EXHIBIT 3(b)(iv)
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
AMONG
AMERICAN GENERAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY,
AMERICAN GENERAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED,
NAVELLIER VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND, INC.
AND
NAVELLIER & ASSOCIATES, INC.
DATED AS OF
_________, 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
----
ARTICLE I. Fund Shares................................... 4
ARTICLE II. Representations and Warranties................ 6
ARTICLE III. Prospectuses, Reports to Shareholders......... 8
and Proxy Statements, Voting
ARTICLE IV. Sales Material and Information................ 12
ARTICLE V. [Reserved].................................... 13
ARTICLE VI. Potential Conflicts........................... 13
ARTICLE VII. Indemnification............................... 15
ARTICLE VIII. Applicable Law................................ 18
ARTICLE IX. Termination................................... 19
ARTICLE X. Notices....................................... 21
ARTICLE XI. Foreign Tax Credits........................... 22
ARTICLE XII. Miscellaneous................................. 22
SCHEDULE A Portfolios of Navellier Variable
Insurance Series Fund, Inc. Available
for Purchase by American General Life
Insurance Company Under this Agreement........ 25
SCHEDULE B Separate Accounts and Contracts............... 26
SCHEDULE C Proxy Voting Procedures....................... 27
2
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of the __ day of
_________, 1998 by and among AMERICAN GENERAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
(hereinafter the "Company"), a Texas insurance company, on its own behalf and
on behalf of each separate account of the Company set forth on Schedule B
hereto as may be amended from time to time (each such account hereinafter
referred to as the "Account"), AMERICAN GENERAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
("AGSI"), a Texas corporation, NAVELLIER VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND, INC.
(hereinafter the "Fund"), a Maryland corporation, and NAVELLIER & ASSOCIATES,
INC. (the "Adviser") ____________________, a __________________ corporation.
WHEREAS, the Fund engages in business as an open-end management
investment company and is available to act as (i) the investment vehicle for
separate accounts established by insurance companies for individual and group
life insurance policies and annuity contracts with variable accumulation
and/or pay-out provisions (hereinafter referred to individually and/or
collectively as "Variable Insurance Products") and (ii) the investment vehicle
for certain qualified pension and retirement plans (hereinafter "Qualified
Plans"); and
WHEREAS, insurance companies desiring to utilize the Fund as an
investment vehicle under their Variable Insurance Products are required to
enter into a participation agreement with the Fund and the Adviser (the
"Participating Insurance Companies"); and
WHEREAS, shares of the Fund are divided into several series of shares,
each representing the interest in a particular managed portfolio of securities
and other assets, any one or more of which may be made available for Variable
Insurance Products of Participating Insurance Companies; and
WHEREAS, the Fund intends to offer shares of the series set forth on
Schedule A (each such series hereinafter referred to as a "Portfolio"), as may
be amended from time to time by mutual agreement of the parties hereto, under
this Agreement to the Accounts of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Fund intends to apply for an order from the Securities and
Exchange Commission, granting Participating Insurance Companies and Variable
Insurance Product separate accounts exemptions from the provisions of Sections
9(a), 13(a), 15(a), and 15(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (hereinafter the "1940 Act"), and Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and 6e-
3(T)(b)(15) thereunder, to the extent necessary to permit shares of the Fund
to be sold to and held by Variable Annuity Product separate accounts of both
affiliated and unaffiliated life insurance companies and Qualified Plans
(hereinafter the "Shared Funding Exemptive Order"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the 1940 Act and its shares are registered under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (hereinafter the "1933 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Adviser is duly registered as an investment adviser under
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and any applicable state
securities laws; and
WHEREAS, the Adviser manages certain Portfolios of the Fund; and
3
WHEREAS, Navellier Securities Corp. (the "Underwriter") is registered as
a broker/dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(hereinafter the "1934 Act"), is a member in good standing of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (hereinafter "NASD") and serves as
principal underwriter of the shares of the Fund; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register certain Variable
Insurance Products under the 1933 Act; and
WHEREAS, each Account is a duly organized, validly existing segregated
asset account, established by resolution or under authority of the Board of
Directors of the Company, on the date shown for such Account on Schedule B
hereto, to set aside and invest assets attributable to the aforesaid Variable
Insurance Product; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register each Account as a
unit investment trust under the 1940 Act; and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Company intends to purchase shares in the Portfolios on
behalf of each Account to fund certain of the aforesaid Variable Insurance
Products and the Underwriter is authorized to sell such shares to each such
Account at net asset value; and
WHEREAS, AGSI serves as both the distributor and the principal
underwriter of the Variable Insurance Products that are set forth on Schedule
B;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Company,
AGSI, the Fund, and the Adviser agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. FUND SHARES
1.1. The Fund agrees to make available for purchase by the Company
shares of the Portfolios set forth on Schedule A and shall execute orders
placed for each Account on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed
after receipt by the Fund or its designee of such order. For purposes of this
Section 1.1, the Company shall be the designee of the Fund for receipt of such
orders from each Account and receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt
by the Fund; provided that the Fund receives notice of such order by 10:15
a.m. Eastern time on the next following Business Day. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Company shall use its best efforts to provide the Fund with
notice of such orders by 10:00 a.m. Eastern time on the next following
Business Day. "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 pursuant to the rules of the SEC, as set forth in the Fund's Prospectus
and Statement of Additional Information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Board of Directors of the Fund (hereinafter the "Board") may refuse to permit
the Fund to sell shares of any Portfolio to any person, or suspend or
terminate the offering of shares of any Portfolio, if such action is required
by law or by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction or is, in the sole
discretion of the Board acting in good faith and in light of their fiduciary
duties under federal and any applicable state laws, necessary in the best
interests of the shareholders of such Portfolio.
4
1.2. The Fund agrees that shares of the Fund will be sold only to
Participating Insurance Companies and their Variable Insurance Products and to
certain Qualified Plans all in accordance with the requirements of Section
817(h)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ( the "Code") and
Treasury Regulation 1.817-5. No shares of any Portfolio will be sold to the
general public.
1.3. The Fund will not make its shares available for purchase by any
insurance company or separate account unless an agreement containing
provisions substantially the same as Sections 2.4, 2.9, 3.4 and Article VII of
this Agreement is in effect to govern such sales.
