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EXHIBIT 8(vii)
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
Among
XXXXXXXXXXX VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUNDS,
OPPENHEIMERFUNDS, INC.
and
AMERICAN GENERAL ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
THIS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), made and entered into as of
the 23rd day of November, 1998 by and among American General Annuity Insurance
Company (hereinafter the "Company"), on its own behalf and on behalf of each
separate account of the Company named in Schedule 1 to this Agreement, as may be
amended from time to time by mutual consent (hereinafter collectively the
"Accounts"), Xxxxxxxxxxx Variable Account Funds (hereinafter the "Fund") and
OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (hereinafter the "Adviser").
WHEREAS, the Fund is an open-end management investment company
and is available to act as the investment vehicle for separate accounts now in
existence or to be established at any date hereafter for variable life insurance
policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, the "Variable Insurance
Products") offered by insurance companies (hereinafter "Participating Insurance
Companies");
WHEREAS, the beneficial interest in the Fund is divided into
several series of shares, each designated a "Portfolio", and each representing
the interests in a particular managed pool of securities and other assets;
WHEREAS, the Fund has obtained an order from the Securities
and Exchange Commission, dated July 16, 1986 (File No. 812-6324) 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,
(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
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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
(hereinafter the "Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order")
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");
WHEREAS, the Adviser is duly registered as an investment
adviser under the federal Investment Advisers Act of 1940;
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register certain
variable annuity and/or life insurance contracts under the 1933 Act (hereinafter
"Contracts") (unless an exemption from registration is available);
WHEREAS, the Accounts are or will be duly organized, validly
existing segregated asset accounts, established by resolution of the Board of
Directors of the Company, to set aside and invest assets attributable to the
aforesaid variable contracts (the Contract(s) and the Account(s) covered by the
Agreement are specified in Schedule 2 attached hereto, as may be modified by
mutual consent from time to time);
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register the
Accounts as unit investment trusts under the 1940 Act (unless an exemption from
registration is available);
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws
and regulations, the Company intends to purchase shares in the Portfolios (the
Portfolios covered by this Agreement are specified in Schedule 2 attached hereto
as may be modified by mutual consent from time to time), on behalf of the
Accounts to fund the Contracts named in Schedule 3, as may be amended from time
to time by mutual consent, and the Fund is authorized to sell such shares to
unit investment trusts such as the Accounts at net asset value; and
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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the
Fund, the Adviser and the Company agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. Sale of Fund Shares
1.1. The Fund agrees to sell to the Company those shares of
the Fund which the Company orders on behalf of the Account, executing such
orders on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by
the Fund or its designee in proper form of the order for the shares of the Fund.
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 shall
constitute receipt by the Fund; provided that the Fund receives written (or
facsimile) notice of such order by 9:30 a.m. New York 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 its net asset
value pursuant to the rules of the SEC. "Proper form" means that amounts to be
invested or redeemed are identified on the Company's computer system by
Participant, Contract and Fund in accordance with the Company's standard
procedures for processing transactions. The Company agrees to provide the Fund
and the Adviser with at least ten Business Days' notice of any change in the
Company's standard procedure for processing transactions.
1.2. If the Company requests the purchase of Fund shares, the
Company shall pay for such purchase by wiring federal Funds to the Fund or its
designated account or as otherwise instructed by the Fund's treasurer, on the
day the order is transmitted by the Company. If the Company requests a net
redemption resulting in a payment of redemption proceeds to the Company, the
Fund shall wire the redemption proceeds to the Company on the day the order is
transmitted by the Company, unless doing so would require the Fund to dispose of
portfolio securities or otherwise incur additional costs, but in such event,
proceeds shall be wired to the Company within three business days and the Fund
shall notify the person designated in writing by the Company as the receipt for
such notice of such delay by 3:00 p.m. Eastern time the same Business Day that
the Company transmits the redemption order to the Fund. If the Company's order
requests the application of redemption proceeds term the redemption of shares
of one Portfolio to the purchase of shares of another Portfolio, the Fund shall
so apply such proceeds the same Business Day that the Company transmits such
order to the Fund.
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1.3. The Fund shall make the Portfolio's net asset value per
share available to the Company on a daily basis as soon as reasonably practical
after the net asset value per share is calculated but shall use its best efforts
to make such net asset value available by 6:30 p.m. Eastern time. If the Fund
provides the Company with the incorrect share net asset value information
through no fault of the Company, the Company on behalf of the Separate Accounts,
shall be entitled to an adjustment to the number of shares purchased or redeemed
to reflect the correct share net asset value. Any error in the calculation of
net asset value, dividend and capital gain information greater than or equal to
$.01 per share of that Portfolio, shall be reported immediately upon discovery
to The Company. Any error of a lesser amount shall be corrected in net asset
value per share of that Portfolio or the next Business Day after discovery by
the Fund.
