PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
AMONG
DELAWARE GROUP PREMIUM FUND, INC.
AND
LINCOLN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE CO.
AND
DELAWARE DISTRIBUTORS, LP
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this 1st day of May, 1996,
by and between DELAWARE GROUP PREMIUM FUND, INC., a corporation organized under
the laws of Maryland (the "Fund"), and LINCOLN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE CO., an
Indiana insurance corporation (the "Company"), on its own behalf and on
behalf of each separate account of the Company named in Schedule 1 to this
Agreement as in effect at the time this Agreement is executed and such other
separate accounts that may be added to Schedule 1 from time to time in
accordance with the provisions of Article XI of this Agreement (each such
account referred to as the "Account"), and DELAWARE DISTRIBUTORS, LP, a Delaware
limited partnership (the "Distributor").
WHEREAS, the Fund is engaged in business as an open-end management
investment company and was established for the purpose of serving as the
investment vehicle for separate accounts established for variable life insurance
policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively referred to as "Variable
Insurance Products," the owners of such products being referred to as "Product
owners") to be offered by insurance companies which have entered into
participation agreements with the Fund ("Participating Insurance Companies");
and
WHEREAS, the common stock of the Fund (the "Fund shares") consists of
separate series ("Series") issuing separate classes of shares ("Series shares"),
each such class representing an interest in a particular managed portfolio of
securities and other assets; and
WHEREAS, the Fund filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "SEC") and the SEC has declared effective a registration statement
(referred to herein as the "Fund Registration Statement" and the prospectus
contained therein, or filed pursuant to Rule 497 under the 1933 Act, referred to
herein as the "Fund Prospectus") on Form N-lA to register itself as an open-end
management investment company (File No. 811-5162) under the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), and the Fund shares (File No.
33-14363) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Company has filed a registration statement with the SEC
to register under the 1933 Act certain variable annuity contracts described in
Schedule 2 to this Agreement as in effect at the time this Agreement is executed
and such other variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies
which may be added to Schedule 2 from time to time in accordance with Article XI
of this Agreement (such policies and contracts shall be referred to herein
collectively as the "Contracts," each such registration statement for a class or
classes of contracts
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listed on Schedule 2 being referred to as the "Contracts Registration Statement"
and the prospectus for each such class or classes being referred to herein as
the "Contracts Prospectus," and the owners of the such contracts, as
distinguished from all Product Owners, being referred to as "Contract Owners");
and
WHEREAS, each Account, a validly existing separate account, duly
authorized by resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company on the date
set forth on Schedule 1, sets aside and invests assets attributable to the
Contracts; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will have registered each
Account with the SEC as a unit investment trust under the 1940 Act before any
Contracts are issued by that Account; and
WHEREAS, the Distributor 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, the Distributor and the Fund have entered into an agreement
(the "Fund Distribution Agreement") pursuant to which the Distributor will
distribute Fund shares; and
WHEREAS, Delaware Management Company, Inc. (the "Investment Manager")
is registered as an investment adviser under the 1940 Act and any applicable
state securities laws and serves as an investment manager to the Fund pursuant
to an agreement; and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Company intends to purchase Series shares on behalf of each
Account to fund its Contracts and the Distributor is authorized to sell such
Series shares to unit investment trusts such as the Accounts at net asset value;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the
Company, the Fund and the Distributor agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. SALE OF FUND SHARES
1.1. The Distributor agrees to sell to the Company those Series
shares which the Company orders on behalf of the Account, executing such orders
on a daily basis in accordance with Section 1.4 of this Agreement.
1.2. The Fund agrees to make the shares of its Series available for
purchase by the Company on behalf of the Account at the then applicable net
asset value per share on Business Days as defined in Section 1.4 of this
Agreement, and the Fund shall use its best efforts to calculate such net asset
value by 6:00 p.m., E.S.T., on each such Business Day. Notwithstanding
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any other provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the Board of Directors of
the Fund (the "Fund Board") may suspend or terminate the offering of Fund shares
of any Series, if such action is required by law or by regulatory authorities
having jurisdiction or if, in the sole discretion of the Fund Board acting in
good faith and in light of its fiduciary duties under Federal and any applicable
state laws, suspension or termination is necessary and in the best interests of
the shareholders of any Series (it being understood that "shareholders" for this
purpose shall mean Product owners).
1.3. The Fund agrees to redeem, at the Company's request, any full
or fractional shares of the Fund held by the Account or the Company, executing
such requests at the net asset value on a daily basis in accordance with Section
1.4 of this Agreement, the applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the then
currently effective Fund Prospectus. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund
may delay redemption of Fund shares of any Series to the extent permitted by the
1940 Act, any rules, regulations or orders thereunder, or the then currently
effective Fund Prospectus.
1.4.
