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Exhibit h(4)
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
AMONG
GOLDEN AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY,
ING VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST,
ING MUTUAL FUNDS MANAGEMENT CO. LLC
AND
ING FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of the 28th day of April 2000, by and among
Golden American Life Insurance Company (the "Company"), a life insurance company
organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, on its own behalf and on
behalf of each separate account of the Company set forth on Schedule A hereto as
may be amended from time to time (each such account hereinafter referred to as
the "Account"), ING Variable Insurance Trust (the "Fund"), a management
investment company and business trust organized under the laws of the State of
Delaware, ING Mutual Funds Management Co. LLC (the "Adviser"), a limited
liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, and ING
Funds Distributors, Inc. (the "Distributor"), a corporation organized under the
laws of the State of Iowa.
WHEREAS, the Fund engages in business as an open-end management
investment company and is available to act as the investment vehicle for
separate accounts established for variable life insurance and variable annuity
contracts (the "Variable Insurance Products") to be offered by insurance
companies which have entered into participation agreements with the Fund,
Adviser and Distributor ("Participating Insurance Companies");
WHEREAS, the shares of beneficial interest of the Fund are divided into
several series of shares, each designated a "Portfolio" and representing the
interest in a particular managed portfolio of securities and other assets;
WHEREAS, the Fund has obtained, or will obtain before entering into a
Participation Agreement with any other party, an order from the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") granting Participating Insurance Companies and
variable annuity and variable life insurance separate accounts exemptions from
the provisions of sections 9(a), 13(a), 15(a), and 15(b) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the "1940 Act") and Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and
6e-3(T)(b)(15) thereunder, if and to the extent necessary to permit shares of
the Fund to be sold to and held by variable annuity and variable life insurance
separate accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated life insurance companies
(the "Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order"), and the parties to this
Agreement agree to comply with the conditions or undertakings specified in the
Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order to the extent applicable to each such
party;
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the 1940 Act and shares of the Portfolios are registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act");
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WHEREAS, the Adviser, which serves as investment adviser to the
Designated Portfolios (as hereinafter defined) of the Fund, is duly registered
as an investment adviser under the federal Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as
amended;
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register certain variable
annuity contracts (the "Contracts") under the 1933 Act;
WHEREAS, the Account is a duly organized, validly existing segregated
asset account, established by the Company under the insurance laws of the State
of Delaware, to set aside and invest assets attributable to the Contracts;
WHEREAS, the Company has registered the Account as a unit investment
trust under the 1940 Act;
WHEREAS, the Company has issued or will issue certain variable life
insurance and/or variable annuity contracts supported wholly or partially by the
Account (the "Contracts"), and said Contracts are listed in Schedule A hereto,
as it may be amended from time to time by mutual written agreement;
WHEREAS, the Distributor, which serves as distributor to the Fund, is
registered as a broker dealer with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and is a member in good standing of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD"); and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Company intends to purchase shares in the Portfolios listed in
Schedule B hereto, as it may be amended from time to time by mutual written
agreement (the "Designated Portfolios") on behalf of the Account to fund the
aforesaid Contracts, and the Distributor is authorized to sell such shares to
the Account at net asset value;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Company,
the Fund, the Adviser, and the Distributor agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. Sale of Fund Shares
1.1. The Fund agrees to sell to the Company those shares of the
Designated Portfolios that each Account or the appropriate subaccount of each
Account orders, executing such orders on a daily basis at the net asset value
next computed after receipt and acceptance by the Fund or its designee of the
order for the shares of the Fund. For purposes of this Section 1.1, the Company
will be the designee of the Fund for receipt of such orders from each Account or
the appropriate subaccount of each Account and receipt by such designee will
constitute receipt by the Fund; provided that the Fund receives notice of such
order by 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the next following business day ("T+1").
"Business Day" will mean any day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open
for trading and on which the Fund calculates its net asset value pursuant to the
rules of the SEC.
1.2. The Company will pay for Fund shares on T+1 that an order to
purchase Fund shares is made in accordance with Section 1.1 above. Payment will
be in federal funds transmitted by wire. This wire transfer will be initiated by
12:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
1.3. The Fund agrees to make shares of the Designated Portfolios
available indefinitely for purchase at the applicable net asset value per share
by Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts on those days
on which the Fund calculates its Designated Portfolio net asset value pursuant
to rules of the SEC and the Fund shall use reasonable efforts to calculate such
net asset value on
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each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading; provided, however,
that the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Fund Board") may refuse to sell
shares of any Portfolio to any person, or suspend or terminate the offering of
shares of any Portfolio if such action is required by law or by regulatory
authorities having jurisdiction or is, in the sole discretion of the Fund Board,
acting in good faith and in light of its fiduciary duties under federal and any
applicable state laws, necessary in the best interests of the shareholders of
such Portfolio.
1.4. On each Business Day on which the Fund calculates its net asset
value, the Company will aggregate and calculate the net purchase or redemption
orders for each Account or the appropriate subaccount of each Account maintained
by the Fund in which contractowner assets are invested. Net orders will only
reflect orders that the Company has received prior to the close of regular
trading on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "NYSE") (currently 4:00 p.m.,
Eastern Time) on that Business Day. Orders that the Company has received after
the close of regular trading on the NYSE will be treated as though received on
the next Business Day. Each communication of orders by the Company will
constitute a representation that such orders were received by it prior to the
close of regular trading on the NYSE on the Business Day on which the purchase
or redemption order is priced in accordance with Rule 22c-1 under the 1940 Act.
Other procedures relating to the handling of orders will be in accordance with
the prospectus and statement of information of the relevant Designated Portfolio
or with oral or written instructions that the Distributor or the Fund will
forward to the Company from time to time.
1.5. The Fund agrees that shares of the Fund will be sold only to
Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts, qualified pension
and retirement plans or such other persons as are permitted under applicable
provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the "Internal
Revenue Code"), and regulations promulgated thereunder, the sale to which will
not impair the tax treatment currently afforded the Contracts. No shares of any
Portfolio will be sold to the general public except as set forth in this Section
1.5.
