PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
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Among
VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND II,
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FIDELITY DISTRIBUTORS CORPORATION
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and
AMERITAS VARIABLE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of this 15th day of July, 1989
by and among AMERITAS VARIABLE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, (hereinafter the
"Company") , a Nebraska corporation, on its own behalf and on behalf of each
segregated asset account of the Company set forth on Schedule C hereto as may be
amended from time to time (each such account hereinafter referred to as the
"Account"), and the VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND II, an unincorporated
business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
(hereinafter the "Fund") and FIDELITY DISTRIBUTORS CORPORATION (hereinafter the
"Underwriter"), a Massachusetts corporation.
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 policies and variable
annuity contracts (collectively, the "Variable Insurance Products") to be
offered by insurance companies which have entered into participation agreements
substantially identical to this Agreement (hereinafter "Participating Insurance
Companies") ; and WHEREAS, the beneficial interest in the Fund is divided into
several series of shares, each designated a "Portfolio" and representing the
interest in a particular managed portfolio of securities and other assets; and
WHEREAS, the Fund has obtained an order from the Securities and Exchange
Commission, dated September 17, 1986 (File No. 812-6422), granting
Participating Insurance Companies and variable annuity and variable life
insurance separate
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accounts exemptions from the provisions of sections 9(a), 13(a), 15(a), and
15(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (hereinafter the "1940
Act") and Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15) thereunder, to the extent
necessary to permit shares of the Fund to be sold to and held by variable
annuity and variable life insurance separate accounts of both affiliated and
unaffiliated life insurance companies (hereinafter the "Shared Funding Exemptive
Order"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the 1940 Act and its shares are registered under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (hereinafter the "1933 Act"); and
WHEREAS, Fidelity Management & Research Company (the "Adviser") is
duly registered as an investment adviser under the federal Investment Advisers
Act of 1940 and any applicable state securities law; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register certain variable
life and variable annuity contracts under the 1933 Act; and
WHEREAS, each Account is a duly organized, validly existing segregated
asset account, established by resolution of the Board of Directors of the
Company on the date shown for such Account on Schedule C hereto, to set aside
and invest assets attributable to the aforesaid variable life and annuity
contracts; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register each Account as a
unit investment trust under the 1940 Act; and
WHEREAS, the Underwriter is registered as a broker dealer with the
Securities 2nd Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, (hereinafter the "1934 Act"), and is a member in good standing of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (hereinafter "NASD"); and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Company intends to purchase shares in the Portfolios on behalf
of each Account to fund certain of the aforesaid variable life and variable
annuity contracts and
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the Underwriter is authorized to sell such shares to unit investment trusts such
as each 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 Underwriter agrees to sell to the Company those shares of the
Fund which each Account orders, executing such orders on a daily basis at the
net asset value next computed after receipt by the Fund or its designee 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 notice of such order by 9:30 a.m. Boston 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 Securities and Exchange Commission.
1.2. The Fund agrees to make its shares available indefinitely for
purchase at the applicable net asset value per share by the Company and its
Accounts on those days on which the Fund calculates its net asset value pursuant
to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Fund shall use
reasonable efforts to calculate such net asset value on each day which the New
York Stock Exchange is open for trading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Board of Trustees of the Fund (hereinafter the "Trustees") may refuse to sell
shares of any Portfolio to any person, or suspend or terminate the offering of
shares of any Portfolio if such action is required by law or by regulatory
authorities having jurisdiction or is, in the sole discretion of the Trustees
acting in good faith and in light of their
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fiduciary duties under federal and any applicable state laws, necessary in the
best interests of the shareholders of such Portfolio.
1.3. The Fund and the Underwriter agree that shares of the Fund will be
sold only to Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts. No
shares of any Portfolio will be sold to the general public.
1.4. The Fund and the Underwriter will not sell Fund shares to any
insurance company or separate account unless an agreement containing provisions
substantially the same as Articles I, III, V, VII and Sections 2.5 and 2.12 of
Article II of this Agreement is in effect to govern such sales.
1.5. The Fund agrees to redeem for cash, on the Company's request, any
full or fractional shares of the Fund held by the Company, executing such
requests on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by
the Fund or its designee of the request for redemption. For purposes of this
Section 1.5, the Company shall be the designee of the Fund for receipt of
requests for redemption from each Account and receipt by such designee shall
constitute receipt by the Fund; provided that the Fund receives notice of such
request for redemption on the next following Business Day.
