EXHIBIT 10.3
RS Group of Companies Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx., Xxxxx 000,
Xxxxxxx XX X0X 0X0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEE COMPENSATION AGREEMENT
This Fee Compensation Agreement ("Agreement") is made by and between RS GROUP OF
COMPANIES, INC., a Florida corporation (hereinafter as "RS Group") and AON RISK
SERVICES, INC. OF TENNESSEE, a Tennessee corporation (hereinafter as "ARS").
This Agreement is to confirm our understanding concerning brokerage, financial
and risk management support services for the RentShield(TM) program that ARS
agrees to provide for RS Group, in addition to the terms and conditions that the
parties hereto agreed upon in a Letter of Authorization to Approach Insurance
Markets, dated March 30, 2004, and a Letter of Intent to Establish a Strategic
Alliance or Partnership, dated March 30, 2004;
Term. This Agreement shall be deemed to be effective as of April 1, 2004, and
shall terminate on June 30, 2005 (the "Service Period"). ARS's obligation to
render any and all Services or any further Services under this Agreement will
terminate at the end of the Service Period, unless otherwise agreed in writing
and signed by both RS Group and ARS.
Fee. In consideration of ARS's agreement to provide the services and to procure
a carrier satisfactory to RS Group that is committed to underwrite coverage for
RS Group's RentShield(TM) program in the United States for the duration of the
Service Period, RS Group agrees to pay ARS a one-time fee of one hundred
thousand dollars (US$100,000.00) (the "One-Time Fee") upon the execution of this
Agreement by both parties.
RS Group and ARS agree that any revenue entitled to ARS under a separate Joint
Marketing and Administration Services Agreement between the parties regarding RS
Group's RentShield(TM) Program will be credited up to one hundred percent (100%)
against the One-Time Fee payable to Aon under this Agreement. In the event that
an underwriter of the RentShield Insurance program (currently, Great American
Insurance) does not offer to bind and issue coverage for any portfolios which
have been submitted for consideration before June 30, 2005, ARS will return
$25,000 of the service fee paid by RS Group under this agreement on or about
July 15, 2005. An underwriting model, which outlines the pricing approach
approved by Great American Insurance, is attached as Exhibit A ("Underwriting
Model")
If ARS is required to return any commissions that were credited against the fee
paid to ARS by RS Group under this Agreement, RS Group shall reimburse ARS any
amount so returned.
RS Group shall have the responsibility to report and communicate changes in
exposures, loss-related data and other material changes in writing to ARS,
which, in turn, shall assume the responsibility of reporting such changes to any
insurance carriers.
When in ARS's professional judgment it is necessary or appropriate, ARS will
utilize the services of other intermediaries, including managing general
agents/managing general underwriters ("MGA/MGUs"), wholesale brokers, or
reinsurance brokers to assist in accessing insurance or reinsurance markets.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RS Group of Companies Inc.
Such intermediaries may or may not be affiliates of ARS. MGA/MGUs typically are
appointed as agents or administrators of the insurance companies they represent
and they usually are compensated by such companies in the form of commissions
from ARS's client's premiums. Wholesale brokers and reinsurance brokers also are
typically compensated by insurance companies in the form of commission from
ARS's client's premiums. In some instances and subject to applicable law,
wholesale brokers may assess a broker fee in addition to the compensation paid
by insurance companies, and such broker fees typically are paid by ARS's client.
If available to ARS, RS will be provided with an accounting of any amounts paid
to ARS, ARS affiliates and non-affiliates in connection with coverages placed
under this Agreement or any other agreement between ARS and RS in connection
with the RentShield(TM) program, including any fees paid to ARS for services it
provides to underwriters. ARS also shall make available to RS copies of
marketing correspondence and commission rates, if any, in connection with the
services performed under this Agreement or any other agreement between ARS and
RS in connection with the RentShield(TM) program.
Premiums paid for insurance paid to ARS and refunds and claim payments paid to
ARS by insurance companies are deposited into fiduciary accounts in accordance
with applicable laws until they are due to be paid. Subject to such laws and the
insurance company's consent where applicable, ARS will retain the interest or
investment income earned while such funds are on deposit in such accounts.
ARS's goal is to procure additional insurance capacity above and beyond Great
American for RS Group's RentShield(TM) Program with underwriters possessing the
financial strength to perform in today's economic environment. Toward this
objective, ARS regularly reviews publicly available information concerning an
underwriter's financial condition. This information includes, but is not limited
to:
o approval by various regulatory authorities;
o reports from professional rating agencies such as A.M. Best,
Standard and Poor's, ISI and Xxxxx'x analysis of underwriters;
o IRIS test results which consist of 11 financial ratios
established by the National Association of Insurance
Commissioners (NAIC); and
o the input of our global affiliates and correspondents.
Most ARS placements are made with underwriters that are rated "Excellent" by the
professional rating agencies; however, ARS does not guarantee the solvency of
any underwriters with which it places insurance. ARS encourages RS Group to
review the publicly available information made available by ARS. The decision to
accept or reject an underwriter shall be made solely by RS.
If, at any time during the term hereof, the rating of the insurance carrier that
is procured by ARS and enters into an agreement to underwrite the RentShield(TM)
Program is, for a period in excess of one fiscal quarter, downgraded to a rating
status of less than "A," as rated by all of the Professional Rating Agencies,
ARS agrees, at no further cost to RS Group, to use its best efforts to promptly,
procure another carrier satisfactory to RS Group that is committed to underwrite
coverage for RS Group's RentShield(TM) program in the United States for the
duration of the Service Period in substitution of the downgraded
carrier.Confidentiality. As a condition precedent to the execution of this
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RS Group of Companies Inc.
agreement, that certain Mutual Confidentiality Agreement executed by ARS and
Rent Shield Corp. (now RS Group) on February 18th, 2004 (a copy of which is
attached hereto) is hereby extended and effective through December 31, 2005 (the
"MCA").
RS Group grants ARS limited use of RS Group's logo, pictures, and other publicly
available information about RS Group, to be used by ARS strictly in the best
interests of RS Group and solely for the purpose of promoting RS Group to an
entity involved in the marketing process for RS Group's insurance needs under
this Agreement, subject to the approval of RS Group (such approval not to be
unreasonably withheld or delayed).
In the event that the operations of either RS Group or ARS change substantially
by merger, acquisition, expansion or other material change in scope and nature
of exposures, losses, and/or insurance program, RS Group and ARS will negotiate
in good faith to revise this Agreement as appropriate.
Insurance Placements; Audits. ARS agrees that during the Service Period of this
Agreement and for a period of twelve (12) months after the termination or
expiration hereof, RS Group or its authorized representatives shall have the
right to audit financial records relating to the insurance placements by Aon
under this Agreement; provided, that should RS conduct such audit, the use of
any financial information disclosed by ARS to RS during any such financial audit
shall be subject to RS's continuing compliance with, the MCA. Any such audit
will be at the expense of RS Group.
This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Illinois, without
regard to its principles of conflict of laws.
Nothing in this Agreement implies or is intended to create, a joint venture,
partnership or other legally binding combination between RS Group and ARS.
This Agreement, and those documents incorporated by reference herein, contains
the entire agreement between RS Group and ARS concerning the provision of the
Services that are the subject hereof, and may only be amended by an agreement in
writing signed by both RS Group and ARS.
Accepted and agreed by the parties hereto as of this _____ day of November 2004.
RS GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC.
By:
---------------------------------
Xxxxxxx Min, President
AON RISK SERVICES, INC. OF TENNESSEE
By:
--------------------------------
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Resident Manager
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RS Group of Companies Inc.
