EXHIBIT-99.B8
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
AMONG
XXXXX XXXXXX/TRAVELERS SERIES FUND INC.,
XXXXX XXXXXX MUTUAL FUNDS MANAGEMENT INC.
AND
EQUITABLE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF IOWA
THIS AGREEMENT, made as of the ____ day of May, 1995 and effective as of
the ____ day of February, 1995 by and among the EQUITABLE LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY OF IOWA, (hereinafter the "Company"), on its own behalf and on behalf
of each segregated asset account of the Company set forth on Schedule A hereto
as may be amended from time to time (each such account hereinafter referred to
as the "Account"), the XXXXX XXXXXX/TRAVELERS SERIES FUND INC., a Maryland
corporation (hereinafter the "Fund"), and XXXXX XXXXXX MUTUAL FUNDS MANAGEMENT
INC. (hereinafter the "Adviser"), a Delaware corporation.
WHEREAS, the Fund engages in business as an open-end management
investment company and is available to act as the investment vehicle for
separate accounts established for variable annuity contracts and, subject to
an order expected to be obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "SEC"), expects to be available to act as the investment vehicle for
certain qualified pension and retirement plans ("Qualified Plans") and for
separate accounts established for variable life insurance policies (such
variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts are herein,
collectively, the "Variable Insurance Products") to be offered by insurance
companies which have entered into participation agreements with the Fund and
the Adviser (hereinafter "Participating Insurance Companies"); and
WHEREAS, the beneficial interests in the Fund are divided into several
series of shares, each representing the interest in a particular managed
portfolio of securities and other assets; and
WHEREAS, the Fund desires to make shares of such managed portfolios as
are listed on Schedule B attached hereto, as such Schedule B may be amended
from time to time hereafter by mutual written agreement of all the parties
hereto, available to the Company for purchase (each such listed portfolio, a
"Portfolio"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund is seeking and expects to obtain an order from the SEC,
granting Participating Insurance Companies and variable annuity and variable
insurance 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 "l940 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 and variable life insurance separate accounts of
both affiliated and unaffiliated life insurance companies (hereinafter the
"Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the l940 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 Federal Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and any applicable state
securities law; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register certain variable
life and variable annuity contracts under the 1933 Act; and
WHEREAS, each Account is a duly organized, validly existing segregated
asset account, established by resolution of the Board of Directors of the
Company, on the date shown for such Account on Schedule A hereto, to set aside
and invest assets attributable to one or more variable life and annuity
contracts; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register each Account as a
unit investment trust under the l940 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 life and
variable annuity contracts,
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises the Company,
the Fund and the Adviser agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. SALE OF FUND SHARES
1.1. The Fund agrees to sell to the Company those shares of the Fund
which each Account orders, executing such orders on a daily basis at the net
asset value next computed after receipt by the Fund or its designee of the
order for the shares of the Fund. For purposes of this Section l.l, 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 10:00 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 its net asset value pursuant to the rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
1.2. The Fund agrees to make its shares available indefinitely for
purchase at the applicable net asset value per share by the Company and its
Accounts on those days on which the Fund calculates its net asset value
pursuant to rules of the SEC and the Fund shall use reasonable efforts to
calculate such net asset value on each day which the New York Stock Exchange
is open for trading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors of
the Fund (hereinafter the "Board") may refuse 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 interest of the shareholders of such Portfolio.
1.3. The Fund and the Adviser agree that shares of the Fund will be sold
only to Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts and, in
accordance with the terms of the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order,
certain Qualified Plans. No shares of any Portfolio will be sold to the
general public.
1.4. The Fund will not sell Fund shares to any insurance company or
separate account unless an agreement containing provisions substantially the
same as Articles I and VII, Section 2.5 of Article II and Sections 3.4 and 3.5
of Article III of this Agreement is in effect to govern such sales.
1.5. 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
Sections 2.10 and 2.11, upon the payment by the Fund to the Company of the
proceeds of such redemptions, such proceeds shall cease to be the
responsibility of the Fund and shall become the responsibility of the Company.
For purposes of this Section 1.5, 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 by 10:00 a.m. Eastern time on
the next following Business Day.
