DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made as of the 1st day of June 2006 by and between Pruco Life Insurance Company, an Arizona corporation ("Company"), on its own behalf and on behalf of its separate investment accounts supporting variable life insurance contracts
(" Accounts"), and Pruco Securities, LLC, a New Jersey corporation ("Distributor"). This Agreement replaces all prior distribution agreements between the parties with the exception of the distribution agreement dated July 25, 1985 for the distribution of single premium variable life insurance and annuity contracts.
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WITNESSETH |
WHEREAS, the Company has established and maintains the Accounts, pursuant to the laws of Arizona for the purpose of selling variable life insurance contracts ("Contracts"), to commence after the effectiveness of any applicable Registration Statements relating thereto filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"); and the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, Distributor is registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Securities Exchange Act") and is a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"); and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Distributor wish to enter into an agreement to have the Distributor act as the Company's principal underwriter for the sale of the Contracts through the Accounts;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
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1. |
Appointment of the Distributor |
The Company agrees that during the term of this Agreement, it will take all action which is required to cause the Contracts to comply as an insurance product and a registered security with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations. The Company appoints the Distributor and the Distributor agrees
to act as the principal underwriter for the sale of Contracts to the public, during the term of this Agreement, in each state and other jurisdictions in which such Contracts may lawfully be sold. Distributor shall offer the Contracts for sale and distribution at premium rates set by the Company. Applications for the Contracts shall be solicited only by representatives duly and appropriately
licensed or otherwise qualified for the sale of such Contracts in each state or
other jurisdiction. Company shall undertake to appoint Distributor's qualified representatives as life insurance agents of Company. Completed applications for Contracts shall be transmitted directly to the Company for acceptance or rejection in accordance with underwriting rules established by the Company. Initial
premium payments under the Contracts shall be made by check payable to the Company and shall be held at all times by Distributor or its representatives in a fiduciary capacity and remitted promptly to the Company. Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company retains the ultimate right to control the sale of the Contracts and to appoint and discharge life insurance agents of the Company. The Distributor
shall be held to the exercise of reasonable care in carrying out the provisions of the Agreement.
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2. |
Sales Agreements |
Distributor is hereby authorized to enter into separate written agreements, on such terms and conditions as Distributor may determine not inconsistent with this Agreement, with one or more organizations which agree to participate in the distribution of Contracts. Such organizations (hereafter "Broker") shall
be both registered as a broker/dealer under the Securities Exchange Act and a member of NASD. Broker and its agents or representatives soliciting applications for Contracts shall be duly and appropriately licensed, registered or otherwise qualified for the sale of such Contracts (and the riders and other policies offered in connection therewith) under the insurance laws and any applicable blue-sky laws of each state
or other jurisdiction in which the Company is licensed to sell the Contracts.
Distributor shall have the responsibility for ensuring that Broker supervises its representatives. Broker shall assume any legal responsibilities of Company for the acts, commissions or defalcations of such representatives insofar as they relate to the sale of the Contracts. Applications for Contracts solicited by
such Broker through its agents or representatives shall be transmitted directly to the Company, and if received by Distributor, shall be forwarded to Company. All premium payments under the Contracts shall be made by check to Company and, if received by Distributor, shall be held at all times in a fiduciary capacity and remitted promptly to Company.
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3. |
Life Insurance Licensing |
Company shall be responsible for insuring that Brokers are duly qualified, under the insurance laws of the applicable jurisdictions, to sell the Contracts.
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4. |
Suitability |
Company wishes to ensure that Contracts sold by Distributor will be issued to purchasers for whom the Contract will be suitable. Distributor shall take reasonable steps to ensure that the various representatives appointed by it shall not make recommendations to an applicant to purchase a Contract in the absence of
reasonable grounds to believe that the purchase of the Contract is suitable for such applicant. While not limited to the following, a determination of suitability shall be based on information furnished to a representative after reasonable inquiry of such applicant concerning the applicant's insurance and investment objectives, financial situation and needs, and the likelihood that the applicant will continue to make the premium payments contemplated by the Contracts.
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5. |
Promotion Materials |
Company shall have the responsibility for furnishing to Distributor and its representatives sales promotion materials and individual sales proposals related to the sale of the Contracts. Distributor shall not use any such materials that have not been approved by Company.
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6. |
Compensation |
Company shall arrange for the payment of commissions directly to those registered representatives of Distributor who are entitled thereto in connection with the sale of the Contracts on behalf of Distributor, in the amounts and on such terms and conditions as Company and Distributor shall determine; provided
that such terms, conditions and commissions shall be as are set forth in or as are not inconsistent with the Prospectus included as part of the Registration Statement for the Contracts and effective under the 1933 Act, if any.
Company shall arrange for the payment of commissions directly to those Brokers who sell Contracts under agreements entered into pursuant to paragraph 2. Hereof, in amounts as may be agreed to by the Company and specified in such written agreements.
Company shall reimburse Distributor for the costs and expenses incurred by Distributor in furnishing or obtaining the services, materials and supplies required by the terms of the Agreement in the initial sales efforts and the
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Continuing obligations hereunder. |
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7. |
Records |
Distributor shall have the responsibility for maintaining the records of representatives licensed, registered and otherwise qualified to sell the Contracts. Distributor shall maintain such other records as are required of it by applicable laws and regulations. The books, accounts and records of Company, the Account and
Distributor shall be maintained so as to clearly and accurately disclose the nature and details of the transactions. All records maintained by the Distributor in connection with this Agreement shall be the property of the Company and shall be returned to the Company upon termination of this Agreement, free from any claims or retention of rights by the Distributor. The Distributor shall keep confidential any information obtained pursuant to this Agreement
and shall disclose such information, only if the Company has authorized such disclosure, or if such disclosure is expressly required by applicable federal or state regulatory authorities.
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8. |
Investigation and Proceeding |
(a) Distributor and Company agree to cooperate fully in any insurance regulatory investigation or proceeding or judicial proceeding arising in connection with the Contracts distributed under this Agreement. Distributor and Company further agree to cooperate fully in any securities regulatory investigation
or proceeding or judicial proceeding with respect to Company, Distributor, their affiliates and their agents or representatives to the extent that such investigation or proceeding is in connection with Contracts distributed under this Agreement. The Distributor shall furnish applicable federal and state regulatory authorities with any information or reports in connection with its services under this Agreement which such authorities may request in order to ascertain whether the Company's
operations are being conducted in a manner consistent with any applicable law or regulations.
(b) In the case of a substantive customer complaint, Distributor and Company will cooperate in investigating such complaint and any response to such complaint will be sent to the other party to this Agreement for approval not less than five business days prior to its being sent to the customer
or regulatory authority, except that if more prompt response is required, the proposed response is required, the proposed response shall be communicated by telephone or telegraph.
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9. |
Termination |
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1. |
This Agreement shall terminate automatically upon its assignment without the prior written consent of both parties. This Agreement may be terminated at any time by either party on 60 days' written notice to the other party, without the payment of any penalty. Upon
termination of this Agreement all authorizations, rights and obligations shall cease except the obligation to settle accounts hereunder, including commissions on premiums subsequently received for Contracts in effect at times of termination, and the agreements contained in paragraph 8 hereof.
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10. |
Regulation |
This Agreement shall be subject to any applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the Securities Exchange Act of the rules, regulations, and rulings thereunder and of the applicable rules and regulations of the NASD, from time to time in effect, and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance therewith.
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11. |
Severability |
If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
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12. |
Applicable Law |
This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Arizona.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
PRUCO SECURITIES, LLC
By /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
PRUCO SECURITIES, LLC
By /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