1.4. The Fund agrees to redeem for cash, 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. For purposes of
this Section 1.4, the Company shall be the designee of the Fund for receipt of
requests for redemption from each Account and receipt by such designee shall
constitute receipt by the Fund; provided that the Fund receives notice of such
request for redemption on the next following Business Day in accordance with
the timing rules described in Section 1.1.
1.5. The Company agrees that purchases and redemptions of Portfolio
shares offered by the then current prospectus of the Fund shall be made in
accordance with the provisions of such prospectus. The Accounts of the
Company, under which amounts may be invested in the Fund, are listed on
Schedule B attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, as such
Schedule B may be amended from time to time by mutual written agreement of all
of the parties hereto. The Company will give the Fund and the Adviser sixty
(60) days written notice of its intention to make available in the future, as
a funding vehicle under the Contracts, any other investment company.
1.6. The Company will place separate orders to purchase or redeem
shares of each Portfolio. Each order shall describe the net amount of shares
and dollar amount of each Portfolio to be purchased or redeemed. In the event
of net purchases, the Company shall pay for Portfolio shares on the next
Business Day after an order to purchase Portfolio shares is made in accordance
with the provisions of Section 1.1 hereof. Payment shall be in federal funds
transmitted by wire. In the event of net redemptions, the Portfolio shall pay
the redemption proceeds in federal funds transmitted by wire on the next
Business Day after an order to redeem a Portfolio's shares is made in
accordance with the provision of Section 1.4 hereof. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if the payment of redemption proceeds on the next Business Day
would require the Portfolio to dispose of securities or otherwise incur
substantial additional costs, and if the Portfolio has determined to settle
redemption transactions for all shareholders on a delayed basis, proceeds
shall be wired to the Company within seven (7) days and the Portfolio shall
notify in writing the person designated by the Company as the recipient for
such notice of such delay by 3:00 p.m. Eastern time on the same Business Day
that the Company transmits the redemption order to the Portfolio.
1.7. Issuance and transfer of the Fund's shares will be by book entry
only. Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or any Account.
Shares ordered from the Fund will be recorded in an appropriate title for each
Account or the appropriate subaccount of each Account.
5
1.8. The Fund shall make the dividends or capital gain distributions
payable on the Fund's shares available to the Company as soon as reasonably
practical after the dividends or capital gains are calculated (normally by
6:30 p.m. Eastern time) and shall use its best efforts to furnish same day
notice by 7:00 p.m. Eastern time (by wire or telephone, followed by written
confirmation) to the Company of any dividends or capital gain distributions
payable on the Fund's shares. The Company hereby elects to receive all such
dividends and capital gain distributions as are payable on the Portfolio
shares in additional shares of that Portfolio. The Company reserves the right
to revoke this election and to receive all such 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
Portfolio available to the Company on a daily basis as soon as reasonably
practical after the net asset value per share is calculated (normally by 6:30
p.m. Eastern time) and shall use its best efforts to make such net asset value
per share available by 7:00 p.m. Eastern time. In the event that the Fund is
unable to meet the 7:00 p.m. time stated immediately above, then the Fund
shall provide the Company with additional time to notify the Fund of purchase
or redemption orders pursuant to Sections 1.1 and 1.4, respectively, above.
Such additional time shall be equal to the additional time that the Fund takes
to make the net asset values available to the Company; provided, however, that
notification must be made by 10:15 a.m. Eastern time on the Business Day such
order is to be executed regardless of when the net asset value is made
available.
1.10. If the Fund provides materially incorrect share net asset value
information through no fault of the Company, the Company shall be entitled to
an adjustment with respect to the Fund shares purchased or redeemed to reflect
the correct net asset value per share. The determination of the materiality of
any net asset value pricing error shall be based on the SEC's recommended
guidelines regarding such errors. The correction of any such errors shall be
made at the Company level and shall be made pursuant to the SEC's recommended
guidelines. Any material error in the calculation or reporting of net asset
value per share, dividend or capital gain information shall be reported
promptly upon discovery to the Company.
ARTICLE II. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
2.1. The Company represents and warrants that the interests of the
Accounts (the "Contracts") are or will be registered and will maintain the
registration under the 1933 Act and the regulations thereunder to the extent
required by the 1933 Act; that the Contracts will be issued in compliance in
all material respects with all applicable federal and state laws and
regulations. 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 established each Account prior to any issuance
or sale thereof as a segregated asset account under the Texas Insurance Law
and the regulations thereunder and has registered or, prior to any issuance or
sale of the Contracts, will register and will maintain the registration of
each Account as a unit investment trust in accordance with and to the extent
required by the provisions of the 1940 Act and the regulations thereunder to
serve as a segregated investment account for the Contracts. The Company shall
amend its registration statement for its contracts under the 1933 Act and the
1940 Act from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous
offering of its Contracts.
6
2.2. The Fund represents and warrants that Fund shares sold pursuant to
this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act and the regulations
thereunder to the extent required by the 1933 Act, duly authorized for
issuance in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland and sold in
compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws and
regulations and that the Fund is and shall remain registered under the 1940
Act and the regulations thereunder to the extent required by the 0000 Xxx. The
Fund shall amend the registration statement for its shares under the 1933 Act
and the 1940 Act from time to time as required in order to effect the
continuous offering of its shares. 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.
2.3 The Fund and the Adviser represent that the Fund is currently
qualified as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Code and
that the Fund and the Adviser (with respect to those Portfolios for which such
Adviser acts as investment adviser) will make every effort to maintain such
qualification (under Subchapter M or any successor or similar provision) and
that the Fund or the appropriate Adviser will notify the Company immediately
upon having a reasonable basis for believing that a Portfolio has ceased to so
qualify or that a Portfolio might not so qualify in the future.
2.4. The Company represents that each Account is and will continue to
be a "segregated account" under applicable provisions of the Code and that
each Contract is and will be treated as a "variable contract" under applicable
provisions of the Code and that it will make every effort to maintain such
treatments and that it will notify the Fund immediately upon having a
reasonable basis for believing that the Account or Contract has ceased to be
so treated or that they might not be so treated in the future.