1.6. The Fund agrees to redeem for cash, upon the Company's request,
any full or fractional shares of the Fund held by the Company, executing such
requests on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt and
acceptance by the Fund or its agent of the request for redemption. For purposes
of this Section 1.6, the Company will be the designee of the Fund for receipt of
requests for redemption from each Account or the appropriate subaccount of each
Account and receipt by such designee will constitute receipt by the Fund,
provided the Fund receives notice of request for redemption by 10:00 a.m.
Eastern Time on the next following Business Day. Payment will be in federal
funds transmitted by wire to the Company's account as designated by the Company
in writing from time to time, on the same Business Day the Fund receives notice
of the redemption order from the Company. The Fund reserves the right to delay
payment of redemption proceeds, but in no event may such payment be delayed
longer than the period permitted by the 0000 Xxx. The Fund will not bear any
responsibility whatsoever for the proper disbursement or crediting of redemption
proceeds; the Company alone will be responsible for such action. If notification
of redemption is received after 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, payment for redeemed
shares will be made on the next following Business Day.
1.7. The Company agrees to purchase and redeem the shares of the
Designated Portfolios offered by the then current prospectus of the Fund in
accordance with the provisions of such prospectus.
1.8. Issuance and transfer of the Fund's shares will be by book entry
only. Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or any Account.
Purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares will be recorded in an
appropriate title for each Account or the appropriate subaccount of each
Account.
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1.9. The Fund will furnish same day notice (by telecopier, followed by
written confirmation) to the Company of the declaration of any income, dividends
or capital gain distributions payable on each Designated Portfolio's shares. The
Company hereby elects to receive all such dividends and distributions as are
payable on the Designated Portfolio shares in the form of additional shares of
that Designated Portfolio. The Fund will notify the Company of the number of
shares so issued as payment of such dividends and distributions. The Company
reserves the right to revoke this election upon reasonable prior notice to the
Fund and to receive all such dividends and distributions in cash.
1.10. The Fund will make the net asset value per share for each
Designated Portfolio available to the Company on a daily basis as soon as
reasonably practical after the net asset value per share is calculated and will
use its best efforts to make such net asset value per share available by 6:00
p.m., Eastern Time, but in no event later than 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time, each
Business Day.
1.11. In the event adjustments are required to correct any error in the
computation of the net asset value of the Fund's shares, the Fund or the
Distributor will notify the Company as soon as practicable after discovering the
need for those adjustments that result in an aggregate reimbursement of $150 or
more to any one subaccount of each Account maintained by a Designated Portfolio
unless notified otherwise by the Company (or, if greater, results in an
adjustment of $10 or more to each contractowner's account). Any such notice will
state for each day for which an error occurred the incorrect price, the correct
price and, to the extent communicated to the Fund's shareholders, the reason for
the price change. The Company may send this notice or a derivation thereof (so
long as such derivation is approved in advance by the Distributor or the
Adviser) to contractowners whose accounts are affected by the price change. The
parties will negotiate in good faith to develop a reasonable method for
effecting such adjustments. The Fund shall provide the Company, on behalf of the
Account or the appropriate subaccount of each Account, with a prompt adjustment
to the number of shares purchased or redeemed to reflect the correct share net
asset value.
1.12.
(a) The parties hereto acknowledge that the arrangement
contemplated by this Agreement is not exclusive; the Fund's shares may
be sold to other insurance companies (subject to Section 1.5 hereof)
and the cash value of the Contracts may be invested in other investment
companies, provided, however, that until this Agreement is terminated
pursuant to Article X, the Company shall promote the Designated
Portfolios on the same basis as other funding vehicles available under
the Contracts and funding vehicles other than those listed on Schedule
B to this Agreement may be available for the investment of the cash
value of the Contracts.
(b) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the Advisor
and the Distributor (unless otherwise required by applicable law), take
any action to operate the Account as a management investment company
under the 1940 Act.
(c) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the Advisor
and the Distributor (unless otherwise required by applicable law),
induce contractowners to change or modify the Fund or change the Fund's
distributor or investment adviser.
(d) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the Fund,
induce contractowners to vote on any matter submitted for consideration
by the shareholders of the Fund in a manner other than as recommended
by the Fund Board.
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ARTICLE II. Representations and Warranties
2.1. The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts are or will
be registered under the 1933 Act and that the Contracts will be issued and sold
in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, including state
insurance suitability requirements. The Company further represents and warrants
that it is an insurance company duly organized and in good standing under
applicable law and that it has legally and validly established each Account as a
separate account under applicable state law and has registered the Account as a
unit investment trust in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act to serve
as a segregated investment account for the Contracts, and that it will maintain
such registration for so long as any Contracts are outstanding. The Company will
amend the registration statement under the 1933 Act for the Contracts and the
registration statement under the 1940 Act for the Account from time to time as
required in order to effect the continuous offering of the Contracts or as may
otherwise be required by applicable law. The Company will register and qualify
the Contracts for sale in accordance with the securities laws of the various
states only if and to the extent deemed necessary by the Company.
2.2. The Company represents that the Contracts are currently and at the
time of issuance will be treated as endowment, annuity or life insurance
contracts under applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, and that it
will make every effort to maintain such treatment and that it will notify the
Fund and the Adviser immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing
that the Contracts have ceased to be so treated or that they might not be so
treated in the future.
2.3. The Company represents and warrants that it will not purchase
shares of the Designated Portfolios with assets derived from tax-qualified
retirement plans except, indirectly, through Contracts purchased in connection
with such plans.
2.4. The Fund represents and warrants that Fund shares of the
Designated Portfolios sold pursuant to this Agreement will be registered under
the 1933 Act and duly authorized for issuance in accordance with applicable law
and that the Fund is and will remain registered under the 1940 Act for as long
as such shares of the Designated Portfolios are outstanding. The Fund will amend
the registration statement for its shares under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act
from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of its
shares. The Fund will register and qualify the shares of the Designated
Portfolios for sale in accordance with the laws of the various states only if
and to the extent deemed advisable by the Fund.
2.5. The Fund represents that it is currently qualified as a Regulated
Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and that it
will make every effort to maintain such qualification (under Subchapter M or any
successor or similar provision) and that it will notify the Company immediately
upon having a reasonable basis for believing that it has ceased to so qualify or
that it might not so qualify in the future.
