PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
AMONG
MFS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST,
THE LINCOLN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
AND
MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this _____ day of May 1998, by and among
MFS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"), THE
LINCOLN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, an Indiana corporation (the "Company")
on its own behalf and on behalf of each of the segregated asset accounts of the
Company set forth in Schedule A hereto, as may be amended from time to time (the
"Accounts"), and MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY, a Delaware
corporation ("MFS").
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"),
and its shares are registered or will be registered under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the " 1933 Act");
WHEREAS, shares of beneficial interest of the Trust are divided into
several series of shares, each representing the interests in a particular
managed pool of securities and other assets;
WHEREAS, the series of shares of the Trust offered by the Trust to the
Company and the Accounts are set forth on Schedule A attached hereto (each, a
"Portfolio," and, collectively, the "Portfolios");
WHEREAS, MFS is duly registered as an investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended and is the Trust's investment
adviser;
WHEREAS, the Company will issue certain variable annuity and/or variable
life insurance contracts (individually, the "Policy" or, collectively, the
"Policies") which, if required by applicable law, will be registered under the
1933 Act;
WHEREAS, the Accounts are duly organized, validly existing segregated asset
accounts, established by resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company, to
set aside and invest assets attributable to the aforesaid variable annuity
and/or variable life insurance contracts that are allocated to the Accounts (the
Policies and the Accounts covered by this Agreement, and each corresponding
Portfolio covered by this Agreement in which the Accounts invest, is specified
in Schedule A attached hereto as may be modified from time to time);
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register the Accounts as unit
investment trusts under the 1940 Act (unless exempt therefrom);
WHEREAS, MFS Fund Distributors, Inc. (the "Underwriter") is registered as a
broker-dealer with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (hereinafter the "1934 Act"), and is
a member in good standing of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. (the "NASD");
WHEREAS, the Company, the underwriter for the Policies, is registered as a
broker-dealer with the SEC under the 1934 Act and is a member in good standing
of the NASD; and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Company intends to purchase shares in one or more of the
Portfolios specified in Schedule A attached hereto (the "Shares") on behalf of
the Accounts to fund the Policies, and the Trust intends to sell such Shares to
the Accounts at net asset value;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Trust, MFS,
and the Company agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1. SALE AND REDEMPTION OF TRUST SHARES
1. 1. The Trust agrees to sell to the Company those Shares which the Accounts
order (based on orders placed by Policy holders on that Business Day, as defined
below) and which are available for purchase by such Accounts, executing such
orders on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by
the Trust or its designee of the order for the Shares. For purposes of this
Section 1.1, the Company shall be the designee of the Trust for receipt of such
orders from Policy owners and receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt
by the Trust; PROVIDED that the Trust receives notice of such orders by 9:30
a.m. New York time on the next following Business Day. "Business Day" shall mean
any day on which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "NYSE") is open for
trading and on which the Trust calculates its net asset value pursuant to the
rules of the SEC.
1.2. The Trust agrees to make the Shares available indefinitely for purchase at
the applicable net asset value per share by the Company and the Accounts on
those days on which the Trust calculates its net asset value pursuant to rules
of the SEC and the Trust shall calculate such net asset value on each day which
the NYSE is open for trading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of
Trustees of the Trust (the "Board") may refuse to sell any Shares to the Company
and the Accounts, or suspend or terminate the offering of the Shares if such
action is required by law or by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction or
is, in the sole discretion of the Board acting in good faith and in light of its
fiduciary duties under federal and any applicable state laws, necessary in the
best interest of the Shareholders of such Portfolio.
1.3. The Trust and MFS agree that the Shares will be sold only to insurance
companies which have entered into participation agreements with the Trust and
MFS (the "Participating Insurance Companies") and their separate accounts,
qualified pension and retirement plans and MFS or its affiliates. The Trust and
MFS will not sell Trust shares to any insurance company or separate account
unless an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as Articles III
and VII of this Agreement is in effect to govern such sales. The Company will
not resell the Shares except to the Trust or its agents.
1.4. The Trust agrees to redeem for cash, on the Company's request, any full or
fractional Shares held by the Accounts (based on orders placed by Policy owners
on that Business Day), executing such requests on a daily basis at the net asset
value next computed after receipt by the Trust or its designee of the request
for redemption. For purposes of this Section 1.4, the Company SHALL be the
designee of the Trust for receipt of requests for redemption from Policy owners
and receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the Trust; provided
that the Trust receives notice of such request for redemption by 9:30 a.m. New
York time on the next following Business Day.
1.5. Each purchase, redemption and exchange order placed by the Company shall be
placed separately for each Portfolio and shall not be netted with respect to any
Portfolio. However, with respect to payment of the purchase price by the Company
and of redemption proceeds by the Trust, the Company and the Trust shall net
purchase and redemption orders with respect to each Portfolio and shall transmit
one net payment for all of the Portfolios in accordance with Section 1.6 hereof.
