JANUS ASPEN SERIES
FUND PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made this 15th day of September, 1998, between JANUS
ASPEN SERIES, an open-end management investment company organized as a Delaware
business trust (the "Trust"), and The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company, a
life insurance company organized under the laws of the State of Indiana (the
"Company"), on its own behalf and on behalf of each segregated asset account of
the Company set forth on Schedule A, as may be amended from time to time (the
"Accounts").
W I T N E S S E T H:
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WHEREAS, the Trust has registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission as an open-end management investment company under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), and has registered the offer
and sale of its shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933
Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Trust desires to act as an investment vehicle for separate
accounts established for variable life insurance policies and variable annuity
contracts to be offered by insurance companies that have entered into
participation agreements with the Trust (the "Participating Insurance
Companies"); and
WHEREAS, the beneficial interest in the Trust is divided into several
series of shares, each series representing an interest in a particular managed
portfolio of securities and other assets (the "Portfolios"); and
WHEREAS, the Trust has received an order from the Securities and Exchange
Commission granting Participating Insurance Companies and their 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 Trust to be sold to and held by
variable annuity and variable life insurance separate accounts of both
affiliated and unaffiliated life insurance companies and certain qualified
pension and retirement plans (the "Exemptive Order"); and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register (unless registration
is not required under applicable law) certain variable life insurance policies
and/or variable annuity contracts under the 1933 Act (the "Contracts"); and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register (unless registration
is not required pursuant to Section 3(v)(ii) of the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) each Account as a
unit investment trust under the 1940 Act; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to utilize shares of one or more Portfolios as
an investment vehicle of the Accounts;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the parties
agree as follows:
Article I. SALE OF TRUST SHARES
1.1 The Trust shall make shares of its Portfolios available to the
Accounts at the net asset value next computed after receipt of such purchase
order by the Trust (or its agent), as established in accordance with the
provisions of the then current prospectus of the Trust. Shares of a particular
Portfolio of the Trust shall be ordered in such quantities and at such times as
determined by the Company to be necessary to meet the requirements of the
Contracts. The Trustees of the Trust (the "Trustees") 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 their fiduciary duties under federal and any applicable
state laws, necessary in the best interests of the shareholders of such
Portfolio.
1.2 The Trust will redeem any full or fractional shares of any Portfolio
when requested by the Company on behalf of an Account at the net asset value
next computed after receipt by the Trust (or its agent) of the request for
redemption, as established in accordance with the provisions of the then current
prospectus of the Trust. The Trust shall make payment for such shares in the
manner established from time to time by the Trust, but in no event shall payment
be delayed for a greater period than is permitted by the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇.
1.3 For the purposes of Sections 1.1 and 1.2, the Trust hereby appoints
the Company as its agent for the limited purpose of receiving and accepting
purchase and redemption orders resulting from investment in and payments under
the Contracts. Receipt by the Company shall constitute receipt by the Trust
provided that i) such orders are received by the Company in good order prior to
the time the net asset value of each Portfolio is priced in accordance with its
prospectus and ii) the Trust receives notice of such orders by 10:00 a.m. New
York time on the next following Business Day. The Trust will confirm receipt of
each trade in a manner mutually agreeable to the Trust and the Company.
"Business Day" shall mean any day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open
for trading and on which the Trust calculates its net asset value pursuant to
the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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1.4 Purchase orders that are transmitted to the Trust in accordance with
Section 1.3 shall be paid for no later than 2:00 p.m. New York time on the same
Business Day that the Trust receives notice of the order. The Trust shall use
its best efforts to pay for redemption orders that are transmitted to the
Company in accordance with Section 1.2 no later than 2:30 p.m. New York time on
the same Business Day that the Trust receives notice of the order. Payments
shall be made in federal funds transmitted by wire.
1.5 Issuance and transfer of the Trust's shares will be by book entry
only. Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or the Account.
Shares ordered from the Trust will be recorded in the appropriate title for each
Account or the appropriate subaccount of each Account.