1.6. The Company agrees to purchase and redeem the shares of each
Portfolio offered by the then current prospectus of the Fund in accordance
with the provisions of such prospectus. The Company agrees that all net
amounts available under the variable life and variable annuity contracts with
the form number(s) which are listed on Schedule C attached hereto and
incorporated herein by this reference, as such Schedule C may be amended from
time to time hereafter by mutual written agreement of all the parties hereto
and which such contracts have been sold pursuant to an Annuity Selling
Agreement dated February 10, 1995, by and between the Company, PFS Investments
Inc. and Primerica Financial Services, Inc. (the "Contracts"), shall be
invested in the Portfolios, in such other funds advised by the Adviser as may
be mutually agreed to in writing by the parties hereto, or in the Company's
general account, provided that such amounts may also be invested in an
investment company other than the Fund if (a) such other investment company,
or series thereof, has investment objectives or policies that are
substantially different from the investment objectives and policies of the
Portfolios of the Fund; or (b) the Company gives the Fund and the Adviser 60
days written notice of its intention to make such other investment company
available as a funding vehicle for the Contracts; or (c) such other investment
company was available as a funding vehicle for the Contracts prior to the date
of this Agreement and the Company so informs the Fund and Adviser prior to
their signing this Agreement; or (d) the Fund or Adviser consents to the use
of such other investment company.
1.7. The Company shall pay for Fund shares on the next Business Day after
an order to purchase Fund shares is made in accordance with the provisions of
Section 1.1 hereof. Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire.
For purpose of Section 2.9 and 2.10, upon receipt by the Fund of the federal
funds so wired, such funds shall cease to be the responsibility of the Company
and shall become the responsibility of the Fund.
1.8. 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.
1.9. The Fund shall furnish notice (by wire or telephone, followed by
written confirmation) as soon as is reasonably practicable to the Company of
any income, dividends or capital gain distributions payable on the Fund's
shares. The Company hereby elects to receive all such income 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 income 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.
1.10. 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 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. If the Fund provides the
Company with the incorrect share net asset value information, the Company on
behalf of the Account shall be entitled to a prompt adjustment to the number
of shares purchased or redeemed to reflect the correct share net asset value.
Upon a final determination that there has been an error in the calculation of
net asset value, dividend or capital gain, the Fund shall report such error to
the Company.
ARTICLE II. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
2.1. The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts are or will
be registered under the 1933 Act; that the Contracts will be issued and sold
in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Federal and State
laws and that the sale of the Contracts shall comply in all material respects
with state insurance suitability requirements. 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 Iowa Code Section 508A.1 and has registered or, prior to any
issuance or sale of the Contracts, will register each Account as a unit
investment trust in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act to serve as
a segregated investment account for the Contracts.
2.2. The Fund represents and warrants that Fund shares sold pursuant to
this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act, shall be duly
authorized for issuance and sold in compliance with the laws of the State of
Maryland and all applicable federal and state securities laws and that the
Fund is and shall remain registered under 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 where
necessary as determined by the Fund or the Adviser in accordance with the laws
of the various states.
2.3. The Fund represents that it is currently qualified as a Regulated
Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, (the "Code") and that it will make every effort to maintain such
qualification (under Subchapter M or any successor or similar provision) and
that it will notify the Company immediately upon having a reasonable basis for
believing that it has ceased to so qualify or that it might not so qualify in
the future.
2.4. The Company represents that the Contacts are currently treated as
endowment, annuity or life insurance contacts, under applicable provisions of
the Code and that it will make every effort to maintain such treatment and
that it will notify the Fund and the Adviser immediately upon having a
reasonable basis for believing that the Contracts have ceased to be so treated
or that they might not be so treated in the future.
2.5. The Fund currently does not intend to make any payments to finance
distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1040 Act or otherwise,
although it may make such payments in the future. To the extent that it
decides to finance distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1, 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
polices) complies with the insurance laws or regulations of the various states
except that the Fund and the Adviser represent that their respective
operations are and shall at all times remain in material compliance with the
laws of the State of Maryland to the extent required to perform this
Agreement.
2.7. The Fund represents that it is lawfully organized and validly
existing under the laws of the State of Maryland and that it does and will
comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act.
2.8. The Adviser represents and warrants that the Adviser is and shall
remain duly registered in all material respects under all applicable federal
and state securities laws and that the Adviser shall perform its obligations
for the Fund in compliance in all material respects with the laws of the State
of Maryland and any applicable state and federal securities laws.
2.9. The Fund and Adviser represent and warrant that all of their
directors, officers, employees, investment advisers, and other
individuals/entities dealing with the money and/or securities of the Fund are
and shall continue to be at all times covered by a blanket fidelity bond or
similar coverage for the benefit of the Fund in an amount not less than the
minimal coverage as required currently by Rule 17g-1 of the 1940 Act or
related provisions as may be promulgated from time to time. The aforesaid
Bond shall include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued
by a reputable bonding company.
