FUND PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company, Advanced Series Trust, AST Investment Services, Inc., and Prudential Investments LLC May 1, 2007
Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company,
AST Investment Services, Inc.,
and
Prudential Investments LLC
May 1, 2007
Among
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY,
AST INVESTMENT SERVICES, INC.,
and
PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENTS LLC
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered as of the 15th day of May, 2007, by and among
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY (the "Company"),
a Connecticut life insurance company, on its own behalf and' on behalf of its separate accounts
(the "Accounts"); ADVANCED SERIES TRUST, an open-end management investment
company organized under the laws of Massachusetts (the "Fund"); AST INVESTMENT
SERVICES, INC., a Connecticut corporation ("ASTISI"); and PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENTS
LLC, a New York limited liability company ("PI," and together with ASTISI, the "Advisers" and
each an "Adviser").
WHEREAS,
the Fund engages in business as an open-end management investment
company and is available to act as the investment vehicle for separate accounts established for variable life insurance policies
and/or variable annuity contracts (collectively,
the "Variable
Insurance Products") to be offered by insurance companies ("Participating Insurance Companies");
and
WHEREAS, the beneficial interest in the Fund is divided into several series of shares,
each designated a Portfolio and representing the interest in a particular managed portfolio of
securities and other assets; and
WHEREAS, the Fund
has obtained an order
from the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), dated
August 1, 1995 (File
No. 812-9384) (the "Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order"), granting
Participating Insurance Companies and variable annuity and
variable life insurance
separate accounts exemptions from the provisions of sections
9(a), 13(a), 15(a),
and 15(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(the "1940 Act"),
and Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15) thereunder, to
the extent necessary to permit
shares of the Fund to
be sold to and held by variable annuity and variable life
insurance separate accounts of life insurance companies
that may or may not be affiliated
with one another and
qualified pension and retirement plans ("Qualified Plans"); and
WHEREAS, the
Fund is registered as an open-end
management investment company
under the 1940 Act and shares of
the Portfolio(s) are registered under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the"
1933 Act"); and
WHEREAS, each Adviser is duly
registered as an investment adviser under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940, as amended; and
WHEREAS, the Company has issued
and plans to continue to issue certain variable life insurance
policies and/or variable annuity contracts supported wholly
or partially by the Accounts (the "Contracts");
and such Contracts are listed
in Schedule A attached hereto
and incorporated herein by reference, as such schedule
may be amended from
time to time by mutual
written agreement of the parties; and
WHEREAS, each Account is a
duly organized, validly existing segregated asset account,
established by resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company under the insurance laws
of the State of Connecticut, to set aside and invest assets attributable to the Contracts; and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted
by applicable insurance laws and regulations, the Company
intends to continue to purchase shares in the Portfolios listed on Schedule B attached hereto
and incorporated herein by reference, as such schedule
may be amended from time to time
by mutual written agreement of the parties (the "Portfolios"), on behalf
of the Accounts to fund the Contracts, and the Fund is authorized
to sell such shares to unit investment trusts such as the
Accounts at net asset value; and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted
by applicable insurance laws and regulations, the Company also intends to continue to purchase shares in other open-end investment
companies or series thereof not affiliated with the Fund
(the "Unaffiliated Funds") on behalf of the Accounts to fund the Contracts.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Company, the Fund
and the Advisers agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1. Sale of Fund Shares
1.1. The Fund agrees to sell to the Company those shares of the Portfolios which the Account orders, executing such orders on each Business Day at the net asset value next computed after receipt by the Fund or its designee of the order for the shares of the Portfolios. For purposes of this Section 1.1, the Company shall be the designee of the Fund for receipt of such orders and receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund, provided that the Fund receives notice of any such order by 10:00 a.m. Eastern time on the next following Business Day. "Business Day" shall mean any day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which the Portfolio calculates its net asset value pursuant to the rules of the SEC as described in the then-current Registration Statement of the Fund on Form N-IA. "Valuation Time" shall mean the time as of which the Fund calculates net asset value for the shares of the Portfolios on the relevant Business Day.
1.2.
The Fund agrees to make shares of the Portfolios available for purchase at the applicable net asset value per share by the Company
and the Accounts on those days on which the Fund calculates its Portfolios' net asset value pursuant to rules of the SEC, and the
Fund shall calculate such net asset value on each day which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund may refuse to
sell shares of any
Portfolio to any person,
or suspend or terminate the offering of shares of
any Portfolio
if such action is
required by law or by regulatory
authorities having jurisdiction or is, in the sole
discretion of the Fund acting
in good faith,
necessary or
appropriate in
the best interests of the shareholders of such Portfolio.
All orders accepted by the Company shall be subject
to the terms of
the then
current prospectus of the Fund. The Company
shall use its best efforts, and
shall reasonably cooperate
with, the Fund to enforce stated prospectus policies regarding
transactions in Portfolio shares. The Company
acknowledges that orders for Portfolio shares accepted
by it
in violation of the stated policies of the Fund as
set forth in the Fund's
prospectus may be subsequently revoked or cancelled
by the Fund and that the Fund shall not be responsible
for any losses
incurred by the
Company or the Contract owner as a result of such cancellation. In addition,
the Company
acknowledges that the
Fund has the right to refuse
any purchase order if the
Fund determines,
in its sole discretion, that:
(i) a
Portfolio would be unable to invest the money effectively in accordance with its investment
policies, (ii) a
Portfolio would otherwise be adversely
affected due to the size of the transaction, frequency
of trading, or
other factors, (iii)
the completion of such purchase order would conflict with any of the Fund's then-current policies and procedures or any disclosure
set forth in the Fund's registration statement; or (iv) the completion of the purchase
order would violate any
law, rule, regulation or court order.
1.3. The Fund will not sell shares of the Portfolios to
any other Participating Insurance Company separate account unless an agreement containing provisions the substance of which are
the same as Sections 2.1, 2.2 (except with respect to designation of applicable law),
3.5,
3.6,3.7, and
Article VII of this Agreement is in effect to govern
such sales.
