EXHIBIT (h)(39)(a)
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made this _____ day of ______________ , 2003, by and
among The Xxxxx American Fund (the "Trust"), an open-end management investment
company organized as a Massachusetts business trust, American General Life
Insurance Company, a life insurance company organized as a corporation under the
laws of the State of Texas, (the "Company"), on its own behalf and on behalf of
each segregated asset account of the Company set forth in Schedule A, as may be
amended from time to time (the "Accounts"), and Xxxx Xxxxx & Company,
Incorporated, a Delaware corporation, the Trust's distributor (the
"Distributor").
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") as an open-end management investment company under
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), and has an
effective registration statement relating to the offer and sale of the various
series of its shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933
Act");
WHEREAS, the Trust and the Distributor desire that Trust shares be used as
an investment vehicle for separate accounts established for variable life
insurance policies and variable annuity contracts to be offered by life
insurance companies which have entered into fund participation agreements with
the Trust (the "Participating Insurance Companies");
WHEREAS, shares of beneficial interest in the Trust are divided into the
following series, each with two classes (Class O and Class S), which are
available for purchase by the Company for the Accounts: Xxxxx American Small
Capitalization Portfolio, Xxxxx American Growth Portfolio, Xxxxx American Income
and Growth Portfolio, Xxxxx American Balanced Portfolio, Xxxxx American MidCap
Growth Portfolio, and Xxxxx American Leveraged AllCap Portfolio;
WHEREAS, the Trust has received an order from the Commission, dated
February 17, 1989 (File No. 812-7076), granting Participating Insurance
Companies and their separate accounts exemptions from the provisions of Sections
9(a), 13(a), 15(a) and 15(b) of 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
Portfolios of the Trust to be sold to and held by variable annuity and variable
life insurance separate accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated life
insurance companies (the "Shared Funding Exemptive Order");
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register under the 1933 Act
certain variable life insurance policies and/or variable annuity contracts to be
issued by the Company under which the Portfolios are to be made available as
investment vehicles (the "Contracts");
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register each Account as a unit
investment trust under the 1940 Act unless an exemption from registration under
the 1940 Act is available and the Trust has been so advised;
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WHEREAS, the Company desires to use shares of the specified class or
classes of the portfolios indicated on Schedule A (the "Portfolios") as
investment vehicles for the Accounts;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the parties agree
as follows:
ARTICLE I.
Purchase and Redemption of Trust Portfolio Shares
1.1. For purposes of this Article I, the Company shall be the Trust's agent for
the receipt from each account of purchase orders and requests for
redemption pursuant to the Contracts relating to each Portfolio, provided
that the Company notifies the Trust of such purchase orders and requests
for redemption by 9:30 a.m. Eastern time on the next following Business
Day, as defined in Section 1.3.
1.2. The Trust shall make shares of specified class or classes of the Portfolios
available to the Accounts at the net asset value next computed after
receipt of a purchase order by the Trust (or its agent), as established in
accordance with the provisions of the then current prospectus of the Trust
describing Portfolio purchase procedures. The Company will transmit orders
from time to time to the Trust for the purchase and redemption of shares of
the Portfolios. The Trustees of the Trust (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 if, in the sole discretion of
the Trustees acting in good faith and in light of their fiduciary duties
under federal and any applicable state laws, such action is deemed in the
best interests of the shareholders of such Portfolio.
1.3. The Company shall pay for the purchase of shares of a Portfolio on behalf
of an Account with federal funds to be transmitted by wire to the Trust,
with the reasonable expectation of receipt by the Trust by 2:00 p.m.
Eastern time on the next Business Day after the Trust (or its agent)
receives the purchase order. Upon receipt by the Trust of the federal funds
so wired, such funds shall cease to be the responsibility of the Company
and shall become the responsibility of the Trust for this purpose.
"Business Day" shall mean any day on which the New York Stock Exchange is
open for trading and on which the Trust calculates its net asset value
pursuant to the rules of the Commission.
1.4. The Trust will redeem for cash any full or fractional shares of any
Portfolio, when requested by the Company on behalf of an Account, at the
shares' net asset value next computed after receipt by the Trust (or its
agent) of the request for redemption, as established in accordance with the
provisions of the then current prospectus of the Trust describing Portfolio
redemption procedures. The Trust shall make payment for such shares in the
manner established from time to time by the Trust. Proceeds of redemption
with respect to a Portfolio will normally be paid to the Company for an
Account in
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federal funds transmitted by wire to the Company by order of the Trust
with the reasonable expectation of receipt by the Company by 2:00 p.m.
