PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
AMONG
[INSURANCE COMPANY],
PIMCO VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST,
AND
PIMCO FUNDS DISTRIBUTORS LLC
THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of the _17__ day of August , 2000, by and
among __Allmerica Financial Life Insurance and Annuity Company, (the "Company"),
a Delaware life insurance company, on its own behalf and on behalf of each
segregated asset account of the Company set forth on Schedule A hereto as may be
amended from time to time (each account hereinafter referred to as the
"Account"), PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust (the "Fund"), a Delaware business
trust, and PIMCO Funds Distributors LLC (the "Underwriter"), a Delaware limited
liability company.
WHEREAS, the Fund engages in business as an open-end management
investment company and is available to act as the investment vehicle for
separate accounts established for variable life insurance and variable annuity
contracts (the "Variable Insurance Products") to be offered by insurance
companies which have entered into participation agreements with the Fund and
Underwriter ("Participating Insurance Companies");
WHEREAS, the shares of beneficial interest of the Fund are divided into
several series of shares, each designated a "Portfolio" and representing the
interest in a particular managed portfolio of securities and other assets;
WHEREAS, the Fund has obtained an order from the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") granting Participating Insurance Companies and
variable annuity and variable life insurance separate accounts exemptions from
the provisions of sections 9(a), 13(a), 15(a), and 15(b) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the "1940 Act") and Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and
6e-3(T)(b)(15) thereunder, if and to the extent necessary to permit shares of
the Fund to be sold to and held by variable annuity and variable life insurance
separate accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated life insurance companies
(the "Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order");
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the 1940 Act and shares of the Portfolios are registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act");
WHEREAS, Pacific Investment Management Company (the "Adviser"), which
serves as investment adviser to the Fund, is duly registered as an investment
adviser under the federal Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended;
WHEREAS, the Company has issued or will issue certain variable life
insurance and/or variable annuity contracts supported wholly or partially by the
Account (the "Contracts"), and said Contracts are listed in Schedule A hereto,
as it may be amended from time to time by mutual written agreement;
WHEREAS, the Account is duly established and maintained as a segregated
asset account, duly established by the Company, on the date shown for such
Account on Schedule A hereto, to set aside and invest assets attributable to the
aforesaid Contracts;
WHEREAS, the Underwriter, which serves as distributor to the Fund, is
registered as a broker dealer with the SEC 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, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Company intends to purchase [ADMINISTRATIVE OR INSTITUTIONAL]
Class shares in the Portfolios listed in Schedule A hereto, as it may be amended
from time to time by mutual written agreement (the "Designated Portfolios") on
behalf of the Account to fund the aforesaid Contracts, and the Underwriter is
authorized to sell such shares to the Account at net asset value;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Company,
the Fund and the Underwriter agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. SALE OF FUND SHARES
1.1. The Fund has granted to the Underwriter exclusive authority
to distribute the Fund's shares, and has agreed to instruct, and has so
instructed, the Underwriter to make available to the Company for purchase on
behalf of the Account Fund shares of those Designated Portfolios selected by the
Underwriter. Pursuant to such authority and instructions, and subject to Article
X hereof, the Underwriter agrees to make available to the Company for purchase
on behalf of the Account, shares of those Designated Portfolios listed on
Schedule A to this Agreement, such purchases to be effected at net asset value
in accordance with Section 1.3 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
(i) Fund series (other than those listed on Schedule A) in existence now or that
may be established in the future will be made available to the Company only as
the Underwriter may so provide, and (ii) the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the
"Board") may suspend or terminate the offering of Fund shares of any Designated
Portfolio or class thereof, if such action is required by law or by regulatory
authorities having jurisdiction or if, in the sole discretion of the Board
acting in good faith and in light of its fiduciary duties under federal and any
applicable state laws, suspension or termination is necessary in the best
interests of the shareholders of such Designated Portfolio.
1.2. The Fund shall redeem, at the Company's request, any full or
fractional Designated Portfolio shares held by the Company on behalf of the
Account, such redemptions to be effected at net asset value in accordance with
Section 1.3 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Company
shall not redeem Fund shares attributable to Contract owners except in the
circumstances permitted in Section 10.3 of this Agreement, and (ii) the Fund may
delay redemption of Fund shares of any Designated Portfolio to the extent
permitted by the 1940 Act, and any rules, regulations or orders thereunder.
1.3. PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION PROCEDURES
(a) The Fund hereby appoints the Company as an agent of the Fund
for the limited purpose of receiving purchase and redemption requests on
behalf of the Account (but not with respect to any Fund shares that may be
held in the general account of the Company) for shares of those Designated
Portfolios made available hereunder, based on allocations of amounts to the
Account or subaccounts thereof under the Contracts and other transactions
relating to the
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Contracts or the Account. Receipt of any such request (or relevant
transactional information therefor) on any day the New York Stock Exchange
is open for trading and on which the Fund calculates its net asset value
pursuant to the rules of the SEC (a "Business Day") by the Company as such
limited agent of the Fund prior to the time that the Fund ordinarily
calculates its net asset value as described from time to time in the Fund
Prospectus (which as of the date of execution of this Agreement is 4:00
p.m. Eastern Time) shall constitute receipt by the Fund on that same
Business Day, provided that the Fund receives notice of such request by
9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the next following Business Day.