1.6. The Company agrees to purchase and redeem the shares of each
Portfolio offered by the then current prospectus of the Fund and in accordance
with the provisions of such prospectus. The Company agrees that all net amounts
available under the variable life and variable annuity contracts with the form
number(s) which are listed on Schedule A attached hereto and incorporated herein
by this reference, as such Schedule A may be amended from time to time hereafter
by mutual written agreement of all the parties hereto, (the "Contracts") shall
be invested in the Fund, in such other Funds advised by the Adviser as may be
mutually agreed to in writing by the parties hereto, or in the Company's general
account, provided that such amounts may also be invested in an investment
company other than the Fund if
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(a) such other investment company, or series thereof, has investment objectives
or policies that are substantially different from the investment objectives and
policies of all the Portfolios of the Fund; or (b) the Company gives the Fund
and the Underwriter 45 days written notice of its intention to make such other
investment company available as a funding vehicle for the Contracts; or (c) such
other investment company was available as a funding vehicle for the Contracts
prior to the date of this Agreement and the Company so informs the Fund and
Underwriter prior to their signing this Agreement; or (d) the Fund or
Underwriter consents to the use of such other investment company.
1.7. The Company shall pay for Fund shares on the next Business Day
after an order to purchase Fund shares is made in accordance with the provisions
of Section 1.1 hereof. Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire.
For purpose of Section 2.10 and 2.11, upon receipt by the Fund of the federal
funds so wired, such funds shall cease to be the responsibility of the Company
and shall become the responsibility of the Fund.
1.8. Issuance and transfer of the Fund's shares will be by book entry
only. Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or any Account.
Shares ordered from the Fund will be recorded in an appropriate title for each
Account or the appropriate subaccount of each Account.
1.9. The Fund shall furnish same day notice (by wire or telephone,
followed by written confirmation) to the Company of any income, dividends or
capital gain distributions payable on the Funds' shares. The Company hereby
elects to receive all such income dividends and capital gain distributions as
are payable on the Portfolio shares in additional shares of that Portfolio. The
Company reserves the right to revoke this election and to receive all such
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.
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1.10. The Fund shall make the net asset value per share for each
Portfolio available to the Company on a daily basis as soon as reasonably
practical after the net asset value per share is calculated and shall use its
best efforts to make such net asset value per share available by 7 p.m. Boston
time.
ARTICLE II. Representations and Warranties
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2.1. The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts are or will
be registered under the 1933 Act; that the Contracts will be issued and sold in
compliance in all material respects with all applicable Federal and State laws
and that the 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 and that it has legally and validly
established each Account prior to any issuance or sale thereof as a segregated
asset account under Section 44-402.01 of the Nebraska Insurance Code and has
registered or, prior to any issuance or sale of the Contracts, will register
each 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.
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 the laws of the State of Nebraska and all
applicable federal and state 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.
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2.3. The Fund represents that it is currently qualified as a Regulated
Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, (the "Code") and that it will make every effort to maintain such
qualification (under Subchapter M or any successor or similar provision) 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.
2.4. The Company represents that the Contracts are currently treated as
endowment, annuity or life 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 that the Contracts have ceased to be so treated or that they
might not be so treated in the future.
2.5. The Fund currently does not intend to make any payments to finance
distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act or otherwise,
although it may make such payments in the future. The Fund has adopted a "no
fee" or "defensive" Rule 12b-1 Plan under which it makes no payments for
distribution expenses. To the extent that it decides to finance distribution
expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1, the Fund undertakes to have a board of
trustees, a majority of whom are not interested persons of the Fund, formulate
and approve any plan under Rule 12b-1 to finance distribution expenses.
2.6. The Fund makes no representation as to whether any aspect of its
operations (including, but not limited to, fees and expenses and investment
policies) complies with the insurance laws or regulations of the various states
except that the Fund represents that the Fund's investment policies, fees and
expenses are and shall at all times remain in compliance with the laws of the
State of Nebraska and the Fund and the Underwriter represent that their
respective operations are and shall at all times remain in material compliance
with the
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laws of the State of Nebraska to the extent required to perform this Agreement.
