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EXHIBIT 9(i)
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
BY AND AMONG
AIM VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.,
A I M ADVISORS, INC.,
A I M DISTRIBUTORS, INC.,
NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY,
ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND
ITS SEPARATE ACCOUNTS,
NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY,
ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND
ITS SEPARATE ACCOUNTS,
AND
NATIONWIDE ADVISORY SERVICES, INC.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
DESCRIPTION PAGE
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Section 1. Available Funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.1 Availability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.2 Addition, Deletion or Modification of Funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1.3 No Sales to the General Public . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Section 2. Processing Transactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.1 Timely Pricing and Orders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.2 Timely Payments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2.3 Applicable Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.4 Dividends and Distributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.5 Book Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Section 3. Costs and Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3.1 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3.2 Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3.3 Other (Non-Sales-Related) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
3.4 Other (Sales-Related) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
3.5 Parties To Cooperate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Section 4. Legal Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
4.1 Tax Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
4.2 Insurance and Certain Other Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
4.3 Securities Laws . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
4.4 Notice of Certain Proceedings and Other Circumstances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
4.5 Nationwide To Provide Documents; Information About AVIF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
4.6 AVIF To Provide Documents; Information About Nationwide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Section 5. Mixed and Shared Funding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
5.1 General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
5.2 Disinterested Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
5.3 Monitoring for Material Irreconcilable Conflicts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
5.4 Conflict Remedies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
5.5 Notice to Nationwide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
5.6 Information Requested by Board of Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
5.7 Compliance with SEC Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
5.8 Other Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Section 6. Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
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Description Page
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6.1 Events of Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
6.2 Notice Requirement for Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
6.3 Funds To Remain Available . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
6.4 Survival of Warranties and Indemnifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
6.5 Continuance of Agreement for Certain Purposes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Section 7. Parties To Cooperate Respecting Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Section 8. Assignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Section 9. Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Section 10. Voting Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Section 11. Foreign Tax Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Section 12. Indemnification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
12.1 Of AVIF by Nationwide and NAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
12.2 Of Nationwide and NAS by AVIF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
12.3 Effect of Notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
12.4 Successors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Section 13. Applicable Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Section 14. Execution in Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Section 15. Severability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Section 16. Rights Cumulative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Section 17. Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Section 18. Confidentiality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Section 19. Trademarks and Fund Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Section 20. Parties to Cooperate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
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PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of the 4th day of November,
1997 ("Agreement"), by and among AIM Variable Insurance Funds, Inc., a Maryland
corporation ("AVIF"); A I M Advisors, Inc. ("AIM"), investment advisor to AVIF;
A I M Distributors, Inc. ("AIM Distributors"), principal underwriter to AVIF;
Nationwide Life Insurance Company and Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance
Company (collectively, "Nationwide"), each, an Ohio life insurance company, on
behalf of themselves and each of their respective segregated asset accounts
listed in Schedule A hereto, as the parties hereto may amend from time to time
(each, an "Account," and collectively, the "Accounts"); and Nationwide Advisory
Services, Inc. ("NAS"), an affiliate of Nationwide and the principal
underwriter of the Contracts (collectively, the "Parties").
WITNESSETH THAT:
WHEREAS, AVIF is registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC") as an open-end management investment company under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"); and
WHEREAS, AVIF currently consists of nine separate series ("Series"),
shares ("Shares") of each of which are registered under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") and are currently sold to one or more
separate accounts of life insurance companies to fund benefits under variable
annuity contracts and variable life insurance contracts; and
WHEREAS, AVIF will make Shares of each Series listed on Schedule A
hereto as the Parties hereto may amend from time to time (each a "Fund";
reference herein to "AVIF" includes reference to each Fund, to the extent the
context requires) available for purchase by the Accounts; and
WHEREAS, Nationwide will be the issuer of certain variable annuity
contracts and variable life insurance contracts ("Contracts") as set forth on
Schedule A hereto, as the Parties hereto may amend from time to time, which
Contracts (hereinafter collectively, the "Contracts"), if required by
applicable law, will be registered under the 1933 Act; and
WHEREAS, Nationwide will fund the Contracts through the Accounts, each
of which may be divided into two or more subaccounts ("Subaccounts"; reference
herein to an "Account" includes reference to each Subaccount thereof to the
extent the context requires); and
WHEREAS, Nationwide will serve as the depositor of the Accounts, each
of which is registered as a unit investment trust investment company under the
1940 Act (or exempt therefrom), and the security interests deemed to be issued
by the Accounts under the Contracts will be registered as securities under the
1933 Act (or exempt therefrom); and
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WHEREAS, each Account is a duly organized, validly existing
segregated asset account, established by resolution or under authority of the
Board of Directors of Nationwide, on the date shown for such Account on Schedule
A hereto, to set aside and invest assets attributable to the Contracts; and
WHEREAS, AIM is duly registered as an investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended; and
WHEREAS, AIM Distributors is registered as a broker-dealer under the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), is a member
in good standing of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
("NASD") and serves as principal underwriter of the shares of AVIF; and
WHEREAS, NAS is registered as a broker-dealer under the 1934 Act, is a
member in good standing of the NASD and serves as principal underwriter of the
Contracts; and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, Nationwide intends to purchase Shares in one or more of the Funds
on behalf of the Accounts to fund the Contracts;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual benefits and promises
contained herein, the Parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1. AVAILABLE FUNDS
1.1 AVAILABILITY.
AVIF will make Shares of each Fund available to Nationwide for
purchase and redemption at net asset value and with no sales charges, subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. The Board of Directors of AVIF
may refuse to sell Shares of any Fund to any person, or suspend or terminate
the offering of Shares of any Fund if such action is required by law or by
regulatory authorities having jurisdiction or if, in the sole discretion of the
Directors 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 Fund.
1.2 ADDITION, DELETION OR MODIFICATION OF FUNDS.
The Parties hereto may agree, from time to time, to add other Funds to
provide additional funding media for the Contracts, or to delete, combine, or
modify existing Funds, by amending Schedule A hereto. Upon such amendment to
Schedule A, any applicable reference to a Fund, AVIF, or its Shares herein
shall include a reference to any such additional Fund. Schedule A, as amended
from time to time, is incorporated herein by reference and is a part hereof.
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1.3 NO SALES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
AVIF represents and warrants that no Shares of any Fund have been or
will be sold to the general public.
SECTION 2. PROCESSING TRANSACTIONS
2.1 TIMELY PRICING AND ORDERS.
(a) AVIF or its designated agent will use its best efforts to
provide Nationwide with the net asset value per Share for each Fund by 5:30
p.m. Central Time on each Business Day. As used herein, "Business Day" shall
mean any day on which (i) the New York Stock Exchange is open for regular
trading, (ii) AVIF calculates the Fund's net asset value, and (iii) Nationwide
is open for business.
(b) Nationwide will use the data provided by AVIF each Business
Day pursuant to paragraph (a) immediately above to calculate Account unit
values and to process transactions that receive that same Business Day's
Account unit values. Nationwide will perform such Account processing the same
Business Day, and will place corresponding orders to purchase or redeem Shares
with AVIF by 9:00 a.m. Central Time the following Business Day; provided,
however, that AVIF shall provide additional time to Nationwide in the event
that AVIF is unable to meet the 5:30 p.m. time stated in paragraph (a)
immediately above. Such additional time shall be equal to the additional time
that AVIF takes to make the net asset values available to Nationwide.
(c) With respect to payment of the purchase price by Nationwide
and of redemption proceeds by AVIF, Nationwide and AVIF shall net purchase and
redemption orders with respect to each Fund and shall transmit one net payment
per Fund in accordance with Section 2.2, below.
(d) If AVIF provides materially incorrect Share net asset value
information (as determined under SEC guidelines), Nationwide shall be entitled
to an adjustment to the number of Shares purchased or redeemed to reflect the
correct net asset value per Share. Any material error in the calculation or
reporting of net asset value per Share, dividend or capital gain information
shall be reported promptly upon discovery to Nationwide.