1.6. In the event of net purchases, the Company shall pay for the Shares by 2:00
p.m. New York time on the next Business Day after an order to purchase the
Shares is made in accordance with the provisions of Section 1. 1. hereof. In the
event of net redemptions, the Trust shall pay the redemption proceeds by 2:00
p.m. New York time on the next Business Day after an order to redeem the shares
is made in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.4. hereof. All such
payments shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire.
1.7. Issuance and transfer of the Shares will be by book entry only. Stock
certificates will not be issued to the Company or the Accounts. The Shares
ordered from the Trust will be
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recorded in an appropriate title for the Accounts or the appropriate subaccounts
of the Accounts.
1.8. The Trust shall furnish same day notice (by wire or telephone followed by
written confirmation) to the Company of any dividends or capital gain
distributions payable on the Shares' The Company hereby elects to receive all
such dividends and distributions as are payable on a Portfolio's Shares in
additional Shares of that Portfolio, but may revoke that election at any time by
notifying the Trust in writing. The Trust shall notify the Company of the number
of Shares so issued as payment of such dividends and distributions.
1.9. The Trust or its custodian shall make the net asset value per share for
each Portfolio available to the Company on each Business Day as soon as
reasonably practical after the net asset value per share is calculated and shall
use its best efforts to make such net asset value per share available by 6:30
p.m. New York time. In the event that the Trust is unable to meet the 6:30 p.m.
time stated herein, it shall provide additional time for the Company to place
orders for the purchase and redemption of Shares. Such additional time shall be
equal to the additional time which the Trust takes to make the net asset value
available to the Company. If the Trust provides materially incorrect share net
asset value information, the Trust shall make an adjustment to the number of
shares purchased or redeemed for the Accounts to reflect the correct net asset
value per share. Any material error in the calculation or reporting of net asset
value per share, dividend or capital gains information shall be reported
promptly upon discovery to the Company.
ARTICLE 11. CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS
2.1. The Company represents and warrants that the Policies are or will be
registered under the 1933 Act or are exempt from or not subject to registration
thereunder, and that the Policies will be issued, sold, and distributed in
compliance in all material respects with all applicable state and federal laws;
including without limitation the 1933 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the " 1934 Act"), and the 1940 Act. The Company further represents
and warrants that it is an insurance company duly organized and validly existing
under applicable law and that it has legally and validly established the Account
as a segregated asset account under applicable law and has registered or, prior
to any issuance or sale of the Policies, will register the Accounts as unit
investment trusts in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act (unless
exempt therefrom) to serve as segregated investment accounts for the Policies,
and that it will maintain such registration for so long as any Policies are
outstanding. The Company shall amend the registration statements under the 1933
Act for the Policies and the registration statements under the 1940 Act for the
Accounts from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous
offering of the Policies or as may otherwise be required by applicable law. The
Company shall register and qualify the Policies for sales in accordance with the
securities laws of the various states only if and to the extent deemed necessary
by the Company.
2.2. The Company represents and warrants that the Policies are currently and at
the time of issuance will be treated as life insurance policies, endowment or
annuity contracts under applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the "Code"), that it will maintain such treatment and that it
will notify the Trust or MFS immediately upon having a reasonable basis for
believing that the Policies have ceased to be so treated or that they might not
be so treated in the future.
2.3. The Company represents and warrants that it, as the underwriter for the
Policies, is a member in good standing of the NASD and is a registered
broker-dealer with the SEC. The Company represents and warrants that, to the
extent it sells the Policies directly, it will sell and distribute such policies
in accordance in all material respects with all applicable state and federal
securities laws, including without limitation the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, and
the 0000 Xxx.
2.4. The Trust and MFS represent and warrant that the Shares sold pursuant to
this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act, duly authorized for
issuance and sold in compliance with the laws of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and all applicable federal and state securities laws and that the
Trust is
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and shall remain registered under the 1940 Act. The Trust shall amend the
registration statement for its Shares under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act from
time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of its
Shares. The Trust shall register and qualify the Shares for sale in accordance
with the laws of the various states only if and to the extent deemed necessary
by the Trust.
2.5. MFS represents and warrants that the Underwriter is a member in good
standing of the NASD and is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC. The
Trust and MFS represent that the Trust and the Underwriter will sell and
distribute the Shares in accordance in all material respects with all applicable
state and federal securities laws, including without limitation the 1933 Act,
the 1934 Act, and the 0000 Xxx.
2.6. The Trust represents that it is lawfully organized and validly existing
under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that it does and will
comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act and any applicable regulations
thereunder.
2.7. MFS represents and warrants that it is and shall remain duly registered
under all applicable federal securities laws and that it shall perform its
obligations for the Trust in compliance in all material respects with any
applicable federal securities laws and with the securities laws of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. MFS represents and warrants that it is not
subject to state securities laws other than the securities laws of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that it is exempt from registration as an
investment adviser under the securities laws of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
2.8. The Company shall submit to the Board such reports, material or data as the
Board may reasonably request from time to time so that it may carry out fully
the obligations imposed upon it by the conditions contained in the exemptive
application pursuant to which the SEC has granted exemptive relief to permit
mixed and shared funding (the "Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order").
