PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
-----------------------
AMONG
FAFLIC ALLMERICA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY,
PIMCO VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST,
AND
PIMCO FUNDS DISTRIBUTORS LLC
THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of the 17 day of August, 2000, by and among
First Allmerica Financial Life Insurance Company, (the "Company"), a
Massachusetts life insurance company, on its own behalf and on behalf of each
segregated asset account of the Company set forth on Schedule A hereto as may be
amended from time to time (each account hereinafter referred to as the
"Account"), PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust (the "Fund"), a Delaware business
trust, and PIMCO Funds Distributors LLC (the "Underwriter"), a Delaware limited
liability company.
WHEREAS, the Fund engages in business as an open-end management
investment company and is available to act as the investment vehicle for
separate accounts established for variable life insurance and variable annuity
contracts (the "Variable Insurance Products") to be offered by insurance
companies which have entered into participation agreements with the Fund and
Underwriter ("Participating Insurance Companies");
WHEREAS, the shares of beneficial interest of the Fund are divided into
several series of shares, each designated a "Portfolio" and representing the
interest in a particular managed portfolio of securities and other assets;
WHEREAS, the Fund has obtained an order from the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") granting Participating Insurance Companies and
variable annuity and variable life insurance separate accounts exemptions from
the provisions of sections 9(a), 13(a), 15(a), and 15(b) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the "1940 Act") and Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and
6e-3(T)(b)(15) thereunder, if and to the extent necessary to permit shares of
the Fund to be sold to and held by variable annuity and variable life insurance
separate accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated life insurance companies
(the "Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order");
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the 1940 Act and shares of the Portfolios are registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act");
WHEREAS, Pacific Investment Management Company (the "Adviser"), which
serves as investment adviser to the Fund, is duly registered as an investment
adviser under the federal Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended;
WHEREAS, the Company has issued or will issue certain variable life
insurance and/or variable annuity contracts supported wholly or partially by the
Account (the "Contracts"), and said Contracts are listed in Schedule A hereto,
as it may be amended from time to time by mutual written agreement;
WHEREAS, the Account is duly established and maintained as a segregated
asset account, duly established by the Company, on the date shown for such
Account on Schedule A hereto, to set aside and invest assets attributable to the
aforesaid Contracts;
WHEREAS, the Underwriter, which serves as distributor to the Fund, is
registered as a broker dealer with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and is a member in good standing of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD"); and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Company intends to purchase ADMINISTRATIVE Class shares in the
Portfolios listed in Schedule A hereto, as it may be amended from time to time
by mutual written agreement (the "Designated Portfolios") on behalf of the
Account to fund the aforesaid Contracts, and the Underwriter is authorized to
sell such shares to the Account at net asset value;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Company,
the Fund and the Underwriter agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. SALE OF FUND SHARES
1.1. The Fund has granted to the Underwriter exclusive authority to
distribute the Fund's shares, and has agreed to instruct, and has so instructed,
the Underwriter to make available to the Company for purchase on behalf of the
Account Fund shares of those Designated Portfolios selected by the Underwriter.
Pursuant to such authority and instructions, and subject to Article X hereof,
the Underwriter agrees to make available to the Company for purchase on behalf
of the Account, shares of those Designated Portfolios listed on Schedule A to
this Agreement, such purchases to be effected at net asset value in accordance
with Section 1.3 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) Fund
series (other than those listed on Schedule A) in existence now or that may be
established in the future will be made available to the Company only as the
Underwriter may so provide, and (ii) the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the
"Board") may suspend or terminate the offering of Fund shares of any Designated
Portfolio or class thereof, if such action is required by law or by regulatory
authorities having jurisdiction or if, in the sole discretion of the Board
acting in good faith and in light of its fiduciary duties under federal and any
applicable state laws, suspension or termination is necessary in the best
interests of the shareholders of such Designated Portfolio.
1.2. The Fund shall redeem, at the Company's request, any full or
fractional Designated Portfolio shares held by the Company on behalf of the
Account, such redemptions to be effected at net asset value in accordance with
Section 1.3 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Company
shall not redeem Fund shares attributable to Contract owners except in the
circumstances permitted in Section 10.3 of this Agreement, and (ii) the Fund may
delay redemption of Fund shares of any Designated Portfolio to the extent
permitted by the 1940 Act, and any rules, regulations or orders thereunder.
1.3. PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION PROCEDURES
(a) The Fund hereby appoints the Company as an agent of the Fund for
the limited purpose of receiving purchase and redemption requests on behalf of
the Account (but not with respect to any Fund shares that may be held in the
general account of the Company) for shares of those Designated Portfolios made
available hereunder, based on allocations of amounts to the Account or
subaccounts thereof under the Contracts and other transactions relating to the
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Contracts or the Account. Receipt of any such request (or relevant transactional
information therefor) on any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading
and on which the Fund calculates its net asset value pursuant to the rules of
the SEC (a "Business Day") by the Company as such limited agent of the Fund
prior to the time that the Fund ordinarily calculates its net asset value as
described from time to time in the Fund Prospectus (which as of the date of
execution of this Agreement is 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) shall constitute receipt
by the Fund on that same Business Day, provided that the Fund receives notice of
such request by 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the next following Business Day.
(b) The Company shall pay for shares of each Designated Portfolio on
the same day that it notifies the Fund of a purchase request for such shares.
Payment for Designated Portfolio shares shall be made in federal funds
transmitted to the Fund by wire to be received by the Fund by 4:00 p.m. Eastern
Time on the day the Fund is notified of the purchase request for Designated
Portfolio shares (unless the Fund determines and so advises the Company that
sufficient proceeds are available from redemption of shares of other Designated
Portfolios effected pursuant to redemption requests tendered by the Company on
behalf of the Account). If federal funds are not received on time, such funds
will be invested, and Designated Portfolio shares purchased thereby will be
issued, as soon as practicable and the Company shall promptly, upon the Fund's
request, reimburse the Fund for any charges, costs, fees, interest or other
expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with any advances to, or borrowing
or overdrafts by, the Fund, or any similar expenses incurred by the Fund, as a
result of portfolio transactions effected by the Fund based upon such purchase
request. Upon receipt of federal funds so wired, such funds shall cease to be
the responsibility of the Company and shall become the responsibility of the
Fund.