2.10. The Company represents and warrants that all if any of its
directors, officers, employees, investment advisers, and other
individuals/entities deal with the money and/or securities of the Fund they
will at all such times be covered by a blanket fidelity bond or similar
coverage for the benefit of the Fund, in an amount not less than the minimal
coverage as required by Rule 17g-1 of the 1940 Act or related provisions as
may be promulgated from time to time. The aforesaid Bond shall include
coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable
bonding company.
ARTICLE III. PROSPECTUSES AND PROXY STATEMENTS; VOTING
3.1. The Adviser and the Fund shall provide to the Company such
documentation (including a final copy of the Fund's most current prospectus as
set in type at the Fund's expense) and other assistance as is reasonably
necessary in order for the Company once each year (or more frequently if the
prospectus for the Fund is amended) to have the prospectus for the Contracts
and the Portfolios' prospectus printed (such printing to be at the Company's
expense except as provided in Section 5.3 hereof).
3.2. The Fund's prospectus shall state that the Statement of Additional
Information ("SAI") for the Fund is available from the Adviser (or in the
Fund's discretion, the Prospectus shall state that such SAI is available from
the Fund), and the Adviser (or the Fund), at its expense, shall print and
provide one copy of such SAI free of charge to the Company and to any owner of
a Contract or prospective owner who requests such Statement. The Company may
make additional copies of the SAI at its expense.
3.3. The Fund, at its expense, shall provide the Company with copies of
its proxy material, reports to shareholders, and other communications to
shareholders in such quantity as the Company shall reasonably require for
distributing to Contract owners; provided, however, that the Company shall
bear the expenses for the costs of printing and distributing any proxy
material, reports to shareholders and other communications to shareholders
that are prepared at the request of the Company.
3.4. If and to the extent required by law the Company shall:
(i) solicit voting instructions from Contract owners;
(ii) vote the Fund shares in accordance with instructions received
from Contract owners; 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 owners of Variable Insurance
Products. 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.
Participating Insurance Companies shall be responsible for assuring that each
of their separate accounts participating in the Fund calculates voting
privileges in a manner consistent with this Section.
3.5. The Fund will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act requiring
voting by shareholders.
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 in which the Fund, the Adviser, or the Fund's underwriter is named,
at least ten Business Days prior to its use. No such material shall be used
if the Fund or its designee object to such use within ten Business Days after
receipt of such material.
4.2. The Company shall not 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 prospectus for the
Fund shares, as such registration statement and 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 or by the Adviser, except with the permission of the Fund
or the Adviser or the designee of either.
4.3. The Fund, and the Adviser, 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 in which the Company and/or its
separate account(s), is named at least ten Business Days prior to its use. No
such material shall be used if the Company or its designee object to such use
within ten Business Days after receipt of such material.
4.4. The Fund and the Adviser shall not 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 for each Account which are in the public
domain or approved by the Company for distribution to Contract owners, 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, as
soon as is reasonably practicable after 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, annual and semi-annual reports, solicitations for voting
instructions, applications for exemptions, requests for no action letters, and
all amendments to any of the above, that relate to the Contracts or each
Account, as soon as is reasonably practicable after 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, advertisements
(such as materials published, or designed for use in, 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. FEES AND EXPENSES
5.1. The Fund and Adviser 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 for the Contracts if and
in amounts agreed to by the Adviser in writing and such payments will be made
out of existing fees otherwise payable to the Adviser, past profits of the
Adviser or other resources available to the Adviser, or by the Fund, to the
extent permitted. Currently, no such payments are contemplated.
5.2. All expenses incident to performance by the Fund under this
Agreement shall be paid by the Fund. Except as provided in sections 3.1, 3.2,
3.3 and 5.3 hereof, the Fund shall bear the expenses for the cost of
registration and qualification of the Fund's shares, preparation and filing of
the Fund's prospectus and registration statement, proxy materials and reports,
setting the prospectus in type, setting in type and printing the proxy
materials and reports to shareholders (including, if so elected, the costs of
printing a prospectus that constitutes an annual report), the preparation of
all statements and notices required by any federal or state law, all taxes on
the issuance or transfer of the Fund's shares.
5.3. The printing and distributing of the prospectus for the Portfolios
(or that portion of a prospectus relating to the Portfolios should the Company
determine to print a combined prospectus) to existing owners of Contracts
shall be at the expense of the Fund.
