The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are neither offers to sell nor solicitations of offers to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale thereof is not permitted.
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-295812
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT DATED JUNE 9, 2026
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus Dated May 12, 2026)
$
% Senior Notes due 20
We are offering $ aggregate principal amount of % Senior Notes due 20 (the “notes”). Interest on the notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on and of each year, beginning on , 20 . The notes will mature on , 20 . Prior to , 20 ( months prior to the maturity date of the notes), we may redeem the notes at our option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time at the “make-whole” redemption price described herein. On or after , 20 ( months prior to the maturity date of the notes), we may redeem the notes at our option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of any notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest up to, but excluding, the redemption date, as described in this prospectus supplement under “Description of Notes—Optional Redemption of the Notes.”
The notes will be unsecured senior obligations of our company and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured senior indebtedness from time to time outstanding. The notes will be issued only in registered form in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
Investing in the notes involves risks that are described in “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-7 of this prospectus supplement, page 4 of the accompanying prospectus and in Item 1A “Risk Factors” beginning on page 15 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025.
The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We do not intend to apply to list the notes on any securities exchange or have them included in any automated quotation system.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the notes or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
| Per Senior Note |
Total | |||||||
| Public Offering Price(1) |
% | $ | ||||||
| Underwriting discount |
% | $ | ||||||
| Proceeds, before expenses, to us(1) |
% | $ | ||||||
| (1) | Plus accrued interest, if any, from , 2026, to the date of delivery. |
We expect that the notes will be ready for delivery in book-entry form only through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), including Clearstream Banking, S.A. (“Clearstream”) and/or Euroclear Bank SA/NV (“Euroclear”), for the accounts of its participants on or about , 2026.
Joint Book-Running Managers
| BofA Securities | Wells Fargo Securities | Raymond James |
The date of this prospectus supplement is June , 2026.
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PROSPECTUS
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S-i
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
This document consists of two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of our offering of the notes. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which provides more general information, some of which may not be applicable to this offering. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus include important information about us, the notes and other information you should know before making a decision to invest in the notes. This prospectus supplement also adds, updates and changes certain information contained in the accompanying prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement. Further, to the extent the information contained in this prospectus supplement differs or varies from the information contained in the accompanying prospectus or documents incorporated by reference, the information in this prospectus supplement will supersede such information. In addition, any statement in a filing we make with the SEC that adds to, updates or changes information contained in an earlier filing we made with the SEC shall be deemed to modify and supersede such information in the earlier filing. Before making a decision to purchase the notes, you should carefully read both this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, together with the additional information about us described under “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference” in this prospectus supplement.
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and in any free writing prospectus we prepare or authorize that supplements this prospectus supplement. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized any other person to provide you with different or additional information. If anyone other than us provides you with different, additional or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not, and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell the notes in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein is accurate only as of their respective dates. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
When we refer to “Mercury General,” “we,” “our,” “us” and the “Company” in this prospectus supplement, we mean Mercury General Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless otherwise specified. When we refer to “you,” we mean the potential or actual holders of the notes.
Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area
None of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is a prospectus for the purposes of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, as amended (the “Prospectus Regulation”). This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have been prepared on the basis that any offer of the notes in any Member State of the European Economic Area (the “EEA”) will only be made to a legal entity which is a qualified investor under the Prospectus Regulation (each, an “EEA Qualified Investor”). Accordingly, any person making or intending to make an offer in any Member State of the EEA of notes which are the subject of any of the offerings contemplated in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may only do so with respect to EEA Qualified Investors. Neither Mercury General, nor the underwriters have authorized, nor do they authorize, the making of any offer of notes in the EEA other than to EEA Qualified Investors.
Prohibition of Sales to EEA Retail Investors—The notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the EEA. For these purposes, a “retail investor” means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU, as amended (“MiFID II”); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97, as amended (the “Insurance Distribution Directive”), where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not an EEA Qualified Investor. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014, as
S-ii
amended (the “PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation.
Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom
None of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is a prospectus for the purposes of the Financial Conduct Authority’s Prospectus Rules: Admissions to Trading on a Regulated Market (PRM) Sourcebook. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have been prepared on the basis that any offer of notes in the United Kingdom will only be made to a legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in paragraph 15 of Schedule 1 to the Public Offers and Admissions to Trading Regulations 2024 (each, a “UK Qualified Investor”). Accordingly, any person making or intending to make an offer in the United Kingdom of notes which are the subject of any of the offerings contemplated in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may only do so with respect to UK Qualified Investors. Neither Mercury General nor the underwriters have authorized, nor do they authorize, the making of any offer of notes in the United Kingdom other than to UK Qualified Investors.
Prohibition of Sales to United Kingdom Retail Investors— The notes are not intended to be offered, sold, distributed or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold, distributed or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the United Kingdom. For these purposes, a “retail investor” means a person who is either one (or both) of the following: (i) not a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law in the United Kingdom (“UK MiFIR”); or (ii) not a UK Qualified Investor. Consequently, no disclosure document required by the Financial Conduct Authority’s Product Disclosure Sourcebook (“DISC”) for offering, selling or distributing the notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the United Kingdom has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the United Kingdom may be unlawful under DISC and the Consumer Composite Investments (Designated Activities) Regulations 2024.
The communication of this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any other documents or materials relating to the issue of the notes offered hereby is not being made, and this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and such other documents and/or materials have not been approved, by an authorized person for the purposes of Section 21 of the United Kingdom’s Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (the “FSMA”). Accordingly, this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and such other documents and/or materials are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general public in the United Kingdom. This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and such other documents and/or materials are for distribution only to persons who (i) have professional experience in matters relating to investments and who fall within the definition of investment professionals (as defined in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Financial Promotion Order”)), (ii) fall within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Financial Promotion Order, (iii) are outside the United Kingdom, or (iv) are any other persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated or distributed under the Financial Promotion Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any such other documents and/or materials are directed only at relevant persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and any such other documents and/or materials relate will be engaged in only with relevant persons. Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any other documents and/or materials relating to the issue of the notes offered hereby or any of their contents.
S-iii
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated herein by reference contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which we refer to as the “Securities Act” in this prospectus supplement, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which we refer to as the “Exchange Act” in this prospectus supplement. Forward-looking statements are included with respect to, among other things, our current business plan, business strategy, prospects, liquidity and this offering. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result” and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond the control of Mercury General) and are subject to change based upon various factors, including but not limited to the following risks and uncertainties:
| | changes in the demand for Mercury General’s insurance products, |
| | inflation and general economic conditions, including general market risks associated with Mercury General’s investment portfolio; |
| | the accuracy and adequacy of Mercury General’s pricing methodologies; |
| | catastrophes in the markets served by Mercury General; |
| | uncertainties related to estimates, assumptions and projections generally; the possibility that actual loss experience may vary adversely from the actuarial estimates made to determine Mercury General’s loss reserves in general, including subrogation recovery estimates; |
| | Mercury General’s ability to obtain and the timing of the approval of premium rate changes for insurance policies issued in states where Mercury General operates; |
| | legislation adverse to the automobile insurance industry or business generally that may be enacted in the states where Mercury General operates; |
| | Mercury General’s success in managing its business in non-California states; |
| | the presence of competitors with greater financial resources and the impact of competitive pricing and marketing efforts; |
| | Mercury General’s ability to successfully allocate the resources used in the states with reduced or exited operations to its operations in other states; |
| | changes in driving patterns and loss trends; |
| | acts of war and terrorist activities; effects of changing climate conditions; pandemics, epidemics, widespread health emergencies, or outbreaks of infectious diseases; |
| | court decisions and trends in litigation and health care and auto repair costs; |
| | changes in global trade policies, including trade barriers or restrictions; |
| | legal, cybersecurity, regulatory and litigation risks; and |
| | the use of proceeds from the offering of the notes pursuant to this prospectus supplement. |
While forward-looking statements reflect our good-faith beliefs, they are not guarantees of future performance. We disclaim any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect
S-iv
changes in underlying assumptions or factors, of new information, data or methods, future events or other changes after the date of this prospectus supplement, except as required by applicable law. For a further discussion of these and other factors that could impact our future results, performance or transactions, see the sections entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-7 of this prospectus supplement and the information set forth under the caption “Item 1a. Risk Factors” in Mercury General’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, as well as the other information set forth in our other filings under the Exchange Act that is incorporated herein by reference. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are based only on information currently available to us (or to third parties making the forward-looking statements).
S-v
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information about issuers, such as us, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is http://www.sec.gov.
Our website address is http://www.mercuryinsurance.com. The information on our website, however, is not, and should not be deemed to be, a part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.
We incorporate by reference our documents listed below and any future filings made by us with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, between the date of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the termination of the offering of the securities described in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We are not, however, incorporating by reference any documents or portions thereof, whether specifically listed below or filed in the future, that are not deemed “filed” with the SEC, including our Compensation Committee report and performance graph or any information furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K or related exhibits furnished pursuant to Item 9.01 of Form 8-K.
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus incorporate by reference the documents set forth below that have previously been filed with the SEC:
| | Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on February 17, 2026. |
| | The information specifically incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 from our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2026. |
| | Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, filed with the SEC on May 5, 2026. |
| | Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 14, 2026 and June 9, 2026. |
All reports and other documents we subsequently file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of this offering, but excluding any information furnished to, rather than filed with, the SEC, will also be incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and deemed to be part of this prospectus supplement from the date of the filing of such reports and documents. Any statement contained in a document that is incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is automatically updated and superseded if information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, or information that we later file with the SEC prior to the termination of this offering, modifies or replaces this information.
You may request a free copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus (other than exhibits, unless they are specifically incorporated by reference in the documents) by writing or telephoning us at the following address:
Mercury General Corporation
4484 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90010
(323) 937-1060
Exhibits to the filings will not be sent, however, unless those exhibits have specifically been incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
S-vi
This summary is not complete and does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in our notes. You should read the entire prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus carefully, including “Risk Factors” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes, other financial information and other documents incorporated by reference, including the risk factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, into this prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus, before you decide to invest in our notes.
The Company
Mercury General and its subsidiaries are primarily engaged in writing personal automobile insurance through 12 insurance subsidiaries in 11 states, principally California. Mercury General also writes homeowners, commercial automobile, commercial property, mechanical protection, and umbrella insurance. Mercury General’s insurance policies are mostly sold through independent agents who receive a commission for selling policies. The Company believes that it has thorough underwriting and claims handling processes that, together with its agent relationships and pricing, provide the Company with competitive advantages.
Based on the most recent regularly published statistical compilations of premiums written in 2025, the Company was the seventh largest writer of personal lines insurance in California, the sixteenth largest writer of personal lines insurance in the United States and the third largest writer of homeowners insurance in California. As of March 31, 2026, Mercury General had approximately 2.31 million policies in force, including 1.06 million personal auto policies, 906,000 homeowners policies and 34,000 commercial auto policies. In addition, based on internal company survey sources, Mercury General’s claims overall satisfaction score has remained over 78% for each quarter since the beginning of 2023, with an approximately 89.4% claims overall satisfaction score for the fourth quarter 2025.