2.2 TIMELY PAYMENTS.
Nationwide will wire payment for net purchases to a custodial account
designated by AVIF by 1:00 p.m. Central Time on the same day as the order for
Shares is placed, to the extent practicable. AVIF will wire payment for net
redemptions to an account designated by Nationwide by 1:00 p.m. Central Time on
the same day as the Order is placed, to the extent practicable, but in any
event within five (5) calendar days after the date the order is placed in order
to enable Nationwide to pay redemption proceeds within the time specified in
Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act or such shorter period of time as may be required
by law.
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2.3 APPLICABLE PRICE.
(a) Share purchase payments and redemption orders that result from
purchase payments, premium payments, surrenders and other transactions under
Contracts (collectively, "Contract transactions") and that Nationwide receives
prior to the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on a
Business Day will be executed at the net asset values of the appropriate Funds
next computed after receipt by AVIF or its designated agent of the orders. For
purposes of this Section 2.3(a), Nationwide shall be the designated agent of
AVIF for receipt of orders relating to Contract transactions on each Business
Day and receipt by such designated agent shall constitute receipt by AVIF;
provided that AVIF receives notice of such orders by 9:00 a.m. Central Time on
the next following Business Day or such later time as computed in accordance
with Section 2.1(b) hereof.
(b) All other Share purchases and redemptions by Nationwide will
be effected at the net asset values of the appropriate Funds next computed
after receipt by AVIF or its designated agent of the order therefor, and such
orders will be irrevocable.
2.4 DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS.
AVIF will furnish notice by wire or telephone (followed by written
confirmation) on or prior to the payment date to Nationwide of any income
dividends or capital gain distributions payable on the Shares of any Fund.
Nationwide hereby elects to reinvest all dividends and capital gains
distributions in additional Shares of the corresponding Fund at the ex-dividend
date net asset values until Nationwide otherwise notifies AVIF in writing, it
being agreed by the Parties that the ex-dividend date and the payment date with
respect to any dividend or distribution will be the same Business Day.
Nationwide reserves the right to revoke this election and to receive all such
income dividends and capital gain distributions in cash.
2.5 BOOK ENTRY.
Issuance and transfer of AVIF Shares will be by book entry only.
Stock certificates will not be issued to Nationwide. Shares ordered from AVIF
will be recorded in an appropriate title for Nationwide, on behalf of its
Account.
SECTION 3. COSTS AND EXPENSES
3.1 GENERAL.
Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, each Party will bear
all expenses incident to its performance under this Agreement.
3.2 REGISTRATION.
(a) AVIF will bear the cost of its registering as a management
investment company under the 1940 Act and registering its Shares under the 1933
Act, and keeping such registrations current
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and effective; including, without limitation, the preparation of and filing
with the SEC of Forms N-SAR and Rule 24f-2 Notices with respect to AVIF and
its Shares and payment of all applicable registration or filing fees with
respect to any of the foregoing.
(b) Nationwide will bear the cost of registering, to the extent
required, each Account as a unit investment trust under the 1940 Act and
registering units of interest under the Contracts under the 1933 Act and
keeping such registrations current and effective; including, without
limitation, the preparation and filing with the SEC of Forms N-SAR and Rule
24f-2 Notices with respect to each Account and its units of interest and
payment of all applicable registration or filing fees with respect to any of
the foregoing.
3.3 OTHER (NON-SALES-RELATED).
(a) AVIF will bear, or arrange for others to bear, the costs of
preparing, filing with the SEC and setting for printing AVIF's prospectus,
statement of additional information and any amendments or supplements thereto
(collectively, the "AVIF Prospectus"), periodic reports to shareholders, AVIF
proxy material and other shareholder communications.
(b) Nationwide will bear the costs of preparing, filing with the
SEC and setting for printing each Account's prospectus, statement of additional
information and any amendments or supplements thereto (collectively, the
"Account Prospectus"), any periodic reports to Contract owners, annuitants,
insureds or participants (as appropriate) under the Contracts (collectively,
"Participants"), voting instruction solicitation material, and other
Participant communications.
(c) Nationwide will print in quantity and deliver to existing
Participants the documents described in Section 3.3(b) above and the
prospectus provided by AVIF in camera ready or computer diskette form. AVIF
will print the AVIF statement of additional information, proxy materials
relating to AVIF and periodic reports of AVIF.
3.4 OTHER (SALES-RELATED).
Nationwide will bear the expenses of distribution. These expenses
would include by way of illustration, but are not limited to, the costs of
distributing to Participants the following documents, whether they relate to
the Account or AVIF: prospectuses, statements of additional information, proxy
materials and periodic reports. These costs would also include the costs of
preparing, printing, and distributing sales literature and advertising for the
Accounts relating to the Funds, as well as filing such materials with, and
obtaining approval from, the SEC, the NASD, any state insurance regulatory
authority, and any other appropriate regulatory authority, to the extent
required.
3.5 PARTIES TO COOPERATE.
Each Party agrees to cooperate with the others, as applicable, in
arranging to print, mail and/or deliver, in a timely manner, combined or
coordinated prospectuses or other materials of AVIF and the Accounts.
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SECTION 4. LEGAL COMPLIANCE
4.1 TAX LAWS.
(a) AVIF represents and warrants that each Fund is currently
qualified as a regulated investment company ("RIC") under Subchapter M of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and represents that it
will use its best efforts to qualify and to maintain qualification of each Fund
as a RIC. AVIF will notify Nationwide immediately upon having a reasonable
basis for believing that a Fund has ceased to so qualify or that it might not
so qualify in the future.
(b) AVIF represents that it will use its best efforts to comply
and to maintain each Fund's compliance with the diversification requirements
set forth in Section 817(h) of the Code and Section 1.817-5(b) of the
regulations under the Code. AVIF will notify Nationwide immediately upon
having a reasonable basis for believing that a Fund has ceased to so comply or
that a Fund might not so comply in the future. In the event of a breach of
this Section 4.1(b) by AVIF, it will take all reasonable steps to adequately
diversify the Fund so as to achieve compliance within the grace period afforded
by Section 1.817-5 of the regulations under the Code.
To assist Nationwide in monitoring compliance with Section
817(h) of the Code, AVIF agrees to use its best efforts to have the transfer
agent of AVIF send Nationwide a monthly statement of account confirming all
transactions made during the month in each Account within five (5) business
days after the end of such month. In addition, AIM agrees to provide
Nationwide a certificate or statement indicating compliance with Code Section
817(h), such certificate or statement to be sent no later than thirty (30)
days following the end of the calendar quarter.
(c) Nationwide agrees that if the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS")
asserts in writing in connection with any governmental audit or review of
Nationwide or, to Nationwide's knowledge, of any Participant, that any Fund has
failed to comply with the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the
Code or Nationwide otherwise becomes aware of any facts that could give rise to
any claim against AVIF or its affiliates as a result of such a failure or
alleged failure:
(i) Nationwide shall promptly notify AVIF of such
assertion or potential claim (subject to the
Confidentiality provisions of Section 18 as to any
Participant);
(ii) Nationwide shall consult with AVIF as to how to
minimize any liability that may arise as a
result of such failure or alleged failure;
(iii) Nationwide shall use its best efforts to minimize any
liability of AVIF or its affiliates resulting from
such failure, including, without limitation,
demonstrating, pursuant to Treasury Regulations
Section 1.817-5(a)(2), to the Commissioner of the IRS
that such failure was inadvertent;
(iv) Nationwide shall permit AVIF, its affiliates and their
legal and accounting advisors to participate in any
conferences, settlement discussions or other
administrative or judicial proceeding or contests
(including judicial appeals thereof) with the IRS, any
Participant or any other claimant regarding any
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claims that could give rise to liability to AVIF or
its affiliates as a result of such a failure or
alleged failure; provided, however, that Nationwide
will retain control of the conduct of such conferences
discussions, proceedings, contests or appeals;
(v) any written materials to be submitted by Nationwide
to the IRS, any Participant or any other claimant in
connection with any of the foregoing proceedings or
contests (including, without limitation, any such
materials to be submitted to the IRS pursuant to
Treasury Regulations Section 1.817-5(a)(2)), (a)
shall be provided by Nationwide to AVIF (together
with any supporting information or analysis); subject
to the confidentiality provisions of Section 18, at
least ten (10) business days or such shorter period
to which the Parties hereto agree prior to the day on
which such proposed materials are to be submitted,
and (b) shall not be submitted by Nationwide to any
such person without the express written consent of
AVIF which shall not be unreasonably withheld;
(vi) Nationwide shall provide AVIF or its affiliates and
their accounting and legal advisors with such
cooperation as AVIF shall reasonably request
(including, without limitation, by permitting AVIF
and its accounting and legal advisors to review the
relevant books and records of Nationwide) in order to
facilitate review by AVIF or its advisors of any
written submissions provided to it pursuant to the
preceding clause or its assessment of the validity or
amount of any claim against its arising from such a
failure or alleged failure;
(vii) Nationwide shall not with respect to any claim of the
IRS or any Participant that would give rise to a
claim against AVIF or its affiliates (a) compromise
or settle any claim, (b) accept any adjustment on
audit, or (c) forego any allowable administrative or
judicial appeals, without the express written consent
of AVIF or its affiliates, which shall not be
unreasonably withheld, provided that Nationwide shall
not be required, after exhausting all administrative
penalties, to appeal any adverse judicial decision
unless AVIF or its affiliates shall have provided an
opinion of independent counsel to the effect that a
reasonable basis exists for taking such appeal; and
provided further that the costs of any such appeal
shall be borne equally by the Parties hereto; and
(viii) AVIF and its affiliates shall have no liability as a
result of such failure or alleged failure if
Nationwide fails to comply with any of the foregoing
clauses (i) through (vii), and such failure could be
shown to have materially contributed to the
liability.
