PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
Among
INVESCO VARIABLE INVESTMENT FUNDS, INC.
INVESCO FUNDS GROUP, INC.
INVESCO DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
and
BUSINESS MEN'S ASSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this 1st day of October, 1998 by and
among Business Men's Assurance Company of America, (hereinafter the "Insurance
Company"), a Missouri corporation, on its own behalf and on behalf of each
segregated asset account of the Insurance Company set forth on Schedule A hereto
as may be amended from time to time (each such account hereinafter referred to
as the "Account"), INVESCO VARIABLE INVESTMENT FUNDS, INC., a Maryland
corporation (the "Company"), INVESCO DISTRIBUTORS, INC. ("Distributors"), a
Delaware corporation, and INVESCO FUNDS GROUP, INC. ("INVESCO"), a Delaware
corporation.
WHEREAS, the Company engages in business as an open-end management
investment company and is available to act as the investment vehicle for
separate accounts established for variable annuity and life insurance contracts
to be offered by insurance companies which have entered into participation
agreements substantially identical to this Agreement ("Participating Insurance
Companies"); and
WHEREAS, the beneficial interest in the Company is divided into several
series of shares, each designated a "Fund" and representing the interest in a
particular managed portfolio of securities and other assets; and
WHEREAS, the Company has obtained an order from the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission"), dated December 29,1993 (File No. 812-8590),
granting Participating Insurance Companies and their 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, (the "1940 Act") and Rules
6e-2(b)(15) and 6e(T)(b)(15) thereunder, to the extent necessary to permit
shares of the Company to be sold to and held by variable annuity and variable
life insurance separate accounts of Iife insurance companies that may or may not
be affiliated with one another (the "Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order");
and
WHEREAS, the Company 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, INVESCO is duly registered as an investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and any applicable state securities law and as a
broker dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the "1934
Act"), and is a member in good standing of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD"); and
WHEREAS, the Insurance Company has registered under the 1933 Act, or will
register under the 1933 Act, certain variable annuity/life insurance contracts
identified by the form number(s) listed on Schedule B to this Agreement, as
amended from time to time hereafter by mutual written agreement of all the
parties hereto (the "Contracts"); and
WHEREAS, each Account is a duly organized, validly existing segregated
asset account, established by resolution of the board of directors of the
Insurance Company on the date shown for that Account on Schedule A hereto, to
set aside and invest assets attributable to the Contracts; and
WHEREAS, the Insurance Company has registered or will register each Account
as a unit investment trust under the 1940 Act; and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Insurance Company intends to purchase shares in the Funds on
behalf of the Accounts to fund the Contacts and INVESCO is authorized to sell
such shares to unit investment trusts such as the Account at net asset value;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Insurance
Company, the Company and INVESCO agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. Sale of Company Shares
1.1. INVESCO agrees to sell to the Insurance Company those shares of the
Company which each Account orders, executing such orders on a daily basis at the
net asset value next computed after receipt by the Company or its designee of
the order for the shares of the Company. For purposes of this Section 1.1, the
Insurance Company shall be the designee of the Company for receipt of such
orders from the Accounts and receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt
by the Company; provided that the Company receives notice of such order by 8:00
a.m., Mountain 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 Company calculates its net asset value pursuant to the rules of the
Commission.
1.2. The Company agrees to make its shares available for purchase at the
applicable net asset value per share by the Insurance Company and its Accounts
on those days on which the Company calculates its Funds' net asset values
pursuant to rules of the Commission and the Company shall use reasonable efforts
to calculate its Funds' net asset values on each day on which the New York Stock
Exchange is open for trading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the board of
directors of the Company (hereinafter "the Board") may refuse to sell shares of
any Fund to any person, or suspend or terminate the offering of shares of any
Fund 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 that Fund.
1.3. The Company and INVESCO agree that shares of the Company will be sold
only to Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts, all in
accordance with Section 817(h)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), and Treasury Regulation Section 1.817-5. No shares of any
Fund will be sold to the general public.
1.4. The Company and INVESCO will not sell Company shares to any insurance
company or separate account unless an agreement containing provisions
substantially the same as Sections 2.1, 3.4, 3.5 and Article VII of this
Agreement is in effect to govern such sales.
1.5. The Company agrees to redeem, on the Insurance Company's request, any
full or fractional shares of the Company held by the Insurance Company,
executing such requests on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed
after receipt by the Company or its designee of the request for redemption. For
purposes of this Section 1.5, the Insurance Company shall be the designee of the
Company for receipt of requests for redemption from each Account and receipt by
that designee shall constitute receipt by the Company; provided that the Company
receives notice of the request for redemption by 8:00 a.m., Mountain Time, on
the next foIlowing Business Day. Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted
by wire, or as otherwise provided by separate agreement, on the same Business
Day the Company receives notice of the redemption order from the Insurance
Company, to the extent practicable, but in any event within five (5) calendar
days after the date the order is placed in order to enable the Insurance Company
to pay redemption proceeds within the time specified in Section 22(e) of the
1940 Act or such shorter period of time as may be required by law.
1.6. The Insurance Company shall pay for Company shares by 9:00 a.m.,
Mountain Time, on the next Business Day after an order to purchase Company
shares is made in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.1 hereof. Payment
shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire. For the purpose of Sections 2.10
and 2.11, upon receipt by the Company of the federal funds so wired, such funds
shall cease to be the responsibility of the Insurance Company and shall become
the responsibility of the Company. Payment of aggregate redemption proceeds
(aggregate redemptions of a Fund's shares by an Account) of less than $1 million
for a given Business Day will be made by wiring federal funds to the Insurance
Company on the next Business Day after receipt of the redemption request.