2.7. 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 the laws of the State of Nebraska and all applicable state
and federal securities laws, including without limitation the 1933 Act, the 1934
Act, and the 0000 Xxx.
2.8. The Fund represents that it is lawfully organized and validly
existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that it does
and will comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act.
2.9. The Underwriter represents and warrants that the Adviser is and
shall remain duly registered in all material respects under all applicable
federal and state securities laws and that the Adviser shall perform its
obligations for the Fund in compliance in all material respects with the laws of
the State of Nebraska and any applicable state and federal securities laws.
2.10. The Fund and Underwriter represent and warrant that all of their
directors, officers, employees, investment advisers, and other
individual/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 minimal
coverage as required currently by Section 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.
2.11. The Company represents and warrants that all of its directors,
officers, employees, investment advisers, and other individuals/entities dealing
with the money and/or securities of the Fund are and shall continue to be at all
times
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covered by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage for the benefit of the
Fund, in an amount not less than the minimal coverage as required currently by
Section 270.17g-l 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.
2.12. The Company represents and warrants that it will not purchase
Fund shares with Account assets derived from the sale of Contracts to deferred
compensation plans with respect to service for state and local governments which
qualify under Section 457 of the federal Internal Revenue Code, as may be
amended. The Company may purchase Fund shares with Account assets derived from
any sale of a Contract to any other type of tax-advantaged employee benefit
plan; provided however that such plan has no more than 500 employees who are
eligible to participate at the time of the first such purchase hereunder by the
Company of Fund shares derived from the sale of such Contract.
ARTICLE III. Prospectuses and Proxy Statements; Voting
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3.1. The Underwriter shall provide the Company (at the Company's
expense) with as many copies of the Fund's current prospectus as the Company may
reasonably request. If requested by the Company in lieu thereof, the Fund shall
provide such documentation (including a final copy of the new prospectus as set
in type 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 printed together in one document (such printing to be at the
Company's expense).
3.2. The Fund's prospectus shall state that the Statement of
Additional Information for the Fund is available from the Underwriter (or in the
Fund's
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discretion, the Prospectus shall state that such Statement is available from the
Fund), and the Underwriter (or the Fund), at its expense, shall print and
provide such Statement free of charge to the Company and to any owner of a
Contract or prospective owner who requests such Statement.
3.3. The Fund, at its expense, shall provide the Company with copies of
its proxy material, reports to stockholders and other communications to
stockholders in such quantity as the Company shall reasonably require for
distributing to Contract owners.
3.4. If and to the extent required by law 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 Securities and Exchange
Commission continues to interpret the Investment Company
Act to require pass-through voting privileges for variable
contract owners. The Company reserves the right to vote Fund
shares held in any segregated asset account in its own right,
to the extent permitted by law. Participating Insurance
Companies shall be responsible for assuring that each of their
separate accounts participating in the Fund calculates voting
privileges in a manner consistent with the standards set forth
on Schedule B attached hereto and incorporated herein by this
reference, which standards will also be provided to the
other Participating Insurance Companies.
3.5. The Fund will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act requiring
voting by shareholders, and in particular the Fund will either provide for
annual meetings or comply with Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act (although the Fund
is not one of the
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trusts described in Section 16 (c) of that Act) as well as with Sections 16 (a)
and, if and when applicable, 16 (b) . Further, the Fund will act in accordance
with the Securities and Exchange Commission's interpretation of the requirements
of Section 16(a) with respect to periodic elections of trustees and with
whatever rules the Commission may promulgate with respect thereto.
ARTICLE IV. Sales Material and Information
------------------------------
4.1. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the
Fund or its designee, each piece of sales literature or other promotional
material in which the Fund or its investment adviser or the Underwriter is
named, at least fifteen Business Days prior to its use. No such material shall
be used if the Fund or its designee object to such use within fifteen Business
Days after receipt of such material.
4.2. 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 time to time, or in reports or proxy statement 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, Underwriter, or its designee shall furnish, or shall
cause to be furnished, to the Company or its designee, each piece of sales
literature or other promotional material in which the Company and/or its
separate account(s), is named at least fifteen Business Days prior to its use.