ARTICLE III. PROSPECTUS AND PROXY STATEMENTS; VOTING
3.1. At least annually, the Trust or its designee shall provide the Company,
free of charge, with as many copies of the current prospectus (describing
only the Portfolios listed in Schedule A hereto) for the Shares as the
Company may reasonably request for distribution to existing Policy owners
whose Policies are funded by such Shares. The Trust or its designee shall
provide the Company, at the Company's expense, with as many copies of the
current prospectus for the Shares as the Company may reasonably request for
distribution to prospective purchasers of Policies. If requested by the
Company in lieu thereof, the Trust or its designee shall provide such
documentation (including a "camera ready" copy of the new prospectus as set
in type or, at the request of the Company, as a diskette in the form sent to
the financial printer) and other assistance as is reasonably necessary in
order for the parties hereto once each year (or more frequently if the
prospectus for the Shares is supplemented or amended) to have the prospectus
for the Policies and the prospectus for the Shares printed together in one
document; the expenses of such printing to be apportioned between (a) the
Company and (b) the Trust or its designee in proportion to the number of
pages of the Policy and Shares' prospectuses, taking account of other
relevant factors affecting the expense of printing, such as covers, columns,
graphs and charts; the Trust or its designee to bear the cost of printing the
Shares' prospectus portion of such document for distribution to owners of
existing Policies funded by the Shares and the Company to bear the expenses
of printing the portion of such document relating to the Accounts; PROVIDED,
however, that the Company shall bear all printing expenses of such combined
documents where used for distribution to prospective purchasers or to owners
of existing Policies not funded by the Shares. In the event that the Company
requests that the Trust or its designee provides the Trust! s prospectus in a
"camera ready" or diskette format, the Trust shall be responsible for
providing the prospectus in the format in which it or MFS is accustomed to
formatting prospectuses and shall bear the expense of providing the prospectus
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in such format (E.G., typesetting expenses), and the Company shall bear the
expense of adjusting or changing the format to conform with any of its
prospectuses.
3.2. The prospectus for the Shares shall state that the statement of
additional information for the Shares is available from the Trust or its
designee. The Trust or its designee, at its expense, shall print and provide
such statement of additional information to the Company (or a master of such
statement suitable for duplication by the Company) for distribution to any
owner of a Policy funded by the Shares. The Trust or its designee, at the
Company's expense, shall print and provide such statement to the Company (or
a master of such statement suitable for duplication by the Company) for
distribution to a prospective purchaser who requests such statement or to an
owner of a Policy not funded by the Shares.
3.3. The Trust or its designee shall provide the Company free of charge copies,
if and to the extent applicable to the Shares, of the Trust's proxy materials,
reports to Shareholders and other communications to Shareholders in such
quantity as the Company shall reasonably require for distribution to Policy
owners.
3.4. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3 above, or of
Article V below, the Company shall pay the expense of printing or providing
documents to the extent such cost is considered a distribution expense.
Distribution expenses would include by way of illustration, but are not limited
to, the printing of the Shares' prospectus or prospectuses for distribution to
prospective purchasers or to owners of existing Policies not funded by such
Shares.
3.5. The Trust hereby notifies the Company that it may be appropriate to include
in the prospectus pursuant to which a Policy is offered disclosure regarding the
potential risks of mixed and shared funding.
3.6. If and to the extent required by law, the Company shall:
(a) solicit voting instructions from Policy owners;
(b) vote the Shares in accordance with instructions received from Policy
owners; and
(c) vote the Shares in each separate Account for which no instructions have
been received in the same proportion as the Shares of such Portfolio in
such Account for which instructions have been received from Policy 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. The Company
will in no way recommend action in connection with or oppose or interfere with
the solicitation of proxies for the Shares held for such Policy owners. The
Company reserves the right to vote shares held in any segregated asset account
in its own right, to the extent permitted by law. Participating Insurance
Companies shall be responsible for assuring that each of their separate accounts
holding Shares calculates voting privileges in the manner required by the Mixed
and Shared Funding Exemptive Order. The Trust and MFS will notify the Company of
any changes of interpretations or amendments to the Mixed and Shared Funding
Exemptive Order.
ARTICLE IV. SALES MATERIAL AND INFORMATION
4.1. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the Trust or
its designee, each piece of sales literature or other promotional material in
which the Trust, MFS, any other investment adviser to the Trust, or any
affiliate of MFS are named, at least ten (10) Business Days prior to its use. No
such material shall be used if the Trust, MFS, or their respective designees
reasonably objects to such use within five (5) Business Days after receipt of
such material.