(c) Payment for Designated Portfolio shares redeemed by the Account or
the Company shall be made in federal funds transmitted by wire to the Company or
any other designated person on the next Business Day after the Fund is properly
notified of the redemption order of such shares (unless redemption proceeds are
to be applied to the purchase of shares of other Designated Portfolios in
accordance with Section 1.3(b) of this Agreement), except that the Fund reserves
the right to redeem Designated Portfolio shares in assets other than cash and to
delay payment of redemption proceeds to the extent permitted under Section 22(e)
of the 1940 Act and any Rules thereunder, and in accordance with the procedures
and policies of the Fund as described in the then current prospectus. The Fund
shall not bear any responsibility whatsoever for the proper disbursement or
crediting of redemption proceeds by the Company; the Company alone shall be
responsible for such action.
(d) Any purchase or redemption request for Designated Portfolio shares
held or to be held in the Company's general account shall be effected at the net
asset value per share next determined after the Fund's receipt of such request,
provided that, in the case of a purchase request, payment for Fund shares so
requested is received by the Fund in federal funds prior to close of business
for determination of such value, as defined from time to time in the Fund
Prospectus.
1.4. The Fund shall use its best efforts to make the net asset value per
share for each Designated Portfolio available to the Company by 7:00 p.m.
Eastern Time each Business Day, and in any event, as soon as reasonably
practicable after the net asset value per share for such Designated Portfolio is
calculated, and shall calculate such net asset value in accordance with the
Fund's Prospectus. Neither the Fund, any Designated Portfolio, the Underwriter,
nor any of their affiliates shall be liable for any
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information provided to the Company pursuant to this Agreement which
information is based on incorrect information supplied by the Company or any
other Participating Insurance Company to the Fund or the Underwriter.
1.5. The Fund shall furnish notice (by wire or telephone followed by
written confirmation) to the Company as soon as reasonably practicable of any
income dividends or capital gain distributions payable on any Designated
Portfolio shares. The Company, on its behalf and on behalf of the Account,
hereby elects to receive all such dividends and distributions as are payable on
any Designated Portfolio shares in the form of additional shares of that
Designated Portfolio. The Company reserves the right, on its behalf and on
behalf of the Account, to revoke this election and to receive all such dividends
and capital gain distributions in cash. The Fund shall notify the Company
promptly of the number of Designated Portfolio shares so issued as payment of
such dividends and distributions.
1.6. Issuance and transfer of Fund shares shall be by book entry only.
Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or the Account. Purchase
and redemption orders for Fund shares shall be recorded in an appropriate ledger
for the Account or the appropriate subaccount of the Account.
1.7. (a) The parties hereto acknowledge that the arrangement contemplated
by this Agreement is not exclusive; the Fund's shares may be sold to other
insurance companies (subject to Section 1.8 hereof) and the cash value of the
Contracts may be invested in other investment companies, provided, however, that
until this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Article X, the Company shall
promote the Designated Portfolios on the same basis as other funding vehicles
available under the Contracts. Funding vehicles other than those listed on
Schedule A to this Agreement may be available for the investment of the cash
value of the Contracts, provided, however, (i) any such vehicle or series
thereof, has investment objectives or policies that are substantially different
from the investment objectives and policies of the Designated Portfolios
available hereunder;; or (iii) unless such other investment company was
available as a Funding vehicle for the Contracts prior to the date of this
Agreement and the Company has so informed the Fund and the Underwriter prior to
their signing this Agreement, the Fund or Underwriter consents in writing to the
use of such other vehicle, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld.
(b) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the Underwriter
(unless otherwise required by applicable law), take any action to operate the
Account as a management investment company under the 1940 Act.
(c) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the Underwriter
(unless otherwise required by applicable law), induce Contract owners to change
or modify the Fund or change the Fund's distributor or investment adviser.
(d) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the Fund, induce
Contract owners to vote on any matter submitted for consideration by the
shareholders of the Fund in a manner other than as recommended by the Board of
Trustees of the Fund.
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1.8. The Underwriter and the Fund shall sell Fund shares only to
Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts and to persons or
plans ("Qualified Persons") that communicate to the Underwriter and the Fund
that they qualify to purchase shares of the Fund under Section 817(h) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and the regulations
thereunder without impairing the ability of the Account to consider the
portfolio investments of the Fund as constituting investments of the Account for
the purpose of satisfying the diversification requirements of Section 817(h).
The Underwriter and the Fund shall not sell Fund shares to any insurance company
or separate account unless an agreement complying with Article VI of this
Agreement is in effect to govern such sales, to the extent required. The Company
hereby represents and warrants that it and the Account are Qualified Persons.
The Fund reserves the right to cease offering shares of any Designated Portfolio
in the discretion of the Fund.
ARTICLE II. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
2.1. The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts (a) are, or
prior to issuance will be, registered under the 1933 Act, or (b) are not
registered because they are properly exempt from registration under the 1933 Act
or will be offered exclusively in transactions that are properly exempt from
registration under the 1933 Act. The Company further represents and warrants
that the Contracts will be issued and sold in compliance in all material
respects with all applicable federal securities and state securities and
insurance laws and that the sale of the Contracts shall comply in all material
respects with state insurance suitability requirements. The Company further
represents and warrants that it is an insurance company duly organized and in
good standing under applicable law, that it has legally and validly established
the Account prior to any issuance or sale thereof as a segregated asset account
under MASSACHUSETTS insurance laws, and that it (a) has registered or, prior to
any issuance or sale of the Contracts, will register the Account as a unit
investment trust in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act to serve as a
segregated investment account for the Contracts, or alternatively (b) has not
registered the Account in proper reliance upon an exclusion from registration
under the 1940 Act. The Company shall register and qualify the Contracts or
interests therein as securities in accordance with the laws of the various
states only if and to the extent deemed advisable by the Company.