(a) For purposes of Sections 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3, the Company
shall be the agent of the Fund for the limited purpose of
receiving redemption and purchase requests from the Account
(but not from the general account of the Company), and receipt
on any Business Day by the Company as such limited agent of the
Fund prior to the time prescribed in the current Fund
Prospectus (which as of the date of execution of this Agreement
is 4 p.m., E.S.T.) shall constitute receipt by the Fund on that
same Business Day, provided that the Fund receives notice of
such redemption or purchase request by 11:00 a.m., E.S.T. on
the next following Business Day. For purposes of this
Agreement, "Business Day" shall mean any day on which the New
York Stock exchange is open for trading.
(b) The Company shall pay for shares of each Series on the
same day that it places an order with the Fund to purchase
those Series shares for an Account. Payment for Series shares
will be made by the Account or the Company in Federal Funds
transmitted to the Fund by wire to be received by 11:00 a.m.,
E.S.T. on the day the Fund is properly notified of the purchase
order for Series shares. If Federal Funds are not received on
time, such funds will be invested, and Series shares purchased
thereby will be issued, as soon as practicable.
(c) Payment for Series shares redeemed by the Account or
the Company will be made in Federal Funds transmitted to the
Company by wire on the day the Fund is notified of the
redemption order of Series shares, except that the Fund
reserves the right to delay payment of redemption proceeds, but
in no event may such payment be delayed longer than the period
permitted under Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act. Neither the
Fund nor the Distributor shall bear any responsibility
whatsoever for the proper disbursement or crediting of
redemption proceeds; the Company alone shall be responsible for
such action.
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1.5. Issuance and transfer of Fund shares will be by book entry
only. Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or the Account.
Purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares will be recorded in an
appropriate ledger for the Account or the appropriate subaccount of the Account.
1.6. The Fund shall furnish notice as soon as reasonably practicable
to the Company of any income dividends or capital gain distributions payable on
any Series 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 Series shares in the form of additional shares of that Series. The Company
reserves the right, on its behalf and on behalf of the Account, to revoke this
election and to receive all such dividends in cash. The Fund shall notify the
Company of the number of Series shares so issued as payment of such dividends
and distributions.
1.7. The Fund shall use its best efforts to make the net asset value
per share for each Series available to the Company by 6 p.m., E.S.T. each
Business Day, and in any event, as soon as reasonably practicable after the net
asset value per share for such Series is calculated, and shall calculate such
net asset value in accordance with the then currently effective Fund Prospectus.
Neither the Fund, any Series, the Distributor, nor the Investment Manager 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 to the Fund, the Distributor or the
Investment Manager.
1.8.
(a) The Company may withdraw the Account's investment in
the Fund or a Series only: (I) as necessary to facilitate
Contract owner requests; (ii) upon a determination by a
majority of the Fund Board, or a majority of disinterested Fund
Board members, that an irreconcilable material conflict exists
among the interests of (x) any Product Owners or (y) the
interests of the Participating Insurance Companies investing in
the Fund; (iii) upon requisite vote of the Contractowners
having an interest in the affected Series to substitute the
shares of another investment company for Series shares in
accordance with the terms of the Contracts; (iv) as required by
state and/or federal laws or regulations or judicial or other
legal precedent of general application; or (v) at the Company's
sole discretion, pursuant to an order of the SEC under Section
26(b) of the 1940 Act.
(b) The parties hereto acknowledge that the arrangement
contemplated by this Agreement is not exclusive and that the
Fund shares may be sold to other insurance companies (subject
to Section 1.9 hereof) and the cash value of the Contracts may
be invested in other investment companies.
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(c) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the
Distributor (unless otherwise required by applicable law), take
any action to operate the Account as a management investment
company under the 0000 Xxx.
1.9. The Fund and the Distributor agree that Fund shares will be
sold only to Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts. The
Fund and the Distributor will not sell Fund shares to any insurance company or
separate account unless an agreement complying with Article VII of this
Agreement is in effect to govern such sales. No Fund shares of any Series will
be sold to the general public.
ARTICLE II. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
2.1. The Company represents and warrants (a) that the Contracts are
registered under the 1933 Act or will be so registered before the issuance
thereof, (b) that the Contracts will be issued in compliance in all material
respects with all applicable Federal and state laws and (c) that the Company
will require of every person distributing the Contracts that the Contracts be
offered and sold in compliance in all material respects with all applicable
Federal and state laws. The Company further represents and warrants that it is
an insurance company duly organized and validly existing under applicable law
and that it has legally and validly authorized each Account as a separate
account under Section 27-1-5-1 of the Indiana Insurance Code, and has registered
or, prior to the issuance of any Contracts, will register each Account as a unit
investment trust in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act to serve as a
separate account for its Contracts, and that it will maintain such registrations
for so long as any Contracts issued under them are outstanding.
2.2. The Fund represents and warrants that Fund shares sold pursuant
to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act and duly authorized for
issuance in accordance with applicable law and that the Fund is and shall remain
registered under the 1940 Act for so long as the Fund shares are sold. The Fund
further represents and warrants that it is a corporation duly organized and in
good standing under the laws of Maryland.
