PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
Among
XXX XXXXXX LIFE INVESTMENT TRUST,
XXX XXXXXX FUNDS INC.,
XXX XXXXXX ASSET MANAGEMENT INC.,
and
LINCOLN BENEFIT LIFE COMPANY
DATED AS OF
August 16, 2001
Table of Contents
ARTICLE I. Fund Shares...............................................................................3
ARTICLE II Representations and Warranties............................................................5
ARTICLE III Prospectuses, Reports to Shareholders and
Proxy Statements; Voting..................................................................7
ARTICLE IV Sales Material and Information............................................................9
ARTICLE V Distribution and Service Plans...........................................................10
ARTICLE VI Diversification..........................................................................11
ARTICLE VII Potential Conflicts......................................................................11
ARTICLE VIII Indemnification..........................................................................13
ARTICLE IX Applicable Law...........................................................................19
ARTICLE X Termination..............................................................................20
ARTICLE XI Notices..................................................................................22
ARTICLE XII Foreign Tax Credits......................................................................23
ARTICLE XIII Miscellaneous............................................................................23
SCHEDULE A Separate Accounts and Contracts..........................................................27
SCHEDULE B Participating Xxx Xxxxxx Life Investment Trust Portfolios................................28
SCHEDULE C Proxy Voting Procedures..................................................................29
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
Among
XXX XXXXXX LIFE INVESTMENT TRUST,
XXX XXXXXX FUNDS INC.,
XXX XXXXXX ASSET MANAGEMENT INC.,
and
LINCOLN BENEFIT LIFE COMPANY
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of the 16th day of August, 2001 by and
among LINCOLN BENEFIT LIFE COMPANY (hereinafter the "Company"), a Nebraska
corporation, on its own behalf and on behalf of each separate account of the
Company set forth on Schedule A hereto as may be amended from time to time (each
such account hereinafter referred to as the "Account"), and XXX XXXXXX LIFE
INVESTMENT TRUST (hereinafter the "Fund"), a Delaware business trust, XXX XXXXXX
FUNDS INC. (hereinafter the "Underwriter"), a Delaware corporation, and XXX
XXXXXX ASSET MANAGEMENT INC. (hereinafter the "Adviser"), a Delaware
corporation.
WHEREAS, the Fund engages in business as an open-end management investment
company and is available to act as the investment vehicle for separate accounts
established by insurance companies for individual and group life insurance
policies and annuity contracts with variable accumulation and/or payout
provisions (hereinafter referred to individually and/or collectively as
"Variable Insurance Products"); and
WHEREAS, insurance companies desiring to utilize the Fund as an investment
vehicle under their Variable Insurance Products are required to enter into
participation agreements with the Fund and the Underwriter (the "Participating
Insurance Companies"); and
WHEREAS, shares of the Fund are divided into several series of shares, each
representing the interest in a particular managed portfolio of securities and
other assets, any one or more of which may be made available for Variable
Insurance Products of Participating Insurance Companies; and
WHEREAS, the Fund intends to offer shares of the series set forth on Schedule B
(each such series hereinafter referred to as a "Portfolio") as may be amended
from time to time by mutual agreement of the parties hereto, under this
Agreement to the Accounts of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Fund has obtained an order from the Securities and Exchange
Commission, dated September 19, 1990 (File No. 812-7552), granting Participating
Insurance Companies and Variable Insurance Product 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 (hereinafter the "1940 Act") and Rules
6e2(b)(15) and 6e3j)(b)(15) thereunder to the extent necessary to permit shares
of the Fund to be sold to and held by Variable Annuity Product separate accounts
of both affiliated and unaffiliated life insurance companies (hereinafter the
"Shared Funding Exemptive Order"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment company
under the 1940 Act and its shares are registered under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (hereinafter the "1933 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Adviser is duly registered as an investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and any applicable state securities
laws; and
WHEREAS, the Adviser is the investment adviser of the Portfolios of the Fund;
and
WHEREAS, the Underwriter is registered as a broker/dealer under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (hereinafter the "l 934 Act"), is a member in
good standing of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
(hereinafter "NASD") and serves as principal underwriter of the shares of the
Fund; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register certain Variable Insurance
Products under the 1933 Act; and
WHEREAS, each Account is a duly organized, validly existing segregated asset
account, established by resolution or under authority of the Board of Directors
of the Company, on the date shown for such Account on Schedule A hereto, to set
aside and invest assets attributable to the aforesaid Variable Insurance
Products; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register each Account as a unit
investment trust under the 1940 Act; and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and regulations,
the Company intends to purchase shares in the Portfolios on behalf of each
Account to fund certain of the aforesaid Variable Insurance Products and the
Underwriter is authorized to sell such shares to each such Account at net asset
value.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Company, the
Fund, the Underwriter and the Adviser agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
Fund Shares
1.1 The Fund and the Underwriter agree to make available for purchase by the
Company shares of the Portfolios and shall execute orders placed for each
Account on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by
the Fund or its designee of such order. For purposes of this Section 1.1, the
Company shall be the designee of the Fund and the Underwriter for receipt of
such orders from each Account and receipt by such designee shall constitute
receipt by the Fund; provided that the Fund receives notice of such order by
10:00 a.m. Houston time on the next following Business Day. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Company shall use its best efforts to provide the Fund with
notice of such orders by 9:15 a.m. Houston time on the next following Business
Day. "Business Day" shall mean any day on which New York Stock Exchange is open
for trading and on which the Fund calculates its net asset value pursuant to the
rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, as set forth in the Fund's
prospectus and statement of additional information. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Board of Trustees of the Fund (hereinafter the "Board") may
refuse to permit the Fund to sell shares of any Portfolio to any person, or
suspend or terminate the offering of shares of any Portfolio if such action is
required by law or by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction or is, in the
sole discretion of the Board acting in good faith and in light of their
fiduciary duties under federal and any applicable state laws, necessary in the
best interests of the shareholders of such Portfolio.
