FUND PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company, Advanced Series Trust, AST Investment Services, Inc., and Prudential Investments LLC May 1, 2007
Exhibit (8)(a)
Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company,
Advanced Series Trust,
AST Investment Services, Inc.,
and
Prudential Investments LLC
May 1, 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| ARTICLE I. | Sale of Fund Shares | 4 | ||
| ARTICLE II. | Representations and Warranties | 8 | ||
| ARTICLE III. | Fund Documents, Voting and Administrative Services | 12 | ||
| ARTICLE IV. | Sales Material and Information | 14 | ||
| ARTICLE V. | Fees and Expenses | 17 | ||
| ARTICLE VI. | Diversification and Qualification | 17 | ||
| ARTICLE VII. | Potential Conflicts and Compliance With Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order | 19 | ||
| ARTICLE VIII. | Indemnification | 22 | ||
| ARTICLE IX. | Applicable Law | 28 | ||
| ARTICLE X. | Termination | 28 | ||
| ARTICLE XI. | Notices | 31 | ||
| ARTICLE XII. | Miscellaneous | 32 | ||
| SCHEDULE A | Contracts | 35 | ||
| SCHEDULE B | Designated Portfolios | 36 | ||
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
Among
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY,
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST,
AST INVESTMENT SERVICES, INC.,
and
PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENTS LLC
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered as of the 1st day of May, 2007, by and among PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY (the “Company”), a Connecticut life insurance company, on its own behalf and on behalf of its separate accounts (the “Accounts”); ADVANCED SERIES TRUST, an open-end management investment company organized under the laws of Massachusetts (the “Fund”); AST INVESTMENT SERVICES, INC., a Connecticut corporation (“ASTISI”); and PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENTS LLC, a New York limited liability company (“PI,” and together with ASTISI, the “Advisers” and each an “Adviser”).
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 policies and/or variable annuity contracts (collectively, the “Variable Insurance Products”) to be offered by insurance companies (“Participating Insurance Companies”); and
WHEREAS, the beneficial interest in the Fund is divided into several series of shares, each designated a Portfolio and representing the interest in a particular managed portfolio of securities and other assets; and
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WHEREAS, the Fund has obtained an order from the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), dated August 1, 1995 (File No. 812-9384) (the “Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order”), granting Participating Insurance Companies and variable annuity and variable life insurance separate accounts exemptions from the provisions of sections 9(a), 13(a), 15(a), and 15(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15) thereunder, to the extent necessary to permit shares of the Fund to be sold to and held by variable annuity and variable life insurance separate accounts of life insurance companies that may or may not be affiliated with one another and qualified pension and retirement plans (“Qualified Plans”); and
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment company under the 1940 Act and shares of the Portfolio(s) are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”); and
WHEREAS, each Adviser is duly registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended; and
WHEREAS, the Company has issued and plans to continue to issue certain variable life insurance policies and/or variable annuity contracts supported wholly or partially by the Accounts (the “Contracts”); and such Contracts are listed in Schedule A attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, as such schedule may be amended from time to time by mutual written agreement of the parties; and
WHEREAS, each Account is a duly organized, validly existing segregated asset account, established by resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company under the insurance laws of the State of Connecticut, to set aside and invest assets attributable to the Contracts; and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and regulations, the Company intends to continue to purchase shares in the Portfolios listed on Schedule B attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, as such schedule may be amended from time to time
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by mutual written agreement of the parties (the “Portfolios”), on behalf of the Accounts to fund the Contracts, and the Fund is authorized to sell such shares to unit investment trusts such as the Accounts at net asset value; and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and regulations, the Company also intends to continue to purchase shares in other open-end investment companies or series thereof not affiliated with the Fund (the “Unaffiliated Funds”) on behalf of the Accounts to fund the Contracts.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Company, the Fund and the Advisers agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. Sale of Fund Shares
1.1. The Fund agrees to sell to the Company those shares of the Portfolios which the Account orders, executing such orders on each Business Day at the net asset value next computed after receipt by the Fund or its designee of the order for the shares of the Portfolios. For purposes of this Section 1.1, the Company shall be the designee of the Fund for receipt of such orders and receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund, provided that the Fund receives notice of any such order by 10:00 a.m. Eastern time on the next following Business Day. “Business Day” shall mean any day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which the Portfolio calculates its net asset value pursuant to the rules of the SEC as described in the then-current Registration Statement of the Fund on Form N-1A. “Valuation Time” shall mean the time as of which the Fund calculates net asset value for the shares of the Portfolios on the relevant Business Day.
1.2. The Fund agrees to make shares of the Portfolios available for purchase at the applicable net asset value per share by the Company and the Accounts on those days on which the Fund calculates its Portfolios’ net asset value pursuant to rules of the SEC, and the Fund shall calculate such net asset value on each day which the New York Stock Exchange is open for
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trading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund may refuse to sell shares of any Portfolio to any person, or suspend or terminate the offering of shares of any Portfolio if such action is required by law or by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction or is, in the sole discretion of the Fund acting in good faith, necessary or appropriate in the best interests of the shareholders of such Portfolio. All orders accepted by the Company shall be subject to the terms of the then current prospectus of the Fund. The Company shall use its best efforts, and shall reasonably cooperate with, the Fund to enforce stated prospectus policies regarding transactions in Portfolio shares. The Company acknowledges that orders for Portfolio shares accepted by it in violation of the stated policies of the Fund as set forth in the Fund’s prospectus may be subsequently revoked or cancelled by the Fund and that the Fund shall not be responsible for any losses incurred by the Company or the Contract owner as a result of such cancellation. In addition, the Company acknowledges that the Fund has the right to refuse any purchase order if the Fund determines, in its sole discretion, that: (i) a Portfolio would be unable to invest the money effectively in accordance with its investment policies, (ii) a Portfolio would otherwise be adversely affected due to the size of the transaction, frequency of trading, or other factors, (iii) the completion of such purchase order would conflict with any of the Fund’s then-current policies and procedures or any disclosure set forth in the Fund’s registration statement; or (iv) the completion of the purchase order would violate any law, rule, regulation or court order.
