Exhibit 1.8(d)
FORM OF
FUND PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
BETWEEN
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AND
LINCOLN NATIONAL BOND FUND, INC.
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this ____ day of ____________,
2000, by and between Lincoln National Bond Fund, Inc. a corporation organized
under the laws of Maryland (the "Fund"), and _________________, a _________
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"; collectively, the "Accounts").
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 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. 811-3212) under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), and the Fund shares (File
No. 2-80743) 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 (unless exempt therefrom) certain variable
annuity contracts and/or variable life insurance policies 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 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 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, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Company intends to purchase shares on behalf of each Account
to fund its Contracts and the Fund is authorized to sell such shares to unit
investment trusts such as the Accounts at net asset value; and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Company
and the Fund agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. SALE OF FUND SHARES
1.1. The Fund agrees to sell to the Company those 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 shares 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 AND DELIVER such net asset value
by 7:00 p.m., E.S.T., on each such Business Day. Notwithstanding 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 shares, 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 (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 (the Company will
expect same day redemption wires unless unusual circumstances evolve which
cause the Fund to have to redeem securities) 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 to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act,
any rules, regulations or orders thereunder, or the then currently effective
Fund Prospectus.
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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 9:00 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 the shares on the same day that it
places an order with the Fund to purchase those Fund shares for an
Account. Payment for Fund 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 shares. The Fund will confirm
receipt of each trade and these confirmations will be received by the
Company via fax or e-mail by 3:00 p.m. E.S.T. If Federal Funds are
not received on time, such funds will be invested, and shares
purchased thereby will be issued, as soon as practicable.
(c) Payment for shares redeemed by the Account or the Company will
be made in Federal Funds transmitted to the Company by wire on the
same day the Fund is notified of the redemption order of 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 0000 Xxx.
The Fund shall not bear any responsibility whatsoever for the proper
disbursement or crediting of redemption proceeds if securities must
be redeemed; the Company alone shall be responsible for such action.
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 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
shares in the form of additional shares of that Fund. 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 shares so issued as
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payment of such dividends and distributions.
1.7. The Fund shall use its best efforts to make the net asset value
per share available to the Company by 7:00 p.m., E.S.T. each Business Day,
and in any event, as soon as reasonably practicable after the net asset value
per share is calculated, and shall calculate such net asset value in
accordance with the then currently effective Fund Prospectus. The Fund shall
not 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.
1.8. (a) The Company may withdraw the Account's investment in the Fund
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 Contract owners having an
interest in the Fund to substitute the shares of another investment
company for 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.
(c) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the Fund (unless
otherwise required by applicable law), take any action to operate the
Accounts as management investment companies under the 0000 Xxx.
1.9. The Fund agrees that Fund shares will be sold only to
Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts. The Fund 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 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
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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 ___
of the ________, and has registered or, prior to the issuance of any
Contracts, will register each Account (unless exempt therefrom) 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 treatment and shall
notify the Fund 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. 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 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.
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ARTICLE III. PROSPECTUSES AND PROXY STATEMENTS; SALES MATERIAL AND OTHER
INFORMATION
3.1. The Fund 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, and electronic version, 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 Fund and 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, as determined by the Company. The
Fund shall be responsible for the costs of printing and distributing
these materials to Contract owners.
(b)The Fund at its expense shall be responsible for preparing,
printing and distributing its proxy material. The Company will
provide the appropriate Contract owner names and addresses to the
Fund for this purpose.
3.4. The Company shall furnish to the Fund, prior to its use, each
piece of sales literature or other promotional material in which the Fund is
named. No such material shall be used, except with the prior written
permission of the Fund. The Fund agrees 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.
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, except with the prior written permission of
the Fund. The Fund agrees to respond to any request for permission on a
prompt and timely basis. If the Fund does not respond 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 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
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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, then the Fund is 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,
within 20 days after the filing of such document with the SEC or other
regulatory authorities.
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, within 20 days 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
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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 requirements of Article VII, the
Fund shall solicit voting instructions from Contract owners.
4.2 Subject to applicable law and the requirements of Article VII,
the Company shall:
(a) vote Fund shares attributable to Contract owners in accordance
with instructions or proxies received in timely fashion from such
Contract owners;
(b) vote Fund shares 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 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 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 decided to print the Fund Prospectuses and SAIs in a booklet or
separate booklets containing disclosure for the Contracts and for underlying
funds other than those of the Fund, then the Fund shall pay only its
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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.
