencies--Note G

Stockholder's equity:
      Common stock, $100 par value;  35,000 shares authorized, issued, and outstanding      3,500,000           3,500,000
      Additional paid-in capital                                                           24,023,565          24,023,565
      Retained earnings                                                                    13,105,741          11,002,416
      Net unrealized loss on investments                                                   (1,787,406)                 --
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               TOTAL STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY                                                  38,841,900          38,525,981
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY                                               $146,018,038        $133,750,293
=========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

The notes are an integral part of these financial statements.





                                       4
<PAGE>   5

                           LINCOLN INSURANCE COMPANY
        (A wholly-owned subsidiary of the Lincoln Insurance Group, Inc.)

                              STATEMENTS OF INCOME

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                              Year Ended December 31,
                                                                                          -------------------------------
                                                                                              1994                1993   
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                                       <C>                 <C>
Underwriting:
   Premiums earned                                                                        $23,330,099         $19,686,842

   Claims and claim adjustment expenses incurred                                           13,860,215          12,795,498
   Commissions and brokerage, net                                                           5,054,783           4,274,026
   Other underwriting expenses                                                              3,444,266           2,949,775
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                           22,359,264          20,019,299
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               UNDERWRITING INCOME (LOSS)                                                     970,835            (332,457)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Investment:
   Net investment income                                                                    7,563,564           6,818,605
   Net realized gains on investments                                                           30,615             616,562
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            INVESTMENT INCOME                                               7,594,179           7,435,167
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other income                                                                                      465                 234
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND
       CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE                                               8,565,479           7,102,944

Provision for federal income taxes                                                          2,997,917           2,203,817
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     INCOME BEFORE CUMULATIVE
                  EFFECT OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE                                               5,567,562           4,899,127
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF CHANGE
               IN ACCOUNTING FOR INCOME TAXES                                                      --           5,277,177
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          NET INCOME                                                      $ 5,567,562         $10,176,304
=========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

The notes are an integral part of these financial statements.





                                       5
<PAGE>   6
                           LINCOLN INSURANCE COMPANY
        (A wholly-owned subsidiary of the Lincoln Insurance Group, Inc.)

                       STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          Net Unrealized
                                Common             Paid-In             Retained            Gain (Loss)
                                 Stock             Capital             Earnings           on Investments         Total   
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                          <C>                <C>                 <C>                   <C>                <C>
Balance at
  January 1, 1993            $ 3,500,000        $ 24,023,565        $  3,867,779          $        --        $ 31,391,344

Net income                            --                  --          10,176,304                   --          10,176,304

Dividends to stockholder              --                  --          (3,041,667)                  --          (3,041,667)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Balance at
  December 31, 1993            3,500,000          24,023,565          11,002,416                   --          38,525,981

Net income                            --                  --           5,567,562                   --           5,567,562

Dividends to stockholder              --                  --          (3,464,237)                  --          (3,464,237)

Cumulative effect of change
  in accounting for
  investments, net of
  income taxes                        --                  --                  --              480,629             480,629

Net unrealized loss on
  investments, net of
  income taxes                        --                  --                  --           (2,268,035)         (2,268,035)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Balance at
  December 31, 1994          $ 3,500,000        $ 24,023,565        $ 13,105,741          $(1,787,406)       $ 38,841,900
=========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>


The notes are an integral part of these financial statements.





                                       6
<PAGE>   7
                           LINCOLN INSURANCE COMPANY
        (A wholly-owned subsidiary of the Lincoln Insurance Group, Inc.)

                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             Year Ended December 31,
                                                                                         --------------------------------
                                                                                              1994               1993    
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                                      <C>                 <C>
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income                                                                                $ 5,567,562        $ 10,176,304
Adjustments to reconcile net income to
   net cash provided by operating activities:
   Change in:
      Agents' balances                                                                       (302,513)           (618,510)
      Unearned premiums                                                                     1,352,902           1,244,082
      Unpaid claims and claim
        adjustment expenses                                                                 7,140,241           2,040,821
      Reinsurance and deductible
        recoverables                                                                       (2,069,067)          1,366,251
      Federal income taxes payable                                                          3,325,881                  --
      Accrued investment income                                                              (242,982)             40,220
      Reinsurance balances payable                                                             11,422             685,814
      Payable to affiliates                                                                   (87,688)           (265,304)
      Accrued expenses and other liabilities                                                  (53,780)            269,900
      Deferred acquisition costs                                                             (346,725)           (314,369)
Deferred income taxes-net                                                                    (327,964)         (3,073,360)
Net amortization of bond premiums                                                              80,631             207,501
Net realized gains on investments                                                             (30,615)           (616,562)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                           NET CASH PROVIDED BY
                           OPERATING ACTIVITIES                                            14,017,305          11,142,788
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchase of investment securities                                                        (163,842,868)        (71,860,714)
Sales and maturities of investment securities                                             152,199,414          63,654,613
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           NET CASH USED IN
                      INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES                                               (11,643,454)         (8,206,101)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Dividends paid                                                                             (3,201,389)         (2,616,967)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                           NET CASH USED IN
                       FINANCING ACTIVITIES                                                (3,201,389)         (2,616,967)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                 NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN
                  CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS                                                  (827,538)            319,720

               CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT
                          BEGINNING OF YEAR                                                 1,479,251           1,159,531
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT
                                END OF YEAR                                               $   651,713        $  1,479,251
=========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

The notes are an integral part of these financial statements.





                                       7
<PAGE>   8
                           LINCOLN INSURANCE COMPANY
        (A wholly-owned subsidiary of the Lincoln Insurance Group, Inc.)

                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                               December 31, 1994

NOTE A--ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Organization:

The Company is wholly-owned by the Lincoln Insurance Group, Inc. (LIGI), an
insurance holding company domiciled in the State of Delaware.  LIGI is
wholly-owned by the Thomson Newspapers Holdings Inc.  (TNHI).  TNHI is
ultimately wholly-owned by The Thomson Corporation, which is approximately 70%
owned by members of, or companies controlled by members of, the family of the
late Lord Thomson of Fleet.

In 1994, The Thomson Corporation announced its intention to cause LIGI to sell
all of the common stock of the Company.  Prior to the closing date of the
anticipated sale, the preferred stock of the Company will be redeemed through
an assignment by the Company of the notes receivable from affiliates in the
amount of $44,660,000 to the preferred stockholder and the payment of
$5,340,000 of cash.  Also prior to the anticipated sale, the Company intends to
declare an extraordinary dividend of approximately $11,500,000, subject to
regulatory approval.

Revenue Recognition:

Premiums are recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis calculated monthly
over the terms of the respective policies.  Earned premiums are stated net of
amounts ceded to reinsurers.

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs:

Acquisition costs such as commissions, premium taxes, and certain other
underwriting expenses, net of reinsurance commissions received, are deferred
and amortized ratably over the terms of the related contracts. Anticipated
claims and claim adjustment expenses and policy overhead expenses are
considered in determining the recoverability of such acquisition costs.





                                       8
<PAGE>   9
Investments:

The Company adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards (SFAS) No. 115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and
Equity Securities," effective January 1, 1994.  All investments are considered
available-for-sale and are recorded at estimated fair value, generally based on
quoted market prices.  The net unrealized gain or loss on investments, net of
deferred income taxes, is included as a separate component of stockholders'
equity.

Premiums and discounts are amortized or accreted over the life of the related
bond as an adjustment to yield using the effective interest method.  Interest
income is recognized when earned.  Gains or losses on the disposal of
investments are determined on a specific identification basis and are included
in operations.

Prior to January 1, 1994, bonds were carried at amortized cost.

Unpaid Claims and Claim Adjustment Expenses:

The ultimate cost of claims arising from insured events is subject to numerous
uncertainties that are normal, recurring and inherent in the property and
casualty business.  The process of establishing the liability for unpaid claims
and claim adjustment expenses is based upon:

   1. Estimates of the cost of claims reported prior to the close of the
      accounting period in respect to direct and assumed business, together
      with an estimate of the costs of settlement of those claims, and are net
      of estimated salvage and subrogation;

   2. Estimates, based on historical experience, augmented by relevant industry
      trends and other data, of the costs of claims not yet reported to the
      Company.

The Company employs actuarial techniques to estimate the ultimate cost of
incurred claims and claim adjustment expenses.  These actuarial estimates are
updated at least annually and the projected ultimate costs are revised based
upon the Company's most recent loss and premium development statistics.
Changes in claims estimates are charged or credited to income in the period in
which they become known.  The liability for unpaid claims and allocated claim
adjustment expenses has been certified as to its adequacy by an independent
actuary as of December 31, 1994 and 1993.

Estimating liabilities for unpaid claims and reinsurance recoveries for
asbestos-related illnesses and toxic waste cleanup claims is subject to
significant uncertainties that are generally not present for other types of
claims.  The ultimate cost of these claims cannot be reasonably estimated using
traditional loss estimating techniques.  The Company establishes liabilities
for reported asbestos-related and toxic waste clean-up claims, including costs
of related litigation, as information permits.  This information includes the
status of current law and coverage litigation, whether an insurable event has
occurred, which policies and policy years might be applicable and which
insurers may be liable, if any.  In addition, incurred but not reported
liabilities have been established by management to cover potential additional
exposure on both known and unasserted claims.  Given the expansion of coverage
and liability by the courts and the legislatures in the past and the
possibilities of similar interpretations in the future, there is





                                       9
<PAGE>   10
significant uncertainty regarding the extent of insurers' liability.  Because
of the significant uncertainties involved, as discussed above, and the
likelihood that these uncertainties will not be resolved in the near future,
management is unable to reasonably estimate the amount of additional liability
that could develop, if any.

In management's judgment, information currently available has been adequately
considered in estimating the Company's ultimate cost of insured events and
future changes in these estimates are not likely to have a material adverse
effect on the Company's financial condition.

Reinsurance:

In the normal course of business, the Company seeks to reduce losses that may
arise from catastrophes or other events that cause unfavorable underwriting
results by reinsuring certain levels of risk in various areas of exposure with
other insurance enterprises or reinsurers.  The Company's current property
catastrophe reinsurance program provides for approximately $3.42 million of
coverage for aggregate losses in excess of $400,000.  The Company's current
reinsurance program also provides for $4.75 million of coverage for casualty
losses in excess of $250,000 and provides for $400,000 of coverage for property
losses in excess of $100,000 on a per occurrence basis.  These programs are
renewed in October of each year.  Amounts recoverable from reinsurers are
estimated in a manner consistent with the claim liability associated with the
reinsured policy.

Reinsurance contracts do not relieve the Company from its obligations to
policyholders.  Failure of reinsurers to honor their obligations could result
in losses to the Company;  consequently, allowances are established for amounts
deemed uncollectible.  Charges for uncollectible reinsurance are included in
other underwriting expenses.  The Company evaluates the financial condition of
its reinsurers and monitors concentrations of credit risks arising from similar
geographic regions, activities, or economic characteristics of the reinsurers
to minimize its exposure to significant losses from reinsurer insolvencies.
Certain reinsurance agreements require cash deposits or letters of credit to be
deposited with the Company as security for the reinsurer's obligations.

The Company has unsecured reinsurance recoverables that exceed 3% of the
Company's capital and surplus as of December 31, 1994 from Continental
Reinsurance Corporation in the amount of $1,424,675.





                                       10
<PAGE>   11
The effect of reinsurance on premiums written and earned is as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  1994                 Written                        Earned   
                  -------------------------------------------------------------
                  <S>               <C>                            <C>
                  Direct            $ 28,431,599                   $ 27,078,697
                  Ceded               (3,632,625)                    (3,748,598)
                  ------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                    $ 24,798,974                   $ 23,330,099
                  =============================================================
</TABLE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  1993                 Written                        Earned   
                  -------------------------------------------------------------
                  <S>               <C>                            <C>
                  Direct            $ 24,157,239                   $ 22,913,157
                  Ceded               (3,287,880)                    (3,226,315)
                  ------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                    $ 20,869,359                   $ 19,686,842
                  =============================================================
</TABLE>

The Company in 1993 adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 113, "Accounting and
Reporting for Reinsurance of Short-Duration and Long-Duration Contracts."
Reinsurance balances previously netted against claim liabilities and unearned
premiums are now classified as assets in the balance sheet.

Income Taxes:

The Company is a member of an affiliated group for federal income tax purposes,
all members of which have elected to file a consolidated federal income tax
return with their ultimate U.S. parent, Thomson U.S. Holdings Inc.  (TUSHI).
The consolidated federal income tax liability, if any, is allocated to the
members in accordance with terms of a tax-sharing agreement adopted by the
members of the affiliated group.  Under the terms of the agreement, each
profitable member accrues federal income tax based upon its taxable income
determined on a separate company basis.  Net operating losses carried forward
from prior years can be used by the Company to offset current year taxable
income to the extent the net operating losses incurred by the Company would
otherwise be utilized if the Company were to file a separate tax return.
Notwithstanding the tax-sharing agreement, the Company is jointly and severally
liable for all federal income taxes of the consolidated group.

Effective January 1, 1993, the Company adopted SFAS No. 109, "Accounting for
Income Taxes".  The adoption of SFAS No. 109, which was done prospectively,
changes the Company's method of accounting for income taxes from the deferred
method (Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) No. 11) to an asset and
liability approach.  The asset and liability approach requires the recognition
of deferred tax liabilities and assets for the expected future consequences of
temporary differences between the carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets
and liabilities.  The net adjustment to the January 1, 1993 balance sheet to
adopt SFAS No. 109 amounted to $5,277,177.  This amount is reflected in 1993
net income as the cumulative effect of a change in accounting.  This cumulative
effect primarily represents recognition of the benefit of net operating loss
carryforwards and deductible temporary differences that could not be recognized
under APB No. 11 (See Note E).





                                       11
<PAGE>   12
Statutory Surplus and Dividend Restrictions

Under applicable Delaware insurance laws and regulations, the Company is
required to maintain a minimum capital and surplus of $750,000.  The maximum
amount of dividends which can be paid by Delaware insurance companies to
shareholders without prior approval of the Insurance Commissioner is subject to
restrictions relating to the insurance laws and statutory unassigned surplus.
Statutory unassigned deficit at December 31, 1994, was $39,898,671.  Therefore,
the Company cannot pay dividends in 1995 without prior approval by the
Insurance Commissioner.  Subject to this restriction, dividends are paid as
determined by the Board of Directors.

Retirement Plans:

The Company participates in the Lincoln Insurance Group, Inc.  Pension Plan
which covers all employees of LIGI and its subsidiary companies.  The annual
liabilities and expenses for the plan are recorded in the accounts of an
affiliated company which employs all eligible participants, and are paid to a
pension trust established for the benefit of plan members.  The annual
liability is limited to the annual contribution required by the plan agreement,
which is based upon 4.5% of qualified employee earnings up to the Social
Security taxable wage base, plus 9% of employee earnings in excess of the
Social Security taxable wage base.

The Company also participates in the Lincoln Insurance Group, Inc. Employee
Savings Plan (the Savings Plan) which covers all employees of the companies.
The annual liabilities for the Savings Plan are recorded in the accounts of an
affiliated company employing eligible participants and are paid to a common
trust established for the benefit of Savings Plan members.  Participants may
elect to make contributions in one percent increments of gross compensation,
subject to established limits.  The affiliated company matches 33 1/3% of the
first 3% of compensation deferred by employees.  Participants are immediately
vested in all contributions.

As the Company participates in a management agreement among LIGI and its
affiliates (Note F) and it employs no staff, the Company records no direct
retirement plan expense or liability.


NOTE B--REDEEMABLE PREFERRED STOCK

The Company has authorized, issued, and outstanding 5,000 shares of $.01 par
value Adjustable Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock with a total
carrying value of $50,000,000 at December 31, 1994 and 1993.  The preferred
stock is non-voting and has a liquidation and redemption value equal to its
carrying value of $10,000 per share.  The preferred stock is redeemable at the
Company's option any time after October 30, 1996 and must be redeemed by
October 30, 2001.  If LIGI enters into an agreement to sell the common stock of
the Company, as described in Note A, the Company's articles of incorporation
will be amended to permit immediate redemption of the preferred stock.
Dividends, if and when declared, are payable at a rate of $10,000 per share
times the prime rate at the beginning of a dividend period.

Dividends in the amount of $3,201,389 and $2,616,967 were paid during 1994 and
1993, respectively.  Dividends in the amount of $1,212,181 and $858,333 were
accrued as of December 31, 1994 and 1993, respectively.





                                       12
<PAGE>   13
NOTE C--INVESTMENTS

The amortized cost and fair values of debt securities as of December 31, 1994
and 1993 are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         Gross              Gross
                                                  Amortized           Unrealized          Unrealized             Fair
                                                    Cost                 Gain               Losses              Value    
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                             <C>                    <C>                <C>                <C>
1994
- ----
U.S. Treasury securities                        $ 46,450,115           $     324          $(2,028,387)       $ 44,422,052
Corporate securities                              28,741,695               4,015             (423,209)         28,322,501
Mortgage-backed securities                         5,420,233                 682             (303,280)          5,117,635
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                $ 80,612,043           $   5,021          $(2,754,876)       $ 77,862,188
=========================================================================================================================

1993
- ----
U.S.Treasury securities                         $ 39,127,795           $ 249,250          $  (134,359)       $ 39,242,686
Corporate securities                              25,718,728             556,302              (91,072)         26,183,958
Mortgage-backed securities                         5,172,082             190,000              (30,692)          5,331,390
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                $ 70,018,605           $ 995,552          $  (256,123)       $ 70,758,034
=========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

The amortized cost and fair values of debt securities at December 31, 1994 by
contractual maturity are shown below.  Expected maturities may differ from
contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay
obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   Amortized
                                                     Cost                                  Fair Value
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                             <C>                                      <C>
Due in one year or less                         $ 20,648,952                             $ 20,572,713
Due after one year through five years             57,391,187                               54,803,772
Due after five years through ten years               780,353                                  760,493
Due after ten years                                1,791,551                                1,725,210
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                $ 80,612,043                             $ 77,862,188
=====================================================================================================
</TABLE>

Mortgaged-backed securities not due at a single maturity with an amortized cost
of $1,420,232 are included in the above schedule at their ultimate maturity
date.

Components of net investment income for the year ended December 31 were as
follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     1994                                     1993   
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 <S>                                             <C>                                      <C>
 Debt securities                                 $ 4,052,635                              $ 3,832,047
 Notes receivable-affiliates                       3,637,323                                3,126,180
 Cash and cash equivalents                            64,172                                   37,551
 Other                                                12,964                                    8,465
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   7,767,094                                7,004,243
 Less investment expenses                            203,530                                  185,638
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Net investment income                         $ 7,563,564                               $6,818,605
=====================================================================================================
</TABLE>





                                       13
<PAGE>   14
Proceeds from sales of debt securities were $15,214,165 and $45,111,155 in 1994
and 1993, respectively.  Gross realized gains on such sales were $45,048 and
$656,922 and gross realized losses were $14,433 and $40,360 for 1994 and 1993,
respectively.

Securities with a book value of $9,074,964 and $7,391,740 at December 31, 1994
and 1993, respectively, were on deposit to meet various statutory insurance
requirements.


NOTE D--UNPAID CLAIMS AND CLAIM ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES

Activity in the liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses is
summarized as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     1994                                    1993    
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                             <C>                                      <C>
Balance at January 1
  Direct liabilities                            $ 29,511,005                             $ 27,470,184
  Less reinsurance recoverables                    5,489,032                                7,240,887
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Balance at January 1                          24,021,973                               20,229,297
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Incurred related to:
  Current year                                    14,609,785                               13,581,764
  Prior years                                       (749,570)                                (786,266)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Total incurred                                    13,860,215                               12,795,498
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Paid related to:
  Current year                                     3,160,850                                3,462,452
  Prior years                                      5,853,174                                5,515,370
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total paid                                         9,014,024                                8,977,822
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Change in allowance for uncollectible
   reinsurance recoverable on unpaid
   claims and claim adjustment expenses              120,000                                  (25,000)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Balance at December 31
  Net liabilities                                 28,988,164                               24,021,973
  Plus reinsurance recoverables                    7,663,082                                5,489,032
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Direct liabilities at December 31               $ 36,651,246                             $ 29,551,005
=====================================================================================================
</TABLE>





                                       14
<PAGE>   15
NOTE E--INCOME TAXES

The provision for income taxes for the year ended December 31 was as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      1994                                    1993   
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>                                      <C>
Current Federal                                  $ 3,688,854                              $ 3,176,507
Deferred                                            (327,964)                               2,203,817
Benefit of net operating loss carryforward          (362,973)                              (3,176,507)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                                 $ 2,997,917                              $ 2,203,817
=====================================================================================================
</TABLE>

As a result of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, the federal
corporate income tax rate increased by one percent retroactive to January 1,
1993.  Deferred tax expense for 1993 includes a benefit of $282,214 related to
an increase in the Company's net deferred tax asset as of January 1, 1993 due
to the effect of the tax rate increase.

