Contract
EX 99-B.8.1 |
TABLE OF CONTENTS |
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Definition |
Page |
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ARTICLE I............................................................................................................................ |
2 |
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Sale of Fund Shares.......................................................................................................... |
2 |
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ARTCILE II........................................................................................................................... |
4 |
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Representations and Warranties.......................................................................................... |
4 |
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ARTICLE III......................................................................................................................... |
5 |
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Prospectuses and Proxy Solicitations..................................................................................... |
5 |
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ARTICLE IV......................................................................................................................... |
6 |
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Sales Material and Information........................................................................................... |
6 |
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ARTICLE V........................................................................................................................... |
8 |
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Servicing Fees................................................................................................................. |
8 |
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ARTICLE VI......................................................................................................................... |
8 |
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Expenses........................................................................................................................ |
8 |
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ARTICLE VII........................................................................................................................ |
9 |
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Indemnification............................................................................................................... |
9 |
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ARTICLE VIII....................................................................................................................... |
12 |
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Applicable Law............................................................................................................... |
12 |
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ARTICLE IX......................................................................................................................... |
13 |
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Termination................................................................................................................... |
13 |
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ARTICLE X........................................................................................................................... |
15 |
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Notices........................................................................................................................... |
15 |
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ARTICLE XI......................................................................................................................... |
15 |
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Miscellaneous.................................................................................................................. |
15 |
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SCHEDULE A........................................................................................................................ |
18 |
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SCHEDULE B........................................................................................................................ |
19 |
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SCHEDULE C........................................................................................................................ |
20 |
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT FOR RETAIL MUTUAL FUNDS |
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this 1st day of October, 2000 by and among Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity Company ("Insurer"), a Connecticut corporation, on its own behalf and on behalf of each segregated asset account of Insurer set forth on Schedule "A" as may be amended from time to time (each such account hereinafter referred to as the "Account"), AIM Equity Funds (the "Trust"), on behalf of its series portfolios set forth on Schedule "B" as may be amended from time to time (the "Fund"), and A I M Distributors, Inc. (the "Underwriter"), a Delaware corporation. |
ARTICLE I |
1.1 The Underwriter on behalf of the Fund agrees to sell to Insurer those Fund shares 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, Insurer 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 receive notice of such order by 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the next Business Day. Business Day shall mean any day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading which is, also a "Business Day of the Fund" as that term is defined in the Fund prospectus. |
1.8 In lieu of applicable provisions set forth in paragraphs 1.1 through 1.7 above, the parties may agree to provide pricing information, execute orders and wire payments for purchases and redemptions through National Securities Clearing Corporation's Fund/SERV system in which case such activities will be governed by the provisions set forth in Schedule C to this Agreement. |
ARTICLE II |
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2.2 The Trust 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 all applicable federal and state securities laws and that the Trust is and shall remain registered under the 1940 Act. The Trust 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. |
ARTICLE III |
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(i) |
solicit voting instructions from owners of or participants in the Contract; |
(ii) |
vote the Fund shares in accordance with instructions received from owners of or participants in the Contract; and |
(iii) |
with respect to Contracts registered under the 1933 Act, vote the Fund shares for which no instructions have been received in the same proportion as Fund shares of such Fund for which instructions have been received (so long as and to the extent that the SEC continues to interpret the 1940 Act to require pass-through voting privileges for variable contract owners). Insurer reserves the right to vote the Fund shares held in any segregated asset account in its own right, to the extent permitted by law. |
3.5 The Trust will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act requiring voting by shareholders. |
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ARTICLE IV |
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4.1 Upon request, Insurer will provide to the Trust at least one (1) complete copy of all prospectus, disclosure memoranda, reports, sales literature and other promotional materials, applications for exemptive relief, requests for no action letters, and all amendments, if any, that relate to the Fund. |
