PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
Among
METROPOLITAN SERIES FUND, INC.,
METLIFE ADVISERS, LLC,
METLIFE SECURITIES, INC.
and
FIRST METLIFE INVESTORS INSURANCE COMPANY
AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of the 30th day of April, 2007 by and
among METROPOLITAN SERIES FUND, INC., a corporation organized under the laws of
the State of Maryland (the "Fund"), FIRST METLIFE INVESTORS INSURANCE COMPANY,
an insurance company organized under the laws of the State of New York (the
"Company"), on its own behalf and on behalf of any current or future separate
accounts of the company that invest in the Fund (each an "Account'), METLIFE
ADVISERS, LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State
of Delaware (the "Adviser") and METLIFE SECURITIES, INC., a corporation
organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Underwriter").
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"),
and its shares are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(hereinafter the "1933 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund serves as an investment vehicle underlying variable life
insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, "Variable
Insurance Products") offered by insurance companies ("Participating Insurance
Companies"); and
WHEREAS, the shares of common stock of the Fund are divided into several
series of shares, each representing the interest in a particular managed
portfolio of securities and other assets; and
WHEREAS, the Fund has obtained an order from the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC") granting Participating Insurance Companies and variable
annuity and variable life insurance separate accounts exemptions from certain
provisions of the 1940 Act and certain rules and regulations thereunder, to the
extent necessary to permit shares of the Fund to be sold to and held by both
variable annuity and variable life insurance separate accounts of both
affiliated and unaffiliated life insurance companies (hereinafter the "Shared
Funding Exemptive Order"); and
WHEREAS, the Adviser acts as the investment adviser and/or administrator or
sub-administrator to each series of the Fund and is registered as an investment
adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register certain variable life
and/or variable annuity contracts under the 1933 Act, if required;
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register each Account as a unit
investment trust under the 1940 Act, if required;
WHEREAS, the Underwriter is registered as a broker dealer with the SEC
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 1934 Act"), and is a
member in good standing of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
(the "NASD"); and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Company intends to purchase shares of certain series of the
Fund (the "Series") on behalf of each Account to fund certain variable life and
variable annuity contracts (each, a "Contract") and the Underwriter is
authorized to sell such shares to each Account at net asset value;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Company, the
Fund and the Underwriter agree as follows:
1. Sale of Fund Shares.
1.1 Subject to the terms of the Distribution Agreement in effect from time to
time between the Fund and the Underwriter, the Underwriter agrees to sell
to the Company those shares of each Series which each Account orders,
executing such orders on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed
after receipt by the Fund or its designee of the order for the shares of
the Fund. For purposes of this Section 1.1 and Section 1.4, the Company is
the Fund's designee. "Business Day" shall mean any day on which the New
York Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which the Fund calculates
the net asset value of shares of the Series. The Company shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to communicate notice of orders for the
purchase of Shares of each Series to the Fund's custodian by 10:00 a.m.
Eastern time on the following Business Day (the "Next Business Day"), and
the Company and the Fund shall each use commercially reasonable efforts to
wire (or cause to be wired) funds to the other, for the purpose of settling
net purchase orders or orders of redemption, by 3:00 p.m. of the Next
Business Day.
1.2 The Fund agrees to make its shares available for purchase at the applicable
net asset value per share by the Company and its Accounts on those days on
which the Fund calculates its net asset value. The Fund agrees to use
reasonable efforts to calculate such net asset value on each day which the
New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Board of Directors of the Fund (hereinafter the "Board" or the
"Directors") may refuse to sell shares of any Series to any person, or
suspend or terminate the offering of shares of any Series, if such action
is required by law or by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction or is,
in the sole discretion of the Directors acting in good faith and in light
of their fiduciary duties under federal and any applicable state laws, in
the best interests of the shareholders of such Series.
1.3 The Fund and the Underwriter agree that shares of the Fund will be sold
only to Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts, or
to other purchasers of
the kind specified in Treas. Reg. Section 1.817-5(f)(3) (or any successor
regulation) as from time to time in effect.