No such material shall be used if the Company or its designee object to such use
within fifteen Business Days after receipt of such material.
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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,
each Account, or the Contracts other than the information or representations
contained in a registration statement or prospectus for the Contracts, as such
registration statement and prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time
to time, or in published reports for each 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, Statements of Additional Information,
reports, proxy statements, sales literature and other promotional materials,
applications for exemptions, requests for no-action letters, and all amendments
to any of the above, that relate to the Fund or its shares, contemporaneously
with the filing of such document with the Securities and Exchange Commission or
other regulatory authorities.
4.6. The Company will provide to the Fund at least one complete copy of
all registration statements, prospectuses, Statements of Additional Information,
reports, solicitations for voting instructions, sales literature and other
promotional materials, applications for exemptions, requests for no action
letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that relate to the Contracts or
each Account, contemporaneously with the filing of such document with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
4.7. For purposes of this Article IV, the phrase "sales literature or
other promotional material" incudes, but is not limited to, 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
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or billboards, motion pictures, or other public media), sales literature (i.e.,
any written communication distributed or made generally available to customers
or the public, including brochures, circulars, research reports, market letters,
form letters, seminar texts, reprints or excerpts of any other advertisement,
sales literature, or published article), educational or training materials or
other communications distributed or made generally available to some or all
agents or employees, and registration statements, prospectuses, Statements of
Additional Information. shareholder reports, and proxy materials.
ARTICLE V. Fees and Expenses
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5.1. The Fund and 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 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. No such payments shall be made directly by the Fund. 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 it 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
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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, all taxes on the issuance or transfer of
the Fund's shares.
5.3. The Company shall bear the expenses of printing and 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 VII. Diversification
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6.1. The Fund will at all times invest money from the Contracts in such
a manner as to ensure that the Contracts will be treated as variable contracts
under the Code and the regulations issued thereunder. Without limiting the scope
of the foregoing, the Fund will at all times comply with Section 817(h) of the
Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.817-5, relating to the diversification
requirements for variable annuity, endowment, or life insurance contracts and
any amendments or other modifications to such Section or Regulations.
ARTICLE VII. Potential Conflicts
-------------------
7.1. 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 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
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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 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 trustees, that a material irreconcilable conflict exits, the
Company and other Participating Insurance Companies shall, at their expense and
to the extent reasonably practicable (as determined by a majority of the
disinterested trustees), take whatever steps are necessary to remedy or
eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict, up to and including: (1),
withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the separate accounts from
the Fund or any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a different investment
medium, including (but not limited to) another Portfolio of the Fund, or
submitting the question whether such segregation should be implemented to a vote
of all affected Contract owners and, as appropriate, segregating the assets of
any appropriate group (i.e., annuity contract owners, life insurance 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
registration management investment company or managed separate account.
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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; 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
Underwriter and 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 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 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 Underwriter and 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 Sections 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
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shall not be required by Section 7.3 to establish a new funding medium for the
Contracts if an offer to do so has been declined by vote of a majority of
Contract owners materially adversely affected by the irreconcilable material
conflict. In the event that the Board determines that any proposed action does
not adequately remedy an 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 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
Act or the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to mixed or shared funding
(as defined in the Shared Funding Exemptive Order) on terms and conditions
materially different from those contained in the Shared Funding Exemptive Order,
then (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) Section 3.4, 3.5, 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
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8.1. Indemnification By The Company
------------------------------
8.1.(a). The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and
each of its Trustees and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Fund
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within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (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, regulation,
at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities
or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements are related to the
sale or acquisition of the Fund's shares or the Contracts and:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements or alleged
untrue statements of any material fact contained in the Registration
Statement or prospectus for the Contracts or contained in the Contracts
or sales literature for the Contracts (or any amendment or supplement
to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, provided that this agreement to indemnify shall
not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement omission or
such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of
the Fund for use in the Registration Statement or prospectus for the
Contracts or in the Contracts or sales literature (or any amendment or
supplement) or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the
Contracts or Fund shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations
(other than statements or representations contained in the Registration
Statement, prospectus or sales literature of the Fund not supplied by
the Company, or persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of the
Company or persons under its control, with respect to the sale or
distribution of the Contracts or Fund Shares; or
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(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
a material fact contained in a Registration statement, prospectus, or
sales literature of the Fund or any amendment thereof or supplement
thereto or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading if such a statement or omission was made in
reliance upon information furnished to the Fund by or on behalf of the
Company: or (iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Company to
provide the services and furnish the materials under the terms of this
Agreement; or (v) arise out of or result from any material breach of
any representation and/or warranty made by the Company in this
Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach of
this Agreement by the Company, 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 obligations or duties under this Agreement or to
the Fund, whichever is applicable.
