FUND PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
This Agreement is entered into as of the 8th day of June, 1998, between Equi
Trust Life Insurance Company, a life insurance company organized under the
laws of the State of Iowa ("Insurance Company"), and each of DREYFUS VARIABLE
INVESTMENT FUND; THE DREYFUS SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE GROWTH FUND, INC.; DREYFUS
LIFE AND ANNUITY INDEX FUND, INC. (d/b/a DREYFUS STOCK INDEX FUND); AND
DREYFUS INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS (each a "Fund").
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 "Act" shall mean the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
1.2 "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors or Trustees, as the case may
be, of a Fund, which has the responsibility for management and control of
the Fund.
1.3 "Business Day" shall mean any day for which a Fund calculates net asset
value per share as described in the Fund's Prospectus.
1.4 "Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
1.5 "Contract" shall mean a variable annuity or life insurance contract that
uses any Participating Fund (as defined below) as an underlying
investment medium. Individuals who participate under a group Contract
are "Participants".
1.6 "Contractholder" shall mean any entity that is a party to a Contract with
a Participating Company (as defined below).
1.7 "Disinterested Board Members" shall mean those members of the Board of a
Fund that are not deemed to be "interested persons" of the Fund, as
defined by the Act.
1.8 "Dreyfus" shall mean The Dreyfus Corporation and its affiliates,
including Dreyfus Service Corporation.
1.9 "Participating Companies" shall mean any insurance company (including
Insurance Company) that offers variable annuity and/or variable life
insurance contracts to the public and that has entered into an agreement
with one or more of the Funds.
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1.10 "Participating Fund" shall mean each Fund, including, as applicable, any
series thereof, specified in Exhibit A, as such Exhibit may be amended
from time to time by agreement of the parties hereto, the shares of which
are available to serve as the underlying investment medium for the
aforesaid Contracts.
1.11 "Prospectus" shall mean the current prospectus and statement of
additional information of a Fund, as most recently filed with the
Commission.
1.12 "Separate Account" shall mean American Equity Life Annuity Account and
American Equity Life Variable Account, individually, each a separate
account established by Insurance Company in accordance with the laws of
the State of Iowa.
1.13 "Software "Program" shall mean the software program used by a Fund for
providing Fund and account balance information including net asset value
per share. Such Program may include the Lion System. In situations
where the Lion System or any other Software Program used by a Fund is not
available, such information may be provided by telephone. The Lion
System shall be provided to Insurance Company at no charge.
1.14 "Insurance Company's General Account(s)" shall mean the general
account(s) of Insurance Company and its affiliates that invest in a Fund.
ARTICLE II
REPRESENTATIONS
2.1 Insurance Company represents and warrants that (a) it is an insurance
company duly organized and in good standing under applicable law; (b) it
has legally and validly established the Separate Account pursuant to the
Iowa Insurance Code for the purpose of offering to the public certain
individual and group variable annuity and life insurance contracts; (c)
it has registered the Separate Account as a unit investment trust under
the Act to serve as the segregated investment account for the Contracts;
and (d) the Separate Account is eligible to invest in shares of each
Participating Fund without such investment disqualifying any
Participating Fund as an investment medium for insurance company separate
accounts supporting variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance
contracts.
2.2 Insurance Company represents and warrants that (a) the Contracts will be
described in a registration statement filed under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended ("1933 Act"); (b) the Contracts will be issued and sold
in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and
state laws; and (c) the sale of the Contracts shall comply in all
material respects with state insurance law requirements. Insurance
Company agrees to notify each Participating Fund promptly of any
investment restrictions, of which Insurance Company has knowledge,
imposed by state insurance law and applicable to the Participating Fund.
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2.3 Insurance Company represents and warrants that the income, gains and
losses, whether or not realized, from assets allocated to the Separate
Account are, in accordance with the applicable Contracts, to be credited
to or charged against such Separate Account without regard to other
income, gains or losses from assets allocated to any other accounts of
Insurance Company. Insurance Company represents and warrants that the
assets of the Separate Account are and will be kept separate from
Insurance Company's General Account and any other separate accounts
Insurance Company may have, and will not be charged with liabilities from
any business that Insurance Company may conduct or the liabilities of any
companies affiliated with Insurance Company.
2.4 Each Participating Fund represents that it is registered with the
Commission under the Act as an open-end, management investment company
and possesses, and shall maintain, all legal and regulatory licenses,
approvals, consents and/or exemptions required for the Participating Fund
to operate and offer its shares as an underlying investment medium for
Participating Companies.
2.5 Each Participating Fund represents that it is currently qualified as a
regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and that it will make every effort
to maintain such qualification (under Subchapter M or any successor or
similar provision) and that it will notify Insurance Company immediately
upon having a reasonable basis for believing that it has ceased to so
qualify or that it might not so qualify in the future.
