EXHIBIT (8)(e)(1)
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PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
BY AND BETWEEN
PFL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
AND WRL SERIES FUNDS, INC.
AND ADDENDUMS THEREOF.
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
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Among
WRL SERIES FUND. INC.,
--------------------
WESTERN RESERVE LIFE ASSURANCE CO. OF OHIO
------------------------------------------
and
PFL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
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THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this 1st day of July, 1992 by and
among PFL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, an Iowa corporation (hereinafter the
"Company") on its own behalf and on behalf of the PFL Endeavor Variable Annuity
Account, and other segregated asset accounts of the Company (hereinafter the
"Account(s)"), and WRL SERIES FUND, INC., a Maryland corporation (hereinafter
the "Funds), and WESTERN RESERVE LIFE ASSURANCE CO. OF OHIO, an Ohio corporation
and an affiliate of the Company (hereinafter "WRL") .
WHEREAS, the Fund engages in business as an open-end management investment
company and is available to act as the investment vehicle for the Account(s),
and other separate accounts established for variable life insurance policies and
variable annuity contracts of WRL and its affiliates; and
WHEREAS, shares of common stock of the Fund are divided into several series of
shares each designated a "Portfolio" or collectively, "Portfolios, and each
representing the interests in a Particular managed pool of securities and other
assets; and
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended (the "1940 Act") and its shares are registered under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (hereinafter the "1933 Act"); and
WHEREAS, WRL is duly registered as an investment adviser under the federal
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and any applicable state securities law, and is
the Fund's investment adviser; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register certain variable
annuity and/or life insurance contracts under the 1933 Act (hereinafter,
individually, the "Policy" or, collectively. the "Policies"); and
WHEREAS, the Account(s) are duly organized, validly existing segregated
asset account(s), established by resolution of the Board of Directors of the
Company, to set aside and invest assets attributable to the aforesaid variable
annuity and/or life insurance contracts that are allocated to the Account(s)
(the Policies and the Account(s) covered by this Agreement, and each
corresponding Portfolio covered by this Agreement in which the Account(s)
invest(s), is specified in Schedule A attached hereto as may be modified from
time to time); and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register the Account(s) as unit
investment trust(s) under the 1940 Act; and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Company intends to purchase shares in one or more of the
Portfolios specified in Schedule A attached
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hereto (the "Shares") on behalf of the Account(s) to fund the Policies, and the
Fund intends to sell such Shares to the Account(s) at net asset value:
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Fund, WRL
and the Company agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. Sale of Fund Shares
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1.1 The Fund agrees to sell to the Company those Shares which the
Account(s) orders and which are available for purchase by such Account,
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. For
purposes of this Section 1.1, the Company shall be the designee of the Fund for
receipt of such orders from Policy owners and receipt by such designee shall
constitute receipt by the Fund; provided that the Fund receives notice of such
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order by 9:30 a.m. New York 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 (the "SEC").
1.2. The Fund agrees to make the Shares available indefinitely for purchase
at the applicable net asset value per share by the Company and the Account(s) 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
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Directors of the Fund (hereinafter the "Board") may refuse to sell any Shares to
the Company and the Account(s), or suspend or terminate the offering of the
Shares 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 its fiduciary duties under federal and any applicable state laws,
necessary in the best interests of the shareholders of such Portfolio.
1.3. The Fund agrees that the Shares will be sold only to the Company and
the Account(s) and/or WRL and its separate accounts. In addition, the Shares may
be sold to other insurance companies affiliated with WRL or their separate
accounts only with the express written consent of WRL. The Shares will not be
sold to the general public or to other investors. Nothing herein shall prohibit
the-Company from establishing separate accounts or sub-accounts of separate
accounts which purchase shares from investment companies other than the Fund.
1.4. The Fund agrees to redeem for cash, on the Company's request, any full
or fractional Shares 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 Policy owners and receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the
Fund; provided that the
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Fund receives notice of such request for redemption by 9:30 a.m. New York time
on the next following Business Day.
1.5. The Company shall pay for the Shares by 2:00 p.m. New York time on the
next Business Day after an order to purchase the Shares is made in accordance
with the provisions of Section 1.1 hereof. Payment shall be in federal funds
transmitted by wire or by a credit for any Shares redeemed. For purpose of
Section 2.9, 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.
1.6. Issuance and transfer of the Shares will be by book entry only. Stock
certificates will not be issued to the Company or the Account(s). The Shares
ordered from the Fund will be recorded in an appropriate title for the
Account(s) or the appropriate subaccount of the Account(s).
1.7. The Fund shall furnish same day notice (by wire or telephone followed
by written confirmation) to the Company of any income, dividends or capital gain
distributions payable on the Shares. The Company hereby elects to receive all
such dividends and distributions as are payable on a Portfolio's Shares in
additional Shares of that Portfolio. The Fund shall notify the Company of the
number of Shares so issued as payment of such dividends and distributions.