2.3. The Fund represents and warrants that it currently qualifies as
a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). The Fund further represents and warrants that
it will make every effort to continue to qualify and to maintain such
qualification (under Subchapter M or any successor or similar provision), 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.
2.4. The Fund represents and warrants that it will comply with
Section 817(h) of the Code, and all regulations issued thereunder.
2.5. The Company represents that the Contracts are currently and at
the time of issuance will be treated as annuity contracts or life insurance
policies, whichever is appropriate, under applicable provisions of the Code.
The Company shall make every effort to maintain such
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treatment and shall notify the Fund and the Distributor immediately upon having
a reasonable basis for believing that the Contracts have ceased to be so treated
or that they might not be so treated in the future.
2.6. The Fund represents that the Fund's investment policies, fees
and expenses, and operations are and shall at all times remain in material
compliance with the laws of the state of Maryland, to the extent required to
perform this Agreement; and with any state- mandated investment restrictions set
forth on Schedule 3, as amended from time to time by the Company in accordance
with Section 6.6. The Fund, however, makes no representation as to whether any
aspect of its operations (including, but not limited to, fees and expenses and
investment policies) otherwise complies with the insurance laws or regulations
of any state. The Company alone shall be responsible for informing the Fund of
any investment restrictions imposed by state insurance law and applicable to the
Fund.
2.7. The Distributor represents and warrants that it is duly
registered as a broker-dealer under the 1934 Act, a member in good standing of
the NASD, and duly registered as a broker-dealer under applicable state
securities laws; its operations are in compliance with applicable law, and it
will distribute the Fund shares according to applicable law.
2.8. The Distributor, on behalf of the Investment Manager,
represents and warrants that the Investment Manager is registered as an
investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and is in
compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws.
2.9. The Fund represents and warrants that it has and maintains a
fidelity bond in accordance with Rule 17g-1 under the 1940 Act. The Fund will
immediately notify the Company in the event the fidelity bond coverage should
lapse at any time.
ARTICLE III. PROSPECTUSES AND PROXY STATEMENTS; SALES MATERIAL AND OTHER
INFORMATION
3.1. The Distributor shall provide the Company with as many copies
of the current Fund Prospectus as the Company may reasonably request. If
requested by the Company in lieu thereof, the Fund at its expense shall provide
to the Company a camera-ready copy of the current Fund Prospectus suitable for
printing and other assistance as is reasonably necessary in order for the
Company to have a new Contracts Prospectus printed together with the Fund
Prospectus in one document. See Article V for a detailed explanation of the
responsibility for the cost of printing and distributing Fund prospectuses.
3.2. The Fund Prospectus shall state that the Statement of
Additional Information for the Fund is available from the Distributor (or, in
the Fund's discretion, the Fund Prospectus shall state that such Statement is
available from the Fund), and the Distributor (or the Fund) shall provide such
Statement free of charge to the Company and to any outstanding or prospective
Contract owner who requests such Statement.
3.3. (a) The Fund at its expense shall provide to the Company a
camera-ready copy of the Fund's shareholder reports and other communications to
shareholders (except proxy material), in each case in a form suitable for
printing. The Fund shall be responsible for the costs of printing and
distributing these materials to Contract owners.
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(b) The Fund at its expense shall be responsible for
preparing, printing and distributing its proxy material. The Company will
provide the appropriate Contractowner names and addresses to the Fund for this
purpose.
3.4. The Company shall furnish each piece of sales literature or
other promotional material in which the Fund or the Investment Manager is named
to the Fund or the Distributor prior to its use. No such material shall be
used, except with the prior written permission of the Fund or the Distributor.
The Fund and the Distributor agree to respond to any request for approval on a
prompt and timely basis. Failure of the Fund to respond within 10 days of the
request by the Company shall relieve the Company of the obligation to obtain the
prior written permission of the Fund or the Distributor.
3.5. The Company shall not give any information or make any
representations or statements on behalf of the Fund or concerning the Fund other
than the information or representations contained in the Fund Registration
Statement or Fund Prospectus, as such Registration Statement and Prospectus 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 Distributor, except with the prior written permission of the
Fund or the Distributor. The Fund agrees to respond to any request for
permission on a prompt and timely basis. If neither the Fund nor the
Distributor responds within 10 days of a request by the Company, then the
Company shall be relieved of the obligation to obtain the prior written
permission of the Fund.
3.6. The Fund and the Distributor 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 the Contracts Registration Statement or Contracts Prospectus, as such
Registration Statement and Prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time
to time, or in published reports of the Account which are in the public domain
or approved in writing by the Company for distribution to Contract owners, or in
sales literature or other promotional material approved in writing by the
Company, except with the prior written permission of the Company. The Company
agrees to respond to any request for permission on a prompt and timely basis.
If the Company fails to respond within 10 days of a request by the Fund or the
Distributor, then the Fund and the Distributor are relieved of the obligation to
obtain the prior written permission of the Company.