2.2. The Fund represents and warrants that Fund shares sold pursuant to
this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act, duly authorized for
issuance and sold in compliance with applicable state and federal securities
laws and that the Fund is and shall remain registered under the 0000 Xxx. The
Fund shall amend the registration statement for its shares under the 1933 Act
and the 1940 Act from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous
offering of its shares. The Fund shall register and qualify the shares for sale
in accordance with the laws of the various states only if and to the extent
deemed advisable by the Fund or the Underwriter.
2.3. The Fund may make payments to finance distribution expenses pursuant
to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Prior to financing distribution expenses
pursuant to Rule 12b-1, the Fund will have the Board, a majority of whom are not
interested persons of the Fund, formulate and approve a plan pursuant to Rule
12b-1 under the 1940 Act to finance distribution expenses.
2.4. The Fund makes no representations as to whether any aspect of its
operations, including, but not limited to, investment policies, fees and
expenses, complies with the insurance and other applicable laws of the various
states.
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2.5. The Fund represents that it is lawfully organized and validly existing
under the laws of the State of Delaware and that it does and will comply in all
material respects with the 1940 Act.
2.6. The Underwriter represents and warrants that it is a member in good
standing of the NASD and is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC. The
Underwriter further represents that it will sell and distribute the Fund shares
in accordance with any applicable state and federal securities laws.
2.7. The Fund and the Underwriter represent and warrant that all of their
trustees/directors, officers, employees, investment advisers, and other
individuals or entities dealing with the money and/or securities of the Fund are
and shall continue to be at all times covered by a blanket fidelity bond or
similar coverage for the benefit of the Fund in an amount not less than the
minimum coverage as required currently by Rule 17g-1 of the 1940 Act or related
provisions as may be promulgated from time to time. The aforesaid bond shall
include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable
bonding company.
2.8. The Company represents and warrants that all of its directors,
officers, employees, and other individuals/entities employed or controlled by
the Company dealing with the money and/or securities of the Account are covered
by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage for the benefit of the Account,
in an amount not less than $5 million. The aforesaid bond includes coverage for
larceny and embezzlement and is issued by a reputable bonding company. The
Company agrees to hold for the benefit of the Fund and to pay to the Fund any
amounts lost from larceny, embezzlement or other events covered by the aforesaid
bond to the extent such amounts properly belong to the Fund pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement. The Company agrees to make all reasonable efforts to
see that this bond or another bond containing these provisions is always in
effect, and agrees to notify the Fund and the Underwriter in the event that such
coverage no longer applies.
ARTICLE III. PROSPECTUSES AND PROXY STATEMENTS; VOTING
3.1. The Underwriter shall provide the Company with as many copies of the
Fund's current prospectus (describing only the Designated Portfolios listed on
Schedule A) or, to the extent permitted, the Fund's profiles as the Company may
reasonably request. The Company shall bear the expense of printing copies of the
current prospectus and profiles for the Contracts that will be distributed to
existing Contract owners, and the Company shall bear the expense of printing
copies of the Fund's prospectus and profiles that are used in connection with
offering the Contracts issued by the Company. If requested by the Company in
lieu thereof, the Fund shall provide such documentation (including a final copy
of the new prospectus on diskette at the Fund's expense) and other assistance as
is reasonably necessary in order for the Company once each year (or more
frequently if the prospectus for the Fund is amended) to have the prospectus for
the Contracts and the Fund's prospectus or profile printed together in one
document (such printing to be at the Company's expense).
3.2. The Fund's prospectus shall state that the current Statement of
Additional Information ("SAI") for the Fund is available, and the Underwriter
(or the Fund), at its expense, shall provide a reasonable number of copies of
such SAI free of charge to the Company for itself and for any owner of a
Contract who requests such SAI.
3.3. The Fund shall provide the Company with information regarding the
Fund's expenses, which information may include a table of fees and related
narrative disclosure for use in any prospectus or other descriptive document
relating to a Contract. The Company agrees that it will use such information in
the form provided. The Company shall provide prior written notice of any
proposed
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modification of such information, which notice will describe in detail the
manner in which the Company proposes to modify the information, and agrees
that it may not modify such information in any way without the prior consent
of the Fund.
3.4. The Fund, at its expense, shall provide the Company with copies of its
proxy material, reports to shareholders, and other communications to
shareholders in such quantity as the Company shall reasonably require for
distributing to Contract owners.
3.5. The Company shall:
(i) solicit voting instructions from Contract owners;
(ii) vote the Fund shares in accordance with instructions received
from Contract owners; and
(iii) vote Fund shares for which no instructions have been received
in the same proportion as Fund shares of such portfolio for
which instructions have been received,
so long as and to the extent that the SEC continues to interpret the 1940 Act
to require pass-through voting privileges for variable contract owners or to
the extent otherwise required by law. The Company will vote Fund shares held
in any segregated asset account in the same proportion as Fund shares of such
portfolio for which voting instructions have been received from Contract
owners, to the extent permitted by law.
3.6. Participating Insurance Companies shall be responsible for assuring
that each of their separate accounts participating in a Designated Portfolio
calculates voting privileges as required by the Shared Funding Exemptive Order
and consistent with any reasonable standards that the Fund may adopt and provide
in writing.
ARTICLE IV. SALES MATERIAL AND INFORMATION
4.1. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the Fund
or its designee, each piece of sales literature or other promotional material
that the Company develops and in which the Fund (or a Designated Portfolio
thereof) or the Adviser or the Underwriter is named. No such material shall be
used until approved by the Fund or its designee, and the Fund will use its best
efforts for it or its designee to review such sales literature or promotional
material within ten Business Days after receipt of such material. The Fund or
its designee reserves the right to reasonably object to the continued use of any
such sales literature or other promotional material in which the Fund (or a
Designated Portfolio thereof) or the Adviser or the Underwriter is named, and no
such material shall be used if the Fund or its designee so object.