(b) The Company shall pay for shares of each Designated Portfolio
on the same day that it notifies the Fund of a purchase request for such
shares. Payment for Designated Portfolio shares shall be made in federal
funds transmitted to the Fund by wire to be received by the Fund by 4:00
p.m. Eastern Time on the day the Fund is notified of the purchase request
for Designated Portfolio shares (unless the Fund determines and so advises
the Company that sufficient proceeds are available from redemption of
shares of other Designated Portfolios effected pursuant to redemption
requests tendered by the Company on behalf of the Account). If federal
funds are not received on time, such funds will be invested, and Designated
Portfolio shares purchased thereby will be issued, as soon as practicable
and the Company shall promptly, upon the Fund's request, reimburse the Fund
for any charges, costs, fees, interest or other expenses incurred by the
Fund in connection with any advances to, or borrowing or overdrafts by, the
Fund, or any similar expenses incurred by the Fund, as a result of
portfolio transactions effected by the Fund based upon such purchase
request. Upon receipt of federal funds so wired, such funds shall cease to
be the responsibility of the Company and shall become the responsibility of
the Fund.
(c) Payment for Designated Portfolio shares redeemed by the
Account or the Company shall be made in federal funds transmitted by wire
to the Company or any other designated person on the next Business Day
after the Fund is properly notified of the redemption order of such shares
(unless redemption proceeds are to be applied to the purchase of shares of
other Designated Portfolios in accordance with Section 1.3(b) of this
Agreement), except that the Fund reserves the right to redeem Designated
Portfolio shares in assets other than cash and to delay payment of
redemption proceeds to the extent permitted under Section 22(e) of the 1940
Act and any Rules thereunder, and in accordance with the procedures and
policies of the Fund as described in the then current prospectus. The Fund
shall not bear any responsibility whatsoever for the proper disbursement or
crediting of redemption proceeds by the Company; the Company alone shall be
responsible for such action.
(d) Any purchase or redemption request for Designated Portfolio
shares held or to be held in the Company's general account shall be
effected at the net asset value per share next determined after the Fund's
receipt of such request, provided that, in the case of a purchase request,
payment for Fund shares so requested is received by the Fund in federal
funds prior to close of business for determination of such value, as
defined from time to time in the Fund Prospectus.
1.4. The Fund shall use its best efforts to make the net asset value
per share for each Designated Portfolio available to the Company by 7:00 p.m.
Eastern Time each Business Day, and in any event, as soon as reasonably
practicable after the net asset value per share for such Designated Portfolio is
calculated, and shall calculate such net asset value in accordance with the
Fund's Prospectus. Neither the Fund, any Designated Portfolio, the Underwriter,
nor any of their affiliates shall be liable for any
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information provided to the Company pursuant to this Agreement which information
is based on incorrect information supplied by the Company or any other
Participating Insurance Company to the Fund or the Underwriter.
1.5. The Fund shall furnish notice (by wire or telephone followed by
written confirmation) to the Company as soon as reasonably practicable of any
income dividends or capital gain distributions payable on any Designated
Portfolio shares. The Company, on its behalf and on behalf of the Account,
hereby elects to receive all such dividends and distributions as are payable on
any Designated Portfolio shares in the form of additional shares of that
Designated Portfolio. The Company reserves the right, on its behalf and on
behalf of the Account, to revoke this election and to receive all such dividends
and capital gain distributions in cash. The Fund shall notify the Company
promptly of the number of Designated Portfolio shares so issued as payment of
such dividends and distributions.
1.6. Issuance and transfer of Fund shares shall be by book entry only.
Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or the Account. Purchase
and redemption orders for Fund shares shall be recorded in an appropriate ledger
for the Account or the appropriate subaccount of the Account.
1.7. (a) The parties hereto acknowledge that the arrangement
contemplated by this Agreement is not exclusive; the Fund's shares may be sold
to other insurance companies (subject to Section 1.8 hereof) and the cash value
of the Contracts may be invested in other investment companies, provided,
however, that until this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Article X, the
Company shall promote the Designated Portfolios on the same basis as other
funding vehicles available under the Contracts. Funding vehicles other than
those listed on Schedule A to this Agreement may be available for the investment
of the cash value of the Contracts, provided, however, (i) any such vehicle or
series thereof, has investment objectives or policies that are substantially
different from the investment objectives and policies of the Designated
Portfolios available hereunder;; or (iii) unless such other investment company
was available as a Funding vehicle for the Contracts prior to the date of this
Agreement and the Company has so informed the Fund and the Underwriter prior to
their signing this Agreement, the Fund or Underwriter consents in writing to the
use of such other vehicle, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld.
(b) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the
Underwriter (unless otherwise required by applicable law), take any action to
operate the Account as a management investment company under the 1940 Act.
(c) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the
Underwriter (unless otherwise required by applicable law), induce Contract
owners to change or modify the Fund or change the Fund's distributor or
investment adviser.
(d) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the Fund,
induce Contract owners to vote on any matter submitted for consideration by the
shareholders of the Fund in a manner other than as recommended by the Board of
Trustees of the Fund.
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1.8. The Underwriter and the Fund shall sell Fund shares only to
Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts and to persons or
plans ("Qualified Persons") that communicate to the Underwriter and the Fund
that they qualify to purchase shares of the Fund under Section 817(h) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and the regulations
thereunder without impairing the ability of the Account to consider the
portfolio investments of the Fund as constituting investments of the Account for
the purpose of satisfying the diversification requirements of Section 817(h).
The Underwriter and the Fund shall not sell Fund shares to any insurance company
or separate account unless an agreement complying with Article VI of this
Agreement is in effect to govern such sales, to the extent required. The Company
hereby represents and warrants that it and the Account are Qualified Persons.
The Fund reserves the right to cease offering shares of any Designated Portfolio
in the discretion of the Fund.