1.4. The Fund agrees to redeem, upon 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 in proper form. For
purposes of this Section 1.4, the Company shall be the designee of the Fund for
receipt of requests for redemption and receipt by such designee shall
constitute receipt by the Fund; provided that the Fund receives written (or
facsimile) notice of such request for redemption by 9:30 a.m. New York time on
the next following Business Day. Payment shall be made within the time period
specified in the Fund's prospectus or statement of additional information, in
federal funds transmitted by wire to the Company's account as designated by the
Company in writing from time to time.
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1.5. The Company agree to purchase and redeem the shares of
the Portfolios named in Schedule 2 offered by the then current prospectus and
statement of additional information of the Fund in accordance with the
provisions of such prospectus and statement of additional information. The
Company shall not permit any person other than a Contract owner to give
instructions to the Company which would require the Company to redeem or
exchange shares of the Fund.
1.6 Issuance and transfer of Fund Shares will be by book
entry only. Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company. Shares
ordered from the Fund will be recorded in an appropriate title for the
Company, on behalf of its Account.
1.7 The Fund shall furnish same day notice (by wire,
telecopier, or telephone, and if by telephone, followed by confirmation in
writing or by telecopier) to the Company of any income, dividends or capital
gain distributions payable on the Fund's shares. The Company hereby elects to
receive all such income, dividends and capital gain distributions of the Fund in
the form of additional shares of that the Fund. The Company reserves the right
to revoke this election and to receive all such income, 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.
ARTICLE II. Sales Material, Prospectuses and Other Reports
2.1. 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 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 or
its designee reasonably object to such use within ten Business Days after
receipt of such material. "Business Day" shall mean any day in which the New
York Stock Exchange is open for trading and in which the Fund calculates its net
asset value pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
2.2. The Company shall not 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 prospectus for the
Fund shares, as such registration statement and prospectus may be amended or
supplemented from
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time to time or in reports or proxy statements for the Fund, or in sale
literature or other promotional material approved by the Fund or its designee,
except with the permission of the Fund.
2.3. For purposes of this Article II, the phrase "sales
literature or other promotional material" means 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
billboard or electronic media), and sales literature (such as brochures,
circulars, market letters and form letters), distributed or made generally
available to customers or the public.
2.4. The Fund shall provide a copy of its current prospectus
within a reasonable period of its filing date, and provide other assistance as
is reasonably necessary in order for the Company once each year (or more
frequently if the prospectus for the Fund is supplemented or amended) to have
the prospectus for the Contracts and the Fund's prospectus printed together in
one document (such printing to be at the Company's expense). The Adviser shall
be permitted to review and approve the typeset form of the Fund's Prospectus
prior to such printing.
2.5. The Fund or the Adviser shall provide the Company with
either: (i) a copy of the Fund's proxy material, reports to shareholders, other
information relating to the Fund necessary to prepare financial reports, and
other communications to shareholders for printing and distribution to Contract
owners at the Company's expense, or (ii) camera ready and/or printed copies, if
appropriate, of such material for distribution to Contract owners at the
Company' expense, within a reasonable period of the filing date for definitive
copies of such material. The Adviser shall be permitted to review and approve
the typeset form of such proxy material and shareholder reports prior to such
printing provided such materials have been provided within a reasonable period.
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ARTICLE III. Fees and Expenses
3.1. The Fund and Adviser shall pay no fee or other
compensation to the Company under this agreement, and the Company shall pay no
fee or other compensation to the Fund or Adviser, except as provided herein.
3.2. All expenses incident to performance by each party of its
respective duties under this Agreement shall be paid by that party. 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 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, and the preparation of all statements
and notices required by any federal or state law.
3.3. The Company shall bear the expenses of typesetting,
printing and distributing the Fund's prospectus, proxy materials and reports to
owners of Contracts issued by the Company.
3.4. In the event the Fund adds one or more additional
Portfolios and the parties desire to make such Portfolios available to the
respective Contract owners as an underlying investment medium, a new Schedule 3
or an amendment to this Agreement shall be executed by the parties authorizing
the issuance of shares of the new Portfolios to the particular Account. The
amendment may also provide for the sharing of expenses for the establishment of
new Portfolios among Participating Insurance Companies desiring to invest in
such Portfolios and the provision of funds as the initial investment in the new
Portfolios.
ARTICLE IV. Potential Conflicts
4.1. The Board of Trustees of the Fund (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
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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.
4.2. The Company has reviewed a copy of the Mixed and Shared
Funding Exemptive Order, and in particular, has reviewed the conditions to the
requested relief set forth therein. The Company agrees to be bound by the
responsibilities of a participating insurance companies as set forth in the
Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order, including without limitation the
requirement that the Company 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 in monitoring such conflicts under the Mixed and Shared Funding
Exemptive Order, by providing the Board in a timely manner 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 and by confirming in writing,
at the Fund's request, that the Company are unaware of any such potential or
existing material irreconcilable conflicts.