1.2 The Fund and the Underwriter agree that shares of the Fund will be sold only
to Participating Insurance Companies for their Variable Insurance Products. No
shares of any Portfolio will be sold to the general public.
1.3 The Fund will not make its shares available for purchase by any insurance
company or separate account unless an agreement containing provisions which
afford the Company substantially the same protections currently provided by
Sections 2.1, 2.4, 2.9, 3.4 and Article VII of this Agreement is in effect to
govern such sales.
1.4 The Fund and the Underwriter agree to redeem for cash, on the Company's
request, any full or fractional shares of the Fund held by the Company,
executing such requests on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed
after receipt by the Fund or its designee of the request for redemption. For
purposes of this Section 1.4, the Company shall be the designee of the Fund for
receipt of requests for redemption from each Account and receipt by such
designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund; provided that the Underwriter
receives notice of such request for redemption on the next following Business
Day in accordance with the timing rules described in Section 1.1.
1.5 The Company agrees that purchases and redemptions of Portfolio shares
offered by the then current prospectus of the Fund shall be made in accordance
with the provisions of such prospectus. The Accounts of the Company, under which
amounts may be invested in the Fund are listed on Schedule A attached hereto and
incorporated herein by reference, as such Schedule A may be amended from time to
time by mutual written agreement of all of the parties hereto.
1.6 The Company will place separate orders to purchase or redeem shares of each
Portfolio. Each order shall describe the net amount of shares and dollar amount
of each Portfolio to be purchased or redeemed. In the event of net purchases,
the Company shall pay for Portfolio shares on the next Business Day after an
order to purchase Portfolio shares is made in accordance with the provisions of
Section 1.1 hereof. Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire. In
the event of net redemptions, the Portfolio shall pay the redemption proceeds in
federal funds transmitted by wire on the next Business Day after an order to
redeem Portfolio shares is made in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.4
hereof.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the payment of redemption proceeds on the next
Business Day would require the Portfolio to dispose of Portfolio securities or
otherwise incur substantial additional costs, and if the Portfolio has
determined to settle redemption transactions for all shareholders on a delayed
basis, proceeds shall be wired to the Company within seven (7) days and the
Portfolio shall notify in writing the person designated by the Company as the
recipient for such notice of such delay by 3:00 p.m. Houston time on the same
Business Day that the Company transmits the redemption order to the Portfolio.
1.7 Issuance and transfer of the Fund's shares will be by book entry only. Share
certificates will not be issued to the Company or any Account. Shares ordered
from the Fund will be recorded in an appropriate title for each Account or the
appropriate subaccount of each Account.
1.8 The Underwriter shall use its best efforts to furnish same day notice by
6:00 p.m. Houston time (by wire or telephone, followed by written confirmation)
to the Company of any dividends or capital gain distributions payable on the
Fund's shares. The Company hereby elects to receive all such dividends and
capital gain distributions as are payable on the Portfolio shares in additional
shares of that Portfolio. The Company reserves the right to revoke this election
and to receive all such dividends and capital gain distributions in cash. The
Fund shall notify the Company of the number of shares so issued as payment of
such dividends and distributions.
1.9 The Underwriter shall make the net asset value per share of each Portfolio
available to the Company on a daily basis as soon as reasonably practical after
the net asset value per share is calculated and shall use its best efforts to
make such net asset value per share available by 6:00 p.m. Houston time. In the
event that Underwriter is unable to meet the 6:00 p.m. time stated immediately
above, then Underwriter shall provide the Company with additional time to notify
Underwriter of purchase or redemption orders pursuant to Sections 1.1 and 1.4,
respectively above. Such additional time shall be equal to the additional time
that Underwriter takes to make the net asset values available to the Company
provided, however, that notification must be made by 10:00 a.m. Houston time on
the Business Day such order is to be executed, regardless of when net asset
value is made available.
1.10 If Underwriter provides materially incorrect share net asset value
information through no fault of the Company, the Company shall be entitled to an
adjustment with respect to the Fund shares purchased or redeemed to reflect the
correct net asset value per share. The determination of the materiality of any
net asset value pricing error shall be based on the SEC's recommended guidelines
regarding such errors. The correction of any such errors shall be made at the
Company level pursuant to the SEC's recommended guidelines. 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 the
Company.
ARTICLE 2
Representations and Warranties
2.1 The Company represents and warrants that the interests of Accounts (the
"Contracts") are or will be registered and will maintain the registration under
the 1933 Act and the regulations thereunder to the extent required by the 1933
Act; that the Contracts will be issued and sold in compliance with all
applicable federal and state laws and regulations. The Company further
represents and warrants that it is an insurance company duly organized and in
good standing under applicable law and that it has legally and validly
established each Account prior to any issuance or sale thereof as a segregated
asset account under the Nebraska Insurance Code and the regulations thereunder
and has registered or, prior to any issuance or sale of the Contracts, will
register and will maintain the registration of each Account as a unit investment
trust in accordance with and to the extent required by the provisions of the
1940 Act and the regulations thereunder to serve as a segregated investment
account for the Contracts. The Company shall amend its registration statement
for its contracts under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act from time to time as
required in order to effect the continuous offering of its Contracts.