ARTICLE II. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
2.1 The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts (a) are, or
prior to issuance will be, registered under the 1933 Act, or (b) are not
registered because they are properly exempt from registration under the 1933 Act
or will be offered exclusively in transactions that are properly exempt from
registration under the 1933 Act. The Company further represents and warrants
that the Contracts will be issued and sold in compliance in all material
respects with all applicable federal securities and state securities and
insurance laws and that the sale of the Contracts shall comply in all material
respects with state insurance suitability requirements. The Company further
represents and warrants that it is an insurance company duly organized and in
good standing under applicable law, that it has legally and validly established
the Account prior to any issuance or sale thereof as a segregated asset account
under DELAWARE insurance laws, and that it (a) has registered or, prior to any
issuance or sale of the Contracts, will 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, or alternatively (b) has not
registered the Account in proper reliance upon an exclusion from registration
under the 1940 Act. The Company shall register and qualify the Contracts or
interests therein as securities in accordance with the laws of the various
states only if and to the extent deemed advisable by the Company.
2.2. The Fund represents and warrants that Fund shares sold pursuant
to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act, duly authorized for
issuance and sold in compliance with applicable state and federal securities
laws and that the Fund is and shall remain registered under the 0000 Xxx. The
Fund shall amend the registration statement for its shares under the 1933 Act
and the 1940 Act from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous
offering of its shares. The Fund shall register and qualify the shares for sale
in accordance with the laws of the various states only if and to the extent
deemed advisable by the Fund or the Underwriter.
2.3. The Fund may make payments to finance distribution expenses
pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Prior to financing distribution
expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1, the Fund will have the Board, a majority of
whom are not interested persons of the Fund, formulate and approve a plan
pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act to finance distribution expenses.
2.4. The Fund makes no representations as to whether any aspect of its
operations, including, but not limited to, investment policies, fees and
expenses, complies with the insurance and other applicable laws of the various
states.
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2.5. The Fund represents that it is lawfully organized and validly
existing under the laws of the State of Delaware and that it does and will
comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act.
2.6. The Underwriter represents and warrants that it is a member in
good standing of the NASD and is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC. The
Underwriter further represents that it will sell and distribute the Fund shares
in accordance with any applicable state and federal securities laws.
2.7. The Fund and the Underwriter represent and warrant that all of
their trustees/directors, officers, employees, investment advisers, and other
individuals or entities dealing with the money and/or securities of the Fund are
and shall continue to be at all times covered by a blanket fidelity bond or
similar coverage for the benefit of the Fund in an amount not less than the
minimum coverage as required currently by Rule 17g-1 of the 1940 Act or related
provisions as may be promulgated from time to time. The aforesaid bond shall
include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable
bonding company.
2.8. The Company represents and warrants that all of its directors,
officers, employees, and other individuals/entities employed or controlled by
the Company dealing with the money and/or securities of the Account are covered
by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage for the benefit of the Account,
in an amount not less than $5 million. The aforesaid bond includes coverage for
larceny and embezzlement and is issued by a reputable bonding company. The
Company agrees to hold for the benefit of the Fund and to pay to the Fund any
amounts lost from larceny, embezzlement or other events covered by the aforesaid
bond to the extent such amounts properly belong to the Fund pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement. The Company agrees to make all reasonable efforts to
see that this bond or another bond containing these provisions is always in
effect, and agrees to notify the Fund and the Underwriter in the event that such
coverage no longer applies.
ARTICLE III. PROSPECTUSES AND PROXY STATEMENTS; VOTING
3.1 The Underwriter shall provide the Company with as many copies of
the Fund's current prospectus (describing only the Designated Portfolios listed
on Schedule A) or, to the extent permitted, the Fund's profiles as the Company
may reasonably request. The Company shall bear the expense of printing copies of
the current prospectus and profiles for the Contracts that will be distributed
to existing Contract owners, and the Company shall bear the expense of printing
copies of the Fund's prospectus and profiles that are used in connection with
offering the Contracts issued by the Company. If requested by the Company in
lieu thereof, the Fund shall provide such documentation (including a final copy
of the new prospectus on diskette at the Fund's expense) and other assistance as
is reasonably necessary in order for the Company once each year (or more
frequently if the prospectus for the Fund is amended) to have the prospectus for
the Contracts and the Fund's prospectus or profile printed together in one
document (such printing to be at the Company's expense).
3.2. The Fund's prospectus shall state that the current Statement of
Additional Information ("SAI") for the Fund is available, and the Underwriter
(or the Fund), at its expense, shall provide a reasonable number of copies of
such SAI free of charge to the Company for itself and for any owner of a
Contract who requests such SAI.
3.3. The Fund shall provide the Company with information regarding the
Fund's expenses, which information may include a table of fees and related
narrative disclosure for use in any prospectus or other descriptive document
relating to a Contract. The Company agrees that it will use such information in
the form provided. The Company shall provide prior written notice of any
proposed
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modification of such information, which notice will describe in detail the
manner in which the Company proposes to modify the information, and agrees that
it may not modify such information in any way without the prior consent of the
Fund.
3.4. The Fund, at its expense, shall provide the Company with copies
of its proxy material, reports to shareholders, and other communications to
shareholders in such quantity as the Company shall reasonably require for
distributing to Contract owners.
3.5. The Company shall:
(i) solicit voting instructions from Contract owners;
(ii) vote the Fund shares in accordance with instructions
received from Contract owners; and
(iii) vote Fund shares for which no instructions have been
received in the same proportion as Fund shares of such
portfolio for which instructions have been received,
so long as and to the extent that the SEC continues to interpret the 1940 Act to
require pass-through voting privileges for variable contract owners or to the
extent otherwise required by law. The Company will vote Fund shares held in any
segregated asset account in the same proportion as Fund shares of such portfolio
for which voting instructions have been received from Contract owners, to the
extent permitted by law.