4.2. The Company shall not give any information or make any representations or
statement on behalf of the Trust, MFS, any other investment adviser to the
Trust, or any affiliate of MFS or
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concerning the Trust or any other such entity in connection with the sale of the
Policies other than the information or representations contained in the
registration statement, prospectus or statement of additional information for
the Shares, as such registration statement, prospectus and statement of
additional information may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in
reports or proxy statements for the Trust, or in sales literature or other
promotional material approved by the Trust, MFS or their respective designees,
except with the permission of the Trust, MFS or their respective designees. The
Trust, MFS or their respective designees each agrees to respond to any request
for approval on a prompt and timely basis. The Company shall adopt and implement
procedures reasonably designed to ensure that information concerning the Trust,
MFS or any of their affiliates which is intended for use only by brokers or
agents selling the Policies(IE., information that is not intended for
distribution to Policy owners or prospective Policy owners) is so used, and
neither the Trust, MFS nor any of their affiliates shall be liable for any
losses, damages or expenses relating to the improper use of such broker only
materials.
4.3. The Trust or its designee shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to
the Company or its designee, each piece of sales literature or other promotional
material in which the Company and/or the Accounts is named, at least ten (10)
Business Days prior to its use. No such material shall be used if the Company or
its designee reasonably objects to such use within five (5) Business Days after
receipt of such material.
4.4. The Trust and MFS shall not give, and agree that the Underwriter shall not
give, any information or make any representations on behalf of the Company or
concerning the Company, the Accounts, or the Policies in connection with the
sale of the Policies other than the information: or representations contained in
a registration statement, prospectus, or statement of additional information for
the Policies, as such registration statement, prospectus and statement of
additional information may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in
reports for the Accounts, or in sales literature or other promotional material
approved by the Company or its designee, except with the permission of the
Company. The Company or its designee agrees to respond to any request for
approval on a prompt and timely basis. The parties hereto agree that this
Section 4.4. is neither intended to designate nor otherwise imply that MFS is an
underwriter or distributor of the Policies.
4.5. The Company and the Trust (or its designee in lieu of the Company or the
Trust, as appropriate) will each provide to the other at least one complete copy
of all registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional
information, reports, proxy statements, sales literature and other promotional
materials, applications for exemptions, requests for no-action letters, and all
amendments to any of the above, that relate (in the case of the Trust) to the
Policies, or (in the case of the Company) to the Trust or its Shares, within
twenty (20) days after the filing of such document with the SEC or other
regulatory authorities. The Company and the Trust shall also each promptly
inform the other of the results of any examination by the SEC (or other
regulatory authorities) that relates to the Policies, the Trust or its Shares,
and the party that was the subject of the examination shall provide the other
party with a copy of relevant portions of any "deficiency letter" or other
correspondence or written report regarding any such examination.
4.6. The Trust and MFS will provide the Company with as much notice as is
reasonably practicable of any proxy solicitation for any Portfolio, and of any
material change in the Trusts registration statement, particularly any change
requiring change to the registration statement or prospectus or statement of
additional information for any Account. The Trust and MFS will cooperate with
the Company so as to enable the Company to solicit proxies from Policy owners or
to make changes to its prospectus, statement of additional information or
registration statement, in an orderly manner. The Trust and MFS will make
reasonable efforts to attempt to have changes affecting Policy prospectuses
become effective simultaneously with the annual
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updates for such prospectuses.
4.7. For purpose of this Article IV and Article VIII, the phrase "sales
literature or other promotional material" includes but is not limited to
advertisements (such as material published, or designed for use in, a newspaper,
magazine, or other periodical, radio, television, telephone or tape recording,
videotape display, signs or billboards, motion pictures, or other public media),
and sales literature (such as brochures, circulars, reprints or excerpts or any
other advertisement, sales literature, or published articles), distributed or
made generally available to customers or the public, educational or training
materials or communications distributed or made generally available to some or
all agents or employees.
ARTICLE V. FEES AND EXPENSES
5.1. The Trust shall pay no fee or other compensation to the Company under this
Agreement, and the Company shall pay no fee or other compensation to the Trust,
except that if the Trust or any Portfolio adopts and implements a plan pursuant
to Rule 12b- I under the 1940 Act to finance distribution and Shareholder
servicing expenses, then, subject to obtaining any required exemptive orders or
regulatory approvals, the Trust may make payments to the Company or to the
underwriter for the Policies if and in amounts agreed to by the Trust in
writing. Each party, however, shall, inaccordance with the allocation of
expenses specified in Articles III and V hereof, reimburse other parties for
expenses initially paid by one party but allocated to another party. In
addition, nothing herein shall prevent the parties hereto from otherwise
agreeing to perform, and arranging for appropriate compensation for, other
services relating to the Trust and/or to the Accounts.