Eastern time on the next Business Day after the receipt by the Trust
(or its agent) of the request for redemption. Such payment may be
delayed if, for example, the Portfolio's cash position so requires or
if extraordinary market conditions exist, but in no event shall payment
be delayed for a greater period than is permitted by the 1940 Act. The
Trust reserves the right to suspend the right of redemption, consistent
with Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act and any rules thereunder.
1.5. Payments for the purchase of shares of the Trust's Portfolios by the
Company under Section 1.3 and payments for the redemption of shares of
the Trust's Portfolios under Section 1.4 on any Business Day may be
netted against one another for the purpose of determining the amount of
any wire transfer.
1.6. Issuance and transfer of the Trust's Portfolio shares will be by book
entry only. Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or the
Accounts. Portfolio Shares purchased from the Trust will be recorded in
the appropriate title for each Account or the appropriate subaccount of
each Account.
1.7. The Trust shall furnish, on or before the ex-dividend date, notice to
the Company of any income dividends or capital gain distributions
payable on the applicable class of shares of any Portfolio of the
Trust. The Company hereby elects to receive all such income dividends
and capital gain distributions as are payable on a Portfolio's shares
in additional shares of the same class of that Portfolio. The Trust
shall notify the Company of the number of shares so issued as payment
of such dividends and distributions.
1.8. The Trust shall calculate the net asset value of each class of each
Portfolio on each Business Day, as defined in Section 1.3. The Trust
shall make the net asset value per share for each class of each
Portfolio available to the Company or its designated agent on a daily
basis as soon as reasonably practical after the net asset values are
calculated and shall use its best efforts to make such net asset values
are available to the Company by 6:30 p.m. Eastern time each Business
Day.
1.9. The Trust agrees that its Portfolio shares will be sold only to
Participating Insurance Companies and their segregated asset accounts,
to the Fund Sponsor or its affiliates and to such other entities as may
be permitted by Section 817(h) of the Code, the regulations hereunder,
or judicial or administrative interpretations thereof. No shares of any
Portfolio will be sold directly to the general public. The Company
agrees that it will use Trust shares only for the purposes of funding
the Contracts through the Accounts listed in Schedule A, as amended
from time to time.
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1.10. The Trust agrees that all Participating Insurance Companies shall have
the obligations and responsibilities regarding pass-through voting and
conflicts of interest corresponding materially to those contained in
Section 2.11 and Article IV of this Agreement.
ARTICLE II.
Obligations of the Parties
2.1. The Trust shall prepare and be responsible for filing with the
Commission and any state regulators requiring such filing all
shareholder reports, notices, proxy materials (or similar materials
such as voting instruction solicitation materials), prospectuses and
statements of additional information of the Trust. The Trust shall bear
the costs of registration and qualification of shares of the
Portfolios, preparation and filing of the documents listed in this
Section 2.1 and all taxes to which an issuer is subject on the issuance
and transfer of its shares.
2.2. The Company shall distribute such prospectuses, proxy statements and
periodic reports of the Trust to the Contract owners as required to be
distributed to such Contract owners under applicable federal or state
law.
2.3. The Trust shall provide such documentation (including a final copy of
the Trust's prospectus as set in type or in camera-ready copy) and
other assistance as is reasonably necessary in order for the Company to
print together in one document the current prospectus for the Contracts
issued by the Company and the current prospectus for the Trust. The
Trust shall bear the expense of printing copies of its current
prospectus that will be distributed to existing Contract owners, and
the Company shall bear the expense of printing copies of the Trust's
prospectus that are used in connection with offering the Contracts
issued by the Company.
2.4. The Trust and the Distributor shall provide (1) at the Trust's expense,
one copy of the Trust's current Statement of Additional Information
("SAI") to the Company and to any Contract owner who requests such SAI,
(2) at the Company's expense, such additional copies of the Trust's
current SAI as the Company shall reasonably request and that the
Company shall require in accordance with applicable law in connection
with offering the Contracts issued by the Company.