1.4 The Fund agrees to redeem, on the Company's request, any full or fractional
shares of the Fund held by the Company, executing such requests on a daily
basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by the Fund or its
designee of the request for redemption. The Company shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to communicate notice of orders for the redemption of
Shares of each Series to the Fund's custodian by 10:00 a.m. Eastern time on
the Next Business Day, and the Company and the Fund shall each use
commercially reasonable efforts to wire (or cause to be wired) funds to the
other, for the purpose of settling net purchase orders or orders of
redemption, by 3:00 p.m. of the Next Business Day.
1.5 The Company agrees that all purchases and redemptions by it of the shares
of each Series will be in accordance with the provisions of the then
current prospectus and statement of additional information of the Fund for
the respective Series and in accordance with any procedures that the Fund,
the Underwriter or the Fund's transfer agent may have established governing
purchases and redemptions of shares of the Series generally.
1.6 The Company shall pay for Fund shares on the next Business Day after an
order to purchase Fund shares is made in accordance with the provisions of
Section 1.1. hereof. Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire
to the Fund's custodian.
1.7 Issuance and transfer of the Fund's shares will be by book entry only.
Share certificates will not be issued. Shares ordered from the Fund will be
recorded on the transfer records of the Fund in an appropriate title for
each Account or the appropriate subaccount of each Account.
1.8 The Fund shall furnish same day notice (by e-mail, fax or telephone,
followed by written confirmation) to the Company of any income, dividends
or capital gain distributions payable on the shares of any Series. The
Company hereby elects to receive all such income dividends and capital gain
distributions as are payable on the Series shares in additional shares of
that Series. The Company reserves the right to revoke this election and to
receive all such income dividends and capital gain distributions in cash.
The Fund shall notify the Company of the number of shares so issued as
payment of such dividends and distributions.
1.9 The Fund shall make the net asset value per share for each Series 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 7:00 p.m. Eastern time.
The Fund shall furnish the Company's daily share balance to the Company as
soon as reasonably practicable.
2. Representations and Warranties.
2.1 The Company represents and warrants that each Contract shall be either
(i) registered, or prior to the purchase of shares of any Series in
connection with the funding of such Contract, will be registered under the
1933 Act or (ii) exempt from such registration; that the Contracts will be
issued and sold in compliance in all material respects with all applicable
federal and state laws, including all applicable customer suitability
requirements. The Company further represents and warrants that it is an
insurance company duly organized and in good standing under applicable law
and that it has legally and validly stablished each Account as a separate
account pursuant to relevant state insurance law prior to any issuance or
sale of any Contract by such Account and that each Account shall be either
(i) registered or, prior to any issuance or sale of the Contracts, will
register each Account as a unit investment trust in accordance with the
provisions of the 1940 Act; or (ii)exempt from such registration.
2.2 The Fund represents and warrants that Fund shares sold pursuant to this
Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act, duly authorized for
issuance and sold in compliance with the laws of the State of Maryland and
all applicable federal and state securities laws and that the Fund is and
shall remain registered under the 1940 Act. The Fund agrees that it will
amend the registration statement for its shares under the 1933 Act and the
1940 Act from time to time as required in order to permit the continuous
public offering of its shares in accordance with the 1933 Act. The Fund
shall register and qualify the shares for sale in accordance with the laws
of the various states only if and to the extent deemed advisable by the
Fund or the Underwriter.
2.3 The Fund represents that each Series is currently qualified as a "regulated
investment company" under subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended, (the "Code") and agrees that it will make every effort
to maintain such qualification (under Subchapter M or any successor or
similar provision) and that it will notify the Company promptly upon
having a reasonable basis for believing that it has ceased to so qualify
or that it might not so qualify in the future.
2.4 Subject to Section 6.1, the Company represents that the Contracts are
currently treated as endowment, annuity or life insurance contracts under
applicable provisions of the Code and agrees that it will make every
effort to maintain such treatment and that it will notify the Fund and the
Underwriter immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that
the Contracts have ceased to be so treated or that they might not be so
treated in the future.
2.5 The Fund makes no representation as to whether any aspect of its
operations (including, but not limited to, fees and expenses and
investment policies) complies with the insurance laws or regulations of
the various states.
2.6 The Underwriter represents and warrants that it is a member in good
standing of the NASD and is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC.
2.7 The Underwriter further represents that it will sell and distribute the
Fund shares in accordance with all applicable state and federal
securities laws, including without limitation the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act
and the 0000 Xxx.
2.8 The Fund represents that it is lawfully organized and validly existing
under the laws of the State of placeStateMaryland and that it does and
will comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act.