ARTICLE VI. DIVERSIFICATION
6.1. Subject to the following sentence, the Fund will at all times
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 of any changes to such Section or
Regulations relating to the treatment of variable contracts, the Company will
advise the Fund of such changes.
ARTICLE VII. POTENTIAL CONFLICTS
7.1 The parties to this Agreement acknowledge that the Fund has filed an
application with the SEC to request an order (the "Exemptive Order") granting
relief from various provisions of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder to the
extent necessary to permit Fund shares to be sold to and held by variable
annuity and variable life insurance 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 VII. If the Exemptive
Order imposes conditions on the Company materially different from those
provided for in this Article VII, the conditions and undertakings imposed by
the Exemptive Order shall govern this Agreement. The Fund will not enter into
a participation agreement with any other Participating Insurance Company
unless it imposes the same conditions and undertakings as are imposed on the
Company hereby.
7.2 The Company will report any potential or existing conflicts promptly
to the Board, and in particular whenever contract owner voting instructions
are disregarded, and recognizes that it shall be responsible for assisting the
Board in carrying out its responsibilities in connection with the Exemptive
Order. The Company agrees to carry out such responsibilities with a view to
the interests of contract owners.
7.3. If it is determined by a majority of the Board, or a majority of
its disinterested 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 disinterested trustees), take whatever steps are necessary to remedy or
eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict, including but not limited to:
(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 of the
Fund, 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.
7.4 If a material irreconcilable conflict arises as a result of a
decision by the Company to disregard contract owner voting instructions and
said decision represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote
by all contract owners having an interest in the Fund, the Company may be
required, at the Board's election, to withdraw the Account's investment in the
Fund.
7.5 For purposes of this Article VII, a majority of the disinterested
directors shall determine whether or not any proposed action adequately
remedies any irreconcilable material conflict, but in no event shall the Fund
be required to bear the expense of establishing a new funding medium for any
Contract. The Company shall not be required by this Article VII to establish
a new funding medium for any Contract if an offer to do so has been declined
by vote of a majority of the contract owners materially adversely 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 disinterested members of the Board.
7.6. 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
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 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 3.4, 3.5, 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.
ARTICLE VIII. INDEMNIFICATION
8.1. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY
8.1(a). The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund
and each of its directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls
the Fund within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the
"Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 8.1) against any and all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement
with the written consent of the Company) or litigation (including legal and
other expenses), to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any
statute, 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 Contract 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
(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 persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of
the Company or persons under its control, with respect to the sale or
distribution of the Contracts or Fund Shares; or
(iii) arise out 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 information furnished to the Fund by or on behalf of the
Company; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Company 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 in this Agreement or arise
out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by the
Company.
8.1(b). The Company 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 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 or to the Fund, whichever is applicable.
8.1(c). The Company 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 Company 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 of
any such claim shall not relieve the Company 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 shall be entitled to
participate, at its own expense, in the defense of such action. The Company
also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel
satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from the Company
to such party of the Company'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 Company 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.
8.1(d). The indemnification provided by this Section 8.1 shall
survive the termination of this Agreement and shall be in addition to any
other liability the Company may have.
8.2. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE ADVISER
8.2(a). The Adviser agrees 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" for purposes of this Section 8.2)
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:
(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 Fund 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 Fund 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) or wrongful conduct of
the Fund or Adviser or persons under their control; or
(iii) arise out 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
Fund; or
(iv) arise as a result of (a) any failure by the Fund to
provide the services and furnish the material under the terms of this
Agreement; or (b) a failure to comply with Article VI of this Agreement with
respect to diversification requirements; or (c) failure to qualify as a
registered investment company under Subchapter M of the Code; or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Adviser or the Fund in this
Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach of this
Agreement by the Adviser or the Fund.
8.2(b). The Adviser shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
litigation to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason
of 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 or to the Company or Account, whichever, is applicable.
8.2(c). The Adviser shall not be able 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.
8.2(d). The indemnification provided by this Section 8.2 shall
survive the termination of this Agreement and shall be in addition to any
other liability the Fund or Adviser may have.
ARTICLE IX. APPLICABLE LAW
9.1. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
9.2. 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 X. TERM AND TERMINATION
10.1. The Agreement is effective as of the date hereof and will remain in
effect until terminated in accordance with the provisions herein.