3.7. The Fund will provide to the Company at least one complete copy
of all Fund Registration Statements, Fund Prospectuses, Statements of Additional
Information, annual and semi-annual reports and other reports, proxy statements,
sales literature and other promotional materials, applications for exemptions,
requests for no-action letters, and all amendments or supplements to any of the
above, that relate to the Fund or Fund shares, promptly after the filing of such
document with the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
7
3.8. The Company will provide to the Fund at least one complete copy
of all Contracts Registration Statements, Contracts Prospectuses, Statements of
Additional Information, Annual and Semi-annual Reports, sales literature and
other promotional materials, and all amendments or supplements to any of the
above, that relate to the Contracts, promptly after the filing of such document
with the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
3.9. Each party will provide to the other party copies of draft
versions of any registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional
information, reports, proxy statements, solicitations for voting instructions,
sales literature and other promotional materials, applications for exemptions,
requests for no-action letters, and all amendments or supplements to any of the
above, to the extent that the other party reasonably needs such information for
purposes of preparing a report or other filing to be filed with or submitted to
a regulatory agency. If a party requests any such information before it has
been filed, the other party will provide the requested information if then
available and in the version then available at the time of such request.
3.10. For purposes of this Article III, the phrase "sales literature
or other promotional material" includes, but is not limited to, advertisements
(such as material published, or designed for use, in a newspaper, magazine or
other periodical, radio, television, telephone or tape recording, videotape
display, computer net site, 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, in print or electronically,
including brochures, circulars, research reports, market letters, form letters,
seminar texts, or 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, registration statements, prospectuses, Statements of Additional
Information, shareholder reports and proxy materials, and any other material
constituting sales literature or advertising under NASD rules, the 1940 Act or
the 1933 Act.
ARTICLE IV. Voting
4.1 Subject to applicable law and the order referred to in
Article VII, the Fund shall: solicit voting instructions from Contract
owners;
4.2 Subject to applicable law and the order referred to in
Article VII, the Company shall:
(a) vote Fund shares of each Series attributable to Contract owners
in accordance with instructions or proxies received in timely fashion
from such Contract owners;
(b) vote Fund shares of each Series attributable to Contract owners
for which no instructions have been received in the same proportion
as Fund shares of such Series for which instructions have been
received in timely fashion; and
(c) vote Fund shares of each Series held by the Company on its own
behalf or on behalf of the Account that are not attributable to
Contract owners in the same proportion as Fund shares of such
Series for which instructions have been received in timely fashion.
The Company shall be responsible for assuring that voting privileges for the
Accounts are calculated in a manner consistent with the provisions set forth
above.
ARTICLE V. FEES AND EXPENSES
All expenses incident to performance by the Fund under this Agreement
(including
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expenses expressly assumed by the Fund pursuant to this Agreement) shall be paid
by the Fund to the extent permitted by law. Except as may otherwise be provided
in Section 1.4 and Article VII of this Agreement, the Company shall not bear any
of the expenses for the cost of registration and qualification of the Fund
shares under Federal and any state securities law, preparation and filing of the
Fund Prospectus and Fund Registration Statement, the preparation of all
statements and notices required by any Federal or state securities law, all
taxes on the issuance or transfer of Fund shares, and any expenses permitted to
be paid or assumed by the Fund pursuant to a plan, if any, under Rule 12b-1
under the 1940 Act.
The Fund is responsible for the cost of printing and distributing Fund
Prospectuses and SAIs to existing Contract owners. (If for this purpose the
Company prints the Fund Prospectuses and SAIs in a booklet containing disclosure
for the Contracts and for underlying funds other than those of the Fund, then
the Fund shall pay only its proportionate share of the total cost to distribute
the booklet to existing Contract owners.)
The Company is responsible for the cost of printing and distributing
Fund prospectuses and SAIs for new sales; and Account Prospectuses and SAIs for
existing Contract owners. The Company shall have the final decision on choice
of printer for all Prospectuses and SAIs.
ARTICLE VI. COMPLIANCE UNDERTAKINGS
6.1. The Fund undertakes to comply with Subchapter M and Section
817(h) of the Code, and all regulations issued thereunder.
6.2. The Company shall amend the Contracts Registration Statements
under the 1933 Act and the Account's Registration Statement under the 1940 Act
from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of the
Contracts or as may otherwise be required by applicable law. The Company shall
register and qualify the Contracts for sale to the extent required by applicable
securities laws of the various states.
6.3. The Fund shall amend the Fund Registration Statement under the
1933 Act and the 1940 Act from time to time as required in order to effect for
so long as Fund shares are sold the continuous offering of Fund shares as
described in the then currently effective Fund Prospectus. The Fund shall
register and qualify Fund shares for sale to the extent required by applicable
securities laws of the various states.
6.4. The Company shall be responsible for assuring that any
prospectus offering a Contract that is a life insurance contract where it is
reasonably possible that such Contract would be deemed a "modified endowment
contract," as that term is defined in Section 7702A of the Code, will describe
the circumstances under which a Contract could be treated as a modified
endowment contract (or policy).