2.9 Each of the Fund, the Adviser and the Underwriter represent and warrant
that all of their directors, officers and employees dealing with the
money and/or securities of the Fund are and shall continue to be at all
times covered by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage in an amount,
in the case of the Adviser and the Underwriter, of not less than
$5,000,000 and, in the case of the Fund, not less than the minimal
coverage as required by Rule 17g-1 under the 1940 Act or any successor
regulations as may be promulgated from time to time. Each aforesaid bond
shall include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued
by a reputable bonding company.
2.10 The Company represents and warrants that all of its directors, officers,
employees and other individuals/entities dealing with the money and/or
securities representing amounts intended for the purchase of shares of
the Fund or proceeds of the redemption of shares of the Fund are and
shall continue to be at all times covered by a blanket fidelity bond or
similar coverage in an amount not less than $5,000,000. The aforesaid
Bond shall include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be
issued by a reputable bonding company.
2.11 The Company represents and warrants that it will not, without the prior
written consent of the Fund and the Adviser, purchase Fund shares with
Account assets derived from the sale of Contracts to individuals or
entities which would cause the investment policies of any Series to be
subject to any limitations not in the Fund's then current prospectus or
statement of additional information with respect to any Series.
3. Prospectuses and Proxy Statements; Voting.
3.1 The Underwriter (or the Fund) shall provide the Company with as many
copies of the Fund's current prospectus as the Company may reasonably
request (at the Company's expense with respect to other than existing
Contract owners). If requested by the Company in lieu thereof, the
Underwriter (or the Fund) shall provide such documentation (including a
final copy of the new prospectus as set in type at the Fund's expense)
and other assistance as is reasonably necessary in order for the Company
once each year (or more frequently if the prospectus for the Fund is
amended) to have the prospectus for the Contracts and the Fund's
prospectus printed together in one document (such printing to be at the
Company's expense with respect to other than existing Contract owners).
3.2 The Underwriter (or the Fund), at its expense, shall print and provide
the Fund's then current statement of additional information free of
charge to the Company and to any owner of a Contract or prospective
owner who requests such statement.
3.3 The Fund, at its expense, shall provide the Company with copies of its
proxy material, reports to shareholders and other communications to
shareholders in such quantity as the Company shall reasonably require
for distribution (at the Fund's expense) to Contract owners.
3.4 So long as and to the extent that the SEC or its staff continues to
interpret the 1940 Act to require pass-through voting privileges for
variable contract owners, or if and to the extent required by law, the
Company shall: (i) solicit voting instructions from Contract owners;
(ii) vote the Fund shares in accordance with instructions received from
Contract owners; and (iii) vote Fund shares for which no instructions
have been received in the same proportion as Fund shares of such Series
for which instructions have been received. The Company reserves the
right to vote Fund shares held in any Account in its own right, to the
extent permitted by law. The Company shall be responsible for assuring
that each Account participating in the Fund calculates voting
privileges in a manner consistent with the standards set forth on
Schedule A hereto, which standards will also be provided to the other
Participating Insurance Companies.
4. Sales Material and Information.
4.1 The Company shall be solely responsible for sales literature or other
promotional material, in which the Fund, a Series, the Adviser, any
subadviser to any Series, or the Underwriter (in its capacity as
distributor of the Fund) is named, the substance of which is contained
in the then current prospectus or statement of additional information
of the Fund. Other sales literature or other promotional material may
also be used by the Company if such sales literature or other
promotional material (or the substance thereof) has been previously
approved by the Fund or its designee. All other sales literature or
other promotional material shall not be used by the Company until it
has been approved by the Fund or its designee. The Company shall
deliver such draft sales literature or other promotional material to
the Fund or its designee at least thirty Business days prior to its
use. The Fund or such designee shall use commercially reasonable
efforts to review sales literature so delivered within ten days.
4.2 The Company shall not give any information or make any representations
or statements on behalf of the Fund or concerning the Fund in
connection with the sale of the Contracts other than the information or
representations contained in the registration statement, prospectus or
statement of additional information for the Fund shares, as such
registration statement and prospectus or statement of additional
information may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in
reports or proxy statements for the Fund, or in sales literature or
other promotional material approved by the Fund or its designee or by
the Underwriter, except with the approval of the Fund or the Under-
writer or the designee of either.
