PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
This Principal Underwriting Agreement (hereinafter called the "Agreement")
is made effective as of the 1st day of May, 2007, between METROPOLITAN LIFE
INSURANCE COMPANY ("Insurance Company") (on behalf of itself and certain of its
separate accounts (the "Separate Accounts")) and METLIFE INVESTORS DISTRIBUTION
COMPANY ("Principal Underwriter"). The Insurance Company and Principal
Underwriter are herein sometimes referred to individually as a "party" and
collectively as the "parties".
WHEREAS, the Insurance Company desires to obtain from the Principal
Underwriter the underwriting and distribution services provided for herein; and
WHEREAS, the Principal Underwriter desires to provide to the Insurance
Company the underwriting and distribution services provided for herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
1. ISSUE AND SALE OF CONTRACTS.
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Insurance Company proposes to issue and sell certain variable annuity
contracts and variable life insurance policies (collectively the "Contracts") to
the public through the Principal Underwriter. The Contracts will be offered
through the Separate Accounts. The Principal Underwriter agrees to provide
underwriting and distribution services subject to the terms and conditions
hereof. The Contracts to be offered are more fully described in the registration
statements and prospectuses hereinafter mentioned.
2. GRANT AND ACCEPTANCE OF RIGHTS TO BE DISTRIBUTOR.
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Insurance Company grants Principal Underwriter the exclusive right, during
the term of this Agreement, subject to registration requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the provisions
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("1934 Act"), to be the distributor of
the Contracts issued through the Separate Accounts, and the Principal
Underwriter accepts such rights. Principal Underwriter will sell the Contracts
under such terms as set by Insurance Company and will make such sales to
purchasers permitted to buy such Contracts as specified in the applicable
prospectus. Principal Underwriter also shall be authorized to contract with duly
registered broker dealers reasonably acceptable to Insurance Company for the
sale of the Contracts to purchasers permitted to buy such Contracts as specified
in the applicable prospectus.
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3. COMPENSATION.
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As further provided in this Section, Insurance Company agrees to reimburse
Principal Underwriter at cost for services provided by Principal Underwriter
pursuant to this Agreement. Insurance Company shall pay to Principal Underwriter
a fee in an amount equal to all expenses, direct and indirect, reasonably and
equitably determined by Principal Underwriter to be attributable to the
underwriting and distribution services provided by Principal Underwriter to
Insurance Company pursuant hereto, including commissions and other compensation
related costs paid by Principal Underwriter to broker dealers, except to the
extent that New York law otherwise requires. As may be agreed by the parties,
Insurance Company may discharge its obligations under this section by making
payment of such expenses to third parties on behalf of Principal Underwriter or
its creditors in accordance with applicable law. Principal Underwriter shall
credit the full amount of any such payments to third parties by Insurance
Company against any amounts otherwise due and owing under this section.
The bases for determining all such charges to Insurance Company shall be
consistent with New York Insurance Department Regulation 33. Such bases shall be
modified and adjusted where necessary or appropriate to reflect fairly and
equitably the actual incidence of cost incurred by Principal Underwriter on
behalf of Insurance Company.
Principal Underwriter's determination of the charges hereunder shall be
conclusive as between the parties, except that if Insurance Company objects to
any such determination, it shall so advise Principal Underwriter in accordance
with Section 18(j) hereof within thirty (30) days of receipt of notice of said
determination. Unless the parties can reconcile such objection, or otherwise
agree, they shall select a firm of independent accountants which shall determine
the charges properly allocable to Principal Underwriter and shall, within a
reasonable time not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days, submit such
determination, together with the basis therefore, in writing to both parties,
whereupon such determination shall be binding. The expenses of any such
determination by a firm of independent certified public accountants shall be
borne as determined to be equitable by such accountants.
4. PAYMENT.
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Principal Underwriter shall submit to Insurance Company, within thirty (30)
business days after the end of each calendar month (or such other interval not
greater than quarterly as such parties may agree), a written statement showing
the charges estimated to be due from Insurance Company to Principal Underwriter
for services pursuant to this Agreement in the preceding calendar month (or
interval), as well as any charges not included in any previous statement. Any
balance payable as shown in such written statement shall be paid within thirty
(30) days following receipt of such written statement by Insurance Company,
subject to later adjustment if and as determined in accordance with Section 3
hereof. The charges shown in any such statement may be based on good faith
estimates by Principal Underwriter of the charges attributable to such services,
which estimate may take into account the charges for services provided hereunder
in the preceding billing periods.