2.5. The Fund represents that to the extent that it decides to finance
distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, the Fund
undertakes to have a board of directors, a majority of whom are not interested
persons of the Fund, formulate and approve any plan under Rule 12b-1 to
finance distribution expenses.
2.6. 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.
2.7. The Fund and the Adviser represent that the Fund is lawfully
organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Maryland and
that the Fund does and will comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act.
2.8. The Adviser and AGSI each represents and warrants that it is and
shall remain duly registered in all material respects under all applicable
federal and state securities laws and that it will perform its obligations for
the Fund and the Company in compliance in all material respects with the laws
and regulations of its state of domicile and any applicable state and federal
securities laws and regulations.
2.9. The Company represents and warrants that all of its trustees,
officers, employees, investment Adviser, and other individuals/entities
dealing with the money and/or securities of the
7
Fund are covered by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage, in an amount
equal to the greater of $5 million or any amount required by applicable
federal or state law or regulation. The aforesaid includes coverage for
larceny and embezzlement is issued by a reputable bonding company. The Company
agrees to make all reasonable efforts to see that this bond or another bond
containing these provisions is always in effect, and agrees to notify the Fund
and the Underwriter in the event that such coverage no longer applies.
ARTICLE III. PROSPECTUSES, REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS AND PROXY STATEMENTS;
VOTING
3.1(a) The Fund or its designee shall provide the Company with as many
printed copies of the Fund's current prospectus, including the profile
prospectus, (the "Fund Prospectus") as the Company may reasonably request. If
requested by the Company, in lieu of providing printed copies of the Fund
Prospectus, the Fund shall provide camera-ready film or computer diskettes
containing the Fund Prospectus and such other assistance as is reasonably
necessary in order for the Company once each year (or more frequently if the
Fund Prospectus is amended during the year) to have the prospectus for the
Contracts (the "Contract Prospectus") and the Fund Prospectus printed together
in one document or separately. The Company may elect to print the Fund
Prospectus in combination with other fund companies' prospectuses. For
purposes hereof, any combined prospectus including the Fund Prospectus along
with the Contract Prospectus or prospectus of other fund companies shall be
referred to as a "Combined Prospectus." For purposes hereof, the term "Fund
Portion of the Combined Prospectus" shall refer to the percentage of the
number of Fund Prospectus pages in the Combined Prospectus in relation to the
total number of pages of the Combined Prospectus.
3.1(b) The Fund shall provide the Company with as many printed copies of
the Fund's current statement of additional information (the "Fund SAI") as the
Company may reasonably request. If requested by the Company in lieu of
providing printed copies of the Fund SAI, the Fund shall provide camera-ready
film or computer diskettes containing the Fund SAI, and such other assistance
as is reasonably necessary in order for the Company once each year (or more
frequently if the Fund SAI is amended during the year) to have the statement
of additional information for the Contracts (the "Contract SAI") and the Fund
SAI printed together or separately. The Company may also elect to print the
Fund SAI in combination with other fund companies' statements of additional
information. For purposes hereof, any combined statement of additional
information including the Fund SAI along with the Contract SAI or statement of
additional information of other fund companies shall be referred to as a
"Combined SAI." For purposes hereof, the term "Fund Portion of the Combined
SAI" shall refer to the percentage of the number of Fund SAI pages in the
Combined SAI in relation to the total number of pages of the Combined SAI.
3.1(c) The Fund shall provide the Company with as many printed copies of
the Fund's annual report and semi-annual report (collectively, the "Fund
Reports") as the Company may reasonably request. If requested by the Company
in lieu of providing printed copies of the Fund Reports, the Fund shall
provide camera-ready film or computer diskettes containing the Fund's Reports,
and such other assistance as is reasonably necessary in order for the Company
once each year to have the annual report and semi-annual report for the
Contracts (collectively, the "Contract Reports") and the Fund Reports printed
together or separately. The Company may also elect to print the Fund Reports
in combination with other fund companies' annual reports and semi-annual
reports. For purposes
8
hereof, any combined annual reports and semi-annual reports including the Fund
Reports along with the Contract Reports or annual reports and semi-annual
reports of other fund companies shall be referred to as "Combined Reports."
For purposes hereof, the term "Fund Portion of the Combined Reports" shall
refer to the percentage of the number of Fund Reports pages in the Combined
Reports in relation to the total number or pages of the Combined Reports.
3.2 EXPENSES
3.2(a) EXPENSES BORNE BY COMPANY. Except as otherwise provided in this
Section 3.2., all expenses of preparing, setting in type and printing and
distributing (i) Contract Prospectuses, Fund Prospectuses, and Combined
Prospectuses; (ii) Fund SAIs, Contract SAIs, and Combined SAIs; (iii) Fund
Reports, Contract Reports, and Combined Reports, and (iv) Contract proxy
material that the Company may require in sufficient quantity to be sent to
Contract owners, annuitants, or participants under Contracts (collectively,
the "Participants"), shall be the expense of the Company.
3.2(b) EXPENSES BORNE BY FUND
FUND PROSPECTUSES
With respect to existing Participants, the Fund shall pay the cost of
setting in type, printing and distributing Fund Prospectuses made available by
the Company to such existing Participants in order to update disclosure as
required by the 1933 Act and/or the 1940 Act. With respect to existing
Participants, in the event the Company elects to prepare a Combined
Prospectus, the Fund shall pay the cost of setting in type, printing and
distributing the Fund Portion of the Combined Prospectus made available by the
Company to its existing Participants in order to update disclosure as required
by the 1933 Act and/or the 1940 Act. In such event, the Fund shall bear the
cost of typesetting to provide the Fund Prospectus to the Company in the
format in which the Fund is accustomed to formatting prospectus.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Fund pay for any such
costs that exceed by more than five (5) percent what the Fund would have paid
to print such documents. The Fund shall not pay any costs of typesetting,
printing and distributing the Fund Prospectus (or Combined Prospectus, if
applicable) to prospective Participants.