1.3. The Fund will not sell shares of the Portfolios to any other Participating Insurance Company separate account unless an agreement containing provisions the substance of which are the same as Sections 2.1, 2.2 (except with respect to designation of applicable law), 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, and Article VII of this Agreement is in effect to govern such sales.
1.4. The Fund agrees to redeem for cash, on the Company’s request, any full or fractional shares of the Fund held by the Company, executing such requests on each Business Day at the net asset value next computed after receipt by the Fund or its designee of the request for redemption. For purposes of this Section 1.4, the Company shall be the designee of the Fund for receipt of requests for redemption and receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund, provided that the Fund receives notice of any such request for redemption by 10:00 a.m. Eastern time on the next following Business Day.
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1.5. The parties hereto acknowledge that the arrangement contemplated by this Agreement is not exclusive; the Fund’s shares may be sold to other Participating Insurance Companies (subject to Section 1.3) and the cash value of the Contracts may be invested in other investment companies.
1.6. The Company shall pay for Fund shares by 3:00 p.m. Eastern time on the next Business Day after an order to purchase Fund shares is received in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.1 hereof. Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire and/or by a credit for any shares redeemed the same day as the purchase.
1.7. The Fund shall pay and transmit the proceeds of redemptions of Fund shares by 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the next Business Day after a redemption order is received in accordance with Section 1.4 hereof; provided, however, that the Fund may delay payment in extraordinary circumstances to the extent permitted under Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act. Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire and/or a credit for any shares purchased the same day as the redemption.
1.8. Issuance and transfer of the Fund’s shares will be by book entry only. Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or the Accounts. Shares purchased from the Fund will be recorded in an appropriate title for the relevant Account or the relevant sub-account of an Account.
1.9. The Fund shall furnish same day notice (by electronic communication or telephone, followed by electronic confirmation) to the Company of any income, dividends or capital gain distributions payable on a Portfolio’s shares. The Company hereby elects to receive all such income dividends and capital gain distributions as are payable on a Portfolio’s shares in additional shares of that Portfolio. The Company reserves the right to revoke this election and to receive all such income dividends and capital gain distributions in cash. The Fund shall either notify the Company by the end of the next following Business Day of the number of shares so issued as payment of such dividends and distributions or provide the Company with an internet-based or other method to obtain such information.
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1.10. The Fund shall make the net asset value per share for each Portfolio available to the Company on each Business Day as soon as reasonably practicable after the net asset value per share is calculated and shall use its best efforts to make the net asset value per share for each Portfolio available by 7:00 p.m. Eastern time. In the event of an error in the computation of a Portfolio’s net asset value per share (“NAV”) or any dividend or capital gain distribution (each, a “pricing error”), an Adviser or the Fund shall notify the Company as soon as reasonably possible after discovery of the error. Such notification may be verbal, but shall be confirmed promptly in writing. A pricing error shall be corrected as follows: (a) if the pricing error results in a difference between the erroneous NAV and the correct NAV of less than $0.01 per share, then no corrective action need be taken; (b) if the pricing error results in a difference between the erroneous NAV and the correct NAV equal to or greater than $0.01 per share, but less than 1/2 of 1% of the Portfolio’s NAV at the time of the error, then the Advisers shall reimburse the Portfolio for any loss, after taking into consideration any positive effect of such error; however, no adjustments to Contract owner accounts need be made; and (c) if the pricing error results in a difference between the erroneous NAV and the correct NAV equal to or greater than 1/2 of 1% of the Portfolio’s NAV at the time of the error, then the Advisers shall reimburse the Portfolio for any loss (without taking into consideration any positive effect of such error) and shall reimburse the Company for reasonable and customary costs of making adjustments to correct Contract owner accounts. If an adjustment is necessary to correct a material error which has caused Contract owners to receive less than the amount to which they are entitled, the number of shares of the applicable sub-account of such Contract owners will be adjusted and the amount of any underpayments shall be credited by the Advisers to the Company for crediting of such amounts to the applicable sub-accounts of such Contract owners. Upon notification by an Adviser of any overpayment due to a material error, the Company shall promptly remit to the Advisers any overpayment that has not been paid to Contract owners. In no event shall the Company be liable to Contract owners for any such adjustments or underpayment amounts. A pricing error within categories (b) or (c) above shall be deemed to be “materially incorrect” or constitute a “material
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error” for purposes of this Agreement. The standards set forth in this Section 1.10 are based on the parties’ understanding of the views expressed by the staff of the SEC as of the date of this Agreement. In the event the views of the SEC staff are later modified or superseded by SEC or judicial interpretation, the parties shall amend the foregoing provisions of this Agreement to comport with the appropriate applicable standards, on terms mutually satisfactory to all parties.
