EXHIBIT 99 (8) (r)
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of the 1st day of May, 2003
by and among JEFFERSON NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY (hereinafter the
"Company"), a life insurance company organized under the laws of Texas, on its
own behalf and on behalf of each separate account of the Company set forth on
Schedule B hereto as may be amended from time to time (each such account
hereinafter referred to as the "Account"), and ROYCE CAPITAL FUND (hereinafter
the "Fund"), a Delaware business trust, and ROYCE & ASSOCIATES, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company (the "Adviser").
WHEREAS, the Fund engages in business as an open-end management investment
company and is available to act as (i) the investment vehicle for separate
accounts established by insurance companies for individual and group life
insurance policies and annuity contracts with variable accumulation and/or
pay-out provisions (hereinafter referred to individually and/or collectively as
"Variable Insurance Products") and (ii) the investment vehicle for certain
qualified pension and retirement plans (hereinafter "Qualified Plans"); and
WHEREAS, insurance companies desiring to utilize the Fund as an investment
vehicle under their Variable Insurance Products are required to enter into a
participation agreement with the Fund and the Adviser (the "Participating
Insurance Companies"); and
WHEREAS, shares of the Fund are divided into several series of shares, each
representing the interest in a particular managed portfolio of securities and
other assets, any one or more of which may be made available for Variable
Insurance Products of Participating Insurance Companies; and
WHEREAS, the Fund intends to offer shares of the series set forth on
Schedule A (each such series hereinafter referred to as a "Portfolio"), as may
be amended from time to time by mutual agreement of the parties hereto, under
this Agreement to the Accounts of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Fund has obtained an order from the Securities and Exchange
Commission, dated July 24, 1996 (File No. 812-9988), granting Participating
Insurance Companies and Variable Insurance Product separate accounts exemptions
from the provisions of Sections 9(a), 13(a), 15(a), and 15(b) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (hereinafter the "1940 Act"), and Rules
6e-2(b)(15) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15) thereunder, to the extent necessary to permit
shares of the Fund to be sold to and held by Variable Insurance Products
separate accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated life insurance companies
and Qualified Plans (hereinafter the "Shared Funding Exemptive Order"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the 1940 Act and its shares are registered under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (hereinafter the "1933 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Adviser is duly registered as an investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and any applicable state securities
laws; and
WHEREAS, the Adviser manages certain Portfolios of the Fund; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register certain Variable
Insurance Products under the 1933 Act; and
WHEREAS, each Account is a duly organized, validly existing segregated
asset account, established by resolution or under authority of the Board of
Directors of the Company, on the date shown for such Account on Schedule B
hereto, to set aside and invest assets attributable to the aforesaid Variable
Insurance Products; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register each Account as a unit
investment trust under the 1940 Act; and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Company intends to purchase shares in the Portfolios on behalf
of each Account to fund certain of the aforesaid Variable Insurance Products;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Company and the
Fund agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. Fund Shares
1.1. The Fund agrees to make available for purchase by the Company
shares of the Portfolios set forth on Schedule A and shall execute orders placed
for each Account on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed after
receipt by the Fund or its designee of such order. For purposes of this Section
1.1, the Company shall be the designee of the Fund for receipt of such orders
from each Account and receipt by such designee of orders prior to the close of
regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern
time) shall constitute receipt by the Fund; provided that the Fund receives
notice of such order by 10:00 a.m. Eastern time on the next following Business
Day. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall use its best efforts to
provide the Fund with notice of such orders by 9:00 a.m. Eastern time on the
next following Business Day. "Business Day" shall mean any day on which the New
York Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which the Fund calculates the net
asset value pursuant to the rules of the SEC, as set forth in the Fund's
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Board of Trustees of the Fund (hereinafter the "Board") may
refuse to permit the Fund to sell shares of any Portfolio to any person, or
suspend or terminate the offering of shares of any Portfolio, if such action is
required by law or by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction or is, in the
sole discretion of the Board acting in good faith and in light of their
fiduciary duties under federal and any applicable state laws, necessary in the
best interests of the shareholders of such Portfolio.
1.2. The Fund agrees that shares of the Fund will be sold only to
Participating Insurance Companies and their Variable Insurance Products and to
certain Qualified Plans. No shares of any Portfolio will be sold to the general
public.
1.3. The Fund will not make its shares available for purchase by any
insurance company or separate account unless an agreement containing provisions
substantially the same as Sections 2.4,
2.9, 3.4 and Article VII of this Agreement is in effect to govern such sales.
1.4. The Fund agrees to redeem for cash, on the Company's request, any
full or fractional shares of the Fund held by the Company, executing such
requests on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by
the Fund or its designee of the request for redemption. For purposes of this
Section 1.4, the Company shall be the designee of the Fund for receipt of
requests for redemption from each Account and receipt by such designee shall
constitute receipt by the Fund; provided that the Fund receives notice of such
request for redemption on the next following Business Day in accordance with the
timing rules described in Section 1.1.
1.5. The Company agrees that purchases and redemptions of Portfolio
shares offered by the then current prospectus of the Fund shall be made in
accordance with the provisions of such prospectus. The Accounts of the Company,
under which amounts may be invested in the Fund, are listed on Schedule B
attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, as such Schedule B may be
amended from time to time by mutual written agreement of all of the parties
hereto.