4.2. The Company shall not give any information or make any representations
or statements on behalf of the Fund or concerning the Fund or the Adviser or the
Underwriter in connection with the sale of the Contracts other than the
information or representations contained in the registration statement or
prospectus or SAI for the Fund shares, as such registration statement and
prospectus or SAI may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in
reports or proxy statements for the Fund, or in sales literature or other
promotional material approved by the Fund or its designee or by the Underwriter,
except with the permission of the Fund or the Underwriter or the designee of
either.
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4.3. The Fund and the Underwriter, or their designee, shall furnish, or
cause to be furnished, to the Company, each piece of sales literature or other
promotional material that it develops and in which the Company, and/or its
Account, is named. No such material shall be used until approved by the Company,
and the Company will use its best efforts to review such sales literature or
promotional material within ten Business Days after receipt of such material.
The Company reserves the right to reasonably object to the continued use of any
such sales literature or other promotional material in which the Company and/or
its Account is named, and no such material shall be used if the Company so
objects.
4.4. The Fund and the Underwriter shall not give any information or make
any representations on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company, the
Account, or the Contracts other than the information or representations
contained in a registration statement, prospectus (which shall include an
offering memorandum, if any, if the Contracts issued by the Company or interests
therein are not registered under the 1933 Act), or SAI for the Contracts, as
such registration statement, prospectus, or SAI may be amended or supplemented
from time to time, or in published reports for the Account which are in the
public domain or approved by the Company for distribution to Contract owners, or
in sales literature or other promotional material approved by the Company or its
designee, except with the permission of the Company.
4.5. The Fund will provide to the Company at least one complete copy of all
registration statements, prospectuses, SAIs, reports, proxy statements, sales
literature and other promotional materials, applications for exemptions,
requests for no-action letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that
relate to the Fund or its shares, promptly after the filing of such document(s)
with the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
4.6. The Company will provide to the Fund at least one complete copy of all
registration statements, prospectuses (which shall include an offering
memorandum, if any, if the Contracts issued by the Company or interests therein
are not registered under the 1933 Act), SAIs, reports, solicitations for voting
instructions, sales literature and other promotional materials, applications for
exemptions, requests for no-action letters, and all amendments to any of the
above, that relate to the Contracts or the Account, promptly after the filing of
such document(s) with the SEC or other regulatory authorities. The Company shall
provide to the Fund and the Underwriter any complaints received from the
Contract owners pertaining to the Fund or the Designated Portfolio.
4.7. The Fund will provide the Company with as much notice as is reasonably
practicable of any proxy solicitation for any Designated Portfolio, and of any
material change in the Fund's registration statement, particularly any change
resulting in a change to the registration statement or prospectus for any
Account. The Fund will work with the Company so as to enable the Company to
solicit proxies from Contract owners, or to make changes to its prospectus or
registration statement, in an orderly manner. The Fund will make reasonable
efforts to attempt to have changes affecting Contract prospectuses become
effective simultaneously with the annual updates for such prospectuses.
4.8. For purposes of this Article IV, the phrase "sales literature and
other promotional materials" includes, but is not limited to, any of the
following that refer to the Fund or any affiliate of the Fund: advertisements
(such as material published, or designed for use in, a newspaper, magazine, or
other periodical, radio, television, telephone or tape recording, videotape
display, signs or billboards, motion pictures, or other public media), sales
literature (I.E., any written communication distributed or made generally
available to customers or the public, including brochures, circulars, reports,
market letters, form letters, seminar texts, reprints or excerpts of any other
advertisement, sales literature, or published article), educational or training
materials or other communications distributed or made
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generally available to some or all agents or employees, and registration
statements, prospectuses, SAIs, shareholder reports, proxy materials, and any
other communications distributed or made generally available with regard to
the Fund.
ARTICLE V. FEES AND EXPENSES
5.1. The Fund and the Underwriter shall pay no fee or other
compensation to the Company under this Agreement, except that if the Fund or
any Portfolio adopts and implements a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 to finance
distribution expenses, then the Fund or Underwriter may make payments to the
Company or to the underwriter for the Contracts if and in amounts agreed to
by the Underwriter in writing, and such payments will be made out of existing
fees otherwise payable to the Underwriter, past profits of the Underwriter,
or other resources available to the Underwriter. Currently, no such payments
are contemplated.
5.2. All expenses incident to performance by the Fund under this
Agreement shall be paid by the Fund. The Fund shall see to it that all its
shares are registered and authorized for issuance in accordance with
applicable federal law and, if and to the extent deemed advisable by the
Fund, in accordance with applicable state laws prior to their sale. The Fund
shall bear the expenses for the cost of registration and qualification of the
Fund's shares, preparation and filing of the Fund's prospectus and
registration statement, proxy materials and reports, setting the prospectus
in type, setting in type and printing the proxy materials and reports to
shareholders (including the costs of printing a prospectus that constitutes
an annual report), the preparation of all statements and notices required by
any federal or state law, and all taxes on the issuance or transfer of the
Fund's shares.
5.3. The Company shall bear the expenses of distributing the
Fund's prospectus to owners of Contracts issued by the Company and of
distributing the Fund's proxy materials and reports to such Contract owners.
ARTICLE VI. DIVERSIFICATION AND QUALIFICATION
6.1. The Fund will invest its assets in such a manner as to
ensure that the Contracts will be treated as annuity or life insurance
contracts, whichever is appropriate, under the Code and the regulations
issued thereunder (or any successor provisions). Without limiting the scope
of the foregoing, each Designated Portfolio has complied and will continue to
comply with Section 817(h) of the Code and Treasury Regulation
Section 1.817-5, and any Treasury interpretations thereof, relating to the
diversification requirements for variable annuity, endowment, or life
insurance contracts, and any amendments or other modifications or successor
provisions to such Section or Regulations. In the event of a breach of this
Article VI by the Fund, it will take all reasonable steps (a) to notify the
Company of such breach and (b) to adequately diversify the Fund so as to
achieve compliance within the grace period afforded by Regulation 1.817-5.
