AMENDMENT TO PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

Exhibit 99.B(8)(k)

 

AMENDMENT TO PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDMENT (the “Amendment”), dated as of September 5, 2018, is by and among The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company (the “Company”), ProFunds, Access One Trust (each of ProFunds or the Access One Trust referred to herein as the “Fund”), and ProFund Advisors LLC (the “Adviser”) (collectively, the “Parties”).

 

WHEREAS, the Company, the Funds, and the Adviser are parties to that certain Participation Agreement dated as of February 15, 2007, as amended from time to time thereafter (the “Agreement”);

 

WHEREAS, the Company, the Funds, and the Adviser desire to facilitate the purchase and sale of the Funds by the Accounts via the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”) as described in Section 1.9 of the Agreement as further amended herein;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree to amend the Agreement as follows:

 

1.                                      New sub-section (c) is hereby added to Section 1.9 of the Agreement:

 

(c) Fund/SERV instructions will be transmitted by Company to the NSCC by 7:30 a.m. Eastern time (“Cut Off”) on the next Business Day after Company receives such instructions from the Account, provided such instructions are received by Company in good order prior to the closing of the New York Stock Exchange (“Close of Trading”) (normally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time).  In the event Company is unable to transmit Fund/SERV instructions by the Cut Off, Company shall notify Fund by phone by 8:30 a.m. Eastern time of such Fund/SERV instructions, and Fund shall price protect such trades; provided, however, settlement may be delayed until the following business day (trade date +2).  Company warrants that all Fund/SERV instructions the Service Provider transmits to NSCC for processing were received by Company from Account by Close of Trading.  Company shall transmit payment for purchase of Fund/SERV instructions to NSCC the same Business Day (trade date +1) after receipt of Fund/SERV instructions to purchase shares is made in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.12 (4) hereof; provided, however, Fund/SERV instructions transmitted after the Cut Off may delay payment until trade date +2.  If Fund has not received payment by such applicable dates, the purchase may be canceled and Company shall be responsible for any losses incurred by the Fund as a result of such cancellation. Payment of redemptions shall be transmitted via the NSCC to Company on the same Business Day (trade date +1) as the instructions were transmitted via Fund/SERV; provided, however, Fund/SERV instructions transmitted after the Cut Off may delay payment until trade date + 2.  Daily share balance confirmations will be provided by 1:00 p.m. Eastern time via the Fund/SERV networking system.

 

2.                                      Each Party hereby represents and warrants that the execution, delivery, and performance of this Amendment are within the Party’s corporate power and have been or will be duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and that this Amendment constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Party in accordance with its terms.

 

3.                                      Except as specifically modified by this Amendment, the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and all capitalized terms not defined in this Amendment shall have the same meaning as in the Agreement.

 

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4.                                      This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the different parties hereto on separate counterparts.

 

5.                                      Executed original copies of this Amendment may be delivered by facsimile or digital transmission and such facsimile or digital copies shall be deemed original for all purposes.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be executed on their behalf by their duly authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

THE LINCOLN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx

 

Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx

 

Title: Senior Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

PROFUNDS

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx

 

Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx

 

Title: President

 

 

 

 

 

PROFUND ADVISORS LLC

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx

 

Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx

 

Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

 

ACCESS ONE TRUST

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx

 

Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx

 

Title: President

 

 

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PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

 

Among

 

The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company,

 

ProFunds,

 

Access One Trust

 

and

 

ProFund Advisors LLC

 

THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of the 15th day of February, 2007 by and among The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company (the “Company”), an  Indiana life insurance company, on its own behalf and on behalf of each segregated asset account of the Company set forth on Schedule A hereto, as may be amended from time to time (each account hereinafter referred to as the “Account”), ProFunds, a Delaware business trust, Access One Trust, a Delaware business trust (each of ProFunds or the Access One Trust referred to herein as the “Fund”), and ProFund Advisors LLC (the “Adviser”), a Maryland limited liability company.

 

WHEREAS, the Fund engages in business as an open-end management investment company and is available to act as the investment vehicle for separate accounts established for variable life insurance and variable annuity contracts to be offered by insurance companies which have entered into participation agreements with the Fund (“Participating Insurance Companies”);

 

WHEREAS, the shares of beneficial interest of the Fund are divided into several series of shares, each designated a “Portfolio” and representing the interest in a particular managed portfolio of securities and other assets;

 

WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and shares of the Portfolios are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”);

 

WHEREAS, the Adviser, which serves as investment adviser to the Fund, is duly registered as an investment adviser under the federal Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended;

 

WHEREAS, the Company has issued or will issue certain variable life insurance and/or variable annuity contracts supported wholly or partially by the Account (the “Contracts”), and said Contracts are listed in Schedule A hereto, as it may be amended from time to time by mutual written agreement;

 

WHEREAS, the Account is duly established and maintained as a segregated asset account, duly established by the Company, on the date shown for such Account on Schedule A hereto, to set aside and invest assets attributable to the aforesaid Contracts; and

 

WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and regulations, the Company intends to purchase shares in the Portfolios listed in Schedule A hereto, as it may be amended from time

 

 

to time by mutual written agreement (the “Designated Portfolios”), on behalf of the Account to fund the aforesaid Contracts;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Company, the Fund and the Adviser agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I.  Sale of Fund Shares

 

1.1.                            Subject to Article X hereof, and the terms set forth in the registration statement, as amended from time to time, the Fund agrees to make available to the Company for purchase on behalf of the Account, shares of the Designated Portfolios, such purchases to be effected at net asset value in accordance with Section 1.3 of this Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) Portfolios (other than those listed on Schedule A) in existence now or that may be established in the future will be made available to the Company only as the Fund may so provide, and (ii) the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the “Board”) may suspend or terminate the offering of shares of any Designated Portfolio or class thereof, if such action is required by law or by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction or if, 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, suspension or termination is necessary in the best interests of the shareholders of such Designated Portfolio.  The Fund reserves the right, upon prior written notice to the Company (given at the earliest practicable time), to take all actions, including but not limited to, the dissolution, reorganization, liquidation, merger or sale of all assets of the Fund or any Portfolio upon the sole authorization of the Board of Trustees, acting in good faith, subject, however, to compliance with applicable laws, including without limitation, the 0000 Xxx.