1.6. The Company will place separate orders to purchase or redeem shares
of each Portfolio. Each order shall describe the net amount of shares and dollar
amount of each Portfolio to be purchased or redeemed. In the event of net
purchases, the Company shall pay for Portfolio shares on the next Business Day
after an order to purchase Portfolio shares is made in accordance with the
provisions of Section 1.1 hereof. Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted
by wire. In the event of net redemptions, the Portfolio shall use its best
efforts to pay the redemption proceeds in federal funds transmitted by wire on
the next Business Day, in any event redemption proceeds shall be wired to the
Company within three Business Days or such longer period permitted by the 1940
Act, after an order to redeem a Portfolio's shares is made in accordance with
the provision of Section 1.4 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the
payment of redemption proceeds on the next Business Day would require the
Portfolio to dispose of securities or otherwise incur substantial additional
costs, and if the Portfolio has determined to settle redemption transactions for
all shareholders on a delayed basis, it reserves the right to suspend the right
of redemption or postpone the date of payment or satisfaction upon redemption
consistent with Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act and the Portfolio shall notify in
writing the person designated by the Company as the recipient for such notice of
such delay promptly.
1.7. Issuance and transfer of the Fund's shares will be by book entry
only. Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or any Account.
Shares ordered from the Fund will be recorded in an appropriate title for each
Account or the appropriate subaccount of each Account.
1.8. The Fund shall make the dividends or capital gain distributions per
share payable on the Fund's shares available to the Company as soon as
reasonably practical after the dividends or capital gains are declared (normally
by 6:30 p.m. Eastern time) and shall use its best efforts to furnish same day
notice by 7:00 p.m. Eastern time (by wire or telephone, followed by written
confirmation) to the Company of any dividends or capital gain distributions per
share payable on the Fund's shares. The Company hereby elects to receive all
such dividends and capital gain distributions as are payable on the Portfolio
shares in additional shares of that Portfolio. The Company reserves the right to
revoke this election and to receive all such dividends and capital gain
distributions in cash. The Fund shall
notify the Company of the number of shares so issued as payment of such
dividends and distributions.
1.9. The Fund shall make the net asset value per share for each
Portfolio available to the Company on a daily basis as soon as reasonably
practical after the net asset value per share is calculated (normally by 6:30
p.m. Eastern time) and shall use its best efforts to make such net asset value
per share available by 7:00 p.m. Eastern time. In the event that the Fund is
unable to meet the 7:00 p.m. time stated immediately above, then the Fund shall
provide the Company with additional time to notify the Fund of purchase or
redemption orders pursuant to Sections 1.1 and 1.4, respectively, above. Such
additional time shall be equal to the additional time that the Fund takes to
make the net asset values available to the Company; provided, however, that
notification must be made by 10:15 a.m. Eastern time on the Business Day such
order is to be executed regardless of when the net asset value is made
available.
ARTICLE II. Representations and Warranties
2.1. The Company represents and warrants that the interests of the
Accounts (the "Contracts") are or will be registered and will maintain the
registration under the 1933 Act and the regulations thereunder to the extent
required by the 1933 Act; that the Contracts will be issued in compliance in all
material respects with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
The Company further represents and warrants that it is an insurance company duly
organized and in good standing under applicable law and that it has legally and
validly established each Account prior to any issuance or sale thereof as a
segregated asset account under the Texas Insurance Law and the regulations
thereunder and has registered or, prior to any issuance or sale of the
Contracts, will register and will maintain the registration of each Account as a
unit investment trust in accordance with and to the extent required by the
provisions of the 1940 Act and the regulations thereunder to serve as a
segregated investment account for the Contracts. The Company shall amend its
registration statement for its contracts under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act
from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of its
Contracts.
2.2. The Fund represents and warrants that Fund shares sold pursuant to
this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act and the regulations
thereunder to the extent required by the 1933 Act, duly authorized for issuance
in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware and sold in compliance with
all applicable federal and state securities laws and regulations and that the
Fund is and shall remain registered under the 1940 Act and the regulations
thereunder to the extent required by 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.
2.3 The Fund and the Adviser represent that the Fund is currently
qualified as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and that the Fund and the Adviser
(with respect to those Portfolios for which such Adviser acts as investment
adviser) will make every effort to maintain such qualification (under
Subchapter M
or any successor or similar provision) and that the Fund or the appropriate
Adviser will notify the Company immediately upon having a reasonable basis for
believing that a Portfolio has ceased to so qualify or that a Portfolio might
not so qualify in the future.
2.4. The Company represents that each Account is and will continue to be
a "segregated account" under applicable provisions of the Code and that each
Contract is and will be treated as a "variable contract" under applicable
provisions of the Code and that it will make every effort to maintain such
treatments and that it will notify the Fund immediately upon having a reasonable
basis for believing that the Account or Contract has ceased to be so treated or
that they might not be so treated in the future.
2.5.. The Fund represents that to the extent that it decides to finance
distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, the Fund
undertakes to have a board of directors, a majority of whom are not interested
persons of the Fund, formulate and approve any plan under Rule 12b-1 to finance
distribution expenses.
2.6. The Fund makes no representation as to whether any aspect of its
operations (including, but not limited to, fees and expenses and investment
policies) complies with the insurance laws or regulations of the various states.
2.7. The Fund and the Adviser represent that the Fund is lawfully
organized and validly existing under the laws of Delaware and that the Fund does
and will comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act.
2.8. The Adviser represents and warrants that it is and shall remain
duly registered in all material respects under all applicable federal securities
laws and that it will perform its obligations for the Fund and the Company in
compliance in all material respects with the laws and regulations of its state
of domicile and any applicable state and federal securities laws and
regulations.
2.9. The Company represents and warrants that all of its trustees,
officers, employees, investment adviser, and other individuals/entities dealing
with the money and/or securities of the Fund are covered by a blanket fidelity
bond or similar coverage, in an amount equal to the greater of $5 million or any
amount required by applicable federal or state law or regulation. The aforesaid
includes coverage for larceny and embezzlement is issued by a reputable bonding
company. 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 in the event that such coverage no longer applies.