A reconciliation of the Federal statutory income tax rate to the Company's
effective income tax rate for the year ended December 31 was as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        1994                                     1993
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                     <C>                                      <C>
Federal statutory rate                                  35.0%                                    35.0%
Federal tax rate change                                   --                                     (4.0%)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
Effective income tax rate                               35.0%                                    31.0%
===================================================================================================== 
</TABLE>


The components of the net deferred tax asset were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     1994                                     1993   
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>                                      <C>
Deferred tax assets:
  Loss reserve discount                          $ 2,158,510                              $ 1,859,680
  Accrued reinsurance premiums                     1,241,924                                  890,399
  Unrealized loss on investments                     962,449                                       --
  Unearned premium reserve reduction                 780,408                                  677,586
  Uncollectible reinsurance                          291,531                                  243,591
  Operating loss carryforwards                            --                                  362,973
  Other                                              127,750                                  115,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   5,562,572                                4,149,729
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Deferred tax liabilities:
  Deferred acquisition costs                       1,004,217                                  882,863
  Other                                                7,478                                    6,402
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   1,011,695                                  889,265
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deferred income taxes, net                       $ 4,550,877                              $ 3,260,464
=====================================================================================================
</TABLE>





                                       15
<PAGE>   16

As of December 31, 1994, the Company has tax basis federal net operating loss
carryforwards of $22 million, which expire in various amounts from 1996 to
2000.  Since these loss carryforwards relate to separate return years, they are
subject to certain limitations with respect to utilization.  Although not all
of the Company's net operating losses have been utilized in the consolidated
tax return of which the Company is a member, under the Company's tax sharing
agreement, the Company reflected tax benefit for the utilization of these
losses of approximately $362,973 during 1994.  Cumulatively, tax benefits of
approximately $7.7 million have been realized by the Company under the tax
sharing agreement.

Should the Company be sold, as discussed in Note A, its tax basis net operating
loss carryforwards will be reattributed to TUSHI in accordance with Internal
Revenue Code Section 1.1502-20(g), and accordingly, will not be available to
the purchaser of the Company.  In addition if sold, realization of the
Company's net deferred tax asset will be dependent upon the buyer's tax and
organizational structure and future operating plans for the Company.  Should
the Company not be sold, management believes that based on recent earnings
history and future earnings expectations, the Company will realize the net
deferred tax asset.


NOTE F--RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Notes Receivable - Affiliates

On October 30, 1991 and December 22, 1992, the Company invested $20,000,000 and
$24,660,000, respectively, in notes receivable from affiliated companies.  The
notes receivable are due on October 30, 1996, but may be prepaid at any time at
the issuer's option without penalty.  The notes bear a rate of interest of
prime plus one percent, payable quarterly.  Interest earned on the notes
totaled $3,637,323 and $3,126,180 for 1994 and 1993, respectively.  Interest
accrued and unpaid at December 31, 1994 and 1993 was $11,624 and $8,563,
respectively.  The carrying value of these notes receivable approximates fair
value.

Management Agreement

The Company has entered into an agreement with an affiliated company, Lincoln
Management Company (Manager), whereby the Manager acts as the sole managing
agent for the Company's operations.  Under this agreement, the Manager receives
a quarterly fee for services rendered equal to a contractually defined
proration of actual expenses incurred.  This management contract has been
approved by the Delaware Insurance Department.  Management fees for 1994 and
1993 were $3,774,199 and $3,398,704, respectively.


NOTE G--COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company at December 31, 1994 is contingently liable for annuities purchased
under structured settlement arrangements in the amount of $319,219.


NOTE H--EVENT (UNAUDITED) SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE OF THE INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT'S
REPORT

As discussed in Note A and E, on May 30, 1995, LIGI sold all of the common stock
of the Company to Markel Corporation for approximately $24,300,000 in cash.
Prior to the closing date of the sale, the preferred stock of the Company was
redeemed through an assignment by the Company of the notes receivable from
affiliates in the amount of $44,660,000 to the preferred stockholder and the
payment of $5,340,000 of cash. Also, the Company declared and paid an
extraordinary dividend of approximately $11,887,000 prior to the sale.




                                       16
<PAGE>   17
Item 7b.  UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

On May 30, 1995 Markel Corporation acquired all of the issued and outstanding
shares of common stock of Lincoln from LIGI, an operating unit of The Thomson
Corporation. Total consideration for the stock of Lincoln and certain other
agreements was approximately $24.3 million.

The unaudited pro forma consolidated balance sheet set forth below reflects how
the balance sheet of the Registrant might have appeared at March 31, 1995 if
the acquisition of Lincoln had been consummated at that date. The unaudited pro
forma consolidated statements of income for the three months ended March 31,
1995 and the year ended December 31, 1994 were prepared as if the acquisition
of Lincoln were effective as of January 1, 1995 or January 1, 1994, as
appropriate.

The Registrant expects to significantly reorganize Lincoln's business
operations and renew certain portions of Lincoln's business in the Registrant's
existing subsidiary, Essex. The unaudited pro forma consolidated financial
statements do not purport to represent what the combined results of operations
of the Registrant and Lincoln would have been if the acquisition had occurred
on January 1, 1995 or 1994, nor do they represent what the combined operations
of the companies may be in the future. The unaudited pro forma consolidated
financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated
financial statements of the Registrant and related notes thereto as
incorporated by reference into the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 1994.





                                       17
<PAGE>   18
                      MARKEL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

                      Pro Forma Consolidated Balance Sheet
                                 March 31, 1995
                             (dollars in thousands)
                                  (Unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        Pro Forma Adjustments     
                                                                                   -------------------------------
                                                        Markel          Lincoln     Preacquisition       Purchase        Markel and
                                                     Consolidated    Insurance Co.   Transactions      Adjustments        Lincoln
                                                     (Historical)    (Historical)     (Note 2a)          (Note 2)        Pro Forma 
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 <S>                                                  <C>              <C>             <C>             <C>              <C>
 ASSETS
  Investments, available-for-sale,
    at estimated fair value
   Fixed maturities                                   $   489,236      $  82,066       $ (22,643)      $     --         $   548,659
   Equity securities                                      116,511             --              --             --             116,511
   Short-term investments                                  83,741             --              --         (7,259) (2c)        76,482
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

               Total investments                          689,488         82,066         (22,643)        (7,259)            741,652
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Cash and cash equivalents                                 2,493          1,726              --             --               4,219
  Receivables                                             100,116          4,385             (12)         1,306  (2e)       105,795
  Notes receivable-affiliates                                  --         44,660         (44,660)            --                  --
  Reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses                188,067          7,688              --             --             195,755
  Reinsurance recoverable on paid losses                   39,289            554              --             --              39,843
  Deferred policy acquisition costs                        26,917          2,568              --             --              29,485
  Prepaid reinsurance premiums                             40,741            247              --             --              40,988
  Property and equipment                                   42,343             --              --             --              42,343
  Intangible assets                                        45,008             --              --           (827) (2b)        44,181
  Deferred tax asset                                        4,392          4,157              --             --               8,549
  Other assets                                             17,580             --              --             --              17,580
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

               Total assets                           $ 1,196,434      $ 148,051       $ (67,315)      $ (6,780)        $ 1,270,390
===================================================================================================================================

 LIABILITIES AND
 STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
  Unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses          $   655,471      $  37,785              --       $  3,512  (2e)   $   696,768
  Unearned premiums                                       154,000         10,225              --             --             164,225
  Payables to insurance companies                          88,328          3,408              --             --              91,736
  Long-term debt                                          100,699             --              --         17,000  (2c)       117,699
  Other liabilities                                        39,661          6,453          (5,427)         1,000  (2d)        41,687
  Redeemable preferred stock                                   --         50,000         (50,000)            --                  --
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

               Total liabilities                        1,038,159        107,871         (55,427)        21,512           1,112,115
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 Stockholders' equity
  Common stock and paid-in capital                         22,948         27,523          (6,523)       (21,000) (2f)        22,948
  Retained earnings                                       128,398         13,410          (5,365)        (8,045) (2f)       128,398
  Net unrealized gains (losses) on fixed
    maturities and equity securities, net of taxes          6,929           (753)             --            753 (2f)          6,929
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

               Total stockholders' equity                 158,275         40,180         (11,888)       (28,292)            158,275
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

               Total liabilities and
                 stockholders' equity                 $ 1,196,434      $ 148,051       $ (67,315)      $ (6,780)        $ 1,270,390
===================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

See accompanying Notes to Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements.





                                       18
<PAGE>   19

                      MARKEL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Income
                       Three Months Ended March 31, 1995
                 (dollars in thousands, except per share data)
                                  (Unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        Pro Forma Adjustments     
                                                                                   -------------------------------
                                                        Markel          Lincoln     Preacquisition       Purchase        Markel and
                                                     Consolidated    Insurance Co.   Transactions      Adjustments        Lincoln
                                                     (Historical)    (Historical)     (Note 3a)          (Note 3)        Pro Forma 
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                                                     <C>              <C>            <C>             <C>                <C>
 OPERATING REVENUES
 Earned premiums                                        $  65,784        $ 6,019        $     --        $  (369) (3c)      $ 71,434
 Net investment income                                      8,368          2,143          (1,422)          (109) (3b)         8,980
 Net realized gains (losses) from investment sales          1,563             (7)             --             --               1,556
 Other                                                        810             --              --             --                 810
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

               TOTAL OPERATING REVENUES                    76,525          8,155          (1,422)          (478)             82,780
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 OPERATING EXPENSES
 Losses and loss adjustment expenses                       42,023          3,766              --           (208) (3c)        45,581
 Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses          22,605          2,287              --           (197) (3c)        24,695
 Other                                                        417             --              --             --                 417
 Amortization of intangible assets                            703             --              --            (30) (3d)           673
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

               TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES                    65,748          6,053              --           (435)             71,366
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

               OPERATING INCOME                            10,777          2,102          (1,422)           (43)             11,414
 Interest                                                   1,939             --              --            340  (3e)         2,279
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

               INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES            8,838          2,102          (1,422)          (383)              9,135
 Income taxes                                               2,298            736            (498)          (135) (3f)         2,401
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

               NET INCOME                               $   6,540        $ 1,366        $   (924)       $  (248)           $  6,734
===================================================================================================================================

 Earnings per share

               Primary                                     $ 1.17                                                            $ 1.21
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

               Fully diluted                               $ 1.17                                                            $ 1.21
===================================================================================================================================


Average primary shares outstanding (in thousands)           5,570                                                             5,570
===================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

See accompanying Notes to Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements.





                                       19
<PAGE>   20
                      MARKEL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

                   Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Income
                          Year Ended December 31, 1994
                 (dollars in thousands, except per share data)
                                  (Unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        Pro Forma Adjustments     
                                                                                   -------------------------------
                                                        Markel          Lincoln     Preacquisition       Purchase        Markel and
                                                     Consolidated    Insurance Co.   Transactions      Adjustments        Lincoln
                                                     (Historical)    (Historical)     (Note 3a)          (Note 3)        Pro Forma
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                                                    <C>              <C>          <C>             <C>                  <C>
 OPERATING REVENUES
 Earned premiums                                       $  243,067       $ 23,330     $        --     $  (10,650) (3c)     $ 255,747
 Net investment income                                     29,110          7,564          (4,937)          (436) (3b)        31,301
 Net realized gains from investment sales                   3,870             30              --             --               3,900
 Other                                                      3,646             --              --             --               3,646
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

               TOTAL OPERATING REVENUES                   279,693         30,924          (4,937)       (11,086)            294,594
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 OPERATING EXPENSES
 Losses and loss adjustment expenses                      156,169         13,860              --         (5,870) (3c)       164,159
 Underwriting, acquisition and insurance expenses          80,681          8,499              --         (3,801) (3c)        85,379
 Other                                                      2,386             --              --             --               2,386
 Amortization of intangible assets                          7,051             --              --           (118) (3d)         6,933
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

               TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES                   246,287         22,359              --         (9,789)            258,857
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

               OPERATING INCOME                            33,406          8,565          (4,937)        (1,297)             35,737
 Interest                                                   7,675             --              --          1,360  (3e)         9,035
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

               INCOME (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES           25,731          8,565          (4,937)        (2,657)             26,702
 Income taxes                                               7,142          2,998          (1,728)          (930) (3f)         7,482
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

               NET INCOME                              $   18,589       $  5,567     $    (3,209)    $   (1,727)          $  19,220
===================================================================================================================================

 Earnings per share

               Primary                                     $ 3.33                                                            $ 3.45
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

               Fully diluted                               $ 3.33                                                            $ 3.45
===================================================================================================================================

Average primary shares outstanding (in thousands)           5,569                                                             5,569
===================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

See accompanying Notes to Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements.





                                       20
<PAGE>   21
                      MARKEL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

              Notes to Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements
                                  (Unaudited)

1. Basis of presentation

On May 30, 1995 the Registrant acquired 100% of the common stock of Lincoln.
The purchase price for the net assets acquired and certain agreements was $24.3
million. The purchase price was funded as follows:

<TABLE>
     <S>                                                            <C>
     Cash                                                           $  7,259,000
     Borrowings under existing lines of credit                        17,000,000
                                                                    ------------
                                                                    $ 24,259,000
                                                                    ============
</TABLE>

The accompanying unaudited pro forma consolidated balance sheet and statements
of income are provided to illustrate the effect of the purchase on the
Registrant and have been prepared using the purchase method of accounting. The
unaudited pro forma consolidated financial statements reflect how the balance
sheet might have appeared at March 31, 1995 if the acquisition had been
consummated at that date and how the statements of income for the three months
ended March 31, 1995 and for the year ended December 31, 1994 might have
appeared if the acquisition had been consummated on January 1, 1995 or 1994,
respectively. Certain reclassifications of Lincoln's historical financial
statements have been made to conform with the Registrant's presentation.





                                       21
<PAGE>   22
2. Adjustments to unaudited pro forma consolidated balance sheet

The accompanying unaudited pro forma consolidated balance sheet as of March 31,
1995 reflects certain adjustments which are explained below. These adjustments
are required to give effect to matters directly attributable to the
acquisition. The explanations of these adjustments are as follows:

(a) To remove the assets and liabilities of Lincoln not purchased as part of
the acquisition from the balance sheet, as follows:

          - redemption of 5,000 shares of Adjustable Rate Cumulative Redeemable
            Preferred Stock, with accrued dividends

          - retirement of notes receivable from affiliates, with accrued
            interest

          - payment of an extraordinary dividend to Lincoln's former parent

          - payment of income taxes due to Lincoln's former parent

(b) To record the allocation of net purchase price as follows:

<TABLE>
          <S>                                                       <C>
          Fair value of net assets acquired                         $ 25,086,000
          Excess of fair value over cost of net assets acquired         (827,000)
                                                                    ------------ 
                                                                    $ 24,259,000
                                                                    ============
</TABLE>

(c) To record the debt incurred to finance the acquisition and to record the
cash paid at closing.

(d) To accrue severance and relocation costs for employees of Lincoln as agreed
to by the Registrant and Lincoln's employees in the plan for Lincoln's
reorganization.

(e) To strengthen unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses reserves to bring
Lincoln's reserves into compliance with the Registrant's reserving policies and
to record an indemnity recoverable from the Seller.

(f) To record consolidating and eliminating entries.





                                       22
<PAGE>   23
3. Adjustments to unaudited pro forma consolidated statements of income

The accompanying unaudited pro forma consolidated statements of income for the
three months ended March 31, 1995 and for the year ended December 31, 1994
reflect certain adjustments which are explained below. These adjustments are
required to give effect to matters directly attributable to the purchase and to
eliminate non-recurring items in the historical combined financial statements.
Explanations of these adjustments are as follows:

(a) To remove the impact of assets and liabilities not purchased as part of the
acquisition from the results of operations; see Note 2(a).

To record pro forma adjustments related to the acquisition of Lincoln, the
following assumptions were used:

(b) Reduction in investment income due to net cash used in funding the
transaction; the rate of return is calculated at 6%.

(c) Lincoln will be reorganized and will cease writing new and renewal business
as soon as practicable after the transaction. It is assumed, solely for
purposes of these pro forma financial statements, that Essex, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Registrant, will retain approximately $6.0 million of
Lincoln's former business each year ($1.5 million quarterly). It is further
assumed that the loss reserves associated with Lincoln's unearned premium
reserves will be reserved at a 100% combined ratio and Essex will reserve any
business that it retains at an initial combined ratio of 100%.

(d) Excess of fair value over cost of net assets acquired is amortized on a
straight line basis over 7 years, the estimated time period necessary to
run-off Lincoln's reserves for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses.

(e) Interest on borrowed funds is assumed to be 8%.

(f) Taxes are calculated at an assumed 35% statutory rate.





                                       23
<PAGE>   24
                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized, this 13th day of June, 1995.


                              MARKEL CORPORATION



                              By  Darrell D. Martin          
                                  ---------------------------
                                   Darrell D. Martin
                                   Executive Vice President and
                                   Chief Financial Officer





                                       24
<PAGE>   25
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                Page No. 
                                                                                                ---------

<S>       <C>
2(a)      Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of April 5, 1995, between Markel
          Corporation and Lincoln Insurance Group, Inc. as amended by
          Amendment dated May 30, 1995

2(b)      Indemnification Agreement between Markel Corporation and Lincoln
          Insurance Group, Inc. dated May 30, 1995

2(c)      Guaranty provided by The Thomson Corporation in favor of Markel
          Corporation dated May 30, 1995

23        Consent of Price Waterhouse to incorporation by reference of their
          report included as part of this report on Form 8-K
</TABLE>





                                       25

<PAGE>   1
                                                                EXHIBIT 2(a)

         ==============================================================



                            STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT


                                 BY AND BETWEEN


                         LINCOLN INSURANCE GROUP, INC.


                                      AND


                               MARKEL CORPORATION





                          ---------------------------

                                  ACQUISITION

                                       OF

                           LINCOLN INSURANCE COMPANY

                          ---------------------------




                          ---------------------------

                                 APRIL 5, 1995

                          ---------------------------

         ==============================================================
<PAGE>   2
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS



<TABLE>
<S>    <C>                                                                                                               <C>
1.     SALE AND PURCHASE OF SHARES  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1
       1.1     SALE AND PURCHASE OF SHARES  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1
       1.2     PAYMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1
       1.3     DELIVERY OF SHARES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1
       
2.     CLOSING  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
       
3.     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
       3.1     DUE INCORPORATION AND AUTHORITY  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
       3.2     SUBSIDIARIES AND OTHER AFFILIATES  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
       3.3     OUTSTANDING CAPITAL STOCK AND TITLE TO THE SHARES  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
       3.4     AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE AND PERFORM AGREEMENT; ENFORCEABILITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
       3.5     OPTIONS OR OTHER RIGHTS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
       3.6     CHARTER DOCUMENTS AND CORPORATE RECORDS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
       3.7     STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
       3.8     GAAP FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
       3.9     TAX MATTERS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
       3.10    COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
       3.11    LICENSES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
       3.12    NO BREACH  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
       3.13    CLAIMS AND PROCEEDINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
       3.14    CONTRACTS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
       3.15    REAL ESTATE  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
       3.16    REINSURANCE  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
       3.17    POLICIES OF INSURANCE WRITTEN BY THE COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
       3.18    CERTAIN BUSINESS PRACTICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
       3.19    TITLE TO PROPERTIES  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
       3.20    EMPLOYEE BENEFITS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
       3.21    EMPLOYEES  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
       3.22    INSURANCE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
       3.23    OPERATIONS OF THE COMPANY  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
       3.24    UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
       
4.     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
       4.1     DUE INCORPORATION AND AUTHORITY  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
       4.2     AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE AND PERFORM AGREEMENT; ENFORCEABILITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
       4.3     NO BREACH  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
       4.4     CLAIMS AND PROCEEDINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
       4.5     FINANCING  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
       4.6     PURCHASE FOR INVESTMENT  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
       4.7     INVESTIGATION BY BUYER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   3
<TABLE>
<S>    <C>                                                                                                               <C>
5.     COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
       5.1     CONDUCT OF BUSINESS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
       5.2     CORPORATE EXAMINATIONS AND INVESTIGATIONS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20
       5.3     PUBLICITY  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
       5.4     INDEMNIFICATION FOR BROKER'S FEES  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
       5.5     TAX MATTERS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22
       5.6     REDEMPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  29
       5.7     EMPLOYEES AND PLANS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  29
       5.8     LMC EQUIPMENT AND AGREEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  30
       5.9     MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  30
       5.10    FURTHER ASSURANCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  30
       5.11    SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  32
       5.12    EFFORTS TO CONSUMMATE  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  32
       5.13    LIMITATION OF SELLER'S LIABILITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  32
       5.14    BOOKS AND RECORDS OF THE COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  33
       5.15    NEGOTIATIONS WITH OTHERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  35
       
6.     CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATION OF THE BUYER TO CLOSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  35
       6.1     REPRESENTATIONS AND COVENANTS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  35
       6.2     CONSENTS AND APPROVALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36
       6.3     OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE SELLER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36
       6.4     HSR ACT FILING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36
       6.5     LITIGATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
       6.6     TENDER OF ALL SHARES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
       6.7     PREFERRED STOCK REDEMPTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
       6.8     DIVIDENDS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
       6.9     INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
       6.10    THOMSON GUARANTY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
       6.11    ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  38
       6.12    CONFIDENTIALITY AND NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENT.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  38
       6.13    AFFILIATE TRANSACTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  38
       6.14    RESIGNATIONS OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  38
       6.15    FIRPTA CERTIFICATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  38
       
7.     CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATION OF THE SELLER TO CLOSE  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  38
       7.1     REPRESENTATIONS AND COVENANTS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
       7.2     CONSENTS AND APPROVALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
       7.3     OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE BUYER  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
       7.4     HSR ACT FILING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
       7.5     LITIGATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
       7.6     PREFERRED STOCK REDEMPTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
       7.7     DIVIDEND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
       7.8     ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
       
8.     SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES AFTER CLOSING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   4
<TABLE>
<S>    <C>                                                                                                               <C>
9.     GENERAL INDEMNIFICATION  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
       9.1     OBLIGATION OF THE SELLER TO INDEMNIFY  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
       9.2     OBLIGATION OF THE BUYER TO INDEMNIFY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
       9.3     NOTICE TO INDEMNIFYING PARTY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
       9.4     LIMITATIONS ON INDEMNIFICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  43
       9.5     EXCLUSIVE REMEDY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  45
       9.6     PURCHASE PRICE ADJUSTMENT  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  45
       
10.    TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  45
       10.1    TERMINATION  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  45
       10.2    SURVIVAL AFTER TERMINATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46
       
11.    MISCELLANEOUS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46
       11.1    CERTAIN DEFINITIONS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46
       11.2    CONSENT TO JURISDICTION AND SERVICE OF PROCESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  51
       11.3    NOTICES  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  52
       11.4    ENTIRE AGREEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  53
       11.5    WAIVERS AND AMENDMENTS: NON-CONTRACTUAL REMEDIES; PRESERVATION OF REMEDIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  53
       11.6    EXPENSES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  54
       11.7    GOVERNING LAW  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  54
       11.8    BINDING EFFECT; NO ASSIGNMENT; NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARY  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  54
       11.9    VARIATIONS IN PRONOUNS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  54
       11.10   COUNTERPARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  54
       11.11   EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  55
       11.12   HEADINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  55
       11.13   INTERPRETATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  55
       11.14   SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  55
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<S>             <C>      
EXHIBITS
       A        Indemnification Agreement


SCHEDULES
       3.9      Tax Matters
       3.11     Licenses
       3.12     Required Consents
       3.13     Claims and Proceedings
       3.14     Contracts
       3.15     Real Estate
       3.16     Reinsurance
       3.19     Title to Properties
       3.22     Insurance
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   5
<TABLE>
       <S>      <C>
       3.23     Operations of the Company
       3.24     Undisclosed Liabilities
       4.3      Buyer's Consents
       5.6      Redemption of Preferred Stock
       5.7      Employees
       5.8      LMC Agreements
       6.13     Affiliate Transactions
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   6
                            STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

                 This AGREEMENT is made as of April 5, 1995, by and between
LINCOLN INSURANCE GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Seller") and MARKEL
CORPORATION, a Virginia corporation (the "Buyer").

