Anti-Corruption Compliance (a) Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries, nor to the knowledge of the Company, any of their directors or officers, any of the Company or its Subsidiaries’ respective, employees, agents, Representatives or other Persons acting for or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has, in the past four (4) years: (i) made any bribe, influence payment, kickback, payoff, benefits or any other type of payment (whether tangible or intangible) that would be unlawful under any applicable anti-bribery or anticorruption (governmental or commercial) laws (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any guiding, detailing or implementing regulations), including Laws that prohibit the corrupt payment, offer, promise or authorization of the payment or transfer of anything of value (including gifts or entertainment), directly or indirectly, to any Government Official or commercial entity to obtain a business advantage such as Anti-Bribery Laws; (ii) been in violation of any Anti-Bribery Law, offered, paid, promised to pay, or authorized any payment or transfer of anything of value, directly or indirectly, to any person for the purpose of (A) influencing any act or decision of any Government Official in his official capacity, (B) inducing a Government Official to do or omit to do any act in relation to his lawful duty, (C) securing any improper advantage, (D) inducing a Government Official to influence or affect any act, decision or omission of any Governmental Authority, or (E) assisting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any agent or any other Person acting for or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in obtaining or retaining business for or with, or in directing business to, any Person; or (iii) accepted or received any contributions, payments, gifts, or expenditures that would be unlawful under any Anti-Bribery Law.
(b) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has instituted and maintains policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance in all material respects with the Anti-Bribery Laws.
(c) As of the date hereof, to the knowledge of the Company, there are no current or pending internal investigations, or third-party investigations (including by any Governmental Authority), or internal or external audits, that address any material allegations or information concerning possible material violations of the Anti-Bribery Laws related to the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries.
Civil Rights Compliance The parties to this Agreement are responsible for the following:
Anti-Bribery Compliance The Parties hereby acknowledge the importance of combating and preventing bribery and to that end both Parties agree to comply fully with all applicable laws, regulations and sanctions relating to anti-bribery and anti-corruption.
STUDENT DISCIPLINE AND TEACHER PROTECTION A. The Board recognizes its responsibility to give all reasonable support and assistance to teachers with respect to the maintenance of control and discipline in the classroom. Whenever it appears that a particular pupil requires the attention of special counselors, social workers, law enforcement personnel, physicians, or other professional persons, the principal shall be notified. The Board feels that the teacher and the specialists indicated above should work together to improve the case.
B. It is recognized that discipline problems are less likely to occur in classes where a high level of student interest is maintained. It is likewise recognized that when discipline problems occur, they may most constructively be dealt with by encouragement, praise and emphasis upon a child’s desirable characteristics. A teacher may use such force as is necessary, according to the law, to protect himself/herself from attack or to prevent injury to another student.
C. A teacher may ask the principal to exclude a pupil from class when the grossness of the offense, the persistence of the misbehavior, or the disruptive effect of the violation makes the continued presence of the student in the classroom intolerable. In such cases, the teacher will furnish the principal, as promptly as his/her teaching obligations will allow, full particulars of the incident in writing.
D. Procedure for suspension of students from school shall be distributed to students and teachers each year.
E. Any case of assault upon a teacher while on duty should be promptly reported to the Board or its designated representative. The Board will provide legal counsel to advise the teacher of his/her rights and obligations with respect to such assault and shall promptly render all reasonable assistance to the teacher in connection with handling of the incident by law enforcement and judicial authorities.
F. If any teacher is complained against or sued as a result of any action taken by the teacher while in pursuit of his/her employment, the Board may provide legal counsel and render all necessary assistance to the teacher in his/her defense.
G. Time lost by a teacher in connection with any incident mentioned in this Article shall not be charged against the teacher.
X. The Board will reimburse teachers for any loss, damages or destruction of clothing or personal property of the teacher while on duty in the school or on school premises in those cases where the school could have reasonably prevented the loss.