1.8. The Fund or its custodian shall make the net asset value per share for
each Portfolio available to the Company on each Business Day as soon as
reasonably practical after the
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net asset value per share is calculated and shall use its best efforts to make
such net asset value per share available by 6:30 p.m. New York time.
ARTICLE II. Representations and Warranties
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2.1. The Company represents and warrants that the Policies are or will be
registered under the 1933 Act, and that the Policies will be issued, sold, and
distributed in compliance in all material respects with all applicable state and
federal laws, including without limitation the 1933 Act, the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and the 1940 Act. 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 the PFL Endeavor Variable Annuity Account as a segregated asset
account under Iowa law and has registered or, prior to any issuance or sale of
the Policies, will register the Account(s) as unit investment trust(s) in
accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act (unless exempt therefrom) to
serve as a segregated investment account(s) for the Policies, and that it will
maintain such registration(s) for so long as any Policies are outstanding. The
Company shall amend the registration statement(s) under the 1933 Act for the
Policies and the registration statement(s) under the 1940 Act for the Account(s)
from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of the
Policies or as may otherwise be required by applicable law. The Company shall
register and qualify the Policies for sale in accordance with the
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securities laws of the various states only if and to the extent deemed necessary
by the Company.
2.2 The Company represents that it believes, in good faith, that the
Policies are currently and at the time of issuance will be treated as life
insurance, endowment or annuity contracts under applicable provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code", that it will make every
effort to maintain such treatment and that it will notify the Fund and WRL
immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Policies have
ceased to be so treated or that they might not be so treated in the future.
2.3. The Fund and WRL each separately represents and warrants that the
Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act,
duly authorized for issuance and sold in compliance with the laws 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 in accordance
with the laws of the various states only if and to the extent deemed necessary
by the Fund, with the concurrence of WRL.
2.4. The Fund and WRL each separately represents that each Portfolio of the
Fund is currently qualified or will be Qualified as a Regulated Investment
Company under Subchapter M of the code and that every effort will be made to
maintain such qualification (under Subchapter M or any successor or similar
provision) and that the Fund or WRL, as appropriate, will notify the Company
orally (followed by written notice) or by wire immediately upon having a
reasonable basis for believing that any Portfolio of the Fund has ceased to so
qualify or that any Portfolio might not so qualify in the future.
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2.5. The Fund currently does not intend to make any payments to finance
distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act or otherwise,
although to the extent permitted and in conformity with the requirements under
the 1940 Act it may make such payments in the future.
2.6. The Fund represents that it will sell and distribute the Shares in
accordance in all material respects with all applicable state and federal
securities laws, including without limitation the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, and
the 0000 Xxx.
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. WRL represents and warrants that it is and shall remain duly
registered under all applicable federal and state securities laws and that it
shall perform its obligations for the Fund in compliance in all material
respects with any applicable state and federal securities laws.
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2.9. The Fund and WRL each separately represents and warrants that, to the
extent required by Section 17(g) and Rule 17g-1 of the 1940 Act, or related
provisions as may be promulgated from time to time, all of its directors,
officers, employees, investment advisers, and other individuals or 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 Section 17(g) and 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. Prospectus and Proxy Statements; Voting
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3.1. At least annually, the Fund or WRL, as appropriate, shall provide the
Company, free of charge, with as many copies of the current prospectus for the
Shares as the Company may reasonably request for distribution to existing Policy
owners whose Policies are funded by such Shares. The Fund or WRL, as
appropriate, shall provide the Company, at the Company's expense, with as many
copies of the current prospectus for the Shares as the Company may reasonable
request for distribution to prospective purchasers of Policies. If requested by
the Company in lieu thereof, the Fund or WRL, as appropriate, shall provide such
documentation (including a final "camera ready" copy of the new prospectus as
set; in type at the expense of the Fund or WRL, as the
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case may be) and other assistance as is reasonably necessary in order for the
parties hereto once each year (or more frequently if the prospectus for the
Shares is supplemented or amended) to have the prospectus for the Policies and
the prospectus for the Shares printed together in one document; the expenses of
such printing to be apportioned between (a) the Company, and (b) the Fund or
WRL, as the case may be, in proportion to the number of pages of the Policy and
Shares' prospectuses, taking account of other relevant factors affecting the
expense of printing, such as columns, charts, etc.; the Fund or WRL, as the case
may be, to bear the cost of printing the Shares' prospectus portion of such
document for distribution to owners of existing Policies funded by the Shares,
and the Company to bear the expenses of printing the portion of such document
relating to the Account(s); provided, however, that the Company shall bear all
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printing expenses of such combined documents where used for distribution to
prospective purchasers or to owners of existing Policies not funded by the
Shares.