FUND SAIS, FUND REPORTS AND PROXY MATERIAL
With respect to existing Participants, the Fund shall pay the cost of
setting in type and printing Fund SAIs, Fund Reports and Fund proxy material
made available by the Company to its existing Participants. With respect to
existing Participants, in the event the Company elects to prepare a Combined
SAI or Combined Reports, the Fund shall pay the cost of setting in type and
printing the Fund Portion of the Combined SAI or Combined Reports,
respectively, made available by the Company to its existing Participants. In
such event, the Fund shall bear the cost of typesetting to provide the Fund
SAI or Fund Reports to the Company in the format in which the Fund is
accustomed to formatting statements of additional information and annual and
semi-annual reports. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Fund
pay for any such costs that exceed by more than five (5) percent what the Fund
would have paid to print such documents. The Fund shall pay one half the cost
of distributing Fund SAIs, Fund Reports and Fund proxy statements and
proxy-related material to such existing Participants. The Fund shall pay the
cost of distributing the Fund
9
Portion of the Combined SAIs and the Fund Portion of the Combined Reports to
existing Participants. The Fund shall not pay any costs of distributing Fund
SAIs, Combined SAIs, Fund Reports, Combined Reports or proxy statements or
proxy-related material to prospective Participants.
The Company agrees to provide the Fund or its designee with such
information as may be reasonably requested by the Fund to assure that the
Fund's expenses do not include the cost of typesetting, printing or
distributing any of the foregoing documents other than those actually
distributed to existing Participants.
The Fund shall pay no fee or other compensation to the Company under
this Agreement, except that if the Fund or any Portfolio adopts and implements
a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 to finance distribution expenses, then the
Underwriter may make payments to the Company or to AGSI if and in amounts
agreed to by the Underwriter in writing.
All expenses, including expenses to be borne by the Fund pursuant to
Section 3.2 hereof, incident to performance by the Fund under this Agreement
shall be paid by the Fund. The Fund shall see to it that all its shares are
registered and authorized for issuance in accordance with applicable federal
law and, if and to the extent deemed available by the Fund, in accordance with
applicable state laws prior to their sale. The Fund shall bear the expenses
for the cost of registration and qualification of the Fund's shares.
3.2(c) EXPENSES BORNE BY AGSI.
FUND PROSPECTUSES
With respect to prospective Participants, AGSI shall pay one half of the
cost of setting in type, printing and distributing Fund Prospectuses made
available by the Company as sales literature to such prospective Participants.
With respect to prospective Participants, in the event the Company elects to
prepare a Combined Prospectus, AGSI shall pay one half of the cost of printing
and distributing the Combined Prospectus made available by the Company to its
prospective Participants as sales literature. In such event, AGSI shall bear
the cost of typesetting to provide the Fund Prospectus to the Company in the
format in which the Fund is accustomed to formatting prospectuses.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall AGSI pay for any such costs
that exceed by more than five (5) percent what AGSI would have paid to print
such documents.
FUND SAIS, FUND REPORTS AND PROXY MATERIAL.
With respect to prospective Participants, AGSI shall pay one half of the
cost of setting in type and printing Fund SAIs, Fund Reports and Fund proxy
material made available by the Company to its prospective Participants as
sales literature. In the event the Company elects to prepare a Combined SAI or
Combined Reports, AGSI shall pay one half of the cost of printing the Combined
SAI or Combined Reports, respectively, made available by the Company to its
prospective Participants as sales literature. In such event, AGSI shall bear
the cost of typesetting to provide the Fund SAI and Fund Reports to the
Company in the format in which the Fund is accustomed to formatting statements
of additional information and annual and semi-annual reports. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, in no event shall AGSI pay for any such costs that exceed by
more than five (5) percent
10
what AGSI would have paid to print such documents. AGSI shall pay one half the
cost of distributing Fund SAIs, Combined SAIs, Fund Reports, Combined Reports,
and Fund proxy material to such prospective Participants as sales literature.
3.2(d) If the Company chooses to receive camera-ready film or computer
diskettes in lieu of receiving printed copies of the Fund Prospectus, Fund SAI
or Fund Reports, the Fund or its designee will be responsible for providing
the Fund Prospectus, Fund SAI or Fund Reports in the format in which it is
accustomed to formatting such documents, and, notwithstanding anything in
Sections 3.2(b) or 3.2(c), the Company shall bear the expense of adjusting or
changing the format to conform with any of its prospectuses or reports.
3.3 The Fund SAI shall be obtainable from the Fund, the Company or
such other person as the Fund may designate.
3.4. If and to the extent required by law the Company shall distribute
all proxy material furnished by the Fund to Participants to whom voting
privileges are required to be extended and shall:
(i) solicit voting instructions from Participants;
(ii) vote the Fund shares in accordance with instructions
received from Participants; and
(iii) vote Fund shares for which no instructions have been
received in the same proportion as Fund shares of such
Portfolio for which instructions have been received,
so long as and to the extent that the SEC continues to interpret the 1940 Act
to require pass-through voting privileges for variable contract owners. The
Company reserves the right to vote Fund shares held in any segregated asset
account in its own right, to the extent permitted by law. The Fund and the
Company shall follow the procedures, and shall have the corresponding
responsibilities, for the handling of proxy and voting instruction
solicitations, as set forth in Schedule C attached hereto and incorporated
herein by reference. Participating Insurance Companies shall be responsible
for ensuring that each of their separate accounts participating in the Fund
calculates voting privileges in a manner consistent with the standards set
forth on Schedule C, which standards will also be provided to the other
Participating Insurance Companies.
3.5. The Fund will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act requiring
voting by shareholders, and in particular the Fund will either provide for
annual meetings (except insofar as the Securities and Exchange Commission may
interpret Section 16 not to require such meetings) or comply with Section
16(c) of the 1940 Act (although the Fund is not one of the trusts described in
Section 16(c) of that Act) as well as with Sections 16(a) and, if and when
applicable, 16(b). Further, the Fund will act in accordance with the
Securities and Exchange Commission's interpretation of the requirements of
Section 16(a) with respect to periodic elections of directors and with
whatever rules the Commission may promulgate with respect thereto.
11
ARTICLE IV. SALES MATERIAL AND INFORMATION
4.1. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the
Fund or its designee, each piece of sales literature or other promotional
material prepared by the Company, AGSI or any person contracting with the
Company or AGSI in which the Fund or the Adviser is named, at least ten
Business Days prior to its use. No such material shall be used if the Fund,
the Adviser, or their designee reasonably objects to such use within ten
Business Days after receipt of such material.