Payment of aggregate redemption proceeds of $1 million or more will be by wiring
federal funds within seven days after receipt of the redemption request.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that one or more Funds has
insufficient cash on hand to pay aggregate redemptions on the next Business Day,
and if such Fund has determined to settle redemption transactions for all of its
shareholders on a delayed basis (more than one Business Day, but in no event
more than seven calendar days, after the date on which the redemption order is
received, unless otherwise permitted by an order of the Commission under Section
22(e) of the 1940 Act), the Company shall be permitted to delay sending
redemption proceeds to the Insurance Company by the same number of days that the
Company is delaying sending redemption proceeds to the other shareholders of the
Fund. The Company anticipates making delayed-settlement redemptions, pursuant to
this Paragraph 1.6, only in circumstances where extraordinary market conditions,
or the size of the redemption relative to the size of a given Fund, will work to
the detriment of remaining shareholders if made immediately. INVESCO and Company
agree to consult with Insurance Company, in good faith, to determine a plan for
the orderly disposition of assets to meet redemption requests from contract
owners prior to invoking the provision of Paragraph 1.6 relating to delayed
settlement. None of the foregoing provisions shall diminish the Company's rights
under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
1.7. Issuance and transfer of the Company's shares will be by book entry
only. Stock certificates will not be issued to the Insurance Company or any
Account. Shares ordered from the Company will be recorded in an appropriate
title for each Account or the appropriate subaccount of each Account.
1.8. The Company shall furnish same day notice (by wire or telephone,
followed by written confirmation) to the Insurance Company of any income,
dividends or capital gain distributions payable on the Funds' shares. The
Insurance Company hereby elects to receive all income dividends and capital gain
distributions payable on a Fund's shares in additional shares of that Fund. The
Insurance Company reserves the right to revoke this election and to receive all
such income dividends and capital gain distributions in cash. The Company shall
notify the Insurance Company of the number of shares issued as payment of
dividends and distributions.
1.9. The Company shall make the net asset value per share for each Fund
available to the Insurance Company on a daily basis as soon as reasonably
practical after the net asset value per share is calculated and shall use its
best efforts to make those per-share net asset values available by 4:30 p.m.,
Mountain Time. If the Company provides materially incorrect share net asset
value information, the Company shall make an adjustment to the number of shares
purchased or redeemed for the Accounts to reflect the correct net asset value
per share. Any material error in the calculation or reporting of net asset value
per share, dividend or capital gains information shall be reported promptly upon
discovery to the Insurance Company.
ARTICLE II. Representations and Warranties
2.1. The Insurance Company represents and warrants that the Contracts are,
or will be, registered under the 1933 Act, unless exempt therefrom; 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 applicable state insurance suitability
requirements. The Insurance 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 Account prior to any
issuance or sale thereof as a segregated asset account under Missouri Insurance
Law and has registered, or prior to any issuance or sale of the Contracts will,
to the extent required by law or regulation, register, the Account as a unit
investment trust in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act to serve as a
segregated investment account for the Contracts.
2.2. The Company represents and warrants that Company shares sold pursuant
to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act, duly authorized for
issuance and sale in compliance with the laws of the State of Maryland and all
applicable federal and state securities laws and that the Company is and shall
remain registered under the 1940 Act. The Company 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
Company 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
Company or INVESCO.
2.3. The Company represents and warrants 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
that qualification (under Subchapter M or any successor or similar provision)
and that it will notify the Insurance 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. Subject to Section 2.3 and Article VI hereof the Insurance Company
represents and warrants that the Contracts are currently treated as annuity or
life 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
Company and INVESCO immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing
that the Contacts have ceased to be so treated or that they might not be so
treated in the future.
2.5. The Company 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. To the extent that it decides
to finance distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1, the Company undertakes
to have a board of directors, a majority of whom are not interested persons of
the Company, formulate and approve any plan under Rule 12b-1 to finance
distribution expenses and promptly notify the Insurance Company thereof.
2.6. The Company makes no representation as to whether any aspect of its
operations (including, but not limited to, fees and expenses and investment
policies) complies with the insurance laws or regulations of the various states.
2.7. Distributors represents and warrants that it is a member in good
standing of the NASD and is registered as a broker-dealer with the Commission.
Distributors further represents that it will sell and distribute the Company
shares in accordance with all applicable state and federal securities laws,
including without limitation the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 0000 Xxx.
2.8. The Company represents and warrants 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.
2.9. INVESCO represents and warrants that it is and shall remain duly
registered in all material respects under all applicable federal and state
securities laws and that it shall perform its obligations for the Company in
compliance in all material respects with the laws of the State of Colorado and
any applicable state and federal securities laws.
2.10. The Company and INVESCO represent and warrant that all of their
officers, employees, investment advisers, investment sub-advisers, and other
individuals or entities dealing with the money and/or securities of the Company
are, and shall continue to be at all times, covered by a blanket fidelity bond
or similar coverage for the benefit of the Company in an amount not less than
the minimum coverage required currently by Section 17g-(1) of the 1940 Act or
related provisions as may be promulgated from time to time. That fidelity bond
shall include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a
reputable bonding company.
2.11. The Insurance Company represents and warrants that all of its
officers, employees, investment advisers, and other individuals or entities
dealing with the money and/or securities of the Company are and shall continue
to be at all times covered by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage for
the benefit of the Company, in an amount not less than the minimum coverage
required currently for entities subject to the requirements of Rule 17g-1 of the
1940 Act or related provisions or 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. The Insurance Company further represents
and warrants that the employees of Insurance Company, or such other persons
designated by Insurance Company, listed on Schedule C have been authorized by
all necessary action of Insurance Company to give directions, instructions and
certifications to the Company and INVESCO on behalf of Insurance Company. The
Company and INVESCO are authorized to act and rely upon any directions,
instructions and certifications received from such persons unless and until they
have been notified in writing by the Insurance Company of a change in such
persons, and the Company and INVESCO shall incur no liability in doing so.
