PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT Among VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUNDS, FIDELITY DISTRIBUTORS CORP ORATION And KANSAS CITY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Among
VARIABLE
INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUNDS,
FIDELITY
DISTRIBUTORS CORP ORATION
And
KANSAS
CITY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
THIS
AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of the 11th day of February, 2007 by and
among KANSAS CITY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, (hereinafter the “Company”), a
Missouri corporation, 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”); and
FIDELITY DISTRIBUTORS CORPORATION (hereinafter the “Underwriter”), a
Massachusetts corporation; and each of VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND,
VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND II, VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND III and
VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND IV, each an unincorporated business trust
organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (each referred to
hereinafter as the “Fund”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS,
each 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 life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts
(collectively, the “Variable Insurance Products”) and qualified pension and
retirement plans within the meaning of Treasury Regulation section
1.817-5(f)(3)(iii) (“Qualified Plans”) to be offered by insurance companies
which have entered into participation agreements with the Fund and the
Underwriter (hereinafter “Participating Insurance Companies”); and
WHEREAS,
the beneficial interest in each Fund is divided into several series of shares,
each representing the interest in a particular managed portfolio of securities
and other assets, any one or more of which may be made available under this
Agreement, as may be amended from time to time by mutual agreement of the
parties hereto (each such series hereinafter referred to as a “Portfolio”);
and
WHEREAS,
each Fund has obtained an order from the Securities and Exchange Commission,
dated October 15, 1985 (File No. 812-6102) or September 17, 1986 (File No.
812-6422), granting Participating Insurance Companies and variable annuity and
variable life 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 “1940 Act”) and Rules 6e-2(b) (15) and 6e-3(T) (b)
(15) thereunder, to the extent necessary to permit shares of the Fund to be sold
to and held by variable annuity and variable life insurance separate accounts of
both affiliated and unaffiliated life insurance companies (hereinafter the
“Shared Funding Exemptive Order”); and
WHEREAS,
each Fund is registered as an open-end management investment company under the
1940 Act and its shares are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (hereinafter the “1933 Act”); and
WHEREAS,
Fidelity Management & Research Company (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 variable life insurance and/or variable annuity products identified on
Schedule A hereto (“Contracts”) have been or will be registered by the Company
under the 1933 Act, unless such Contracts are exempt from registration
thereunder; 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 the aforesaid Contracts; and
WHEREAS,
the Company has registered or will register each Account as a unit investment
trust under the 1940 Act, unless such Account is exempt from registration
thereunder; and
WHEREAS,
the Underwriter is registered as a broker dealer with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, (hereinafter the “1934 Act”), and is a member in good standing of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (hereinafter “NASD”);
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 Contracts and the Underwriter is authorized to
sell such shares to each Account at net asset value;
AGREEMENT
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Company, the
Underwriter and each Fund agree as follows:
ARTICLE
A. Form of Agreement
Although
the parties have executed this Agreement in the form of a Master Participation
Agreement for administrative convenience, this Agreement shall create a separate
participation agreement for each Fund, as though the Company and the Underwriter
had executed a separate, identical form of participation agreement with each
Fund. No rights, responsibilities or liabilities of any Fund shall be attributed
to any other Fund.
ARTICLE
I. Sale
of Fund Shares
1.1 The
Underwriter 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 1.1, the Company shall be the
designee of the Fund for receipt of such orders from each Account and receipt by
such designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund; provided that the Fund
receives notice of such order by 9:00 a.m. Boston time on the next following
Business Day. Beginning within three months of the effective date of this
Agreement, the Company agrees that all order for the purchase and redemption of
Fund shares on behalf of the Accounts will be placed by the Company with the
Funds or their transfer agent by electronic transmission. “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 Securities and
Exchange Commission 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 Trustees 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 interests of the shareholders of such Portfolio.
1.3 The Fund
and the Underwriter agree that shares of the Fund will be sold only to
Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts and Qualified
Plans. No shares of any Portfolio will be sold to the general
public.
1.4 The Fund
and the Underwriter will not sell Fund shares to any insurance company, separate
account or Qualified Plan unless an agreement containing provisions
substantially the same as Articles I, III, V, VII and Section 2.5 of Article II
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 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 on the
next following Business Day. This section shall not apply to VIP Fund shares or
share classes that are subject to redemption fees. The Company shall not
purchase or redeem VIP Fund shares that are subject to redemption fees,
including shares of Portfolios or share classes that later become subject to
redemption fees, in the absence of an additional written agreement signed by all
parties.
1.6 The
Company agrees that purchases and redemptions of Portfolio shares offered by the
then current prospectus of the Fund shall be made in accordance with the
provisions of such prospectus.
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 2.10 and 2.11, 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 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 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 by 6:30 p.m. Boston time) and shall use
its best efforts to make such net asset value per share available by 7 p.m.
Boston time.
1.11 The
parties agree that the Contracts are not intended to serve as vehicles for
frequent transfers among the Portfolios in response to short-term stock market
fluctuations.