2.5. The Trust, at its expense, shall provide the Company with copies of its
proxy material, periodic reports to shareholders and other
communications to shareholders in such quantity as the Company shall
reasonably require for purposes of distributing to Contract owners. The
Trust, at the Company's expense, shall provide the Company with copies
of its periodic reports to shareholders and other communications to
shareholders in such quantity as the Company shall reasonably request
for use in connection with offering the Contracts issued by the
Company. If requested by the Company in lieu thereof, the Trust shall
provide such documentation (including a final copy of the Trust's proxy
materials, periodic reports to shareholders and other communications to
shareholders, as set in type
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or in camera-ready copy) and other assistance as reasonably necessary
in order for the Company to print such shareholder communications for
distribution to Contract owners.
2.6. The Company agrees and acknowledges that the Distributor is the sole
owner of the name and xxxx "Xxxxx" and that all use of any designation
comprised in whole or part of such name or xxxx under this Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of the Distributor. Except as provided in
Section 2.5, the Company shall not use any such name or xxxx on its own
behalf or on behalf of the Accounts or Contracts in any registration
statement, advertisement, sales literature or other materials relating
to the Accounts or Contracts without the prior written consent of the
Distributor. Upon termination of this Agreement for any reason, the
Company shall cease all use of any such name or xxxx as soon as
reasonably practicable.
2.7. The Company shall furnish, or cause to be furnished, to the Trust or
its designee a copy of each Contract prospectus and/or statement of
additional information describing the Contracts, each report to
Contract owners, proxy statement, application for exemption or request
for no-action letter in which the Trust or the Distributor is named
contemporaneously with the filing of such document with the Commission.
The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the Trust
or its designee each piece of sales literature or other promotional
material in which the Trust or the Distributor is named, at least five
Business Days prior to its use. No such material shall be used if the
Trust or its designee reasonably objects to such use within three
Business Days after receipt of such material.
2.8. The Company shall not give any information or make any representations
or statements on behalf of the Trust or concerning the Trust or the
Distributor in connection with the sale of the Contracts other than
information or representations contained in and accurately derived from
the registration statement or prospectus for the Trust shares (as such
registration statement and prospectus may be amended or supplemented
from time to time), annual and semi-annual reports of the Trust,
Trust-sponsored proxy statements, or in sales literature or other
promotional material approved by the Trust or its designee, except as
required by legal process or regulatory authorities or with the prior
written permission of the Trust, the Distributor or their respective
designees. The Trust and the Distributor agree to respond to any
request for approval on a prompt and timely basis. The Company shall
adopt and implement procedures reasonably designed to ensure that
"broker only" materials including information therein about the Trust
or the Distributor are not distributed to existing or prospective
Contract owners.
2.9. The Trust shall use its best efforts to provide the Company, on a
timely basis, with such information about the Trust, the Portfolios and
the Distributor, in such form as the Company may reasonably require, as
the Company shall reasonably request in connection with the preparation
of registration statements, prospectuses and annual and semi-annual
reports pertaining to the Contracts.
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2.10. The Trust and the Distributor shall not give, and agree that no
affiliate of either of them shall give, any information or make any
representations or statements on behalf of the Company or concerning
the Company, the Accounts or the Contracts other than information or
representations contained in and accurately derived from the
registration statement or prospectus for the Contracts (as such
registration statement and prospectus may be amended or supplemented
from time to time), or in materials approved by the Company for
distribution including sales literature or other promotional materials,
except as required by legal process or regulatory authorities or with
the prior written permission of the Company. The Company agrees to
respond to any request for approval on a prompt and timely basis.
2.11. So long as, and to the extent that, the Commission interprets the 1940
Act to require pass-through voting privileges for Contract owners, the
Company will provide pass-through voting privileges to Contract owners
whose cash values are invested, through the registered Accounts, in
shares of one or more Portfolios of the Trust. The Trust shall require
all Participating Insurance Companies to calculate voting privileges in
the same manner and the Company shall be responsible for assuring that
the Accounts calculate voting privileges in the manner established by
the Trust. With respect to each registered Account, the Company will
vote shares of each Portfolio of the Trust held by a registered Account
and for which no timely voting instructions from Contract owners are
received in the same proportion as those shares for which voting
instructions are received. The Company and its agents will in no way
recommend or oppose or interfere with the solicitation of proxies for
Portfolio shares held to fund the Contacts without the prior written
consent of the Trust, which consent may be withheld in the Trust's sole
discretion. The Company reserves the right, to the extent permitted by
law, to vote shares held in any Account in its sole discretion.