1.6 The Trust shall furnish prompt notice to the Company of any income
dividends or capital gain distributions payable on the Trust's shares. The
Company hereby elects to receive all such income dividends and capital gain
distributions as are payable on a Portfolio's shares in additional shares of
that Portfolio. The Company reserves the right, on its behalf and on behalf of
the Account, to revoke this election and to receive all such dividends in cash.
The Trust shall notify the Company of the number of shares so issued as payment
of such dividends and distributions.
1.7 The Trust shall make the net asset value per share for each Portfolio
available to the Company on a daily basis 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 6 p.m. New York time.
1.8 The Trust agrees that its shares will be sold only to Participating
Insurance Companies and their separate accounts and to certain qualified pension
and retirement plans to the extent permitted by the Exemptive Order. No shares
of any Portfolio will be sold directly to the general public. The Company agrees
that Trust shares will be used only for the purposes of funding the Contracts
and Accounts listed in Schedule A, as amended from time to time.
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1.9 The Trust agrees that all Participating Insurance Companies shall
have the obligations and responsibilities regarding pass-through voting (unless
exempt therefrom) and conflicts of interest corresponding to those contained in
Section 2.8 and Article IV of this Agreement.
Article II. OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES
2.1 The Trust shall prepare and be responsible for filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission and any state regulators requiring such
filing all shareholder reports, notices, proxy materials (or similar materials
such as voting instruction solicitation materials), prospectuses and statements
of additional information of the Trust. The Trust shall bear the costs of
registration and qualification of its shares, preparation and filing of the
documents listed in this Section 2.1 and all taxes to which an issuer is subject
on the issuance and transfer of its shares.
2.2 At the option of the Company, the Trust shall either (a) provide the
Company (at the Company's expense) with as many copies of the Trust's current
prospectus, annual report, semi-annual report and other shareholder
communications, including any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing,
as the Company shall reasonably request; or (b) provide the Company with a
camera ready copy of such documents in a form suitable for printing. The Trust
shall be responsible for its pro-rated share of the printing costs. The Trust
shall provide the Company with a copy of its statement of additional information
in a form suitable for duplication by the Company. The Trust (at its expense)
shall provide the Company with copies of any Trust-sponsored proxy materials in
such quantity as the Company shall reasonably require for distribution to
Contract owners.
2.3 The Company shall bear the costs (unless Janus Capital Corporation or
the Trust, pursuant to the terms of the letter to Company dated September 15,
1998, is required to bear the costs) of printing and distributing the Trust's
prospectus, statement of additional information, shareholder reports and other
shareholder communications to owners of and applicants for policies for which
the Trust is serving or is to serve as an investment vehicle. The Company shall
bear the costs of distributing proxy materials (or similar materials such as
voting solicitation instructions) to Contract owners. The Company assumes sole
responsibility for ensuring that such materials are delivered to Contract owners
in accordance with applicable federal and state securities laws.
2.4 The Company agrees and acknowledges that the Trust's adviser, Janus
Capital Corporation ("Janus Capital"), is the sole owner of the name and ▇▇▇▇
"▇▇▇▇▇" and that all use of any designation comprised in whole or part of Janus
(a "▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇") under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of Janus
Capital. Except as provided in Section 2.5, the Company shall not use any ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ on its own behalf or on behalf of the Accounts or Contracts in any
registration statement, advertisement, sales literature or other materials
relating to the Accounts or Contracts without the prior written consent of Janus
Capital. Such consent will not be unreasonably withheld and if no written
objection is received within 10 business days of receipt, approval will be
deemed given. Upon termination of this Agreement for any reason, the Company
shall cease all use of any ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇(s) as soon as reasonably practicable.
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2.5 (a) The Company shall furnish, or cause to be furnished, to the Trust
or its designee, a copy of each Contract prospectus or statement of additional
information in which the Trust or its investment adviser is named within 20 days
of the filing of such document with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The
Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the Trust or its
designee, each piece of sales literature or other promotional material in which
the Trust or its investment adviser is named, at least ten Business Days prior
to its use. No such material shall be used if the Trust or its designee
reasonably objects to such use within fifteen Business Days after receipt of
such material.