ARTICLE III. Prospectuses, Reports to Shareholders and Proxy Statements;
Voting
3.1(a) The Fund or its designee shall provide the Company with as many
printed copies of the Fund's current prospectus (the "Fund Prospectus") as the
Company may reasonably request. If requested by the Company, in lieu of
providing printed copies of the Fund Prospectus, the Fund shall provide
camera-ready film or computer diskettes containing the Fund Prospectus, or shall
provide the same electronically in .pdf format, and such other assistance as is
reasonably necessary in order for the Company once each year (or more frequently
if the Fund Prospectus is amended during the year) to have the prospectus for
the Contracts (the "Contract Prospectus") and the Fund Prospectus printed
together in one document or separately. The Company may elect to print the Fund
Prospectus in combination with other fund companies' prospectuses. For purposes
hereof, any combined prospectus including the Fund Prospectus along with the
Contract Prospectus or prospectus of other fund companies shall be referred to
as a "Combined Prospectus." For purposes hereof, the term "Fund Portion of the
Combined Prospectus" shall refer to the percentage of the number of Fund
Prospectus pages in the Combined Prospectus in relation to the total number of
pages of the Combined Prospectus.
3.1(b) The Fund shall provide the Company with as many printed copies of
the Fund's current statement of additional information (the "Fund SAI") as the
Company may reasonably request. If requested by the Company in lieu of providing
printed copies of the Fund SAI, the Fund shall provide camera-ready film or
computer diskettes containing the Fund SAI, or shall provide the same
electronically in .pdf format, and such other assistance as is reasonably
necessary in order for the Company once each year (or more frequently if the
Fund SAI is amended during the year) to have the statement of additional
information for the Contracts (the "Contract SAI") and the Fund SAI printed
together or separately. The Company may also elect to print the Fund SAI in
combination with other fund companies' statements of additional information. For
purposes hereof, any combined statement of additional information including the
Fund SAI along with the Contract SAI or statement of additional information of
other fund companies shall be referred to as a "Combined SAI." For purposes
hereof, the term "Fund Portion of the Combined SAI" shall refer to the
percentage of the number of Fund SAI pages in the Combined SAI in relation to
the total number of pages of the Combined SAI.
3.1(c) The Fund shall provide the Company with as many printed copies of
the Fund's annual report and semi-annual report (collectively, the "Fund
Reports") as the Company may reasonably request. If requested by the Company in
lieu of providing printed copies of the Fund Reports, the Fund shall provide
camera-ready film or computer diskettes containing the Fund's Reports, or shall
provide the same electronically in .pdf format, and such other assistance as is
reasonably necessary in order for the Company once each year to have the annual
report and semi-annual report for the Contracts (collectively, the "Contract
Reports") and the Fund Reports printed together or separately. The Company may
also elect to print the Fund Reports in combination with other fund companies'
annual reports and semi-annual reports. For purposes hereof, any combined annual
reports and semi-annual reports including the Fund Reports along with the
Contract Reports or annual reports and semi-annual reports of other fund
companies shall be referred to as "Combined Reports." For purposes hereof, the
term "Fund Portion of the Combined Reports" shall refer to the percentage of the
number of Fund Reports pages in the Combined Reports in relation to the total
number or pages
of the Combined Reports.
3.2 EXPENSES
3.2(a) EXPENSES BORNE BY COMPANY. Except as otherwise provided in this
Section 3.2., all expenses of preparing, setting in type and printing and
distributing (i) Contract Prospectuses, Fund Prospectuses, and Combined
Prospectuses; (ii) Fund SAIs, Contract SAIs, and Combined SAIs; (iii) Fund
Reports, Contract Reports, and Combined Reports, and (iv) Contract proxy
material that the Company may require in sufficient quantity to be sent to
Contract owners, annuitants, or participants under Contracts (collectively, the
"Participants"), shall be the expense of the Company.
3.2(b) EXPENSES BORNE BY FUND
FUND PROSPECTUSES
With respect to existing Participants, the Fund shall pay the cost of
setting in type, printing and distributing Fund Prospectuses made available by
the Company to such existing Participants in order to update disclosure as
required by the 1933 Act and/or the 1940 Act. With respect to existing
Participants, in the event the Company elects to prepare a Combined Prospectus,
the Fund shall pay the cost of setting in type, printing and distributing the
Fund Portion of the Combined Prospectus made available by the Company to its
existing Participants in order to update disclosure as required by the 1933 Act
and/or the 1940 Act. In such event, the Fund shall bear the cost of typesetting
to provide the Fund Prospectus to the Company in the format in which the Fund is
accustomed to formatting prospectus. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event
shall the Fund pay for any such costs that exceed by more than five (5) percent
what the Fund would have paid to print such documents. The Fund shall not pay
any costs of typesetting, printing and distributing the Fund Prospectus (or
Combined Prospectus, if applicable) to prospective Participants.
FUND SAIs, FUND REPORTS AND PROXY MATERIAL
With respect to existing Participants, the Fund shall pay the cost of
setting in type and printing Fund SAIs, Fund Reports and Fund proxy material
made available by the Company to its existing Participants. With respect to
existing Participants, in the event the Company elects to prepare a Combined SAI
or Combined Reports, the Fund shall pay the cost of setting in type and printing
the Fund Portion of the Combined SAI or Combined Reports, respectively, made
available by the Company to its existing Participants. In such event, the Fund
shall bear the cost of typesetting to provide the Fund SAI or Fund Reports to
the Company in the format in which the Fund is accustomed to formatting
statements of additional information and annual and semi-annual reports.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Fund pay for any such costs
that exceed by more than five (5) percent what the Fund would have paid to print
such documents. The Fund shall pay one half the cost of distributing Fund SAIs,
Fund Reports and Fund proxy statements and proxy-related material to such
existing Participants. The Fund shall pay the cost of distributing the Fund
Portion of the Combined SAIs and the Fund Portion of the Combined Reports to
existing Participants. The Fund shall not pay any costs of distributing Fund
SAIs, Combined SAIs, Fund
Reports, Combined Reports or proxy statements or proxy-related material to
prospective Participants.
