SERVICES AGREEMENT
------------------
(Exhibit B and Schedules Omitted)
THIS SERVICES AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made as of August 15, 1996, by
and among Delaware Management Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Holdings"), Delaware Service Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a
wholly owned subsidiary of Holdings ("Delaware"), Lincoln National Life
Insurance Company, an Indiana insurance corporation ("Lincoln Life"), and each
of the investment companies listed in Exhibit A hereto, each a Maryland
corporation (together with any other investment company designated in accordance
with Section 5.1, the "Funds," or individually, a "Fund").
The parties hereto, in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter
expressed, agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
-----------
Section 1.1 Definitions. The following terms shall have the respective
meanings set forth in this Section 1.1 for all purposes of this Agreement except
where the application of such definitions is limited by reference in this
Section 1.1 to a specific Article of this Agreement (such definitions to be
equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms herein
defined):
"Acceptance Test" means a test, reasonably acceptable to Lincoln Life,
Delaware and the Funds, of the performance of the Value Calculation Services for
the Accounts included in the respective Phases, to be conducted in accordance
with Article 4.
"Accounting Services" means the services listed in the Cutover Schedule
with respect to the Accounts.
"Accounts" means the Funds and the Separate Accounts, collectively.
"Affiliate" means, with respect to any entity, any other entity
controlling, controlled by or under common control with such entity.
"Business Day" means a day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for
trading.
"Calculation Losses" means any losses suffered by a Contractowner, Third
Party Administrator, Fund or Separate Account directly caused by an error in a
Net Asset Value or Unit Value, or by the delivery to Lincoln Life or any Fund of
a Net Asset Value or Unit Value after the applicable deadline provided for in
Section 2.1; provided, however, that such losses shall not include any
consequential damages.
"Contractowner" means the present or former owner of an insurance or
annuity contract supported by a Separate Account, or any beneficiary or
annuitant thereof.
"Cutover Date," with respect to any Phase, means the date, which shall be a
Business Day, on which Delaware actually commences providing the Accounting
Services with respect to such Phase in accordance with Section 4.2. The planned
Cutover Date for each Phase is set forth in the Cutover Schedule.
"Cutover Schedule" means Schedule 1.1(a) hereto, which sets forth the
accounting services to be rendered pursuant to this Agreement and the planned
Cutover Dates, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time pursuant to
Section 16.1.
"Delaware" has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
"Delaware Affiliate" means Holdings and any entity that is directly or
indirectly controlled by Holdings.
"Fee Schedule" means Schedule 6.1 hereto, as such Schedule may be amended
from time to time pursuant to Section 16.1.
"Fund" has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
"Holdings" has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
"Lincoln Affiliate" means any Affiliate of Lincoln Life other than a
Delaware Affiliate.
"Lincoln Life" has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
"Net Asset Value" means the daily net asset value per share of the
respective Funds for each Business Day, all determined in accordance with the
terms of the Cutover Schedule and with any applicable prospectus or regulatory
requirement.
"Phase" means a set of Accounts comprising the Phase I Accounts, the Phase
II Accounts or the Phase III Accounts.
"Phase I Account" means an Account designated as such on the Cutover
Schedule.
"Phase II Account" means an Account designated as such on the Cutover
Schedule.
"Phase III Account" means an Account designated as such on the Cutover
Schedule.
"Renewal Term" means each successive one-year term occurring
after the expiration of the initial term of this Agreement as described in
Section 11.1.
"Separate Account" means a separate account of Lincoln Life identified as
such on the Cutover Schedule, and any additional separate account or sub-account
of Lincoln Life or any Lincoln Affiliate (or of any other person if Lincoln Life
or any Lincoln Affiliate has administrative responsibilities with respect to
such separate account or sub-account pursuant to any reinsurance agreement or
otherwise) designated in accordance with Section 5.1.
"Test Period" means, with respect to each Phase, a period of time prior to
the Cutover Date for such Phase, commencing on the date specified by Delaware
pursuant to Section 4.1 and having a duration of three weeks or such longer
period as may be determined pursuant to Section 4.1.