(b) The Trust shall furnish, or cause to be furnished, to the Company
or its designee, a copy of each Trust prospectus or statement of additional
information in which the Company is named within 20 days of the filing of such
document with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Trust shall furnish,
or shall cause to be furnished, to the Company or its designee, each piece of
sales literature or other promotional material in which the Company is named, at
least ten Business Days prior to its use. No such material shall be used if the
Company or its designee reasonably objects to such use within fifteen Business
Days after receipt of such material.
2.6 The Company shall not give any information or make any
representations or statements on behalf of the Trust or concerning the Trust or
its investment adviser in connection with the sale of the Contracts other than
information or representations contained in and accurately derived from the
registration statement or prospectus for the Trust shares (as such registration
statement and prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time),
reports of the Trust, Trust-sponsored proxy statements, or in sales literature
or other promotional material approved by the Trust or its designee, except as
required by legal process or regulatory authorities or with the written
permission of the Trust or its designee. Such consent will not be unreasonably
withheld and if no written objection is received within 10 business days of
receipt, approval will be deemed given.
2.7 The Trust shall not give any information or make any representations
or statements on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company, the Accounts
or the Contracts other than information or representations contained in and
accurately derived from the registration statement or prospectus for the
Contracts (as such registration statement and prospectus may be amended or
supplemented from time to time), or in materials approved by the Company for
distribution including sales literature or other promotional materials, except
as required by legal process or regulatory authorities or with the written
permission of the Company.
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2.8 So long as, and to the extent that the Securities and Exchange
Commission interprets the 1940 Act to require pass-through voting privileges for
variable policyowners, the Company will provide pass-through voting privileges
to owners of policies whose cash values are invested, through the Accounts, in
shares of the Trust. The Trust shall require all Participating Insurance
Companies to calculate voting privileges in the same manner and the Company
shall be responsible for assuring that the Accounts calculate voting privileges
in the manner established by the Trust. With respect to each Account, the
Company will vote shares of the Trust held by the Account and for which no
timely voting instructions from policyowners are received as well as shares it
owns that are held by that Account, in the same proportion as those shares for
which voting instructions are received. The Company and its agents will in no
way recommend or oppose or interfere with the solicitation of proxies for Trust
shares held by Contract owners without the prior written consent of the Trust,
which consent may be withheld in the Trust's sole discretion.
2.9 The Company shall notify the Trust of any applicable state insurance
laws that restrict the Portfolios' investments or otherwise affect the operation
of the Trust and shall notify the Trust of any changes in such laws.
Article III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
3.1 The Company represents and warrants that it is an insurance company
duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Indiana and
that it has legally and validly established each Account as a segregated asset
account under such law on the date set forth in Schedule A.
3.2 The Company represents and warrants that each Account (1) has been
registered or, prior to any issuance or sale of the Contracts, will be
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
the exclusion from registration under Section 3(c)(ii) of the 1940 Act.
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3.3 The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts or interests
in the Accounts (1) are or, prior to issuance, will be registered as securities
under the 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
1933 Act. The Company further represents and warrants that the Contracts will be
issued and sold in compliance in all material respects with all applicable
federal and state laws.
3.4 The Trust represents and warrants that it is duly organized and
validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware.
3.5 The Trust represents and warrants that the Trust shares offered and
sold pursuant to this Agreement will be registered under the 1933 Act and the
Trust shall be registered under the 1940 Act prior to any issuance or sale of
such shares. The Trust shall amend its registration statement under the 1933 Act
and the 1940 Act from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous
offering of its shares. The Trust shall register and qualify its shares for sale
in accordance with the laws of the various states only if and to the extent
deemed advisable by the Trust.
3.6 The Trust represents and warrants that the investments of each
Portfolio will comply with Subchapter M and the diversification requirements set
forth in Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
("Code"), and the rules and regulations thereunder. In the event of a breach of
this Section 3.6 by the Trust, it will a) immediately notify the Company of the
breach and b) take the necessary steps to adequately diversify each Portfolio so
as to achieve compliance within the grace period offered by Regulation 1.817-5.
