PAGE> PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT AMONG LEGG MASON PARTNERS VARIABLE EQUITY TRUST, LEGG MASON PARTNERS VARIABLE INCOME TRUST, LEGG MASON INVESTOR SERVICES, LLC, LEGG MASON PARTNERS FUND ADVISOR, LLC AND THE LINCOLN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY THIS...

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                            PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

                                     AMONG

                   XXXX XXXXX PARTNERS VARIABLE EQUITY TRUST,

                   XXXX XXXXX PARTNERS VARIABLE INCOME TRUST,

                       XXXX XXXXX INVESTOR SERVICES, LLC,

                     XXXX XXXXX PARTNERS FUND ADVISOR, LLC

                                      AND

                  THE LINCOLN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

      THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this 1st day of November, 2013 by

and among The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company, an Indiana corporation

(the "Company"), on its own behalf and on behalf of each segregated asset

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"), and

Xxxx Xxxxx Partners Variable Equity Trust, a Maryland Statutory Trust and Xxxx

Xxxxx Partners Variable Income Trust, a Maryland Statutory Trust (each a "Fund",

collectively the "Funds"), Xxxx Xxxxx Investor Services, LLC, a Maryland limited

liability company (the "Distributor"), and Xxxx Xxxxx Partners Fund Advisor,

LLC, a Maryland limited liability company (the "Adviser").

      WHEREAS, the Fund engages in business as an open-end management investment

company and is available to act as (i) the investment vehicle for separate

accounts established for variable life insurance policies and variable annuity

contracts (collectively, the "Contracts") to be offered by insurance companies

that have entered into participation agreements with the Fund, the Adviser and

the Distributor (each, a "Participating Insurance Company" and collectively, the

"Participating Insurance Companies"), and (ii) the investment vehicle for

certain qualified pension and retirement plans ("Qualified Plans") for which the

shares of the Fund are either held by Participating Insurance Companies on

behalf of the

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Qualified Plans through omnibus accounts or are held by Qualified Plans without

any financial intermediary through direct accounts on the books of the Fund;

      WHEREAS, the beneficial interests in the Fund are divided into several

series of shares, (each designated a "Portfolio") and, in certain cases classes

of shares, which represent the interest in a particular managed portfolio of

securities and other assets;

      WHEREAS, the Fund has obtained an order from the Securities and Exchange

Commission (the "SEC"), granting the Participating Insurance Companies and

variable annuity and variable 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, (the "1940 Act" which for the purposes of this Agreement includes

the rules and regulations thereunder, all as amended from time to time, as may

apply to a Fund or any Portfolio or Class thereof, including pursuant to any

exemptive, interpretive or other relief or guidance issued by the Commission or

the staff of the Commission under such Act ) and Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and

6e-3(T)(b)(15) thereunder, 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");

      WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment

company under the 1940 Act and its shares are registered under the Securities

Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act");

      WHEREAS, the Distributor is duly registered as a broker-dealer under the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and any applicable state

securities law;

      WHEREAS, the Adviser is duly registered as an investment adviser under the

Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended;

      WHEREAS, the Distributor is a distributor of shares of the Portfolios of

the Fund;

      WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register certain Contracts

under the 1933 Act, or such Contracts are or will be exempt from registration

thereunder;

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      WHEREAS, each Account is a duly organized, validly existing segregated

asset account, established by resolution of the Board of Directors of the

Company to set aside and invest assets attributable to one or more Contracts;

      WHEREAS, each Account is or will be registered as an investment company

under the 1940 Act, or the Account is or will be exempt from registration under

the 1940 Act;

      WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and

regulations, the Company intend to purchase shares in the Portfolios on behalf

of each Account to fund certain of the aforesaid Contracts, and

      WHEREAS, the parties intend that this agreement will supersede all prior

agreements among the parties or their predecessor entities with respect to the

subject matter of this agreement.

      NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises the Company, the

Fund 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 Fund which

each Account orders, executing such orders on a daily basis at the net asset

value next computed after receipt by the Fund or its designee of the order for

Fund shares. For purposes of this Section 1.1, the Company shall be the designee

of the Fund for receipt of such orders from each Account and receipt by such

designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund, provided that: (i) the orders are

received by the Company (or their designee) in good order prior to the time the

net asset value of each Portfolio is priced in accordance with its Prospectus(1)

(generally at the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the

"NYSE") at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time), and (ii) the Fund receives notice of such

order by 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on

---------------

    (1) The term "Prospectus" as used herein, refers to the prospectus and

related statement of additional information (the "Statement of Additional

Information") incorporated therein by reference (each as amended or

supplemented) on file with the SEC at the time in question.

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the next following "Business Day." "Business Day" shall mean any day on which

the NYSE is open for regular trading and on which the Fund calculates its net

asset value pursuant to the rules of the SEC. If, on any Business Day, the

Company determines that it is unable to meet the 10:00 a.m. time stated

immediately above due to a systems error, then the Company shall immediately

notify the Fund of such systems error. Provided that notice is received prior to

10:00 a.m. and the Fund determines that no harm will be caused to existing

shareholders or the Fund's investment program, the Fund will allow The Company

additional time to notify the Fund of purchase orders.

      1.2 The Fund agrees to make its shares available indefinitely for purchase

at the applicable net asset value per share by the Company and its Accounts on

those days on which the Fund calculates its net asset value pursuant to rules of

the SEC and the Fund shall use its best efforts to calculate such net asset

value on each day which the NYSE is open for trading. Notwithstanding the

foregoing, the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "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 any regulatory

authority having jurisdiction or is, in the sole discretion of the Board acting

in good faith and in light of their fiduciary duties under federal and any

applicable state laws, necessary in the best interest of the shareholders of

such Portfolio.

      1.3 The Fund, the Adviser and the Distributor agree that shares of the

Fund will be sold only to Participating Insurance Companies and their separate

accounts and, in accordance with the terms of the Mixed and Shared Funding

Exemptive Order, certain Qualified Plans. No shares of any Portfolio will be

sold to the general public.

      1.4 The Fund will not sell Fund shares to any insurance company or

separate account unless an agreement containing provisions substantially the

same as Articles I, III, V, VI and Section 2.5 of Article II of this Agreement

is in effect to govern such sales.

      1.5 The Fund agrees to redeem for cash, on 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

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computed after receipt by the Fund or its designee of the request for

redemption.  For purposes of this Section 1.5, the Company shall be the designee

of the Fund for receipt of requests for redemption from the Account and receipt

by such designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund, provided that: (i) the

orders are received by the Company (or its designee) in good order prior to the

time the net asset value of each Portfolio is priced in accordance with its

Prospectus (generally at the close of regular trading on the NYSE at 4:00 p.m.

Eastern Time), and (ii) provided that the Fund receives notice of such request

for redemption by 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the next following "Business Day."

If, on any Business Day, the Company determines that it is unable to meet the

10:00 a.m. time stated immediately above due to a systems error, then the

Company shall immediately notify the Fund of such systems error. Provided that

notice is received prior to 10:00 a.m. and the Fund determines that no harm will

be caused to existing shareholders or the Fund's investment program, and the

Fund will allow The Company additional time to notify the Fund of purchase

orders. The Fund may impose redemption fees, as described in the Prospectus.