4.3 The obligations set forth in Section 4.1 herein shall apply mutatis
mutandis to the Fund and the Underwriter with respect to each piece of
sales literature or other promotional material in which the Company
and/or any Account is named.
4.4 The Fund and the Underwriter shall not give any information or make any
representations on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company, any
Account or the Contracts other than the information or representations
contained in a registration statement or prospectus for the Contracts,
as such registration statement and prospectus may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, or in published reports for each
Account which are in the public domain or approved by the Company for
distribution to Contract owners, or in sales literature or other
promotional material approved by the Company or its designee, except
with the permission of the Company.
4.5 The Fund will provide to the Company at least one complete copy of all
registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional infor-
mation, shareholder annual, semi-annual or other reports, proxy state-
ments, applications for exemptions, requests for no-action letters and
any amendments to any of the above, that relate to any Series, promptly
after the filing of each such document with the SEC or any other
regulatory authority.
4.6 The Company will provide to the Fund at least one complete copy of all
registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional infor-
mation, shareholder annual, semi-annual or other reports, solicitations
for voting instructions, applications for exemptions, requests for
no-action letters and any amendments to any of the above, that relate
to the Contracts or any Account, promptly after the filing of such
document with the SEC or any other regulatory authority. Each party
hereto will provide to each other party, to the extent it is relevant
to the Contracts or the Fund, a copy of any comment letter received
from the staff of the SEC or the NASD, and the Company's response
thereto, following any examination or inspection by the staff of the
SEC or the NASD.
4.7 As used herein, the phrase "sales literature or other promotional
material" includes, but is not limited to, advertisements (such as
material published, or designed for use in, a newspaper, magazine, or
other periodical, radio, television, telephone or tape recording,
videotape display, signs or billboards, motion pictures or other public
media), sales literature (i.e., any written communication distributed
or made generally available to customers or the public, including
brochures, circulars, research reports, market letters, form letters,
seminar texts, reprints or excerpts of any other advertisement, sales
literature or published article), educational or training materials or
other communications distributed or made generally available to some or
all agents or employees.
5. Fees and Expenses.
5.1 The Fund, the Adviser and the Underwriter shall pay no fee or other
compensation to the Company under this agreement, except that if the
Fund or any Series adopts and implements a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1
to finance distribution expenses or to provide personal account
services to the owners of the Contracts, then the Fund may make
payments to the Underwriter or to the Company. Each party acknowledges
that the Adviser may pay service or administrative fees to the Company
and other Participating Insurance Companies pursuant to separate
agreements.
6. Diversification.
6.1 The Fund will at all times invest money from the Contracts in such a
manner as to ensure that the Contracts will be treated as variable
contracts under the Code and the regulations issued thereunder.
Without limiting the scope of the foregoing, the Fund will at all times
comply with Section 817(h) of the Code and any Treasury Regulations
thereunder relating to the diversification requirements for variable
annuity, endowment or life insurance contracts, as from time to time
in effect.
7. Potential Conflicts.
7.1 To the extent required by the Shared Funding Exemptive Order or by
applicable law, the Board of Directors of the Fund (the "Board") will
monitor the Fund for the existence of any material irreconcilable
conflict between the interests of the contract owners of all separate
accounts investing in the Fund. 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 Series 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 Fund shall promptly inform the
Company if it determines that an irreconcilable material conflict
exists and the implications thereof.
7.2 The Company will report to the Board any potential or existing
conflicts between the interests of contract owners of different
separate accounts of which the Company is or becomes aware. The
Company will assist the Board in carrying out its responsibilities
under the Shared Funding Exemptive Order and under applicable law,
by providing the Board with all information reasonably necessary for
the Board to consider any issues raised. This includes, but is not
limited to, an obligation of the Company to inform the Board whenever
contract owner voting instructions are disregarded.
7.3 If it is determined by a majority of the Board, or a majority of its
disinterested Directors, that a material irreconcilable conflict
exists, the Company and other Participating Insurance Companies shall,
at their expense take whatever steps are necessary to remedy or
eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict, which steps could
include: (1) withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the
separate accounts from the Fund or any Series and reinvesting such
assets in a different investment medium, including (but not limited to)
another series of the Fund, or submitting the question of whether 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
(2) establishing a new registered management investment company or
managed separate account.