 

1.2.                            The Fund shall redeem, at the Company’s request, any full or fractional Designated Portfolio shares held by the Company on behalf of the Account, such redemptions to be effected at net asset value in accordance with Section 1.3 of this Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Company shall not redeem Fund shares attributable to Contract owners except in the circumstances permitted in Section 10.3 of this Agreement, and (ii) the Fund may delay redemption of Fund shares of any Designated Portfolio to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, and any rules, regulations or orders thereunder.

 

1.3.                            Purchase and Redemption Procedures

 

(a)                                 The Fund hereby appoints the Company as an agent of the Fund for the limited purpose of receiving and accepting purchase and redemption requests on behalf of the Account (but not with respect to any Fund shares that may be held in the general account of the Company) for shares of those Designated Portfolios made available hereunder, based on allocations of amounts to the Account or subaccounts thereof under the Contracts and other transactions relating to the Contracts or the Account.  Receipt and acceptance of any such request (or relevant transactional information therefor) on any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which a Designated Portfolio calculates its net asset value (a “Business Day”) pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) by the Company as such limited agent of the Fund prior to the time that the Fund ordinarily calculates its net asset value as described from time to time in the Fund’s prospectus (which as of the date of execution of this Agreement is 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) shall constitute receipt and acceptance by the Designated Portfolio on that same Business Day, The Company shall provide the Fund by 9:00 a.m. Eastern time on the following Business Day with final daily net aggregate trade information of the previous Business Day’s transaction information related to the Designated Portfolios.

 

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(b)                                 The Company shall pay for shares of each Designated Portfolio on the Business Day following the Company’s receipt and acceptance, in its capacity as limited agent of the Fund, of a purchase request for such shares.  Payment for Designated Portfolio shares shall be made in federal funds transmitted to the Fund or other designated person by wire to be received by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the Business Day following Company’s receipt and acceptance, in its capacity as limited agent of the Fund, of the purchase request for Designated Portfolio shares (unless the Fund determines and so advises the Company that sufficient proceeds are available from redemption of shares of other Designated Portfolios effected pursuant to redemption requests tendered by the Company on behalf of the Account.  If federal funds are not received on time, such funds will be invested, and Designated Portfolio shares purchased thereby will be issued, as soon as practicable and the Company shall promptly, upon the Fund’s request, reimburse the Fund for any charges, costs, fees, interest or other expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with any advances to, or borrowing or overdrafts by, the Fund, or any similar expenses incurred by the Fund, as a result of portfolio transactions effected by the Fund based upon such purchase request.  Upon receipt of federal funds so wired, such funds shall cease to be the responsibility of the Company and shall become the responsibility of the Fund.

 

(c)                                  Payment for Designated Portfolio shares redeemed by the Account or the Company shall be made in federal funds transmitted by wire to the Company or any other designated person on the next Business Day after the Fund is properly notified of the redemption order of such shares (unless redemption proceeds are to be applied to the purchase of shares of other Designated Portfolio(s) in accordance with Section 1.3(b) of this Agreement), except that the Fund reserves the right to redeem Designated Portfolio shares in assets other than cash and to delay payment of redemption proceeds to the extent permitted under Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act and any Rules thereunder, and in accordance with the procedures and policies of the Fund as described in the then current prospectus.  The Fund shall not bear any responsibility whatsoever for the proper disbursement or crediting of redemption proceeds by the Company, the Company alone shall be responsible for such action.

 

(d)                                 Any purchase or redemption request for Designated Portfolio shares held or to be held in the Company’s general account shall be effected at the net asset value per share next determined after the Fund’s receipt and acceptance of such request, provided that, in the case of a purchase request, payment for Fund shares so requested is received by the Fund in federal funds prior to close of business for determination of such value, as defined from time to time in the Fund’s prospectus.

 

1.4                               The Fund shall use its best efforts to make the net asset value per share for each Designated Portfolio available to the Company by 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time each Business Day, and in any event, as soon as reasonably practicable after the net asset value per share for such Designated Portfolio is calculated, and shall calculate such net asset value in accordance with the Fund’s prospectus.  Neither the Fund, any Designated Portfolio, the Adviser, nor any of their affiliates shall be liable for any information provided to the Company pursuant to this Agreement, or any loss resulting from such information, if such information is based on incorrect information supplied by the Company or any other Participating Insurance Company to the Fund or the Adviser.  The Fund will provide notice of any error in calculation of net asset value of each portfolio as soon as reasonably practical after discovery thereof.  Any such notice will state for each day for which an error occurred, the incorrect price, the correct price and the reason fro the price change.  The Fund shall make the Company whole for any losses incurred as a result of pricing errors.

 

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1.5                               The Fund shall furnish notice (by wire or telephone followed by written confirmation) to the Company as soon as reasonably practicable of any income dividends or capital gain distributions payable on any Designated Portfolio shares.  The Company, on its behalf and on behalf of the Account, hereby elects to receive all such dividends and distributions as are payable on any Designated Portfolio shares in the form of additional shares of that Designated Portfolio.  The Company reserves the right, on its behalf and on behalf of the Account, to revoke this election and to receive all such dividends and capital gain distributions in cash.  The Fund shall notify the Company promptly of the number of Designated Portfolio shares so issued as payment of such dividends and distributions.  The Company acknowledges and agrees that dividends and distributions with respect to the shares of any Designated Portfolio shall constitute consent dividends for purposes of Section 561 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), that such dividends and distributions shall be effected in accordance with Section 565 of the Code, and that the Company will take all necessary actions so that such dividends and distributions are considered consent dividends.

 

1.6                               Issuance and transfer of Fund shares shall be by book entry only.  Share certificates will not be issued to the Company or the Account.  Purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares shall be recorded in an appropriate ledger for the Account or the appropriate subaccount of the Account.