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
-19-
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 the Indemnified Parties, the Company shall be entitled to participate,
at its own expense, in the defense of such action. The Company also shall be
entitled to assume the defense thereof , with counsel satisfactory to the party
named in the action. After notice from the Company to such party of the
Company's election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall
bear the fees and expenses 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, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or
settlements are related to the sale or acquisition of the Fund's shares or the
Contracts and:
-20-
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration
Statement or prospectus or sales literature of the Fund (or any
amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or
are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, 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 or prospectus for the Fund or in sales literature (or any
amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in connection with the
sale of the Contracts or 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 or sales literature for the Contracts not
supplied by the Underwriter or persons under its control) or wrongful
conduct of the Fund, Adviser 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, 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
-21-
(iv) 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 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 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
each 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
-22-
brought against the Indemnified Parties, 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.
8.2 (d). 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 each 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, 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 become subject under any statute,
at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities
or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements result from the gross
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of Trustees or any member thereof,
are related to the operations of the Fund and:
-23-
(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 to comply with the diversification 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 each 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
-24-
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 proceedings against it or any of
its respective officers or directors in connection with this Agreement, the
issuance or sale of the Contracts, with respect to the operation of either
Account, or the sale or acquisition of shares of the Fund.
ARTICLE IX. Applicable Law
--------------
9. 1. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
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
Securities and Exchange Commission may grant (including, but not limited to, the
Shared Funding Exemptive Order) and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and
construed in accordance therewith.
-25-
ARTICLE X. Termination
-----------
10.1 This Agreement shall terminate:
(a) at the option of any party upon one year advance written notice to
the other parties.; provided, however such notice shall not be given
earlier than one year following the date of this Agreement; or
(b) at the option of the Company to the extent that shares of
Portfolios are not reasonably available to meet the requirements of
the Contracts as determined by the Company, provided however, that such
termination shall apply only to the Portfolio(s) not reasonably
available. Prompt notice of the election to terminate for such cause
shall be furnished by the company; or
(c) at the option of the Fund in the event that formal administrative
proceedings are instituted against the Company by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"), the Securities and
Exchange Commission, the Insurance Commissioner or any other regulatory
body regarding the Company's duties under this Agreement or related
to the sale of the Contracts, with respect to the operation of any
Account, or the purchase of the Fund shares, provided, however, that
the Fund 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
(d) at the option of the Company in the event that formal
administrative proceedings are instituted against the Fund or
Underwriter by the NASD, the Securities and Exchange Commission, 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
-26-
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
(e) with respect to any Account, upon requisite vote of the Contract
owners having, an interest in such Account (or any subaccourrt) to
substitute the shares of another investment company for the
corresponding Portfolio shares of the Fund in accordance with the terms
of the Contracts for which those Portfolio shares had been selected to
serve as the underlying investment media. The Company will give 30
days' prior written notice to the Fund of the date of any proposed vote
to replace the Fund's shares; or
(f) at the option of the Company, in the event any of the Fund'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
(g) at the option of the Company, if the Fund ceases to qualify as a
Regulated Investment Conpany under Subchapter M of the Code or under
any successor or similar provision, or if the Company reasonably
believes that the Fund may fail to so qualify; or
(h) at the option of the Company, if the Fund fails to meet the
diversification requirements specified in Article VI hereof; or
(i) at the option of either the Fund or the Underwriter, if (1) the
Fund or the Underwriter, respectively, shall determine, in their sole
judgment reasonably exercised in good faith, that the Company has
suffered a material adverse change in its business or financial
condition or is the subject of material adverse publicity and such
material adverse change or material adverse publicity will have a
material adverse impact upon the
-27-
business and operations of either the Fund or the Underwriter, (2) the
Fund or the Underwriter shall notify the Company in writing of such
determination and its intent to terminate this Agreement, and (3) after
considering the actions taken by the Company and any other changes in
circumstances since the giving of such notice , such determination of
the Fund or the Underwriter shall continue to apply on the sixtieth
(60th) day following the giving of such notice, which sixtieth day
shall be the effective date of termination; or
(j) at the option of the Company, if (1) the Conpany shall determine,
in its sole judgment reasonably exercised in good faith, that either
the Fund or the Underwriter has suffered a material adverse change in
its business or financial condition or is the subject of material
adverse publicity and such material adverse change or material adverse
publicity will have a material adverse impact upon the business and
operations of the Company, (2) the Conpany shall notify the Fund and
the Underwriter in writing of such determination and its intent
to terminate the Agreement, and (3) after considering the actions
taken by the Fund and/or the Underwriter and any other changes in
circumstances since the giving of such notice, such determination
shall continue to apply on the sixtieth (60th) day following the giving
of such notice, which sixtieth day shall be the effective date of
termination; or
(k) at the option of either the Fund or the Underwriter, if the Company
gives the Fund and the underwriter the written notice specified in
Section 1.6(b) 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(k) shall be effective forty five (45) days after the notice
specified in Section 1.6(b) was given.
