PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
AMONG
ML LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
DELAWARE GROUP PREMIUM FUND
AND
DELAWARE DISTRIBUTORS, LP
THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of the _____ day of _________, 2000, by and
among ML Life Insurance Company of New York (the "Company"), a New York 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"), Delaware
Group Premium Fund (the "Fund"), a Delaware business trust, and Delaware
Distributors, LP (the "Underwriter"), a Delaware limited partnership .
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 (the "Variable Insurance Products") to be offered by insurance
companies which have entered into participation agreements with the Fund and
Underwriter ("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 has obtained an order from the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") 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, if and to the extent necessary to permit shares of
the Fund to be sold to and held by variable annuity and variable life insurance
separate accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated life insurance companies
(the "Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order");
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the 1940 Act and shares of the Portfolios are registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act");
WHEREAS, Delaware Management Company (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;
WHEREAS, the Underwriter, which serves as distributor to the Fund, is
registered as a broker dealer with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and is a member in good standing of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD"); 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, and the Underwriter is authorized to sell such shares to
the Account at net asset value.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Company,
the Fund and the Underwriter agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. SALE OF FUND SHARES
1.1. The Fund has granted to the Underwriter exclusive authority to
distribute the Fund's shares, and has agreed to instruct, and has so instructed,
the Underwriter to make available to the Company for purchase on behalf of the
Account Fund shares of those Designated Portfolios selected by the Underwriter.
Pursuant to such authority and instructions, and subject to Article X hereof,
the Underwriter agrees to make available to the Company for purchase on behalf
of the Account, shares of those Designated Portfolios listed on Schedule A to
this Agreement, such purchases to be effected at net asset value in accordance
with Section 1.3 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) Fund
series (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
Underwriter may so provide, and (ii) the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the
"Board") may suspend or terminate the offering of Fund 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 Fund and its shareholders.
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
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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 designee of the
Fund for the limited purpose of receiving 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 of any such request (or relevant transactional
information therefor) on any day the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") is open
for trading and on which the Fund calculates its net asset value ("NAV")
pursuant to its prospectus and the rules of the SEC (a "Business Day") by the
Company as such designee of the Fund prior to the time that the Fund ordinarily
calculates its NAV as described from time to time in the Fund Prospectus (which
as of the date of execution of this Agreement is close of trading of the NYSE,
generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) shall constitute receipt by the Fund on that
same Business Day, provided that the Fund receives notice of such request by 11
a.m. Eastern Time on the next following Business Day.
(b) The Company shall pay for shares of each Designated
Portfolio on the same day that it notifies the Fund of a purchase request for
such shares. Payment for Designated Portfolio shares shall be made in federal
funds transmitted to the Fund by wire to be received by the Fund by 4:00 p.m.
Eastern Time on the day the Fund is notified 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). 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 to be received by the Company by 4:00
p.m. Eastern Time on the same day 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 Portfolios in accordance with Section
1.3(b) of this Agreement), except that the Fund reserves the right 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
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or crediting of redemption proceeds by the Company; the Company alone shall be
responsible for such action.
1.4. The Fund shall use its best efforts to make the closing 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 closing net asset value per share for such Designated
Portfolio is calculated, and shall calculate such closing net asset value in
accordance with the Fund's Prospectus. In the event the Fund is unable to make
the 6:30 p.m. deadline stated herein, it shall provide additional time for the
Company to provide notice on the next Business Day pursuant to section 1.3(a) of
orders received prior to the calculation of the Fund's NAV on the preceding
Business Day. Such additional time shall be equal to the additional time which
the Fund takes to make the closing net asset value available to the Company.
Neither the Fund, any Designated Portfolio, the Underwriter, nor any of their
affiliates shall be liable for any information provided to the Company pursuant
to this Agreement which information is based on incorrect information supplied
by the Company or any other Participating Insurance Company to the Fund or the
Underwriter. Any material error in the calculation or reporting of the closing
net asset value per share shall be reported immediately upon discovery to the
Company. In such event the Company shall be entitled to an adjustment to the
number of shares purchased or redeemed to reflect the correct closing net asset
value per share and the Fund shall bear the cost of correcting such errors. Any
error of a lesser amount shall be corrected in the next Business Day's net asset
value per share. In no event, however, shall the Fund be liable for material
errors in calculating or reporting NAV where such errors are the result of
information supplied or failed to be supplied by the Company or persons under
its control.
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.