2.12. The Insurance Company represents and warrants that it will not
purchase Company shares with Account assets derived from tax-qualified
retirement plans except indirectly, through Contracts purchased in connection
with such plans.
ARTICLE Ill. Prospectuses and Proxy Statements; Voting
3.1. INVESCO shall provide the Insurance Company (at the Insurance
Company's expense) with as many copies of the Company's current prospectus as
the Insurance Company may reasonably request. If requested by the Insurance
Company in lieu thereof, the Company shall provide such documentation (including
a final copy of the new prospectus as set in type, or on diskette, at the
Company's expense) and other assistance as is reasonably necessary in order for
the Insurance Company once each year (or more frequently if the prospectus for
the Company is amended) to have the prospectuses for the Contracts, other funds
invested in by the Account and the Company's prospectus for the Funds offered in
the Contracts printed together in one document. The expenses of such printing to
be apportioned between (a) the Insurance Company and (b) the Company or its
designee in proportion to the number of pages of the Contract and the Company
prospectuses, taking account of other relevant factors affecting the expense of
printing such as covers, columns, graphs and charts; the Company or its designee
to bear the cost of printing the Company's prospectus portion of such document
for distribution to owners of existing contracts funded by the Company's shares
and the Insurance Company to bear the expenses of printing the portion of such
document relating to the Accounts; provided however, that the Insurance Company
shall bear all printing expenses of such combined documents where used for
distribution to prospective purchasers or to owners of existing contracts not
funded by Company shares.
3.2. The Company's prospectus shall state that the Statement of Additional
Information for the Company (the "SAI") is available from INVESCO (or in the
Company's discretion, the Prospectus shall state that the SAI is available from
the Company), and INVESCO (or the Company), at its expense, shall print and
provide the SAI free of charge to the Insurance Company and to any owner of a
Contract or prospective owner who requests the SAI.
3.3. The Company, at its expense, shall provide the Insurance Company with
copies of its proxy material, reports to stockholders and other communications
to stockholders in such quantity as the Insurance Company shall reasonably
require for distributing to Contract owners.
3.4. If and to the extent required by law, the Insurance Company shall:
(i) solicit voting instructions from Contract owners;
(ii) vote the Company shares in accordance with instructions received
from Contract owners; and
(iii) vote Company shares for which no instructions have been received
in the same proportion as Company shares of such portfolio
for which instructions have been received:
so long as and to the extent that the Commission continues to interpret the 1940
Act to require pass-through voting privileges for variable contract owners. The
Insurance Company reserves the right to vote Company 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 Company calculates voting
privileges in a manner consistent with the standards set forth on Schedule D
attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference, which standards will
also be provided to the other Participating Insurance Companies. The Insurance
Company shall fulfill its obligations under, and abide by the terms and
conditions of, the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order
3.5. The Company will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act requiring
voting by shareholders, and in particular the Company will either provide for
annual meetings (except insofar as the Commission may interpret Section 16 of
the 1940 Act not to require such meetings) or, as the Company currently intends,
comply with Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act (although the Company 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 Company will act in
accordance with the Commission's interpretation of the requirements of Section
16(a) with respect to periodic elections of directors and with whatever rules
the Commission may promulgate with respect thereto.
ARTICLE IV. Sales Material and Information
4.1. The Insurance Company 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, a sub-adviser of one of the Funds, or
INVESCO is named, at least fifteen calendar days prior to its use. No such
material shall be used if the Company or its designee objects to such use within
ten calendar days after receipt of such material.
4.2. The Insurance Company shall not give any information or make any
representations or statements on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company
in connection with the sale of the Contracts other than the information or
representations contained in the registration statement or prospectus for the
Company's shares, as such registration statement and prospectus may be amended
or supplemented from time to time, or in reports or proxy statements for the
Company, or in sales literature or other promotional material approved by the
Company or its designee or by INVESCO, except with the permission of the Company
or INVESCO.
4.3. The Company, INVESCO, or its designee shall furnish, or shall cause to
be furnished, to the Insurance Company or its designee, each piece of sales
literature or other promotional material in which the Insurance Company and/or
its separate account(s), is named at least fifteen calendar days prior to its
use. No such material shall be used if the Insurance Company or its designee
object to such use within ten calendar days after receipt of that material.
4.4. The Company and INVESCO shall not give any information or make any
representations on behalf of the Insurance Company or concerning the Insurance
Company, the Account, or the Contracts other than the information or
representations contained in a registration statement or prospectus for the
Contracts, as that registration statement and prospectus may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, or in published reports for the Account which
are in the public domain or approved by the Insurance Company for distribution
to Contract owners, or in sales literature or other promotional material
approved by the Insurance Company or its designee, except with the permission of
the Insurance Company.
4.5. The Company will provide to the Insurance Company at least one
complete copy of each registration statement, prospectus, statement of
additional information, report, proxy statement, piece of sales literature or
other promotional material, application for exemption, request for no-action
letter, and any amendment to any of the above, that relate to the Company or its
shares, contemporaneously with the filing of the document with the Commission,
the NASD, or other regulatory authorities.
4.6. The Insurance Company will provide to the Company at least one
complete copy of each registration statement, prospectus, statement of
additional information, report, solicitation for voting instructions, piece of
sales literature and other promotional material, which relates to the Company,
INVESCO, or Distributors, application for exemption, request for no action
letter, and any amendment to any of the above, that relates to the Contracts or
the Account, contemporaneously with the filing of the document with the
Commission, the NASD, or other regulatory authorities.