ARTICLE II. Representations and Warranties
2.1. The Company represents and warrants that: (a) the securities deemed to be issued by the Accounts under the Contracts are or will be registered under the 1933 Act, or are not so registered in proper reliance upon an exemption from such registration requirements; (b) the Contracts will be issued and sold in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and state laws; and (c) the sale of the Contracts shall comply in all material respects with state insurance suitability requirements.
2.2. The Company represents and warrants that: (a) it is an insurance company duly organized and in good standing under applicable law; (b) it has legally and validly established each Account prior to any issuance or sale of units thereof as a segregated asset account under Connecticut law; and (c) it has registered each Account as a unit investment trust in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act to serve as a segregated investment account for the Contracts, and will maintain such registration for so long as any Contracts are outstanding as required by applicable law or, alternatively, the Company has not registered one or more Accounts in proper reliance upon an exclusion from such registration requirements.
2.3. The Fund represents and warrants that: (a) the Fund shares sold pursuant to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act; (b) the Fund shares sold pursuant to this Agreement shall be duly authorized for issuance and sold in compliance with all applicable federal securities laws, including without limitation, the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, and the 1940 Act; (c) the Fund is and shall remain a registered investment company under the 1940 Act; and (d) 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.
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2.4. The parties acknowledge that the Fund reserves the right to adopt one or more plans pursuant to Rule 12b-l under the 1940 Act and to impose an asset-based or other charge to finance distribution expenses as permitted by applicable law and regulation. The Fund and the Advisers agree to comply with applicable provisions and SEC interpretation of the 1940 Act with respect to any distribution plan.
2.5. The Fund represents and warrants that it shall register and qualify the shares for sale in accordance with the laws of the various states if and to the extent required by applicable law.
2.6. The Fund represents and warrants 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.
2.7. Each Adviser represents and warrants that it is and shall remain duly registered as an investment adviser under all applicable federal and state securities laws and that it shall perform its obligations for the Fund in compliance in all material respects with any applicable state and federal securities laws.
2.8. The Fund and the Advisers represent and warrant that all of their respective officers, employees, investment advisers, 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 one or more blanket fidelity bonds or similar coverage for the benefit of the Fund in an amount not less than the minimal coverage required by Rule 17g-l under the 1940 Act or related provisions as may be promulgated from time to time. The aforesaid bonds shall include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable bonding company.
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2.9. The Fund and the Advisers represent and warrant that they will provide the Company with as much advance notice as is reasonably practicable of any material change affecting the Portfolios (including, but not limited to, any material change in the registration statement or prospectus affecting the Portfolios) and any proxy solicitation affecting the Portfolios and consult with the Company in order to implement any such change in an orderly manner, recognizing the expenses of changes and attempting to minimize such expenses by implementing them in conjunction with regular annual updates of the prospectus for the Contracts.
2.10 The Company represents and warrants, for purposes other than diversification under Section 817 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended (the “Code”), that the Contracts are currently and at the time of issuance will be treated as annuity contracts or life insurance policies under applicable provisions of the Code, and that it will make every effort to maintain such treatment and that it will notify the Fund and the Advisers immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Contracts have ceased to be so treated or that they may not be so treated in the future. In addition, the Company represents and warrants that each Account is a “segregated asset account” and that interests in each Account are offered exclusively through the purchase of or transfer into a “variable contract” within the meaning of such terms under Section 817 of the Code and the regulations thereunder. The Company will use best efforts to continue to meet such definitional requirements, and it will notify the Fund and the Advisers immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that such requirements have ceased to be met or that they may not be met in the future. The Company represents and warrants that it will not purchase Fund shares with assets derived from tax-qualified retirement plans except, indirectly, through Contracts purchased in connection with such plans.
2.11. The Company represents and warrants that it is currently in compliance, and will remain in compliance, with all applicable anti-money laundering laws, regulations, and requirements. In addition, the Company represents and warrants that it has adopted and implemented policies and procedures reasonably designed to achieve compliance with the applicable requirements administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
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2.12. The Company represents and warrants that it is currently in compliance, and will remain in compliance, with all applicable laws, rules and regulations relating to consumer privacy, including, but not limited to, Regulation S-P.
2.13. The Company represents and warrants that it has adopted, and will at all times during the term of this Agreement maintain, reasonable and appropriate procedures (“Late Trading Procedures”) designed to ensure that any and all orders relating to the purchase, sale or exchange of Fund shares communicated to the Fund are treated in accordance with Article I of this Agreement as having been received on a Business Day have been received by the Valuation Time on such Business Day and were not modified after the Valuation Time, and that all orders received from Contract owners but not rescinded by the Valuation Time were communicated to the Fund or its agent as received for that Business Day. Each transmission of orders by the Company shall constitute a representation by the Company that such orders are accurate and complete and relate to orders received by the Company by the Valuation Time on the Business Day for which the order is to be priced and that such transmission includes all orders relating to Fund shares received from Contract owners but not rescinded by the Valuation Time. The Company agrees to provide the Fund or its designee with a copy of the Late Trading Procedures and such certifications and representations regarding the Late Trading Procedures as the Fund or its designee may reasonably request. The Company will promptly notify the Fund in writing of any material change to the Late Trading Procedures.
2.14. The Company represents and warrants that it has adopted, and will at all times during the term of this Agreement maintain, reasonable and appropriate procedures (“Market Timing Procedures”) designed to minimize any adverse impact on other Fund investors due to excessive trading. The Company agrees to provide the Fund or its designee with a copy of the Market Timing Procedures and such certifications and representations regarding the Market Timing Procedures as the Fund or its designee may reasonably request. The Company will
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promptly notify the Fund in writing of any material change to the Market Timing Procedures. The parties agree to cooperate in light of any conflict between the Market Timing Procedures and actions taken or policies adopted by the Fund designed to minimize any adverse impact on other Fund investors due to excessive trading.