2.2 The Fund and the Underwriter represent and warrant that Fund shares sold
pursuant to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act and the
regulations thereunder to the extent required by the 1933 Act, duly authorized
for issuance in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware and sold in
compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws and regulations
and that the Fund is and shall remain registered under the 1940 Act and the
regulations thereunder to the extent required by 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. 1.1
2.3 The Fund and the Adviser represent that the Fund is currently qualified as a
Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the "Code") and that each will make every effort to maintain
such qualification (under Subchapter M or any successor or similar provision and
that each will notify the Company immediately upon having a reasonable basis for
believing that the Fund has ceased to so qualify or that the Fund might not so
qualify in the future.
2.4 The Company represents that each Account is and will continue to be a
"segregated account" under applicable provisions of the Code and that each
Contract is and will be treated as a "variable contract" under applicable
provisions of the Code and that it will make every effort to maintain such
treatment and that it will notify the Fund immediately upon having a reasonable
basis for believing that the Account or Contract has ceased to be so treated or
that they might not be so treated in the future.
2.5 The Fund represents that to the extent that it decides to finance
distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, the Fund
undertakes to have a 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.
2.6 The Fund makes no representation as to whether any aspect of its operations
(including, but not limited to, fees and expenses and investment policies)
complies with the insurance laws or regulations of the various states.
2.7 The Fund and the Adviser represent that the Fund is duly organized and
validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware and that the Fund does
and will comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act.
2.8 The Underwriter represents and warrants that it is and shall remain duly
registered under all applicable federal and state laws and regulations and that
it will perform its obligations for the Fund and the Company in compliance with
the laws and regulations of its state of domicile and any applicable state and
federal laws and regulations.
2.9 The Company represents and warrants that all of its trustees, officers,
employees, investment advisers, and other individuals/entities dealing with the
money and/or securities of the Fund are covered by a blanket fidelity bond or
similar coverage, in an amount equal to the greater of $5 million or any amount
required by applicable federal or state law or regulation. The aforesaid
includes coverage for larceny and embezzlement is issued by a reputable bonding
company. 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 3
Prospectuses, Reports to Shareholders and Proxy Statements; Voting
3.1 The Fund shall provide the Company with as many printed copies of the Fund's
current prospectus and statement of additional information as the Company may
reasonably request. If requested by the Company in lieu of providing printed
copies the Fund shall provide camera-ready film or computer diskettes containing
the Fund's prospectus and statement of additional information, and such other
assistance as is reasonably necessary in order for the Company once each year
(or more frequently if the prospectus and/or statement of additional information
for the Fund is amended during the year) to have the prospectus for the
Contracts and the Fund's prospectus printed together in one document or
separately. The Company may elect to print the Fund's prospectus and/or its
statement of additional information in combination with other fund companies'
prospectuses and statements of additional information.
3.2(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 3.2., all expenses of
preparing, setting in type and printing and distributing Fund prospectuses and
statements of additional information shall be the expense of the Company. For
prospectuses and statements of additional information provided by the Company to
its existing owners of Contracts in order to update disclosure as required by
the 1933 Act and/or the 1940 Act, the cost of setting in type, printing and
distributing shall be borne by the Fund. If the Company chooses to receive
camera-ready film or computer diskettes in lieu of receiving printed copies of
the Fund's prospectus and/or statement of additional information, the Fund shall
bear the cost of typesetting to provide the Fund's prospectus and/or statement
of additional information to the Company in the format in which the Fund is
accustomed to formatting prospectuses and statements of additional information,
respectively, and the Company shall bear the expense of adjusting or changing
the format to conform with any of its prospectuses and/or statements of
additional information. In such event, the Fund will reimburse the Company in an
amount equal to the product of x and y where x is the number of such
prospectuses distributed to owners of the Contracts, and y is the Fund's per
unit cost of printing the Fund's prospectuses. The same procedures shall be
followed with respect to the Fund's statement of additional information. The
Fund shall not pay any costs of typesetting, printing and distributing the
Fund's prospectus and/or statement of additional information to prospective
Contract owners. Such expenses shall be borne by the Company.
3.2(b) The Fund, at its expense, shall provide the Company with copies of its
proxy statements, reports to shareholders, and other communications (except for
prospectuses and statements of additional information, which are covered in
Section 3.2(a) above) to shareholders in such quantity as the Company shall
reasonably require for distributing to Contract owners. The Fund shall not pay
any costs of distributing such proxy related material, reports to shareholders,
and other communications to prospective Contract owners.
3.2(c) The Company agrees to provide the Fund or its designee with such
information as may be reasonably requested by the Fund to assure that the Fund's
expenses do not include the cost of typesetting, printing or distributing any of
the foregoing documents other than those actually distributed to existing
Contract owners.
3.2(d) The Fund shall pay no fee or other compensation to the Company under this
Agreement, except that if the Fund or any Portfolio adopts and implements a plan
pursuant to Rule 12b-1 to finance distribution expenses, then the Underwriter
may make payments to the Company or to the underwriter for the Contracts if and
in amounts agreed to by the Underwriter in writing.
3.2(e) All expenses, including expenses to be borne by the Fund pursuant to
Section 3.2 hereof, 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.
3.3 The Fund's statement of additional information shall be obtainable from the
Fund, the Underwriter, the Company or such other person as the Fund may
designate.
3.4 If and to the extent required by law the Company shall distribute all proxy
material furnished by the Fund to Contract Owners to whom voting privileges are
required to be extended and shall:
(1) solicit voting instructions from Contract owners;
(2) vote the Fund shares in accordance with instructions received from Contract
owners; and
(3) vote Fund shares for which no instructions have been received in the same
proportion as Fund shares of such Portfolio for which instructions have
been received,so long as and to the extent that the Securities and Exchange
Commission continues to interpret the 1940 Act to require passthrough
voting privileges for variable contract owners. The Company reserves the
right to vote Fund shares held in any segregated asset account in its own
right, to the extent permitted by law. The Fund and the Company shall
follow the procedures, and shall have the corresponding responsibilities,
for the handling of proxy and voting instruction solicitations, as set
forth in Schedule C attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Participating Insurance Companies shall be responsible for ensuring that
each of their separate accounts participating in the Fund calculates voting
privileges in a manner consistent with the standards set forth on Schedule
C, which standards will also be provided to the other Participating
Insurance Companies.
