AMENDED AND RESTATED FUND PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT Talcott Resolution Life Insurance Company Talcott Resolution Life and Annuity Insurance Company Hartford Funds Management Company, LLC Hartford Funds Distributors, LLC Hartford Administrative Services...
AMENDED AND RESTATED
Xxxxxxx Resolution Life Insurance Company
Xxxxxxx Resolution Life and Annuity Insurance Company
Hartford Funds Management Company, LLC
Hartford Funds Distributors, LLC
Hartford Administrative Services Company
Xxxxxxx Resolution Distribution Company, Inc.
and
Each of the Investment Companies, on behalf of its respective series listed
on Schedule A Attached Hereto
August 1, 2018
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, is made and entered into as of this August 1, 2018, by and among XXXXXXX RESOLUTION LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY (formerly HARTFORD LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY and XXXXXXX RESOLUTION LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY (formerly HARTFORD LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY) (collectively referred to as the “Company”), each a Connecticut corporation, on its own behalf and on behalf of its separate accounts, as set forth in Schedule B as may be revised from time to time (each an “Account” and collectively, the “Accounts”); each of the registered investment companies (each a “FUND” and collectively, the “FUNDS”) on behalf of its respective series identified on SCHEDULE A (each a “Portfolio” and collectively, the Portfolios) as it may be amended from time to time, each an open-end management investment company organized under the laws of the State of Maryland; HARTFORD FUNDS MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLC (“HFMC”), a Delaware limited liability company; HARTFORD FUNDS DISTRIBUTORS, LLC (“HFD”), a Delaware limited liability company; HARTFORD ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES COMPANY (“HASCO”), a Minnesota corporation; and XXXXXXX RESOLUTION Distribution Company, Inc. (formerly Hartford Securities Distribution Company, Inc.) (“TRSD” or the “underwriter”), a Connecticut corporation. HFMC in its capacity as investment adviser to the Portfolios is referred to herein as the “Adviser.” HFD in its capacity as principal underwriter to the Portfolios is referred to herein as the “Distributor.” HASCO in its capacity as transfer agent to the Portfolios is referred to herein as the “Transfer Agent.”
WHEREAS, this agreement replaces that certain participation agreement dated December 1, 2008, as amended from time to time (“Prior Agreement”) with respect to the Accounts and the Funds; and
WHEREAS, Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. sold the majority of its interest in its “Xxxxxxx Resolution” run-off annuity business, which included Hartford Life Insurance Company and Hartford Life and Annuity Insurance Company, to a group of private investors effective May 31, 2018 (the “Transaction”); and
WHEREAS, in conjunction with the Transaction, the new ownership of Xxxxxxx Resolution obtained the necessary regulatory approvals to change the names of Hartford Life Insurance Company and Hartford Life and Annuity Insurance Company to Xxxxxxx Resolution Life Insurance Company and Xxxxxxx Resolution Life and Annuity Insurance Company, respectively; and
WHEREAS, the Prior Agreement also covered certain accounts that were subject to reinsurance transactions with the Company and the parties agree that such accounts will be covered by a separate participation agreement among the applicable parties; and
WHEREAS, each Fund is an open-end management investment company and each Portfolio is available to act as the investment vehicle for separate accounts established by insurance companies to fund variable life insurance policies and/or variable annuity contracts and for qualified pension and retirement plans; and
WHEREAS, each Fund is registered as an open-end management investment company under the 1940 Act and shares of each Portfolio are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (hereinafter the “1933 Act”); and
WHEREAS, the Adviser is duly registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended; and
WHEREAS, the Distributor is duly registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “1934 Act”) and is a member in good standing with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”); and
WHEREAS, the Transfer Agent is duly registered as a transfer agent under the 1934 Act; and
WHEREAS, the Company is an insurance company that (i) has issued certain variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts supported wholly or partially by the Accounts and (ii) administers variable life insurance policies and/or variable annuity contracts initially issued by Union Security Life Insurance Company or affiliate(s) thereof (“Union Security”); and
WHEREAS, the Company is the sponsor (or, in the case of Union Security separate accounts, the administrator of contracts invested therein) of each Account, and each Account is a duly organized, validly existing segregated asset account, established by resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company (or by Union Security, with respect to Union Security Separate Accounts) under insurance laws, to set aside and invest assets attributable to the Contracts (defined below); and
WHEREAS, TRSD is the principal underwriter to the Contracts, and TRSD is duly registered as a broker-dealer under the 1934 Act and is a member in good standing with FINRA; and
WHEREAS, the Company provides all required, necessary and appropriate administrative and other services with respect to the registered individual variable annuity contracts (“Registered VA Contracts”); and
WHEREAS, the Company (directly or indirectly through a services agreement with Lombard International Administration Services Company, LLC) provides all required, necessary and appropriate administrative and other services with respect to the unregistered variable life and annuity contracts (“Unregistered Contracts”) and the group life insurance contracts (“Life Contracts”); and
WHEREAS, the term “Contracts” as used in this Agreement shall be understood to refer to any of the Registered VA Contracts, the Unregistered Contracts, the Life Contracts and any life insurance or annuity contracts issued by Union Security and now administered by the Company; and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and regulations, the Company intends to continue to purchase shares in the Portfolios, on behalf of the Accounts to fund the Contracts, and each Fund is authorized to sell such shares to unit investment trusts such as the Accounts at net asset value; and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and regulations, the Company also intends to continue to purchase shares in other open-end investment companies or series thereof not affiliated with the Funds on behalf of the Accounts to fund the Contracts; and
WHEREAS, this Agreement shall create a separate participation agreement for each Fund, as though the Company, the Adviser and the Distributor had executed a separate, identical form of participation agreement with each Fund; and
Whereas, except as otherwise provided in regard to a Rule 22c-2 Agreement between respective parties hereto, this Agreement, including any Schedules hereto, is intended to constitute the entire agreement by and among the parties with respect to the specific matters dealt with herein, and supersedes all previous agreements among the parties, written or oral, with respect to such matters; and
WHEREAS, the parties desire the Funds to receive, and the Company to transmit, purchase and redemption orders of Portfolio shares using the National Securities Clearing Corporation’s (“NSCC”) Mutual Fund Settlement, Entry and Registration Verification (“Fund/SERV”) system.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Company, the Funds, the Underwriter, the Distributor, the Transfer Agent and the Adviser agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. Definitions
1.1. “Business Day” shall mean any day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which a Portfolio calculates its net asset value pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
1.2. “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor thereto.
1.3. “Contract Owners” shall mean the owners of the Contracts, as distinguished from all other product owners.
1.4. “Independent Directors” shall mean those members of a Fund’s Board of Directors who are not interested persons of the Fund, the Distributor, the Adviser or any sub-adviser to any of the Portfolios.
1.5. “IRS” shall mean the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
1.6. “NAV” shall mean a Portfolio’s net asset value per share (“NAV”).
1.7. “Prospectus” with respect to shares of a Portfolio or with respect to a Contract through which interests in an Account registered as a unit investment trust under the 1940 Act are offered and issued, which interests are registered as securities under the 1933 Act, shall mean each version of the effective prospectus, including any supplements thereto, filed with the SEC under the 1933 Act. Unless otherwise indicated, the term “Prospectus” shall include any private placement memo or other similar disclosure document used in connection with the offer or sale of Contracts through which interests in unregistered Accounts are offered and issued. With respect to any provision of this Agreement requiring a party to take action in accordance with a Prospectus, such reference will be to the version of the Prospectus last filed and effective prior to the taking of such action, including any supplements
thereto. The term Prospectus shall include any statement of additional information incorporated by reference therein.
1.8. “SEC” shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
1.9. “SAI” shall mean each version of the effective Statement of Additional Information, including any supplements thereto, filed with the SEC under the 1933 Act. With respect to any provision of this Agreement requiring a party to take action in accordance with a SAI, such reference will be to the version of the SAI last filed and effective prior to the taking of such action, including any supplements thereto. The term SAI shall include any Prospectus incorporated by reference therein.
1.10. “Valuation Time” shall mean the time as of which a Fund calculates net asset value for the shares of its Portfolios on the relevant Business Day.
ARTICLE II. Sale of Portfolio Shares
Without limiting the generality of anything contained elsewhere in this Agreement, the parties hereto acknowledge that actions described in this Article II of this Agreement, or described in any Schedule to this Agreement, as being actions or duties to be taken or executed by the Company with respect to the Contracts may, in fact, be performed by other service providers pursuant to written agreements with the Company.