A. Accordingly,
the Company represents and warrants that:
(a) all
purchase and redemption orders it provides under this Article I shall result
solely from Contract Owner transactions fully received and recorded by the
Company before the time as of which each applicable VIP Portfolio net asset
value was calculated (currently 4:00 p.m. e.s.t);
(b) it will
comply with its policies and procedures designed to prevent excessive trading as
approved by the Fund, or will comply with the Fund’s policies and procedures
regarding excessive trading as set forth in the Fund’s prospectus, but in no
event shall this provision require the Company to breach any terms of its
existing Contracts;
(c) any
annuity contract forms or variable life insurance policy forms not in use at the
time of execution of this Agreement, but added to in the future via amendment of
Schedule A hereto, will contain language reserving to the Company the right to
refuse to accept instructions from persons that engage in market timing or other
excessive or disruptive
trading activity.
B. The
Company agrees to provide the Fund, upon written request, the taxpayer
identification number (“TIN”), if known, of any or all Contract Owner(s) of the
account and the amount, date, name or other identifier of any investment
professional(s) associated with the Contract Owner (s) or account (if known),
and transaction type (purchase, redemption, transfer, or exchange) of every
purchase, redemption, transfer, or exchange of Shares held through an account
maintained by the Company during the period covered by the request. Unless
otherwise specifically requested by the Fund, the Intermediary shall only be
required to provide information relating to Shareholder- Initiated Transfer
Purchases or Shareholder Transfer Redemptions.
(a) The Fund
will request information pursuant to Section 1.11B. which sets forth a specific
period for which transaction information is sought.. The Fund may request
transaction information it deems necessary to investigate compliance with
policies established by the Fund for the purpose of eliminating or reducing any
dilution of the value of the outstanding shares issued by the
Fund.
Unless
otherwise directed by the Fund, the Company agrees to provide the information
specified in Section 1.11 B. for each trading day.
(b) The
Company agrees to transmit the requested information that is on its books and
records to the Fund or its designee promptly, but in any event not later than
five business days, after receipt of a request. If the requested information is
not on the
Company’s
books and records, the Company agrees to: (i) provide or arrange to provide to
the Fund the requested information from Contract Owners who hold an account with
an indirect intermediary; or (ii) if directed by the Fund, block further
purchases of Fund Shares from such indirect intermediary. In such instance, the
Company agrees to inform the Fund whether it plans to perform (i) or (ii).
Responses required by this paragraph must be communicated in writing and in a
format mutually agreed upon by the parties. To the extent practicable, the
format for any transaction information provided to the Fund should be consistent
with the NSCC Standardized Data Reporting Format. For purposes of this
provision, an “indirect intermediary” has the same meaning as in SEC Rule 22c-2
under the 1940 Act.
(c) The Fund
agrees not to use the information received for marketing or any other similar
purpose without the prior written consent of the Company. The Fund agrees not to
use the information received pursuant to this Agreement for any purpose other
than as necessary to comply with the provisions of Rule 22c-2 or to fulfill
other regulatory or legal requirements subject to the privacy provisions of
Title V of the Xxxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Act (Public Law 106-102) and comparable state
laws.
C. The
Company agrees to execute written instructions from the Fund to restrict
or prohibit further purchases or exchanges of Shares by a Contract Owner that
has been identified by the Fund as having engaged in transactions of the Fund’s
Shares (directly or indirectly through the Company’s account) that violate
policies established by the Fund for the purpose of eliminating or reducing any
dilution of the value of the outstanding Shares issued by the Fund, except that
this provision shall not require the Company to breach any terms of its existing
contracts with Contract owners. Unless otherwise directed by the Fund, any such
restrictions or prohibitions shall only apply to Shareholder-Initiated Transfer
Purchases or Shareholder-Initiated Transfer Redemptions that are effected
directly or indirectly through Intermediary
(a) Instructions
from the Fund will include the TIN, if known, and the specific restriction(s) to
be executed. If the TIN is not known, the instructions will include an
equivalent identifying number of the Contract Owner(s) or account(s) or other
agreed upon information to which the instruction relates.
(b) The
Company agrees to execute instructions as soon as reasonably practicable, but
not later than five business days after receipt of the instructions by the
Company.
(c) The
Company must provide written confirmation to the Fund that instructions have
been executed. The Company agrees to provide confirmation as soon as reasonably
practicable, but not later than five business days after the instructions have
been executed.
D. For
purposes of this paragraph:
(a) The term
“Fund” includes the Fund’s principal underwriter and transfer agent. The term
not does include any “excepted funds” as defined in SEC Rule 22c-2(b) under the
0000 Xxx.
(b) The term
“Shares” means the interests of Shareholders corresponding to the redeemable
securities of record issued by the Fund under the 1940 Act that are held by the
Company.
(c) The term
“Contract Owner” means the holder of interests in a variable annuity or variable
life insurance contract issued by the Company.
(d) The term
“written” includes electronic writings and facsimile
transmissions.