      1.6 The Company agrees to purchase and redeem the shares of each Portfolio

offered by the then current Prospectus of the Fund and in accordance with the

provisions of such Prospectus. The Company agrees that all net amounts available

under the Contracts which are listed on Schedule A attached hereto and

incorporated herein by this reference, as such Schedule A may be amended from

time to time hereafter by mutual written agreement of all the parties hereto,

shall be invested in the Fund, in such other Funds selected by the Company or in

the Company's general account. The Company agrees to comply with the terms of

the Rule 12b-1 Plan described in Section 2.8 hereof. The Company agrees to

comply with the provisions of Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act as applicable to the

Fund (including reporting procedures adopted to comply with the Rule).

      1.7 The Company shall pay for Fund shares on the next "Business Day" after

an order to purchase Fund shares is made in accordance with the provisions of

Section 1.1 hereof. Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire. For

purpose of Sections 2.10 and 2.11, upon receipt by the Fund of the federal funds

so wired, such funds shall cease to be the responsibility of the Company and

shall become the responsibility of the Fund.

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      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. Shares

ordered from the Fund will be recorded in an appropriate title for each Account

or the appropriate subaccount of each Account.

      1.9 The Fund shall furnish same day notice by wire, telephone (followed by

written confirmation), electronic media or fax to the Company of any income,

dividends or capital gain distributions payable on the Fund's shares. The

Company hereby elects to receive all such income dividends and capital gain

distributions as are payable on Portfolio shares in additional shares of the

applicable Portfolio. The Company reserves the right to revoke this election and

to receive all such income dividends and capital gain distributions in cash. The

Fund shall notify the Company of the number of shares so issued as payment of

such dividends and distributions.

      1.10 The Fund shall provide (electronically or by fax) the closing net

asset value per share for each Portfolio to the Company on a daily basis as soon

as reasonably practical after the closing net asset value per share is

calculated (normally 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time) and shall use its best efforts to

make such net asset value per share available by 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. In the

event that the Fund is unable to meet the 7:00 p.m. time stated immediately

above, then the Fund shall immediately notify the Company and provide the

Company with additional time to notify the Fund of purchase or redemption orders

pursuant to Sections 1.1 and 1.5, respectively, above. Such additional time

shall be equal to the additional time that the Fund takes to make the closing

net asset values available to the Company. If the Fund provides the Company with

the incorrect closing share net asset value information, the Company, on behalf

of the Account, shall be entitled to a prompt adjustment to the number of shares

purchased or redeemed to reflect the correct share net asset value, and the Fund

or the Distributor shall bear the cost of correcting such errors. Upon a final

determination that there has been an error in the calculation of the closing net

asset value, dividend or capital gain, the Fund shall promptly report such error

to the Company.

      1.11 The Fund shall, upon request of the Company, provide a manual daily

confirmation of trade activity from the previous "Business Day." Such

confirmation shall include the dollar amount of purchases or redemptions

submitted by the Company for each Portfolio, price per share of each Portfolio,

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and the corresponding total share amount of such purchase or redemption, and

shall be transmitted to the Company on the Business Day following the request.

      1.12 The Fund shall, upon request of the Company, provide on a monthly

basis, a screen printed report of the monthly trade activity for the Account

which shall be transmitted to the Company on the "Business Day" following the

request.

      1.13 Any material errors in the calculation of the net asset value of the

Fund, dividends or capital gains information shall be reported to the company

immediatley upon discovery. An error shall be deemed "material" based on the

parties intrepretation of the SECs position and policy with respect to

materiality, as it may be modified from time to time. If the Fund provides

inaccurate and material information with respect to the calculation of the net

asset value of the Fund, dividends, or capital gains information, then the

Company will be entitled to: (i) an adjustment to the number of shares purchased

or redeemed by the Fund to reflect the correct net asset value per share, and

(ii) reimbursment by the Distributor for reasonable administrative costs

incurred by the Company with respect to correcting Contract or contract owner

accounts. Neither the Fund, the Distributor, nor any of their affiliates shall

be liable for any information provided to the Company pursuant to this

Agreement, which information is based on incorrect information supplied by or on

behalf of the Company to the Fund or Distributor.

        1.14 If transactions in Fund shares are to be entered and settled

through the NSCC's Fund/SERV system, the following provisions shall apply:

            (a) Each party to this Agreement represents that it or one of its

affiliates has entered into the Standard Networking Agreement with the NSCC and

it desires to participate in the programs offered by the NSCC Fund/SERV system

which provide (i) an automated process whereby shareholder purchases and

redemptions, exchanges and transactions of mutual fund shares are executed

through the Fund/SERV system, and (ii) a centralized and standardized

communication system for the exchange of customer-level information and account

activity through the Fund/SERV Networking system ("Networking").

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             (b) Each party to this Agreement represents that:

                   (i) it has full power and authority under applicable law, and

      has taken all action necessary, to enter into and perform its obligations

      with respect to the NSCC, and the performance of its obligations hereunder

      does not and will not violate or conflict with any governing documents or

      agreements it maintains.

                  (ii) it has the necessary and adequate personnel, space, data

      processing capacity or other operational capability, facilities and

      equipment to perform its duties and obligations hereunder in accordance

      with the terms of this amendment, in a businesslike and competent manner,

      in conformance with all laws, rules and regulations and the Fund's and

      Contract's prospectuses and SAIs, and customary industry standards.

             (c) For each Fund/SERV transaction, including transactions

establishing accounts with the Underwriter or its affiliates, the Company shall

provide the Funds and Distributor or its affiliates with all information

necessary or appropriate to establish and maintain each Fund/SERV transaction

(and any subsequent changes to such information), which the Company hereby

certifies is and shall remain true and correct. The Company shall maintain

documents required by the Underwriter or the Funds to effect Fund/SERV

transactions. Each instruction shall be deemed to be accompanied by a

representation by the Company that it has received proper authorization from

each person whose purchase, redemption, account transfer or exchange transaction

is effected as a result of such instruction.

              (d) Fund/SERV instructions will be transmitted by the Company to

the

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      NSCC by 9:00 a.m. EST on the next Business Day after the Company receives

such instructions from the Account/Contractholders in accordance with Section

1.1 and 1.5, respectively above. If extenuating circumstances prevent the

Company from providing the instructions by 9:00 a.m. EST on the next Business

Day after the Company receives such instructions from the Account/

Contractholders, the Company may provide the instructions by 10:00 a.m. EST

upon notification to the Funds.

      Fund/SERV instructions received in proper form by the Underwriter after

the Cut-Off on any Business Day shall be price protected; however, settlement

may be delayed upon agreement of the parties. The Company warrants that all

Fund/SERV instructions the Company transmits to NSCC for processing were

received by the Company from Account/Contractholder by Close of Trading. The

Company shall transmit payment for purchase of Fund/SERV instructions to NSCC

the same Business Day after receipt of Fund/SERV instructions to purchase shares

is made in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.14 (d) hereof. If

Distributor has not received payment by such date, the purchase may be canceled

and the Company shall be responsible for any losses incurred by the Fund as a

result of such cancellation. Payment of redemptions shall be transmitted via the

NSCC to the Company on the same Business Day as the instructions were

transmitted via Fund/SERV. Daily share balance confirmations will be provided by

Trust via the Fund/SERV networking system.

