Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
COMPLAINT
Hexion Inc. (Hexion), formerly known as Momentive Specialty Chemicals Inc., files
this Complaint against Zurich Insurance plc (UK Branch) (Zurich), AIG Europe Limited
(AIG), Assicurazioni Generali Spa (UK Branch) (Assicurazioni), HDI-Gerling Industrie
Versicherung AG (HDI), International Insurance Company of Hannover PLC
(International), Scor UK Company Ltd (Scor), Swiss Reinsurance Company UK Ltd.
(Swiss), Allianz Global Risks US Insurance Company (Allianz), Aspen Insurance UK Ltd.
(Aspen), QBE Insurance Corporation (QBE), ACE American Insurance Company on behalf
of Starr Technical Risks Agency, Inc. (ACE), Talbot Syndicate #1183 on behalf of Talbot
Underwriting Services (US) Ltd. (Talbot), and XL Insurance America, Inc. (XL)
(collectively, the Carriers) alleging as follows:
NATURE OF THIS ACTION
1.
This Complaint requests declaratory relief and asserts breach of contract arising
out of the Carriers failure to acknowledge and to honor their contractual duty under an
international all-risk first-party property insurance program to fully reimburse Hexion for its
incurred and ongoing losses arising from the interruption of Hexions VeoVaTM manufacturing
activities at a Netherlands facility (the VeoVa Plant) due to property damage that took place to
equipment at that location that was used and contracted for use by Hexion.
2.
Hexions covered losses include lost business income, increased expenses, and
mitigation costs.
3.
4.
Hexions incurred and future losses are Time Element Losses, and associated
increased costs and expenses, that are covered under an interlocking international insurance
program that includes a Master Policy and a Local Policy. Attached hereto as Exhibits A and B
are true and correct copies of Policy No. WB1400879 (the Master Policy) and Policy No.
22588 (the Local Policy) (collectively the Policies).
5.
The Policies by their terms are interlocking, but to the extent terms and/or
coverage is broader, the terms and coverage of the Master Policy control.
6.
Hexions incurred and future losses are subject to a $500 million policy limit and
a $1 million deductible.
7.
In the alternative, Hexions losses are Contingent Time Element Losses in respect
of named suppliers and are subject to a $100 million Master Policy sublimit and a $1 million
deductible.
8.
The Carriers have expressed an intent to limit and/or deny coverage by issuing a
reservation of rights letter asserting that: (1) a corrosion exclusion in the Master Policy may
bar coverage for Hexions losses; and (2) to the extent that the Master Policy provides any
coverage for Hexions losses, that coverage is subject to a $10 million sublimit for Contingent
Time Element Losses in respect of unnamed suppliers.
9.
Hexion seeks a declaration regarding the parties rights and obligations under the
insurance program, as well as damages resulting from the Carriers breach and/or anticipatory
breach of their coverage obligations.
THE PARTIES
10.
Upon information and belief, Defendant Zurich is incorporated in Ireland, and its
UK Branch is registered in England and Wales with its principal place of business located at
3000 Parkway, Whiteley, Fareham, Hampshire in the United Kingdom.
12.
Kingdom with its principal place of business located at 58 Fenchurch St., EC3M 4AB, London in
the United Kingdom
13.
United Kingdom with its principal place of business located at 100 Leman St., E1 8AJ, London
in the United Kingdom.
14.
Upon information and belief, Defendant HDI is incorporated in Germany with its
principal place of business located at 10 Fenchurch St., EC3M 3BE, London in the United
Kingdom.
15.
United Kingdom with its principal place of business located at 10 Fenchurch St., EC3M 3BE,
London in the United Kingdom.
16.
Kingdom with its principal place of business located at 10 Lime St., EC3M 3BE, London in the
United Kingdom.
17.
Kingdom with its principal place of business located at 30 St. Mary Axe, EC3A 8EP, London in
the United Kingdom.
18.
Kingdom with its principal place of business located at 30 Fenchurch St., EC3M 3BD, London in
the United Kingdom.
20.
with its principal place of business located at 88 Pine St. Wall St. Plaza., 4th Floor, New York,
NY 10005.
21.
with its principal place of business located at 436 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106.
22.
Upon information and belief, Defendant Talbot is incorporated in New York with
its principal place of business located at 48 Wall St., Floor 17, New York, NY 10005.
23.
principal place of business located at Seaview House, 70 Seaview Ave., Stamford, CT 06902.
24.
Hexion.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
25.
complete diversity of citizenship between Hexion and the Carriers, which are citizens of different
countries or states, and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000, exclusive of interest and
costs.
26.
The Carriers are subject to personal jurisdiction because they regularly transact
28.
which provides that the Carriers agree at the request of the Insured to submit to the
jurisdiction of a Court of competent jurisdiction within the United States. Master Policy,
Endorsement 5 at 70.