6.5. To the extent that it decides to finance distribution expenses
pursuant to Rule 12b-1, the Fund undertakes to have a Fund Board of Directors, a
majority of whom are not interested persons of the Fund, formulate and approve
any plan under Rule 12b-1 to finance distribution expenses.
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6.6. (a) The Company shall amend Schedule 3 when appropriate in
order to inform the Fund of any applicable state-mandated investment
restrictions with which the Fund must comply.
(b) Should the Fund or the Distributor become aware of any
restrictions which may be appropriate for inclusion in Schedule 3, the Company
shall be informed immediately of the substance of those restrictions.
ARTICLE VlI. POTENTIAL CONFLICTS
7.1. The Company has reviewed a copy of the order (the "Mixed and
Shared Funding Order") dated November 2, 1987 of the Securities and Exchange
Commission under Section 6' of the Act and, in particular, has reviewed the
conditions to the relief set forth in the related Notice. As set forth therein,
the Company agrees to report to the Board of Directors of the Fund (the "Board")
any potential or existing conflicts between the interests of Product Owners of
all separate accounts investing in the Fund, and to assist the Board in carrying
out its responsibilities under the conditions of the Mixed and Shared Funding
Order by providing all information reasonably necessary for the Board to
consider any issues raised, including information as to a decision to disregard
voting instructions of variable contract owners.
7.2. If a majority of the Board, or a majority of disinterested
Board Members, determines that a material irreconcilable conflict exists, the
Board shall give prompt notice to all Participating Insurance Companies.
(a) If a majority of the whole Board, after notice to the
Company and a reasonable opportunity for the Company to appear before it and
present its case, determines that the Company is responsible for said conflict,
and if the Company agrees with that determination, the Company shall, at its
sole cost and expense, take whatever steps are necessary to remedy the
irreconcilable material conflict. These steps could include: (a) withdrawing the
assets allocable to some or all of the affected Accounts from the Fund or any
Series and reinvesting such assets in a different investment vehicle, including
another Series of the Fund, or submitting the question of whether such
segregation should be implemented to a vote of all affected Contractowners and,
as appropriate, segregating the assets of any particular group (i.e., variable
annuity Contractowners, variable life insurance policyowners, or variable
Contractowners of one or more Participating Insurance Companies) that votes in
favor of such segregation, or offering to the affected Contractowners the option
of making such a change; and (b) establishing a new registered mutual fund or
management separate account, or taking such other action as is necessary to
remedy or eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict.
(b) If the Company disagrees with the Board's determination,
the Company shall file a written protest with the Board, reserving its right to
dispute the determination as between just the Company and the Fund. After
reserving that right the Company, although disagreeing with the Board that it
(the Company) was responsible for the conflict, shall take the necessary steps,
under protest, to remedy the conflict, substantially in accordance with
paragraph (a) just above, for the protection of Contractowners.
(c) As between the Company and the Fund, if within 45 days
after the Board's determination the Company elects to press the dispute, it
shall so notify the Board in writing. The
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parties shall then attempt to resolve the matter amicably through negotiation by
individuals from each party who are authorized to settle the controversy.
If the matter has not been amicably resolved within 60 days from the
date of the Company's notice of its intent to press the dispute, then before
either party shall undertake to litigate the dispute it shall be submitted to
non-binding arbitration conducted expeditiously in accordance with the CPR Rules
for Non-Administered Arbitration of Business Disputes, by a sole arbitrator;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if one party has requested the other party to seek an
amicable resolution and the other party has failed to participate, the
requesting party may initiate arbitration before expiration of the 60-day period
set out just above.
If within 45 days of the commencement of the process to select an
arbitrator the parties cannot agree upon the arbitrator, then he or she will be
selected from the CPR Panels of Neutrals. The arbitration shall be governed by
the United States Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Sec. 1-16. The place of arbitration
shall be Fort Xxxxx, Indiana. The Arbitrator is not empowered to award damages
in excess of compensatory damages.
(d) If the Board shall determine that the Fund or another
insurer was responsible for the conflict, then the Board shall notify the
Company immediately of that determination. The Fund shall assure the Company
that it (the Fund) or that other insurer, as applicable, shall, at its sole cost
and expense, take whatever steps are necessary to eliminate the conflict.
7.3. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of the
Company's decision to disregard Contract owner voting instructions and that
decision represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote, the
Company shall withdraw (without charge or penalty) the Account's investment in
the Fund, if the Fund so elects.
7.4 Subject to the terms of Section 7.2 above, the Company shall
carry out the responsibility to take remedial action in the event of a Board
determination of an irreconcilable material conflict with a view only to the
interests of Contract Owners.
7.5. For purposes of this Article, a majority of the disinterested
members of the Board shall determine whether or not any proposed action
adequately remedies any irreconcilable conflict, but in no event will the Fund
be required to establish a new funding medium for any variable contract, nor
will the Company be required to establish a new funding medium for any Contract
if an offer to do so has been declined by a vote of a majority of affected
Contractowners.