2.1. (a) Each Fund and the Distributor shall make shares of the Portfolios available to the Accounts. The Company shall be the designee of each Fund for receipt of such orders and receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund; provided that the Fund receives notice in accordance with the operational procedures set forth in Section 2.5 below.
2.2. Each Fund reserves the right to refuse any purchase order or to suspend or terminate the offering of shares of any Portfolio for any reason. All orders accepted by the Company shall be subject to the terms of the then current Prospectus of the applicable Fund. The Company shall use its best efforts, and shall reasonably cooperate with a Fund, to enforce stated Prospectus policies regarding transactions in Portfolio shares. The Company acknowledges that orders accepted by it in violation of a Fund’s stated policies may be subsequently revoked or canceled by the Fund and that the Fund shall not be responsible for any losses incurred by the Company, the Account or the Contract Owner as a result of such cancellation.
2.3. Each Fund will redeem for cash any full or fractional shares of any Portfolio when requested by the Company on behalf of an Account. The Company shall be the designee of each Fund for receipt of requests for redemption and receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund, provided that the Fund receives notice of any such request for redemption in accordance with the operational procedures set forth in Section 2.5 below.
2.4. The Distributor and each Fund agree that shares of the Portfolios will be sold only to (a) insurance companies for use in conjunction with variable life insurance policies or variable annuities or (b) qualified pension and retirement plans (“Qualified Plans”). The parties hereto acknowledge that the arrangement contemplated by this Agreement is not exclusive; a Portfolio’s shares may be sold to other insurance companies and the cash value of the Contracts may be invested in other investment companies.
2.5. Operational Procedures. The Company will receive instructions from Contract Owners for the purchase, redemption and exchange of shares of the Portfolios (“Instructions”), and shall aggregate and calculate the net purchase and redemption orders for each Account received each Business Day prior to the close of the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) (“Market Close”). The Company will not aggregate Instructions received from the Contract Owners after Market Close with Instructions it received before Market Close, and warrants that its internal control structure concerning the processing and transmission of Instructions is suitably designed to prevent or detect on a timely basis Instructions received after Market Close from being aggregated with Instructions received before Market Close and to minimize errors that could result in late transmission of Instructions. Instructions received by the Company before Market Close on any Business Day will receive that day’s NAV. Instructions received by the Company after Market Close on any Business Day will be treated as received on the next Business Day and will be executed at the next Business Day’s NAV.
(a) Fund/SERV Transactions: The parties will ordinarily use the NSCC Fund/SERV system and will follow the applicable operating procedures of the NSCC Defined Contribution Clearance & Settlement (DCC&S) Cycle 8 (generally, 6:30 a.m. Eastern Time) as the preferred method of processing the transactions described herein. If the Company is unable to meet NSCC DCC&S Cycle 8, the Company will immediately notify the Fund or its designee, but in no event shall such notice be provided later than 6:45 a.m. Eastern Time on the applicable day. Upon such notice, the Fund or its designee will agree to allow the Company additional time; provided that the Company shall
provide trade amounts no later than 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. If the NSCC Fund/SERV system is used, the following provisions will apply: (i) On each Business Day, the Company shall communicate by Fund/SERV, the aggregate purchase or redemption orders (if any) of Portfolio shares, based on Instructions received for each Account by the prior Business Day’s Market Close, by no later than NSCC DCC&S Cycle 8 or such other time as may be agreed upon by the parties from time to time as described above. All Instructions received by the Company after Market Close on a Business Day shall not be transmitted to NSCC prior to the conclusion of NSCC DCC&S Cycle 8 on the following Business Day, or such other time as may be agreed upon by the parties from time to time as described above, and the Company represents that orders it receives after Market Close on any given Business Day will be transmitted using the following Business Day’s NAV. The Fund or its designee may process orders received after NSCC DCC&S Cycle 8 deadline, or such other time as may be agreed upon by the parties from time to time as described above, using the NAV next determined. (ii) When transmitting purchase or redemption orders for shares of the Portfolios, the Company shall submit one order for all Account purchase transactions and one order for all Account redemption transactions, unless otherwise agreed to by the Company the Fund or its designee. (iii) All orders are subject to acceptance by the Fund or its designee and become effective only upon confirmation by the Fund or its designee. Upon confirmation, the Fund or its designee will verify total purchases and redemptions and the closing share position for each Account. In the case of delayed settlement, the Fund or its designee shall make arrangements for the settlement of redemptions by wire no later than the time permitted for settlement of redemption orders by the 0000 Xxx. (iv) The Company’s payment for purchases of Portfolio shares shall be from the designated NSCC Settling Bank on behalf of the Company by the time specified by the Transfer Agent. “Settling Bank” shall mean the entity appointed by the party to perform such settlement services, which entity agrees to abide by NSCC’s then current rules and procedures insofar as they related to funds settlement. (v) Each Fund shall pay and transmit the proceeds of redemptions of Portfolio shares from the designated NSCC Settling Bank on behalf of the Fund in accordance with NSCC’s then current rules and procedures; provided, however, that the Fund may delay payment in extraordinary circumstances to the extent permitted under Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act.
(b) Manual Transactions: The parties will process manual transactions via facsimile (or by other agreed electronic means) if there are technical problems with Fund/SERV, or if the parties are not able to transmit or receive information through Fund/SERV. If manual transactions are used, the following provisions will apply: (i) On each Business Day, by 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, the Company shall communicate to the Fund or its designee the aggregate amounts for purchase or
redemption orders (if any) of Portfolio shares, based on Instructions received for each Account by the prior Business Day’s Market Close. All Instructions received by the Company after Market Close on a Business Day shall not be communicated to the Fund or its designee until after 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the following Business Day, and the Company represents that orders it receives after Market Close on any given Business Day will be transmitted using the following Business Day’s NAV. The Fund or its designee will process orders received after the 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time deadline using the NAV next determined. (ii) The Company will communicate orders to purchase or redeem shares of each Portfolio separately, and submit one order for all Account purchase transactions, reflecting the net dollar amount to be invested in each Portfolio, and one order for all Account redemption transactions, reflecting the net dollar amount to be redeemed from each Portfolio, unless otherwise agreed to by the Company the Fund or its designee. (iii) All orders are subject to acceptance by the Fund or its designee and become effective only upon confirmation by the Fund or its designee. Upon confirmation, the Fund or its designee will verify total purchases and redemptions and the closing share position for each Account. In the case of delayed settlement, the Fund or its designee shall make arrangements for the settlement of redemptions by wire no later than the time permitted for settlement of redemption orders by the 1940 Act. (iv) The Company shall pay for Portfolio shares by 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the next Business Day after an order to purchase Portfolio shares is received in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.5(b). Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire and/or by a credit for any shares redeemed the same day as the purchase. (v) Each Fund shall pay and transmit the proceeds of redemptions of Portfolio shares by 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the next Business Day after a redemption order is received in accordance with this Section 2.5(b); provided, however, that the Fund may delay payment in extraordinary circumstances to the extent permitted under Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act. Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire and/or a credit for any shares purchased the same day as the redemption. Each Fund shall not bear any responsibility for the proper disbursement or crediting of redemption proceeds by the Company; the Company alone shall be responsible for such action.
2.6. Issuance and transfer of a Portfolio’s shares will be by book entry only. Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or the Accounts. Shares purchased from a Portfolio will be recorded in an appropriate title for the relevant Account or the relevant sub-account of an Account. Each Fund will furnish to the Company the CUSIP number assigned to each Portfolio identified in Schedule A hereto, as it may be amended from time to time.
2.7. The Distributor shall notify the Company in advance, but not later than same day notice (by electronic communication or telephone, followed by electronic confirmation) to the Company, of any income, dividends or capital gain distributions payable on a Portfolio’s shares. The Company hereby elects to receive all such income dividends and capital gain distributions as are payable on a Portfolio’s shares in additional shares of that Portfolio. A Fund shall notify the Company by the end of the next following Business Day of the number of shares so issued as payment of such dividends and distributions.