5.2. The Trust or its designee shall bear the expenses for the cost of
registration and qualification of the Shares under all applicable federal and
state laws, including preparation and filing of the Trust's registration
statement, and payment of filing fees and registration fees; preparation and
filing of the Trusts proxy materials and reports to Shareholders; setting in
type and printing its prospectus and statement of additional information (to the
extent provided by and as determined in accordance with Article III above);
setting in type and printing the proxy materials and reports to Shareholders (to
the extent provided by and as determined in accordance with Article III above);
the preparation of all statements and notices required of the Trust by any
federal or state law with respect to its Shares; all taxes on the issuance or
transfer of the Shares; and the costs of distributing the Trusts prospectuses
and proxy materials to owners of Policies funded by the Shares and any expenses
permitted to be paid or assumed by the Trust pursuant to a plan, if any, under
Rule 12b- I under the 0000 Xxx. The Trust shall not bear any expenses of
marketing the Policies.
5.3. The Company shall bear the expenses of distributing the Shares' prospectus
or prospectuses in connection with new sales of the Policies and of distributing
the Trust's Shareholder reports to Policy owners. The Company shall bear all
expenses associated with the registration, qualification, and filing of the
Policies under applicable federal securities and state insurance laws; the cost
of preparing, printing and distributing the Policy prospectus and statement of
additional information to other than existing Policy owners; and the cost of
preparing, printing AND distributing annual individual account statements for
Policy owners as required by state insurance laws.
ARTICLE VI. DIVERSIFICATION AND RELATED LIMITATIONS
6.1. The Trust and MFS represent and warrant that each Portfolio of the Trust
will meet the diversification requirements of Section 817 (h) (1) of the Code
and Treas. Reg. 1.817-5, relating to the diversification requirements for
variable annuity, endowment, or life insurance contracts,
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as they may be amended from time to time (and any revenue rulings, revenue
procedures, notices, and other published announcements of the Internal Revenue
Service interpreting these sections), as if those requirements applied directly
to each such Portfolio.
6.2. The Trust and MFS represent that each Portfolio will elect to be qualified
as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Code and that they
will maintain such qualification (under Subchapter M or any successor or similar
provision), and will notify the Company if it appears that any Portfolio will
not so qualify.
ARTICLE VII. POTENTIAL MATERIAL CONFLICTS
7.1. The Trust agrees that the Board, constituted with a majority of
disinterested trustees, will monitor each Portfolio of the Trust for the
existence of any material irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the
variable annuity contract owners and the variable life insurance policy owners
of the Company and/or affiliated companies ("contract owners") investing in the
Trust. The Board shall have the sole authority to determine if a material
irreconcilable conflict exists, and such determination shall be binding on the
Company only if approved in the form of a resolution by a majority of the Board,
or a majority of the disinterested trustees of the Board. The Board will give
prompt notice of any such determination to the Company.
7.2. The Company agrees that it will be responsible for assisting the Board in
carrying out its responsibilities under the conditions set forth in the Trust's
exemptive application pursuant to which the SEC has granted the Mixed and Shared
Funding Exemptive Order by providing the Board, as it may reasonably request,
with all information necessary for the Board to consider any issues raised and
agrees that it will be responsible for promptly reporting any potential or
existing conflicts of which it is aware to the Board including, but not limited
to, an obligation by the Company to inform the Board whenever contract owner
voting instructions are disregarded. The Company also agrees that if it is
determined by a majority of the Trustees, or a majority of the disinterested
Trustees, that a material irreconcilable conflict exists, the Company shall, at
its own expense and to the extent reasonably practicable (as determined by a
majority of the disinterested Trustees) take whatever steps are necessary to
remedy or eliminate the material irreconcilable conflict, which steps include:
(a) withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the Accounts from the
Trust or any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a different investment
medium, including (but not limited to) another Portfolio of the Trust, or
submitting to a vote of all affected contract owners whether to withdraw assets
from the Trust or any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a different
investment medium and, as appropriate, segregating the assets attributable to
any appropriate group of contract owners that votes in favor of such
segregation, or offering to any of the affected contract owners the option of
segregating the assets attributable to their contracts or policies, and (b)
establishing a new registered management investment company and segregating
the-assets underlying the Policies, unless a majority of Policy owners
materially adversely affected by the conflict have voted to decline the offer to
establish a new registered management investment company.
7.3. A majority of the disinterested trustees of the Board shall determine
whether any proposed action by the Company adequately remedies any material
irreconcilable conflict. In the event that the Board determines that any
proposed action does not adequately remedy any material irreconcilable conflict,
the Company will withdraw from investment in the Trust each of the Accounts
designated by the disinterested trustees and terminate this Agreement within six
(6) months after the Board informs the Company in writing of the foregoing
determination; PROVIDED HOWEVER, that such withdrawal and termination shall be
limited to the extent required to remedy any such material irreconcilable
conflict as determined by a majority of the disinterested trustees
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of the Board.
7.4. If and to the extent that Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) are amended, or Rule
6e-3 is adopted, to provide exemptive relief from any provision of the 1940 Act
or the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to mixed or shared funding (as
defined in the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order) on terms and conditions
materially different from those contained in the Mixed and Shared Funding
Exemptive Order, then (a) the Trust and/or the Participating Insurance
Companies, as appropriate, shall take such steps as may be necessary to comply
with Rule 6e-2 and 6e-3(T), as amended, and Rule 6e-3, as adopted, to the extent
such rules are applicable; and (b) Sections 3.5, 3.6, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3 and 7.4 of
this Agreement shall continue in effect only to the extent that terms and
conditions substantially identical to such Sections are contained in such
Rule(s) as so amended or adopted.