We filed our certificate of incorporation with the Secretary of State of California on December 27, 1960.
Our principal executive offices are located at 4484 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90010, and our telephone number is (323) 937-1060.
Recent Developments
Immediately prior to the consummation of this offering, we will enter into an amendment to our Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of March 31, 2021, by and among the Company, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto (such amendment, the “Fourth Amendment” and such amended and restated credit agreement, as amended to date and by the Fourth Amendment, the “unsecured credit facility”). The Fourth Amendment will amend the existing Amended and Restated Credit Agreement to permit the Company to issue the notes.
S-1
The following is a brief summary of certain terms of this offering. Certain of the terms and conditions described below are subject to important limitations and exceptions. You should read this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus before making an investment in the notes. For a more complete description of the terms and conditions of the notes, see “Description of Notes” in this prospectus supplement.
| Notes Offered |
$ aggregate principal amount of % Senior Notes due 20 , which we refer to as the notes. |
| Maturity Date |
, 20 . |
| Interest and Payment Dates |
% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears in cash on and of each year, beginning on , 20 . |
| Ranking |
The notes: |
| | will be senior unsecured obligations; |
| | will be senior to any future subordinated debt and other liabilities; |
| | will rank equally with our other senior unsecured debt and other liabilities from time to time outstanding; |
| | will be effectively junior to any secured debt to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt and other liabilities; and |
| | will be effectively junior to all existing and future debt and other liabilities of our subsidiaries, including insurance liabilities of our operating insurance subsidiaries. |
| As of March 31, 2026, including the debt of our subsidiaries, we had a total of $575 million outstanding, with $200 million drawn under our unsecured credit facility and $375 million outstanding principal amount of our 4.400% Senior Notes due 2027, which we refer to as the 2027 notes in this prospectus supplement. A portion of the net proceeds of this offering will be applied to redeem or repay the outstanding 2027 notes at or before maturity and repay amounts outstanding under our unsecured credit facility. See “Use of Proceeds” and “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)—Conflicts of Interest and Relationships.” As of March 31, 2026, our insurance subsidiaries had reserves for claims and benefits of approximately $3.6 billion. See “Risk Factors—The notes are structurally subordinated. This may affect your ability to receive payments on the notes.” |
| Optional Redemption |
We may redeem the notes at our option, at any time in whole or from time to time in part, on not less than 10 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the redemption price described in this prospectus supplement under “Description of Notes—Optional Redemption of the Notes.” |
S-2
| Covenants |
The notes and the related indenture do not contain any financial or other similar restrictive covenants. However, we will be subject to the covenants described in this prospectus supplement under “Description of Notes—Covenants Applicable to the Notes.” |
| Use of Proceeds |
We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $ after deducting the underwriting discount and our estimated expenses related to this offering. |
| We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to redeem or repay the outstanding 2027 notes at or before maturity, repay amounts outstanding under our unsecured credit facility and for general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds” for additional information. |
| Conflicts of Interest |
Certain of the underwriters and affiliates of certain of the underwriters have positions in the 2027 notes to be redeemed or repaid and/or are lenders pursuant to the unsecured credit facility. Upon our application of the net proceeds from this offering, such underwriters or affiliates may individually receive an amount in excess of 5% of the net proceeds from this offering. In such event, such underwriter(s) would have a “conflict of interest” as defined under Rule 5121 of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), and the offering would be conducted in compliance with such rule. See “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)—Conflicts of Interest” in this prospectus supplement. |
| Form and Denomination |
The notes will be issued in fully registered book-entry form and will be represented by permanent global notes without coupons. Global notes will be deposited with a custodian for and registered in the name of a nominee of DTC. Investors may elect to hold interests in the global notes through DTC and its direct or indirect participants, including Clearstream and/or Euroclear, as described in the accompanying prospectus under “Global Securities—Book-Entry, Delivery and Form.” The notes will be issued in minimum denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. |
| Trading |
The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange or included in any automated quotation system. |
| Risk Factors |
See “Risk Factors” and other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, including in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, which has been filed with the SEC, for a discussion of the factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in the notes. |
| Further Issues |
We may from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the holders or beneficial owners of the notes, create and issue additional notes and/or notes having the same ranking, interest rate, maturity and other terms as the notes. Any additional debt securities having such |
S-3
| similar terms, together with the notes, will constitute a single series of securities under the indenture. See “Description of Notes—Further Issues” for additional information. |
| Trustee |
Wilmington Trust, National Association will act as the trustee under the indenture. |
| Governing Law |
The indenture and the notes will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York. |
S-4
CONSOLIDATED HIGHLIGHTS
The following table sets forth Mercury General’s consolidated highlights. The information presented below is a summary only and should be read in conjunction with Mercury General’s “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Mercury General’s consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in Mercury General’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.
| Three Months Ended March 31, |
Year Ended December 31, |
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| 2026 | 2025 | 2025 | 2024 | |||||||||||||
| (in millions) | ||||||||||||||||
| Net premiums earned(1) |
$ | 1,452 | $ | 1,283 | $ | 5,506 | $ | 5,075 | ||||||||
| Net premiums written(1)(2) |
1,550 | 1,314 | 5,722 | 5,378 | ||||||||||||
| Direct premiums written(2) |
1,573 | 1,445 | 5,983 | 5,501 | ||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) |
190 | (108 | ) | 541 | 468 | |||||||||||
| Operating income (loss)(2) |
194 | (127 | ) | 437 | 398 | |||||||||||
| (1) | Net premiums earned and net premiums written for the three months ended March 31, 2025 include $76 million and $127 million, respectively, of increased ceded reinsurance premiums due to Mercury General’s catastrophe reinsurance treaty limits being fully utilized and the related coverage reinstatement premiums following the Palisades and Eaton wildfires in January 2025. Net premiums earned and net premiums written for the twelve months ended December 31, 2025 include $101 million of increased ceded premiums due to the reinstatement premiums paid and recorded in the first half of 2025 to reinstate the fully exhausted reinsurance coverage layers of Mercury General’s catastrophe reinsurance treaty ending June 30, 2025 following the Palisades and Eaton wildfires in January 2025. |
The following tables reconcile the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures to each of these operating measures.
| Three Months Ended March 31, |
Year Ended December 31, |
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| 2026 | 2025 | 2025 | 2024 | |||||||||||||
| (in millions) | ||||||||||||||||
| Net premiums earned |
$ | 1,452 | $ | 1,283 | $ | 5,506 | $ | 5,075 | ||||||||
| Change in net unearned premiums |
98 | 31 | 216 | 303 | ||||||||||||
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| Net premiums written |
1,550 | 1,314 | 5,722 | 5,378 | ||||||||||||
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| Assumed premiums written |
(40 | ) | (26 | ) | (26 | ) | (15 | ) | ||||||||
| Ceded premiums written |
63 | 157 | 287 | 138 | ||||||||||||
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| Direct premiums written |
1,573 | 1,445 | 5,983 | 5,501 | ||||||||||||
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| Net income (loss) |
190 | (108 | ) | 541 | 468 | |||||||||||
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| Less: Net realized investment (losses) gains |
(5 | ) | 23 | 131 | 89 | |||||||||||
| Tax on net realized investment (losses) gains(a) |
(1 | ) | 4 | 27 | 19 | |||||||||||
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| Net realized investment (losses) gains, net of tax |
(4 | ) | 19 | 104 | 70 | |||||||||||
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| Operating income (loss)(a) |
194 | (127 | ) | 437 | 398 | |||||||||||
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(a) Based on federal statutory rate of 21%.
S-5
| (2) | These measures are not based on U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). |
Net income (loss) is the GAAP measure that is most directly comparable to operating income (loss). Operating income (loss) is net income (loss) excluding realized investment gains and losses, net of tax. Operating income (loss) is used by management along with the other components of net income (loss) to assess the Company’s performance. Management uses operating income (loss) as an important measure to evaluate the results of the Company’s insurance business. Management believes that operating income (loss) provides investors with a valuable measure of the Company’s ongoing performance as it reveals trends in the Company’s insurance business that may be obscured by the effect of net realized investment gains and losses. Realized investment gains and losses may vary significantly between periods and are generally driven by external economic developments such as capital market conditions. Accordingly, operating income (loss) highlights the results from ongoing operations and the underlying profitability of the Company’s core insurance business. Operating income (loss), which is provided as supplemental information and should not be considered as a substitute for net income (loss), does not reflect the overall profitability of the Company’s business. It should be read in conjunction with the GAAP financial results.
Net premiums earned, the most directly comparable GAAP measure to net premiums written and direct premiums written, represents the portion of premiums written that is recognized as revenue in the financial statements for the periods presented and earned on a pro-rata basis over the term of the policies. Net premiums written is a statutory financial measure which represents the premiums charged on policies issued during a fiscal period net of any applicable reinsurance; direct premiums written is such a measure before any applicable reinsurance. Net premiums written and direct premiums written are designed to determine production levels and are meant as supplemental information and not intended to replace net premiums earned. Such information should be read in conjunction with the GAAP financial results.
S-6
Prospective investors should carefully consider the following risk factors and the risk factors and assumptions related to our business identified or described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or Current Report on Form 8-K and all other information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus before acquiring any of the notes. The occurrence of any one or more of the following could materially adversely affect your investment in the notes or our business and operating results.
Risks Relating to the Notes
We are an insurance holding company and, therefore, may not be able to receive dividends in amounts needed to service our debt.
As an insurance holding company, our principal assets are the shares of capital stock of our insurance company subsidiaries. We have to rely on dividends from our insurance company subsidiaries to meet our obligations for paying principal and interest on outstanding debt obligations and for paying corporate expenses. The payment of dividends by our insurance company subsidiaries is subject to regulatory restrictions and will depend on the surplus and future earnings of these subsidiaries, as well as the regulatory restrictions. As of December 31, 2025, our insurance company subsidiaries are permitted to pay in 2026, without obtaining regulatory approval for extraordinary dividends, $448.0 million in dividends to Mercury General. There can be no assurance, however, that our insurance company subsidiaries will be able to pay these or similar amounts in future periods. As of March 31, 2026, our insurance company subsidiaries have paid an aggregate $25 million in dividends to Mercury General.
The notes are structurally subordinated. This may affect your ability to receive payments on the notes.
The notes are obligations exclusively of Mercury General. We currently conduct a significant portion of our operations through our subsidiaries and our subsidiaries have significant liabilities. In addition, we may, and in some cases we have plans to, conduct additional operations through our subsidiaries in the future and, accordingly, our subsidiaries’ liabilities will increase. Our cash flow and our ability to service our debt, including the notes, therefore partially depends upon the earnings of our subsidiaries, and we depend on the distribution of earnings, loans or other payments by those subsidiaries to us.