3.5 The Fund will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act requiring voting by
shareholders, and in particular the Fund will either provide for annual meetings
(except insofar as the Securities and Exchange Commission may interpret Section
16 not to require such meetings) or comply with Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act
(although the Fund 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,
the Fund will act in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission's
interpretation of the requirements of Section 16(a) with respect to periodic
elections of directors and with whatever rules the Commission may promulgate
with respect thereto.
ARTICLE 4
Sales Material and Information
4.1 The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the Fund, the
Underwriter or their designee, each piece of sales literature or other
promotional material prepared by the Company or any person contracting with the
Company in which the Fund, the Adviser or the Underwriter is named, at least ten
Business Days prior to its use. No such material shall be used if the Fund, the
Adviser, the Underwriter or their designee reasonably objects to such use within
ten Business Days after receipt of such material.
4.2 Neither the Company nor any person contracting with the Company shall give
any information or make any representations or statements on behalf of the Fund
or concerning the Fund in connection with the sale of the Contracts other than
the information or representations contained in the registration statement or
Fund prospectus, as such registration statement or Fund prospectus may be
amended or supplemented from time to time, or in reports to shareholders or
proxy statements for the Fund, or in sales literature or other promotional
material approved by the Fund or its designee, except with the permission of the
Fund or its designee.
4.3 The Fund shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the Company or
its designee, each piece of sales literature or other promotional material
prepared by the Fund in which the Company or its Accounts, are named at least
ten Business Days prior to its use. No such material shall be used if the
Company or its designee reasonably objects to such use within ten Business Days
after receipt of such material.
4.4 Neither the Fund nor the Underwriter shall give any information or make any
representations on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company, each
Account, or the Contracts, other than the information or representations
contained in a registration statement or prospectus for the Contracts, as such
registration statement or prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to
time, or in published reports or solicitations for voting instruction for each
Account which are in the public domain or approved by the Company for
distribution to Contract owners, or in sales literature or other promotional
material approved by the Company or its designee, except with the permission of
the Company.
4.5 The Fund will provide to the Company at least one complete copy of all
registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional information,
reports, proxy statements, sales literature and other promotional materials,
applications for exemptions, requests for no-action letters, and all amendments
to any of the above, that relate to the Fund or its shares, contemporaneously
with the filing of such document with the Securities and Exchange Commission or
other regulatory authorities.
4.6 The Company will provide to the Fund at least one complete copy of all
registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional information,
reports, solicitations for voting instructions, sales literature and other
promotional materials, applications for exemptions, requests for no action
letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that relate to the investment
in an Account or Contract, contemporaneously with the filing of such document
with the Securities and Exchange Commission or other regulatory authorities.
4.7 For purposes of this Article IV, the phrase "sales literature or other
promotional material" includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:
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, research
reports, market letters, form letters, seminar texts, reprints or excerpts of
any other advertisement, sales literature, or published article), educational or
training materials or other communications distributed or made generally
available to some or all agents or employees, and registration statements,
prospectuses, statements of additional information, shareholder reports, and
proxy materials.
ARTICLE 5
Distribution and Service Plans
5.1 The Fund is subject to a plan adopted under Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act
pursuant to which, as described in the current prospectus of each Portfolio, the
Fund may sell multiple classes of its shares of each Portfolio with a varying
combination of distribution fees, service fees, exchange features, conversion
rights, voting rights, expense allocations and investment requirements.
5.2 Should the Company wish to participate in the Fund's distribution plan with
respect to a class of shares of a Portfolio of the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1
(the "Rule 12b-1 Plan") under the 1940 Act, or the Fund's service plan (the
"Service Plan"), each as described in the current prospectus of each Portfolio,
with respect to a class of shares of a Portfolio of the Fund, it is understood
that the Company must be approved by the Board of Trustees of the Fund. Pursuant
to the Rule 12b-1 Plan and the Service Plan, the Underwriter is authorized to
remit payments at rates specified in the respective plans with respect to the
net asset value of shares maintained by the Company for distribution-related
services and/or personal services to Contract owners accounts provided. If the
Company wishes to participate in these plans and receive the aforementioned
remittance, the Company must enter into a separate agreement specifically
regarding these plans.
5.3 The Company's acceptance of this Agreement constitutes a representation that
it will adopt policies and procedures to comply with Rule 18f-3 under the 1940
Act, with respect to when the Company may appropriately make available the
various classes of shares of the Portfolios of the Fund and that it will make
available such shares only in accordance therewith. 1.1
ARTICLE 6
Diversification
6.1 The Fund will use its best efforts to at all times comply with Section
817(h) of the Code and Treasury Regulation 1.817-5, relating to the
diversification requirements for variable annuity, endowment, or life insurance
contracts and any amendments or other modifications to such Section or
Regulations. In the event the Fund ceases to so qualify, it will take all
reasonable steps (a) to notify Company of such event and (b) to adequately
diversify the Fund so as to achieve compliance within the grace period afforded
by Regulation 817-5. ARTICLE 7
Potential Conflicts
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: (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 owners and variable life insurance contract owners;
or (f) a decision by a Participating Insurance Company 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 material irreconcilable
conflict of which it is aware to the Board. The Company will assist the Board in
carrying out its responsibilities under the Shared Funding Exemptive Order, by
providing the Board with all information reasonably necessary for the Board to
consider any issues raised. This includes, but is not limited to, an obligation
by the Company to inform the Board whenever contract owner voting instructions
are disregarded.
