EXHIBIT 23(H)(XX) UNDER FORM N-1A
EXHIBIT 10(H) UNDER ITEM 601/REG. S-K
FUND PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
This AGREEMENT is made this 23rd day of June, 2006, by and among
Nationwide Life Insurance Company and Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance
Company (collectively, the "Insurer"), stock life insurance companies domiciled
in Ohio, on their behalf and on behalf of the separate accounts of the Insurer
listed on Exhibit A to this Agreement (the "Separate Accounts"); the The
Huntington Funds (the "Fund" or "Funds"), a Delaware statutory trust; Huntington
Asset Advisors, Inc. (the "Adviser"), a registered investment adviser; and
Edgewood Services, Inc. (the "Distributor"), a New York corporation.
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC") as an open-end management investment company under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 ("1940 Act") and the Fund is authorized to issue
separate classes of shares of beneficial interest ("shares"), each representing
an interest in a separate portfolio of assets known as a "portfolio" and each
portfolio has its own investment objective, policies, and limitations; and
WHEREAS, the Fund has engaged the Adviser, an investment adviser
registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 ("Advisers Act"), to
provide investment advisory services, including managing the Fund pursuant to
applicable diversification requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended ("Code");
WHEREAS, the Fund is available to offer shares of one or more of its
portfolios to separate accounts of insurance companies that fund variable
annuity contracts ("Variable Contracts") and to serve as an investment medium
for Variable Contracts offered by insurance companies that have entered into
participation agreements substantially similar to this agreement ("Participating
Insurance Companies"), and the Fund may be made available in the future to offer
shares of one or more of its portfolios to separate accounts of insurance
companies that fund variable life insurance policies (at which time such
policies would also be "Variable Contracts" hereunder), subject to receipt of
any required relief pursuant to an exemptive order from the SEC, 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 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
(hereinafter the "Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund is currently comprised of ten separate variable annuity
portfolios and may establish other similar portfolios in the future; and
WHEREAS, the Distributor is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("1934 Act"), and is a member in good
standing of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"); and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Insurer wishes to purchase shares of one or more of the Fund's
variable annuity portfolios on behalf of its Separate Accounts to serve as an
investment medium for Variable Contracts funded by the Separate Accounts, and
the Distributor is authorized to sell shares of the Fund's portfolios;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual promises
and covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. Sale of Fund Shares
1.1 The Distributor agrees to sell to the Insurer those shares of the
portfolios offered and made available by the Fund and identified on Exhibit B
("Portfolios") that the Insurer orders on behalf of its Separate Accounts, and
agrees to execute such orders on each business day on which the Fund calculates
its net asset value pursuant to rules of the SEC and as described in the Fund's
prospectus and statement of additional information (together, the "prospectus")
and on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for regular trading ("Business
Day") at the net asset value next computed after receipt and acceptance by the
Fund or its agent of the order for the shares of the Fund.
1.2 The Fund agrees to make available on each Business Day shares of
the Portfolios for purchase at the applicable net asset value per share by the
Insurer on behalf of its Separate Accounts; provided, however, that the Board of
Trustees of 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 Trustees, acting in good faith and in light of the
Trustees' fiduciary duties under applicable law, necessary in the best interests
of the shareholders of any Portfolio.
1.3 The Fund and the Distributor agree that shares of the Portfolios of
the Fund will be sold only to Participating Insurance Companies, their separate
accounts, and other persons consistent with each Portfolio being adequately
diversified pursuant to Section 817(h) of the Code, and the regulations
thereunder. No shares of any Portfolio will be sold directly to the general
public to the extent not permitted by applicable tax law.
1.4 The Fund and the Distributor will not sell shares of the Portfolios
to any insurance company or separate account unless an agreement containing
provisions substantially the same as the provisions in Article IV of this
Agreement is in effect to govern such sales.
1.5 Upon receipt of a request for redemption in proper form from the
Insurer, the Fund agrees to redeem any full or fractional shares of the
Portfolios held by the Insurer, ordinarily executing such requests on each
Business Day at the net asset value next computed after receipt and acceptance
by the Fund or its agent of the request for redemption, except that the Fund
reserves the right to suspend the right of redemption, consistent with Section
22(e) of the 1940 Act and any rules thereunder. Such redemption shall be paid
consistent with applicable rules of the SEC and procedures and policies of the
Fund as described in the current registration statement.
1.6 For purposes of Sections 1.2 and 1.5, the Insurer shall be the
agent of the Fund for the limited purpose of receiving and accepting purchase
and redemption orders from each Separate Account, and receipt of such orders by
the close of regular trading (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on each Business
Day by the Insurer shall be deemed to be receipt by the Fund for purposes of
Rule 22c-1 of the 1940 Act; provided that the Insurer provides notice of such
orders to the Fund on the next following Business Day by 9:00 a.m. Eastern time;
provided, further, however, that the Insurer received such purchase or
redemption order prior to the close of regular trading on the New York Stock
Exchange on the previous Business Day. Insurer agrees to submit such orders
electronically through secured trading systems as described on Exhibit C to this
Agreement or, if it is unable to submit orders electronically, Insurer shall
submit such orders through manual transmissions using the procedures described
in Exhibit C to this Agreement.
1.7 The Insurer agrees to purchase and redeem the shares of each
Portfolio in accordance with the provisions of the current prospectus for the
Fund.
1.8 Unless otherwise specified in Exhibit C, the Insurer shall pay for
shares of the Portfolio on the next Business Day after it places an order to
purchase shares of the Portfolio, and payment shall be in federal funds
transmitted by wire.
1.9 Issuance and transfer of shares of the Portfolios will be by book
entry only unless otherwise agreed by the Fund. Stock certificates will not be
issued to the Insurer or the Separate Accounts unless otherwise agreed by the
Fund. Shares ordered from the Fund will be recorded in an appropriate title for
the Separate Accounts or the appropriate subaccounts of the Separate Accounts.
1.10 Unless otherwise specified in Exhibit C, the Fund or its agent
shall make available to the Insurer same day notice of any income dividends or
capital gain distributions payable on the shares of the Portfolios. The Insurer
hereby elects to reinvest in the Portfolio all such dividends and distributions
as are payable on a Portfolio's shares and to receive such dividends and
distributions in additional shares of that Portfolio. The Insurer reserves the
right to revoke this election in writing and to receive all such dividends and
distributions in cash. The Fund or its agent shall notify the Insurer of the
number of shares so issued as payment of such dividends and distributions.
1.11 Unless otherwise specified in Exhibit C, the Fund shall instruct
its fund accountant to make available to the Insurer on each Business Day the
net asset value per share for each Portfolio as soon as reasonably practical
after the net asset value per share is calculated and shall use its best efforts
to make such net asset value per share available by 7:00 p.m. Eastern time.
ARTICLE II. Representations and Warranties
2.1 The Insurer represents and warrants that it is an insurance company
duly organized and in good standing under applicable law and that it is taxed as
an insurance company under Subchapter L of the Code.
2.2 The Insurer represents and warrants that it has legally and validly
established each of the Separate Accounts as a separate account under the Ohio
Revised Code, and that each of the Separate Accounts is a validly existing
separate account under applicable federal and state law.