2.6. The Fund represents and warrants that in performing the services
described in this Agreement, the Fund will comply with all applicable laws,
rules and regulations. The Fund makes no representation as to whether any aspect
of its operations (including, but not limited to, fees and expenses and
investment policies, objectives and restrictions) complies with the insurance
laws and regulations of any state. The Fund and the Distributor agree that upon
request they will use their best efforts to furnish the information required by
state insurance laws so that the Company can obtain the authority needed to
issue the Contracts in the various states.
2.7. The Fund represents and warrants its Fund Board has formulated and
approved a plan under Rule 12b-1 to finance distribution expenses in accordance
with the 1940 Act.
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2.8. The Distributor represents and warrants that it will distribute
the Fund shares of the Designated Portfolios in accordance with all applicable
federal and state securities laws including, without limitation, the 1933 Act,
the 1934 Act and the 0000 Xxx.
2.9. The Fund represents that it is lawfully organized and validly
existing under the laws of the State of Delaware and that it does and will
comply in all material respects with applicable provisions of the 0000 Xxx.
2.10. The Distributor represents and warrants that it is and will
remain duly registered under all applicable federal and state securities laws
and that it will perform its obligations for the Fund in accordance in all
material respects with any applicable state and federal securities laws.
2.11. The Fund and the Distributor represent and warrant that all of
their trustees, officers, employees, investment advisers, and other
individuals/entities having access to the funds and/or securities of the Fund
are and continue to be at all times covered by a blanket fidelity bond or
similar coverage for the benefit of the Fund in an amount not less than the
minimal coverage as required currently by Rule 17g-(1) of the 1940 Act or
related provisions as may be promulgated from time to time. The aforesaid bond
includes coverage for larceny and embezzlement and is issued by a reputable
bonding company.
ARTICLE III. Prospectuses and Proxy Statements; Voting
3.1. The Fund or the Distributor will provide, at its expense, a single
final copy of a current prospectus, in such format requested by the Company, in
conjunction with the Company's standard annual printing cycle. At its expense,
the Company will be responsible, in conjunction with its standard annual
printing cycle, for printing the prospectus and distributing the prospectus to
prospective and existing applicants and contractholders. If in the event the
Fund issues a new prospectus outside of the Company's standard annual printing
cycle, or if the Fund does not provide a single final copy of the current
prospectus in the format requested by the Company in conjunction with the
Company's standard annual printing cycle, by the deadlines established by the
Company, then the Fund or the Distributor will provide the Company, at the
Fund's or Distributor's expense, with as many copies of the current Fund
prospectus for the Designated Portfolios as the Company may reasonably request
for distribution, at the Company's expense, to existing and prospective
contractowners and applicants.
3.2. The Fund or the Distributor will provide the Company, at the
Company's expense, with as many copies of the statement of additional
information as the Company may reasonably request for distribution, at the
Company's expense, to prospective contractowners and applicants. The Fund or the
Distributor will provide, at the Company's expense, as many copies of said
statement of additional information as necessary for distribution, at the
Company's expense, to any existing contractowner who requests such statement or
whenever state or federal law otherwise requires that such statement be
provided. The Fund or the Distributor will provide the copies of said statement
of additional information to the Company or to its mailing agent. If requested
by the Company in lieu thereof, the Fund or the Distributor will provide such
documentation, including a computer diskette together with a single final copy
of a current statement of additional information set in type at the Fund's or
Distributor's expense.
3.3. The Fund or the Distributor, at the Fund's or its affiliate's
expense, will provide the Company or its mailing agent with copies of its proxy
material, if any, reports to shareholders and other communications to
shareholders in such quantity as the Company will reasonably require. The
Company will distribute this proxy material, reports and other communications to
existing contractowners and tabulate the votes.
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3.4. If and to the extent required by law the Company will:
(a) solicit voting instructions from contractowners;
(b) vote the shares of the Designated Portfolios held in the
Account in accordance with instructions received from contractowners;
and
(c) vote shares of the Designated Portfolios held in the
Account for which no timely instructions have been received, as well as
shares it owns, in the same proportion as shares of such Designated
Portfolio for which instructions have been received from the Company's
contractowners;
so long as and to the extent that the SEC continues to interpret the 1940 Act to
require pass-through voting privileges for variable contractowners. Except as
set forth above, the Company reserves the right to vote Fund shares held in any
segregated asset account in its own right, to the extent permitted by law. The
Company will be responsible for assuring that each of its separate accounts
participating in the Fund calculates voting privileges in a manner consistent
with all legal requirements, including the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive
Order.
3.5. The Fund will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act requiring
voting by shareholders, and in particular, the Fund either will provide for
annual meetings (except insofar as the SEC may interpret Section 16 of the 1940
Act not to require such meetings) or, as the Fund currently intends to comply
with Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act (although the Fund is not one of the trusts
described in Section 16(c) of that Act) as well as with Sections 16(a) and, if
and when applicable, 16(b). Further, the Fund will act in accordance with the
SEC's interpretation of the requirements of Section 16(a) with respect to
periodic elections of trustees and with whatever rules the SEC may promulgate
with respect thereto.
ARTICLE IV. Sales Material and Information
4.1. The Distributor will provide the Company on a timely basis with
investment performance information for each Designated Portfolio in which the
Company maintains a subaccount of the Account, including total return for the
preceding calendar month and calendar quarter, the calendar year to date, and
the prior one-year, five-year, and ten year (or life of the Fund) periods. The
Company may, based on the SEC mandated information supplied by the Distributor,
prepare communications for contractowners ("Contractowner Materials"). The
Company will provide copies of all Contractowner Materials concurrently with
their first use for the Distributor's internal recordkeeping purposes. It is
understood that neither the Distributor nor any Designated Portfolio will be
responsible for errors or omissions in, or the content of, Contractowner
Materials except to the extent that the error or omission resulted from
information provided by or on behalf of the Distributor or the Designated
Portfolio. Any printed information that is furnished to the Company pursuant to
this Agreement other than each Designated Portfolio's prospectus or statement of
additional information (or information supplemental thereto), periodic reports
and proxy solicitation materials is the Distributor's sole responsibility and
not the responsibility of any Designated Portfolio or the Fund. The Company
agrees that the Portfolios, the shareholders of the Portfolios and the officers
and governing Board of the Fund will have no liability or responsibility to the
Company in these respects.