Should AVIF or any of its affiliates refuse to give its written
consent to any compromise or settlement of any claim or liability hereunder,
Nationwide may, in its discretion, authorize AVIF or its affiliates to act in
the name of Nationwide in, and to control the conduct of, such conferences,
discussions, proceedings, contests or appeals and all administrative or
judicial appeals thereof, and
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in that event AVIF or its affiliates shall bear the fees and expenses associated
with the conduct of the proceedings that it is so authorized to control;
provided, that in no event shall Nationwide have any liability resulting from
AVIF's refusal to accept the proposed settlement or compromise with respect to
any failure caused by AVIF. As used in this Agreement, the term "affiliates"
shall have the same meaning as "affiliated person" as defined in Section 2(a)(3)
of the 1940 Act.
(d) Nationwide represents and warrants that the Contracts
currently are and will be treated as annuity contracts or life insurance
contracts under applicable provisions of the Code and that it will use its best
efforts to maintain such treatment; Nationwide will notify AVIF immediately
upon having a reasonable basis for believing that any of the Contracts have
ceased to be so treated or that they might not be so treated in the future.
(e) Nationwide represents and warrants that each Account is a
"segregated asset account" and that interests in each Account are offered
exclusively through the purchase of or transfer into a "variable contract,"
within the meaning of such terms under Section 817 of the Code and the
regulations thereunder. Nationwide will use its best efforts to continue to
meet such definitional requirements, and it will notify AVIF immediately upon
having a reasonable basis for believing that such requirements have ceased to
be met or that they might not be met in the future.
4.2 INSURANCE AND CERTAIN OTHER LAWS.
(a) AVIF will use its best efforts to comply with any applicable
state insurance laws or regulations, to the extent specifically requested in
writing by Nationwide, including, the furnishing of information not otherwise
available to Nationwide which is required by state insurance law to enable
Nationwide to obtain the authority needed to issue the Contracts in any
applicable state.
(b) Nationwide represents and warrants that (i) it is an insurance
company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of
the State of Ohio and has full corporate power, authority and legal right to
execute, deliver and perform its duties and comply with its obligations under
this Agreement, (ii) it has legally and validly established and maintains each
Account as a segregated asset account under Section 3907.15 of the Ohio
Insurance Law and the regulations thereunder, and (iii) the Contracts comply in
all material respects with all other applicable federal and state laws and
regulations.
(c) AVIF represents and warrants that it is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the State
of Maryland and has full power, authority, and legal right to execute, deliver,
and perform its duties and comply with its obligations under this Agreement.
4.3 SECURITIES LAWS.
(a) Nationwide represents and warrants that (i) interests in each
Account pursuant to the Contracts will be registered under the 1933 Act to the
extent required by the 1933 Act, (ii) the Contracts will be duly authorized for
issuance and sold in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws,
including, without limitation, the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act and
Ohio law, (iii) each Account is and will remain registered under the 1940 Act,
to the extent required by the 1940
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Act, (iv) each Account does and will comply in all material respects with the
requirements of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder, to the extent required,
(v) each Account's 1933 Act registration statement relating to the Contracts,
together with any amendments thereto, will at all times comply in all material
respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules thereunder, (vi)
Nationwide will amend the registration statement for its Contracts under the
1933 Act and for its Accounts under the 1940 Act from time to time as required
in order to effect the continuous offering of its Contracts or as may otherwise
be required by applicable law, and (vii) each Account Prospectus will at all
times comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and
the rules thereunder.
(b) AVIF represents and warrants that (i) Shares sold pursuant to
this Agreement will be registered under the 1933 Act to the extent required by
the 1933 Act and duly authorized for issuance and sold in compliance with
Maryland law, (ii) AVIF is and will remain registered under the 1940 Act to the
extent required by the 1940 Act, (iii) AVIF will amend the registration
statement for its Shares under the 1933 Act and itself under the 1940 Act from
time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of its
Shares, (iv) AVIF does and will comply in all material respects with the
requirements of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder, (v) AVIF's 1933 Act
registration statement, together with any amendments thereto, will at all times
comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and rules
thereunder, and (vi) AVIF's Prospectus will at all times comply in all material
respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules thereunder.
(c) AVIF will at its expense register and qualify its Shares for
sale in accordance with the laws of any state or other jurisdiction if and to
the extent reasonably deemed advisable by AVIF.
(d) AVIF currently does not intend to make any payments to finance
distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act or otherwise,
although it reserves the right to make such payments in the future. To the
extent that it decides to finance distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1,
AVIF undertakes to have its Board of Directors, a majority of whom are not
"interested" persons of the Fund, formulate and approve any plan under Rule
12b-1 to finance distribution expenses.
(e) AVIF represents and warrants that all of its trustees,
officers, employees, investment advisers, and other individuals/entities having
access to the funds and/or securities of the Fund are and continue to be at all
times covered by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage for the benefit of
the Fund in an amount not less than the minimal coverage as required currently
by Rule 17g-(1) of the 1940 Act or related provisions as may be promulgated
from time to time. The aforesaid bond includes coverage for larceny and
embezzlement and is issued by a reputable bonding company.
4.4 NOTICE OF CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS AND OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES.
(a) AVIF will immediately notify Nationwide of (i) the issuance by
any court or regulatory body of any stop order, cease and desist order, or
other similar order with respect to AVIF's registration statement under the
1933 Act or AVIF Prospectus, (ii) any request by the SEC for any amendment to
such registration statement or AVIF Prospectus that may affect the offering of
Shares of AVIF, (iii) the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose or
for any other purpose relating to the registration or offering of AVIF's
Shares, or (iv) any other action or circumstances that
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may prevent the lawful offer or sale of Shares of any Fund in any state or
jurisdiction, including, without limitation, any circumstances in which (a)
such Shares are not registered and, in all material respects, issued and sold
in accordance with applicable state and federal law, or (b) such law precludes
the use of such Shares as an underlying investment medium of the Contracts
issued or to be issued by Nationwide. AVIF will make every reasonable effort
to prevent the issuance, with respect to any Fund, of any such stop order,
cease and desist order or similar order and, if any such order is issued, to
obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible time.
(b) Nationwide will immediately notify AVIF of (i) the issuance
by any court or regulatory body of any stop order, cease and desist order, or
other similar order with respect to each Account's registration statement under
the 1933 Act relating to the Contracts or each Account Prospectus, (ii) any
request by the SEC for any amendment to such registration statement or Account
Prospectus that may affect the offering of Shares of AVIF, (iii) the initiation
of any proceedings for that purpose or for any other purpose relating to the
registration or offering of each Account's interests pursuant to the Contracts,
or (iv) any other action or circumstances that may prevent the lawful offer or
sale of said interests in any state or jurisdiction, including, without
limitation, any circumstances in which said interests are not registered and,
in all material respects, issued and sold in accordance with applicable state
and federal law. Nationwide will make every reasonable effort to prevent the
issuance of any such stop order, cease and desist order or similar order and,
if any such order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest
possible time.