(e) The term
“Shareholder-Initiated Transfer Purchase” means a transaction that is initiated
or directed by a Shareholder that results in a. transfer of assets within a
Contract to a Fund, but does not include transactions that are executed: (i)
automatically pursuant to a contractual or systematic program or enrollment such
as transfer of assets within a Contract to a Fund as a result of “dollar cost
averaging” programs, insurance company approved asset allocation programs, or
automatic rebalancing programs; (ii) pursuant to a Contract death benefit; (iii)
step-ups in annuity Contract value pursuant to the terms of the Contract or
riders thereto; (iv) allocation of assets to a Fund through a Contract as a
result of payments such as loan repayments, scheduled contributions, retirement
plan salary reduction contributions, or premium payments to the Contract; or (v)
pre-arranged transfers at the conclusion of a required free look
period.
(f) The term
“Shareholder-Initiated Transfer Redemption” means a transaction that is
initiated or directed by a Shareholder that results in a transfer of assets
within a Contract out of a Fund, but does not include transactions that are
executed: (i) automatically pursuant to a contractual or systematic program or
enrollments such as transfers of assets within a Contract out of a Fund as a
result of annuity payouts, loans, systematic withdrawal programs, insurance
company approved asset allocation programs and automatic rebalancing programs;
(ii) as a result of any deduction of charges or fees under a Contract; (iii)
within a Contract out of a Fund as a result of scheduled withdrawals or
surrenders from a Contract; or (iv) as a result of payment of a death benefit
from a Contract.
1.12
A. Company
agrees to comply with its obligations under applicable anti-money laundering
(“AML”) laws, rules and regulations, including but not limited to
its
obligations
under the United States Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, as amended (by the USA PATRIOT
Act of 2001 and other laws), and the rules, regulations and official guidance
issued thereunder (collectively, the “B SA”).
B. The
Company agrees to undertake inquiry and due diligence regarding the
customers to whom the Company offers and/or sells Portfolio shares or on
whose behalf the Company purchases Portfolio shares and that the inquiry and due
diligence is reasonably designed to determine that the Company is not prohibited
from dealing with any such customer by (i) any sanction administered by the
Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury
(collectively, the “Sanctions”); or (ii) any of the Special
Measures.
C. The
Company hereby represents, covenants and warrants to the Fund and the
Underwriter that:
(a) None of
the Company’s employees who are authorized in connection with their employment
to transact business with the Fund or Underwriter in accounts in the Company’s
name, in any nominee name maintained for the Company, or for which the Company
serves as financial institution of record are designated or targeted under any
of the Sanctions or Special Measures and that no transactions placed in any such
accounts by any of the Company’s authorized employees will contravene any of the
Sanctions or Special Measures;
(b) As the
Sanctions or Special Measures are updated, the Company shall periodically review
them to confirm that none of the Company’s employees that are authorized to
transact business with the Fund or Underwriter are designated or targeted under
any of the Sanctions or Special Measures; and
(c) The
Company, including any of the Company’s affiliates, does not maintain
offices in any country or territory to which any of the Sanctions or Special
Measures prohibit the export of services or other dealings.
D. The
Company agrees to notify the Fund and the Underwriter or the Portfolios’
transfer agent promptly when and if it learns that the establishment or
maintenance of any account holding, or transaction in or relationship with a
holder of, Portfolio shares pursuant to this Agreement violates or appears to
violate any of the Sanctions or Special Measures.
ARTICLE
II. Representations
and Warranties
2.1 The
Company represents and warrants that the Contracts are or will be registered
under the 1933 Act or are exempt from registration thereunder; 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 Section 376.309.1 of the Missouri Insurance Code
and that each Account is either registered or exempt from registration 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, duly authorized for issuance and sold in
compliance with the laws of the State of. Missouri
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 advisable
by the Fund or the Underwriter.
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 Contracts are currently treated as endowment, life
insurance or annuity insurance contracts, 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 Underwriter 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 (a) With
respect to Initial Class shares, 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 it may make such payments in the future. The Fund has
adopted a “no fee” or “defensive” Rule 12b-1 Plan under which it makes no
payments for distribution expenses. To the extent that it decides to finance
distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1, the Fund undertakes to have a
board of trustees, a majority of whom are not interested persons of the Fund,
formulate and approve any plan under Rule 12b-1 to finance distribution
expenses.
(b) With
respect to Service Class shares and Service Class 2 shares, the Fund has adopted
Rule 12b-1 Plans under which it makes payments to finance distribution expenses.
The Fund represents and warrants that it has a board of trustees, a majority of
whom are not interested persons of the Fund, which has formulated and approved
each of its Rule 12b-1 Plans to finance distribution expenses of the Fund and
that any changes to the Fund’s Rule 12b-1 Plans will be approved by a similarly
constituted board of trustees.
2.6 The Fund
makes no representation as to whether any aspect of its operations (including,
but not limited to, fees and expenses and investment policies) complies with the
insurance laws or regulations of the various states except that the Fund
represents that the Fund’s investment policies, fees and expenses are and shall
at all times remain in compliance with the laws of the State of Missouri and the
Fund and the Underwriter represent that their respective operations are and
shall at all times remain in material compliance with the laws of the State of
Missouri to the extent required to perform this Agreement.