3.2. The prospectus for the Shares shall state that the Statement of
Additional Information for the Shares is available from the Fund (or WRL). The
Fund or WRL, at its expense, as appropriate, shall print and provide such
Statement to the Company (or a master of such Statement suitable for duplication
by the Company) for distribution to any owner of a Policy funded by the Shares.
WRL, at the Company's expense, shall print and provide such Statement to the
Company (or a master of such Statement
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suitable for duplication by the Company) for distribution to a prospective
purchaser who requests such Statement or to an owner of a Policy not funded by
the Shares.
3.3. The Fund shall provide the Company free of charge copies, if and to
the extent applicable to the Shares, of the Fund's proxy material, reports to
Shareholders and other communications to Shareholders in such quantity as the
Company shall reasonably require for distributing to Policy owners.
3.4. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3 above, or
of Article V below, the Company shall pay the expense of printing or providing
documents to the extent such cost is considered a distribution expense.
Distribution expenses would include by way of illustration, but are not limited
to, the printing of the Shares' prospectus for distribution to prospective
purchasers or to owners of existing Policies not funded by such Shares.
3.5. If and to the extent required by law, the Company shall:
(i) solicit voting instructions from Policy owners;
(ii) vote the Shares in accordance with instructions received from
Policy owners; and
(iii) vote the Shares for which no instructions have been received in
the same proportion as the Shares of such Portfolio for which
instructions have been received;
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so long as and to the extent that the SEC continues to interpret the 1940 Act to
require passthrough voting privileges for variable contract owners. The Company
reserves the right to vote the Shares held in the Account(s) in its own right,
to the extent permitted by law.
3.6. The process of soliciting Policy owners' voting instructions, tabulating
votes, etc. shall be conducted in accordance with Schedule B attached hereto.
ARTICLE IV. Sales Material and Information
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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 or the Fund's advisers are 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 its advisers concerning the Fund or its
advisers in connection with the sale of the Policies 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, except with the permission of the Fund. The Fund or its
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designee agrees to respond to any request for approval on a prompt and timely
basis.
4.3. WRL 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 the 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 WRL each separately agrees not to give any information or
make any representations on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company, the
Account(s), or the Policies other than information or representations contained
in a registration statement or prospectus for the Policies, as such registration
statement and prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in
reports for the Account(s) which are in the public domain or approved by the
Company for distribution to Policy owners, or in sales literature or other
promotional material approved by the Company or its designee, except with the
permission of the Company. The Company or its designee agrees to respond to any
request for approval on a prompt and timely basis.
4.5. The Company and Fund (or WRL in lieu of the Fund, as appropriate) will
each provide to the other at least one complete copy of all registration
statements, prospectuses, State- of additional Information. reports, proxy
statements, sales
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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 Policies, or to the Fund or its Shares, prior to or
contemporaneously with the filing of such document with the SEC or other
regulatory authorities. The Company or Fund shall also each promptly inform the
other of the results of any examination by the SEC (or other regulatory
authorities) that relates to the Policies, the Fund or its Shares, and the party
that was the subject of the examination shall provide the other party with a
copy of any "deficiency letter" or other correspondence or written report
regarding any such examination.
4.6. For purposes of this Article IV, the phrase "sales literature or other
promotional material" means advertisements (such as material published, or
designed for use in, a newspaper, magazine, or other periodical, radio,
television, telephone or tape recording, videotape display, signs or billboard),
and sales literature (such as brochures, circulars, market letters and form
letters), distributed or made generally available to customers or the public,
educational or training materials or communications distributed or made
generally available to some or all agents or employees.
ARTICLE V. Fees and Expenses
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5.1. Neither the Fund nor WRL shall pay any fee or other compensation to
the Company under this Agreement, and the Company shall pay no fee or other
compensation to the Fund or WRL, except that if the Fund or any Portfolio adopts
and imple-
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ments a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act to finance distribution
expenses, then, subject to obtaining any required exemptive orders or regulatory
approvals, the Fund may make payments to the Company or to the underwriter for
the Policies if and in amounts agreed to by the Fund in writing (currently no
such payments are contemplated). Each party, however, shall, in accordance with
the allocation of expenses specified in Articles III and V hereof, reimburse
other parties for expenses initially paid by one party but allocated to another
party.
5.2. The Fund or WRL, as appropriate, shall bear the expenses for the cost
of registration and qualification of the Shares under all applicable federal and
state laws, including preparation and filing of the Fund's registration
statement, and payment of filing fees and registration fees; preparation and
filing of the Fund's proxy materials and reports to Shareholders; setting in
type and printing its prospectus (to the extent provided by and as determined in
accordance with Article III above); setting in type and printing the proxy
materials and reports to Shareholders (to the extent provided by and as
determined in accordance with Article III above); the preparation of all
statements and notices required of the Fund by any federal or state law with
respect to its Shares; all taxes on the issuance or transfer of the Shares; and
the costs of distributing the Fund's prospectuses and proxy materials to owners
of Policies funded by the Shares and any expenses permitted to be paid or
assumed by the Fund pursuant to a plan, if any, under Rule 12b-1 of the 1940
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Act. The Fund shall not bear any expenses of marketing the Policies.