"Third Party Administrator" means an administrator of insurance or annuity
contracts acting on behalf of Contractowners.
"Unit Value" means the daily unit value per unit of the respective Separate
Accounts or sub-accounts thereof for each Business Day, all determined in
accordance with the terms of the Cutover Schedule and with any applicable
prospectus or regulatory requirement.
"Value Calculation Services" means those Accounting Services consisting of
or incidental to the calculation and communication of Unit Values and Net Asset
Values in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 2
SCOPE OF SERVICES; CUTOVER
--------------------------
Section 2.1 Scope of Services. Delaware shall provide the Accounting
Services to each of the Funds and to Lincoln Life with respect to each of the
Separate Accounts, all in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, from and after the Cutover Date for
each respective Phase, Delaware, no later than 6:00 p.m. (New York City time) on
each Business Day, shall in accordance with the terms of this Agreement provide
to Lincoln Life and to the Funds the Value Calculation Services for each of the
Accounts included in such Phase. In the event of any error in the Value
Calculation Services, the parties hereto will follow the procedures set forth in
Schedule 2.1, without prejudice to any other rights described in this Agreement.
Section 2.2 Cutover Schedule. Delaware, Lincoln Life and the Funds shall
use their respective best efforts to cause the Cutover Date to occur no later
than (a) August 15, 1996, with respect to the Phase I Accounts, (b) October 31,
1996, with
respect to the Phase II Accounts and (c) January 1, 1997 with respect to the
Phase III Accounts.
ARTICLE 3
LINCOLN LIFE'S SUPPORT OBLIGATIONS
----------------------------------
Section 3.1 Provision of Data. Lincoln Life shall use its best efforts to
provide or cause to be provided to Delaware the data identified in Schedule 3.1
during the periods and in accordance with the procedures identified in such
Schedule, it being understood that Delaware shall not be responsible for any
Calculation Losses or other claims, suits, hearings, actions, damages,
liabilities, fines, penalties, costs, losses or expenses, including reasonable
attorney's fees, which any party may sustain or incur, directly or indirectly,
in each case to the extent caused by or arising from Lincoln Life's failure to
provide such data in accordance with such Schedule 3.1.
Section 3.2 Data to Be Provided by Third Parties. With respect to each of
the mutual funds identified in Schedule 3.2 as an available investment of one or
more of the Separate Accounts (other than mutual funds managed by Lincoln Life
or Delaware or their respective Affiliates) and each third party service
provider identified in such Schedule, Lincoln Life shall direct each of the
managers of such funds or such service provider, as the case may be, to provide
or cause to be provided to Delaware the data identified in Schedule 3.2 in
accordance with the procedures and time deadlines identified in such Schedule.
Section 3.3 Information for Periods Prior to Cutover Date. Lincoln Life
will provide appropriate financial and other information with respect to the
Accounts to Delaware, and will cooperate with Delaware, in connection with the
preparation of data for 1996 annual reports to Contractowner and other elements
of the Accounting Services that relate to periods prior to the Cutover Dates for
the respective Accounts. In addition, Lincoln Life will provide to Delaware
appropriate financial and other information regarding the Accounts for periods
prior to 1996 to the extent relevant to the performance of the Accounting
Services for 1996 and subsequent periods.
ARTICLE 4
ACCEPTANCE TEST; CUTOVER DATE
-----------------------------
Section 4.1 Acceptance Testing. Delaware shall notify Lincoln Life of the
date, which shall be a Business Day, on which the Value Calculation Services for
each respective Phase will be ready for the commencement of the Acceptance Test
for such Phase. During the Test Period for each Phase, Delaware, Lincoln Life
and the Funds shall cooperate in performing the Acceptance Test for such Phase,
and Delaware and Lincoln Life, respectively, shall use its best efforts to
remedy any failure in the performance of the Value Calculation Services caused
by such party. In the event that, during the Test Period with respect to any
Phase,
performance of the Value Calculation Services is suspended for such Phase in
order to effect such remedy or for any other reason, the Test Period for such
Phase shall be extended by the number of days of such suspension. Further, if
at the date that would otherwise be the end of the Test Period for any Phase
Delaware is not performing the Value Calculation Services with respect to such
Phase to the reasonable satisfaction of Lincoln Life, and Lincoln Life shall so
notify Delaware, the Test Period shall be extended until the date on which
Lincoln Life notifies Delaware that the Value Calculation Services are being
performed to the reasonable satisfaction of Lincoln Life. All references in this
Section 4.1 to the performance of the Value Calculation Services shall refer to
the performance thereof in a test mode.