2.7 The
Underwriter represents and warrants that it is a member in good standing of the
NASD and is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC. The Underwriter further
represents that it will sell and distribute the Fund shares in accordance with
the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and all applicable state and
federal securities laws, including without limitation the 1933 Act, the 1934
Act, and the 0000 Xxx.
2.8 The Fund
represents that it is lawfully organized and validly existing under the laws of
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that it does and will comply in all
material respects with the 1940 Act.
2.9 The
Underwriter 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 Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and any applicable state and federal securities
laws.
2.10 The Fund
and Underwriter 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.
2.11 The
Company represents and warrants that all of its directors, officers, employees,
investment advisers, and other individuals/entities dealing with
the
money
and/or securities of the Fund are covered by a blanket fidelity bond or similar
coverage for the benefit of the Fund, and that said bond is issued by a
reputable bonding company, includes coverage for larceny and embezzlement, and
is in an amount not less than $5 million. The Company agrees to make all
reasonable efforts to see that this bond or another bond containing these
provisions is always in effect, and agrees to notify the Fund and the
Underwriter in the event that such coverage no longer applies.
ARTICLE
III. Prospectuses
and Proxy Statements; Voting
3.1 The
Underwriter shall provide the Company with as many printed copies of the Fund’s
current prospectus and Statement of Additional Information as the Company may
reasonably request. If requested by the Company in lieu thereof, the Fund shall
provide camera-ready film containing the Fund’s prospectus and Statement of
Additional Information, and such other assistance as is reasonably necessary in
order for the Company once each year (or more frequently if the prospectus
and/or Statement of Additional Information for the Fund is amended during the
year) to have the prospectus, private offering memorandum or other disclosure
document (“Disclosure Document”) for the Contracts and the Fund’s prospectus
printed together in one document, and to have the Statement of Additional
Information for the Fund and the Statement of Additional Information for the
Contracts printed together in one document. Alternatively, the Company may print
the Fund’s prospectus and/or its Statement of Additional Information in
combination with other fund companies’ prospectuses and statements of additional
information. Except as provided in the following three sentences, all expenses
of printing and distributing Fund prospectuses and Statements of Additional
Information shall be the expense of the Company. For prospectuses and Statements
of Additional Information provided by the Company to its existing owners of
Contracts in order to update disclosure annually as required by the 1933 Act
and/or the 1940 Act, the cost of printing shall be borne by the Fund. If the
Company chooses to receive camera-ready film in lieu of receiving printed copies
of the Fund’s prospectus, the Fund will reimburse the Company in an amount equal
to the product of A and B where A is the number of such prospectuses distributed
to owners of the Contracts, and B is the Fund’s per unit cost of typesetting and
printing the Fund’s prospectus. The same procedures shall be followed with
respect to the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.
The
Company agrees to provide the Fund or its designee with such information as may
be reasonably requested by the Fund to assure that the Fund’s expenses do not
include the cost of printing any prospectuses or Statements of Additional
Information other than those actually distributed to existing owners of the
Contracts.
3.2 The
Fund’s prospectus shall state that the Statement of Additional Information for
the Fund is available from the Underwriter or the Company (or in the Fund’s
discretion, the Prospectus shall state that such Statement is available from the
Fund).
3.3 The
Fund, at its expense, shall provide the Company with copies of its proxy
statements, reports to shareholders, and other communications (except for
prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information, which are covered in
Section 3.1) to shareholders in such quantity as the Company shall reasonably
require for distributing to Contract owners.
3.4 If and to
the extent required by law the Company shall:
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(i)
|
solicit
voting instructions from Contract
owners;
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(ii)
|
vote
the Fund shares in accordance with instructions received from Contract
owners; and
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(iii)
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vote
Fund shares for which no instructions have been received in a particular
separate account in the same proportion as Fund shares of such portfolio
for which instructions have been received in that separate
account,
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so long
as and to the extent that the Securities and Exchange Commission continues to
interpret the 1940 Act to require pass-through voting privileges for variable
contract owners. The Company reserves the right to vote Fund shares held in any
segregated asset account in its own right, to the extent permitted by law.
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 the standards set forth on Schedule B attached
hereto and incorporated herein by this reference, which standards will also be
provided to the other Participating Insurance Companies.
3.5 The Fund
will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act requiring voting by
shareholders, and in particular the Fund will either provide for annual meetings
or comply with Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act (although the Fund is not one of
the trusts described in Section 16(c) of that Act) as well as with Sections
16(a) and, if and when applicable, 16(b). Further, the Fund will act in
accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s interpretation of the
requirements of Section 16(a) with respect to periodic elections of trustees and
with whatever rules the Commission may promulgate with respect
thereto.
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 or its investment adviser or the Underwriter is named, at least fifteen
Business Days prior to its use. No such material shall be used if the Fund or
its designee reasonably objects to such use within fifteen 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
Underwriter, except with the permission of the Fund or the Underwriter or the
designee of either.
4.3 The Fund,
Underwriter, 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
fifteen Business Days prior to its use. No such material shall be used if the
Company or its designee reasonably objects to such use within fifteen Business
Days after receipt of such material.