4.5 NATIONWIDE TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTS; INFORMATION ABOUT AVIF.
(a) Nationwide will provide to AVIF or its designated agent at
least one (1) complete copy of all SEC registration statements, Account
Prospectuses, reports, any preliminary and final voting instruction
solicitation material, and all amendments to any of the above, that relate to
each Account or the Contracts, contemporaneously with the filing of such
document with the SEC or other regulatory authorities. In addition, Nationwide
will provide AVIF with notice of any application for exemption or request for
no-action letters, and notice of all amendments to any of the above, that
relate to an Account or the Contracts, contemporaneously with the filing of
such document with the SEC or other regulatory authorities, and will provide
AVIF one (1) complete copy of the same upon request.
(b) Nationwide will provide to AVIF or its designated agent at
least one (1) complete copy of each piece of sales literature or other
promotional material in which AVIF or any of its affiliates is named, at least
five (5) Business Days prior to its use or such shorter period as the Parties
hereto may, from time to time, agree upon. No such material shall be used if
AVIF or its designated agent objects to such use within five (5) Business Days
after receipt of such material or such shorter period as the Parties hereto
may, from time to time, agree upon. AVIF hereby designates A I M as the entity
to receive such sales literature, until such time as AVIF appoints another
designated agent by giving notice to Nationwide in the manner required by
Section 9 hereof.
(c) Neither Nationwide nor any of its affiliates, will give any
information or make any representations or statements on behalf of or
concerning AVIF or its affiliates in connection with the sale of the Contracts
other than (i) the information or representations contained in the registration
statement, including the AVIF Prospectus contained therein, relating to Shares,
as such registration
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statement and AVIF Prospectus may be amended from time to time; or (ii) in
reports or proxy materials for AVIF; or (iii) in published reports for AVIF
that are in the public domain and approved by AVIF for distribution; or (iv) in
sales literature or other promotional material approved by AVIF, except with
the express written permission of AVIF.
(d) Nationwide shall adopt and implement procedures reasonably
designed to ensure that information concerning AVIF and its affiliates that is
intended for use only by brokers or agents selling the Contracts (i.e.,
information that is not intended for distribution to Participants) ("broker
only materials") is so used, and neither AVIF nor any of its affiliates shall
be liable for any losses, damages or expenses relating to the improper use of
such broker only materials.
(e) For the purposes of this Section 4.5, the phrase "sales
literature or other promotional material" includes, but is not limited to,
advertisements (such as material published, or designed for use in, a
newspaper, magazine, or other periodical, radio, television, telephone or tape
recording, videotape display, signs or billboards, motion pictures, or other
public media, (e.g., on-line networks such as the Internet or other electronic
messages), sales literature (i.e., any written communication distributed or
made generally available to customers or the public, including brochures,
circulars, research reports, market letters, form letters, seminar texts,
reprints or excerpts of any other advertisement, sales literature, or published
article), educational or training materials or other communications distributed
or made generally available to some or all agents or employees, registration
statements, prospectuses, statements of additional information, shareholder
reports, and proxy materials and any other material constituting sales
literature or advertising under the NASD rules, the 1933 Act or the 0000 Xxx.
4.6 AVIF TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTS; INFORMATION ABOUT NATIONWIDE.
(a) AVIF will provide to Nationwide at least one (1) complete copy
of all SEC registration statements, AVIF Prospectuses, reports, any preliminary
and final proxy material, and all amendments to any of the above, that relate
to AVIF or the Shares of a Fund, contemporaneously with the filing of such
document with the SEC or other regulatory authorities. In addition, AVIF will
provide Nationwide with notice of any application for exemption or request for
no- action letters, and notice of all amendments to any of the above, that
relate to AVIF or the Shares of a Fund, contemporaneously with the filing of
such document with the SEC or other regulatory authorities, and will provide
Nationwide one (1) complete copy of the same upon request.
(b) AVIF will provide to Nationwide camera ready or computer
diskette copies of all AVIF prospectuses and printed copies, in an amount
specified by Nationwide, of AVIF statements of additional information, proxy
materials, periodic reports to shareholders and other materials required by law
to be sent to Participants who have allocated any Contract value to a Fund.
AVIF will provide such copies to Nationwide in a timely manner so as to enable
Nationwide, as the case may be, to print and distribute such materials within
the time required by law to be furnished to Participants.
(c) AVIF will provide to Nationwide or its designated agent at
least one (1) complete copy of each piece of sales literature or other
promotional material in which Nationwide, or any of its respective affiliates
is named, or that refers to the Contracts, at least five (5) Business Days
prior
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to its use or such shorter period as the Parties hereto may, from time to time,
agree upon. No such material shall be used if Nationwide or its designated
agent objects to such use within five (5) Business Days after receipt of such
material or such shorter period as the Parties hereto may, from time to time,
agree upon. Nationwide shall receive all such sales literature until such time
as it appoints a designated agent by giving notice to AVIF in the manner
required by Section 9 hereof.
(d) Neither AVIF nor any of its affiliates will give any
information or make any representations or statements on behalf of or
concerning Nationwide, each Account, or the Contracts other than (i) the
information or representations contained in the registration statement,
including each Account Prospectus contained therein, relating to the Contracts,
as such registration statement and Account Prospectus may be amended from time
to time; or (ii) in published reports for the Account or the Contracts that are
in the public domain and approved by Nationwide for distribution; or (iii) in
sales literature or other promotional material approved by Nationwide or its
affiliates, except with the express written permission of Nationwide.
(e) AVIF shall cause its principal underwriter to adopt and
implement procedures reasonably designed to ensure that information concerning
Nationwide, and its respective affiliates that is intended for use only by
brokers or agents selling the Contracts (i.e., information that is not intended
for distribution to Participants) ("broker only materials") is so used, and
neither Nationwide, nor any of its respective affiliates shall be liable for
any losses, damages or expenses relating to the improper use of such broker
only materials.
(f) For purposes of this Section 4.6, the phrase "sales literature
or other promotional material" includes, but is not limited to, advertisements
(such as material published, or designed for use in, a newspaper, magazine, or
other periodical, radio, television, telephone or tape recording, videotape
display, signs or billboards, motion pictures, or other public media, (e.g.,
on-line networks such as the Internet or other electronic messages), sales
literature (i.e., any written communication distributed or made generally
available to customers or the public, including brochures, circulars, research
reports, market letters, form letters, seminar texts, reprints or excerpts of
any other advertisement, sales literature, or published article), educational
or training materials or other communications distributed or made generally
available to some or all agents or employees, registration statements,
prospectuses, statements of additional information, shareholder reports, and
proxy materials and any other material constituting sales literature or
advertising under the NASD rules, the 1933 Act or the 1940 Act.
SECTION 5. MIXED AND SHARED FUNDING
5.1 GENERAL.
The SEC has granted an order to AVIF exempting it from certain
provisions of the 1940 Act and rules thereunder so that AVIF may be available
for investment by certain other entities, including, without limitation,
separate accounts funding variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance
contracts, separate accounts of insurance companies unaffiliated with
Nationwide, and trustees of qualified pension and retirement plans
(collectively, "Mixed and Shared Funding"). The Parties recognize that the SEC
has imposed terms and conditions for such orders that are
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substantially identical to many of the provisions of this Section 5. Sections
5.2 through 5.8 below shall apply pursuant to such an exemptive order granted
to AVIF. AVIF hereby notifies Nationwide that, in the event that AVIF
implements Mixed and Shared Funding, it may be appropriate to include in the
prospectus pursuant to which a Contract is offered disclosure regarding the
potential risks of Mixed and Shared Funding.
5.2 DISINTERESTED DIRECTORS.
AVIF agrees that its Board of Directors shall at all times consist of
directors a majority of whom (the "Disinterested Directors") are not interested
persons of AVIF within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act and the
Rules thereunder and as modified by any applicable orders of the SEC, except
that if this condition is not met by reason of the death, disqualification, or
bona fide resignation of any director, then the operation of this condition
shall be suspended (a) for a period of forty-five (45) days if the vacancy or
vacancies may be filled by the Board; (b) for a period of sixty (60) days if a
vote of shareholders is required to fill the vacancy or vacancies; or (c) for
such longer period as the SEC may prescribe by order upon application.