Article IV. POTENTIAL CONFLICTS
4.1 The parties acknowledge that the Trust's shares may be made available
for investment to other Participating Insurance Companies. In such event, the
Trustees will monitor the Trust for the existence of any material irreconcilable
conflict between the interests of the contract owners of all Participating
Insurance Companies. An irreconcilable material conflict may arise for a variety
of reasons, including: (a) an action by any state insurance regulatory
authority; (b) a change in applicable federal or state insurance, tax, or
securities laws or regulations, or a public ruling, private letter ruling, no-
action or interpretative letter, or any similar action by insurance, tax, or
securities regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative or judicial decision in
any relevant proceeding; (d) the manner in which the investments of any
Portfolio are being managed; (e) a difference in voting instructions given by
variable annuity contract and variable life insurance contract owners; or (f) a
decision by an insurer to disregard the voting instructions of contract owners.
The Trustees shall promptly inform the Company if they determine that an
irreconcilable material conflict exists and the implications thereof.
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4.2 The Company agrees to promptly report any potential or existing
conflicts of which it is aware to the Trustees. The Company will assist the
Trustees in carrying out their responsibilities under the Exemptive Order by
providing the Trustees with all information reasonably necessary for the
Trustees to consider any issues raised including, but not limited to,
information as to a decision by the Company to disregard Contract owner voting
instructions.
4.3 If it is determined by a majority of the Trustees, or a majority of
its disinterested Trustees, that a material irreconcilable conflict exists that
affects the interests of Contract owners, the Company shall, in cooperation with
other Participating Insurance Companies whose contract owners are also affected,
at its expense and to the extent reasonably practicable (as determined by the
Trustees) take whatever steps are necessary to remedy or eliminate the
irreconcilable material conflict, which steps could include: (a) withdrawing the
assets allocable to some or all of the Accounts from the Trust or any Portfolio
and reinvesting such assets in a different investment medium, including (but not
limited to) another Portfolio of the Trust, or submitting the question of
whether or not such segregation should be implemented to a vote of all affected
Contract owners and, as appropriate, segregating the assets of any appropriate
group (i.e., annuity contract owners, life insurance contract owners, or
variable contract owners of one or more Participating Insurance Companies) that
votes in favor of such segregation, or offering to the affected Contract owners
the option of making such a change; and (b) establishing a new registered
management investment company or managed separate account.
4.4 If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a decision by
the Company to disregard Contract owner voting instructions and that decision
represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote, the Company
may be required, at the Trust's election, to withdraw the affected Account's
investment in the Trust and terminate this Agreement with respect to such
Account; 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. Any such withdrawal and
termination must take place within six (6) months after the Trust gives written
notice that this provision is being implemented. Until the end of such six (6)
month period, the Trust shall continue to accept and implement orders by the
Company for the purchase and redemption of shares of the Trust.
4.5 If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a particular
state insurance regulator's decision applicable to the Company conflicts with
the majority of other state regulators, then the Company will withdraw the
affected Account's investment in the Trust and terminate this Agreement with
respect to such Account within six (6) months after the Trustees inform the
Company in writing that it has determined that such decision has created an
irreconcilable material conflict; provided, however, that such withdrawal and
termination shall be limited to the extent required by the foregoing material
irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the disinterested
Trustees. Until the end of such six (6) month period, the Trust shall continue
to accept and implement orders by the Company for the purchase and redemption of
shares of the Trust.
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4.6 For purposes of Sections 4.3 through 4.6 of this Agreement, a
majority of the disinterested Trustees shall determine whether any proposed
action adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict, but in no event
will the Company be required to establish a new funding medium for the Contracts
if an offer to do so has been declined by vote of a majority of Contract owners
materially adversely affected by the irreconcilable material conflict. In the
event that the Trustees determine that any proposed action does not adequately
remedy any irreconcilable material conflict, then the Company will withdraw the
Account's investment in the Trust and terminate this Agreement within six (6)
months after the Trustees inform the Company in writing of the foregoing
determination; provided, however, that such withdrawal and termination shall be
limited to the extent required by any such material irreconcilable conflict as
determined by a majority of the disinterested Trustees.