Section 4.2 Cutover Date. With respect to each Phase, upon the
termination of the Test Period, Lincoln Life, the Funds and Delaware shall
execute a written acknowledgment in the form of Exhibit B hereto confirming such
termination and specifying the Cutover Date, which shall be the Business Day
immediately following the date of such termination unless Lincoln Life, the
Funds and Delaware shall agree upon a different date.
ARTICLE 5
NEW ACCOUNTS; NEW INVESTMENT MANAGERS
-------------------------------------
Section 5.1 Additional Accounts. Lincoln Life may from time to time
designate (i) one or more additional investment companies or separate accounts
to constitute Funds or Separate Accounts, as the case may be, for all purposes
of this Agreement, or (ii) one or more newly established sub-accounts of any
Separate Account. Such designation shall be:
(a) subject to Delaware's consent, which shall not be unreasonably
withheld; provided, that such consent shall be considered to be
unreasonably withheld if Delaware does not make reasonable
efforts to accept such new investment companies, separate
accounts and sub-accounts, which efforts shall include, but not
be limited to, reasonable consideration of the expansion of
Delaware's infrastructure to handle such new investment
companies, separate accounts and sub-accounts; and
(b) evidenced by a writing executed by Lincoln Life, Delaware and, if
applicable, each such investment company, setting forth the name
of such investment company, separate account or new sub-account,
the applicable rate under the Fee Schedule that shall apply to
the Accounting Services for such investment company, separate
account or new sub-account, the effective date of the designation
thereof as a Fund, Separate Account or new sub-account, and any
other matters the parties wish to include.
Notwithstanding clause (b) of the preceding sentence, if Delaware's performance
of the Accounting Services for such additional Funds, Separate Accounts, or sub-
accounts of such Separate Accounts would, in Delaware's reasonable opinion,
result in higher costs than the costs Delaware incurs for providing the
Accounting Services to the current Accounts, then the affected parties hereto
shall negotiate in good faith an addendum to the Fee Schedule for such
additional Funds, Separate Accounts and sub-accounts and Delaware shall not be
deemed to have unreason ably withheld its consent under clause (b) of this
Section 5.1 until such addendum has been agreed to. Except as otherwise
specified in such writing, from and after such effective date, Delaware shall
provide to such Fund, or to Lincoln Life with respect to a Separate Account or
new sub-account, the same Accounting Services as are specified in the Cutover
Schedule with respect to the other Funds, Separate Accounts or sub-account of a
Separate Account, as the case may be.
Section 5.2 New Investment Managers. If new investment managers are added
to provide investment advisory services to any of the Accounts, and Delaware's
performance of the Accounting Services is, as a result thereof, significantly
more costly to Delaware, the affected parties shall negotiate in good faith an
addendum to the Fee Schedule for such Accounts.
ARTICLE 6
FEES
----
Section 6.1 Accrual of Fees. From and after the Cutover Date with respect
to each Phase, Lincoln Life shall pay fees for the Accounting Services for each
of the Separate Accounts included in such Phase, and each Fund included in such
Phase shall pay fees for the Accounting Services for such Fund, in each case at
the respective rates per annum determined in accordance with the Fee Schedule.
Fees accrued pursuant to this Section 6.1 shall be payable in arrears on a
monthly basis.
Section 6.2 Payment of Fees by Lincoln Life. Delaware shall submit to
Lincoln Life an invoice for each month for all of the fees payable pursuant to
Section 6.1 with respect to each of the Separate Accounts, which invoice shall
be itemized to show the portion of such fees allocable to each of the Separate
Accounts in accordance with the Fee Schedule. Subject to the terms of this
Agreement, invoices for such fees shall be payable within 30 days of receipt.