4.7. For purposes of this Agreement, the phrase "sales literature or other
promotional material" includes, but is not limited to, advertisements,
newspaper, magazine, or other periodical, radio, television, telephone or tape
recording, videotape display, signs or billboards, motion pictures, or other
public media, sales literature (i.e., any written communication distributed. or
made generally available to customers or the public, including brochures,
circulars, research reports, market letters, form letters, seminar texts,
reprints or excerpts of any other advertisement sales literature, or published
article), educational or training materials or other communications distributed
or made generally available to some or all agents or employees, and registration
statements, prospectuses, statements of additional information, shareholder
reports, and proxy materials.
4.8. At the request of any party to this Agreement, each other party will
make available to the other party's independent auditors and/or representative
of the appropriate regulatory agencies, all records, data and access to
operating procedures that may be reasonably requested. Company agrees that
Insurance Company shall have the right to inspect, audit and copy all records
pertaining to the performance of services under this Agreement pursuant to the
requirements of the California Insurance Department. However, Company and
INVESCO shall own and control all of their respective records pertaining to
their performance of the services under this Agreement.
ARTICLE V. Fees and Expenses
5.1. INVESCO shall pay a fee to the Insurance Company for services provided
by Insurance Company under this agreement at the rate designated in Schedule E
attached hereto. No such payments shall be made directly by the Company. This
fee shall be paid to the Insurance Company for as long as the Account(s) own
shares of the Company.
5.2. All expenses incident to performance by the Company under this
Agreement shall be paid by the Company. The Company 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 Company or
INVESCO, in accordance with applicable state laws prior to their sale. The
Company shall bear the expenses for the cost of registration and qualification
of the Company's shares, preparation and filing of the Company's prospectus,
SAI, registration statement and amendments and supplements thereto, 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 Company's shares.
5.3. The Insurance Company shall bear the expenses of printing and
distributing to Contract owners the Contract prospectuses and of distributing to
Contract owners the Company's prospectus, and reports.
ARTICLE VI. Diversification
6.1. The Company will, at the end of each calendar quarter, comply with
Section 817(h) of the Code and Treasury Regulation 1.817-5 relating to the
diversification requirements for variable annuity, endowment modified endowment
or life insurance contracts and any amendments or other modifications to that
Section or Regulation. The Company will notify the Insurance Company immediately
upon having a reasonable basis for believing that a Fund has ceased to so comply
or that a Fund might not so comply in the future. In the event of a breach of
this Section 6.1, the Company will take all reasonable steps to adequately
diversify so as to achieve compliance within the grace period afforded by
Section 1.817-5 of the regulations under the Code.
ARTICLE VIl. Potential Conflicts
7.1. The Board will monitor the Company for the existence of any material
irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the variable contract owners of
all separate accounts investing in the Company. An irreconcilable material
conflict may arise for a variety of reasons, including: (a) an action by any
state insurance regulatory authority, (b) a change in applicable federal or
state insurance, tax, or securities laws or regulations, or a public ruling,
private letter ruling, no-action or interpretive letter, or any similar action
by insurance, tax, or securities regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative
or judicial decision in any relevant proceeding; (d) the manner in which the
investments of any Fund are being managed; (e) a difference in voting
instructions given by variable annuity contract and variable life insurance
contract owners; or (f) a decision by a Participating Insurance Company to
disregard the voting instructions of variable contract owners. The Board shall
promptly inform the Insurance Company if it determines that an irreconcilable
material conflict exists and the implications thereof. The Board shall have sole
authority to determine whether an irreconcilable material conflict exists and
such determination shall be binding upon the Insurance Company.
7.2 The Insurance Company will report promptly any potential or existing
conflicts of which it is aware to the Board. The Insurance Company will assist
the Board in carrying out its responsibilities under the Mixed and Shared
Funding Exemptive Order, by providing the Board with all information reasonably
necessary for the Board to consider any issues raised. This includes, but is not
limited to, an obligation by the Insurance Company to inform the Board whenever
Contract owner voting instructions are to be disregarded. Such responsibilities
shall be carried out by Insurance Company with a view only to the interests of
the Contract owners.
7.3. If it is determined by a majority of the Board, or a majority of its
directors who are not interested persons of the Company, INVESCO, or any
sub-adviser to any of the Funds (the "Independent Directors"), that a material
irreconcilable conflict exists, the Insurance Company and/or other Participating
Insurance Companies shall, at their expense and to the extent reasonably
practicable (as determined by a majority of the Independent Directors), take
whatever steps are necessary to remedy or eliminate the irreconcilable material
conflict up to and including: (1), withdrawing the assets allocable to some or
all of the separate accounts from the Company or any Fund and reinvesting those
assets in a different investment medium, including (but not limited to) another
Fund of the Company, or submitting the question whether such segregation should
be implemented to a vote of all affected variable contract owners and, as
appropriate, segregating the assets of any appropriate group (e.g., 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 variable contract owners the option of
making such a change; and (2), establishing a new registered management
investment company or managed separate account and obtaining approval thereof by
the Commission.
7.4. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a decision by
the Insurance Company to disregard Contract owner voting instructions and that
decision represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote, the
Insurance Company may be required, at the Company's election, to withdraw the
affected Account's investment in the Company and terminate this Agreement with
respect to that 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 Independent Directors. Any such
withdrawal and termination must take place within six (6) months after the
Company gives written notice that this provision is being implemented, and until
the end of that six month period INVESCO and the Company shall continue to
accept and implement orders by the Insurance Company for the purchase (and
redemption) of shares of the Company.