I. No action shall be taken upon any complaint by a parent of the student directed toward the teacher nor shall any notice thereof be included in said teacher’s personnel file unless such matter is promptly reported in writing to the teacher concerned.
J. Teachers shall be expected to exercise reasonable care with respect to the safety of pupils and property, but shall not be individually liable, except in the case of gross neglect of duty, for any damage or loss to person or property.
Potential Conflicts and Compliance With Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order 7.1. The Board of Trustees 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 Portfolio is being managed; (e) a difference in voting instructions given by variable annuity contract and variable life insurance contract owners or by contract owners of different Participating Insurance Companies; or (f) a decision by a Participating Insurance Company to disregard the voting instructions of Contract owners. The Board shall promptly inform the Company if it determines that an irreconcilable material conflict exists and the implications thereof.
7.2. The Company will report any potential or existing conflicts of which it is aware to the Board. The Company will assist the Board in carrying out its responsibilities under the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order, 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 by the Company to inform the Board whenever Contract owner voting instructions are to be disregarded. Such responsibilities shall be carried out by the Company with a view only to the interests of its Contract owners.
7.3. If it is determined by a majority of the Board, or a majority of its directors who are not interested persons of the Fund, the Distributor, the Adviser or any subadviser to any of the Portfolios (the “Independent Directors”), that a material irreconcilable conflict exists, the Company and other Participating Insurance Companies shall, at their expense and to the extent reasonably practicable (as determined by a majority of the Independent Directors), take whatever steps are necessary to remedy or eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict, up to and including: (1) withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the separate accounts from the Fund or any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a different investment medium, including (but not limited to) another Portfolio, or submitting the question 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. The Company’s responsibility to take remedial action shall be carried out by the Company with a view only to the interests of Contract owners.
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 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 the foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the Independent Directors. Any such withdrawal and termination must take place within six (6) months after the Fund gives written notice that this provision is being implemented, and until the end of that six-month period the Adviser, the Distributor and the Fund shall continue to accept and implement orders by the Company for the purchase (and redemption) of shares of the Fund, subject to the terms of the Fund’s then-current prospectus.
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 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 the foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the Independent Directors. Until the end of the foregoing six-month period, the Fund shall continue to accept and implement orders by the Company for the purchase (and redemption) of shares of the Fund, subject to the terms of the Fund’s then-current prospectus.
7.6. For purposes of Sections 7.3 through 7.5 of this Agreement, a majority of the Independent Directors 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 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 Independent Directors.
7.7. 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 Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order) on terms and conditions materially different from those contained in the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order, then (a) the Fund 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: and (b) Sections 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 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.
CERTIFICATION PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION AGAINST FIREARM AND AMMUNITION INDUSTRIES (Texas law as of September 1, 2021) By submitting a proposal to this Solicitation, you certify that you agree, when it is applicable, to the following required by Texas law as of September 1, 2021: If (a) company is not a sole proprietorship; (b) company has at least ten (10) full-time employees; (c) this contract has a value of at least $100,000 that is paid wholly or partly from public funds; (d) the contract is not excepted under Tex. Gov’t Code § 2274.003 of SB 19 (87th leg.); and (e) governmental entity has determined that company is not a sole-source provider or governmental entity has not received any bids from a company that is able to provide this written verification, the following certification shall apply; otherwise, this certification is not required. Pursuant to Tex. Gov’t Code Ch. 2274 of SB 19 (87th session), the company hereby certifies and verifies that the company, or association, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, or limited liability company, including a wholly owned subsidiary, majority-owned subsidiary parent company, or affiliate of these entities or associations, that exists to make a profit, does not have a practice, policy, guidance, or directive that discriminates against a firearm entity or firearm trade association and will not discriminate during the term of this contract against a firearm entity or firearm trade association. For purposes of this contract, “discriminate against a firearm entity or firearm trade association” shall mean, with respect to the entity or association, to: “
(1) refuse to engage in the trade of any goods or services with the entity or association based solely on its status as a firearm entity or firearm trade association; (2) refrain from continuing an existing business relationship with the entity or association based solely on its status as a firearm entity or firearm trade association; or (3) terminate an existing business relationship with the entity or association based solely on its status as a firearm entity or firearm trade association. See Tex. Gov’t Code § 2274.001(3) of SB 19. “Discrimination against a firearm entity or firearm trade association” does not include: “
(1) the established policies of a merchant, retail seller, or platform that restrict or prohibit the listing or selling of ammunition, firearms, or firearm accessories; and (2) a company’s refusal to engage in the trade of any goods or services, decision to refrain from continuing an existing business relationship, or decision to terminate an existing business relationship to comply with federal, state, or local law, policy, or regulations or a directive by a regulatory agency, or for any traditional business reason that is specific to the customer or potential customer and not based solely on an entity’s or association’s status as a firearm entity or firearm trade association.” See Tex. Gov’t Code § 2274.001(3) of SB 19.
