RULE 22C-2 AGREEMENT
Exhibit 24(b)(8.41) | ||
RULE 22C-2 AGREEMENT | ||
This AGREEMENT, dated [no later than April 16, 2007], is effective as of the 16th day of | ||
October, 2007, between XXXXX DISTRIBUTORS LLC (the “Fund”) as principal underwriter for each of | ||
the funds listed on the attached Schedule A (the “[XXXXX SELECTED CLIPPER] Funds”)and | ||
ING Life Insurance and Annuity Company, ING National Trust, ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance | ||
Company, ReliaStar Life Insurance Company, ReliaStar Life Insurance Company of New York, | ||
Security Life of Denver Insurance Company and Systematized Benefits Administrators Inc. | ||
(individually an “Intermediary” and collectively the “Intermediaries”). | ||
WHEREAS, the Intermediaries have adopted policies and procedures to monitor and deter | ||
excessive trading activity within the mutual funds, including the Funds, available through the | ||
variable annuity, variable life insurance and variable retirement plan products which they offer | ||
(the “Variable Products”); and | ||
WHEREAS, the Intermediaries’ policies and procedures to monitor and deter excessive trading | ||
activity within the mutual funds available through their Variable Products are attached hereto | ||
and made part of this Agreement as Schedule B (the “Excessive Trading Policy”); | ||
WHEREAS, the Funds desires for the Intermediaries to monitor and deter excessive trading | ||
activity in the Funds in accordance with the Intermediaries’ Excessive Trading Policy; and | ||
WHEREAS, the parties desire to otherwise comply with the requirements under Rule 22c-2 of | ||
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (“Rule 22c-2”). | ||
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, which | ||
consideration is full and complete, the Fund and the Intermediaries hereby agree as follows: | ||
A. | Agreement to Monitor and Deter Excessive Trading Activity. | |
1. | The Intermediaries agree to monitor and deter excessive trading activity in the | |
Funds which are available through their Variable Products in accordance with the Intermediaries’ | ||
Excessive Trading Policy. Said Excessive Trading Policy may be amended from time to time | ||
with the consent of the parties, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld. | ||
2. | The Intermediaries agree to provide the Fund the taxpayer identification number | |
(“TIN”), if requested, or any other identifying factor that would provide acceptable assurances of | ||
the identity of all shareholders that are restricted to regular U.S. mail trading under the | ||
Intermediaries’ Excessive Trading Policy. | ||
B. | Agreement to Provide Shareholder Information. | |
1. | Each Intermediary agrees to provide the Fund, upon written request, the following | |
shareholder information with respect to Covered Transactions involving the Funds: | ||
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a. | The taxpayer identification number (“TIN”) or any other government | ||
issued identifier, if known, that would provide acceptable assurances of | |||
the identity of each shareholder that has purchased, redeemed, transferred | |||
or exchanged shares of a Fund through an account directly maintained by | |||
the Intermediaries during the period covered by the request; | |||
b. | The amount and dates of, and the Variable Product(s) associated with, | ||
such shareholder purchases, redemptions, transfers and exchanges; and | |||
c. | Any other data mutually agreed upon in writing. | ||
2. | Under this Agreement the term “Covered Transactions” are those transactions | ||
which the Intermediaries consider when determining whether trading activity is excessive as | |||
described in their Excessive Trading Policy. | |||
3. | Requests to provide Shareholder information shall set forth the specific period for | ||
which transaction information is sought. However, unless otherwise agreed to by the | |||
Intermediaries, any such request will not cover a period of more than 90 consecutive calendar | |||
days from the date of the request. | |||
4. | Each Intermediary agrees to provide the requested shareholder information | ||
promptly upon receipt of the request, but in no event later than 15 business days after receipt of | |||
such request, provided that such information resides in its books and records. If shareholder | |||
information is not on the Intermediary’s books and records, the Intermediary agrees to use | |||
best efforts to obtain and transmit or have transmitted the requested information from the | |||
holder of the account. | |||
C. | Agreement to Restrict Trading. | ||
1. | Each Intermediary agrees to execute written instructions from the Fund to restrict | ||
or prohibit further purchases or exchanges involving Fund shares by a shareholder who has been | |||
identified by the Fund as having engaged in transactions in shares of a Fund (through an account | |||