The Company agrees to provide the Fund or its designee with such
information as may be reasonably requested by the Fund to assure that the Fund's
expenses do not include the cost of typesetting, printing or distributing any of
the foregoing documents other than those actually distributed to existing
Participants.
3.2(c) EXPENSES BORNE BY THE COMPANY.
FUND PROSPECTUSES
With respect to prospective Participants, the Company shall pay one half of
the cost of setting in type, printing and distributing Fund Prospectuses made
available by the Company as sales literature to such prospective Participants.
With respect to prospective Participants, in the event the Company elects to
prepare a Combined Prospectus, the Company shall pay one half of the cost of
printing and distributing the Combined Prospectus made available by the Company
to its prospective Participants as sales literature. In such event, the Company
shall bear the cost of typesetting to provide the Fund Prospectus to the Company
in the format in which the Fund is accustomed to formatting prospectuses.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company pay for any such
costs that exceed by more than five (5) percent what the Company would have paid
to print such documents.
FUND SAIs, FUND REPORTS AND PROXY MATERIAL.
With respect to prospective Participants, the Company shall pay one half of
the cost of setting in type and printing Fund SAIs, Fund Reports and Fund proxy
material made available by the Company to its prospective Participants as sales
literature. In the event the Company elects to prepare a Combined SAI or
Combined Reports, the Company shall pay one half of the cost of printing the
Combined SAI or Combined Reports, respectively, made available by the Company to
its prospective Participants as sales literature. In such event, the Company
shall bear the cost of typesetting to provide the Fund SAI and Fund Reports to
the Company in the format in which the Fund is accustomed to formatting
statements of additional information and annual and semi-annual reports.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Company pay for any such
costs that exceed by more than five (5) percent what it would have paid to print
such documents. The Company shall pay one half the cost of distributing Fund
SAIs, Combined SAIs, Fund Reports, Combined Reports, and Fund proxy material to
such prospective Participants as sales literature.
3.2(d) If the Company chooses to receive camera-ready film or computer
diskettes in lieu of receiving printed copies of the Fund Prospectus, Fund SAI
or Fund Reports, the Fund or its designee will be responsible for providing the
Fund Prospectus, Fund SAI or Fund Reports in the format in which it is
accustomed to formatting such documents, and, notwithstanding anything in
Sections 3.2(b) or 3.2(c), the Company shall bear the expense of adjusting or
changing the format to conform with any of its prospectuses or reports.
3.3. The Fund SAI shall be obtainable from the Fund, the Company or such
other person as the Fund may designate.
3.4. If and to the extent required by law the Company shall distribute
all proxy material furnished by the Fund to Participants to whom voting
privileges are required to be extended and shall:
(i) solicit voting instructions from Participants;
(ii) vote the Fund shares in accordance with instructions
received from Participants; 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. The Company
reserves the right to vote Fund shares held in any segregated asset account in
its own right, to the extent permitted by law. The Fund and the Company shall
follow the procedures, and shall have the corresponding responsibilities, for
the handling of proxy and voting instruction solicitations, as set forth in
Schedule C attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference. Participating
Insurance Companies shall be responsible for ensuring that each of their
separate accounts participating in the Fund calculates voting privileges in a
manner consistent with the standards set forth on Schedule C, which standards
will also be provided to the other Participating Insurance Companies.
3.5. The Fund will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act requiring
voting by shareholders, and in particular the Fund will either provide for
annual meetings (except insofar as the Securities and Exchange Commission may
interpret Section 16 not to require such meetings) or comply with Section 16(c)
of the 1940 Act (although the Fund is not one of the trusts described in Section
16(c) of that Act) as well as with Sections 16(a) and, if and when applicable,
16(b). Further, the Fund will act in accordance with the Securities and Exchange
Commission's interpretation of the requirements of Section 16(a) with respect to
periodic elections of directors and with whatever rules the Commission may
promulgate with respect thereto.
ARTICLE IV. Sales Material and Information
4.1. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the
Fund or its designee, each piece of sales literature or other promotional
material prepared by the Company or any person contracting with the Company in
which the Fund or the Adviser is named, at least ten Business Days prior to its
use. No such material shall be used if the Fund, the Adviser, or their designee
reasonably objects to such use within five Business Days after receipt of such
material.
4.2. Neither the Company nor any person contracting with the Company
shall give any information or make any representations or statements on behalf
of the Fund or concerning the Fund in connection with the sale of the Contracts
other than the information or representations contained in the registration
statement or the Fund Prospectus, as such registration statement or Fund
Prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in reports or
proxy statements for the Fund, or in sales literature or other promotional
material approved by the Fund or its designee, except with the written
permission of the Fund.
4.3. The Fund or its designee shall furnish, or shall cause to be
furnished, to the Company or its designee, each piece of sales literature or
other promotional material prepared by the Fund in which the Company or its
Account(s) are named at least ten Business Days prior to its use. No such
material shall be used if the Company or its designee reasonably objects to such
use within five Business Days after receipt of such material.
4.4. Neither the Fund nor the Adviser shall give any information or make
any representations on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company, each
Account, or the Contracts, other than the information or representations
contained in a registration statement or prospectus for the Contracts, as such
registration statement and prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time
to time, or in published reports or solicitations for voting instructions for
each Account which are in the public domain or approved by the Company for
distribution to Participants, or in sales literature or other promotional
material approved by the Company or its designee, except with the written
permission of the Company.