5.3. The Company shall bear the expenses of distributing the Shares'
prospectus in connection with new sales of the Policies and of distributing the
Fund's Shareholder reports to Policy owners. The Company shall bear all expenses
associated with the registration, qualification, and filing of the Policies
under applicable federal securities and state insurance laws; the cost of
printing the Policy prospectus; and the cost of preparing and printing annual
individual account statements for Policy owners required by state insurance
laws.
ARTICLE VI. Diversification and Related Limitations
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6.1. The Fund and WRL each separately represents and warrants that the Fund
will at all times invest its assets in such a manner as to ensure that the
Policies will be treated as annuity, endowment, or life insurance contracts
under the Code and the regulations issued thereunder. Without limiting the scope
of the foregoing, the Fund will at all times comply with Section 817(h) of the
Code and Treas. Reg. (S) 1.817-5, as amended from time to time, and any Treasury
interpretations thereof, relating to the diversification requirements for
variable annuity, endowment, or life insurance contracts and any amendments or
other modifications to such Section or Regulations.
6.2. The Shares will not be sold to any person or entity that would result
in the Policies not being treated as annuity, endowment, or life insurance
contracts, in accordance
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with the statutes and regulations referred to in the preceding paragraph
(Section 6.1 hereof).
Article VII. Potential Material Conflicts
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7.1 The Fund agrees that the Board, constituted with a majority of
disinterested directors, will monitor each Portfolio of the Fund for the
existence of any material irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the
variable annuity contract owners and the variable life insurance policy owners
of the Company and/or affiliated companies ("contract owners") investing in the
Fund. The Board shall have the sole authority to determine if a material
irreconcilable conflict exists, and such determination shall be binding on the
Company only if approved in the form of a resolution by a majority of the Board,
or a majority of the disinterested directors of the Board. The Board will give
prompt notice of any such determination to the Company.
7.2 The Company and WRL each separately agrees that it will be responsible
for promptly reporting any potential or existing conflicts of which it is aware
to the Board. The Company also agrees that, if a material irreconcilable
conflict arises, it will at its own cost remedy such conflict up to and
including (a) withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the 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 to a vote of all affected contract owners whether to withdraw
assets from the Fund or any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a dif-
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ferent investment medium and, as appropriate, segregating the assets
attributable to any appropriate group of contract owners that votes in favor of
such segregation, or offering to any of the affected contract owners the option
of segregating the assets attributable to their contracts or policies, and (b)
establishing a new registered management investment company and segregating the
assets underlying the Policies, unless a majority of Policy owners materially
adversely affected by the conflict have voted to decline the offer to establish
a new registered management investment company.
7.3 A majority of the disinterested directors of the Board shall determine
whether any proposed action by the Company adequately remedies any material
irreconcilable conflict. In the event that the Board determines that any
proposed action does not adequately remedy any material irreconcilable conflict,
the Company will withdraw from investment in the Fund each of the Account(s)
designated by the disinterested directors 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
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limited to the extent required to remedy any such material irreconcilable
conflict as determined by a majority of the disinterested directors of the
Board.
7.4 The Fund agrees that it will not enter into any agreement with a life
insurance com-
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pany affiliated with the Company unless such agreement includes a section
substantially identical to this Article VII.
ARTICLE VIII. Indemnification
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8.1. Indemnification By The Company
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8.1 (a). The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, WRL,
and each of their respective directors and officers and each person, if any, who
controls the Fund or WRL within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, and
any agents or employees of the foregoing (each an "Indemnified Party, " or
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 an Indemnified Party 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 Shares or the
Policies 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 Policies or contained in the Policies or sales
literature for the Policies (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
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Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged
statement or omission was made in
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reasonable and good faith reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished the Company by or on behalf of the Fund or WRL
for use in the registration statement or prospectus for the Policies or
in the Policies or sales literature (or any amendment or supplement) or
otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Policies or
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 it" control and on which the Company has
reasonably relied in good faith) or wrongful conduct of the Company or
persons under its control, with respect to the sale or distribution of
the Policies or 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 statement or omission was made in
reliance upon information furnished to the Fund or WRY by or on behalf
of the Company; or
(iv) 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;
except to the extent provided in Sections 8.1(b) and 8.1(c) hereof.