                 The Seller is the beneficial and record owner of all of the
issued and outstanding shares of the common stock, $100.00 par value per share
(the "Shares"), of Lincoln Insurance Company, a Delaware domestic insurance
corporation (the "Company").  The Seller wishes to sell, and the Buyer wishes
to purchase, all of the Shares upon the terms and subject to the conditions of
this Agreement.

                 Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in Section
11.1.

                 Accordingly, the parties agree as follows:

         1.      SALE AND PURCHASE OF SHARES.

                 1.1      SALE AND PURCHASE OF SHARES.  At the closing provided
for in Section 2 (the "Closing") and upon the terms and subject to the
conditions of this Agreement, the Seller shall sell to the Buyer, and the Buyer
shall purchase from the Seller, all of the Shares.  The Buyer shall pay to the
Seller an aggregate purchase price for the Shares and as consideration for
execution of the agreements contemplated herein twenty-four million two hundred
fifty-nine thousand twenty-four Dollars ($24,259,024) (the "Purchase Price"),
payable as provided in Section 1.2.

                 1.2      PAYMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE.  At the Closing, the
Purchase Price shall be paid by the Buyer to the Seller in cash by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to an account previously designated by
the Seller.

                 1.3      DELIVERY OF SHARES.  At the Closing, the Seller shall
deliver to the Buyer stock certificates representing all of the Shares, duly
endorsed in blank or accompanied by stock
<PAGE>   7
powers duly executed in blank, in proper form for transfer, and with all
appropriate stock transfer tax stamps affixed.

         2.      CLOSING.  The Closing of the sale and purchase of the Shares
contemplated hereby shall take place at the offices of McGuire, Woods, Battle &
Boothe LLP in Richmond, Virginia at 10:00 a.m. local time, on the fifth full
Business Day after satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions set forth in
Sections 6.2, 6.4, 7.2 and 7.4, or such other time or date as the Buyer and the
Seller agree in writing.  The time and date upon which the Closing occurs is
herein called the "Closing Date."

         3.      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLER.  The Seller
represents and warrants to the Buyer as follows:

                 3.1      DUE INCORPORATION AND AUTHORITY.  The Seller is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the State of Delaware.  The Company is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware
and has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate
its Properties and to carry on its business as now and heretofore conducted.

                 3.2      SUBSIDIARIES AND OTHER AFFILIATES. The Company does
not directly or indirectly own or have the power to vote shares of any capital
stock or other ownership interests of any corporation or other Person such that
it has voting power to elect a majority of the directors of such corporation or
other Persons performing similar functions for such Person, as the case may be.
Except for readily marketable securities held in its investment portfolio, the
Company does not directly or indirectly own any interest in any other Person.





                                       2
<PAGE>   8
                 3.3      OUTSTANDING CAPITAL STOCK AND TITLE TO THE SHARES.

                          (a) The Company is authorized to issue (i)
thirty-five thousand (35,000) shares of common stock, par value $100.00 per
share, all of which shares are issued and outstanding, and (ii) five thousand
(5,000) shares of adjustable rate cumulative preferred stock, par value $0.01
per share (the "Preferred Stock"), all of which are issued and outstanding.

                          (b) All of the Shares are owned beneficially and of 
record by the Seller free and clear of any lien, pledge, mortgage, security
interest, claim, lease, charge, option, right of first or last refusal or
offer, easement, servitude, transfer restriction under any shareholder or
similar agreement, encumbrance or any other restriction or limitation
whatsoever, other than restrictions on transfer under federal and state
securities laws and state insurance laws (collectively, "Liens").  Upon
delivery of and payment for the Shares as herein provided, the Seller will
convey to the Buyer good and valid title thereto, free and clear of any Lien,
except for Liens arising through the Buyer or as a result of the Buyer's
actions.

                          (c) All of the Shares are duly authorized and validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

                          (d) All of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock
are owned by the Seller.  The Company shall, on or prior to the Closing Date,
redeem all of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock for an amount equal to
fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) plus accrued and unpaid dividends.  As a
result of such redemption, as of the Closing Date no shares of Preferred Stock
will be outstanding.

                 3.4      AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE AND PERFORM AGREEMENT;
ENFORCEABILITY.  The Seller has the full legal right and power and all
corporate authority and approvals required to execute and deliver this
Agreement and to perform fully its obligations hereunder.  This





                                       3
<PAGE>   9
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Seller and is a valid and
binding obligation of the Seller enforceable against it in accordance with its
terms, except as enforceability may be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting the
rights and remedies of creditors and (ii) general principles of equity.

                 3.5      OPTIONS OR OTHER RIGHTS.  There is no outstanding
right, subscription, warrant, call, unsatisfied preemptive right, option,
commitment or other agreement of any kind to purchase or otherwise to receive
from the Company or the Seller any of the outstanding or authorized but
unissued shares of the capital stock or any other security of the Company.

                 3.6      CHARTER DOCUMENTS AND CORPORATE RECORDS. The Seller
has heretofore delivered to the Buyer true and complete copies of the
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, or comparable instruments, of the
Company as in effect on the date hereof.

                 3.7      STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.  The Seller has
heretofore delivered to the Buyer true and complete copies of the Annual
Statements of the Company as filed with the Delaware Department of Insurance
for the years ended December 31, 1993 and 1994, and will deliver before the
Closing, a true and complete copy of the Quarterly Statement of the Company as
filed with the Delaware Department of Insurance for the quarter ended March 31,
1995 (the "Quarterly Statement").  The balance sheet of the Company as of
December 31, 1994, and the related statement of income and cash flow for the
year then ended, included in the Annual Statement for the year ended December
31, 1994, were prepared in conformity with statutory accounting practices
prescribed or permitted by the Delaware Department of Insurance ("Statutory
Accounting Principles") consistently applied, except as otherwise noted
therein, for the period covered thereby and fairly present the statutory
financial position of the Company as at the date





                                       4
<PAGE>   10
thereof and the results of operations and cash flow of the Company for the
period then ended; provided that this representation shall not be deemed to be
breached by reason of the development of Reserves for Losses and Loss
Adjustment Expenses and Reserves for Uncollectible Reinsurance after the date
of such financial statement.  The balance sheet of the Company as of March 31,
1995, and the related statement of income and cash flow for the period then
ended, included in the Quarterly Statement were prepared in conformity with
Statutory Accounting Principles applicable to interim financial statements
consistently applied during the period involved, except as otherwise noted
therein, subject to normal year-end adjustments, and fairly present the
statutory financial position of the Company as at the date thereof and the
results of operations and cash flow of the Company for the period then ended;
provided that this representation shall not be deemed to be breached by reason
of the development of Reserves for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses and
Reserves for Uncollectible Reinsurance after the date of such financial
statement.

                 3.8      GAAP FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

                 (a) The balance sheet, statement of income and statement of
cash flow of the Company as at December 31, 1994 (the "GAAP Financial
Statements"), which previously have been delivered to the Buyer, fairly present
the financial position of the Company as of such date and the results of its
operations and cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with GAAP
consistently applied; provided that this representation shall not be deemed to
be breached by reason of the development of Reserves for Losses and Loss
Adjustment Expenses and Reserves for Uncollectible Reinsurance after the date
of such financial statements.

                 (b) The balance sheets, statements of income and statements of
cash flows of the Company as at March 31, 1994 and 1995, will be delivered to
the Buyer before the Closing and





                                       5
<PAGE>   11
will fairly present the financial position of the Company as at the dates
referred to therein and the results of its operations and cash flow for the
quarters then ended in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to
normal year-end adjustments (except that footnote disclosures may not be
included therewith); provided that this representation shall not be deemed to
be breached by reason of the development of Reserves for Losses and Loss
Adjustment Expenses and Reserves for Uncollectible Reinsurance after the
respective dates of such financial statements.  The Buyer acknowledges that the
March 31, 1994 financial statements will be prepared without the benefit of the
year-end 1994 actuarial review.

                 3.9      TAX MATTERS.

                 (a) The Company has timely filed (or has had filed on its
behalf), or will cause to be timely filed, all Tax Returns required to be filed
by it (or on its behalf).

                 (b) The Company has timely paid all Taxes owed with respect to
the Company.  No penalties or other charges are or will become due with respect
to the late filing of any Tax Return of the Company required to be filed on or
before the Closing Date.  The Company has withheld and paid all Taxes required
to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any
employee, independent contractor, creditor, or other third party.

                 (c) Schedule 3.9 sets forth the states in which the Company
files Tax Returns, indicates the Tax Returns in such states that have been
audited, and indicates those Tax Returns in such states that currently are the
subject of audit.  There are no waivers or extensions of any applicable statute
of limitations, or agreements to any extension of time, for the assessment or
collection of such taxes with respect to any such tax returns, which waivers,
extensions or agreements currently are in effect.  No claim has been made in
writing since January 1, 1990, by





                                       6
<PAGE>   12
an authority in a jurisdiction where the Company does not file Tax Returns that
it is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction.

                 (d) The Company has not received a Tax Ruling or entered into
a Tax Closing Agreement with any taxing authority that would have a continuing
effect after the Closing Date.  For purposes of the preceding sentence, the
term "Tax Ruling" shall mean written rulings of a taxing authority relating to
Taxes, and the term "Tax Closing Agreement" shall mean a written and legally
binding agreement with a taxing authority relating to Taxes.

                 (e) To the Knowledge of the Seller or the Company, no action,
suit, proceeding, investigation, audit, claim or assessment is presently
pending or proposed with regard to any Taxes that relate to the Company for
which it would be liable.

                 (f) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.9, the Company is not
required to make any adjustment pursuant to Section 481 of the Code by reason
of a change in accounting method or otherwise.

                 (g) The Buyer will not be required to deduct and withhold any
amount pursuant to Section 1445 of the Code, upon the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby (the "Contemplated Transactions"), and the
Seller will cause the necessary documents to be provided to the Buyer at the
Closing to support such nondeduction and non-withholding, including appropriate
affidavits referred to in Section 1445(b)(3) of the Code.

                 (h) There are no Liens for Taxes (other than for Taxes not yet
due and payable) upon the assets of the Company.

                 (i) The Seller and the Company have been included in a
consolidated return for Federal income tax purposes filed by Thomson U.S.
Holdings Inc. ("TUSHI") (or its predecessors) on behalf of itself, the Company,
the Seller and other subsidiaries of TUSHI (or its





                                       7
<PAGE>   13
predecessors) since 1990 (with respect to a stub period from December 7 to
December 31, 1990), as common parent corporation of an "affiliated group"
(within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code) of which the Seller and the
Company are "includible corporations" (within the meaning of Section 1504(b) of
the Code).  Such affiliated group has filed all income Tax Returns that it was
required to file for each taxable period during which the Company was a member
of the group.  All such income Tax Returns were correct and complete in all
respects as they relate to the Company.  All income Taxes owed by such
affiliated groups have been paid for each taxable period during which the
Company was a member of the group.  The Company has no liability for the Taxes
of any Person other than the Company:  (a) under Treasury Regulation section
1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local, or foreign law); (b) as a
transferee or successor;  or (c) by contract or otherwise.

                 (j) The Company has not filed a consent under Section 341(f)
(1) of the Code or agreed under Section 341(f) (3) of the Code to have the
provisions of Section 341(f) (2) of the Code applied to the sale of its capital
stock.  The Company has not made any payment, is not obligated to make any
payment, and is not a party to any agreement that could obligate it to make any
payments, that will not be deductible under Code section 280G.

                 3.10     COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS.

                          (a) The Company is not in violation, nor has there
been a violation by the Company that has not been corrected, of any applicable
Order, or any applicable Law, of any Governmental Body, which violation could
have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of
operations or business of the Company.

                          (b) The Seller has heretofore delivered to the Buyer
true and complete copies of the triennial report for the Company covering the
three (3) year period ended December 31, 





                                       8
<PAGE>   14
1990 prepared by the Delaware Insurance Department; no deficiencies
material to the financial condition or operations of the Company were asserted
in such report.  The foregoing triennial report is the most recent report of
examination of the Company by the Delaware Insurance Department that has been
provided to the Company.  The Delaware Insurance Department has conducted the
triennial examination of the Company for the three year period ended December
31, 1993, but has not delivered its report thereon to the Company.  To the
Knowledge of the Company the Delaware Insurance Department has not notified the
Company of any deficiencies material to the financial condition or operations
of the Company that will be identified in the report for the three year period
ended December 31, 1993.

                 3.11     LICENSES.  The Company has obtained all licenses,
certificates of authority, permits, authorizations, orders and approvals of,
and has made all registrations or filings with, all Governmental Bodies as
required in connection with the conduct of the business of the Company as
currently conducted, and with respect to which a failure to so obtain would
have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of
operations or business of the Company (collectively, the "Licenses").  Schedule
3.11 lists the jurisdictions in which the Company possess licenses or other
approvals to conduct an insurance business (an "Insurance License").  The
Company has heretofore made available to the Buyer true and complete copies of
all of such Insurance Licenses as are currently in effect.  All Licenses and
Insurance Licenses are valid and in full force and effect.

                 3.12     NO BREACH.  The execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement by the Seller and the consummation of the Contemplated
Transactions will not (i) violate any provision of the Articles of
Incorporation or By-laws (or comparable instruments) of the Company or the
Seller; (ii) require the Company or the Seller to obtain any consent, approval
or action of,





                                       9
<PAGE>   15
or make any filing with or give any notice to, any Governmental Body, except as
set forth on Schedule 3.12 (the "Required Consents"); (iii) if the Required
Consents are obtained, except as set forth on Schedule 3.12, violate, result
with the passage of time or the giving of notice, or both, in the breach of any
of the terms of, result in a modification of the effect of, otherwise cause the
termination of or constitute a default under, any contract, agreement,
understanding, indenture, note, bond, loan, instrument, lease, conditional sale
contract, mortgage, license, franchise, commitment or other binding arrangement
(collectively, the "Contracts") to which the Company or the Seller is a party
or by or to which either of them or any of their Properties (including the
Shares) may be bound or subject, or result in the creation of any Lien upon the
Properties of the Company or the Seller (including the Shares) pursuant to the
terms of any such Contract, other than Liens arising under this Agreement; (iv)
if the Required Consents are obtained, violate any Order of any Governmental
Body against, or binding upon, the Company or the Seller or upon any of their
Properties (including the Shares) or upon their respective businesses; or (v)
if the Required Consents are obtained, violate any Law; other than, in the case
of clauses (iii) through (v) above, where such violation, conflict, breach,
modification, termination or Lien arose as a result of actions taken by the
Buyer, or would not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition,
results of operations or business of the Company or the Seller, as the case may
be.

                 3.13     CLAIMS AND PROCEEDINGS.  Except as set forth on
Schedule 3.13, there are no outstanding Orders of any Governmental Body against
or involving, or to the Knowledge of the Company threatened against, the
Company.  Other than as may arise in the ordinary course of the Company's
business with respect to claims made under insurance policies written by the
Company, there are no actions, suits, claims or legal, administrative or
arbitral proceedings or





                                       10
<PAGE>   16
investigations (collectively, "Claims") pending against or involving the
Company or any of its Properties.

                 3.14     CONTRACTS.

                 (a) Schedule 3.14 sets forth all of the following Contracts to
which the Company is a party on the date hereof: (i) partnership or joint
venture agreements; (ii) Contracts containing covenants of the Company not to
compete in any line of business or with any Person in any geographical area or
covenants of any other Person not to compete with the Company in any line of
business or in any geographical area; (iii) Contracts relating to the borrowing
of money; (iv) management Contracts and other similar agreements with any
Person; (v) Contracts with any other insurance company, managing general agent,
underwriting manager or any other Person, pursuant to which the Company has
delegated underwriting and/or claims settlement authority; (vi) agency,
brokerage or other similar insurance sales or marketing Contracts which
accounted for ten percent (10%) or more of the aggregate direct written
premiums of the Company for the year ended December 31, 1994; (vii) any
Contract, other than insurance contracts issued in the ordinary course of
business, with The Thomson Corporation ("Thomson") or any subsidiary of Thomson
or any officer, director or Affiliate of Thomson or a subsidiary of Thomson;
and (viii) any other Contracts, other than Contracts entered into in the
ordinary course of the Company's business which are terminable by the Company
on notice of 30 days or less, pursuant to the terms of which there is either a
current or future obligation or right of the Company to make payments in excess
of $50,000 or receive payments in excess of $50,000.  Schedule 3.14 also sets
forth the Contracts to which Lincoln Management Company, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Seller ("LMC"), is a party which are to be assigned to the
Buyer as contemplated by Section 5.8.





                                       11
<PAGE>   17
                 (b) There have been delivered or made available to the Buyer
true and complete copies of all of the Contracts set forth on Schedule 3.14.
Neither the Company, nor to the Knowledge of the Company, any other party, is
in default in any material respect under any of such Contracts.  No other party
to any such Contract has given written, or to the Knowledge of the Company
oral, notice of termination or cancellation of any such Contract or that it
intends to terminate or cancel any such Contract as a result of the
Contemplated Transactions.

                 3.15     REAL ESTATE.  Schedule 3.15 sets forth, as of the
date hereof, a list of (i) all real property owned by the Company and all
buildings and other structures located on such real property, (ii) all leases
or subleases under which the Company is the lessor or lessee of any real
property which are not terminable by the Company on notice of 30 days or less
and pursuant to the terms of which there is either a current or future
obligation or right of the Company to make payments in excess of $50,000 or
receive payments in excess of $50,000, (iii) all options held by the Company or
contractual obligations on its part to purchase or acquire any material
interest in real property, and (iv) all options granted the Company or
contractual obligations on its part to sell or dispose of any material interest
in real property.  Such leases, subleases, options and other agreements are in
full force and effect, and neither the Company nor to the Knowledge of the
Company, any other party, is in material default thereunder.

                 3.16     REINSURANCE.  Schedule 3.16 contains a complete and
correct list of all Contracts entered into since 1976 regarding reinsurance,
coinsurance, excess insurance, ceding of insurance, assumption of insurance or
indemnification with respect to insurance (other than facultative reinsurance
agreements and catastrophe reinsurance treaties relative to treaty years before
October 1, 1994), to which the Company is a party (as either a ceding or
assuming party) (individually a "Reinsurance Agreement" and collectively the
"Reinsurance Agreements").





                                       12
<PAGE>   18
Except to the extent of a commutation of either an entire Reinsurance
Agreement or the portion of such Reinsurance Agreement associated with a
particular reinsurer, all such treaties or agreements are in full force and
effect. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.16, neither the Company, nor to the
Knowledge of the Company, any other party, is in default of any material
provision of the Reinsurance Agreements.  No other party to any such
Reinsurance Agreement has given written, or to the Knowledge of the Company
oral, notice of termination or cancellation of any such Reinsurance Agreement
other than in accordance with the terms of such Reinsurance Agreement.  No
reinsurer in writing, or to the Knowledge of the Company orally, has asserted
or threatened to assert a claim that the Company has breached any of its
material obligations under any Reinsurance Agreement or, except as set forth on
Schedule 3.16, that the reinsurer will not or does not intend to perform any of
its material obligations under a Reinsurance Agreement.

                 3.17     POLICIES OF INSURANCE WRITTEN BY THE COMPANY.  Except
for any failures to comply or file which did not and will not result in the
imposition of a material fine or penalty against the Company which has not been
paid and which would not have a material adverse effect on the financial
condition, results of operation or business of the Company, all policies and
contracts of insurance or reinsurance issued by the Company within the five (5)
years prior to the date hereof or which are being issued by the Company as of
the date hereof are in compliance, and at their respective dates of issuance
were in compliance, in all material respects with all applicable Laws and, to
the extent required under applicable Law, are on forms approved by the
appropriate Governmental Bodies in the jurisdictions where issued or have been
filed with and not objected to by such Governmental Bodies within the period
provided for objection.  Any premium rates with respect to insurance policies
or contracts currently issued by the Company which are required to be filed 
with or approved by any Governmental Body have been so filed or approved 





                                       13



<PAGE>   19
in accordance with applicable Laws, and such premiums charged by the
Company conform thereto, except where the failure to so file or receive
approval or conform did not and will not result in the imposition of a material
fine or penalty against the Company which has not been paid and would not have
a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of operations or
business of the Company.