 

1.7                               (a)                                 The parties hereto acknowledge that the arrangement contemplated by this Agreement is not exclusive; the Fund’s shares may be sold to other insurance companies (subject to Section 2.2 hereof) and the cash value of the Contracts may be invested in other investment companies, provided, however, that until this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Article X, the Company shall promote the Designated Portfolios on the same basis as other funding vehicles available under the Contracts.  Funding vehicles other than those listed on Schedule A to this Agreement may be available for the investment of the cash value of the Contracts, provided, however, (i) any such vehicle or series thereof, has investment objectives or policies that are substantially different from the investment objectives and policies of the Designated Portfolios available hereunder; (ii) the Company gives the Fund and the Adviser 45 days written notice of its intention to make such other investment vehicle available as a funding vehicle for the Contracts; and (iii) unless such other investment company was available as a funding vehicle for the Contracts prior to the date of this Agreement and the Company has so informed the Fund and the Adviser prior to their signing this Agreement, the Fund or Adviser consents in writing to the use of such other vehicle, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld.

 

(b)                                 The Company shall not, without prior notice to the Adviser (unless otherwise required by applicable law), take any action to operate the Account as a management investment company under the 1940 Act.

 

(c)                                  The Company shall not, without prior notice to the Adviser (unless otherwise required by applicable law), induce Contract owners to change or modify the Fund or change the Fund’s investment adviser.

 

(d)                                 The Company shall not, without prior notice to the Fund, induce Contract owners to vote on any matter submitted for consideration by the shareholders of the Fund in a manner other than as recommended by the Board.

 

1.8                               The Company acknowledges that, pursuant to Form 24F-2, the Fund is not required to pay fees to the SEC for registration of its shares under the 1933 Act with respect to its shares issued to an Account that is a unit investment trust that offers interests that are registered under the 1933 Act and on which a registration fee has been or will be paid to the SEC (a “Registered Account”).  The Company agrees to provide the Fund each year within 60 days of the end of the Fund’s fiscal year, or when

 

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reasonably requested by the Fund, information as to the number of shares purchased by a Registered Account and any other Account the interests of which are not registered under the 0000 Xxx.  The Company acknowledges that the Fund intends to rely on the information so provided and represents and warrants that such information shall be accurate.

 

1.9                               NSCC. If transactions in Fund shares are to be settled through the National Securities Clearing Corporation’s (“NSCC”) Mutual Fund Settlement, Entry and registration Verification (Fund/SERV) system, the following provisions shall apply:

 

(a)                                 Each party to the Agreement represents that it or one of its affiliates has entered into the Standard Networking Agreement with the NSCC and it desires to participate in the programs offered by the NSCC Fund/SERV system which provide: (i) an automated process whereby the shareholder purchases, redemptions, exchanges and transactions of mutual fund shares are executed through the Fund/SERV system, and (ii) a centralized and standardized communication system for the exchange of customer-level information and account activity through the Fund/SERV Networking system (“Networking”).

 

(b)                                 For each Fund/SERV transaction, including a transaction establishing accounts with the fund or its affiliate, the Company shall provide the Fund with all information necessary or appropriate to establish and maintain each Fund/SERV transaction (and any subsequent changes to such information), which the Company hereby certifies is and shall remain true and correct. the Company shall maintain documents required by the Fund to effect Fund/SERV transactions. Each instruction shall be deemed to be accompanied by a representation by the Company that it has received proper authorization from each person whose purchase, redemption, account transfer or exchange transaction is effected as a result of such instruction.

 

ARTICLE II.  Representations and Warranties

 

2.1.                            The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts (a) are, or prior to issuance will be, registered under the 1933 Act, or (b) are not registered because they are properly exempt from registration under the 1933 Act or will be offered exclusively in transactions that are properly exempt from registration under the 1933 Act.  The Company further represents and warrants that the Contracts will be issued and sold in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal securities and state securities and insurance laws and that the sale of the Contracts shall comply in all material respects with state insurance suitability requirements.  The Company further represents and warrants that it is an insurance company duly organized and in good standing under applicable law, that it has legally and validly established the Account prior to any issuance or sale thereof as a segregated asset account under Indiana insurance laws, and that it (a) has registered or, prior to any issuance or sale of the Contracts, will register the Account as a unit investment trust in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act to serve as a segregated investment account for the Contracts, or alternatively (b) has not registered the Account in proper reliance upon an exclusion from registration under the 1940 Act.  The Company shall register and qualify the Contracts or interests therein as securities in accordance with the laws of the various states only if and to the extent deemed advisable by the Company.

 

2.2.                            The Fund represents and warrants (a) that Designated Portfolios shares sold pursuant to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act, duly authorized for issuance and sold in compliance with applicable state and federal securities laws, (b) that the Fund is and shall remain registered under the 1940 Act, (c) that shares of the Designated Portfolios will be sold only to Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts or to persons or plans that communicate to the Fund that they qualify to purchase shares of the Designated Portfolios under Section 817(h) of the

 

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Code, and the regulations thereunder without impairing the ability of the Account to consider the portfolio investments of the Designated Portfolios as constituting investments of the Account for purposes of Section 817(h) (“Qualified Persons”), and (d) shares of the Designated Portfolios will not be sold directly to the general public.  The Fund shall amend the registration statement for its shares under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of its shares.  The Fund shall register and qualify the shares for sale in accordance with the laws of the various states only if and to the extent deemed advisable by the Fund.

 

2.3.                            The Company represents and warrants that it and each Account are, and will continue to be, Qualified Persons.

 

2.4.                            The Fund makes no representations as to whether any aspect of its operations, including, but not limited to, investment policies, fees and expenses, complies with the insurance and other applicable laws of the various states.

 

2.5.                            The Fund represents that it is lawfully organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware and that it does and will comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act.

 

2.6.                            The Adviser represents and warrants that it is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC and that it does and will comply in all material respects with the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (“Advisers Act”).

 

2.7.                            The Fund and the Adviser represent and warrant that all of their trustees/directors, officers, employees, and other individuals or entities dealing with the money and/or securities of the Fund are and shall continue to be at all times covered by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage for the benefit of the Fund in an amount not less than the minimum coverage as required currently by Rule 17g-1 of the 1940 Act or related provisions as may be promulgated from time to time.  The aforesaid bond shall include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable bonding company.