8.1(b). The Company 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 willful
misfeasance, bad
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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, except to the extent that failure to
notify results in failure of actual notice to the Company and the Company is
damaged solely as a result of failure to give notice. In case any such action is
brought against one or more of 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. Each Indemnified Party shall
fully cooperate with the Company in defense of the action, regardless of whether
the Company assumes or only participates in the defense. After notice
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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, unless (i) the Company and the Indemnified
Party shall have mutually agreed on the retention of such counsel or (ii) the
named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include
both the Company and the Indemnified Party and representation of both par ties
by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing
interests between them. The Company shall not be liable for any settlement of
any proceeding effected with out its written consent but if settled with such
consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Company agrees to
indemnify the Indemnified Party from all and against any loss or liability by
reason of such settlement or judgment.
8.1(d). Each Indemnified Party will promptly notify the Company of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it in connection with the
issuance or sale of the Shares or the Policies or the operation of the Fund and
each Indemnified Party will provide the Company with all relevant information
and documents in its possession or in the possession of a person within its
control requested by the Company. For purposes of this Section 8.1(d), the
"commencement" of proceedings shall in-
-22-
clude any informal or formal communications from the SEC or its staff (or the
receipt of information from any other persons or entities) indicating that
enforcement action by the SEC or staff may be contemplated or forthcoming; this
includes any information to the effect that any matter(s) has been referred to
the SEC's Division of Enforcement, or that any matter(s) is being discussed with
that Division.
8.2. Indemnification by WRL
----------------------
8.2(a). WRL 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, and any agents or employees of
the foregoing (each an "Indemnified Party, " or 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 WRL) or litigation (including legal and other expenses) to which an
Indemnified Party 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 are related to the sale
or acquisition of the Shares or the Policies 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
-23-
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 reasonable and good faith reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished to WRL by or on behalf of the Company for use in
the registration statement or prospectus for the Fund or in sales
literature for the Fund (or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise
for use in connection with the sale of the Policies or 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 Policies not
supplied by WRL, or persons under its control and on which WRL has
reasonably relied in good faith) or wrongful conduct of WRL or persons
under its control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the
Policies or 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 covering the Policies, 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 WRL; or
(iv) arise out of or result from any material breach of any representation
and/or warranty made by WRL in this Agreement OR ARISE out of or
result from any other material breach of this Agreement by WRL
(including a failure, whether unintentional or in good faith or
otherwise, to comply with the requirements specified in Article Vl of
this Agreement);
except to the extent provided in Sections 8.2(b) and 8.2(c) hereof.
-24-
8.2(b) WRL 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 the Account(s).
8.2(c). WRL 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 WRL 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 WRL of any such claim shall not relieve WRL 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,
except to the extent that failure to notify results in the failure of actual
notice to WRL and WRL is damaged solely as a result of failure to give such
notice. In case any such action is brought against one or more of the
Indemnified Parties, WRL will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in
the defense thereof. WRL also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof,
with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the
-25-
action. Each Indeminified Party shall fully cooperate with WRL in defense of the
action, regardless of whether WRL assumes or only participates in the defense.
After notice from WRL to such party of its election to assume the defense
thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any
additional counsel retained by it, and WRL 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, unless (i) WRL and the Indemnified Party
shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named
parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include WRL and
the Indemnified Party and representation of these parties by the same counsel
would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between
them. WRL shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected
without its written consent but if settled with such consent or if there be a
final judgment for the plaintiff, WRL agrees to indemnify the Indemnified Party
from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or
judgement.
8.2(d) Each Indemnified Party will promptly notify WRL of the commencement
of any litigation or proceedings against it in connection with the issuance or
sale of the Shares or the Policies or the operation of the Fund and each
Indemnified Party will provide WRL with all relevant information and documents
in its possession or in the possession of a person within its con-
-26-
trol requested by WRL. For purposes of this Section 8.2(d), the "commencement"
of proceedings shall include any informal or formal communications from the SEC
or its staff (or the receipt of information from any other persons or entities)
indicating that enforcement action by the SEC or staff may be contemplated or
forthcoming; this includes any information to the effect that any matter(s) has
been referred to the SEC's Division of Enforcement, or that any matter(s) is
being discussed with that Division.
8.3. Indemnification by the Fund
---------------------------
8.3(a). The Fund 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, and any agents or employees of
the foregoing (each an "Indemnified Party, " or collectively, the "Indemnified
Panties for purposes of this Section 8.3) against any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written
consent of the Fund) or litigation (including legal and other expenses) to which
any Indemnified Party 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 are related to the sale or
acquisition of the Shares or the Policies 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
-27-
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 reasonable and good
faith reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the
Fund by or on behalf of the Company for use in the registration
statement or prospectus for the Fund or in sales literature for the
Fund (or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in
connection with the sale of the Policies or 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 Policies not supplied
by the Fund, or persons under its control and on which the Fund has
reasonably relied in good faith) or wrongful conduct of the Fund or
persons under its control, with respect to the sale or distribution of
the Policies or 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 covering the Policies, 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 out of or result from any material breach of any representation
and/or warranty made by the Fund in this Agreement or arise out of or
result from any other material breach of this Agreement by the Fund
(including a failure, whether unintentional or in good faith or
otherwise, to comply with the requirements specified in Article VI of
this Agreement);
-28-
except to the extent provided in Sections 8.3(b), 8.3(c) and 8.3(e) hereof.