ARTICLE VIII. INDEMNIFICATION
8.1. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY
The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, MFS, any
affiliates of MFS, and each of their respective directors/trustees, officers and
each person, if any, who controls the Trust or MFS within the meaning of Section
15 of the 1933 Act, and any agents or employees of the foregoing (each an
"Indemnified Party," or collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of
this Section 8.1) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities
(including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Company)
or expenses (including reasonable counsel fees) to which any Indemnified Party
may become subject under any statute, regulation, at common law or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in
respect thereof) or settlements are related to the sale or acquisition of the
Shares or the Policies and:
(a) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of any material fact contained in the registration statement,
prospectus or statement of additional information for the Policies or
contained in the Policies or sales literature or other promotional material
for the Policies (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 reasonable
reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company
or its designee by or on behalf of the Trust or MFS for-use in the
registration statement, prospectus or statement of additional information
for the Policies or in the Policies 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 Policies
or Shares; or
(b) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other than
statements or representations contained in the registration statement,
prospectus, statement of additional information or sales literature or
other promotional material of the Trust not supplied by the Company or its
designee, or persons under its control and on which the Company has
reasonably relied) or wrongful conduct of the Company or persons under its
control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the Policies or
Shares; or
(c) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in the registration statement, prospectus, statement of
additional
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information, or sales literature or other promotional literature of the
Trust, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or the omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statement or statements therein not
misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon
information furnished to the Trust by or on behalf of the Company; or
(d) arise out of or result from any material breach of any representation
and/or warranty made by the Company in this Agreement or arise out of or
result from any other material breach of this Agreement by the Company; or
(e) arise as a result of any failure by the Company to provide the services and
furnish the materials under the terms of this Agreement;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of this Article VIII.
8.2. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE TRUST
The Trust agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each of its
directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, and any agents or employees of the
foregoing (each an "Indemnified Party," or collectively, the "Indemnified
Parties" for purposes of this Section 8.2) against any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written
consent of the Trust) or expenses (including reasonable counsel fees) to which
any Indemnified Party may become subject under any statute, at common law or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or
actions in respect thereof) or settlements are related to the sale or
acquisition of the Shares or the Policies and:
(a) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of any material fact contained in the registration statement,
prospectus, statement of additional information or sales literature or
other promotional material of the Trust (or any amendment or supplement to
any of the foregoing), or arise oat 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 statement 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 reasonable reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished to the Trust, MFS, the Underwriter or their respective designees
by or on behalf of the Company for use in the registration statement,
prospectus or statement of additional information for the Trust or in sales
literature or other promotional material for the Trust (or any amendment or
supplement to any of the foregoing) or otherwise for use in connection with
the sale of the Policies or Shares; or
(b) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other than
statements or representations contained in the registration statement,
prospectus, statement of additional information or sales literature or
other promotional material for the Policies not supplied by the Trust, MFS,
the Underwriter or any of their respective designees or persons under their
respective control and on which any such entity has reasonably relied) or
wrongful conduct of the Trust or persons under its control, with respect to
the sale or distribution of the Policies or Shares; or
(c) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact
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contained in the registration statement, prospectus, statement of
additional information, or sales literature or other promotional literature
of the Accounts or relating to the Policies, or any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statement or statements therein not misleading, if such statement or
omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Company by
or on behalf of the Trust, MFS or the Underwriter; or
(d) arise out of or result from any material breach of any representation
and/or warranty made by the Trust in this Agreement (including a failure,
whether unintentional or in good faith or other-wise, to comply with the
diversification requirements specified in Article VI of this Agreement) or
arise out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by
the Trust; or
(e) arise out of or result from the materially incorrect or untimely
calculation or reporting of the daily net asset value per share or dividend
or capital gain distribution rate; or
(f) arise as a result of any failure by the Trust to provide the services and
furnish the materials under the terms of the Agreement;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of this Article VIII.
8.3. In no event shall the Trust be liable under the indemnification provisions
contained in this Agreement to any individual or entity, including without
limitation, the Company, or any Participating Insurance Company or any Policy
holder, with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses
that arise out of or result from (i) a breach of any representation, warranty,
and/or covenant made by the Company hereunder or by any Participating Insurance
Company under an agreement containing substantially similar representations,
warranties and covenants; (ii) the failure by the Company or any Participating
Insurance Company to maintain its segregated asset account (which invests in any
Portfolio) as a legally and validly established segregated asset account under
applicable state law and as a duly registered unit investment trust under the
provisions of the 1940 Act (unless exempt therefrom); or (iii) the failure by
the Company or any Participating Insurance Company to maintain its variable
annuity and/or variable life insurance contracts (with respect to which any
Portfolio serves as an underlying funding vehicle) as life insurance, endowment
or annuity contracts under applicable provisions of the Code.