 

2.8.                            The Company represents and warrants that all of its directors, officers, employees, and other individuals/entities employed or controlled by the Company dealing with the money and/or securities of the Account are covered by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage for the benefit of the Account, in an amount not less than $5 million.  The aforesaid bond includes coverage for larceny and embezzlement and is issued by a reputable bonding company.  The Company agrees to hold for the benefit of the Fund and to pay to the Fund any amounts lost from larceny, embezzlement or other events covered by the aforesaid bond to the extent such amounts properly belong to the Fund pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.  The Company agrees to make all reasonable efforts to see that this bond or another bond containing these provisions is always in effect, and agrees to notify the Fund and the Adviser in the event that such coverage no longer applies.

 

2.9.                            The Company represents and warrants that it shall comply with any applicable privacy and notice provisions of 15 U.S.C. §§ 6801-6827 and any applicable regulations promulgated thereunder (including but not limited to 17 C.F.R. Part 248) as they may be amended.

 

2.10.                     The Company represents and warrants that it has in place an anti-money laundering program (“AML program”) that does now and will continue to comply with applicable laws and regulations, including the relevant provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act (Pub. L. No. 107-56 (2001)) and the regulations issued thereunder.

 

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2.11.                     The Company agrees that it will comply at all times with the provisions of Rules 22c-1 and 38a-1 under the 1940 Act and, with respect to Rule 38a-1, shall provide such certifications as may reasonably be requested by the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer.  The Adviser agrees that it will comply at all times with the provisions of Rule 206(4)-7 of the Advisers Act.

 

ARTICLE III.  Prospectuses and Proxy Statements; Voting

 

3.1.                            The Fund or its agent, at the Fund’s expense, shall provide the Company with as many copies of the Fund’s 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 supplemented or amended) to have the prospectuses for the Contracts and the Fund’s prospectus printed together in one document. The Fund shall reimburse the Company for its pro rata cost, based on assets allocated by Contract owners to the Funds, of printing and distributing the prospectuses to existing Contract owners of the Funds.  The Company shall bear the expense of printing copies of the Fund’s prospectus and profiles that are used in connection with offering the Contracts issued by the Company.  If requested by the Company in lieu thereof, the Fund shall provide such documentation (including a final copy of the current prospectus set in type or in camera ready format or in electronic format at the Fund’s expense) 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 Fund’s prospectus or profile printed together in one document (such printing to be at the Company’s expense).  The Fund shall endeavor to provide the prospectus and annual and semiannual shareholder reports to Company at a reasonable time prior to the mailing date of said documents to Company’s policyholders.

 

3.2.                            The Fund’s prospectus shall state that the current Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) for the Fund is available, and the Fund, at its expense, shall provide a reasonable number of copies of such SAI free of charge to the Company for itself and for any owner of a Contract with Contract value allocated to a Designated Portfolio who requests such SAI.

 

3.3.                            The Fund shall provide the Company with information regarding the Fund’s expenses, which information may include a table of fees and related narrative disclosure for use in any prospectus or other descriptive document relating to a Contract.  The Company agrees that it will use such information in the form provided.  The Company shall provide prior written notice of any proposed modification of such information, which notice will describe in detail the manner in which the Company proposes to modify the information, and agrees that it may not modify such information in any way without the prior consent of the Fund.

 

3.4.                            The Fund, at its expense, shall provide the Company with copies of its proxy material, reports to shareholders, and other communications to shareholders in such quantity as the Company shall reasonably require for distributing to Contract owners.  If requested by the Company in lieu thereof, the Fund shall provide such material, reports or other communications in “camera ready” format on diskette.  The Company may request customized reports to shareholders, but such customized reports shall only be provided at the Company’s expense.

 

3.5.                            The Company shall:

 

(i)                                     solicit voting instructions from Contract owners;

 

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(ii)                                  vote the Fund shares in accordance with instructions received from Contract owners in that Account; and

 

(iii)                               vote Fund shares for which no instructions have been received in the same proportion as Fund shares of such Designated Portfolio held by an Account for which instructions have been received,

 

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 or to the extent otherwise required by law.  The Company will vote Fund shares held in any segregated asset account in the same proportion as Fund shares of such Designated Portfolio for which voting instructions have been received from Contract owners, to the extent permitted by law.

 

3.6.                            Participating Insurance Companies shall be responsible for assuring that each of their separate accounts participating in a Designated Portfolio calculates voting privileges as required by the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order (See Section 7.1) and consistent with any reasonable standards that the Fund may adopt and provide in writing.

 

ARTICLE IV.  Sales Material and Information

 

4.1.                            The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the Fund or its designee, each piece of sales literature or other promotional material that the Company develops and in which the Fund (or a Designated Portfolio thereof) or the Adviser is named.  No such material shall be used until approved by the Fund or its designee, and the Fund will use its best efforts for it or its designee to review such sales literature or promotional material within ten Business Days after receipt of such material.  The Fund or its designee reserves the right to reasonably object to the continued use of any such sales literature or other promotional material in which the Fund (or a Designated Portfolio thereof) or the Adviser is named, and no such material shall be used if the Fund or its designee so objects.

 

4.2.                            The Company shall not give any information or make any representations or statements on behalf of the Fund or concerning the Fund or the Adviser in connection with the sale of the Contracts other than the information or representations contained in the registration statement or prospectus or SAI for the Fund shares, as such registration statement and prospectus or SAI may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in reports or proxy statements for the Fund, or in sales literature or other promotional material approved by the Fund or its designee, except with the permission of the Fund or its designee.

 

4.3.                            The Fund and the Adviser, or their designee, shall furnish, or cause to be furnished, to the Company, each piece of sales literature or other promotional material that it develops and in which the Company, and/or its Account, is named.  No such material shall be used until approved by the Company, and the Company will use its best efforts to review such sales literature or promotional material within ten Business Days after receipt of such material.  The Company reserves the right to reasonably object to the continued use of any such sales literature or other promotional material in which the Company and/or its Account is named, and no such material shall be used if the Company so objects.