2.12. The Company and the Trust will each provide to the other information
about the results of any regulatory examination relating to the
Contracts or the Trust, including relevant portions of any "deficiency
letter" and any response thereto.
2.13. No compensation shall be paid by the Trust to the Company, or by the
Company to the Trust, under this Agreement (except for specified
expense reimbursements). However, nothing herein shall prevent the
parties hereto from otherwise agreeing to perform, and arranging for
appropriate compensation for, other services relating to the Trust, the
Accounts or both.
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ARTICLE III.
Representations and Warranties
3.1. The Company represents and warrants that it is an insurance company
duly organized and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Texas and that it has legally and validly established each Account as a
segregated asset account under such law as of the date set forth in
Schedule A, and that _________________________________, the principal
underwriter for the Contracts, is registered as a broker-dealer under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is a member in good standing of
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
3.2. The Company represents and warrants that it 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
and cause each Account to remain so registered to serve as a segregated
asset account for the Contracts, unless an exemption from registration
is available.
3.3. The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts will be
registered under the 1933 Act unless an exemption from registration is
available prior to any issuance or sale of the Contracts; the Contracts
will be issued and sold in compliance in all material respects with all
applicable federal and state laws; and the sale of the Contracts shall
comply in all material respects with state insurance law suitability
requirements.
3.4. The Trust represents and warrants that it is duly 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 and
the rules and regulations thereunder.
3.5. The Trust and the Distributor represent and warrant that the Portfolio
shares offered and sold pursuant to this Agreement will be registered
under the 1933 Act and sold in accordance with all applicable federal
and state laws, and the Trust shall be registered under the 1940 Act
prior to and at the time of any issuance or sale of such shares. The
Trust shall amend its registration statement 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 Trust shall register and qualify
its shares for sale in accordance with the laws of the various states
only if and to the extent deemed advisable by the Trust.
3.6. The Trust represents and warrants that the investments of each
Portfolio will comply with the diversification requirements for
variable annuity, endowment or life insurance contracts set forth in
Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), and the rules and regulations thereunder, including without
limitation Treasury Regulation 1.817-5, and will notify the Company
immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing any Portfolio
has ceased to comply or might not so comply
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and will immediately take all reasonable steps to adequately diversify
the Portfolio to achieve compliance within the grace period afforded by
Regulation 1.817-5.
3.7. The Trust represents and warrants that it is currently qualified as a
"regulated investment company" under Subchapter M of the Code, that it
will make every effort to maintain such qualification and will notify
the Company immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing it
has ceased to so qualify or might not so qualify in the future.
3.8. The Trust represents and warrants that it, its directors, officers,
employees and others dealing with the money or securities, or both, of
a Portfolio shall at all times be covered by a blanket fidelity bond or
similar coverage for the benefit of the Trust in an amount not less
than the minimum coverage required by Rule 17g-1 or other applicable
regulations under the 1940 Act. Such bond shall include coverage for
larceny and embezzlement and be issued by a reputable bonding company.
3.9. The Distributor represents that it is duly organized and validly
existing under the laws of the State of Delaware and that it is
registered, and will remain registered, during the term of this
Agreement, as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
and is a member in good standing of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc.
ARTICLE IV.
Potential Conflicts
4.1. The parties acknowledge that a Portfolio's shares may be made available
for investment to other Participating Insurance Companies. In such
event, the Trustees will monitor the Trust for the existence of any
material irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the contract
owners of all Participating Insurance Companies. A material
irreconcilable conflict may arise for a variety of reasons, including:
(a) an action by any state insurance regulatory authority; (b) a change
in applicable federal or state insurance, tax or securities laws or
regulations, or a public ruling, private letter ruling, no-action or
interpretative letter, or any similar action by insurance, tax, or
securities regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative or judicial
decision in any relevant proceeding; (d) the manner in which the
investments of any Portfolio are being managed; (e) a difference in
voting instructions given by variable annuity contract and variable
life insurance contract owners; or (f) a decision by an insurer to
disregard the voting instructions of contract owners. The Trust shall
promptly inform the Company of any determination by the Trustees that a
material irreconcilable conflict exists and of the implications
thereof.