              (e) In the event the Company seeks to correct or cancel a

previously placed Fund/SERV instruction after the Cut-Off, such cancellation or

correction must be approved by the Distributor and will be processed outside of

NSCC. The Distributor shall have complete and sole discretion as to whether or

not to allow the cancellation or correction to be made. The Company agrees to

promptly pay each Fund the amount of any loss incurred by the Fund as a result

of such cancellation or correction.

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              (f) The Distributor and the Funds reserve the right, in their sole

discretion, to reject or cancel:

                   (1) any Fund/SERV instruction for the purchase of shares,

including Fund/SERV instructions that have been confirmed through NSCC;

                   (2) any Fund/SERV instruction received: (a) in connection

with an Account if such Account's registration is pending with NSCC; and (b) in

connection with  an Account prior to receipt of such Account's registration

information.

                                  ARTICLE II.

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

      2.1 The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts are or will be

registered under the 1933 Act, unless exempt from such registration, and that

the Contracts will be issued and sold in compliance in all material respects

with all applicable Federal and State laws and regulations. The Company shall

amend the registration statements for its Contracts under the 1933 Act and 1940

Act from time to time as required to effect the continuous offering of its

Contracts. The Company 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 prior to any issuance or sale thereof as a

segregated asset account under their domiciliary state insurance laws and has

registered or, prior to any issuance or sale of the Contracts, will register

each 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, unless

exempt from such registration. The Company represents and warrants that the

Company and the Account are in compliance with Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act

pursuant to the requirements of federal law or of any state insurance

department. The Company represents and warrants that it has implemented controls

designed to prevent, and will provide any reasonable assistance requested by the

Fund related to the

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deterrence of, market timing and/or late trading of shares of the Fund. Further,

the Company represents and warrants that:

            (a) The Company has in place an anti-money laundering program ("AML

program") that does now and will continue to comply with applicable laws and

regulations, including the relevant provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act and the

USA PATRIOT Act (Pub. L. No. 107-56 (2001)), as they may be amended, and the

regulations issued thereunder by duly vested regulatory authority and the Rules

of Conduct of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") ("Anti-Money

Laundering Law and Regulation").

            (b) The Company has, after undertaking reasonable inquiry, no

information or knowledge that (i) any Contract owners of all separate accounts

investing in the Fund, or (ii) any person or entity controlling, controlled by

or under common control with such Contract owners is an individual or entity or

in a country or territory that is on an Office of Foreign Assets Control

("OFAC") list or similar list of sanctioned or prohibited persons maintained by

a U.S. governmental or regulatory body.

            (c) The Company has in place policies, procedures and internal

controls reasonably designed (i) to verify the identity of Contract owners, and

(ii) to identify those Contract owners' sources of funds, and has no reason to

believe that any of the invested funds were derived from illegal activities.

            (d) The Company will provide the Fund or the Distributor (or their

respective service providers) upon reasonable request any information regarding

specific accounts that may be reasonably necessary for the Fund and its service

providers to fulfill their responsibilities relating to their anti-money

laundering programs or any other information reasonably requested by the Fund or

the Distributor (or their respective service providers) to assist with

compliance with the Anti-Money Laundering Law and Regulation, as may be

permitted by law or regulation.

            (e) The Company will promptly notify the Fund and the Distributor

should the Company become aware of any change in the above representations and

warranties to the extent that the change relates to the relationship between the

Company and the Fund and/or Distributor. In addition, the Fund and the

Distributor hereby provide notice to the Company that the Fund and/or the

Distributor

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reserve  the  right  to make inquires of and request additional information from

the Company regarding its AML program.

            (f) That the Company understands the requirements of all applicable

laws, rules or regulations relating to bribery and corruption both in the

Company's home jurisdiction and in any other jurisdictions which may have a

connection to the services performed by the Company in connection with this

Agreement. The Company further represents and warrants that it will fully and

faithfully comply with all requirements of such laws, rules or regulations in

connection with all activities under or in any way connected with this Agreement

and such requirements that the Fund or the Distributor may notify to Company.

      2.2 The Fund represents and warrants that Fund shares sold pursuant to

this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act, duly authorized for

issuance and sold in compliance with the laws of the State of Maryland, as

applicable, and all applicable federal and state securities laws. Further, the

Fund represents and warrants that the Fund is in compliance with Rule 38a-1

under the 1940 Act. The Fund is and shall remain registered under the 0000 Xxx.

The Fund shall 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 shall register and qualify the

shares for sale in accordance with the laws of the various states only if and to

the extent deemed advisable by the Fund or the Distributor. The Fund shall

provide to the Company upon request a list of the various jurisdictions in which

the Portfolios are registered.

      2.3 The Fund represents that it is currently qualified as a Regulated

Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as

amended, (the "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. The parties acknowledge that compliance with Subchapter M is an

essential element of compliance with Section 817(h) of the Code.

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      2.4 The Company represents that the Contracts are currently treated as

endowment, annuity or life insurance contracts, under applicable provisions of

the Code and that it will make every effort to maintain such treatment and that

it will notify the Funds and the Distributor 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.

      2.5 The Company represents that the Company does not make the Fund

available as an investment vehicle for any clients of the Company other than

through Contracts.

       2.6 The Fund represents and warrants that it has adopted, or has caused

to be adopted, written procedures under which (i) financial intermediaries may

only make the Fund available to its Qualified Plan clients if any such financial

intermediary is a Participating Insurance Company, (ii) if any such

Participating Insurance Company requests that the Fund be made available as an

investment vehicle for its Qualified Plan clients (other than through

Contracts), such Participating Insurance Company will be required to represent

in writing that it has adopted Procedures for Qualified Plan Clients, and (iii)

shares of the Fund may only be held by Qualified Plans without a financial

intermediary through direct accounts on the books of the Fund if the Fund has

adopted Procedures for Qualified Plans.

      2.7 The Funds represent and warrants that each Fund:

      (i) qualifies as a look-through entity within the meaning of Treas.Reg.

section 1.817-5(f), and

     (ii) shall at all times invest money from the Contracts and conduct its

operations to ensure that: (a) the assets of the Fund are diversified within the

meaning of Treas. Reg. section 1.817-5(b), (b) the Contracts shall be treated as

variable contracts under the Code and the regulations issued thereunder, and(c)

no Contract owner shall be treated as the owner of the assets of an Account

solely due to purchase of shares of a Fund by an Account.

      The Funds will notify the Company immediately upon having a reasonable

basis for believing that a Fund is in breach of the foregoing representation and

warranty or that a Fund might be in breach in the future. In addition, the Fund

will immediately take all steps necessary to cure any breach to achieve

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compliance with the foregoing representations and warranties.

      2.8 The Fund has adopted a Rule 12b-1 Plan under which it makes payments

to finance administrative, service, and distribution expenses with respect to

certain Portfolios. The Fund represents and warrants that its Board, a majority

of whom are not interested persons of the Fund, has approved such Rule 12b-1

Plan to finance administrative, service, and distribution expenses of the Fund's

Portfolios that are subject to a 12b-1 fee, and that any changes to the Fund's

Rule 12b-1 Plan will be approved, in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 0000

Xxx.

