Exhibit (e)
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE
AGREEMENT FOR SERVICE CLASS SHARES
This Agreement is made as of May 13, 2003, between MainStay VP Series Fund,
Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Company"), and NYLIFE Distributors Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Distributor").
WHEREAS, the Company is registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), as an open-end, management investment company
and has established several separate investment portfolios ("portfolios");
WHEREAS, the Company issues and sells shares of its portfolios to separate
accounts of life insurance companies ("Insurers") to serve as investment
vehicles for variable annuities and/or variable life contracts issued by such
Insurers ("Variable Contracts") and may issue and sell shares of its portfolios
to such other persons who may purchase such shares under Treasury Regulation
ss.1.817-5, which may include, among others, qualified pension and retirement
plans ("Qualified Plans");
WHEREAS, shares of common stock of each portfolio listed in the attached
Schedule A, which may be amended from time to time (each a "Portfolio,"
collectively, the "Portfolios"), are divided into separate classes of shares,
designated Initial Class shares and Service Class shares;
WHEREAS, the Company desires to retain the Distributor to furnish certain
distribution and shareholder services with respect to Service Class shares of
each Portfolio; and with respect to Service Class shares of such other series of
the Company hereinafter established as agreed to from time to time by the
parties, evidenced by an addendum to Schedule A (hereinafter "Portfolio" shall
refer to each Portfolio which is subject to this Agreement and all agreements
and actions described herein to be made or taken by a Portfolio shall be made or
taken by the Company on behalf of the Portfolio), and the Distributor is willing
to furnish such services;
WHEREAS, the Company has approved a Distribution and Service Plan for
Service Class shares pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act with respect to
Service Class shares of each Portfolio (the "Service Class Plan").
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
herein contained, the parties agree as follows:
1. The Company hereby appoints the Distributor as agent to sell
Service Class shares to separate accounts of Insurers, to Qualified Plans, and
to such other persons as may be permitted by law, and the Distributor hereby
accepts such appointment. All sales by the Distributor shall be expressly
subject to acceptance by the Company, acting on behalf of Service Class shares
of the Portfolios.
2. (a) The Distributor agrees that (i) all Service Class shares sold
by the Distributor shall be sold at the net asset value ("NAV") thereof as
described in Section 3 hereof, and (ii) the Portfolio shall receive 100% of such
NAV.
(b) The Service Class shares may be sold in accordance with the
following: stock sale, fund participation, or other agreements between the
Company, the Distributor, and the Insurers; agreements between the Company or
the Distributor and Qualified Plans or the trustees of such plans; agreements
with other financial intermediaries (each of these agreements referred to herein
as a "fund participation agreement"). The Service Class shares may also be
offered directly to persons eligible to purchase the Service Class shares.
3. The Company agrees to supply to the Distributor, promptly after
the time or times at which NAV is determined, on each day on which NAV is
determined as provided in the then-current Prospectus and/or Statement of
Additional Information ("SAI") of the pertinent Portfolio (each such day a
"business day"), a statement of the NAV of each Portfolio, having been
determined in the manner set forth in the then-current Prospectus and/or SAI of
the pertinent Portfolio. Each determination of NAV shall take effect as of such
time or times on each business day as set forth in the then-current Prospectus
and/or SAI of the pertinent Portfolio, and shall prevail until the time as of
which the next determination is made.
4. Upon receipt by the Company at its principal place of business of
an order from the Distributor, the Company shall, if it elects to accept such
order, as promptly as practicable, cause the Service Class shares purchased by
such order to be delivered in such amounts and in such names as the Distributor
shall specify or as agreed upon in a fund participation agreement, against
payment therefor in such manner as may be acceptable to the Company or as agreed
upon in a fund participation agreement. The Company may, in its discretion,
refuse to accept any order for the purchase of Service Class shares that the
Distributor may tender to it.
5. The Company shall have the right to suspend the sale of Service
Class shares of any Portfolio at any time in response to conditions in the
securities markets or otherwise, and to suspend the redemption of Service Class
shares of any Portfolio at any time as permitted by the 1940 Act, the rules
promulgated thereunder, or the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").