3.6. Participating Insurance Companies shall be responsible for
assuring that each of their separate accounts participating in a Designated
Portfolio calculates voting privileges as required by the Shared Funding
Exemptive Order and consistent with any reasonable standards that the Fund may
adopt and provide in writing.
ARTICLE IV. SALES MATERIAL AND INFORMATION
4.1. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the
Fund or its designee, each piece of sales literature or other promotional
material that the Company develops and in which the Fund (or a Designated
Portfolio thereof) or the Adviser or the Underwriter is named. No such material
shall be used until approved by the Fund or its designee, and the Fund will use
its best efforts for it or its designee to review such sales literature or
promotional material within ten Business Days after receipt of such material.
The Fund or its designee reserves the right to reasonably object to the
continued use of any such sales literature or other promotional material in
which the Fund (or a Designated Portfolio thereof) or the Adviser or the
Underwriter is named, and no such material shall be used if the Fund or its
designee so object.
4.2. The Company shall not give any information or make any
representations or statements on behalf of the Fund or concerning the Fund or
the Adviser or the Underwriter in connection with the sale of the Contracts
other than the information or representations contained in the registration
statement or prospectus or SAI for the Fund shares, as such registration
statement and prospectus or SAI may be amended or supplemented from time to
time, or in reports or proxy statements for the Fund, or in sales literature or
other promotional material approved by the Fund or its designee or by the
Underwriter, except with the permission of the Fund or the Underwriter or the
designee of either.
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4.3. The Fund and the Underwriter, or their designee, shall furnish,
or cause to be furnished, to the Company, each piece of sales literature or
other promotional material that it develops and in which the Company, and/or its
Account, is named. No such material shall be used until approved by the Company,
and the Company will use its best efforts to review such sales literature or
promotional material within ten Business Days after receipt of such material.
The Company reserves the right to reasonably object to the continued use of any
such sales literature or other promotional material in which the Company and/or
its Account is named, and no such material shall be used if the Company so
objects.
4.4. The Fund and the Underwriter shall not give any information or
make any representations on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company, the
Account, or the Contracts other than the information or representations
contained in a registration statement, prospectus (which shall include an
offering memorandum, if any, if the Contracts issued by the Company or interests
therein are not registered under the 1933 Act), or SAI for the Contracts, as
such registration statement, prospectus, or SAI 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 Company for distribution to Contract owners, or
in sales literature or other promotional material approved by the Company or its
designee, except with the permission of the Company.
4.5. The Fund will provide to the Company at least one complete copy
of all registration statements, prospectuses, SAIs, reports, proxy statements,
sales literature and other promotional materials, applications for exemptions,
requests for no-action letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that
relate to the Fund or its shares, promptly after the filing of such document(s)
with the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
4.6. The Company will provide to the Fund at least one complete copy
of all registration statements, prospectuses (which shall include an offering
memorandum, if any, if the Contracts issued by the Company or interests therein
are not registered under the 1933 Act), SAIs, reports, solicitations for voting
instructions, sales literature and other promotional materials, applications for
exemptions, requests for no-action letters, and all amendments to any of the
above, that relate to the Contracts or the Account, promptly after the filing of
such document(s) with the SEC or other regulatory authorities. The Company shall
provide to the Fund and the Underwriter any complaints received from the
Contract owners pertaining to the Fund or the Designated Portfolio.
4.7. The Fund will provide the Company with as much notice as is
reasonably practicable of any proxy solicitation for any Designated Portfolio,
and of any material change in the Fund's registration statement, particularly
any change resulting in a change to the registration statement or prospectus for
any Account. The Fund will work with the Company so as to enable the Company to
solicit proxies from Contract owners, or to make changes to its prospectus or
registration statement, in an orderly manner. The Fund will make reasonable
efforts to attempt to have changes affecting Contract prospectuses become
effective simultaneously with the annual updates for such prospectuses.
4.8. For purposes of this Article IV, the phrase "sales literature and
other promotional materials" includes, but is not limited to, any of the
following that refer to the Fund or any affiliate of the Fund: advertisements
(such as material published, or designed for use in, a newspaper, magazine, or
other periodical, radio, television, telephone or tape recording, videotape
display, signs or billboards, motion pictures, or other public media), sales
literature (i.e., any written communication distributed or made generally
available to customers or the public, including brochures, circulars, 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
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generally available to some or all agents or employees, and registration
statements, prospectuses, SAIs, shareholder reports, proxy materials, and any
other communications distributed or made generally available with regard to the
Fund.
ARTICLE V. FEES AND EXPENSES
5.1 The Fund and the Underwriter shall pay no fee or other
compensation to the Company under this Agreement, except that if the Fund or any
Portfolio adopts and implements a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 to finance
distribution expenses, then the Fund or Underwriter may make payments to the
Company or to the underwriter for the Contracts if and in amounts agreed to by
the Underwriter in writing, and such payments will be made out of existing fees
otherwise payable to the Underwriter, past profits of the Underwriter, or other
resources available to the Underwriter. Currently, no such payments are
contemplated.
5.2. All expenses incident to performance by the Fund under this
Agreement shall be paid by the Fund. The Fund shall see to it that all its
shares are registered and authorized for issuance in accordance with applicable
federal law and, if and to the extent deemed advisable by the Fund, in
accordance with applicable state laws prior to their sale. The Fund shall bear
the expenses for the cost of registration and qualification of the Fund's
shares, preparation and filing of the Fund's prospectus and registration
statement, proxy materials and reports, setting the prospectus in type, setting
in type and printing the proxy materials and reports to shareholders (including
the costs of printing a prospectus that constitutes an annual report), the
preparation of all statements and notices required by any federal or state law,
and all taxes on the issuance or transfer of the Fund's shares.