2.8. Each Fund shall make the NAV for each Portfolio available to the Company on each Business Day as soon as reasonably practicable after the NAV is calculated and shall use its best efforts to make such NAV available by 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time. In the event of an error in the computation of a Portfolio’s NAV or any dividend or capital gain distribution (each, a “pricing error”), the applicable Fund shall immediately notify the Company as soon as possible after discovery of the error. Such notification may be verbal, but shall be confirmed promptly in writing. A pricing error shall be corrected as follows: (a) if the pricing error results in a difference between the erroneous NAV and the correct NAV of less than $0.01 per share, then no corrective action need be taken; (b) if the pricing error results in a difference between the erroneous NAV and the correct NAV equal to or greater than $0.01 per share, but less than ½ of 1% of the Portfolio’s NAV at the time of the error, then the Adviser shall reimburse the Portfolio for any loss, after taking into consideration any positive effect of such error; however, no adjustments to Contract Owner accounts need be made; and (c) if the pricing error results in a difference between the erroneous NAV and the correct NAV equal to or greater than ½ of 1% of the Portfolio’s NAV at the time of the error, then the Adviser shall reimburse the Portfolio for any loss (without taking into consideration any positive effect of such error) and shall reimburse the Company for the costs of adjustments made to correct Contract Owner accounts, such reimbursements to be made in accordance with the provisions of the Adviser’s current pricing policy. If an adjustment is necessary to correct a material error that has caused Contract Owners to receive less than the amount to which they are entitled, the number of shares of the applicable sub-account of such Contract Owners will be adjusted and the amount of any underpayments shall be credited by the Adviser to the Company for crediting of such amounts to the applicable Contract Owner’s accounts. Upon notification by the Adviser of any overpayment due to a material error, the Company shall promptly remit to the Adviser any overpayment that has not been paid to Contract Owners. A pricing error within categories (b) or (c) above shall be deemed to be “materially incorrect” or constitute a “material error” for purposes of this Agreement. The standards set forth in this Section 2.8 are based on the parties’ understanding of the views expressed by the staff of the SEC as of the date of this Agreement. In the event the views of
the SEC staff are later modified or superseded by SEC or judicial interpretation, the parties shall amend the foregoing provisions of this Agreement to comport with the appropriate applicable standards, on terms mutually satisfactory to all parties.
.
2.9. The Company agrees to notify a Fund of any investment restrictions imposed by state insurance law and/or any contracts applicable to the Fund. The parties agree to mutually cooperate with respect to any state insurance law restriction or requirement applicable to a Fund’s investments to the extent such cooperation is permissible under the terms and conditions of Funds’ prospectuses and other governing laws.
ARTICLE III . Representations and Warranties
3.1. The Company represents and warrants that:
(a) (i) The securities deemed to be issued by the Accounts under the Contracts are or will be registered under the 1933 Act, or are not so registered in proper reliance upon an exemption from such registration requirements; (ii) the Contracts will be issued and sold in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and state laws; and (iii) the Contracts will be sold only by duly licensed and appointed parties with which the Company has written agreements that require, among other things, that the sale of the Contracts shall comply in all material respects with applicable FINRA Conduct Rules.
(b) (i) It is an insurance company duly organized and in good standing under applicable law; (ii) it has legally and validly established each Account prior to any issuance or sale of units thereof as a segregated asset account under Connecticut law; and (iii) it has registered 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 and will maintain such registration for so long as any Contracts are outstanding as required by applicable law or, alternatively, the Company has not registered one or more Accounts in proper reliance upon an exclusion from such registration requirements.
(c) [reserved]
(d) For purposes other than diversification under Section 817 of the Code, that the Contracts are currently and at the time of issuance will be treated as annuity contracts or life insurance
policies under applicable provisions of the Code, and that it will make every effort to maintain such treatment and that it will notify the Funds, the Distributor and the Adviser immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Contracts have ceased to be so treated or that they might not be so treated in the future. In addition, the Company represents and warrants that each Account is a “segregated asset account” and that interests in each Account are offered exclusively through the purchase of or transfer into a “variable contract” within the meaning of such terms under Section 817 of the Code and the regulations thereunder. The Company will use every effort to continue to meet such definitional requirements, and it will notify the Funds, the Distributor and the Adviser immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that such requirements have ceased to be met or that they might not be met in the future. The Company represents and warrants that it will not purchase Portfolio shares with assets derived from tax-qualified retirement plans except, indirectly, through Contracts purchased in connection with such plans.
(e) The Company will comply with its obligations under applicable anti-money laundering (“AML”) laws, rules and regulations, including but not limited to its obligations under the United States Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, as amended (by the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and other laws), and the rules, regulations and official guidance issued thereunder. The Company agrees to undertake inquiry and due diligence regarding the customers to whom the Company offers and/or sells Portfolio shares or on whose behalf the Company purchases shares and that the inquiry and due diligence is reasonably designed to determine that the Company is not prohibited from dealing with any such customer by (i) any sanction administered by the Office of Foreign Asset Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury; (ii) and any special measures imposed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury pursuant to the BSA.
(f) It is currently in compliance, and will remain in compliance, with all applicable laws, rules and regulations relating to consumer privacy, including, but not limited to, SEC Regulation S-P and the Xxxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Act.
(g) (i) It operates in compliance with and will continue to operate in compliance with its duties and obligations described by Rule 22c-2, as well as under the Rule 22c-2 Agreement set forth in Schedule D, as may be amended from time to time.
(ii) It has adopted, and will at all times during the term of this Agreement maintain, reasonable and appropriate procedures (“Late Trading Procedures”) designed to ensure that any and all orders relating to the purchase, sale or exchange of Portfolio shares communicated to the
applicable Fund to be treated in accordance with Article I of this Agreement as having been received on a Business Day have been received by the Valuation Time on such Business Day and were not modified after the Valuation Time, and that all orders received from Contract Owners, but not rescinded by the Valuation Time, were communicated to the Fund or its agent as received for that Business Day. Each transmission of orders by the Company shall constitute a representation by the Company that such orders are accurate and complete and relate to orders received by the Company by the Valuation Time on the Business Day for which the order is to be priced and that such transmission includes all orders relating to Portfolio shares received from Contract Owners but not rescinded by the Valuation Time. The Company agrees to provide each Fund or its designee with a copy of the Late Trading Procedures and such certifications and representations regarding the Late Trading Procedures as the Fund or its designee may reasonably request. The Company will promptly notify the Funds in writing of any material change to the Late Trading Procedures.
(iii) It has adopted, and will at all times during the term of this Agreement maintain, reasonable and appropriate procedures (“Market Timing Procedures”) designed to minimize excessive trading in its Contracts. The Company agrees to provide each Fund or its designee with a copy of the Market Timing Procedures and such certifications and representations regarding the Market Timing Procedures as the Fund or its designee may reasonably request. The Company will promptly notify the Funds of any material change to the Market Timing Procedures. The parties agree to make reasonable efforts to address any conflict between the Market Timing Procedures and actions taken or policies adopted by a Fund designed to minimize any adverse impact on other Fund investors due to excessive trading.
3.2. Each Fund and the Distributor represent and warrant that:
(a) (i) The Portfolio shares sold pursuant to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act; (ii) the Portfolio shares sold pursuant to this Agreement shall be duly authorized for issuance and sold in compliance with all applicable federal securities laws including without limitation the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, and the 1940 Act; (iii) the Fund is and shall remain registered under the 1940 Act; and (iv) the Fund shall amend the registration statement for its Portfolios’ shares under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of the shares.
(b) The Fund has adopted a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (a “Rule 12b-1 Plan”) for certain classes of its shares. The parties acknowledge that each Fund reserves the right to modify or terminate its existing plan or to adopt additional Rule 12b-1 Plans (including with respect to its shares for which it has not currently adopted a Rule 12b-1 plan) and to impose an asset-based or other charge to finance distribution expenses as permitted by applicable law and regulation. The Fund and the Adviser agree to comply with applicable provisions and SEC interpretation of the 1940 Act with respect to any distribution plan.
(c) The Fund shall register and qualify the shares for sale in accordance with the laws of the various states if and to the extent required by applicable law. Each Fund makes no representation as to whether any aspect of its operations complies with the insurance laws and regulations of any state.
(d) The Fund is lawfully organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Maryland and that it does and will comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act.
(e) The Fund and the Distributor shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations designed to prevent money laundering and, if required by such laws or regulations, share with the Company information about individuals, entities, organizations and countries suspected of possible terrorist or money laundering activities.
3.3. The Adviser represents and warrants that it is and shall remain duly registered under all applicable federal and state securities laws and that it shall perform its obligations for each Fund and Portfolio in compliance in all material respects with any applicable state and federal securities laws.