4.2. Neither the Company, AGSI nor any person contracting with the
Company or AGSI shall 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 or the Fund Prospectus, as such registration
statement or Fund Prospectus 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, except with
the permission of the Fund.
4.3. The Fund or its designee shall furnish, or shall cause to be
furnished, to the Company or its designee, each piece of sales literature or
other promotional material prepared by the Fund in which the Company or its
Account(s) are named at least ten Business Days prior to its use. No such
material shall be used if the Company or its designee reasonably objects to
such use within ten Business Days after receipt of such material.
4.4. Neither the Fund nor the Adviser shall give any information or
make any representations on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company,
each 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 or solicitations for voting instructions for
each Account which are in the public domain or approved by the Company for
distribution to Participants, 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
information, reports, proxy statements, sales literature and other promotional
materials, applications for exemptions, requests for no-action letters, and
all amendments to any of the above, that relate to the Fund or its shares,
contemporaneously with the filing of such document with the SEC or other
regulatory authorities.
4.6. The Company will provide to the Fund at least one complete copy of
all registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional
information, reports, solicitations for voting instructions, sales literature
and other promotional materials, applications for exemptions, requests for no
action letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that relate to the
investment in an Account or Contract contemporaneously with the filing of such
document with the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
4.7. For purposes of this Article IV, the phrase "sales literature or
other promotional material" includes, but is not limited to, any of the
following: advertisements (such as material
12
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, and registration statements,
prospectuses, statements of additional information, shareholder reports, and
proxy materials.
ARTICLE V. DIVERSIFICATION
5.1. The Adviser represents, as to the Portfolios for which it acts as
investment adviser, that it will use its best efforts at all times to comply
with Section 817(h) of the Code and Treasury Regulation 1.817-5, relating to
the diversification requirements for variable annuity, endowment, or life
insurance contracts and any amendments or other modifications to such Section
or Regulations. In the event a Portfolio ceases to so qualify, the Adviser
will take all reasonable steps (a) to notify the Company of such breach and
(b) to adequately diversify the Portfolio so as to achieve compliance within
the grace period afforded by Regulation 1.817-5.
ARTICLE VI. POTENTIAL CONFLICTS
6.1. The parties acknowledge that the Fund intends to file an
application with the SEC to request an order granting relief from various
provisions of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder to the extent necessary to
permit the Fund shares to be sold to and held by variable contract separate
accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated Participating Insurance Companies
and Qualified Plans. It is anticipated that the Exemptive Order, when and if
issued, shall require the Fund and each Participating Insurance Company to
comply with conditions and undertakings substantially as provided in this
Article VI. If the Exemptive Order imposes conditions materially different
from those provided for in this Article VI, the conditions and undertakings
imposed by the Exemptive Order shall govern this Agreement and the parties
hereto agree to amend this Agreement consistent with the Exemptive Order.
6.2. 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 are being managed; (e) a difference in voting
instructions given by variable annuity contract owners and variable life
insurance contract owners; (f) a decision by a Participating Insurance Company
to disregard the voting instructions of Contract owners or (g) if applicable,
a decision by a Qualified Plan to disregard the voting instructions of plan
participants. The Board shall promptly inform the Company if it determines
that an irreconcilable material conflict exists and the implications thereof.
13
6.3. The Company will report any potential or existing material
irreconcilable conflicts of which it is aware to the Board. The Company will
assist the Board in carrying out its responsibilities under the 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 disregarded. These responsibilities of
the Company shall be carried out with a view only to the interests of the
Contract owners.
6.4. If a majority of the Board or majority of its disinterested
Members, determines that a material irreconcilable conflict exists affecting
Company, Company, at its expense and to the extent reasonably practicable (as
determined by a majority of the Board's disinterested Members), will take any
steps necessary to remedy or eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict,
including: (a) withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the Separate
Accounts from the Fund or any portfolio thereof and reinvesting those assets
in a different investment medium, which may include another Portfolio of the
Fund, or another investment company; (b) submitting the question as to 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. variable annuity or variable life insurance 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 (c) establishing a new registered management investment
company (or series thereof) or managed separate account. If a material
irreconcilable conflict arises because of Company's decision to disregard
Contract owner voting instructions and that decision represents a minority
position or would preclude a majority vote, Company may be required, at the
election of the Fund, to withdraw the Separate Account's investment in the
Fund and no charge or penalty will be imposed as a result of such withdrawal.
The responsibility to take such remedial action shall be carried out with a
view only to the interests of the Contract owners.
6.5. 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 affected
Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with respect to
such Account (at the Company's expense); 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
disinterested members of the Board. No charge or penalty will be imposed as a
result of such withdrawal. The Company agrees that it bears the responsibility
to take remedial action in the event of a Board determination of an
irreconcilable material conflict and the cost of such remedial action, and
these responsibilities will be carried out with a view only to the interests
of Contract owners.
6.6. For purposes of Sections 6.4 and 6.5 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 6.4 or 6.5 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.
14
6.7. 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 Shared Funding Exemptive Order) on terms and
conditions materially different from those contained in the Shared Funding
Exemptive Order, then 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.
6.8 The Company and the Adviser shall at least annually submit to the
Board of the Fund such reports, materials or data as the Board may reasonably
request so that the Board may fully carry out the obligations imposed upon
them by the provisions hereof, and said reports, materials and data shall be
submitted more frequently if deemed appropriate by the Board. All reports
received by the Board of potential or existing conflicts, and all Board action
with regard to determining the existence of a conflict, notifying
Participating Insurance Companies of a conflict, and determining whether any
proposed action adequately remedies a conflict, shall be properly recorded in
the minutes of the Board or other appropriate records, and such minutes or
other records shall be made available to the SEC upon request.