5.3. The Company shall bear the expenses of distributing the Fund's
prospectus to owners of Contracts issued by the Company and of distributing the
Fund's proxy materials and reports to such Contract owners.
ARTICLE VI. DIVERSIFICATION AND QUALIFICATION
6.1 The Fund will invest its assets in such a manner as to ensure that
the Contracts will be treated as annuity or life insurance contracts, whichever
is appropriate, under the Code and the regulations issued thereunder (or any
successor provisions). Without limiting the scope of the foregoing, each
Designated Portfolio has complied and will continue to comply with Section
817(h) of the Code and Treasury Regulation ss.1.817-5, and any Treasury
interpretations thereof, relating to the diversification requirements for
variable annuity, endowment, or life insurance contracts, and any amendments or
other modifications or successor provisions to such Section or Regulations. In
the event of a breach of this Article VI by the Fund, it will take all
reasonable steps (a) to notify the Company of such breach and (b) to adequately
diversify the Fund so as to achieve compliance within the grace period afforded
by Regulation 1.817-5.
6.2. The Fund represents that it is or will be qualified as a
Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Code, and that it will
make every effort to maintain such qualification (under Subchapter M or any
successor or similar provisions) and that it will notify the Company immediately
upon having a reasonable basis for believing that it has ceased to so qualify or
that it might not so qualify in the future.
6.3. The Company represents that the Contracts are currently, and at
the time of issuance shall be, treated as life insurance or annuity insurance
contracts, under applicable provisions of
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the Code, and that it will make every effort to maintain such treatment, and
that it will notify the Fund and the Underwriter immediately upon having a
reasonable basis for believing the Contracts have ceased to be so treated or
that they might not be so treated in the future. The Company agrees that any
prospectus offering a contract that is a "modified endowment contract" as that
term is defined in Section 7702A of the Code (or any successor or similar
provision), shall identify such contract as a modified endowment contract.
ARTICLE VII. POTENTIAL CONFLICTS
The following provisions shall apply only upon issuance of the Mixed and Shared
Funding Order and the sale of shares of the Fund to variable life insurance
separate accounts, and then only to the extent required under the 0000 Xxx.
7.1. The Board will monitor the Fund for the existence of any material
irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the Contract owners of all
separate accounts investing in the Fund. An irreconcilable material conflict may
arise for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to: (a) an action by
any state insurance regulatory authority; (b) a change in applicable federal or
state insurance, tax, or securities laws or regulations, or a public ruling,
private letter ruling, no-action or interpretative letter, or any similar action
by insurance, tax, or securities regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative
or judicial decision in any relevant proceeding; (d) the manner in which the
investments of any Portfolio are being managed; (e) a difference in voting
instructions given by variable annuity contract and variable life insurance
contract owners; or (f) a decision by an insurer to disregard the voting
instructions of contract owners. The Board shall promptly inform the Company if
it determines that an irreconcilable material conflict exists and the
implications thereof.
7.2. The Company will report any potential or existing conflicts of
which it is aware to the Board. The Company will assist the Board in carrying
out its responsibilities under the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order, by
providing the Board with all information reasonably necessary for the Board to
consider any issues raised. This includes, but is not limited to, an obligation
by the Company to inform the Board whenever Contract owner voting instructions
are disregarded.
7.3. If it is determined by a majority of the Board, or a majority of
its disinterested members, that a material irreconcilable conflict exists, the
Company and other Participating Insurance Companies shall, at their expense and
to the extent reasonably practicable (as determined by a majority of the
disinterested Board members), take whatever steps are necessary to remedy or
eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict, up to and including: (1)
withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the separate accounts from
the Fund or any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a different investment
medium, including (but not limited to) another Portfolio of the Fund, or
submitting the question whether such segregation should be implemented to a vote
of all affected contract owners and, as appropriate, segregating the assets of
any appropriate group (i.e., annuity contract owners, life insurance contract
owners, or variable contract owners of one or more Participating Insurance
Companies) that votes in favor of such segregation, or offering to the affected
contract owners the option of making such a change; and (2) establishing a new
registered management investment company or managed separate account.
7.4. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a
decision by the Company to disregard Contract owner voting instructions and that
decision represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote, the
Company may be required, at the Fund's election, to withdraw the Account's
investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with respect to each
Account; provided, however,
-10-
that such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by
the foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of
the disinterested members of the Board. Any such withdrawal and termination must
take place within six (6) months after the Fund gives written notice that this
provision is being implemented, and until the end of that six month period the
Fund shall continue to accept and implement orders by the Company for the
purchase (and redemption) of shares of the Fund.
7.5. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a particular
state insurance regulator's decision applicable to the Company conflicts with
the majority of other state regulators, then the Company will withdraw the
affected Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with
respect to such Account within six months after the Board informs the Company in
writing that it has determined that such decision has created an irreconcilable
material conflict; provided, however, that such withdrawal and termination shall
be limited to the extent required by the foregoing material irreconcilable
conflict as determined by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board.
Until the end of the foregoing six month period, the Fund shall continue to
accept and implement orders by the Company for the purchase (and redemption) of
shares of the Fund.