2.3 The Insurer represents and warrants that the Variable Contracts
issued by the Insurer or interests in the Separate Accounts under such Variable
Contracts (1) are or, prior to issuance, will be registered as securities under
the Securities Act of 1933 ("1933 Act") or, alternatively, (2) are not
registered because they are properly exempt from registration under the 1933 Act
or will be offered exclusively in transactions that are properly exempt from
registration under the 0000 Xxx.
2.4 The Insurer represents and warrants that each of the Separate
Accounts (1) has been registered as a unit investment trust in accordance with
the provisions of the 1940 Act or, alternatively, (2) has not been registered in
proper reliance upon an exclusion from registration under the 0000 Xxx.
2.5 The Insurer represents that the Variable Contracts issued by the
Insurer are currently treated as annuity contracts or life insurance policies
(which may include modified endowment contracts), whichever is appropriate,
under applicable provisions of the Code.
2.6 The Insurer will comply with the terms of the prospectus of each
Fund. If adopted by the Fund, the Insurer will use its best efforts to impose
and collect Fund redemption fees in accordance with the terms set forth in each
Fund's prospectus, and in accordance with applicable law. If Insurer is unable
to impose or collect such redemption fees after such fees are imposed, the
Insurer shall promptly notify the Fund, and, upon giving such notice, shall
cease to offer the Fund until such time as the Insurer can collect such
redemption fees.
2.7 The Insurer will only forward to the Fund or its designee for
purchase or redemption as of the close of trading on each Business Day
Instructions it receives prior to the close of trading on such day.
2.8 The Insurer has adopted and implemented internal controls
reasonably designed to prevent Instructions received from or on behalf of the
Separate Accounts on a given Business Day after the close of trading from being
aggregated with the order for net purchases or net redemptions of shares for
that Business Day.
2.9 The Fund represents and warrants that it is duly organized as a
statutory trust under the laws of the State of Delaware, and is in good standing
under applicable law.
2.10 The Fund represents and warrants that the shares of the Portfolios
are duly authorized for issuance in accordance with applicable law and that the
Fund is registered as an open-end management investment company under the 0000
Xxx.
2.11 The Adviser represents and warrants that the Portfolios currently
comply, and will continue to comply, with the diversification provisions of
Section 817(h) of the Code and the regulations issued thereunder relating to the
diversification requirements for variable life insurance policies and variable
annuity contracts.
2.12 The Distributor represents and warrants that it is a member in good
standing of the NASD and is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC.
2.13 The Adviser represents and warrants that it is an investment
adviser registered under the Advisers Act duly organized and in good standing
under applicable law.
ARTICLE III. General Duties
3.1 The Fund shall take all such actions as are necessary to permit the
sale of the shares of each Portfolio to the Separate Accounts, including
maintaining its registration as an investment company under the 1940 Act, and
registering the shares of the Portfolios sold to the Separate Accounts under the
1933 Act for so long as required by applicable law. The Fund shall amend its
Registration Statement filed with the SEC under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act
from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of the
shares of the Portfolios. The Fund shall register and qualify the shares for
sale in accordance with the laws of the various states to the extent deemed
necessary by the Fund or the Distributor.
3.2 The Fund shall make every effort to maintain qualification of each
Portfolio as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Code (or
any successor or similar provision) and shall notify the Insurer immediately
upon having a reasonable basis for believing that a Portfolio has ceased to so
qualify or that it might not so qualify in the future.
3.3 The Fund and Adviser shall make every effort to ensure that each
Portfolio complies with the diversification provisions of Section 817(h) of the
Code and the regulations issued thereunder relating to the diversification
requirements for variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts
and any prospective amendments or other modifications to Section 817 or
regulations thereunder, and shall notify the Insurer immediately upon having a
reasonable basis for believing that any Portfolio has ceased to comply. The
Fund shall make every effort to remedy any Portfolio's failure to comply with
Section 817(h) of the Code and regulations thereunder within the time frame set
forth by Section 817(h) and the regulations thereunder.
3.4 The Insurer shall take all such actions as are necessary under
applicable federal and state law to permit the sale of the Variable Contracts
issued by the Insurer, including registering each Separate Account as an
investment company to the extent required under the 1940 Act, and registering
the Variable Contracts or interests in the Separate Accounts under the Variable
Contracts to the extent required under the 1933 Act, and obtaining all necessary
approvals to offer the Variable Contracts from state insurance commissioners.
3.5 The Insurer shall make every effort to maintain the treatment of
the Variable Contracts issued by the Insurer as annuity contracts or life
insurance policies, whichever is appropriate, under applicable provisions of the
Code, and shall notify the Fund and the Distributor immediately upon having a
reasonable basis for believing that such Variable Contracts have ceased to be so
treated or that they might not be so treated in the future. In that regard, the
Insurer shall make every effort to remedy any Variable Contract's failure to be
treated as annuity contracts or life insurance policies, as appropriate, under
applicable provisions of the Code, including Section 72 and regulations
thereunder within the required time frames.
3.6 The Insurer or its agents shall offer and sell the Variable
Contracts issued by the Insurer in accordance with applicable provisions of the
1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act, the NASD Rules of Fair Practice, and state
insurance law respecting the offering of variable life insurance policies and
variable annuity contracts.
3.7 The Distributor shall sell and distribute the shares of the
Portfolios of the Fund in accordance with the applicable provisions of the 1933
Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act, the NASD Rules of Fair Practice, and state law.
3.8 During such time as the Fund engages in activities that require a
Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order, a majority of the Board of Trustees of
the Fund shall consist of persons who are not "interested persons" of the Fund
("disinterested Trustees"), as defined by Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act and
the rules thereunder, and as modified by any applicable orders of the SEC,
except that if this provision of this Section 3.8 is not met by reason of the
death, disqualification, or bona fide resignation of any Trustee or Trustees,
then the operation of this provision shall be suspended (a) for a period of 45
days if the vacancy or vacancies may be filled by the Fund's Board; (b) for a
period of 60 days if a vote of shareholders is required to fill the vacancy or
vacancies; or (c) for such longer period as the SEC may prescribe by rule or
order upon application.
3.9 Provided it is consistent with their fiduciary duties, the Insurer
and its agents will not in any way recommend any proposal in opposition to, or
oppose or interfere with, any proposal submitted by the Fund at a meeting of
owners of Variable Contracts or shareholders of the Fund, and will in no way
recommend any proposal in opposition to, or oppose or interfere with, the
solicitation of proxies by the Fund of shares held by Contract Owners, without
the prior written consent of the Fund.
3.10 Each party hereto shall cooperate with each other party and all
appropriate governmental authorities having jurisdiction (including, without
limitation, the SEC, the NASD, and state insurance regulators) and shall permit
such authorities reasonable access to its books and records in connection with
any investigation or inquiry relating to this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby.
ARTICLE IV. Potential Conflicts
4.1 If and during the time that the Fund engages in activities that
require a Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order, the parties shall comply
with the conditions in this Article IV.