                 3.18     CERTAIN BUSINESS PRACTICES.

                          (a) All material insurance or reinsurance Claims that
have become payable by the Company, and are not currently in the course of
being settled in good faith by the Company, have been paid, or provided for, in
accordance with the terms of the insurance or reinsurance policy or contract
under which they arose.

                          (b) The Company offers insurance products through its
general agents who have the authority to bind the Company with respect to
certain risks and coverages pursuant to strict guidelines provided by the
Company to such agents.  A full and complete copy of such guidelines has
previously been made available to the Buyer.

                 3.19     TITLE TO PROPERTIES.  Except for security on
statutory deposit with state insurance departments, the Company owns outright
and has good and marketable title to all of its Properties (other than real
property), including, without limitation, all of the assets reflected on the
balance sheet of the Company contained in the GAAP Financial Statements free
and clear of any Lien.  LMC owns outright and has good and marketable title to
all of the assets reflected on Schedule 3.19 free and clear of any Lien.  As of
the Closing Date, the Company will own outright and have good and marketable
title to all of the assets reflected on Schedule 3.19 free and clear of any
Lien.





                                       14
<PAGE>   20
                 3.20     EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.  On the date hereof there are no
employee benefit plans subject to section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations thereunder, under
which the Company has any material liability with respect to any current or
former employee of the Company.

                 3.21     EMPLOYEES.  On the date hereof, the Company does not
employ any employees.  All Persons who work at the Company are employees of LMC
and LMC provides their services to the Company pursuant to a management
agreement entered into between the Company and LMC.  Neither the Company nor
LMC is a party to or bound by any collective bargaining agreement, and there
are no labor unions or other organizations representing, or, to the Knowledge
of the Company, purporting to represent or attempting to represent any such
employees.

                 3.22     INSURANCE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY.  Schedule
3.22 sets forth a list (specifying the insurer, describing each pending claim
in respect of the Company thereunder of more than $50,000 and setting forth the
aggregate limit, if any, of the insurer's liability thereunder and any
deductible or net retention of the Company thereunder) of all policies or
binders of fire, liability, vehicular and other insurance held by or on behalf
of the Company for its account to insure against its liability and property
loss.  Such policies and binders are valid and binding in accordance with their
terms and are in full force and effect.  The Company has not received any
written, or to the Knowledge of the Company oral, notice of cancellation or
non-renewal of any such policy or binder.

                 3.23     OPERATIONS OF THE COMPANY.  Except as set forth on
Schedule 3.23, since December 31, 1994 the Company has not:





                                       15
<PAGE>   21
                          (i) declared or paid any dividends or declared or
         made any other distributions of any kind to its shareholders, or made
         any direct or indirect redemption, retirement, purchase or other
         acquisition of any shares of its capital stock or other securities or
         options, warrants or other rights to acquire capital stock;

                          (ii) incurred any indebtedness for borrowed money;

                          (iii) made, or agreed to make, any change in its
         accounting or reserving methods or practices or made any change in
         depreciation or amortization policies or rates adopted by it;

                          (iv) changed, or agreed to change, its investment,
         underwriting and claims adjustment policies and practices;

                          (v) amended its Certificates of Incorporation or
         By-laws (or comparable instruments) or merged with or into or
         consolidated with any other Person, subdivided or in any way
         reclassified any shares of its capital stock or changed or agreed to
         change in any manner the rights of its outstanding capital stock or
         the character of its business;

                          (vi) except as a result of actions taken at the
         request of the Buyer or otherwise pursuant to the terms of this
         Agreement, experienced any event, occurrence, fact, condition, change,
         development, or effect that, individually or in the aggregate, has
         resulted in, or could result in, a material adverse effect on the
         financial condition, results of operation or business of the Company;

                          (vii) issued or sold any shares of any class of its
         capital stock, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for
         any such shares; or issued, sold, granted or entered into any
         subscriptions, options, warrants, conversion or other rights
         agreements to purchase or acquire any such securities;





                                       16
<PAGE>   22
                          (viii) mortgaged or pledged any of its real property
         or other Properties or assets, tangible or intangible;

                          (ix) forgiven or cancelled any debts or claims, or
         waived any rights, except debts, claims or rights against Persons,
         other than the Seller and its Affiliates, forgiven, cancelled or
         waived in the ordinary course of business;

                          (x) adopted or amended any employment, collective
         bargaining, bonus, profit-sharing, compensation, pension, retirement,
         vacation, severance, deferred compensation or other plan, agreement,
         trust, fund or arrangement for the benefit of any officer, director,
         employee, agent or consultant;

                          (xi) other than insurance written in the ordinary
         course of business, entered into any Contract, or any other agreement,
         commitment or transaction, with or for the direct benefit of the
         Seller or any Affiliate thereof; or

                          (xii) taken any action or omitted to take any action
         that would result in the occurrence of any of the foregoing.

                 3.24     UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES.  The Company does not have
any material liability or obligation of any nature, whether known or unknown,
absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise and whether due or to become due,
except (i) as and to the extent disclosed or reserved against on the balance
sheet included within the GAAP Financial Statements, (ii) for liabilities and
obligations that are incurred after the date of such balance sheet in the
ordinary course of business and are not prohibited by the terms of this
Agreement and (iii) as set forth on Schedule 3.24 (it being acknowledged that
disclosure on said Schedule shall not relieve the Seller of liability hereunder
in respect thereof to the extent set forth in Section 9.1); provided that this
representation shall not be deemed to be breached by reason of the development
of Reserves for





                                       17
<PAGE>   23
Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses and Reserves for Uncollectible Reinsurance
after the date hereof.

         4.      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER. The Buyer
represents and warrants to the Seller as follows:

                 4.1      DUE INCORPORATION AND AUTHORITY.  The Buyer is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

                 4.2      AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE AND PERFORM AGREEMENT;
ENFORCEABILITY.  The Buyer has the full legal right and power and all corporate
authority and approvals required to execute and deliver this Agreement and to
perform fully its obligations hereunder.  This Agreement has been duly executed
and delivered by the Buyer and is a valid and binding obligation of the Buyer
enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be
limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other
laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and
(ii) general principles of equity.

                 4.3      NO BREACH.  The execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement by the Buyer and the consummation of the Contemplated
Transactions will not (i) violate any provision of the Articles of
Incorporation or By-laws (or comparable instruments) of the Buyer; (ii) require
the Buyer to obtain any consent, approval or action of, or make any filing with
or give any notice to, any Governmental Body, except as set forth on Schedule
4.3 (the "Buyer's Consents"); (iii) if the Buyer's Consents are obtained,
violate any Order of any Governmental Body against, or binding upon, the Buyer
or upon any of its Properties or upon its business; or (iv) if the Buyer's
Consents are obtained, violate any Law; other than, in the case of clauses
(iii)





                                       18
<PAGE>   24
and (iv), where such violation would not have a material adverse effect on the
financial condition, results of operations or business of the Buyer.

                 4.4      CLAIMS AND PROCEEDINGS.  There are no outstanding
Orders of any Governmental Body against or involving, or to the knowledge of
the Buyer threatened against, the Buyer.  There are no Claims pending against
or involving the Buyer which would have a material adverse effect on the
ability of the Buyer to consummate the Contemplated Transactions.

                 4.5      FINANCING.  The Buyer has on the date of execution of
this Agreement and will have at the Closing sufficient immediately available
funds, in cash or pursuant to credit agreements in effect on the date of this
Agreement, to pay the Purchase Price.

                 4.6      PURCHASE FOR INVESTMENT.  The Buyer is purchasing the
Shares for its own account for investment and not for resale or distribution.

                 4.7      INVESTIGATION BY BUYER.  The Buyer has conducted its
own independent review and analysis of the business, operations, technology,
assets, liabilities, results of operations, financial condition and prospects
of the business of the Company and acknowledges that the Seller has provided
the Buyer with access to the personnel, properties, premises and records of the
Company for this purpose.

         5.      COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS.

                 5.1      CONDUCT OF BUSINESS.  From the date hereof through
the Closing Date, the Seller agrees that it shall cause the Company (i) to
conduct its business only in the ordinary course, (ii) regularly to consult
with the Buyer with respect to the operations of the Company and (iii) without
the prior written consent of the Buyer, except as otherwise specifically
contemplated herein, not to undertake any of the actions specified in Section
3.23.  The Seller shall give the Buyer prompt notice of any event, condition or
circumstance occurring from the date hereof





                                       19
<PAGE>   25
through the Closing Date that would constitute a violation or breach of any
representation or warranty, or cause such representation or warranty to be
untrue as of the Closing Date (assuming such event, condition or circumstance
existed on the Closing Date), or that would constitute a violation or breach of
any covenant of the Seller contained in this Agreement.

                 5.2      CORPORATE EXAMINATIONS AND INVESTIGATIONS.  Prior to
the Closing Date, the Seller agrees that the Buyer shall be entitled, through
its employees and representatives, to make such investigation of the
Properties, businesses and operations of the Company, and such examination of
the books, records and financial condition of the Company, as it wishes.  Any
such investigation and examination shall be conducted at reasonable times and
under reasonable circumstances, and the Seller shall, and shall cause the
Company to, cooperate fully therein.  In order that the Buyer may have full
opportunity to make such physical, business, accounting and legal review,
examination or investigation as it may wish of the affairs of the Company, the
Seller shall make available and shall cause the Company to make available to
the representatives of the Buyer during such period all such information and
copies of such documents concerning the affairs of the Company as such
representatives may reasonably request, permit the representatives of the Buyer
access to the Properties of the Company and all parts thereof, and cause its
officers, employees, consultants, agents, accountants and attorneys to
cooperate fully with such representatives in connection with such review and
examination.  If this Agreement terminates, (i) the Buyer shall keep
confidential and shall not use in any manner any information or documents
obtained from the Company concerning its Properties, businesses and operations,
unless readily ascertainable from public or published information, or trade
sources, or already known or subsequently developed by the Buyer independently
of any investigation of the Company, and (ii) any documents obtained from the
Company and all copies thereof shall be returned.





                                       20
<PAGE>   26
                 5.3      PUBLICITY.  Except as required by law, regulation or
stock exchange requirements, neither of the parties hereto shall, without the
consent of the other, make any public announcement or issue any press release
with respect to the Contemplated Transactions.  Prior to making any such public
announcement or issuing any such press release the parties hereto shall, to the
extent possible, consult with the other party as to the content of such public
announcement or press release.

                 5.4      INDEMNIFICATION FOR BROKER'S FEES.  The Seller
represents and warrants to the Buyer that, except for J.P.  Morgan Securities
Inc., who has acted as the Seller's financial advisor, no broker, finder, agent
or similar intermediary (a "Broker") has acted on behalf of the Company or the
Seller in connection with this Agreement or the Contemplated Transactions, and
that, except for any fees and expenses payable to J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
(the "Seller's Fee"), there are no brokerage commissions, finders' fees or
similar fees or commissions payable in connection therewith based on any
agreement, arrangement or understanding with the Company or the Seller, or any
action taken by the Company or the Seller.  The Seller agrees to pay the
Seller's Fee and agrees to indemnify and hold the Buyer harmless from any claim
or demand for commission or other compensation by any Broker claiming to have
been employed by or on behalf of the Company or the Seller, and to bear the
cost of legal expenses incurred in defending against any such claim.  The Buyer
represents and warrants to the Seller that no Broker has acted on behalf of the
Buyer in connection with this Agreement or the Contemplated Transactions, and
that there are no brokerage commissions, finders' fees or similar fees or
commissions payable in connection therewith based on any agreement, arrangement
or understanding with the Buyer, or any action taken by the Buyer.  The Buyer
agrees to indemnify and hold the Seller and its Affiliates harmless from any
claim or demand for commission or other compensation by any





                                       21
<PAGE>   27
Broker claiming to have been employed by or on behalf of the Buyer, and to bear
the cost of legal expenses incurred in defending against any such claim.

                 5.5      TAX MATTERS.

                 (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 5.5(h), TUSHI shall
prepare and file, or cause to be prepared and filed, all Consolidated Returns
required to be filed after the Closing Date and, without limiting the Buyer's
obligations set forth in Section 5.5(c), shall pay, or cause to be paid, all
Taxes shown as due on such Consolidated Returns.  TUSHI shall include the
income of the Company (including any deferred income triggered into income by
Treasury Regulation section 1.1502-13 and 1.1502-14 and any excess loss
accounts taken into income under Treasury Regulation section 1.1502-19) on the
TUSHI Consolidated Returns for all periods through the Closing Date and pay any
federal income Taxes attributable to such income.  The Company will not elect
to be excluded from the TUSHI consolidated group under Treasury Regulation
section 1.1502-76(b)(5)(ii) for the TUSHI taxable year that includes the
Closing Date.

                 (b) Subject to the provisions of Section 5.5(e), the Seller
shall be liable to the Buyer for, and shall hold the Buyer and the Company
harmless from and against, any and all Taxes due or payable by the Company for
any taxable year or tax period ending on or before the Closing Date except, in
accordance with Section 5.5(d), to the extent that such Taxes result from
elections by the Buyer (express or deemed) under Section 338 of the Code (or
comparable provision of state or local tax law).  Taxes for which the Seller
shall be liable and shall hold the Buyer and the Company harmless from and
against under the preceding sentence shall include, without limitation, Taxes
(i) the liability for which arises under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6
and Section 1-1502.78 or comparable provisions of state or local law as a
result of the Company being included in a group filing Consolidated Returns,
(ii) the liability for which arises because the Company





                                       22
<PAGE>   28
ceases on the Closing Date to be a member of a group filing Consolidated
Returns, and (iii) that are due or payable by the Buyer or the Company and
result from or arise out of the Contemplated Transactions (other than taxes
arising from any election by the Buyer (express or deemed) under Section 338 of
the Code (or comparable provision of state or local tax laws)).

                 (c) Subject to the provisions of Section 5.5(e), the Buyer and
the Company shall be liable for, and shall hold the Seller harmless from and
against, (i) any and all Taxes due or payable by the Company with respect to
the Company for any taxable year or tax period beginning on or after the
Closing Date and (ii) in accordance with Section 5.5(d), Taxes resulting from
elections by the Buyer (express or deemed) under Section 338 of the Code (or
comparable provision of state or local tax laws).

                 (d) Buyer and Seller agree that no elections (express or
deemed) under Section 338 of the Code (or comparable provision of state or
local tax laws) shall be made with respect to the acquisition of the Company.
If Buyer or any of its affiliates makes an election (express or deemed) under
Section 338 of the Code (or any comparable provision of state or local tax
laws) with respect to the Company, any Taxes resulting from such election shall
be paid by the Buyer and Buyer shall indemnify and hold Seller harmless from
and against such Taxes.

                 (e) Any Taxes for a tax period beginning before the Closing
Date and ending after the Closing Date shall be apportioned between the Seller
and the Buyer, in the case of real and personal property taxes and franchise
taxes not based on gross or net income, on a per diem basis and, in the case of
other Taxes, shall be determined by (i) assuming that the Company's taxable
year (including the taxable year of organizations in which it owns a
partnership interest or other equity interest) ends as of the close of business
on the Closing Date; (ii) closing on an actual basis the Company's books as of
the close of business on such date (or if an actual closing is not





                                       23
<PAGE>   29
feasible, on an equitable pro forma basis that has a comparable economic result
to the result that would have been obtained had an actual closing occurred,
taking into account extraordinary items); and (iii) preparing a Tax return
based on the income, gain, deduction, losses and credits as so determined under
an accurate and appropriate accounting method and, to the extent permissible,
on a basis consistent with the methodology and elections employed in prior
years.  Each such portion of such period shall be deemed to be a tax period
subject to the provisions of Sections 5.5(b) and 5.5(c) above.

                 (f) The Buyer shall cause the Company to file any federal,
state, local or foreign Tax Return (other than any Consolidated Return)
required to be filed after the Closing Date with respect to the business,
activities or assets of the Company (the "Post-Closing Returns") and, without
limiting the Seller's obligations set forth in Section 5.5(b), the Company
shall pay or cause its subsidiaries or Affiliates to pay all Taxes shown as due
on any Post-closing Returns.  Any Post-Closing Returns that relate (in whole or
in part) to tax periods beginning before the Closing Date (the "Straddle
Returns") shall be prepared as promptly as possible after the Closing Date, but
in no event later than three weeks prior to the due dates thereof, as such
dates may be extended.  Immediately after preparation of the Straddle Returns,
the Buyer shall provide the Seller with copies of the Straddle Returns.  Not
less than five days before the due dates of such returns the Seller shall
forward to the Buyer or the Company any comments it may have relating to such
returns.

                 (g) Any refunds of Taxes that were paid in respect of a
taxable year or tax period (including a period deemed to be a tax period under
Section 5.5(e)) of the Company ending on or before the Closing Date shall be
for the account of the Seller if such refunded Tax was actually paid by the
Seller, and any refund of Taxes that were paid in respect of a taxable year or
tax





                                       24
<PAGE>   30
period (including a period deemed to be a tax period under Section 5.5(e)) of
the Company beginning on or after the Closing Date shall be for the account of
the Buyer if such refunded Tax was actually paid by the Buyer.  In all other
events, the refunded Tax shall be paid to the Company.  In the event the
Company and the Buyer incur a consolidated net operating loss, capital loss or
other Tax attribute ("Tax Attribute") in a year that includes the period after
the Closing Date and the Buyer, for valid business reasons, elects to carryback
the Tax Attributes allocable to the Company to TUSHI's Consolidated Return(s),
and if the carryback of the Company's allocable Tax Attribute generates a Tax
refund or reduction in Tax liability) from the Internal Revenue Service to
TUSHI, the Seller will pay the Company the amount of such refund.  In any
event, the Seller shall cooperate with the Company in supplying the necessary
information to prepare properly such amended Tax returns or refund claims to
obtain such refunds or to document the fact that no such refund is possible.
The Buyer or the Seller, as the case may be, shall pay the amount of any such
refund to the other party within fifteen (15) days after receipt thereof.

                 (h) The Buyer shall, or shall cause the Company to, prepare
all information required for inclusion in any Consolidated Return required to
be filed after the Closing Date that includes the operations of the Company for
any period ending on or prior to the Closing Date (the "Post-Closing
Information") in accordance with the Company's past custom and practice.  The
Post-Closing Information shall be prepared and delivered to the Seller as
promptly as possible after the Closing Date, but in no event later than
forty-five (45) days prior to the due dates of the Consolidated Returns to
which they relate, as such dates may be extended. In filing any Consolidated
Return the Seller shall not, without the consent of the Buyer, permit any item
to be reported in a manner different from the manner in which such item is
treated in the information





                                       25
<PAGE>   31
provided by the Buyer and the Company, unless (i) such treatment is
inconsistent with the treatment of such item in prior Consolidated Returns or
(ii) if the Seller shall object to the position taken with respect to any
material item in the Post-Closing Information provided by the Buyer or the
Company, the Buyer (a) fails to provide an opinion of counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the Seller to the effect that based upon the preponderance of
the law the proposed position will be sustained on its merits, and (b) does not
agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Seller from and against any penalties
that may be imposed as a result of such proposed position being followed in
filing the Consolidated Return.

                 (i) If the Buyer or the Company becomes aware of any
assessment, official inquiry, examination or proceeding that could reasonably
result in an official determination with respect to any Tax for which the
Seller could be liable pursuant to Section 5.5(b), the Buyer shall promptly so
notify the Seller in writing.  If the Seller becomes aware of any official
inquiry, examination or proceeding that could reasonably result in an official
determination with respect to any Taxes related to the business, activities or
assets of the Company (including, without limitation, any assessment, official
inquiry, examination or proceeding with respect to any Consolidated Return),
the Seller shall promptly so notify the Buyer in writing.

                 (j) The Seller shall have the right to exercise control over
the contest and/or settlement of any issue raised in any official inquiry,
examination or proceeding with respect to any Consolidated Return for federal
income taxes or any inquiry, examination or proceeding that relates to Taxes
for which the Seller is liable to the Buyer under Section 5.5(b), and the
Seller shall pay any expenses incurred in connection therewith; provided that
(i) the Seller shall keep the Buyer informed of all material developments with
respect to such inquiry, examination or proceeding if it relates to any Tax for
which the Buyer could be liable under Section 5.5(c) and





                                       26
<PAGE>   32
(ii) the Seller shall not settle or compromise any such inquiry, examination or
proceeding that relates to any Tax for which the Buyer could be liable under
Section 5.5(c) without the consent of the Buyer, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld.  The Buyer shall cooperate with the Seller at Seller's
expense, as the Seller may reasonably request, in any such inquiry, examination
or proceeding.

                 (k) Except as provided in Section 5.5(j), the Buyer shall have
the right to exercise control over the contest and/or settlement of any issue
raised in any official inquiry, examination or proceeding with respect to Taxes
related to the business, activities or assets of the Company that relates only
to Taxes for which the Buyer is liable to the Seller under Section 5.5(c);
provided that (i) the Buyer shall keep the Seller informed of all material
developments with respect to such inquiry, examination or proceeding if it
relates to any Tax for which the Seller could be liable under Section 5.5(b)
and (ii) the Buyer shall not settle or compromise any such inquiry, examination
or proceeding that relates to any Tax for which the Seller could be liable
under Section 5.5(b) without the consent of the Seller, which consent shall not
be unreasonably withheld.  The Seller shall cooperate with the Buyer at the
Buyer's expense, as the Buyer may reasonably request, in any such inquiry,
examination or proceeding.

                 (l) The Buyer acknowledges that TUSHI shall make the election
specified in Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-20(g) (the "Reattribution
Election") to reattribute to TUSHI all of the net operating loss carryovers and
net capital loss carryovers attributable to the Company to the fullest extent
that the loss realized by the Seller with respect to the disposition of the
Shares is disallowed pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-20.  In
accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-20(g)(5), the Buyer shall
cause the Company to join in the filing of the Reattribution Election and, in
connection therewith, to attach a copy of the Reattribution Election to its
federal





                                       27
<PAGE>   33
income tax return in accordance with the requirements of Treasury Regulation
Section 1.1502-20(g)(5)(ii).  The Buyer and the Company shall not take any
position (in filings with respect to Taxes or otherwise) inconsistent with the
Reattribution Election.