ARTICLE VIII. INDEMNIFICATION
8.1. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY. The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, the Distributor and each person who
controls or is associated with the Fund (other than another Participating
Insurance Company) or the Distributor within the meaning of such terms under the
federal securities laws and any officer, trustee, director, employee or agent of
the foregoing, against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint
or several (including any investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably
incurred in connection with, and any amounts paid in settlement of, any action,
suit or proceeding or any claim asserted), to which they or any of them may
become subject under any statute or regulation, at common law or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities:
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(a) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the
Contracts Registration Statement, Contracts Prospectus, sales
literature or other promotional material for the Contracts or the
Contracts themselves (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 in light of the circumstances in which they were made;
provided that this obligation to indemnify shall not apply if such
statement or omission or such alleged statement or alleged omission
was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished
in writing to the Company by the Fund or the Distributor (or a person
authorized in writing to do so on behalf of the Fund or the
Distributor) for use in the Contracts Registration Statement,
Contracts Prospectus 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
(b) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact by or on behalf of the
Company (other than statements or representations contained in the
Fund Registration Statement, Fund Prospectus or sales literature or
other promotional material of the Fund not supplied by the Company or
persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of the Company or
persons under its control with respect to the sale or distribution of
the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(c) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Fund Registration
Statement, Fund Prospectus 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 in light of the circumstances in which they
were made, if such 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
(d) arise as a result of any failure by the Company to provide
the services and furnish the materials or to make any payments under
the terms of this Agreement; or
(e) arise out of any material breach by the Company of this
Agreement,including but not limited to any failure to transmit a request for
redemption or purchase ofFund shares on a timely basis in accordance with the
procedures set forth in Article 1; or
(f) arise as a result of the Company's providing the Fund with
inaccurate information, which causes the Fund to calculate its Net
Asset Values incorrectly.
This indemnification will be in addition to any liability which the Company may
otherwise have; provided, however, that no party shall be entitled to
indemnification if such loss, claim, damage or liability is due to the wilful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of duty by the
party seeking indemnification.
8.2. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE DISTRIBUTOR. The Distributor agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each person who controls or is
associated with the Company within the meaning of such terms under the federal
securities laws and any officer, director, employee or
12
agent of the foregoing, against any and all losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, joint or several (including any investigative, legal and other
expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amounts paid in
settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted), to which
they or any of them may become subject under any statute or regulation, at
common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities:
(a) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Fund
Registration Statement, Fund Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto) or sales literature or other promotional material
of the Fund, 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 in light of the circumstances in which they were made;
provided that this obligation to indemnify shall not apply if such
statement or omission or alleged statement or alleged omission was
made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in
writing by the Company to the Fund or the Distributor for use in the
Fund Registration Statement, Fund Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto) or sales literature for the Fund or otherwise for
use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(b) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact made by the Distributor or
the Fund (other than statements or representations contained in the
Fund Registration Statement, Fund Prospectus or sales literature or
other promotional material of the Fund not supplied by the Distributor
or the Fund or persons under their control) or wrongful conduct of the
Distributor or persons under its control with respect to the sale or
distribution of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(c) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Contract's Registration
Statement, Contracts Prospectus or sales literature or other
promotional material for the Contracts (or any amendment 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 in light of the circumstances in
which they were made, if such statement or omission was made in
reliance upon information furnished in writing by the Distributor or
the Fund to the Company (or a person authorized in writing to do so on
behalf of the Fund or the Distributor); or
(d) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund to provide
the services and furnish the materials under the terms of this
Agreement (including, but not by way of limitation, a failure,
whether unintentional or in good faith or otherwise: (i) to comply
with the diversification requirements specified in Article VI of this
Agreement; and (ii) to provide the Company with accurate information
sufficient for it to calculate its accumulation and/or annuity unit
values in timely fashion as required by law and by the Contracts
Prospectuses); or
(e) arise out of any material breach by the Distributor or the
Fund of this Agreement.
This indemnification will be in addition to any liability which the Distributor
may otherwise have; provided, however, that no party shall be entitled to
indemnification if such loss, claim, damage or
13
liability is due to the wilful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or
reckless disregard of duty by the party seeking indemnification.
8.3. INDEMNIFICATION PROCEDURES. After receipt by a party entitled
to indemnification ("indemnified party") under this Article VIII of notice of
the commencement of any action, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made by
the indemnified party against any person obligated to provide indemnification
under this Article VIII ("indemnifying party"), such indemnified party will
notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof as soon as
practicable thereafter, provided that the omission to so notify the indemnifying
party will not relieve it from any liability under this Article VIII, except to
the extent that the omission results in a failure of actual notice to the
indemnifying party and such indemnifying party is damaged solely as a result of
the failure to give such notice. The indemnifying party, upon the request of
the indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the
indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and
disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such
proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own
counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of
such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the
named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include
both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both
parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
differing interests between them. The indemnifying party shall not be liable
for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent but if
settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the
indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against
any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.