7.3 If it is determined by a majority of the Board, or a majority of its
disinterested trustees, that a material irreconcilable conflict 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 trustees), take whatever steps are necessary to remedy or
eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict, up to and including: (1)
withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the separate accounts from
the Fund or any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a different investment
medium, including (but not limited to) another Portfolio of the Fund, or
submitting the question whether such segregation should be implemented to a vote
of all affected Contract owners and, as appropriate, segregating the assets of
any appropriate group (i.e., annuity contract owners, life insurance policy
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. No charge
or penalty will be imposed as a result of such withdrawal. The Company agrees
that it bears the responsibility to take remedial action in the event of a Board
determination of an irreconcilable material conflict and the cost of such
remedial action, and these responsibilities will be carried out with a view only
to the interests of Contract owners.
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 affected Accounts
investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with respect to such Account
(at the Company's expense); 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. No charge or penalty will be imposed as a result of such
withdrawal. The Company agrees that it bears the responsibility to take remedial
action in the event of a Board determination of an irreconcilable material
conflict and the cost of such remedial action, and these responsibilities will
be carried out with a view only to the interests of Contract owners.
7.5 For purposes of Sections 7.3 through 7.4 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 through 7.4 to establish a new
funding medium for the Contracts if an offer to do so has been declined by vote
of a majority of Contract owners materially adversely affected by the
irreconcilable material conflict.
7.6 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 Shared Funding Exemptive Order) on terms and conditions
materially different from those contained in the Shared Funding Exemptive Order,
then 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.
7.7 Each of the Company and the Adviser shall at least annually submit to the
Board such reports, materials or data as the Board may reasonably request so
that the Board may fully carry out the obligations imposed upon them by the
provisions hereof and in the Shared Funding Exemptive Order, and said reports,
materials and data shall be submitted more frequently if deemed appropriate by
the Board. All reports received by the Board of potential or existing conflicts,
and all Board action with regard to determining the existence of a conflict,
notifying Participating Insurance Companies of a conflict, and determining
whether any proposed action adequately remedies a conflict, shall be properly
recorded in the minutes of the Board or other appropriate records, and such
minutes or other records shall be made available to the Securities and Exchange
Commission upon request.
ARTICLE 8
Indemnification
8.1 Indemnification By The Company
8.1(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, the
Underwriter and each member of their respective Board and officers and each
person, if any, who controls the Fund within the meaning of Section 15 of
the 1933 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this
Section 8.1) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities
(including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the
Company) or litigation (including legal and other expenses), to which the
Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute, regulation, at
common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements are
related to the sale or acquisition of the Fund's shares or the Contracts
and:
(1) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements or alleged untrue
statements of any material fact contained in the registration
statement or prospectus for the Contracts or contained in the
Contracts or sales literature for the Contracts (or any amendment or
supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon
the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, provided that this agreement to indemnify
shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement 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 or
prospectus for the Contracts or in the Contracts or sales literature
(or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in connection
with the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(2) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other
than statements or representations contained in the registration
statement, prospectus or sales literature of the Fund not supplied by
the Company, or persons under its control and other than statements or
representations authorized by the Fund or the Underwriter) or unlawful
conduct of the Company or persons under its control, with respect to
the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(3) arise out of or as a result of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a registration statement,
prospectus, or sales literature of the Fund or any amendment thereof
or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statement or statements therein not misleading, if such a
statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished to the Fund by or on behalf of the Company; or
(4) arise as a result of any failure by the Company to provide the
services and furnish the materials under the terms of this Agreement;
or
(5) 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.
8.1(b) The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with
respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation incurred
or assessed against an Indemnified Party as such may arise from such
Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in
the performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such
Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations or duties under this
Agreement.
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 the Indemnified Parties, the
Company shall be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the
defense thereof. 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 this Agreement, the issuance or sale of the Fund shares or the
Contracts, or the operation of the Fund.
8.2 Indemnification by Underwriter
8.2(a) The Underwriter agrees, with respect to each Portfolio that it
distributes, 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, regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect
thereof) or settlements are related to the sale or acquisition of the
Fund's shares that it distributes or the Contracts and:
(1) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of any material fact contained in the registration statement
or prospectus or sales literature of the Fund (or any amendment or
supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon
the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, provided that this agreement to indemnify
shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement or
omission or such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance
upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Fund or the
Underwriter by or on behalf of the Company for use in the registration
statement or prospectus for the Fund or in sales literature (or any
amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in connection with the
sale of the Contracts or Portfolio shares; or
(2) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other
than statements or representations contained in the registration
statement, prospectus or sales literature for the Contracts not
supplied by the Fund, the Underwriter or persons under their
respective control and other than statements or representations
authorized by the Company) or unlawful conduct of the Fund or
Underwriter or persons under their control, with respect to the sale
or distribution of the Contracts or Portfolio shares; or
(3) arise out of or as a result of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a registration statement,
prospectus, or sales literature covering the Contracts, or any
amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statement or statements therein not
misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon
and in conformity with information furnished to the Company by or on
behalf of the Fund or the Underwriter; or
(4) 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; or
(5) 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
Section 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
incurred or assessed against an Indemnified Party as such may arise from
such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross
negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by
reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations or
duties under this Agreement.