4.4 The Fund
and the Underwriter 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 Disclosure Document for the Contracts, as such
registration statement or Disclosure Document 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, contemporaneously with the filing
of such document with the Securities and Exchange Commission or other regulatory
authorities.
4.6 The
Company will provide to the Fund at least one complete copy of all registration
statements, Disclosure Documents, Statements of Additional Information, reports,
solicitations for voting instructions, sales literature and other promotional
materials, applications for exemptions, requests for no action letters, and all
amendments to any of the above, that relate to or affect the Fund, the Contracts
or each Account, contemporaneously with the filing of such document with the SEC
or other regulatory authorities or, if a Contract and its associated Account are
exempt from registration, at the time such documents are first
published.
4.7 For
purposes of this Article IV, the phrase “sales literature or other promotional
material” includes, but is not limited to, any of the following that refer to
the Fund or any affiliate of the Fund: 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
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,
Disclosure Documents, Statements of Additional Information, shareholder reports,
and proxy materials.
ARTICLE
V. Fees
and Expenses
5.1 The Fund
and Underwriter shall pay no fee or other compensation to the Company under this
agreement, except that if the Fund or any Portfolio adopts and implements a plan
pursuant to Rule 12b-1 to finance distribution expenses, then the Underwriter
may make payments to the Company or to the underwriter for the Contracts if and
in amounts agreed to by the Underwriter in writing and such payments will be
made out of existing fees otherwise payable to the Underwriter, past profits of
the Underwriter or other resources available to the Underwriter. No such
payments shall be made directly by the Fund.
5.2 All
expenses incident to performance by the Fund under this Agreement shall be paid
by the Fund. The Fund shall see to it that all its shares are registered and
authorized for issuance in accordance with applicable federal law and, if and to
the extent deemed advisable by the Fund, in accordance with applicable state
laws prior to their sale. The Fund shall bear the expenses for the cost of
registration and qualification of the Fund’s shares, 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 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, and all taxes on the issuance or transfer
of the Fund’s shares.
5.3 The
Company shall bear the expenses of distributing the Fund’s prospectus and
reports to owners of Contracts issued by the Company. The Fund shall bear the
costs of soliciting Fund proxies from Contract owners, including the costs of
mailing proxy materials and tabulating proxy voting instructions, not to exceed
the costs charged by any service provider engaged by the Fund for this purpose.
The Fund and the Underwriter shall not be responsible for the costs of any proxy
solicitations other than proxies sponsored by the Fund.
ARTICLE
VI. Diversification
6.1 The Fund
will at all times invest money from the Contracts in such a manner as to ensure
that the Contracts will be treated as variable 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
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 a breach of this Article VI by
the Fund, it will take all reasonable steps (a) to notify Company of such breach
and (b) to adequately diversify the Fund so as to achieve compliance within the
grace period afforded by Regulation 1.817-5.
ARTICLE
VII. Potential
Conflicts
7.1 The Board
will monitor the Fund for the existence of any material irreconcilable conflict
between the interests of the contract owners of all separate accounts investing
in the Fund. An irreconcilable material conflict may arise for a variety of
reasons, including: (a) an action by any state insurance regulatory authority;
(b) a change in applicable federal or state insurance, tax, or securities laws
or regulations, or a public ruling, private letter ruling, no-action or
interpretative letter, or any similar action by insurance, tax, or securities
regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative or judicial decision in any
relevant proceeding; (d) the manner in which the investments of any Portfolio
are being managed; (e) a difference in voting instructions given by variable
annuity contract and variable life insurance contract owners; or (t) 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 Shared Funding Exemptive Order, by providing the
Board with all information reasonably necessary for the Board to consider any
issues raised. This includes, but is not limited to, an obligation by the
Company to inform the Board whenever contract owner voting instructions are
disregarded.
7.3 If it is
determined by a majority of the Board, or a majority of its disinterested
trustees, 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, up to and including: (1), withdrawing the
assets allocable to some or all of the separate accounts from the Fund or any
Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a different investment medium,
including (but not limited to) another Portfolio 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 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 Underwriter 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 Underwriter and Fund shall continue to accept
and implement orders by the Company for the purchase (and redemption) of shares
of the Fund.
7.6 For
purposes of Sections 7.3 through 7.6 of this Agreement, a majority of the
disinterested members of the Board shall determine whether any proposed action
adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict, but in no event will
the Fund be required to establish a new funding medium for the Contracts. The
Company shall not be required by Section 7.3 to establish a new funding medium
for the Contracts if an offer to do so has been declined by vote of a majority
of Contract owners 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.
7.7 If and to
the extent that Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) are amended, or Rule 6e-3 is adopted,
to provide exemptive relief from any provision of the Act or the rules
promulgated thereunder with respect to mixed or shared funding (as defined in
the Shared Funding Exemptive Order) on terms and conditions materially different
from those contained in the Shared Funding Exemptive Order, then (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 trustee of
the Board 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, or investment in, 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 Disclosure Documents for the Contracts or
contained in the Contracts or sales literature for the Contracts (or any
amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based
upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, provided that this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any
Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement or
omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished
to the Company by or on behalf of the Fund for use in any Disclosure Document
relating to 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 and in conformity with 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,
as
limited by and in accordance with the provisions of 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 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 Indemnified Parties will promptly notify the Company of the commencement of
any litigation or proceedings against them in connection with the issuance or
sale of the Fund Shares or the Contracts or the operation of the
Fund.