ARTICLE VII. INDEMNIFICATION
7.1. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY AND AGSI
7.1(a) The Company and AGSI agree to indemnify and hold harmless the
Fund and each member of the Board and officers, and the Adviser and each
director and officer of the Adviser, and each person, if any, who controls the
Fund or the Adviser within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" and individually, "Indemnified
Party," for purposes of this Section 7.1) against any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written
consent of the Company or AGSI) or litigation (including legal and other
expenses), to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any
statute or 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 for the Contracts or contained in the Contracts
or sales literature 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 for the Contracts or in the
Contracts or sales literature (or any amendment or supplement) or
otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Fund
shares; or
15
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other
than statements or representations contained in the registration
statement, prospectus or sales literature of the Fund not supplied by
the Company or AGSI, or persons under its control and other than
statements or representations authorized by the Fund or the Adviser) or
wrongful conduct of the Company or AGSI or persons under its control,
with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Fund
shares; or
(iii) arise out of or as a result of any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in a registration
statement, prospectus, or sales literature 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 and in conformity with information
furnished to the Fund by or on behalf of the Company or AGSI; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Company or AGSI 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 or AGSI in this
Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach of
this Agreement by the Company or AGSI, as limited by and in accordance
with the provisions of Sections 7.1(b) and 7.1(c) hereof.
7.1(b). Neither the Company nor AGSI shall be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or litigation incurred or assessed against an Indemnified Party as
such may arise from such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith,
or gross negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or
by reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations or
duties under this Agreement.
7.1(c). Neither the Company nor AGSI shall be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an
Indemnified Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the
Company or AGSI 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 or AGSI of any such claim shall not relieve the Company or
AGSI from any liability which it may have to the Indemnified Party against
whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this indemnification
provision. In case any such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties,
the Company or AGSI shall be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in
the defense of such action. The Company or AGSI also shall be entitled to
assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in
the action. After notice from the Company or AGSI to such Party of the
Company's or AGSI's election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified
Party shall bear the fees and expenses 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.
16
7.1(d). The Indemnified Parties will promptly notify the Company or AGSI
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.
7.2. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE ADVISER
7.2(a). The Adviser agrees, with respect to each Portfolio that it
manages, 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"
and individually, "Indemnified Party," for purposes of this Section 7.2)
against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts
paid in settlement with the written consent of the Adviser) or litigation
(including legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may
become subject under any statute, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect
thereof) or settlements, result from the gross negligence, bad faith, willful
misconduct of the Adviser or any director, officer, employee or agent thereof,
or are related to the operation of the Adviser or the Fund 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 or prospectus or sales literature 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 or the
Fund or the Underwriter by or on behalf of the Company for use in the
registration statement or prospectus for the Fund or in sales literature
(or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in connection with
the sale of the Contracts or Portfolio 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 sales literature for the Contracts not supplied
by the Adviser or persons under its control and other than statements or
representations authorized by the Company) or unlawful conduct of the
Adviser or persons under its control, with respect to the sale or
distribution of the Contracts or Portfolio shares; or
(iii) arise out of or as a result of any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in a registration
statement, prospectus, or sales literature 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 statement or 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; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Adviser to provide the
services and furnish the materials under the terms of this Agreement; or
17
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Adviser in this Agreement or
arise out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement
by the Fund or the Adviser; including without limitation any failure by
the Fund or the Adviser to comply with the conditions of Article V
hereof.
7.2(b).The Adviser shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
litigation incurred or assessed against an Indemnified Party as may arise from
such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence
in the performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such
Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this
Agreement.
7.2(c). The Adviser shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless
such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Adviser 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 Adviser of
any such claim shall not relieve the Adviser from any liability which it may
have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise
than on account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is
brought against the Indemnified Parties, the Adviser will be entitled to
participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Adviser also
shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to
the party named in the action. After notice from the Adviser to such Party of
the Adviser'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 Adviser 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.
7.2(d). The Company and AGSI agree promptly to notify the Adviser of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its
officers, trustees or directors in connection with this Agreement, the
issuance or sale of the Contracts with respect to the operation of each
Account, or the sale or acquisition of shares of the Fund.
ARTICLE VIII. APPLICABLE LAW
8.1. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland.
8.2. 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.
ARTICLE IX. TERMINATION
18
9.1. This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until the
first to occur of:
(a) termination by any party for any reason upon 180 days advance
written notice delivered to the other parties; or
(b) termination by the Company or AGSI by written notice to the Fund
and the Adviser with respect to any Portfolio based upon the
Company's determination that shares of such Portfolio are not
reasonably available to meet the requirements of the Contracts.
Reasonable advance notice of election to terminate shall be
furnished by the Company, said termination to be effective ten
(10) days after receipt of notice unless the Fund makes available
a sufficient number of shares to reasonably meet the requirements
of the Account within said ten (10) day period; or
(c) termination by the Company or AGSI by written notice to the Fund
and the Adviser with respect to any Portfolio in the event any of
the Portfolio's shares 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. The
terminating party shall give prompt notice to the other parties of
its decision to terminate; or
(d) termination by the Company or AGSI by written notice to the Fund
and the Adviser with respect to any Portfolio in the event that
such Portfolio 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 or AGSI reasonably believes that the
Fund may fail to so qualify; or
(e) termination by the Company or AGSI by written notice to the Fund
and the Adviser with respect to any Portfolio in the event that
such Portfolio fails to meet the diversification requirements
specified in Article V hereof; or
(f) termination by either the Fund or the Adviser by written notice to
the Company if the Adviser or the Fund shall determine, in its
sole judgment exercised in good faith, that the Company, AGSI
and/or their affiliated companies has suffered a material adverse
change in its business, operations, financial condition or
prospects since the date of this Agreement or is the subject of
material adverse publicity, provided that the Fund or the Adviser
will give the Company sixty (60) days' advance written notice of
such determination of its intent to terminate this Agreement, and
provided further that after consideration of the actions taken by
the Company or AGSI and any other changes in circumstances since
the giving of such notice, the determination of the Fund or the
Adviser shall continue to apply on the 60th day since giving of
such notice, then such 60th day shall be the effective date of
termination; or
(g) termination by the Company or AGSI by written notice to the Fund
and the Adviser, if the Company or AGSI shall determine, in its
sole judgment exercised in good faith, that either the Fund or the
Adviser (with respect to the appropriate Portfolio) has suffered a
material adverse change in its business, operations, financial
condition or
19
prospects since the date of this Agreement or is the subject of
material adverse publicity; provided that the Company will give
the Fund or the Adviser sixty (60) days' advance written notice of
such determination of its intent to terminate this Agreement, and
provided further that after consideration of the actions taken by
the Company and any other changes in circumstances since the
giving of such notice, the determination of the Company or AGSI
shall continue to apply on the 60th day since giving of such
notice, then such 60th day shall be the effective date of
termination; or
(h) termination by the Fund or the Adviser by written notice to the
Company, if the Company gives the Fund and the Adviser the written
notice specified in Section 2.4 hereof and at the time such notice
was given there was no notice of termination outstanding under any
other provision of this Agreement; provided, however any
termination under this Section 9.1(h) shall be effective sixty
(60) days after the notice specified in Section 2.4 was given; or
(i) termination by any party upon the other party's breach of any
representation in Article II or any material provision of this
Agreement, which breach has not been cured to the satisfaction of
the terminating party within ten (10) days after written notice of
such breach is delivered to the Fund or the Company, as the case
may be; or
(j) termination by the Fund or the Adviser by written notice to the
Company in the event an Account or Contract is not registered or
sold in accordance with applicable federal or state law or
regulation, or the Company fails to provide pass-through voting
privileges as specified in Section 3.4.