4.2 Insurer shall not give any information or make any representations or statements regarding or on behalf of the Trust or the Underwriter or any of their affiliates without the prior written permission of the Trust or the Underwriter or the designee of either. Advertising and literature with respect to the Fund prepared by Insurer or its agents for use in marketing shares of the Fund to Contract owners or Plan participants, except "standardized material" as defined hereafter, shall be submitted to Underwriter for review and approval before such material is used with the general public or any Contract owner, Plan, Plan representative, or participant. Underwriter shall advise the submitting party in writing within ten (10) Business Days of receipt of such materials of its approval or disapproval of such materials. For purposes of this paragraph, "standardized material" is sales literature or other promotional material that is not materially different, in format and/or content, from materials that have previously been reviewed and authorized for use under the terms of this paragraph. |
ARTICLE V |
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ARTICLE VI |
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ARTICLE VII |
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7.1(a) Insurer agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, its affiliates (including the Underwriter and each of its trustees and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Fund or its affiliates within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 7.1) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of Insurer) 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 prospectus or disclosure memorandum for the Contracts or contained in the Contracts or sales literature for the Contracts (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, provided that this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to Insurer by or on behalf of the Fund for use in the prospectus or disclosure memorandum 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's 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 Insurer or persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of Insurer or persons under its control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Fund's 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 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 Trust by or on behalf of Insurer; or |
(iv) |
arise as a result of any failure by Insurer 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 Insurer in this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by Insurer, as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 7.1 (b) and 7.1 (c) hereof. |
7.1 (b) Insurer shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation incurred or assessed against an Indemnified Party as such may arise from such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations or duties under this Agreement or to the Fund, whichever is applicable. |
7.1 (c) Insurer 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 Insurer 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 Insurer of any such claim shall not relieve Insurer 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, Insurer shall be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense of such action. Insurer also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from Insurer to such party of Insurers election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and Insurer 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. |
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(i) |
arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus or sales literature of the Fund (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, provided that this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Underwriter or Trust by or on behalf of Insurer for use in the Registration Statement or prospectus for the Fund or in sales literature (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing) or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of Fund's shares; or |
(ii) |
arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other than statements or representations contained in the prospectus or disclosure memoranda or sales literature for the Contracts not supplied by the Trust, the Underwriter or persons under their control) or wrongful conduct of the Trust or Underwriter or persons under their control, with respect to the sale or distribution of Fund's shares; or |
(iii) |
arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the prospectus, disclosure memoranda, 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 Insurer by or on behalf of the Fund; or |
(iv) |
arise as a result of any failure by the Trust 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 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 7.2(b) and 7.2(c) hereof. |
7.2(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 Insurer or the Account, whichever is applicable. |
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ARTICLE VIII |
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8.1 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware. |
8.2 This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the 1933 1934 and 1940 Acts and the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder including such exemptions from those statutes rules and regulations as the SEC may grant. |
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ARTICLE IX |
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9.1 This Agreement shall terminate: |
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(a) |
at the option of any party upon sixty (60) days' advance written notice to the other parties; or |
(b) |
at the option of Insurer to the extent that shares of Fund are not reasonably available to meet the requirements of the Contracts as determined by Insurer in its sole discretion; or |
(c) |
at the option of the Trust in the event that formal administrative proceedings are instituted against Insurer by the NASD, the SEC, any Insurance Commissioner, or any other regulatory body regarding Insurer 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's shares; provided, however, that the Trust determines in its sole judgment exercised in good faith, that any such administrative proceedings will have a material adverse effect upon the ability of Insurer to perform its obligations under this Agreement; or |
(d) |
at the option of Insurer in the event that formal administrative proceedings are instituted against the Trust or Underwriter by the NASD, the SEC, any Insurance Commissioner, or any other regulatory body regarding the Trust's duties under this Agreement or related to the sale of the Contracts; provided, however, that Insurer 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 Trust or Underwriter to perform their obligations under this Agreement; or |
(e) |
with respect to any Account that intends to change the funding vehicle and such change would require approval of the State Insurance Department, with written notice to the Trust or the Underwriter contemporaneously with application to the State Insurance Department, upon requisite approval of the State Insurance Department and Contract owners, if necessary; or |
(f) |
at the option of Insurer, 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 theunderlying investment media of the Contracts issued or to be issued by Insurer; or |
(g) |
at the option of Insurer, if the Trust ceases to qualify as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Code or under any successor or similar provision, or if Insurer reasonably believes that the Trust may fail to so qualify. |
9.2 It is understood and agreed that the right of any party hereto to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1 (a) may be exercised for any reason or for no reason. |
9.3 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: |
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(a) |
In the event that any termination is based upon the provisions of Section 9.1 (a) 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 Sections 9.1 (c) or 9.1 (d) of this Agreement, such prior written-notice shall be given at least ninety (90) days before the effective date of termination. |
9.4 Effect of Termination. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Trust and the Underwriter shall, at Insurer's option, continue to make available additional Fund shares pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for all Contracts in effect on the effective date of termination of this Agreement (the "Existing Contracts"), but not to new Contracts or participants. 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Trustees of the Trust may refuse to sell shares of any Fund to any person, or suspend or terminate the offering of shares of the Fund if such action is required by law or by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction or is, in the sole discretion of the Board of Trustees acting in good faith and in light of their fiduciary duties under federal and any applicable state laws, necessary in the best interests of the shareholders of such Fund. |