                 (m) As used in this Section 5.5 and in Section 3.9, the
following terms shall have the following meanings:

                          (i) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
         as amended, and the applicable final Treasury Regulations promulgated
         thereunder, or corresponding provisions of future laws.

                          (ii) "Consolidated Returns" means any consolidated
         federal income tax return or similar return with respect to any other
         Tax on behalf of an affiliated group of corporations of which the
         Company was or is includible as a member for any portion of such
         taxable period of the Company beginning before the Closing Date.

                          (iii) "Taxes" (or "Tax" where the context requires)
         means all federal, state, county, local, foreign and other taxes
         (including, without limitation, income, profits, premium, estimated,
         excise, sales, use, occupancy, gross receipts, franchise, ad valorem,
         severance, capital levy, production, transfer, withholding,
         employment, unemployment compensation, payroll-related and property
         taxes, import duties and other governmental charges and assessments),
         whether or not measured in whole or in part by net income, and
         including deficiencies, interest, additions to tax or interest and
         penalties with respect thereto.

                          (iv) "Tax Returns" means all returns, declarations,
         reports, forms, estimates, information returns and statements required
         to be filed in respect of any Taxes to be supplied to a taxing
         authority in connection with any Taxes.





                                       28
<PAGE>   34
                          (v) "Treasury Regulations" means the final
         Regulations promulgated under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
         amended (or corresponding future law), or corresponding future final
         regulations.

                 5.6      REDEMPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK. Effective on or prior
to the Closing Date, the Company shall redeem all of the issued and outstanding
shares of Preferred Stock for an amount equal to fifty million dollars
($50,000,000) plus accrued and unpaid dividends through the redemption date.
As consideration for such redemption the Seller shall receive by way of
distribution certain notes payable (including accrued interest thereon) to the
Company by Affiliates of the Company, as referred to in Schedule 5.6, and cash
in the amount of five million three hundred and forty thousand Dollars
($5,340,000).

                 5.7      EMPLOYEES AND PLANS.

                 (a) Immediately prior to the Closing, the Company shall offer
employment to the employees of LMC listed on Schedule 5.7 which shall be
determined by the Buyer in its sole discretion.

                 (b) The Seller shall cause LMC to pay within ten (10) days
after the Closing Date to each employee of LMC on the date hereof who is an
employee of the Company on the Closing Date, the "stay bonus" promised to each
employee of LMC pursuant to letters dated July 11, 1994.  The Buyer shall have
no obligation with respect to the payment of the "stay bonuses."

                 (c) The Buyer shall have no obligation with respect to any
severance payments of employees of the Seller or any of its Affiliates who
either (i) do not become employees of the Company pursuant to offers made as
contemplated by paragraph (a) of this Section 5.7 or (ii) who are identified on
Schedule 5.7 as being offered temporary employment and who do not remain as
employees of the Company six (6) months after the Closing Date.  The Seller
shall promptly





                                       29
<PAGE>   35
reimburse the Buyer for any such severance payments paid by the Buyer if such
payments are made in accordance with the Company's severance arrangements in
effect on the date hereof.  The Buyer's obligation, if any, with respect to
severance payments for employees who become employees of the Company as
contemplated by paragraph (a) of this Section 5.7, shall be limited to, and
solely in accordance with, severance policies, if any, of the Company
applicable to such employees; provided, that for such purpose Buyer shall deem
such employee to have been an employee of Buyer for such additional period as
such employee was, or was deemed to have been, an employee of LMC.

                 5.8      LMC EQUIPMENT AND AGREEMENTS.  Effective on or prior
to the Closing Date the Seller shall cause LMC to transfer to the Company the
assets listed on Schedule 3.19, and shall have assigned to the Company (and the
Company shall assume the obligations of LMC under) the agreements listed on
Schedule 5.8 for a total consideration equal to the net book value (net of
liabilities, if any, assumed) as of March 31, 1995.

                 5.9      MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS.  Effective on or prior to the
Closing Date, the Company shall terminate the Management Agreements between the
Company and LMC.

                 5.10     FURTHER ASSURANCES.

                 (a) Each of the parties shall execute, at its expense, such
documents and take such further actions as may be reasonably required or
desirable to carry out the provisions hereof and the Contemplated Transactions
(including, without limitation, the furnishing of all information as may be
required by the Delaware Commissioner of Insurance or the Delaware Department
of Insurance, any other state regulatory agency asserting jurisdiction or by
the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice of the United States
under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder (the





                                       30
<PAGE>   36
"HSR Act") in order that the requisite approvals for the purchase and sale of
the Shares and the Contemplated Transactions be obtained or to cause any
applicable waiting periods to expire); provided that the Seller and the Buyer
shall each pay one-half of any filing fee in connection with a filing pursuant
to the HSR Act.  In the event that, at any time prior to the Closing, any Claim
shall have been instituted before any Governmental Body or by any Governmental
Body to restrain, modify or prevent the carrying out of the Contemplated
Transactions or to seek damages or a discovery order in connection with such
transactions, the Buyer and the Seller shall make all reasonable efforts and
take all reasonable steps to cause such termination, setting aside or dismissal
of, such Claim or any injunction, order or decree resulting therefrom.  Each
such party shall use reasonable efforts to fulfill or obtain the fulfillment of
the conditions to the Closing set forth in Articles 6 and 7, including any
conditions that require the execution and delivery of additional agreements.

                 (b) Each party will use reasonable efforts to implement the
provisions of this Agreement, and for such purpose, at the request of the other
party will, at or after the Closing, without further consideration, promptly
execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such additional
documents, instruments, conveyances and assurances and take such other actions
as the other party may reasonably deem necessary or desirable to implement any
provision of this Agreement and to render effective the consummation of the
Contemplated Transactions, including, without limitation, the transfer to the
Buyer of the ownership and intended related benefits of the business of the
Company.

                 5.11     SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE.  The Seller, on the one
hand, and the Buyer, on the other hand, shall have the right from time to time
prior to the Closing to supplement the disclosure schedules prepared by such
party, with respect to any matter hereafter arising which, if





                                       31
<PAGE>   37
existing or known as of the date of this Agreement, would have been required to
be set forth or described in such schedule.  Any such supplemental disclosure
will be deemed to have cured any breach of any representation or warranty made
in this Agreement, but will not be deemed to have been disclosed as of the date
of this Agreement for purposes of determining whether or not the conditions set
forth in Articles 6 and 7 hereof have been satisfied.

                 5.12     EFFORTS TO CONSUMMATE.  Upon the terms and subject to
the conditions herein provided, each of the parties hereto agrees to use
commercially reasonable efforts to take or cause to be taken all action, to do
or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other parties hereto
in doing, all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable under applicable
Law, to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner
practicable, the Contemplated Transactions, including, without limitation, (i)
promptly after the date hereof preparing and filing a Form A Statement with the
Delaware Insurance Department and any other Insurance Department where such
filing is required, and any other filings required to be made to obtain the
Required Consents; (ii) the defending of any lawsuits or other legal
proceedings to which it is a party, whether judicial or administrative,
challenging this Agreement or the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions
and (iii) the execution and delivery of such instruments, and the taking of
such other actions as the other parties hereto may reasonably require in order
to carry out the intent of this Agreement.

                 5.13     LIMITATION OF SELLER'S LIABILITIES. From and after
the Closing Date, except as expressly provided for in this Agreement, the
Exhibits and Schedules hereto and any documents or instruments executed in
connection with the Closing of the Contemplated Transactions, the Seller shall
have no obligations or liabilities whatsoever relating to the business,
properties or assets of the Company as the same may exist at the Closing Date
or arise thereafter,





                                       32
<PAGE>   38
including, without limitation, obligations or liabilities for any deductibles
with respect to insurance and reinsurance policies and obligations or
liabilities under guarantees by the Seller of the Company's obligations or
liabilities.  The Buyer shall cooperate with the Seller, both before and after
the Closing Date, by taking, and after Closing, by causing the appropriate
entity to take, in each case at the sole expense of Seller, all actions the
Seller shall reasonably request to effect the termination of any such Seller
guarantee, obligation or liability.

                 5.14     BOOKS AND RECORDS OF THE COMPANY.

                 (a) The Seller agrees to deliver to the Buyer or make
available to the Buyer at the place of business of the Company at or as soon as
practicable after the Closing, as requested by the Buyer, all books and records
relating to the business of the Company to the extent such books and records
relate solely to such business (including but not limited to, correspondence,
memoranda, personnel and payroll records and the like) and do not contain any
information pertaining to the Seller or the Seller's Affiliates (other than the
Company).

                 (b) For a period of seven (7) years following the Closing, or
for such longer periods as may be required to satisfy applicable Laws, (i) the
Seller shall retain all books and records relating to the business of the
Company that are integrated or non-separable from the books and records related
to any of the businesses of the Seller other than the business of the Company,
and (ii) the Buyer shall retain all other books and records of the business of
the Company, including, without limitation, all other such books and records of
such business (x) relating to Taxes, including, without limitation, accounting
and tax records and information pertaining to events occurring prior to the
Closing Date, and (y) required to be retained pursuant to obligations imposed
by any Law (such books and records of the business of the Company collectively,
the "Records").





                                       33
<PAGE>   39
                 (c) For a period of seven (7) years following the Closing, or
for such longer periods as may be required to satisfy applicable Laws, (i) each
party shall provide to duly authorized representatives of the other party who
wish to review any Records for bona fide business reasons reasonable access,
during regular business hours, to (x) employees of such party who are familiar
with such Records and who can assist such representatives of such other party,
at such other party's own expense, in locating, explaining or otherwise
reviewing such Records, and (y) use of such party's copying facilities,
clerical services and telephone in a reasonable manner at such other party's
own expense and (ii) neither party shall dispose of or destroy any Records
without written permission of the other.

                 (d) If original documents are required to respond to legal
process in connection with the conduct by either party of any litigation,
arbitration, audit, settlement proceedings or negotiations with third parties
with respect to its conduct of the business of the Company ("Legal
Proceedings"), such party, subject to applicable laws, regulations or
agreements, shall be permitted to remove such Records temporarily from the
other party's premises; provided that such party shall return such original
documents to such other party as promptly as practicable after such time when
such original documents are no longer required in connection with such Legal
Proceedings.

                 (e) If, in connection with Legal Proceedings, the Buyer or the
Seller shall require the assistance of the other party's employees, such party
shall provide such employees to the requesting party as are reasonably required
by such requesting party.  The requesting party shall pay such other party's
out-of-pocket costs incurred in connection with such use of such party's
employees and shall reimburse such party for the number of whole business days
spent by each such employee in providing such services at the rate equal to the
average daily gross pay





                                       34
<PAGE>   40
(excluding the value of employee benefits) of such employee during each
calendar month in which such services are performed.

                 5.15     NEGOTIATIONS WITH OTHERS.  From the date hereof until
the Closing, the Seller will not, and shall cause the Company not to, directly
or indirectly, without the written consent of the Buyer, (i) initiate
discussions or engage in negotiations concerning any sale of the Shares or of
any merger, sale of assets or similar transaction involving the Company with,
or (ii) furnish or cause to be furnished any non-public information concerning
the Company to, any Person other than the Buyer and its agents and
representatives.  The Seller agrees to disclose to the Buyer the existence and
content of any inquiries by or discussions with a third party relating to an
acquisition of the stock or assets of the Company as soon as practicable after
they take place.

         6.      CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATION OF THE BUYER TO CLOSE.
The obligation of the Buyer to enter into and complete the Closing is subject,
at the option of the Buyer to the fulfillment on or prior to the Closing Date
of the following conditions, any one or more of which (other than Section 6.2,
insofar as it relates to the Delaware Commissioner of Insurance or the Delaware
Department of Insurance, and Section 6.4) may be waived by the Buyer in its
sole discretion:

                 6.1      REPRESENTATIONS AND COVENANTS.  The representations
and warranties of the Seller contained in this Agreement shall be true and
correct in all respects (in the case of any provision of a representation or
warranty containing a materiality qualification) or in all material respects
(in the case of any provision of a representation or warranty without a
materiality qualification) on and as of the Closing Date with the same force
and effect as though made on and as of the Closing Date. The Seller shall have
performed and complied in all material respects with





                                       35
<PAGE>   41
all covenants and agreements required by this Agreement to be performed or
complied with by the Seller on or prior to the Closing Date.  The Seller shall
have executed and delivered to the Buyer a certificate, dated the date of the
Closing, to the foregoing effect and stating that all conditions to the Buyer's
obligations hereunder have been satisfied.

                 6.2      CONSENTS AND APPROVALS.  All consents or approvals
required for the consummation of the sale of the Shares and the Contemplated
Transactions from the Delaware Commissioner of Insurance or the Delaware
Department of Insurance or any other Governmental Body having jurisdiction over
the Company and the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions shall have
been obtained and be in full force and effect.

                 6.3      OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE SELLER.  The Buyer shall
have received the opinion of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison and
Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell, counsel to the Seller, each dated the Closing
Date, in form and substance mutually agreed upon by the Seller and the Buyer.

                 6.4      HSR ACT FILING.  Any Person required in connection
with the Contemplated Transactions to file a notification and report form in
compliance with the HSR Act shall have filed such form and the applicable
waiting period with respect to each such form (including any extension thereof
by reason of a request for additional information) shall have expired or been
terminated.

                 6.5      LITIGATION.  No Claim shall have been instituted
before any Governmental Body, or instituted or threatened by any Governmental
Body, to restrain, modify or prevent the carrying out of the Contemplated
Transactions.

                 6.6      TENDER OF ALL SHARES.  At the Closing, the Seller
shall have tendered all of the Shares for purchase as provided in Section 1.1.





                                       36
<PAGE>   42
                 6.7      PREFERRED STOCK REDEMPTION.  All of the Preferred
Stock shall have been redeemed as contemplated by Section 5.6.

                 6.8      DIVIDENDS.  Other than dividends on the Preferred
Stock in accordance with the terms provided therefor in the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation, after December 31, 1994, the Company shall not
have declared and the Seller shall not have received dividends from the Company
aggregating in excess of eleven million eight hundred eighty-seven thousand
four hundred twenty-nine Dollars ($11,887,429).

                 6.9      INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT.  The Seller and the Buyer
shall have executed an Indemnification Agreement, in substantially the form of
Exhibit A hereto (the "Indemnification Agreement").  The obligations of the
Seller under the Indemnification Agreement shall be guaranteed by Thomson.

                 6.10     THOMSON GUARANTY.  There shall have been delivered to
the Buyer the unconditional and irrevocable guarantee of Thomson, in form and
substance mutually agreed upon by the Seller and the Buyer, of the full and
timely performance by the Seller of all obligations of the Seller under this
Agreement (including any amendment hereto), including, without limitation, all
obligations for the payment of all damages, costs and expenses which may become
payable in accordance herewith.

                 6.11     ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT.  The Company shall
have entered into an Administrative Services Agreement with the Seller in form
and substance mutually agreed upon by the Seller and the Buyer (the
"Administrative Services Agreement").

                 6.12     CONFIDENTIALITY AND NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENT.  The
Seller, for itself and its Affiliates, shall have entered into a
Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement with the Buyer in form and
substance mutually agreed upon by the Seller and the Buyer.





                                       37
<PAGE>   43
                 6.13     AFFILIATE TRANSACTIONS. The Seller shall have
delivered to the Buyer evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Buyer that (i)
except as set forth on Schedule 6.13, all agreements between the Company, on
the one hand, and TUSHI and/or any Affiliate of TUSHI, on the other hand, shall
have terminated without the requirement of any payment by the Company and (ii)
all indebtedness owed by TUSHI and/or any Affiliate of TUSHI to the Company
shall have been paid in full.

                 6.14     RESIGNATIONS OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.  Such
directors and officers of the Company designated by Buyer shall have resigned
or been removed from office effective as of the Closing Date.

                 6.15     FIRPTA CERTIFICATE. The Seller shall have delivered
to the Buyer a certificate, as contemplated under and meeting the requirements
of Section 1.1445-2(b)(2)(i) of the Treasury Regulations, to the effect that
the Seller is not a foreign person within the meaning of the Code and the
applicable Treasury Regulations.

         7.      CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE OBLIGATION OF THE SELLER TO CLOSE.
The obligation of the Seller to enter into and complete the Closing is subject,
at the option of the Seller, to the fulfillment on or prior to the Closing Date
of the following conditions, any one or more of which (other than Section 7.2,
insofar as it relates to the Delaware Commissioner of Insurance or the Delaware
Department of Insurance, and Section 7.4) may be waived by the Seller in its
sole discretion:

                 7.1      REPRESENTATIONS AND COVENANTS.  The representations
and warranties of the Buyer contained in this Agreement shall be true and
correct in all respects (in the case of any provision of a representation or
warranty containing a materiality qualification) or in all material respects
(in the case of any provision of a representation or warranty without a
materiality





                                       38
<PAGE>   44
qualification) on and as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as
though made on and as of the Closing Date.  The Buyer shall have performed and
complied in all material respects with all covenants and agreements required by
this Agreement to be performed or complied with by the Buyer on or prior to the
Closing Date.  The Buyer shall have executed and delivered to the Seller a
certificate, dated the date of the Closing, to the foregoing effect and stating
that all conditions to the Seller's obligations hereunder have been satisfied.

                 7.2      CONSENTS AND APPROVALS.  All consents or approvals
required for the consummation of the sale of the Shares and the Contemplated
Transactions from the Delaware Commissioner of Insurance or the Delaware
Department of Insurance or any other Governmental Body having jurisdiction over
the Company and the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions shall have
been obtained and be in full force and effect.

                 7.3      OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE BUYER.  The Seller shall
have received the opinion of McGuire Woods Battle & Boothe, counsel to the
Buyer, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance mutually agreed upon by
the Seller and the Buyer.

                 7.4      HSR ACT FILING.  Any Person required in connection
with the Contemplated Transactions to file a notification and report form in
compliance with the HSR Act shall have filed such form and the applicable
waiting period with respect to each such form (including any extension thereof
by reason of a request for additional information) shall have expired or been
terminated.

                 7.5      LITIGATION.  No Claim shall have been instituted
before any Governmental Body, or instituted or threatened by any Governmental
Body, to restrain, modify or prevent the carrying out of the Contemplated
Transactions.





                                       39
<PAGE>   45
                 7.6      PREFERRED STOCK REDEMPTION.  All of the Preferred
Stock shall have been redeemed.

                 7.7      DIVIDEND.  The Seller shall have received an
extraordinary dividend from the Company in the amount of eleven million eight
hundred eighty-seven thousand four hundred twenty-nine Dollars ($11,887,429).

                 7.8      ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT.  The Company shall
have entered into the Administrative Services Agreement.

         8.      SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES AFTER CLOSING.  The
representations and warranties shall survive the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the Closing hereunder for a period of twenty-one (21) months
after the Closing Date; provided that (i) the representations and warranties
set forth in Sections 3.3(b) and (c), 3.4 and 4.2 of this Agreement  shall
survive until the expiration of the statute of limitations period applicable to
contracts and (ii) the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.9
of this Agreement shall survive until the expiration of the last of the
limitation periods contained in the Code during which an assessment or
reassessment can be made (including any extensions thereof).

         9.      GENERAL INDEMNIFICATION.

                 9.1      OBLIGATION OF THE SELLER TO INDEMNIFY. Subject to the
limitations contained in Article 8 and Section 9.4, the Seller agrees to
indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Buyer (and its directors, officers,
employees, Affiliates, successors and assigns) from and against all losses,
liabilities, damages, deficiencies, demands, claims, actions, judgments or
causes of action, assessments, costs or expenses (including, without
limitation, interest, penalties and reasonable attorneys' fees, disbursements
and other charges) (collectively, "Losses") based upon, arising out of or
otherwise in respect of:





                                       40
<PAGE>   46
                          (i) any inaccuracy in or any breach of any
         representation or warranty made by the Seller in this Agreement, the
         Exhibits and Schedules hereto or in any documents executed in
         connection with the Closing of the Contemplated Transactions; or

                          (ii) any breach of any covenant or agreement of the
         Seller contained in this Agreement.

                 9.2      OBLIGATION OF THE BUYER TO INDEMNIFY. Subject to the
limitations contained in Article 8 and Section 9.4, the Buyer agrees to
indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Seller (and its directors, officers,
employees, Affiliates, successors and assigns) from and against all Losses
based upon, arising out of or otherwise in respect of:

                          (i) any inaccuracy in or any breach of any
         representation or warranty made by the Buyer in this Agreement, the
         Exhibits and Schedules hereto or in any documents executed in
         connection with the Closing of the Contemplated Transactions; or

                          (ii) any breach of any covenant or agreement of the
         Buyer contained in this Agreement.