4.2. The Company agrees to report promptly any potential or existing
conflicts of which it is aware to the Trustees. The Company will assist
the Trustees in carrying out their responsibilities under the Shared
Funding Exemptive Order by providing the Trustees with all information
reasonably necessary for and requested by the Trustees to consider any
issues raised including, but not limited to, information as to a
decision by the
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Company to disregard Contract owner voting instructions. All
communications from the Company to the Trustees may be made in care of
the Trust.
4.3. If it is determined by a majority of the Trustees, or a majority of the
disinterested Trustees, that a material irreconcilable conflict exists
that affects the interests of contract owners, the Company shall, in
cooperation with other Participating Insurance Companies whose contract
owners are also affected, at its own expense and to the extent
reasonably practicable (as determined by the Trustees) take whatever
steps are necessary to remedy or eliminate the material irreconcilable
conflict, which steps could include: (a) withdrawing the assets
allocable to some or all of the Accounts from the Trust or any
Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a different investment medium,
including (but not limited to) another Portfolio of the Trust, or
submitting the question of whether or not 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 (b)
establishing a new registered management investment company or managed
separate account.
4.4. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a decision by
the Company to disregard Contract owner voting instructions and that
decision represents a minority position or would preclude a majority
vote, the Company may be required, at the Trust's election, to withdraw
the affected Account's investment in the Trust and terminate this
Agreement with respect to such Account; provided, however that such
withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by
the foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a
majority of the disinterested Trustees. Any such withdrawal and
termination must take place within six (6) months after the Trust gives
written notice that this provision is being implemented. Until the end
of such six (6) month period, the Trust shall continue to accept and
implement orders by the Company for the purchase and redemption of
shares of the Trust.
4.5. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a particular state
insurance regulator's decision applicable to the Company conflicts with
the majority of other state regulators, then the Company will withdraw
the affected Account's investment in the Trust and terminate this
Agreement with respect to such Account within six (6) months after the
Trustees inform the Company in writing that the Trust has determined
that such decision has created a material irreconcilable 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 Trustees.
Until the end of such six (6) month period, the Trust shall continue to
accept and implement orders by the Company for the purchase and
redemption of shares of the Trust.
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4.6. For purposes of Section 4.3 through 4.6 of this Agreement, a majority of
the disinterested Trustees shall determine whether any proposed action
adequately remedies any material irreconcilable conflict, but in no event
will the Trust be required to establish a new funding medium for any
Contract. The Company shall not be required 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
material irreconcilable conflict. In the event that the Trustees determine
that any proposed action does not adequately remedy any material
irreconcilable conflict, then the Company will withdraw the Account's
investment in the Trust and terminate this Agreement within six (6) months
after the Trustees inform 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
Trustees.
4.7. The Company shall at least annually submit to the Trustees such reports,
materials or data as the Trustees may reasonably request so that the
Trustees may fully carry out the duties imposed upon them by the Shared
Funding Exemptive Order, and said reports, materials and data shall be
submitted more frequently if reasonably deemed appropriate by the
Trustees.
4.8. If and to the extent that Rule 6e-3(T) is amended, or Rule 6e-3 is
adopted, to provide exemptive relief from any provision of the 1940 Act or
the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to mixed or shared funding
(as defined in the Shared Funding Exemptive Order) on terms and conditions
materially different from those contained in the Shared Funding Exemptive
Order, then the Trust and/or the Participating Insurance Companies, as
appropriate, shall take such steps as may be necessary to comply with Rule
6e-3(T), as amended, or Rule 6e-3, as adopted, to the extent such rules
are applicable.
ARTICLE V.