4.2 The Fund's Board of Trustees shall monitor the Fund for the
existence of any material irreconcilable conflict (1) between the interests of
owners of variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies, and
(2) between the interests of owners of Variable Contracts ("Variable Contract
Owners") issued by different Participating Life Insurance Companies that invest
in the Fund. A material irreconcilable 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
interpretive 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 of
the Fund are being managed; (e) a difference in voting instructions given by
variable annuity and variable life insurance contract owners; or (f) a decision
by a Participating Insurance Company to disregard the voting instructions of
Variable Contract Owners.
4.3 The Insurer agrees that it shall report any potential or existing
conflicts of which it is aware to the Fund's Board of Trustees. The Insurer
will be responsible for assisting the Board of Trustees of the Fund in carrying
out its responsibilities under the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order, or,
if the Fund is engaged in mixed funding or shared funding in reliance on Rule
6e-2, 6e-3(T), or any other regulation under the 1940 Act, the Insurer will be
responsible for assisting the Board of Trustees of the Fund in carrying out its
responsibilities under such regulation, 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 Insurer to inform the
Board whenever Variable Contract Owner voting instructions are disregarded. The
Insurer shall carry out its responsibility under this Section 4.3 with a view
only to the interests of the Variable Contract Owners.
4.4 The Insurer agrees that in the event that it is determined by a
majority of the Board of Trustees of the Fund or a majority of the Fund's
disinterested Trustees that a material irreconcilable conflict exists, the
Insurer shall, at its expense and to the extent reasonably practicable (as
determined by a majority of the disinterested Trustees of the Board of the
Fund), take whatever steps are necessary to remedy or eliminate the
irreconcilable material conflict, up to and including: (1) 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 another portfolio of the Fund, or submitting the question as to
whether such segregation should be implemented to a vote of all affected
Variable Contract Owners and, as appropriate, segregating the assets of any
appropriate group (i.e., annuity contract owners or life insurance contract
owners of contracts issued by one or more Participating Insurance Companies),
that votes in favor of such segregation, or offering to the affected Variable
Contract Owners the option of making such a change; and (2) establishing a new
registered investment company or separate account. If a material irreconcilable
conflict arises because of the Insurer's decision to disregard Variable Contract
Owners' voting instructions and that decision represents a minority position or
would preclude a majority vote, the Insurer shall be required, at the Fund's
election, to withdraw the Separate Accounts' investment in the Fund, 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 disinterested Trustees, and no charge or penalty will be imposed
as a result of such withdrawal. These responsibilities shall be carried out
with a view only to the interests of the Variable Contract Owners. A majority
of the disinterested Trustees of the Fund shall determine whether or not any
proposed action adequately remedies any material irreconcilable conflict, but in
no event will the Fund or its investment adviser or the Distributor be required
to establish a new funding medium for any Variable Contract. The Insurer shall
not be required by this Section 4.4 to establish a new funding medium for any
Variable Contract if any offer to do so has been declined by vote of a majority
of Variable Contract Owners materially adversely affected by the material
irreconcilable conflict.
4.5 The Insurer, at least annually, shall submit to the Fund's Board of
Trustees such reports, materials, or data as the Board reasonably may request so
that the Trustees of the Fund may fully carry out the obligations imposed upon
the Board by the conditions contained in the application for the Mixed and
Shared Funding Exemptive Order and said reports, materials, and data shall be
submitted more frequently if deemed appropriate by the Board.
4.6 All reports of potential or existing conflicts received by the
Fund's Board of Trustees, and all Board action with regard to determining the
existence of a conflict, notifying Participating Insurance Companies of a
conflict, and determining whether any proposed action adequately remedies a
conflict, shall be properly recorded in the minutes of the Board of Trustees of
the Fund or other appropriate records, and such minutes or other records shall
be made available to the SEC upon request.
4.7 The Board of Trustees of the Fund shall promptly notify the Insurer
in writing of its determination of the existence of an irreconcilable material
conflict and its implications.
ARTICLE V. Prospectuses and Proxy Statements; Voting
5.1 The Insurer shall deliver such prospectuses, proxy statements and
periodic reports of the Fund to the owners of Variable Contracts issued by the
Insurer as required to be distributed to such Variable Contract Owners under
applicable federal or state law. Such delivery may be accomplished through
electronic means subject to the standards prescribed by the SEC.
5.2 The Distributor shall provide the Insurer with as many copies of
the current prospectus of the Fund as the Insurer may reasonably request. If
requested by the Insurer in lieu thereof, the Fund shall provide such
documentation (including a final copy of the Fund's prospectus as set in type or
in camera-ready copy and/or in electronic form) and other assistance as is
reasonably necessary in order for the Insurer to produce in printed and/or
electronic form either a stand-alone document or in a combined document together
with the current prospectus for the Variable Contracts issued by the Insurer and
the current prospectus for the Fund, or a document combining the Fund prospectus
with prospectuses of other funds in which the Variable Contracts may be
invested. The Fund shall bear the proportionate expense of printing copies of
its current prospectus that will be distributed to existing Variable Contract
Owners (whether in a stand-alone document or in a combined document), and the
Insurer shall bear the expense of printing copies of the Fund's prospectus that
are used in connection with offering the Variable Contracts issued by the
Insurer.
5.3 The Fund and the Distributor shall provide, at the Fund's expense,
such copies of the Fund's current Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") as
may reasonably be requested, to the Insurer and to any owner of a Variable
Contract issued by the Insurer who requests such SAI. Such delivery may be
accomplished through electronic means subject to the standards prescribed by the
SEC.
5.4 The Fund, at its expense, shall provide the Insurer with copies of
its proxy statements, periodic reports to shareholders, and other communications
to shareholders in such quantity as the Insurer shall reasonably require for
purposes of distributing to owners of Variable Contracts issued by the Insurer.
The Fund, at the Insurer's expense, shall provide the Insurer with copies of its
periodic reports to shareholders and other communications to shareholders in
such quantity as the Insurer shall reasonably request for use in connection with
offering the Variable Contracts issued by the Insurer. If requested by the
Insurer in lieu thereof, the Fund shall provide such documentation (including a
final copy of the Fund's proxy statements, periodic reports to shareholders, and
other communications to shareholders, as set in type or in camera-ready copy or
in electronic form) and other assistance as reasonably necessary in order for
the Insurer to print or electronically deliver such shareholder communications
for distribution to owners of Variable Contracts issued by the Insurer.
5.5 For so long as the SEC interprets the 1940 Act to require pass-
through voting by Participating Insurance Companies whose Separate Accounts are
registered as investment companies under the 1940 Act, the Insurer shall vote
shares of each Portfolio of the Fund held in a Separate Account or a subaccount
thereof, whether or not registered under the 1940 Act, at regular and special
meetings of the Fund in accordance with instructions timely received by the
Insurer (or its designated agent) from owners of Variable Contracts funded by
such Separate Account or subaccount thereof having a voting interest in the
Portfolio. The Insurer shall vote shares of a Portfolio of the Fund held in a
Separate Account or a subaccount thereof that are attributable to the Variable
Contracts as to which no timely instructions are received, as well as shares
held in such Separate Account or subaccount thereof that are not attributable to
the Variable Contracts and owned beneficially by the Insurer (resulting from
charges against the Variable Contracts or otherwise), in the same proportion as
the votes cast by owners of the Variable Contracts funded by that Separate
Account or subaccount thereof having a voting interest in the Portfolio from
whom instructions have been timely received. The Insurer shall vote shares of
each Portfolio of the Fund held in each separate account, if any, in the same
proportion as the votes cast with respect to shares of the Portfolio held in all
Separate Accounts of the Insurer or subaccounts thereof, in the aggregate.