Section 6.3 Payment of Fees by the Funds. Delaware shall submit to
each Fund, with a copy to Lincoln Life, an invoice for each month for all of the
fees payable pursuant to Section 6.1 with respect to such Fund. Subject to the
terms of this Agreement, invoices for such fees shall be payable within 30 days
of receipt.
ARTICLE 7
STANDARD OF CARE; INDEMNIFICATION
---------------------------------
Section 7.1 Standard of Care. Delaware shall provide the Accounting
Services with a level of care equal to or greater than the level of care at
which it performs similar functions for mutual funds that are sponsored or
managed by any Delaware Affiliate, and in any event, Delaware shall always
exercise reasonable care in performing the Accounting Services.
Section 7.2 Indemnification
(a) Indemnification by Lincoln Life. Lincoln Life shall indemnify,
defend and hold harmless Delaware and any Delaware Affiliate, and the directors,
officers and employees of the fore going (each individually, a "Delaware
Indemnified Party"), against any and all claims, suits, hearings, actions,
damages, liabilities, fines, penalties, costs, losses or expenses, including
reasonable attorney's fees, which any Delaware Indemnified Party may sustain or
incur, directly or indirectly, in each case to the extent caused by or arising
from (i) the negligence, recklessness or intentional misconduct of Lincoln Life
or any Lincoln Affiliate, or any director, officer or employee thereof, in the
performance of this Agreement; or (ii) the failure of Lincoln Life to comply
with the terms of this Agreement.
(b) Indemnification by Delaware. Subject to Section 3.1, Delaware
shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Lincoln Life, the Lincoln Affiliates
and the Funds, and the directors, officers and employees of the foregoing (each
individually, a "Lincoln Indemnified Party") against any and all claims, suits,
hearings, actions, damages, liabilities, fines, penalties, costs, losses
(including but not limited to (a) Calculation Losses reimbursed by Lincoln Life
and (b) any market fluctuation losses incurred by Lincoln Life in effecting such
reimbursement) or expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees, which any
Lincoln Indemnified Party may sustain or incur, directly or indirectly, in each
case to the extent caused by or arising from (i) the negligence, recklessness or
intentional misconduct of Delaware or any Delaware Affiliate, or any director,
officer or employee thereof, in the performance of this Agreement; or (ii) the
failure of Delaware to comply with the terms of this Agreement.
(c) Procedures. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.2(d), promptly
after receipt by a Delaware Indemnified Party or a Lincoln Indemnified Party
(each, an "Indemnified Party") of notice of the commencement of any action,
proceeding, investigation or claim by any Contractowner or other third party (a
"Proceeding"), the Indemnified Party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to
be made pursuant to this Section 7.2 against another party to this Agreement
(the "Indemnifying Party"), notify the Indemnifying Party in writing of the
commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the Indemnifying Party
shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party from any liability under this Section
7.2, except to the extent that such failure to notify actually prejudices the
Indemnifying Party. In case any such Proceeding shall be brought against an
Indemnified Party, the Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to participate in
and to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the Indemnified
Party, and after notice from the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified Party of
the Indemnifying Party's election to assume the defense thereof, the
Indemnifying Party shall not be liable to the Indemnified Party for any legal or
other expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnified Party in connection with
the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided,
however, that (i) if, in the reasonable judgment of the Indemnified Party, it is
advisable for the Indemnified Party to be represented by separate counsel other
than counsel for the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnified Party shall have the
right to employ a single counsel to represent the Indemnified Party, in which
event the reasonable fees and expenses of such separate single counsel shall be
borne by the Indemnifying Party, and (ii) in the case of any Proceeding brought
by any governmental authority, the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to
participate in, but not to assume the defense of, such Proceeding. The
Indemnifying Party shall not be obligated under any settlement agreement
relating to any Proceeding under this Section 7.2 to which it has not consented
in writing, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
(d) Preserving Rights with Respect to Calculation Losses. Notwithstanding
Section 7.2(c), Lincoln Life may in its sole discretion elect to reimburse a
Contractowner, Third Party Administrator, Separate Account or Fund for
Calculation Losses out of Lincoln Life's own funds and such reimbursement shall
have no effect on the respective indemnification obligations of the parties
pursuant to Section 7.2(a) and (b).