 

4.4.                            The Fund shall not give any information or make any representations on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company, the Account, or the Contracts other than the information or representations contained in a registration statement, prospectus (which shall include an offering memorandum, if any, if the Contracts issued by the Company or interests therein are not registered under the 1933 Act), or SAI for the Contracts, as such registration statement, prospectus, or SAI may be

 

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amended or supplemented from time to time, or in published reports for the Account which are in the public domain or approved by the Company for distribution to Contract owners, or in sales literature or other promotional material approved by the Company or its designee, except with the permission of the Company.

 

4.5.                            The Fund will provide to the Company at least one complete copy of all registration statements, prospectuses, SAIs, reports, proxy statements, sales literature and other promotional materials, applications for exemptions, requests for no-action letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that relate to the Designated Portfolios or their shares, promptly after the filing of such document(s) with the SEC or other regulatory authorities.

 

4.6.                            The Company will provide to the Fund at least one complete copy of all registration statements, prospectuses (which shall include an offering memorandum, if any, if the Contracts issued by the Company or interests therein are not registered under the 1933 Act), SAIs, reports, solicitations for voting instructions, sales literature and other promotional materials, applications for exemptions, requests for no-action letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that relate to the Contracts or the Account, promptly after the filing of such document(s) with the SEC or other regulatory authorities.  The Company shall provide to the Fund and the Adviser any complaints received from the Contract owners pertaining to the Fund or a Designated Portfolio.

 

4.7.                            The Fund will provide the Company with as much notice as is reasonably practicable of any proxy solicitation for any Designated Portfolio, and of any material change in the Fund’s registration statement, particularly any change resulting in a change to the registration statement or prospectus for any Account.  The Fund will work with the Company so as to enable the Company to solicit proxies from Contract owners, or to make changes to its prospectus or registration statement, in an orderly manner.  The Fund will make reasonable efforts to attempt to have changes affecting Contract prospectuses become effective simultaneously with the annual updates for such prospectuses.

 

4.8.                            For purposes of this Article IV, the phrase “sales literature and other promotional materials” includes, but is not limited to, any of the following that refer to the Fund, any Designated Portfolio or any affiliate of the Fund:  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), sales literature (i.e., any written communication distributed or made generally available to customers or the public, including brochures, circulars, reports, market letters, form letters, seminar texts, reprints or excerpts of any other advertisement, sales literature, or published article), educational or training materials or other communications distributed or made generally available to some or all agents or employees, and registration statements, prospectuses, SAIs, shareholder reports, proxy materials, and any other communications distributed or made generally available with regard to the Fund.

 

ARTICLE V.  Fees and Expenses

 

5.1.                            The Fund shall pay no fee or other compensation to the Company under this Agreement.  Nothing herein shall prevent the parties hereto from otherwise agreeing to perform and arranging for compensation for (i) distribution and shareholder-related services under a plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, and (ii) services (including certain shareholder-related services) that are not primarily intended to result in the sale of shares of the Designated Portfolios, which are provided to Contract owners relating to the Designated Portfolios.

 

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5.2.                            All expenses incident to performance by the Fund under this Agreement shall be paid by the Fund.  The Fund shall see to it that all its shares are registered and authorized for issuance in accordance with applicable federal law and, if and to the extent deemed advisable by the Fund, in accordance with applicable state laws prior to their sale.  The Fund shall bear the expenses for the cost of registration and qualification of the Fund’s shares, preparation and filing of the Fund’s prospectus and registration statement, proxy materials and reports (except customized reports), setting the prospectus in type, setting in type and printing the proxy materials and reports to shareholders (including the costs of printing a prospectus that constitutes an annual report), the preparation of all statements and notices required by any federal or state law, and all taxes on the issuance or transfer of the Fund’s shares.

 

5.3.                            The Fund shall bear its pro rata expenses of distributing the Fund’s prospectus to owners of Contracts issued by the Company and of distributing the Fund’s proxy materials and reports to such Contract owners.

 

ARTICLE VI.  Diversification and Qualification

 

6.1.                            Subject to Company’s representations and warranties in Sections 2.1, 2.3 and 6.3, the Fund represents and warrants that it will invest its assets in such a manner as to ensure that the Contracts will be treated as annuity or life insurance contracts, whichever is appropriate, under the Code and the regulations issued thereunder (or any successor provisions).  Without limiting the scope of the foregoing, each Designated Portfolio has complied and will make every effort to continue to comply with Section 817(h) of the Code and Treasury Regulation §1.817-5, 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.  In the event of a breach of this Article VI by the Fund, it will take all reasonable steps (a) to notify the Company of such breach and (b) to adequately diversify the Fund so as to achieve compliance within the grace period afforded by Treasury Regulation §1.817-5.

 

6.2.                            The Fund represents and warrants that each Designated Portfolio is or will be qualified as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Code, and that it will make every effort to maintain such qualification (under Subchapter M or any successor or similar provisions) and that it will notify the Company immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that a Designated Portfolio has ceased to so qualify or that it might not so qualify in the future.

 

6.3.                            The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts are currently, and at the time of issuance shall be, treated as life insurance or annuity contracts under applicable provisions of the Code, and that it will make every effort to maintain such treatment, and that it will notify the Fund and the Adviser immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing the Contracts have ceased to be so treated or that they might not be so treated in the future.  The Company agrees that any prospectus offering a contract that is a “modified endowment contract” as that term is defined in Section 7702A of the Code (or any successor or similar provision), shall identify such contract as a modified endowment contract.  In addition, the Company represents and warrants that each of its Accounts is a “segregated asset account” and that interests in the Accounts 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 Fund 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.