10.2. This Agreement shall terminate:
(a) at the option of any party upon 180 days advance written
notice to the other parties unless otherwise agreed in a separate written
agreement among the parties; or
(b) at the option of the Company if shares of the Portfolios
delineated in Schedule 2 are not reasonably available to meet the requirements
of the Contracts as determined by the Company; provided, however, that such
termination shall only apply to the Portfolio(s) not reasonably available.
Prompt notice of the election to terminate for such cause shall be furnished
by the Company; or
(c) at the option of the Fund upon institution of formal
proceedings against the Company by the NASD, the SEC, the insurance commission
of any state or any other regulatory body regarding the Company's duties under
this Agreement or related to the sale of the Contracts, the administration of
the Contracts, the operation of the Account, or the purchase of the Fund
shares, the expected or anticipated ruling, judgment or outcome of which
would, in the Fund's reasonable judgment, materially impair the Company's
ability to perform its obligation and duties hereunder; or
(d) at the option of the Company upon institution of formal
proceedings against the Fund by the NASD, the SEC, or any state securities or
insurance department or any other regulatory body, the expected or anticipated
ruling, judgment or outcome of which would, in the Company's reasonable
judgment, materially impair the Fund's ability to perform its obligation and
duties hereunder; or
(e) at the option of the Company or the Fund upon receipt of any
necessary regulatory approvals and/or the vote of the contract owners having
an interest in the Account (or any subaccount) to substitute the shares of
another investment company for the corresponding Portfolio shares of the Fund
in accordance with the terms of the Contracts for which those Portfolio shares
had been selected to serve as the underlying investment media. The Company
will give 30 days' prior written notice to the Fund of the date of any
proposed vote or other action taken to replace the Fund's shares; or
(f) at the option of the Company or the Fund upon a determination
by a majority of the Fund Board, or a majority of the disinterested Fund Board
members, that an irreconcilable material conflict exists among the interests
of (i) all contractowners of variable insurance products of all separate
accounts or (ii) the interests of the Participating Insurance Companies
investing in the Fund as delineated in Article VII of this Agreement; or
(g) at the option of the Company if the Fund 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 reasonably believes that the
Fund may fail to so qualify; or
(h) at the option of the Company if the Fund fails to meet the
diversification requirements specified in Article VI hereof; or
(i) at the option of any party to this Agreement, upon another
party's material breach of any provision of this Agreement; or
(j) at the option of the Company, if the Company determines in
its sole judgment exercised in good faith, that either the Fund or the Adviser
has suffered a material adverse change in its business, operations or
financial condition since the date of this Agreement or is the subject of
material adverse publicity and such material adverse change or material
adverse publicity is likely to have a material adverse impact upon the
business and operations of the Company; or
(k) at the option of the Fund or Adviser, if the Fund or Adviser
respectively, shall determine in its sole judgment exercised in good faith,
that the Company has suffered a material adverse change in its business,
operations or financial condition since the date of this Agreement or is the
subject of material adverse publicity and such material adverse change or
material adverse publicity is likely to have a material adverse impact upon
the business and operations of the Fund or Adviser; or
(l) at the option of the Fund in the event any of the Contracts
are not issued or sold in accordance with applicable federal and/or state law.
Termination shall be effective immediately upon such occurrence without
notice, or
(m) automatically upon its assignment by any party without the
other parties' prior written consent; or
(n) in the event the Fund's shares are not registered, issued or
sold in accordance with applicable state or federal law, or such law precludes
the use of such shares for the underlying investment medium of variable
contracts issued or to be issued by the Company. Termination shall be
effective immediately upon such occurrence without notice.
10.3. Notice Requirement
(a) In the event that any termination of this Agreement is based
upon the provisions of Article VII such prior written notice shall be given in
advance of the effective date of termination as required by such provisions.
(b) In the event that any termination of this Agreement is based
upon the provisions of Sections 10.2(b)- (d) or 10.2(g) - (i), prior written
notice of the election to terminate this Agreement for cause shall be
furnished by the party terminating the Agreement to the non-terminating
parties, with said termination to be effective upon receipt of such notice by
the non-terminating parties.
(c) In the event that any termination of this Agreement is based
upon the provisions of Sections 10.2(j) or 10.2(k), prior written notice of
the election to terminate this Agreement for cause shall be furnished by the
party terminating this Agreement to the non-terminating parties. Such prior
written notice shall be given by the party terminating this Agreement to the
non-terminating parties at least 30 days before the effective date of
termination.
10.4. It is understood and agreed that the right to terminate this
Agreement pursuant to Section 10.2(a) may be exercised for any reason or for
no reason.