2.15. The Fund and the Advisers make no representation as to whether any aspect of the Fund’s operations (including, but not limited to, fees and expenses and investment policies) complies with the insurance laws or regulations of the various states.
2.16. To the extent required by Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act or other applicable law, the Company agrees (a) to provide, promptly upon request by the Fund, the taxpayer identification number of all Contract owners that purchased, redeemed, transferred, or exchanged indirect investments in the Portfolios, and the amount and dates of such Contract owner purchases, redemptions, transfers and exchanges; and (b) to execute any instructions from the Fund to restrict or prohibit further purchases or exchanges of indirect investments in the Fund by a Contract owner who has been identified by the Fund as having engaged in transactions in Fund shares (directly or indirectly) that violate policies established by the Fund for the purpose of eliminating or reducing any dilution of the value of Fund shares.
ARTICLE III. Fund Documents, Voting and Administrative Services
3.1. The Fund and/or an Adviser shall provide to the Company an electronic copy of any updated version of the Fund’s prospectus and any supplement thereto. The Company shall be responsible for printing and delivering copies of the Fund’s current prospectus, including any supplements, to all Contract owners.
3.2. The Fund and/or an Adviser shall provide to the Company an electronic copy of any updated Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) for the Fund and any supplement thereto. The Company shall be responsible for printing and delivering a copy of the Fund’s SAI to any current Contract owner that requests a copy of the Fund’s XXX
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3.3. The Fund and/or an Adviser shall provide the Company with an electronic copy of all Fund proxy material, Fund information statements and Fund shareholder reports. The Company shall be responsible for printing and delivering to all Contract owners electronic copy of all Fund proxy material, Fund information statements and Fund shareholder reports
3.4. It is understood and agreed that, except with respect to information regarding the Company provided in writing by the Company to the Fund or an Adviser, the Company shall not be responsible for the content of the prospectus or SAI for the Fund. It is also understood and agreed that, except with respect to information regarding the Fund, the Advisers or the Portfolios provided in writing by the Fund, or an Adviser, neither the Fund, nor the Advisers are responsible for the content of the prospectus or SAI for the Contracts.
3.5. If and to the extent required by law the Company shall:
(a) solicit voting instructions from Contract owners;
(b) vote the Portfolio shares held in the Accounts in accordance with instructions received from Contract owners; and
(c) vote Portfolio shares held in the Accounts for which no instructions have been received in the same proportion as Portfolio shares for which instructions have been received from Contract owners, so long as and to the extent that the SEC continues to interpret the 1940 Act to require pass-through voting privileges for variable contract owners.
3.6. The Company shall be responsible for assuring that each of its separate accounts holding shares of a Portfolio calculates voting privileges as directed by the Fund and agreed to by the Company and the Fund. The Fund agrees to promptly notify the Company of any changes of interpretations or amendments of the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order.
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3.7. The Fund will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act requiring voting by shareholders, and in particular the Fund will either provide for annual meetings (except insofar as the SEC may interpret Section 16 of the 1940 Act not to require such meetings) or, as the Fund currently intends, comply with Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act (although the Fund is not one of the trusts described in Section 16(c) of that Act) as well as with Sections 16(a) and, if and when applicable, 16(b). Further, the Fund will act in accordance with the SEC’s interpretation of the requirements of Section 16(a) with respect to periodic elections of directors or trustees and with whatever rules the SEC may promulgate with respect thereto.
3.8 The Company shall provide the following administrative services to the Fund and Contract owners investing indirectly in the Fund: (a) provide net purchase and redemption orders in accordance with Article I; (b) assist the Fund and the Advisers with any proxy solicitations; and (c) respond to inquiries from Contract owners regarding current investments in the Fund.
ARTICLE IV. Sales Material and Information
4.1. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the Fund or its designee, a copy of each piece of sales literature or other promotional material that the Company develops or proposes to use and in which the Fund (or a Portfolio thereof) or the Adviser is named in connection with the Contracts, at least five (5) Business Days prior to its use. No such material shall be used by the Company if the Fund or its designee objects to the description of, or presentation of information relating to, the Fund (or a Portfolio thereof) or an Adviser within three (3) Business Days after receipt of such material. The pre-review requirements set forth in the immediately preceding sentences of this Section 4.1 shall not apply: (i) to performance or other quantitative reports developed and updated by the Company solely with information supplied by public databases, such as Morningstar and Lipper, (ii) to materials that refer to the Portfolios solely as a part of a listing of products or services offered, or (iii) to the extent Prudential Investment Management Services LLC (“PIMS”) provides marketing review services to each of the Company, the Fund, and at least one of the Advisers and such materials have been reviewed and approved on behalf of the Company by an appropriately licensed associated person of PIMS.
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4.2. The Company shall not give any information or make any representations or statements on behalf of or concerning the Fund or an Adviser in connection with the sale of the Contracts other than the information or representations contained in the registration statement, including the prospectus or SAI, for the Fund as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in sales literature or other promotional material approved by the Fund or an Adviser, except with the permission of the Fund or an Adviser.