(e) Overpayments. The parties agree that there may be circumstances in
which it would not be commercially reasonable for Lincoln Life and the Funds to
seek reimbursement from one or more Contractowners of overpayments made them,
taking into account relevant factors such as industry practice; the amount of
such overpayments; the number of Contractowners overpaid; the cost of seeking
reimbursement; and the implications for customer relations of seeking
reimbursement. In the event of any overpayment to a Contractowner for which
Lincoln Life or any Fund intends to seek indemnification from Delaware pursuant
to Section 7.2(b) without seeking reimbursement from the Contractowner, the
parties shall negotiate in good faith as to what effect, if any, the
determination not to seek such reimbursement should have under the circumstances
on the rights of Lincoln Life or the Funds to indemnification for the amounts
overpaid.
ARTICLE 8
INSURANCE COVERAGE
------------------
Section 8.1 Insurance. Delaware and Holdings shall maintain
insurance coverage at a level at least equal to the insurance coverage held by
each of them at the time this Agreement becomes effective.
ARTICLE 9
FORCE MAJEURE AND DISASTER RECOVERY PLAN
----------------------------------------
Section 9.1 Force Majeure; Disaster Recovery Plan. No party shall be
liable to any other party for any damages caused by delays beyond its reasonable
control, including, without limitation, those delays occasioned by fire, strike,
labor dispute, acts of the other party, acts of any common carrier, pricing
service, corporate action service, or telephone network, acts of the power
supply company or its networks, restrictions by civil or military authorities,
acts of nature, or unforeseen transportation failures. In the event of any such
delay, the hindered party shall promptly notify the other parties and, upon the
giving of such notice, the period of time for performance of obligations
hereunder affected by such delays will be extended by the same number of days as
the delay. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Delaware shall maintain and implement
a customary disaster recovery plan and such plan shall be reasonably acceptable
to Lincoln Life and the Funds. This Article 9 shall not excuse any failure to
perform, or extend the time for performance of, any obligation of Delaware under
this Agreement to the extent that such failure or delay would have been avoided
by compliance with such disaster recovery plan, or by the use of reasonable,
readily available alternatives.
ARTICLE 10
EFFECTIVENESS
-------------
Section 10.1 Effectiveness.
(a) This Agreement shall become effective upon the later of:
(i) the date first set forth above; or
(ii) the date as of which Lincoln Life has complied with the
requirements of the Indiana insurance holding company laws
at Section 27-1-23-4 of the Indiana Code.
(b) Lincoln Life shall diligently and reasonably pursue the satisfaction
of the requirements of the Indiana insurance holding company laws at
Section 27-1-23-4 of the Indiana Code.
ARTICLE 11
TERM AND TERMINATION
--------------------
Section 11.1 Term. The initial term of this Agreement shall end on
the fourth anniversary of the Cutover Date of Phase III, and this Agreement
shall be automatically renewed for subsequent Renewal Terms thereafter unless
sooner terminated under Section 11.2.
Section 11.2 Termination. Subject to the procedures set forth in
Article 12 and to Section 11.3, this Agreement may be terminated as follows:
(a) by Lincoln Life, Delaware, or any Fund, in each case upon notice
to each of the other parties at least 180 days prior to the
expiration of the initial term or any Renewal Term, with such
termination to become effective upon such expiration; and
(b) by Lincoln Life, Delaware or any Fund upon 30 days notice to each
of the other parties, for any material breach of this Agreement
unless such breach is cured within such notice period.
For the purpose of this Section 11.2(b) only, a "material breach" shall include,
but not be limited to, the failure by Delaware to provide Accounting Services
hereunder of a quality reasonably determined by Lincoln Life or any Fund to be
consistent with a superior level of service in the industry.