Indemnification
5.1. Indemnification By the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless the Distributor, the Trust and each of its Trustees, officers,
employees and agents and each person, if any, who controls the Trust
within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the
"Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 5.1) against any and
all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in
settlement with the written consent of the Company, which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld) or expenses (including the reasonable costs
of investigating or defending any alleged loss, claim, damage, liability
or expense and reasonable legal counsel fees incurred in connection
therewith) (collectively, "Losses"), to which the Indemnified Parties may
become subject under any statute or regulation, or at common law or
otherwise, insofar as such Losses are related to the sale or acquisition
of the Contracts or Trust shares and:
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(a) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements or alleged untrue
statements of any material fact contained in a registration statement
or prospectus for the Contracts or in the Contracts themselves or in
sales literature generated or approved by the Company on behalf of the
Contracts or Accounts (or any amendment or supplement to any of the
foregoing) (collectively, "Company Documents" for the purposes of this
Article V), 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 indemnity 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 was accurately
derived from written information furnished to the Company by or on
behalf of the Trust for use in Company Documents or otherwise for use
in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Trust shares; or
(b) arise out of or result from statements or representations (other than
statements or representations contained in and accurately derived from
Trust Documents as defined in Section 5.2(a)) or wrongful conduct of
the Company or persons under its control, with respect to the sale or
acquisition of the Contracts or Trust shares; or
(c) arise out of or result from any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in Trust Documents as defined
in Section 5.2(a) 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 statement or omission was
made in reliance upon and accurately derived from written information
furnished to the Trust by or on behalf of the Company; or
(d) arise out of or result from any failure by the Company to provide the
services or furnish the materials required under the terms of this
Agreement; or
(e) 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; or
(f) arise out of or result from the provision by the Company to the Trust
of insufficient or incorrect information regarding the purchase or
sale of shares of any Portfolio, or the failure of the Company to
provide such information on a timely basis.
5.2. Indemnification by the Distributor. The Distributor agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company and each of its directors, officers, employees,
and agents and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the
meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified
Parties" for the purposes of this Section 5.2) against any and all losses,
claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with
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the written consent of the Distributor, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld) or expenses (including the reasonable costs of investigating or
defending any alleged loss, claim, damage, liability or expense and reasonable
legal counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) (collectively, "Losses"),
to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute or
regulation, or at common law or otherwise, insofar as such Losses are related to
the sale or acquisition of the Contracts or Trust shares and:
(a) 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 Trust (or any amendment or supplement thereto)
(collectively, "Trust Documents" for the purposes of this Article V), 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 indemnity
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 was
accurately derived from written information furnished to the Distributor or
the Trust by or on behalf of the Company for use in Trust Documents or
otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Trust
shares; or
(b) arise out of or result from statements or representations (other than
statements or representations contained in and accurately derived from
Company Documents) or wrongful conduct of the Distributor or persons under
its control, with respect to the sale or acquisition of the Contracts or
Portfolio shares; or
(c) arise out of or result from any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in Company Documents 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
statement or omission was made in reliance upon and accurately derived from
written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Trust;
or
(d) arise out of or result from any failure by the Distributor or the Trust to
provide the services or furnish the materials required under the terms of
this Agreement; or
(e) arise out of or result from any material breach of any representation
and/or warranty made by the Distributor or the Trust in this Agreement or
arise out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by
the Distributor or the Trust.
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5.3. None of the Company, the Trust or the Distributor shall be liable under the
indemnification provisions of Sections 5.1 or 5.2, as applicable, with
respect to any Losses incurred or assessed against an Indemnified Party
that 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.
5.4. None of the Company, the Trust or the Distributor shall be liable under the
indemnification provisions of Sections 5.1 or 5.2, as applicable, with
respect to any claim made against an Indemnified party unless such
Indemnified Party shall have notified the other party in writing within a
reasonable time after the summons, or other first written notification,
giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon
or otherwise received by such Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified
Party shall have received notice of service upon or other notification to
any designated agent), but failure to notify the party against whom
indemnification is sought of any such claim shall not relieve that party
from any liability which it may have to the Indemnified Party in the
absence of Sections 5.1 and 5.2.
5.5. In case any such action is brought against an Indemnified Party, the
indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in
the defense of such action. The indemnifying party also shall be entitled
to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
party named in the action. After notice from the indemnifying party to the
Indemnified Party of an election to assume such defense, the Indemnified
Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained
by it, and the indemnifying party will not be liable to the Indemnified
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.
ARTICLE VI.
