Document:

Exhibit 10.4

 Exhibit 10.4 
  
 EXPENSE AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT 
  
 This Expense and Indemnity Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of [·], by and between GE Life and Annuity Assurance Company, a stock life insurance company operating under a charter granted by the Commonwealth of Virginia (“GELAAC”), and
SunTrust Bank, as custodian (the “Custodian”). 
  
 WHEREAS, in consideration of the Custodian’s services to each Trust created in connection with the Program and pursuant to the Program Documents, GELAAC hereby agrees to the following compensation arrangements and terms of indemnity.

  
 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and
obligations set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, each party hereby agrees as follows: 
  
 ARTICLE I 
 DEFINITIONS 
  
 Section 1.01 Definitions. All
capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein will have the meanings set forth in the Standard Indenture Terms attached as Exhibit 4.1 to Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-128718) filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “Commission”) by GELAAC on September 30, 2005, as amended by Amendment No. 1 filed with the Commission on December 8, 2005. The following terms, as used herein, have the following meanings: 
  
 “Excluded Amounts” means (i) any obligation of any
Trust to make any payment to any Holder in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture or such Trust’s Notes, (ii) any obligation or expense of any Trust to the extent that such obligation or expense has actually been paid
utilizing funds available to such Trust from payments under the applicable Funding Agreement, (iii) any cost, loss, damage, claim, action, suit, expense, disbursement, tax, penalty or liability of any kind or nature whatsoever resulting from or
relating to any insurance regulatory or other governmental authority asserting that (a) any Trust’s Notes are, or are deemed to be, (1) participations in the applicable Funding Agreement or (2) contracts of insurance, or
(b) the offer, purchase, sale and/or transfer of any Trust’s Notes and/or the pledge and collateral assignment of the applicable Funding Agreement by any Trust to the Indenture Trustee on behalf of the Holders of such Trust’s Notes
(1) constitutes the conduct of the business of insurance or reinsurance in any jurisdiction or (2) requires such Trust or any Holder of such Trust’s Notes to be licensed as an insurer, insurance agent or broker in any jurisdiction,
(iv) any cost, loss, damage, claim, action, suit, expense, disbursement, tax, penalty or liability of any kind or nature whatsoever imposed on the Custodian that results from the bad faith, willful misconduct or negligence of the Custodian,
(v) any costs and expenses attributable solely to the Custodian’s administrative overhead unrelated to the Program, as reasonably determined by the Custodian, (vi) any tax imposed on fees paid to the Custodian, (vii) any
withholding taxes imposed on or with respect of payments made under the applicable Funding Agreement, the applicable Indenture or a Trust’s Note and (viii) any Additional Amounts paid to any Holder. 

 “Fees” means the fees agreed to between GELAAC and the Custodian as set forth in the fee
schedule attached as Exhibit A to this Agreement. 
  
 “Obligation” means any and all (i) costs and expenses reasonably incurred (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) relating to the offering, sale or issuance of any Notes by any Trust under the Program
or the safekeeping of any Collateral and (ii) costs, expenses and taxes of each Trust; provided, however, that Obligations do not include Excluded Amounts. 
  

ARTICLE II 
 SERVICES AND FEES 
  
 Section 2.01 Fees. GELAAC hereby agrees to pay the Custodian its
Fees. Such Fees may be subject to amendment in the event of a substantive change in the nature of the Custodian’s duties under the Program, as may be agreed to in writing from time to time by the Custodian and GELAAC. 
  
 Section 2.02 Payment of Obligations. 
  
 (a) In the event that the Custodian delivers written notice and evidence,
reasonably satisfactory to GELAAC, of any Obligation of the Custodian, GELAAC shall, upon receipt of such notice, promptly pay such Obligation. Notice of any Obligation (including any invoices) should be sent to GELAAC at its address set forth in
Section 4.04, or at such other address as such party shall hereafter furnish in writing. 
  