Opinion of General Counsel of the Company The General Counsel of the Company, shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, a written opinion, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives and substantially in the form previously agreed by the parties hereto.
Certification of Compliance with the Energy Policy and Conservation Act When appropriate and to the extent consistent with the law, Vendor certifies that it will comply with the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6321 et seq; 49 C.F.R. Part 18) and any mandatory standards and policies relating to energy efficiency which are contained in applicable state energy conservation plans issued in compliance with the Act. Does Vendor agree? Yes
Cooperation on forestry matters and environmental protection 1. The aims of cooperation on forestry matters and environmental protection will be, but not limited to, as follows: (a) establishing bilateral cooperation relations in the forestry sector; (b) developing a training program and studies for sustainable management of forests; (c) improving the rehabilitation and sustainable management of forest with the aim of increasing carbon sinks and reduce the impact of climate change in the Asia-Pacific region; (d) cooperating on the execution of national projects, aimed at: improving the management of forest plantations for its transformation for industrial purposes and environmental protection; (e) elaborating studies on sustainable use of timber; (f) developing new technologies for the transformation and processing of timber and non-timber species; and (g) improving cooperation in agro-forestry technologies.
2. To achieve the objectives of the Article 149 (Objectives), the Parties may focus, as a means of cooperation and negotiations on concluding a bilateral agreement on forestry cooperation between the two Parties. Such collaboration will be as follows: (a) exchanges on science and technology as well as policies and laws relating the sustainable use of forest resources; (b) cooperation in training programs, internships, exchange of experts and projects advisory; (c) advice and technical assistance to public institutions and organizations of the Parties on sustainable use of forest resources and environmental protection; (d) facilitating forest policy dialogue and technical cooperation under the Network of Sustainable Forest Management and Forest Rehabilitation in Asia- Pacific Region, initiated at the 15th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Meeting; (e) encouraging joint studies, working visits, exchange of experiences, among others; and (f) others activities mutually agreed.
Proxies and Notices; Compliance with the Shareholders Communication Act of 1985 The Custodian shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the appropriate Fund all forms of proxies, all notices of meetings, and any other notices or announcements affecting or relating to Securities owned by such Fund that are received by the Custodian, any Subcustodian, or any nominee of either of them, and, upon receipt of Instructions, the Custodian shall execute and deliver, or cause such Subcustodian or nominee to execute and deliver, such proxies or other authorizations as may be required. Except as directed pursuant to Instructions, neither the Custodian nor any Subcustodian or nominee shall vote upon any such Securities, or execute any proxy to vote thereon, or give any consent or take any other action with respect thereto. The Custodian will not release the identity of any Fund to an issuer which requests such information pursuant to the Shareholder Communications Act of 1985 for the specific purpose of direct communications between such issuer and any such Fund unless a particular Fund directs the Custodian otherwise in writing.