7.4 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 Fund's election, to withdraw
the relevant Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this
Agreement; provided, however, that such withdrawal and termination
shall be limited to the extent required by such material irreconcilable
conflict as determined by a majority of the disinterested members of
the Board. Any such withdrawal and termination will take place within
six (6) months after the Fund gives written notice that this provision
is being implemented.
7.5 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 Fund and terminate
this Agreement within six months after the Board informs 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
such material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority
of the disinterested members of the Board.
7.6 For purposes of Sections 7.3 through 7.6 of this Agreement, a majority
of the disinterested members of the Board shall determine whether any
proposed action adequately remedies any irreconcilable material
conflict, but in no event will the Fund be required to establish a new
funding medium for the Contracts. The Company shall not be required by
Section 7.3 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 Board determines that any proposed
action does not adequately remedy any irreconcilable material conflict,
then the Company will withdraw the Account's investment in the Fund
and terminate this Agreement within six (6) months after the Board
informs 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 members of
the Board.
7.7 If and to the extent that Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) under the 1940 Act
are amended, or Rule 6e-3 is adopted, to provide exemptive relief from
any provision of the Act or the rules promulgated thereunder with
respect to mixed or shared funding (as defined in the Shared Funding
Exemptive Order) on terms and conditions materially different from
those contained in the Shared Funding Exemptive Order, then (a) the
Fund and/or 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; and (b) Sections 3.4, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and
7.5 of this Agreement shall continue in effect only to the extent that
terms and conditions substantially identical to such Sections are
contained in such Rule(s) as so amended or adopted.
8. Indemnification.
8.1 Indemnification by the Company
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and
each of its Directors and officers and each person, if
any, who controls the Fund within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933
Act (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this
Section 8.1) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities
(including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the
Company) or litigation (including legal and other expenses), to which
the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute,
regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect
thereof) or settlements are related to the sale or acquisition of the
Fund's shares or the Contracts and: (i) 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 or statement of
additional information (if applicable) for the Contracts or contained
in the Contracts or sales literature or other promotional material for
the Contracts (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing),
or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission
to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, provided that
this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party
if such statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission was
made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to
the Company by or on behalf of the Fund for use in the registration
statement or prospectus or statement of additional information (if
applicable) for the Contracts or in the Contracts or sales literature
or other promotional material (or any amendment or supplement) or
otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Fund
shares; or (ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations (other than statements or representations contained in
the registration statement, prospectus or statement of additional
information (if applicable) or sales literature or other promotional
material of the Fund not supplied by the Company, or persons under its
control) or wrongful conduct
of the Company or persons under its control, with respect to the sale or
distribution of the Contracts or Fund Shares; or (iii) arise out of any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
registration statement, prospectus or statement of additional information (if
applicable) or sales literature or other promotional material of the Fund or any
amendment thereof or supplement thereto or the omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading if such a statement or omission was made
in reliance upon information furnished to the Fund by or on behalf of the
Company; or (iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Company to provide the
services and furnish the materials under the terms of this Agreement; or (v)
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, as limited by and in
accordance with the provisions of Section 8.1(b) and 8.1(c) hereof.
(b) The Company shall not be liable under this Section 8.1 with respect to any
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation to which an Indemnified Party
would otherwise be subject if such loss, claim, damage, liability or litigation
is caused by or arises out of such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad
faith or gross negligence or by reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless
disregard of obligations or duties under this Agreement or to the Fund,
whichever is applicable.
(c) Each Indemnified Party shall notify the Company of any claim made against an
Indemnified Party in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other
first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have
been served upon such Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall
have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to
notify the Company of any such claim shall not relieve the Company from any
liability which it may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is
brought under this indemnification provision unless the Company's ability to
defend against the claim shall have been materially prejudiced by the
Indemnified Party's failure to give such notice and shall not in any way relieve
the Company from any liability which it may have to the Indemnified Party
against whom the action is brought otherwise than on account of this
indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought against one or
more Indemnified Parties, the Company shall be entitled to participate, at its
own expense, in the defense of such action. The Company also shall be entitled
to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to each Indemnified
Party named in the action. After notice from the Company to such party of the
Company's election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall
bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the
Company will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or
other expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection
with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. An
Indemnified Party shall not settle any claim involving a remedy other than
monetary damages without the prior written consent of the Company.