Section 11.3 Effect of Termination by a Fund. In the event one or
more Funds shall terminate this Agreement, this Agreement shall nonetheless
continue in full force and effect between and among those parties who have not
terminated this Agreement.
ARTICLE 12
PROCEDURES UPON TERMINATION
---------------------------
Section 12.1 Obligations Upon Termination. Upon termination of this
Agreement by any party under Article 11, each party shall be obligated to
cooperate with each other party to provide for the transfer of all
responsibilities, duties and obligations of this Agreement as may be necessary
to ensure the orderly, undisrupted business of each party. Such cooperation
shall include, but not be limited to, returning all papers, documents, materials
or equipment to the party owning such materials. In the event that this
Agreement is terminated by Lincoln Life or any Fund under Section 11.2(b),
Lincoln Life and the Funds shall have the right to require Delaware to continue
performing all or any part of its responsibilities, duties and obligations under
this Agreement until the earlier of (a) 210 days following the date notice of
such termination was given, or (b) the date that is 30 days after notice from
Lincoln Life or the Funds that
Delaware shall cease such performance. For this purpose, (a) the terms of this
Agreement (including without limitation the obligation of Lincoln Life and the
Funds to pay Delaware's fees under Article 6, and the obligation of Delaware to
continue to exercise the standard of care required under Section 7.1 shall
remain in effect with respect to the period in which Delaware is obligated to
continue such performance, and (b) if any portion of Delaware's
responsibilities, duties and obligations during such period are not so extended
as required by Lincoln Life, the parties shall mutually agree in good faith on a
reduction of fees which reflects the termination of such responsibilities,
duties and obligations.
ARTICLE 13
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
------------------------------
Each party represents and warrants to the other parties as follows:
Section 13.1 Organization and Authority. Such party is duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing as a corporation under the laws of the
state indicated on the first page of this Agreement, with the requisite
authority and power, in conformity with applicable laws, rules and regulations,
to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder.
Such party has taken all necessary action to authorize such execution, delivery
and performance.
Section 13.2 No Conflict with Laws. The execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by such party do not conflict with or violate any
laws applicable to such party, any provision of its constituent documents, any
order or judgment of any court or governmental agency applicable to it or any of
its assets or any contractual restriction binding on it or its assets.
Section 13.3 Obligation. This Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and
binding obligation of such party, enforceable in accordance with its terms,
subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and
similar laws relating to the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and
subject to principles of equity.
ARTICLE 14
PARENT GUARANTY
---------------
Section 14.1 Parent Guaranty. Holdings hereby unconditionally guarantees
the full and punctual performance of the covenants, agreements and obligations
of Delaware under this Agreement, including but not limited to the payment when
due of all amounts that may from time to time be payable by Delaware pursuant to
Section 7.2(b) (the "Guaranteed Obligations").
Section 14.2 Guaranty Unconditional. The obligations of
Holdings hereunder shall be unconditional and absolute and, without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, shall not be released or discharged by:
(a) any extension, settlement, compromise, waiver or release in
respect of any obligation of Delaware under this Agreement;
(b) any modification or amendment of or supplement to this
Agreement;
(c) any change in the corporate existence, structure or ownership of
Delaware, or any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar
proceeding affecting Delaware or its assets; or
(d) any other act or omission to act or delay of any kind by
Delaware, Lincoln Life, any Fund or any other person which would, but for
the provisions of this paragraph (d), constitute a legal or equitable
discharge of Holding's obligations hereunder;
provided, however, that in the event of any extension, settlement, compromise,
waiver or release of any obligation of Delaware under this Agreement, or any
modification or amendment of or supplement to this Agreement, the guaranty
provided for in this Article 14 shall apply to the obligations of Delaware as so
extended, settled, compromised, waived, released, modified, amended or
supplemented.