 

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ARTICLE VII.  Potential Conflicts

 

7.1.         The Fund represents and warrants that it may rely on an order that was granted by the SEC in Variable Insurance Funds, et al. (File No.: 812-10694), Investment Company Act Rel. No. 23594 (Dec. 10, 1998) granting Participating Insurance Companies and variable annuity separate accounts and variable life insurance separate accounts relief from the provisions of Sections 9(a), 13(a), 15(a), and 15(b) of the 1940 Act and Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15) thereunder, to the extent necessary to permit shares of the Designated Portfolios to be sold to and held by variable annuity separate accounts and variable life insurance separate accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated Participating Insurance Companies, qualified pension and retirement plans outside of the separate account context, and other permitted investors (the “Mixed and Shared Funding Order”).  The parties to this Agreement agree that the conditions or undertakings required by the Mixed and Shared Funding Order that may be imposed on the Company, the Fund and/or the Adviser by virtue of such order by the SEC:  (i) shall apply only upon the sale of shares of the Designated Portfolios to variable life insurance separate accounts (and then only to the extent required under the 1940 Act); (ii) will be incorporated herein by reference; and (iii) such parties agree to comply with such conditions and undertakings to the extent applicable to each such party notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary.

 

7.2.         If and to the extent that Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) are amended, or Rule 6e-3 is adopted, to provide exemptive relief from any provision of the 1940 Act or the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to mixed or shared funding (as defined in the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order) on terms and conditions materially different from those contained in the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order, then (a) the Fund and/or the Participating Insurance Companies, as appropriate, shall take such steps as may be necessary to comply with Rules 6e-2 and 6e-3(T), as amended, and Rule 6e-3, as adopted, to the extent such rules are applicable; and (b) Sections 3.5 and 3.6 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

 

8.1(a).    The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund (which shall include the Designated Portfolios) and the Adviser and each of its trustees/directors and officers, and each person, if any, who controls the Fund or Adviser within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or who is under common control with the Adviser (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 litigation (including 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:

 

(i)            arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statements of any material fact contained in the registration statement, prospectus (which shall include a written description of a Contract that is not registered under the 1933 Act), or SAI for the Contracts or contained in the Contracts or sales literature for the Contracts (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, provided that this agreement to indemnify

 

11

 

shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Fund for use in the registration statement, prospectus or SAI for the Contracts or in the Contracts or sales literature (or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares; or

 

(ii)           arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other than statements or representations contained in the registration statement, prospectus, SAI, or sales literature of the Fund not supplied by the Company or persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of the Company or its agents or persons under the Company’s authorization or control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Fund shares; or

 

(iii)          arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a registration statement, prospectus, SAI, or sales literature of the Fund or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading if such a statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Fund by or on behalf of the Company; or

 

(iv)          arise as a result of any material failure by the Company to provide the services and furnish the materials under the terms of this Agreement (including a failure, whether unintentional or in good faith or otherwise, to comply with the qualification requirements specified in Article VI of this Agreement); or

 

(v)           arise out of or result from any material breach of any representation and/or warranty made by the Company in this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by the Company; or

 

(vi)          arise as a result of the provision by the Company to the Fund of insufficient or incorrect information regarding the purchase or redemption of shares, or the failure of the Company to provide such information or payment for shares in accordance with the deadlines stated in Section 1.3; or

 

(vii)         arise out of information provided to the Company pursuant to this Agreement, or to any other Participating Insurance Company pursuant to another participation agreement, which information is based on incorrect information supplied by the Company to the Fund or the Adviser.

 

as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.1(b) and 8.1(c) hereof.

 

8.1(b).    The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of such Indemnified Party’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party’s duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party’s reckless disregard of its obligations or duties under this Agreement.

 

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8.1(c).     The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Company in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Company of any such claim shall not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this indemnification provision.  In case any such action is brought against an Indemnified Party, 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.

 

8.1(d).    Each of the Fund and the Adviser will promptly notify the Company of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings of which it has knowledge against an Indemnified Party in connection with the issuance or sale of the Fund shares or the Contracts or the operation of the Fund.

 

8.2.         Indemnification by the Adviser

 

8.2(a).    The Adviser 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 (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 Adviser) or litigation (including 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:

 

(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 of the Fund (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, provided that this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Adviser or 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 any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares; or

 

(ii)           arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other than statements or representations contained in the registration statement, prospectus, SAI or sales literature for the Contracts not supplied by the Fund or the Adviser) or wrongful conduct of the Adviser with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Fund shares; or

 

13

 

(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 covering the Contracts, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement or statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Adviser; or

 

(iv)          arise as a result of any failure by the Fund to comply with the diversification and other qualification requirements specified in Article VI of this Agreement; or

 

(v)           arise out of or result from any material breach of any representation and/or warranty made by the Adviser in this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by the Adviser;

 

as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.2(b) and 8.2(c) hereof.

 

8.2(b).    The Adviser shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of such Indemnified Party’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance or such Indemnified Party’s duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party’s reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement or to the Company or the Account, whichever is applicable.

 

8.2(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 which it may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this indemnification provision.  In case any such action is brought against the Indemnified Party, 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.

 

8.2(d).    The Company agrees promptly to notify the Adviser of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings of which it has knowledge against an Indemnified Party in connection with the issuance or sale of the Contracts or the operation of the Account.

 

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8.3.         Indemnification By the Fund

 

8.3(a).    To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Fund 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 (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties” for purposes of this Section 8.3) against any and all losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Fund) or litigation (including legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may be required to pay or may become subject under any statute or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements, are related to the operations of the Fund 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 of the Fund (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, provided that this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Adviser or 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 any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares; or

 

(ii)           arise as a result of any failure by the Fund to provide the services and furnish the materials under the terms of this Agreement (including a failure, whether unintentional or in good faith or otherwise, to comply with the diversification and other qualification requirements specified in Article VI of this Agreement); or

 

(iii)          arise out of or result from any material breach of any representation and/or warranty made by the Fund in this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by the Fund;

 

as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.3(b) and 8.3(c) hereof.

 

8.3(b).    The Fund shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of such Indemnified Party’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party’s duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party’s reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement or to the Company, the Fund, the Adviser or the Account, whichever is applicable.

 

8.3(c).     The Fund shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Fund 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

 

15

 

notify the Fund of any such claim shall not relieve the Fund from any liability which it may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this indemnification provision.  In case any such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties, the Fund will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof.  The Fund also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action.  After notice from the Fund to such party of the Fund’s election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Fund 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.