5.3 MONITORING FOR MATERIAL IRRECONCILABLE CONFLICTS.
AVIF agrees that its Board of Directors will monitor for the existence
of any material irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the
Participants in all separate accounts of life insurance companies utilizing
AVIF ("Participating Insurance Companies"), including each Account, and
participants in all qualified retirement and pension plans investing in AVIF
("Participating Plans"). Nationwide agrees to inform the Board of Directors of
AVIF of the existence of or any potential for any such material irreconcilable
conflict of which it is aware. The concept of a "material irreconcilable
conflict" is not defined by the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder, but the
Parties recognize that such a conflict may arise for a variety of reasons,
including, without limitation:
(a) an action by any state insurance or other 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 Fund are being
managed;
(e) a difference in voting instructions given by variable annuity
contract and variable life insurance contract Participants or by Participants
of different Participating Insurance Companies;
(f) a decision by a Participating Insurance Company to disregard
the voting instructions of Participants; or
(g) a decision by a Participating Plan to disregard the voting
instructions of Plan participants.
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Consistent with the SEC's requirements in connection with exemptive
orders of the type referred to in Section 5.1 hereof, Nationwide will assist
the Board of Directors in carrying out its responsibilities by providing the
Board of Directors with all information reasonably necessary for the Board of
Directors to consider any issue raised, including information as to a decision
by Nationwide to disregard voting instructions of Participants.
5.4 CONFLICT REMEDIES.
(a) It is agreed that if it is determined by a majority of the
members of the Board of Directors or a majority of the Disinterested Directors
that a material irreconcilable conflict exists, Nationwide will, if it is a
Participating Insurance Company for which a material irreconcilable conflict is
relevant, at its own expense and to the extent reasonably practicable (as
determined by a majority of the Disinterested Directors), take whatever steps
are necessary to remedy or eliminate the material irreconcilable conflict,
which steps may include, but are not limited to:
(i) withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the
Accounts from AVIF or any Fund and reinvesting such
assets in a different investment medium, including
another Fund of AVIF, or submitting the question whether
such segregation should be implemented to a vote of all
affected Participants and, as appropriate, segregating
the assets of any particular group (e.g., annuity
Participants, life insurance Participants or all
Participants) that votes in favor of such segregation, or
offering to the affected Participants the option of
making such a change; and
(ii) establishing a new registered investment company of the
type defined as a "management company" in Section 4(3) of
the 1940 Act or a new separate account that is operated
as a management company.
(b) If the material irreconcilable conflict arises because of
Nationwide's decision to disregard Participant voting instructions and that
decision represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote,
Nationwide may be required, at AVIF's election, to withdraw each Account's
investment in AVIF or any Fund. No charge or penalty will be imposed as a
result of such withdrawal. Any such withdrawal must take place within six (6)
months after AVIF gives notice to Nationwide that this provision is being
implemented, and until such withdrawal AVIF shall continue to accept and
implement orders by Nationwide for the purchase and redemption of Shares of
AVIF.
(c) If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a
particular state insurance regulator's decision applicable to Nationwide
conflicts with the majority of other state regulators, then Nationwide will
withdraw each Account's investment in AVIF within six (6) months after AVIF's
Board of Directors informs Nationwide that it has determined that such decision
has created a material irreconcilable conflict, and until such withdrawal AVIF
shall continue to accept and implement orders by Nationwide for the purchase
and redemption of Shares of AVIF. No charge or penalty will be imposed as a
result of such withdrawal.
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(d) Nationwide agrees that any remedial action taken by it in
resolving any material irreconcilable conflict will be carried out at its
expense and with a view only to the interests of Participants.
(e) For purposes hereof, a majority of the Disinterested Directors
will determine whether or not any proposed action adequately remedies any
material irreconcilable conflict. In no event, however, will AVIF or any of
its affiliates be required to establish a new funding medium for any Contracts.
Nationwide will not be required by the terms hereof to establish a new funding
medium for any Contracts if an offer to do so has been declined by vote of a
majority of Participants materially adversely affected by the material
irreconcilable conflict.
5.5 NOTICE TO NATIONWIDE .
AVIF will promptly make known in writing to Nationwide the Board of
Directors' determination of the existence of a material irreconcilable
conflict, a description of the facts that give rise to such conflict and the
implications of such conflict.
5.6 INFORMATION REQUESTED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
Nationwide and AVIF (or its investment adviser) will at least annually
submit to the Board of Directors of AVIF such reports, materials or data as the
Board of Directors may reasonably request so that the Board of Directors may
fully carry out the obligations imposed upon it by the provisions hereof or
any exemptive order granted by the SEC to permit Mixed and Shared Funding, and
said reports, materials and data will be submitted at any reasonable time
deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors. All reports received by the
Board of Directors of potential or existing conflicts, and all Board of
Directors actions with regard to determining the existence of a conflict,
notifying Participating Insurance Companies and Participating Plans of a
conflict, and determining whether any proposed action adequately remedies a
conflict, will be properly recorded in the minutes of the Board of Directors or
other appropriate records, and such minutes or other records will be made
available to the SEC upon request.
5.7 COMPLIANCE WITH SEC RULES.
If, at any time during which AVIF is serving as an investment medium
for variable life insurance Contracts, 1940 Act Rules 6e-3(T) or, if
applicable, 6e-2 are amended or Rule 6e-3 is adopted to provide exemptive
relief with respect to Mixed and Shared Funding, AVIF agrees that it will
comply with the terms and conditions thereof and that the terms of this Section
5 shall be deemed modified if and only to the extent required in order also to
comply with the terms and conditions of such exemptive relief that is afforded
by any of said rules that are applicable.
5.8 OTHER REQUIREMENTS.
AVIF will require that each Participating Insurance Company and
Participating Plan enter into an agreement with AVIF that contains in substance
the same provisions as are set forth in Sections 4.1(b), 4.1(d), 4.3(a),
4.4(b), 4.5(a), 5, and 10 of this Agreement.
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SECTION 6. TERMINATION
6.1 EVENTS OF TERMINATION.
Subject to Section 6.4 below, this Agreement will terminate as to a
Fund:
(a) at the option of any party, with or without cause with respect
to the Fund, upon six (6) months advance written notice to the other parties,
or, if later, upon receipt of any required exemptive relief from the SEC,
unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the parties; or
(b) at the option of AVIF upon institution of formal proceedings
against Nationwide or its affiliates by the NASD, the SEC, any state insurance
regulator or any other regulatory body regarding Nationwide's obligations under
this Agreement or related to the sale of the Contracts, the operation of each
Account, or the purchase of Shares, if, in each case, AVIF reasonably
determines that such proceedings, or the facts on which such proceedings would
be based, have a material likelihood of imposing material adverse consequences
on the Fund with respect to which the Agreement is to be terminated; or
(c) at the option of Nationwide upon institution of formal
proceedings against AVIF, its principal underwriter, or its investment adviser
by the NASD, the SEC, or any state insurance regulator or any other regulatory
body regarding AVIF's obligations under this Agreement or related to the
operation or management of AVIF or the purchase of AVIF Shares, if, in each
case, Nationwide reasonably determines that such proceedings, or the facts on
which such proceedings would be based, have a material likelihood of imposing
material adverse consequences on Nationwide, or the Subaccount corresponding to
the Fund with respect to which the Agreement is to be terminated; or
(d) at the option of any Party in the event that (i) the Fund's
Shares are not registered and, in all material respects, issued and sold in
accordance with any applicable federal or state law, or (ii) such law precludes
the use of such Shares as an underlying investment medium of the Contracts
issued or to be issued by Nationwide; or
(e) upon termination of the corresponding Subaccount's investment
in the Fund pursuant to Section 5 hereof; or
(f) at the option of Nationwide if the Fund ceases to qualify as a
RIC under Subchapter M of the Code or under successor or similar provisions, or
if Nationwide reasonably believes that the Fund may fail to so qualify; or
(g) at the option of Nationwide if the Fund fails to comply with
Section 817(h) of the Code or with successor or similar provisions, or if
Nationwide reasonably believes that the Fund may fail to so comply; or
(h) at the option of AVIF if the Contracts issued by Nationwide
cease to qualify as annuity contracts or life insurance contracts under the
Code (other than by reason of the Fund's noncompliance with Section 817(h) or
Subchapter M of the Code) or if interests in an Account under
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the Contracts are not registered, where required, and, in all material
respects, are not issued or sold in accordance with any applicable federal or
state law; or
(i) upon another Party's material breach of any provision of this
Agreement.