8.2 Indemnification
by the Underwriter
8.2(a).
The Underwriter 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 Underwriter) 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 are related to the sale
or acquisition of, or investment in, the Fund’s shares or the Contracts
and:
(i) arise
out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any
material fact contained in the registration statement or prospectus or sales
literature of the Fund (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing),
or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, provided that this agreement to indemnify
shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or
such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity
with information furnished to the Underwriter 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 Underwriter or persons under
its control) or wrongful conduct of the Fund, Adviser or Underwriter or persons
under their 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 Disclosure Document 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 and in conformity with
information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Fund;
or
(iv) arise
as a result of any failure by the Fund to provide the services and furnish the
materials under the terms of this Agreement (including a failure, whether
unintentional or in good faith or otherwise, to comply with the diversification
requirements specified in Article VI of this Agreement); or
(v) arise
out of or result from any material breach of any representation and/or warranty
made by the Underwriter in this Agreement or arise out of or result from any
other material breach of this Agreement by the Underwriter;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.2(b) and
8.2(c) hereof.
8.2(b).
The Underwriter 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 each
Company or the Account, whichever is applicable.
8.2(c).
The Underwriter 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 Underwriter 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 Underwriter of any such claim shall not
relieve the Underwriter 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 Underwriter will be entitled to participate, at its own
expense, in the defense thereof. The Underwriter also shall be entitled to
assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the
action. After notice from the Underwriter to such party of the Underwriter’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 Underwriter
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 Company agrees promptly to notify the Underwriter of the commencement of any
litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers or directors in
connection with the issuance or sale of the Contracts or the operation of each
Account.
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 (collectively, the “Indemnified
Parties” 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
the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute, at common law or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or
actions in respect thereof) or settlements result from the gross negligence, bad
faith or willful misconduct of the Board or any member thereof, are related to
the operations of the Fund and:
(i) arise
as a result of any failure by the Fund to provide the services and furnish the
materials under the terms of this Agreement (including a failure to comply with
the diversification requirements specified in Article VI of this
Agreement);or
(ii) 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;
as
limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.3(b) and 8.3(c)
hereof
8.3(b).
The Fund 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 and duties under this Agreement or to the Company, the
Fund, the Underwriter or each Account, whichever is applicable.
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. In case any such action is brought against the Indemnified 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. After notice from the
Fund to such party of the Fund’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 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.
8.3(d).
The Company and the Underwriter agree promptly to notify the Fund of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its
respective officers or directors in connection with this Agreement, the issuance
or sale of the Contracts, with respect to the operation of either Account, or
the sale or acquisition of shares of the Fund.
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 Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
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 Securities and Exchange
Commission 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. Termination
10.1 This
Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until the first
to
occur
of
(a) termination
by any party for any reason by sixty (60) days advance written notice delivered
to the other parties; or
(b) termination
by the Company by written notice to the Fund and the Underwriter with respect to
any Portfolio based upon the Company’s determination that shares of such
Portfolio are not reasonably available to meet the requirements of the
Contracts; or
(c) termination
by the Company by written notice to the Fund and the Underwriter with respect to
any Portfolio in the event any of the Portfolios shares are not registered,
issued or sold in accordance with applicable state and/or federal law or such
law precludes the use of such shares as the underlying investment media of the
Contracts issued or to be issued by the Company; or
(d) termination
by the Company by written notice to the Fund and the Underwriter with respect to
any Portfolio in the event that such Portfolio ceases to qualify as a Regulated
Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Code or under any successor or
similar provision, or if the Company reasonably believes that the Fund may fail
to so qualify; or
(e) termination
by the Company by written notice to the Fund and the Underwriter with respect to
any Portfolio in the event that such Portfolio fails to meet the diversification
requirements specified in Article VI hereof; or
(f) termination
by either the Fund or the Underwriter by written notice to the Company, if
either one or both of the Fund or the Underwriter respectively, shall determine,
in their sole judgment exercised in good faith, that the Company and/or its
affiliated companies has suffered a material adverse change in its business,
operations, financial condition or prospects since the date of this Agreement or
is the subject of material adverse publicity; or
(g) termination
by the Company by written notice to the Fund and the Underwriter, if the Company
shall determine, in its sole judgment exercised in good faith, that either the
Fund or the Underwriter has suffered a material adverse change in its business,
operations, financial condition or prospects since the date of this Agreement or
is the subject of material adverse publicity; or
10.2 Notwithstanding
any termination of this Agreement, the Fund and the Underwriter shall at the
option of the Company, continue to make available additional shares of the Fund
pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for all Contracts in
effect on the effective date of termination of this Agreement (hereinafter
referred to as “Existing Contracts”). Specifically, without limitation, 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 10.2 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.