1.6. Issuance and transfer of Fund shares shall be by book entry only.
Stock 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 1.8 hereof) and the cash value
of the Contracts may be invested in other investment
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companies. A funding vehicle other than those listed on Schedule A to this
Agreement may be made available for the investment of the cash value of the
Contracts, provided, however, that the Company gives the Fund and the
Underwriter 45 days written notice of its intention to make such other
investment vehicle available as a funding vehicle for the Contracts.
(b) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the
Underwriter (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
Underwriter (unless otherwise required by applicable law), induce Contract
owners to change or modify the Fund or change the Fund's distributor or
investment adviser.
(d) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the Fund
(unless otherwise required by applicable law), 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 of Trustees of the Fund.
1.8. The Underwriter and the Fund shall sell Fund shares only to
Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts and to persons or
plans ("Qualified Persons") that communicate to the Underwriter and the Fund
that they qualify to purchase shares of the Fund under Section 817(h) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and the regulations
thereunder without impairing the ability of the Account to consider the
portfolio investments of the Fund as constituting investments of the Account for
the purpose of satisfying the diversification requirements of Section 817(h).
The Underwriter and the Fund shall not sell Fund shares to any insurance company
or separate account unless an agreement complying with Article VI of this
Agreement is in effect to govern such sales, to the extent required. The Company
hereby represents and warrants that it and the Account are Qualified Persons.
The Fund reserves the right to cease offering shares of any Designated Portfolio
in the discretion of the Fund.
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 New York
5
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 that Fund 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 and that the Fund is and shall remain registered under the 0000 Xxx. The
Fund shall amend the registration statement for its shares under the 1933 Act
and the 1940 Act from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous
offering of its shares. The Fund shall register and qualify the shares for sale
in accordance with the laws of the various states only if and to the extent
deemed advisable by the Fund or the Underwriter.
2.3. The Fund may make payments to finance distribution expenses
pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Prior to financing distribution
expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1, the Fund will have the Board, a majority of
whom are not interested persons of the Fund, formulate and approve a plan
pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act to finance distribution expenses.
2.4. The Fund and Distributor represent that the Fund's investment
policies, fees, and expenses are and shall at all times remain in compliance
with applicable state securities laws, if any, and such insurance laws as the
Company may notify the Fund in writing from time to time, and the Fund and
Distributor represent that their respective operations are and shall at all
times remain in material compliance with applicable state securities laws and
with such insurance laws as the Company may notify the Fund in writing from time
to time to the extent required to perform this Agreement. The Fund and
Distributor agree that the Fund will comply with any state insurance law
restrictions, as provided in writing by the Company to the Fund, including the
furnishing of information not otherwise available to the Company which is
required by state insurance law to enable the Company to obtain the authority
needed to issue the Contracts in any applicable state.
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 Underwriter represents and warrants that it is a member in
good standing of the NASD and is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC. The
Underwriter further represents that it will sell and distribute the Fund shares
in accordance with any applicable state and federal securities laws.
6
2.7. The Fund and the Underwriter represent and warrant that all of
their trustees/directors, 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 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 Fund represents and warrants that the investments of each
Portfolio will comply with the diversification requirements set forth in Section
817(h) of the Code and the rules and regulations thereunder.
ARTICLE III. PROSPECTUSES AND PROXY STATEMENTS; VOTING
3.1. The Underwriter shall provide the Company with as many copies of
the Fund's current prospectus describing only the Designated Portfolios listed
on Schedule A as the Company may reasonably request. The Fund or the Underwriter
shall bear the expense of printing copies of the current prospectus and profiles
for the Contracts that will be distributed to existing Contract owners, and 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 new prospectus on diskette 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
printed together in one document (such printing for existing Contract owners to
be at the Fund's or Underwriter's expense). With respect to any prospectuses of
the funds that are printed in combination with any one or more Contract
prospectus (the "Prospectus Booklet"), the costs of printing Prospectus Booklets
for distribution to existing Contract owners shall be prorated to the Company
based on (a) the ratio of the number of pages of the prospectus for the Funds
included in the Prospectus Booklet to the number of pages in the Prospectus
Booklet as a whole; and (b) the ratio of the number of the Contract owners with
Contract value allocated to the Funds to the total number of Contract owners;
PROVIDED, however, that the Company shall bear all printing expenses of such
combined documents where used for distribution to prospective purchasers or to
owners of existing Contracts not funded by the Funds.
3.2. The Fund's prospectus shall state that the current Statement of
Additional Information ("SAI") for the Fund is available, and the Underwriter
(or 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 who requests such SAI.
7
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.
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.