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ARTICLE X |
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Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or certified mail to the applicable party at the address set forth below or at such other address as may be specified in writing to the other parties. |
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AIM Equity Funds |
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If to the Underwriter: |
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A I M Distributors, Inc. |
If to Insurer: |
Aetna Life Insurance and Annuity Company |
ARTICLE XI |
11.1 All persons dealing with the Trust and the Underwriter must look solely to the property of the Trust for the enforcement of any claims against the Trust as neither the Board, officers, agents or shareholders of the Trust assume any personal liability for obligations entered into on behalf of the Trust. |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be executed in its name and on its behalf by its duly authorized representative and its seal to be hereunder affixed hereto as of the date specified below. |
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AIM EQUITY FUNDS |
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Attest: |
By: |
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Name: |
/s/ P. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx |
Name: |
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx |
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Title: |
Assistant Secretary |
Title: |
President |
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AIM DISTRIBUTORS, INC. |
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Attest: |
By: |
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Name: |
/s/ P. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx |
Name: |
/s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx |
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Title: |
Assistant Secretary |
Title: |
President |
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AETNA LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY |
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Attest: |
By: |
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Name: |
Name: |
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Title: |
Title: |
SCHEDULE "A" |
Separate Accounts Variable Annuity Account C Variable Annuity Account D Variable Annuity Account F |
SCHEDULE "B" |
Mutual Fund |
AIM Blue Chip Fund |
SCHEDULE "C" |
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1. As provided in Section 1.8 of the Fund Participation Agreement, the parties hereby agree to provide pricing information, execute orders and wire payments for purchases and redemptions of Fund shares through National Securities Clearing Corporation ("NSCC") and its subsidiary systems as follows: |
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(a) |
Underwriter or the Fund will furnish to the Insurer or its affiliate through NSCC's Mutual Fund Profile System ("MFPS") (1) the most current net asset value information for each Fund, (2) a schedule of anticipated dividend and distribution payment dates for each Fund, which is subject to change without prior notice, ordinary income and capital gain dividend rates on the Fund's ex-date, and (3) in the case of fixed income funds that declare daily dividends, the daily accrual or the interest rate factor. All such information shall be furnished to the Insurer or its affiliate by 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time on each business day that the Fund is open for business (each a "Business Day") or at such other time as that information becomes available. Changes in pricing information will be communicated to both NSCC and the Insurer. |
(b) |
Upon receipt of Fund purchase, exchange and redemption instructions for acceptance as of the time at which a Fund's net asset value is calculated as specified in such Fund's prospectus ("Close of Trading") on each Business Day ("Instructions"), and upon its determination that there are good funds with respect to Instructions involving the purchase of Shares, the Insurer or its affiliate will calculate the net purchase or redemption order for each Fund. Orders for net purchases or net redemptions derived from Instructions received by the Insurer or its affiliate prior to the Close of Trading on any given Business Day will be sent to the Defined Contribution Interface of NSCC's Mutual Fund Settlement, Entry and Registration Verification System ("Fund/SERV") by 5:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the next Business Day. Subject to the Insurer's or its affiliate's compliance with the foregoing, the Insurer or its affiliate will be considered the agent of the Underwriter and the Trust, and the Business Day on which Instructions are received by the Insurer or its affiliate in proper form prior to the Close of Trading will be the date as of which shares of the Fund are deemed purchased, exchanged or redeemed pursuant to such Instructions. Instructions received in proper form by the Insurer its affiliate after the Close of Trading on any given Business Day will be treated as if received on the next following Business Day. Dividends and capital gains distributions will be automatically reinvested at net asset value in accordance with the Fund's then current prospectuses. |
(c) |
The Insurer or its affiliate will wire payment for net purchase orders by the Fund's NSCC Firm Number, in immediately available funds, to an NSCC settling bank account designated by the Insurer or its affiliate no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on the same Business Day such purchase orders are communicated to NSCC. For purchases of shares of daily dividend accrual funds, those shares will not begin to accrue dividends until the day the payment for those shares is received. |
(d) |
NSCC will wire payment for net redemption orders by Fund, in immediately available funds, to an NSCC settling bank account designated by the Insurer or its affiliate, by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the Business Day such redemption orders are communicated to NSCC, except as provided in a Fund's prospectus and statement of additional information. |
(e) |
With respect to (c) or (d) above, if Underwriter does not send a confirmation of the Insurer's or its affiliate's purchase or redemption order to NSCC by the applicable deadline to be included in that Business Day's payment cycle, payment for such purchases or redemptions will be made the following Business Day. |
(f) |
If on any day the Insurer or its affiliate, or Underwriter is unable to meet the NSCC deadline for the transmission of purchase or redemption orders, it may at its option transmit such orders and make such payments for purchases and redemptions directly to Underwriter or the Insurer or its affiliate, as applicable, as is otherwise provided in the Agreement. |
(g) |
These procedures are subject to any additional terms in each Fund's prospectus and the requirements of applicable law. The Fund reserves the right, at its discretion and without notice, to suspend the sale of shares or withdraw the sale of shares of any Fund. |
2. The Insurer or its affiliate, Underwriter and clearing agents (if applicable) are each required to have entered into membership agreements with NSCC and met all requirements to participate in the MFPS and Fund/SERV systems before these procedures may be utilized. Each party will be bound by the terms of their membership agreement with NSCC and will perform any and all duties, functions, procedures and responsibilities assigned to it and as otherwise established by NS CC applicable to the MFPS and Fund/SERV system and the Networking Matrix Level utilized. |
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3. Except as modified hereby, all other terms and conditions of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. Unless otherwise indicated herein, the terms defined in the Agreement shall have the same meaning as in this Exhibit. |