10.3 The
provisions of Articles II (Representations and Warranties), VIII
(Indemnification), IX (Applicable Law) and XII (Miscellaneous) shall survive
termination of this Agreement. In addition, all other applicable provisions of
this Agreement shall survive termination as long as shares of the Fund are held
on behalf of Contract owners in accordance with section 10.2, except that the
Fund and Underwriter shall have no further obligation to make Fund shares
available in Contracts issued after termination.
10.4 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) except
(i) as necessary to implement Contract Owner initiated or approved transactions,
or (ii) as required by state and/or federal laws or regulations or judicial or
other legal precedent of general application (hereinafter referred to as a
“Legally Required Redemption”) or (iii) as permitted by an order of the SEC
pursuant to Section 26(b) of the 1940 Act. Upon request, the Company will
promptly furnish to the Fund and the Underwriter the opinion of counsel for the
Company (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Fund and the
Underwriter) to the effect that any redemption pursuant to clause (ii) above is
a Legally Required Redemption. Furthermore, except in cases where permitted
under the terms of the Contracts, the Company shall not prevent Contract Owners
from allocating payments to a Portfolio that was otherwise available under the
Contracts without first giving the Fund or the Underwriter 90 days notice of its
intention to do so.
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:
00
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Treasurer
If to the
Company:
Xxxxxxx X
Xxxxxxxxxx
Senior
Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel
Kansas
City Life Insurance Co.
0000
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxx XX 00000
If to the
Underwriter:
00
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Treasurer
ARTICLE
XII. Miscellaneous
12.1 All
persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the property of the Fund for
the enforcement of any claims against the Fund as neither the
Board,
officers,
agents or shareholders assume any personal liability for obligations entered
into on behalf of the Fund.
12.2 Subject
to the requirements of legal process and regulatory authority, each party hereto
shall treat as confidential the names and addresses of the owners of the
Contracts and all information reasonably identified as confidential in writing
by any other party hereto and, except as permitted by this Agreement, shall not
disclose, disseminate or utilize such names and addresses and other confidential
information until such time as it may come into the public domain without the
express written consent of the affected party.
12.3 The
captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in
no way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect
their construction or effect.
12.4 This
Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of
which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
12.5 If any
provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision,
statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of 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.
Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, each party hereto further
agrees to furnish the California Insurance Commissioner with any information or
reports in connection with services provided under this Agreement which such
Commissioner may request in order to ascertain whether the insurance operations
of the Company are being conducted in a manner consistent with the California
Insurance Regulations and any other applicable law or
regulations.
12.7 The
rights, remedies and obligations contained in this Agreement are cumulative and
are in addition to any and all rights, remedies and obligations, at law or in
equity, which the parties hereto are entitled to under state and federal
laws.
12.8 This
Agreement or any of the rights and obligations hereunder may not be assigned by
any party without the prior written consent of all parties hereto; provided,
however, that the Underwriter may assign this Agreement or any rights or
obligations hereunder to any affiliate of or company under corm-non
control with the Underwriter, if such assignee is duly licensed and registered
to perform the obligations of the Underwriter under this Agreement. The Company
shall promptly notify the Fund and the Underwriter of any change in control of
the Company.
12.9 The
Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the Fund or its
designee copies of the following reports:
(a) the
Company’s annual statement (prepared under statutory accounting principles) and
annual report (prepared under generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”),
if any), as soon as practical and in any event within 90 days after the end of
each fiscal year;
(b) the
Company’s quarterly statements (statutory) (and GAAP, if any), as soon as
practical and in any event within 45 days after the end of each quarterly
period:
(c) any
financial statement, proxy statement, notice or report of the Company sent to
stockholders and/or policyholders, as soon as practical after the delivery
thereof to stockholders;
(d) any
registration statement (without exhibits) and financial reports of the Company
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any state insurance
regulator, as soon as practical after the filing thereof;
(e) any other
report submitted to the Company by independent accountants in connection
with any annual, interim or special audit made by them of the books of the
Company, as soon as practical after the receipt thereof.
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.
KANSAS
CITY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By: /s/
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxxx
Its: SVP,
GC & S
VARIABLE
INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND, VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND II VARIABLE INSURANCE
PRODUCTS FUND III, and VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND IV
By: /s/
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx
Their:
Treasurer
FIDELITY
DISTRIBUTORS CORPORATION
By:
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
Name: Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Title:
Executive Vice President
Date: 2/21/07
SUB-LICENSE
AGREEMENT
Agreement
effective as of this ____ of _________, 2007, by and between Fidelity
Distributors Corporation (hereinafter called “Fidelity”), a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with
a principal place of business at 00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx,
and KANSAS CITY LIFE INSURANCE (hereinafter called “Company”), a company
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Missouri, with a principal
place of business at 0000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX.