1.4. The Fund agrees to redeem for cash, on the
Company's request,
any full or fractional
shares of the Fund held by the Company, executing
such requests on each Business Day at the net asset value next computed after
receipt by the Fund or
its designee of the request
for redemption. For purposes of this Section 1.4,
the Company shall be the designee of the Fund for
receipt of requests for redemption and receipt
by such designee
shall constitute receipt by the Fund,
provided that the Fund receives
notice of any such request for redemption
by 10:00 a.m. Eastern time on the next following
Business Day.
1.5. The parties hereto acknowledge that
the arrangement contemplated by this Agreement is not exclusive; the Fund's shares may be sold to other Participating Insurance
Companies (subject to Section 1.3) and the cash value of the Contracts may be invested in other investment companies.
1.6. The Company shall pay for Fund shares
by 3:00 p.m. Eastern time on the next Business Day after an order to purchase Fund shares is received in accordance with the provisions
of Section 1.1 hereof. Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire and/or by a credit for any shares redeemed the same
day as the purchase.
1.7. The Fund shall pay and
transmit the proceeds of redemptions of Fund shares by 3 :00 p.m.
Eastern Time on the next Business Day after a redemption order is received in accordance with Section 1.4 hereof; provided,
however, that the Fund may delay payment in extraordinary circumstances to the extent permitted
under Section 22( e) of the 1940 Act. Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire and/or a credit for any shares purchased
the same day as the redemption.
1.8.
Issuance and transfer of the Fund's shares will be by book entry only. Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or
the Accounts. Shares
purchased from the Fund will be recorded in an
appropriate title for the relevant Account or the relevant sub-account of an Account.
1.9. The Fund shall furnish
same day notice (by electronic communication or telephone, followed by electronic confirmation) to the Company of any income,
dividends or capital gain distributions payable on a Portfolio's shares. The Company hereby
elects to receive all such income dividends and capital gain distributions as are payable on a Portfolio's
shares in additional shares of that Portfolio. The Company reserves the right to revoke this election and to receive all such income
dividends and capital gain distributions in cash. The Fund shall either notify the Company by the end of the next following Business
Day of the number of shares so issued as payment of such dividends and distributions or provide
the Company with an
internet based or other method to obtain such information.
1.10. The Fund shall make the net asset value per share for each Portfolio available to the Company on each Business Day as soon as reasonably practicable after the net asset value per share is calculated and shall use its best efforts to make the net asset value per share for each Portfolio available by 7:00 p.m. Eastern time. In the event of an en-or in the computation of a Portfolio's net asset value per share ("NAV") or any dividend or capital gain distribution (each, a "pricing en-or"), an Adviser or the Fund shall notify the Company as soon as reasonably possible after discovery of the error. Such notification may be verbal, but shall be confirmed promptly in writing. A pricing en-or shall be corrected as follows: (a) if the pricing en-or results in a difference between the erroneous NAV and the correct NAV of less than $0.01 per share, then no corrective action need be taken; (b) if the pricing error results in a difference between the erroneous NAV and the correct NAV equal to or greater than $0.01 per share, but less than 1/2of 1 % of the Portfolio's NAV at the time of the error, then the Advisers shall reimburse the Portfolio for any loss, after taking into consideration any positive effect of such error; however no adjustments to Contract owner accounts need be made; and (c) if the pricing error results in a difference between the erroneous NAV and the correct NAV equal to or greater than 1/2 of 1 % of the Portfolio's NAV at the time of the error, then the Advisers shall reimburse the Portfolio for any loss (without taking into consideration any positive effect of such error) and shall reimburse the Company for reasonable and customary costs of making adjustments to correct Contract owner accounts. If an adjustment is necessary to correct a material error which has caused Contract owners to receive less than the amount to which they are entitled, the number of shares of the applicable sub-account of such Contract owners will be adjusted and the amount of any
underpayments shall be credited by the Advisers to the Company for crediting of such amounts to
the applicable sub-accounts of such Contract owners. Upon notification by an Adviser of any overpayment due to a material error, the Company shall promptly remit to the Advisers any
overpayment that has not been paid to Contract owners. In no event shall the Company be liable
to Contract owners for any such adjustments or underpayment amounts. A pricing error within categories (b) or (c) above shall be deemed to be "materially incorrect" or constitute a "material
error" for purposes of this Agreement. The standards set forth in this Section 1.10 are based on
the parties' understanding of the views expressed by the staff of the SEC as of the date of this Agreement. In the event the views of the SEC staff are later modified or superseded by SEC or
judicial interpretation, the parties shall amend the foregoing provisions of this Agreement to comport with the appropriate applicable standards, on terms mutually satisfactory to all parties.
ARTICLE II. Representations
and Warranties
2.1. The Company represents and warrants that: (a) the securities
deemed to be issued
by the Accounts under the Contracts are or will be registered under the 1933 Act, or are not so
registered in proper reliance upon an exemption from such registration requirements; (b) the
Contracts will be issued and sold in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and state laws; and (c) the sale of the Contracts shall comply in all material respects with state insurance suitability requirements.
2.2. The Company represents and warrants that: (a) it
is an insurance company duly organized and in good
standing under applicable law; (b) it
has legally and validly established each Account prior
to any issuance or sale of units thereof as a segregated asset account under
Connecticut law; and (c) it has registered each Account as a unit investment trust in accordance
with the provisions of the 1940
Act to serve as a segregated investment account for the Contracts, and will maintain such registration
for so long as any Contracts are outstanding
as required by applicable law or, alternatively,
the Company has not registered one or more
Accounts in proper reliance upon an exclusion from such registration requirements.
2.3. The
Fund represents and warrants that: (a)
the Fund shares sold pursuant
to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act; (b) the Fund shares
sold pursuant to this
Agreement shall be
duly authorized for issuance and sold in compliance with
all applicable federal securities
laws, including without limitation, the 1933 Act, the 1934
Act, and the 1940 Act; (c) the Fund is and shall remain
a registered investment company under the 1940 Act; and (d)
the Fund shall amend the registration statement for its shares under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act from time to time as required
in order to effect the continuous offering of its shares.
2.4. The parties acknowledge that the Fund reserves the right to adopt
one or more plans pursuant to Rule 12b-I under the 1940 Act and to impose an asset-based or
other charge to finance distribution expenses as permitted by applicable law and regulation. The Fund and the
Advisers agree to comply with applicable provisions and SEC interpretation of the 1940 Act with
respect to any distribution plan.