7.6. For purposes of Section 7.3 through 7.6 of this Agreement, a
majority of the disinterested members of the Board shall determine whether any
proposed action adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict, but in
no event will the Fund be required to establish a new funding medium for the
Contracts. The Company shall not be required by Section 7.3 to establish a new
funding medium for the Contract if an offer to do so has been declined by vote
of a majority of Contract owners materially adversely affected by the
irreconcilable material conflict. In the event that the Board determines that
any proposed action does not adequately remedy any irreconcilable material
conflict, then the Company will withdraw the Account's investment in the Fund
and terminate this Agreement within six (6) months after the Board informs the
Company in writing of the foregoing determination; provided, however, that such
withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by any such
material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the
disinterested members of the Board.
7.7. If and to the extent the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemption Order
or any amendment thereto contains terms and conditions different from Sections
3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 of this Agreement, then the Fund
and/or the Participating Insurance Companies, as appropriate, shall take such
steps as may be necessary to comply with the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive
Order, and Sections 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4 and 7.5 of this Agreement
shall continue in effect only to the extent that terms and conditions
substantially identical to such Sections are contained in the Mixed and Shared
Funding Exemptive Order or any amendment thereto. 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 1940 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 Fund
and/or the Participating Insurance Companies, as appropriate, shall take such
steps as may be necessary to comply with Rules 6e-2 and 6e-3(T), as amended, and
Rule 6e-3, as adopted, to the extent such rules are applicable; and (b) Sections
3.5, 3.6, 7.1., 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 of this Agreement shall continue in
effect only to the extent that terms and conditions substantially identical to
such Sections are contained in such Rule(s) as so amended or adopted.
-11-
ARTICLE VIII. INDEMNIFICATION
8.1 INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY
8.1(a). The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Fund and the Underwriter and each of its trustees/directors and officers, and
each person, if any, who controls the Fund or Underwriter within the meaning of
Section 15 of the 1933 Act or who is under common control with the Underwriter
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 8.1)
against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid
in settlement with the written consent of the Company) or litigation (including
legal and other expenses), to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject
under any statute or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof)
or settlements:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statements of any material fact contained in the
registration statement, prospectus (which shall include a written
description of a Contract that is not registered under the 1933
Act), or SAI for the Contracts or contained in the Contracts or
sales literature for the Contracts (or any amendment or
supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based
upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, provided that this
agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified
Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement or
omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Fund
for use in the registration statement, prospectus or SAI for the
Contracts or in the Contracts or sales literature (or any
amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in connection with
the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations (other than statements or representations
contained in the registration statement, prospectus, SAI, or
sales literature of the Fund not supplied by the Company or
persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of the Company or
its agents or persons under the Company's authorization or
control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the
Contracts or Fund Shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a registration
statement, prospectus, SAI, or sales literature of the Fund or
any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or the omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading if such a statement or omission was made in reliance
upon information furnished to the Fund by or on behalf of the
Company; or
(iv) arise as a result of any material 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 qualification
requirements specified in Article VI of this Agreement); or
-12-
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Company in this
Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material
breach of this Agreement by the Company; or
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.1(b) and
8.1(c) hereof.
8.1(b). The Company shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or litigation to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be
subject by reason of such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or
gross negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by
reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of its obligations or
duties under this Agreement.
8.1(c). The Company shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified
Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Company in writing
within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of
such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Company of any
such claim shall not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to
the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on
account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought
against an Indemnified Party, the Company shall be entitled to participate, at
its own expense, in the defense of such action. The Company also shall be
entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party
named in the action. After notice from the Company to such party of the
Company's election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall
bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the
Company will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or
other expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection
with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
8.1(d). The Indemnified Parties will promptly notify the Company
of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against them in connection
with the issuance or sale of the Fund shares or the Contracts or the operation
of the Fund.
8.2. Indemnification by the Underwriter
8.2(a). The Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company and each of its directors and officers and each person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 8.2)
against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid
in settlement with the written consent of the Underwriter) or litigation
(including legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become
subject under any statute or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect
thereof) or settlements:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the
registration statement or prospectus or SAI or sales literature
of the Fund (or any amendment or supplement to any of the
foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading,
-13-
provided that this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to
any Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such
alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished to the Underwriter or Fund
by or on behalf of the Company for use in the registration
statement, prospectus or SAI for the Fund or in sales literature
(or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in
connection with the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations (other than statements or representations
contained in the registration statement, prospectus, SAI or sales
literature for the Contracts not supplied by the Underwriter or
persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of the Fund or
Underwriter or persons under their control, with respect to the
sale or distribution of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a registration
statement, prospectus, SAI or sales literature covering the
Contracts, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement
or statements therein not misleading, if such statement or
omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the
Company by or on behalf of the Fund or the Underwriter; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund or the
Underwriter to provide the services and furnish the materials
under the terms of this Agreement (including a failure of the
Fund, whether unintentional or in good faith or otherwise, to
comply with the diversification and other qualification
requirements specified in Article VI of this Agreement); or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Underwriter in this
Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material
breach of this Agreement by the Underwriter;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.2(b) and
8.2(c) hereof.
8.2(b). The Underwriter shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or litigation to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be
subject by reason of such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or
gross negligence in the performance or such Indemnified Party's duties or by
reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties
under this Agreement or to the Company or the Account, whichever is applicable.
8.2(c). The Underwriter shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified
Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Underwriter in
writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process
giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of
such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Underwriter of
any such claim shall not relieve the Underwriter from any liability
-14-
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 Party, the Underwriter will be
entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof. The
Underwriter also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel
satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from the Underwriter
to such party of the Underwriter's election to assume the defense thereof, the
Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel
retained by it, and the Underwriter will not be liable to such party under this
Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such party
independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs
of investigation.