4.7 The Company shall at least annually submit to the Trustees such
reports, materials or data as the Trustees may reasonably request so that the
Trustees may fully carry out the duties imposed upon them by the Exemptive
Order, and said reports, materials and data shall be submitted more frequently
if deemed appropriate by the Trustees.
4.8 If and to the extent that Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) are amended, or
Rule 6e-3 is adopted, to provide exemptive relief from any provision of the 1940
Act or the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to mixed or shared funding
(as defined in the Exemptive Order) on terms and conditions materially different
from those contained in the Exemptive Order, then the Trust and/or the
Participating Insurance Companies, as appropriate, shall take such steps as may
be necessary to comply with Rules 6e-2 and 6e-3(T), as amended, and Rule 6e-3,
as adopted, to the extent such rules are applicable.
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Article V. INDEMNIFICATION
5.1 Indemnification By the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless the Trust and each of its Trustees, officers, employees and agents
and each person, if any, who controls the Trust within the meaning of Section 15
of the 1933 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this
Article V) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including
amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Company) or expenses
(including the reasonable costs of investigating or defending any alleged loss,
claim, damage, liability or expense and reasonable legal counsel fees incurred
in connection therewith) (collectively, "Losses"), to which the Indemnified
Parties may become subject under any statute or regulation, or at common law or
otherwise, insofar as such Losses:
(a) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements or alleged
untrue statements of any material fact contained in a
registration statement or prospectus for the Contracts or in the
Contracts themselves or in sales literature generated or approved
by the Company on behalf of the Contracts or Accounts (or any
amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing) (collectively,
"Company Documents" for the purposes of this Article V), 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 indemnity 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 was accurately derived
from written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf
of the Trust for use in Company Documents or otherwise for use in
connection with the sale of the Contracts or Trust shares; or
(b) arise out of or result from statements or representations (other
than statements or representations contained in and accurately
derived from Trust Documents as defined in Section 5.2(a)) or
wrongful conduct of the Company or persons under its control,
with respect to the sale or acquisition of the Contracts or Trust
shares; or
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(c) arise out of or result from any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in Trust Documents
as defined in Section 5.2(a) 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
statement or omission was made in reliance upon and accurately
derived from written information furnished to the Trust by or on
behalf of the Company; or
(d) arise out of or result from any failure by the Company to provide
the services or furnish the materials required under the terms of
this Agreement; or
(e) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Company in this
Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material
breach of this Agreement by the Company.
(f) arise out of (i) a failure by TRUST to substantially provide the
services and furnish the materials under the terms of this
Agreement; or (ii) a failure by a Portfolio(s) invested in by the
Separate Account to comply with the diversification requirements
of Section 817(h) of the Code; or (iii) a failure by a
Portfolio(s) invested in by the Separate Account to qualify as a
"regulated investment company" under Subchapter M of the code.
5.2 Indemnification By the Trust. The Trust agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless the Company and each of its directors, officers, employees and agents
and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section
15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this
Article V) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including
amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Trust) or expenses
(including the reasonable costs of investigating or defending any alleged loss,
claim, damage, liability or expense and reasonable legal counsel fees incurred
in connection therewith) (collectively, "Losses"), to which the Indemnified
Parties may become subject under any statute or regulation, or at common law or
otherwise, insofar as such Losses:
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(a) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements or alleged
untrue statements of any material fact contained in the
registration statement or prospectus for the Trust (or any
amendment or supplement thereto), (collectively, "Trust
Documents" for the purposes of this Article V), 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 indemnity 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 was accurately derived
from written information furnished to the Trust by or on behalf
of the Company for use in Trust Documents or otherwise for use in
connection with the sale of the Contracts or Trust shares; or
(b) arise out of or result from statements or representations (other
than statements or representations contained in and accurately
derived from Company Documents) or wrongful conduct of the Trust
or persons under its control, with respect to the sale or
acquisition of the Contracts or Trust shares; or
(c) arise out of or result from any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in Company
Documents 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 statement or
omission was made in reliance upon and accurately derived from
written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of
the Trust; or
(d) arise out of or result from any failure by the Trust to provide
the services or furnish the materials required under the terms of
this Agreement; or
(e) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Trust in this
Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material
breach of this Agreement by the Trust.