8.4. Neither the Company nor the Trust shall be liable under the indemnification
provisions contained in this Agreement with respect to any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise
be subject by reason of such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, willful
misconduct, or gross negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party's
duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of
obligations and duties under this Agreement.
8.5. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Party under this Section 8.5. of
notice of commencement of any action, such Indemnified Party will, if a claim in
respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this section,
notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the omission so
to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability which it
may have to any Indemnified Party otherwise than under this section. In case
any such action is brought against any Indemnified Party, and it notified the
indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be
entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, assume the
defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such Indemnified Party. After
notice from the indemnifying party of its intention to assume the
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defense of an action, the Indemnified Party shall bear the expenses of any
additional counsel obtained by it, and the indemnifying party shall not be
liable to such Indemnified Party under this section for any legal or other
expenses subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with the
defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
8.6. Each of the parties agrees promptly to notify the other parties of the
commencement of any litigation or proceeding against it or any of its respective
officers, directors, trustees, employees or 1933 Act control persons in
connection with the Agreement, the issuance. or sale of the Policies, the
operation of the Accounts, or the sale or acquisition of Shares.
8.7. A successor by law of the parties to this Agreement shall be entitled to
the benefits of the indemnification contained in this Article Vill. The
indemnification provisions contained in this Article Vill shall survive any
termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE IX. APPLICABLE LAW
9.1. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof interpreted
under and in accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
9.2. This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the 1933, 1934 and
1940 Acts, and the RULES and regulations and rulings thereunder, including such
exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as the SEC may grant and
the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance therewith.
ARTICLE X. NOTICE OF FORMAL PROCEEDINGS
The Trust, MFS, and the Company agree that each such party shall promptly
notify the other parties to tills Agreement, in writing, of the institution of
any formal proceedings brought against such party or its designees by the NASD,
the SEC, or any insurance department or any other regulatory body regarding such
party's duties under this Agreement or related to the sale of the Policies, the
operation of the Accounts, or the purchase of the Shares.
ARTICLE XI. TERMINATION
11.1. This Agreement shall terminate with respect to the Accounts, or one, some,
or all Portfolios:
(a) at the option of any party upon six (6) months' advance written notice to
the other parties; or
(b) at the option of the Company to the extent that the Shares of Portfolios
are not reasonably available to meet the requirements of the Policies or
are not "appropriate funding vehicles" for the Policies, as reasonably
determined by the Company. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the Shares of a Portfolio would not be "appropriate funding
vehicles" if, for example, such Shares did not meet the diversification or
other requirements referred to in Article VI hereof, or if the Company
would be permitted to disregard Policy owner voting instructions pursuant
to Rule 6e-2 or 6e-3(T) under the 1940 Act. Prompt notice of the election
to terminate for such cause and an explanation of such cause shall be
furnished to the Trust by the Company; or
(c) at the option of the Trust or MFS upon institution of formal proceedings
against the Company by the NASD, the SEC, or any insurance department or
any other
-12-
regulatory body regarding the Company's duties under this Agreement or
related to the sale of the Policies, the operation of the Accounts, -or the
purchase of the Shares; or
(d) at the option of the Company upon institution of formal proceedings against
the Trust or MFS by the NASD, the SEC, or any state securities or insurance
department or any other regulatory body regarding the Trust's or MFS'
duties under this Agreement or related to the sale of the Shares; or
(e) at the option of the Company, the Trust or MFS upon receipt of any
necessary regulatory approvals and/or the vote of the Policy owners having
an interest in the Accounts (or any subaccounts) to substitute the shares
of another investment company for the corresponding Portfolio Shares in
accordance with the terms of the Policies for which those Portfolio Shares
had been selected to serve as the underlying investment media. The Company
will give thirty (30) days' prior written notice to the Trust of the Date
of any proposed vote or other action taken to replace the Shares; or
(f) termination by either the Trust or MFS by written notice to the Company, if
either one or both of the Trust or MFS respectively, shall determine, in
their sole judgment exercised in good faith, that the Company has suffered
a material adverse change in its business, operations, financial condition,
or prospects since the date of this Agreement; or
(g) termination by the Company by written notice to the Trust and MFS, if the
Company shall determine, in its sole judgment exercised in good faith, that
the Trust or MFS has suffered a material adverse change in this business,
operations, financial condition or prospects since the date of this
Agreement; or
(h) at the option of any party to this Agreement, upon another party's material
breach of any provision of this Agreement; or
(i) upon assignment of this Agreement, unless made with the written consent of
the parties hereto.
11.2. The notice shall specify the Portfolio or Portfolios, Policies and, if
applicable, the Accounts as to which the Agreement is to be terminated.
11.3. It is understood and agreed that the right of any party hereto to
terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 11. 1 (a) may be exercised for
cause or for no cause. Termination by any party pursuant to any of Section I
1.1(b) through Section 11. l(i) shall not take effect until the terminating
party shall have provided written notice to the other party.