(d) The Indemnified Parties will promptly notify the Company of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against them in
connection with the issuance or sale of the Fund Shares or the
Contracts or the operation of the Fund.
8.2 Indemnification by the Adviser and the Underwriter
(a) The Adviser and the Underwriter agree to indemnify and hold
harmless the Company and each of its directors and officers 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 Section 8.2) against any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the
written consent of the Adviser and the Underwriter) or litigation
(including legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties
may become subject under any statute, regulation, at common law or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements are related to
the sale or acquisition of the Fund's shares or the Contracts and: (i)
arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of any material fact contained in the registration statement,
prospectus or statement of additional information, or sales literature
or other promotional material of the Fund (or any amendment or
supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon
the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, provided that this agreement to indemnify shall
not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or
such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished to the Adviser, the Underwriter,
or Fund by or on behalf of the Company for use in the registration
statement, prospectus or statement of additional information for the
Fund or in sales literature or other promotional material (or any
amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in connection with the
sale of the Contracts or Fund shares; or (ii) arise out of or as a
result of statements or representations (other than statements or
representations contained in the registration statement, prospectus or
statement of additional information or sales literature or other
promotional material for the Contracts not supplied by the Adviser, the
Underwriter or the Fund or persons under their control) or wrongful
conduct of the Adviser, the Underwriter or the Fund or persons under
their control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the
Contracts or Fund Shares; or (iii) arise out of any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
registration statement, prospectus or statement of additional
information or sales literature or other promotional material covering
the Contracts, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon
information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Adviser,
the Underwriter, or the Fund; or (iv) arise as a result of any failure
by the Adviser, the Underwriter or the Fund to provide the services and
furnish the materials under the terms of this Agreement (including a
failure, whether unintentional or in good faith or otherwise, to comply
with the diversification requirements specified in Article VI of this
Agreement); or (v) arise out of or result from any material breach of
any
representation and/or warranty made by the Adviser, the Underwriter, or
the Fund in this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other
material breach of this Agreement by the Adviser, the Underwriter, or
the Fund; as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of
Sections 8.2(b) and 8.2(c) hereof.
(b) Neither the Adviser nor the Underwriter shall be liable under this
Section 8.2 with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
litigation to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject if
such loss, claim, damage, liability or litigation is caused by or
arises out of such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith
or gross negligence or by reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless
disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement or to the
Company or each Account, whichever is applicable.
(c) Each Indemnified Party shall notify each of the Adviser, the
Underwriter, and the Fund of any claim made against the Indemnified
Party within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal
process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been
served upon such Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party
shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent),
but failure to notify each of the Adviser, the Underwriter, and the
Fund of any such claim shall not relieve the Adviser or the Underwriter
from any liability which it may have to the Indemnified Party against
whom such action is brought under this indemnification provision unless
the Adviser or the Underwriter's ability to defend against the claim
shall have been materially prejudiced by the Indemnified Party's
failure to give such notice and shall not in any way relieve the
Adviser or the Underwriter from any liability which it may have to the
Indemnified Party against whom the action is brought otherwise than on
account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is
brought against one or more Indemnified Parties, the Adviser and the
Underwriter will be entitled to participate, at their own expense, in
the defense thereof. The Adviser and/or the Underwriter shall be
entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to
the party named in the action. After notice from the Adviser and/or
the Underwriter to such party of the election of the Adviser and/or the
Underwriter to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall
bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it,
and the Adviser and/or the Underwriter will not be liable to such party
under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently
incurred by such party independently in connection with the defense
thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. An Indemnified
Party shall not settle any claim involving any remedy other than
monetary damages without the prior written consent of the Adviser
and/or the Underwriter.
(d) The Company agrees promptly to notify the Adviser, the Underwriter
and the Fund of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings
against it or any of its officers or directors in connection with the
issuance or sale of the Contracts or the operation of each Account.
9. Applicable Law.
9.1 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof interpreted
under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland.
9.2 This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the 1933, 1934 and
1940 acts, and the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder, including
such exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as the SEC may
grant (including, but not limited to, the Shared Funding Exemptive Order)
and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance
therewith.