5.6 If and during the time as the Fund engages in activities that
require a Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order, the Fund shall disclose in
its prospectus that (1) the Fund is intended to be a funding vehicle for
variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts offered by various
insurance companies, (2) material irreconcilable conflicts possibly may arise,
and (3) the Board of Trustees of the Fund will monitor events in order to
identify the existence of any material irreconcilable conflicts and to determine
what action, if any, should be taken in response to any such conflict. The Fund
hereby notifies the Insurer that prospectus disclosure may be appropriate
regarding potential risks of offering shares of the Fund to separate accounts
funding both variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies and
to separate accounts funding Variable Contracts of unaffiliated life insurance
companies.
ARTICLE VI. Sales Material and Information
6.1 Unless the parties mutually agree to alternative time frames, the
Insurer shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the Fund or its
designee, each piece of sales literature or other promotional material in which
the Fund (or any Portfolio thereof), the Adviser or the Distributor is named at
least 15 days prior to the anticipated use of such material, and no such sales
literature or other promotional material shall be used unless the Fund, the
Adviser and the Distributor or their designee approve the material or do not
respond with comments on the material within 10 days from receipt of the
material.
6.1(a)The Fund and the Adviser hereby consent to the establishment by the
Insurer of a link between the World Wide Web internet site of the Fund (whether
it be the Fund's website or the Adviser's website containing information about
the Fund) and the World Wide Web internet site of the Insurer (each, a "Web
Site"). Such link may be established for the purpose of facilitating access to
information made available on the Fund's Web Site, including the Fund's
prospectus, as may be amended from time to time. Any such link shall be
displayed on the Insurer's Web Site in equal prominence with any other link or
links that the Insurer may provide to the Web Sites of other underlying
investment companies that serve as investments for the Insurer's Variable
Contracts. The establishment of such link shall not relieve the Insurer of its
responsibility for the delivery of the prospectuses, proxy statements, or
periodic reports of the Fund as provided for in Section 5.1 hereof. The consent
provided hereby shall terminate upon the termination of this Agreement as
provided for in Article VI hereof. The text contained on the Insurer's Web Site
related to such link shall be subject to Article VI hereof, including, without
limitation, the requirement that the Insurer provide such text to the Fund for
prior review in accordance with Section 6.1 hereof.
6.2 The Insurer agrees that neither it nor any of its affiliates or
agents shall give any information or make any representations or statements on
behalf of the Fund and Adviser or concerning the Fund and Adviser other than the
information or representations contained in the Registration Statement or
prospectus for the Fund shares, as such registration statement and prospectus
may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in reports or proxy
statements for the Fund, or in sales literature or other promotional material
approved by the Fund or its designee and by the Distributor or its designee,
except with the permission of the Fund or its designee and the Distributor or
its designee.
6.3 Unless the parties mutually agree to alternative time frames, the
Fund, the Adviser and the Distributor or their designee shall furnish to the
Insurer or its designee, each piece of sales literature or other promotional
material in which the Insurer or its Separate Accounts are named at least 15
days prior to the anticipated use of such material, and no such material shall
be used unless the Insurer or its designee approves the material or does not
respond with comments on the material within 10 days from receipt of the
material.
6.4 The Fund, the Adviser and the Distributor agree that each and the
affiliates and agents of each shall not give any information or make any
representations on behalf of the Insurer or its affiliates, or concerning the
Insurer or its affiliates, the Separate Accounts, or the Variable Contracts
issued by the Insurer, other than the information or representations contained
in a registration statement or prospectus for such Variable Contracts, as such
registration statement and prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time
to time, or in reports for the Separate Accounts or prepared for distribution to
owners of such Variable Contracts, or in sales literature or other promotional
material approved by the Insurer or its designee, except with the permission of
the Insurer or its designee.
6.5 The Fund will provide to the Insurer at least one complete copy of
any Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order, notice and exemptive application,
and any amendments thereto, all prospectuses, Statements of Additional
Information, reports, proxy statements and other voting solicitation materials,
and all amendments and supplements to any of the above, that relate to the Fund
or its shares, promptly after the filing of such document with the SEC or other
regulatory authorities.
6.6 The Insurer will provide to the Fund all prospectuses (which shall
include the portions of an offering memorandum that contains information
regarding the Fund, Distributor or Adviser if the Variable Contracts issued by
the Insurer or interests therein are not registered under the 1933 Act),
Statements of Additional Information, reports, solicitations for voting
instructions relating to the Fund, and all amendments or supplements to any of
the above that relate to the Variable Contracts issued by the Insurer or the
Separate Accounts which utilize the Fund as an underlying investment medium,
promptly after the filing of such document with the SEC or other regulatory
authority.
6.7 For purposes of this Agreement, the phrase "sales literature or
other promotional material" includes, but is not limited to, advertisements
(such as material published, or designed for use, in a newspaper, magazine, or
other periodical, radio, television, telephone or tape recording, videotape
display, signs or billboards, motion pictures, computerized media, Web site or
other public media), sales literature or other promotional material (i.e. any
written communication distributed or made generally available to customers or
the public, including brochures, circulars, information provided on a Web site,
research reports, market letters, form letters, seminar texts, reprints or
excerpts of any other advertisement, sales literature or other promotional
material, or published article), educational or training materials or other
communications distributed or made generally available to some or all agents or
employees.
ARTICLE VII. Indemnification
7.1 Indemnification by the Insurer
7.1(a) The Insurer agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund,
the Distributor, the Adviser, and each of their Directors, Trustees, officers,
employees and agents, and any affiliated person of the Fund, Distributor or
Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act (collectively, the
"Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 7.1) against any and all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with
the written consent of the Insurer) or litigation expenses (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 litigation expenses are related to the
sale or acquisition of the Fund's shares or the Variable Contracts issued by the
Insurer 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 (which shall include the
portions of an offering memorandum that contain information
regarding the Fund, Distributor or Adviser) for the Variable
Contracts issued by the Insurer or sales literature or other
promotional material for such Variable 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
to the Insurer by or on behalf of the Fund for use in the
registration statement or prospectus for the Variable Contracts
issued by the Insurer or sales literature or other promotional
material (or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in
connection with the sale of such Variable Contracts or Fund shares;
or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of any statement or
representation (other than statements or representations contained
in the registration statement, prospectus or sales literature or
other promotional material of the Fund not supplied by the Insurer
or persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of the Insurer or
any of its affiliates, employees or agents with respect to the sale
or distribution of the Variable Contracts issued by the Insurer or
the Fund shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a registration statement,
prospectus, or sales literature or other promotional material of
the Fund or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading if such a statement or omission was made in
reliance upon information furnished by or on behalf of the Insurer;
or
(iv) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Insurer in this
Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach
of this Agreement by the Insurer;
except to the extent provided in Sections 7.1(b) and 7.1(c) hereof.