4.5. The Fund will provide to the Company at least one complete copy of
all registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional information,
reports, proxy statements, sales literature and other promotional materials,
applications for exemptions, requests for no-action letters, and all amendments
to any of the above, that relate to the Fund or its shares, contemporaneously
with the filing of such document with the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
4.6. The Company will provide to the Fund at least one complete copy of
all registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional information,
reports, solicitations for voting instructions, sales literature and other
promotional materials, applications for exemptions, requests for no action
letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that relate to the investment
in an Account or Contract contemporaneously with the filing of such document
with the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
4.7. For purposes of this Article IV, the phrase "sales literature or
other promotional material" includes, but is not limited to, any of the
following: advertisements (such as material published, or designed for use in, a
newspaper, magazine, or other periodical, radio, television, telephone or tape
recording, videotape display, signs or billboards, motion pictures, or other
public media), sales literature (I.E., any written communication distributed or
made generally available to customers or the public, including brochures,
circulars, research reports, market letters, form letters, seminar texts,
reprints or excerpts of any other advertisement, sales literature, or published
article), educational or training materials or other communications distributed
or made generally available to some or all agents or employees, and registration
statements, prospectuses, statements of additional
information, shareholder reports, and proxy materials.
ARTICLE V. [Reserved]
ARTICLE VI. Diversification
6.1. The Adviser represents, as to the Portfolios for which it acts as
investment adviser, that it will use its best efforts at all times to comply
with Section 817(h) of the Code and Treasury Regulation 1.817-5, relating to the
diversification requirements for variable annuity, endowment, or life insurance
contracts and any amendments or other modifications to such Section or
Regulations. In the event a Portfolio ceases to so qualify, the Adviser will
take all reasonable steps (a) to notify the Company of such breach and (b) to
adequately diversify the Portfolio so as to achieve compliance within the grace
period afforded by Regulation 817-5.
ARTICLE VII. Potential Conflicts
7.1. The Board will monitor the Fund for the existence of any material
irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the contract owners of all
separate accounts investing in the Fund. An irreconcilable material conflict may
arise for a variety of reasons, including: (a) an action by any state insurance
regulatory authority; (b) a change in applicable federal or state insurance,
tax, or securities laws or regulations, or a public ruling, private letter
ruling, no-action or interpretative letter, or any similar action by insurance,
tax, or securities regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative or judicial
decision in any relevant proceeding; (d) the manner in which the investments of
any Portfolio are being managed; (e) a difference in voting instructions given
by variable annuity contract owners and variable life insurance contract owners;
or (f) a decision by a Participating Insurance Company 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 material
irreconcilable conflicts of which it is aware to the Board. The Company will
assist the Board in carrying out its responsibilities under the Shared Funding
Exemptive Order, by providing the Board with all information reasonably
necessary for the Board to consider any issues raised. This includes, but is not
limited to, an obligation by the Company to inform the Board whenever contract
owner voting instructions are disregarded.
7.3. If it is determined by a majority of the Board, or a majority of
its disinterested directors, that a material irreconcilable conflict exists, the
Company and other Participating Insurance Companies shall, at their expense and
to the extent reasonably practicable (as determined by a majority of the
disinterested trustees), take whatever steps are necessary to remedy or
eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict, up to and including: (1)
withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the Separate Accounts from
the Fund or any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a different investment
medium, including (but not limited to) another Portfolio of the Fund, or
submitting the
question whether such segregation should be implemented to a vote of all
affected Contract owners and, as appropriate, segregating the assets of any
appropriate group (I.E., annuity contract owners, life insurance policy 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. No charge or penalty
will be imposed as a result of such withdrawal. The Company agrees that it bears
the responsibility to take remedial action in the event of a Board determination
of an irreconcilable material conflict and the cost of such remedial action, and
these responsibilities will be carried out with a view only to the interests of
Contract owners.
7.4. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a decision
by the Company to disregard contract owner voting instructions and that decision
represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote, the Company
may be required, at the Fund's election, to withdraw the affected Account's
investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with respect to such Account
(at the Company's expense); 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. No charge or penalty will be imposed as a result of such
withdrawal. The Company agrees that it bears the responsibility to take remedial
action in the event of a Board determination of an irreconcilable material
conflict and the cost of such remedial action, and these responsibilities will
be carried out with a view only to the interests of Contract owners.
7.5. For purposes of Sections 7.3 and 7.4 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 or 7.4 to establish a new
funding medium for the Contracts if an offer to do so has been declined by vote
of a majority of Contract owners materially adversely affected by the
irreconcilable material conflict.
7.6. 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 Shared Funding Exemptive Order) on terms and
conditions materially different from those contained in the Shared Funding
Exemptive Order, then 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.
7.7 The Company and the Adviser shall at least annually submit to the
Board of the Fund such reports, materials or data as the Board may reasonably
request so that the Board may fully carry out the obligations imposed upon them
by the provisions hereof, and said reports, materials and data shall be
submitted more frequently if deemed appropriate by the Board. All reports
received by the Board of potential or existing conflicts, and all Board action
with regard to determining the existence of a conflict, notifying Participating
Insurance Companies of a conflict, and determining whether any proposed action
adequately remedies a conflict, shall be properly recorded in the minutes of the
Board or other appropriate records, and such minutes or other records shall be
made available to the
SEC upon request.
ARTICLE VIII. Indemnification
8.1. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY
8.1(a) The Company agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and each
member of its Board and officers, and the Adviser and each director and officer
of the Adviser, and each person, if any, who controls the Fund or the Adviser
within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified
Parties" and individually, "Indemnified Party," 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 are related to the sale or acquisition of the
Fund's shares or the Contracts and:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue
statements or alleged untrue statements of any material fact contained
in the registration statement or prospectus for the Contracts or
contained in the Contracts or sales literature for the Contracts (or
any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of
or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, provided that this
agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if
such statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission was
made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to
the Company by or on behalf of the Fund for use in the registration
statement or prospectus for the Contracts or in the Contracts or sales
literature (or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in
connection with the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of any statements or
representations (other than statements or representations contained in
the registration statement, prospectus or sales literature of the Fund
not supplied by the Company or persons under its control and other
than statements or representations authorized by the Fund or the
Adviser) or unlawful conduct of the Company or persons under its
control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or
Fund shares; or
(iii) arise out of or as a result of any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
a registration statement, prospectus, or sales literature of the Fund
or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or the omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading if such a statement or omission was made in reliance upon
and in conformity with information furnished to the Fund by or on
behalf of the Company; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Company
to provide the services and furnish the materials under the terms of
this Agreement; or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach
of any representation and/or warranty made by the Company in this
Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach of
this Agreement by the Company.