 

8.3(d).    The Company agrees promptly to notify the Fund of the commencement of any litigation or proceeding of which it has knowledge against an Indemnified Party in connection with the Agreement, the issuance or sale of the Contracts, the operation of the Account, or the sale or acquisition of shares of the Fund.

 

8.3(e)      The Adviser agrees promptly to notify the Fund of the commencement of any litigation or proceeding of which it has knowledge against it or any of its respective officers or directors in connection with the Agreement, the issuance or sale of the Contracts, the operation of the Account, or the sale or acquisition of shares of the Fund.

 

ARTICLE IX.  Applicable Law

 

9.1.         This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland.

 

9.2.         This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the 1933, 1934, the 1940 Act and the Investment Adviser’s Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder, including such exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as the SEC may grant (including, but not limited to, the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order) and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance therewith.  If, in the future, the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order should no longer be necessary under applicable law, then Article VII shall no longer apply.

 

ARTICLE X. Termination

 

10.1.       This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until the first to occur of:

 

(a)                                 termination by any party, for any reason with respect to some or all Designated Portfolios, by three (3) months advance written notice delivered to the other parties; or

 

(b)                                 termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and the Adviser based upon the Company’s determination that shares of the Fund are not reasonably available to meet the requirements of the Contracts; or

 

(c)                                  termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and the Adviser in the event any of the Designated Portfolio’s shares are not registered, issued or sold in accordance with applicable state and/or federal law or such law precludes the use of such shares as the underlying investment media of the Contracts issued or to be issued by the Company; or

 

16

 

(d)                                 termination by the Fund or Adviser in the event that formal administrative proceedings are instituted against the Company by the NASD, 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 the Designated Portfolios’ shares; provided, however, that the Fund or Adviser 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)                                  termination by the Company in the event that formal administrative proceedings are instituted against the Fund or Adviser by the SEC or any state securities or insurance department or any other regulatory body; provided, however, that the Company 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 or Adviser to perform its obligations under this Agreement; or

 

(f)                                   termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and the Adviser with respect to any Designated Portfolio in the event that such Portfolio ceases to qualify as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M or fails to comply with the Section 817(h) diversification requirements specified in Article VI hereof, or if the Company reasonably believes that such Portfolio may fail to so qualify or comply; or

 

(g)                                  termination by the Fund or Adviser by written notice to the Company in the event that the Contracts fail to meet the qualifications specified in Section 6.3 hereof; or

 

(h)                                 termination by either the Fund or the Adviser by written notice to the Company, if either one or both of the Fund or the Adviser 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 is the subject of material adverse publicity; or

 

(i)                                     termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and the Adviser, if the Company shall determine, in its sole judgment exercised in good faith, that the Fund or the Adviser has suffered a material adverse change in its business, operations, financial condition or prospects since the date of this Agreement or is the subject of material adverse publicity; or

 

(j)                                    termination by the Fund or the Adviser by written notice to the Company, if the Company gives the Fund and the Adviser the written notice specified in Section 1.7(a)(ii) hereof and at the time such notice was given there was no notice of termination outstanding under any other provision of this Agreement; provided, however, any termination under this Section 10.1(j) shall be effective forty-five days after the notice specified in Section 1.7(a)(ii) was given; or

 

(k)                                 termination by the Adviser or Fund if the Board has decided to (i) refuse to sell shares of any Designated Portfolio to the Company and/or any of its Accounts;

 

17

 

(ii) suspend or terminate the offering of shares of any Designated Portfolio; or (iii) dissolve, reorganize, liquidate, merge or sell all assets of the Trust or any Designated Portfolio, subject to the provisions of Section 1.1; or

 

(l)                                     termination by the Company upon any substitution of the shares of another investment company or series thereof for shares of a Designated Portfolio of the Fund in accordance with the terms of the Contracts, provided that the Company has given at least 45 days prior written notice to the Fund and Adviser of the date of substitution; or

 

(m)                             termination by any party in the event that the Board determines that a material irreconcilable conflict exists as provided in Article VII.

 

10.2.       (a)           Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, and except as provided in Section 10.2(b), the Fund and the Adviser shall, at the option of the Company, continue, until the one year anniversary from the date of termination, and from year to year thereafter if deemed appropriate by the Fund and the Adviser, to make available additional shares of the Fund pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for all Contracts in effect on the effective date of termination of this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as “Existing Contracts”).

 

Specifically, based on instructions from the owners of the Existing Contracts, the Accounts shall be permitted to redeem investments in the Designated Portfolios.

 

Company agrees, promptly after any termination of this Agreement, to take all steps necessary to redeem the investment of the Accounts in the Designated Portfolios within one year from the date of termination of the Agreement as provided in Article X.  Such steps shall include, but not be limited to, obtaining an order pursuant to Section 26(c) of the 1940 Act to permit the substitution of other securities for the shares of the Designated Portfolios.  The Fund or the Adviser may, in their discretion, permit the Accounts to continue to invest in the Designated Portfolios beyond such one year anniversary for an additional year beginning on the first annual anniversary of the date of termination, and from year to year thereafter; provided that the Fund or the Adviser agrees in writing to permit the Accounts to continue to invest in the Designated Portfolios at the beginning of any such year.

 

(b)           In the event (i) the Agreement is terminated pursuant to Sections 10.1(g) or 10.1(m), at the option of the Fund or the Adviser; or (ii) the one year anniversary of the termination of the Agreement is reached or, after waiver as provided in Section 10.2(a), such subsequent anniversary is reached (each of (i) and (ii) referred to as a “triggering event” and the date of termination as provided in (i) or the date of such anniversary as provided in (ii) referred to as the “request date”), the parties agree that such triggering event shall be considered as a request for immediate redemption of shares of the Designated Portfolios held by the Accounts, received by the Fund as of the request date, and the Fund agrees to process such redemption request in accordance with the 1940 Act and the regulations thereunder and the Fund’s registration statement.