4.3. If it is determined by a majority of the Board, or a
majority of its disinterested Trustees, that a material irreconcilable conflict
exists, the Company shall, at its expense and to the extent reasonably
practicable (as determined by a majority of the disinterested trustees), take
whatever steps are necessary to remedy or eliminate the irreconcilable material
conflict, up to an 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
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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.
4.4. 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; 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 the 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.
4.5. 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 Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement
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,
subject to applicable regulatory limitation.
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4.6. For purposes of Sections 4.3 through 4.6 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 4.3 to
establish a new funding medium for Contracts if an offer to do so has been
declined by vote of a majority of Contract owners materially adversely affected
by the irreconcilable material conflict. In the event that the Board determines
that any proposed action does not adequately remedy any irreconcilable material
conflict, then the Company will withdraw the particular 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.
ARTICLE V. Applicable Law
5.1. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions
hereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New
York.
5.2. 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
Securities and Exchange Commission may grant (including, but not limited to, the
Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order) and the terms hereof shall be
interpreted and construed in accordance therewith.
ARTICLE VI. Termination
6.1 This Agreement shall terminate with respect to some or all
Portfolios:
(a) at the option of any party upon three month's
advance written notice to the other parties;
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(b) at the option of the Company to the extent that
shares of Portfolios are not reasonably available to meet the requirements of
its Contracts or are not appropriate funding vehicles for the Contracts, as
determined by the Company reasonably and in good faith. Prompt notice of the
election to terminate for such cause and an explanation of such cause shall be
furnished by the Company and termination shall be effective ten days after the
Fund's receipt of said notice unless the Fund makes available a sufficient
number of shares to meet the requirements of the Contracts with said ten-day
period; or
(c) as provided in Article IV
6.2. It is understood and agreed that the right of any party
hereto to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 6.1(a) may be exercised
for cause or for no cause.
ARTICLE VII. 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 to
the other party.
If to the Fund:
Xxxxxxxxxxx Variable Account Funds
c/o OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
0 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attn: Legal Department
If to the Adviser:
OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
0 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attn: General Counsel
If to the Company:
American General Annuity Insurance Company
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
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ARTICLE VIII. Miscellaneous
8.1. Subject to the requirements of legal process and
regulatory authority, each party hereto shall treat as confidential the names
and addresses of the owners of the Contracts and all information reasonably
identified as confidential in writing by any other party hereto and, except as
permitted by this Agreement, shall not disclose, disseminate or utilize such
names and addresses and other confidential information without the express
written consent of the affected party until such time as it may come into the
public domain.
8.2. The captions in this Agreement are included for
convenience of reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the
provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
8.3. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or
more counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the
same instrument.
8.4. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made
invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of the
Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
8.5. Each party hereto shall cooperate with, and promptly
notify each other party and all appropriate governmental authorities (including
without limitation the Securities and Exchange Commission, the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. 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.
8.6. The rights, remedies and obligations contained in this
Agreement are cumulative and are in addition to any and all rights, remedies and
obligations, at law or in equity, which the parties hereto are entitled to under
state and federal laws.
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8.7. It is understood by the parties that this Agreement is
not an exclusive arrangement in any respect.
8.8. The Company and the Adviser each understand and agree
that the obligations of the Fund under this Agreement are not binding upon any
shareholder of the Fund personally, but bind only the Fund and the Fund's
property; the Company and the Adviser each represent that it has notice of the
provisions of the Declaration of Trust of the Fund disclaiming shareholder
liability for acts or obligations of the Fund.
8.9. This Agreement shall not be assigned by any party hereto
without the prior written consent of all the parties.
8.10. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement between
the parties and supercedes all prior communications, agreements and
understandings, oral or written, between the parties regarding the subject
matter hereof.
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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 as of the date specified
below.
AMERICAN GENERAL ANNUITY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By: /s/ XXXXX XXXXX
----------------------------------
Title: Vice Chairman
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Date: November 30, 1998
--------------------------------
XXXXXXXXXXX VARIABLE ACCOUNT
FUNDS
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXXX
----------------------------------
Title: Vice President and Secretary
-------------------------------
Date: November 23, 1998
--------------------------------
OPPENHEIMERFUNDS, INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXXX
----------------------------------
Title: Executive Vice President
-------------------------------
Date: November 23, 1998
--------------------------------
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SCHEDULE 1
AGA Separate Account A
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SCHEDULE 2
American Geneal ElitePlus Bonus Variable Annuity
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SCHEDULE 3
Portfolios of Xxxxxxxxxxx Variable Account Funds.
x Xxxxxxxxxxx High Income Fund
x Xxxxxxxxxxx Growth Fund
x Xxxxxxxxxxx Small Cap Growth Fund
x Xxxxxxxxxxx Growth & Income Fund
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