6.2. The Fund represents that it is or will be qualified as a
Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Code, and that it will
make every effort to maintain such qualification (under Subchapter M or any
successor or similar provisions) and that it will notify the Company
immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that it has ceased
to so qualify or that it might not so qualify in the future.
6.3. The Company represents that the Contracts are currently, and
at the time of issuance shall be, treated as life insurance or annuity
insurance contracts, under applicable provisions of
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the Code, and that it will make every effort to maintain such treatment, and
that it will notify the Fund and the Underwriter immediately upon having a
reasonable basis for believing the Contracts have ceased to be so treated or
that they might not be so treated in the future. The Company agrees that any
prospectus offering a contract that is a "modified endowment contract" as
that term is defined in Section 7702A of the Code (or any successor or
similar provision), shall identify such contract as a modified endowment
contract.
ARTICLE VII. POTENTIAL CONFLICTS
The following provisions shall apply only upon issuance of the Mixed and Shared
Funding Order and the sale of shares of the Fund to variable life insurance
separate accounts, and then only to the extent required under the 0000 Xxx.
7.1. The Board will monitor the Fund for the existence of any
material irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the Contract owners
of all separate accounts investing in the Fund. An irreconcilable material
conflict may arise for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to:
(a) an action by any state insurance regulatory authority; (b) a change in
applicable federal or state insurance, tax, or securities laws or
regulations, or a public ruling, private letter ruling, no-action or
interpretative letter, or any similar action by insurance, tax, or securities
regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative or judicial decision in any
relevant proceeding; (d) the manner in which the investments of any Portfolio
are being managed; (e) a difference in voting instructions given by variable
annuity contract and variable life insurance contract owners; or (f) a
decision by an insurer to disregard the voting instructions of contract
owners. The Board shall promptly inform the Company if it determines that an
irreconcilable material conflict exists and the implications thereof.
7.2. The Company will report any potential or existing
conflicts of which it is aware to the Board. The Company will assist the
Board in carrying out its responsibilities under the Mixed and Shared Funding
Exemptive Order, by providing the Board with all information reasonably
necessary for the Board to consider any issues raised. This includes, but is
not limited to, an obligation by the Company to inform the Board whenever
Contract owner voting instructions are disregarded.
7.3. If it is determined by a majority of the Board, or a
majority of its disinterested members, that a material irreconcilable
conflict exists, the Company and other Participating Insurance Companies
shall, at their expense and to the extent reasonably practicable (as
determined by a majority of the disinterested Board members), take whatever
steps are necessary to remedy or eliminate the irreconcilable material
conflict, up to and including: (1) withdrawing the assets allocable to some
or all of the separate accounts from the Fund or any Portfolio and
reinvesting such assets in a different investment medium, including (but not
limited to) another Portfolio of the Fund, or submitting the question whether
such segregation should be implemented to a vote of all affected contract
owners and, as appropriate, segregating the assets of any appropriate group
(I.E., annuity contract owners, life insurance contract owners, or variable
contract owners of one or more Participating Insurance Companies) that votes
in favor of such segregation, or offering to the affected contract owners the
option of making such a change; and (2) establishing a new registered
management investment company or managed separate account.
7.4. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a
decision by the Company to disregard Contract owner voting instructions and
that decision represents a minority position or would preclude a majority
vote, the Company may be required, at the Fund's election, to withdraw the
Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with respect to
each Account; provided, however,
-10-
that such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required
by the foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority
of the disinterested members of the Board. Any such withdrawal and
termination must take place within six (6) months after the Fund gives
written notice that this provision is being implemented, and until the end of
that six month period the Fund shall continue to accept and implement orders
by the Company for the purchase (and redemption) of shares of the Fund.
7.5. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a
particular state insurance regulator's decision applicable to the Company
conflicts with the majority of other state regulators, then the Company will
withdraw the affected Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this
Agreement with respect to such Account within six months after the Board
informs the Company in writing that it has determined that such decision has
created an irreconcilable material conflict; provided, however, that such
withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by the
foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the
disinterested members of the Board. Until the end of the foregoing six month
period, the Fund shall continue to accept and implement orders by the Company
for the purchase (and redemption) of shares of the Fund.
7.6. For purposes of Section 7.3 through 7.6 of this Agreement,
a majority of the disinterested members of the Board shall determine whether
any proposed action adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict,
but in no event will the Fund be required to establish a new funding medium
for the Contracts. The Company shall not be required by Section 7.3 to
establish a new funding medium for the Contract if an offer to do so has been
declined by vote of a majority of Contract owners materially adversely
affected by the irreconcilable material conflict. In the event that the Board
determines that any proposed action does not adequately remedy any
irreconcilable material conflict, then the Company will withdraw the
Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement within six (6)
months after the Board informs the Company in writing of the foregoing
determination; provided, however, that such withdrawal and termination shall
be limited to the extent required by any such material irreconcilable
conflict as determined by a majority of the disinterested members of the
Board.
7.7. If and to the extent the Mixed and Shared Funding
Exemption Order or any amendment thereto contains terms and conditions
different from Sections 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 of this
Agreement, then the Fund and/or the Participating Insurance Companies, as
appropriate, shall take such steps as may be necessary to comply with the
Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order, and Sections 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 7.1,
7.2, 7.3, 7.4 and 7.5 of this Agreement shall continue in effect only to the
extent that terms and conditions substantially identical to such Sections are
contained in the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order or any amendment
thereto. If and to the extent that Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) are amended, or
Rule 6e-3 is adopted, to provide exemptive relief from any provision of the
1940 Act or the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to mixed or shared
funding (as defined in the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order) on terms
and conditions materially different from those contained in the Mixed and
Shared Funding Exemptive Order, then (a) the Fund and/or the Participating
Insurance Companies, as appropriate, shall take such steps as may be
necessary to comply with Rules 6e-2 and 6e-3(T), as amended, and Rule 6e-3,
as adopted, to the extent such rules are applicable; and (b) Sections 3.5,
3.6, 7.1., 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 of this Agreement shall continue in effect
only to the extent that terms and conditions substantially identical to such
Sections are contained in such Rule(s) as so amended or adopted.
