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EXHIBIT 8a(i)
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") made by and between XXXXXXX VARIABLE
LIFE INVESTMENT FUND (the "Fund"), a Massachusetts business trust created under
a Declaration of Trust dated March 15, 1985, as amended with a principal place
of business in Boston, Massachusetts and SAFECO Life Insurance Companies, a
Washington corporation (the "Company"), with a principal place of business in
Seattle, Washington on behalf of the SAFECO SafeFlex Variable Account, a
separate account of the Company, and any other separate account of the Company
as designated by the Company from time to time, upon written notice to the Fund
in accordance with Section 10 herein (the "Account").
WHEREAS, the Fund acts as the investment vehicle for the separate
accounts established for variable life insurance policies and variable annuity
contracts (collectively referred to herein as "Variable Insurance Products") to
the offered by insurance companies which have entered into participation
agreements substantially identical to this Agreement ("Participating Insurance
Companies") and their affiliated insurance companies; and
WHEREAS, the beneficial interest in the Fund is divided into several
series of shares of beneficial interest ("Shares"), and additional series of
Shares may be established, each designated a "Portfolio" and representing the
interest in a particular managed portfolio of securities; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of Participating Insurance
Companies to make capital contributions if required so that the annual expenses
of each Portfolio of the Fund in which a
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Participating Insurance Company is a shareholder will not exceed a fixed
percentage of the Portfolio's average annual net assets; and
WHEREAS, the Parties desire to evidence their agreement as to certain
other matters,
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
covenants and agreements hereinafter contained, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
1. Additional Definitions.
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For the purposes of this Agreement, the following definitions shall
apply:
(a) The "expenses of a Portfolio" for any fiscal year
shall mean the expenses for such fiscal year as shown in the Statement of
Operations (or similar report) certified by the Fund's independent public
accountants;
(b) A "Portfolio's average daily net assets" for each
fiscal year shall mean the sum of the net asset values determined throughout the
year for the purpose of determining net asset value per Share, divided by the
number of such determinations during such year;
(c) The Company's "Required Contribution" on behalf of the
Account in respect of a Portfolio for any fiscal year shall mean an amount equal
to the expenses of that Portfolio for such year minus the below-indicated
percentage of that Portfolio's average daily net assets for the year:
Managed International Portfolio . . . . . . 1.5%
Each other Portfolio. . . . . . . . . . . . 0.75%
multiplied by a fraction the denominator of which is the average daily net
assets of that Portfolio and the numerator of which is
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the average daily net asset value of the Shares of that Portfolio owned by the
Account (referred to herein as a "Participating Shareholder"). The Company's
Required Contribution in respect of a Portfolio shall be pro-rated based on the
number of business days on which this Agreement is in effect for periods of less
than a fiscal year.
(d) The "average daily net asset value of the Shares of
the Portfolio" owned by the Account for any fiscal year of the Fund shall mean
the greater of (i) $500,000 or (ii) the sum of the aggregate net asset values of
the Shares so owned determined during the fiscal year, as of each determination
of the net asset value per Share, divided by the total number of determinations
of net asset value during such year.
(e) "Shares" means shares of beneficial interest, without
par value, of any Portfolio, now or hereafter created, of the Fund.
2. Capital Contribution.
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The Company on behalf of the Account shall, within sixty days after the
end of each fiscal year of the Fund, make a capital contribution to the Fund in
respect of each Portfolio equal to the Required Contribution for that Portfolio
for such year; provided, however, that in the event that both clauses (i) and
(ii) of paragraph (d) of Section 1 of this Agreement or similar agreements are
applicable to different Participating Insurance Companies during the same fiscal
year, there shall be a proportionate reduction of the Required Contribution of
each Participating Insurance Company to which said clause (ii) is applicable so
that the total of all required capital contributions to the Fund on
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behalf of any Portfolio is not greater than the excess of the expenses of that
Portfolio for that fiscal year less the percentage of that Portfolio's total
expenses set forth in paragraph (c) of Section 1 of this Agreement for such
fiscal year.
3. Duty of Fund to Sell.
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The Fund shall make its Shares available for purchase at the applicable
net asset value per Share by Participating Insurance Companies and their
affiliates and separate accounts on those days on which the Fund calculates its
net asset value pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission;
provided, however, that the Trustees of the Fund 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 Trustees, necessary in
the best interest of the shareholders of any Portfolio.