4.3. The Fund or an Adviser shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the Company, a copy of each piece of sales literature or other promotional material in which the Company and/or its separate account(s) is named at least five (5) Business Days prior to its use. No such material shall be used by the Fund or the Advisers if the Company or its designee objects to the description of, or presentation of information relating to, the Company, its separate account(s), and/or the Contracts within three (3) Business Days after receipt of such material. The pre-review requirements set forth in the immediately preceding sentences of this Section 4.3 shall not apply to the extent PIMS provides marketing review services to each of the Company, the Fund, and at least one of the Advisers and such materials have been reviewed and approved on behalf of the Fund or one of the Advisers by an appropriately licensed associated person of PIMS.
4.4. The Fund and the Advisers shall not give any information or make any representations on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company, the Accounts, or the Contracts other than the information or representations contained in a registration statement, including the prospectus or SAI, for the Contracts as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in sales literature or other promotional material approved by the Company or its designee, except with the permission of the Company.
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4.5. The Fund or an Adviser will provide to the Company at least one complete copy of all registration statements, prospectuses, SAIs, sales literature and other promotional materials, applications for exemptions, requests for no-action letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that relate to the Fund within a reasonable period of time following the filing of such document(s) with the SEC or NASD or other regulatory authorities.
4.6. The Company will provide to the Fund at least one complete copy of all registration statements, prospectuses, 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 Accounts, within a reasonable period of time following the filing of such document(s) with the SEC, NASD, or other regulatory authority.
4.7. For purposes of Articles IV and VIII, the phrase “sales literature and other promotional material” includes, but is not limited to, advertisements (such as material published, or designed for use in, a newspaper, magazine, or other periodical, radio, television, telephone or tape recording, videotape display, signs or billboards, motion pictures, or other public media; e.g., on-line networks such as the Internet or other electronic media), sales literature (i.e., any written communication distributed or made generally available to customers or the public, including brochures, circulars, research reports, market letters, form letters, seminar texts, reprints or excerpts of any other advertisement, sales literature, or published article), educational or training materials or other communications distributed or made generally available to some or all agents or employees, and shareholder reports, and proxy materials (including solicitations for voting instructions) and any other material constituting sales literature or advertising under the NASD rules, the 1933 Act or the 0000 Xxx.
4.8. At the request of any party to this Agreement, each other party will make available to the other party’s independent auditors and/or representatives of the appropriate regulatory agencies, all records, data and access to operating procedures that may be reasonably requested in connection with compliance and regulatory requirements related to this Agreement or any party’s obligations under this Agreement.
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ARTICLE V. Fees and Expenses
5.1. In consideration of the services provided by the Company to the Fund as set forth in Article III of this Agreement, the Fund will pay the Company a fee equal to 0.07% on an annualized basis of the average daily net assets of shares of the Fund owned by the Accounts of the Company. By mutual agreement, the Fund may increase this fee to an amount not to exceed 0.10% on an annualized basis. The fee shall be payable monthly, within 10 days after the end of each month.
5.2 The Company will pay registration fees under Rule 24f-2 as required by law.
ARTICLE VI. Diversification and Qualification
6.1. The Fund and the Advisers represent and warrant that the Fund and each Portfolio thereof will at all times comply with Section 817(h) of the Code and Treasury Regulation §1.817-5, as amended from time to time, and any Treasury interpretations thereof, relating to the diversification requirements for variable annuity, endowment, or life insurance contracts and any amendments or other modifications or successor provisions to such Section or Regulations. The Fund or an Adviser shall provide to the Company a quarterly written certification as to whether each Portfolio complies with the Section 817(h) diversification requirements.
6.2. The Fund and the Advisers agree that shares of the Portfolios will be sold only to Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts and to Qualified Plans. No shares of any Portfolio of the Fund will be sold to the general public.
6.3. The Fund or an Adviser will notify the Company immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Fund or any Portfolio has ceased to comply with the Section 817(h) diversification requirements or might not so comply in the future.
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6.4. Without in any way limiting the effect of Sections 8.2, 8.3 and 8.4 hereof and without in any way limiting or restricting any other remedies available to the Company, an Adviser will pay all costs associated with or arising out of any failure, or any anticipated or reasonably foreseeable failure, of the Fund or any Portfolio to comply with Sections 6.1 or 6.2 hereof, including all costs associated with reasonable and appropriate corrections or responses to any such failure; such costs may include, but are not limited to, the costs involved in creating, organizing, and registering a new investment company as a funding medium for the Contracts and/or the costs of obtaining whatever regulatory authorizations are required to substitute shares of another investment company for those of the failed Portfolio (including but not limited to an order pursuant to Section 26(c) of the 1940 Act).