-28-
10.2. It is understood and agreed that the right of any party hereto to
terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 10.1(a) may be exercised for any
reason or for no reason.
10.3. Notice Requirement. No termination of this Agreement shall be
effective unless and until the party terminating this Agreement gives prior
written notice to all other parties to this Agreement of its intent to
terminate which notice shall set forth the basis for such termination.
Furthermore,
(a) In the event that any termination is based upon the provisions of
Article VII, or the provision of Section 10.1(a), 10.1(i), 10.1(j) or
10.1(k) of this Agreement, such prior written notice shall be given in
advance of the effective date of termination as required by such
provisions; and
(b) in the event that any termination is based upon the provisions of
Section 10.1(c) or 10.1(d) of this Agreement, such prior written notice
shall be given at least ninety (90) days before the effective date of
termination.
10.4. Effect of Termination. Notwithstanding any termination of this
Agreement, the Fund and the Underwriter shall at the option of the Conpany,
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"). Specifically, without limitation, the owners of the Existing
Contracts shall 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. The parties agree that this
Section 10.4 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.
-29-
10.5. The Company shall not redeem Fund shares attributable to the
Contracts (as opposed to Fund shares attributable to the Company's assets held
in either Account) except (i) as necessary to implement Contract Owner initiated
transactions, or (ii) as required by state and/or federal laws or regulations or
judicial or other legal precedent of general application (hereinafter referred
to as a "Legally Required Redemption"). Upon request, the Company will promptly
furnish to the Fund and the Underwriter the opinion of counsel for the Company
(which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Fund and the Underwriter)
to the effect that any redemption pursuant to clause (ii) above is a Legally
Required Redemption. Furthermore, except in cases where permitted under the
terms of the Contracts, the Company shall not prevent Contract Owners from
allocating payments to a Portfolio that was otherwise available under the
Contracts without first giving the Fund or the Underwriter 90 days notice of its
intention to do so.
ARTICLE XI. Notices
-------
Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or
certified mail to the other party at the address of such party set forth below
or at such other address as such party may from time to time specify in writing
to the other party.
If to the Fund:
00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Treasurer
If to the Company:
5900 "0" Street, X.X. Xxx 00000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
-30-
If to the Underwriter:
00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Treasurer
ARTICLE XII. Miscellaneous
-------------
12.1 All persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the
property of the Fund for the enforcement of any claims against the Fund as
neither the Trustees, officers, agents or shareholders assume any personal
liability for obligations entered into 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 until such time as it may come into
the public domain without the express written consent of the affected party.
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
-31-
Securities and Exchange Commission, 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 California 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 life insurance operations of the Company are
being conducted in a manner consistent with the California Variable Life
Insurance Regulations and any other applicable law or regulations.