ARTICLE VlI. POTENTIAL CONFLICTS
7.1. 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 Section 6e-3(T) of the
1940 Act, 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
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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 material irreconcilable
conflict. These steps could include: (i) withdrawing the assets
allocable to some or all of the affected Accounts from the Fund and
reinvesting such assets in a different investment vehicle, or
submitting the question of whether such segregation should be
implemented to a vote of all affected Contract owners and, as
appropriate, segregating the assets of any particular group
(i.e., variable annuity Contract owners, variable life insurance
policy 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 (ii) establishing a new registered
mutual fund or management separate account; or (iii) taking such
other action as is necessary to remedy or eliminate the material
irreconcilable 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 and to seek reimbursement from the Fund for the reasonable
costs and expenses of resolving the conflict. 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
Contract owners.
(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 parties shall then attempt
to resolve the matter amicably through negotiation by individuals
from each party who are authorized to settle the matter. 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
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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 ________. The Arbitrator
is not empowered to award damages in excess of compensatory damages.
(d) If the Board shall determine that the Fund or another 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 Participating Insurance Company as
applicable, shall, at its sole cost and expense, take whatever steps
are necessary to eliminate the conflict.
(e) Nothing in Sections 7.2(b) or 7.2(c) shall constitute a waiver of
any right of action which the Company may have against other
Participating Insurance Companies for reimbursement of all or part of
the costs and expenses of resolving 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. 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. However, 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 in either case an offer to do so has been declined by a
vote of a majority of affected Contract owners.
ARTICLE VIII. INDEMNIFICATION
8.1. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY. The Company agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless the Fund and each person who controls or is associated with
the Fund (other than another Participating Insurance Company) 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 with the prior written consent of the Company 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
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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 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 a person authorized in writing to do so on
behalf of the Fund) 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 of Fund shares on a timely basis in accordance
with the procedures set forth in Article I; or
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(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
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of
duty by the party seeking indemnification.
8.2. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE FUND. The Fund 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 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 with the prior written consent of the Fund 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 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 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 Fund 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
13
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 Fund to the Company (or a person authorized in writing to do so on
behalf of the Fund); 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 Sections 2.4 and 6.1 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 Fund of this Agreement.
This indemnification will be in addition to any liability which the Fund may
otherwise have; provided, however, that no party shall be entitled to
indemnification if such loss, claim, damage or liability is due to the
willful 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
14
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 law.
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 120 days advance written
notice to the other parties; or
(b) at the option of the Company if shares of the Fund are not
available 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;
(d) at the option of the Company upon institution of formal
proceedings against the Fund, the investment advisor or any sub-
investment advisor, by the NASD, the SEC, or any state securities or
insurance commission or any other regulatory body; or
15
(e) upon requisite vote of the Contract owners having an interest
in the Fund (unless otherwise required by applicable law) and
written approval of the Company, to substitute the shares of another
investment company for the corresponding shares of the Fund in
accordance with the terms of the Contracts; or
(f) 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
(g) 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
(h) 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
(i) 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
(j) 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
(k) at the option of the Fund if the Fund shall determine, in its
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 the Fund; or
(l) at the option of the Company, if the Company shall determine, in
its sole judgment exercised in good faith, that: (1) the Fund shall
have suffered a material adverse change in its business or financial
condition; or (2) the Fund 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
(m) automatically 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
16
affiliate of the Company or the Fund, as the case may be.
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 the other
party 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.
10.3. EFFECT OF TERMINATION
(a) Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement pursuant to
Section 10.1 of this Agreement, the Fund 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) 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, and the effect of such
Article VII termination shall be governed by the provisions set forth
or incorporated by reference therein.
17
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 new or existing Separate
Accounts investing in the Fund. The provisions of this Agreement shall be
equally applicable to each such separate account and each such class of
contracts or policies, unless the context otherwise requires. Any such
amendment must be signed by the parties and must bear an effective date for
that amendment.
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:
Lincoln National Bond Fund, Inc.
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
If to the Company:
________________________
________________________
________________________
Attn:___________________
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.
18
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.
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.
LINCOLN NATIONAL BOND FUND, INC.
Signature: ________________________________________________
Name: _____________________________________________________
Title: ____________________________________________________
(Company)
Signature: ________________________________________________
Name: _____________________________________________________
Title: ____________________________________________________
SCHEDULE 1
Lincoln National Bond Fund, Inc.
Separate Accounts of _________________
Investing in the Fund
As of ___________________
SCHEDULE 2
Lincoln National Bond Fund, Inc.
Variable Annuity Contracts
and Variable Life Insurance Policies
Supported by Separate Accounts
Listed on Schedule 1
As of____________________
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