3.4. The Distributor represents and warrants that it is and shall remain duly registered under all applicable federal and state securities laws and that it shall perform its obligations for each Fund and Portfolio in compliance in all material respects with the laws of any applicable state and federal securities laws.
3.5. Each Fund and the Adviser represent and warrant that:
(a) All of their respective officers, employees, investment advisers, and other individuals or entities dealing with the money and/or securities of a Fund are, and shall continue to be at all times, covered by one or more blanket fidelity bonds or similar coverage for the benefit of the
Fund in an amount not less than the minimal coverage required by Rule 17g-1 under the 1940 Act or related provisions as may be promulgated from time to time. The aforesaid bonds shall include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable bonding company.
(b) They will use their best efforts to provide the Company with as much advance notice as is reasonably practicable of any material change affecting the Portfolios (including, but not limited to, any material change in the registration statement or prospectus affecting the Portfolios) and any proxy solicitation or information statement affecting the Portfolios and consult with the Company in order to implement any such change in an orderly manner, recognizing the expenses of changes and attempting to minimize such expenses by implementing them in conjunction with regular annual updates of the Prospectus for the Contracts.
3.6 The Transfer Agent and the Company each represents and warrants to the other that it: (a) has entered into an agreement with NSCC, (b) has met and will continue to meet all of the requirements to participate in Fund/SERV and Networking, and (c) intends to remain at all times in compliance with the then current rules and procedures of NSCC to the extent necessary or appropriate to facilitate such communications, processing, and settlement of Portfolio share transactions.
ARTICLE IV. Prospectuses, Proxy Materials and Information Statements; Voting
4.1. At least annually, the Distributor shall provide the Company with as many copies of a Fund’s current Prospectus as the Company may reasonably request, with expenses to be borne in accordance with Schedule C hereof. If requested by the Company in lieu thereof, the Distributor or Fund shall provide such documentation (including an electronic version of the current prospectus) 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 the Contracts and the Prospectus for the Fund printed together in one document.
4.2. If applicable state or federal laws or regulations require that the SAI for a Fund be distributed to all Contract Owners, then the Fund and/or the Distributor shall provide the Company with copies of the Fund’s SAI in such quantities, with expenses to be borne in accordance with Schedule C hereof, as the Company may reasonably require to permit timely distribution thereof to Contract Owners. The Distributor and/or the Fund shall also provide an SAI to any Contract Owner or prospective owner who requests such SAI from the Fund.
4.3. Each Fund and/or the Distributor shall provide the Company with copies of the Fund’s proxy material, information statements, reports to shareholders and other communications to shareholders in such quantity, with expenses to be borne in accordance with Schedule C hereof, as the Company may reasonably require to permit timely distribution thereof to Contract Owners.
4.4. It is understood and agreed that the Company shall not be responsible for the content of the Prospectus or SAI for a Fund, except with respect to information regarding the Company provided in writing by that party. It is also understood and agreed that, except with respect to information regarding a Fund, the Distributor, the Adviser or the Portfolios provided in writing by a Fund, the Distributor or the Adviser, neither the Fund, the Distributor nor the Adviser are responsible for the content of the prospectus or SAI for the Contracts.
4.5. Each Fund or its designee will use its best efforts to provide the Company with notice as soon as is reasonably practicable of any change for a Fund or Portfolio, including but not limited to: (a) fund objective changes; (b) anticipated fund reorganizations or substitutions; (c) no action or exemptive requests granted by the SEC; (d) Fund and/or Portfolio name changes; (e) Fund or Portfolio adviser, sub-adviser and/or portfolio manager changes; and/or (f) conditions or undertakings that affect the Company’s rights or obligations under this Agreement.
4.6. If and to the extent required by law the Company shall:
(a) solicit voting instructions from Contract Owners;
(b) vote the Portfolio shares held in the Accounts in accordance with instructions received from Contract Owners;
(c) vote Portfolio shares held in the Accounts for which no instructions have been received in the same proportion as Portfolio shares for which instructions have been received from Contract Owners, so long as and to the extent that the SEC continues to interpret the 1940 Act to require pass-through voting privileges for variable contract owners; and
(d) vote Portfolio shares held in its general account or otherwise in the same proportion as Portfolio shares for which instructions have been received from Contract Owners, so long as and to the extent that the SEC continues to interpret the 1940 Act to require such voting by an
insurance company. The Company reserves the right to vote Portfolio shares in its own right, to the extent permitted by law.
4.7. The Company shall be responsible for assuring that each of its separate accounts holding shares of a Portfolio calculates voting privileges as directed by the applicable Fund and agreed to by the Company and the Fund.
4.8. Each Fund will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act requiring voting by shareholders, and in particular each Fund will either provide for annual meetings (except insofar as the SEC may interpret Section 16 of the 1940 Act not to require such meetings) or, as each Fund currently intends, comply with Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act (although no Fund is one of the trusts described in Section 16(c) of that Act) as well as with Sections 16(a) and, if and when applicable, 16(b). Further, each Fund will act in accordance with the SEC’s interpretation of the requirements of Section 16(a) with respect to periodic elections of directors or trustees and with whatever rules the SEC may promulgate with respect thereto.
ARTICLE V. Sales Material and Information
5.1. (a) The Company shall not disclose any information or make any representations or statements relating to a Fund or Portfolio in connection with the sale of the Contracts other than the information, representations or statements contained in the registration statement, including a Fund’s Prospectus or SAI, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in sales literature or other promotional material approved by a Fund, the Distributor and/or the Adviser, except with the prior written consent of the Fund, Distributor and/or Adviser, as applicable.
(b) The Company shall furnish, or cause to be furnished, to each Fund, as applicable, prior to use each piece of sales literature or other promotional material (collectively, “material”) prepared by the Company in which a Fund (or a Portfolio), the Distributor, the Adviser and/or any of their respective affiliates is named or described at least 5 business days prior to its use. No piece of such material shall be used by the Company without the prior approval of the Fund, Distributor and/or Adviser, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld. No material will be used if the Fund, the Distributor or the Adviser reasonably objects to its use within 5 business days following receipt of such material. Notwithstanding the forgoing, the Company may refer to a Fund or Portfolio as part of a list of mutual funds available under the Contracts without such prior approval or furnishing such material to the Fund, Distributor and/or the Adviser. Neither the Funds, Distributor or the Adviser will be responsible for errors or omissions in, or the content of, the Company’s material except to the extent
that the error or omission resulted from information provided by or on behalf of the Fund, Distributor or the Adviser.
5.2. (a) Each Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser shall not disclose any information or make any representations on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company, the Accounts, or the Contracts other than the information or representations contained in a registration statement, including the prospectus or SAI, for the Contracts, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in material approved by the Company or their designees, except with the prior written consent of the Company.
(b) Each Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser shall furnish, or cause to be furnished, to the Company prior to use each piece of material prepared by the Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser in which the Company and/or any of its affiliates are named or described at least 5 business days prior to its use. No piece of such material shall be used by the Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser without the prior approval of the Company, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld. The Company agrees that it will use its best efforts to respond promptly to any request by a Fund, the Distributor or the Adviser for such prior approval.
5.3. For purposes of this Article V and Article IX, the phrase “sales literature and other promotional material” includes, but is not limited to, advertisements (such as material published, or designed for use in, a newspaper, magazine, or other periodical, radio, television, telephone or tape recording, videotape display, signs or billboards, motion pictures, or other public media; e.g., on-line networks such as the Internet or other electronic 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 shareholder reports, and proxy materials (including solicitations for voting instructions), information statements and any other material constituting sales literature or advertising under the FINRA rules, the 1933 Act or the 0000 Xxx.
5.4. At the request of any party to this Agreement, each other party will make available to the requesting party’s independent auditors and/or representatives of the appropriate regulatory agencies, all records, data and access to operating procedures that may be reasonably requested in connection with compliance and regulatory requirements related to this Agreement or any party’s obligations under this Agreement.