Our right to receive any assets of any of our subsidiaries upon liquidation or reorganization, and, as a result, the right of the holders of the notes to participate in those assets, will be effectively subordinated to the claims of that subsidiary’s creditors, including trade creditors and preferred stockholders, if any, and the policyholders of our operating insurance subsidiaries. The notes do not restrict the ability of our subsidiaries to incur additional liabilities. In addition, even if we were a creditor of any of our subsidiaries, our rights as a creditor would be subordinate to any security interest in the assets of our subsidiaries and any indebtedness of our subsidiaries senior to indebtedness held by us. As of March 31, 2026, our insurance subsidiaries had reserves for claims and benefits of approximately $3.6 billion.
Active trading markets for the notes may not develop.
The notes are a new issue of securities for which there are currently no public markets, and no active trading markets may ever develop. If the notes are traded after their initial issuance, they may trade at a discount from their initial offering prices, depending on prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities, our performance and other factors. To the extent that active trading markets do not develop, the liquidity and trading prices for the notes may be harmed.
We have no plans to apply to list the notes on a securities exchange or have them included in any automated quotation system. We have been advised by the underwriters that they presently intend to make a market in the
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notes after this offering is completed. However, the underwriters are not obligated to do so. Any market-making activity, if initiated, may be discontinued at any time, for any reason or for no reason, without notice to or consent of existing noteholders. If the underwriters cease to act as the market-makers for the notes, we cannot assure you another firm or person will make markets in the notes. Further, we cannot assure you that an active trading market will develop, or if developed, continue, for the notes. If no active trading market develops or continues, you may not be able to resell your notes at their fair market value or at all.
The liquidity of any markets for the notes will depend upon a number of factors, including the number of holders of the notes, our results of operations and financial condition, the markets for similar securities, the interest of securities dealers in making markets in the notes and other factors. Active or liquid trading markets for the notes may not develop.
The limited covenants in the indenture for the notes and the terms of the notes do not provide protection against some types of important corporate events and may not protect your investment.
The indenture for the notes does not:
| | require us to maintain any financial ratios or specific levels of net worth, revenues, income, cash flow or liquidity and, accordingly, does not protect holders of the notes in the event that we experience significant adverse changes in our financial condition or results of operations; |
| | limit our subsidiaries’ ability to incur indebtedness, which could effectively rank senior to the notes; |
| | except to the limited extent described in “Description of Notes,” limit our ability to incur substantial secured indebtedness that would effectively rank senior to the notes to the extent of the value of the assets securing the indebtedness; |
| | limit our ability to incur indebtedness that is equal in right of payment to the notes; |
| | restrict our subsidiaries’ ability to issue securities or otherwise incur indebtedness that would be senior to our equity interests in our subsidiaries; |
| | restrict our ability to repurchase or prepay our securities; or |
| | restrict our ability to make investments or to repurchase or pay dividends or make other payments in respect of our common stock or other securities ranking junior to the notes. Furthermore, the indenture for the notes contains only limited protections in the event of a change in control. We could engage in many types of transactions, such as certain acquisitions, refinancings or recapitalizations that could substantially affect our capital structure and the values of the notes. |
Any downgrade in our credit ratings could limit our ability to obtain future financing, increase our borrowing costs and adversely affect the trading prices for, or liquidity of, the notes.
We are subject to periodic review by independent credit rating agencies. The Company’s current financial strength rating with Fitch, Moody’s and A.M. Best is A- with Stable outlook, A3 with Stable outlook and A with Stable outlook, respectively. An increase in the level of our outstanding indebtedness, or other events that could have an adverse impact on our financial condition or results of operations, may cause the rating agencies to downgrade, place on negative watch or change their outlook on our debt credit rating generally, and the ratings on the notes, which could adversely impact the trading price for, or the liquidity of, the notes. Any such downgrade, placement on negative watch or change in outlook could also adversely affect our cost of borrowing, limit our access to the capital markets or result in more restrictive covenants in future debt agreements. The ratings on the notes may not reflect the potential impact of all risks related to structure, market, additional factors discussed above and other factors that may affect the value of the notes. A credit rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be revised, suspended or withdrawn by the rating agency at any time.
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We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $ after deducting the underwriting discount and our estimated expenses related to this offering.
We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering to redeem or repay the outstanding 2027 notes at or before maturity, repay amounts outstanding under our unsecured credit facility and for general corporate purposes.
As of the date of this prospectus supplement, $375 million principal amount of the 2027 notes were outstanding. Interest on the 2027 notes accrues at a rate of 4.400% per annum and is payable semi-annually in arrears on March 15 and September 15 of each year. The 2027 notes will mature on March 15, 2027 unless earlier redeemed.
As of the date of this prospectus supplement, there was a total of $200 million drawn under our unsecured credit facility. The unsecured credit facility matures on November 18, 2027 and currently bears interest at an annual rate of term SOFR plus 1.125% and a spread adjustment of 0.10%, which as of March 31, 2026 was approximately 4.89%.
Certain of the underwriters and affiliates of certain of the underwriters have positions in the 2027 notes to be redeemed or repaid and/or are lenders pursuant to the unsecured credit facility. Upon our application of the net proceeds from this offering, such underwriters or affiliates may individually receive an amount in excess of 5% of the net proceeds from this offering. In such event, such underwriter(s) would have a “conflict of interest” as defined under Rule 5121 of FINRA, and the offering would be conducted in compliance with such rule. See “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)—Conflicts of Interest” in this prospectus supplement.
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The following table sets forth our unaudited consolidated cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities and capitalization as of March 31, 2026. The table is presented:
| | on an actual basis; and |
| | as adjusted to reflect the proceeds to us from the sale of the notes pursuant to this offering and the use of such proceeds as described in this prospectus supplement under “Use of Proceeds.” |
The information presented in the table below should be read in conjunction with Mercury General’s “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Mercury General’s consolidated financial statements and the related notes included in Mercury General’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.
| As of March 31, 2026 | ||||||||
| Actual | As Adjusted | |||||||
| (unaudited) | ||||||||
| (in millions) | ||||||||
| Cash |
$ | 1,350.9 | $ | |||||
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| Short-term debt: |
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| 4.400% Senior Notes due 2027 |
375.0 | |||||||
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| Total short-term debt |
$ | 375.0 | $ | |||||
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| Long-term debt, less current portion: |
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| Unsecured credit facility |
200.0 | |||||||
| % Senior Notes due 20 offered hereby(1) |
— | |||||||
| Total long-term debt, less current portion |
$ | 200.0 | $ | |||||
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| Total Debt |
$ | 575.0 | $ | |||||
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| Shareholders’ equity: |
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| Common stock without par value or stated value |
$ | 99.7 | $ | |||||
| Authorized 70,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 55,388,627 |
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| Additional paid-in capital |
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| Retained earnings |
2,490.4 | |||||||
| Total shareholders’ equity |
$ | 2,590.1 | $ | |||||
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| Total capitalization |
$ | 3,165.1 | $ | |||||
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| (1) | The $ of notes offered hereby are presented at their face amount and do not give effect to the impact of original issue discount, if any, and capitalized debt offering costs. |
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Set forth below is a description of the specific terms of the notes. This description supplements, and should be read together with, the description of the general terms and provisions of our debt securities set forth in the accompanying prospectus under the caption “Description of Debt Securities.” Any information regarding the notes contained in this prospectus supplement that is inconsistent with information in the accompanying prospectus will supersede any inconsistent information in the accompanying prospectus. The following description does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the indenture, as supplemented by the second supplemental indenture, which will provide for the issuance of the notes which we collectively refer to as the “indenture,” between Mercury General Corporation, as issuer, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, which we refer to as the “trustee,” pursuant to which the notes will be issued.
Principal, Maturity, Interest and Denomination
The principal amount of notes offered for sale pursuant to this prospectus supplement is $ . The notes will mature on , 20 . The notes will bear interest from the date of issuance, payable semi-annually on and of each year, beginning on , 20 , to the person in whose name a note is registered at the close of business on or , as the case may be, next preceding such interest payment date. The notes will be issued in book-entry form in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
Interest payments on the notes shall be computed and paid on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30 day months. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on the notes is not a business day, then the payment of interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a business day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay).
There is no limit on the aggregate principal amount of notes of this series that we may issue. We reserve the right, from time to time and without the consent of any registered holders of any of the notes, to re-open this series of notes and issue additional notes, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the indenture so long as any such additional notes have the same tenor and terms (including, without limitation, rights to receive accrued and unpaid interest as the notes then outstanding), so that such additional notes shall be consolidated with, form a single series with and increase the aggregate principal amount of the notes, provided that if any such additional notes are not fungible with the notes offered hereby for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such additional notes will be issued under a different CUSIP number.
Further Issues
We may, without giving notice to or seeking the consent of the holders of the notes, issue additional notes having the same terms (except for the issue date and, in some cases, the public offering price and the first interest payment date) as, and ranking equally and ratably with, the notes. Any additional notes, together with the notes offered for sale pursuant to this prospectus supplement, will constitute a single series of notes under the indenture. No additional notes may be issued if an Event of Default under the indenture has occurred and is continuing with respect to the notes.
Ranking
The notes will be senior unsecured obligations of Mercury General and will rank equal in right of payment to all of our other senior unsecured indebtedness. In addition, we are structured as a holding company and conduct most of our business operations through our subsidiaries. The notes will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities and obligations of our subsidiaries, which are distinct legal entities having no obligation to pay any amounts pursuant to the notes or to make funds available.
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We are not restricted under the terms of the notes from incurring additional debt or repurchasing our securities. In addition, the indenture does not contain any covenants which require us to achieve or maintain any minimum financial results relating to our financial position or results of operations. Our ability to incur additional debt and take a number of other actions that are not limited by the terms of the notes could have the effect of diminishing our ability to make payments on the notes when due.
As of March 31, 2026, including the debt of our subsidiaries, we had a total of $575 million outstanding, with $200 million drawn under our unsecured credit facility and approximately $375 million payable under the 2027 notes. A portion of the net proceeds of this offering will be applied to redeem or repay the outstanding 2027 notes at or before maturity and repay amounts outstanding under our unsecured credit facility. See “Use of Proceeds” and “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)—Conflicts of Interest and Relationships.” The notes will be structurally subordinated to all liabilities of our subsidiaries. Our insurance subsidiaries have customary liabilities associated with insurance policies issued by those subsidiaries (generally claims and benefits), reinsurance obligations and other trade payables and expenses. As of March 31, 2026, our insurance subsidiaries had reserves for claims and benefits of approximately $3.6 billion. See “Risk Factors—The notes are structurally subordinated. This may affect your ability to receive payments on the notes.” Senior indebtedness does not include obligations to trade creditors created or assumed by us in the ordinary course of business, which will rank pari passu with the notes in right of payment upon liquidation.
Maturity
The notes will mature on , 20 .
Interest
The notes will bear interest at the rate of % per annum, and will be payable semi-annually in arrears on and of each year, beginning on , 20 , each of which we refer to as an interest payment date, to the record holders at the close of business on and , as the case may be, next preceding such interest payment date, whether or not a business day. However, interest that we pay on the maturity date or a redemption date will be payable to the person to whom the principal will be payable.