7.5. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a particular
state insurance regulator's decision applicable to the Insurance Company
conflicts with the majority of other state regulators, then the Insurance
Company will withdraw the affected Account's investment in the Company and
terminate this Agreement with respect to that Account within six months after
the Board informs the Insurance Company in writing that it has determined that
the state insurance regulator's decision has created an irreconcilable material
conflict; provided, however, that such withdrawal and termination shall be
limited to the extent required by the foregoing material irreconcilable conflict
as determined by a majority of the Independent Directors. Until the end of the
foregoing six month period, INVESCO and the Company shall continue to accept and
implement orders by the Insurance Company for the purchase (and redemption) of
shares of the Company.
7.6. For purposes of Sections 7.3 through 7.6 of this Agreement, a majority
of the Independent Directors shall determine whether any proposed action
adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict but in no event will
the Company be required to establish a new funding medium for the Contracts. The
Insurance 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 Insurance Company will withdraw the Account's investment in
the Company and terminate this Agreement within six (6) months after the Board
informs the Insurance Company in writing of the foregoing determination,
provided, however, that the withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the
extent required by the material irreconcilable conflict, as determined by a
majority of the Independent Directors.
7.7. If and to the extent that Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) are amended, or
Rule 6e-3 is adopted, to provide exemptive relief from any provision of the Act
or the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to mixed or shared funding (as
defined in the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order) on terms and conditions
materially different from those contained in the Mixed and Shared Funding
Exemptive Order, then (a) the Company and/or the Participating Insurance
Companies, as appropriate, shall take such steps as may be necessary to comply
with Rules 6e-2 add 6e-3(T), as amended, and Rule 6e-3, as adopted, to the
extent those 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 those Sections are contained in
the Rule(s) as so amended or adopted.
ARTICLE VIII. Indemnification
8. 1. Indemnification By The Insurance Company
8.1 (a). The Insurance Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company and each director of the Board 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 8.1)
against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid
in settlement with the written consent of the Insurance Company) or litigation
(including legal and other expenses), to which the Indemnified Parties may
become subject under any statute, regulation, at common law or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in
respect thereof) or settlements are related to the sale or acquisition of the
Company's shares or the Contracts and:
i. arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements or
alleged untrue statements of any material fact contained in
the registration statement or prospectus for the Contracts
or contained in the Contracts or sales literature for the
Contracts (or any amendment or supplement to any of the
foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the omission
or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, provided that this
agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified
Party if such statement or omission or such alleged
statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished in writing to the
Insurance Company by or on behalf of the Company for use in
the registration statement or prospectus for the Contracts
or in the Contracts or sales literature (or any amendment or
supplement) or otherwise for use in connection with the sale
of the Contracts or shares of the Company;
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 Company not supplied by the Insurance Company, or
persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of the
Insurance Company or persons under its control, with respect
to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Company
shares; or
iii. arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue state-
ment of a material fact contained in a registration
statement, prospectus, or sales literature of the Company or
any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or the omission
or alleged omission to state therein a materialfact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading if such a statement or omission was
made in reliance upon information furnished in writing to
the Company by or on behalf of the Insurance Company; or
iv. arise as a result of any failure by the Insurance Company to
provide the services and furnish the materials under the
term of this Agreement; or
v. arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Insurance Company
in this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other
material breach of this Agreement by the Insurance Company,
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of
Sections 8.1 (b) and 8.1 (c) hereof.
8.1(b). The Insurance 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 that
may arise from that Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross
negligence in the performance of that Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of
that Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations or duties under this
Agreement or to the Company, whichever is applicable.
8.1(c). The Insurance Company shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified
Party unless that Indemnified Party shall have notified the Insurance 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 that
Indemnified Party (or after the Indemnified Party shall have received notice of
such service on any designated agent). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
failure of any Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein shall not
relieve the Insurance Company of its obligations hereunder except to the extent
that the Insurance Company has been prejudiced by such failure to give notice.
In addition, any failure by the Indemnified Party to notify the Insurance
Company of any such claim shall not relieve the Insurance Company from any
liability which it may have to the Indemnified Party against whom the action is
brought otherwise than on account of this indemnification provision. In case any
such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties, the Insurance Company
shall be ended to participate, at its own expense, in the defense of the action.
The Insurance Company also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with
counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action; provided, however that if
the Indemnified Party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses
available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the
Insurance Company, the Insurance Company shall not have the right to assume said
defense, but shall pay the costs and expenses thereof (except that in no event
shall the Insurance Company be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one
counsel for Indemnified Parties in connection with any one action or separate
but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same
general allegations or circumstances). After notice from the Insurance Company
to the Indemnified Party of the Insurance Company's election to assume the
defense thereof, and in the absence of such a reasonable conclusion that there
may be different or additional defenses available to the Indemnified Party, the
Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel
retained by it, and the Insurance Company will not be liable to that party under
this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the
party independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable
costs of investigation.
8.1(d). The Indemnified Parties will promptly notify the Insurance Company
of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against them in connection
with the issuance or sale of the Company's shares or the Contracts or the
operation of the Company.
8.2. Indemnification by INVESCO
8.2(a). INVESCO agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Insurance Company
and each of its directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the
Insurance 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 INVESCO) or litigation (including
legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject
under any statute or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof)
or settlements are related to the sale or acquisition of the Company'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 Company (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 the statement or omission or alleged statement or
omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished in writing to INVESCO or the Company
by or on behalf of the Insurance Company for use in the
registration statement or prospectus for the Company or in
sales literature (or any amendment or supplement) or
otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the
Contracts or Company 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 INVESCO or persons under its
control) or wrongful conduct of the Company, INVESCO or
persons under their control, with respect to the sale or
distribution of the Contracts or shares of the Company; or
(iii)arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a registration
statement, prospectus, or sales literature covering the
Contracts, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto,
or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statement or statements therein not misleading, if
such statement or omission was made in reliance upon
information furnished in writing to the Insurance Company 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 (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 Company,
Distributors, or INVESCO in this Agreement or arise out of
or result from any other material breach of this Agreement
by the Company, Distributors, or INVESCO, including a
failure to comply with Section 2.3 and Article VI of this
Agreement;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.2(b)
and 8.2(c) hereof.