3.5. The Company shall:
(i) solicit voting instructions from Contract owners;
(ii) vote the Fund shares in accordance with instructions
received from Contract owners; and
(iii) vote Fund shares for which no instructions have been
received in the same proportion as Fund shares of such
portfolio for which instructions have been received,
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 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 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 or the Underwriter is named. No such material
shall be used if the Fund or its designee objects to such sales literature or
promotional material within five 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 or the
Underwriter is named, and no such material shall be used if the Fund or its
designee so object.
8
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 or the Underwriter in connection with the sale of the Contracts
other than the information or representations contained in the registration
statement or profiles or prospectus or SAI for the Fund shares, as such
registration statement and profiles 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 by
the Underwriter, except with the permission of the Fund or the Underwriter.
4.3. The Fund and the Underwriter, 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 if the Company objects to such
sales literature or promotional material within five 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 and the Underwriter 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 and 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 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 and the Underwriter shall adopt and implement procedures
reasonably designed to ensure that information concerning the Company, any of
its affiliates, or the Contracts which is intended only for use by brokers or
agents selling the shares (I.E., information that is not intended for
distribution to shareowners or prospective shareowners) is so used, and neither
the Company nor any of its affiliates shall be liable for any losses, damages,
or expenses relating to the improper use of such broker only materials.
4.6. The Company shall adopt and implement procedures reasonably
designed to ensure that information concerning the Funds which is intended only
for use by brokers or agents selling the Contracts (I.E., information that is
not intended for distribution to Contract owners or prospective Contract owners)
is so used, and neither the Fund nor Underwriter shall be liable for any losses,
damages, or expenses relating to the improper use of such broker only materials.
The parties hereto agree that this section is not intended to designate or
otherwise imply that the Company is an underwriter or distributor of the Fund's
shares.
9
4.7. The Fund will provide to the Company at least one complete copy of
all registration statements, profiles, 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 Fund or its shares, promptly after the filing of such
document(s) with the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
4.8. 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 Underwriter any complaints received from the
Contract owners pertaining to the Fund or the Designated Portfolio.
4.9. 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.
4.10. 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 or Company, as applicable or any affiliate of
the Fund or Company, as applicable: 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.
4.11. The Fund agrees to provide to the Company, within fifteen (15)
Business Days after the end of a calendar Quarter, the following information
with respect to each Portfolio of the Fund set forth on Schedule A, each as of
the last Business Day of such calendar Quarter: the Portfolio's ten largest
portfolio holdings (based on the percentage of the Portfolio's net assets); the
five industry sectors in which the Portfolio's investments are most heavily
weighted; the
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relative proportion of the Portfolio's net assets invested in equity, bond, and
cash instruments, respectively; and year-to-date NAV performance data. Also, the
Fund agrees to provide to the Company, within fifteen (15) Business Days after a
request is submitted to the Fund by the Company, the following information with
respect to each Portfolio of the Fund set forth on Schedule A, each as of the
date or dates specified in such request: net asset value; net asset value per
Share; and other reasonable Share information. The Fund acknowledges that such
information may be furnished to the Company's internal or independent auditors
and to the insurance departments of the various jurisdictions in which the
Company does business.
ARTICLE V. FEES AND EXPENSES
5.1. The Fund and the Underwriter shall pay no fee or other
compensation to the Company under this Agreement, except that if the Fund or any
Portfolio adopts and implements a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 to finance
distribution expenses, then the Fund or Underwriter may make payments to the
Company or to the underwriter for the Contracts if and in amounts agreed to by
the Underwriter in writing, and such payments will be made out of existing fees
otherwise payable to the Underwriter, past profits of the Underwriter, or other
resources available to the Underwriter. Currently, no such payments are
contemplated.
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, 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 Company shall bear the 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. The Fund 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 continue to comply with Section
817(h) of the Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.817-5, and any Treasury
interpretations thereof, relating to the diversification requirements for
variable annuity, endowment, or life
11
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 (a) take all reasonable steps to notify the
Company of such breach and (b) immediately take all necessary steps to
adequately diversify the Fund so as to achieve compliance within the grace
period afforded by Regulation 1.817-5.
6.2. The Fund represents that it is qualified as a Regulated Investment
Company under Subchapter M of the Code, and that it will 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 it has ceased to so qualify or that it might not so qualify in
the future. The Fund acknowledges that compliance with Subchapter M is an
essential element of compliance with Section 817(h).
6.3. The Fund shall provide the Company or its designee with reports
certifying compliance with the aforesaid Section 817(h) diversification and
Subchapter M qualification requirements on a quarterly basis.
6.4. Subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.2, the Company represents that the
Contracts are currently, and at the time of issuance shall be, treated as life
insurance or annuity insurance contracts, under applicable provisions of the
Code, and that it will make every effort to maintain such treatment, and that it
will notify the Fund and the Underwriter 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.