ARTICLE VI. Fees and Expenses
6.1. Each Fund, the Distributor, the Transfer Agent and the Adviser shall pay no fee or other compensation to the Company under this Agreement, and the Company shall pay no fee or other compensation to a Fund, the Distributor, the Transfer Agent or the Adviser under this Agreement; provided, however, that (a) the parties will bear their own expenses as reflected in Schedule C and other provisions of this Agreement, and (b) the parties may enter into other agreements relating to the Company’s investment in a Fund or Portfolio, including services agreements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, pursuant to the distribution plans adopted by each Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act for certain classes of its shares, and as contemplated by Section 3.2(b) of this Agreement, each Fund or Portfolio or class of shares thereof, with the exception of Class IA shares, may pay the Distributor and the Distributor may pay the Underwriter as principal underwriter or distributors of one or more classes of Contracts, or the Company, for activities primarily intended to result in the servicing of Contracts or of the sale/servicing of Portfolio shares to the Accounts through which such Contracts were issued. In addition, if a Fund or Portfolio or any class of shares thereof implements a service fee, such Fund or Portfolio or class of shares thereof shall pay the Company for administrative support services.
ARTICLE VII. Diversification and Qualification
7.1. Each Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser represent and warrant that each Fund and each Portfolio thereof will at all times comply with Section 817(h) of the Code and Treasury Regulation §1.817-5 or any other regulations promulgated under Section 817(h), as amended from time to time, and any Treasury interpretations thereof, relating to the diversification requirements for variable annuity, endowment, or life insurance contracts and any amendments or other modifications or successor provisions to such Section or Regulations. Each Fund, the Distributor or the Adviser will notify the Company immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that a Fund or any Portfolio has ceased to comply with the Section 817(h) diversification or might not so comply in the future. To the extent that a Fund or Portfolio ceases to so qualify, the Fund and the Adviser will use their best efforts to take all steps necessary to adequately diversify the affected Portfolio so as to achieve compliance within the grace period afforded by Treasury Regulation §1.817-5.
7.2. Each Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser represent and warrant that each Fund and each Portfolio is currently qualified as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Code, and that each Portfolio will maintain such qualification (under Subchapter M or any successor or
similar provisions) as long as this Agreement is in effect. Each Fund, the Distributor or the Adviser will notify the Company immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that a Fund or any Portfolio has ceased to comply with the Subchapter M qualification requirements or might not so comply in the future.
7.3. Without in any way limiting the effect of Sections 9.2, 9.3 and 9.4 hereof and without in any way limiting or restricting any other remedies available to the Company, the Adviser or the Distributor will pay all costs associated with or arising out of any failure, or any anticipated or reasonably foreseeable failure, of a Fund or any Portfolio to comply with Sections 7.1 or 7.2, hereof, including all costs associated with reasonable and appropriate corrections or responses to any such failure; such costs may include, but are not limited to, the costs involved in creating, organizing, and registering a new investment company as a funding medium for the Contracts and/or the costs of obtaining whatever regulatory authorizations are required to substitute shares of another investment company for those of the failed Portfolio (including but not limited to an order pursuant to Section 26(c) of the 1940 Act). In addition, the Distributor or the Adviser shall bear the costs of bringing Contracts into compliance with section 817(h) of the Code following a diversification failure, and the costs of adverse tax consequences to affected Contract holders if the Contracts cannot be brought into compliance.
7.4. The Company agrees that if the IRS asserts in writing in connection with any governmental audit or review of the Company (or, to the Company’s knowledge, of any Contract Owner) that any Portfolio has failed to comply with the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Code or the Company otherwise becomes aware of any facts that could give rise to any claim against a Fund, the Distributor or the Adviser as a result of such a failure or alleged failure:
(a) The Company shall promptly notify the Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser of such assertion or potential claim;
(b) The Company shall consult with the Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser as to how to minimize any liability that may arise as a result of such failure or alleged failure;
(c) The Company shall use its best efforts to minimize any liability of the Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser resulting from such failure, including, without limitation, demonstrating, pursuant to Treasury Regulations, Section 1.817-5(a)(2), to the commissioner of the IRS that such failure was inadvertent;
(d) Any written materials to be submitted by the Company to the IRS, any Contract Owner or any other claimant in connection with any of the foregoing proceedings or contests (including, without limitation, any such materials to be submitted to the IRS pursuant to Treasury Regulations, Section 1.817-5(a)(2)) shall be provided by the Company to the Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser (together with any supporting information or analysis) within a reasonable time after submission;
(e) The Company shall provide the Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser with such cooperation as the Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser shall reasonably request (including, without limitation, by permitting the Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser to review the relevant books and records of the Company) in order to facilitate review by the Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser of any written submissions provided to it or its assessment of the validity or amount of any claim against it arising from such failure or alleged failure;
(f) The Company shall not with respect to any claim of the IRS or any Contract Owner that would give rise to a claim against the Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser (i) compromise or settle any claim, (ii) accept any adjustment on audit, or (iii) forego any allowable administrative or judicial appeals, without the express written consent of the Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser, which shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided that, the Company shall not be required to appeal any adverse judicial decision unless the Fund and the Adviser shall have provided an opinion of independent counsel to the effect that a reasonable basis exists for taking such appeal; and further provided that the Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser shall bear the costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees, incurred by the Company in complying with this clause (f).
ARTICLE VIII. [reserved]
ARTICLE IX. Indemnification
9.1. Indemnification By The Company
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Fund, each Portfolio, the Distributor, and the Adviser and each of their respective officers and directors or trustees and each person, if any, who controls the Funds, the Distributor or the Adviser within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties” for purposes of this Section 9.1) against any
and all losses, claims, expenses, damages and liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Company) or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, expenses, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements are related, directly or indirectly, 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 or SAI covering the Contracts or contained in the Contracts or sales literature or other promotional material for the Contracts (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated 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 in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the Adviser, Distributor or Fund for use in the registration statement or prospectus for the Contracts or in the Contracts or sales literature or other promotional material (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing) or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Portfolio 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, SAI or sales literature or other promotional material of the Fund not supplied by the Company or persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of the Company or persons under its control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Portfolio shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a registration statement, Prospectus, SAI, or sales literature or other promotional material of a 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 in writing 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 required under the terms of this Agreement; or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of this Agreement by the Company, including without limitation Section 3.11 and Section 8.6 hereof, as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 9.1(b) and 9.1(c) hereof.
(b) The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, expenses, 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 negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party’s duties or by reason of (i) any violation of federal or state securities law, compliance with which is a responsibility of the Adviser under this Agreement or as to which the Advisor failed to inform the Company, or (ii) such Indemnified Party’s reckless disregard of its obligations or duties under this Agreement or to any of the Indemnified Parties.
(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 that it may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this indemnification provision, except to the extent that the Company has been prejudiced by such failure to give notice. 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 material litigation or proceedings against them in connection with the issuance or sale of Portfolio shares or the Contracts or the operation of a Fund.
9.2. Indemnification by the Adviser
(a) The Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors 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 9.2) against any
and all losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Adviser) or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements are related, directly or indirectly, to the sale or acquisition of a 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 SAI or sales literature or other promotional material of a Fund prepared by the Fund or the Adviser (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 in writing to the Adviser or the Fund by or on behalf of the Company for use in the registration statement, Prospectus or SAI for the Fund or in sales literature or other promotional material (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing) or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Portfolio 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, SAI or sales literature or other promotional material for the Contracts not supplied by the Fund or the Adviser or persons under their control) or wrongful conduct of a Fund or the Adviser or persons under their control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Portfolio shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in a registration statement, prospectus, SAI, or sales literature or other promotional material 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 in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the Adviser or a Fund; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by a Fund or the Adviser to provide
the services and furnish the materials required under the terms of this Agreement (including a failure, whether unintentional or in good faith or otherwise, to comply with the diversification and other qualification requirements specified in Article VII of this Agreement); or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of this Agreement by the Adviser or the Fund; or
(vi) arise out of or result from the incorrect or untimely calculation or reporting by a Fund or the Adviser of the daily NAV (subject to Section 2.8 of this Agreement) or dividend or capital gain distribution rate;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 9.2(b) and 9.2(c) hereof.
(b) The Adviser shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities or litigation to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of (i) any violation of insurance law, compliance with which is a responsibility of the Company under this Agreement or as to which the Company failed to inform the Adviser or (ii) such Indemnified Party’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, or negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party’s duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party’s reckless disregard of its obligations or duties under this Agreement or to any of the Indemnified Parties.
(c) The Adviser 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 Adviser 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 Adviser of any such claim shall not relieve the Adviser from any liability that it may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this indemnification provision, except to the extent that the Adviser has been prejudiced by such failure to give notice. In case any such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties, the Adviser will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Adviser also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from the Adviser to such party of the Adviser’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 Adviser 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.