8.2(c) The Underwriter shall not be liable under this indemnification provision
with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless such
Indemnified Party shall have notified the Underwriter in writing within a
reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received
notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the
Underwriter of any such claim shall not relieve the Underwriter from any
liability which it may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such
action is brought otherwise than on account of this indemnification
provision. In case any such action is brought against the Indemnified
Parties, the Underwriter will be entitled to participate, at its own
expense, in the defense thereof. The Underwriter also shall be entitled to
assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in
the action. After notice from the Underwriter to such party of the
Underwriter's election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party
shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it,
and the Underwriter will not be liable to such party under this Agreement
for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such party
independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable
costs of investigation.
8.2(d) The Company agrees promptly to notify the Underwriter of the commencement
of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers or
directors in connection with this Agreement, the issuance or sale of the
Contracts or the operation of each Account.
8.3 Indemnification by the Adviser
8.3(a) The Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its
directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company
within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (hereinafter collectively,
the "Indemnified Parties" and individually, "Indemnified Party," for
purposes of this Section 8.3) against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent
of the Adviser) or litigation (including legal and other expenses), to
which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute,
regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or
settlements are related to the operations of the Adviser or the Fund and:
(1) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of any material fact contained in the registration statement
or prospectus or sales literature of the Fund (or any amendment or
supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon
the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, provided that this agreement to indemnify
shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement or
omission or such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance
upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Adviser, the
Fund or the Underwriter by or on behalf of the Company for use in the
registration statement or prospectus for the Fund or in sales
literature (or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in
connection with the sale of the Contracts or Portfolio shares; or
(2) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other
than statements or representations contained in the registration
statement, prospectus or sales literature for the Contracts not
supplied by the Fund, the Adviser or persons under its control and
other than statements or representations authorized by the Company) or
unlawful conduct of the Fund, the Adviser or persons under their
control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or
Portfolio shares; or
(3) arise out of or as a result of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a registration statement,
prospectus, or sales literature covering the Contracts, or any
amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statement or statements therein not
misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon
information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Fund or
the Adviser; or
(4) arise as a result of any failure by the Adviser to provide the
services and furnish the materials under the terms of this Agreement;
or
(5) arise out of or result from any material breach of any representation
and/or warranty made by the Fund or the Adviser in this Agreement or
arise out of or result from any other material breach of this
Agreement by the Fund or the Adviser, including without limitation any
failure by the Fund to comply with the conditions of Article VI
hereof.
8.3(b) The Adviser shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with
respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation incurred
or assessed against an Indemnified Party as may arise from such Indemnified
Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the
performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such
Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations or duties under this
Agreement.
8.3(c) The Adviser 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 Adviser 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
Adviser of any such claim shall not relieve the Adviser 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
Adviser will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense
thereof. The Adviser also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof,
with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice
from the Adviser to such party of the Adviser'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 Adviser 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 agrees to promptly notify the Adviser of the commencement of
any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers or
directors in connection with this Agreement, the issuance or sale of the
Contracts, with respect to the operation of each Account, or the sale or
acquisition of shares of the Adviser.
ARTICLE 9
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 Illinois.
9.2 This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the 1933, 1934 and 1940
Acts, and the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder, including such
exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as the Securities and
Exchange Commission may grant (including, but not limited to, the Shared Funding
Exemptive Order) and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in
accordance therewith.
ARTICLE 10
Termination
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 upon six months advance
written notice delivered to the other parties; or
(b) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund, the Adviser
and the Underwriter with respect to any Portfolio based upon the
Company's determination that shares of such Portfolio are not
reasonably available to meet the requirements of the Contracts.
Reasonable advance notice of election to terminate shall be furnished
by the Company, said termination to be effective ten (10) days after
receipt of notice unless the fund makes available a sufficient number
of shares to reasonably meet the requirements of the Account within
said ten (10) day period; or
(c) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund, the Adviser
and the Underwriter with respect to any Portfolio in the event any of
the 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 medium
of the Contracts issued or to be issued by the Company. The
terminating party shall give prompt notice to the other parties of its
decision to terminate; or
(d) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund, the Adviser
and the Underwriter with respect to any Portfolio in the event that
such Portfolio ceases to qualify as a Regulated Investment Company
under Subchapter M of the Code or under any successor or similar
provision; or
(e) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and the
Underwriter with respect to any Portfolio in the event that such
Portfolio fails to meet the diversification requirements specified in
Article VI hereof, or
(f) termination by either the Fund, the Adviser or the Underwriter by
written notice to the Company, if either one or more of the Fund, the
Adviser or the Underwriter, shall determine, in its or their sole
judgment exercised in good faith, that the Company and/or their
affiliated companies has suffered a material adverse change in its
business, operations, financial condition or prospects since the date
of this Agreement or is the subject of material adverse publicity,
provided that the Fund, the Adviser or the Underwriter will give the
Company sixty (60) days' advance written notice of such determination
of its intent to terminate this Agreement, and provided further that
after consideration of the actions taken by the Company and any other
changes in circumstances since the giving of such notice, the
determination of the Fund, the Adviser or the Underwriter shall
continue to apply on the 60th day since giving of such notice, then
such 60th day shall be the effective date of termination, or
(g) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund, the Adviser
and the Underwriter, if the Company shall determine, in its sole
judgment exercised in good faith, that either the Fund, the 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,
provided that the Company will give the Fund, the Adviser and the
Underwriter sixty (60) days' advance written notice of such
determination of its intent to terminate this Agreement, and provided
further that after consideration of the actions taken by the Fund, the
Adviser or the Underwriter and any other changes in circumstances
since the giving of such notice, the determination of the Company
shall continue to apply on the 60th day since giving of such notice,
then such 60th day shall be the effective date of termination; or
(h) termination by any party upon the other party's breach of any
representation in Section 2 or any material provision of this
Agreement which breach has not been cured to the satisfaction of the
terminating party within ten (10) days after written notice of such
breach is delivered to the Fund or the Company, as the case may be; or
(i) termination by the Fund, Adviser or Underwriter by written notice to
the Company in the event an Account or Contract is not registered or
sold in accordance with applicable federal or state law or regulation,
or the Company fails to provide passthrough voting privileges as
specified in Section 3.4.