12.7 The Fund and Underwriter agree that the extent any advisory or
other fees received by the Fund, the Underwriter or the Adviser are determined
to be unlawful in legal or administrative proceedings under the 1973 NAIC model
variable life insurance regulation in the states of California, Colorado,
Maryland or Michigan, the Underwriter shall indemnify and reimburse the Company
for any out of pocket expenses and actual damages the Company has incurred as a
result of any such proceeding; provided however that the provisions of Section
8.2(b) of this and 8.2(c) shall apply to such indemnification and reimbursement
obligation. Such indemnification and reimbursement obligation shall be in
addition to any other indemnification and reimbursement obligations of the Fund
and/or the Underwriter under this Agreement.
12.8. 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.
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
-32-
seal to be hereunder affixed hereto as of the date specified below.
Company:
AMERITAS VARIABLE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By its authorized officer
SEAL By: /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx
Title: President
Date: August 7, 1989
Fund:
VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND II
By its authorized officer,
SEAL By: /s/ J. Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Senior Vice President
Date: August 14, 1989
Underwriter:
FIDELITY DISTRIBUTORS CORPORATION
By its authorized officer,
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: President
Date: August 21, 1989
-33-
Schedule A
----------
Contracts
---------
1. Contract Form 4001, 4002, 4010, 4778, 4780
-34-
Schedule C
----------
Accounts
--------
Name of Account Date of Resolution of Company's Board which
Established the Account
Separate Account V August 25, 1985
Separate Account VA2
-35-
SCHEDULE B
PROXY VOTING PROCEDURE
The following is a list of procedures and corresponding responsibilities for the
handling of proxies relating to the Fund by the Underwriter, the Fund and the
Company. The defined terms herein shall have the meanings assigned in the
Participation Agreement except that the term "Company" shall also include the
department or third party assigned by the Insurance Company to perform the steps
delineated below.
1. The number of proxy proposals is given to the Company by the
Underwriter as early as possible before the date set by the Fund for
the shareholder meeting (the "Record Date") to facilitate the
establishment of tabulation procedures. At this time the Underwriter
will inform the Company of the Record, Mailing and Meeting dates.
This will be done verbally approximately two months before meeting.
2. Promptly after the Record Date, the Company will perform a "tape
run", or other activity, which will generate the names, addresses and
number of units/shares which are attributed to each
contractowner/policyholder (the "Customer") as of the Record Date.
Allowance should be made for account adjustments made after this date
that could affect the status of the Customers' accounts as of the
Record Date.
Note: The number of voting instruction cards is determined
by the activities described in Step #2. The Company
will use its best efforts to call in the number of
Customers to Fidelity, as soon as possible, but no
later than two weeks after the Record Date.
3. The Fund's Annual Report must be sent to each Customer by the Company
either before or together with the Customers' receipt of a proxy
statement. Underwriter will provide at least one copy of the last
Annual Report to the Company.
-38-
4. The text and format for the Voting Instruction Cards ("Cards" or
"Card") is Provided to the Company by the Fund. The Company, at its
expense, shall produce and personalize the Voting Instruction Cards
with the name, address, and number of units/shares for each customer.
(This and related steps may occur later in the chronological process
due to possible uncertainties relating to the proposals.)
5. Company will, at its expense, print account information on the Cards.
6. Allow approximately 2-4 business days for printing information on the
Cards. Information commonly found on the Cards includes:
a. name (legal name as found on account registration)
b. address
c. Fund or account number
d. coding to state number of shares/units (depends upon
tabulation process used by the computer system, i.e. whether
or not system knows number of shares held just by "reading"
the account number)
e. individual Card number for use in tracking and verification
of votes (already on Cards as printed by the Fund)
Note: When the cards are printed by the Fund, each Card is
numbered individually to guard against potential
Card/vote duplication.
7. During this time, the Legal Department of the Underwriter or its
affiliate ("Fidelity Legal") will develop, produce, and the Fund will
pay for the Notice of Proxy and the Proxy Statement (one document).
Printed and folded notices and statements will be sent to Company for
insertion into envelopes (envelopes and return envelopes are provided
and paid for by the Insurance Company). Contents of envelope sent to
Customers by Company will include:
a. Voting Instruction Card
b. proxy notice and statement (one document)
c. return envelope (postage pre-paid by Company) addressed to the
Company or its tabulation agent
-39-
d. "urge buckslip" - optional, but recommended. (This is a small,
single sheet of paper that requests Customers to vote as
quickly as possible and that their vote is important. One
copy will be supplied by the Fund.)
e. cover letter - optional, supplied by Company and reviewed and
approved in advance by Fidelity Legal.
