18. | Issuer and Distributor may change the compensation schedules set forth in the attached Exhibits at any time and will notify Broker Dealer of the revised compensation schedules electronically or by other writing in advance of the effective date of the change. Any change to the compensation schedules will affect only commissions payable on Annuity Contracts with an effective date on or after the effective date of the change, unless otherwise provided or required by law. Issuer or Distributor may discontinue the issuance of any form of Annuity Contract and fix the amount of compensation on Annuity Contracts issued in exchange for previously issued Annuity Contracts. |
19. | Broker Dealer agrees to return promptly to Issuer all compensation received for any Annuity Contract returned within the “free look” period as specified in the Annuity Contract. Issuer expressly reserves the right to change the broker dealer of record or Registered Representative in the event an Annuity Contract owner so requests. |
20. | Any indebtedness or obligation of Broker Dealer to Distributor or Issuer, whether arising hereunder or otherwise, shall be set off against any compensation payable under this Agreement or any other agreement between or among the Parties or their affiliates. Indebtedness or obligations include but are not limited to any debt, liability, or debit balance resulting from Issuer’s reversal of compensation under this Agreement or any other agreement between or among the Parties or their affiliates. It also includes any amount paid by Issuer or Distributor, including reasonable attorney fees and costs, to settle a complaint or satisfy any judgment entered by any court, administrative agency or arbitrator related to any Annuity Contract sold by Broker Dealer, or its producers or breach of Broker Dealer’s duties and responsibilities contained in this or any prior Agreement, whether or not the liability for settlement or satisfaction of judgment arose after the termination of this Agreement. Issuer or Distributor reserves the right to use any remedies under the law to collect any indebtedness Broker Dealer owes Issuer or Distributor and Broker Dealer agrees to pay any reasonable attorney’s fees and actual costs of collection incurred as a result of such action. |
Confidentiality
21.a.Confidentiality. Each Party acknowledges that, in the course of performing its duties under this Agreement or otherwise, it may receive or learn information about individuals who have applied for or purchased financial products or financial services from the other Party, including, but not limited to, personal, financial and/or health information (“Confidential Information”). Each Party agrees that it will not use or disclose to any affiliate or third party, orally or in writing, any Confidential Information of the other Party for any purpose other than the purpose for which the Confidential Information was provided to that Party. Without limiting any of the foregoing, each Party agrees to take all precautions that are reasonably necessary to protect the security of the other Party’s Confidential Information. Each Party agrees to restrict access to the other Party’s Confidential Information to those employees who need to know that information to perform their duties under this Agreement. Each Party further agrees that, upon request of the other Party, it will return to the Party making such request all tangible items containing any Confidential Information of the other Party, including all copies, abstractions and compilations thereof, without retaining any copies of the items required to be returned. The obligations of this paragraph extend to the employees, agents, affiliates and contractors of each Party and each Party shall inform such persons of their obligations hereunder.
21.b.Notification obligation. Each Party shall, upon learning of any unauthorized disclosure or use of any of the other Party’s Confidential Information, notify the other Party promptly and cooperate fully with such Party to protect such Confidential Information.
21.c.Disclosure required by law. If Broker Dealer believes it is required by law or by a subpoena or court order to disclose any Confidential Information, Broker Dealer, prior to any disclosure, shall promptly notify Issuer in writing attaching a copy of the subpoena, court order or other demand and shall make all reasonable efforts to allow Issuer an opportunity to seek a protective order or other judicial relief.
21.d.Non-restricted information. Except as stated in the final sentence of this paragraph, nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to restrict disclosure or use of information that: (a) was in the possession of or rightfully known by the recipient, without an obligation to maintain its confidentiality, prior to receipt from the other Party; (b) is or becomes generally known to the public without violation of this Agreement; (c) is obtained by the recipient in good faith from a third party having the right to disclose it without an obligation of confidentiality; (d) is independently developed by the receiving Party without the participation of individuals who have had access to the other Party’s confidential or proprietary information. The Parties acknowledge that certain laws governing Confidential Information about individuals are more restrictive than the foregoing statements and they agree to comply in all respects with such laws.
21.e.Compliance with law. Each Party agrees, in connection with its performance under this Agreement, to comply with all applicable laws, including but not limited to laws protecting the privacy of non-public personal information about individuals.