ARTICLE VII. POTENTIAL CONFLICTS
7.1. 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 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 are being managed; (e) a difference in voting instructions given
by variable annuity contract and variable life insurance contract owners; or (f)
a decision by an insurer to disregard the voting instructions of contract
owners. The Board shall promptly inform the Company if it determines that an
irreconcilable material conflict exists and the implications thereof.
7.2. The Company will report any potential or existing conflicts of
which it is aware to the Board. The Company will assist the Board in carrying
out its responsibilities under the
12
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 disregarded.
7.3. If it is determined by a majority of the Board, or a majority of
its disinterested members, that a material irreconcilable conflict exists, the
Company and other Participating Insurance Companies shall, at their expense and
to the extent reasonably practicable (as determined by a majority of the
disinterested Board members), take whatever steps are necessary to remedy or
eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict, up to and including: (1)
withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the separate accounts from
the Fund or any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a different investment
medium, including (but not limited to) another Portfolio of the Fund, or
submitting the question whether such segregation should be implemented to a vote
of all affected contract owners and, as appropriate, segregating the assets of
any appropriate group (I.E., annuity contract owners, life insurance contract
owners, or 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 with respect to each Account; provided,
however, that such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent
required by the foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a
majority of the disinterested members of the Board. Any such withdrawal and
termination must take place within six (6) months after the Fund gives written
notice that this provision is being implemented, and until the end of that six
month period the Fund 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
affected Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with
respect to such Account 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 disinterested members of the Board.
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.
13
7.6. For purposes of Section 7.3 through 7.6 of this Agreement, a
majority of the disinterested members of the Board shall determine whether any
proposed action adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict, but in
no event will the Fund be required to establish a new funding medium for the
Contracts. The Company shall not be required by Section 7.3 to establish a new
funding medium for the Contract if an offer to do so has been declined by vote
of a majority of Contract owners materially adversely affected by the
irreconcilable material conflict. In the event that the Board determines that
any proposed action does not adequately remedy any irreconcilable material
conflict, then the Company will withdraw the Account's investment in the Fund
and terminate this Agreement within six (6) months after the Board informs the
Company in writing of the foregoing determination; provided, however, that such
withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by any such
material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the
disinterested members of the Board.
7.7. If and to the extent the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemption Order
or any amendment thereto contains terms and conditions different from Sections
3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 of this Agreement, then the Fund
and/or the Participating Insurance Companies, as appropriate, shall take such
steps as may be necessary to comply with the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive
Order, and Sections 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 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 the Mixed and Shared
Funding Exemptive Order or any amendment thereto. 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, 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
14
8.1(a). The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Fund and the Underwriter and each of their trustees/directors and officers, and
each person, if any, who controls the Fund or Underwriter 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, 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 sales
literature for the Contracts (or any amendment or supplement
to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon
the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, provided that this
agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified
Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement
or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the
Fund 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 and in conformity with 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 Section 6.4 of
this Agreement and
15
including the failure to provide timely and accurate purchase
and redemption information to the Fund); 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
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.
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). 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 UNDERWRITER
8.2(a). The Underwriter 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 Underwriter) or litigation
(including legal and other
16
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 profile 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 Underwriter or Fund by or on
behalf of the Company for use in the registration statement,
profile, 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
Underwriter or persons under its control) or wrongful conduct
of the Fund or Underwriter 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 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 and in
conformity with information furnished to the Company by or on
behalf of the Fund or the Underwriter; or
(iv) arise as a result of any material failure by the Fund or
the Underwriter to provide the services and furnish the
materials under the terms of this Agreement (including a
failure of the Fund, whether unintentional or in good faith or
otherwise, to comply with the diversification and other
qualification requirements specified in Sections 6.1 and 6.2
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 the
Underwriter in this Agreement or arise out of or
17
result from any other material breach of this Agreement by
the Fund or the Underwriter;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.2(b) and
8.2(c) hereof.
8.2(b). The Underwriter 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 Underwriter 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 Underwriter 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 Underwriter of
any such claim shall not relieve the Underwriter 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 Underwriter will be entitled to participate,
at its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Underwriter also shall be
entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party
named in the action. After notice from the Underwriter to such party of the
Underwriter'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 Underwriter 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 agrees promptly to notify the Underwriter 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.
8.3. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE FUND
8.3(a). 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,
18
claims, expenses, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect
thereof) or settlements, are related to the operations of the Fund and:
(i) arise as a result of any material 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 Sections 6.1 and 6.2 of this Agreement); or
(ii) 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; or
(iii) arise out of or result from the materially incorrect or
untimely calculation or reporting of the daily net asset value
per share or dividend or capital gain distribution rate,
unless such incorrect or untimely calculation or reporting is
a result of information which the Company or persons under its
control has provided or failed to provide to 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 Underwriter 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 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.