9.2. EFFECT OF TERMINATION. Notwithstanding any termination of this
Agreement, the Fund shall at the option of the Company, continue to make
available additional shares of the Fund 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") unless such further sale of Fund shares is proscribed by law,
regulation or applicable regulatory body, or unless the Fund determines that
liquidation of the Fund following termination of this Agreement is in the best
interests of the Fund and its shareholders. Specifically, without limitation,
the owners of the Existing Contracts shall be permitted to direct reallocation
of investments in the Fund, redemption of investments in the Fund and/or
investment in the Fund upon the making of additional purchase payments under
the Existing Contracts. The Company agrees however: (i) to immediately
terminate the availability of shares of the Fund to Contracts other than
Existing Contracts and (ii) as soon as reasonably practicable to request and
diligently pursue approval from the SEC to replace shares of the Fund with
other investments for Contracts and, if and when granted such approval,
thereafter to so replace the shares of the Fund as soon as reasonably
practicable. Furthermore, the parties agree that this Section 9.2 shall not
apply to any terminations under Article VI and the effect of such Article VI
terminations shall be governed by Article VI of this Agreement.
9.3. The Company shall not redeem Fund shares attributable to the
Contracts (as distinct from Fund shares attributable to the Company's assets
held in the Account) except (i) as necessary to implement Contract Owner
initiated or approved transactions, or (ii) as required by state and/or
federal laws or regulations or judicial or other legal precedent of general
application (hereinafter
20
referred to as a "Legally Required Redemption") or (iii) as permitted by an
order of the SEC pursuant to Section 26(b) of the 1940 Act. Upon request, the
Company will promptly furnish to the Fund the opinion of counsel for the
Company (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Fund and the
Adviser) to the effect that any redemption pursuant to clause (ii) above is a
Legally Required Redemption. Furthermore, except in cases where permitted
under the terms of the Contracts, the Company shall not prevent Contract
Owners from allocating payments to a Portfolio that was otherwise available
under the Contracts without first giving the Fund or the appropriate Adviser
90 days prior written notice of its intention to do so.
ARTICLE X. 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:
Navellier Variable Insurance Series Fund, Inc.
Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxxxx, 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
If to Adviser:
Navellier & Associates, Inc.
Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxxxx 00000
Attention: ______________________________
If to the Company:
American General Life Insurance Company
0000-X Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
If to AGSI:
American General Securities Incorporated
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: F. Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xx.
ARTICLE XI. FOREIGN TAX CREDITS
21
The Fund and the Adviser agree to consult with the Company concerning
whether any Portfolio of the Fund qualifies to provide a foreign tax credit
pursuant to Section 853 of the Code.
ARTICLE XII. MISCELLANEOUS
12.1. All persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the property
of the Fund for the enforcement of any claims against the Fund as neither the
Board, officers, agents or shareholders assume any personal liability for
obligations entered into on behalf of the Fund.
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 this
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.
12.8. This Agreement or any of the rights and obligations hereunder may
not be assigned by any party without the prior written consent of all parties
hereto; provided, however, that the Adviser may assign this Agreement or any
rights or obligations hereunder to any affiliate of or company under common
control with the Adviser, if such assignee is duly licensed and registered to
perform the obligations of the Adviser under this Agreement.
12.9 The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the
Fund or its designee copies of the following reports upon request from the
Fund:
(a) the Company's annual statement (prepared under statutory
accounting principles) and annual report (prepared under generally
accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"),
22
if any), as soon as practical and in any event within 90 days
after the end of each fiscal year;
(b) the Company's June 30th quarterly statements (statutory) (and
GAAP, if any), as soon as practical and in any event within 45
days after the end of each semi-annual period:
(c) any financial statement, proxy statement, notice or report of the
Company sent to stockholders and/or policyholders, as soon as
practical after the delivery thereof to stockholders;
(d) any registration statement (without exhibits) and financial
reports of the Company filed with the SEC or any state insurance
regulator, as soon as practical after the filing thereof;
(e) any other public report submitted to the Company by independent
accountants in connection with any annual, interim or special
audit made by them of the books of the Company, as soon as
practical after the receipt thereof.
12.10. It is agreed by the parties hereto that Article VII and Sections
12.1, 12.6 and 12.7 shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
23
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 hereto as of the date specified above.
AMERICAN GENERAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY on behalf of itself and
each of its Accounts named in Schedule B hereto, as amended from
time to time.
By: _____________________________________________
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx.
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
AMERICAN GENERAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
By: _____________________________________________
Name: F. Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xx.
Title: President
NAVELLIER VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND, INC.
By: _____________________________________________
Name: ______________________________________
Title: ______________________________________
NAVELLIER & ASSOCIATES, INC.
By: _____________________________________________
Name: ______________________________________
Title: ______________________________________
24
SCHEDULE A
PORTFOLIOS OF
NAVELLIER VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND, INC.