Interest payments will include accrued interest from, and including, the original issue date, or, if interest has already been paid, from the last date in respect of which interest has been paid or duly provided for up to, but excluding, the next succeeding interest payment date, the maturity date or the redemption date, as the case may be. The amount of interest payable for any interest payment period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months. If any date on which interest is payable on the notes is not a business day, then payment of the interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a business day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay).
Interest not paid on any payment date will accrue and compound quarterly at a rate per year equal to the rate of interest on the notes until paid. References to “interest” include interest accruing on the notes, interest on deferred interest payments and other unpaid amounts and compounded interest, as applicable and in each case to the extent permitted by applicable law.
Optional Redemption of the Notes
Prior to ( months prior to their maturity date) (the “Par Call Date”), the Company may redeem the notes at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:
(1) (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the redemption date (assuming the notes matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis
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(assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus basis points less (b) interest accrued to the date of redemption, and
(2) 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed,
plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date.
On or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding, the redemption date.
“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the yield determined by the Company in accordance with the following two paragraphs.
The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Company after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third business day preceding the redemption date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily)—H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities–Treasury constant maturities–Nominal” (or any successor caption or heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the redemption date to the Par Call Date (the “Remaining Life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields – one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life – and shall interpolate to the Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a maturity date equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the redemption date.
If on the third business day preceding the redemption date H.15 TCM is no longer published, the Company shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second business day preceding such redemption date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a maturity date equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date and one with a maturity date following the Par Call Date, the Company shall select the United States Treasury security with a maturity date preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.
The Company’s actions and determinations in determining the redemption price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
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Notice of any redemption will be mailed or electronically delivered (or otherwise transmitted in accordance with the depositary’s procedures) at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of notes to be redeemed.
In the case of a partial redemption, selection of the notes for redemption will be made pro rata, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee in its sole discretion deems appropriate and fair. No notes of a principal amount of $2,000 or less will be redeemed in part. If any note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to the note will state the portion of the principal amount of the note to be redeemed. A new note in a principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the note will be issued in the name of the holder of the note upon surrender for cancellation of the original note. For so long as the notes are held by DTC (or another depositary), the redemption of the notes shall be done in accordance with the policies and procedures of the depositary.
Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the notes or portions thereof called for redemption.
The full defeasance and covenant defeasance provisions of the indenture described in the accompanying prospectus will apply to the notes.
Covenants Applicable to the Notes
Limitation on Liens
The indenture provides that, so long as any notes are outstanding, neither we nor any of our principal subsidiaries may, directly or indirectly, use any voting stock of a principal subsidiary as security for any of our debt or other obligations unless the notes are secured prior to, or to the same extent as that debt or other obligation. This restriction does not apply to liens on voting stock existing at the time a corporation becomes our principal subsidiary or any renewal or extension of such existing liens and does not apply to shares of subsidiaries that are not “principal subsidiaries.”
The indenture defines “principal subsidiaries” as (1) any present or future subsidiary of Mercury General, the consolidated total assets or revenues of which constitute at least 10% of our total consolidated assets or revenues; and (2) any person which is a successor, by merger or otherwise, to substantially all the business or properties of any subsidiary referred to or described in clause (1).
Limitations on Disposition of Stock of Principal Subsidiaries
The indenture also provides that we will not, and will not permit any of our subsidiaries to, issue, sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any of the common stock of our principal subsidiaries (except to us or to one or more of our other subsidiaries or for the purpose of qualifying directors), except for:
| | any issuance, sale, assignment, transfer or other disposition is required to comply with the order of a court or regulatory authority of competent jurisdiction, other than an order issued at our request or at the request of one of our subsidiaries; |
| | all of the common stock of a principal subsidiary owned by us or by a principal subsidiary sold for cash or other property having a fair market value that is at least equal to the fair market value of the disposed stock, as determined in good faith by our board of directors; or |
| | after giving effect to the issuance, sale, assignment, transfer or other disposition, we and our subsidiaries would own directly or indirectly at least 80% of the issued and outstanding common stock of such principal subsidiary and such issuance, sale, assignment, transfer or other disposition is made for consideration consisting of cash or other property which is at least equal to the fair value of such common stock. |
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Mercury General may also merge or consolidate any principal subsidiary into or with another direct or indirect subsidiary of Mercury General, the shares of capital stock of which Mercury General owns at least 80 %.
Events of Default
In addition to the description of events of default as described in the accompanying prospectus under “Description of Debt Securities—Events of Default” an “Event of Default” shall be included to mean, with respect to the notes, any of the following:
| | if any event of default under a mortgage, indenture or instrument under which we may issue, or by which Mercury General may secure or evidence, any indebtedness, including an event of default under any other series of Mercury General debt securities, whether the indebtedness now exists or is later created or incurred, happens and consists of default in the payment of more than $35,000,000 in principal amount of indebtedness at the maturity of the indebtedness, after giving effect to any applicable grace period, or results in the indebtedness in principal amount in excess of $35,000,000 becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise become due and payable, and this default is not cured or the acceleration is not rescinded or annulled within a period of 30 days after Mercury General received written notice; and |
| | Mercury General shall fail within 60 days to pay, bond or otherwise discharge any uninsured judgment or court order for the payment of money in excess of $35,000,000, which is not stayed on appeal or is not otherwise being appropriately contested in good faith. |
Modification and Waiver
In addition to changes to the indenture listed under “Description of Debt Securities—Modification and Waiver” in the accompanying prospectus, the following changes cannot be made without the consent of the holders of all of the notes then outstanding:
| | change the place of payment; |
| | change in the redemption price; or |
| | change in the Par Call Date to a date that is prior in time to the stated Par Call Date. |
Book-Entry Delivery and Form
The notes will be issued as global debt securities in “book-entry” form in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. See “Global Securities—Book-Entry, Delivery and Form” in the accompanying prospectus. DTC will be the depositary with respect to the notes. The notes will be issued as fully registered securities in the name of Cede & Co., DTC’s nominee, and will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC.
Investors may elect to hold interests in the notes through either DTC (in the United States) or through Clearstream or Euroclear, if they are participants in such systems, or indirectly through organizations which are participants in such systems. Clearstream and Euroclear will hold interests on behalf of their participants through customers’ securities accounts in Clearstream’s and Euroclear’s names on the books of their respective depositaries, which in turn will hold such interests in customers’ securities accounts in the depositaries’ names on the books of DTC.
Clearstream has advised that it is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as a professional depositary. Clearstream holds securities for its participants (“Clearstream Participants”) and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream Participants through electronic book-entry transfers between their accounts. Clearstream provides Clearstream Participants with, among other things, services for
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safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream interfaces with domestic securities markets in several countries through established depository and custodial relationships. As a professional depositary, Clearstream is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector, also known as the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier. Clearstream Participants are recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations. Clearstream Participants in the U.S. are limited to securities brokers and dealers and banks and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Clearstream is also available to other institutions such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with Clearstream Participants. Distributions with respect to interests in global securities held through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of its customers in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by the U.S. depositary for Clearstream.
Euroclear has advised that it was created in 1968 to hold securities for its participants and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear participants (“Euroclear Participants”) through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear provides various other services, including securities lending and borrowing, and interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. Euroclear is operated by Euroclear Bank SA/NV under contract with Euroclear plc, a U.K. corporation. Euroclear Participants include banks, including central banks, securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear Participant, either directly or indirectly.
Same-Day Settlement and Payment
Settlement for the notes will be made by the underwriters in immediately available funds. All payments of principal and interest on the notes will be made by us in immediately available funds. The notes will trade in DTC’s settlement system until maturity, and secondary market trading activity in the notes therefore will be required by DTC to settle in immediately available funds.
Global Clearance and Settlement Procedures
Secondary market trading between the DTC Participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with the DTC rules and will be settled in immediately available funds. Secondary market trading between Clearstream Participants and/or Euroclear Participants will occur in the ordinary way in accordance with the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear and will be settled using the procedures applicable to conventional Eurobonds in immediately available funds.
Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly through DTC on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Clearstream Participants or Euroclear Participants, on the other, will be effected in DTC in accordance with the DTC rules on behalf of the relevant European international clearing system by DTC in its capacity as U.S. depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to the relevant European international clearing system by the counterparty in such system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within its established deadlines (European time). The relevant European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to DTC to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering interests in the notes to or receiving interests in the notes from DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Clearstream Participants and Euroclear Participants may not deliver instructions directly to DTC.
Because of time-zone differences, credits of interests in the notes received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a DTC Participant will be made during subsequent securities settlement processing
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and will be credited the business day following the DTC settlement date. Such credits or any transactions involving interests in such notes settled during such processing will be reported to the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream Participants on such business day. Cash received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of sales of interests in the notes by or through a Clearstream Participant or a Euroclear Participant to a DTC Participant will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be available in the relevant Clearstream or Euroclear cash account only as of the business day following settlement in DTC.
Although DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of the notes among participants of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and such procedures may be discontinued at any time.
The information in this section concerning DTC and its book-entry system, Euroclear and Clearstream has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable.
About the Trustee
Wilmington Trust, National Association is acting as trustee under the indenture.
Subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its powers vested in it by the indenture at the request of any holder of the notes unless the holder offers the trustee indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might result. The trustee is not required to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in performing its duties if the trustee believes that it is not assured of repayment or adequate indemnity.
Applicable Law
The indenture and notes offered for sale by this prospectus supplement will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the conflicts of laws rules of such state.
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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following discussion is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the notes issued pursuant to this offering, but does not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential tax effects. The effects of other U.S. federal tax laws, such as estate and gift tax laws, and any applicable state, local or foreign tax laws are not discussed. This discussion is based on the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial decisions, and published rulings and administrative pronouncements of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), in each case in effect as of the date hereof. These authorities may change or be subject to differing interpretations. Any such change or differing interpretation may be applied retroactively in a manner that could adversely affect a holder of the notes. We have not sought and will not seek any rulings from the IRS regarding the matters discussed below. There can be no assurance the IRS or a court will not take a contrary position to that discussed below regarding the tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the notes.
This discussion is limited to holders who hold the notes as “capital assets” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). In addition, this discussion is limited to persons purchasing the notes for cash at original issue and at their original “issue price” within the meaning of Section 1273 of the Code (i.e., the first price at which a substantial amount of the notes is sold to the public for cash). This discussion does not address all U.S. federal income tax consequences relevant to a holder’s particular circumstances, including the impact of the Medicare contribution tax on net investment income and the alternative minimum tax. In addition, it does not address consequences relevant to holders subject to special rules, including, without limitation:
| | U.S. expatriates and former citizens or long-term residents of the United States; |
| | U.S. Holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar; |
| | persons holding the notes as part of a hedge, straddle or other risk reduction strategy or as part of a conversion transaction or other integrated investment; |
| | banks, insurance companies, and other financial institutions; |
| | real estate investment trusts or regulated investment companies; |
| | brokers, dealers or traders in securities; |
| | “controlled foreign corporations,” “foreign controlled foreign corporations,” “passive foreign investment companies,” and corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax; |
| | S corporations, partnerships or other entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and investors therein); |
| | tax-exempt organizations or governmental organizations; |
| | persons deemed to sell the notes under the constructive sale provisions of the Code; and |
| | persons subject to special tax accounting rules as a result of any item of gross income with respect to the notes being taken into account in an applicable financial statement. |
If an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds the notes, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will depend on the status of the partner, the activities of the partnership and certain determinations made at the partner level. Accordingly, partnerships holding the notes and the partners in such partnerships should consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences to them.