4.2. The Company will not give any information or make any
representations or statements on behalf of the Fund or concerning the Fund in
connection with the sale of the Contracts other than the information or
representations contained in the registration statement, prospectus or statement
of additional information for Fund shares, as such registration statement,
prospectus and statement of additional
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information may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in reports or
proxy statements for the Fund, or in published reports for the Fund which are in
the public domain or approved by the Fund or the Distributor for distribution,
or in sales literature or other material provided by the Fund, Adviser or by the
Distributor, except with permission of the Distributor. Any piece of sales
literature or other promotional material intended to be used by the Company
which requires the permission of the Distributor prior to use will be furnished
by Company to the Distributor, or its designee, at least ten (10) business days
prior to its use. No such material will be used if the Distributor reasonably
objects to such use within five (5) business days after receipt of such
material.
Nothing in this Section 4.2 will be construed as preventing the Company or its
employees or agents from giving advice on investment in the Fund.
4.3. The Fund, the Adviser or the Distributor will furnish, or will
cause to be furnished, to the Company or its designee, each piece of sales
literature or other promotional material in which the Company or its Account is
named, at least ten (10) business days prior to its use. No such material will
be used if the Company reasonably objects to such use within five (5) business
days after receipt of such material.
4.4. The Fund, the Adviser and the Distributor will not give any
information or make any representations or statements on behalf of the Company
or concerning the Company, each Account, or the Contracts other than the
information or representations contained in a registration statement, prospectus
or statement of additional information for the Contracts, as such registration
statement, prospectus and statement of additional information may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, or in published reports for each Account or the
Contracts which are in the public domain or approved by the Company for
distribution to contractowners, or in sales literature or other material
provided by the Company, except with permission of the Company. The Company
agrees to respond to any request for approval on a prompt and timely basis.
4.5. The Fund will provide to the Company at least one complete copy of
all registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional information,
reports, proxy statements, sales literature and other promotional materials,
applications for exemptions, requests for no-action letters, and all amendments
to any of the above, that relate to the Fund or its shares, contemporaneously
with the filing of such document with the SEC, the NASD or other regulatory
authority.
4.6. The Company will provide to the Fund at least one complete copy of
all registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional information,
reports, solicitations for voting instructions, sales literature and other
promotional materials, applications for exemptions, requests for no action
letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that relate to the Contracts or
each Account, contemporaneously with the filing of such document with the SEC,
the NASD or other regulatory authority.
4.7. For purposes of this Article IV, the phrase "sales literature or
other promotional material" includes, but is not limited to, advertisements
(such as material published, or designed for use in, a newspaper, magazine, or
other periodical, radio, television, telephone or tape recording, videotape
display, signs or billboards, motion pictures, or other public media, (e.g.,
on-line networks such as the Internet or other electronic messages), sales
literature (i.e., any written communication distributed or made generally
available to customers or the public, including brochures, circulars, research
reports, market letters, form letters, seminar texts, reprints or excerpts of
any other advertisements, sales literature, or published article), educational
or training materials or other communications distributed or made generally
available to some or all agents or employees, registration statements,
prospectuses, statements of additional information,
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shareholder reports, and proxy materials and any other material constituting
sales literature or advertising under the NASD rules, the 1933 Act or the 0000
Xxx.
4.8. The Fund and the Distributor hereby consent to the Company's use
of the names ING Mutual Funds Management Co. LLC, ING Variable Insurance Trust,
the portfolio names designated on Schedule B or other designated names as may be
used from time to time in connection with the marketing of the Contracts,
subject to the terms of Sections 4.1 and 4.2 of this Agreement. Such consent
will terminate with the termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE V. Fees and Expenses
5.1. The Fund, the Adviser and the Distributor will pay no fee or other
compensation to the Company under this Agreement except pursuant to Rule 12b-1
under the 1940 Act to finance distribution expenses. The Fund may make Rule
12b-1 payments to the Company or to the underwriter for the Contracts if and in
such amounts agreed to by the Fund in writing.
5.2. All expenses incident to performance by the Fund of this Agreement
will be paid by the Fund to the extent permitted by law. The Fund will bear the
expenses for the cost of registration and qualification of the Fund's shares;
preparation and filing of the Fund's prospectus, statement of additional
information and registration statement, proxy materials and reports; setting in
type and printing proxy materials and reports by it to contractowners (including
the costs of printing a Fund prospectus that constitutes an annual report); the
preparation of all statements and notices required by any federal or state law;
all taxes on the issuance or transfer of the Fund's shares; any expenses
permitted to be paid or assumed by the Fund pursuant to a plan, if any, under
Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act; and all other expenses set forth in Article III
of this Agreement.
ARTICLE VI. Diversification and Qualification
6.1. The Adviser will ensure that the Fund will at all times invest
money from the Contracts in such a manner as to ensure that the Contracts will
be treated as variable annuity contracts under the Internal Revenue Code and the
regulations issued thereunder. Without limiting the scope of the foregoing, the
Fund will comply with Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code and Treasury
Regulation 1.817-5, as amended from time to time, relating to the
diversification requirements for variable annuity, endowment, or life insurance
contracts and any amendments or other modifications to such Section or
Regulation. In the event of a breach of this Article VI by the Fund, it will
take all reasonable steps: (a) to notify the Company of such breach; and (b) to
adequately diversify the Fund so as to achieve compliance within the grace
period afforded by Treasury Regulation 1.817-5.
6.2. The Fund represents that it is or will be qualified as a Regulated
Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and that it
will make every effort to maintain such qualification (under Subchapter M or any
successor or similar provisions) and that it will notify the Company immediately
upon having a reasonable basis for believing that it has ceased to so qualify or
that it might not so qualify in the future.
6.3. The Company represents that the Contracts are currently, and at
the time of issuance shall be, treated as life insurance or annuity insurance
contracts, under applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, and that it
will make every effort to maintain such treatment, and that it will notify the
Fund and the Distributor immediately upon having a reasonable basis for
believing the Contracts have ceased to be so treated or that they might not be
so treated in the future. The Company agrees that any prospectus offering a
contract that is a "modified endowment contract" as that term is
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defined in Section 7702A of the Internal Revenue Code (or any successor or
similar provision), shall identify such contract as a modified endowment
contract.