      2.9 If Distributor's payments to Company under Section 2.8 hereof in whole

or in part are financed by a Fund in accordance with a Fund's plan of

distribution adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, then in the

event of the termination, cancellation or modification of such 12b-1 plan by a

Fund's board of directors or trustees or shareholders, Company agrees upon

notification at the Distributor's option to waive its right to receive such

compensation pursuant to Section 2.8 hereof until such time, if ever, as

Distributor receives payment.

      2.10 The Fund makes no representation as to whether any aspect of its

operations (including, but not limited to, fees, expenses and investment

policies) complies with the insurance laws or regulations of various states

except that the Fund represents that the Fund's investment policies, fees and

expenses are and shall at all times remain in compliance with the laws of its

state of domicile, and the Fund represents that its respective operations are

and shall at all times remain in material compliance with the laws of its state

of domicile, to the extent required to perform this Agreement.

      2.11 The Distributor represents and warrants that the Distributor is and

shall remain duly registered in all material respects under all applicable

federal and state laws and regulations and that the Distributor shall perform

its obligations for the Fund in compliance in all material respects with the

laws of the State of Maryland, and any applicable state and federal laws and

regulations.

      2.12 The Adviser represents and warrants that the Adviser is and shall

remain duly registered in all material respects under all applicable federal and

state laws and regulations and that the Adviser

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shall  perform  its  obligations  for  the  Fund  in  compliance in all material

respects  with  the  laws of the State of Maryland, and any applicable state and

federal laws and regulations.

      2.13 The Fund represents and warrants that its trustees, officers,

employees, and other individuals/entities dealing with the money and/or

securities of the Fund are and shall 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 shall include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be

issued by a reputable bonding company.

      2.14 The Company represents and warrants that all of its directors,

officers, employees, investment advisers, and other individuals/entities dealing

with the money and/or securities of the Fund are and shall 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 entities subject to the requirements of Rule 17g-1 of the 1940 Act or related

provisions as may be promulgated from time to time. The aforesaid bond shall

include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable

bonding company.

      2.15 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. Upon request by the Fund,

the Adviser or the Distributor, the Company agrees promptly to make copies or,

if required, originals of all records pertaining to the performance of services

under this Agreement available to the Fund, the Adviser 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 promptly to notify the other parties if it

experiences any difficulty in maintaining the records in an accurate and

complete manner. This provision shall survive termination of the Agreement.

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                                  ARTICLE III.

                   PROSPECTUSES AND PROXY STATEMENTS; VOTING

      3.1 The Distributor shall provide the Company (at the Company's expense)

with as many copies of the Fund's current Prospectus as the Company may

reasonably request. If requested by the Company in lieu thereof, the Fund shall

provide such documentation (including a final copy of the new Prospectus as set

in type at the Fund's expense - in lieu thereof, such final copy may be

provided, if requested by the Company, electronically or through camera ready

film) and other assistance as is reasonably necessary in order for the Company

once each year (or more frequently, if the Prospectus for the Fund is amended)

to have the prospectus for each Contract and the Fund's Prospectus printed

together in one document (such printing to be at the Company's expense).

      3.2 The Fund's Prospectus shall state that the Statement of Additional

Information for the Fund is available from the Distributor (or in the Fund's

discretion, the Prospectus shall state that such Statement is available from the

Fund), and the Distributor (or the Fund), at its expense, shall print and

provide such Statement free of charge to the Company and to any owner of a

Contract or prospective owner who requests such Statement.

      3.3 The Fund, at its expense, shall provide the Company with copies of its

proxy material, reports to shareholders, and other communications to

shareholders in such quantity as the Company shall reasonably require for

distributing to Contract owners.

      3.4   If and to the extent required by the 1940 Act or other applicable

            law the Company shall:

                  (a) solicit voting instructions from Contract owners;

                  (b) vote Fund shares in accordance with instructions received

from Contract owners; and vote Fund shares for which no instructions have been

received in the same proportion as Fund shares of such Portfolio for which

instructions have been received. 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. Each

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Participating Insurance Company shall be responsible for assuring that each of

its separate accounts participating in the Fund calculates voting privileges in

a manner consistent with this Section. 3.5 The Fund will comply with all

provisions of the 1940 Act requiring voting by shareholders

                                  ARTICLE IV.

                         SALES MATERIAL AND INFORMATION

      4.1 The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the Fund

or its designee, each piece of sales literature or other promotional material in

which the Fund or its investment adviser or any of its underwriters is named, at

least fifteen (15) "Business Days" prior to its use. No such material shall be

used if the Fund or its designee objects to such use within fifteen (15)

"Business Days" after receipt of such material.

      4.2 The Company shall 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 or Prospectus for the Fund shares, as

such registration statement and Prospectus may be amended or supplemented from

time to time, or in reports or proxy statements for the Fund, or in sales

literature or other promotional material approved by the Fund or the Distributor

or the designee of either, except with the permission of the Fund or the

Distributor or the designee of either.

      4.3 The Fund and the Distributor, or the designee of either shall furnish,

or shall cause to be furnished, to the Company or its designee, each piece of

sales literature or other promotional material in which the Company and/or its

Account(s), is named at least fifteen (15) "Business Days" prior to its use. No

such material shall be used if the Company or its designee objects to such use

within fifteen (15) "Business Days" after receipt of such material.

      4.4 The Fund and the Distributor shall not give any information or make

any representations on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company, an

Account, or the Contracts other than the information or representations

contained in a registration statement or prospectus for the Contracts, as

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<PAGE>

such  registration  statement and prospectus may be amended or supplemented from

time  to  time, or in published reports for each Account which are in the public

domain  or  approved  by  the Company for distribution to Contract owners, or in

sales  literature  or  other promotional material approved by the Company or its

designee, except with the permission of the Company.

      4.5 Upon request, 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.

      4.6 Upon request, 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 the Account.

      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

materials 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), 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

advertisement, sales literature, or published article), educational or training

materials or other communications distributed or made generally available to

some or all agents or employees, and registration statements, prospectuses,

statements of additional information, shareholder reports, and proxy materials

and any other material constituting sales literature or advertising under the

FINRA rules, the 1940 Act, the 1933 Act, or rules thereunder.

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<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE V.

                               FEES AND EXPENSES

      5.1 All expenses incident to performance by the Fund under this Agreement

shall be paid by the Fund. The Fund shall see to it that all its shares are

registered and authorized for issuance in accordance with applicable federal law

and, if and to the extent deemed advisable by the Fund, in accordance with

applicable state laws prior to their sale. The Fund shall bear the expenses for

the cost of registration and qualification of the Fund's shares, preparation and

filing of the Fund's Prospectus and registration statement, proxy material,

information statements and reports, setting the Fund's Prospectus for printing,

setting in type and printing the proxy material, information statements and

reports to shareholders, and the preparation of all statements and notices

required by any federal or state law. The Fund shall bear the cost of printing

and distributing the Fund's Prospectus, periodic reports to shareholders, proxy

materials and other shareholder communications to existing Contract owners. The

Company shall see to it that each of the Contracts and the Accounts are

registered and are authorized for issuance in accordance with applicable federal

law. The Company shall bear the expenses for the cost of registration and

qualification of the Contracts and the Accounts, preparation and filing of the

applicable prospectus and registration statements, setting each Contract

prospectus for printing, and the preparation of all statements and notices

required by any federal or state law. In addition, the Company shall bear the

cost of printing and distributing the Fund's Prospectus to be delivered to

prospective Contract owners.