2.5. The Fund represents and
warrants that it shall register and qualify the shares
for sale in accordance with the laws of the various states if and to the extent required by applicable law.
2.6. The Fund represents and warrants that it is lawfully organized and validly existing
under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that it does and will comply in all
material respects with the 1940 Act.
2.7. Each Adviser represents and warrants that it is and shall remain duly registered as an investment adviser under all applicable federal and state securities laws and that it shall
perform its obligations for the Fund in compliance in all material respects with any applicable
state and federal securities laws.
2.8. The Fund and the Advisers represent and warrant that all of their respective officers, employees, investment advisers, and other individuals or entities dealing with the money
and/or securities of the Fund are, and shall continue to be at all times, covered by one or more
blanket fidelity bonds or similar coverage for the benefit of the Fund in an amount not less than
the minimal coverage required by Rule 17g-1 under the 1940 Act or related provisions as may be
promulgated from time to time. The aforesaid bonds shall include coverage for larceny and
embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable bonding company.
2.9.
The Fund and the Advisers represent and warrant that
they will provide the Company with
as much advance notice as is
reasonably practicable of any material change affecting the
Portfolios (including, but not limited to, any material change in the registration statement or prospectus affecting the
Portfolios) and any proxy solicitation affecting the Portfolios and consult with
the Company in order to implement any
such change in an orderly manner, recognizing the expenses
of changes and attempting
to minimize such expenses by implementing them in conjunction with regular annual
updates of the prospectus for the Contracts.
2.10 The Company represents and warrants, for purposes other than diversification
under Section 817 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended (the "Code"), that the
Contracts are currently and at the time of issuance will be treated as annuity contracts or life
insurance policies under applicable provisions of the Code, and that it will make every effort to
maintain such treatment and that it will notify the Fund and the Advisers immediately upon
having a reasonable basis for believing that the Contracts have ceased to be so treated or that they may not be so treated in the future. In addition, the Company represents and warrants that each Account is a "segregated asset account" and that interests in each Account are offered exclusively through the purchase of or transfer into a "variable contract" within the meaning of
such terms under Section 817 of the Code and the regulations thereunder. The Company will use
best efforts to continue to meet such definitional requirements, and it will notify the Fund and the
Advisers immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that such requirements have
ceased to be met or that they may not be met in the future. The Company represents and warrants
that it will not purchase Fund shares with assets derived from tax-qualified retirement plans except, indirectly, through Contracts purchased in connection with such plans.
2.11. The Company represents and warrants that it is currently
in compliance, and
will remain in
compliance, with all
applicable anti-money laundering
laws, regulations, and
requirements. In addition, the
Company represents and warrants that
it has adopted and implemented policies and procedures reasonably designed to
achieve compliance with
the applicable
requirements administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control ("OFAC")
of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
2.12. The Company represents
and warrants that it is currently in compliance, and will remain in compliance, with
all applicable laws, rules and regulations relating to
consumer privacy, including,
but not limited to, Regulation
S-P.
2.13. The Company represents and warrants that it has adopted, and will at all times during the term of this Agreement maintain, reasonable and appropriate procedures ("Late Trading Procedures") designed to ensure that any and all orders relating to the purchase, sale or exchange of Fund shares communicated to the Fund are treated in accordance with Article I of this Agreement as having been received on a Business Day have been received by the Valuation
Time on such Business Day and were not modified after the Valuation Time, and that all orders
received from Contract owners but not rescinded by the Valuation Time were communicated to
the Fund or its agent as received for that Business Day. Each transmission of orders by the
Company shall constitute a representation by the Company that such orders are accurate and
complete and relate to orders received by the Company by the Valuation Time on the Business
Day for which the order is to be priced and that such transmission includes all orders relating to
Fund shares received from Contract owners but not rescinded by the Valuation Time. The
Company agrees to provide the Fund or its designee with a copy of the Late Trading Procedures
and such certifications and representations regarding the Late Trading Procedures as the Fund or
its designee may reasonably request. The Company will promptly notify the Fund in writing of
any material change to the Late
Trading Procedures.
2.14. The Company represents and warrants that it has adopted,
and will at all times during the term of this Agreement maintain, reasonable and appropriate
procedures ("Market Timing Procedures") designed
to minimize any adverse impact on other Fund investors due to
excessive trading. The Company agrees to provide the Fund or its designee with a copy of the
Market Timing Procedures and such certifications and representations regarding the Market
Timing Procedures as the Fund or its designee may reasonably request. The Company will
promptly notify the Fund in
writing of any material change to the Market Timing Procedures. The parties agree to cooperate in light of any conflict between
the Market Timing Procedures and actions taken or policies adopted by the Fund designed to minimize any adverse impact on other
Fund investors due to excessive trading.
2.15.
The Fund and the Advisers make no representation as to whether
any aspect of the Fund's operations (including,
but not limited to, fees and expenses and investment
policies) complies with the insurance laws or regulations of the various states.
2.16. To the extent required by Rule 22c-2 under the 1940
Act or other
applicable
law, the
Company agrees (a) to provide, promptly
upon request by the Fund, the
taxpayer identification number of all Contract owners that purchased, redeemed,
transferred, or
exchanged indirect investments in the Portfolios,
and the amount and dates of such Contract owner
purchases, redemptions, transfers and exchanges; and (b) to execute any instructions
from the Fund to restrict or prohibit further purchases or exchanges
of indirect investments in the Fund by a Contract owner who has been identified by the Fund as having engaged in transactions in
Fund shares (directly or indirectly) that violate policies established by the Fund for the purpose of eliminating or reducing any
dilution of the value of Fund shares.
ARTICLE
III. Fund
Documents. Voting and Administrative Services
3.1. The Fund and/or an
Adviser shall provide to the Company an electronic copy of any updated
version of the Fund's prospectus and any supplement thereto. The Company shall be responsible for printing and delivering copies
of the Fund's current prospectus, including any supplements, to
all Contract owners.