8.1(b). Notwithstanding Section 8.1(a) above, the Company shall not be
liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or litigation incurred or assessed against an Indemnified
Party as such may arise from such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad
faith, or gross negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party's duties
or by reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations or
duties under this Agreement.
8.1(c). Notwithstanding Section 8.1(a) above, 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
unless the Company is materially prejudiced by failure to notify. In case any
such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties, the Company shall be
entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense of such action. The
Company also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel
satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from the Company to
such Party of the Company's election to assume the defense thereof, the
Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses 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 ADVISER
8.2(a). The Adviser agrees, with respect to each Portfolio that it manages,
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" and
individually, "Indemnified Party," 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 Adviser) or litigation (including
legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject
under any statute, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements
are related to the operation of the Adviser or the Fund and:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained
in the registration statement or prospectus or sales literature of the
Fund (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or
arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, provided that
this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified
Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement or
omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished to the Adviser or the Fund by or on behalf of the Company
for use in the registration statement or prospectus for the Fund or in
sales literature (or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use
in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Portfolio shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations (other than statements or representations contained in
the registration statement, prospectus or sales literature for the
Contracts not supplied by the Adviser or persons under its control and
other than statements or representations authorized by the Company) or
unlawful conduct of the Adviser or persons under its control, with
respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Portfolio
shares; or
(iii) arise out of or as a result of any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
a registration statement, prospectus, or sales literature covering the
Contracts, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement or statements
therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in
reliance upon information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of
the Adviser; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Adviser
to provide the services and furnish the materials under the terms of
this Agreement; or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach
of any representation and/or warranty made by the Adviser in this
Agreement or arise out of
or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by the Fund
or the Adviser; including without limitation any failure by the Fund
or the Adviser to comply with the conditions of Article VI hereof.
8.2(b). The Adviser shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation
incurred or assessed against an Indemnified Party as may arise from such
Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the
performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified
Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement.
8.2(c). The Adviser 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 Adviser 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 Adviser of any
such claim shall not relieve the Adviser 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 Adviser will be entitled to participate, at
its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Adviser also shall be entitled to
assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the
action. After notice from the Adviser to such Party of the Adviser'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 Adviser will not be
liable to such Party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such Party independently in connection with the defense
thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
8.2(d). The Company agrees promptly to notify the Adviser of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers,
trustees or directors in connection with this Agreement, the issuance or sale of
the Contracts with respect to the operation of each Account, or the sale or
acquisition of shares of the Fund.
8.2(e). It is understood that these indemnities shall have no effect on any
other agreement or arrangement between the Fund and/or its series and the
Adviser.
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 New York.
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, the Shared Funding Exemptive Order) and the
terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance therewith.
ARTICLE X. Termination
10.1. This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until the
first to occur of:
(a) termination by any party for any reason upon six-months
advance written notice delivered to the other parties; or
(b) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and
the Adviser with respect to any Portfolio based upon the Company's
determination that shares of such Portfolio are not reasonably
available to meet the requirements of the Contracts. Reasonable
advance notice of election to terminate shall be furnished by the
Company, said termination to be effective ten (10) days after receipt
of notice unless the Fund makes available a sufficient number of
shares to reasonably meet the requirements of the Account within said
ten (10) day period; or
(c) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and
the Adviser with respect to any Portfolio in the event any of the
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 medium of the Contracts
issued or to be issued by the Company. The terminating party shall
give prompt notice to the other parties of its decision to terminate;
or
(d) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and
the Adviser with respect to any Portfolio in the event that such
Portfolio ceases to qualify as a Regulated Investment Company under
Subchapter M of the Code or under any successor or similar provision,
or if the Company reasonably believes that the Fund may fail to so
qualify; or
(e) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and
the Adviser with respect to any Portfolio in the event that such
Portfolio fails to meet the diversification requirements specified in
Article VI hereof; or
(f) termination by either the Fund or the Adviser by written
notice to the Company if the Adviser or the Fund shall determine, in
its sole judgment exercised in good faith, that the Company and/or its
affiliated companies has suffered a material adverse change in its
business, operations, financial condition or prospects since the date
of this Agreement or is the subject of material adverse publicity and
as a result ability to perform obligations under this Agreement is
materially impaired, provided that the Fund or the Adviser will give
the Company sixty (60) days' advance written notice of such
determination of its intent to terminate this Agreement, and provided
further that after consideration of the actions taken by the Company
and any other changes in circumstances since the giving of such
notice, the determination of the Fund or the Adviser shall continue to
apply on the 60th day since giving of such notice, then such 60th day
shall be the effective date of
termination; or
(g) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and
the Adviser, if the Company shall determine, in its sole judgment
exercised in good faith, that either the Fund or the Adviser (with
respect to the appropriate Portfolio) 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; provided that the Fund or the Adviser will give the Company
sixty (60) days' advance written notice of such determination of its
intent to terminate this Agreement, and provided further that after
consideration of the actions taken by the Company and any other
changes in circumstances since the giving of such notice, the
determination of the Company shall continue to apply on the 60th day
since giving of such notice, then such 60th day shall be the effective
date of termination; or
(h) termination by the Company in the event that formal
administrative proceedings are instituted against the Fund or Adviser
by the NASD, the SEC, or any state securities or insurance department
or any other regulatory body in respect of the sale of shares of the
Fund to the Company, 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 the Adviser to perform its obligations
under this Agreement; or
(i) termination by the Fund or the Adviser by written notice to
the Company, if the Company gives the Fund and the Adviser the written
notice specified in Section 1.6 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(h) shall be effective sixty (60) days after the
notice specified in Section 1.6 was given; or
(j) termination by any party upon the other party's breach of any
representation in Section 2 or any material provision of this
Agreement, which breach has not been cured to the satisfaction of the
terminating party within ten (10) days after written notice of such
breach is delivered to the Fund or the Company, as the case may be; or
(k) termination by the Fund or the Adviser by written notice to
the Company in the event an Account or Contract is not registered or
sold in accordance with applicable federal or state law or regulation,
or the Company fails to provide pass-through voting privileges as
specified in Section 3.4; provided that the Fund or the Adviser will
give the Company sixty (60) days' advance written notice of such
intent.