-11-
ARTICLE VIII. INDEMNIFICATION
8.1. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY
8.1(a). The Company agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless the Fund and the Underwriter and each of its trustees/directors and
officers, and each person, if any, who controls the Fund or Underwriter
within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or who is under common
control with the Underwriter (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for
purposes of this Section 8.1) against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of
the Company) or litigation (including legal and other expenses), to which the
Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute or regulation, at
common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities
or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statements of any
material fact contained in the registration
statement, prospectus (which shall include a written
description of a Contract that is not registered
under the 1933 Act), or SAI for the Contracts or
contained in the Contracts or sales literature for
the Contracts (or any amendment or supplement to any
of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon
the omission or the alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, provided that this agreement to
indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified
Party if such statement or omission or such alleged
statement or omission was made in reliance upon and
in conformity with information furnished to the
Company by or on behalf of the Fund for use in the
registration statement, prospectus or SAI for the
Contracts or in the Contracts or sales literature
(or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for
use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or
Fund shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations (other than statements or
representations contained in the registration
statement, prospectus, SAI, or sales literature of
the Fund not supplied by the Company or persons
under its control) or wrongful conduct of the
Company or its agents or persons under the Company's
authorization or control, with respect to the sale
or distribution of the Contracts or Fund Shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in a
registration statement, prospectus, SAI, or sales
literature of the Fund or any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto or the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading if such a
statement or omission was made in reliance upon
information furnished to the Fund by or on behalf of
the Company; or
(iv) arise as a result of any material failure by
the Company to provide the services and furnish the
materials under the terms of this Agreement
(including a failure, whether unintentional or in
good faith or otherwise, to comply with the
qualification requirements specified in Article VI
of this Agreement); or
-12-
(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; or as limited by and in accordance with
the provisions of Sections 8.1(b) and 8.1(c) hereof.
8.1(b). The Company shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or litigation to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be
subject by reason of such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith,
or gross negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or
by reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of its obligations
or duties under this Agreement.
8.1(c). The Company shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an
Indemnified Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the
Company in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first
legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been
served upon such Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall
have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to
notify the Company of any such claim shall not relieve the Company from any
liability which it may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action
is brought otherwise than on account of this indemnification provision. In
case any such action is brought against an Indemnified Party, the Company
shall be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense of such
action. The Company also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof,
with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from
the Company to such party of the Company's election to assume the defense
thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any
additional counsel retained by it, and the Company will not be liable to such
party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently
incurred by such party independently in connection with the defense thereof
other than reasonable costs of investigation.
8.1(d). The Indemnified Parties will promptly notify
the Company of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against them
in connection with the issuance or sale of the Fund shares or the Contracts
or the operation of the Fund.
8.2. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE UNDERWRITER
8.2(a). The Underwriter agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company and each of its directors and officers and each
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of
the 1933 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this
Section 8.2) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities
(including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the
Underwriter) or litigation (including legal and other expenses) to which the
Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute or regulation, at
common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities
or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of any
material fact contained in the registration
statement or prospectus or SAI or sales literature
of the Fund (or any amendment or supplement to any
of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon
the omission or the alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading,
-13-
provided that this agreement to indemnify shall not
apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement
or omission or such alleged statement or omission
was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished to the Underwriter or Fund by
or on behalf of the Company for use in the
registration statement, prospectus or SAI for the
Fund or in sales literature (or any amendment or
supplement) or otherwise for use in connection with
the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations (other than statements or
representations contained in the registration
statement, prospectus, SAI or sales literature for
the Contracts not supplied by the Underwriter or
persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of
the Fund or Underwriter or persons under their
control, with respect to the sale or distribution of
the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in a
registration statement, prospectus, SAI or sales
literature covering the Contracts, or any amendment
thereof or supplement thereto, or the omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statement or statements therein not misleading,
if such statement or omission was made in reliance
upon information furnished to the Company by or on
behalf of the Fund or the Underwriter; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund or
the Underwriter to provide the services and furnish
the materials under the terms of this Agreement
(including a failure of the Fund, whether
unintentional or in good faith or otherwise, to
comply with the diversification and other
qualification requirements specified in Article VI
of this Agreement); or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach
of any representation and/or warranty made by the
Underwriter in this Agreement or arise out of or
result from any other material breach of this
Agreement by the Underwriter;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.2(b) and
8.2(c) hereof.
8.2(b). The Underwriter shall not be liable under
this indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or litigation to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be
subject by reason of such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith,
or gross negligence in the performance or such Indemnified Party's duties or
by reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations and
duties under this Agreement or to the Company or the Account, whichever is
applicable.
8.2(c). The Underwriter shall not be liable under
this indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an
Indemnified Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the
Underwriter in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other
first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have
been served upon such Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party
shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but
failure to notify the Underwriter of any such claim shall not relieve the
Underwriter from any liability
-14-
which it may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is
brought otherwise than on account of this indemnification provision. In case
any such action is brought against the Indemnified Party, the Underwriter
will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof.
The Underwriter also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with
counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from the
Underwriter to such party of the Underwriter's election to assume the defense
thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any
additional counsel retained by it, and the Underwriter will not be liable to
such party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently
incurred by such party independently in connection with the defense thereof
other than reasonable costs of investigation.