 (b) At the written request of GELAAC, the Custodian will (i) from time to time execute all such instruments and other agreements and take all such other actions as may be necessary or desirable, or that GELAAC
may reasonably request in writing, to protect any interest of GELAAC with respect to any Obligation or to enable GELAAC to exercise or enforce any right, interest or remedy it may have with respect to any such Obligation and (ii) release to
GELAAC any amount received from GELAAC relating to any Obligation or any portion of any Obligation, immediately after any such amount relating to such Obligation, or any portion of any such Obligation, is otherwise received by the Custodian from a
party other than GELAAC. 
  
 (c) GELAAC and the Custodian hereby
agree that all payments due under this Agreement in respect of any Obligation shall be effected, and any responsibility of GELAAC to pay such Obligation pursuant to this Agreement shall be discharged, by the payment by GELAAC to the account of the
person to whom such Obligation is owed. 
  
 ARTICLE III 

INDEMNIFICATION 
  
 Section 3.01 Indemnification. Subject to the remaining sections of this Article III, GELAAC covenants to fully indemnify and defend the
Custodian, its executive officers, directors and employees (each, an “Indemnified Person”) for, and to hold them harmless against, any and all loss, liability, claim, damage or reasonable expense (including the reasonable
compensation, expenses and disbursements of its counsel) arising out of the acceptance by the Custodian, in its capacity as Custodian, of the performance of its duties and/or the exercise of its respective rights under the Custodial Agreement,
including the reasonable costs and expenses of 

  

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defending itself against or investigating any claim of liability in the premises, except to the extent such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense arises
out of or is related to the bad faith, misconduct or negligence of the Custodian. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, GELAAC shall have no obligation to indemnify or defend the Custodian for any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense
relating to (i) any costs and expenses attributable solely to the Custodian’s administrative overhead unrelated to the Program, as reasonably determined by the Custodian or (ii) any tax imposed on the Fees paid to the Custodian.

  
 Section 3.02 Proceedings. An Indemnified Person
shall give prompt written notice to GELAAC of any action, suit or proceeding commenced or threatened against the Indemnified Person. In case any such action, suit or proceeding shall be brought involving an Indemnified Person, GELAAC may, in its
sole discretion, elect to assume the defense of the Indemnified Person, and, if it so elects, GELAAC shall, in consultation with such Indemnified Person, select counsel, reasonably acceptable to the Indemnified Person, to represent the Indemnified
Person and pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. In any such action, investigation or proceeding, the Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel but GELAAC shall not be obligated to pay the fees and
disbursements of such counsel unless (i) GELAAC and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel, (ii) the named parties to any such action, investigation or proceeding (including any impleaded
parties) include both GELAAC and the Indemnified Person and the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably and in good faith concluded that representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing
interests between them or (iii) GELAAC fails, within ten (10) days prior to the date the first response or appearance is required to be made in any such proceeding, to assume the defense of such proceeding with counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; provided that GELAAC has received written notice of such action, investigation or proceeding at least sixty (60) days prior to the date the first response or appearance is required to be made. It is
understood that GELAAC shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons.

  
 Section 3.03 Contribution. Solely to the extent,
if any, that the indemnification provided for herein is finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, in whole or in part, in accordance with its terms, then GELAAC shall contribute to the amount paid or
payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of such liability in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by GELAAC, on one hand, and the Custodian, on the other hand, from the transactions contemplated by the
Program Documents. For this purpose, the benefits received by GELAAC shall be the aggregate value of the relevant Collateral, and the benefits received by the Custodian shall be the Fees it has been paid up to that point, as the Custodian, less
costs and unreimbursed expenses incurred by it, as Custodian, in relation to such Collateral. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding two sentences is not permitted by applicable law, then GELAAC shall contribute to such
amount paid or payable by the Indemnified Person in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of GELAAC, on the one hand, and the Custodian, on the other hand, in connection with the
actions or omissions which resulted in such liability. 
  

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 Section 3.04 Subrogation. GELAAC shall be subrogated to any right of the Indemnified Person
in respect of the matter as to which any indemnity was paid hereunder. 
  