6.5. The Company agrees that if the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) asserts in writing in connection with any governmental audit or review of the Company (or, to the Company’s knowledge, of any Contract owner) that any Portfolio has failed to comply with the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Code or the Company otherwise becomes aware of any facts that could give rise to any claim against the Fund or an Adviser as a result of such a failure or alleged failure:
(a) The Company shall promptly notify the Fund and the Advisers of such assertion or potential claim;
(b) The Company shall consult with the Fund and the Advisers as to how to minimize any liability that may arise as a result of such failure or alleged failure;
(c) The Company shall use its best efforts to minimize any liability of the Fund and the Advisers resulting from such failure, including, without limitation, demonstrating, pursuant to Treasury Regulations, Section 1.817-5(a)(2), to the commissioner of the IRS that such failure was inadvertent;
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(d) Any written materials to be submitted by the Company to the IRS, any Contract owner or any other claimant in connection with any of the foregoing proceedings or contests (including, without limitation, any such materials to be submitted to the IRS pursuant to Treasury Regulations, Section 1.817-5(a)(2)) shall be provided by the Company to the Fund and the Advisers (together with any supporting information or analysis) within at least two (2) business days prior to submission;
(e) The Company shall provide the Fund and the Advisers with such cooperation as the Fund and the Advisers shall reasonably request (including, without limitation, by permitting the Fund and the Advisers to review the relevant books and records of the Company) in order to facilitate review by the Fund and the Advisers of any written submissions provided to it or its assessment of the validity or amount of any claim against it arising from such failure or alleged failure;
(f) The Company shall not with respect to any claim of the IRS or any Contract owner that would give rise to a claim against the Fund and the Advisers (i) compromise or settle any claim, (ii) accept any adjustment on audit, or (iii) forego any allowable administrative or judicial appeals, without the express written consent of the Fund and the Advisers, which shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided that, the Company shall not be required to appeal any adverse judicial decision unless the Fund and the Advisers shall have provided an opinion of independent counsel to the effect that a reasonable basis exists for taking such appeal; and further provided that the Fund and the Advisers shall bear the costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees, incurred by the Company in complying with this clause (f).
ARTICLE VII. Potential Conflicts and Compliance With Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order
7.1. The Fund’s Board of Trustees (the “Board”) will monitor the Fund for the existence of any material irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the Contract owners of all separate accounts investing in the Fund. An irreconcilable material conflict may arise for a
19
variety of reasons, including: (a) an action by any state insurance regulatory authority; (b) a change in applicable federal or state insurance, tax, or securities laws or regulations, or a public ruling, private letter ruling, no-action or interpretative letter, or any similar action by insurance, tax, or securities regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative or judicial decision in any relevant proceeding; (d) the manner in which the investments of any Portfolio is being managed; (e) a difference in voting instructions given by variable annuity contract and variable life insurance contract owners or by contract owners of different Participating Insurance Companies; or (f) a decision by a Participating Insurance Company to disregard the voting instructions of Contract owners. The Board shall promptly inform the Company if it determines that an irreconcilable material conflict exists and the implications thereof.
7.2. The Company will report any potential or existing material conflicts of which it is aware to the Board. The Company will assist the Board in carrying out its responsibilities under the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order, by providing the Board with all information reasonably necessary for the Board to consider any issues raised. This includes, but is not limited to, an obligation by the Company to inform the Board whenever Contract owner voting instructions are to be disregarded. Such responsibilities shall be carried out by the Company with a view only to the best interests of its Contract owners.
7.3. If it is determined by a majority of the Board, or a majority of its trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, an Adviser or any subadviser to any of the Portfolios as defined in Section 2(a)19) of the 1940 Act (the “Independent Trustees”), that a material irreconcilable conflict exists, the Company and other Participating Insurance Companies shall, at their expense and to the extent reasonably practicable (as determined by a majority of the Independent Trustees), take whatever steps are necessary to remedy or eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict, up to and including: (1) withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the separate accounts from the Fund or any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a different investment medium, including (but not limited to) another Portfolio, or submitting the question whether such segregation should be implemented to a vote of all affected Contract owners and, as appropriate, segregating the assets of any appropriate group (i.e., annuity contract
20
owners, life insurance contract owners, or variable contract owners of one or more Participating Insurance Companies) that votes in favor of such segregation, or offering to the affected contract owners the option of making such a change; and (2) establishing a new registered management investment company or managed separate account.
7.4. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a decision by the Company to disregard Contract owner voting instructions and that decision represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote, the Company may be required, at the Fund’s election, to withdraw the Account’s investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement; provided, however, that such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by the foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the Independent Trustees. Any such withdrawal and termination must take place within six (6) months after the Fund gives written notice that this provision is being implemented, and until the end of that six-month period the Advisers and the Fund shall continue to accept and implement orders by the Company for the purchase (and redemption) of shares of the Fund.
7.5. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a particular state insurance regulator’s decision applicable to the Company conflicts with the majority of other state regulators, then the Company will withdraw the Account’s investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement within six months after the Board informs the Company in writing that it has determined that such decision has created an irreconcilable material conflict; provided, however, that such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by the foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the Independent Trustees. Until the end of the foregoing six-month period, the Fund shall continue to accept and implement orders by the Company for the purchase (and redemption) of shares of the Fund.
7.6. For purposes of Sections 7.3 through 7.5 of this Agreement, a majority of the Independent Trustees shall determine whether any proposed action adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict, but in no event will the Fund be required to establish a new funding medium for the Contracts. The Company shall not be required by Section 7.3 to
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establish a new funding medium for the Contracts if an offer to do so has been declined by vote of a majority of Contract owners affected by the irreconcilable material conflict. In the event that the Board determines that any proposed action does not adequately remedy any irreconcilable material conflict, then the Company will withdraw the Account’s investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement within six (6) months after the Board informs the Company in writing of the foregoing determination; provided, however, that such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by any such material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the Independent Trustees.
7.7. If and to the extent that Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) are amended, or Rule 6e-3 is adopted, to provide exemptive relief from any provision of the 1940 Act or the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to mixed or shared funding (as defined in the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order) on terms and conditions materially different from those contained in the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order, then (a) the Fund and/or the Participating Insurance Companies, as appropriate, shall take such steps as may be necessary to comply with Rules 6e-2 and 6e-3(T), as amended, and Rule 6e-3, as adopted, to the extent such rules are applicable; and (b) Sections 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 of this Agreement shall continue in effect only to the extent that terms and conditions substantially identical to such Sections are contained in such Rule(s) as so amended or adopted.