6.2 NOTICE REQUIREMENT FOR TERMINATION.
No termination of this Agreement will be effective unless and until
the Party terminating this Agreement gives prior written notice to the other
Party to this Agreement of its intent to terminate, and such notice shall set
forth the basis for such termination. Furthermore:
(a) in the event that any termination is based upon the provisions
of Sections 6.1(a) or 6.1(e) hereof, such prior written notice shall be given
at least six (6) months in advance of the effective date of termination unless
a shorter time is agreed to by the Parties hereto;
(b) in the event that any termination is based upon the provisions
of Sections 6.1(b) or 6.1(c) hereof, such prior written notice shall be given
at least ninety (90) days in advance of the effective date of termination
unless a shorter time is agreed to by the Parties hereto; and
(c) in the event that any termination is based upon the provisions
of Sections 6.1(d), 6.1(f), 6.1(g), 6.1(h) or 6.1(i) hereof, such prior
written notice shall be given as soon as possible within twenty-four (24) hours
after the terminating Party learns of the event causing termination to be
required.
6.3 FUNDS TO REMAIN AVAILABLE.
Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, AVIF will, at the
option of Nationwide, continue to make available additional shares of the Fund
pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for all Contracts in
effect on the effective date of termination of this Agreement (hereinafter
referred to as "Existing Contracts."). Specifically, without limitation, the
owners of the Existing Contracts will be permitted to reallocate investments in
the Fund (as in effect on such date), redeem investments in the Fund and/or
invest in the Fund upon the making of additional purchase payments under the
Existing Contracts. The parties agree that this Section 6.3 will not apply to
any terminations under Section 5 and the effect of such terminations will be
governed by Section 5 of this Agreement.
6.4 SURVIVAL OF WARRANTIES AND INDEMNIFICATIONS.
All warranties and indemnifications will survive the termination of
this Agreement.
6.5 CONTINUANCE OF AGREEMENT FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES.
If any Party terminates this Agreement with respect to any Fund
pursuant to Sections 6.1(b), 6.1(c), 6.1(d), 6.1(f), 6.1(g), 6.1(h) or 6.1(i)
hereof, this Agreement shall nevertheless continue in effect as to any Shares
of that Fund that are outstanding as of the date of such termination (the
"Initial Termination Date"). This continuation shall extend to the earlier of
the date as of which an
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Account owns no Shares of the affected Fund or a date (the "Final Termination
Date") six (6) months following the Initial Termination Date, except that
Nationwide may, by written notice shorten said six (6) month period in the case
of a termination pursuant to Sections 6.1(d), 6.1(f), 6.1(g), 6.1(h) or 6.1(i).
SECTION 7. PARTIES TO COOPERATE RESPECTING TERMINATION
The Parties hereto agree to cooperate and give reasonable assistance
to one another in taking all necessary and appropriate steps for the purpose of
ensuring that an Account owns no Shares of a Fund after the Final Termination
Date with respect thereto, or, in the case of a termination pursuant to Section
6.1(a), the termination date specified in the notice of termination. Such
steps may include combining the affected Account with another Account,
substituting other mutual fund shares for those of the affected Fund, or
otherwise terminating participation by the Contracts in such Fund.
SECTION 8. ASSIGNMENT
This Agreement may not be assigned by any Party, except with the
written consent of each other Party.
SECTION 9. NOTICES
Notices and communications required or permitted by Section 9 hereof
will be given by means mutually acceptable to the Parties concerned. Each
other notice or communication required or permitted by this Agreement will be
given to the following persons at the following addresses and facsimile
numbers, or such other persons, addresses or facsimile numbers as the Party
receiving such notices or communications may subsequently direct in writing:
AIM VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.
A I M ADVISORS, INC.
00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xx. Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, President
cc: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
A I M DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Mr. W. Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, Xx. Vice President
cc: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
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NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Xxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xx. Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Vice President - Financial Operations
NATIONWIDE ADVISORY SERVICES, INC.
Three Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xx. Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, Vice President and General Manager
SECTION 10. VOTING PROCEDURES
Subject to the cost allocation procedures set forth in Section 3
hereof, Nationwide will distribute all proxy material furnished by AVIF to
Participants to whom pass-through voting privileges are required to be extended
and will solicit voting instructions from Participants. Nationwide will vote
Shares in accordance with timely instructions received from Participants.
Nationwide will vote Shares that are (a) not attributable to Participants to
whom pass-through voting privileges are extended, or (b) attributable to
Participants, but for which no timely instructions have been received, in the
same proportion as Shares for which said instructions have been received from
Participants, so long as and to the extent that the SEC continues to interpret
the 1940 Act to require pass through voting privileges for Participants.
Neither Nationwide nor any of its affiliates will in any way recommend action
in connection with or oppose or interfere with the solicitation of proxies for
the Shares held for such Participants. Nationwide reserves the right to vote
shares held in any Account in its own right, to the extent permitted by law.
Nationwide shall be responsible for assuring that each of its Accounts holding
Shares calculates voting privileges in a manner consistent with that of other
Participating Insurance Companies or in the manner required by the Mixed and
Shared Funding exemptive order obtained by AVIF. AVIF will notify Nationwide
of any changes of interpretations or amendments to Mixed and Shared Funding
exemptive order it has obtained. AVIF will comply with all provisions of the
1940 Act requiring voting by shareholders, and in particular, AVIF either will
provide for annual meetings (except insofar as the SEC may interpret Section 16
of the 1940 Act not to require such meetings) or will comply with Section 16(c)
of the 1940 Act (although AVIF is not one of the trusts described in Section
16(c) of that Act) as well as with Sections 16(a) and, if and when applicable,
16(b). Further, AVIF will act in accordance with the SEC's interpretation of
the requirements of Section 16(a) with respect to periodic elections of
directors and with whatever rules the SEC may promulgate with respect thereto.
SECTION 11. FOREIGN TAX CREDITS
AVIF agrees to consult in advance with Nationwide concerning any
decision to elect or not to elect pursuant to Section 853 of the Code to pass
through the benefit of any foreign tax credits to its shareholders.
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SECTION 12. INDEMNIFICATION
12.1 OF AVIF BY NATIONWIDE AND NAS.
(a) Except to the extent provided in Sections 12.1(b) and 12.1(c),
below, Nationwide and NAS agree to indemnify and hold harmless AVIF, its
affiliates, and each person, if any, who controls AVIF or its affiliates within
the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act and each of their respective
directors and officers, (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes
of this Section 12.1) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities
(including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of Nationwide
and NAS) or actions in respect thereof (including, to the extent reasonable,
legal and other expenses), to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject
under any statute, regulation, at common law or otherwise; provided, the
Account owns shares of the Fund and insofar as such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or actions:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained
in any Account's 1933 Act registration statement, any
Account Prospectus, the Contracts, or sales literature or
advertising 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 Nationwide or NAS by or on
behalf of AVIF for use in any Account's 1933 Act
registration statement, any Account Prospectus, the
Contracts, or sales literature or advertising or
otherwise for use in connection with the sale of
Contracts or Shares (or any amendment or supplement to
any of the foregoing); or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of any other statements or
representations (other than statements or representations
contained in AVIF's 1933 Act registration statement, AVIF
Prospectus, sales literature or advertising of AVIF, or
any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing, not
supplied for use therein by or on behalf of Nationwide,
NAS or their respective affiliates and on which such
persons have reasonably relied) or the negligent, illegal
or fraudulent conduct of Nationwide, NAS or their
respective affiliates or persons under their control
(including, without limitation, their employees and
"Associated Persons," as that term is defined in
paragraph (m) of Article I of the NASD's By-Laws), in
connection with the sale or distribution of the Contracts
or Shares; or
(iii) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained
in AVIF's 1933 Act registration statement, AVIF
Prospectus, sales literature or advertising of AVIF, or
any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing, or
the omission or alleged omission to state
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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 and
in conformity with information furnished to AVIF or its
affiliates by or on behalf of Nationwide, NAS or their
respective affiliates for use in AVIF's 1933 Act
registration statement, AVIF Prospectus, sales literature
or advertising of AVIF, or any amendment or supplement to
any of the foregoing; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by Nationwide or NAS to
perform the obligations, provide the services and furnish
the materials required of them under the terms of this
Agreement, or any material breach of any representation
and/or warranty made by Nationwide or NAS in this
Agreement or arise out of or result from any other
material breach of this Agreement by Nationwide or NAS;
or
(v) arise as a result of failure by the Contracts issued by
Nationwide to qualify as annuity contracts or life
insurance contracts under the Code, otherwise than by
reason of any Fund's failure to comply with Subchapter M
or Section 817(h) of the Code.