THIS DISCUSSION IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TAX ADVICE. INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE
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APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE NOTES ARISING UNDER OTHER U.S. FEDERAL TAX LAWS (INCLUDING ESTATE AND GIFT TAX LAWS), UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR NON-U.S. TAXING JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE TAX TREATY.
Tax Consequences Applicable to U.S. Holders
Definition of a U.S. Holder
For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of a note that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is or is treated as:
| | an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; |
| | a corporation created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia; |
| | an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or |
| | a trust that (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and the control of one or more “United States persons” (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), or (2) has a valid election in effect to be treated as a United States person for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
Payments of Interest
Interest on a note generally will be taxable to a U.S. Holder as ordinary income at the time such interest is received or accrued, in accordance with such U.S. Holder’s method of tax accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Sale or Other Taxable Disposition
A U.S. Holder will recognize gain or loss on the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of a note. The amount of such gain or loss will generally equal the difference between the amount received for the note in cash or other property valued at fair market value (less amounts attributable to any accrued but unpaid interest, which will be taxable as interest to the extent not previously included in income) and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the note. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in a note generally will be equal to the amount the U.S. Holder paid for the note. Any gain or loss will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder has held the note for more than one year at the time of sale or other taxable disposition. Otherwise, such gain or loss will be short-term capital gain or loss. Long-term capital gains recognized by certain non-corporate U.S. Holders, including individuals, generally will be taxable at a reduced rate. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
A U.S. Holder may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding when such holder receives payments on a note or receives proceeds from the sale or other taxable disposition of a note (including a redemption or retirement of a note). Certain U.S. Holders are exempt from backup withholding, including corporations and certain tax-exempt organizations. A U.S. Holder will be subject to backup withholding if such holder is not otherwise exempt and:
| | the holder fails to furnish the holder’s taxpayer identification number, which for an individual is ordinarily his or her social security number; |
| | the holder furnishes an incorrect taxpayer identification number; |
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| | the applicable withholding agent is notified by the IRS that the holder previously failed to properly report payments of interest or dividends; or |
| | the holder fails to certify under penalties of perjury that the holder has furnished a correct taxpayer identification number and that the IRS has not notified the holder that the holder is subject to backup withholding. |
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their qualification for an exemption from backup withholding and the procedures for obtaining such an exemption.
Tax Consequences Applicable to Non-U.S. Holders
Definition of a Non-U.S. Holder
For purposes of this discussion, a “Non-U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of a note that is neither a U.S. Holder nor an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Payments of Interest
Interest paid on a note to a Non-U.S. Holder that is not effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax, or withholding tax of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty), provided that:
| | the Non-U.S. Holder does not, actually or constructively, own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our voting stock; |
| | the Non-U.S. Holder is not a controlled foreign corporation related to us through actual or constructive stock ownership; and |
| | either (1) the Non-U.S. Holder certifies in a statement provided to the applicable withholding agent under penalties of perjury that it is not a United States person and provides its name and address; (2) a securities clearing organization, bank or other financial institution that holds customers’ securities in the ordinary course of its trade or business and holds the note on behalf of the Non-U.S. Holder certifies to the applicable withholding agent under penalties of perjury that it, or the financial institution between it and the Non-U.S. Holder, has received from the Non-U.S. Holder a statement under penalties of perjury that such holder is not a United States person and provides a copy of such statement to the applicable withholding agent; or (3) the Non-U.S. Holder holds its note directly through a “qualified intermediary” (within the meaning of applicable Treasury Regulations) and certain conditions are satisfied. |
If a Non-U.S. Holder does not satisfy the requirements above, such Non-U.S. Holder may be entitled to a reduction in or an exemption from withholding on such interest as a result of an applicable tax treaty. To claim such entitlement, the Non-U.S. Holder must provide the applicable withholding agent with a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or other applicable documentation) claiming a reduction in or exemption from withholding tax under the benefit of an income tax treaty between the United States and the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder resides or is established.
If interest paid to a Non-U.S. Holder is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such interest is attributable), the Non-U.S. Holder will be exempt from the U.S. federal withholding tax described above. To claim the exemption, the Non-U.S. Holder must furnish to the applicable withholding agent a valid IRS Form W-8ECI, certifying that interest paid on a note is not subject to withholding tax because it is effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business within the United States.
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Any such effectively connected interest generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at the regular rates. A Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation also may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on such effectively connected interest, as adjusted for certain items.
The certifications described above must be provided to the applicable withholding agent prior to the payment of interest and must be updated periodically. Non-U.S. Holders that do not timely provide the applicable withholding agent with the required certification, but that qualify for a reduced rate under an applicable income tax treaty, may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under any applicable income tax treaty.
Sale or Other Taxable Disposition
A Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain realized upon the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of a note (such amount excludes any amount allocable to accrued and unpaid interest, which generally will be treated as interest and may be subject to the rules discussed above in “—Payments of Interest”) unless:
| | the gain is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the United States to which such gain is attributable); or |
| | the Non-U.S. Holder is a nonresident alien individual present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the disposition and certain other requirements are met. |
Gain described in the first bullet point above generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular rates. A Non-U.S. Holder that is a foreign corporation also may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on such effectively connected gain, as adjusted for certain items.
A Non-U.S. Holder described in the second bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on gain realized upon the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of a note, which may be offset by U.S. source capital losses of the Non-U.S. Holder (even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States), provided the Non-U.S. Holder has timely filed U.S. federal income tax returns with respect to such losses.
Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding any applicable income tax treaties that may provide for different rules.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Payments of interest generally will not be subject to backup withholding, provided the applicable withholding agent does not have actual knowledge or reason to know the Non-U.S. Holder is a United States person and such holder certifies its non-U.S. status as described above under “—Payments of Interest.” However, information returns are required to be filed with the IRS in connection with any interest paid to the Non-U.S. Holder, regardless of whether any tax was actually withheld. In addition, proceeds of the sale or other taxable disposition of a note (including a retirement or redemption of the note) within the United States or conducted through certain U.S.-related brokers generally will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting, if the applicable withholding agent receives the statement described above and does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that such holder is a United States person or the holder otherwise establishes an exemption. Proceeds of a disposition of a note paid outside the United States and conducted through a non-U.S. office of a non-U.S. broker generally will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting.
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Copies of information returns that are filed with the IRS may also be made available under the provisions of an applicable treaty or agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder resides or is established.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Additional Withholding Tax on Payments Made to Foreign Accounts
Withholding taxes may be imposed under Sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code (such Sections commonly referred to as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or “FATCA”) on certain types of payments made to non-U.S. financial institutions and certain other non-U.S. entities. Specifically, a 30% withholding tax may be imposed on payments of interest on, or (subject to the proposed Treasury Regulations discussed below) gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, a note paid to a “foreign financial institution” or a “non-financial foreign entity” (each as defined in the Code), unless (1) the foreign financial institution undertakes certain diligence and reporting obligations, (2) the non-financial foreign entity either certifies it does not have any “substantial United States owners” (as defined in the Code) or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial United States owner, or (3) the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules. If the payee is a foreign financial institution and is subject to the diligence and reporting requirements in clause (1) above, it must enter into an agreement with the U.S. Department of the Treasury requiring, among other things, that it undertake to identify accounts held by certain “specified United States persons” or “United States owned foreign entities” (each as defined in the Code), annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on certain payments to non-compliant foreign financial institutions and certain other account holders. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules.
Under the applicable Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance, withholding under FATCA generally applies to payments of interest on a note. While withholding under FATCA would have applied also to payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of a note on or after January 1, 2019, proposed Treasury Regulations eliminate FATCA withholding on payments of gross proceeds entirely. Taxpayers generally may rely on these proposed Treasury Regulations until final Treasury Regulations are issued.
Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the potential application of withholding under FATCA to their investment in the notes.
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UNDERWRITING (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)
We and the underwriters named below, for whom BofA Securities, Inc., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Raymond James & Associates, Inc. are acting as the representatives, have entered into an underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus supplement with respect to the notes. Subject to certain terms and conditions in the underwriting agreement, we have agreed to sell and each underwriter named below has severally, and not jointly, agreed to purchase the principal amount of notes set forth opposite its name in the following table.
| Underwriters |
Principal Amount of Notes |
|||
| BofA Securities, Inc. |
$ | |||
| Wells Fargo Securities, LLC |
||||
| Raymond James & Associates, Inc. |
||||
| Total |
$ | |||
The underwriters are committed to take and pay for all of the notes being offered, if any are taken. If an underwriter defaults, the underwriting agreement provides that the purchase commitments of the non-defaulting underwriters may be increased or the underwriting agreement may be terminated.
Notes sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement. Any notes sold by the underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a discount from the initial public offering price of up to % of the principal amount of the notes. Any such securities dealers may resell any notes purchased from the underwriters to certain other brokers or dealers at a discount from the initial public offering price of up to % principal amount of the notes. If all the notes are not sold at the initial offering price, the underwriters may change the offering price and the other selling terms.
The underwriters are offering the notes, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel and other conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, such as the receipt by the underwriters of officers’ certificates and legal opinions. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.
The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We do not intend to list the notes on any securities exchange or have them included in any automated dealer quotation system. We have been advised by the underwriters that the underwriters intend to make a market in the notes but are not obligated to do so and may discontinue market making at any time without notice. We cannot assure you that an active trading market will be available for the notes or that you will be able to sell your notes at the price you originally paid for them or at the time you wish to sell them. Future trading prices of the notes will depend on many factors including, among other things, prevailing interest rates, our operating results and the market for similar securities. Generally, the liquidity of, and trading market for, the notes may also be materially and adversely affected by declines in the market for similar debt securities. Such a decline may materially and adversely affect such liquidity and trading independent of our financial performance and prospects.
In connection with this offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell the notes in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater principal amount of notes than they are required to purchase in this offering. The underwriters must close out any short position by purchasing notes in the open market. A short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the notes in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in this offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the notes while this offering is in progress.
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These activities by the underwriters, as well as other purchases by the underwriters for their own accounts, may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the notes. As a result, the price of the notes may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued by the underwriters at any time. These transactions may be effected in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.
We estimate that the total expenses of this offering, excluding the underwriting discount, will be approximately $ and will be paid by us.
We have agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments which the underwriters may be required to make in respect of such liabilities.
The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, commercial and investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us or our affiliates. They have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions. Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates are lenders, arrangers or book managers under our existing credit agreements, including the Fourth Amendment.