                                  ARTICLE VI.

                              POTENTIAL CONFLICTS

      6.1 The Board will monitor the Fund for the existence of any material

irreconcilable conflict among the interests of the Contract owners 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 interpretive letter, or any similar action

19

<PAGE>

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 owners and variable life

insurance contract owners; or (f) a decision by an insurer to disregard the

voting instructions of Contract  owners.  The Board shall promptly inform the

Company if they determine that an irreconcilable material conflict exists and

the implications thereof.

      6.2 The Company will report any potential or existing conflicts of which

it is aware to the Board. The Company will assist the Board in carrying out its

responsibilities under the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order, by

providing the Board with all information reasonably necessary for the Board to

consider any issues raised. This includes, but is not limited to, an obligation

by the Company to inform the Board whenever Contract owners' voting instructions

are disregarded.

      6.3 If it is determined by a majority of the Board, or a majority of its

disinterested trustees, 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 trustees), take whatever steps are necessary to remedy or

eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict, up to and including: (1)

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 Contract owners and, as appropriate, segregating the assets of

any appropriate group, (I.E., annuity Contract owners, life insurance Contract

owners, or Contract owners of one or more Participating Insurance Companies)

that votes in favor of such segregation, or offering to the affected contract

owners the option of making such a change; and (2) establishing a new registered

management investment company or managed separate account.

      6.4 If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a decision by

the Company to disregard Contract owners' 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 affected Account's

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<PAGE>

investment  in  the  Fund  and  terminate  this  Agreement  with respect to such

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 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 and the Distributor shall continue to accept

and implement orders by the Company for the purchase (and redemption) of Fund

shares.

      6.5 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 (6) months after the 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 Board. Until the end of the foregoing six-month period, the Fund and the

Distributor shall continue to accept and implement orders by the Company for the

purchase (and redemption) of Fund shares.

      6.6 For purposes of Sections 6.3 through 6.6 of this Agreement, a majority

of the disinterested members of the 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 6.3 to establish a new funding

medium for the Contracts 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 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 Board informs the Company in writing

of the foregoing determination, provided,

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<PAGE>

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 Board.

      6.7 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 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 Company,

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 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 and 6.5 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.

                                  ARTICLE VII.

                                INDEMNIFICATION

         7.1 INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY

            (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, the

Adviser and the Distributor and each of its directors, trustees and officers and

each person, if any, who controls the Fund within the meaning of Section 15 of

the 1933 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this

Section 7.1) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including

amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Company, which

consent will not be unreasonably withheld) or litigation (including 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

are related to the sale or acquisition of the Fund's shares or the Contracts

and:

                     (i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements or

alleged untrue statements of any material fact contained in the registration

statement or prospectus for the Contracts or

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<PAGE>

contained  in  the  Contracts  or  sales  literature  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 therein or necessary to make the statements therein not

misleading,  provided that this agreement to indemnify shall 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 Company by or on behalf of the Fund, the Adviser or the Distributor for

use in the registration statement or prospectus 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

                    (ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or

representations (other than statements or representations contained in the

registration statement, Prospectus or sales literature of the Fund not supplied

by the Company, or persons under their control) or wrongful conduct of the

Company or persons under their control, with respect to the sale or distribution

of the Contracts or Fund Shares; or

                   (iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue

statement of a material fact contained in the registration statement,

Prospectus, or sales literature of the Fund or any amendment thereof or

supplement thereto or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a

material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements

therein not misleading if such a statement or omission was made in reliance upon

information furnished to the Fund by or on behalf of the Company; or

                    (iv) 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

                    (v) arise out of or result from 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 of this Agreement by the

Company, as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 7.1(b)

and 7.1(c) hereof.

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<PAGE>

            (b) The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification

provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation

incurred or assessed against an Indemnified Party as such may arise from such

Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the

performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified

Party's reckless disregard of obligations or duties under this Agreement or to

the Fund, whichever is applicable.

            (c) The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification

provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless

such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Company in writing within a

reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving

information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such

Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of

such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Company of any

such claim shall not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to

the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on

account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought

against the Indemnified Parties, the Company shall be entitled to participate,

at its own expense, in the defense of such action. The Company also shall be

entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party

named in the action. After notice from the Company to such party of the

Company's election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall

bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the

Company will not be liable to such party 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.

            (d) The Indemnified Parties will promptly notify the Company of the

commencement of any litigation or proceedings against them in connection with

the issuance or sale of the Fund Shares or the Contracts or the operations of

the Fund.

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<PAGE>

         7.2 INDEMNIFICATION BY THE FUND, THE ADVISER AND THE DISTRIBUTOR

            (a) The Fund, the Adviser and the Distributor agree to indemnify and

hold harmless the Company and its directors, employees and officers and each

person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the

1933 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section

7.2) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts

paid in settlement with the written consent of the Fund, which consent shall not

be unreasonably withheld) or litigation (including legal and other expenses) to

which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute, at common

law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or

expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements are related to the sale

or acquisition of the Fund's shares or the Contracts and:

                     (i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or

alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the registration

statement or Prospectus or sales literature 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 therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,

provided that this agreement to indemnify shall 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

Distributor, Adviser or Fund by or on behalf of the Company for use in the

registration statement or Prospectus for the Fund or in sales literature (or any

amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the

Contracts or Fund shares; or

                    (ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or

representations (other than statements or representations contained in the

registration statement, prospectus or sales literature for the Contracts not

supplied by the Distributor or Fund or persons under its control) or wrongful

conduct of the Fund, the Adviser or the Distributor or persons under their

control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Fund

shares; or

25

<PAGE>

                   (iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue

statement of a material fact contained in a registration statement, prospectus

or sales literature covering the Contracts, or any amendment thereof or

supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a

material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement

or statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in

reliance upon information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Fund;

or

                  (iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund, the Adviser

or 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 specified in

Article II of this Agreement); or

                   (v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any

representation and/or warranty made by the Fund, the Adviser or the Distributor

in this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach of

this Agreement by the Fund, the Adviser or the Distributor; as limited by and in

accordance with the provisions of Sections 7.2(b) and 7.2(c) hereof.

            (b) The Fund, the Adviser or the Distributor shall not be liable

under this indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims,

damages, liabilities or litigation to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise

be subject by reason of such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith,

or gross negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by

reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties

under this Agreement or to the Company or Account, whichever is applicable.

            (c) The Fund, the Adviser and the Distributor shall not be liable

under this indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an

Indemnified Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Fund,

the Adviser and the Distributor in writing within a reasonable time after the

summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the

claim shall have been served upon such Indemnified Party (or after such

Indemnified Party shall have received

26

<PAGE>

notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Fund,

the  Adviser  and  the Distributor of any such claim shall not relieve the Fund,

the  Adviser  and  the Distributor from any liability which they may have to the

Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account

of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought against

the Indemnified Parties, the Fund, the Adviser and the Distributor will be

entitled to participate, at their own expense, in the defense thereof. The Fund,

the Adviser and the Distributor also shall be entitled to assume the defense

thereof with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice

from the Fund, the Adviser and the Distributor to such party of the Fund's, the

Adviser's and the Distributor's election to assume the defense thereof, the

Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel

retained by it, and the Fund, the Adviser and the Distributor will not be liable

to such party 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.