                 9.3      NOTICE TO INDEMNIFYING PARTY. If any party hereto
(the "Indemnitee") receives written notice of any third party claim or
potential claim or the commencement of any action or proceeding that could give
rise to an obligation on the part of any other party hereto to provide
indemnification (the "Indemnifying Party) pursuant to Section 9.1 or 9.2, the
Indemnitee shall promptly give the Indemnifying Party notice thereof (the
"Indemnification Notice"); provided that the failure to give the
Indemnification Notice promptly shall not impair the Indemnitee's right to
indemnification in respect of such claim, action or proceeding unless, the lack
of prompt notice adversely affects the ability of the Indemnifying Party to
defend against or diminish the Losses arising out of such claim, action or
proceeding.  The Indemnification Notice





                                       41
<PAGE>   47
shall contain factual information (to the extent known to the Indemnitee)
describing the asserted claim in reasonable detail and shall include copies of
any notice or other document received from any third party in respect of any
such asserted claim.  The Indemnifying Party may at its option undertake the
defense of a third party claim or suit described in this Section 9.3 at its own
cost and expense and with counsel of its own choosing; provided that the
Indemnifying Party acknowledges in writing (at the time it elects to assume the
defense of such claim or suit, which shall be not later than thirty (30) days
after the date of the Indemnification Notice) of its obligation under this
Section 9.3 to indemnify the Indemnitee with respect to such claim or suit.  In
the event that the Indemnifying Party fails to assume the defense of such claim
or suit, the Indemnitee shall have the right (upon notice to the Indemnifying
Party), without impairing any of its rights to indemnification as provided
herein, to assume and control the defense of such claim or suit and to settle
such claim or suit subject to the right of the Indemnifying Party to assume the
defense of such claim or suit at any time prior to settlement, compromise or
final determination thereof.  Notwithstanding this Section 9.3 no settlement of
any such third party claim or suit shall be made by the Indemnifying Party
without the prior written consent of the Indemnitee (which shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed).  No settlement of any such third party claim
or suit shall be made by the Indemnitee if the Indemnifying Party shall have
assumed the defense thereof and shall be in compliance with its obligations
with respect thereto as set forth above in this Section 9.3.  If the
Indemnifying Party chooses to defend any claim, the Indemnitee shall make
available to the Indemnifying Party any books, records or other documents
within its control that are necessary or appropriate for such defense.

                 9.4      LIMITATIONS ON INDEMNIFICATION.  The indemnification
provided for in Sections 9.1 and 9.2 shall be subject to the following
limitations:





                                       42
<PAGE>   48
                          (i) The Indemnifying Party shall not be obligated to
         pay any amounts for indemnification (other than with respect to Losses
         relating to Taxes and Sections 3.3(b) and (c), 3.4, 4.2 and 5.4) under
         this Agreement, unless and only to the extent that the aggregate
         amounts of Losses for which the Indemnifying Party is obligated to
         indemnify exceeds one hundred thousand Dollars ($100,000) (the "Basket
         Amount"), whereupon the Indemnifying Party shall be obligated to pay
         in full all such amounts for indemnification above the Basket Amount;
         provided that with respect to any provision of a representation or
         warranty set forth in this Agreement, which contains a reference to
         materiality, the breach of which may give rise to indemnification
         under Section 9.1 or 9.2, the breach of such representation or
         warranty shall be deemed material and, subject to the Basket Amount,
         shall be included in the amount of the Indemnifying Party's
         indemnification obligation only if the Loss incurred with respect to a
         breach of such representation or warranty exceeds fifty thousand
         Dollars ($50,000); provided further, that if such Loss exceeds fifty
         thousand Dollars ($50,000), the entire amount of such Loss (including
         the portion not exceeding fifty thousand Dollars ($50,000)) shall be
         included as part of the Indemnifying Party's indemnification
         obligation;

                          (ii) the Seller shall not be obligated to pay any
         amounts for indemnification under this Agreement for Losses arising as
         a result of the inadequacy of loss reserves;  any such indemnification
         shall be paid under and pursuant to the terms of the Indemnification
         Agreement;

                          (iii) the Seller shall not be obligated to pay any
         amounts for indemnification under this Agreement and under the
         Indemnification Agreement in excess of an aggregate under both
         Agreements of an amount equal to the Purchase Price;





                                       43
<PAGE>   49
                          (iv) the amount of any indemnification required to be
         paid by the Indemnifying Party shall be reduced by (A) any amount
         received by the Indemnitee with respect thereto under any insurance
         coverage (net of any costs, including reasonable legal fees, of such
         coverage incurred by such Indemnitee) or from any other party alleged
         to be responsible therefor, and (B) the amount of any Tax benefit
         realized by the Indemnitee relating thereto.  The Indemnitee shall use
         commercially reasonable efforts to collect any amounts available under
         such insurance coverage and from such other party alleged to have
         responsibility.  If an Indemnitee receives an amount under insurance
         coverage or from such other party with respect to any Losses at any
         time subsequent to any indemnification provided by the Indemnifying
         Party pursuant to this Article 9, then such Indemnitee shall promptly
         reimburse the Indemnifying Party, as the case may be, for any payment
         made or expense incurred by the Indemnifying Party in connection with
         providing such indemnification up to such amount received by the
         Indemnitee (net of any costs of such coverage or of obtaining such
         amount incurred by such Indemnitee); and

                          (v) the Indemnifying Party shall be obligated to
         indemnify any Indemnitees only for such Losses as to which the
         Indemnitees have given the indemnifying party written notice thereof
         on or prior to twenty-one (21) months after the Closing Date.  Any
         written notice delivered by an Indemnitee to the Indemnifying Party
         with respect to Losses shall set forth with as much specificity as is
         reasonably practicable the basis of the claim for indemnification and,
         to the extent reasonably practicable, a reasonable estimate of the
         amount thereof.

                 9.5      EXCLUSIVE REMEDY.  The Buyer and the Seller agree, to
the fullest extent permitted by law, that neither of them or any of their
directors, officers, employees, Affiliates,





                                       44
<PAGE>   50
controlling persons, agents or representatives shall have any liability or
responsibility whatsoever to the other or such other's directors, officers,
employees, Affiliates, controlling persons, agents or representatives on any
basis (including, without limitation, in contract or tort, under federal or
state securities laws or otherwise) based upon any information provided or made
available, or statements made, to the Buyer or the Seller or their respective
directors, officers, employees, Affiliates, controlling persons, agents or
representatives (or any omissions therefrom), including, without limitation,
information provided or statements made in the specific representations and
warranties set forth in this Agreement, except as and only to the extent
expressly set forth herein with respect to such representations and warranties
and rights to indemnification and subject to the limitations and restrictions
contained herein.

                 9.6      PURCHASE PRICE ADJUSTMENT.  All payments made
pursuant to this Article 9 shall be deemed to be adjustments of the Purchase
Price.

         10.     TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT.

                 10.1     TERMINATION.  This Agreement may be terminated prior
to the Closing as follows:

                          (i) at the election of the Seller if the Buyer has
         committed a material breach of this Agreement, which breach cannot be
         or is not cured by the Closing Date;

                          (ii) at the election of the Buyer, if the Seller has
         committed a material breach of this Agreement, which breach cannot be
         or is not cured by the Closing Date;

                          (iii) at any time on or prior to the Closing Date, by
         mutual written consent of the Seller and the Buyer; or

                          (iv) on July 1, 1995, if the Closing has not occurred
         prior to such date.





                                       45
<PAGE>   51
If this Agreement so terminates, it shall become null and void and have no
further force or effect, except as provided in Section 10.2.

                 10.2     SURVIVAL AFTER TERMINATION.  If this Agreement is
terminated in accordance with Section 10.1 and the Contemplated Transactions
are not consummated, this Agreement shall become void and of no further force
and effect, except for the provisions of Sections 5.3, 5.4 and 11.6; provided
that none of the parties shall have any liability in respect of a termination
of this Agreement, except to the extent that failure to satisfy the conditions
of Article 6 or Article 7, as the case may be, results from the violation of,
or misstatement contained in, the representations, warranties, covenants or
agreements of such party contained in this Agreement or any documents delivered
pursuant to this Agreement.

         11.     MISCELLANEOUS.

                 11.1     CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.  (a) As used in this Agreement,
the following terms have the following meanings:

                          (i) "Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person,
         any other Person controlling, controlled by or under common control
         with, or the parents, spouse, lineal descendants or beneficiaries of,
         such Person.  The term "control" (including the terms "controlling,"
         "controlled by" and "under common control with" ) means the
         possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the
         direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through
         the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

                          (ii) "Business Day" means any day other than a
         Saturday or Sunday or upon which banks in New York, New York or
         Richmond, Virginia are authorized or required by law to close.

                          (iii) "Dollars" means U.S. Dollars.





                                       46
<PAGE>   52
                          (iv) "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting
         principles in the United States of America.

                          (v) "Governmental Body" means any government or
         political subdivision thereof, whether federal, state, local or
         foreign, or any agency or instrumentality thereof.

                          (vi) "Knowledge of the Company" means matters that
         William C. Wren, James R. Schurr, Thomas D. Sykes, James M. Crotwell,
         Stephan H. Brodzinski or Robert W. Hartje knew or reasonably should
         have known after reasonable inquiry.

                          (vii) "Law" means any law, statute, code, ordinance,
         regulation, rule or other requirement.

                          (viii) "Order" means any order, judgment, injunction,
         award, decree or writ.

                          (ix) "Person" means any individual, corporation,
         limited liability corporation, partnership, limited liability
         partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust,
         unincorporated organization, Governmental Body or other entity.

                          (x) "Property" or "Properties" means real, personal
         or mixed property, tangible or intangible.

                          (xi) "Reserves for Losses and Loss Adjustment
         Expenses" means an amount equal to the allowance, determined in
         accordance with GAAP, with respect to the financial statements of the
         Company for (a) case reserve estimates for reported losses and loss
         adjustment expenses plus (b) incurred but not reported losses and loss
         adjustment expenses less (c) amounts representing estimated net
         realizable salvage, subrogation and deductibles, and in the case of
         clauses (a), (b) and (c), net of applicable reinsurance recoverables.

                          (xii) "Reserves for Uncollectible Reinsurance" 
         means an amount, determined in accordance with GAAP, equal to the 
         total of reinsurance recoverables owed to the Company,





                                       47
<PAGE>   53
that have been determined to be uncollectible (including collection expenses 
and any amount determined to be uncollectible in accordance with GAAP 
resulting from a commutation with a reinsurer).

                 (b) The following capitalized terms are defined in the
following Sections of this Agreement:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Term                                                           Section
- ----                                                           -------
<S>                                                          <C>
Administrative Services Agreement                            6.11
Affiliate                                                    11.1(a)(i)
Agent                                                        11.2
Basket Amount                                                9.4(i)
Broker                                                       5.4
Business Day                                                 11.1(a)(ii)
Buyer                                                        Preamble
Buyer's Consents                                             4.3
Claims                                                       3.13
Closing                                                      1.1
Closing Date                                                 2
Code                                                         5.5(m)(i)
Company                                                      Preamble
Consolidated Returns                                         5.5(m)(ii)
Contemplated Transactions                                    3.9(g)
Contracts                                                    3.12(iii)
control                                                      11.1(a)(i)
</TABLE>





                                       48
<PAGE>   54
<TABLE>
<S>                                                          <C>
Dollars                                                      11.1(a)(iii)
GAAP                                                         11.1(a)(iv)
GAAP Financial Statements                                    3.8(a)
Governmental Body                                            11.1(a)(v)
HSR Act                                                      5.10
Indemnification Agreement                                    6.9
Indemnification Notice                                       9.3
Indemnifying Party                                           9.3
Indemnitee                                                   9.3
Insurance License                                            3.11
Knowledge of the Company                                     11.1(a)(vi)
Law                                                          11.1(a)(vii)
Legal Proceedings                                            5.14(d)
Licenses                                                     3.11
Liens                                                        3.3(b)
LMC                                                          3.14(a)
Losses                                                       9.1
Order                                                        11.1(a)(viii)
Person                                                       11.1(a)(ix)
Post-Closing Information                                     5.5(h)
Post-Closing Returns                                         5.5(f)
Preferred Stock                                              3.3(a)
Property                                                     11.1(a)(x)
</TABLE>





                                       49
<PAGE>   55
<TABLE>
<S>                                                          <C>
Purchase Price                                               1.1
Quarterly Statement                                          3.7
Reattribution Election                                       5.5(l)
Records                                                      5.14(b)
Reinsurance Agreement                                        3.16
Required Consents                                            3.12(ii)
Reserves for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses             11.1(a)(xi)
Reserves for Uncollectible Reinsurance                       11.1(a)(xii)
Seller                                                       Preamble
Seller's Fee                                                 5.4
Shares                                                       Preamble
Statutory Accounting Principles                              3.7
Straddle Returns                                             5.5(f)
Taxes                                                        5.5(m)(iii)
Tax Attribute                                                5.5(g)
Tax Closing Agreement                                        3.9(d)
Tax Returns                                                  5.5(m)(iv)
Tax Ruling                                                   3.9(d)
Thomson                                                      3.14(a)
Treasury Regulations                                         5.5(m)(v)
TUSHI                                                        3.9(i)
</TABLE>

                 11.2     CONSENT TO JURISDICTION AND SERVICE OF PROCESS.  Any
legal action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement
or the Contemplated Transactions may be





                                       50
<PAGE>   56
instituted in any federal court of the District of Delaware or any state court
located in New Castle County, State of Delaware, and each party agrees not to
assert, by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, in any such action, suit
or proceeding, any claim that it is not subject personally to the jurisdiction
of such court, that the action, suit or proceeding is brought in an
inconvenient forum, that the venue of the action, suit or proceeding is
improper or that this Agreement or the subject matter hereof may not be
enforced in or by such court.  Each party further irrevocably submits to the
jurisdiction of such court in any such action, suit or proceeding.  Each of the
Buyer and the Seller hereby appoints Prentice-Hall Corporate System, Inc. (the
"Agent"), at 32 Loockerman, Suite L-100, Dover, Delaware 19904, or its office
at such other address in Wilmington, Delaware, as it hereafter furnishes to the
parties, as their authorized agent to accept and acknowledge on their behalf
service of any and all process that may be served in any such action, suit or
proceeding.  Any and all service of process and any other notice in any such
action, suit or proceeding shall be effective against any party if given
personally or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or by
any other means of mail that requires a signed receipt, postage prepaid, mailed
to such party as herein provided, or by personal service on the Agent with a
copy of such process mailed to such party by first class mail or registered or
certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. Nothing herein
contained shall be deemed to affect the right of any party to serve process in
any manner permitted by law or to commence legal proceedings or otherwise
proceed against any other party in any other jurisdiction.

                 11.3     NOTICES.  Any notice or other communication required
or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally or
by express courier or delivery service, telegraphed, telexed, sent by facsimile
transmission or sent by certified, registered or express mail,





                                       51
<PAGE>   57
postage prepaid.  Any such notice shall be deemed given when so delivered
personally or by express courier or delivery service, telegraphed, telexed or
sent by facsimile transmission or, if mailed, five (5) days after the date of
deposit in the United States mails, as follows:

                 (i)  if to the Buyer, to:

                          Markel Corporation
                          4551 Cox Road
                          Glen Allen, Virginia 23060
                          Attention: Steven A. Markel
                          Facsimile: (804) 527-3810

                 with a copy to:

                          McGuire Woods Battle & Boothe LLP
                          One James Center
                          Richmond, Virginia 23219
                          Attention: Leslie A. Grandis
                          Facsimile: (804) 775-1061





                                       52
<PAGE>   58
                 (ii)  if to the Seller to:

                          Lincoln Insurance Group, Inc.
                          c/o The Thomson Corporation
                          Metro Center
                          One Station Place
                          Stamford, Connecticut 06902
                          Attention: General Counsel
                          Facsimile: (203) 969-8733


                 with a copy to:

                          Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
                          1285 Avenue of the Americas
                          New York, New York 10019-6064
                          Attention: Peter J. Rothenberg, Esq.
                          Facsimile:  (212) 757-3990


Any party may by notice given in accordance with this Section to the other
parties designate another address or Person for receipt of notices hereunder.

                 11.4     ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  This Agreement (including the
Exhibits and Schedules) and any collateral agreements executed in connection
with the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions contain the entire
agreement among the parties with respect to the purchase of the Shares and
supersede all prior agreements, written or oral, with respect thereto; provided
that any confidentiality agreements entered into between the parties hereto
shall survive in full force and effect until the consummation of the Closing.

                 11.5     WAIVERS AND AMENDMENTS: NON-CONTRACTUAL REMEDIES;
PRESERVATION OF REMEDIES.  This Agreement may be amended, superseded,
cancelled, renewed or extended, and the terms hereof may be waived, only by a
written instrument signed by the Buyer and the Seller or, in the case of a
waiver, by the party waiving compliance.





                                       53
<PAGE>   59
                 11.6     EXPENSES.  Regardless of whether any or all of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated, the expenses
incurred by the Seller in connection with the authorization, preparation and
execution of, and the performance of its obligations under, this Agreement
shall be paid by the Seller, and the expenses incurred by the Buyer in
connection with the authorization, preparation and execution of, and the
performance of its obligations under, this Agreement shall be the
responsibility of the Buyer.

                 11.7     GOVERNING LAW.  This Agreement shall be governed and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to
agreements made and to be performed entirely within such State.

                 11.8     BINDING EFFECT; NO ASSIGNMENT; NO THIRD PARTY
BENEFICIARY.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
the parties and their respective successors, legal representatives and
permitted assigns.  This Agreement is not assignable except by operation of
law; provided that following the Closing the Buyer may sell the Company to, or
merge the Company with, any subsidiary of the Buyer, an insurance company rated
"A-" or better by A. M. Best Company, or such other entity as shall be approved
by the Seller, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed;
provided, further, that any such assignment shall not increase the liability of
the Seller hereunder.  Nothing expressed or implied in this Agreement is
intended or shall be construed to confer upon or give any Person other than the
Seller or the Buyer any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement
or any of the Contemplated Transactions.

                 11.9     VARIATIONS IN PRONOUNS.  All pronouns and any
variations thereof refer to the masculine, feminine or neuter, singular or
plural, as the context may require.

                 11.10    COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed by the
parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and
delivered shall be an original, but all such





                                       54
<PAGE>   60
counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.  Each
counterpart may consist of a number of copies hereof each signed by less than
all, but together signed by all of the parties hereto.

                 11.11    EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES.  The Exhibits and Schedules
are a part of this Agreement as if fully set forth herein; provided that the
information contained in any Schedule which is referred to in a representation
and warranty shall be deemed to have been disclosed in connection with, and be
a part of, that particular representation and warranty only and shall not be
deemed a part of any other representation and warranty.  All references herein
to Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be deemed references to such parts of
this Agreement, unless the context shall otherwise require.

                 11.12    HEADINGS.  The headings in this Agreement are for
reference only, and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

                 11.13    INTERPRETATION.  The parties acknowledge and agree
that: (i) each party and its counsel reviewed and negotiated the terms and
provisions of this Agreement and have contributed to its revision; (ii) the
rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are resolved against
the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this
Agreement; and (iii) the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be
construed fairly as to all parties hereto, regardless of which party was
generally responsible for the preparation of this Agreement.

                 11.14    SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS.  If any provision or any
portion of any provision of this Agreement, or the application of any such
provision or any portion thereof to any Person or circumstance, shall be held
invalid or unenforceable, the remaining portion of such provision and the
remaining provisions of this Agreement, and the application of such provision
or portion of such provision as is held invalid or unenforceable to Persons or
circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid or unenforceable,
shall not be affected thereby.





                                       55
<PAGE>   61
                 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement
on the date first above written.


                                                   SELLER:
                                                   LINCOLN INSURANCE GROUP, INC.

                                                   By                          
                                                     --------------------------
                                                   Name:
                                                   Title:

                                                   BUYER:
                                                   MARKEL CORPORATION

                                                   By                           
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                   Name:
                                                   Title:





                                       56
<PAGE>   62
                                   AMENDMENT
                                       to
                            STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT


                 THIS AMENDMENT to the Stock Purchase Agreement (as hereinafter
defined) is made as of the 30th day of May, 1995 between Lincoln Insurance
Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Seller"), and Markel Corporation, a
Virginia corporation (the "Buyer").


                                    RECITALS


                 The Seller and the Buyer are parties to the Stock Purchase
Agreement dated as of April 5, 1995 (the "Stock Purchase Agreement").  The
parties to the Stock Purchase Agreement wish to amend the Stock Purchase
Agreement as set forth herein.  All defined terms used herein shall have the
meanings ascribed to them in the Stock Purchase Agreement.

                 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the
mutual promises made herein and the mutual benefits to be derived therefrom,
the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

                 1.       The second sentence of Section 3.13 of the Stock
Purchase Agreement is hereby amended by adding at the beginning thereof the
words "Except as set forth on Schedule 3.13,".

                 2.       In accordance with Section 5.11 of the Stock Purchase
Agreement, Schedules 3.13, 3.14, 3.15, 3.19, 3.23, 5.7, 5.8, and 6.13 to the
Stock Purchase Agreement are hereby replaced in their entirety, respectively,
by Schedules 3.13 (Amended), 3.14 (Amended), 3.15 (Amended), 3.19 (Amended),
3.23 (Amended), 5.7 (Amended), 5.8 (Amended), and 6.13 (Amended), attached
hereto; provided however that the disclosure contained in paragraph 2 of
Schedule 3.13 (Amended) shall not be considered in determining the Seller's
liability for indemnification under Article 9 of the Stock Purchase Agreement.

                 3.       Section 3.21 of the Stock Purchase Agreement is
hereby amended by adding the following sentence at the end thereof: "As of the
Closing Date, the Company will employ those employees of LMC listed on Schedule
5.7 hereto who will have accepted the employment offered by the Company
pursuant to Section 5.7 hereof."

                 4.       Section 3.22 of the Stock Purchase Agreement is
hereby amended by adding the following sentence at the end thereof:  "Pursuant
to the Buyer's request, all of the
<PAGE>   63
                                                                               2





insurance policies set forth on Schedule 3.22 will be terminated with respect
to the Company as of the Closing Date."

                 5.       The second line of Section 6.9 of the Stock Purchase
Agreement is hereby amended by inserting after the words "Exhibit A", the words
"(Amended and Restated)" and Exhibit A is hereby amended and restated as set
forth in Exhibit A (Amended and Restated) attached hereto.