AVAILABLE FOR
PURCHASE BY AMERICAN GENERAL LIFE
INSURANCE COMPANY UNDER THIS AGREEMENT
1. Navellier Growth Portfolio
25
SCHEDULE B
SEPARATE ACCOUNTS AND CONTRACTS
Name of Separate Account and Form Numbers and Names of Contracts Funded by
Date Established by Board of Directors Separate Account
-------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------
American General Life Insurance Company FORM NO:
Separate Account D 97505
Established: November 19, 1973
NAME OF CONTRACT:
Select Reserve (sm) Flexible Payment Variable and
Fixed Deferred Annuity
26
SCHEDULE C
PROXY VOTING PROCEDURES
The following is a list of procedures and corresponding responsibilities for
the handling of proxies and voting instructions relating to the Fund. The
defined terms herein shall have the meanings assigned in the Participation
Agreement except that the term "Company" shall also include the department or
third party assigned by the Company to perform the steps delineated below.
1. The proxy proposals are given to the Company by the Fund as early as
possible before the date set by the Fund for the shareholder meeting to
enable the Company to consider and prepare for the solicitation of
voting instructions from owners of the Contracts and to facilitate the
establishment of tabulation procedures. At this time the Fund will
inform the Company of the Record, Mailing and Meeting dates. This will
be done verbally approximately two months before meeting.
2. Promptly after the Record Date, the Company will perform a "tape run",
or other activity, which will generate the names, addresses and number
of units which are attributed to each contract owner/policyholder (the
"Customer") as of the Record Date. Allowance should be made for account
adjustments made after this date that could affect the status of the
Customers' accounts as of the Record Date.
Note: The number of proxy statements is determined by the activities
described in this Step #2. The Company will use its best efforts to call
in the number of Customers to the Fund, as soon as possible, but no
later than two weeks after the Record Date.
3. The Fund's Annual Report must be sent to each Customer by the Company
either before or together with the Customers' receipt of a proxy
statement or other voting instructions and solicitation material. The
Fund will provide at least one copy of the last Annual Report to the
Company pursuant to the terms of Section 3.3 of the Agreement to which
this Schedule relates.
4. The text and format for the Voting Instruction Cards ("Cards" or "Card")
is provided to the Company by the Fund. The Company, at its expense,
shall produce and personalize the Voting Instruction Cards. The Fund or
its affiliate must approve the Card before it is printed. Allow
approximately 2-4 business days for printing information on the Cards.
Information commonly found on the Cards includes:
a. name (legal name as found on account registration)
b. address
27
c. fund or account number
d. coding to state number of units
e. individual Card number for use in tracking and verification of
votes (already on Cards as printed by the Fund).
(This and related steps may occur later in the chronological process due to
possible uncertainties relating to the proposals.)
5. During this time, the Fund will develop, produce and pay for the Notice
of Proxy and the Proxy Statement (one document). Printed and folded
notices and statements will be sent to Company for insertion into
envelopes (envelopes and return envelopes are provided and paid for by
the Company). Contents of envelope sent to Customers by the Company will
include:
a. Voting Instruction Card(s)
b. One proxy notice and statement (one document)
c. return envelope (postage pre-paid by Company) addressed to the
Company or its tabulation agent
d. "urge buckslip" - optional, but recommended. (This is a small,
single sheet of paper that requests Customers to vote as quickly
as possible and that their vote is important. One copy will be
supplied by the Fund.)
e. cover letter - optional, supplied by Company and reviewed and
approved in advance by the Fund.
6. The above contents should be received by the Company approximately 3-5
business days before mail date. Individual in charge at Company reviews
and approves the contents of the mailing package to ensure correctness
and completeness. Copy of this approval sent to the Fund.
7. Package mailed by the Company.
* The Fund must allow at least a 15-day solicitation time to the
Company as the shareowner. (A 5-week period is recommended.)
Solicitation time is calculated as calendar days from (but NOT
including,) the meeting, counting backwards.
8. Collection and tabulation of Cards begins. Tabulation usually takes
place in another department or another vendor depending on process used.
An often used procedure is to sort Cards on arrival by proposal into
vote categories of all yes, no, or mixed replies, and to begin data
entry.
Note: Postmarks are not generally needed. A need for postmark
information would be due to an insurance company's internal procedure
and has not been required by the Fund in the past.
28
9. Signatures on Card checked against legal name on account registration
which was printed on the Card.
Note: For example, if the account registration is under "Xxxx X. Xxxxx,
Trustee," then that is the exact legal name to be printed on the Card
and is the signature needed on the Card.
10. If Cards are mutilated, or for any reason are illegible or are not
signed properly, they are sent back to Customer with an explanatory
letter and a new Card and return envelope. The mutilated or illegible
Card is disregarded and considered to be NOT RECEIVED for purposes of
vote tabulation. Any Cards that have been "kicked out" (e.g. mutilated,
illegible) of the procedure are "hand verified," i.e., examined as to
why they did not complete the system. Any questions on those Cards are
usually remedied individually.
11. There are various control procedures used to ensure proper tabulation of
votes and accuracy of that tabulation. The most prevalent is to sort the
Cards as they first arrive into categories depending upon their vote; an
estimate of how the vote is progressing may then be calculated. If the
initial estimates and the actual vote do not coincide, then an internal
audit of that vote should occur. This may entail a recount.
12. The actual tabulation of votes is done in units which is then converted
to shares. (It is very important that the Fund receives the tabulations
stated in terms of a percentage and the number of SHARES.) The Fund must
review and approve tabulation format.
13. Final tabulation in shares is verbally given by the Company to the Fund
on the morning of the meeting not later than 10:00 a.m. Eastern time.
The Fund may request an earlier deadline if reasonable and if required
to calculate the vote in time for the meeting.
14. A Certification of Mailing and Authorization to Vote Shares will be
required from the Company as well as an original copy of the final vote.
The Fund will provide a standard form for each Certification.
15. The Company will be required to box and archive the Cards received from
the Customers. In the event that any vote is challenged or if otherwise
necessary for legal, regulatory, or accounting purposes, the Fund will
be permitted reasonable access to such Cards.
16. All approvals and "signing-off' may be done orally, but must always be
followed up in writing.
29