The Company agrees promptly to notify the
Underwriter of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against
it or any of its officers or directors in connection with the issuance or
sale of the Contracts or the operation of the Account.
8.3. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE FUND
8.3(a). The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless the Company and each of its directors and officers and each person,
if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933
Act (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section
8.3) against any and all losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities
(including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Fund)
or litigation (including legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified
Parties may be required to pay or may become subject under any statute or
regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
expenses, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or
settlements, are related to the operations of the Fund and:
(i) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund to
provide the services and furnish the materials under
the terms of this Agreement (including a failure,
whether unintentional or in good faith or otherwise,
to comply with the diversification and other
qualification requirements specified in Article VI
of this Agreement); or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations (other than statements or
representations contained in the registration
statement, prospectus, SAI or sales literature for
the Contracts not supplied by the Fund or persons
under its control) or wrongful conduct of the Fund
or persons under its control, with respect to the
sale or distribution of Fund shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in a
registration statement, prospectus, SAI, or sales
literature of the Company 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 Company by or on behalf
of the Fund; or
(iv) arise as a result of any material failure by
the Fund to provide the services and furnish the
materials under the terms of this Agreement
(including a
-15-
failure, whether unintentional or in good faith or
otherwise, to comply with the qualification
requirements specified in Article VI of this
Agreement); or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach
of any representation and/or warranty made by the
Fund in this Agreement or arise out of or result
from any other material breach of this Agreement by
the Fund;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.3(b) and
8.3(c) hereof.
8.3(b). The Fund shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or litigation to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be
subject by reason of such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith,
or gross negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or
by reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations and
duties under this Agreement or to the Company, the Fund, the Underwriter or
the Account, whichever is applicable.
8.3(c). The Fund shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an
Indemnified Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Fund
in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal
process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served
upon such Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have
received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to
notify the Fund of any such claim shall not relieve the Fund from any
liability which it may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action
is brought otherwise than on account of this indemnification provision. In
case any such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties, the Fund
will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof.
The Fund also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel
satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from the Fund to
such party of the Fund's election to assume the defense thereof, the
Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel
retained by it, and the Fund will not be liable to such party under this
Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such party
independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable
costs of investigation.
8.3(d). The Company and the Underwriter agree
promptly to notify the Fund of the commencement of any litigation or
proceeding against it or any of its respective officers or directors in
connection with the Agreement, the issuance or sale of the Contracts, the
operation of the Account, or the sale or acquisition of shares of the Fund.
ARTICLE IX. APPLICABLE LAW
9.1. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions
hereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of
California.
9.2. This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the
1933, 1934 and 1940 Acts, and the rules and regulations and rulings
thereunder, including such exemptions from those statutes, rules and
regulations as the SEC may grant (including, but not limited to, any Mixed
and Shared Funding Exemptive Order) and the terms hereof shall be interpreted
and construed in accordance therewith. If, in the future, the Mixed and
Shared Funding Exemptive Order should no longer be necessary under applicable
law, then Article VII shall no longer apply.
ARTICLE X. TERMINATION
-16-
10.1. This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect
until the first to occur of:
(a) termination by any party, for any reason with respect to
some or all Designated Portfolios, by three (3) months
advance written notice delivered to the other parties; or
(b) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund
and the Underwriter based upon the Company's determination
that shares of the Fund are not reasonably available to
meet the requirements of the Contracts; or
(c) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund
and the Underwriter in the event any of the Designated
Portfolio's shares are not registered, issued or sold in
accordance with applicable state and/or federal law or such
law precludes the use of such shares as the underlying
investment media of the Contracts issued or to be issued by
the Company; or
(d) termination by the Fund or Underwriter in the event that
formal administrative proceedings are instituted against
the Company by the NASD, the SEC, the Insurance
Commissioner or like official of any state or any other
regulatory body regarding the Company's duties under this
Agreement or related to the sale of the Contracts, the
operation of any Account, or the purchase of the Fund's
shares; provided, however, that the Fund or Underwriter
determines in its sole judgment exercised in good faith,
that any such administrative proceedings will have a
material adverse effect upon the ability of the Company to
perform its obligations under this Agreement; or
(e) termination by the Company in the event that formal
administrative proceedings are instituted against the Fund
or Underwriter by the NASD, the SEC, or any state
securities or insurance department or any other regulatory
body; provided, however, that the Company determines in its
sole judgment exercised in good faith, that any such
administrative proceedings will have a material adverse
effect upon the ability of the Fund or Underwriter to
perform its obligations under this Agreement; or
(f) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund
and the Underwriter with respect to any Designated
Portfolio in the event that such Portfolio ceases to
qualify as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter
M or fails to comply with the Section 817(h)
diversification requirements specified in Article VI
hereof, or if the Company reasonably believes that such
Portfolio may fail to so qualify or comply; or
(g) termination by the Fund or Underwriter by written notice to
the Company in the event that the Contracts fail to meet
the qualifications specified in Article VI hereof; or
(h) termination by either the Fund or the Underwriter by
written notice to the Company, if either one or both of the
Fund or the Underwriter respectively, shall determine, in
their sole judgment exercised in good faith, that the
Company has suffered a material adverse change in its
business, operations, financial
-17-
condition, or prospects since the date of this Agreement or
is the subject of material adverse publicity; or
(i) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund
and the Underwriter, if the Company shall determine, in its
sole judgment exercised in good faith, that the Fund,
Adviser, or the Underwriter has suffered a material adverse
change in its business, operations, financial condition or
prospects since the date of this Agreement or is the
subject of material adverse publicity; or
(j) termination by the Fund or the Underwriter by written
notice to the Company, if the Company gives the Fund and
the Underwriter the written notice specified in Section
1.7(a)(ii) hereof and at the time such notice was given
there was no notice of termination outstanding under any
other provision of this Agreement; provided, however, any
termination under this Section 10.1(j) shall be effective
forty-five days after the notice specified in Section
1.7(a)(ii) was given; or
(k) termination by the Company upon any substitution of the
shares of another investment company or series thereof for
shares of a Designated Portfolio of the Fund in accordance
with the terms of the Contracts, provided that the Company
has given at least 45 days prior written notice to the Fund
and Underwriter of the date of substitution; or
(l) termination by any party in the event that the Fund's Board
of Trustees determines that a material irreconcilable
conflict exists as provided in Article VII.