Termination
6.1. This Agreement shall terminate:
(a) at the option of any party upon 90 days advance written notice to the
other parties, unless a shorter time is agreed to by the parties;
(b) at the option of the Trust or the Distributor if the Contracts issued
by the Company cease to qualify as annuity contracts or life insurance
contracts, as applicable, under the Code or if the Contracts are not
registered, issued or sold in accordance with applicable state and/or
federal law; or
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(c) at the option of any party upon a determination by a majority of the
Trustees of the Trust, or a majority of its disinterested Trustees,
that a material irreconcilable conflict exists; or
(d) at the option of the Company upon institution of formal proceedings
against the Trust or the Distributor by the NASD, the SEC, or any
state securities or insurance department or any other regulatory body
regarding the Trust's or the Distributor's duties under this Agreement
or related to the sale of Trust shares or the operation of the Trust;
or
(e) at the option of the Company if the Trust or a Portfolio fails to meet
the diversification requirements specified in Section 3.6 hereof; or
(f) at the option of the Company if shares of the Series are not
reasonably available to meet the requirements of the Variable
Contracts issued by the Company, as determined by the Company, and
upon prompt notice by the Company to the other parties; or
(g) at the option of the Company in the event any of the shares of the
Portfolio 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 Variable
Contracts issued or to be issued by the Company; or
(h) at the option of the Company, if the Portfolio fails to qualify as a
Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Code; or
(i) at the option of the Distributor if it shall determine in its sole
judgment exercised in good faith, that the Company and/or its
affiliated companies has suffered a material adverse change in its
business, operations, financial condition or prospects since the date
of this Agreement or is the subject of material adverse publicity.
6.2. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Trust shall, at the
option of the Company, continue to make available additional shares of any
Portfolio and redeem shares of any Portfolio pursuant to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement for all Contracts in effect on the effective
date of termination of this Agreement.
6.3. The provisions of Article V shall survive the termination of this
Agreement, and the provisions of Article IV and Section 2.9 shall survive
the termination of this Agreement as long as shares of the Trust are held
on behalf of Contract owners in accordance with Section 6.2.
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ARTICLE VII.
Notices
Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or certified
mail to the other party at the address of such party set forth below or at such
other address as such party may from time to time specify in writing to the
other party.
If to the Trust or its Distributor:
Xxxx Xxxxx Management, Inc. Xxxx Xxxxx Management, Inc.
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx 00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxx Xxxxxxxx Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
(000) 000-0000 (000) 000-0000
If to the Company:
American General Life Insurance Company
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, X00
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: General Counsel
ARTICLE VIII.
Miscellaneous
8.1. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference
only and in no way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or
otherwise affect their construction or effect.
8.2. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which
taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
8.3. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court
decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of the Agreement shall
not be affected thereby.
8.4. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof interpreted
under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. It shall
also be subject to the provisions of the federal securities laws and the
rules and regulations thereunder and to any orders of the Commission
granting exemptive relief therefrom and the conditions of such orders.
Copies of any such orders shall be promptly forwarded by the Trust to the
Company.
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8.5. All liabilities of the Trust arising, directly or indirectly, under this
Agreement, of any and every nature whatsoever, shall be satisfied solely
out of the assets of the Trust and no Trustee, officer, agent or holder of
shares of beneficial interest of the Trust shall be personally liable for
any such liabilities.
8.6. Each party shall cooperate with each other party and all appropriate
governmental authorities (including without limitation the Commission, the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and state insurance
regulators) and shall permit such authorities reasonable access to its
books and records in connection with any investigation or inquiry relating
to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
8.7. The rights, remedies and obligations contained in this Agreement are
cumulative and are in addition to any and all rights, remedies and
obligations, at law or in equity, which the parties hereto are entitled to
under state and federal laws.
8.8. This Agreement shall not be exclusive in any respect.
8.9. Neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder may be
assigned by either party without the prior written approval of the other
party.
8.10. No provisions of this Agreement may be amended or modified in any manner
except by a written agreement properly authorized and executed by both
parties.
8.11. Each party hereto shall, except as required by law or otherwise permitted
by this Agreement, 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 shall not disclose
such confidential information without the written consent of the affected
party unless such information has become publicly available.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused their duly authorized officers
to execute this Participation Agreement as of the date and year first above
written.
Xxxx Xxxxx & Company, Incorporated
By:_________________________________
Name:
Title:
00
Xxx Xxxxx American Fund
By:____________________________________
Name:
Title:
American General Life Insurance Company
By:____________________________________
Name:
Title:
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SCHEDULE A
The Alger American Fund:
Alger American Growth Portfolio Class O
Alger American Leveraged AllCap Portfolio Class O
Alger American Income and Growth Portfolio Class X
Xxxxx American Small Capitalization Portfolio Class X
Xxxxx American Balanced Portfolio Class X
Xxxxx American MidCap Growth Portfolio Class O
The Accounts:
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