8.2(b) INVESCO 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 that may arise from the Indemnified
Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance
of the Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of the Indemnified Party's
reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement or to the
Insurance Company or the Account, whichever is applicable.
8.2(c) INVESCO shall not be liable under this indemnification provision
with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless the
Indemnified Party shall have notified INVESCO 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 the Indemnified Party (or after
the Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on any
designated agent). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the failure of any Indemnified
Party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve INVESCO of its
obligations hereunder except to the extent that INVESCO has been prejudiced by
such failure to give notice. In addition, any failure by the Indemnified Party
to notify INVESCO of any such claim shall not relieve INVESCO 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, INVESCO will be entitled to
participate, at it own expense, in the defense thereof. INVESCO also shall be
entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party
named in the action; provided, however, that if the Indemnified Party shall have
reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to it which are
different from or additional to those available to INVESCO, INVESCO shall not
have the right to assume said defense, but shall pay the costs and expenses
thereof (except that in no event shall INVESCO be liable for the fees and
expenses of more than one counsel for Indemnified Parties in connection with any
one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction
arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances). After notice from
INVESCO to the Indemnified Party of INVESCO's election to assume the defense
thereof, and in the absence of such a reasonable conclusion that there may be
different or additional defenses available to the Indemnified Party, the
Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel
retained by it, and INVESCO will not be liable to that party under this
Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by that party
independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs
of investigation.
8.2(d) The Insurance Company agrees to notify INVESCO promptly 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 the Account.
8.3 Indemnification By the Company
8.3(a). The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Insurance
Company, and each of its directors and officers and each person, if any, who
controls the Insurance 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 Company) or litigation (including
legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject
under any statute or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as those
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof)
or settlements result from the gross negligence, bad faith, willful misconduct
or reckless disregard of duty of the Board or any member thereof, are related to
the operations of the Company and:
(ii) arise as a result of any failure by the Company 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 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 8.3(b) and 8.3(c) hereof.
8.3(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 that may arise from the
Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the
performance of the Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of the Indemnified
Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement.
8.3(c). The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless the
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 the Indemnified Party (or after
the Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on any
designated agent). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the failure of any Indemnified
Party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the Company of its
obligations hereunder except to the extent that the Company has been prejudiced
by such failure to give notice. In addition, any failure by the Indemnified
Party 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
will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof. The
Company also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel
satisfactory to the party named in the action; provided, however, that if the
Indemnified Party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses
available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the
Company, the Company shall not have the right to assume said defense, but shall
pay the costs and expenses thereof (except that in no event shall the Company be
liable for the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for Indemnified
Parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related
actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or
circumstances). After notice from the Company to the Indemnified Party of the
Company's election to assume the defense thereof, and in the absence of such a
reasonable conclusion that there may be different or additional defenses
available to the Indemnified Party, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees
and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it and the Company will not
be liable to that party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by that party independently in connection with the defense
thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
8.3(d). The Insurance Company and INVESCO agree promptly to notify the
Company 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, the operation of the Account, or the sale or
acquisition of shares of the Company.
ARTICLE IX. Applicable Law
9.1. This Agreement shall be construed and provisions hereof interpreted
under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado.
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
any exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations the Commission may
grant (including, but not limited to, the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive
Order) and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance
therewith.
ARTICLE X. Termination
10.1. This Agreement shall terminate:
(a) at the option of any party upon six (6) months advance
written notice to the other parties; or
(b) at the option of the Insurance Company to the extent
that shares of Funds are not reasonably available to
meet the requirements of the Contracts as determined by
the Insurance Company, provided however, that such a
termination shall apply only to the Fund(s) not
reasonably available. Prompt written notice of the
election to terminate for such cause shall be furnished
by the Insurance Company; or
(c) at the option of the Company in the event that formal
administrative proceedings are instituted against the
Insurance Company by the NASD, the Commission, an
insurance commissioner or any other regulatory body
regarding the Insurance Company's duties under this
Agreement or related to the sale of the Contracts, the
operation of any Account, or the purchase of the
Company's shares, provided, however, that the Company
determines in its sole judgment exercised in good
faith, that any such administrative proceedings will
have a material adverse effect upon the ability of the
Insurance Company to perform its obligations under this
Agreement; or
(d) at the option of the Insurance Company in the event
that formal administrative proceedings are instituted
against the Company, Distributors, or INVESCO by the
NASD, the Commission, or any state securities or
insurance department or any other regulatory body,
provided, however, that the Insurance Company
determines in its sole judgment exercised in good
faith, that any such administrative proceedings will
have a material adverse effect upon the ability of the
Company or INVESCO to perform its obligations under
this Agreement or
(e) with respect to any Account, upon requisite vote of the