ARTICLE VIII. Indemnification
8.1. Indemnification By The Company
(a) As limited by and in accordance with Sections 8.1(b) and 8.1(c) hereof, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and the Advisers and each of their respective officers and directors or trustees and each person, if any. who controls the Fund or an Adviser within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties” for purposes of this Section 8.1) against any and all losses, claims, expenses, damages and liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Company) or
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litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, expenses, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements are related to the sale or acquisition of the Fund’s shares or the Contracts and:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements or alleged untrue statements of any material fact contained in the registration statement or prospectus or SAI covering the Contracts or contained in the Contracts or sales literature or other promotional material for the Contracts (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, provided that this Agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of an Adviser or the Fund for use in the registration statement or prospectus for the Contracts or in the Contracts or sales literature or other promotional material (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing) or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other than: (a) statements or representations contained in the registration statement or prospectus of the Fund not supplied by the Company or persons under its control, or (b) sales literature or other promotional material of the Fund not supplied by the Company or persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of the Company or persons under its control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or 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 or other promotional material 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 in writing to the Fund by or on behalf of the Company; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Company to provide the services and furnish the materials under the terms of this Agreement; or
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(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, including without limitation Section 2.11 and Section 6.5 hereof.
(b) The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities or litigation to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of such Indemnified Party’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, or negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party’s duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party’s reckless disregard of obligations or duties under this Agreement or to any of the Indemnified Parties.
(c) The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Company in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Company of any such claim shall not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this indemnification provision, except to the extent that the Company has been prejudiced by such failure to give notice. In case any such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties, the Company shall be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense of such action. The Company also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from the Company to such party of the Company’s election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Company will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any claim, action, suit, or proceeding settled by an Indemnified Party without the Company’s written approval.
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(d) The Indemnified Parties will promptly notify the Company of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against them in connection with the issuance or sale of the Fund Shares or the Contracts or the operation of the Fund.
8.2. Indemnification by the Advisers
(a) Each Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties” for purposes of this Section 8.2) against any and all losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of an Adviser) or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements are related to the sale or acquisition of the Fund’s shares or the Contracts and:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the registration statement or prospectus or SAI or sales literature or other promotional material of the Fund prepared by the Fund or an Adviser (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, provided that this Agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to an Adviser or the Fund by or on behalf of the Company for use in the registration statement, prospectus or SAI for the Fund or in sales literature or other promotional material (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing) or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or the 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 or other promotional material for the Contracts not supplied by the Fund or an Adviser or persons under its
25
control) or wrongful conduct of the Fund or an Adviser or persons under their control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a registration statement, prospectus, SAI, or sales literature or other promotional material covering the Contracts, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement or statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of an Adviser or the Fund; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund or an Adviser 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
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any representation and/or warranty made by the Fund or an Adviser in this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by an Adviser or the Fund; or
(vi) arise out of or result from the incorrect or untimely calculation or reporting by the Fund or an Adviser of a Portfolio’s daily NAV per share (subject to Section 1.10 of this Agreement) or dividend or capital gain distribution rate;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.2(b) and 8.2(c) hereof. This indemnification is in addition to and apart from the responsibilities and obligations of the Advisers specified in Article VI hereof.
(b) The Advisers shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities or litigation to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of such Indemnified Party’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, or negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party’s duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party’s reckless disregard of obligations or duties under this Agreement or to any of the Indemnified Parties.
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(c) The Advisers 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 Advisers 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 Advisers of any such claim shall not relieve the Advisers from any liability which they may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this indemnification provision, except to the extent that the Advisers have been prejudiced by such failure to give notice. In case any such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties, the Advisers will be entitled to participate, at their own expense, in the defense thereof. The Advisers also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from the Advisers to such party of the Advisers’ election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Advisers 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. The Adviser shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any claim, action, suit, or proceeding settled by an Indemnified Party without an Adviser’s written approval.
(d) The Company agrees promptly to notify the Advisers of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers or directors in connection with the issuance or sale of the Contracts or the operation of the Account.
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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 New Jersey, without regard to the New Jersey conflict of laws provisions.
9.2. This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the 1933, 1934 and 1940 Acts, and the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder, including such exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as the SEC may grant (including, but not limited to, the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order) and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance therewith.