directly maintained by the Intermediary) that violate the policies and procedures established by | |||
the Funds for the purposes of eliminating or reducing frequent trading of Fund shares. | |||
2. | Each Intermediary agrees to use best efforts to execute or have executed | ||
(for those shareholders whose information is not on the Intermediary’s books and records) the | |||
written instructions within 10 Business Days after actual receipt. The Intermediary will provide | |||
written confirmation to the Fund as soon as reasonably practicable that such instructions have or | |||
have not been executed. If the written instructions have not been executed, then the written | |||
confirmation will also provide an explanation. | |||
3. | Instructions to restrict or prohibit further Covered Transactions involving Fund | ||
shares must include: | |||
a. | The reason for requesting the restriction(s) and/or prohibition(s), | ||
supporting details regarding the transaction activity which resulted in the | |||
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restriction(s) and/or prohibition(s)s and the applicable sections of the | ||
Fund’s frequent trading policy and procedures that have been violated; | ||
b. | The specific restriction(s) and/or prohibition(s) to be executed, including | |
the length of time such restriction(s) and/or prohibition(s) shall remain in | ||
place; | ||
c. | The TIN or any other government issued identifier, if known by the Fund, | |
that would help the Intermediaries determine the identity of affected | ||
shareholder(s); and | ||
d. | Whether such restriction(s) and/or prohibition(s) are to be executed in | |
relation to all of the affected shareholder’s Variable Products, only the | ||
type of Variable Product(s) through which the affected shareholder | ||
engaged in transaction activity which triggered the restriction(s) and/or | ||
prohibition(s) or in some other respect. In absence of direction from the | ||
Fund in this regard, restriction(s) and/or prohibition(s) shall be executed as | ||
they relate to the Intermediary’s Variable Product(s) through which the | ||
affected shareholder engaged in the transaction activity which triggered | ||
the restriction(s) and/or prohibition(s). | ||
D. | Limitation on Use of Information. | |
The Fund agrees neither to use the information received from the Intermediary for any purpose | ||
other than to comply with SEC Rule 22c-2 and other applicable laws, rules and regulations, nor | ||
to share the information with anyone other than its employees who legitimately need access to it. | ||
Neither the Fund nor any of its affiliates or subsidiaries may use any information provided | ||
pursuant to this Agreement for marketing or solicitation purposes. The Fund will take such steps | ||
as are reasonably necessary to ensure compliance with this obligation. | ||
The Fund shall indemnify and hold the Intermediaries, individually and collectively, (and any of | ||
their respective directors, officers, employees, or agents) harmless from any damages, loss, cost, | ||
or liability (including reasonable legal fees and the cost of enforcing this indemnity) arising out | ||
of or resulting from any unauthorized use of or disclosure by the Fund of the information | ||
received from the Intermediaries pursuant to this Agreement. In addition, because an award of | ||
money damages (whether pursuant to the foregoing sentence or otherwise) may be inadequate | ||
for any breach of this provision and any such breach may cause the Intermediaries irreparable | ||
harm, the Fund also agrees that, in the event of any breach or threatened breach of this provision, | ||
the Intermediaries will also be entitled, without the requirement of posting a bond or other | ||
security, to seek equitable relief, including injunctive relief and specific performance. Such | ||
remedies will not be the exclusive remedies for any breach of this provision but will be in | ||
addition to all other remedies available at law or in equity to the Intermediaries. | ||
In the event that the Fund is required by legal process, law, or regulation to disclose any | ||
information received from the Intermediaries pursuant to this Agreement, the Fund shall provide | ||
Intermediaries with prompt written notice of such requirement as far in advance of the proposed | ||
disclosure as possible so that the Intermediaries (at their expense) may either seek a protective | ||
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order or other appropriate remedy which is necessary to protect their interests or waive | ||||
compliance with this provision to the extent necessary. | ||||
E. | Prior Agreements. | |||
The parties acknowledge that prior to the effective date of this Agreement efforts to monitor and | ||||
deter excessive trading activity within the Variable Products were governed by whatever | ||||
practices the Fund and the Intermediaries agreed to follow in the absence of any formal | ||||