6. (a) All sales literature and advertisements used by the
Distributor in connection with sales of Service Class shares shall be subject to
approval by the Company. The Company authorizes the Distributor, in connection
with the sale or arranging for the sale of Service Class shares of any
Portfolio, to provide only such information and to make only such statements or
representations as are contained in the Portfolio's then-current Prospectus
and/or SAI or in such financial and other statements furnished to the
Distributor pursuant to the next paragraph or as may properly be included in
sales literature or advertisements in accordance with the provisions of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), the 1940 Act and applicable
rules of self-regulatory organizations. Neither the Company nor any Portfolio
shall be responsible in any way for any information provided or statements or
representations made by the Distributor or its representatives or agents other
than the information, statements and representations described in the preceding
sentence.
(b) The Company shall keep the Distributor fully informed with
regard to the affairs of each Portfolio, shall furnish the Distributor with a
copy of all of its financial
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statements relating to the Portfolios and a signed copy of each report prepared
for it by its independent auditors, and shall cooperate fully in the efforts of
the Distributor to negotiate and sell Service Class shares of the Portfolios and
in the Distributor's performance of all its duties under this Agreement.
7. The Distributor, as agent of the Company, is authorized, subject
to the direction of the Company, to accept orders to redeem outstanding Service
Class shares of such Portfolio when properly tendered by shareholders pursuant
to the redemption right granted to them by the Articles of Incorporation of the
Company, as from time to time in effect, at a redemption price equal to the NAV
per share for the Service Class shares of such Portfolio next determined after
proper tender and acceptance, subject to any fees on redeemed Service Class
shares that are described in the then-current Prospectus and/or SAI for the
Service Class shares of that Portfolio, or as agreed upon in a fund
participation agreement. The Company has delivered to the Distributor a copy of
the Company's Articles of Incorporation as currently in effect and agrees to
deliver to the Distributor any amendments thereto promptly upon filing thereof
with the State Department of Assessment and Taxation of the State of Maryland.
8. (a) The Company shall maintain a currently effective Registration
Statement on Form N-1A with respect to the Portfolios and shall file with the
SEC such reports and other documents as may be required under the 1933 Act and
the 1940 Act, or the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder.
(b) The Company shall use its best efforts to comply with
requirements of securities laws in such states as the Distributor and the
Company may approve; provided that the Company shall not be required to amend
its Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws to comply with the laws of any state,
to maintain an office in any state, to change the terms of the offering of its
Service Class shares in any state from the terms set forth in its Registration
Statement or Prospectus, to qualify as a foreign corporation in any state, or to
consent to service of process in any state other than with respect to claims
arising out of the offering of its Service Class shares. The Distributor shall
furnish such information and other material relating to its affairs and
activities as may be required by the Company in connection with such
qualifications.
9. The Distributor shall bear the cost of: (i) printing and
distributing reports, prospectuses and SAIs for other than existing shareholders
used in connection with the sale or offering of the Portfolios' Service Class
shares and (ii) preparing, printing and distributing all advertising and sales
literature relating to the Portfolios printed at the instruction of the
Distributor. The Distributor shall pay all its own costs and expenses connected
with the sale of Service Class shares and may pay the compensation and expenses,
including overhead and telephone and other communication expenses, of
organizations and employees that engage in or support the distribution of
Service Class shares and/or in support of rendering services to persons with
interest in the Service Class shares. Such services may also include services to
Insurers, their affiliates, or current and prospective owners of Variable
Contracts.
10. The Distributor may enter into agreements, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Company, with third parties to provide for some or all of
its activities and responsibilities under this Agreement. The Distributor may
pay compensation and expenses,
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including overhead and telephone and other communication expenses, to
organizations and employees who provide such services, including Insurers and
their affiliates.
11. Notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement, the Distributor
may receive payments relating to the Service Class shares of each Portfolio
under the Service Class Plan adopted by the Company's Board of Directors for the
Service Class shares of the Portfolio, as such Service Class Plan may be amended
from time to time. In addition to the expenditures specifically authorized
herein, the Distributor may spend with respect to the Service Class shares such
amounts as it deems appropriate for any purpose consistent with the Service
Class Plan, as amended from time to time.
12. The Distributor shall prepare and provide to the Directors and
the Directors shall review, at least quarterly, reports showing expenditures
under this Agreement and the purposes for which such expenditures were made.
Such reports shall be in a format suitable to ensure compliance with the
applicable requirements of the SEC and the National Association of Securities
Dealers.