Contract owners having an interest in that Account (or
any subaccount) to substitute the shares of another
investment company for the corresponding Fund shares in
accordance with the terms of the Contracts for which
those Fund shares had been selected to serve as the
underlying investment media. The Insurance Company will
give at least 30 days' prior written notice to the
Company of the date of any proposed vote to replace the
Company's shares; or
(f) at the option of the Insurance Company, in the event
any of the Company's shares are not registered, issued
or sold in accordance with applicable state and/or
federal law or exemptions therefrom, or such law
precludes the use of those shares as the underlying
investment media of the Contracts issued or to be
issued by the Insurance Company; or
(g) at the option of the Insurance Company, if the Company
ceases to qualify as a regulated investment company
under Subchapter M of the Code or under any successor
or similar provision, or if the Insurance Company
reasonably believes that the Company may fail to so
qualify; or
(h) at the option of the Insurance Company, if the Company
fails to meet the diversification requirements
specified in Article VI hereof; or
(i) at the option of either the Company or INVESCO, if (1)
the Company or INVESCO, respectively, shall determine,
in their sole judgment reasonably exercised in good
faith, that the Insurance Company has suffered a
material adverse change in its business or financial
condition or is the subject of material adverse
publicity and that material adverse change or material
adverse publicity will have a material adverse impact
upon the business and operations of either the Company
or INVESCO, (2) the Company or INVESCO shall notify the
Insurance Company in writing of that determination and
its intent to terminate this Agreement, and (3) after
considering the actions taken by the Insurance Company
and any other changes in circumstances since the giving
of such a notice, the determination of the Company or
INVESCO shall continue to apply on the sixtieth (60th)
day following the giving of that notice, which sixtieth
day shall be the effective date of termination; or
(j) at the option of the Insurance Company, if (1) the
Insurance Company shall determine, in its sole judgment
reasonably exercised in good faith, that either the
Company, Distributors, or INVESCO has suffered a
material adverse change in its business or financial
condition or is the subject of material adverse
publicity and that material adverse change or material
adverse publicity will have a material adverse impact
upon the business and operations of the Insurance
Company, (2) the Insurance Company shall notify the
Company, Distributors, and INVESCO in writing of the
determination and its intent to terminate the
Agreement, and (3) after considering the actions taken
by the Company, Distributors, and/or INVESCO and any
other changes in circumstances since the giving of such
a notice, the determination shall continue to apply on
the sixtieth (60th) day following the giving of the
notice, which sixtieth day shall be the effective date
of termination; or
(k) Upon notice of material breach of the Agreement by a
party.
10.2. It is understood and agreed that the right of any party hereto to
terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 10.1 (a) may be exercised for any
reason or for no reason.
10.3. Notice Requirement. No termination of this Agreement shall be
effective unless and until the party terminating this Agreement gives prior
written notice to all other parties to this Agreement of its intent to
terminate, which notice shall set forth the basis for the termination.
Furthermore,
(a) in the event that any termination is based upon the
provisions of Article VII, or the provisions of Section
10.1(a), 10.1(i), 10.1(j), or 10.1(k) of this
Agreement, the prior written notice shall be given in
advance of the effective date of termination as
required by those provisions; and
(b) in the event that any termination is based upon the
provisions of Section 10.1(c) or 10.1(d) of this
Agreement, the prior written notice shall be given at
least ninety (90) days before the effective date of
termination.
10.4. Effect of Termination. Notwithstanding any termination of this
Agreement, the Company and INVESCO shall at the option of the Insurance Company,
continue to make available additional shares of the Company pursuant to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement for all Contracts in effect on the
effective date of termination of this Agreement ("Existing Contracts").
Specifically, without limitation, the owners of the Existing Contracts shall be
permitted to reallocate investments in the Company, redeem investments in the
Company and/or invest in the Company upon the making of additional purchase
payments under the Existing Contracts. The parties agree that this Section 10.4
shall not apply to any terminations under Article VII and the effect of Article
VII terminations shall be governed by Article VII of this Agreement.
10.5. The Insurance Company shall not redeem Company shares attributable to
the Contracts (as opposed to Company shares attributable to the Insurance
Company's assets held in the Account) except (i) as necessary to implement
Contract-owner-initiated transactions, (ii) as required by state and/or federal
laws or regulations or judicial or other legal precedent of general application
(a "Legally Required Redemption"), or, (iii) pursuant to a substitute funding
order issued by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), in
which case Insurance Company will provide Company with notice of its intent to
file an application for a substitute funding order contemporaneously with the
filing of such application with the SEC. Upon request, the Insurance Company
will promptly furnish to the Company and INVESCO the opinion of counsel for the
Insurance Company (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company
and INVESCO) to the effect that any redemption pursuant to clause (ii) above is
a Legally Required Redemption.
ARTICLE XI. Notices.
Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or
certified mail to the other party at the address of that other party set forth
below or at such other address as the other party may from time to time specify
in writing.
If to the Company:
X.X. Xxx 000000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: General Counsel
If to the Insurance Company:
Business Men's Assurance Company of America
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Vice President
If to INVESCO:
X.X. Xxx 000000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: General Counsel
ARTICLE XII. Miscellaneous
12.1. 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 without the express written consent
of the affected party unless and until that information 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. Each party hereto shall cooperate with each other party and all
appropriate governmental authorities (including without limitation the
Commission, the NASD and state insurance regulators) and shall permit each other
and those authorities reasonable access to its books and records in connection
with any investigation or inquiry relating to this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby.
12.6. 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.
12.7. No party may assign this Agreement without the prior written consent
of the others.
12.8 Article VIII and Sections 12.1 and 12.5 shall survive termination of
this Agreement.
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.
Insurance Company:
BUSINESS MEN'S ASSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA
By its authorized officer
By: /s/
------------------------------------
Title: Vice President & General Counsel
Date: 10/15/98
Company: BMA
INVESCO VARIABLE INVESTMENT FUNDS, INC.
By its authorized officer,
By. /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
------------------------------------
Title: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx-Treasurer
Date: October 15, 1998
INVESCO:
INVESCO FUNDS GROUP, INC.