10.2. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Fund
and the Underwriter shall, at the option of the Company, continue to make
available additional shares of the Fund pursuant to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement, for all Contracts in effect on the effective date of
termination of this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as "Existing
Contracts"), unless the Underwriter requests that the Company seek an order
pursuant to Section 26(b) of the 1940 Act to permit the substitution of other
securities for the shares of the Designated Portfolios. The Underwriter
agrees to split the cost of seeking such an order, and the Company agrees
that it shall reasonably cooperate with the Underwriter and seek such an
order upon request. Specifically, the owners of the Existing Contracts may be
permitted to reallocate investments in the Fund, redeem investments in the
Fund and/or invest in the Fund upon the making of additional purchase
payments under the Existing Contracts (subject to any such election by the
Underwriter). The parties agree that this Section 10.2 shall not apply to any
terminations under Article VII and the effect of such Article VII
terminations shall be governed by Article VII of this Agreement. The parties
further agree that this Section 10.2 shall not apply to any terminations
under Section 10.1(g) of this Agreement.
10.3. The Company shall not redeem Fund shares attributable to
the Contracts (as opposed to Fund shares attributable to the Company's assets
held in the Account) except (i) as necessary to implement Contract owner
initiated or approved transactions, (ii) as required by state and/or federal
laws or regulations or judicial or other legal precedent of general
application (hereinafter referred to as a "Legally Required Redemption"),
(iii) upon 45 days prior written notice to the Fund and Underwriter, as
permitted by an order of the SEC pursuant to Section 26(b) of the 1940 Act,
but only if a substitution of other securities for the shares of the
Designated Portfolios is consistent with the terms of the Contracts, or (iv)
as permitted under the terms of the Contract. Upon request, the Company will
promptly furnish to
-18-
the Fund and the Underwriter reasonable assurance that any redemption
pursuant to clause (ii) above is a Legally Required Redemption. Furthermore,
except in cases where permitted under the terms of the Contacts, the Company
shall not prevent Contract owners from allocating payments to a Portfolio
that was otherwise available under the Contracts without first giving the
Fund or the Underwriter 45 days notice of its intention to do so.
10.4. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, each
party's obligation under Article VIII to indemnify the other parties shall
survive.
-19-
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: PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
If to the Company: First Allmerica Financial Life Insurance Company
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Vice President
If to Underwriter: PIMCO Funds Distributors LLC
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
ARTICLE XII. MISCELLANEOUS
12.1. All persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the
property of the Fund, and in the case of a series company, the respective
Designated Portfolios listed on Schedule A hereto as though each such
Designated Portfolio had separately contracted with the Company and the
Underwriter for the enforcement of any claims against the Fund. The parties
agree that neither the Board, officers, agents or shareholders of the Fund
assume any personal liability or responsibility for obligations entered into
by or on behalf of the Fund.
12.2. Subject to the requirements of legal process and
regulatory authority, each party hereto shall treat as confidential the names
and addresses of the owners of the Contracts and all information reasonably
identified as confidential in writing by any other party hereto and, except
as permitted by this Agreement, shall not disclose, disseminate or utilize
such names and addresses and other confidential information without the
express written consent of the affected party until such time as such
information has come into the public domain.
12.3. The captions in this Agreement are included for
convenience of reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the
provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
12.4. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or
more counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the
same instrument.
12.5. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made
invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of the
Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
-20-
12.6. Each party hereto shall cooperate with each other party
and all appropriate governmental authorities (including without limitation
the SEC, the NASD, and state insurance regulators) and shall permit such
authorities reasonable access to its books and records in connection with any
investigation or inquiry relating to this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby. Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, each
party hereto further agrees to furnish the MASSACHUSETTS Insurance
Commissioner with any information or reports in connection with services
provided under this Agreement which such Commissioner may request in order to
ascertain whether the variable annuity operations of the Company are being
conducted in a manner consistent with the MASSACHUSETTS variable annuity laws
and regulations and any other applicable law or regulations.
12.7. The rights, remedies and obligations contained in this
Agreement are cumulative and are in addition to any and all rights, remedies,
and obligations, at law or in equity, which the parties hereto are entitled
to under state and federal laws.
12.8. This Agreement or any of the rights and obligations
hereunder may not be assigned by any party without the prior written consent
of all parties hereto.
12.9. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be
furnished, to the Fund or its designee copies of the following reports:
(a) the Company's annual statement (prepared under statutory
accounting principles) and annual report (prepared under
generally accepted accounting principles) filed with any
state or federal regulatory body or otherwise made
available to the public, as soon as practicable and in
any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal
year; and
(b) any registration statement (without exhibits) and
financial reports of the Company filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission or any state insurance
regulatory, as soon as practicable after the filing
thereof.
-21-
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.
COMPANY:
By its authorized officer
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Reilly__________________
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Reilly______________________
Title: Vice President________________________
Date: 9/20/00_______________________________
PIMCO VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
By its authorized officer
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Harris___________________
Name: Xxxxx X. Harris_______________________
Title: Chairman______________________________
Date: 11/13/00______________________________
PIMCO FUNDS DISTRIBUTORS LLC
By its authorized officer
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Xx._______________
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Xx.___________________
Title: Exec V.P._____________________________
Date: 11/2/00_______________________________
-22-
Schedule A
PIMCO VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST PORTFOLIOS:
PIMCO Total Return Bond Portfolio II
SEGREGATED ASSET ACCOUNTS:
Group VEL Separate Account
Dated August 18, 2000.