7.1(b) The Insurer shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
litigation expenses to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by
reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the
performance of the Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of the Indemnified
Party's reckless disregard of obligations or duties under this Agreement.
7.1(c) The Insurer shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless
such Party shall have notified the Insurer 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
Party shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but
failure to notify the Insurer of any such claim shall not relieve the Insurer
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.
In case any such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties, the Insurer
shall be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense of such
action. The Insurer also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with
counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from the
Insurer to such party of the Insurer'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 Insurer 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. If the Insurer assumes the defense or
representation of an Indemnified Party, the Insurer shall not consent or agree
to any settlement without the prior approval of the Indemnified Party.
7.1(d) The Indemnified Parties shall promptly notify the Insurer of
the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against them in connection
with the issuance or sale of the Fund shares or the Variable Contracts issued
by the Insurer or the operation of the Fund.
7.2 Indemnification By the Distributor
7.2(a) The Distributor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Fund, the Adviser, the Insurer, and the Insurer's affiliated principal
underwriter of the Variable Contracts, and each of their trustees, directors,
officers, employees, and agents, and any affiliated person of the Insurer, Fund
or Adviser within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act (collectively,
the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 7.2) against any and all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with
the written consent of the Distributor) or litigation expenses (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 litigation expenses are
related to the sale or acquisition of the Fund's shares or the Variable
Contracts issued by the Insurer 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 sales literature or other
promotional material of the Fund (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 to the
Distributor or the Fund or the designee of either by or on behalf
of the Insurer for use in the registration statement or prospectus
for the Fund or in sales literature or other promotional material
(or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in the
registration statement or prospectus for the Fund or in sales
literature or other promotional material (or any amendment or
supplement) or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the
Variable Contracts issued by the Insurer or Fund shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of any statement or
representations (other than statements or representations contained
in the registration statement, prospectus or sales literature or
other promotional material for the Variable Contracts not supplied
by the Distributor or any employees or agents thereof) or wrongful
conduct of the Fund or Distributor, or the affiliates, employees,
or agents of the Fund or the Distributor with respect to the sale
or distribution of the Variable Contracts issued by the Insurer 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, or sales literature or other promotional material
covering the Variable Contracts issued by the Insurer, 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 to the Insurer by or on behalf of the
Fund; or
(iv) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Distributor in this
Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach
of this Agreement by the Distributor;
except to the extent provided in Sections 7.2(b) and 7.2(c) hereof.
7.2(b) The Distributor shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or litigation expenses to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise
be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in
the performance of the Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of the
Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations or duties under this
Agreement.
7.2(c) The Distributor shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified
Party unless such Party shall have notified the Distributor 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 Party shall have received notice of such
service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Distributor of any
such claim shall not relieve the Distributor 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. In case any such action is
brought against the Indemnified Parties, the Distributor will be entitled to
participate, at is own expense, in the defense thereof. The Distributor also
shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to
the party named in the action. After notice from the Distributor to such party
of the Distributor'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 Distributor will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for
any legal or other expense subsequently incurred by such party independently in
connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of
investigation. If the Distributor assumes the defense or representation of an
Indemnified Party, the Distributor shall not consent or agree to any settlement
without the prior approval of the Indemnified Party.
7.2(d) The Indemnified Parties shall promptly notify the
Distributor of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against them in
connection with the issuance or sale of the Variable Contracts issued by the
Insurer or the operation of the Separate Accounts.
7.3 Indemnification by the Fund
7.3(a) The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Insurer,
the Insurer's affiliated principal underwriter of the Variable Contracts, and
each of their trustees, directors, officers, employees, and agents, and any
"affiliated person" of the Insurer within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the
1940 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section
7.3) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts
paid in settlement with the written consent of the Fund) or litigation expenses
(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 litigation expenses are
related to the sale or acquisition of the Fund's shares or the Variable
Contracts issued by the Insurer 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 sales literature or other
promotional material of the Fund (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 to the
Distributor or the Fund or the designee of either by or on behalf
of the Insurer for use in the registration statement or prospectus
for the Fund or in sales literature or other promotional material
(or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in connection
with the sale of the Variable Contracts issued by the Insurer or
Fund shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of any statement or
representation (other than statements or representations contained
in the registration statement, prospectus or sales literature or
other promotional material for the Variable Contracts not supplied
by the Distributor or any employees or agents thereof) or wrongful
conduct of the Fund, or the affiliates, employees, or agents of the
Fund, with respect to the sale or distribution of the Variable
Contracts issued by the Insurer 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 or sales literature or other promotional material
covering the Variable Contracts issued by the Insurer, 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 to the Insurer by or on behalf of the
Fund; or
(iv) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Fund in this Agreement
or arise out of or result from any other material breach of this
Agreement by the Fund;
except to the extent provided in Sections 7.3(b) and 7.3(c) hereof.
7.3(b) The Fund shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation
expenses to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of
willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of the
Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of the Indemnified Party's reckless
disregard of obligations or duties under this Agreement or to the Insurer.
7.3(c) The Fund shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless
such party shall have notified the Fund 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
Party shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but
failure to notify the Fund of any such claim shall not relieve the Fund 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. In case
any such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties, the Fund will be
entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Fund
also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory
to the party named in the action. After notice from the Fund to such party of
the Fund'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
Fund 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. If the
Fund assumes the defense or representation of an Indemnified Party, the Fund
shall not consent or agree to any settlement without the prior approval of the
Indemnified Party.
7.3(d) The Insurer shall promptly notify the Fund of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers
of directors in connection with the issuance or sale of the Variable Contracts
issued by the Insurer or the sale of the Fund's shares.
7.4 Indemnification By the Adviser
7.4(a) The Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund,
the Distributor, the Insurer, and the Insurer's affiliated principal
underwriter of the Variable Contracts, and each of their trustees, directors,
officers, employees, and agents, and any affiliated person of the Insurer, Fund
or Distributor within the meaning of Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 7.4)
against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts
paid in settlement with the written consent of the Adviser) or litigation
expenses (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 litigation expenses are related to the sale or acquisition of the Fund's
shares or the Variable Contracts issued by the Insurer and:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of any material fact provided by the
Adviser and contained in the registration statement or prospectus
or sales literature or other promotional material of the Fund (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 about the Adviser 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 to the Adviser or the Fund or the
designee of either by or on behalf of the Insurer for use in the
registration statement or prospectus for the Fund or in sales
literature or other promotional material (or any amendment or
supplement) or otherwise for use in the registration statement or
prospectus for the Fund or in sales literature or other promotional
material (or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in
connection with the sale of the Variable Contracts issued by the
Insurer or Fund shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of any statement or
representations (other than statements or representations contained
in the registration statement, prospectus or sales literature or
other promotional material for the Variable Contracts not supplied
by the Adviser or any employees or agents thereof) or wrongful
conduct of the Adviser, or the affiliates, employees, or agents of
the Adviser with respect to the sale or distribution of the
Variable Contracts issued by the Insurer 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, or sales literature or other promotional material
covering the Variable Contracts issued by the Insurer, 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 by or on behalf of the Adviser; or
(iv) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Adviser in this
Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach
of this Agreement by the Adviser;
except to the extent provided in Sections 7.4(b) and 7.4(c) hereof.