agreement. The parties also acknowledge having previously entered into fund participation | ||||
and/or selling and service agreements concerning the purchase and redemption of shares of | ||||
Funds through the Variable Products. The terms of this Agreement supplement the fund | ||||
participation and/or selling and service agreements and to the extent the terms of this Agreement | ||||
conflict with the terms of the fund participation and/or selling and service agreements, the terms | ||||
of this Agreement will control. This Agreement will terminate upon termination of the fund | ||||
participation and/or selling and service agreements. | ||||
F. | Notices. | |||
1. | Except as otherwise provided, all notices and other communications hereunder | |||
shall be in writing and shall be sufficient if delivered by hand or if sent by confirmed facsimile or | ||||
e-mail, or by mail, postage prepaid, addressed: | ||||
a. | If to Intermediaries, to: | |||
ING U.S. Financial Services | ||||
Attention: [Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx] | ||||
Address: | [151 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx] | |||
[Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000] | ||||
Phone: | [000-000-0000] | |||
Fax: | [000-000-0000] | |||
Email: | [Xxxxxxxxxx.Xxxxxxx@xx.xxx.xxx] | |||
b. | If to the Fund, to: | |||
Attention: [Name or Title of the 22c-2 Contact Person] | ||||
Address: | [XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX] | |||
[XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX] | ||||
Phone: | [XXX-XXX-XXXX] | |||
Fax: | [XXX-XXX-XXXX] | |||
Email: | [XXXX.XXXXXXX@XXXX.XXX] | |||
2. | The parties may by like notice, designate any future or different address to | |||
which subsequent notices shall be sent. Any notice shall be deemed given when received. | ||||
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be executed | |||
in its name and on its behalf by its duly authorized officer as of the date first written above. | |||
ING Life Insurance and Annuity Company |
Security Life of Denver Insurance Company | ||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx | By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx |
Name | Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx | Name and | Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx |
and Title: | Authorized Representative | Title: | Authorized Representative |
ING National Trust |
Systematized Benefits Administrators Inc. | ||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx | By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx |
Name | Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx | Name | Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx |
and Title: | Authorized Representative | and Title: | Authorized Representative |
ING USA Annuity and Life Insurance |
[Full Legal Name of the “Fund”] | ||
Company | |||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx | By: | /s/ Xxxxx Selected Advisers LP |
Name | Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx | Name and | Xxxxx Xxxxxx |
and Title: | Authorized Representative | Title: | Broker Dealer Manager |
ReliaStar Life Insurance Company |
|||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
Name | Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
and Title: | Authorized Representative | ||
ReliaStar Life Insurance Company of New |
|||
York | |||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
Name | Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
and Title: | Authorized Representative | ||
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Schedule A | |
________________________________ (the “Fund”) is principal underwriter for each | |
series/portfolios of the following funds: | |
• | [List the funds to be covered by this agreement] |
A-1 |
Schedule B | ||
ING “Excessive Trading” Policy | ||
The ING family of insurance companies (“ING”), as providers of multi-fund variable insurance and | ||
retirement products, has adopted this Excessive Trading Policy to respond to the demands of the various | ||
fund families which make their funds available through our variable insurance and retirement products | ||
to restrict excessive fund trading activity and to ensure compliance with Section 22c-2 of the Investment | ||
Company Act of 1940, as amended. ING’s current definition of Excessive Trading and our policy with | ||
respect to such trading activity is outlined below. | ||
1. | ING actively monitors fund transfer and reallocation activity within its variable insurance and | |
retirement products to identify Excessive Trading. | ||
ING currently defines Excessive Trading as: | ||
a. | More than one purchase and sale of the same fund (including money market funds) within a | |
60 calendar day period (hereinafter, a purchase and sale of the same fund is referred to as a | ||
“round-trip”). This means two or more round-trips involving the same fund within a 60 | ||