4. Requirement to Execute Participation Agreement; Requests.
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Each Participating Insurance Company shall, prior to purchasing Shares
in the Fund, execute and deliver a participation agreement in a form
substantially identical to this Agreement.
The Fund shall make available, upon written request from the
Participating Insurance Company given in accordance with Paragraph 10, to each
Participating Insurance Company which has executed an Agreement and which
Agreement has not been terminated pursuant to Paragraph 8(i)a list of all other
Participating Insurance Companies, and (ii) a copy of the Agreement as executed
by any other Participating Insurance Company.
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The Fund shall also make available upon request to each Participating
Insurance Company which has executed an Agreement and which Agreement has not
been terminated pursuant to Paragraph 8, the net asset value of any Portfolio of
the Fund as of any date upon which the Fund calculates the net asset value of
its Portfolios for the purpose of purchase and redemption of Shares.
5. Indemnification.
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The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and each of
its Trustees and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Fund within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act") against any
and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation (including legal and
other expenses), arising out of the acquisition of any Shares by any person, to
which the Fund or such Trustees, officers or controlling person may become
subject under the Act, under any other statute, at common law or otherwise,
which (i) may be based upon any wrongful act by the Company, any of its
employees or representatives, any affiliate of or any person acting on behalf of
the Company or a principal underwriter of its insurance products, or (ii) may be
based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in a
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registration statement or prospectus covering Shares or any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading if such a statement or omission was made in reliance upon
information furnished to the Fund by the Company, or (iii) may be based on any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a
registration statement or prospectus covering insurance products sold by the
Company or any insurance company which is an affiliate thereof, or any
amendments 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, unless such statement or
omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Company or such
affiliate by or on behalf of the Fund; provided, however, that in no case (i) is
the Company's indemnity in favor of a Trustee or officer or any other person
deemed to protect such Trustee or officer or other person against any liability
to which any such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of his duties or
by reason of his reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this
Agreement or (ii) is the Company to be liable under its indemnity agreement
contained in this Paragraph 5 with respect to any claim made against the Fund or
any person indemnified unless the Fund or such person, as the case may be, shall
have notified the Company in writing pursuant to Paragraph 10 within a
reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claims shall have been served upon the Fund or
upon such person (or after the Fund or such person 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 has to the
Fund or any person against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account
of its indemnity agreement contained in this Paragraph 5.
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The Company shall be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the
defense, or, if it so elects, to assume the defense of any suit brought to
enforce any such liability, but, if it elects to assume the defense, such
defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen by it and satisfactory to the Fund,
to its officers and Trustees, or to any controlling person or persons, defendant
or defendants in the suit. In the event that the Company elects to assume the
defense of any such suit and retain such counsel, the Fund, such officers and
Trustees or controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in the suit,
shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by them,
but, in case the Company does not elect to assume the defense of any such suit,
the Company will reimburse the Fund, such officers and Trustees or controlling
person or persons, defendant or defendants in such suit, for the reasonable fees
and expenses of any counsel retained by them. The Company agrees promptly to
notify the Fund pursuant to Paragraph 10 of the commencement of any litigation
or proceedings against it in connection with the issue and sale of any Shares.
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 Act against any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or litigation (including legal and other expenses) to which
it or such directors, officers or controlling person may become subject under
the Act, under any other statute, at common law or otherwise, arising out of the
acquisition of any Shares by any person which (i) may be based upon any wrongful
act by the Fund, any of its employees or representatives or a principal
underwriter of the
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Fund, or (ii) may be based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in a registration statement or prospectus covering
Shares 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 unless such statement or
omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Fund by the
Company or (iii) may be based on any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a registration statement or prospectus
covering insurance products sold by the Company, or an amendment or supplement
thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement or statements
therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon
information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Fund; provided,
however, that in no case (i) is the Fund's indemnity in favor of a director or
officer or any other person deemed to protect such director or officer or other
person against any liability to which any such person would otherwise be subject
by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the
performance of his duties or by reason of his reckless disregard of obligations
and duties under this Agreement or (ii) is the Fund to be liable under its
indemnity agreement contained in this Paragraph 5 with respect to any claims
made against the Company or any such director, officer or controlling person
unless it or such director, officer or controlling person, as the case may be,
shall have notified the Fund in writing
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pursuant to Paragraph 10 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 it or upon such director, officer or controlling person (or
after the Company or such director, officer or controlling person shall have
received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify
the Fund of any claim shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have
to the person against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of
its indemnity agreement contained in this Paragraph. The Fund will be entitled
to participate at its own expense in the defense, or, if it so elects, to assume
the defense of any suit brought to enforce any such liability, but if the Fund
elects to assume the defense, such defense shall be conducted by counsel chosen
by it and satisfactory to the Company, its directors, officers or controlling
person or persons, defendant or defendants, in the suit. In the event the Fund
elects to assume the defense of any such suit and retain such counsel, the
Company, its directors, officers or controlling person or persons, defendant or
defendants in the suit, shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional
counsel retained by them, but, in case the Fund does not elect to assume the
defense of any such suit, it will reimburse the Company or such directors,
officers or controlling person or persons, defendant or defendants in the suit,
for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel retained by them. The Fund
agrees promptly to notify the Company pursuant to Paragraph 10 of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of
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its officers or trustees in connection with the issuance or sale of any Shares.