ARTICLE VII. Potential Conflicts
7.1. The Fund Board will monitor the Fund for the existence of any
material irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the contractowners of
all separate accounts investing in the Fund. An irreconcilable material conflict
may arise for a variety of reasons, including: (a) an action by any state
insurance regulatory authority; (b) a change in applicable federal or state
insurance, tax, or securities laws or regulations, or a public ruling, private
letter ruling, no-action or interpretative letter, or any similar action by
insurance, tax, or securities regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative or
judicial decision in any relevant proceeding; (d) the manner in which the
investments of any Portfolio are being managed; (e) a difference in voting
instructions given by variable annuity contract and variable life insurance
contractowners; or (f) a decision by an insurer to disregard the voting
instructions of contractowners. The Fund Board shall promptly inform the Company
if it determines that an irreconcilable material conflict exists and the
implications thereof.
7.2. The Company will report any potential or existing conflicts of
which it is aware to the Fund Board. The Company will assist the Fund Board in
carrying out its responsibilities under the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive
Order, by providing the Fund Board with all information reasonably necessary for
the Fund Board to consider any issues raised. This includes, but is not limited
to, an obligation by the Company to inform the Fund Board whenever contractowner
voting instructions are disregarded.
7.3. If it is determined by a majority of the Fund Board, or a majority
of its disinterested members, that a material irreconcilable conflict exists,
the Company and other Participating Insurance Companies shall, at their expense
and to the extent reasonably practicable (as determined by a majority of the
disinterested Fund Board members), take whatever steps are necessary to remedy
or eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict, up to and including: (a)
withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the separate accounts from
the Fund or any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a different investment
medium, including (but not limited to) another Portfolio of the Fund, or
submitting the question whether such segregation should be implemented to a vote
of all affected contractowners and, as appropriate, segregating the assets of
any appropriate group (i.e., annuity contractowners, life insurance
contractowners, or variable contract owners of one or more Participating
Insurance Companies) that votes in favor of such segregation, or offering to the
affected contractowners the option of making such a change; and (b) establishing
a new registered management investment company or managed separate account.
7.4. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a decision
by the Company to disregard contractowner voting instructions and that decision
represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote, the Company
may be required, at the Fund's election, to withdraw the Account's investment in
the Fund and terminate this Agreement with respect to each Account; provided,
however, that such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent
required by the foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a
majority of the disinterested members of the Fund Board. Any such withdrawal and
termination must take place within six (6) months after the Fund gives written
notice that this provision is being implemented, and until the end of that six
month period the Fund shall continue to accept and implement orders by the
Company for the purchase (and redemption) of shares of the Fund.
- 10 -
11
7.5. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a particular
state insurance regulator's decision applicable to the Company conflicts with
the majority of other state regulators, then the Company will withdraw the
affected Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with
respect to such Account within six months after the Fund Board informs the
Company in writing that it has determined that such decision has created an
irreconcilable material conflict; provided, however, that such withdrawal and
termination shall be limited to the extent required by the foregoing material
irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the disinterested members
of the Fund Board. Until the end of the foregoing six month period, the Fund
shall continue to accept and implement orders by the Company for the purchase
(and redemption) of shares of the Fund.
7.6. For purposes of Section 7.3 through 7.6 of this Agreement, a
majority of the disinterested members of the Fund Board shall determine whether
any proposed action adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict,
but in no event will the Fund be required to establish a new funding medium for
the Contracts. The Company shall not be required by Section 7.3 to establish a
new funding medium for the Contract if an offer to do so has been declined by
vote of a majority of Contract owners materially adversely affected by the
irreconcilable material conflict. In the event that the Fund Board determines
that any proposed action does not adequately remedy any irreconcilable material
conflict, then the Company will withdraw the Account's investment in the Fund
and terminate this Agreement within six (6) months after the Fund Board informs
the Company in writing of the foregoing determination; provided, however, that
such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by any
such material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the
disinterested members of the Fund Board.
7.7. If and to the extent the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order
or any amendment thereto contains terms and conditions different from Sections
3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 of this Agreement, then the Fund
and/or the Participating Insurance Companies, as appropriate, shall take such
steps as may be necessary to comply with the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive
Order, and Sections 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4 and 7.5 of this Agreement
shall continue in effect only to the extent that terms and conditions
substantially identical to such Sections are contained in the Mixed and Shared
Funding Exemptive Order or any amendment thereto. If and to the extent that Rule
6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) are amended, or Rule 6e-3 is adopted, to provide exemptive
relief from any provision of the 1940 Act or the rules promulgated thereunder
with respect to mixed or shared funding (as defined in the Mixed and Shared
Funding Exemptive Order) on terms and conditions materially different from those
contained in the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order, then (a) the Fund
and/or the Participating Insurance Companies, as appropriate, shall take such
steps as may be necessary to comply with Rules 6e-2 and 6e-3(T), as amended, and
Rule 6e-3, as adopted, to the extent such rules are applicable; and (b) Sections
3.5, 3.6, 7.1., 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 of this Agreement shall continue in
effect only to the extent that terms and conditions substantially identical to
such Sections are contained in such Rule(s) as so amended or adopted.
- 11 -
12
ARTICLE VIII. Indemnification
8.1. Indemnification By the Company
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Fund, the Adviser, the Distributor, and each person, if any, who
controls or is associated with the Fund, the Adviser or the Distributor
within the meaning of such terms under the federal securities laws and
any director, trustee, officer, partner, employee or agent of the
foregoing (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this
Section 8.1) against any and all losses, claims, expenses, damages,
liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written
consent of the Company) or litigation (including reasonable legal and
other expenses), to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject
under any statute, regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in
respect thereof) or settlements:
(1) arise out of or are based upon any untrue
statements or alleged untrue statements of any material fact
contained in the registration statement, prospectus or
statement of additional information for the Contracts or
contained in the Contracts or sales literature or other
promotional material for the Contracts (or any amendment or
supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are
based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated or necessary to
make such statements not misleading in light of the
circumstances in which they were made; provided that this
agreement to indemnify will not apply as to any Indemnified
Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement
or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company by the Fund, the
Adviser or the Distributor for use in the registration
statement, prospectus or statement of additional information
for the Contracts or in the Contracts or sales literature (or
any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in
connection with the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(2) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations by or on behalf of the Company or wrongful
conduct of the Company or persons under its control, with
respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Fund
shares; or
(3) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Fund
registration statement, prospectus, statement of additional
information or sales literature or other promotional material
of the Fund (or amendment or supplement) or the omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make such statements not
misleading in light of the circumstances in which they were
made, if such a statement or omission was made in reliance
upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Fund
by or on behalf of the Company or persons under its control;
or
(4) arise as a result of any failure by the Company
to provide the services and furnish the materials under the
terms of this Agreement; or
(5) arise out of any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Company in this
Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material
breach by the Company of this Agreement;
- 12 -
13
except to the extent provided in Sections 8.1(b) and 8.3 hereof. This
indemnification will be in addition to any liability that the Company
otherwise may have.