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(d) The Company agrees promptly to notify the Adviser of the commencement of any material litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers or directors in connection with the issuance or sale of Portfolio shares or the Contracts or the operation of the Account.
9.3. Indemnification by the Distributor
(a) The Distributor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors 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 9.3) against any and all losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Distributor) or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements are related, directly or indirectly, to the sale or acquisition of a 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 SAI or sales literature or other promotional material of a Fund prepared by the Distributor (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 in writing to the Distributor by or on behalf of the Company for use in the registration statement, Prospectus or SAI for a Fund or in sales literature or other promotional material (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing) or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Portfolio 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, SAI or sales literature or other promotional material for the Contracts not supplied by the Distributor or persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of the Distributor or persons under its control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Portfolio shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in a registration statement, prospectus, SAI, or sales literature or other promotional material 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 in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the Distributor; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Distributor to provide the services
and furnish the materials required under the terms of this Agreement; or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of this Agreement by the Distributor; or
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 9.3(b) and 9.3(c) hereof.
(b) The Distributor shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities or litigation to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of (i) any violation of insurance law, compliance with which is a responsibility of the Company under this Agreement or as to which the Company failed to inform the Distributor or (ii) such Indemnified Party’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, or negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party’s duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party’s reckless disregard of its obligations or duties under this Agreement or to any of the Indemnified Parties.
(c) 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 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 notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Distributor of any such claim shall not relieve the Distributor from any liability that it may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this indemnification provision, except to the extent that the Distributor has been prejudiced by such failure to give notice. In case any such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties, the Distributor will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof. 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 Distributor to such party of 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 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 Distributor of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers or directors in connection with the issuance or sale of Portfolio shares or the Contracts or the operation of the Account.
ARTICLE X. Applicable Law
10.1. This Agreement and all related documents including all schedules attached hereto, and all matters arising out of or relating to this Agreement, are governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Connecticut, without regard to the conflict of laws provisions thereof to the extent such principles or rules would require or permit the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than those of the State of Connecticut.
10.2. This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the 1933, 1934 and 1940 Acts, and the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder, including such exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as the SEC may grant and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance therewith.
ARTICLE XI. Termination
11.1. This Agreement shall terminate:
(a) at the option of any party, with or without cause, with respect to some or all Portfolios, upon sixty (60) days’ prior written notice delivered to the other parties; or
(b) immediately at the option of the Company by written notice to the other parties with respect to any Portfolio based upon the Company’s determination that shares of such Portfolio are not reasonably available to meet the requirements of the Contracts; or
(c) immediately at the option of the Company by written notice to the other parties with respect to any Portfolio in the event any of the Portfolio’s shares are not registered, issued or sold in accordance with applicable state and/or federal law or such law precludes the use of such shares as the underlying investment media of the Contracts issued or to be issued by the Company; or
(d) at the option of a Fund, the Distributor or the Adviser in the event that formal administrative proceedings are instituted against the Company by FINRA, the SEC, the Insurance Commissioner or like official of any state or any other regulatory body regarding the Company’s duties under this Agreement or related to the sale of the Contracts, the operation of any Account, or the
purchase of Portfolio shares, if, in each case, the Fund, Distributor or Adviser, as the case may be, reasonably determines in its sole judgment exercised in good faith, that any such administrative proceedings will have a material adverse effect upon the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement; or
(e) at the option of the Company in the event that formal administrative proceedings are instituted against a Fund, the Distributor or the Adviser by FINRA, the SEC, or any state securities or insurance department or any other regulatory body, if the Company reasonably determines in its sole judgment exercised in good faith, that any such administrative proceedings will have a material adverse effect upon the ability of the Fund, the Distributor or the Adviser to perform their obligations under this Agreement; or
(f) at the option of the Company by prior written notice to a Fund with respect to any Portfolio if the Company reasonably believes that the Portfolio will fail to meet the Section 817(h) diversification requirements or Subchapter M qualifications specified in Article VII hereof; or
(g) at the option of any non-defaulting party hereto in the event of a material breach of this Agreement by any party hereto (the “defaulting party”) other than as described in Section 11.1(a)-(h); provided, that the non-defaulting party gives written notice thereof to the defaulting party, with copies of such notice to all other non-defaulting parties, and if such breach shall not have been remedied within thirty (30) days after such written notice is given, then the non-defaulting party giving such written notice may terminate this Agreement by giving thirty (30) days’ written notice of termination to the defaulting party; or
(h) At the option of a Fund or the Adviser if the Contracts cease to qualify as annuity contracts or life insurance contracts, as applicable, under the Code, or if the Fund or Adviser reasonably believe that the Contracts may fail to so qualify; or
(i) At the option of a Fund or the Adviser, if the Contracts are not registered (if registration is required), issued or sold in accordance with applicable federal and/or state law; or
(j) At the option of the party from which consent was not obtained, in the event this Agreement is assigned without the prior written consent of all parties hereto; or
(k) At the option of a Fund, by a vote of the majority of the Fund’s Board, Adviser or Company, upon a reasonable determination by the Fund’s Board that a material irreconcilable
conflict exists among the interests of (i) all Contract Owners of all Accounts, or (ii) the interests of participating insurance companies investing in the Portfolio; or
(l) At any time upon written agreement of all parties to this Agreement.
11.2. This Agreement may be terminated as to one or more Funds or one or more Portfolios of a Fund (but less than all Portfolios) by delivery of an amended Schedule A deleting such Fund or Portfolio pursuant to Section 13.12 hereof, in which case termination as to such deleted Fund or Portfolio shall take effect thirty (30) days after the date of such delivery. The execution and delivery of an amended Schedule A that deletes one or more Funds or one or more Portfolios shall constitute a termination of this Agreement only with respect to such deleted Fund or Portfolio and shall not affect the obligations of the Company and any Fund hereunder with respect to the other Funds and Portfolios set forth in Schedule A, as amended from time to time.
11.3. Notice Requirement
No termination of this Agreement or any portion hereof shall be effective unless and until the party terminating this Agreement gives prior written notice to all other parties of its intent to terminate, which notice shall set forth the basis for the termination. Furthermore,
(a) in the event any termination is based upon the provisions of Section 11.1(a) of this Agreement, the prior written notice shall be given in advance of the effective date of termination as required by those provisions unless such notice period is shortened by mutual written agreement of the parties;
(b) in the event any termination is based upon the provisions of Section 11.1(d), 11.1(e) or 11.1(g) of this Agreement, the prior written notice shall be given at least sixty (60) days before the effective date of termination; and
(c) in the event any termination is based upon the provisions of Section 11.1(b), 11.1(c), 11.1(f), 11.1(h), 11.1(i), 11.1(j) or 11.1(k), the prior written notice shall be given in advance of the effective date of termination, which date shall be determined by the party sending the notice.
11.4. Effect of Termination
Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, other than as a result of a failure by either a Fund or a Portfolio or the Company to meet Section 817(h) of the Code diversification requirements, upon the mutual agreement of the parties hereto, the Fund will continue to make available additional shares of the Fund or Portfolio pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for all Contracts in effect on the effective date of termination of this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as “Existing Contracts”). Specifically, without limitation, if the Fund and its designees agree to make additional Portfolio shares available, the owners of the Existing Contracts shall be permitted to reallocate investments in a Fund or Portfolio, redeem investments in a Fund or Portfolio and/or invest in a Fund or Portfolio upon the making of additional purchase payments under the Existing Contracts.
11.5. Surviving Provisions
Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, each party’s obligations under Article IX to indemnify other parties shall survive and not be affected by any termination of this Agreement. In addition, with respect to Existing Contracts, all provisions of this Agreement shall also survive and not be affected by any termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE XII. 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 parties.
If to the Company:
Xxxxxxx Resolution Life Insurance Company
Xxxxxxx Resolution Life and Annuity Insurance Company
0 Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile No.: [ ]
If to the Adviser:
Hartford Funds Management Company, LLC
000 Xxx Xxxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
If to the Distributor:
Hartford Funds Distributors, LLC
000 Xxx Xxxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
If to the Transfer Agent:
Hartford Administrative Services Company
000 Xxx Xxxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
If to a Fund or a Portfolio:
000 Xxx Xxxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
ARTICLE XIII. Miscellaneous
13.1. Confidentiality. The parties hereto agree that each shall treat confidentially all information provided by one party to one or more of the other parties regarding its business and operations. All confidential information provided by a party hereto, including non-public personal information within the meaning of SEC Regulation S-P and/or the Xxxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Act, whichever is applicable, shall be used by any other party hereto solely for the purpose of rendering services pursuant to this Agreement and, except as may be required in carrying out this Agreement, shall not be disclosed to any third party without the prior written consent of the other party. Without limiting the foregoing, no party hereto shall disclose any information that another party has designated as proprietary. The foregoing shall not be applicable to any information that is required to be disclosed by any auditor of the parties hereto, by judicial or administrative process or otherwise by applicable law or regulation.