                 6.       The notices to the Department of Insurance of all
states where the Company is listed as an approved surplus/excess lines carrier,
as referred to in Paragraph (ii)2 of Schedules 3.12 and 4.3 to the Stock
Purchase Agreement, of the change of control of the Company as the result of
the Contemplated Transactions, shall be provided by the Company after the
Closing.  Such notices shall not constitute consents or approvals required for
the consummation of the sale of the Shares and the Contemplated Transactions
from a Governmental Body having jurisdiction over the Company and the
consummation of the Contemplated Transactions pursuant to Section 6.2 and
Section 7.2 of the Stock Purchase Agreement, and to the extent such notices
constitute such consents or approvals, the requirement pursuant to Sections 6.2
and 7.2 that they be obtained on or prior to Closing is hereby waived.

                 7.       The parties confirm all of the other substantive
terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement as amended by this Amendment.

                 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this
Amendment as of the date first above written.

                                           SELLER:

                                           LINCOLN INSURANCE GROUP, INC.


                                           By
                                             ---------------------------------
                                           Name:
                                           Title:


                                           BUYER:

                                           MARKEL CORPORATION


                                           By                            
                                             ---------------------------------
                                           Name:
                                           Title:

<PAGE>   1
                                                                 EXHIBIT 2(b)

                           INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT


                 This Indemnification Agreement ("Agreement") is made and
entered into as of May 30, 1995 by and between Lincoln Insurance Group, Inc., a
Delaware corporation ("Seller") and Markel Corporation, a Virginia corporation
("Buyer").

                 Seller and Buyer have entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement
dated as of April 5, 1995 (the "Stock Purchase Agreement") pursuant to which
Seller will sell to Buyer all of the issued and outstanding shares of common
stock of Lincoln Insurance Company, a Delaware domestic insurance corporation
(the "Company").

                 In connection with the Stock Purchase Agreement, Seller has
agreed to indemnify and hold harmless Buyer with respect to the adequacy of
certain of the loss reserves and reserves for uncollectible reinsurance
maintained by the Company.  This Agreement is intended to provide Buyer,
subject to the Deductible and other limitations set forth herein, with
collateral security for adverse development in certain of the Company's loss
reserves and reserves for uncollectible reinsurance.  This Agreement is also
intended to provide, again subject to the Deductible and the other limitations
set forth herein, a mechanism for reimbursing Buyer as and when cash losses are
suffered with respect to such adverse development.

                 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and
the mutual covenants contained herein and in the Stock Purchase Agreement, the
parties agree as follows:

                 1.       DEFINITIONS.

                          1.1     STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT DEFINITIONS.
Capitalized terms used herein that are defined in the Stock Purchase Agreement
are used herein as therein defined.

                          1.2     ADDITIONAL DEFINITIONS.  As used in this
Agreement, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:
<PAGE>   2

                                  1.2.1  "Actual Net Aggregate Loss" means,
         with respect to each Insurance Book, (a) the sum of (i) the Reserves
         for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses applicable to such Insurance
         Book as recorded on the balance sheet of the Company at the relevant
         Determination Date, and (ii) the Net Loss Payments applicable to such
         Insurance Book through and including the relevant Determination Date,
         minus (b)(i)in the case only of each Determination Date other than the
         Final Settlement Date, Current Recoverables on Paid Losses, or (ii) in
         the case only of the Final Settlement Date, Final Recoverables on Paid
         Losses; provided that the calculation of Reserves for Losses and Loss
         Adjustment Expenses as of each Determination Date shall be determined
         to be the amount that is one standard deviation above the Company's
         actuarially determined point estimate of such reserves.

                                  1.2.2  "Adjustment Amount" means

                                  (a) the amount equal to the positive or
                 negative difference obtained by subtracting the Closing Loss
                 Reserves in respect of the Pre-1984 Book from the Actual Net
                 Aggregate Loss in respect of the Pre-1984 Book; plus (whether
                 positive or negative)

                                  (b) ninety-five percent (95%) of the amount
                 equal to the positive or negative difference obtained by
                 subtracting the Closing Loss Reserves in respect of the
                 Post-1983 Book from the Actual Net Aggregate Loss in respect
                 of the Post-1983 Book; minus

                                  (c) the Deductible; minus

                                  (d) the aggregate of all Indemnity Payments
                 previously paid to or received by Buyer;





                                      2
<PAGE>   3
                 provided, that (i) the change in Reserves for Uncollectible
                 Reinsurance applicable to either Insurance Book, plus all
                 amounts written off with respect to reinsurance determined to
                 be uncollectible, in each case, between March 31, 1995 and the
                 relevant Determination Date and (ii) all Recovery Costs shall
                 be deemed to be applicable, for purposes of the calculation of
                 the Adjustment Amount, to the Pre-1984 Book.

                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the
                 Adjustment Amount, as calculated above, is greater than the
                 Maximum Adjustment Amount, then the Adjustment Amount shall
                 mean the Maximum Adjustment Amount at the time of calculation.

                                  1.2.3  "Annual Statements" means, with
         respect to any calendar year, the annual convention statement filed by
         the Company or its successors with the applicable Department of
         Insurance for the relevant fiscal year ended December 31, and the
         audited statutory financial statements of the Company or its
         successors with respect to such year.

                                  1.2.4  "Buyer's Auditors" means KPMG Peat
         Marwick LLP or such other firm of nationally recognized auditors as
         shall be selected by Buyer.

                                  1.2.5  "Closing Loss Reserves" means the
         following amounts for Reserves for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses
         (i) with respect to the Pre-1984 Book, one million six hundred
         twenty-one thousand six hundred thirteen Dollars ($1,621,613)(1/)





- ----------------------------------

(1/) Calculated consistently with the proviso to Section 1.2.2 as $1,265,964
for Reserves for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses, plus $832,949 for
Reserves For Uncollectible Reinsurance.  In addition, subtracts $477,300 for
Current Recoverables on Paid Losses in respect of the Pre-1984 Book, in order
to avoid having to determine for purposes of this Agreement whether Recoveries
received after the date hereof relate to losses paid on, before or after March
31, 1995.

                                       3
<PAGE>   4
         and (ii) with respect to the Post-1983 Book, twenty-seven million nine
         hundred fifty-two thousand four hundred seventy-nine Dollars
         ($27,952,479)(2/).

                                  1.2.6  "Current Recoverables on Paid Losses"
         means, with respect to each Insurance Book, the amount of recoverables
         owed to the Company by a reinsurer or from salvage or subrogation with
         respect to losses and loss adjustment expenses paid by the Company on
         or before the relevant Determination Date, which recoverables are not
         past due, in dispute or determined by the Company in accordance with
         GAAP to be uncollectible.

                                  1.2.7  "Date of Loss" means the earliest or
         first date of occurrence, claim, loss or other event giving rise to a
         claim under an insurance policy; provided that with respect to
         environmental claims, toxic claims or bodily injury or property claims
         arising from continuous or repeated exposure to conditions, where it
         is not possible to determine a specific date of loss, Date of Loss
         shall mean the policy inception date; provided, further, that with
         respect to claims made prior to April 1, 1995, the Date of Loss shall
         be the Date of Loss as determined by the Company prior to such date.

                                  1.2.8  "Deductible" means one million
         twenty-six thousand four hundred ninety-two Dollars ($1,026,492).

                                  1.2.9  "Determination Date" means the date as
         of which a determination of the Adjustment Amount is made, which day
         shall be, as the case may be, September 30 of each year prior to the
         Final Settlement Date, or the Final Settlement Date;





- ----------------------------------

(2/) Calculated consistently with the proviso to Section 1.2.2 as $28,130,963
for Reserves for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses, plus zero for Reserves
For Uncollectible Reinsurance.  In addition, subtracts $178,484 for Current
Recoverables on Paid Losses in respect of the Post-1983 Book, in order to avoid
having to determine for purposes of this Agreement whether Recoveries received
after the date hereof relate to losses paidon, before or after March 31, 1995.


                                       4
<PAGE>   5
         provided, that if at any time the condition set forth in the proviso
         contained in Section 2.2 occurs, from and after such date, the
         Determination Date shall be the last day of any fiscal quarter of the
         Company.

                                  1.2.10  "Final Recoverables on Paid Losses"
         means, with respect to each Insurance Book, the amount, determined as
         of the Final Settlement Date in accordance with GAAP, equal to the
         recoverables owed to the Company by a reinsurer or from salvage or
         subrogation with respect to losses and loss adjustment expenses paid
         by the Company on or before the Final Settlement Date.

                                  1.2.11  "Final Settlement Amount" means the
         Adjustment Amount as finally determined as of the Final Settlement
         Date.

                                  1.2.12  "Final Settlement Date" means
         December 31, 2004.

                                  1.2.13  "Indemnification Statement" means the
         statement and accompanying schedule delivered pursuant to Section 2.2.

                                  1.2.14  "Indemnity Payments" means the sum of
         (i) the aggregate amount of all cash and the fair market value of all
         assets distributed to Buyer from the Trust or otherwise provided to
         Buyer by Seller at any time, and (ii) the amount of cash received by
         Buyer as a draw against a Letter of Credit; provided that there shall
         be excluded from Indemnity Payments the amount of any sums paid to
         Seller pursuant to Section 2.4(f).

                                  1.2.15  "Insurance Book" means the Pre-1984
         Book or the Post-1983 Book, as the case may be.

                                  1.2.16  "Letter of Credit" means a letter of
         credit with payment terms substantially in the form of Exhibit A
         hereto, issued by a bank organized and existing under the laws of a
         state of the United States of America or a member of the Federal





                                       5
<PAGE>   6
         Reserve System of the United States of America, meeting such
         qualifications and containing such terms, in each case, notified in
         writing by Buyer or the Company to Seller to enable the Company, to
         the extent permissible under the applicable insurance laws, to record
         Seller's indemnification obligations hereunder as an admitted asset
         under applicable statutory accounting principles.

                                  1.2.17  "Maximum Adjustment Amount" means (i)
         the Purchase Price, minus (ii) the aggregate of all amounts paid by
         Seller as indemnity payments under Article 9 of the Stock Purchase
         Agreement, minus (iii) the aggregate of all Indemnity Payments.

                                  1.2.18  "Net Loss Payments" means losses and
         loss adjustment expenses paid by the Company after March 31, 1995 and
         on or before the relevant Determination Date in respect of each
         Insurance Book, plus Recovery Costs, minus Recoveries.

                                  1.2.19  "Post-1983 Book" means all policies
         of insurance issued by the Company on or before March 31, 1995 with a
         claim with a Date of Loss on or before March 31, 1995, other than the
         Pre-1984 Book.

                                  1.2.20  "Pre-1984 Book" means all policies of
         insurance issued by the Company with a claim with a Date of Loss prior
         to January 1, 1984.

                                  1.2.21  "Recoveries" means, with respect to
         each Insurance Book, all cash recoveries actually received after March
         31, 1995 and on or before the relevant Determination Date by Buyer or
         the Company from reinsurers, salvage or subrogation.

                                  1.2.22  "Recovery Costs" means, with respect
         to each Insurance Book, all costs actually incurred by the Company
         after March 31, 1995 and on or before the relevant Determination Date
         in connection with recoveries or attempted recoveries from





                                       6
<PAGE>   7
         reinsurers, salvage or subrogation in respect of losses and loss
         adjustment expenses paid by the Company on or before the relevant
         Determination Date.

                                  1.2.23  "Seller's Auditors" means Price
         Waterhouse LLP or such other firm of nationally recognized auditors as
         shall be selected by Seller.

                                  1.2.24  "Superfund Reduction"  has the
         meaning given to such term in Section 7.

                                  1.2.25  "Trust" means the Trust created
         pursuant to the Trust Agreement.

                                  1.2.26  "Trust Agreement" means a Trust
         Agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Seller and Buyer.

                                  1.2.27  "Trustee" means the Trustee under the
         Trust Agreement.

                 2.       INDEMNIFICATION.

                          2.1     INDEMNIFICATION.  Seller agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless Buyer for the Adjustment Amount, as determined as of each
Determination Date, by funding, or providing collateral security for, the
Adjustment Amount as provided in Section 2.4.  Seller shall continue to fulfill
its indemnity obligations under this Agreement in respect of each Insurance
Book until the final determination of the Final Settlement Amount.

                          2.2     INDEMNIFICATION STATEMENTS.  Until the final
determination of the Final Settlement Amount, Buyer shall deliver annually to
Seller an Indemnification Statement setting forth its determination of the
Adjustment Amount as of the Determination Date immediately preceding the date
of such Indemnification Statement, accompanied by a schedule showing the
calculation of such Adjustment Amount, which shall be substantially in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit B, and stating that such determination has been made
pursuant to this Agreement; provided, that if at any time the amount of Net
Loss Payments less Current Recoverables on Paid Losses





                                       7
<PAGE>   8
exceeds, in the aggregate for both Insurance Books, thirty million six hundred
thousand five hundred eighty-four Dollars ($30,600,584), from and after such
time Buyer shall deliver Indemnification Statements pursuant to this Section
2.2 on a quarterly basis.  An Indemnification Statement shall be delivered
within sixty (60) days after each Determination Date which is not December 31,
and within one hundred twenty (120) days after each Determination Date which is
December 31.

                          2.3     FINAL SETTLEMENT.  (a) A settlement of the
indemnification obligations of Seller hereunder shall be calculated as of the
Final Settlement Date.  As soon as practicable after the Final Settlement Date,
Buyer shall deliver to Seller its determination of the Final Settlement Amount,
accompanied by a schedule showing the calculation of the Final Settlement
Amount, which shall be substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B,
together with an opinion of Buyer's Auditors that such schedule fairly presents
in all material respects as of the Final Settlement Date the calculation of the
Final Settlement Amount and the balances included therein in accordance with
this Agreement.

                                  (b) A determination of Buyer delivered
pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 2.3 shall be final and binding upon
the parties unless, within forty-five (45) days after delivery thereof, Seller
notifies Buyer that it disagrees with the amount or the matters reflected
therein, in which case it shall, at its own expense, cause Seller's Auditors to
perform an additional determination of the Final Settlement Amount within sixty
(60) days after the delivery of its notice concerning such disagreement.
Seller's Auditors shall deliver to Buyer and Buyer's Auditors within such sixty
(60)-day period a schedule showing its determination of the Final Settlement
Amount, which shall be substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B,
together with an opinion of Seller's Auditors that such schedule fairly
presents in all material respects as of the Final Settlement Date the
calculation of the Final Settlement Amount and the balances included





                                       8
<PAGE>   9
therein in accordance with this Agreement.  Buyer's Auditors and Seller's
Auditors shall each provide to the other access to its work papers related to
its calculation of the Final Settlement Amount.  If Seller's Auditors and
Buyer's Auditors cannot agree on a single determination of the Final Settlement
Amount within twenty (20) days after delivery to Buyer of the determination of
Seller's Auditors, then Seller's Auditors and Buyer's Auditors shall, within
ten (10) days thereafter, mutually select an independent third auditor whose
determination of the Final Settlement Amount, which shall be not more than the
determination by Buyer's Auditors nor less than the determination by Seller's
Auditors and shall be made within sixty (60) days after such auditor's
selection and shall be delivered to Buyer and Seller, shall be final and
binding.

                                  (c) The determination of the Final Settlement
Amount shall be deemed to be final upon the earliest to occur of (i) Buyer's
receipt of Seller's written concurrence with the determination made by Buyer,
(ii) Seller's failure to notify Buyer of its objection to Buyer's determination
within forty-five (45) days after Seller's receipt thereof, (iii) Seller's
failure to deliver Seller's Auditors' determination to Buyer within sixty (60)
days after delivery to Buyer of the notice referred to in clause (ii) of this
Section 2.3(c), (iv) the receipt by Buyer and Seller of the written agreement
by Seller's Auditors and Buyer's Auditors on a single determination, and (v)
the receipt by Buyer and Seller of the determination made by the independent
auditor selected by Buyer's Auditors and Seller's Auditors.  If any objection
or dispute exists at any time with respect only to a portion of the Final
Settlement Amount, the portion of the Final Settlement Amount not objected to
or disputed shall be deemed to be final upon receipt of notice by Buyer from
Seller, or by Seller from Buyer, that such portion is not objected to or in
dispute.

                          2.4     FUNDING AND REFUNDING OF INDEMNITY.  (a)
Seller agrees to provide for establishment and maintenance of security for the
Adjustment Amount and for the funding of Seller's indemnification obligations
hereunder by entering into and funding the Trust Agreement





                                       9
<PAGE>   10
and/or delivering to Buyer of one or more Letters of Credit.  Until final
determination of the Final Settlement Amount, within five (5) Business Days
after receipt of an Indemnification Statement, Seller shall (i) deliver to the
Trustee under the Trust Agreement funds and/or securities which satisfy the
relevant provisions thereof, or (ii) deliver to the Buyer, for the benefit of
the Buyer and the Company, one or more Letters of Credit, or (iii) make any
combination of deliveries satisfying clauses (i) and (ii), in any such case
having an aggregate value or principal amount, as the case may be, sufficient
to cause the aggregate value of the total assets held under the Trust
Agreement, plus the aggregate undrawn principal amount of the Letters of Credit
held by Buyer, to equal the Adjustment Amount; provided, that if the Adjustment
Amount is less than (x) the aggregate value of the assets held under the Trust
Agreement determined as of the relevant Determination Date plus (y) the
aggregate undrawn principal amount of the Letters of Credit delivered to Buyer
pursuant to this Section 2.4, Buyer shall return to Seller Letters of Credit,
or the Trustee shall deliver to Seller funds and/or securities, and/or any
combination of the foregoing, so that the aggregate value of the assets held
under the Trust Agreement and/or the aggregate undrawn principal amount of the
Letters of Credit held by Buyer is equal to the Adjustment Amount.

                                  (b) From and after the time that the amount
of Net Loss Payments less Current Recoverables on Paid Losses less Indemnity
Payments exceeds, in the aggregate for both Insurance Books, thirty million six
hundred thousand five hundred eighty-four Dollars ($30,600,584), Buyer shall be
entitled to draw upon the Letters of Credit and/or withdraw assets from the
Trust up to an aggregate amount equal to the lesser of (i) such excess, and
(ii) the Maximum Adjustment Amount as of the date of draw or withdrawal, as the
case may be.

                                  (c) Buyer shall deliver to Seller the
following: (i) simultaneously with delivery to a bank that has issued a Letter
of Credit, a copy of each sight draft and (ii) simultaneously with delivery to
the Trustee under the Trust Agreement, a copy of each withdrawal





                                       10
<PAGE>   11
notice, in each case accompanied by a certificate of an officer of Buyer
stating that such amounts have been drawn or withdrawn, as the case may be,
pursuant to and in accordance with this Agreement.

                                  (d) If Seller believes that amounts drawn
under the Letters of Credit or assets withdrawn from the Trust pursuant to this
Section 2.4 are in excess of the amount to be drawn or withdrawn hereunder, the
resolution thereof shall be part of the determination of the Final Settlement
Amount pursuant to Section 2.3.

                                  (e) If at any time prior to the final
determination of the Final Settlement Amount, Buyer receives notification of
termination of the Trust Agreement and the aggregate undrawn principal amount
of the Letters of Credit is less than the Adjustment Amount, determined as of
the most recent Determination Date, Buyer shall be entitled to withdraw assets
from the Trust in the amount of such insufficiency and deposit such amounts in
a separate account in the name of Buyer or the Company in any bank meeting the
qualifications for serving as Trustee under the Trust Agreement, apart from its
general assets, in trust as security for and to provide funding of Seller's
indemnity obligations hereunder under the same terms and conditions as if such
assets had remained in the Trust.

                                  (f) If the Adjustment Amount (other than the
Final Settlement Amount) is less than zero, within five (5) Business Days after
determination of such Adjustment Amount, Buyer shall pay to Seller by wire
transfer an amount equal to the lesser of (i) the amount by which such
Adjustment Amount is less than zero or (ii) the aggregate of all Indemnity
Payments previously paid to or received by Buyer.

                          2.5     FUNDING OF INDEMNITY AND DISPOSITION OF
COLLATERAL UPON FINAL SETTLEMENT.  (a) If the Final Settlement Amount is
greater than zero, within five (5) Business Days after final determination of
the Final Settlement Amount, Seller shall pay to Buyer an amount equal





                                       11
<PAGE>   12
to the Final Settlement Amount.  Such amount shall be paid by Seller, in its
discretion, by wire transfer, through liquidation of assets held in the Trust,
or by requiring Buyer to draw against the Letters of Credit held by Buyer.
Upon receipt of the Final Settlement Amount all assets remaining in the Trust
and all remaining Letters of Credit held by Buyer shall be delivered to Seller,
and the Trust Agreement shall terminate.

                                  (b) If the Final Settlement Amount is less
than zero, within five (5) Business Days after final determination of the Final
Settlement Amount, Buyer shall pay to Seller by wire transfer an amount equal
to the lesser of (i) the amount by which the Final Settlement Amount is less
than zero or (ii) the aggregate of all Indemnity Payments previously paid to or
received by Buyer.

                          2.6     PAYMENT TERMS.  Payments due pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available
funds within five (5) Business Days following the date that the payment amount
becomes final.  The party to receive payment shall provide the payor with
appropriate wire transfer information.  Any payments not paid within such five
(5) Business Day period shall bear interest at a per annum rate equal to two
percent (2%) in excess of the prime lending rate announced from time to time by
Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A.

                          2.7     REDUNDANCIES; NEGATIVE ADJUSTMENT AMOUNT.  A
redundancy in the Reserves for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses in one
Insurance Book shall be applied to offset deficiencies in the Reserves for
Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses in the other Insurance Book, but in no
event shall a redundancy (or a negative Adjustment Amount or Final Settlement
Amount resulting from a redundancy) create any obligation on the part of Buyer
to make any payment to Seller, except for the purpose of repaying to Seller all
or part of the Indemnity Payments previously paid to Buyer to which it is later
determined Buyer was not entitled.