6. Procedure for Resolving Irreconcilable Conflicts.
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(a) The Trustees of the Fund will monitor the operations of the
Fund for the existence of any material irreconcilable conflict among the
interests of all the contractholders and policyowners of Variable Insurance
Products (the "Participants") of all separate accounts investing in the Fund. An
irreconcilable material conflict may arise, among other things, from: (a) an
action by any state insurance regulatory authority; (b) a change in applicable
insurance laws or regulations; (c) a tax ruling or provision of the Internal
Revenue Code or the regulations thereunder; (d) any other development relating
to the tax treatment of insurers, contractholders or policyowners or
beneficiaries of Variable Insurance Products; (e) the manner in which the
investments of any Portfolio are being managed; (f) a difference in voting
instructions given by variable annuity contractholders, on the one hand, and
variable life insurance policyowners, on the other hand, or by the
contractholders or policyowners of different participating insurance companies;
or (g) a decision by an insurer to override the voting instructions of
Participants.
(b) The Company will be responsible for reporting any potential or
existing conflicts to the Trustees of the Fund. The Company will be responsible
for assisting the Trustees in carrying out their responsibilities under this
Paragraph 6(b) and Paragraph 6(a), by providing the Trustees with all
information reasonably necessary for the Trustees to consider the issues raised.
The Fund
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will also request its investment advisor to report to the Trustees any such
conflict which comes to the attention of the adviser.
(c) If it is determined by a majority of the Trustees of the Fund,
or a majority of its disinterested Trustees, that a material irreconcilable
conflict exists involving the Company, the Company shall, at its expense, and to
the extent reasonably practicable (as determined by a majority of the
disinterested Trustees), take whatever steps are necessary to eliminate the
irreconcilable material conflict, including 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 another
Portfolio of the Fund, offering to the affected Participants the option of
making such a change or establishing a new funding medium including a registered
investment company.
For purposes of this Paragraph 6(c), the Trustees, or the disinterested
Trustees, shall determine whether or not any proposed action adequately remedies
any irreconcilable material conflict. In the event of a determination of the
existence of an irreconcilable material conflict, the Trustees shall cause the
Fund to take such action, such as the establishment of one or more additional
Portfolios, as they in their sole discretion determine to be in the interest of
all shareholders and Participants in view of all applicable factors, such as
cost, feasibility, tax, regulatory and other considerations. In no event will
the Fund be required by this Paragraph 6(c) to establish a new funding medium
for any variable contract or policy.
The Company shall not be required by this Paragraph 6(c) to establish a
new funding medium for any variable contract or policy
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if an offer to do so has been declined by a vote of a majority of the
Participants materially adversely affected by the material irreconcilable
conflict. The Company will recommend to its Participants that they decline an
offer to establish a new funding medium only if the Company believes it is in
the best interest of the Participants.
(d) The Trustees' determination of the existence of an
irreconcilable material conflict and its implications promptly shall be
communicated to all Participating Insurance Companies by written notice thereof
delivered or mailed, first class postage prepaid.
7. Voting Privileges.
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The Company shall be responsible for assuring that its separate account
or accounts participating in the Fund shall use a calculation method of voting
procedures substantially the same as the following: those Participants permitted
to give instructions and the number of Shares for which instructions may be
given will be determined as of the record date for the Fund shareholders'
meeting, which shall not be more than 60 days before the date of the meeting.
