EX-99.8.EEE 3 w47783exv99w8weee.htm EXHIBIT 8(EEE) exv99w8weee
 

SHAREHOLDER SERVICES AGREEMENT
     This Agreement is made as of December 28, 2007, by and between Seligman Advisors, Inc. (the “Distributor”), a Delaware company, and Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company (the “Company”), an Arkansas life insurance company.
     WHEREAS, the Company has entered into a participation agreement dated October 11, 2002 with Seligman Value Fund Series, Inc. (the “Fund”), an open-end investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “1940 Act”) with respect to the purchase of a class of shares designated as “A Shares” of one or more series of the Fund (each a “Portfolio”), by certain separate accounts of the Company (“Accounts”); and
     WHEREAS, the Distributor serves as the distributor to the Fund; and
     WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide certain shareholder services to owners (“Contract Owners”) of variable life insurance policies or variable annuity contracts (“Contracts”) in connection with their allocation of contract values to the Portfolios and Distributor desires Company to provide such services, subject to the conditions of this Agreement; and
     WHEREAS, pursuant to Rule 12b-l under the 1940 Act, the Fund has adopted an Administration, Shareholder Services and Distribution Plan (the “12b-1 Plan”) which, among other things, authorizes the Distributor to enter into this Agreement with organizations such as Company and to compensate such organizations out of each Portfolio’s average daily net assets attributable to the A Shares:
     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, the Distributor and the Company agree as follows:
     1. Services of Company
          (a) The Company shall provide any combination of the following support services, as agreed upon by the parties from time to time, to Contract Owners who allocate contract values to the A Shares of the Portfolios: delivering prospectuses, statements of additional information, shareholder reports and proxy statements to existing Contract Owners; providing educational materials regarding the Portfolio, the A Shares and the Fund’s manager; providing facilities to answer questions from prospective and existing Contract Owners about the Portfolios; receiving and answering correspondence; and various other services as the Contract Owners may request.
          (b) The Company will provide such office space and equipment, telephone facilities, and personnel as may be reasonably necessary or beneficial in order to provide such services to Contract Owners.
          (c) The Company will furnish to the Distributor, the Fund, or their designees such information as the Distributor may reasonably request, and will otherwise cooperate with the Distributor in the preparation of reports to the Fund’s Board of Directors concerning this Agreement, as well as any other reports or filings that may be required by law.
     2. Maintenance of Records. The Company shall maintain and preserve all records as required by law to be maintained and preserved in connection with providing the services herein. Upon the reasonable request of Distributor or the Fund, Company shall provide Distributor, the Funds, or the representative of either, copies of all such records.

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     3. Fees. In consideration of the Company’s performance of the services described in this Agreement, Distributor shall pay to the Company a quarterly fee (“Servicing Fee”) based on the percentage per annum set forth on Exhibit A applied to the aggregate average daily net
assets of the Portfolios held by or on behalf of Contract Owners. The Company agrees that the Distributor has no obligation to pay the Servicing Fee, and waives the right to receive Payment of the Servicing Fee, until the Distributor receives payment of the Servicing Fee from the Fund. No fees provided for any 12b-1 related agreement by and between the Distributor and the Company or any of its affiliates shall be due or payable by the Distributor with respect to the services provided by Company pursuant to this Agreement.
     Distributor will calculate the fee at the end of each calendar quarter and will make such payment to the Company, upon invoice from the Company, within thirty (30) days thereafter. Such payments will be accompanied by a statement showing the calculation of the amounts being paid by Distributor and such other supporting data as may be reasonably requested by the Company.
     Payment of fees under this Agreement shall be made to Company in accordance with Company procedures. Company may amend such procedures and in the event of such amendment will provide sufficient notice to the paying entity.
     4. Representations, Warranties and Agreements.
     The Company represents, warrants, and covenants that if required by applicable law, the Company will disclose to each Contract Owner the existence of the Servicing Fee received by the Company pursuant to this Agreement in a form consistent with the requirements of applicable law.
     The Distributor represents and warrants that it is a broker-dealer registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and it is authorized by the Fund’s Board of Directors to enter into this Agreement.
     5. Termination.
     (a) Unless sooner terminated with respect to any Portfolio, this Agreement will continue with respect to a Portfolio only if the continuance of a form of this Agreement is specifically approved at least annually by the vote of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Fund and by a majority of all the members of the Board who are not “interested persons” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the 12b-1 Plan relating to such Portfolio or any agreement relating to such 12b-1 Plan, including this Agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.
     (b) This Agreement will automatically terminate with respect to a Portfolio in the event of its assignment (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) with respect to such Portfolio. This Agreement may be terminated with respect to any Portfolio by the Distributor or by the Company, without penalty, upon sixty (60) days’ prior written notice to the other party. This Agreement may also be terminated with respect to any Portfolio at any time without penalty by the vote of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Fund who are not “interested persons” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) and who have no direct or indirect financial interest in the 12b-1 Plan relating to such Portfolio or any agreement relating to such

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Plan, including this Agreement, or by a vote of a majority of the A Shares of such Portfolio on 60 days’ written notice.
     (c) In addition, either party may terminate this Agreement immediately if at any time it is determined by any federal or state regulatory authority that compensation to be paid under this Agreement is in violation of or inconsistent with any federal or state law.
     6. Miscellaneous.
     (a) No modification of any provision of this Agreement will be binding unless in writing and executed by the parties. No waiver of any provision of this Agreement will be binding unless in writing and executed by the party granting such waiver.
     (b) This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and assigns; provided, however, that neither this Agreement nor any rights, privileges, duties, or obligations of the parties may be assigned by either party without the written consent of the other party or as expressly contemplated by this Agreement.
     (c) This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, exclusive of conflicts of laws.
     (d) This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
         
MERRILL LYNCH LIFE
INSURANCE COMPANY
   
 
       
By:
  /s/ Lonny J. Olejniczak    
 
       
Name:
  Lonny J. Olejniczak    
 
       
Title:
  President    
 
       
 
       
SELIGMAN ADVISORS, INC.    
 
       
By:
  /s/ Charles W. Kadlec    
 
       
Name:
  Charles W. Kadlec    
 
       
Title:
  President    
 
       

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EXHIBIT A to Shareholders Service Agreement
         
Name of Portfolio   Fee Factor*
All Portfolios of Seligman Small-Cap Value Fund
    0.25 %
(A Shares)
       
 
*   Shall not exceed 0.25%

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