ARTICLE X. Termination
10.1. This Agreement shall terminate:
(a) at the option of any party, with or without cause, with respect to some or all Portfolios, upon six (6) months advance written notice delivered to the other parties; or
(b) at the option of the Company, by written notice to the other parties with respect to any Portfolio based upon the Company’s determination that shares of such Portfolio are not reasonably available to meet the requirements of the Contracts; or
(c) at the option of the Company, by written notice to the other parties with respect to any Portfolio in the event any of the Portfolio’s shares are not registered, issued or sold in accordance with applicable state and/or federal law or such law precludes the use of such Portfolio as the underlying investment option of the Contracts issued or to be issued by the Company; or
28
(d) at the option of the Fund or an Adviser, in the event that formal administrative proceedings are instituted against the Company by the NASD, the SEC, the insurance commissioner or comparable 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 Fund shares, if, in each case, the Fund or an Adviser, as the case may be, reasonably determines in its sole judgment exercised in good faith, that any such administrative proceedings will have a material adverse effect upon the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement; or
(e) at the option of the Company, in the event that formal administrative proceedings are instituted against the Fund or an Adviser by the NASD, the SEC, or any state securities or insurance department or any other regulatory body, if the Company reasonably determines in its sole judgment exercised in good faith, that any such administrative proceedings will have a material adverse effect upon the ability of the Fund or an Adviser to perform its obligations under this Agreement; or
(f) at the option of the Company, by written notice to the Fund with respect to any Portfolio if the Company reasonably believes that the Portfolio will fail to meet the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Code specified in Article VI hereof; or
(g) at the option of any non-defaulting party hereto, in the event of a material breach of this Agreement by any party hereto (the “defaulting party”) other than as described in Section 10.1(a)-(h); provided, that the non-defaulting party gives written notice thereof to the defaulting party, with copies of such notice to all other non-defaulting parties, and if such breach shall not have been remedied within thirty (30) days after such written notice is given, then the non-defaulting party giving such written notice may terminate this Agreement by giving thirty (30) days written notice of termination to the defaulting party; or
(h) at any time upon written agreement of all parties to this Agreement.
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10.2. Notice Requirement
No termination of this Agreement shall be effective unless and until the party terminating this Agreement gives prior written notice to all other parties of its intent to terminate, which notice shall set forth the basis for the termination. Furthermore,
(a) in the event any termination is based upon the provisions of Article VII, or the provisions of Section 10.1 (a) of this Agreement, the prior written notice shall be given in advance of the effective date of termination as required by those provisions unless such notice period is shortened by mutual written agreement of the parties;
(b) in the event any termination is based upon the provisions of Section 10.1(d), 10.1(e) or 10.1(g) of this Agreement, the prior written notice shall be given at least sixty (60) days before the effective date of termination; and
(c) in the event any termination is based upon the provisions of Section 10.1(b), 10.1(c) or 10.1(f), the prior written notice shall be given in advance of the effective date of termination, which date shall be determined by the party sending the notice.
10.3. Effect of Termination
Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, other than as a result of a failure by either the Fund or the Company to meet diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Code, the Fund and the Advisers shall, at the option of the Company, continue to make available additional shares of the Fund pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for all Contracts in effect on the effective date of termination of this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as “Existing Contracts”). Specifically, without limitation, the owners of the Existing Contracts shall be permitted to reallocate investments in the Fund, redeem investments in the Fund and/or invest in the Fund upon the making of additional purchase payments under the Existing Contracts. The parties agree that this Section 10.3 shall not apply to any terminations under Article VII of this Agreement and the effect of such Article VII terminations shall be governed by Article VII of this Agreement.
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10.4. Surviving Provisions
Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, each party’s obligations under Article VIII of this Agreement to indemnify other parties shall survive and not be affected by any termination of this Agreement. In addition, with respect to Existing Contracts, all provisions of this Agreement shall also survive and not be affected by any termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 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 parties.
If to the Company:
Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attention: Secretary
If to the Fund:
Advanced Series Trust
Gateway Center Three
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attention: Secretary
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If to the Advisers:
AST Investment Services, Inc.
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Secretary
Prudential Investments LLC
Gateway Center Three
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attention: Secretary
ARTICLE XII. Miscellaneous
12.1. Except as required by law, subpoena, court order or regulatory order or request, 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 may come into the public domain.
12.2. 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.
12.3. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
12.4. 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.
12.5. Each party hereto shall cooperate with each other party and all appropriate governmental authorities (including without limitation the SEC 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.
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12.6. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or breach thereof, shall be settled by arbitration in a forum jointly selected by the relevant parties (but if applicable law requires some other forum, then such other forum) in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association, and judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.
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 a transaction that does not result in a change of actual control or management of a party hereto shall not be deemed to be an assignment of this Agreement for purposes of this Section 12.8. Any assignment of this Agreement in violation of this Section 12.8 shall be void.
12.9. The Company agrees that the obligations assumed by the Fund and the Advisers pursuant to this Agreement shall be limited in any case to the Fund and the Advisers and their respective assets and the Company shall not seek satisfaction of any such obligation from the shareholders of the Fund or the Advisers, the Directors, officers, employees or agents of the Fund or an Adviser, or any of them.
12.10. The Fund and the Advisers agree that the obligations assumed by the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall be limited in any case to the Company and its assets and neither the Fund nor the Advisers shall seek satisfaction of any such obligation from the shareholders of the Company, the directors, officers, employees or agents of the Company, or any of them.
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12,11. No provision of this Agreement may be deemed or construed to modify or supersede any contractual rights, duties, or indemnifications, as between the Advisers and the Fund.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be executed in its name and on its behalf by its duly authorized representative and its seal to be hereunder affixed hereto as of the date specified below.
| PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY, | ||
| By its authorized officer, | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxx Xxx | |
| Title: | V.P. | |
| ADVANCED SERIES TRUST, | ||
| By its authorized officer, | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | |
| Title: | President | |
| AST INVESTMENT SERVICES, INC., | ||
| By its authorized officer, | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |
| Title: | President | |
| PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENTS LLC, | ||
| By its authorized officer, | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |
| Title: | Vice President | |
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SCHEDULE A
CONTRACTS
Prudential Retirement Security Annuity
Prudential Retirement Security Annuity II
Prudential Retirement Security Annuity III
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SCHEDULE B
DESIGNATED PORTFOLIOS
All existing and future PORTFOLIOS of the ADVANCED SERIES TRUST available as underlying investments for variable annuities or variable insurance contracts.
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