10.2. EFFECT OF TERMINATION. Notwithstanding any termination of this
Agreement, the Fund 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 such further sale of Fund shares is proscribed by law,
regulation or applicable regulatory body, or unless the Fund determines that
liquidation of the Fund following termination of this Agreement is in the best
interests of the Fund and its shareholders. Specifically, without limitation,
the owners of the Existing Contracts shall be permitted to direct reallocation
of investments in the Fund, redemption of investments in the Fund and/or
investment in the Fund upon the making of additional purchase payments under the
Existing Contracts. The parties agree that this Section 10.2 shall not apply to
any terminations under Article VII and the effect of such Article VII
terminations shall be governed by Article VII of this Agreement.
10.3. The Company shall not redeem Fund shares attributable to the
Contracts (as distinct from Fund shares attributable to the Company's assets
held in the Account) except (i) as necessary to implement Contract Owner
initiated or approved transactions, or (ii) as required by state and/or federal
laws or regulations or judicial or other legal precedent of general application
(hereinafter referred to as a "Legally Required Redemption") or (iii) as
permitted by an order of the SEC pursuant to Section 26(b) of the 1940 Act. Upon
request, the Company will promptly furnish to the Fund the opinion of counsel
for the Company (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Fund and
the Adviser) to the effect that any redemption pursuant to clause (ii) above is
a Legally Required Redemption. Furthermore, except in cases where permitted
under the terms of the Contracts, the Company shall not prevent Contract Owners
from allocating payments to a Portfolio that was otherwise available under the
Contracts without first giving the Fund or the appropriate Adviser 90 days prior
written notice of its intention to do so.
10.4. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement pursuant to
Article X hereof, all rights and obligations arising under Article VIII of this
Agreement shall survive.
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:
Royce Capital Fund
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
If to the Adviser:
Royce & Associates, LLC
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
If to the Company:
Conseco Variable Insurance Company
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: General Counsel
ARTICLE XII. Foreign Tax Credits
The Fund and the Adviser agree to consult with the Company concerning
whether any Portfolio of the Fund qualifies to provide a foreign tax credit
pursuant to Section 853 of the Code.
ARTICLE XIII. Miscellaneous
13.1. All persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the property
of the Fund for the enforcement of any claims against the Fund as neither the
Board, officers, agents or shareholders assume any personal liability for
obligations entered into on behalf of the Fund.
13.2. Subject to the requirements of legal process and regulatory
authority, each party hereto shall treat as confidential the names and addresses
of the owners of the Contracts and all information reasonably identified as
confidential in writing by any other party hereto and, except as permitted by
this Agreement, shall not disclose, disseminate or utilize such names and
addresses and other confidential information until such time as it may come into
the public domain without the express written consent of the affected party.
13.3. 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.
13.4. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
13.5. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by
a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement
shall not be affected thereby.
13.6. 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.
13.7. 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.
13.8. This Agreement or any of the rights and obligations hereunder may
not be assigned by any party without the prior written consent of all parties
hereto; provided, however, that the Adviser may assign this Agreement or any
rights or obligations hereunder to any affiliate of or company under common
control with the Adviser, if such assignee is duly licensed and registered to
perform the obligations of the Adviser under this Agreement.
13.9 The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the
Fund or its designee copies of the following reports:
(a) the Company's annual statement (prepared under statutory
accounting principles) and annual report (prepared under generally
accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), if any), as soon as
practical and in any event within 90 days after the end of each
fiscal year;
(b) the Company's June 30th quarterly statements (statutory)
(and GAAP, if any), as soon as practical and in any event within 45
days after the end of each semi-annual period:
(c) any financial statement, proxy statement, notice or
report of the Company sent to stockholders and/or policyholders, as
soon as practical after the delivery thereof to stockholders and/or
policyholders;
(d) any registration statement (without exhibits) and
financial reports of the Company filed with the SEC or any state
insurance regulator, as soon as practical after the filing thereof;
(e) any other public report submitted to the Company by
independent accountants in connection with any annual, interim or
special audit made by them of the books of the Company, as soon as
practical after the receipt thereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to
be executed in its name and on its behalf by its duly authorized representative
hereto as of the date specified above.
JEFFERSON NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY on behalf of itself and each of its
Accounts named in Schedule B hereto, as amended from time to time.