                                       12
<PAGE>   13
                          2.8     MAXIMUM INDEMNITY.  Seller shall not be
obligated to pay any amounts for indemnification under Article 9 of the Stock
Purchase Agreement, or fund or pay any amounts under this Agreement in excess
in the aggregate under both Agreements of an amount equal to the Purchase
Price.

                          2.9     PURCHASE PRICE ADJUSTMENT.  All payments made
by Seller pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be adjustments of the
Purchase Price under the Stock Purchase Agreement.

                 3.       REPORTS; INSPECTION; PROCEDURES.

                          3.1     ANNUAL STATEMENTS, QUARTERLY STATEMENTS AND
INVESTIGATION.  Buyer shall deliver to Seller by March 15 in each of the years
1996-2004 (inclusive) a copy of the Annual Statement.  In addition, from and
after such time as Buyer shall be entitled to deliver Indemnification
Statements on a quarterly basis through the Final Settlement Date, within sixty
(60) days after the end of each fiscal quarter of the Company, Buyer shall
deliver to Seller a copy of the Quarterly Statement filed by the Company or its
successors with the applicable Department of Insurance for the relevant fiscal
quarter.  Buyer shall permit Seller (through its employees or representatives)
at all reasonable times during normal business hours to investigate any of the
Company's documents or records, including without limitation, to audit the
payments made by the Company for losses and loss adjustment expenses related to
the Insurance Books, that may, in the reasonable opinion of Seller, be relevant
to the determination of payment obligations pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement.

                          3.2     CONFIDENTIALITY AND CONFLICT.  Seller agrees
that it, and its employees and representatives, will hold in confidence and not
disclose to any third party any of the information provided by Buyer to Seller
pursuant to this Agreement.  Before Buyer shall be required to provide
information to, or permit investigation by, Seller or its employees or





                                       13
<PAGE>   14
representatives, Buyer shall be provided certification in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to it that such representative does not have any
interest, including, without limitation, serving as counsel to insureds on
policies of insurance written by the Company or as counsel to reinsurers of
insurance policies in an Insurance Book, that is or could be in conflict with
the interests of the Company or Buyer.

                          3.3     LOSS SETTLEMENT PROCEDURES.  Buyer agrees
that, for the period from the Closing Date until the Final Settlement Date,
each of Buyer and the Company will, in relation to claims subject to indemnity
hereunder:

                                  3.3.1       Not settle claims except in the
         ordinary course of business and in accordance with current practices
         of other insurance subsidiaries of Buyer or otherwise in accordance
         with practices no less stringent than standard insurance industry
         practices;

                                  3.3.2       Use commercially reasonable
         efforts to obtain reimbursement of claims from reinsurers; and

                                  3.3.3       Permit Seller (through its
         employees or representatives) at all reasonable times during normal
         business hours to make such investigation of, or audit, any claims,
         actual or prospective (or any other matter which may in the reasonable
         opinion of Seller be relevant to the Adjustment Amount) and furnish
         Seller with copies of such documents as Seller may reasonably request,
         it being understood that Seller's right to investigate and audit the
         claims settlement procedure shall be no less in scope than rights
         afforded to the Company's reinsurers.

                 4.       EXTRAORDINARY LOSSES.  (a) Reserves for Losses and
Loss Adjustment Expenses in respect of an Insurance Book shall include a
provision with respect to specific claims or series of similar claims for all
losses, liabilities and expenses incurred by the Company in





                                       14
<PAGE>   15
connection with any action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to
the actual or alleged bad faith, fraud, error or omission by the Company in
connection with the handling of such claims under insurance policies in such
Insurance Book either (i) on or before the date hereof or (ii) if Seller has
consented to the manner in which the relevant claim or series of similar claims
is being handled, after the date hereof, and (b) Reserves for Uncollectible
Reinsurance in respect of the Pre-1984 Book shall include a provision with
respect to specific claims or series of similar claims for all losses,
liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, expenses for
declaratory judgment actions) incurred by the Company in respect of either
Insurance Book in connection with any action, suit or proceeding arising out of
or relating to the actual or alleged error or omission by the Company in
connection with the handling prior to April 1, 1995 of such claims with
reinsurers.

                 5.       COMMUTATION OF UNCOLLECTIBLE REINSURANCE.  Buyer
shall be entitled to settle and commute any reinsurance recoverable; and any
losses, including, without limitation, expenses of collection, settlement or
commutation, resulting therefrom, shall be reflected in the Adjustment Amount
if Seller consents to such settlement or commutation, which consent shall not
be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

                 6.       ASSIGNMENT OF UNCOLLECTIBLE REINSURANCE.  Buyer shall
cause the Company to assign to Seller any reinsurance recoverable that would be
reflected in the Adjustment Amount promptly after such reinsurance recoverable
is written off or reserved against in its entirety by the Company; provided
that Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to avoid damage to the
relationship between the Company and the person owing such recoverable.

                 7.       SUPERFUND TAXATION.  If at any time on or prior to
the termination of this Agreement any Tax is assessed against the Company in
connection with the Comprehensive Environmental, Response, Compensation and
Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 9601, et. seq., or any amendment thereto,
which results directly in a limitation of the Company's liability with respect
to





                                       15
<PAGE>   16
the Pre-1984 Book, the direct result of which is a reduction in the Reserves
for Losses and Loss Adjustment Expenses with respect to the Pre-1984 Book (the
"Superfund Reduction"), the parties agree that such Tax assessment, up to the
amount of the Superfund Reduction, will be taken into account in calculating
the Adjustment Amount, and Buyer will not have a claim for indemnification with
respect to such amount under the Stock Purchase Agreement; provided, that Buyer
shall be entitled to seek indemnification under the Stock Purchase Agreement
for the amount of any such Tax assessment in excess of the Superfund Reduction.

                 8.       CONSENT NOT TO BE UNREASONABLY WITHHELD.  Whenever
pursuant to this Agreement an action of one party is subject to the consent of
the other party that is not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, the party
whose consent is required shall respond within a reasonable period of time,
based upon the facts and circumstances relating to the subject matter of the
action requiring consent, and shall, if it does not provide its consent, set
forth in writing and in reasonable detail the basis and reasons for denying
consent.  The party whose consent is required shall not be entitled to refuse
to respond to the request for consent or to respond that it is neither
consenting or denying consent.

                 9.       TERM AND GOVERNING LAW.  This Agreement shall become
effective concurrently with Closing under the Stock Purchase Agreement and
shall remain in full force and effect until the obligations of the parties
hereunder shall have been finally discharged in connection with settlement of
the Final Settlement Amount.  This Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware.

                 10.      ASSIGNMENT.  In the event Buyer sells the Company to,
or merges the Company with, any subsidiary of Buyer, an insurance company rated
"A-" or better by A. M. Best Company or to such other entity as shall be
approved by Seller, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed, such entity to whom Buyer sells the Company, or with which





                                       16
<PAGE>   17
the Company merges, shall have all of the rights of Buyer under this Agreement;
provided, that any such assignment shall not increase Seller's liability
hereunder.  Except as provided in the immediately preceding sentence, neither
party may assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the
prior written consent of the other party.

                 11.      INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE.  The provisions of
Sections 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 11.5, 11.6, 11.9, 11.10, 11.12, 11.13 and 11.14 of
the Stock Purchase Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference herein and
shall be fully applicable hereto, with the term "Agreement" as used therein
being deemed references to this Agreement.

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

                         LINCOLN INSURANCE GROUP, INC.



                         By: 
                            ---------------------------------------




                         MARKEL CORPORATION



                         By:
                            ---------------------------------------





                                       17

<PAGE>   1
                                                                  EXHIBIT 2(c)

                                    GUARANTY


                            DATED AS OF MAY 30, 1995


                                       BY

                            THE THOMSON CORPORATION


                                  IN FAVOR OF


                               MARKEL CORPORATION
<PAGE>   2
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS*

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                        Page
                                                                                                                        ----

<S>              <C>                                                                                                       <C>
                                                     ARTICLE I
                                                    DEFINITIONS

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

                                                     ARTICLE II
                                                     GUARANTY

Section 2.1.     The Guaranty  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1
                 ------------                                                                                               
Section 2.2.     Guaranty Unconditional and Irrevocable  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
                 --------------------------------------                                                                     
Section 2.3.     Reinstatement in Certain Circumstances  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
                 --------------------------------------                                                                     
Section 2.4.     Waivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
                 -------                                                                                                    
Section 2.5.     Subrogation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
                 -----------                                                                                                
Section 2.6.     No Set-Off  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
                 ----------                                                                                                 

                                                    ARTICLE III
                                          REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Section 3.1.     Corporate Status  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
                 ----------------                                                                                           
Section 3.2.     Annual Shareholders Report  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
                 --------------------------                                                                                 
Section 3.3.     Non-Contravention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
                 -----------------                                                                                          
Section 3.4.     Binding Effect  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
                 --------------                                                                                             

                                                     ARTICLE IV
                                                   MISCELLANEOUS

Section 4.1.     Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
                 -------------                                                                                              
Section 4.2.     Enforcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
                 -----------                                                                                                
Section 4.3.     Assignment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
                 ----------                                                                                                 
Section 4.4.     Action by Beneficiary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
                 ---------------------                                                                                      
Section 4.5.     Entire Agreement  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
                 ----------------                                                                                           
Section 4.6.     Incorporation by Reference  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
                 --------------------------                                                                                 
</TABLE>





- ----------------------------------

     *The Table of Contents is not a part of the Guaranty.
<PAGE>   3
                                    GUARANTY


                 This GUARANTY (this "Guaranty") is dated as of May 30, 1995
and is made by The Thomson Corporation, an Ontario corporation (the
"Guarantor") for the benefit of Markel Corporation, a Virginia corporation
("Markel"), Lincoln Insurance Company, a Delaware domestic insurance
corporation ("LIC"), and their permitted successors, transferees and assigns
(Markel, LIC and such successors, transferees and assigns, individually and
collectively, the "Beneficiary")

                 Lincoln Insurance Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("LIGI"), is the Seller pursuant to a Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of
April 5, 1995, as amended by the Amendment thereto dated the date hereof (the
"Purchase Agreement") between LIGI and Markel, pursuant to which LIGI is
selling to Markel all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the "Shares")
of LIC.  LIGI is the indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Guarantor.  Under
the Purchase Agreement, LIGI has agreed, subject to certain limitations, to
indemnify and hold harmless Markel with respect to certain representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements of LIGI set forth therein.  In connection
with the closing of the purchase of the Shares, LIGI is entering into an
Indemnification Agreement dated the date hereof pursuant to which it has
agreed, subject to certain limitations, to indemnify and hold harmless Markel
with respect to the adequacy of certain of the loss reserves and reserves for
uncollectible reinsurance maintained by LIC.  The execution and delivery of
this Guaranty is a condition for the closing under the Purchase Agreement.

                 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and
the mutual covenants contained herein, the parties agree as follows:


                                   ARTICLE I
                                  DEFINITIONS

                 SECTION 1.1.     DEFINITIONS.  Terms used herein and not
otherwise defined herein which are defined in the Purchase Agreement shall have
for the purposes hereof the meanings provided therein.


                                   ARTICLE II
                                    GUARANTY

                 SECTION 2.1.     THE GUARANTY.  The Guarantor hereby
unconditionally guarantees to the Beneficiary the full and punctual payment and
performance of all amounts, liabilities or other obligations now or hereafter
payable by LIGI to Markel under the Purchase Agreement and any other agreements
executed pursuant or incidental to the Purchase Agreement, including, without
limitation, the Indemnification Agreement and any other agreements executed
pursuant or incidental to the Indemnification Agreement (all such amounts,
liabilities and obligations being herein called the "Obligations").  If LIGI
shall fail to pay any Obligation when due in accordance with its terms, the
Guarantor shall forthwith on written demand of the Beneficiary pay the
Beneficiary the amount of such Obligation at the address specified in this
Guaranty in immediately available funds.
<PAGE>   4
                 SECTION 2.2.     GUARANTY UNCONDITIONAL AND IRREVOCABLE.  This
is an irrevocable, continuing and unconditional guaranty of payment and not of
collection, and the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder are unconditional
and absolute and independent and separate from any obligation of LIGI.  Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of the Guarantor
hereunder shall not be released, discharged or otherwise affected by:

                          (i) any extension, renewal, settlement, compromise,
         waiver or release in respect of any obligation of LIGI under the
         Purchase Agreement or the Indemnification Agreement or other document
         evidencing such Obligation, by operation of law or otherwise;

                          (ii) any modification or amendment or supplement to
         the Purchase Agreement or the Indemnification Agreement or other
         document evidencing such Obligation;

                          (iii) any furnishing or acceptance of additional
         security or any release, substitution, non-perfection or invalidity
         of any direct or indirect security for any Obligation or any release
         of any other guarantor or guarantors of the Obligations;

                          (iv) any change in the existence, structure or
         ownership of LIGI, or any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or
         other similar proceeding affecting LIGI or its assets or any resulting
         disallowance, release or discharge of all or any portion of any
         Obligation;

                          (v) the existence of any claim, set-off or other
         right which the Guarantor may have at any time against LIGI, the
         Beneficiary or any other corporation or person, whether in connection
         herewith or any unrelated transaction; provided that nothing herein
         shall prevent the assertion of any such claim by separate suit or
         compulsory counterclaim;

                          (vi) any failure by the Beneficiary (a) to file or
         enforce a claim against LIGI or its estate (in a bankruptcy or other
         proceeding), (b) to give notice to the Guarantor of a breach or
         default by LIGI under the Purchase Agreement or the Indemnification
         Agreement, (c) to commence any action against LIGI, (d) to disclose to
         the Guarantor any facts which Markel may now or hereafter know with
         regard to LIGI or (e) to proceed with due diligence in the collection,
         protection or realization upon any collateral securing the
         Obligations; or

                          (vii) any other act or omission to act or delay of
         any kind by LIGI or the Beneficiary or any other corporation or person
         or any other circumstance whatsoever which might, but for the
         provisions of this clause, constitute a legal or equitable discharge
         of the Guarantor's obligations hereunder.

                 This Guaranty is and shall remain fully enforceable
irrespective of any defenses that LIGI may have or assert in respect of the
Obligations, including but not limited to failure of





                                      -2-
<PAGE>   5
consideration, breach of warranty, payment, statute of frauds, statute of
limitations and accord and satisfaction; provided that the Guarantor does not
waive its right to assert any such defenses it may have in respect of the
Obligations.

                 SECTION 2.3.     REINSTATEMENT IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.  If
at any time any payment by LIGI of any Obligation is rescinded or must
otherwise be restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution,
liquidation or reorganization of LIGI or upon or as a result of the appointment
of a receiver, intervener or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for,
LIGI or any substantial part of its property or otherwise, the Guarantor's
obligations hereunder with respect to such payment shall be reinstated as
though such payment had been due but not made at such time.  The Guarantor
agrees that payment or performance of any of the Obligations or other acts
which toll any statute of limitations applicable to the Obligations shall also
toll the statute of limitations applicable to the Guarantor's liability
hereunder.

                 SECTION 2.4.     WAIVERS.  The Guarantor waives any and all
notice of the creation, renewal, extension or accrual of any of the Obligations
and notice of or proof of reliance by the Beneficiary upon this Guaranty or
acceptance of this Guaranty, and the Obligations shall conclusively be deemed
to have been created, contracted or incurred in reliance upon this Guaranty,
and all dealings between LIGI or the Guarantor and the Beneficiary shall
likewise be conclusively presumed to have taken place or been consummated in
reliance upon this Guaranty.  The Guarantor unconditionally waives (i)
acceptance hereof, diligence, presentment, demand, protest and any notice not
provided for herein, including, without limitation, any notice when the
Beneficiary exercises rights against LIGI to hold, sell, lease or otherwise
dispose of security for any of the Obligations, (ii) any requirement that at
any time any action be taken by any corporation or person against LIGI or any
other corporation or person or that resort be had to any security for, or other
guaranty of, any Obligation, (iii) any defense that may arise by reason of lack
of authority of the Guarantor or the lack of authority, death or disability of
any other person or entity, (iv) any right that the Guarantor may now or
hereafter have under Section 3-606 of the Uniform Commercial Code or otherwise
to unimpaired collateral, (v) the defense of commercial unreasonableness with
respect to the Beneficiary's exercise of any rights or remedies against any
direct or indirect security for the Obligations or (vi) any defense based upon
any fact or condition set forth in clauses (i) through (vii) of Section 2.2.

                 Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that the Beneficiary is not required to
enforce any remedies against LIGI or any other party now or hereafter liable or
contingently liable to the Beneficiary on account of the Obligations as a
condition to payment or performance by the Guarantor hereunder.  Nor is the
Beneficiary required to seek to enforce, or resort to any remedies with respect
to, any security interest, lien or encumbrance now or hereafter granted to the
Beneficiary by LIGI or any other Person.

                 SECTION 2.5.     SUBROGATION.  Upon making any payment
hereunder, the Guarantor shall be subrogated to the rights of the payee against
LIGI with respect to such payment; provided that the Guarantor shall not
enforce any payment by way of subrogation until all amounts payable with
respect to the Obligations have been paid in full.





                                      -3-
<PAGE>   6
                 SECTION 2.6.     NO SET-OFF.  No act or omission of any kind
or at any time on the part of the Beneficiary in respect of any matter
whatsoever shall in any way affect or impair the rights of the Beneficiary to
enforce any right, power or benefit under this Guaranty, and no set-off, claim,
reduction or diminution of any obligation or any defense of any kind or nature
which the Guarantor has or may have against the Beneficiary shall be available
against the Beneficiary in any suit or action brought by the Beneficiary to
enforce any right, power or benefit provided for by this Guaranty; provided
that nothing herein shall prevent the assertion by the Guarantor of any such
claim by separate suit or compulsory counterclaim.  Nothing in this Guaranty
shall be construed as a waiver by the Guarantor of any rights or claims which
it may have against the Beneficiary hereunder or otherwise, but any recovery
upon such rights and claims shall be had from the Beneficiary separately, it
being the intent of this Guaranty that the Guarantor shall be unconditionally
and absolutely obligated to perform fully all its obligations, covenants and
agreements hereunder for the benefit of the Beneficiary.



                                  ARTICLE III
                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

                 The Guarantor represents and warrants that:

                 SECTION 3.1.     CORPORATE STATUS.  The Guarantor is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the Province of Ontario, and has the corporate power and authority to
execute and deliver this Guaranty.  The Guarantor is the ultimate parent
corporation of LIGI.

                 SECTION 3.2.     ANNUAL SHAREHOLDERS REPORT.  The Guarantor
has delivered to the Beneficiary a true and complete copy of its annual report
to shareholders for the year ended December 31, 1994, which contains a true and
complete copy of the audited consolidated financial statements for the
Guarantor and its subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 1994.

                 SECTION 3.3.     NON-CONTRAVENTION.  The execution, delivery
and performance by the Guarantor of this Guaranty require no action by or in
respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official and do
not contravene, or constitute (with or without the giving of notice or lapse of
time or both) a default under, any provision of applicable law or of any
agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon
or affecting the Guarantor.

                 SECTION 3.4.     BINDING EFFECT.  This Guaranty constitutes a
legal, valid and binding agreement of the Guarantor, enforceable against it in
accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by (i)
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general
application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and (ii) general
principles of equity.





                                      -4-
<PAGE>   7
                                   ARTICLE IV
                                 MISCELLANEOUS

                 SECTION 4.1.     GOVERNING LAW. This Guaranty shall be
governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware
applicable to agreements to be performed entirely within such State.

                 SECTION 4.2.     ENFORCEMENT. The Beneficiary may enforce this
Guaranty either by action at law, suit in equity or other proceeding, and it
shall not be necessary to make LIGI a party to any such action, suit or
proceeding.  The Guarantor will pay all reasonable fees (including, without
limitation, reasonable attorney's fees), costs and expenses incurred by the
Beneficiary in connection with enforcing this Guaranty or in collecting any or
all of the Obligations.

                 SECTION 4.3.     ASSIGNMENT.  In the event that Markel sells
LIC to, or merges LIC with, any subsidiary of Markel, an insurance company
rated "A-" or better by A. M. Best Company or to such other entity as shall be
approved by LIGI, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed,
such entity to whom Markel sells LIC, or with which LIC merges, shall have all
of the rights of Markel under this Agreement; provided, that any such
assignment shall not increase the Guarantor's liability hereunder.  Except as
provided in the immediately preceding sentence, neither party may assign its
rights or obligations under this Guaranty without the prior written consent of
the other party.

                 SECTION 4.4.     ACTION BY BENEFICIARY. Any action pursuant to
this Guaranty may be taken by any Beneficiary acting alone; provided, that any
action taken by any Beneficiary shall be binding upon all of the other Persons
included in the Beneficiary.

                 SECTION 4.5.     ENTIRE AGREEMENT.  This Agreement contains
the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter
hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, with respect
thereto.

                 SECTION 4.6.     INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE.  The provisions
of Sections 11.2, 11.3, 11.6, 11.9, 11.12, 11.13 and 11.14 of the Purchase
Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference herein and shall be fully
applicable hereto, with the term "Agreement" as used therein being deemed
references to this Guaranty, the term "Buyer" as used therein to be deemed
references to the Beneficiary and the term "Seller" as used therein to be
deemed references to the Guarantor.

                       IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guarantor has executed this 
Guaranty as of the day and year first above written.


                                          THE THOMSON CORPORATION
                                          
                                          
                                          By                           (SEAL)
                                            ---------------------------      
                                            Title:





                                      -5-

<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 23


                      CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration 
Statements No. 33-28921, No. 33-46706 and No. 33-61598 on Form S-8 of Markel 
Corporation of our report dated March 29, 1995, on our audits of the financial
statements of Lincoln Insurance Company as of and for the years ended 
December 31, 1994 and 1993, included in Markel Corporation's report on 
Form 8-K dated June 13, 1995.


/s/ PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP              
- -----------------------------
Price Waterhouse LLP
Philadelphia, PA
June 13, 1995


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