13. The Company agrees to indemnify, defend and hold the Distributor,
its officers and directors and any person who controls the Distributor within
the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, free and harmless from and against
any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including the cost of
investigating or defending such claims, demands or liabilities and any counsel
fees incurred in connection therewith) which the Distributor, its officers or
directors or any such controlling person may incur under the 1933 Act, or under
common law or otherwise, arising out of or based upon any alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or
Prospectus or arising out of or based upon any alleged omission to state a
material fact required to be stated in either thereof or necessary to make the
statements in either thereof not misleading, except insofar as such claims,
demands, liabilities, or expenses arise out of or are based upon any such untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance
upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing by the Distributor
to the Company for use in the Registration Statement or Prospectus; provided,
however, that this indemnity agreement, to the extent that it might require
indemnity of any person who is also an officer or Director of the Company or who
controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, shall not
inure to the benefit of such officer, Director or controlling person unless a
court of competent jurisdiction shall determine, or it shall have been
determined by controlling precedent, that such result would not be against
public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act; and further provided, that in no
event shall anything contained herein be so construed as to protect the
Distributor against any liability to the Company or to its security holders to
which the Distributor would otherwise be subject by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence in the performance of its duties, or
by reason of its reckless disregard of its obligations under this Agreement. The
Company's agreement to indemnify the Distributor, its officers and directors and
any such controlling person as aforesaid is expressly conditioned upon the
Company being promptly notified of any action brought against the Distributor,
its officers or directors, or any such controlling person, such notification to
be given by letter or telegram addressed to the Company at its principal
business office. The Company agrees promptly to notify the Distributor of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings
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against the Company or any of its officers or Directors in connection with the
issue and sale of the Service Class shares of any Portfolio.
The Distributor agrees to indemnify, defend and hold the Company, its
officers and Directors and any person who controls the Company, if any, within
the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, free and harmless from and against
any and all claims, demands, liabilities and expenses (including the cost of
investigating or defending such claims, demands or liabilities and any counsel
fees incurred in connection therewith) which the Company, its Directors or
officers or any such controlling person may incur under the 1933 Act, or under
common law or otherwise, but only to the extent that such liabilities or
expenses incurred by the Company, its Directors or officers or such controlling
person resulting from such claims or demands shall arise out of or be based upon
any alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in information
furnished in writing by the Distributor to the Company for use in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus or shall arise out of or be based upon any
alleged omission to state a material fact in connection with such information
required to be stated in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or necessary
to make such information not misleading. The Distributor's agreement to
indemnify the Company, its Directors and officers and any such controlling
person as aforesaid is expressly conditioned upon the Distributor being promptly
notified of any action brought against the Company, its Directors or officers,
or any such controlling person, such notification to be given by letter or
telegram addressed to the Company at its principal business office.
14. The Company represents that it is registered as an open-end
management investment company under the 1940 Act, and agrees that it will comply
with all of the provisions of the 1940 Act and of the rules and regulations
thereunder. The Company and the Distributor each agree to comply with all of the
applicable terms and provisions of the 1940 Act, the 1933 Act and, subject to
the provisions of Section 8(b) hereof, any applicable state "Blue Sky" laws,
including but not limited to the broker-dealer registration requirements. The
Distributor agrees to comply with all of the applicable terms and provisions of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including but not limited to
the broker-dealer registration requirements.
15. (a) This Agreement shall become effective with respect to the
Portfolios' Service Class shares on the date indicated in Schedule A and, unless
sooner terminated as herein provided, this Agreement shall continue in effect
for a period more than one year from the effective date of a Portfolio, only if
it is renewed as hereinafter provided prior to that date, and it may be
continued from year to year thereafter; provided, that such continuance shall be
specifically approved each year by the Directors or by a majority of the
outstanding voting securities of the Portfolio, and in either case, also by a
majority of the Directors who are not interested persons of the Trust or the
Distributor ("Disinterested Directors"). This Agreement may be amended as to any
Portfolio with the approval of the Directors or of a majority of the outstanding
voting securities of such Portfolio; provided, that in either case, such
amendment also shall be approved by a majority of the Disinterested Directors.
(b) Either party may terminate this Agreement without the payment
of any penalty, upon not more than 30 days' written notice delivered personally
or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, to the other party; provided,
that in the case of termination by
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any Portfolio, such action shall have been authorized (i) by vote of a majority
of the outstanding voting securities of such Portfolio, or (ii) by vote of a
majority of the Disinterested Directors.