 Section 3.05 Settlement. The Indemnified Person may not settle any action, investigation or proceeding without the consent of GELAAC, not to be unreasonably withheld. 
  
 Section 3.06 Survival. Notwithstanding any provision contained herein to the contrary, the obligations of GELAAC
under this Article III to any Indemnified Person shall survive the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 4.03. 
  
 Section 3.07 General. The indemnification provided for herein supersedes in all respects any indemnification provision contained in any other
Program Document to which the Custodian is or becomes a party. 
  
 ARTICLE IV 
 MISCELLANEOUS 
  
 Section 4.01 Waiver. No waiver, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be valid unless executed in writing by the parties hereto.

  
 Section 4.02 Governing Law. This Agreement shall
be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without regard to conflicts of laws principles. 
  
 Section 4.03 Termination. This Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and effect upon the date on which (i) there are no
Fees and there is no Obligation (other than any Obligation directly related to the indemnification obligations of GELAAC set forth in Article III hereof) due and payable under this Agreement and (ii) each Program Document has terminated;
provided, however, that this Agreement shall continue to be effective or shall be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time the Custodian must restore payment of any sums paid under any Obligation or under this Agreement for any
reason whatsoever. This Agreement is continuing, irrevocable, unconditional and absolute. 
  
 Section 4.04 Notices. All notices, demands, instructions and other communications required or permitted to be given to or made upon either party hereto shall be in writing (including by facsimile
transmission) and shall be personally delivered or sent by guaranteed overnight delivery or by facsimile transmission (to be followed by personal or guaranteed overnight delivery) and shall be deemed to be given for purposes of this Agreement on the
day that such writing is received by the intended recipient thereof in accordance with the provisions of this Section 4.04. Unless otherwise specified in a notice sent or delivered in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this
Section 4.04, notices, demands, instructions and other communications in writing shall be given to or made upon the respective parties thereto at their respective addresses (or their respective facsimile numbers) indicated below: 
  
 To the Custodian: 
  
 SunTrust Bank 
 919 East Main Street 
 Richmond, Virginia
23219 
 Attention: Retirement Services 
 Facsimile: (804) 782-7439 
  

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 To GELAAC: 
  
 GE Life and Annuity Assurance Company 
 6610
West Broad Street 
 Richmond, Virginia 23230 
 Attention: Treasury, Building 1 
 Facsimile: (804) 662-7777 
  
 with a copy to: 
  
 GE Life and Annuity Assurance Company 
 6610 West Broad Street 
 Richmond, Virginia
23230 
 Attention: Heather Harker, Esq. 
 Facsimile: (804) 281-6005 
  
 Section 4.06
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (including by facsimile transmission), each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original, but all of such counterparts shall together constitute one and the
same instrument. 
  
 Section 4.07 Change of Name.
Effective as of January 1, 2006, all references herein to “GE Life and Annuity Assurance Company” or “GELAAC” shall be changed to “Genworth Life and Annuity Insurance Company” or “GLAIC”, respectively.

  
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 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Expense and Indemnity Agreement by their duly
authorized officers as of the date hereof. 
  

			
	GE LIFE AND ANNUITY ASSURANCE COMPANY
		
	 By:
	 	  

	 Name:
	 	 
	 Title:
	 	 
		
	 By:
	 	  

	 Name:
	 	 
	 Title:
	 	 
	
	 SUNTRUST BANK

		
	 By:
	 	  

	 Name:
	 	 
	 Title:
	 	 

  

 6 

 Exhibit ALetter of Commitment received by Bank of America

 Exhibit 10.1 
  
 

 
  
 December 2,
2005 
  
 Mr. Bob Fugate, Chief Financial
Officer 
 Cbeyond Communications, LLC 
 320 Interstate North Parkway 
 Suite 300 
 Atlanta, GA 30339 
  

	Re:	Commitment Letter - $25,000,000 Senior Secured Credit Facilities 

  
 Dear Mr. Fugate: 
  
 Bank of America, N.A. (“Bank of America”) is pleased to offer its commitment for $25,000,000 Senior Secured Credit Facilities (the “Facilities”) to
Cbeyond Communications, LLC (the “Borrower”), upon and subject to the terms and conditions of this letter and the Summary of Terms and Conditions attached hereto (the “Summary of Terms”). 
  