3.2. The
Fund and/or an Adviser
shall provide to the Company an electronic copy of any updated Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") for the Fund
and any supplement thereto. The Company shall be responsible
for printing and delivering a copy of the Fund's
SAI to any current Contract owner that requests a copy of the Fund's SAI
3.3.
The Fund and/or
an Adviser shall provide the Company with an
electronic copy
of all Fund proxy
material, Fund information statements and
Fund shareholder
reports. The Company shall be
responsible for
printing and delivering to all Contract
owners electronic copy
of all Fund proxy
material, Fund information statements and
Fund shareholder reports
3.4. It
is understood and agreed that, except with respect
to information regarding the
Company provided in writing by the Company to the Fund or an Adviser, the Company shall not
be responsible for the content of the prospectus or SAI for the Fund. It is also understood and
agreed that, except with respect to information regarding the Fund, the Advisers or the Portfolios
provided in writing
by the Fund, or an
Adviser, neither the Fund, nor the Advisers are responsible
for the content of the prospectus or SAI for the Contracts.
3.5. If
and to the extent required
by law the Company shall:
(a) solicit voting instructions from Contract owners;
(b) vote the Portfolio shares held in the Accounts in accordance with instructions received from Contract owners; and
( c) vote Portfolio shares held
in the Accounts for which no instructions have been received
in the same proportion as Portfolio shares for which instructions have
been received from Contract owners, so long as and to the extent that
the SEC continues to interpret the 1940 Act to require
pass-through voting privileges for variable contract owners.
3.6. The Company shall be responsible for assuring that
each of its separate accounts holding shares of a Portfolio
calculates voting privileges as directed by the
Fund and agreed to by the Company and the Fund. The
Fund agrees to promptly notify the Company of any
changes of
interpretations or amendments of the Mixed
and Shared Funding Exemptive Order.
3.7. The Fund will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act requiring voting by shareholders, and in particular the Fund will either provide for annual meetings (except insofar as the SEC may interpret Section 16 of the 1940 Act not to require such meetings) or, as the Fund currently intends, comply with Section 16( c) of the 1940 Act (although the Fund is not one of the
trusts described in Section 16(c) of that Act) as well as with Sections 16(a) and, if and when
applicable,16(b). Further, the Fund will act in accordance with the SEC's interpretation of the
requirements of Section 16(a) with respect to periodic elections of directors or trustees and with
whatever rules
the SEC may promulgate with respect thereto.
3.8. The Company
shall provide the following administrative
services to the Fund and
Contract owners investing indirectly in the Fund: (a) provide net purchase and redemption orders
in accordance with Article I; (b) assist the Fund and the Advisers with any proxy solicitations;
and (c) respond to inquiries from Contract owners regarding current investments in the Fund.
ARTICLE IV. Sales Material and Information
4.1. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the Fund or its
designee, a copy of each piece of sales literature or other promotional material that the Company
develops or proposes to use and in which the Fund (or a Portfolio thereof) or the Adviser is
named in connection with the Contracts, at least five (5) Business Days prior to its use. No such
material shall be used by the Company if the Fund or its designee objects to the description of, or
presentation of information relating to, the Fund (or a Portfolio thereof) or an Adviser within
three (3) Business Days after receipt of such material · The pre-review requirements set forth in
the immediately preceding sentences of this Section 4.1 shall not apply: (i) to performance or
other quantitative reports developed and updated by the Company solely with information
supplied by public databases, such as Morningstar and Lipper, (ii) to materials that refer to the
Portfolios solely as a part of a listing of products or services offered, or (iii) to the extent
Prudential Investment Management Services LLC ("PIMS") provides marketing review services
to each of the Company, the Fund, and at least one of the Advisers and such materials have been
reviewed and approved on behalf of the Company by an appropriately licensed associated person
of PIMS.
4.2. The
Company shall not give any information or make
any representations or statements on behalf of or concerning the Fund or an Adviser in connection
with the sale of the Contracts other than the information or representations contained in the registration statement,
including the prospectus or XXx, for the Fund as the same may be amended
or supplemented from time to time, or in sales
literature or other promotional material approved by the
Fund or an Adviser,
except with the permission of the Fund or an Adviser.
4.3.
The Fund or an Adviser
shall furnish,
or shall cause to be furnished,
to the Company, a copy of each piece of sales
literature or other promotional material in which
the Company and/or its separate account(s) is named
at least five (5) Business
Days prior to its
use. No such material shall be used by the Fund
or the Advisers if the
Company or its
designee objects to the description of, or
presentation of information relating to, the Company, its separate
account(s), and/or
the Contracts within three (3)
Business Days after receipt of such material. The
pre-review requirements set forth in the immediately preceding sentences of this Section 4.3
shall not apply to the extent PIMS
provides marketing review services to each of the Company, the Fund, and at least one of the Advisers and such materials have been
reviewed and approved on
behalf of the Fund or one of the Advisers by an appropriately licensed associated person of PIMS.
4.4. The Fund and the Advisers shall not give any information or make any representations on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company, the Accounts, or the Contracts other than the information or representations contained in a registration statement, including the prospectus or SAI, for the Contracts as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in sales literature or other promotional material approved by the Company or its designee, except with the permission of the Company.
4.5. The Fund or an Adviser will provide to the Company at least one complete copy of all registration statements, prospectuses, SAIs, sales literature and other promotional materials,
applications for exemptions, requests for no-action letters, and all amendments to any of the
above, that relate to the Fund within a reasonable period of time following the filing of such
document(s) with
the SEC or NASD or other regulatory authorities.
4.6. The Company will provide
to the Fund at least one complete
copy of all registration statements,
prospectuses, SAIs, reports, solicitations
for voting instructions,
sales literature and other promotional materials, applications
for exemptions, requests
for no-action letters, and
all amendments to any of the above, that relate to the
Contracts or the Accounts,
within a reasonable period
of time following the filing of such
document(s) with the SEC, NASD, or
other regulatory authority.