In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities), currencies, commodities, credit default swaps and other financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. Certain of the underwriters or their affiliates that have a lending relationship with us routinely hedge their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. Such underwriters and their affiliates may hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities, including potentially the notes offered hereby. Any such credit default swaps or short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the notes offered hereby. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.
It is expected that delivery of the notes will be made against payment for the notes on or about the date specified on the cover page of this prospectus supplement, which is the business day following the date of this prospectus supplement (such settlement cycle being referred to as “T+ ”). Under Rule 15c6-1 under the Exchange Act trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in one business day unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the notes on the date that is one business day preceding the settlement date will be required, by virtue of the fact that the notes initially will settle in T+ , to specify an alternative settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of the notes who wish to trade the notes on the date is one business day preceding the settlement date should consult their own advisors.
Conflicts of Interest
Certain of the underwriters and affiliates of certain of the underwriters have positions in the 2027 notes to be redeemed or repaid and/or are lenders pursuant to the unsecured credit facility. Upon our application of the net proceeds from this offering, such underwriters or affiliates may individually receive an amount in excess of 5% of the net proceeds from this offering. In such event, such underwriter(s) would have a “conflict of interest” as
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defined under FINRA Rule 5121, and the offering would be conducted in compliance with such rule. No sales of the notes offered hereby will be made by the affected underwriter(s) to an account over which it exercises discretion without the prior specific written consent of the account holder. However, because the notes offered hereby are “investment grade rated,” as defined under FINRA Rule 5121, the appointment of a “qualified independent underwriter” is not required under such rule.
Sales Outside the United States
Notice to Prospective Investors in Canada
The notes may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the notes must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.
Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus supplement (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.
Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (“33-105”) the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.
Notice to Prospective Investors in the EEA
Prohibition of Sales to EEA Retail Investors
The notes may not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the EEA. For the purposes of this provision:
| (a) | the expression “retail investor” means a person who is one (or more) of the following: |
| (i) | a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or |
| (ii) | a customer within the meaning of the Insurance Distribution Directive, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or |
| (iii) | not an EEA Qualified Investor; and |
| (b) | the expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the notes. |
Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom
Prohibition of Sales to United Kingdom Retail Investors
The notes may not be offered, sold, distributed or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the United Kingdom. For the purposes of this provision:
| (a) | the expression “retail investor” means a person who is either one (or both) of the following: |
| (i) | not a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of UK MiFIR; or |
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| (ii) | not a UK Qualified Investor; and |
| (b) | the expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to buy or subscribe for the notes. |
Other Regulatory Restrictions in the United Kingdom
Any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) in connection with the issue or sale of the notes may only be communicated or caused to be communicated in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to Mercury General.
All applicable provisions of the FSMA must be complied with in respect to anything done by any person in relation to the notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Hong Kong
The notes may not be offered or sold by means of any document other than: (i) to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) (the “SFO”) and any rules made thereunder; or (ii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong) (the “C(WUMP)O”) or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the C(WUMP)O; and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the notes may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purposes of issue (in each case, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public of Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to the notes which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the SFO and any rules made thereunder.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Japan
The notes have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (the “Financial Instruments and Exchange Law”) and accordingly, each underwriter has acknowledged and agreed that it has not offered or sold and will not offer or sell any notes, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the account or benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the account or benefit of, any resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Singapore
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have not been and will not be registered as a prospectus under the Securities and Futures Act 2001 (the “SFA”) by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and the offer of the notes in Singapore is made primarily pursuant to the exemptions under Sections 274 and 275 of the SFA. Accordingly, this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the notes may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the notes be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to any person in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA) (an “Institutional Investor”) pursuant to Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA) (an “Accredited Investor”) or other relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) (a “Relevant Person”) and pursuant to
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Section 275(1) of the SFA, or to any person pursuant to an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA and (where applicable) Regulation 3 of the Securities and Futures (Classes of Investors) Regulations 2018, or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with, the conditions of any other applicable exemption or provision of the SFA.
It is a condition of the offer that where the notes are subscribed for or acquired pursuant to an offer made in reliance on Section 275 of the SFA by a Relevant Person which is:
| (a) | a corporation (which is not an Accredited Investor), the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an Accredited Investor; or |
| (b) | a trust (where the trustee is not an Accredited Investor), the sole purpose of which is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an Accredited Investor, |
securities or securities-based derivatives contracts (each as defined in Section 2(1) of the SFA) of that corporation and the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has subscribed for or acquired the note except:
| (1) | to an Institutional Investor, an Accredited Investor, a Relevant Person, or which arises from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) of the SFA (in the case of that corporation) or Section 276(4)(c)(ii) of the SFA (in the case of that trust); |
| (2) | where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer; |
| (3) | where the transfer is by operation of law; or |
| (4) | as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA. |
Singapore Securities and Futures Act Product Classification - Solely for the purposes of its obligations pursuant to sections 309B(1)(a) and 309B(1)(c) of the SFA, the Company has determined, and hereby notifies all relevant persons (as defined in Section 309A(1) of the SFA), that the notes are “prescribed capital markets products” (as defined in the Securities and Futures (Capital Markets Products) Regulations 2018) and Excluded Investment Products (as defined in MAS Notice SFA 04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS Notice FAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products).
Notice to Prospective Investors in South Korea
The notes have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Investments Services and Capital Markets Act of Korea and the decrees and regulations thereunder (the “FSCMA”) and the notes have been and will be offered in Korea as a private placement under the FSCMA. None of the notes may be offered, sold and delivered directly or indirectly, or offered or sold to any person for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Korea or to any resident of Korea except pursuant to the applicable laws and regulations of Korea, including the FSCMA and the Foreign Exchange Transaction Law of Korea and the decrees and regulations thereunder (the “FETL”). For a period of one year from the issue date of the notes, any acquirer of the notes who was solicited to buy the notes in Korea is prohibited from transferring any of the notes to another person in any way other than as a whole to one transferee. Furthermore, the purchaser of the notes shall comply with all applicable regulatory requirements (including but not limited to requirements under the FETL) in connection with the purchase of the notes.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Taiwan
The notes may be made available for purchase outside Taiwan by investors residing in Taiwan (either directly or through properly licensed Taiwan intermediaries acting on behalf of such investors) but may not be offered or sold in Taiwan
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The consolidated financial statements and schedules of Mercury General Corporation and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2025, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025 have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
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INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
With respect to the unaudited interim financial information for the periods ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, incorporated by reference herein, the independent registered public accounting firm has reported that they applied limited procedures in accordance with professional standards for a review of such information. However, their separate report included in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, and incorporated by reference herein, states that they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on that interim financial information. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their report on such information should be restricted in light of the limited nature of the review procedures applied. The accountants are not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the Securities Act for their report on the unaudited interim financial information because that report is not a ‘report’ or a ‘part’ of the registration statement prepared or certified by the accountants within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Securities Act.
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PROSPECTUS
MERCURY GENERAL CORPORATION
Debt Securities
We may offer and sell the securities identified above from time to time in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities.
Each time we offer and sell securities, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering and the amounts, prices and terms of the securities. The supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. You should carefully read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement before you invest in any of our securities.
We may offer and sell the securities described in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, or through a combination of these methods. If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. See the sections of this prospectus entitled “About this Prospectus” and “Plan of Distribution” for more information. No securities may be sold without delivery of this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of such securities.
INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES INVOLVES RISKS. SEE THE “RISK FACTORS” ON PAGE 4 OF THIS PROSPECTUS AND ANY SIMILAR SECTION CONTAINED IN THE APPLICABLE PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT CONCERNING FACTORS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES.
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “MCY.” On May 11, 2026, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $99.05 per share.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is May 12, 2026.
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This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), using a “shelf” registration process. By using a shelf registration statement, we may sell securities from time to time and in one or more offerings as described in this prospectus. Each time that we offer and sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the securities being offered and sold and the specific terms of that offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. The prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, you should rely on the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, as applicable. Before purchasing any securities, you should carefully read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement (and any applicable free writing prospectuses), together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference.”
We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectuses prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We will not make an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement to this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on its respective cover, that the information appearing in any applicable free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date of that free writing prospectus, and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, unless we indicate otherwise. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. This prospectus incorporates by reference, and any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may contain and incorporate by reference, market data and industry statistics and forecasts that are based on independent industry publications and other publicly available information. Although we believe these sources are reliable, we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and we have not independently verified this information. In addition, the market and industry data and forecasts that may be included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any applicable free writing prospectus may involve estimates, assumptions and other risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on this information.
When we refer to “Mercury General,” “we,” “our,” “us” and the “Company” in this prospectus, we mean Mercury General Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless otherwise specified. When we refer to “you,” we mean the potential holders of the applicable series of securities.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Available Information
We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information about issuers, such as us, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is http://www.sec.gov.
Our web site address is http://www.mercuryinsurance.com. The information on our web site, however, is not, and should not be deemed to be, a part of this prospectus.
This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC and do not contain all of the information in the registration statement. The full registration statement may be obtained from the SEC or us, as provided below. Forms of the indenture and other documents establishing the terms of the offered securities are or may be filed as exhibits to the registration statement or documents incorporated by reference in the registration statement. Statements in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement about these documents are summaries and each statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers. You should refer to the actual documents for a more complete description of the relevant matters. You may inspect a copy of the registration statement through the SEC’s website, as provided above.
Incorporation by Reference
The SEC’s rules allow us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, and subsequent information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede that information. Any statement contained in this prospectus or a previously filed document incorporated by reference will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or a subsequently filed document incorporated by reference modifies or replaces that statement.
This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement incorporate by reference the documents set forth below that have previously been filed with the SEC:
| | Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on February 17, 2026. |
| | The information specifically incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 from our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2026. |
| | Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, filed with the SEC on May 5, 2026. |
All reports and other documents we subsequently file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which we refer to as the “Exchange Act” in this prospectus, prior to the termination of this offering but excluding any information furnished to, rather than filed with, the SEC, will also be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and deemed to be part of this prospectus from the date of the filing of such reports and documents.
You may request a free copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus by writing or telephoning us at the following address:
Mercury General Corporation
4484 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90010
(323) 937-1060
Exhibits to the filings will not be sent, however, unless those exhibits have specifically been incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.
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Mercury General and its subsidiaries are primarily engaged in writing personal automobile insurance through 12 insurance subsidiaries in 11 states, principally California. Mercury General also writes homeowners, commercial automobile, commercial property, mechanical protection, and umbrella insurance. Mercury General’s insurance policies are mostly sold through independent agents who receive a commission for selling policies. The Company believes that it has thorough underwriting and claims handling processes that, together with its agent relationships, provide the Company with competitive advantages.
We filed our certificate of incorporation with the Secretary of State of California on December 27, 1960.
Our principal executive offices are located at 4484 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90010, and our telephone number is (323) 937-1060.