The Company agrees promptly to notify the Underwriter of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers
or directors in connection with the issuance or sale of the Contracts or the
operation of the Account.
8.3. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE FUND
8.3(a). The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company and each of its directors and officers and each person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 8.3)
against any and all losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities (including
amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Fund) or litigation
(including legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may be
required to pay or may become subject under any statute or regulation, at common
law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities
or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements, are related to the
operations of the Fund and:
(i) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund to provide
the services and furnish the materials under the terms of this
Agreement (including a failure, whether unintentional or in good
faith or otherwise, to comply with the diversification and other
qualification requirements specified in Article VI of this
Agreement); or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations (other than statements or representations
contained in the registration statement, prospectus, SAI or sales
literature for the Contracts not supplied by the Fund or persons
under its control) or wrongful conduct of the Fund or persons
under its control, with respect to the sale or distribution of
Fund shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a registration
statement, prospectus, SAI, or sales literature of the Company 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 Company by or on behalf of the
Fund; or
(iv) arise as a result of any material failure by the Fund to
provide the services and furnish the materials under the terms of
this Agreement (including a
-15-
failure, whether unintentional or in good faith or otherwise, to
comply with the qualification 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 Fund in this Agreement
or arise out of or result from any other material breach of this
Agreement by the Fund;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.3(b) and
8.3(c) hereof.
8.3(b). The Fund shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation
to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of such
Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the
performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified
Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement or to
the Company, the Fund, the Underwriter or the Account, whichever is applicable.
8.3(c). The Fund shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless
such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Fund in writing within a
reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of
such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Fund of any
such claim shall not relieve the Fund from any liability which it may have to
the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on
account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought
against the Indemnified Parties, the Fund will be entitled to participate, at
its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Fund also shall be entitled to
assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the
action. After notice from the Fund to such party of the Fund's election to
assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and
expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Fund will not be
liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection with the defense
thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
8.3(d). The Company and the Underwriter agree promptly to notify
the Fund of the commencement of any litigation or proceeding against it or any
of its respective officers or directors in connection with the Agreement, the
issuance or sale of the Contracts, the operation of the Account, or the sale or
acquisition of shares of the Fund.
ARTICLE IX. APPLICABLE LAW
9.1 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of California.
9.2. This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the 1933,
1934 and 1940 Acts, and the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder,
including such exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as the SEC
may grant (including, but not limited to, any Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive
Order) and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance
therewith. If, in the future, the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order
should no longer be necessary under applicable law, then Article VII shall no
longer apply.
ARTICLE X. TERMINATION
-16-
10.1 This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until the
first to occur of:
(a) termination by any party, for any reason with respect to some or
all Designated Portfolios, by three (3) months advance written
notice delivered to the other parties; or
(b) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and the
Underwriter based upon the Company's determination that shares of
the Fund are not reasonably available to meet the requirements of
the Contracts; or
(c) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and the
Underwriter in the event any of the Designated Portfolio's shares
are not registered, issued or sold in accordance with applicable
state and/or federal law or such law precludes the use of such
shares as the underlying investment media of the Contracts issued
or to be issued by the Company; or
(d) termination by the Fund or Underwriter in the event that formal
administrative proceedings are instituted against the Company by
the NASD, the SEC, the Insurance Commissioner or like official of
any state or any other regulatory body regarding the Company's
duties under this Agreement or related to the sale of the
Contracts, the operation of any Account, or the purchase of the
Fund's shares; provided, however, that the Fund or Underwriter
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 to perform its obligations
under this Agreement; or
(e) termination by the Company in the event that formal
administrative proceedings are instituted against the Fund or
Underwriter by the NASD, the SEC, or any state securities or
insurance department or any other regulatory body; 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 Fund
or Underwriter to perform its obligations under this Agreement;
or
(f) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and the
Underwriter with respect to any Designated Portfolio in the event
that such Portfolio ceases to qualify as a Regulated Investment
Company under Subchapter M or fails to comply with the Section
817(h) diversification requirements specified in Article VI
hereof, or if the Company reasonably believes that such Portfolio
may fail to so qualify or comply; or
(g) termination by the Fund or Underwriter by written notice to the
Company in the event that the Contracts fail to meet the
qualifications specified in Article VI hereof; or
(h) termination by either the Fund or the Underwriter by written
notice to the Company, if either one or both of the Fund or the
Underwriter respectively, shall determine, in their sole judgment
exercised in good faith, that the Company has suffered a material
adverse change in its business, operations, financial
-17-
condition, or prospects since the date of this Agreement or is
the subject of material adverse publicity; or
(i) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and the
Underwriter, if the Company shall determine, in its sole judgment
exercised in good faith, that the Fund, Adviser, or the
Underwriter has suffered a material adverse change in its
business, operations, financial condition or prospects since the
date of this Agreement or is the subject of material adverse
publicity; or
(j) termination by the Fund or the Underwriter by written notice to
the Company, if the Company gives the Fund and the Underwriter
the written notice specified in Section 1.7(a)(ii) hereof and at
the time such notice was given there was no notice of termination
outstanding under any other provision of this Agreement;
provided, however, any termination under this Section 10.1(j)
shall be effective forty-five days after the notice specified in
Section 1.7(a)(ii) was given; or
(k) termination by the Company upon any substitution of the shares of
another investment company or series thereof for shares of a
Designated Portfolio of the Fund in accordance with the terms of
the Contracts, provided that the Company has given at least 45
days prior written notice to the Fund and Underwriter of the date
of substitution; or
(l) termination by any party in the event that the Fund's Board of
Trustees determines that a material irreconcilable conflict
exists as provided in Article VII.