7.4(b) The Adviser shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation
expenses to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of
willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of the
Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of the Indemnified Party's reckless
disregard of obligations or duties under this Agreement or to the Insurer.
7.4(c) The Adviser shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless
such Party shall have notified the Adviser 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
Party shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but
failure to notify the Adviser of any such claim shall not relieve the Adviser
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.
In case any such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties, the Adviser
will be entitled to participate, at is own expense, in the defense thereof. The
Adviser also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel
satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from the Adviser to
such party of the Adviser'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 Adviser will not be liable to such party under this
Agreement for any legal or other expense subsequently incurred by such party
independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs
of investigation. If the Adviser assumes the defense or representation of an
Indemnified Party, the Adviser shall not consent or agree to any settlement
without the prior approval of the Indemnified Party.
7.4(d) The Indemnified Parties shall promptly notify the Adviser of
the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against them in connection
with the issuance or sale of the Variable Contracts issued by the Insurer or the
operation of the Separate Accounts.
ARTICLE VIII. Applicable Law
8.1 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
8.2 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, any Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive
Order), and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance
therewith.
8.3 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the Code.
ARTICLE IX. Termination
9.1 This Agreement shall terminate:
(a) at the option of any party upon 180 days advance written notice
to the other parties; or
(b) at the option of the Insurer if shares of the Portfolios are
not reasonably available to meet the requirements of the Variable Contracts
issued by the Insurer, as determined by the Insurer, and upon prompt notice by
the Insurer to the other parties; or
(c) at the option of the Fund or the Distributor upon institution
of formal proceedings against the Insurer or its agent by the NASD, the SEC, or
any state securities or insurance department or any other regulatory body
regarding the Insurer's duties under this Agreement or related to the sale of
the Variable Contracts issued by the Insurer, the operation of the Separate
Accounts, or the purchase of the Fund shares; or
(d) at the option of the Insurer upon institution of formal
proceedings against the Fund, the Adviser or the Distributor by the NASD, the
SEC, or any state securities or insurance department or any other regulatory
body; or
(e) upon requisite vote of the Variable Contract Owners having an
interest in the Separate Accounts (or any subaccounts thereof) to substitute the
shares of another investment company for the corresponding shares of the Fund or
a Portfolio in accordance with the terms of the Variable Contracts for which
those shares had been selected or serve as the underlying investment media; or
(f) in the event any of the shares of a Portfolio are not
registered, issued or sold in accordance with applicable state and/or federal
law, or such law precludes the use of such shares as the underlying investment
media of the Variable Contracts issued or to be issued by the Insurer; or
(g) by any party to the Agreement upon a determination by a
majority of the Trustees of the Fund, or a majority of its disinterested
Trustees, that an irreconcilable conflict, as described in Article IV hereof,
exists; or
(h) at the option of the Insurer if the Fund or a Portfolio fails
to meet the requirements under Subchapter M of the Code for qualification as a
Regulated Investment Company specified in Section 3.2 hereof or the
diversification requirements specified in Section 3.3 hereof.
9.2 Each party to this Agreement shall promptly notify the other
parties to the Agreement of the institution against such party of any such
formal proceedings as described in Sections 9.1(c) and (d) hereof. The Insurer
shall give 60 days prior written notice to the Fund of the date of any proposed
vote of Variable Contract Owners to replace the Fund's shares as described in
Section 9.1(e) hereof.
9.3 Except as necessary to implement Variable Contract Owner initiated
transactions, or as required by state insurance laws or regulations, the Insurer
shall not redeem Fund shares attributable to the Variable Contracts issued by
the Insurer (as opposed to Fund shares attributable to the Insurer's assets held
in the Separate Accounts), and the Insurer shall not prevent Variable Contract
Owners from allocating payments to a Portfolio, until 60 days after the Insurer
shall have notified the Fund or Distributor of its intention to do so.
9.4 Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Fund and the
Distributor shall at the option of the Insurer continue to make available
additional shares of the Fund pursuant to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, for all Variable Contracts in effect on the effective date of
termination of this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as "Existing Contracts").
Specifically, without limitation, based upon instructions from the owners of the
Existing Contracts, the Separate Accounts shall be permitted to reallocate
investments in the Portfolios of the Fund and redeem investments in the
Portfolios, and shall be permitted to invest in the Portfolios in the event that
owners of the Existing Contracts make additional purchase payments under the
Existing Contracts. If this Agreement terminates, the parties agree that
Sections 3.10, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 8.1, 8.2, and 11.7 and, to the extent that
all or a portion of the assets of the Separate Accounts continue to be invested
in the Fund or any Portfolio of the Fund, Articles I, II, and IV and Sections
5.5 and 5.6 will remain in effect after termination.
ARTICLE X. Notices
Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or
certified mail or by facsimile duly delivered with confirmation of receipt 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
party.
If to the Fund:
The Huntington Funds
c/o The Huntington National Bank
00 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Attn.: Xxx Xxxxxxx, President
Fax: 000-000-0000
Phone: 000-000-0000
With a copy to:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx & Worcester
0000 X Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Phone: (000) 000-0000
If to the Distributor:
Edgewood Services, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attn.: Secretary
Fax: (412)
Phone: (412)
If to the Insurer:
Nationwide Life Insurance Company
Nationwide Life and Annuity Company
Xxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, 0-00-X0
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Attn: Securities Officer
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Phone: (000) 000-0000 or (000) 000-0000
If to the Adviser:
Huntington Asset Advisors, Inc.
00 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Attn.: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Chief Investment Officer
Fax: 000-000-0000
Phone: 000-000-0000
With a copy to:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx & Worcester
0000 X Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Fax: (000) 000-0000
Phone: (000) 000-0000
ARTICLE XI: Miscellaneous
11.1 The Fund and the Insurer agree that if and to the extent Rule 6e-2
or Rule 6e-3(T) under the 1940 Act is amended or if Rule 6e-3 is adopted in
final form, to the extent applicable, the Fund and the Insurer shall each take
such steps as may be necessary to comply with the Rule as amended or adopted in
final form.
11.2 A copy of the Fund's Certificate of Trust is on file with the
Secretary of the State of Delaware and notice is hereby given that any
agreements that are executed on behalf of the Fund by any Trustee or officer of
the Fund are executed in his or her capacity as Trustee or officer and not
individually. The obligations of this Agreement shall only be binding upon the
assets and property of the Fund and shall not be binding upon any Trustee,
officer or shareholder of the Fund individually.
11.3 Nothing in this Agreement shall impede the Fund's Trustees or
shareholders of the shares of the Fund's Portfolios from exercising any of the
rights provided to such Trustees or shareholders in the Fund's Agreement and
Declaration of Trust, as amended, a copy of which will be provided to the
Insurer upon request.
11.4 Administrative services to Variable Contract Owners shall be the
responsibility of Insurer as set forth in Exhibit D. Insurer, on behalf of its
separate accounts will be the sole shareholder of record of Fund shares. Funds
shall pay or cause the Adviser to pay Insurer an amount computed pursuant to
Exhibit E.