13.2. Captions. 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.
13.3. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
13.4. Interpretation. In connection with the operation of this Agreement, the Company, the Adviser, the Distributor and any Fund may agree from time to time on such provisions interpretative of or in addition to the provisions of this Agreement with respect to any party as may in their joint opinion be consistent with the general tenor of this Agreement. Any such interpretative or additional provisions shall be in a writing signed by all parties and shall be annexed hereto, provided that no such interpretative or additional provisions shall contravene any applicable federal or state regulations or any provision of the articles of incorporation or analogous governing document of any party. No interpretative or additional provisions made as provided in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Agreement or affect any other party.
13.5. Survival of Terms. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
13.6. Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding on and shall inure to the benefit of each Portfolio (severally), the Distributor, the Adviser and the Company, and their respective successors and assigns, provided that neither the Company, the Distributor, the Adviser nor any Fund, on behalf of a respective Portfolio, may assign this Agreement or any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other parties; provided, further, that it is hereby understood and acknowledged that third-party servicing agents may carry-out certain duties of respective parties hereto, but in such cases the parties hereto retain liability and ultimate obligations of performance hereunder.
13.7. Each party to this Agreement will maintain all records required by law and such records will be preserved, maintained and made available to the extent required by law and in accordance with the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. Each party hereto shall cooperate with each other party and all appropriate governmental authorities (including without limitation the SEC, 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.
13.8. 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.
13.9. The Company agrees that the obligations assumed by each Fund, each Portfolio, the Distributor and the Adviser pursuant to this Agreement shall be limited in any case to the applicable
Fund or Portfolio, the Distributor and/or the Adviser and their respective assets and the Company shall not seek satisfaction of any such obligation from any other Fund or Portfolio, from the shareholders of any Fund or Portfolio, or from the Distributor or the Adviser, the Directors, officers, employees or agents of the Fund, the Distributor or the Adviser, or any of them.
13.10. The Funds, the Distributor and the Adviser agree that the obligations assumed by the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall be limited in any case to the Company and its assets and neither the Funds, the Distributor nor the Adviser shall seek satisfaction of any such obligation from the shareholders of the Company or the directors, officers, employees or agents of the Company.
13.11. No provision of this Agreement may be waived, amended or terminated except by a statement in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of such waiver, amendment or termination is sought; provided, Schedule A may be amended from time to time to add one or more Funds or one or more Portfolios of one or more Funds, by each applicable Fund's execution and delivery to the other parties of an amended Schedule A, and the execution of such amended Schedule A by the other parties, in which case such amendment shall take effect immediately upon execution by the other parties. Schedule A may also be amended from time to time to delete one or more Funds or one or more Portfolios (but less than all of the Portfolios) of one or more Funds, by each applicable Fund's execution and delivery to the other parties of an amended Schedule A, in which case such amendment shall take effect thirty (30) days after such delivery, unless otherwise agreed by the parties in writing.
13.12. No provision of this Agreement may be deemed or construed to modify or supersede any contractual rights, duties, or indemnifications, as between the Adviser and one or more Funds, and the Distributor and one or more Funds.
13.13. The parties mutually acknowledge that this Agreement represents the collective drafting efforts of each party and therefore any ambiguity shall not be interpreted against the interests of any party.
Next page is signature page.
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 as of the date specified on the cover page of this Agreement.
XXXXXXX RESOLUTION LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By its authorized officer,
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: XX
XXXXXXX RESOLUTION LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
By its authorized officer,
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: VP
HARTFORD FUNDS MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLC
By its authorized officer,
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Name:
Title:
Hartford FUNDS DISTRIBUTORS, LLC
By its authorized officer,
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Name:
Title:
Hartford ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES COMPANY
By its authorized officer,
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Name:
Title:
Each Investment Company Listed on Schedule A
By its authorized officer,
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxx
Name:
Title:
SCHEDULE A
LIST OF PORTFOLIOS
Series of Hartford Series Fund, Inc. | CLASS IA SHARES | CLASS IB SHARES | ||||||||||||
TICKER SYMBOL | CUSIP | TICKER SYMBOL | CUSIP | |||||||||||
Hartford Balanced HLS Fund | HADAX | 416528875 | HAIBX | 416528818 | ||||||||||
Hartford Capital Appreciation HLS Fund | HIACX | 416528107 | HIBCX | 416528768 | ||||||||||
Hartford Disciplined Equity HLS Fund | HIAGX | 416528404 | hbgix | 416528669 | ||||||||||
Hartford Dividend and Growth HLS Fund | Hiadx | 416528206 | hdgBx | 416528776 | ||||||||||
Hartford Global Growth HLS Fund | HGIAX | 416528305 | HBGLX | 416528628 | ||||||||||
Hartford Healthcare HLS Fund | HIAHX | 416528719 | HBGHX | 416528693 | ||||||||||
Hartford High Yield HLS Fund | hiayx | 416528842 | hbhyx | 416528644 | ||||||||||
Hartford International Opportunities HLS Fund | HIAOX | 416528602 | HBIOX | 416528891 | ||||||||||
Hartford MidCap HLS Fund | HIMCX | 416528701 | HBMCX | 416528677 | ||||||||||
Hartford MidCap Value HLS Fund | HSCGX | 416528529 | HBSCX | 416528511 | ||||||||||
Hartford Small Company HLS Fund | HIASX | 416528800 | HdmBX | 416528784 | ||||||||||
Hartford Stock HLS Fund | HSTAX | 416528883 | HIBSX | 416528750 | ||||||||||
Hartford Total Return Bond HLS Fund | HIABX | 416528859 | HBNBX | 416528792 | ||||||||||
Hartford Ultrashort Bond HLS Fund | HUBAX | 416528826 | HUBBX | 416528743 | ||||||||||
Hartford Value HLS Fund | HIAVX | 416528487 | HBVLX | 416528461 |
Series of Hartford HLS Series Fund II, Inc. | CLASS IA SHARES | CLASS IB SHARES | ||||||||||||
TICKER SYMBOL | CUSIP | TICKER SYMBOL | CUSIP | |||||||||||
Hartford Growth Opportunities HLS Fund | HAGOX | 416528313 | HBGOX | 416528255 | ||||||||||
Hartford Small Cap Growth HLS Fund | HISCX | 416528289 | HBSGX | 416528230 | ||||||||||
Hartford Small/Mid Cap Equity HLS Fund | HMCSX | 416528354 | HMCVX | 00000X000 | ||||||||||
Hartford U.S. Government Securities HLS Fund | HAUSX | 416528453 | HBUSX | 416528248 |
SCHEDULE B
LIST OF ACCOUNTS
Xxxxxxx Resolution Life and Annuity Insurance Company
Separate Account One
Separate Account Three
Separate Account Seven
ICMG Registered Variable Life Separate Account One
Xxxxxxx Resolution Life Insurance Company
Separate Account Two
Separate Account Three
Separate Account Seven
ICMG Registered Variable Life Separate Account A
PPVA I Separate Account (Unreg)
ICMG Series VII Separate Account (Unreg)
ICMG Series IID Separate Account (Unreg)
ICMG Series IID Separate Account (Unreg)
ICMG Series IIIB Separate Account (Unreg)
ICMG Series II Separate Account (Unreg)
ICMG Series VIII Separate Account (Unreg)
ICMG Series VII Separate Account (Unreg)
Union Security Insurance Company Variable Separate Account D
Union Security Life Insurance Company of New York Separate Account A
SCHEDULE C
EXPENSES
Each Fund and/or the Distributor and/or Adviser, and the Company will coordinate the functions and pay the costs of the completing these functions based upon an allocation of costs in the tables below. Costs shall be allocated to reflect a Fund’s share of the total costs determined according to the number of pages of the Fund’s respective portions of the documents.