 The commitment of Bank of America hereunder is subject to the satisfaction of each of the
following conditions precedent in a manner acceptable to us in our sole discretion: (a) each of the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Summary of Terms; (b) the completion of all due diligence with respect to the Borrower in
scope and determination satisfactory to us in our sole discretion; (c) the absence of a material breach of any representation, warranty or agreement of the Borrower set forth herein; (d) the negotiation, execution and delivery of
definitive documentation for the Facilities consistent with the Summary of Terms and otherwise satisfactory to us; (e) no change, occurrence or development that could, in our opinion, have a material adverse effect on the business, assets,
liabilities (actual or contingent), operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower shall have occurred or become known to us; and (f) our not becoming aware after the date hereof of any information or other matter
which in our judgment is inconsistent in a material and adverse manner with any information or other matter disclosed to us prior to the date hereof. 
  
 You hereby represent, warrant and covenant that all information which has been or is hereafter made available to us by you or any of your representatives in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby (the “Information”) is and will be complete and correct in all material respects and does not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
to make the statements contained therein not misleading. You agree to furnish us with such information and projections as we may reasonably request and to supplement such information and projections from time to time until the closing date for the
Facilities so that the representation, warranty and covenant in the preceding sentence is correct on such closing date. 
  
 By acceptance of this offer, the Borrower agrees to pay all reasonable out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, the
allocated cost of internal counsel and due diligence expenses) incurred before or after the date hereof by us in connection with the Facilities. 
  
 This letter and the attached Summary of Terms contain confidential and proprietary loan structuring and pricing information. Except for disclosure on a confidential basis
to your accountants, attorneys and other professional advisors retained by you in connection with the Facilities or as may be required by law, the contents of this letter and the Summary of Terms may not be disclosed in whole or in part to any other
person or entity without our prior written consent. 

 Cbeyond Communications, Inc. 
 December 2, 2005 
 Page 2 
  
 The provisions of the immediately
preceding two paragraphs shall remain in full force and effect regardless of whether any definitive documentation for the Facilities shall be executed and notwithstanding the termination of this letter or any commitment or undertaking hereunder.

  
 This letter shall be governed by laws of the State of New York. Each of us
hereby irrevocably waives all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based on contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of or relating to this letter, the Summary of Terms, the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby or the actions of Bank of America in the negotiation, performance or enforcement hereof. 
  
 This letter, together with the Summary of Terms, are the only agreements that have been entered into among us with respect to the Facilities and set forth the entire understanding of the parties with respect thereto.
There are no separate oral agreements or verbal commitments between the parties. This letter may be modified or amended only by the written agreement of all of us. This letter is not assignable by the Borrower without our prior written consent and
is intended to be solely for the benefit of the parties hereto. 
  
 This offer
will expire December 5, 2005 unless you execute this letter and return it to us prior to that time, together with any fees due and payable pursuant to the Agreement Regarding Fees dated as of the date hereof (the “Fee Letter”),
whereupon this letter shall become a binding agreement. Thereafter, this undertaking and commitment will expire on December 31, 2005 unless definitive documentation for the Facilities is executed and delivered prior to such date. 
  
 We are pleased to have the opportunity to work with you in
connection with this important financing. 
  
 Very truly yours, 
  
 BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. 
  

			
	By:	 	 /s/ Thomas M. Paulk

	 	 	Thomas M. Paulk
	 	 	Vice President

  
 BORROWER 
 Cbeyond Communications, LLC 
  

			
	By:	 	 /s/ J. Robert Fugate

	Title:	 	 Chief Financial Officer

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