Mo. Rev. Stat. § 375.149

Current with changes from the 2024 Legislative Session

Section 375.149 - Written contract required for placing business with insurer, content - termination of contract for cause - prohibited acts by managing general agents

No person, firm, association or corporation acting in the capacity of a managing general agent shall place business with an insurer unless there is in force a written contract between the insurer and the managing general agent which sets forth the responsibilities of each party and where both parties share responsibility for a particular function, specifies the division of such responsibilities, which has been approved by the director prior to its becoming effective as being in compliance with the managing general agents act and which contains the following minimum provisions:

(1) The insurer may terminate the contract for cause upon written notice to the managing general agent. The insurer may suspend the underwriting authority of the managing general agent during the pendency of any dispute regarding the cause for termination. Nothing in this subdivision is intended to relieve the managing general agent or insurer of any other contractual obligation;

(2) The managing general agent will render accounts to the insurer detailing all transactions and remit all funds due under the contract to the insurer on not less than a monthly basis;

(3) All funds collected for the account of an insurer will be held by the managing general agent in a fiduciary capacity in a segregated account in a bank which is a member of the Federal Reserve System. This account shall be used for all payments on behalf of the insurer and for no other purpose. The managing general agent may retain no more than three months' estimated claims payments and allocated loss adjustment expenses;

(4) Separate records of business written by the managing general agent shall be maintained. The insurer shall have access and right to copy all accounts and records related to its business in a form usable by the insurer and the director shall have access to all books, bank accounts and records of the managing general agent in a form usable to the director. Such records shall be retained for a minimum of three years following the transactions to which the records relate;

(5) The contract may not be assigned in whole or part by the managing general agent;

(6) Appropriate underwriting guidelines including:

(a) The maximum annual premium volume;

(b) The basis of the rates to be charged;

(c) The types of risks which may be written;

(d) Maximum limits of liability;

(e) Applicable exclusions;

(f) Territorial limitations;

(g) Policy cancellation provisions; and

(h) The maximum policy period;

(7) The insurer shall retain the right to cancel or not renew any policy of insurance subject to the applicable laws and regulations concerning the cancellation and nonrenewal of insurance policies;

(8) If the contract permits the managing general agent to settle claims on behalf of the insurer:

(a) All claims must be reported to the company in a timely manner;

(b) A copy of the claim file will be sent to the insurer at its request or as soon as it becomes known that the claim:

a. Has the potential to exceed a maximum amount determined by the director or exceeds the limit set by the company, whichever is less;

b. Involves a coverage dispute;

c. May exceed the managing general agent's claims settlement authority;

d. Is open for more than six months; or

e. Is closed by payment of an amount set by the director or an amount set by the company, whichever is less;

(c) All claim files will be the joint property of the insurer and managing general agent. However, upon an order of liquidation of the insurer such files shall become the sole property of the insurer or its estate, but the managing general agent shall have reasonable access to and the right to copy the files on a timely basis;

(d) Any settlement authority granted to the managing general agent may be terminated for cause upon the insurer's written notice to the managing general agent or upon the termination of the contract. The insurer may suspend the settlement authority during the pendency of the dispute regarding the cause for termination. Nothing in this paragraph is intended to relieve the managing general agent or insurer of any other contractual obligation;

(9) Where electronic claims files are in existence, the contract must include provision regarding the timely transmission of the data;

(10) If the contract provides for a sharing of interim profits by the managing general agent, and the managing general agent has the authority to determine the amount of the interim profits by establishing loss reserves or controlling claim payments, or in any other manner, interim profits will not be paid to the managing general agent until one year after they are earned for property insurance business and five years after they are earned on casualty business and not until the profits have been verified pursuant to section 375.150;

(11) The managing general agent shall not:

(a) Bind reinsurance or retrocessions on behalf of the insurer, except that the managing general agent may bind facultative reinsurance contracts pursuant to obligatory facultative agreements if the contract with the insurer contains reinsurance underwriting guidelines including, for both reinsurance assumed and ceded, a list of reinsurers with which such automatic agreements are in effect, the coverages and amounts or percentages that may be reinsured and commission schedules;

(b) Commit the insurer to participate in insurance or reinsurance syndicates;

(c) Appoint any producer without assuring that the producer is lawfully licensed to transact the type of insurance for which he is appointed;

(d) Without prior approval of the insurer, pay or commit the insurer to pay a claim over a specified amount, net of reinsurance, which shall not exceed one percent of the insurer's policyholder's surplus as of December thirty-first of the immediately preceding calendar year;

(e) Collect any payment from a reinsurer or commit the insurer to any claim settlement with a reinsurer, without prior approval of the insurer. If prior approval is given, a report must be promptly forwarded to the insurer;

(f) Permit its subproducer to serve on its board of directors;

(g) Jointly employ an individual who is employed with the insurer; or

(h) Appoint a subordinate managing general agent.

§ 375.149, RSMo

L. 1990 H.B. 1739 § 8
Effective 7/1/1991