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Investment in any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement involves risks. Before deciding whether to invest in our securities, you should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated by reference to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K, and all other information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act, and the risk factors and other information contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities. There may be other unknown or unpredictable economic, business, competitive, regulatory or other factors that could have material adverse effects on our future results. Past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results or trends in future periods. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flow could be seriously harmed. This could cause the trading price of our securities to decline, resulting in a loss of all or part of your investment. Please also carefully read the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Forward-Looking Statements” included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, summarizes certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of the series in a supplement to this prospectus. We will also indicate in the supplement to what extent the general terms and provisions described in this prospectus apply to a particular series of debt securities.
We may issue debt securities either separately, or together with, or upon the conversion or exercise of or in exchange for, other securities described in this prospectus. Debt securities may be our senior, senior subordinated or subordinated obligations and, unless otherwise specified in a supplement to this prospectus, the debt securities will be our direct, unsecured obligations and may be issued in one or more series.
Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued under an indenture between us and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee. We have summarized select portions of the indenture below. The summary is not complete. The indenture by and between Mercury General and the trustee, dated as of March 8, 2017, pursuant to which Mercury General issued our 4.400% Senior Notes due 2027 and will issue other series of debt securities has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement and you should read the indenture for provisions that may be important to you. Capitalized terms used in the summary and not defined herein have the meanings specified in the indenture.
As used in this section only, “Mercury General,” “we,” “our” or “us” refer to Mercury General Corporation excluding our subsidiaries, unless expressly stated or the context otherwise requires.
General
The terms of each series of debt securities will be established by or pursuant to a resolution of our board of directors and set forth or determined in the manner provided in a resolution of our board of directors, in an officer’s certificate or by a supplemental indenture. The particular terms of each series of debt securities will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to such series (including any pricing supplement or term sheet).
We can issue an unlimited amount of debt securities under the indenture that may be in one or more series with the same or various maturities, at par, at a premium, or at a discount. We will set forth in a prospectus supplement (including any pricing supplement or term sheet) relating to any series of debt securities being offered, the aggregate principal amount and the following terms of the debt securities, if applicable:
| | the title and ranking of the debt securities (including the terms of any subordination provisions); |
| | the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount) at which we will sell the debt securities; |
| | any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities; |
| | the date or dates on which the principal of the securities of the series is payable; |
| | the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or the method used to determine the rate or rates (including any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the debt securities will bear interest, the date or dates from which interest will accrue, the date or dates on which interest will commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date; |
| | the place or places where principal of, and interest, if any, on the debt securities will be payable (and the method of such payment), where the securities of such series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, and where notices and demands to us in respect of the debt securities may be delivered; |
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| | the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which we may redeem the debt securities; |
| | any obligation we have to redeem or purchase the debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a holder of debt securities and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and in the terms and conditions upon which securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation; |
| | the dates on which and the price or prices at which we will repurchase debt securities at the option of the holders of debt securities and other detailed terms and provisions of these repurchase obligations; |
| | the minimum denominations in which the debt securities will be issued, if other than minimum denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple in excess thereof; |
| | whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of certificated debt securities or global debt securities; |
| | the portion of principal amount of the debt securities payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity date, if other than the principal amount; |
| | the currency of denomination of the debt securities, which may be United States Dollars or any foreign currency, and if such currency of denomination is a composite currency, the agency or organization, if any, responsible for overseeing such composite currency; |
| | the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities will be made; |
| | if payments of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities will be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which the debt securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to these payments will be determined; |
| | the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities will be determined, if these amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies or by reference to a commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index; |
| | any provisions relating to any security provided for the debt securities; |
| | any addition to, deletion of or change in the Events of Default described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities and any change in the acceleration provisions described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities; |
| | any addition to, deletion of or change in the covenants described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities; |
| | any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to the debt securities; |
| | the provisions, if any, relating to conversion or exchange of any debt securities of such series, including if applicable, the conversion or exchange price and period, provisions as to whether conversion or exchange will be mandatory, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion or exchange price and provisions affecting conversion or exchange; |
| | any other terms of the debt securities, which may supplement, modify or delete any provision of the indenture as it applies to that series, including any terms that may be required under applicable law or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of the securities; and |
| | whether any of our direct or indirect subsidiaries will guarantee the debt securities of that series, including the terms of subordination, if any, of such guarantees. |
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We may issue debt securities that provide for an amount less than their stated principal amount to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of their maturity pursuant to the terms of the indenture. We will provide you with information on the federal income tax considerations and other special considerations applicable to any of these debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement.
If we denominate the purchase price of any of the debt securities in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, or if the principal of and any premium and interest on any series of debt securities is payable in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, we will provide you with information on the restrictions, elections, general tax considerations, specific terms and other information with respect to that issue of debt securities and such foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Transfer and Exchange
Each debt security will be represented by either one or more global securities registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company, or the Depositary, or a nominee of the Depositary (we will refer to any debt security represented by a global debt security as a “book-entry debt security”), or a certificate issued in definitive registered form (we will refer to any debt security represented by a certificated security as a “certificated debt security”) as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Except as set forth under the heading “Global Debt Securities and Book-Entry System” below, book-entry debt securities will not be issuable in certificated form.
Certificated Debt Securities. You may transfer or exchange certificated debt securities at any office we maintain for this purpose in accordance with the terms of the indenture. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of certificated debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with a transfer or exchange.
You may effect the transfer of certificated debt securities and the right to receive the principal of, premium and interest on certificated debt securities only by surrendering the certificate representing those certificated debt securities and either reissuance by us or the trustee of the certificate to the new holder or the issuance by us or the trustee of a new certificate to the new holder.
Global Debt Securities and Book-Entry System. Each global debt security representing book-entry debt securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, the Depositary, and registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary. Please see “Global Securities.”
Covenants
We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement any restrictive covenants applicable to any issue of debt securities.
No Protection in the Event of a Change of Control
Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will not contain any provisions which may afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event we have a change in control or in the event of a highly leveraged transaction (whether or not such transaction results in a change in control) which could adversely affect holders of debt securities.
Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets
We may not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to any person (a “successor person”) unless:
| | we are the surviving corporation or the successor person (if other than Mercury General) is a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of any U.S. domestic jurisdiction and expressly assumes our obligations on the debt securities and under the indenture; and |
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| | immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Default or Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing. |
Notwithstanding the above, any of our subsidiaries may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties to us.
Events of Default
“Event of Default” means with respect to any series of debt securities, any of the following:
| | default in the payment of any interest upon any debt security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of the payment is deposited by us with the trustee or with a paying agent prior to the expiration of the 30-day period); |
| | default in the payment of principal of any security of that series at its maturity; |
| | default in the performance or breach of any other covenant or warranty by us in the indenture (other than a covenant or warranty that has been included in the indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than that series), which default continues uncured for a period of 60 days after we receive written notice from the trustee or Mercury General and the trustee receive written notice from the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series as provided in the indenture; |
| | certain voluntary or involuntary events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of Mercury General; or |
| | any other Event of Default provided with respect to debt securities of that series that is described in the applicable prospectus supplement. |
No Event of Default with respect to a particular series of debt securities (except as to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization) necessarily constitutes an Event of Default with respect to any other series of debt securities. The occurrence of certain Events of Default or an acceleration under the indenture may constitute an event of default under certain indebtedness of ours or our subsidiaries outstanding from time to time.
We will provide the trustee written notice of any Default or Event of Default within 30 days of becoming aware of the occurrence of such Default or Event of Default, which notice will describe in reasonable detail the status of such Default or Event of Default and what action we are taking or propose to take in respect thereof.
If an Event of Default with respect to debt securities of any series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing, then the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may, by a notice in writing to us (and to the trustee if given by the holders), declare to be due and payable immediately the principal of (or, if the debt securities of that series are discount securities, that portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all debt securities of that series. In the case of an Event of Default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the principal (or such specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding debt securities will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder of outstanding debt securities. At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to debt securities of any series has been made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may rescind and annul the acceleration if all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal and interest, if any, with respect to debt securities of that series, have been cured or waived as provided in the indenture. We refer you to the prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities that are discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of a portion of the principal amount of such discount securities upon the occurrence of an Event of Default.
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The indenture provides that the trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture unless the trustee receives indemnity or security satisfactory to it against any cost, liability or expense which might be incurred by it in performing such duty or exercising such right or power. Subject to certain rights of the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series.
No holder of any debt security of any series will have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any remedy under the indenture, unless:
| | that holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to debt securities of that series; and |
| | the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request, and offered indemnity or security satisfactory to the trustee, to the trustee to institute the proceeding as trustee, and the trustee has not received from the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series a direction inconsistent with that request and has failed to institute the proceeding within 60 days. |
Notwithstanding any other provision in the indenture, the holder of any debt security will have an absolute and unconditional right to receive payment of the principal of, premium and any interest on that debt security on or after the due dates expressed in that debt security and to institute suit for the enforcement of payment.
The indenture requires us, within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year, to furnish to the trustee a statement as to compliance with the indenture. If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the securities of any series and if it is actually known to a responsible officer of the trustee, the trustee shall mail to each Securityholder of the securities of that series notice of a Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs or, if later, after a responsible officer of the trustee has actual knowledge of such Default or Event of Default. The indenture provides that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any series of any Default or Event of Default (except in payment on any debt securities of that series) with respect to debt securities of that series if the trustee determines in good faith that withholding notice is in the interest of the holders of those debt securities.
Modification and Waiver
We and the trustee may modify, amend or supplement the indenture or the debt securities of any series without the consent of any holder of any debt security:
| | to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; |
| | to comply with covenants in the indenture described above under the heading “Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets”; |
| | to provide for uncertificated securities in addition to or in place of certificated securities; |
| | to add guarantees with respect to debt securities of any series or secure debt securities of any series; |
| | to surrender any of our rights or powers under the indenture; |
| | to add covenants or events of default for the benefit of the holders of debt securities of any series; |
| | to comply with the applicable procedures of the applicable depositary; |
| | to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder of debt securities; |
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| | to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of debt securities of any series as permitted by the indenture; |
| | to effect the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the debt securities of any series and to add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture to provide for or facilitate administration by more than one trustee; or |
| | to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. |
We may also modify and amend the indenture with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the modifications or amendments. We may not make any modification or amendment without the consent of the holders of each affected debt security then outstanding if that amendment will:
| | reduce the amount of debt securities whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver; |
| | reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on any debt security; |
| | reduce the principal of or premium on or change the fixed maturity of any debt security or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation with respect to any series of debt securities; |
| | reduce the principal amount of discount securities payable upon acceleration of maturity; |
| | waive a default in the payment of the principal of, premium or interest on any debt security (except a rescission of acceleration of the debt securities of any series by the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of that series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration); |
| | make the principal of or premium or interest on any debt security payable in currency other than that stated in the debt security; |
| | make any change to certain provisions of the indenture relating to, among other things, the right of holders of debt securities to receive payment of the principal of, premium and interest on those debt securities and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment and to waivers or amendments; or |
| | waive a redemption payment with respect to any debt security. |
Except for certain specified provisions, the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of that series waive our compliance with provisions of the indenture. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may on behalf of the holders of all the debt securities of such series waive any past default under the indenture with respect to that series and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of, premium or any interest on any debt security of that series; provided, however, that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from the acceleration.