Item | Function | Party Responsible for Expense | |||||||||
Printing of combined prospectuses | Company | Current - Fund Prospective - Company | |||||||||
Distribution (including postage) to New and Current Clients | Company | Fund | |||||||||
Distribution (including postage) to Prospective Clients | Company | Company | |||||||||
Product Prospectus | Printing and Distribution for Current and Prospective Clients | Company | Company |
Item | Function | Party Responsible for Expense | |||||||||
If Required by Fund, Distributor or Adviser | Distributor or Adviser | Fund, Distributor or Adviser | |||||||||
If Required by Company | Company (Distributor or Adviser to provide Company with document in PDF format) | Company | |||||||||
Product Prospectus Update & Distribution | If Required by Fund, Distributor or Adviser | Company | Fund, Distributor or Adviser | ||||||||
If Required by Company | Company | Company | |||||||||
HLS Mutual Fund SAI | Printing | Distributor or Adviser | Fund, Distributor or Adviser | ||||||||
Distribution (including postage) | Company | Company | |||||||||
Product SAI | Printing | Company | Company | ||||||||
Distribution | Company | Company | |||||||||
Proxy Material for HLS Mutual Fund | Printing if proxy required by Law | Distributor or Adviser | Fund, Distributor or Adviser | ||||||||
Distribution (including labor) if proxy required by Law | Company | Fund, Distributor or Adviser | |||||||||
Printing & distribution if required by Company | Company | Company | |||||||||
HLS Mutual Fund Annual & Semi-Annual Report | Printing of reports | Distributor or Adviser | Fund, Distributor or Adviser |
Item | Function | Party Responsible for Expense | |||||||||
Distribution | Company | Fund, Distributor or Adviser | |||||||||
Other communication to New and Prospective clients | If Required by the Fund, Distributor or Adviser | Company | Fund, Distributor or Adviser | ||||||||
If Required by Company | Company | Company | |||||||||
Other communication to Current | Distribution (including labor and printing) if required by the Fund, Distributor or Adviser | Company | Fund, Distributor or Adviser | ||||||||
Distribution (including labor and printing) if required by Company | Company | Company | |||||||||
Errors in Share Price calculation pursuant to Section 1.10 | Cost of error to participants | Company | Fund or Adviser | ||||||||
Cost of reasonable expenses related to administrative work to correct error | Company | Fund or Adviser |
Item | Function | Party Responsible for Expense | |||||||||
All operations and related expenses, including the cost of registration and qualification of shares, taxes on the issuance or transfer of shares, cost of management of the business affairs of the Fund, and expenses paid or assumed by the fund pursuant to any Rule 12b-1 plan | Distributor or Adviser | Fund or Adviser | |||||||||
Operations of the Accounts | Federal registration of units of separate account (24f-2 fees) | Company | Company |
SCHEDULE D
Rule 22c-2 Agreement
AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of _____________, 2018, by and between Hartford Administrative Services Company (“Fund Agent”), on behalf of the series (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”) of each of Hartford Series Fund, Inc. and Hartford HLS Series Fund II, Inc. (each a “Registrant” and collectively, the “Registrants”), and ____________________ (“Intermediary”). Unless otherwise indicated, capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to them herein.
WHEREAS, Intermediary is a “financial intermediary” as defined in Rule 22c-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and
WHEREAS, Fund Agent and Intermediary shall be collectively referred to herein as the “Parties” and each individually as a “Party”; and
WHEREAS, this Agreement is intended in all respects to act as the written agreement of the parties contemplated by and entered into in compliance with Rule 22c-2(a)(2) under the 1940 Act; and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein contained and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, Fund Agent and Intermediary hereby agree as follows:
1. Shareholder Information
1.1. Agreement to Provide Information. Intermediary agrees to provide the Funds and their designee, upon written request, the taxpayer identification number (“TIN”), if known, of any or all Shareholder(s) of the account and the amount, date, name or other identifier of any investment professional(s) associated with the Shareholder(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 Intermediary during the period covered by the request, plus any other data mutually agreed upon in writing.
1.1.1 Period Covered by Request. Requests must set forth a specific period, not to exceed 180 days from the date of the request, for which transaction information is sought. The Funds and their designee may request transaction information older than 180 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 Funds.
1.1.2 Form and Timing of Response. Intermediary agrees to transmit the requested information that is on its books and records to the Funds or their designee promptly, but in any event not later than 5 business days, after receipt of a request. If the requested information is not on Intermediary’s books and records, Intermediary agrees to: (i) provide or arrange to provide to the Funds and their designee the requested information from shareholders who hold an account with an indirect intermediary; or; (ii) if directed by the Funds or their designee, block further purchases of Fund Shares from such indirect intermediary. In such instance, Intermediary agrees to inform the Funds 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 Funds and their designee should be consistent with the NSCC Standardized Data Reporting Format. For purposes of this provision, the term indirect intermediary has the same meaning as in Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act.
1.1.3 Limitations on Use of Information. The Funds agree not to use the information received for marketing or any other similar purpose without the prior written consent of Intermediary.
1.2 Agreement to Restrict Trading. Intermediary agrees to execute written instructions from the Funds to restrict or prohibit further purchases or exchanges of Shares by a Shareholder that has been identified by the Funds as having engaged in transactions of any of the Funds’ Shares (directly or indirectly through Intermediary’s account) that violate policies established by the Funds for the purpose of eliminating or reducing any dilution of the value of the outstanding Shares issued by the Funds. Instructions will be deemed delivered when sent to Intermediary at the following address, or such other address communicated to Fund Agent in writing from time to time.
Compliance Department Contact Information
Contact Name: Xxx L’Esperance
Title: Director of Compliance
E-mail Address (required): xxxxx.xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Phone Number: 000-000-0000
Mailing Address 0 Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Operations Department Contact Information
Contact Name: Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Compliance Specialist
E-mail Address (required): xxxxxxxxx.xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Phone Number 000-000-0000
Mailing Address 0 Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
1.2.1 Form of Instructions. Instructions must include the TIN, if known, and the specific restriction(s) to be executed, including how long such restriction(s) are to remain in place. If the TIN is not known, the instructions must include an equivalent identifying number of the Shareholder(s) or account(s) or other agreed upon information to which the instruction relates.
1.2.2 Timing of Response. Intermediary agrees to execute instructions as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than five business days after receipt of the instructions by Intermediary.
1.2.3 Confirmation by Intermediary. Intermediary must provide written confirmation to the Funds that instructions have been executed. Intermediary agrees to provide confirmation as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than ten business days after the instructions have been executed. Intermediary agrees to deliver requested information to the Funds’ e-mail address below:
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
1.3 Other Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement:
1.3.1 The term “Fund” does not include any “excepted funds” as defined in SEC Rule 22c-2(b) under the 0000 Xxx.
1.3.2 The term “Shares” means the interests of Shareholders corresponding to the redeemable securities of record issued by the Funds under the 1940 Act that are held by Intermediary.1.3.3 The term “Shareholder” means the beneficial owner of Shares, whether the Shares are held directly or by Intermediary in nominee name, includes the holder of interests in a variable annuity or variable life insurance contract issued by Intermediary, and means the plan participant notwithstanding that the certain plans may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of Shares.
1.3.4 The term “written” includes electronic writings and facsimile transmissions.
2. Miscellaneous
2.1 Construction of the Agreement. The parties have entered into one or more agreements between or among them for the purchase and redemption of shares of the Funds. This Agreement is intended to supplement such agreements with respect to the subject matter hereof. To the extent the terms of this Agreement conflict with the terms of any other agreements between the parties, the terms of this Agreement shall control.
2.2 Cooperation and Good Faith Problem Resolution. The parties agree to cooperate in good faith to observe the procedures set forth in this agreement. In the event of any material disagreement over a party’s performance of this agreement, the parties agree to notify each other and further agree that they shall make good faith efforts to cooperate and to resolve such problem or disagreement and to allow each other a period of not less than 60 days to resolve such disagreement to the reasonable satisfaction of the other.
2.3 Amendment. This Agreement may be modified or amended, and the terms of this Agreement may be waived, only by a writing signed by the parties.
1.Governing Law. This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland.
2.Successors and Assigns. The Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon each of the undersigned and their respective successors and assigns.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first above written.
Hartford administrative services Company on behalf of the series of
Hartford Series Fund, Inc. and
Hartford HLS Series Fund II, Inc.
By: __________________________
Name: ________________________
Title: ________________________
__________________________________
Firm Name
By: __________________________
Name: ________________________
Title: ________________________