4.7. For purposes of Articles IV and VIII, the phrase "sales literature and 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, signs or billboards, motion pictures, or other public media; e.g. , on-line networks such as the Internet or other electronic media), sales literature (i. e., any written communication distributed or made generally available to customers or the public, including brochures, circulars, research reports, market letters, form letters, seminar texts,
reprints or excerpts of any other advertisement, sales literature, or published article), educational
or training materials or other communications distributed or made generally available to some or
all agents or employees, and shareholder reports, and proxy materials (including solicitations for
voting instructions) and any other material constituting sales literature or advertising under the
NASD rules, the 1933 Act or the 0000 Xxx.
4.8. At the request of any party to this Agreement, each other party will make available to the other party's independent auditors and/or representatives of the appropriate regulatory
agencies, all records, data and access to operating procedures that may be reasonably requested in connection with compliance and regulatory requirements related to this Agreement or any party's
obligations
under this Agreement.
ARTICLE V. Fees and Expenses
5.l. In consideration of the services provided by the Company to the Fund as set forth in Article
III of this Agreement, the Fund
will pay the Company
a fee equal to 0.07% on an annualized basis of the average daily net assets of shares of the
Fund owned by the Accounts of the Company. By mutual agreement, the
Fund may increase this fee to an amount not to exceed 0.10% on an annualized basis. The fee shall be payable monthly,
within 10 days after the end of
each month.
5.2 The Company will pay registration fees under Rule 24f-2 as required by law.
ARTICLE VI. Diversification and Qualification
6.1. The Fund and the Advisers represent and warrant that the Fund and each Portfolio
Thereof will at all times comply with Section 817(h) of the Code and Treasury Regulation §1.817-5, as amended from time to time, and any Treasury interpretations thereof, relating to the
diversification requirements for variable annuity, endowment, or life insurance contracts and any
amendments or other modifications or successor provisions to such Section or Regulations. The
Fund or an Adviser shall provide to the Company a quarterly written certification as to whether
each Portfolio complies with the Section
817(h) diversification requirements.
6.2. The Fund and the Advisers agree that shares of the Portfolios will be sold only to Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts and to Qualified Plans. No shares
of any Portfolio
of the Fund will be sold to the general public.
6.3. The Fund or an Adviser will notify the Company immediately upon having a
reasonable basis for believing that the Fund or any Portfolio has ceased to comply with the
Section 817(h)
diversification requirements or might not so comply in the future.
6.4. Without in any way limiting the effect of Sections 8.2,
8.3 and 8.4 hereof and without in any way limiting or restricting any other
remedies available to the Company, an
Adviser will pay all costs associated with or arising out of any failure, or any anticipated or reasonably foreseeable failure,
of the Fund or any Portfolio to comply with Sections 6.1 or 6.2 hereof,
including all costs associated with reasonable and appropriate corrections
or responses to any such failure; such costs may include, but are not limited to, the costs involved in creating, organizing, and
registering a new investment company as a funding medium for the Contracts and/or the costs of obtaining whatever regulatory authorizations
are required to substitute shares of another investment company for those of the failed Portfolio (including but not limited to
an order pursuant to Section 26( c) of the 1940 Act).
6.5. The Company agrees that if the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS")
asserts in writing in connection with any governmental audit or review of the Company (or, to the Company's
knowledge, of any Contract owner) that any Portfolio has failed to comply with the diversification requirements of Section 817(h)
of the Code or the Company otherwise becomes aware of any facts that could give rise to any claim against the Fund or an Adviser
as a result of such a failure or alleged failure:
(a) The Company shall promptly notify the Fund and the Advisers of such assertion or potential claim;
(b) The Company shall consult with the Fund and the Advisers as to how to minimize any liability that may arise as a result of such failure or alleged failure;
( c) The Company shall use its best efforts to minimize any liability of the Fund and the Advisers resulting from such failure, including, without limitation, demonstrating, pursuant to Treasury Regulations, Section 1.817-S(a)(2), to the commissioner of the IRS that such failure was inadvertent;
(d) Any written materials to be submitted by the Company to the IRS, any Contract owner or any other claimant in connection with any of the foregoing proceedings or contests (including, without limitation, any such materials to be submitted to the IRS pursuant to Treasury Regulations, Section 1.817-5(a)(2)) shall be provided by the Company to the Fund and
the Advisers (together with any supporting information or analysis) within at least two (2)
business days prior to submission;
(e) The Company shall provide the Fund and the Advisers with such cooperation as the Fund and the Advisers shall reasonably request (including, without limitation, by permitting the Fund and the Advisers to review the relevant books and records of the Company) in order to facilitate review by the Fund and the Advisers of any written submissions provided to it or its assessment of the validity or amount of any claim against it arising from such failure or alleged failure;
(f) The
Company shall not with respect to any claim of the IRS or any Contract owner
that would give rise to a claim against
the Fund and
the Advisers (i) compromise
or settle any claim, (ii) accept any adjustment on audit, or (iii) forego
any allowable administrative or judicial appeals, without the express written consent of the Fund and the Advisers, which shall
not be unreasonably withheld;
provided that, the Company shall not be
required to appeal any
adverse judicial decision unless the Fund and the Advisers shall have provided an opinion of independent counsel to the effect
that a reasonable basis exists for taking such appeal; and
further provided that the Fund and
the Advisers shall bear the
costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees, incurred by the Company in complying with this clause (f).
ARTICLE VII. Potential Conflicts and Compliance With Mixed and Shared Funding
Exemptive Order
7.1. The Fund's Board of Trustees (the "Board") will monitor the Fund for the
existence of any material irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the Contract owners of
all separate accounts investing in the Fund. An irreconcilable material conflict may arise for a
variety of reasons, including: (a) an action by any state insurance regulatory authority; (b) a
change in applicable federal or state insurance, tax, or securities laws or regulations, or a public
ruling, private letter ruling, no-action or interpretative letter, or any similar action by insurance,
tax, or securities regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative or judicial decision in any relevant
proceeding; (d) the manner in which the investments of any Portfolio is being managed; (e) a
difference in voting instructions given by variable annuity contract and variable life insurance
contract owners or by contract owners of different Participating Insurance Companies; or (f) a
decision by a Participating Insurance Company to disregard the voting instructions of Contract
owners. The Board shall promptly inform the Company if it determines that an irreconcilable
material conflict
exists and the implications thereof.