            (d) The Company agrees promptly to notify the Fund, the Adviser and

the Distributor of the commencement of any material litigation or proceedings

that involves the Fund, the Adviser, and/or the Distributor against it or any of

its officers or directors in connection with the issuance or sale of the

Contracts or the operation of the Account.

                                 ARTICLE VIII.

                                 APPLICABLE LAW

      8.1 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof

interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of New York.

      8.2 This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the federal

securities laws, and the rules, regulations and rulings thereunder, including

such exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as the SEC may grant

(including, but not limited to, the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order)

and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance therewith.

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<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE IX.

                                  TERMINATION

         9.1 This Agreement shall terminate:

            (a) at the option of any party upon six months advance written

notice to the other parties unless otherwise agreed in a separate written

agreement among the parties; or

            (b) at the option of the Company if shares of the Portfolios

delineated in Schedule B are not reasonably available to meet the requirements

of the Contracts as determined by the Company; or

            (c) at the option of the Fund upon institution of formal proceedings

against the Company by the FINRA, the SEC, the insurance commission of any state

or any other regulatory body regarding the Company's duties under this Agreement

that would have a material adverse impact on the sale of the Contracts, the

administration of the Contracts, the operation of an Account, or the purchase of

Fund shares; or

            (d) at the option of the Company upon institution of formal

proceedings against the Fund by the FINRA, the SEC, or any state securities or

insurance department or any other regulatory body that would have a material

adverse impact on the Fund or upon the sale or administration of the Contracts,

or upon the operation of the Accounts; or

            (e) at the option of the Company upon receipt of any necessary

regulatory approvals and/or the vote of the Contract owners having an interest

in the Account (or any subaccount) to substitute the shares of another

investment company for the corresponding Portfolio shares of the Fund in

accordance with the terms of the Contracts for which those Portfolio shares had

been selected to serve as the underlying investment media. The Company will give

thirty (30) 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

            (f) 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

(i) all Contract owners of Contracts of all separate accounts, or (ii)

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<PAGE>

the  interests  of  the Participating Insurance Company investing in the Fund as

delineated in Article VI of this Agreement; or

            (g) at the option of the Company if the Fund ceases to qualify as a

Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Code, or under any

successor or similar provision, or if the Company reasonably believes that the

Fund may fail to so qualify; or

            (h) at the option of the Company if the Fund fails to meet the

diversification requirements specified in Article II hereof or the Company has a

reasonable expectation that the Fund will fail to meet these diversification

requirements in the future; or

            (i) at the option of any party to this Agreement, upon another

party's material breach of any provision of this Agreement; or

            (j) 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; or

            (k) at the option of the Fund, the Adviser or the Distributor, if

the Fund, the Adviser or the Distributor respectively, shall determine 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, the Adviser or the Distributor, or

            (l) 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 shall be effective immediately upon such occurrence without notice.

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<PAGE>

         9.2 NOTICE REQUIREMENT

            (a) In the event that any termination of this Agreement is based

upon the provisions of Article VI, such prior written notice shall be given in

advance of the effective date of termination as required by such provisions.

            (b) In the event that any termination of this Agreement is based

upon the provisions of Sections 9.1(b) - (d) or 9.1(g) - (i), prompt written

notice of the election to terminate this Agreement for cause shall be furnished

by the party terminating the Agreement to the non-terminating parties, with said

termination to be effective upon receipt of such notice by the non-terminating

parties.

           (c) In the event that any termination of this Agreement is based upon

the provisions of Sections 9.1(i) or 9.1(k), prior written notice of the

election to terminate this Agreement for cause shall be furnished by the party

terminating this Agreement to the non-terminating parties. Such prior written

notice shall be given by the party terminating this Agreement to the

non-terminating parties at least thirty (30) days before the effective date of

termination.

      9.3 NO REASON REQUIRED FOR TERMINATION. It is understood and agreed that

the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1 (a) may be

exercised for any reason or for no reason.

      9.4 EFFECT OF TERMINATION

            (a) Notwithstanding any termination pursuant to Section 9.1 of this

Agreement, the Fund may, at its option, or in the event of termination of this

Agreement by the Fund, the Adviser or the Distributor pursuant to Section 9.1

(a) of this Agreement, the Company may require the Fund, the Adviser and the

Distributor to continue to make available additional shares of the Fund for so

long after the termination of this Agreement as the Fund or the Company, if the

Company so requires, desires pursuant to the terms and conditions of this

Agreement as provided in paragraph (b) below for all Contracts in effect on the

effective date of termination of this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as

"Existing Contracts"). Specifically, without limitation, if the Fund so elects

to make available additional shares of the Fund, the owners of the Existing

Contracts shall be permitted to reallocate investments in the Fund,

30

<PAGE>

redeem  investments  in  the  Fund  and/or invest in the Fund upon the making of

additional  purchase  payments  under  the Existing Contracts. The parties agree

that  this  Section 9.4 shall not apply to any terminations under Article VI and

the  effect  of  such Article VI terminations shall be governed by Article VI of

this Agreement.

            (b) In the event of a termination pursuant to Section 9.1 of this

Agreement, the Fund shall promptly notify the Company whether the Fund will

continue to make available shares of the Fund after such termination, except

that, with respect to a termination by the Fund, the Adviser or the Distributor

pursuant to Section 9.1 (a) of this Agreement, the Company shall promptly notify

the Fund whether it wishes the Fund to continue to make available additional

shares of the Fund. If shares of the Fund continue to be made available after

such termination, the provisions of this Agreement shall remain in effect except

for Section 9.1(a) and thereafter the Fund or the Company may terminate the

Agreement, as so continued pursuant to this Section 9.4 upon written notice to

the other party, such notice to be for a period that is reasonable under the

circumstances.

            (c) In the event of termination purusant to Section 9.1(l), or such

laws preclude the use of such shares as the underlying investment medium for the

Contracts issued or to be issued by the Company, and if through no fault of the

Company, the need for substitution of Fund shares for the shares of another

"registered investment company" arises out of this event, the expenses of

obtaining such an order shall be reimbursed by the Fund. The Fund, the Adviser

and the Distributor shall cooperate fully with the Company in connection with

such application.

      9.5 SURVIVING PROVISIONS. Each party's obligations under Section 2.12 and

Article VII will survive and will not be affected by any termination of this

Agreement. In addition, with respect to Existing Contracts, all provisions of

this Agreement also will survive and not be affected by any termination of this

Agreement.

31

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE X.

                                    NOTICES

      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:

         Xxxx Xxxxx Partners Variable Equity Trust

         000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx - 00xx Xxxxx

         Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000

         Xxxx Xxxxx Partners Variable Income Trust

         000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx - 00xx Xxxxx

         Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000

If to the Company:

                 The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company

                 0000 X. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx

                 Xxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000

                 Attention: Funds Management Operations

If to the Distributor:

         Xxxx Xxxxx Investor Services, LLC

         000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx - 0xx Xxxxx

         Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000

         Attn: Business Implementation

If to the Adviser:

         Xxxx Xxxxx Partners Fund Adviser, LLC

         000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx - 0xx Xxxxx

         Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000

         Attn: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx

32

<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE XI.