WHEREAS,
FMR Corp., a Massachusetts corporation, the parent company of Fidelity, is the
owner of the trademark and the tradename “FIDELITY INVESTMENTS” and is the owner
of a trademark in a pyramid design (hereinafter, collectively the “Fidelity
Trademarks”), a copy of each of which is attached hereto as Exhibit “A”;
and
WHEREAS,
FMR Corp. has granted a license to Fidelity (the “Master License Agreement”) to
sub-license the Fidelity Trademarks to third parties for their use in connection
with Promotional Materials as hereinafter defined; and
WHEREAS,
Company is desirous of using the Fidelity Trademarks in connection with
distribution of “sales literature and other promotional material” with
information, including the Fidelity Trademarks, printed in said material (such
material hereinafter called the Promotional Material). For the purpose of this
Agreement, “sales literature and other promotional material” shall have the same
meaning as in the certain Participation Agreement dated as of the __ day of
__________, 200_, among Fidelity, Company and the Variable Insurance
Products Funds (hereinafter “Participation Agreement”);
and
WHEREAS,
Fidelity is desirous of having the Fidelity Trademarks used in connection with
the Promotional Material.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and adequacy whereof is hereby acknowledged, and of
the mutual promises hereinafter set forth, the parties hereby agree as
follows:
1. Fidelity
hereby grants to Company a non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the
Fidelity Trademarks in connection with the promotional distribution of the
Promotional Material and Company accepts said license, subject to the terms and
conditions set forth herein.
2. Company
acknowledges that FMR Corp. is the owner of all right, title and interest in the
Fidelity Trademarks and agrees that it will do nothing inconsistent with the
ownership of the Fidelity Trademarks by FMR Corp., and that it will not, now or
hereinafter, contest any registration or application for registration of the
Fidelity Trademarks by FMR Corp., nor will it, now or hereafter, aid anyone in
contesting any registration or application for registration of the Fidelity
Trademarks by FMR Corp.
3. Company
agrees to use the Fidelity Trademarks only in the form and manner approved by
Fidelity and not to use any other trademark, service xxxx or registered
trademark in combination with any of the Fidelity Trademarks without approval by
Fidelity.
4. Company
agrees that it will place all necessary and proper notices and legends in order
to protect the interests of FMR Corp. and Fidelity therein pertaining to the
Fidelity Trademarks on the Promotional Material including, but not limited to,
symbols indicating trademarks, service marks and registered trademarks. Company
will place such symbols and legends on the Promotional Material as requested by
Fidelity or FMB. Corp. upon receipt of notice of same from Fidelity or FMR
Corp.
5. Company
agrees that the nature and quality of all of the Promotional Material
distributed by Company bearing the Fidelity Trademarks shall conform to
standards set by, and be under the control of, Fidelity.
6. Company
agrees to cooperate with Fidelity in facilitating Fidelity’s control of the use
of the Fidelity Trademarks and of the quality of the Promotional Material to
permit reasonable inspection of samples of same by Fidelity and to supply
Fidelity with reasonable quantities of samples of the Promotional Material upon
request.
7. Company
shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations and obtain any and all
licenses or other necessary permits pertaining to the distribution of said
Promotional Material.
8. Company
agrees to notify Fidelity of any unauthorized use of the Fidelity Trademarks by
others promptly as it comes to the attention of Company. Fidelity or FMR Corp.
shall have the sole right and discretion to commence actions or other
proceedings for infringement, unfair competition or the like involving the
Fidelity Trademarks and Company shall cooperate in any such proceedings if so
requested by Fidelity or FMR Corp.
9. This
agreement shall continue in force until terminated by Fidelity. This agreement
shall automatically terminate upon termination of the Master License Agreement.
In addition, Fidelity shall have the right to terminate this agreement at any
time upon notice to Company, with or without cause. Upon any such termination,
Company agrees to cease immediately all use of the Fidelity Trademarks and shall
destroy, at Company’s expense, any and all materials in its possession bearing
the Fidelity Trademarks, and agrees that all rights in the Fidelity Trademarks
and in the goodwill connected therewith shall remain the property of FMR Corp.
Unless so terminated by Fidelity, or extended by written agreement of the
parties, this agreement shall expire on the termination of that certain
Participation Agreement.
10. Company
shall indemnify Fidelity and FMR Corp. and hold each of them harmless from and
against any loss, damage, liability, cost or expense of any nature whatsoever,
including without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and all court costs,
arising out of use of the Fidelity Trademarks by Company.
11. In
consideration for the promotion and advertising of Fidelity as a result of the
distribution by Company of the Promotional Material, Company shall not pay any
monies as a royalty to Fidelity for this license.
12. This
agreement is not intended in any manner to modify the terms and conditions of
the Participation Agreement. In the event of any conflict between the terms and
conditions herein and thereof, the terms and conditions of the Participation
Agreement shall control.
13. This
agreement shall be interpreted according to the laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereunto set their hands and seals, and hereby
execute this agreement, as of the date first above written.
FIDELITY
DISTRIBUTORS CORPORATION
By: /s/
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
Name: Xxxx
Xxxxxxxx
Title:
Executive Vice President
Date: 2/21/07
KANSAS
CITY LIFE INSURANCE
By:
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxxx
Title:
SVPGC&S