 

(c)           The parties agree that this Section 10.2 shall not apply to any terminations under Article VII and the effect of such Article VII terminations shall be governed by Article VII of this Agreement.  The parties further agree that, to the extent that all or a portion of the assets of the Accounts continue to be invested in the Fund or any Designated Portfolio of the Fund, Articles I, II, VI, VII, VIII and IX will remain in effect after termination.

 

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10.3.       The Company shall not redeem Fund shares attributable to the Contracts (as opposed to Fund shares attributable to the Company’s assets held in the Account) except (i) as necessary to implement Contract owner initiated or approved transactions, (ii) as required by state and/or federal laws or regulations or judicial or other legal precedent of general application (hereinafter referred to as a “Legally Required Redemption”), (iii) upon 45 days prior written notice to the Fund and Adviser, as permitted by an order of the SEC pursuant to Section 26(c) of the 1940 Act, but only if a substitution of other securities for the shares of the Designated Portfolios is consistent with the terms of the Contracts, or (iv) as permitted under the terms of the Contract.  Upon request, the Company will promptly furnish to the Fund and the Adviser reasonable assurance that any redemption pursuant to clause (ii) above is a Legally Required Redemption.  Furthermore, except in cases where permitted under the terms of the Contracts, the Company shall not prevent Contract owners from allocating payments to a Portfolio that was otherwise available under the Contracts without first giving the Fund or the Adviser 45 days notice of its intention to do so.

 

10.4.       Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, each party’s obligation under Article VIII to indemnify the other parties shall survive.

 

10.5.       This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect upon the acquisition, merger or restructuring of any party unless another party objects and gives sixty days notice of its intent to terminate to all other parties.

 

ARTICLE XI.  Notices

 

Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or certified mail to the other party at the address of such party set forth below or at such other address as such party may from time to time specify in writing to the other party.

 

If to the Fund:

 

ProFunds/Access One Trust

 

 

c/o ProFund Advisors LLC

 

 

0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx

 

 

Xxxxx 0000

 

 

Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000

 

 

 

If to Adviser:

 

ProFund Advisors LLC

 

 

0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx

 

 

Xxxxx 0000

 

 

Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000

 

 

 

If to the Company:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company

 

 

000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx

 

 

Xxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000

 

ARTICLE XII.  Miscellaneous

 

12.1.       All persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the property of the respective Designated Portfolios listed on Schedule A hereto as though each such Designated Portfolio had separately contracted with the Company and the Adviser for the enforcement of any claims against

 

19

 

the Fund.  The parties agree that neither the Board, officers, agents or shareholders of the Fund assume any personal liability or responsibility for obligations entered into by or on behalf of the Fund.

 

12.2.       Subject to the requirements of legal process and regulatory authority, each party hereto shall treat as confidential the names and addresses of the owners of the Contracts and all information reasonably identified as confidential in writing by any other party hereto and, except as permitted by this Agreement, 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 such information has come into the public domain.

 

12.3.       The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.

 

12.4.       This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

12.5.       If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of the Agreement shall not be affected thereby.

 

12.6.       Each party hereto shall cooperate with each other party and all appropriate governmental authorities (including without limitation the SEC, the NASD, 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.  Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, each party hereto further agrees to furnish the Indiana Insurance Commissioner with any information or reports in connection with services provided under this Agreement which such Commissioner may request in order to ascertain whether the variable insurance operations of the Company are being conducted in a manner consistent with the Indiana insurance laws and regulations and any other applicable law or regulations.

 

12.7.       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.

 

12.8.       This Agreement or any of the rights and obligations hereunder may not be assigned by any party without the prior written consent of all parties hereto; provided, however, that the Adviser may assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder to any affiliate or company under common control with the Adviser, if such assignee is duly licensed and registered to perform services under this Agreement.  The Company shall promptly notify the Fund and the Adviser of any change in control of the Company.

 

12.9.       Upon written request, the Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the Fund or its designee copies of the following reports:

 

(a)                                 the Company’s annual statement (prepared under statutory accounting principles) and annual report (prepared under generally accepted accounting principles) filed with any state or federal regulatory body or otherwise made available to the public, as soon as practicable and in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year; and

 

20

 

(b)                                 any registration statement (without exhibits) and financial reports of the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any state insurance regulatory, as soon as practicable after the filing thereof.

 

12.10      For purposes of this paragraph, each of ProFunds and the Access One Trust are referred to as a “Trust.”  This Agreement constitutes a separate and distinguishable agreement as between Company and each Trust. The Agreement has been structured as a single document for convenience only. The representations, warranties, duties and obligations of each Trust hereunder are several, not joint. The representations, warranties, duties and obligations of Company to each Trust are separate and do not inure to another Trust. For purposes of this Agreement, references to Fund shall mean to each Fund on an individual basis. No Trust shall be responsible for the actions (or inactions) of another Trust.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be executed in its name and on its behalf by its duly authorized representative and its seal to be hereunder affixed hereto as of the date specified below.

 

The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company

 

 

 

 

By its authorized officer

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx

 

 

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

Date:

3/23/07

 

 

 

ProFunds

 

 

 

 

 

 

By its authorized officer

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ illegible

 

 

 

 

Title:

President

 

 

 

 

Date:

February 20, 2007

 

 

 

ProFund Advisors LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

By its authorized officer

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ illegible

 

 

 

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

Date:

February 20, 2007

 

21

 

Access One Trust

 

 

 

 

 

 

By its authorized officer

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ illegible

 

 

 

 

Title:

President

 

 

 

 

Date:

February 20, 2007

 

22

 

February 15, 2007

 

Schedule A

 

Account(s)

 

Contract(s)

 

Designated Portfolio(s)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lincoln Life Flexible Premium Variable Life Account Z for Lincoln National Life Insurance Company

 

Lincoln Corporate Variable Private Solutions

 

ProFund VP Asia 30
ProFund VP Europe 30
ProFund VP Financials
ProFund VP Health Care
ProFund VP Large-Cap Growth
ProFund VP Large-Cap Value
ProFund VP Rising Rates Opportunity
ProFund VP U.S. Government Plus
ProFund VP Small-Cap Growth
ProFund VP Small-Cap Value
ProFund VP Technology

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A-1

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Filed: April 24th, 2019
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