10. Termination.
10.1 This Agreement shall terminate:
(a) at the option of any party upon 180 days' advance written notice to the
other parties; provided, however, that such notice shall not be given
earlier than one year following the date of this Agreement; or
(b) at the option of the Company to the extent that shares of a Series are
not reasonably available to meet the requirements of the Contracts as
determined by the Company, provided however, that such termination shall
apply only to those Series the shares of which are not reasonably
available. Prompt notice of the election to terminate for such cause shall
be furnished by the Company; or
(c) at the option of the Fund in the event that formal administrative
proceedings are instituted against the Company by the NASD, the SEC, any
state insurance department or commissioner or similar insurance regulator
or any other regulatory body regarding the Company's duties under this
Agreement or related to the sale of the Contracts, with respect to the
operation of any Account or the purchase by any Account of Fund shares,
provided, however, that the Fund determines in its sole judgment, exercised
in good faith, that any such administrative proceedings will have a
material adverse effect upon the ability of the Company to perform its
obligations under this Agreement; or
(d) at the option of the Company in the event that formal administrative
proceedings are instituted against the Fund, the Adviser or the Underwriter
by the NASD, the SEC or any state securities or insurance department or
commissioner or any other regulatory body, provided, however, that the
Company determines in its sole judgment exercised in good faith, that any
such administrative proceedings will have a material adverse effect upon
the ability of the Fund, the Adviser or the Underwriter to perform its
obligations under this Agreement; or
(e) with respect to any Account, upon requisite authority (by vote of the
Contract owners having an interest in such Account or any subaccount
thereof, or otherwise) to substitute the shares of another investment
company (or separate series thereof) for the shares of any
Series in accordance with the terms of the Contracts for which shares of
that Series had been selected to serve as the underlying investment medium.
The Company will give 90 days' prior written notice to the Fund of the date
of any proposed vote to replace the Fund's shares or of the filing by the
Company with the SEC of any application relating to any such substitution;
or
(f) at the option of the Company, in the event any shares of any Series are
not registered, issued or sold in accordance with applicable state and/or
federal law or such law precludes the use of such shares as the underlying
investment medium of the Contracts issued or to be issued by the Company;
or
(g) at the option of the Company, if any Series 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 that
any Series may fail to so qualify; or
(h) at the option of the Company, if the Fund fails to meet the
diversification requirements specified in Section 6 hereof; or
(i) at the option of the Fund, the Adviser or the Underwriter, if (1) the
Fund, the Adviser or the Underwriter, as the case may be, shall determine,
in its sole judgment reasonably exercised in good faith, that the Company
has suffered a material adverse change in its business or financial
condition or is the subject of material adverse publicity and such material
adverse change or material adverse publicity will have a material adverse
impact on the business and operations of the Fund, the Adviser or the
Underwriter, as the case may be, (2) the Fund, the Adviser or the
Underwriter shall notify the Company in writing of such determination and
its intent to terminate this Agreement, and (3) after considering the
actions taken by the Company and any other changes in circumstances since
the giving of such notice, such determination of the Fund, the Adviser or
the Underwriter shall continue to apply on the sixtieth (60th) day
following the giving of such notice, which sixtieth day shall be the
effective date of termination; or
(j) at the option of the Company, if (1) the Company shall determine, in
its sole judgment reasonably exercised in good faith, that the Fund, the
Adviser or the Underwriter has suffered a material adverse change in its
business or financial condition or is the subject of material adverse
publicity and such material adverse change or material adverse publicity
will have a material adverse impact upon the business and operations of the
Company, (2) the Company shall notify the Fund, the Adviser and the
Underwriter in writing of such determination and its intent to terminate
the Agreement, and (3) after considering the actions taken by the Fund, the
Adviser and/or the Underwriter and any other changes in circumstances since
the giving of such notice, such determination shall continue to apply on
the sixtieth (60th) day following the giving of such notice, which sixtieth
day shall be the effective date of termination; or
(k) in the case of an Account not registered under the 1933 Act or
1940 Act, the Company shall give the Fund 90 days' prior written notice
if the Company chooses to cease using any Series as an investment
vehicle for such Account.
It is understood and agreed that the right of any party hereto to terminate this
Agreement pursuant to Section 10.1(a) may be exercised for any reason or for no
reason.