8.3(b). The Fund 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 the Account(s).
8.3(c). The Fund 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 Fund 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 Fund of any such claim shall not
relieve the Fund 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, except to the extent that failure to notify results
in the failure of actual notice to the Fund and the Fund is damaged solely as a
result of failure to give such notice. In case any such action is brought
against one or more of the Indem-
-29-
nified Parties, the Fund will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in
the defense thereof. The Fund also shall be entitled to assume the defense
thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. Each
Indemnified Party shall fully cooperate with the Fund in defense of the action,
regardless of whether the Fund assumes or only participates in the defense.
After notice from the Fund to such party of its election to assume the defense
thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any
additional counsel retained by it, and the Fund 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, unless (i) the Fund and the Indemnified Party
shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named
parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include the
Fund and the Indemnified Party and representation of these parties by the same
counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests
between them. The Fund shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding
effected without its written consent but if settled with such consent or if
there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Fund agrees to indemnify the
Indemnified Party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such
settlement or judgment.
8.3(d). Each Indemnified Party will promptly notify the Fund of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings
-30-
against it in connection with the issuance or sale of the Shares or the Policies
or the operation of the Fund and each Indemnified Party will provide the Fund
with all relevant information and documents in its possession or in the
possession of a person within its control requested by the Fund. For purposes of
this Section 8.3(d), the "commencements of proceedings shall include any
informal or formal communications from the SEC or its staff (or the receipt of
information from any other persons or entities) indicating that enforcement
action by the SEC or staff may be contemplated or forthcoming; this includes any
information to the effect that any matter(s) has been referred to the SEC's
Division of Enforcement, or that any matter(s) is being discussed with that
Division.
8.3(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article VIII to the
contrary, any liability which the Fund may have under this indemnification
provision shall be the liability only of the particular Portfolio or Portfolios
to which such liability relates; any such liability of a Portfolio may be
satisfied only by and to the extent of the assets of that Portfolio.
8.4 A successor by law of the parties to this Agreement shall be entitled
to the benefits of the indemnification contained in this Article VIII. The
indemnification provisions contained in this Article VIII shall survive any
termination of this Agreement.
-31-
ARTICLE IX. Applicable Law
--------------
9.1. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of Florida.
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
and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance therewith.
ARTICLE X. Termination
-----------
10.1. This Agreement shall terminate with respect to the Account(s), or one,
some, or all Portfolios:
(a) at the option of any party upon six months' advance written notice to
the other parties; or
(b) at the option of the Company to the extent that the Shares of
Portfolios are not reasonably available to meet the requirements of the Policies
or are not "appropriate funding vehicles for the Policies, as determined by the
Company reasonably and in good faith. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the Shares of a Portfolio would not be "appropriate funding vehicles.
if, for example, such Shares did not meet the diversification or other
requirements referred to in Article VI hereof; or if the Portfolio did not
qualify under Subchapter M of the Code, as referred to in Section 2.4 hereof; or
if the investments or investment policies, objectives, and/or limitations of
-32-
the Portfolio would impose unanticipated risks on the Company; or if the Company
would be permitted to disregard policyowner voting instructions pursuant to
Rules 6e-2 or 6e-3(T) under the 1940 Act; etc. Prompt notice of the election to
terminate for such cause and an explanation of 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 National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the
"NASD"), the SEC, or any insurance department or any other regulatory body
regarding the Company's duties under this Agreement or related to the sale of
the Policies, the operation of the Account(s), or the purchase of the Shares; 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; or
(e) at the option of the Company or the Fund upon receipt of any necessary
regulatory approvals and/or the vote of the Policy owners having an interest in
the Account(s) (or any subaccount) to substitute the shares of another
investment company for the corresponding Portfolio Shares in accordance with the
terms of the Policies 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
-33-
the date of any proposed vote or other action taken to replace the Shares; or
(f) at the option of any party to this Agreement , upon another party's
material breach of any provision of this Agreement.
10.2. The notice shall specify the Portfolio or Portfolios, Policies and,
if applicable, the Account(s) as to which the Agreement is to be terminated.
10.3. It is understood and agreed that the right of any party hereto to
terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section lO.l(a) may be exercised for cause
or for no cause.
10.4. Except as necessary to implement Policy owner initiated transactions,
or as required by state insurance laws or regulations, the Company shall not
redeem the Shares attributable to the Policies (as opposed to the Shares
attributable to the Company's assets held in the Account(s)), and the Company
shall not prevent Policy owners from allocating payments to a Portfolio that was
otherwise available under the Policies, until 30 days after the Company shall
have notified the Fund and WRL of its intention to do so.