By:
Name:
Title:
ROYCE & ASSOCIATES, LLC
By:
-------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Title: Chief Operating Officer
ROYCE CAPITAL FUND
By:
-------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Title: Vice President
SCHEDULE A
PORTFOLIOS OF ROYCE CAPITAL FUND
FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR
PURCHASE BY Conseco Variable Insurance Company
Royce Capital Fund - Micro-Cap Portfolio
Royce Capital Fund - Small-Cap Portfolio
SCHEDULE B
SEPARATE ACCOUNTS AND CONTRACTS
SEPARATE ACCOUNT
Jefferson National Variable Annuity Account C
Jefferson National Variable Annuity Account E
Jefferson National Variable Annuity Account F
Jefferson National Variable Annuity Account G
Jefferson National Variable Annuity Account H
Jefferson National Variable Annuity Account I
Jefferson National Variable Account L
CONTRACTS
CVIC-2000
CVIC-2001
CVIC-2004
CVIC-2005
22-4056
22-4025
32-4000
32-4002
32-4003
22-4047
22-4048
SCHEDULE C
PROXY VOTING PROCEDURES
The following is a list of procedures and corresponding responsibilities for the
handling of proxies and voting instructions relating to the Fund. The defined
terms herein shall have the meanings assigned in the Participation Agreement
except that the term "Company" shall also include the department or third party
assigned by the Company to perform the steps delineated below.
1. The proxy proposals are given to the Company by the Fund as early as
possible before the date set by the Fund for the shareholder meeting to
enable the Company to consider and prepare for the solicitation of voting
instructions from owners of the Contracts and to facilitate the
establishment of tabulation procedures. At this time the Fund will inform
the Company of the Record, Mailing and Meeting dates. This will be done
verbally approximately two months before meeting.
2. Promptly after the Record Date, the Company will perform a "tape run", or
other activity, which will generate the names, addresses and number of
units which are attributed to each contract owner/policyholder (the
"Customer") as of the Record Date. Allowance should be made for account
adjustments made after this date that could affect the status of the
Customers' accounts as of the Record Date.
Note: The number of proxy statements is determined by the activities
described in this Step #2. The Company will use its best efforts to call in
the number of Customers to the Fund , as soon as possible, but no later
than two weeks after the Record Date.
3. The text and format for the Voting Instruction Cards ("Cards" or "Card") is
provided to the Company by the Fund. The Company, at its expense, shall
produce and personalize the Voting Instruction Cards. The Fund or its
affiliate must approve the Card before it is printed. Allow approximately
2-4 business days for printing information on the Cards. Information
commonly found on the Cards includes:
a. name (legal name as found on account registration)
b. address
c. fund or account number
d. coding to state number of units
e. individual Card number for use in tracking and verification of votes
(already on Cards as printed by the Fund).
(This and related steps may occur later in the chronological process due to
possible uncertainties relating to the proposals.)
4. During this time, the Fund will develop, produce and pay for the Notice of
Proxy and the Proxy Statement (one document). Printed and folded notices
and statements will be sent to Company for insertion into envelopes
(envelopes and return envelopes are provided and paid for by the Company).
Contents of envelope sent to Customers by the Company will include:
a. Voting Instruction Card(s)
b. One proxy notice and statement (one document)
c. return envelope (postage pre-paid by Company) addressed to the Company
or its tabulation agent
d. "urge buckslip" - optional, but recommended. (This is a small, single
sheet of paper that requests Customers to vote as quickly as possible
and that their vote is important. One copy will be supplied by the
Fund.)
e. cover letter - optional, supplied by Company and reviewed and approved
in advance by the Fund.
5. The above contents should be received by the Company approximately 3-5
business days before mail date. Individual in charge at Company reviews and
approves the contents of the mailing package to ensure correctness and
completeness. Copy of this approval sent to the Fund.
6. Package mailed by the Company.
* The Fund must allow at least a 15-day solicitation time to the Company
as the shareowner. (A 5-week period is recommended.) Solicitation time
is calculated as calendar days from (but NOT including,) the meeting,
counting backwards.
7. Collection and tabulation of Cards begins. Tabulation usually takes place
in another department or another vendor depending on process used. An often
used procedure is to sort Cards on arrival by proposal into vote categories
of all yes, no, or mixed replies, and to begin data entry.
Note: Postmarks are not generally needed. A need for postmark information
would be due to an insurance company's internal procedure and has not been
required by the Fund in the past.
8. Signatures on Card checked against legal name on account registration which
was printed on the Card.
Note: For example, if the account registration is under "Xxxx X. Xxxxx,
Trustee," then that is the exact legal name to be printed on the Card and
is the signature needed on the Card.
9. If Cards are mutilated, or for any reason are illegible or are not signed
properly, they are sent back to Customer with an explanatory letter and a
new Card and return envelope. The
mutilated or illegible Card is disregarded and considered to be NOT
RECEIVED for purposes of vote tabulation. Any Cards that have been "kicked
out" (e.g. mutilated, illegible) of the procedure are "hand verified,"
i.e., examined as to why they did not complete the system. Any questions on
those Cards are usually remedied individually.
10. There are various control procedures used to ensure proper tabulation of
votes and accuracy of that tabulation. The most prevalent is to sort the
Cards as they first arrive into categories depending upon their vote; an
estimate of how the vote is progressing may then be calculated. If the
initial estimates and the actual vote do not coincide, then an internal
audit of that vote should occur. This may entail a recount.
11. The actual tabulation of votes is done in units which is then converted to
shares. (It is very important that the Fund receives the tabulations stated
in terms of a percentage and the number of SHARES.) The Fund must review
and approve tabulation format.
12. Final tabulation in shares is verbally given by the Company to the Fund on
the morning of the meeting not later than 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. The Fund
may request an earlier deadline if reasonable and if required to calculate
the vote in time for the meeting.
13. A Certification of Mailing and Authorization to Vote Shares will be
required from the Company as well as an original copy of the final vote.
The Fund will provide a standard form for each Certification.
14. The Company will be required to box and archive the Cards received from the
Customers. In the event that any vote is challenged or if otherwise
necessary for legal, regulatory, or accounting purposes, the Fund will be
permitted reasonable access to such Cards.
15. All approvals and "signing-off' may be done orally, but must always be
followed up in writing.