19
8.3(d). The Company and the Underwriter agree promptly to
notify the Fund of the commencement of any litigation or proceeding 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 New York.
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, any 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 six (6) months advance
written notice delivered to the other parties; or
(b) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and
the Underwriter 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 Underwriter 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
(d) termination by the Fund or Underwriter 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
20
Account, or the purchase of the Fund's shares; provided,
however, that the Fund or Underwriter 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
Underwriter by the NASD, 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 Underwriter to perform its obligations
under this Agreement; or
(f) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and
the Underwriter 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 Sections 6.1 and 6.2 hereof, or if the Company
reasonably believes that such Portfolio may fail to so
qualify or comply; or
(g) termination by the Fund or Underwriter by written notice to
the Company in the event that the Contracts fail to meet the
qualifications specified in Section 6.4 hereof; or
(h) termination by either the Fund or the Underwriter by written
notice to the Company, if either one or both of the Fund or
the Underwriter 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 Underwriter, if the Company shall determine, in its sole
judgment exercised in good faith, that the Fund, Adviser, or
the Underwriter 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 Underwriter by written notice
to the Company, if the Company gives the Fund and the
Underwriter the written notice specified in Section 1.7(a)
hereof and at the time such notice was given there was no
notice of termination outstanding under any other
21
provision of this Agreement; provided, however, any
termination under this Section 10.l(j) shall be effective
forty-five days after the notice specified in Section 1.7(a)
was given; or
(k) 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 Underwriter of the date of substitution; or
(l) termination by any party in the event that the Fund's Board
of Trustees determines that a material irreconcilable
conflict exists as provided in Article VII.
(m) at the option of any party upon another party's failure to
cure a material breach of any provision of this Agreement
within 30 days after written notice thereof.
10.2. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Fund and
the Underwriter 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"), unless the
Underwriter requests that the Company seek an order pursuant to Section 26(b) of
the 1940 Act to permit the substitution of other securities for the shares of
the Designated Portfolios. The Underwriter agrees to split the cost of seeking
such an order, and the Company agrees that it shall reasonably cooperate with
the Underwriter and seek such an order upon request. Specifically, the owners of
the Existing Contracts may 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 (subject to any such
election by the Underwriter). 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 this Section 10.2 shall not apply to any terminations under
Section 10.1 (g) of this Agreement.
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 Underwriter, as permitted by an order of
the SEC pursuant to Section 26(b) 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
22
Underwriter 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 Contacts, 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 Underwriter
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.
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: Delaware Group Premium Fund
Attention: Xxxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
If to the Company: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Life Insurance Company
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
If to Underwriter: Delaware Distributors, L.P.
Attention: Xxxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
ARTICLE XII. MISCELLANEOUS
12.1. All persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the
property of the Fund, and in the case of a series company, the respective
Designated Portfolios listed on Schedule A hereto as though each such Designated
Portfolio had separately contracted with the Company and the Underwriter for the
enforcement of any claims against 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.
23
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 New York 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 contract
operations of the Company are being conducted in a manner consistent with the
New York variable annuity 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, except where such assignments do not result in an actual change in
control of the party.
12.9. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, neither
the Fund nor Underwriter, nor any affiliate thereof shall use any trademark,
trade name, service xxxx or logo of the Company or any of its affiliates, or any
variation of any such trademark, trade name, service xxxx or logo, without the
Company's prior written consent, the granting of which shall be at the Company's
sole option.
24
12.10. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement,
neither the Company nor any of its affiliates shall use any trademark, trade
name, service xxxx or logo of the Fund or Underwriter, or any affiliates
thereof, or any variation of any such trademark, trade name, service xxxx or
logo, without the Fund's or Underwriter's prior written consent, the granting of
which shall be at the Fund's or Underwriter's sole option.
25
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.
ML LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
By its authorized officer
By:_______________________
Title:____________________
Date:_____________________
DELAWARE GROUP PREMIUM FUND
By its authorized officer
By:_______________________
Title:____________________
Date:_____________________
DELAWARE DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
(General Partner) on behalf
of Delaware Distributors, L.P.
By its authorized officer
By:_______________________
Title:____________________
Date:_____________________
26
SCHEDULE A
DELAWARE GROUP PREMIUM FUND:
Trend Series
CONTRACTS:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Retirement Power
SEGREGATED ASSET ACCOUNT:
ML of New York Variable Annuity Separate Account A (established 08/14/91)