Section 14.3 Discharge Only Upon Payment or Performance in Full;
Reinstatement in Certain Circumstances. Holding's obligations hereunder shall
remain in full force and effect until the Guaranteed Obligations shall have been
paid or performed in full. If at any time any payment of Guaranteed Obligations
by Delaware under this Agreement is rescinded or must be otherwise restored or
returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of Delaware or
otherwise, Holding's obligations hereunder with respect to such payment shall be
reinstated as though such payment had been due but not made at such time.
Section 14.4 Waiver by Holdings. Holdings irrevocably waives acceptance
hereof, presentment, demand, protest and any notice not provided for herein, as
well as any requirement that at any time any action be taken by any person
against Delaware or any other person.
Section 14.5 Subrogation. Upon making any payment with respect to
Delaware hereunder, Holdings shall be subrogated to the rights of the payee
against Delaware with respect to such payment; provided that Holdings shall not
enforce payment by way of subrogation until all Guaranteed Obligations have been
paid or performed in full.
ARTICLE 15
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
------------------
Before commencing litigation of any dispute arising out of or relating to
this Agreement, the parties shall attempt in good faith to resolve the dispute
by the following means:
Section 15.1 Negotiation. The parties shall in good faith attempt to
resolve any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement promptly by
negotiations between executives who have authority to settle the controversy. A
party may give the other parties written notice of any dispute not resolved in
the normal course of business. Within 20 days after delivery of that notice,
executives of the affected parties shall meet at a mutually acceptable time and
place, and thereafter as often as they reasonably deem necessary, to exchange
relevant information and to attempt to resolve the dispute. If the matter has
not been resolved within 60 days of the disputing party's notice, or if the
parties fail to meet within 20 days, either party may initiate mediation of the
controversy or claim as provided in Section 15.2. If a negotiator intends to be
accompanied at a meeting by an attorney, the other negotiator shall be given at
least 3 Business Days' notice of that intention and may also be accompanied by
an attorney.
Section 15.2 Mediation. If the dispute has not been resolved by
negotiation as provided in Section 15.1, the parties shall endeavor for an
additional period of 60 days to settle the dispute by mediation under the then-
current Center for Public Resources (CPR) Model Procedure for Mediation of
Business Disputes. The neutral third party will be selected from the CPR Panel
of Neutrals. If the parties encounter difficulty in agreeing on a neutral, they
will seek the assistance of CPR in the selection process.
Section 15.3 Confidentiality. All activities under this Article 15 are
confidential and shall be treated as compromise and settlement negotiations for
purposes of the Federal Rules of Evidence and state rules of evidence.
ARTICLE 16
MISCELLANEOUS
-------------
Section 16.1 Amendment. This Agreement, including any Exhibits or
Schedules, may be amended, modified or supplemented only in writing signed by
Delaware, Lincoln Life and any Fund affected thereby. This Agreement shall be
binding upon all successors, assigns or transferees of the parties to this
Agreement.
Section 16.2 Assignment. This Agreement and the rights, duties and
obligations of the parties hereto shall not be assign able by any party, except
assignment to successors in the case of mergers, sales of all or substantially
all of the assets of such
party or transfer of ownership by reorganization or similar restructuring to a
successor in interest to the business of such party, without the prior written
consent of the other parties, and any purported assignment in the absence of
such consent shall be void.
Section 16.3 Notices. All notices given or submitted pursuant to this
Agreement shall be made in writing and shall be deemed given when (a) deposited
with the United States Postal Service, postage prepaid, registered or certified
mail, return receipt requested; (b) deposited with a nationally recognized
overnight mail delivery service; (c) sent by facsimile with electronic
confirmation of delivery or with a copy sent by mail as described in (a) or (b)
above; or (d) delivered in person; all to the last address of record of each
party being notified.
Any notice under this Agreement to Lincoln Life shall be given to:
ATTN: O. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx
Vice President and Controller
Lincoln National Life Insurance Company
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Phone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Any notice under this Agreement to Delaware or Holdings
shall be given to:
ATTN: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Vice President and Treasurer
Delaware Management Company
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx; 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Phone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
With a copy to:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Managing Director, Corporate
& Tax Affairs
Delaware Management Company
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Phone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Any notice under this Agreement to any Fund shall be given
to:
ATTN: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Lincoln National Life Insurance Company
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Phone: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Any party may, by means of written notice in compliance with this Section
16.3, change the address or the identity of the person to whom any notice, or
copy thereof, is to be sent.