(b) Neither Nationwide nor NAS shall be liable under this Section
12.1 with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions to
which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance by that
Indemnified Party of its duties or by reason of that Indemnified Party's
reckless disregard of obligations or duties (i) under this Agreement, or (ii)
to AVIF.
(c) Neither Nationwide nor NAS shall be liable under this Section
12.1 with respect to any action against an Indemnified Party unless AVIF shall
have notified Nationwide and NAS in writing within a reasonable time after the
summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the
action 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 Nationwide and NAS of any such action shall not
relieve Nationwide and NAS from any liability which they may have to the
Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account
of this Section 12.1. Except as otherwise provided herein, in case any such
action is brought against an Indemnified Party, Nationwide and NAS shall be
entitled to participate, at their own expense, in the defense of such action
and also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel approved
by the Indemnified Party named in the action, which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld. After notice from Nationwide or NAS to such Indemnified
Party of Nationwide's or NAS's election to assume the defense thereof, the
Indemnified Party will cooperate fully with Nationwide and NAS and shall bear
the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and neither
Nationwide nor NAS will be liable to such Indemnified Party under this
Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such
Indemnified Party independently in connection with the defense thereof, other
than reasonable costs of investigation.
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12.2 OF NATIONWIDE AND NAS BY AVIF.
(a) Except to the extent provided in Sections 12.2(c), 12.2(d) and
12.2(e), below, AVIF agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Nationwide, NAS,
their respective affiliates, and each person, if any, who controls Nationwide,
NAS or their respective affiliates within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933
Act and each of their respective directors and officers, (collectively, the
"Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 12.2) against any and all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with
the written consent of AVIF ) or actions in respect thereof (including, to the
extent reasonable, legal and other expenses), to which the Indemnified Parties
may become subject under any statute, regulation, at common law, or otherwise;
provided, the Account owns shares of the Fund and insofar as such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or actions:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained
in AVIF's 1933 Act registration statement, AVIF
Prospectus or sales literature or advertising of AVIF (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 AVIF or
its affiliates by or on behalf of Nationwide, NAS or
their respective affiliates for use in AVIF's 1933 Act
registration statement, AVIF Prospectus, or in sales
literature or advertising or otherwise for use in
connection with the sale of Contracts or Shares (or any
amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing); or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of any other statements or
representations (other than statements or representations
contained in any Account's 1933 Act registration
statement, any Account Prospectus, sales literature or
advertising for the Contracts, or any amendment or
supplement to any of the foregoing, not supplied for use
therein by or on behalf of AVIF or its affiliates and on
which such persons have reasonably relied) or the
negligent, illegal or fraudulent conduct of AVIF or its
affiliates or persons under its control (including,
without limitation, their employees and "Associated
Persons" as that Term is defined in Section (n) of
Article 1 of the NASD By-Laws), in connection with the
sale or distribution of AVIF Shares; or
(iii) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained
in any Account's 1933 Act registration statement, any
Account Prospectus, sales literature or advertising
covering the Contracts, or any amendment or supplement to
any of the foregoing, 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 in conformity with information
furnished to Nationwide, NAS or their respective
affiliates by or on behalf of
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AVIF for use in any Account's 1933 Act registration
statement, any Account Prospectus, sales literature or
advertising covering the Contracts, or any amendment
or supplement to any of the foregoing; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by AVIF to perform
the obligations, provide the services and furnish the
materials required of it under the terms of this
Agreement, or any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by AVIF in this
Agreement or arise out of or result from any other
material breach of this Agreement by AVIF.
(b) Except to the extent provided in Sections 12.2(c), 12.2(d) and
12.2(e) hereof, AVIF agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Indemnified
Parties from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities
(including amounts paid in settlement thereof with, the written consent of
AVIF) or actions in respect thereof (including, to the extent reasonable, legal
and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject
directly or indirectly under any statute, at common law or otherwise, insofar
as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions directly or indirectly
result from or arise out of the failure of any Fund to operate as a regulated
investment company in compliance with (i) Subchapter M of the Code and
regulations thereunder, or (ii) Section 817(h) of the Code and regulations
thereunder, including, without limitation, any income taxes and related
penalties, rescission charges, liability under state law to Participants
asserting liability against Nationwide pursuant to the Contracts, the costs of
any ruling and closing agreement or other settlement with the IRS, and the cost
of any substitution by Nationwide of Shares of another investment company or
portfolio for those of any adversely affected Fund as a funding medium for each
Account that Nationwide reasonably deems necessary or appropriate as a result
of the noncompliance.
(c) AVIF shall not be liable under this Section 12.2 with respect
to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions to which an Indemnified
Party would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith,
or gross negligence in the performance by that Indemnified Party of its duties
or by reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of its obligations
and duties (i) under this Agreement, or (ii) to Nationwide, NAS, each Account
or Participants.
(d) AVIF shall not be liable under this Section 12.2 with respect
to any action against an Indemnified Party unless the Indemnified Party shall
have notified AVIF in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or
other first legal process giving information of the nature of the action 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 AVIF of any such action shall not relieve AVIF from any
liability which it may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action
is brought otherwise than on account of this Section 12.2. Except as otherwise
provided herein, in case any such action is brought against an Indemnified
Party, AVIF will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense
of such action and also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof (which
shall include, without limitation, the conduct of any ruling request and
closing agreement or other settlement proceeding with the IRS), with counsel
approved by the Indemnified Party named in the action, which approval shall not
be unreasonably withheld. After notice from AVIF to such Indemnified Party of
AVIF's election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party will
cooperate fully with AVIF and shall bear the fees and expenses of any
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additional counsel retained by it, and AVIF will not be liable to such
Indemnified Party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party independently in connection with
the defense thereof, other than reasonable costs of investigation.
(e) In no event shall AVIF be liable under the
indemnification provisions contained in this Agreement to any individual or
entity, including, without limitation, Nationwide, NAS or any other
Participating Insurance Company or any Participant, with respect to any losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses that arise out of or result from (i) a
breach of any representation, warranty, and/or covenant made by Nationwide or
NAS hereunder or by any Participating Insurance Company under an agreement
containing substantially similar representations, warranties and covenants;
(ii) the failure by Nationwide or any Participating Insurance Company to
maintain its segregated asset account (which invests in any Fund) as a legally
and validly established segregated asset account under applicable state law and
as a duly registered unit investment trust under the provisions of the 1940 Act
(unless exempt therefrom); or (iii) the failure by Nationwide or any
Participating Insurance Company to maintain its variable annuity or life
insurance contracts (with respect to which any Fund serves as an underlying
funding vehicle) as annuity contracts or life insurance contracts under
applicable provisions of the Code.
12.3 EFFECT OF NOTICE.
Any notice given by the indemnifying Party to an Indemnified Party
referred to in Sections 12.1(c) or 12.2(d) above of participation in or
control of any action by the indemnifying Party will in no event be deemed to
be an admission by the indemnifying Party of liability, culpability or
responsibility, and the indemnifying Party will remain free to contest
liability with respect to the claim among the Parties or otherwise.
12.4 SUCCESSORS.
A successor by law of any Party shall be entitled to the benefits of
the indemnification contained in this Section 12.