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No later than the end of the first quarter of the calendar year following
the calendar year in which the services charged for hereunder were provided,
Principal Underwriter shall submit to Insurance Company a statement showing in
reasonable detail the actual charges for such services. Any difference between
such actual charges and the estimated charges for such services as shown in any
previous statement provided by Principal Underwriter to the Insurance Company
pursuant to this Section 4 shall be paid by Principal Underwriter or Insurance
Company, as the case may be, within thirty (30) days following receipt of such
written statement by Insurance Company, subject to later adjustment if and as
determined in accordance with the last paragraph of Section 3 hereof.
5. INDEMNIFICATION.
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Insurance Company shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Principal
Underwriter from and against all liabilities and expenses arising out of any
claims, demands, proceedings, suits, or actions, and any reasonable attorney's
fees and costs in connection therewith (collectively the "Legal Expenses"),
arising out of Principal Underwriter's underwriting and distribution services
and sale of the Contracts pursuant to this Agreement; provided that Insurance
Company shall not indemnify Principal Underwriter for any Legal Expenses arising
out of any intentional, willful, or grossly negligent act or omission by
Principal Underwriter, or its officers or employees.
6. DOCUMENTS TO BE FURNISHED.
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On behalf of the Separate Accounts, Insurance Company shall furnish
Principal Underwriter with copies of all prospectuses, financial statements and
other documents which Principal Underwriter reasonably requests for use in
connection with the distribution of the Contracts. Insurance Company shall
provide to Principal Underwriter such number of copies of the current effective
prospectuses as Principal Underwriter shall request.
7. RESTRICTIONS ON REPRESENTATIONS.
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Principal Underwriter is not authorized to give any information or to make
any representations concerning the Contracts or the Separate Accounts of
Insurance Company other than those contained in the current registration
statements or prospectuses relating to the Separate Accounts filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") or such sales literature as may be
authorized by Insurance Company, which shall be subject to NYS Insurance
Department Regulation 34-A, as applicable. Principal Underwriter shall not have
authority, on behalf of Insurance Company, to waive any Contract provision, to
extend the time of paying any purchase payments, or to receive any monies or
purchase payments (except for the sole purpose of forwarding monies or purchase
payments to Insurance Company). Principal Underwriter shall not expend, nor
contract for the expenditure of, the funds of Insurance Company. Principal
Underwriter acknowledges and agrees that Insurance Company shall have the right
at any time to suspend or limit the public offering of the Contracts.
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8. PREPARATION AND FILING OF CONTRACTS AND PROSPECTUSES.
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Insurance Company shall be responsible for preparing the Contract forms and
filing them with applicable state insurance regulatory authorities, and for
preparing the prospectuses and registration statements and filing them with the
SEC and state regulatory authorities, to the extent required. Insurance Company
agrees to forward to Principal Underwriter copies of any and all amendments to
the registration statement. Insurance Company agrees to advise Principal
Underwriter immediately of: (1) any request by the SEC (i) for amendment of the
registration statement or (ii) for additional information that Insurance Company
determines is material to Principal Underwriter; (2) the issuance by the SEC of
any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the registration statement or the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; and (3) the occurrence of any
material event, if known by Insurance Company, that makes untrue any material
statement made in the registration statement or that requires the making of a
change therein in order to make any material statement made therein not
misleading.
9. RULE 10B-10 REQUIREMENTS.
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Insurance Company, or its appointed designee, as agent for Principal
Underwriter, shall confirm to each applicant for and purchaser of a Contract in
accordance with Rule 10b-10 under the 1934 Act the acceptance of purchase
payments and such other transactions as are required by Rule 10b-10 or
administrative interpretations thereunder, or by any other SEC or NASD rule
requiring the delivery of such information.
10. MAINTENANCE OF BOOKS.
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Each party shall maintain its own books, accounts and records in such a way
to disclose clearly and accurately the nature and details of the transactions
between them, including such accounting information as is necessary to support
the charges under this Agreement, and such additional information as either of
the parties may reasonably request for purposes of its internal bookkeeping and
accounting operations. Principal Underwriter shall keep such books, accounts and
records, insofar as they pertain to the computation of charges hereunder,
available for audit, inspection and copying by Insurance Company and persons
authorized by it or any governmental agency having jurisdiction over the parties
during all reasonable business hours upon reasonable prior notice.
11. OWNERSHIP AND CUSTODY OF RECORDS.
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All records, books and files established and maintained by Principal
Underwriter by reason of its performance of services under this Agreement, which
absent this Agreement would have been held by Insurance Company, shall be deemed
the property of Insurance Company and shall be maintained in accordance with
applicable law and regulation, including New York Insurance Department
Regulation 152. Such records shall be available, upon reasonable prior notice,
during normal business hours for inspection by Insurance Company, anyone
authorized by Insurance Company, and any governmental agency that has regulatory
authority over Insurance
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Company's business activities. Such records shall also be available upon
reasonable prior notice, during normal business hours for inspection by any
governmental agency or self-regulatory organization that has regulatory
authority over Principal Underwriter's business activities. Copies of such
records, books and files shall be delivered to Insurance Company upon reasonable
prior notice. Principal Underwriter shall promptly deliver to Insurance Company
such records, books and files upon termination of this Agreement.