A successor by law of the parties to this Agreement shall be entitled
to the benefits of the indemnification contained in this Article VIII. The
indemnification provisions contained in this Article VIII shall survive any
termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE IX. APPLICABLE LAW
9.1. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the state of Indiana,
without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws.
9.2. This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the 1933,
1934 and 1940 Acts, and the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder,
including such exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as the SEC
may grant, and the terms hereof shall be limited, interpreted and construed in
accordance therewith.
ARTICLE X. TERMINATION
10.1. This Agreement shall terminate:
(a) at the option of any party upon six months advance written
notice to the other parties; or
(b) at the option of the Company if shares of any Series are
not available
14
to meet the requirements of the Contracts as determined by the
Company. Prompt notice of the election to terminate for such cause
shall be furnished by the Company. Termination shall be effective ten
days after the giving of notice by the Company; or
(c) at the option of the Fund upon institution of formal
proceedings against the Company by the NASD, the SEC, the insurance
commission 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 the Account, the administration of the
Contracts or the purchase of Fund shares, or an expected or
anticipated ruling, judgment or outcome which would, in the Fund's
reasonablejudgment, materially impair the Company's ability to perform
the Company's obligations and duties hereunder; or
(d) at the option of the Company upon institution of formal
proceedings against the Fund, the Distributor, the Investment Manager
or any Sub-Investment Manager, by the NASD, the SEC, or any state
securities or insurance commission or any other regulatory body
regarding the duties of the Fund or the Distributor under this
Agreement, or an expected or anticipated ruling, judgment or outcome
which would, in the Company's reasonable judgment, materially impair
the Fund's or the Distributor's ability to perform Fund's or
Distributor's obligations and duties hereunder; or
(e) at the option of the Company upon institution of formal
proceedings against the Investment Manager or Sub-investment Manager
by the NASD, the SEC, or any state securities or insurance commission
or any other regulatory body which would, in the good faith opinion of
the Company, result in material harm to the Accounts, the Company, or
Contractowners.
(f) upon requisite vote of the Contract owners having an
interest in the affected Series (unless otherwise required by
applicable law) and written approval of the Company, to substitute the
shares of another investment company for the corresponding Series
shares of the Fund in accordance with the terms of the Contracts; or
(g) at the option of the Fund in the event any of the
Contracts are not registered, issued or sold in accordance with
applicable Federal and/or state law; or
(h) at the option of the Company or the Fund upon a
determination by a majority of the Fund Board, or a majority of
disinterested Fund Board members, that an irreconcilable material
conflict exists among the interests of (i) any Product owners or (ii)
the interests of the Participating Insurance Companies investing in
the Fund; or
(i) at the option of the Company if the Fund ceases to qualify
as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Code, or
under any successor or similar provision, or if the Company reasonably
believes, based on an opinion of its counsel, that the Fund may fail
to so qualify; or
15
(j) at the option of the Company if the Fund fails to meet the
diversification requirements specified in Section 817(h) of the Code
and any regulations thereunder; or
(k) at the option of the Fund if the Contracts cease to
qualify as annuity contracts or life insurance policies, as
applicable, under the Code, or if the Fund reasonably believes that
the Contracts may fail to so qualify; or
(l) at the option of either the Fund or the Distributor if the
Fund or the Distributor, respectively, shall determine, in their sole
judgment exercised in good faith, that either (1) the Company shall
have suffered a material adverse change in its business or financial
condition; or (2) the Company shall have been the subject of material
adverse publicity which is likely to have a material adverse impact
upon the business and operations of either the Fund or the
Distributor; or
(m) at the option of the Company, if the Company shall
determine, in its sole judgment exercised in good faith, that either:
(1) the Fund and the Distributor, or either of them, shall have
suffered a material adverse change in their respective businesses or
financial condition; or (2) the Fund or the Distributor, or both of
them, shall have been the subject of material adverse publicity which
is likely to have a material adverse impact upon the business and
operations of the Company; or
(n) upon the assignment of this Agreement (including, without
limitation, any transfer of the Contracts or the Accounts to another
insurance company pursuant to an assumption reinsurance agreement)
unless the non-assigning party consents thereto or unless this
Agreement is assigned to an affiliate of the Distributor.
10.2. NOTICE REQUIREMENT. Except as otherwise provided in Section
10.1, no termination of this Agreement shall be effective unless and until the
party terminating this Agreement gives prior written notice to all other parties
to this Agreement of its intent to terminate which notice shall set forth the
basis for such termination. Furthermore:
(a) In the event that any termination is based upon the
provisions of Article VII or the provisions of Section 10.1(a) of this
Agreement, such prior written notice shall be given in advance of the
effective date of termination as required by such provisions; and
(b) in the event that any termination is based upon the
provisions of Section 10.1(c) or 10.1(d) of this Agreement, such prior
written notice shall be given at least ninety (90) days before the
effective date of termination, or sooner if required by law or
regulation.
(c) in the event that any termination is based upon the
provisions of Section 10.1(e) of this Agreement, such prior written
notice shall be given at least sixty (60) days before the date of any
proposed vote to replace the Fund's shares.