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5.3 Neither the Company nor the Trust shall be liable under the
indemnification provisions of Sections 5.1 or 5.2, as applicable, with respect
to any Losses incurred or assessed against an Indemnified Party that arise from
such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith or negligence in the
performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified
Party's reckless disregard of obligations or duties under this Agreement.
5.4 Neither the Company nor the Trust shall be liable under the
indemnification provisions of Sections 5.1 or 5.2, as applicable, with respect
to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless such Indemnified Party
shall have notified the other party in writing within a reasonable time after
the summons, or other first written notification, giving information of the
nature of the claim shall have been served upon or otherwise received by such
Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of
service upon or other notification to any designated agent), but failure to
notify the party against whom indemnification is sought of any such claim shall
not relieve that party from any liability which it may have to the Indemnified
Party in the absence of Sections 5.1 and 5.2.
5.5 In case any such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties,
the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in
the defense of such action. The indemnifying party also shall be entitled to
assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the party
named in the action. After notice from the indemnifying party to the Indemnified
Party of an election to assume such defense, the Indemnified Party shall bear
the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the
indemnifying party will not be liable to the Indemnified 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.
Article VI. TERMINATION
6.1 This Agreement may be terminated:
(a) by either party for any reason by ninety (90) days advance
written notice delivered to the other party; or
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(b) at the option of the Company if shares of the Fund are not
available to meet the requirements of the Contracts as determined
by the Company. Prompt notice of the election to terminate for
such cause shall be furnished by the Company. Termination shall
be effective ten days after the giving of notice by the Company;
or
(c) at the option of the Fund upon institution of formal proceedings
against the Company by the NASD, the SEC, the insurance
commission of any state or any other regulatory body regarding
the Company's duties under this Agreement or related to the sale
of the Contracts, the operation of each Account, the
administration of the Contracts or the purchase of Fund shares,
or an expected ruling, judgment or outcome which would, in the
Fund's reasonable judgment, materially impair the Company's
ability to perform the Company's obligations and duties
hereunder; or
(d) at the option of the Company upon institution of formal
proceedings against the Fund, the Fund's distributor, the Fund's
investment manager or any sub-investment manager, by the NASD,
the SEC, or any state securities or insurance commission or any
other regulatory body regarding the duties of the Fund or its
distributor under this Agreement, or an expected or anticipated
ruling, judgment or outcome which would, in the Company's
reasonable judgment, materially impair the Fund's or the
distributor's ability to perform Fund's or distributor's
obligations and duties hereunder; or
(e) at the option of the Company upon institution of formal
proceedings against the Fund's investment manager or sub-
investment manager by the NASD, the SEC, or any state securities
or insurance commission or any other regulatory body which would,
in the good faith opinion of the Company, result in material harm
to the Accounts, the Company, or Contractowners; or
(f) upon requisite vote of the Contract owners having an interest in
the affected Portfolios (unless otherwise required by applicable
law) and written approval of the Company, to substitute the
shares of another investment company for the corresponding shares
of the Fund in accordance with the terms of the Contracts; or
(g) at the option of the Fund in the event any of the Contracts are
not registered, issued or sold in accordance with applicable
Federal and/or state law; or
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(h) at the option of the Company or the Fund upon a determination by
a majority of the Fund Board, or a majority of disinterested Fund
Board members, that an irreconcilable material conflict exists
among the interests of (i) any contract owners or (ii) the
interests of the Participating Insurance Companies investing in
the Fund; or
(i) at the option of the Company if the Fund ceases to qualify as a
Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Code, or
under any successor or similar provision, or if the Company
reasonably believes, based on an opinion of its counsel, that the
Fund may fail to so qualify; or
(j) at the option of the Company if the Fund fails to meet the
diversification requirements specified in Section 817(h) of the
Code and any regulations thereunder; or