11.5(a)It is understood that the names "Edgewood," "The Huntington Funds"
or any derivative thereof or logo associated with those names (the "Marks") are
the valuable property, respectively, of the Distributor and the Funds,
respectively, (and their affiliates), and that the Insurer has the right to use
such names (or derivatives or logos) only so long as this Agreement is in effect
and the Distributor or an affiliate of the Distributor continues to serve as the
principal underwriter of the Fund. Upon termination of this Agreement the
Insurer shall forthwith cease to use the Marks. Insurer agrees that it shall
not use the Marks in a manner that disparages or degrades the business or
reputation of the Distributor, the Fund, or any of their affiliates, or that
infringes, dilutes, or otherwise violates the Marks. Upon request, Insurer
agrees to provide appropriate attribution of the use of the Marks (e.g., through
the use of "TM" or {reg-trade-xxxx} symbols, and appropriate notice regarding
reservation of rights).
11.5(b)It is understood that the names "Huntington," "Huntington Asset
Advisors, Inc." or any derivative thereof or logo associated with those names
(the "Huntington Marks") are the valuable property of the Adviser (and its
affiliates), and that the Insurer has the right to use such names (or
derivatives or logos) only so long as this Agreement is in effect and the
Adviser or an affiliate of the Adviser continues to serve as the investment
adviser of the Fund. Upon termination of this Agreement the Insurer shall
forthwith cease to use the Huntington Marks. Insurer agrees that it shall not
use the Huntington Marks in a manner that disparages or degrades the business or
reputation of the Adviser, the Fund, or any of their affiliates, or that
infringes, dilutes, or otherwise violates the Huntington Marks. Upon request,
Insurer agrees to provide appropriate attribution of the use of the Huntington
Marks (e.g., through the use of "TM" or {reg-trade-xxxx} symbols, and
appropriate notice regarding reservation of rights).
11.6 It is understood that the name "Nationwide" or any derivative
thereof or logo associated with that name (the "Nationwide Marks") is the
valuable property of the Insurer and its affiliates, and that the Fund,
Distributor and Adviser have the right to use such name (or derivative or logo)
only so long as this Agreement is in effect. Upon termination of this Agreement
the Fund, Distributor and Adviser shall forthwith cease to use the Nationwide
Marks. Fund, Distributor and Adviser agree that it shall not use the Nationwide
Marks in a manner that disparages or degrades the business or reputation of the
Insurer or any of their affiliates, or that infringes, dilutes, or otherwise
violates the Nationwide Marks. Upon request, Fund, Distributor and Adviser
agree to provide appropriate attribution of the use of the Nationwide Marks
(e.g., through the use of "TM" or {reg-trade-xxxx} symbols, and appropriate
notice regarding reservation of rights).
11.7 The parties agree to keep confidential all information,
documentation and/or data related to this Agreement, except as may be necessary
to perform services under this Agreement, as required by law, a court of
competent jurisdiction or other governing regulatory body, or as otherwise may
be agreed to in writing by the parties. Each party agrees not to use, disclose
or distribute to others any consumer non-public personal information related to
this Agreement, except as necessary to perform the terms of this Agreement or as
permitted or required by law. This provision shall survive the termination of
this Agreement.
11.8 Should Fund, Distributor or Adviser desire to no longer have a Fund
available in a variable contract, Fund, Distributor or Adviser shall be
responsible for any and all expenses incurred as a result of removing such Fund
as an available investment option under the Contract. Should Insurer desire to
no longer have a Fund available in a variable contract, Insurer shall be
responsible for any and all expenses incurred as a result of removing such Fund
as an available investment option under the Contract. Should a removal of a
Fund as an available investment option be mutually desired by the parties, the
parties agree to equally (or in such other proportion as they may mutually
agree) share any expenses incurred as a result of removing such Fund as an
available investment option. Insurer, Fund, Distributor and Adviser agree to
provide reasonable advance notice of the election to remove a Fund as an
available investment option in order to permit the parties to file documentation
as may be required under applicable law.
11.9 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.
11.10 This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
11.11 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.
11.12 No party to this Agreement may assign the Agreement except with the
written consent of the other parties to the Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed as of the day and year first above written.
EDGEWOOD SERVICES, INC.
By:
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Xx.
Title: President
THE HUNTINGTON FUNDS
By:
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Vice President
NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
By:
Name:
Title:
HUNTINGTON ASSET ADVISORS, INC.
By:
Name: B. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Title: President
EXHIBIT A
SEPARATE ACCOUNTS
Nationwide Variable Account
Nationwide Variable Account-II
Nationwide Variable Account-3
Nationwide Variable Account-4
Nationwide Variable Account-5
Nationwide Variable Account-6
Nationwide Variable Account -7
Nationwide Variable Account-8
Nationwide Variable Account-9
Nationwide Variable Account-10
Nationwide Variable Account-11
Nationwide Variable Account -12
Nationwide Variable Account-13
Multi-Flex Variable Account
Nationwide VA Separate Account-A
Nationwide VA Separate Account-B
Nationwide VA Separate Account-C
Nationwide VA Separate Account-D
Nationwide VLI Separate Account
Nationwide VLI Separate Account-2
Nationwide VLI Separate Account-3
Nationwide VLI Separate Account-4
Nationwide VLI Separate Account-5
Nationwide VLI Separate Account-6
Nationwide VL Separate Account
Nationwide VL Separate Account-A
Nationwide VL Separate Account-B
Nationwide VL Separate Account-C
Nationwide VL Separate Account-D
Nationwide DC Variable Account
Nationwide DC Variable Account-II
NACo Variable Account
Nationwide Governmental Plans Variable Account
Nationwide Governmental Plans Variable Account-II
Nationwide Qualified Plans Variable Account
Nationwide Private Placement Variable Account
Ohio DC Variable Account
EXHIBIT B
THE HUNTINGTON FUNDS
Huntington VA Income Equity Fund
Huntington VA Growth Fund
Huntington VA Dividend Capture Fund
Huntington VA Mid Corp. America
Huntington VA New Economy Fund
Huntington VA Rotating Markets Fund
Huntington VA International Equity Fund
Huntington VA Macro 100 Fund
Huntington VA Mortgage Securities Fund
Huntington VA Situs Small Cap Fund
EXHIBIT C
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Insurer shall be
appointed to, and agrees to act, as a limited agent of Fund for the sole purpose
of receiving instructions from authorized parties as defined by the Variable
Contracts for the purchase and redemption of Fund shares prior to the close of
regular trading each Business Day. A "Business Day" is defined in Section 1.1
of the Agreement. Except as particularly stated in this paragraph, Insurer
shall have no authority to act on behalf of Fund or to incur any cost or
liability on its behalf.