(c) This Agreement shall automatically terminate upon its
"assignment."
(d) Any question of interpretation of any term or provision of
this Agreement having a counterpart in or otherwise derived from a term or
provision of the 1940 Act shall be resolved by reference to such term or
provision of the 1940 Act and to interpretation thereof, if any, by the United
States courts or by rules, regulations, orders, or interpretations of the SEC.
Specifically, the terms "interested persons," "assignment" and "vote of a
majority of the outstanding voting securities", as used in this Agreement, shall
have the meanings assigned to them by Section 2(a) of the 1940 Act. In addition,
when the effect of a requirement of the 1940 Act reflected in any provision of
this Agreement is modified, interpreted or relaxed by a rule, regulation or
order of the SEC, whether of special or of general application, such provision
shall be deemed to incorporate the effect of such rule, regulation or order. The
Company and the Distributor may from time to time agree on such provisions
interpreting or clarifying the provisions of this Agreement as, in their joint
opinion, are consistent with the general tenor of this Agreement and with the
specific provisions of this Section 15(d). Any such interpretation or
clarification shall be in writing signed by the parties and annexed hereto, but
no such interpretation or clarification shall be effective if in contravention
of any applicable federal or state law or regulation, and no such interpretation
or clarification shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Agreement.
No term or provision of this Agreement shall be construed to
require the Distributor to provide distribution services with respect to any
shares of the Company other than the Service Class shares of the Portfolios
listed in Schedule A, or to require Service Class shares or any Portfolio to pay
any compensation or expenses that are properly allocable, in a manner approved
by the Directors, to a class or series of the Company other than Service Class
shares or such Portfolio.
(e) This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York.
(f) This Agreement is made by the Company solely with respect to
Service Class shares of the Portfolio, and the obligations created hereby bind
only assets belonging to Service Class shares of that Portfolio.
16. The Distributor or one of its affiliates may from time to time
deem it desirable to offer to the list of shareholders of Service Class shares
of each Portfolio the shares of other mutual funds for which it acts as
Distributor, including other series of the Company or other products or
services; however any such use of the list of shareholders of any Series shall
conform to applicable law and shall be made subject to such terms and
conditions, if any, as shall be approved by a majority of the Disinterested
Directors.
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17. Any notice required to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall
be deemed duly given if delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid
(a) to the Distributor at NYLIM Center, 000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxx
Xxxxxx 00000, Attention: Secretary; or (b) to the Company at 00 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: President.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to be
duly executed by their duly authorized officers and under their respective
seals.
Attest: MAINSTAY VP SERIES FUND, INC.
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
----------------------------------- ----------------------------------
Secretary Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx By: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: President
Attest: NYLIFE DISTRIBUTORS INC.
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
----------------------------------- ----------------------------------
Secretary Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx By: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Chairman and President
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MAINSTAY VP SERIES FUND, INC.
DISTRIBUTION AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
SCHEDULE A
PORTFOLIO - SERVICE CLASS SHARES DATE ADDED TO AGREEMENT
-------------------------------- -----------------------
MainStay VP Capital Appreciation Portfolio May 13, 2003
MainStay VP Eagle Asset Management
Growth Equity Portfolio May 13, 2003
MainStay VP Growth Equity Portfolio May 13, 2003
MainStay VP Indexed Equity Portfolio May 13, 2003
MainStay VP International Equity Portfolio May 13, 2003
MainStay VP Lord Xxxxxx
Developing Growth Portfolio May 13, 2003
MainStay VP Mid Cap Core Portfolio May 13, 2003
MainStay VP Mid Cap Growth Portfolio May 13, 2003
MainStay VP Small Cap Growth Portfolio May 13, 2003
MainStay VP American Century
Income & Growth Portfolio May 13, 2003
MainStay VP Convertible Portfolio May 13, 2003
MainStay XX Xxxxxxx Large Company
Value Portfolio May 13, 2003
MainStay VP Equity Income Portfolio May 13, 2003
MainStay VP Total Return Portfolio May 13, 2003
MainStay VP Value Portfolio May 13, 2003
MainStay XX Xxxx Portfolio May 13, 2003
MainStay VP Government Portfolio May 13, 2003
MainStay VP High Yield
Corporate Bond Portfolio May 13, 2003