(k) at the option of the Fund if the Contracts cease to qualify as
annuity contracts or life insurance policies, as applicable,
under the Code, or if the Fund reasonably believes that the
Contracts may fail to so qualify; or
(l) at the option of either the Fund or the Distributor if the Fund
or the Distributor, respectively, shall determine, in their sole
judgment exercised in good faith, that either (1) the Company
shall have suffered a material adverse change in its business or
financial condition; or (2) the Company shall have been the
subject of material adverse publicity which is likely to have a
material adverse impact upon the business and operations of
either the Fund or its distributor; or
(m) at the option of the Company, if the Company shall determine, in
its sole judgment exercised in good faith, that either: (1) the
Fund and its distributor, or either of them, shall have suffered
a material adverse change in their respective businesses or
financial condition; or (2) the Fund or its distributor, or both
of them, shall have been the subject of material adverse
publicity which is likely to have a material adverse impact upon
the business and operations of the Company; or
(n) upon the assignment of this Agreement (including, without
limitation, any transfer of the Contracts or the Accounts to
another insurance company pursuant to an assumption reinsurance
agreement) unless the non-assigning party consents thereto or
unless this Agreement is assigned to an affiliate of the Fund's
distributor.
6.2 Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Trust shall,
at the option of the Company, continue to make available additional shares of
the Trust (or any Portfolio) pursuant to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement for all Contracts in effect on the effective date of termination of
this Agreement, [provided that the Company continues to pay the costs set forth
in Section 2.3].
15
6.3 The provisions of Article V shall survive the termination of this
Agreement, and the provisions of Article IV and Section 2.8 shall survive the
termination of this Agreement as long as shares of the Trust are held on behalf
of Contract owners in accordance with Section 6.2.
Article VII. NOTICES
Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or certified
mail to the other party at the address of such party set forth below or at such
other address as such party may from time to time specify in writing to the
other party.
If to the Trust:
Janus Aspen Series
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: General Counsel
If to the Company:
Lincoln National Life Insurance Co.
▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Article VIII. MISCELLANEOUS
8.1 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.
8.2 This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
16
8.3 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.
8.4 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of State of Colorado.
8.5 The parties to this Agreement acknowledge and agree that all
liabilities of the Trust arising, directly or indirectly, under this Agreement,
of any and every nature whatsoever, shall be satisfied solely out of the assets
of the Trust and that no Trustee, officer, agent or holder of shares of
beneficial interest of the Trust shall be personally liable for any such
liabilities.
8.6 Each party shall cooperate with each other party and all appropriate
governmental authorities (including without limitation the Securities and
Exchange Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., 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.
8.7 The rights, remedies and obligations contained in this Agreement are
cumulative and are in addition to any and all rights, remedies and obligations,
at law or in equity, which the parties hereto are entitled to under state and
federal laws.
8.8 The parties to this Agreement acknowledge and agree that this
Agreement shall not be exclusive in any respect.
8.9 Neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder may be
assigned by either party without the prior written approval of the other party.
8.10 No provisions of this Agreement may be amended or modified in any
manner except by a written agreement properly authorized and executed by both
parties.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused their duly authorized officers
to execute this Participation Agreement as of the date and year first above
written.
JANUS ASPEN SERIES
By:
Name:
Title:
THE LINCOLN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President
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Schedule A
----------
Separate Accounts and Associated Contracts
------------------------------------------
Name of Separate Account and Contracts Funded
Date Established by Board of Directors By Separate Account
-------------------------------------- -------------------
Lincoln National Variable Multi Fund Individual
Annuity Account C Variable Annuity and e Annuity
(Established June 3, 1981)
Lincoln National Variable GVA I, II, III
Annuity Account L
Lincoln Life Variable Multi Fund Group
Annuity Account Q Variable Annuity
Lincoln National Life Insurance Director Group
Company Separate Account 34 Variable Annuity
19