Until such time as Fund and Insurer are able to utilize the National Securities
Clearing Corporation ("NSCC") Defined Contribution Clearing and Settlement
("DCC&S") Fund/SERV system: Fund will use its best efforts to provide to
Insurer or its designated agent closing net asset value, change in net asset
value, dividend or daily accrual rate information and capital gain information
by 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time each Business Day. Insurer or its agent shall use
this data to calculate unit values. Unit values shall be used to process the
same Business Day's contract transactions. Orders derived from, and in amounts
equal to, instructions received by Insurer prior to the Close of Trading on the
New York Stock Exchange on any Business Day ("Day 1") shall be transmitted
without modification (except for netting or aggregating such orders) to Fund by
9:00 A.M. Eastern Time on the next Business Day. Such trades will be effected
at the net asset value of each Fund's shares calculated as of the Close of
Trading on Day 1. Fund will not accept any order made on a conditional basis or
subject to any delay or contingency. Insurer shall only place purchase orders
for shares of Funds on behalf of its customers whose addresses recorded on
Insurer' books are in a state or other jurisdiction in which the Funds are
registered or qualified for sale, or are exempt from registration or
qualification as confirmed in writing by Fund.
Until such time as Fund and Insurer are able to utilize the DCC&S Fund/SERV
system, each party shall, transmit any instructions or confirmations via
facsimile, and, as soon as practicable after a party's receipt of an instruction
or confirmation, such party shall verify its receipt of such instruction or
confirmation via telephone, and in the absence of such verification such a party
to whom an instruction or confirmation is sent shall not be liable for any
failure to act in accordance with such instruction or confirmation, and the
sending party may not claim that such an instruction or confirmation was
received by the other. Each party shall notify the other of any errors,
omissions or interruptions in, or delay or unavailability as promptly as
possible.
a) For those purchase orders not transmitted via the DCC&S Fund/SERV system,
Insurer shall complete payment to Fund or its designated agent in federal
funds no later than 1:00 P.M. Eastern Time on the Business Day following
the day on which the instructions are treated as having been received by
Fund pursuant to this Agreement.
b) For those redemption orders not transmitted via the DCC&S Fund/SERV
system, Fund or its designated agent shall initiate payment in federal
funds no later than 3:00 P.M. Eastern Time on the Business Day following
the day on which the instructions are treated as having been received by
Fund pursuant to this Agreement.
At such time as Fund and Insurer are able to transmit information via the NSCC's
DCC&S Fund/SERV System:
a) Orders derived from, and in amounts equal to, instructions received by
Insurer prior to the Close of Trading on Day 1 shall be transmitted
without modification (except for netting and aggregation of such orders)
via the NSCC's DCC&S Fund/SERV system to Fund no later than 5:00 A.M.
Eastern Time on the Next Business Day. Such trades will be effected at
the net asset value of each Fund's shares calculated as of the Close of
Trading on Day 1.
b) Fund and Insurer mutually agree there may be instances when orders
received prior to the Close of Trading on the previous Business Day shall
be transmitted to Fund via facsimile no later than 9:00 A.M. Eastern Time
on the next Business Day rather than through the DCC&S Fund/SERV system.
In such instances, such orders, which shall only include orders received
prior to the Close of Trading on the previous Business Day, shall be
transmitted to Fund via facsimile no later than 9:00 A.M. Eastern Time on
the next Business Day.
c) With respect to purchase and redemption orders received by Fund on any
Business Day for any Fund, within the time limits set forth in this
Agreement, settlement shall occur consistent with the requirements of
DCC&S Fund/SERV system.
At such time as Fund and Insurer are able to transmit information via the DCC&S
Fund/SERV system: Fund or its designated agent shall send to Insurer, via the
DCC&S Fund/SERV system, verification of net purchase or redemption orders or
notification of the rejection of such orders ("Confirmations ") on each Business
Day for which Insurer has transmitted such orders. Such confirmations shall
include the total number of shares of each Fund held by Insurer following such
net purchase or redemption. Fund, or its designated agent, shall use its best
efforts to submit in a timely manner, such confirmations to the DCC&S Fund/SERV
system in order for Insurer to receive such confirmations no later than 11:00
A.M. Eastern Time the next Business Day. Fund or its designated agent will
transmit to Insurer via DCC&S NETWORKING system those Networking activity files
reflecting account activity. In addition, within five (5) Business Days after
the end of each month, Fund or its affiliate will make available to Insurer a
statement of account which shall confirm all transactions made during that
particular month in the account.
DOCUMENTS AND OTHER MATERIALS
DOCUMENTS PROVIDED BY INSURER
Insurer agrees to provide Fund, upon written request, any reports indicating the
number of shareholders that hold interests in the Funds and such other
information (including books and records) that Fund may reasonably request or as
may be necessary or advisable to enable it to comply with any law, regulation or
order.
DOCUMENTS PROVIDED BY FUND
Within five (5) Business Days after the end of each calendar month, Fund,
Distributor, or Adviser shall make available to Insurer, or its designee, a
monthly statement of account, which shall confirm all transactions made during
that particular month.
Fund, Distributor, or Adviser shall promptly provide Insurer, or cause Insurer
to be provided with, a reasonable quantity of the Funds' prospectuses,
Statements of Additional Information and any supplements thereto.
EXHIBIT D
Services Provided by Insurer
Pursuant to the Agreement, Insurer shall perform all administrative and
shareholder services with respect to the Variable Contracts and plans, including
but not limited to, the following:
1. Maintaining separate records for each Variable Contract owner and each plan,
which shall reflect the Fund shares purchased and redeemed and Fund share
balances of such Variable Contract owners and plans. Insurer will maintain
accounts with each Fund on behalf of Variable Contract owners and plans, and
such account shall be in the name of Insurer (or its nominee) as the record
owner of shares owned by such Variable Contract owners and plans.
2. Disbursing or crediting to contract owners and plans all proceeds of
redemptions of shares of the Funds and all dividends and other distributions
not reinvested in shares of the Funds.
3. Preparing and transmitting to Variable Contract owners and plans, as required
by law, periodic statements showing the total number of shares owned as of
the statement closing date, purchases and redemptions of Fund shares during
the period covered by the statement and the dividends and other distributions
paid during the statement period (whether paid in cash or reinvested in Fund
shares), and such other information as may be required, from time to time, by
Variable Contract owners and plans.
4. Supporting and responding to service inquires from Variable Contract owners
and plans.
5. Maintaining and preserving all records required by law to be maintained and
preserved in connection with providing the services for Variable Contract
owners and plans.
6. Generating written confirmations and quarterly statements to Variable
Contract owners and plan participants.
7. Distributing to Variable Contract owners and plans, to the extent required by
applicable law, Funds' prospectuses, proxy materials, periodic fund reports
to shareholders and other materials that the Funds are required by law or
otherwise to provide to their shareholders or prospective shareholders.
8. Transmitting purchase and redemption orders to the Funds on behalf of the
Variable Contract owners and plans.
EXHIBIT E
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| Funds |Basis Points Per Annum|
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|Huntington VA Income Equity Fund |25 bps |
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|Huntington VA Growth Fund |25 bps |
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|Huntington VA Dividend Capture Fund |25 bps |
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|Huntington VA Mid Corp. America |25 bps |
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|Huntington VA New Economy Fund |25 bps |
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|Huntington VA Rotating Markets Fund |25 bps |
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|Huntington VA International Equity Fund|25 bps |
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|Huntington VA Xxxxx 000 Xxxx x00 xxx |
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|Huntington VA Mortgage Securities Fund |25 bps |
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|Huntington VA Situs Small Cap Fund |25 bps |
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