EXHIBIT (8)(iv)
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
AMONG
EQUITABLE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF IOWA,
PIMCO VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST,
AND
PIMCO FUNDS DISTRIBUTORS LLC
THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of the 1st day of May, 1998 by
and among Equitable Life Insurance Company of Iowa,
(the "Company"), an Iowa 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 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
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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 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 it 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 9:30 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
Portfolio 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 6:30 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 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; (ii)
the Company gives the Fund and the Underwriter 45 days written
notice of its intention to make such other investment vehicle
available as a funding vehicle for the Contracts; and (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.
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(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.
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
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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 [insert state]
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.
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
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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 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
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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.
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 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
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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
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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 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 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
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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: (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, 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.
ARTICLE VIII. Indemnification
8. This text is hidden, do not remove.
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
(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;
(vi) 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, 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
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 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. This text is hidden, do not remove.
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
10. This text is hidden, do not remove.
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 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 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.
ARTICLE XI. Notices
11. This text is hidden, do not remove.
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:
If to Underwriter: PIMCO Funds Distributors LLC
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
ARTICLE XII. Miscellaneous
12. This text is hidden, do not remove.
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.
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 [insert state] 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 [insert state] 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.
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.
EQUITABLE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF IOWA
By its authorized officer
By:/s/Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
---------------------------
Title: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Vice President
------------------------
Date: May 1, 1998
------------------------
PIMCO VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
By its authorized officer
By:/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
---------------------------
Title: Chairman
------------------------
Date: May 1, 1998
------------------------
PIMCO FUNDS DISTRIBUTORS LLC
By its authorized officer
By:/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
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Title: Executive Vice President
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Date: May 1, 1998
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8194921.doc