Section 16.4 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement, as applied
to any party or to any circumstances, shall be found by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be void, invalid or unenforceable, the same shall in no way
affect any other provision of this Agreement, the application of any such provi
sion in any other circumstances, or the validity or enforce ability of this
Agreement; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 16.4 shall adversely
affect the fundamental benefits received by the parties under this Agreement.
Section 16.5 Waiver. A waiver by any party of any of the terms and
conditions of this Agreement in any one instance shall not be deemed or
construed to be waiver of any such term or condition for the future, or of any
subsequent breach thereof, nor shall it be deemed a waiver of performance of any
other obligation hereunder. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall
be valid unless agreed to in writing by the party or parties against whom such
waiver is sought to be enforced.
Section 16.6 Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire
understanding of the parties hereto relating to the subject matter of this
Agreement and supersedes all prior and collateral agreements, understandings,
statements and negotiations of the parties.
Section 16.7 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana, without giving
effect to the conflict of law provisions thereof.
Section 16.8 Section and Paragraph Headings. The titles of the sections
and paragraphs of this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not in any
way affect the interpretation of any provision or condition of this Agreement.
Section 16.9 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts
which, taken together, shall constitute the whole of the Agreement as between
the parties.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day
and year first written above.
LINCOLN LIFE:
LINCOLN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By: ____________________________
O. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx
Title: Vice President and
Controller
Date: __________________________
HOLDINGS:
DELAWARE MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS, INC.
By: ____________________________
Title: _________________________
Date: __________________________
DELAWARE:
DELAWARE SERVICE COMPANY, INC.
By: ____________________________
Title: _________________________
Date: __________________________
FUNDS:
LINCOLN NATIONAL AGGRESSIVE GROWTH
FUND, INC.
LINCOLN NATIONAL BOND FUND, INC.
LINCOLN NATIONAL CAPITAL
APPRECIATION FUND, INC.
LINCOLN NATIONAL EQUITY-INCOME
FUND, INC.
LINCOLN NATIONAL GLOBAL ASSET
ALLOCATION FUND, INC.
LINCOLN NATIONAL GROWTH AND INCOME
FUND, INC.
LINCOLN NATIONAL INTERNATIONAL
FUND, INC.
LINCOLN NATIONAL MANAGED FUND, INC.
LINCOLN NATIONAL MONEY MARKET FUND,
INC.
LINCOLN NATIONAL SOCIAL AWARENESS
FUND, INC.
LINCOLN NATIONAL SPECIAL
OPPORTUNITIES FUND, INC.
By: ____________________________
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
In his capacity as President of each of
the above-named Funds.
Date: __________________________
EXHIBIT A
---------
INVESTMENT COMPANIES
EXHIBIT A
---------
INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Lincoln National Aggressive Growth Fund, Inc.
Lincoln National Bond Fund, Inc.
Lincoln National Capital Appreciation Fund, Inc.
Lincoln National Equity-Income Fund, Inc.
Lincoln National Global Asset Allocation Fund, Inc.
Lincoln National Growth and Income Fund, Inc.
Lincoln National International Fund, Inc.
Lincoln National Managed Fund, Inc.
Lincoln National Money Market Fund, Inc.
Lincoln National Social Awareness Fund, Inc.
Lincoln National Special Opportunities Fund, Inc.
EXHIBIT B
---------
FORM OF WRITTEN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF CUTOVER DATE
SCHEDULE 1.1(a)
---------------
CUTOVER SCHEDULE
SCHEDULE 2.1
------------
PROCEDURES FOR CORRECTING ERRORS
SCHEDULE 3.1
------------
DATA PROVIDED BY LINCOLN LIFE
SCHEDULE 3.2
------------
UNAFFILIATED MUTUAL FUNDS
AND
SERVICE PROVIDERS
SCHEDULE 6.1
------------
FEE SCHEDULE