10.3. EFFECT OF TERMINATION
(a) Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement pursuant
to Section
16
10.1 of this Agreement, the Fund and the Distributor will, at the
option of the Company, continue to make available additional Fund
shares for so long after the termination of this Agreement as the
Company desires, pursuant to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement as provided in paragraph (b) below, for all Contracts in
effect on the effective date of termination of this Agreement
(hereinafter referred to as "Existing Contracts"). Specifically,
without limitation, if the Company so elects to make additional Fund
shares available, the owners of the Existing Contracts or the Company,
whichever shall have legal authority to do so, 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.
(b) In the event of a termination of this Agreement pursuant
to Section 10.1 of this Agreement, the Fund and the Distributor shall
promptly notify the Company whether the Distributor and the Fund will
continue to make Fund shares available after such termination. If
Fund shares continue to be made available after such termination, the
provisions of this Agreement shall remain in effect except for Section
10.1(a) and thereafter either the Fund or the Company may terminate
the Agreement, as so continued pursuant to this Section 10.3, upon
prior written notice to the other party, such notice to be for a
period that is reasonable under the circumstances but, if given by the
Fund, need not be for more than six months.
(c) The parties agree that this Section 10.3 shall not apply
to any termination made pursuant to Article VII or any conditions or
undertakings incorporated by reference in Article VII, and the effect
of such Article VII termination shall be governed by the provisions
set forth or incorporated by reference therein.
ARTICLE XI. APPLICABILITY TO NEW ACCOUNTS AND NEW CONTACTS
The parties to this Agreement may amend the schedules to this
Agreement from time to time to reflect changes in or relating to the Contracts
and to add new classes of variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance
policies to be issued by the Company through a Separate Account investing in the
Fund. The provisions of this Agreement shall be equally applicable to each such
class of contracts or policies, unless the context otherwise requires.
ARTICLE XII. NOTICES
Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or
certified mail to the other party(ies) at the address of such party(ies) set
forth below or at such other address as such party(ies) may from time to time
specify in writing to the other party.
If to the Fund:
Delaware Group Premium Fund, Inc.
Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
17
If to the Company:
Lincoln National Life Insurance Co.
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
If to the Distributor:
Delaware Distributors, Inc.
Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
ARTICLE XIII. MISCELLANEOUS
13.1. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of
reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or
otherwise affect their construction or effect.
13.2. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
13.3. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made
invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of the
Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
13.4. 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.
13.5. Each party represents that the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate or trust action, as applicable, by
such party, and when so executed and delivered this Agreement will be the valid
and binding obligation of such party enforceable in accordance with its terms.
18
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this
Agreement to be executed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized officer
on the date specified below.
DELAWARE GROUP PREMIUM FUND, INC. (Fund)
Date: By:
5/1/96 Name:/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
--------------------
Title: Senior Vice President, CAO and CFO
LINCOLN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE CO. (Company)
Date: By:
4/30/96 Name:/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
-----------------------
Title:Vice President
DELAWARE DISTRIBUTORS, LP (Distributor)
Date: By:
5/1/96 Name:/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
----------------------
Title: President and CEO
19
SCHEDULE 1
Separate Accounts of Lincoln National Life Insurance Company
Investing in the Fund
As of May 1, 1996
Lincoln National Variable Annuity Account C
Lincoln Life Flexible Premium Variable Life Account K
20
SCHEDULE 2
Variable Annuity Contracts
and Variable Life Insurance Policies
Supported by Separate Accounts
Listed on Schedule 1
As of May 1, 1996
Multi Fund Variable Annuity Contracts
Multi Fund Variable Life Insurance Contracts
21
SCHEDULE 3
State-mandated Investment Restrictions
Applicable to the Fund
As of May 1, 1996
The California Department of Insurance has established the following Guidelines
for an underlying portfolio of a Separate Account:
BORROWING. Borrowing limits for any variable contract separate account
portfolio are (1) 10% of net asset value when borrowing for any general purpose;
and (2) 25% of net asset value when borrowing as a temporary measure to
facilitate redemptions. Net asset value of a portfolio is the market value of
all investments or assets owned less outstanding liabilities of the portfolio at
the time that any new or additional borrowing is undertaken.
FOREIGN INVESTMENTS - DIVERSIFICATION.
1. A portfolio will be invested in a minimum of five different foreign
countries at all times. However, this minimum is reduced to four when foreign
investments comprise less than 80% of the portfolio's net asset value; to three
when less than 60% of that value; to two when less than 40%; and to one when
less than 20%.
2. Except as set forth in items 3 and 4 below, a Portfolio will have no more
than 20% of its net asset value invested in securities of issuers located in any
one country.
3. A Portfolio may have an additional 15% of its net asset value invested in
securities of issuers located in any one of the following countries: Australia,
Canada, France, Japan, the United Kingdom or Germany.
4. A Portfolio's investments in United States issuers are not subject to the
foreign country diversification guidelines.
22