29.
Further, the Declarations supplied by and agreed to by the Carriers states: Choice
Further, the Master Policy states that It is further agreed that service of process
in such suit may be made upon Messers Mendes & Mount, 750 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY
10019-6829, United States of America, and that in any suit instituted against any one of [the
Carriers] will abide by the final decision of such Court or of any Appellate Court in the event of
an appeal. Master Policy, Endorsement 5 at 70.
31.
headquarters and principal place of business is in Columbus, Ohio, the sale and delivery of the
Master Policy took place in Columbus, Ohio, and Hexions risk management office responsible
for the purchase of the Master Policy and relations with the Carriers regarding the Master Policy
is in Columbus, Ohio.
HEXIONS 2014-2015 ALL-RISK PROPERTY INSURANCE PROGRAM
32.
In exchange for substantial premiums, the Carriers sold Hexion all-risk first-party
property insurance coverage for the period of July 1, 2014 to July 1, 2015.
33.
the Master Policy, which covers all of its insured locations, and interlocks with, and provides
broad difference in conditions coverage vis-a-vis, one or more local policies (Insurance
Program).
THE MASTER POLICY
34.
The Master Policy applies worldwide to cover All Real and Personal Property
to which Hexion or its subsidiaries has an insurable interest. Master Policy at 1, 16.
35.
Momentive Specialty Chemicals Holdings LLC, now known as Hexion LLC, and
any of its subsidiaries, among other entities, are Named Insureds under the Master Policy.
Master Policy at 1.
36.
37.
Hexion B.V., the entity that owns the VeoVa Plant, is a subsidiary of Hexion.
38.
The Master Policy insures Real Property that is located at an Insured Location
or within 1,000 feet thereof, to the extent of the interest of the Insured in such property. Master
Policy at 16.
39.
The Master Policy defines Real Property to include new buildings (or
structures), alterations, repairs and additions under construction at an Insured Location, in which
the Insured has an insurable interest. Master Policy at 16.
40.
41.
The Master Policy defines Location to mean (1) As specified in the schedule
44.
to conditions which cause or result from direct physical loss or damage. All damages resulting
from a common cause, or from exposure to substantially the same conditions, shall be deemed to
result from one occurrence. Master Policy at 3.
45.
The Master Policy provides coverage for Time Element loss directly resulting
from physical loss or damage of the type insured by the property damage sections of the Policy
to property (i) described elsewhere in this Policy and not otherwise excluded by this Policy,
(ii) used by the Insured, or for which the Insured has contracted use, or (iii) located at an
Insured Location, during the Policy periods of liability. Master Policy at 36.
46.
The Master Policy does not include a sublimit for Time Element losses.
47.
The Master Policy defines the Period of Liability for Time Element loss to
buildings and equipment as the period: a) starting from the time of direct physical loss or
damage of the type insured against; and b) ending when with due diligence and dispatch the
building and equipment could be (i) repaired or replaced; and (ii) made ready for operations,
under the same or equivalent physical and operating conditions that existed prior to the damage,
c) not to be limited by the expiration of this Policy. Master Policy at 45.
48.
The Master Policy extends the Period of Liability to apply for such additional
length of time as would be required with the exercise of due diligence and dispatch to restore the
Insureds business to the condition that would have existed had no loss occurred, commencing
with the date on which the liability of the Company for loss resulting from interruption of
business would terminate if this Extension had not been included herein. Master Policy at 42.
49.
The Period of Liability in the Master Policy extends for up to twenty-four (24)
months.
50.
The Master Policy also covers expenses reasonably and necessarily incurred by
the Insured to reduce the loss otherwise payable under this section of this Policy. The amount of
such recoverable expenses will not exceed the amount by which the loss has been reduced.
Master Policy at 36.
51.
The Master Policy also covers the reasonable and necessary extra costs incurred
by the Insured of the following during the PERIOD OF LIABILITY: a) Extra expenses to
temporarily continue as nearly normal as practicable the conduct of the Insureds business; and
b) Extra costs of temporarily using property or facilities of the Insured or others, less any value
remaining at the end of the PERIOD OF LIABILITY for property obtained in connection with
the above. Master Policy at 39.
52.
The Master Policy also covers Professional Fees, including the actual costs
10
53.
The Master Policy contains a $100 million sublimit for Contingent Time Element
Coverage in respect of named customers and/or suppliers and a $10 million sublimit for
Contingent Time Element Coverage in respect of unnamed customers and/or suppliers. Master
Policy at 45.
55.
The terms named and unnamed are not defined in the Master Policy.
56.
corrosion or erosion, wear and tear, inherent vice, latent defect or quality in the property that
causes it to damage or destroy itself, decay or other spoilage, when not sudden and/or
accidental. Master Policy at 34.
57.