calendar day period would meet ING’s definition of Excessive Trading; or | ||
b. | Six round-trips within a twelve month period. | |
The following transactions are excluded when determining whether trading activity is excessive: | ||
a. | Purchases or sales of shares related to non-fund transfers (for example, new purchase | |
payments, withdrawals and loans); | ||
b. | Transfers associated with scheduled dollar cost averaging, scheduled rebalancing or | |
scheduled asset allocation programs; | ||
c. | Purchases and sales of fund shares in the amount of $5,000 or less; | |
d. | Purchases and sales of funds that affirmatively permit short-term trading in their fund shares, | |
and movement between such funds and a money market fund; and | ||
e. | Transactions initiated by a member of the ING family of insurance companies. | |
2. | If ING determines that an individual has made a purchase of a fund within 60 days of a prior round- | |
trip involving the same fund, ING will send them a letter warning that another sale of that same fund | ||
within 60 days of the beginning of the prior round-trip will be deemed to be Excessive Trading and | ||
result in a six month suspension of their ability to initiate fund transfers or reallocations through the | ||
Internet, facsimile, Voice Response Unit (VRU), telephone calls to the ING Customer Service | ||
Center, or other electronic trading medium that ING may make available from time to time | ||
(“Electronic Trading Privileges”). Likewise, if ING determines that an individual has made five | ||
round-trips within a twelve month period, ING will send them a letter warning that another purchase | ||
and sale of that same fund within twelve months of the initial purchase in the first round-trip in the | ||
prior twelve month period will be deemed to be Excessive Trading and result in a six month | ||
suspension of their Electronic Trading Privileges. According to the needs of the various business | ||
units, a copy of the warning letters may also be sent, as applicable, to the person(s) or entity | ||
authorized to initiate fund transfers or reallocations, the agent/registered representative or investment | ||
adviser for that individual. A copy of the warning letters and details of the individual’s trading | ||
activity may also be sent to the fund whose shares were involved in the trading activity. | ||
B-1 |
3. | If ING determines that an individual has used one or more of its products to engage in Excessive |
Trading, ING will send a second letter to the individual. This letter will state that the individual’s | |
Electronic Trading Privileges have been suspended for a period of six months. Consequently, all | |
fund transfers or reallocations, not just those which involve the fund whose shares were involved in | |
the Excessive Trading activity, will then have to be initiated by providing written instructions to ING | |
via regular U.S. mail. During the six month suspension period, electronic “inquiry only” privileges | |
will be permitted where and when possible. A copy of the letter restricting future transfer and | |
reallocation activity to regular U.S. mail and details of the individual’s trading activity may also be | |
sent to the fund whose shares were involved in the Excessive Trading activity. | |
4. | Following the six month suspension period during which no additional Excessive Trading is |
identified, Electronic Trading Privileges may again be restored. ING will continue to monitor the | |
fund transfer and reallocation activity, and any future Excessive Trading will result in an indefinite | |
suspension of the Electronic Trading Privileges. Excessive Trading activity during the six month | |
suspension period will also result in an indefinite suspension of the Electronic Trading Privileges. | |
5. | ING reserves the right to limit fund trading or reallocation privileges with respect to any individual, |
with or without prior notice, if ING determines that the individual’s trading activity is disruptive, | |
regardless of whether the individual’s trading activity falls within the definition of Excessive | |
Trading set forth above. Also, ING’s failure to send or an individual’s failure to receive any | |
warning letter or other notice contemplated under this Policy will not prevent ING from suspending | |
that individual’s Electronic Trading Privileges or taking any other action provided for in this Policy. | |
6. | Each fund available through ING’s variable insurance and retirement products, either by prospectus |
or stated policy, has adopted or may adopt its own excessive/frequent trading policy. ING reserves | |
the right, without prior notice, to implement restrictions and/or block future purchases of a fund by | |
an individual who the fund has identified as violating its excessive/frequent trading policy. All such | |
restrictions and/or blocking of future fund purchases will be done in accordance with the directions | |
ING receives from the fund. | |
B-2 |