8. The above contents should be received by the Company approximately
3-5 business days before mail date. Individual in charge at Company
reviews and approves the contents of the mailing package to ensure
correctness and completeness. Copy of this approval sent to Fidelity
Legal.
9. Package mailed by the Company.
* The Fund must allow at least a 15-day solicitation time to the
----
Company as the shareowner. (A 5-week period is recommended,
but not necessary, to receive a proper response percentage.)
Solicitation time is calculated as days from (but not
including) the meeting, counting backwards. ---
** If the Customers were actually the shareholders, at least 50%
of the outstanding shares must be represented and 66 2/3% of
that 50% must have voted affirmatively on the proposals to
have an effective vote. However, since the Company is the
-------
shareholder, the Customers' votes will (except in certain
limited circumstances) be used to dictate how the Company will
vote.
10. Collection and tabulation of Cards begins. Tabulation usually takes
place in another department or another vendor depending on process
used. An often used procedure is to sort Cards on arrival into vote
categories of all yes, no, or mixed replies, and to begin data entry.
* Postmarks are not generally needed. A need for postmark
information would be due to an insurance company's internal
procedure and has not been required by Fidelity in the past.
-40-
11. Signatures on Card checked against legal name on account registration
which was printed on the Card.
* This verifies whether an individual has signed correctly
for self with the same name as is on the account registration.
For Example:
If the account registration is under "Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx,
Trustee," then that is the exact legal name to be printed on
the Card and is the signature needed on the Card.
12. If Cards are mutilated, or for any reason are illegible or are not
signed properly, they are sent back to Customer with an explanatory
letter, a new Card and return envelope. The mutilated or illegible Card
is disregarded and considered to be not received for purposes of vote
------------
tabulation. Any Cards that have "kicked out" (e.g. mutilated,
illegible) of the procedure are "hand verified," i.e., examined as to
why they did not complete the system. Any questions on those Cards are
usually remedied individually.
13. There are various control procedures used to ensure proper tabulation
of votes and accuracy of that tabulation. The most prevalent is to sort
the Cards as they first arrive into categories depending upon their
vote; an estimate of how the vote is progressing may be calculated. If
the initial estimates and the actual vote do not coincide, then an
internal audit of that vote should occur. This may entail a recount.
14. The actual tabulation of votes is done in units and in shares. (It is
very important that the Fund receives the tabulations stated in terms
of a percentage and the number of shares.)
------
15. Final tabulation in shares is verbally given by the Company to the
Legal Department on the morning of the meeting by 10:00 a.m. Boston
time.
-41-
16. Vote is verified by the Company and is sent to Fidelity Legal.
17. Company then votes its proxy in accordance with the votes received
from the Customers the morning of the meeting (except in limited
circumstances as may be otherwise required by law). A letter
documenting the Company's vote is supplied by Fidelity Legal and is
sent to officer of company for his signature. This letter is normally
sent after the meeting has taken place.
18. The Company will be required to box and archive the Cards received
from the Customers. In the event that any vote is challenged or if
otherwise necessary for legal, regulatory, or accounting purposes
Fidelity will be permitted reasonable access to such Cards.
19. All approvals and "signing-off" may be done orally, but must always
be followed up in writing.
20. During tabulation procedures, the Fund and Company determine if a
resolicitation is required and what form that resolicitation should
take, whether it should be by a mailing, or by recorded telephone
line. A resolicitation is considered when the vote response is slow
and it appears that not enough votes would be received by the meeting
date. The meeting could be adjourned to leave enough time for the
resolicitation.
A determination is made by the Company and the Fund to find the most cost
effective candidates for resolicitation. These are Customers who have not yet
voted, but whose balances are large enough to bring in the required vote with
minimal costs.
a. By mail: Fidelity Legal amends the voting instruction cards, if
necessary, and writes a resolicitation letter. The Fund supplies
these to the Company. The Company generates a mailing list etc.,
as per step 2 onward.
b. By phone: Rarely used. This must be done on a recorded line.
Fidelity Legal and the Fund will supply the necessary procedures
and script if a phone resolicitation were to be required.
2/1/88
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