The Policy further states that if direct physical damage not excluded by this
Policy results, then only that resulting damage is insured. Master Policy at 34.
58.
The Master Policy has a Jurisdiction clause stating that jurisdiction shall be
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction as stated in the Service of Suit Clause, as defined
in endorsement No. 5 attached hereto. Master Policy at 54.
11
59.
provides that the Carriers agree at the request of the Insured to submit to the jurisdiction of a
Court of competent jurisdiction within the United States. Master Policy, Endorsement 5.
60.
The Master Policy states that it shall only apply to the extent that: a) the Insured
Perils and/or definitions and/or conditions under this Policy are broader in meaning or scope than
those of any Specific Local Primary Policy and/or b) limits of liability set forth herein are
broader in meaning or scope than those of any Specific Local Primary Policy and this Policy
shall only apply to provide excess insurance over any amount collectible from such policies.
Master Policy, Endorsement 8 at 73.
62.
The Carriers issued the Local Policy to Hexion, which is a local property
12
64.
under which an interlocking master policy and one or more local policies have been issued to the
parent company and to the local companies that belong to its group. Local Policy at
Declarations Page 1.
65.
The Local Policy provides coverage for the real interest against loss or damage
[to insured property] if and insofar as the loss or damage is the result of an occurrence. Local
Policy at 7.
66.
The Local Policy defines real interest as [t]he insureds interest in the
preservation of the risk objects on account of ownership or any other real right or his bearing the
risk for the preservation thereof. Local Policy at 7.
67.
and/or goods in the buildings at the address(es) specified in the schedule. Local Policy at 5.
68.
The Local Policy further states that Carriers have knowledge of the location,
construction, lay-out and use of the risk objects, as well as of the adjacent premises, upon
inception of the contract. Local Policy at 14.
HEXIONS BUSINESS INTERRUPTION AND RESULTING AND ONGOING
ECONOMIC LOSSES
69.
70.
The VeoVa Plant is located at the same address, and is physically attached and
SJ.
directly adjacent to, a manufacturing facility (Shell Plant) owned and operated by Shell
Nederland Chemie (Shell).
13
71.
The VeoVa Plant produces a family of vinyl ester monomers known as VeoVa,
One of the base raw materials that the VeoVa Plant needs in order to manufacture
VeoVa is acetylene, which Shell produces at the Shell Plant, and which Shell has contracted with
Hexion to supply to the VeoVa Plant.
73.
Shell supplies acetylene that is manufactured at the Shell Plant (the VeoVa Plant
and the Shell Plant are collectively referred to as the Moerdijk Facility).
74.
The VeoVa Plant is physically connected to the Shell Plant through a series of
Steam produced by the boilers at the Moerdijk Facility is used both by the VeoVa
Equipment to produce and to distribute steam at the Moerdijk Facility is used both
Shell owns pipes, boilers, and oil refining cracker equipment at the Moerdijk
Facility, which are used by Shell in the production and/or supply of acetylene to Hexion.
79.
Hexion uses and contracts for the use of the Shell Plant pursuant to a Site
Under the SUMF Agreement, Hexion purchases from Shell certain site services,
utilities, materials and facilities, including boilers and steam distribution equipment and piping.
14
81.
Further, Hexion uses and contracts for use of the Shell Plant pursuant to an
maintenance, and direct technical manpower services for operation and maintenance of the
VeoVa Plant.
83.
Pursuant to the Operation Agreement, Hexion must acquire the approval of Shell
Pursuant to the Operation Agreement, Hexion utilizes and pays for the
Upon information and belief, on October 2, 2014, an incident at the Shell Plant
located within the Moerdijk Facility resulted in property damage to equipment used by Shell in
the production of acetylene and steam.
87.
Property damage at the Moerdijk Facility impacted the cracker, boilers, piping,
and other equipment necessary for the production of acetylene and steam.
88.
Upon information and belief, property damage at the Moerdijk facility was caused
business took place to property used and contracted for use by Hexion.
15
91.
Upon information and belief, the Carriers knew or should have known that Shell
As a direct result of the property damage incident, Shell was unable to produce
On October 2, 2014, Shell declared force majeure under its contracts with Hexion.
96.
Shell has not supplied the Facility with any acetylene or steam as of October 2,
2014, and upon information and belief the damaged facilities at the Shell Plant will not be able to
resume manufacturing acetylene or steam for an extended period of time.
97.
These events have interrupted, and continue to interrupt, the VeoVa Plants
As a direct result of the October 2, 2014 incident and resulting property damage at
the Moerdijk Facility, and based on information presently available to Hexion, Hexions covered
losses will exceed $10 million.
HEXIONS TIMELY SUBMISSION OF ITS INSURANCE CLAIM
AND THE CARRIERS RESPONSE
99.