Both parties to this Agreement agree to keep the necessary records as
indicated by applicable state and federal law and to render the necessary
assistance to one another for the accurate and timely preparation of such
records.
12. AUDIT.
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Insurance Company and persons authorized by it or any governmental agency
having jurisdiction over Insurance Company shall have the right, at Insurance
Company's expense, to conduct an audit of the relevant books, accounts and
records of Principal Underwriter upon giving reasonable notice of its intent to
conduct such an audit. In the event of such audit, Principal Underwriter shall
give to the party requesting the audit reasonable cooperation and access to all
books, accounts and records necessary to audit during normal business hours.
13. BOOKS OF ACCOUNT.
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During the term of this Agreement, all of Insurance Company's books of
account shall be maintained by Insurance Company and no books of account of
Insurance Company shall be maintained by Principal Underwriter. All of Insurance
Company's books of account shall be maintained in accordance with New York
Insurance Department Regulation 152. A computer terminal linked to an electronic
system that generates the electronic records that constitute Insurance Company's
books of account shall be kept and maintained at Insurance Company's principal
office. During all normal business hours, upon reasonable prior notice, there
shall be ready availability and easy access through such terminal (either
directly by insurance regulatory personnel or indirectly with the aid of
Insurance Company's personnel) to the electronic media used to maintain the
records comprising Insurance Company's books of account. The electronic records
shall be convertible into records that are in a readable form.
14. CONFIDENTIALITY.
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The parties agree that during the term of this Agreement they may wish to
exchange information which the party providing such information deems
confidential. Therefore, the parties agree that the recipient of Confidential
Information (as defined below) shall not, at any time, duplicate or disclose
such information to any other person, firm, corporation or entity or use it for
its own benefit except to faithfully perform its obligations under this
Agreement and shall use the same degree of care to avoid disclosure, duplication
or use of such Confidential Information as the recipient of the Confidential
Information employs with respect to its own confidential information of like
importance.
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The obligation of confidentiality with respect to Confidential Information
will not apply to any information disclosed by the recipient of Confidential
Information (a) if and to the extent that disclosure by such recipient is
required by applicable law or any court, governmental agency or regulatory
authority or by subpoena or discovery request in pending litigation, (b) if the
information is or becomes available from public information (other than as a
result of prior unauthorized disclosure by such recipient), (c) if the
information is or was received from a third party not known by such recipient to
be under a confidentiality obligation with regard to such information or (d) if
the information was in the possession of such recipient other than by reason of
the services performed pursuant to this Agreement.
The term "CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION" shall include any trade secret or
information that is for the time being confidential to the provider of the
information and is not in the public domain.
Except as provided herein, no rights to the Confidential Information are
transferred to the recipient of the Confidential Information. All Confidential
Information and any copies shall, at the option and written request of the
provider of the Confidential Information, either be promptly returned to the
provider of the Confidential Information or be destroyed.
15. SAFEGUARDING CUSTOMER INFORMATION.
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Principal Underwriter shall implement and maintain appropriate measures
designed to meet the objectives of Department Regulation No.173 with respect to
safeguarding Insurance Company's customer information and customer information
systems. Principal Underwriter shall adjust its information security program at
the request of Insurance Company for any relevant changes dictated by Insurance
Company's assessment of risk around its customer information and customer
information systems. Confirming evidence that Principal Underwriter has
satisfied its obligations under this Agreement shall be made available, during
normal business hours, for inspection by Insurance Company, anyone authorized by
Insurance Company, and any government agency that has regulatory authority over
Insurance Company's business.
16. EFFECTIVENESS AND TERMINATION.
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This Agreement shall be effective upon the execution hereof and will remain
in effect unless terminated as hereinafter provided. This Agreement shall remain
in effect until terminated by either Insurance Company or Principal Underwriter
upon giving ninety (90) days or more advance written notice, provided that
electronic data processing services shall not be terminated by either party
until one hundred and eighty (180) days or more advance written notice of
termination. Subject to the terms (including any limitations and restrictions)
of any applicable software licensing agreement then in effect between Principal
Underwriter and any licensor, Principal Underwriter shall, upon termination of
this Agreement, grant to Insurance Company a perpetual license, without payment
of any fee, in any electronic data processing software developed or used by
Principal Underwriter in connection with the services provided to
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Insurance Company hereunder, if such software is not commercially available and
is necessary, in Insurance Company's reasonable judgment, for Insurance Company
to perform subsequent to termination the functions provided by Principal
Underwriter hereunder. Upon termination, Principal Underwriter shall promptly
deliver to Insurance Company all books and records that are, or are deemed by
this Agreement, the property of Insurance Company.