10.2 Notice Requirement. No termination of this Agreement shall be
effective unless and until the party terminating this Agreement gives
prior written notice to all other parties to this Agreement of its
intent to terminate which notice shall set forth the basis for such
termination. Furthermore, in the event that any termination is based
upon the provisions of Article VII, or the provision of Section
10.1(a), 10.1(i) or 10.1(j) of this Agreement, such prior written
notice shall be given in advance of the effective date of termination
as required by such provisions; and
10.3 In the event that any termination is based upon the provisions of
Section 10.1(c) or 10.1(d) of this Agreement, such prior written notice
shall be given at least ninety (90) days before the effective date of
termination.
10.4 Effect of Termination. Notwithstanding any termination of this
Agreement, the Fund and the Underwriter shall, at the option of the
Company, continue to make available additional shares of each Series
pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for all
Contracts in effect on the effective date of termination of this
Agreement (hereinafter referred to as "Existing Contracts").
Specifically, without limitation, the owners of the Existing Contracts
shall be permitted to reallocate investments in the Fund, redeem
investments in the Fund and/or invest in the Fund upon the making of
additional purchase payments under the Existing Contracts. The
parties agree that this Section 10.4 shall not apply to any
terminations under Section 10.1(b) or Section 7, and in the case of
terminations under Section 7 terminations, the effect of such
terminations shall be governed by Section 7 of this Agreement.
11. 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 Fund or to the Adviser:
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx, Secretary
If to the Company:
First MetLife Investors Insurance Company
0 Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Executive Vice President, General
Counsel and Secretary
If to the Underwriter:
MetLife Securities, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Associate General Counsel
12. Miscellaneous.
12.1 A copy of the Articles of Incorporation establishing Metropolitan
Series Fund, Inc. is on file with the Secretary of State of
Maryland, and notice is hereby given that this Agreement is executed
on behalf of the Fund by officers of the Fund as officers and not
individually and that the obligations of or arising out of this
Agreement are not binding upon any of the Directors, officers or
shareholders of the Fund individually but are binding only upon the
assets and property belonging to the Series.
12.2 Subject to the requirements of legal process and regulatory authority,
each party hereto shall treat as confidential the names and addresses
of the owners of the Contracts and all information reasonably
identified as confidential in writing by any other party hereto and,
except as permitted by this Agreement, shall not disclose, disseminate
or utilize such names and addresses and other confidential information
until such time as it may come into the public domain without the
express written consent of the affected party.
12.3 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.
12.4 This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the
same instrument.
12.5 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.
12.6 Each party hereto shall cooperate with each other party and all
appropriate governmental authorities (including without limitation the
SEC, the NASD and state insurance regulators) and shall permit such
authorities reasonable access to its books and records in connection
with any investigation or inquiry relating to this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby.
12.7 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.
Signatures appear on the following page.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement
to be executed in its name and on its behalf by its duly authorized
representative as of the date first specified above.
FIRST METLIFE INVESTORS INSURANCE COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
----------------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx,
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
METROPOLITAN SERIES FUND, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxxx X. Forget
----------------------------------
Xxxxxxxxx X. Forget
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President
METLIFE ADVISERS, LLC
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xx.
----------------------------------
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xx.
Senior Vice President
METLIFE SECURITIES, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
----------------------------------
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Vice President and Financial
and Operations Principal
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
Among
METROPOLITAN SERIES FUND, INC.,
METLIFE ADVISERS, LLC,
METLIFE SECURITIES, INC.
and
FIRST METLIFE INVESTORS INSURANCE COMPANY
Schedule A
With respect to each Account, all shares of each Series attributable to such
policies and contracts for which no owner instructions have been received by the
Company and all shares of the Series attributable to charges assessed by the
Company against such policies and contracts will be voted for, voted against, or
withheld from voting on any proposal in the same proportions as are the shares
for which owner instructions have been received by the Company with respect to
policies or contracts issued by such Account. To the extent the Company has so
agreed with respect to an Account not registered with the SEC under the
1940 Act, all shares of each Series held by the Account will be voted for, voted
against or withheld from voting on any proposal in the same proportions as are
the shares of such Series for which contract owners' voting instructions have
been received. If the Company has not so agreed, the shares of each Series
attributable to such unregistered Account will be voted for, voted against, or
withheld from voting on any proposal in the same proportions as are all other
shares for which the Company has received voting instructions.