11.4. Except as necessary to implement Policy owner initiated transactions, or
as required by state insurance laws or regulations, the Company shall not redeem
the Shares attributable to the Policies (as opposed to the Shares attributable
to the Company's assets held in the Accounts), and the Company shall not prevent
Policy owners from allocating payments to a Portfolio that was otherwise
available under the Policies, until thirty (30) days after the Company shall
have notified the Trust of its intention to do so.
11.5. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Trust and MFS
shall, at the option of the Company, continue to make available additional
shares of the Portfolios pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
for all Policies in effect on the effective date of termination of this
Agreement (the "Existing Policies"), except as otherwise provided under Article
VII of this Agreement. Specifically, without limitation, the owners of the
Existing Policies shall be permitted to transfer or reallocate investment under
the Policies, redeem investments in any Portfolio and/or invest in the Trust
upon the making of additional purchase payments under
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the Existing Policies.
ARTICLE XII. NOTICES
Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or certified
mail, overnight courier or facsimile to the other party at the address of such
party set forth below or at such other address as such party may FROM time to
time specify in writing to the other party.
If to the Trust:
MFS Variable Insurance Trust
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Secretary
If to the Company:
The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000-0000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
If to MFS:
Massachusetts Financial Services Company
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, General Counsel
ARTICLE XIII. MISCELLANEOUS
13.1. Subject to the requirement of legal process and regulatory authority, each
party hereto shall treat as confidential the names and addresses of the owners
of the Policies and all information reasonably identified as confidential in
writing by any other party hereto and, except as permitted by this Agreement or
as otherwise required by applicable law or regulation, shall not disclose,
disseminate or utilize such names and addresses and other confidential
information without the express written consent of the affected party until such
time as it may come into the public domain.
13.2. 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. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in one or more counterparts,
each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
13.4. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a
court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of the Agreement shall
not be affected thereby.
13.5. The Schedule attached hereto, as modified from time to time, is
incorporated herein by reference and is part of this Agreement.
13.6. Each party hereto shall cooperate with each other party in connection with
inquiries by appropriate governmental authorities (including without limitation
the SEC, the NASD, and state
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insurance regulators) relating to this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby.
13.7. 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.
13.8. A copy of the Trust's Declaration of Trust is on file with the Secretary
of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Company acknowledges that the
obligations of or arising out of this instrument are not binding upon any of the
Trust's trustees, officers, employees, agents or shareholders individually, but
are binding solely upon the assets and property of the Trust in accordance with
its proportionate interest hereunder. The Company further acknowledges that the
assets and liabilities of each Portfolio are separate and distinct and that the
obligations of or arising out of this instrument are binding solely upon the
assets or property of the Portfolio on whose behalf the Trust has executed this
instrument. The Company also agrees that the obligations of each Portfolio
hereunder shall be several and not joint, in accordance with its proportionate
interest hereunder, and the Company agrees not to proceed against any Portfolio
for the obligations of another Portfolio.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to
be executed in its name and on its behalf by its duly authorized representative
and its seal to be hereunder affixed hereto as of the date specified above.
THE LINCOLN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By its authorized officer,
By:
Title:
MFS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST, on behalf of the
Portfolios
By its authorized officer and not individually,
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Xx. Assistant Secretary
MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY.
By its authorized officer,
By:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
As of May 1998
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SCHEDULE A
ACCOUNTS, POLICIES AND PORTFOLIOS
SUBJECT TO THE PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
NAME OF SEPARATE POLICIES FUNDED PORTFOLIOS
ACCOUNT AND DATE BY SEPARATE ACCOUNT APPLICABLE TO POLICIES
ESTABLISHED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Lincoln Life Flexible Flexible Premium Variable Life MFS Emerging Growth Series
Premium Variable Life MFS Total Return Series
Separate Account M MFS Utilities Series
Lincoln Life Flexible
Premium Variable Life
Separate Account R
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AMENDMENT TO SCHEDULE A AS OF NOVEMBER 1, 1998
NAME OF SEPARATE ACCOUNT AND DATE ESTABLISHED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Lincoln Life Flexible Premium Variable Life Separate Account M
Lincoln Life Variable Annuity Account N
Lincoln Life Flexible Premium Variable Life Separate Account R
POLICIES/CONTRACTS FUNDED BY SEPARATE ACCOUNT
Flexible Premium Variable Life
Variable Annuity Contracts
PORTFOLIOS APPLICABLE TO SOME OR ALL OF THE POLICIES
MFS Emerging Growth Series
MFS Total Return Series
MFS Utilities Series
MFS Research Series
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Amendment to
Schedule A to be executed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized officer
on the date specified below.
Date: The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company
By its authorized officer,
By:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx,
Vice President
Date: MFS Variable Insurance Trust, on behalf of the Portfolios
By its authorized officer and not individually
By:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Xx.,
Assistant Secretary
Date: Massachusetts Financial Services Company,
By its authorized officer,
By:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
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