(b) No party will be entitled to indemnification under Section
8.1(a) to the extent such loss, claim, damage, liability or litigation
is due to the willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in
the performance of such party's duties under this Agreement, or by
reason of such party's reckless disregard of its obligations or duties
under this Agreement by the party seeking indemnification.
(c) The Indemnified Parties promptly will notify the Company
of the commencement of any litigation, proceedings, complaints or
actions by regulatory authorities against them in connection with the
issuance or sale of the Fund shares or the Contracts or the operation
of the Fund.
8.2. Indemnification By the Adviser, the Fund and the Distributor
(a) The Adviser, the Fund and the Distributor, in each case
solely to the extent relating to such party's responsibilities
hereunder, agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each
person, if any, who controls or is associated with the Company within
the meaning of such terms under the federal securities laws and any
director, trustee, officer, partner, employee or agent of the foregoing
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section
8.2) against any and all losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities
(including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the
Adviser) or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses)
to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute,
regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or
settlements:
(1) arise out of or are based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact
contained in the registration statement, prospectus or
statement of additional information for the Fund or sales
literature or other promotional material of the Fund (or any
amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out
of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated or
necessary to make such statements not misleading in light of
the circumstances in which they were made; provided that this
agreement to indemnify will not apply as to any Indemnified
Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement
or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished to the Adviser, the Distributor or the
Fund by or on behalf of the Company for use in the
registration statement, prospectus or statement of additional
information for the Fund or in sales literature of the Fund
(or any amendment or supplement thereto) or otherwise for use
in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares;
or
(2) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations or wrongful conduct of the Adviser, the Fund
or the Distributor or persons under the control of the
Adviser, the Fund or the Distributor respectively, with
respect to the sale of the Fund shares; or
(3) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in a
registration statement, prospectus, statement of additional
information or sales literature or other promotional material
covering the Contracts (or any amendment or supplement
thereto), or the omission or alleged omission to state therein
a material fact
- 13 -
14
required to be stated or necessary to make such statement or
statements not misleading in light of the circumstances in
which they were made, if such statement or omission was made
in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by the Adviser, the Fund or the
Distributor or persons under the control of the Adviser, the
Fund or the Distributor; or
(4) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund, the
Adviser or the Distributor to provide the services and furnish
the materials under the terms of this Agreement (including a
failure, whether unintentional or in good faith or otherwise,
to comply with the diversification requirements and procedures
related thereto specified in Article VI of this Agreement); or
(5) arise out of or result from any material breach
of any representation and/or warranty made by the Adviser, the
Fund or the Distributor in this Agreement, or arise out of or
result from any other material breach of this Agreement by the
Adviser, the Fund or the Distributor;
except to the extent provided in Sections 8.2(b) and 8.3 hereof. This
indemnification will be in addition to any liability that the Fund,
Adviser or the Distributor otherwise may have.
(b) No party will be entitled to indemnification under Section
8.2(a) to the extent such loss, claim, damage, liability or litigation
is due to the willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in
the performance of such party's duties under this Agreement, or by
reason of such party's reckless disregard of its obligations or duties
under this Agreement by the party seeking indemnification.
(c) The Indemnified Parties will promptly notify the Adviser,
the Fund and the Distributor of the commencement of any litigation,
proceedings, complaints or actions by regulatory authorities against
them in connection with the issuance or sale of the Contracts or the
operation of the account.
8.3. Indemnification Procedure
Any person obligated to provide indemnification under this Article VIII
("Indemnifying Party" for the purpose of this Section 8.3) will not be liable
under the indemnification provisions of this Article VIII with respect to any
claim made against a party entitled to indemnification under this Article VIII
("Indemnified Party" for the purpose of this Section 8.3) unless such
Indemnified Party will have notified the Indemnifying Party in writing within a
reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claim will have been served upon such
Indemnified Party (or after such party will have received notice of such service
on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Indemnifying Party of any
such claim will not relieve the Indemnifying Party from any liability which it
may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise
than on account of the indemnification provision of this Article VIII, except to
the extent that the failure to notify results in the failure of actual notice to
the Indemnifying Party and such Indemnifying Party is damaged solely as a result
of failure to give such notice. In case any such action is brought against the
Indemnified Party, the Indemnifying Party will be entitled to participate, at
its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Indemnifying Party also will be
entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party
named in the action. After notice from the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified
Party of the Indemnifying Party's election to assume the defense thereof, the
Indemnified Party will bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel
retained by it, and the Indemnifying Party will not be liable to such party
- 14 -
15
under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by
such party independently in connection with the defense thereof other than
reasonable costs of investigation, unless: (a) the Indemnifying Party and the
Indemnified Party will have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel; or
(b) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties)
include both the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party and representation
of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or
potential differing interests between them. The Indemnifying Party will not be
liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent
but if settled with such consent or if there is a final judgment for the
plaintiff, the Indemnifying Party agrees to indemnify the Indemnified Party from
and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. A
successor by law of the parties to this Agreement will be entitled to the
benefits of the indemnification contained in this Article VIII. The
indemnification provisions contained in this Article VIII will survive any
termination of this Agreement.
8.4 Distributor Limitation on Liability. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Distributor shall not be liable to any party to this Agreement for lost
profits, punitive, special, incidental, indirect or consequential damages.
ARTICLE IX. Applicable Law
9.1 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.
9.2 This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the 1933, 1934
and 1940 Acts, and the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder, including
such exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as the SEC may grant
(including, but not limited to, any Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order)
and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance therewith.
If, in the future, the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order should no longer
be necessary under applicable law, then Article VII shall no longer apply.