SECTION 13. APPLICABLE LAW
This Agreement will be construed and the provisions hereof interpreted
under and in accordance with Maryland law, without regard for that state's
principles of conflict of laws.
SECTION 14. EXECUTION IN COUNTERPARTS
This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which taken together will constitute one and the same
instrument.
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SECTION 15. SEVERABILITY
If any provision of this Agreement is held or made invalid by a court
decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement will not
be affected thereby.
SECTION 16. RIGHTS CUMULATIVE
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, that the Parties are entitled to under federal and state
laws.
SECTION 17. HEADINGS
The Table of Contents and headings used in this Agreement are for
purposes of reference only and shall not limit or define the meaning of the
provisions of this Agreement.
SECTION 18. CONFIDENTIALITY
AVIF acknowledges that the identities of the customers of Nationwide
or any of its affiliates (collectively, the "Nationwide Protected Parties" for
purposes of this Section 18), information maintained regarding those customers,
and all computer programs and procedures or other information developed by the
Nationwide Protected Parties or any of their employees or agents in connection
with Nationwide's performance of its duties under this Agreement are the
valuable property of the Nationwide Protected Parties. AVIF agrees that if it
comes into possession of any list or compilation of the identities of or other
information about the Nationwide Protected Parties' customers, or any other
information or property of the Nationwide Protected Parties, other than such
information as may be independently developed or compiled by AVIF from
information supplied to it by the Nationwide Protected Parties' customers who
also maintain accounts directly with AVIF, AVIF will hold such information or
property in confidence and refrain from using, disclosing or distributing any
of such information or other property except: (a) with Nationwide's prior
written consent; or (b) as required by law or judicial process. Nationwide
acknowledges that the identities of the customers of AVIF or any of its
affiliates (collectively the "AVIF Protected Parties" for purposes of this
Section 18), information maintained regarding those customers, and all computer
programs and procedures or other information developed by the AVIF Protected
Parties or any of their employees or agents in connection with AVIF's
performance of its duties under this Agreement are the valuable property of the
AVIF Protected Parties. Nationwide agrees that if it comes into possession of
any list or compilation of the identities of or other information about the
AVIF Protected Parties' customers or any other information or property of the
AVIF Protected Parties, other than such information as may be independently
developed or compiled by Nationwide from information supplied to it by the AVIF
Protected Parties' customers who also maintain accounts directly with
Nationwide, Nationwide will hold such information or property in confidence and
refrain from using, disclosing or distributing any of such information or other
property except: (a) with AVIF's prior written consent; or (b) as required by
law or judicial process. Each party
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acknowledges that any breach of the agreements in this Section 18 would result
in immediate and irreparable harm to the other parties for which there would be
no adequate remedy at law and agree that in the event of such a breach, the
other parties will be entitled to equitable relief by way of temporary and
permanent injunctions, as well as such other relief as any court of competent
jurisdiction deems appropriate.
SECTION 19. TRADEMARKS AND FUND NAMES
(a) A I M Management Group Inc. ("AIM" or "licensor"), an
affiliate of AVIF, owns all right, title and interest in and to the name,
trademark and service xxxx "AIM" and such other tradenames, trademarks and
service marks as may be set forth on Schedule B, as amended from time to time
by written notice from AIM to Nationwide (the "AIM licensed marks" or the
"licensor's licensed marks") and is authorized to use and to license other
persons to use such marks. Nationwide and its affiliates are hereby granted a
non-exclusive license to use the AIM licensed marks in connection with
Nationwide's performance of the services contemplated under this Agreement,
subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 19.
(b) The grant of license to Nationwide and its affiliates ( the
"licensee") shall terminate automatically upon termination of this Agreement.
Upon automatic termination, the licensee shall cease to use the licensor's
licensed marks, except that Nationwide shall have the right to continue to
service any outstanding Contracts bearing any of the AIM licensed marks. Upon
AIM's elective termination of this license, Nationwide and its affiliates shall
immediately cease to issue any new annuity or life insurance contracts bearing
any of the AIM licensed marks and shall likewise cease any activity which
suggests that it has any right under any of the AIM licensed marks or that it
has any association with AIM, except that Nationwide shall have the right to
continue to service outstanding Contracts bearing any of the AIM licensed
marks.
(c) The licensee shall obtain the prior written approval of the
licensor for the public release by such licensee of any materials bearing the
licensor's licensed marks. The licensor's approvals shall not be unreasonably
withheld.
(d) During the term of this grant of license, a licensor may
request that a licensee submit samples of any materials bearing any of the
licensor's licensed marks which were previously approved by the licensor but,
due to changed circumstances, the licensor may wish to reconsider. If, on
reconsideration, or on initial review, respectively, any such samples fail to
meet with the written approval of the licensor, then the licensee shall
immediately cease distributing such disapproved materials. The licensor's
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, and the licensor, when requesting
reconsideration of a prior approval, shall assume the reasonable expenses of
withdrawing and replacing such disapproved materials. The licensee shall
obtain the prior written approval of the licensor for the use of any new
materials developed to replace the disapproved materials, in the manner set
forth above.
(e) The licensee hereunder: (i) acknowledges and stipulates that,
to the best of the knowledge of the licensee, the licensor's licensed marks are
valid and enforceable trademarks and/or service marks and that such licensee
does not own the licensor's licensed marks and claims no rights
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therein other than as a licensee under this Agreement; (ii) agrees never to
contend otherwise in legal proceedings or in other circumstances; and (iii)
acknowledges and agrees that the use of the licensor's licensed marks pursuant
to this grant of license shall inure to the benefit of the licensor.
SECTION 20. PARTIES TO COOPERATE
Each party to this Agreement will cooperate with each other party and
all appropriate governmental authorities (including, without limitation, the
SEC, the NASD and state insurance regulators) and will permit each other and
such authorities reasonable access to its books and records (including copies
thereof) in connection with any investigation or inquiry relating to this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
--------------------------------------
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be
executed in their names and on their behalf by and through their duly
authorized officers signing below.
AIM VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.
Attest: /s/ XXXXX X. XXXXXX By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXX
------------------------- -------------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Assistant Secretary Title: President
A I M ADVISORS, INC.
Attest: /s/ XXXXX X. XXXXXX By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXX
------------------------- -------------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Assistant Secretary Title: President
A I M DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
Attest: /s/ XXXXX X. XXXXXX By: /s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXX
------------------------- -------------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
Assistant Secretary Title: President
NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY,
on behalf of itself and its separate
accounts
Attest: /s/ XXXX TANTRA By: /s/ XXXX X. XXXXXXXX
------------------------- -------------------------------
Name: XXXX TANTRA Name: XXXX X. XXXXXXXX
--------------------------- -----------------------------
Title: COUNSEL Title: V.P. CONTROLLER
-------------------------- ----------------------------
NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY,
on behalf of itself and its separate
accounts
Attest: /s/ XXXX TANTRA By: /s/ XXXX X. XXXXXXXX
------------------------- -------------------------------
Name: XXXX TANTRA Name: XXXX X. XXXXXXXX
--------------------------- -----------------------------
Title: COUNSEL Title: V.P. CONTROLLER
-------------------------- ----------------------------
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NATIONWIDE ADVISORY SERVICES, INC.
Attest: /s/ XXXX TANTRA By: /s/ XXXXX X. XXXXX XX.
------------------------- -------------------------------
Name: XXXX TANTRA Name: XXXXX X. XXXXX XX.
--------------------------- -----------------------------
Title: COUNSEL Title: V.P. GM NAS
-------------------------- ----------------------------
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SCHEDULE A
FUNDS AVAILABLE UNDER THE CONTRACTS
o AIM VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.
AIM V.I. Capital Appreciation Fund
AIM V.I. International Equity Fund
SEPARATE ACCOUNTS UTILIZING THE FUNDS
o Multi Flex Separate Account, dated October 7, 1981
CONTRACTS FUNDED BY THE SEPARATE ACCOUNTS
o NEA Value Builder
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SCHEDULE B
o AIM VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.
AIM V.I. Capital Appreciation Fund
AIM V.I. International Equity Fund
o AIM and Design
[AIM LOGO APPEARS HERE]
31