10.2 Effect of Termination. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement,
the Fund 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 such
further sale of Fund shares is proscribed by law, regulation or applicable
regulatory body, or unless the Fund determines that liquidation of the Fund
following termination of this Agreement is in the best interests of the Fund and
its shareholders. Specifically, without limitation, the owners of the Existing
Contracts shall be permitted to direct reallocation of investments in the Fund,
redemption of investments in the Fund and/or investment in the Fund upon the
making of additional purchase payments under the Existing Contracts. 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.
10.3 The Company shall not redeem Fund shares attributable to the Contracts (as
distinct from Fund shares attributable to the Company's assets held in the
Account) except (i) as necessary to implement Contract Owner initiated or
approved transactions, or (ii) as required by state and/or federal laws or
regulations or judicial or other legal precedent of general application
(hereinafter referred to as a "Legally Required Redemption") or (iii) as
permitted by an order of the SEC pursuant to Section 26(b) of the 1940 Act. Upon
request, the Company will promptly furnish to the Fund and the Underwriter the
opinion of counsel for the Company (which counsel shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the Fund and the Underwriter) to the effect that any redemption
pursuant to clause (ii) above is a Legally Required Redemption. Furthermore,
except in cases where permitted under the terms of the Contracts, the Company
shall not prevent Contract Owners from allocating payments to a Portfolio that
was otherwise available under the Contracts without first giving the Fund or the
Adviser 90 days notice of its intention to do so. 1.1
ARTICLE 11
Notices
11.1 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:
Xxx Xxxxxx Life Investment Trust
0 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
XX Xxx 0000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: A. Xxxxxx Xxxxx III
If to Underwriter:
Xxx Xxxxxx Funds Inc.
0 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
XX Xxx 0000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: A. Xxxxxx Xxxxx III
If to Adviser:
Xxx Xxxxxx Asset Management Inc.
0 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
XX Xxx 0000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: A. Xxxxxx Xxxxx III
If to the Company:
Lincoln Benefit Life Company
0000 Xxxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0X0
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
And
Allstate Life Insurance Company
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx X0
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxx
ARTICLE 12
Foreign Tax Credits
12.1 The Fund and Adviser agree to consult in advance with the Company
concerning whether any series of the Fund qualifies to provide a foreign tax
credit pursuant to Section 853 of the Code.
ARTICLE 13
Miscellaneous
13.1 All persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the property of the
Fund for the enforcement of any claims against the Fund as neither the Board,
officers, agents or shareholders assume any personal liability for obligations
entered into on behalf of the Fund. Each of the Company, Adviser and Underwriter
acknowledges and agrees that, as provided by Article 8, Section 8.1, of the
Fund's Agreement and Declaration of Trust, the shareholders, trustees, officers,
employees and other agents of the Fund and its Portfolios shall not personally
be bound by or liable for matters set forth hereunder, nor shall resort be had
to their private property for the satisfaction of any obligation or claim
hereunder. A Certificate of Trust referring to the Fund's Agreement and
Declaration of Trust is on file with the Secretary of State of Delaware.
13.2 Subject to the requirements of legal process and regulatory authority, each
party hereto shall treat as confidential the names and addresses of the owners
of the Contracts and all information reasonably identified as confidential in
writing by any other party hereto and, except as permitted by this Agreement,
shall not disclose, disseminate or utilize such names and addresses and other
confidential information until such time as it may come into the public domain
without the express written consent of the affected party.
13.3 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.
13.4 This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts,
each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
13.5 If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court
decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not
be affected thereby.
13.6 Each party hereto shall cooperate with each other party and all appropriate
governmental authorities (including without limitation the Securities and
Exchange Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers 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
13.7 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.
13.8 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;
provided, however, that the Adviser may assign this Agreement or any rights or
obligations hereunder to any affiliate of or company under common control with
the Adviser if such assignee is duly licensed and registered to perform the
obligations of the Adviser under this Agreement.
13.9 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 ("GAAP"), if any), as soon practical and in any
event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year;
(b) the Company's June 30th quarterly statements (statutory), as soon as
practical and in any event within 45 days following such period;
(c) any financial statement proxy statement, notice or report of the
Company sent to stockholders and/or policyholders, as soon as
practical after the delivery thereof to stockholders;
(d) any registration statement (without exhibits) and financial reports of
the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
state insurance regulator, as soon as practical after the filing
thereof,
(e) any other public report submitted to the Company by independent
accountants in connection with any annual, interim or special audit
made by them of the books of the Company, as soon as practical after
the receipt thereof.
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 as
of the date specified above.
LINCOLN BENEFIT LIFE COMPANY
on behalf of itself and each of its Accounts named in
Schedule A hereto, as amended from time to time
By:
--------------------------------
XXX XXXXXX LIFE INVESTMENT TRUST
By:
--------------------------------
XXX XXXXXX FUNDS INC.
By:
---------------------------------
XXX XXXXXX ASSET MANAGEMENT INC.