ARTICLE X. Termination
10.1. This Agreement will terminate:
(a) at the option of any party, with or without cause, with
respect to some or all of the Designated Portfolios, upon sixty (60)
days' advance written notice to the other parties or, if later, upon
receipt of any required exemptive relief or orders from the SEC, unless
otherwise agreed in a separate written agreement among the parties; or
(b) at the option of the Company, upon receipt of the
Company's written notice by the other parties, with respect to any
Designated Portfolio if shares of the Designated Portfolio are not
reasonably available to meet the requirements of the Contracts as
determined in good faith by the Company; or
(c) at the option of the Company, upon receipt of the
Company's written notice by the other parties, with respect to any
Designated Portfolio in the event any of the Designated Portfolio's
shares are not registered, issued or sold in accordance with applicable
state and/or Federal law or such law precludes the use of such shares
as the underlying investment media of the Contracts issued or to be
issued by Company; or
- 15 -
16
(d) at the option of the Fund, upon receipt of the Fund's
written notice by the other parties, upon institution of formal
proceedings against the Company by the NASD, the SEC, the insurance
commission of any state or any other regulatory body regarding the
Company's duties under this Agreement or related to the sale of the
Contracts, the administration of the Contracts, the operation of the
Account, or the purchase of the Fund shares, provided that the Fund
determines in its sole judgment, exercised in good faith, that any such
proceeding would have a material adverse effect on the Company's
ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement; or
(e) at the option of the Company, upon receipt of the
Company's written notice by the other parties, upon institution of
formal proceedings against the Fund, Adviser or the Distributor by the
NASD, the SEC, or any state securities or insurance department or any
other regulatory body, provided that the Company determines in its sole
judgment, exercised in good faith, that any such proceeding would have
a material adverse effect on the Fund's or the Distributor's ability to
perform its obligations under this Agreement; or
(f) at the option of the Company, upon receipt of the
Company's written notice by the other parties, if the Fund ceases to
qualify as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the
Internal Revenue Code, or under any successor or similar provision, or
if the Company reasonably and in good faith believes that the Fund may
fail to so qualify; or
(g) at the option of the Company, upon receipt of the
Company's written notice by the other parties, with respect to any
Designated Portfolio if the Fund fails to meet the diversification
requirements specified in Article VI hereof or if the Company
reasonably and in good faith believes the Fund may fail to meet such
requirements; or
(h) at the option of any party to this Agreement, upon written
notice to the other parties, upon another party's material breach of
any provision of this Agreement which material breach is not cured
within thirty (30) days of said notice; or
(i) at the option of the Company, if the Company determines in
its sole judgment exercised in good faith, that either the Fund, the
Adviser or the Distributor has suffered a material adverse change in
its business, operations or financial condition since the date of this
Agreement or is the subject of material adverse publicity which is
likely to have a material adverse impact upon the business and
operations of the Company, such termination to be effective sixty (60)
days' after receipt by the other parties of written notice of the
election to terminate; or
(j) at the option of the Fund or the Distributor, if the Fund
or the Distributor respectively, determines in its sole judgment
exercised in good faith, that the Company has suffered a material
adverse change in its business, operations or financial condition since
the date of this Agreement or is the subject of material adverse
publicity which is likely to have a material adverse impact upon the
business and operations of the Fund or the Adviser, such termination to
be effective sixty (60) days' after receipt by the other parties of
written notice of the election to terminate; or
(k) at the option of the Company or the Fund upon receipt of
any necessary regulatory approvals and/or the vote of the
contractowners having an interest in the Account (or any subaccount) to
substitute the shares of another investment company for the
corresponding Designated Portfolio shares of the Fund in accordance
with the terms of the Contracts for which those Designated Portfolio
shares had been selected to serve as the underlying investment media.
- 16 -
17
The Company will give sixty (60) days' prior written notice to the Fund
of the date of any proposed vote or other action taken to replace the
Fund's shares; or
(l) at the option of the Company or the Fund upon a
determination by a majority of the Fund Board, or a majority of the
disinterested Fund Board members, that an irreconcilable material
conflict exists among the interests of: (1) all contractowners of
variable insurance products of all separate accounts; or (2) the
interests of the Participating Insurance Companies investing in the
Fund as set forth in Article VII of this Agreement; or
(m) at the option of the Fund in the event any of the
Contracts are not issued or sold in accordance with applicable federal
and/or state law. Termination will be effective immediately upon such
occurrence without notice.
10.2. Notice Requirement. No termination of this Agreement will be
effective unless and until the party terminating this Agreement gives prior
written notice to all other parties of its intent to terminate, which notice
will set forth the basis for the termination.
10.3. Effect of Termination. Notwithstanding any termination of this
Agreement, the Fund and the Distributor will, at the option of the Company,
continue to make available additional shares of the Fund pursuant to the terms
and conditions of this Agreement, for all Contracts in effect on the effective
date of termination of this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as "Existing
Contracts"). Specifically, without limitation, the owners of the Existing
Contracts will be permitted to reallocate investments in the Portfolios (as in
effect on such date), redeem investments in the Portfolios and/or invest in the
Portfolios upon the making of additional purchase payments under the Existing
Contracts.
10.4. Surviving Provisions. Notwithstanding any termination of this
Agreement, each party's obligations under Article VIII to indemnify other
parties will survive and not be affected by any termination of this Agreement.
In addition, each party's obligations under Section 12.7 will survive and not be
affected by any termination of this Agreement. Finally, with respect to Existing
Contracts, all provisions of this Agreement also will survive and not be
affected by any termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE XI. Notices
11.1. Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or
certified mail to the other party at the address of such party set forth below
or at such other address as such party may from time to time specify in writing
to the other party.
If to the Fund: ING Variable Insurance Trust
c/o Xxxxx Xxxxxx
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
If to the Company: Golden American Life Insurance Company
c/o Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
- 17 -
18
If to Adviser: ING Mutual Funds Management Co. LLC
c/o Xxxxx Xxxxxx
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
If to Distributor: ING Funds Distributor, Inc
c/o Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
ARTICLE XII. Miscellaneous
12.1. All persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the
property of the Fund for the enforcement of any claims against the Fund as
neither the directors, trustees, officers, partners, employees, agents or
shareholders assume any personal liability for obligations entered into on
behalf of the Fund. No Portfolio or series of the Fund will be liable for the
obligations or liabilities of any other Portfolio or series.