By its authorized officer,
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Senior Vice President
Date: October 15, 1998
DISTRIBUTORS:
INVESCO DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
By its authorized officer,
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Senior Vice President
Date: October 15, 1998
Schedule A
Accounts
Name of Account Date of Resolution of Insurance Company's
Board which Established the Account
BMA Variable Life Account A September 9, 1996
BMA Variable Annuity Account A September 9, 1996
Schedule B
Contracts
1. Variable Annuity Contract VA-20
2. Variable Life Contract VL-50
Schedule C
Persons Authorized to Give Instructions to the Company and INVESCO
NAME ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER
(1) Xxxxx Xxxxxxx 000 Xxxxx Xxxx., Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Phone: 000-000-0000
--------------------
(2) Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx 000 Xxxxx Xxxx., Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
-------------------- Phone: 000-000-0000
(3) Xxxx Xxxxx 000 Xxxxx Xxxx., Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxx
-------------------- Phone: 000-000-0000
Schedule D
PROXY VOTING PROCEDURE
The following is a list of procedures and corresponding responsibilities
for the handling of proxies relating to the Company by INVESCO, the Company and
the Insurance Company. The defined terms herein shall have the meanings assigned
in the Participation Agreement except that the term 'Insurance Company" shall
also include the department or third party assigned by the Insurance Company to
perform the steps delineated below.
1. The number of proxy proposals is given to the Insurance Company by
INVESCO as early as possible before the date set by the Company for the
shareholder meeting to facilitate the establishment of tabulation
procedures. At this time INVESCO will inform the Insurance Company of the
Record, Mailing and Meeting dates. This will be done verbally approximately
two months before meeting.
2. Promptly after the Record Date, the Insurance Company will perform a
"tape run", or other activity, which will generate the names, addresses and
number of units which are attributed to each contractowner/policyholder
(the "Customer") as of the Record Date. Allowance should be made for
account adjustments made after this date that could affect the status of
the Customers' accounts of the Record Date.
Note: The number of proxy statements is determined by the activities
described in Step #2. The Insurance Company will use its best
efforts to call in the number of Customers to INVESCO, as soon as
possible, but no later than one week after the Record Date.
3. The text and format for the Voting Instruction Cards ("Cards" or "Card")
is provided to the Insurance Company by the Company. The Insurance Company,
at its expense, shall produce and personalize the Voting Instruction cards.
The Legal Department of INVESCO ("INVESCO Legal") must approve the Card
before it is printed. Allow approximately 2-4 business days for printing
information on the Cards. Information commonly found on the Cards includes:
a. name (legal name as found on account registration)
b. address
c. Fund or account number
d. coding to state number of units
e. individual Card number for use in tracking and verification of
votes (already on Cards as printed by the Company).(This and
related steps may occur later in the chronological process due
to possible uncertainties relating to the proposals.)
4. During this time, INVESCO Legal will develop, produce, and the Company
will pay for the Notice of Proxy and the Proxy Statement (one document).
Printed and folded notices and statements will be sent to Insurance Company
for insertion into envelopes (envelopes and return envelopes are provided
and paid for by the Insurance Company). Contents of envelope sent to
customers by Insurance Company will include:
a. Voting Instruction Card(s)
b. One proxy notice and statement (one document)
c. Return envelope (postage pre-paid by Insurance Company) addressed
to the Insurance Company or its tabulation agent.
d. "Urge buckslip" - optional, but recommended. (This is a small,
single sheet of paper that requests Customers to vote as quickly as
possible and that their vote is important. One copy will be supplied
by the Company.)
e. Cover letter - optional, supplied by Insurance Company and
reviewed and approved in advance by INVESCO Legal.
5. The above contents should be received by the Insurance Company
approximately 3-5 business days before mail date. Individual in charge at
Insurance Company reviews and approves the contents of the mailing package
to ensure correctness and completeness. Copy of this approval sent to
INVESCO Legal.
6. Package mailed by the Insurance Company. The Company must allow at least
a 15-day solicitation time to the Insurance Company as the shareowner. (A
5-week period is recommended.) Solicitation time is calculated as calendar
days from (but not including) the meeting, counting backwards.
7. Collection and tabulation of Cards begins. Tabulation usually takes
place in another department or another vendor depending on process used. An
often used procedure is to sort cards on arrival by proposal into vote
categories of all yes, no, or mixed replies, and to begin data entry.
Note: Postmarks are not generally needed. A need for postmark information
would be due to an insurance company's internal procedure.
8. If Cards are mutilated, or for any reason are illegible or are not
signed properly, they are sent back to the Customer with an explanatory
letter, a new Card and return envelope. The mutilated or illegible Card is
disregarded and considered to be not received for purposes of vote
tabulation. Such mutilated or illegible Cards are "hand verified," i.e.,
examined as to why they did not complete the system. Any questions on those
Cards are usually remedied individually.
9. There are various control procedures used to ensure proper tabulation of
votes and accuracy of the tabulation. The most prevalent is to sort the
Cards as they first arrive into categories depending upon their vote; an
estimate of how the vote is progressing may then be calculated. If the
initial estimates and the actual vote do not coincide, then an internal
audit of that vote should occur. This may entail a recount.
10. The actual tabulation of votes is done in units which are then
converted to shares. (It is very important that the Company receives the
tabulations stated in terms of a percentage and the number of shares.)
INVESCO Legal must review and approve tabulation format. ------
11. Final tabulation in shares is verbally given by the Insurance Company
to INVESCO Legal on the morning of the meeting not later than 10:00 am.
Denver time. INVESCO Legal may request an earlier deadline if required to
calculate the vote in time for the meeting.
12. A Certificate of Mailing and Authorization to Vote Shares will be
required from the Insurance Company as well as an original copy of the
final vote. INVESCO Legal will provide a standard form for each
Certification.
13. The Insurance 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, INVESCO
Legal will be permitted reasonable access to such Cards.
14. All approvals and "signing-off" may be done orally, but must always be
followed up in writing.