10.5. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Fund shall, at
the option of the Company, continue to make available additional shares of the
Portfolios pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for all
Policies in effect on the effective date of termination of this Agreement
(hereinafter referred to as "Existing Policies"), except as
-34-
otherwise provided under Article VII of this Agreement. Specifically, without
limitation, the owners of the Existing Policies shall be permitted to transfer
or reallocate investments under the Policies, redeem investments in any
Portfolio and/or invest in the Fund upon the making of additional purchase
payments under the Existing Policies.
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:
WRY Series Fund, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
If to WRL:
Western Reserve Life Assurance Co. Of Ohio
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
If to the Company
PFL Life Insurance Company
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xx., X.X.
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Esq.
ARTICLE XII. Miscellaneous
-------------
12.1. Subject to the requirements of legal process and regulatory
authority, each party hereto shall treat as confiden-
-35-
tial the names and addresses of the owners of the Policies and all information
reasonably identified as confidential in writing by any other party hereto and,
except as permitted by this Agreement or as otherwise required By applicable law
or regulation, shall not disclose, disseminate or utilize such names and
addresses and other confidential information without the express written consent
of the affected party until such time as it may come into the public domain.
12.2. 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.
12.3. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
12.4 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.
12.5. The Schedules attached hereto, as modified from time to time, are
incorporated herein by reference and are part of this Agreement.
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
-36-
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.
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.
Company:
PFL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By its authorized officer,
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-----------------------------
Title: V.P. Assistant Secretary
Date: July 1, 1992
WRL SERIES FUND, INC.
By its authorized officer,
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
------------------------------
Title: Chairman of the Board
Date: July 1, 1992
WESTERN RESERVE LIFE
ASSURANCE CO. OF OHIO
By its authorized of officer
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
--------------------------------
Title: Chairman of the Board & CEO
Date: July 1, 1992
-37-
SCHEDULE A
----------
Account(s), Policy(ies) and Portfolio(s) Subject
to the Participation Agreement
------------------------------
Account: PFL Endeavor Variable Annuity Account
-------
Policies: The Endeavor Variable Annuity
--------
Portfolio: WRL Series Fund Growth Portfolio
---------
-38-
SCHEDULE B
PROXY VOTING PROCEDURE
The following is a list of procedures and corresponding responsibilities for
the handling of proxies relating to the Fund by WRL, the Fund and the Company.
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 number of proxy proposals is given to the Company by WRL on a date as
early as possible before the date set by the Fund for the shareholder
meeting (the "Record Date") to facilitate the establishment of tabulation
procedures. At this time, WRL will inform the Company of the Record, mailing
and meeting dates. This will be done orally approximately two months before
the meeting.
2. Promptly after the Record Date, the Company will perform a Tape runs, or
other activity, which will generate the names, addresses and number of
Shares in each Portfolio which are attributed to each
Contractowner/policyholder (the "Customer") as of the Record Date.
Fractional shares will be counted. The number of shares for which a Customer
has the right to give voting instructions will be calculated
-39-
separately for each sub-account of the Account(s) and will be determined by
dividing the portion of the value allocable to the Customer's Policy in the
sub-account by S100. 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 voting instruction cards is determined by the
activities described in Step #2. If the proxy proposal only affects
a particular Portfolio, then only -the shares of that Portfolio may
be voted and only the Customers with investment of all or a portion
of their Policies in that Portfolio may vote on the proposal to the
extent of their investment. The Company will use its best efforts to
call in the number of Customers to WRL, 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. The
Fund or WRL will provide to the Company as many copies of the last annual
report as the Company shall reasonably require for distribution to the
Customers.
-40-
4. The voting instruction cards (the "Cards" or "Card") are produced and paid
for by the Fund and sent to the Company. (This and related steps may occur
later in the chronological process due to possible uncertainties relating
to the proposals.)
5. The Company will, at its expense, print account information on the Cards.
6. Allow appropriately 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
c. Fund or account number
d. coding which indicates number of shares of the Fund attributable
to the Customer and, if appropriate, of each applicable Portfolio
(depends upon tabulation process used by the computer system, ice
whether or not system knows number of shares held just by
"reading" the account number)
e. individual Card number for use in tracking and verification of
votes (already on Cards as Printed by the Fund)
-41-
Note: When the Cards are printed by the Fund, each Card is numbered
individually to guard against potential Card/vote duplication.
f. spaces where the Customer can vote "yes" or "no" on each proxy
proposal.