Whether or not voting instructions are actually given by a particular
Participant, all Fund shares held in any separate account or sub-account thereof
and attributable to policies will be voted for, against, or withheld from voting
on any proposition in the same proportion as (i) the aggregate record date cash
value held in such sub-account for policies giving instructions, respectively,
to vote for, against, or withhold votes on such propostition, bears to (ii) the
aggregate record date cash value held in the sub-account for all policies for
which voting
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instructions are received. Participants continued in effect under lapse options
will not be permitted to give voting instructions. Shares held in any other
insurance company general or separate account or sub-account thereof will be
voted in the proportion specified in the second preceding sentence for shares
attributable to policies.
8. Duration and Termination.
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This Agreement shall remain in force for the period ending five years
from the date of its execution (such date and any anniversary of such date being
hereinafter called a "Renegotiation Date"), and from year to year thereafter
provided that neither the Company nor the Fund shall have given written notice
to the other within thirty (30) days prior to a Renegotiation Date that it
desires to renegotiate the amount of contribution to capital due hereunder
("Renegotiation Notice"). If a Renegotiation Notice is properly given as
aforesaid and the Fund and the Company shall fail, within sixty (60) days after
the Renegotiation Date, either to enter into an amendment to this Agreement or a
written acknowledgment that the Agreement shall continue in effect, this
Agreement shall terminate as of the one hundred twentieth day after such
Renegotiation Date. If this Agreement is so terminated, the Fund may, at any
time thereafter, automatically redeem the Shares of any Portfolio held by a
Participating Shareholder. This Agreement may be terminated at any time, at the
option of either of the Company or the Fund, when neither the Company, any
insurance company nor the separate account or accounts of such insurance company
which is an affiliate thereof which is not a Participating Insurance Company own
any Shares of the Fund or may be terminated
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by either party to the Agreement upon a determination by a majority of the
Trustees of the Fund, or a majority of its disinterested Trustees, following
certification thereof by a Participating Insurance Company given in accordance
with Paragraph 10 that an irreconcilable conflict exists among the interests of
(i) all contractholders and policyholders of Variable Insurance Products of all
separate accounts or (ii) the interests of the Participating Insurance Companies
investing in the Fund. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Agreement or its termination as provided herein, the Company's obligation to
make a capital contribution to the Fund in accordance with this Agreement at the
time in effect shall continue (i) following a properly given Renegotiation
Notice, in the absence of agreement otherwise, until termination of this
Agreement, and (ii) (except termination due to the existence of an
irreconcilable conflict), following termination of this Agreement, until the
later of the fifth anniversary of the date of this Agreement or the date on
which the Company, its separate account(s) or the separate account(s) of any
affiliated insurance company owns no Shares.
9. Compliance.
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The Fund will comply with the provisions of Section 4240(a) of the New
York Insurance Law.
Each portfolio of the Fund will comply with the provisions of Section
817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), relating
to diversification requirements for variable annuity, endowment and life
insurance contracts. Specifically, each Portfolio will comply with either (i)
the requirement of Section 817(h)(1) of the Code that its assets be adequately
diversified, or
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(ii) the "Safe Harbor for Diversification" specified in Section 817(h)(2) of the
Code, or (iii) the diversification requirement of Section 817(h)(1) of the Code
by having all or part of its assets invested in U.S. Treasury securities which
qualify for the "Special Rule for Investments in United States Obligations"
specified in Section 817(h)(3) of the Code.
The provisions of Paragraphs 6 and 7 of this Agreement shall be
interpreted in a manner consistent with any Rule or order of the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
applicable to the parties hereto.
No Shares of any Portfolio of the Fund may be sold to the general
public.
10. Notices.
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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:
Xxxxxxx Variable Life Investment Fund
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
(000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
If to the Company:
SAFECO Life Insurance Companies
00000 XX 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
11. Massachusetts Law to Apply.
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This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof interpreted
under and in accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
12. Miscellaneous.
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The name "Xxxxxxx Variable Life Investment Fund" is the designation of
the Trustees for the time being under a Declaration of Trust dated March 15,
1985, as amended, and 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 Trustees, officers, agents or shareholders assume any personal
liability for obligations entered into on behalf of the Fund. No Portfolio shall
be liable for any obligations properly attributable to any other Portfolio.
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. This Agreement may be executed
simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which taken together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
13. Entire Agreement.
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This Agreement incorporates the entire understanding and agreement
among the parties hereto, and supersedes any and all prior understandings and
agreements between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this
Agreement to be executed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized
representative and its seal to be hereunder affixed hereto as of the 31st day of
December, 1992.
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SEAL XXXXXXX VARIABLE LIFE INVESTMENT FUND
By: /S/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
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President
SEAL SAFECO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANIES
By: /S/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
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Its: Senior Vice President
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