12.2. The Fund, the Adviser and the Distributor acknowledge that the
identities of the customers of the Company or any of its affiliates, except for
customers of the Adviser or its affiliates (collectively the "Company Protected
Parties" for purposes of this Section 12.2), information maintained regarding
those customers, and all computer programs and procedures or other information
developed or used by the Company Protected Parties or any of their employees or
agents in connection with the Company's performance of its duties under this
Agreement are the valuable property of the Company Protected Parties. The Fund,
the Adviser and the Distributor agree that if they come into possession of any
list or compilation of the identities of or other information about the Company
Protected Parties' customers, or any other information or property of the
Company Protected Parties, other than such information as is publicly available
or as may be independently developed or compiled by the Fund, the Adviser or the
Distributor from information supplied to them by the Company Protected Parties'
customers who also maintain accounts directly with the Fund, the Adviser or the
Distributor, the Fund, the Adviser and the Distributor will hold such
information or property in confidence and refrain from using, disclosing or
distributing any of such information or other property except: (a) with the
Company's prior written consent; or (b) as required by law or judicial process.
The Company acknowledges that the identities of the customers of the Fund, the
Adviser, the Distributor or any of their affiliates (collectively the "Adviser
Protected Parties" for purposes of this Section 12.2), information maintained
regarding those customers, and all computer programs and procedures or other
information developed or used by the Adviser Protected Parties or any of their
employees or agents in connection with the Fund's, the Adviser's or the
Distributor's performance of their respective duties under this Agreement are
the valuable property of the Adviser Protected Parties. The Company agrees that
if it comes into possession of any list or compilation of the identities of or
other information about the Adviser Protected Parties' customers, or any other
information or property of the Adviser Protected Parties, other than such
information as is publicly available or as may be independently developed or
compiled by the Company from information supplied to them by the Adviser
Protected Parties' customers who also maintain accounts directly with the
Company, the Company will hold such information or property in confidence and
refrain from using, disclosing or distributing any of such information or other
property except: (a) with the Fund's, the Adviser's or the Distributor's prior
written consent; or (b) as required by law or judicial process. Each party
acknowledges that any breach of the agreements in this Section 12.2 would result
in immediate and irreparable harm to the other parties for which there would be
no adequate remedy at law and agree that in the event of such a breach, the
other
- 18 -
19
parties will be entitled to equitable relief by way of temporary and permanent
injunctions, as well as such other relief as any court of competent jurisdiction
deems appropriate.
12.3. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of
reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or
otherwise affect their construction or effect.
12.4. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which taken together will constitute one and the same
instrument.
12.5. If any provision of this Agreement will be held or made invalid
by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of the Agreement
will not be affected thereby.
12.6. This Agreement will not be assigned by any party hereto without
the prior written consent of all the parties.
12.7. Each party to this Agreement will maintain all records required
by law, including records detailing the services it provides. Such records will
be preserved, maintained and made available to the extent required by law and in
accordance with the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. Each party to this
Agreement will cooperate with each other party and all appropriate governmental
authorities (including without limitation the SEC, the NASD and state insurance
regulators) and will permit each other and such authorities reasonable access to
its books and records in connection with any investigation or inquiry relating
to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Upon request by the
Fund or the Distributor, the Company agrees to promptly make copies or, if
required, originals of all records pertaining to the performance of services
under this Agreement available to the Fund or the Distributor, as the case may
be. The Fund agrees that the Company will have the right to inspect, audit and
copy all records pertaining to the performance of services under this Agreement
pursuant to the requirements of any state insurance department. Each party also
agrees to promptly notify the other parties if it experiences any difficulty in
maintaining the records in an accurate and complete manner. This provision will
survive termination of this Agreement.
12.8. Each party represents that the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate or board action, as applicable, by
such party and when so executed and delivered this Agreement will be the valid
and binding obligation of such party enforceable in accordance with its terms.
12.9. The parties to this Agreement may amend the schedules to this
Agreement from time to time to reflect changes in or relating to the Contracts,
the Accounts or the Designated Portfolios of the Fund or other applicable terms
of this Agreement.
12.10. The rights, remedies and obligations contained in this Agreement
are cumulative and are in addition to any and all rights.
12.11. The names "ING Variable Insurance Trust" and "Trustees of ING
Variable Insurance Trust" refer respectively to the trust created and the
Trustees, as trustees but not individually or personally, acting from time to
time under a Declaration of Trust dated July 15, 1999 which is hereby referred
to and a copy of which is at the principal office of the Fund. The obligations
of "ING Variable
- 19 -
20
Insurance Trust" entered into in the name or on behalf thereof by any of the
Trustees, representatives or agents are made not individually, but in such
capacities, and are not binding upon any of the Trustees, Shareholders, or
representatives of the Fund personally, but bind only the Trust Property, and
all persons dealing with any class of Shares of the Fund must look solely to the
Trust Property belonging to such class for the enforcement of any claims against
the Fund.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this
Agreement to be executed in its name and on its behalf by its duly authorized
representative and its seal to be hereunder affixed hereto as of the date
specified below:
GOLDEN AMERICAN LIFE
INSURANCE COMPANY:
By: /s/Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
-----------------------------------
Title: Senior Vice President
--------------------------------
Date: April 28, 2000
--------------------------------
ING VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST:
By: /s/Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-----------------------------------
Title: Vice President
--------------------------------
Date: April 28, 2000
--------------------------------
ING MUTUAL FUNDS MANAGEMENT
CO. LLC:
By: /s/Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-----------------------------------
Title: Senior Vice President
--------------------------------
Date: April 28, 2000
--------------------------------
ING FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
By: /s/Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
-----------------------------------
Title: Treasurer
--------------------------------
Date: April 28, 2000
--------------------------------
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21
SCHEDULE A
GOLDEN AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
CONTRACTS AND SEPARATE ACCOUNT(S)
CONTRACT(S):
Deferred Combination Variable and Fixed Annuity Contracts
SEPARATE ACCOUNT(S):
Separate Account B of Golden American Life Insurance
Company
SCHEDULE B
ING VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
DESIGNATED PORTFOLIOS
PORTFOLIOS:
ING International Equity Fund
ING Global Brand Names Fund
Schedule Date: April 28, 2000
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