Defeasance of Debt Securities and Certain Covenants in Certain Circumstances
Legal Defeasance. The indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicable series of debt securities, we may be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities of any series (subject to certain exceptions). We will be so discharged upon the irrevocable deposit with the trustee, in trust, of money and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a single
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currency other than U.S. Dollars, government obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency, that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money or U.S. government obligations in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or investment bank to pay and discharge each installment of principal, premium and interest on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the debt securities of that series on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and those debt securities.
This discharge may occur only if, among other things, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel stating that we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling or, since the date of execution of the indenture, there has been a change in the applicable United States federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred.
Defeasance of Certain Covenants. The indenture provides that, unless otherwise provided by the terms of the applicable series of debt securities, upon compliance with certain conditions:
| | we may omit to comply with the covenant described under the heading “Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets” and certain other covenants set forth in the indenture, as well as any additional covenants which may be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement; and |
| | any omission to comply with those covenants will not constitute a Default or an Event of Default with respect to the debt securities of that series (“covenant defeasance”). |
The conditions include:
| | depositing with the trustee money and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a single currency other than U.S. Dollars, government obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency, that, through the payment of interest and principal in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or investment bank to pay and discharge each installment of principal of, premium and interest on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the debt securities of that series on the stated maturity of those payments in accordance with the terms of the indenture and those debt securities; and |
| | delivering to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling or, since the date of execution of the indenture, there has been a change in the applicable United States federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and related covenant defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the deposit and related covenant defeasance had not occurred. |
No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees or Stockholders
None of our past, present or future directors, officers, employees or stockholders, as such, will have any liability for any of our obligations under the debt securities or the indenture or for any claim based on, or in respect or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. By accepting a debt security, each holder waives and releases all such liability. This waiver and release is part of the consideration for the issue of the debt securities. However, this waiver and release may not be effective to waive liabilities under U.S. federal securities laws, and it is the view of the SEC that such a waiver is against public policy.
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Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities, including any claim or controversy arising out of or relating to the indenture or the securities, will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
The indenture provides that we, the trustee (and its agents) and the holders of the debt securities (by their acceptance of the debt securities) irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to the indenture, the debt securities or the transactions contemplated thereby.
The indenture provides that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon the indenture or the transactions contemplated thereby may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City of New York or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the City of New York, and we, the trustee and the holder of the debt securities (by their acceptance of the debt securities) irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. The indenture further provides that service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail (to the extent allowed under any applicable statute or rule of court) to such party’s address set forth in the indenture will be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The indenture further provides that we, the trustee and the holders of the debt securities (by their acceptance of the debt securities) irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the courts specified above and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim any such suit, action or other proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
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Book-Entry, Delivery and Form
Unless we indicate differently in any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, the securities initially will be issued in book-entry form and represented by one or more global notes or global securities, or, collectively, global securities. The global securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, as depositary, or DTC, and registered in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of DTC. Unless and until it is exchanged for individual certificates evidencing securities under the limited circumstances described below, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary to its nominee or by the nominee to the depositary, or by the depositary or its nominee to a successor depositary or to a nominee of the successor depositary.
DTC has advised us that it is:
| | a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law; |
| | a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law; |
| | a member of the Federal Reserve System; |
| | a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code; and |
| | a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. |
DTC holds securities that its participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among its participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. “Direct participants” in DTC include securities brokers and dealers, including underwriters, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, or DTCC. DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others, which we sometimes refer to as indirect participants, that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.
Purchases of securities under the DTC system must be made by or through direct participants, which will receive a credit for the securities on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of the actual purchaser of a security, which we sometimes refer to as a beneficial owner, is in turn recorded on the direct and indirect participants’ records. Beneficial owners of securities will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchases. However, beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of their transactions, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participants through which they purchased securities. Transfers of ownership interests in global securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the global securities, except under the limited circumstances described below.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all global securities deposited by direct participants with DTC will be registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other nominee will not change the beneficial ownership of the securities. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the securities. DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts the securities are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The participants are responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
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So long as the securities are in book-entry form, you will receive payments and may transfer securities only through the facilities of the depositary and its direct and indirect participants. We will maintain an office or agency in the location specified in the prospectus supplement for the applicable securities, where notices and demands in respect of the securities and the indenture may be delivered to us and where certificated securities may be surrendered for payment, registration of transfer or exchange.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants and by direct participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any legal requirements in effect from time to time.
Redemption notices will be sent to DTC. If less than all of the securities of a particular series are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each direct participant in the securities of such series to be redeemed.
Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (or such other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the securities. Under its usual procedures, DTC will mail an omnibus proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns the consenting or voting rights of Cede & Co. to those direct participants to whose accounts the securities of such series are credited on the record date, identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy.
So long as securities are in book-entry form, we will make payments on those securities to the depositary or its nominee, as the registered owner of such securities, by wire transfer of immediately available funds. If securities are issued in definitive certificated form under the limited circumstances described below and unless if otherwise provided in the description of the applicable securities herein or in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will have the option of making payments by check mailed to the addresses of the persons entitled to payment or by wire transfer to bank accounts in the United States designated in writing to the applicable trustee or other designated party at least 15 days before the applicable payment date by the persons entitled to payment, unless a shorter period is satisfactory to the applicable trustee or other designated party.
Redemption proceeds, distributions and dividend payments on the securities will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us on the payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC records. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the account of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name.” Those payments will be the responsibility of participants and not of DTC or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements in effect from time to time. Payment of redemption proceeds, distributions and dividend payments to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC, is our responsibility, disbursement of payments to direct participants is the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of payments to the beneficial owners is the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.
Except under the limited circumstances described below, purchasers of securities will not be entitled to have securities registered in their names and will not receive physical delivery of securities. Accordingly, each beneficial owner must rely on the procedures of DTC and its participants to exercise any rights under the securities and the indenture.
The laws of some jurisdictions may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. Those laws may impair the ability to transfer or pledge beneficial interests in securities.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depositary with respect to the securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to us. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor depositary is not obtained, securities certificates are required to be printed and delivered.
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As noted above, beneficial owners of a particular series of securities generally will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in those securities. However, if:
| | DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a depositary for the global security or securities representing such series of securities or if DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act at a time when it is required to be registered and a successor depositary is not appointed within 90 days of the notification to us or of our becoming aware of DTC’s ceasing to be so registered, as the case may be; |
| | we determine, in our sole discretion, not to have such securities represented by one or more global securities; or |
| | an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to such series of securities, |
we will prepare and deliver certificates for such securities in exchange for beneficial interests in the global securities. Any beneficial interest in a global security that is exchangeable under the circumstances described in the preceding sentence will be exchangeable for securities in definitive certificated form registered in the names that the depositary directs. It is expected that these directions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from its participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the global securities.
Euroclear and Clearstream
If so provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, you may hold interests in a global security through Clearstream Banking S.A., which we refer to as “Clearstream,” or Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, which we refer to as “Euroclear,” either directly if you are a participant in Clearstream or Euroclear or indirectly through organizations which are participants in Clearstream or Euroclear. Clearstream and Euroclear will hold interests on behalf of their respective participants through customers’ securities accounts in the names of Clearstream and Euroclear, respectively, on the books of their respective U.S. depositaries, which in turn will hold such interests in customers’ securities accounts in such depositaries’ names on DTC’s books.
Clearstream and Euroclear are securities clearance systems in Europe. Clearstream and Euroclear hold securities for their respective participating organizations and facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between those participants through electronic book-entry changes in their accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates.
Payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices and other matters relating to beneficial interests in global securities owned through Euroclear or Clearstream must comply with the rules and procedures of those systems. Transactions between participants in Euroclear or Clearstream, on one hand, and other participants in DTC, on the other hand, are also subject to DTC’s rules and procedures.
Investors will be able to make and receive through Euroclear and Clearstream payments, deliveries, transfers and other transactions involving any beneficial interests in global securities held through those systems only on days when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States.
Cross-market transfers between participants in DTC, on the one hand, and participants in Euroclear or Clearstream, on the other hand, will be effected through DTC in accordance with the DTC’s rules on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by their respective U.S. depositaries; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance with the rules and procedures and within the established deadlines (European time) of such system. Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its U.S. depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving interests in the global securities through DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day fund settlement. Participants in Euroclear or Clearstream may not deliver instructions directly to their respective U.S. depositaries.
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Due to time zone differences, the securities accounts of a participant in Euroclear or Clearstream purchasing an interest in a global security from a direct participant in DTC will be credited, and any such crediting will be reported to the relevant participant in Euroclear or Clearstream, during the securities settlement processing day (which must be a business day for Euroclear or Clearstream) immediately following the settlement date of DTC. Cash received in Euroclear or Clearstream as a result of sales of interests in a global security by or through a participant in Euroclear or Clearstream to a direct participant in DTC will be received with value on the settlement date of DTC but will be available in the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream cash account only as of the business day for Euroclear or Clearstream following DTC’s settlement date.
Other
The information in this section of this prospectus concerning DTC, Clearstream, Euroclear and their respective book-entry systems has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we do not take responsibility for this information. This information has been provided solely as a matter of convenience. The rules and procedures of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear are solely within the control of those organizations and could change at any time. Neither we nor the trustee nor any agent of ours or of the trustee has any control over those entities and none of us takes any responsibility for their activities. You are urged to contact DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear or their respective participants directly to discuss those matters. In addition, although we expect that DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear will perform the foregoing procedures, none of them is under any obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures and such procedures may be discontinued at any time. Neither we nor any agent of ours will have any responsibility for the performance or nonperformance by DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear or their respective participants of these or any other rules or procedures governing their respective operations.
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We may sell the offered securities from time to time:
| | through underwriters or dealers; |
| | through agents; |
| | directly to one or more purchasers; or |
| | through a combination of any of these methods of sale. |
We will identify the specific plan of distribution, including any underwriters, dealers, agents or direct purchasers and their compensation in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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Latham & Watkins LLP will pass upon certain legal matters relating to the issuance and sale of the securities offered hereby on behalf of Mercury General Corporation. Additional legal matters may be passed upon for us or any underwriters, dealers or agents, by counsel that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The consolidated financial statements of Mercury General Corporation and financial statement schedules as of December 31, 2025 and 2024, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2025, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2025, have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
With respect to the unaudited interim financial information for the periods ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, incorporated by reference herein, the independent registered public accounting firm has reported that they applied limited procedures in accordance with professional standards for a review of such information. However, their separate report included in the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, and incorporated by reference herein, states that they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on that interim financial information. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their report on such information should be restricted in light of the limited nature of the review procedures applied. The accountants are not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the Securities Act for their report on the unaudited interim financial information because that report is not a ‘report’ or a ‘part’ of the registration statement prepared or certified by the accountants within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Securities Act.
19
$
% Senior Notes due 20
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
June , 2026
Joint Book-Running Managers
BofA Securities
Wells Fargo Securities
Raymond James