Exhibit 10.28
SERVICE AGREEMENT
This Agreement is made between The Commerce Insurance Company,
headquartered at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 ("Commerce"), and Automobile
Club Insurance Agency, Inc., headquartered at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, XX
00000 ("ACIA").
WHEREAS ACIA shall make available to members of Automobile Club of Merrimack
Valley, a member of the American Automobile Association ("AAA"), a Personal
Automobile Group Marketing Rate Deviation Program (the "AAA Program");
WHEREAS the AAA Program will be available exclusively on policies underwritten
by Commerce;
WHEREAS certain independent agents and brokers and Commerce will be able to
access the AAA program on behalf of AAA members by entering into a Participation
Agreement with ACIA;
WHEREAS these independent agents and brokers of Commerce which sign a
Participation Agreement with ACIA shall be known as Servicing Network Agent(s);
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual promises and
undertakings contained herein, the parties agree as follows:
Service Provided
Commerce agrees to provide to ACIA, the following services for all AAA
Program policies underwritten by Commerce:
1. Policy Production - Commerce will distribute, or cause to be distributed,
all policies, endorsements, cancellations and related materials directly to the
Servicing Network Agents.
2. Information Access - Commerce will undertake a new programming effort so
as to provide to all Servicing Network Agents, software to access to billing and
claim information for AAA Program policies.
3. Calculation and Payments - Commerce will calculate amounts due from ACIA
to the Servicing Network Agents as governed by the Participation Agreement
between Servicing Network Agents and ACIA. Commerce, as designee of ACIA, shall
make payment of any amounts due, directly to the Service Network Agents and
reconcile commissions with the Service Network Agents.
4. Tax Information - Commerce shall maintain required tax information and
records, and prepare for submission to the Internal Revenue Service all
necessary tax documents pertaining to commission.
5. Telemarketing Service - Commerce will establish and maintain an inbound
telemarketing service so as to assist qualified AAA members in locating a
Servicing Network Agent.
6. Agent Contact - Commerce will act as a liaison between ACIA and
independent agents and brokers of Commerce so as to provide these independent
agents and brokers and ACIA the opportunity to enter into a Participation
Agreement.
7. Marketing - Commerce will provide certain underwriting information to ACIA
to facilitate marketing of the AAA Program to potential insureds.
8. Conversion of Existing Policies; Direct Xxxx - Upon receipt of the
appropriate information and validation, Commerce shall convert existing eligible
policies into the AAA Program and, where appropriate, shall convert all AAA
Program policies from "Agency Xxxx" to "Direct Xxxx".
9. Membership Verification - Commerce will verify the AAA membership status
of each applicant and participation in the AAA Program, both upon application
and at renewal, to ensure the continued eligibility of each applicant and
participant.
10. Record Keeping and Reporting - Commerce shall, in accordance with industry
custom, maintain required records of policies placed in the AAA Program by a
Servicing Network Agent and will, upon request, provide ACIA an ongoing
summarized analysis of each Servicing Network Agent's business placed in the AAA
Program. Commerce shall also assemble, prepare and maintain information and
provide actuarial support for the purposes of validation and filing for
subsequent rate deviations, all as required by the Massachusetts Division of
Insurance.
11. Indemnification - Commerce shall exonerate, indemnify and hold harmless
ACIA from and against all losses, expenses and costs related to certain actions
arising out of the AAA Program.
Service Fee
In exchange for the aforementioned services provided by Commerce, ACIA
will pay to Commerce a monthly fee (the "Service Fee"). For the remainder of
1995, this service Fee shall be equal to * * *%(1) of the written premiums on
each AAA Program policy, whether produced by any Servicing Network Agent or
ACIA. For calendar years 1996 and beyond, ACIA and Commerce agree to renegotiate
the Service Fee.
Term and Termination
This Agreement shall remain in effect for as long as the AAA Program is
maintained and Commerce remains the sole underwriter of the AAA Program.
------------------
(1) [NB. Superseded by the accompanying Addendum prior to the date the
registrant first filed this exhibit with the Commission.]
- 2 -
Waiver
No party shall be deemed to have waived any right hereunder unless such
waiver is in writing. No delay or omission on the part of either party in
exercising any right shall operate as a waiver or bar of such right or any other
right. A waiver on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar or waiver of
the waived right or any right on any future occasion.
Assignment
This Agreement may not be assigned by either party.
Automatic Compliance
To the extent that any provisions of this Agreement are, or may be, in
conflict with any applicable statute or regulation, such provisions of the
Agreement shall be deemed to be amended to conform to the requirements of such
statute or regulation.
Headings and Counterparts
The headings contained in this Agreement are included for purposes of
convenience only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of any
of its provisions.
This Agreement may be executed simultaneously, in separate counterparts
each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
Severability
The invalidity or unenforceability of any particular provision of this
Agreement shall not affect the other provisions hereof, and such provision shall
be carried out as nearly as possible according to its original terms and intent.
Entire Agreement and Amendment
This instrument contains the entire understanding of the service agreement
between the two parties and no statements, promises or inducements made by any
party hereto, or agent of either party hereto, which is not contained in this
written contract, shall be valid or binding.
This Agreement may not be enlarged, modified or altered except by a
written instrument signed by the parties thereto.
Effective Date
This Agreement supersedes all previous agreements, on the same subject
matter, whether written or oral, between Commerce and ACIA and
- 3 -
(1) shall be effective 9/1/95; and
(2) shall continue in full force and effect until altered, amended,
suspended or terminated.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Automobile Club Insurance Agency, Inc. and The
Commerce Insurance Company have caused this Agreement to be executed this 1st
day of September, 1995.
Automobile Club Insurance Agency, Inc. The Commerce Insurance Company
BY: BY:
----------------------------- -----------------------------
TITLE: President/CEO TITLE:
-------------------------- --------------------------
- 4 -
ADDENDUM TO THE SERVICE AGREEMENT
This Addendum is incorporated into and shall constitute part of the Service
Agreement dated August 11, 1995 by and between The Commerce Insurance Company
and the AAA Insurance Agency, Inc.
It is hereby understood and agreed that:
The Service Fee shall be equal to 1.0% of the written premiums on each AAA
Program policy with a 2003 effective date produced by any Servicing Network
Agent.
No Service Fee will be paid for AAA Program policies with 2003 effective dates
produced by the AAA Insurance Agency, Inc.
Accepted this 14th date of February, 2003 and shall be effective January 1,
2003.
The Commerce Insurance Company
The Citation Insurance Company AAA Insurance Agency, Inc.
By: By:
----------------------------- -----------------------------
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Senior Vice President
- 5 -