17. ARBITRATION
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a) When Arbitration Required. All disputes and differences between
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the parties, other than those seeking injunctive relief or a
restraining order under this Agreement, or arising with respect
to the use of Customer Information or Confidential Information
under Sections 14 and 15, must be decided by arbitration in
accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American
Arbitration Association, regardless of the insolvency of either
party, unless the conservator, receiver, liquidator or statutory
successor is specifically exempted from an arbitration proceeding
by applicable state law.
b) Initiation of Arbitration. Either party may initiate arbitration
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by providing written notification to the other party. Such
written notice shall set forth (i) a brief statement of the
issue(s); (ii) the failure of the parties to reach agreement; and
(iii) the date of the demand for arbitration.
c) Arbitration Panel. The arbitration panel shall consist of three
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arbitrators. The arbitrators must be impartial and must be or
must have been officers of life insurance and or securities
companies other than the parties or their affiliates.
d) Selection of Arbitrators. Each party shall select an arbitrator
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within thirty (30) days from the date of the demand. If either
party shall refuse or fail to appoint an arbitrator within the
time allowed, the party that has appointed an arbitrator may
notify the other party that, if it has not appointed its
arbitrator within the following ten (10) days, an arbitrator
shall be appointed on its behalf. The two (2) arbitrators shall
select the third arbitrator within thirty (30) days of the
appointment of the second arbitrator. If the two arbitrators fail
to agree on the selection of the third arbitrator within the time
allowed, each arbitrator shall submit to the other a list of
three (3) candidates. Each arbitrator shall select one name from
the list submitted by the other and the third arbitrator shall be
selected from the two names chosen by drawing lots.
e) Rules; Place for Meetings; Majority Vote. The arbitrators shall
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determine all arbitration schedules and procedural rules.
Organizational and other meetings shall be held in New York,
unless the arbitrators select another location. The arbitrators
shall decide all matters by majority vote.
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f) Decision Final. The decisions of the arbitrators shall be final
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and binding on both parties. The arbitrators may, at their
discretion, award costs and expenses, as they deem appropriate,
including but not limited to legal fees and interest. The
arbitrators may not award exemplary or punitive damages. Judgment
may be entered upon the final decision of the arbitrators in any
court of competent jurisdiction.
g) Fees and Expenses. Each party shall be responsible for (a) all
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fees and expenses of its respective counsel, accountants,
actuaries and any other representatives in connection with the
arbitration and (b) unless the arbitrators shall provide
otherwise, one-half (1/2) of the expenses of the arbitration,
including the fees and expenses of the arbitrators.
18. MISCELLANEOUS
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(a) Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of
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the parties; and no other agreement, statement or promise not
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contained in this Agreement shall be valid or binding.
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(b) Amendment. This Agreement may be amended only upon mutual agreement of
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the parties hereto in writing subject to the approval of the NYS
Insurance Department.
(c) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the
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parties hereto and their transferees, successors and assigns. The
benefits of and the right to enforce this Agreement shall accrue to
the parties and their transferees, successors and assigns.
(d) Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, obligations
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or liabilities of either party hereto shall be assigned without the
written consent of the other party and the approval of the NYS
Insurance Department.
(e) Intended Beneficiaries. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed
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to give any person or entity other than the parties hereto any legal
or equitable claim, right or remedy. Rather, this Agreement is
intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties
hereto.
(f) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of
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which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall together
constitute one and the same instrument.
(g) Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be interpreted, construed, and
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enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without
reference to the conflict of law provisions thereof.
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(h) Severability. If any portion of this Agreement shall be found to be
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invalid or unenforceable by a court or tribunal or regulatory agency
or competent jurisdiction, the remainder shall not be affected
thereby, but shall have the same force and effect as if the invalid or
unenforceable portion had not been inserted.
(i) Contact Person. Insurance Company and Principal Underwriter each shall
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appoint one or more individuals who shall serve as contact persons for
the purpose of carrying out this Agreement. Effective upon execution
of this Agreement, the initial contact persons shall be those set
forth in Appendix A.
(j) Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under
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this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
given on the date of service if served personally on the party to whom
notice is to be given, or on the date of mailing if sent by First
Class Mail, Registered or Certified, postage prepaid and properly
addressed.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be
signed on their behalf by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.
METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Assistant Vice President
ATTEST:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
METLIFE INVESTORS DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Executive Vice President
ATTEST:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
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APPENDIX A
TO PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
In accordance with Section 18(i) of the Principal Underwriting Agreement, the
following individuals are designated contract persons for the party indicated:
INSURANCE COMPANY:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Assistant Vice President
MetLife Group
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxx.
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Assistant Vice President
0 Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
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