10.5. EFFECT OF TERMINATION
(a) Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement pursuant to
Section 10.2 of this Agreement, the Fund may, at its option, or in the event
of termination of this Agreement by the Fund or the Adviser pursuant to
Section 10.2(a) of this Agreement, the Company may require the Fund and the
Adviser to, continue to make available additional shares of the Fund for so
long after the termination of this Agreement as the Fund or the Company, if
the Company is so requiring, desires pursuant to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement as provided in paragraph (b) below for all Contracts in effect
on the effective date of termination of this Agreement (hereinafter referred
to as "Existing Contracts"). Specifically, without limitation, if the Fund so
elects to make available additional shares of the Fund or if the Company is so
requiring, the owners of the Existing Contracts shall be permitted to
reallocate investments in the Fund, redeem investments in the Fund and/or
invest in the Fund upon the making of additional purchase payments under the
Existing Contracts. The parties agree that this Section 10.5 shall not apply
to any terminations under Article VII and the effect of such Article VII
terminations shall be governed by Article VII of this Agreement.
(b) In the event of a termination of this Agreement pursuant to
Section 10.2 of this Agreement, the Fund shall promptly notify the Company
whether the Fund will continue to make available shares of the Fund after such
termination, except that, with respect to a termination by the Fund or the
Adviser pursuant to Section 10.2(a) of this Agreement, the Company shall
promptly notify the Fund whether it wishes the Fund to continue to make
available additional shares of the Fund. If shares of the Fund continue to be
made available after such termination, the provisions of this Agreement shall
remain in effect except for Section 10.2(a) and thereafter the Fund or the
Company may terminate the Agreement, as so continued pursuant to this Section
10.5 upon written notice to the other party, such notice to be for a period
that is reasonable under the circumstances.
(c) In determining whether to make available additional Fund
shares, the Fund shall act in good faith, giving due consideration to the
interest of the existing shareholders, including holders of the existing
Contracts.
[10.6. Except (a) as necessary to implement contractowner initiated or
approved transactions, or (b) as required by state insurance laws or
regulations (a "Legally Required Redemption"), the Company shall not redeem
Fund shares attributable to the Contracts (as opposed to Fund shares
attributable to the Company's assets held in the Account), and the Company
shall not prevent contractowners from allocating payments to a Portfolio that
was otherwise available under the Contracts, until 90 days after the Company
shall have notified the Fund or Adviser of its intention to do so. Upon
request, the Company will promptly furnish to the Fund and Adviser the opinion
of counsel for the Company (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to
the Fund and the Adviser) to the effect that a particular redemption is a
Legally Required Redemption.]
ARTICLE XI. 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:
Xxxxx Xxxxxx/Travelers Series Fund Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Secretary
If to the Company:
Equitable Life Insurance Company of Iowa
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Secretary
If to the Adviser:
Xxxxx Xxxxxx Mutual Funds Management Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, General Counsel
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 requirement of legal process and regulatory
authority, each party hereto shall treat as if 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 provision hereof
or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
12.4. This Agreement maybe 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 the
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 stat and federal laws.
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 and its seal to be hereunder affixed hereto as of the date
specified below.
EQUITABLE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF IOWA
By its authorized officer
By:_____________________________________
Title:__________________________________
Date:___________________________________
XXXXX XXXXXX/TRAVELERS SERIES FUND INC.
By its authorized officer
By:_____________________________________
Title:__________________________________
Date:___________________________________
XXXXX XXXXXX MUTUAL FUNDS MANAGEMENT INC.
By its authorized officer
By:_____________________________________
Title:__________________________________
Date:___________________________________
EXHIBIT B
Xxxxx Xxxxxx Income and Growth Portfolio
Xxxxx Xxxxxx International Equity Portfolio
Xxxxx Xxxxxx High Income Portfolio
Xxxxx Xxxxxx Money Market Portfolio
7.1. The Board will monitor the Fund for the existence of any material
irreconcilable conflict among 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 interpretive 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; or (f) a decision by an insurer 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 upon request 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.
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 affected
Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with respect to
such Account; 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. 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 and Fund
shall continue to accept and implement orders by the Company for the purchase
(and redemption) of shares of the Fund.
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
affected Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with
respect to such Account 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 disinterested
members of the Board. Until the end of the foregoing six month period, the
Adviser and Fund shall continue to accept and implement orders by the Company
for the purchase (and redemption) of shares of the Fund.