7. During this time, the Legal Department of WRY or its affiliate (XXXX
Legal") will develop, produce, and the Fund will pay for as many copies of
the notice of proxy and the proxy statement (one document) for the Fund
or, if appropriate, for the Portfolio(s) in which the Customer's Policy is
invested as the Company may reasonably require for distribution to each
Customer. 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 each
Customer by the Company will include:
a. voting instruction card
b. proxy notice and statement (one document) (for the Fund or, if
appropriate, for the Portfolio(s) in which the Customer's Policy
is invested)
c. the Fund's annual report (if not sent prior to this tine)
-42-
d. return envelope (postage pre-paid by the Company) addressed to
the Company or its tabulation agent
e. "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.)
f. cover letter - optional, supplied by the Company and reviewed and
orally approved in advance by WRL Legal.
8. The above contents should be received by the Company approximately 3-5
business days before the date set for mailing. The individual in charge at the
Company reviews and approves in writing the contents of the mailing package
supplied by WRL Legal to ensure correctness and completeness. Copy of this
approval must be sent to WRL Legal.
9. Package mailed by the Company at its expense to the Customers.
* The Fund must allow at least a 15-day solicitation time to the Company as
----
the shareowner. (A 5-week period is recommended, but not necessary, to
receive a proper response percentage.) Solicitation time is calculated as
-43-
days from (but not including) the meeting, counting backwards.
** If the Customers were actually the shareholders, at least 50% of the
outstanding shares must be represented and 66 2/3% of that 501 must have
voted affirmatively on the proposals to have an effective vote. However,
-------
since the Company is the shareholder, the Customers' votes will (except in
certain limited circumstances) be used to dictate how the Company will
vote.
10. Collection and tabulation of the Cards begins. Tabulation usually types
place in another department or another vendor depending on process used. An
often used procedure is to sort the Cards on arrival into vote categories
of all yes, no, or m; red replies, and to begin data entry.
* 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 WRL in the past.
11. Signatures on the Card checked against legal name on account registration
which was printed on the Card.
-44-
* This verifies whether an individual has signed correctly with the same name
as is on the account registration.
For Example:
If the account registration is under "8ertram X. Xxxxx,
Trustee," then that is the exact legal name to be printed on the
Card and is the signature needed on the Card.
12. 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, a new
Card and return envelope. The mutilated, illegible or improperly signed
Curd is disregarded and considered to be not received for purposes of vote
-------------
tabulation. (If the vote on any one proxy proposal on a Card with more
then one proxy proposal is legible and the Card is properly signed, then
that vote shall be counted, and the remainder of the Card which is
illegible shall be disregarded and shall be considered to be not received
------------
for purposes of vote tabulation.) Any Cards that have "kicked out" (e.g.
mutilated, illegible) of the procedure are "hand verified," ire, examined
as to why they did not complete the proxy process. Any questions on those
Cards are usually remedied individually.
-45-
13. 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 descending upon their vote; an
estimate of how the vote is progressing may 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.
14. The actual tabulation of votes is done in shares. (It is very important
that the Fund receives the tabulations stated in terms of a percentage and
the number of shares.)
------
15. Final tabulation in shares is orally given by the Company to WRL Legal on
the morning of the meeting by 10:00 a.m. E.S.T.
16. The vote is verified by the Company and is sent to WRL Legal.
17. The Company then votes its proxy in accordance with the votes received
from the Customers the morning of he meeting (except as provided in the
Participation Agreement or in limited circumstances as may be otherwise
required by law). Voting instructions to abstain on any item to be voted
upon reduces the votes eligible to be cast by the Company. A letter
documenting the Company's vote is supplied by WRL
-46-
Legal and is sent to officer of the Company for his signature.
This letter is normally sent after the meeting has taken place.
Note: Shares do not have cumulative voting rights and the
holders of more than 50% of the shares of the Fund
voting for the election of directors of the Board can
elect all of the directors if they choose to do so, and
in such event holders of the remaining shares would not
be able to elect any directors.
18. 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, WRL will be pitted
reasonable access to such Cards.
19. All approvals and "signing-off" may be done orally, but must always be
followed up in writing.
20. Curing tabulation procedures, the Fund and the Company determine if a
resolicitation is advisable and what form that resolicitation should take,
whether it should be by a mailing, or by a recorded telephone call. A
resolicitation may be considered, for example, when the vote response is
slow
-47-
and a judgment is made that the number of votes is too low under the
circumstances. The Meeting could be adjourned to leave enough time for the
resolicitation.
A determination is made by the Company and the Fund to find the most cost
effective candidates for resolicitation. These are Customers who have not yet
voted, but whose balances are large enough that their vote would significantly
increase the number of votes with minimal costs.
a. By mail: GIRL Legal Emends the voting instruction cards, if necessary, and
writes a resolicitation letter. the Fund supplies these to the Company. The
Company generates a mailing list etc., as per step #2 onward.
b. By phone: Rarely used. This must be done on a recorded line. WRL Legal and
the Fund will supply the necessary procedures and script if a phone
resolicitation were to be required.
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