10.2. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Fund and
the Underwriter shall, at the option of the Company, continue to make available
additional shares of the Fund pursuant to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, for all Contracts in effect on the effective date of termination of
this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as "Existing Contracts"), unless the
Underwriter requests that the Company seek an order pursuant to Section 26(b) of
the 1940 Act to permit the substitution of other securities for the shares of
the Designated Portfolios. The Underwriter agrees to split the cost of seeking
such an order, and the Company agrees that it shall reasonably cooperate with
the Underwriter and seek such an order upon request. Specifically, the owners of
the Existing Contracts may be permitted to reallocate investments in the Fund,
redeem investments in the Fund and/or invest in the Fund upon the making of
additional purchase payments under the Existing Contracts (subject to any such
election by the Underwriter). The parties agree that this Section 10.2 shall not
apply to any terminations under Article VII and the effect of such Article VII
terminations shall be governed by Article VII of this Agreement. The parties
further agree that this Section 10.2 shall not apply to any terminations under
Section 10.1(g) of this Agreement.
10.3. The Company shall not redeem Fund shares attributable to the
Contracts (as opposed to Fund shares attributable to the Company's assets held
in the Account) except (i) as necessary to implement Contract owner initiated or
approved transactions, (ii) as required by state and/or federal laws or
regulations or judicial or other legal precedent of general application
(hereinafter referred to as a "Legally Required Redemption"), (iii) upon 45 days
prior written notice to the Fund and Underwriter, as permitted by an order of
the SEC pursuant to Section 26(b) of the 1940 Act, but only if a substitution of
other securities for the shares of the Designated Portfolios is consistent with
the terms of the Contracts, or (iv) as permitted under the terms of the
Contract. Upon request, the Company will promptly furnish to
-18-
the Fund and the Underwriter reasonable assurance that any redemption pursuant
to clause (ii) above is a Legally Required Redemption. Furthermore, except in
cases where permitted under the terms of the Contacts, the Company shall not
prevent Contract owners from allocating payments to a Portfolio that was
otherwise available under the Contracts without first giving the Fund or the
Underwriter 45 days notice of its intention to do so.
10.4. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, each party's
obligation under Article VIII to indemnify the other parties shall survive.
-19-
ARTICLE XI. NOTICES
Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by
registered or certified mail to the other party at the address of such party set
forth below or at such other address as such party may from time to time specify
in writing to the other party.
If to the Fund: PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
If to the Company: Allmerica Financial Life Insurance and Annuity Company
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Vice President
If to Underwriter: PIMCO Funds Distributors LLC
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
ARTICLE XII. MISCELLANEOUS
12.1 All persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the
property of the Fund, and in the case of a series company, the respective
Designated Portfolios listed on Schedule A hereto as though each such Designated
Portfolio had separately contracted with the Company and the Underwriter for the
enforcement of any claims against the Fund. The parties agree that neither the
Board, officers, agents or shareholders of the Fund assume any personal
liability or responsibility for obligations entered into by or on behalf of the
Fund.
12.2. Subject to the requirements of legal process and regulatory
authority, each party hereto shall treat as confidential the names and addresses
of the owners of the Contracts and all information reasonably identified as
confidential in writing by any other party hereto and, except as permitted by
this Agreement, shall not disclose, disseminate or utilize such names and
addresses and other confidential information without the express written consent
of the affected party until such time as such information has come into the
public domain.
12.3. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of
reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or
otherwise affect their construction or effect.
12.4. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
12.5. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid
by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of the Agreement
shall not be affected thereby.
-20-
12.6. Each party hereto shall cooperate with each other party and all
appropriate governmental authorities (including without limitation the SEC, the
NASD, and state insurance regulators) and shall permit such authorities
reasonable access to its books and records in connection with any investigation
or inquiry relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, each party hereto further
agrees to furnish the DELAWARE Insurance Commissioner with any information or
reports in connection with services provided under this Agreement which such
Commissioner may request in order to ascertain whether the variable annuity
operations of the Company are being conducted in a manner consistent with the
DELAWARE variable annuity laws and regulations and any other applicable law or
regulations.
12.7. The rights, remedies and obligations contained in this Agreement
are cumulative and are in addition to any and all rights, remedies, and
obligations, at law or in equity, which the parties hereto are entitled to under
state and federal laws.
12.8. This Agreement or any of the rights and obligations hereunder
may not be assigned by any party without the prior written consent of all
parties hereto.
12.9. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to
the Fund or its designee copies of the following reports:
(a) the Company's annual statement (prepared under statutory
accounting principles) and annual report (prepared under
generally accepted accounting principles) filed with any state or
federal regulatory body or otherwise made available to the
public, as soon as practicable and in any event within 90 days
after the end of each fiscal year; and
(b) any registration statement (without exhibits) and financial
reports of the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission or any state insurance regulatory, as soon as
practicable after the filing thereof.
-21-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this
Agreement to be executed in its name and on its behalf by its duly authorized
representative and its seal to be hereunder affixed hereto as of the date
specified below.
COMPANY:
By its authorized officer
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
Date:________________________________
PIMCO VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
By its authorized officer
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
Date:________________________________
PIMCO FUNDS DISTRIBUTORS LLC
By its authorized officer
By:__________________________________
Name:________________________________
Title:_______________________________
Date:________________________________
-22-
Schedule A
PIMCO VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST PORTFOLIOS:
PIMCO Total Return Bond Portfolio II
SEGREGATED ASSET ACCOUNTS:
Group VEL Separate Account
Dated August 18_________________, 2000.