7.2. The Company will report any potential or existing material conflicts of which it is
aware to the Board. The Company will assist the Board in carrying out its responsibilities under
the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order, by providing the Board with all information
reasonably necessary for the Board to consider any issues raised. This includes, but is not limited
to, an obligation by the Company to inform the Board whenever Contract owner voting
instructions are to be disregarded. Such responsibilities shall be carried out by the Company with
a view only to the best interests of its
Contract owners.
7.3. If it is determined by a majority of the Board, or a majority of its trustees who are
not "interested persons" of the Fund, an Adviser or any subadviser to any of the Portfolios as
defined in Section 2(a)19) of the 1940 Act (the "Independent Trustees"), that a material
irreconcilable conflict exists, the Company and other Participating Insurance Companies shall, at
their expense and to the extent reasonably practicable (as determined by a majority of the
Independent Trustees), take whatever steps are necessary to remedy or eliminate the
irreconcilable material conflict, up to and including: (l) withdrawing the assets allocable to
some or all of the separate accounts from the Fund or any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in
a different investment medium, including (but not limited to) another Portfolio, or submitting the
question whether such segregation should be implemented to a vote of all affected Contract
owners and, as appropriate, segregating the assets of any appropriate group (i. e. annuity contract
owners, life insurance contract owners, or variable contract owners of one or more Participating Insurance Companies) that votes in favor of such segregation, or offering to the affected contract
owners the option of making such a change; and (2) establishing a new registered management
investment company or managed separate account.
7.4. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a decision by the Company to
disregard Contract owner voting instructions and that decision represents a minority position or
would preclude a majority vote, the Company may be required, at the Fund's election, to
withdraw the Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement; provided,
however, that such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by the
foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the Independent
Trustees. Any such withdrawal and termination must take place within six (6) months after the
Fund gives written notice that this provision is being implemented, and until the end of that six month period the Advisers and the Fund shall continue to accept and implement orders by the
Company for the purchase (and
redemption) of shares of the Fund.
7.5. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a particular state insurance regulator's
decision applicable to the Company conflicts with the majority of other state regulators, then the Company will withdraw the Account's
investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement within six months after the Board informs the Company in writing that it has
determined that such decision has created an irreconcilable material conflict; provided, however,
that such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by the foregoing material irreconcilable conflict
as determined by a majority of the Independent Trustees. Until
the end of the foregoing six-month period, the Fund shall continue to accept and implement orders by the Company for the purchase
(and redemption) of shares of the Fund.
7.6. For purposes
of Sections 7.3 through 7.5
of this Agreement, a majority of the Independent Trustees shall determine whether any proposed action adequately remedies any irreconcilable
material conflict, but in no event will the Fund be required to establish a new funding medium for the Contracts. The Company shall
not be required by Section 7.3
to establish a new funding medium for the Contracts if an offer to do so
has been declined by vote of a majority of Contract owners affected by the irreconcilable material conflict. In the event that
the Board determines that any proposed action does not adequately remedy any irreconcilable material conflict,
then the Company will withdraw the Account's investment in the Fund and
terminate this Agreement within six (6) months after the Board informs the Company in writing of the foregoing determination; provided,
however, that such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by any such material irreconcilable conflict
as determined by a majority of the Independent Trustees.
7.7.
If and to the extent that Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) are amended,
or Rule 6e-3 is adopted, to provide exemptive relief from any provision of the 1940 Act or
the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to mixed or shared funding (as defined in the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive
Order) on terms and conditions materially different from those contained in the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order, then
(a) the Fund and/or the Participating Insurance Companies, as
appropriate, shall take such steps as may be necessary to comply with Rules 6e-2 and 6e-3(T),
as amended, and Rule 6e-3, as adopted,
to the extent such rules are applicable; and
(b) Sections 3.5, 3.6,
3.7, 7.1 , 7.2, 7.3
, 7.4, and 7.5
of this Agreement shall continue in effect only to the extent that terms and conditions substantially identical to such Sections
are contained in such Rule(s) as so amended or adopted.
ARTICLE VIII. Indemnification
8.1. Indemnification By The Company
(a) As limited by and in accordance with Sections 8.1 (b) and 8.1 (c) hereof, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and the Advisers and each of their respective officers and directors or trustees and each person, if any, who controls the Fund or an Adviser within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 8.1) against any and all losses, claims, expenses, damages and liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Company) or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, expenses, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements are related to the sale or acquisition of the Fund's shares or the Contracts and: (i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements or alleged untrue statements of any material fact contained in the registration statement or prospectus or SAI covering the Contracts or contained in the Contracts or sales literature or other promotional material for the Contracts (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, provided that this Agreement to
indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of an Adviser or the Fund for use in the registration
statement or prospectus for the Contracts or in the Contracts or sales literature or other promotional material (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing) or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares; or (ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other than: (a) statements or representations contained in the registration statement or prospectus of the Fund not supplied by the Company or persons under its control, or (b) 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 (iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a registration statement, prospectus, SAI, or sales literature 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, if such a statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished in writing to the Fund by or on behalf of the Company; or (iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Company to provide the services and furnish the materials under the terms of this Agreement; or (b) (v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any representation and/or warranty made by the Company in this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by the Company, including without limitation Section 2.11 and Section 6.5 hereof.
The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims,
expenses, damages, liabilities or litigation to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of such Indemnified
Party 's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or negligence
in the performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party's
reckless disregard of obligations or duties under this Agreement or to any of the Indemnified Parties.
(c) The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Company in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Xxxxx shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Company of any such claim shall not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this indemnification provision, except to the extent that the Company has been prejudiced by such failure to give notice. In case any such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties, the Company shall be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense of such action. The Company also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from the Company to such party of the Company's election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Company will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection with the defense thereof other than
reasonable costs of investigation. The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any claim, action, suit, or proceeding settled by an Indemnified Xxxxx
without the Company's written approval.
(d) The Indemnified Parties will promptly notify the Company of the commencement
of any litigation or proceedings against them in connection with the issuance or sale of the Fund
Shares or the Contracts or the operation of the Fund.