                              INFORMATION SHARING.

       11.1 The Distributor and the Company, confirm their Agreement for the

sharing of transaction information relating to any and all of the fund families

that may be offered by LMIS from time to time with respect the implementation

and compliance with SEC Rule 22c-2 under the 0000 Xxx.

       (a) The Company agrees to provide to the Distributor and/or its designee,

upon written request, the taxpayer identification number ("TIN"), the

Individual/International Taxpayer Identification Number ("ITIN"), or other

government issued identifier ("GII"), if known, of any or all clients of the

Account. The Company also agrees to provide the number of shares, dollar value,

date, name or other identifier (including broker identification number) of any

investment professional(s) associated with the client(s) or Account (if known),

and transaction type (purchase, redemption, transfer or exchange) of every

purchase, redemption, transfer, or exchange of shares held through an account

maintained by the Company during the period covered by the request. Requests

must set forth a specific period, generally not to exceed 90 days from the date

of the request, for which transaction information is sought. The Fund and/or its

designee may request transaction information older than 90 days from the date of

the request as it deems necessary to investigate compliance with policies

established by the Fund for the purpose of eliminating or reducing any dilution

of the value of the outstanding shares issued by the Fund.

       (b) The Company agrees to transmit the requested information that is on

its books and records to the Distributor and/or its designee promptly, but in

any event not later than five (5) business days, or as otherwise agreed to by

the parties, after receipt of a request. If the requested information is not on

the Company's books and records, the Company agrees to (i) provide or arrange to

provide to the Fund and/or its designee the requested information pertaining to

shareholders who hold accounts with an indirect intermediary; or (ii) if

directed by the Distributor, block further purchases of Shares from such

33

<PAGE>

indirect intermediary. In such instance, the Company agrees to inform the

Distributor whether it plans to perform (i) or (ii). Responses required by this

paragraph must be communicated in writing and in a format mutually agreed upon

by the parties. To the extent practicable, the format for any transaction

information provided to the distributor should be consistent with the NSCC

Standardized Data Reporting Format. For purposes of this provision, an "indirect

intermediary" has the same meaning as in SEC Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act.

            (c) The Distributor agrees not to use the information received for

marketing or any other similar purpose without the Company's prior written

consent.

            (d) The Company agrees to execute written instructions from the

Distributor to restrict or prohibit further purchases (including shares acquired

by exchanges) of shares by a client that has been identified by the Distributor

as having engaged in transactions of the shares (directly or indirectly through

the intermediary's account) that violates policies established by the Fund.

            (e). Instructions must include the TIN, ITIN or GII if known, and

the specific restriction(s) to be executed.  If the TIN, ITIN or GII is not

known, the instructions must include an equivalent identifying number of the

client(s) or account(s) or other agreed upon information to which the

instruction relates.

            (f). The Company agrees to execute instruction as soon as

practicable, but not later than five (5) business days, or as otherwise agreed

to by the parties, after receipt of the instructions by the intermediary.

34

<PAGE>

            (g) The Company must provide written confirmation to the Distributor

that instructions have been executed. The Company agrees to provide confirmation

as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than ten (10) business days

after the instructions have been executed.

            (h) The provisions of this Article 11 shall survive termination of

this Agreement for at least 60 days after the termination date.

                                  ARTICLE XII.

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

      12.1 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.

      12.2 This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more

counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same

instrument.

      12.3 If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a

court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of the Agreement shall

not be affected thereby.

      12.4 Each party hereto shall cooperate with each other party and all

appropriate governmental authorities (including without limitation the SEC, the

FINRA and state insurance regulators) and shall permit 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.

      12.5 The rights, remedies and obligations contained in this Agreement are

cumulative and are in addition to any and all rights, remedies and obligations,

at law or in equity, which the parties hereto are entitled to under state and

federal laws.

      12.6 Each party will keep confidential any information acquired as a

result of this Agreement regarding the business and affairs of the other parties

to this Agreement and their affiliates.

35

<PAGE>

      12.7 Subject to the requirements of legal process and regulatory

authority, each party hereto (and on behalf of its affiliates and third party

vendors) shall treat as confidential the names and address of owners of the

Contracts and all information reasonably identified as confidential in writing

by any other party hereto and, except as permitted by this Agreement in order to

carry out the specified purposes specified herein, shall not disclose,

disseminate or utilize such names and addresses and other confidential

information until such time as it may come into public domain without express

written consent of the affected party. In addition, each party (and on behalf of

its affiliates and third party vendors) shall adopt policies and procedures that

address administrative, technical and physical safeguards for the protection of

such customer records.

      12.8 Each party will comply with all applicable laws and regulations aimed

at preventing, detecting, and reporting money laundering and suspicious

transactions. To the extent required by applicable regulation and generally

accepted industry practices, each party shall take all necessary and appropriate

steps to: (i) obtain, verify, and retain information with regard to contract

owner identification, and (ii) maintain records of all contract owner

transactions. The Company will (but only to the extent consistent with

applicable law) take all steps necessary and appropriate to provide the Fund

with any requested information about Contract owners and their accounts in the

event that the Fund shall request such information due to an inquiry or

investigation by any law enforcement, regulatory, or administrative authority.

To the extent permitted by applicable law and regulations, the Company will

notify the Fund of any concerns that the Company may have in connection with any

Contract owners in the context of relevant anti-money laundering laws or

regulations.

      12.9 The Fund agrees to consult with the Company concerning whether any

Portfolio of the Fund qualifies to provide a foreign tax credit pursuant to

Section 853 of the Code.

      12.10 The Fund, Distributor and Advisor will use reasonable best efforts

to prevent the Fund from engaging, directly or indirectly, in a transaction

that, as of the date the Fund enters into a binding contract to engage in such

transaction, is a "listed transaction" as defined in Treas. Regs. ss.

1.6011-4(b)(2)

36

<PAGE>

or successor provision (a "Listed Transaction"). If the Fund Distributor or

Advisor reasonably determines that the Fund has engaged in a Listed Transaction,

it will (i) provide the Company with prompt notice thereof and (ii) with respect

to any such transaction, the Fund will provide the Company, upon the Company's

request, (A) with all information relating to such Listed Transaction which the

Company would need in order to comply with its disclosure obligations under the

Code and applicable regulations and state laws. In addition, the Fund will

promptly notify the Company if the Fund must file (or has filed) Form 8886

("Reportable Transaction Disclosure Statement"), or successor form.

                                  ARTICLE XIII

                        TERMINATION OF PRIOR AGREEMENTS

      13.1 This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements among the parties or

their predecessor entities with respect to the subject matter of this agreement.

The parties agree that all such prior agreements are hereby terminated in their

entirety.

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.