By:
---------------------------------
SCHEDULE A
SEPARATE ACCOUNTS AND CONTRACTS
Name of Separate Account and Form Numbers and Names of Contracts
Date Established by Board of Directors Funded by Separate Account
Lincoln Benefit Life Variable Annuity Account Advantage Variable Annuity
August 3, 1992 VAP0100
SCHEDULE B
PARTICIPATING XXX XXXXXX LIFE INVESTMENT TRUST PORTFOLIOS
Growth and Income Portfolio - Class II Shares
SCHEDULE C
PROXY VOTING PROCEDURES
The following is a list of procedures and corresponding responsibilities for the
handling of proxies and voting instructions relating to the Fund. The defined
terms herein shall have the meanings assigned in the Participation Agreement
except that the term "Company" shall also include the department or third party
assigned by the Company to perform the steps delineated below.
1. The proxy proposals are given to the Company by the Fund as early as
possible before the date set by the Fund for the shareholder meeting to
enable the Company to consider and prepare for the solicitation of voting
instructions from owners of the Contracts and to facilitate the
establishment of tabulation procedures. At this time the Fund will inform
the Company of the Record, Mailing and Meeting dates. This will be done
verbally approximately two months before meeting.
2. Promptly after the Record Date, the Company will perform a "tape run," or
other activity, which will generate the names, address and number of units
which are attributed to each contract owner/policyholder (the "Customer")
as of the Record Date. Allowance should be made for account adjustments
made after this date that could affect the status of the Customers'
accounts as of the Record Date.
Note:The number of proxy statements is determined by the activities
described in Step #2. The Company will use its best efforts to call in the
number of Customers to the Fund, as soon as possible, but no later than two
weeks after the Record Date.
3. The Fund's Annual Report must be sent to each Customer by the Company
either before or together with the Customers' receipt of voting instruction
solicitation material. The Fund will provide the last Annual Report to the
Company pursuant to the terms of Section 3.3 of the Agreement to which this
Schedule relates.
4. The text and format for the Voting Instruction Cards ("Cards" or "Card") is
provided to the Company by the Fund. The Company, at its expense, shall
produce and personalize the Voting Instruction Cards. The Fund or its
affiliate must approve the Card before it is printed. Allow approximately
2-4 business days for printing information on the Cards. Information
commonly found on the Cards includes:
a) name (legal name as found on account registration)
b) address
c) fund or account number
d) coding to state number of units (or equivalent shares)
e) individual Card number for use in tracking and verification of votes
(already on Cards as printed by the Fund).
This and related steps may occur later in the chronological process due to
possible uncertainties relating to the proposals.)
5. During this time, the Fund will develop, produce, and the Fund will pay for
the Notice of Proxy and the Proxy Statement (one document). Printed and
folded notices and statements will be sent to Company for insertion into
envelopes (envelopes and return envelopes are provided and paid for by the
Company). Contents of envelope sent to Customers by the Company will
include:
a) Voting Instruction Card(s)
b) One proxy notice and statement (one document)
c) Return envelope (postage pre-paid by Company) addressed to the Company
or its tabulation agent
d) "Urge buckslip" optional, but recommended. (This is a small, single
sheet of paper that requests Customers to vote as quickly as possible
and that their vote is important. One copy will be supplied by the
Fund.)
e) Cover letter optional, supplied by Company and reviewed and approved
in advance by the Fund.
6. The above contents should be received by the Company approximately 3-5
business days before mail date. Individual in charge at Company reviews and
approves the contents of the mailing package to ensure correctness and
completeness. Copy of this approval sent to the Fund.
7. Package mailed by the Company. * The Fund must allow at least a 15 day
solicitation time to the Company as the shareowner. (A 5week period is
recommended.) Solicitation time is calculated as calendar days from (but
not including) the meeting, counting backwards.
8. Collection and tabulation of Cards begins. Tabulation usually takes place
in another department or another vendor depending on process used. An often
used procedure is to sort Cards on arrival by proposal into vote categories
of all yes, no, or mixed replies, and to begin data entry.
Note: Postmarks are not generally needed. A need for postmark information
would be due to an insurance company's internal procedure and has not been
required by the Fund in the past.
9. Signatures on Card checked against legal name on account registration which
was printed on the Card.
Note: For example, if the account registration is under "Xxxx X. Xxxxx,
Trustee," then that is the exact legal name to be printed on the Card and
is the signature needed on the Card.
10. If Cards are mutilated, or for any reason are illegible or are not signed
properly, they are sent back to Customer with an explanatory letter and a
new Card and return envelope. The mutilated or illegible Card is
disregarded and considered to be not received for purposes of vote
tabulation. Any Cards that have been "kicked out" (e.g., mutilated,
illegible) of the procedure are "hand verified," (i.e., examined as to why
they did not complete the system). Any questions on those Cards are usually
remedied individually.
11. There are various control procedures used to ensure proper tabulation of
votes and accuracy of that tabulation. The most prevalent is to sort the
Cards as they first arrive, into categories depending upon their vote; an
estimate of how the vote is progressing may then be calculated. If the
initial estimates and the actual vote do not coincide, then an internal
audit of that vote should occur. This may entail a recount.
12. The actual tabulation of votes is done in units (or equivalent shares)
which is then converted to shares. (It is very important that the fund
receives the tabulations stated in terms of a percentage and the number of
shares.) The Fund must review and approve tabulation format.
13. Final tabulation in shares is verbally given by the Company to the Fund on
the morning of the meeting not later than 10:00 A.M. Houston time. The Fund
may request an earlier deadline if reasonable and if required to calculate
the vote in time for the meeting.
14. A Certification of Mailing and Authorization to Vote. Shares will be
required from the Company as well as an original copy of the final vote.
The Fund will provide a standard form for each Certification.
15. The Company will be required to box and archive the Cards received from the
Customers. In the event that any vote is challenged or if otherwise
necessary for legal, regulatory, or accounting purposes, the Fund will be
permitted reasonable access to such Cards.
16. All approvals and "signing off' may be done orally, but must always be
followed up in writing.