8.2. Indemnification by the Advisers
(a) Each Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors and officers
and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified
Parties" for purposes of this Section 8.2) against any and all losses, claims,
expenses, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of an Adviser) or litigation (including
reasonable legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute or regulation, at common
law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements are related to the sale or acquisition of the Fund's shares
or the Contracts and: (i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact
contained in the registration statement or prospectus or SAI or sales literature or other promotional material of the Fund prepared
by the Fund or an Adviser (or any
amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, provided that this Agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to an Adviser or the Fund by or on behalf of the Company for use in the registration statement, prospectus or SAI for the Fund or in sales literature or other promotional
material (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing) or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or the Fund shares; or (ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other than statements or representations contained in the registration statement, prospectus, SAI or sales literature or other promotional material for the
Contracts not supplied by the Fund or an Adviser or persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of the Fund or an Adviser or persons under their control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Fund shares; or (iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a registration statement, prospectus, SAI, or
sales literature or other promotional material covering the Contracts, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement or statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of an Adviser or the Fund; or (iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund or an Adviser to provide the services and furnish the materials under the terms of this Agreement (including a failure, whether unintentional or in good faith or otherwise, to comply with the diversification and other qualification requirements specified in Article VI of this Agreement); or (v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any representation
and/or warranty made by the Fund or an Adviser in this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by an Adviser or the Fund; or (vi) arise out of or result from the incorrect or untimely calculation or reporting by the Fund or an Adviser of a Portfolio's daily NAV per share (subject to Section 1.10 of this Agreement) or dividend or capital gain distribution rate; as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.2(b) and 8.2(c) hereof. This indemnification is in addition to and apart from the responsibilities and obligations of the Advisers specified in Article VI hereof.
(b) The Advisers shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any losses,
claims, expenses, damages, liabilities or litigation to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise
be subject by reason of such Indemnified Party 's willful
misfeasance, bad faith, or negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party's
reckless disregard of obligations or duties under this Agreement or to any of
the Indemnified Parties.
(c) The Advisers shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified
Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have
notified the Advisers in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal
process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on
any designated agent), but failure to notify the Advisers of any such claim shall not relieve the
Advisers from any liability which they may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such
action is brought otherwise than on account of this indemnification provision, except to the
extent that the Advisers have been prejudiced by such failure to give notice. In case any such
action is brought against the Indemnified Parties, the Advisers will be entitled to participate, at
their own expense, in the defense thereof. The Advisers also shall be entitled to assume the
defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from the
Advisers to such party of the Advisers' election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified
Party shall bear' the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Advisers
will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. The Adviser shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any claim, action, suit, or proceeding settled by an Indemnified Party
without an Adviser's written approval.
(d) The Company agrees promptly to notify
the Advisers of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers or directors in connection
with the issuance or sale of the Contracts or the operation of the Account.
ARTICLE IX. Applicable Law
9.1. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof interpreted under
and in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey, without regard to the New Jersey
conflict of laws provisions.
9.2. This Agreement shall be
subject to the provisions of the 1933, 1934 and 1940 Acts, and
the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder, including
such exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as the SEC may grant (including,
but not limited to, the
Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order) and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance therewith.
ARTICLE X. Termination
10.1. This Agreement shall terminate:
(a) at the option of any party, with
or without cause, with respect to some or all Portfolios,
upon six (6) months advance written notice delivered to the other parties; or
(b) at the option of the Company, by written notice to the other parties with respect to any
Portfolio based upon the Company's determination that shares of such Portfolio are not reasonably
available to meet the requirements of the Contracts; or
(c) at the option of the Company, by written notice to the other parties with respect to any Portfolio
in the event any of the Portfolio's shares are not registered, issued
or sold in accordance with applicable state and/or federal law or such law precludes the use of such Portfolio as the underlying
investment option of the Contracts issued or to be issued by the Company; or
(d) at the option of the Fund
or an Adviser, in the event that formal administrative
proceedings are instituted against the Company by the NASD, the
SEC, the insurance commissioner or comparable official
of any state or any other regulatory body regarding the Company's duties under this Agreement or related to the sale of the Contracts,
the operation of any Account, or the purchase of the Fund
shares, if, in each case, the Fund or an Adviser, as the case may be, reasonably determines in its sole judgment exercised in good
faith, that any such administrative proceedings will have a material adverse effect upon the ability of the Company to perform
its obligations under this Agreement; or
(e) at the option of the Company,
in the event that formal administrative proceedings are instituted against the Fund or an Adviser by the NASD,
the SEC, or any state
securities or insurance department or any other regulatory body, if the Company reasonably determines in its sole judgment exercised
in good faith, that any such administrative proceedings will have a material adverse effect upon the ability of the Fund or an
Adviser to perform its obligations under this Agreement; or
(f) at the
option of the Company, by written notice to the Fund with respect to any Portfolio if the Company reasonably believes that the
Portfolio will fail to meet the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Code specified in Article VI hereof;
or (g) at the option of any non-defaulting party hereto, in the event of
a material breach of this Agreement by any party hereto (the "defaulting party") other than as described in Section 10.1(a)-(h);
provided, that the non-defaulting party gives written notice thereof to the defaulting party, with copies of such notice to all
other non-defaulting parties, and if such breach shall not have been remedied
within thirty (30) days after such written notice is given, then the non-defaulting party giving such written notice may terminate
this Agreement by giving thirty (30) days written notice of termination to the defaulting party; or
(h) at any time upon written agreement of all parties to this Agreement.
10.2. Notice Requirement
No termination of this Agreement shall be effective unless and until the party terminating
this Agreement gives prior written notice to all other parties of its intent to terminate, which
notice shall set forth the basis for the termination. Furthermore, (a) in the event any termination is based upon the provisions of Article VII, or the provisions of Section 10.1(a) of this Agreement, the prior written notice shall be given in advance of the effective date of termination as required by those provisions unless such notice period is shortened by mutual written agreement of the parties; (b) in the event any termination is based upon the provisions of Section
10.1(d), 10.1(e) or 10.1(g) of this Agreement, the prior written notice shall be given at least sixty
(60) days before
the effective date of termination; and (c) in the
event any tem1ination is based upon the provisions of Section 10.1(b),
10.1(c) or 10.l(f), the prior written notice shall be given in advance of
the effective date of termination, which
date shall be determined by the party sending the notice.