On or around October 6, 2014, the Carriers were notified of the October 2, 2014
property damage event at the Moerdijk Facility, and of the resulting interruption of its operations
at the VeoVa Plant.
16
100.
Hexion has been corresponding with the Carriers regarding the claim and has been providing the
Carriers with documents and information that they have requested in connection with their claim
investigation and adjustment activities.
101.
On or around January 8, 2015, Zurich sent a letter to Hexion stating that the
Carriers are in the early stages of investigating the claim, and purported to reserve its rights
with respect to the following coverage defenses:
- The Zurich Netherlands policies only cover [Hexions] property and do not provide
Contingent Time Element coverage.
- Any loss caused by corrosion shall be excluded. This may be of relevance when the
cause investigation is complete.
- The Contingent Time Element coverage in [the Master Policy] for unnamed suppliers
has a USD$10,000,000 sublimit.
102.
In an email dated February 3, 2015, the Carriers further asserted that the parties
dispute is governed by English law and is subject to the jurisdiction in a court of England and
Wales.
103.
To the extent not waived or otherwise excused by the acts and conduct of Zurich,
or by operation of law, Hexion has complied with all terms and conditions precedent in the
Policies, and accordingly is entitled to all benefits of the Policies.
COUNT I
(Declaratory Judgment on the Carriers Obligations Under the Insurance Program)
104.
The Carriers owe a duty to reimburse Hexion for its incurred and ongoing losses
and expenses, including but not limited to Time Element Loss, increased expenses, and
17
mitigation costs, arising from the interruption of its manufacturing activities at the Facility
caused by the October 2, 2014 property damage incident at the Moerdijk Facility under the
Insurance Programs Time Element Coverage and related coverages.
106.
Alternatively, the Carriers owe a duty to reimburse Hexion for its incurred and
ongoing losses and expenses, including but not limited to Time Element Loss, and associated
costs and expenses, arising from the interruption of its manufacturing activities at the Facility
caused by the October 2, 2014 property damage incident at the Moerdijk Facility under the
Master Policys Contingent Time Element Coverage subject to the Master Policys $100 million
sublimit for named suppliers.
107.
The Carriers invocation of inapplicable language in the Master Policy that would
In light of the above, there exists an actual controversy between the parties
appropriate for the entry of a declaratory judgment pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 2201, in Hexions
favor.
109.
Hexion for its incurred and ongoing lost business income, increased expenses, mitigation costs,
and other covered loss arising from the interruption of its manufacturing activities at the Facility
caused by the October 2, 2014 property damage incident at the Moerdijk Facility under the
Insurance Programs Time Element Coverage and terms.
110.
reimburse Hexion for its incurred and ongoing lost business income, increased expenses,
18
mitigation costs, and other covered loss under the Master Policys Contingent Time Element
Coverage subject to the Master Policys $100 million sublimit for named suppliers, and other
terms.
COUNT II
(Anticipatory Breach)
111.
Hexion has complied with all applicable conditions precedent contained in the
Insurance Program.
113.
The Carriers have a duty to reimburse Hexion for its incurred and ongoing lost
business income, increased expenses, mitigation costs and other covered loss arising from the
interruption of its manufacturing activities at the Facility caused by the October 2, 2014 property
damage incident at the Moerdijk Facility because the loss is encompassed by the Insurance
Programs Time Element Coverage and other terms.
115.
Alternatively, the Carriers have a duty to reimburse Hexion for its incurred and
ongoing lost business income, increased expenses, mitigation costs and other covered loss arising
from the interruption of its manufacturing activities at the Facility caused by the October 2, 2014
property damage incident at the Moerdijk Facility because the loss is encompassed by the Master
Policys Contingent Time Element Coverage and subject to the Master Policys $100 million
sublimit for named suppliers and other terms.
19
116.
eliminate or otherwise limit Hexions claim, the Carriers have expressed their intention to
materially breach their obligations under the Insurance Program regarding their duty to
reimburse Hexion for its incurred and ongoing lost business income, increased expenses, and
mitigation costs arising from the interruption of its manufacturing activities at the Facility caused
by the October 2, 2014 property damage incident at the Moerdijk Facility.
117.
As a direct and proximate result of the Carriers breach, the Carriers have
deprived Hexion of the benefit of the Insurance Program for which Hexion has paid a substantial
premium.
118.
Hexion has been damaged in an amount to be proven at trial, plus interest and
appropriate damages.
119.
A.
That the Court enter judgment in favor of Hexion on all causes of action;
B.
C.
20
D.
E.
F.
On all claims for relief, for such other, further and different relief as this
Court deems just and proper; and
G.
21
JURY DEMAND
Plaintiff hereby demands trial by jury on all issues so triable by the maximum number of
jurors allowed.
/s/ Albert J. Lucas
One of the Attorneys for Plaintiff
Hexion Inc.
22