Company:

         THE LINCOLN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

         By its authorized officer:

                 By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx

                     ------------------------

                 Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx

                 Title: Vice President

                 Date:  11/6/13

37

<PAGE>

Fund:

         XXXX XXXXX PARTNERS VARIABLE EQUITY TRUST

         By its authorized officer:

                 By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx

                     ------------------------

                 Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx

                 Title:  President

                 Date: 11/12/13

Fund:

         XXXX XXXXX PARTNERS VARIABLE INCOME TRUST

         By its authorized officer:

                 By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx

                     ------------------------

                 Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx

                 Title: President

                 Date: 11/12/13

Adviser:

         XXXX XXXXX PARTNERS FUND ADVISER, LLC

         By its authorized officer:

                 By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx

                     ------------------------

                 Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx

                 Title:  President

                 Date: 11/12/13

Distributor:

         XXXX XXXXX INVESTOR SERVICES, LLC

         By its authorized officer:

                 By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx

                     ------------------------

                 Name:  Xxxxxxx X. Matters

                 Title: Director

                 Date: 11/11/13

38

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE A

                               SEPARATE ACCOUNTS

   -------------------------------------------------------------------------

                               SEPARATE ACCOUNTS

   -------------------------------------------------------------------------

             Lincoln Life Flexible Premium Variable Life Account S

   -------------------------------------------------------------------------

             Lincoln Life Flexible Premium Variable Life Account Z

   -------------------------------------------------------------------------

39

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE B

                                   ----------

                    PORTFOLIOS AVAILABLE UNDER THE CONTRACTS

                    ----------------------------------------

XXXX XXXXX PARTNERS VARIABLE EQUITY TRUST

<TABLE>

<CAPTION>

---------------------------------------------------------- --------- ------------------------

FUND NAME                                                   CLASS             CUSIP

---------------------------------------------------------- --------- ------------------------

<S>                                                           <C>           <C>

ClearBridge Variable Mid Cap Core Portfolio                   I             00000X000

---------------------------------------------------------- --------- ------------------------

ClearBridge Variable Mid Cap Core Portfolio                   II            00000X000

---------------------------------------------------------- --------- ------------------------

ClearBridge Variable Small Cap Growth Portfolio               I             00000X000

---------------------------------------------------------- --------- ------------------------

ClearBridge Variable Small Cap Growth Portfolio               II            00000X000

---------------------------------------------------------- --------- ------------------------

</TABLE>

40

<PAGE>

                               FIRST AMENDMENT TO

                             PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

     This First Amendment to Participation Agreement ("Amendment") is

entered into by and among XXXX XXXXX INVESTOR SERVICES, LLC (the "Distributor"),

XXXX XXXXX PARTNERS VARIABLE EQUITY TRUST and XXXX XXXXX PARTNERS VARIABLE

INCOME TRUST (each a "Fund", collectively the "Funds"), XXXX XXXXX PARTNERS FUND

ADVISOR, LLC (the "Adviser") and THE LINCOLN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

(the "Company"), collectively (the "Parties").

     WHEREAS, the Parties entered into a Participation Agreement dated

November 1, 2013, (the "Agreement"). Capitalized terms used herein and not

otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the

Agreement;

     WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the Agreement;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of these premises and the terms and

conditions set forth herein, the parties agree as follows:

     1. Schedule B of this Amendment, attached hereto, supersedes and replaces

in its entirety the Schedule B of the Agreement.

     2. OTHER TERMS. Other than the foregoing, all other terms and conditions of

the Agreement shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect and are

ratified and confirmed in all respects by the parties to this Amendment.

For the purpose of referring to this Amendment, the date of this Amendment shall

be the date of acceptance by Xxxx Xxxxx Investor Services, LLC.

XXXX XXXXX INVESTOR SERVICES, LLC          THE LINCOLN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE

                                           COMPANY

By:      /s/ Xxxxxxxx X'Xxxx               By:    /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx

         -------------------------                -------------------------

Name:    Xxxxxxxx X'Xxxx                   Name:  Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx

Title:   Managing Director                 Title: Vice President

Date:    4/17/14                           Date:  4/25/14

XXXX XXXXX PARTNERS VARIABLE EQUITY TRUST  XXXX XXXXX PARTNERS VARIABLE INCOME

                                           TRUST

By:      /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx                By:    /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx

         -------------------------                -------------------------

Name:    Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx                    Name:  Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx

Title:   President                         Title: President

Date:    4/21/14                           Date:  4/21/14

                                        1

<PAGE>

XXXX XXXXX PARTNERS FUND ADVISOR, LLC

By:      /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx

         -------------------------

Name:    Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx

Title:   President

Date:    4/21/14

                                        2

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE A

                                SEPARATE ACCOUNTS

   -------------------------------------------------------------------------

                               SEPARATE ACCOUNTS

   -------------------------------------------------------------------------

              Lincoln Life Flexible Premium Variable Life Account S

   -------------------------------------------------------------------------

              Lincoln Life Flexible Premium Variable Life Account Z

   -------------------------------------------------------------------------

                     Lincoln Life Variable Annuity Account N

   -------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                        3

<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE B

                                   ----------

                    PORTFOLIOS AVAILABLE UNDER THE CONTRACTS

                    ----------------------------------------

XXXX XXXXX PARTNERS VARIABLE EQUITY TRUST PORTFOLIOS

ClearBridge Variable Series Portfolios Class I & II

Xxxx Xxxxx XX Absolute Return Opportunities VIT Class I & II

                                        4

SECOND AMENDMENT TO

PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

This Second Amendment to Participation Agreement (“Amendment”), effective May 1, 2017, is entered into by and among Xxxx Xxxxx Investor Services, LLC (the “Distributor”), Xxxx Xxxxx Partners Variable Equity Trust and Xxxx Xxxxx Partners Variable Income Trust (each a “Fund”, collectively the “Funds”), Xxxx Xxxxx Partners Fund Advisor, LLC (the “Adviser”) and The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company (the “Company”), collectively (the “Parties”).

WHEREAS, the Parties entered into a Participation Agreement dated November 1, 2013, as amended (the “Agreement”).  Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Agreement;

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to amend the Agreement;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of these premises and the terms and conditions set forth herein, the parties agree as follows:

1. Schedule A and Schedule B of this Amendment, attached hereto, supersede and replace in their entirety the Schedule A and Schedule B of the Agreement.

2. Other Terms.  Other than the foregoing, all other terms and conditions of the Agreement shall remain unchanged and in full force and effect and are ratified and confirmed in all respects by the parties to this Amendment.

Xxxx Xxxxx Investor Services, LLC			The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company
By:	/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx		By:	/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
Name:	Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx		Name:	Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
Title:	Director		Title:	Senior Vice President
Date:	4/19/2017		Date:	April 11, 2017
Xxxx Xxxxx Partners Variable Equity Trust			Xxxx Xxxxx Partners Variable Income Trust
By:	/s/ Xxxx Trust		By:	/s/ Xxxx Trust
Name:	Xxxx Trust		Name:	Xxxx Trust
Title:	President & CEO — Mutual Fund Boards		Title:	President & CEO — Mutual Fund Boards
Date:	4/19/2017		Date:	4/19/2017
Xxxx Xxxxx Partners Fund Advisor, LLC
By:	/s/ Xxxx Trust
Name:	Xxxx Trust
Title:	President & CEO — Mutual Fund Boards
Date:	4/19/2017

1

Schedule A

Separate Accounts

Separate Accounts

Lincoln Life Flexible Premium Variable Life Account S

Lincoln Life Flexible Premium Variable Life Account Z

Lincoln Life Variable Annuity Account N

2

SCHEDULE B

PORTFOLIOS AVAILABLE UNDER THE CONTRACTS

Xxxx Xxxxx Partners Variable Equity Trust Portfolios

ClearBridge Variable Series Portfolios Class I & II

QS Variable Conservative Growth Class I & II

3