10.3. Effect of Termination
Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, other than as a result of a failure by
either the Fund or the Company to meet diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the
Code, the Fund and the Advisers shall, at the option of the Company, continue to make available
additional shares of the Fund pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for all
Contracts in effect on the effective date of termination of this Agreement (hereinafter referred to
as "Existing Contracts"). Specifically, without limitation, the owners of the Existing Contracts
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. The parties agree that this Section 10.3 shall not apply to any terminations under
Article VII of this Agreement and the effect of such Article VII terminations shall be governed by Article VII of this Agreement.
10.4. Saving Provisions
Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, each party's obligations under
Article VIII of this Agreement to indemnify other parties shall survive and not be affected by any
termination of this Agreement. In addition, with respect to Existing Contracts, all provisions of
this Agreement shall also survive and not be affected by any termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE XI. Notices
Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or certified mail to the other party at the address of such party
set forth below or at such other address as such party may from time to time specify in writing to the other parties.
If to the Company:
Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attention: Secretary
If to the Fund:
Gateway Center Three
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attention: Secretary
If to the Advisers:
AST Investment Services, Inc.
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Secretary
Prudential Investments LLC
Gateway Center Three
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attention: Secretary
ARTICLE XII. Miscellaneous
12.1. Except as required by
law, subpoena, court order or regulatory order or request,
each party hereto shall treat as confidential the names and addresses of the
owners of the Contracts and all information reasonably identified as confidential in writing by any other party hereto and, except
as permitted by this Agreement, shall not disclose,
disseminate or
utilize such names and addresses and other confidential information without the express written consent of the affected party until
such time as such information may come into the public domain.
12.2. The
captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the provisions
hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
12.3. This Agreement may be
executed simultaneously
in two or more counterparts, each
of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
12.4. If
any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of
the Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
12.5. Each party hereto shall
cooperate with each other party and all appropriate governmental authorities (including without limitation the SEC 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.
12.6. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or breach
thereof, shall be settled by arbitration in a forum jointly selected by the relevant parties (but if
applicable law requires some other forum, then such other forum) in accordance with the
Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association, and judgment upon the
award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.
12.7. The rights, remedies and obligations contained in this Agreement are cumulative
and are in addition to any and all rights, remedies and obligations, at law or in equity, which the
parties hereto are entitled to under state and federal laws.
12.8. This Agreement or any of
the rights and obligations hereunder may not be
assigned by any party without the prior written consent of all parties hereto, provided, however,
that a transaction that does not result in a change of actual control or management of a party
hereto shall not be deemed to be an assignment of this Agreement for purposes of this
Section 12.8. Any assignment of this Agreement in violation of this Section 12.8 shall be void.
12.9. The Company agrees that the obligations assumed by the Fund and
the Advisers
pursuant to this Agreement shall be limited in any case to the Fund and the Advisers and their
respective assets and the Company shall not seek satisfaction of any such obligation from the
shareholders of the Fund or the Advisers, the Directors, officers, employees or agents of the Fund or an Adviser, or any of them.
12.10. The Fund and the Advisers agree that the obligations assumed by the Company
pursuant to this Agreement shall be limited in any case to the Company and its assets and neither
the Fund nor the Advisers shall seek satisfaction of any such obligation from the shareholders of
the Company, the directors, officers, employees or agents of the Company, or any of them.
12.11. No provision of
this Agreement may
be deemed or construed to modify or supersede any contractual
rights, duties, or indemnifications,
as between the Advisers and
the Fund.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of
the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be executed
in its name and on its behalf by its
duly authorized representative and its seal to be
hereunder affixed hereto as of the date specified below.
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY,
By its authorized officer,
By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: Vice President
By its authorized officer,
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx (Xxxxx Xxxxxxx)
Title: President
AST INVESTMENT SERVICES, INC.,
By its authorized officer,
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx (Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx)
Title: President
PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENTS LLC,
By its authorized officer,
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx (Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx)
Title: Vice President
SCHEDULE A
CONTRACTS
Prudential Retirement Security Annuity
Prudential Retirement Security Annuity II
Prudential Retirement Security Annuity III
SCHEDULE B
DESIGNATED PORTFOLIOS
All existing and future PORTFOLIOS of the ADVANCED SERIES TRUST available as
underlying investments for variable annuities or variable insurance contracts.
AMENDMENT TO FUND PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
This Amendment, effective as of February 25, 2013, between Advanced Series Trust (the Trust), a Massachusetts business trust, Prudential Investments LLC (PI), a New York limited liability company, AST Investment Services, Inc. (ASTIS), a Connecticut corporation and Prudential Retirement Insurance & Annuity Company (PRIAC), a Connecticut life insurance company, to the Fund Participation Agreement made May 1, 2007 (the Agreement).
RECITALS:
WHEREAS, Article III, Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4 of the Agreement provides for PRIAC to provide various services relating to the printing and distribution of Trust documents, as well as to provide various other administrative services to the Trust; and
WHEREAS, Article V of the Agreement provides for the Trust to pay to PRIAC a fee of 0.10% as more specifically described in Article V, with respect to the services identified in Article III of the Agreement; and
WHEREAS, shareholders of the Trust recently approved the adoption of a shareholder services and distribution plan (the Plan) pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and
WHEREAS, the Plan provides for the Trust to pay Prudential Annuities Distributors, Inc. (PAD) a shareholder services and distribution fee of 0.10%, as more specifically described in the Plan document; and
WHEREAS, the shareholder services and distribution fee payable by the Trust to PAD under the Plan is intended to replace the existing 0.10% fee payable by the Trust to PRIAC, as more specifically described above;
NOW THEREFORE, the Trust, PI, ASTIS and PRIAC hereby agree as follows:
Article III, Sections 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4 are hereby deleted from the Agreement. Article V is hereby deleted from the Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amendment as of the day and year first written above.
ADVANCED SERIES TRUST
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Print Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Vice President
PRUDENTIAL INVESTMENTS LLC
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Print Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Sr. Vice President
AST INVESTMENT SERVICES, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Print Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: President
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INSURANCE & ANNUITY COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx
Print Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Vice President