2.6 Insurance Company represents and agrees that the Contracts are currently,
and at the time of issuance will be, treated as life insurance policies
or annuity contracts, whichever is appropriate, under applicable
provisions of the Code, and that it will make every effort to maintain
such treatment and that it will notify each Participating Fund and
Dreyfus immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the
Contracts have ceased to be so treated or that they might not be so
treated in the future. Insurance Company agrees that any prospectus
offering a Contract that is a "modified endowment contract," as that term
is defined in Section 7702A of the Code, will identify such Contract as a
modified endowment contract (or policy).
2.7 Each Participating Fund agrees that its assets shall be managed and
invested in a manner that complies with the requirements of Section
817(h) of the Code.
2.8 Insurance Company agrees that each Participating Fund shall be permitted
(subject to the other terms of this Agreement) to make its shares
available to other Participating Companies and Contractholders.
2.9 Each Participating Fund represents and warrants that any of its
directors, trustees, officers, employees, investment advisers, and other
individuals/entities who deal with the money and/or securities of the
Participating Fund are and shall continue to be at all times
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covered by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage for the benefit of
the Participating Fund in an amount not less than that required by Rule
17g-1 under the Act. The aforesaid Bond shall include coverage for
larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable bonding
company.
2.10 Insurance Company represents and warrants that all of its employees and
agents who deal with the money and/or securities of each Participating
Fund are and shall continue to be at all times covered by a blanket
fidelity bond or similar coverage in an amount not less than $2.5 million.
The aforesaid Bond shall include coverage for larceny and embezzlement
and shall be issued by a reputable bonding company.
2.11 Insurance Company agrees that Dreyfus shall be deemed a third party
beneficiary under this Agreement and may enforce any and all rights
conferred by virtue of this Agreement.
ARTICLE III
FUND SHARES
3.1 The Contracts funded through the Separate Account will provide for the
investment of certain amounts in shares of each Participating Fund.
3.2 Each Participating Fund agrees to make its shares available for purchase
at the then applicable net asset value per share by Insurance Company and
the Separate Account on each Business Day pursuant to rules of the
Commission. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Participating Fund may
refuse to sell its shares to any person, or suspend or terminate the
offering of its shares, if such action is required by law or by
regulatory authorities having jurisdiction or is, in the sole discretion
of its Board, acting in good faith and in light of its fiduciary duties
under federal and any applicable state laws, necessary and in the
best interests of the Participating Fund's shareholders.
3.3 Each Participating Fund agrees that shares of the Participating Fund will
be sold only to (a) Participating Companies and their separate accounts
or (b) "qualified pension or retirement plans" as determined under
Section 817(h)(4) of the Code. Except as otherwise set forth in this
Section 3.3, no shares of any Participating Fund will be sold to the
general public.
3.4 Each Participating Fund shall use its best efforts to provide closing net
asset value, dividend and capital gain information on a per-share basis
to Insurance Company by 6:00 p.m. Eastern time on each Business Day. Any
material errors in the calculation of net asset value, dividend and
capital gain information shall be reported immediately upon discovery to
Insurance Company. Non-material errors will be corrected in the next
Business Day's net asset value per share.
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3.5 At the end of each Business Day, Insurance Company will use the
information described in Sections 3.2 and 3.4 to calculate the unit values
of the Separate Account for the day. Using this unit value, Insurance
Company will process the day's Separate Account transactions received by
it by the close of the trading on the floor of the New York Stock
Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) to determine the net dollar
amount of each Participating Fund's shares that will be purchased or
redeemed at that day's closing net asset value per share. The net
purchase or redemption orders will be transmitted to each Participating
Fund by Insurance Company by 11:00 a.m. Eastern time on the Business Day
next following Insurance Company's receipt of that information. Subject
to Sections 3.6 and 3.8, all purchase and redemption orders for Insurance
Company's General Accounts shall be effected at the net asset value per
share of each Participating Fund next calculated after receipt of the
order by the Participating Fund or its Transfer Agent.
3.6 Each Participating Fund appoints Insurance Company as its agent for the
limited purpose of accepting orders for the purchase and redemption of
Participating Fund shares for the Separate Account. Each Participating
Fund will execute orders at the applicable net asset value per share
determined as of the close of trading on the day of receipt of such
orders by Insurance Company acting as agent ("effective trade date"),
provided that the Participating Fund receives notice of such orders by
11:00 a.m. Eastern time on the next following Business Day and, if such
orders request the purchase of Participating Fund shares, the conditions
specified in Section 3.8, as applicable, are satisfied. A redemption or
purchase request that does not satisfy the conditions specified above and
in Section 3.8, as applicable, will be effected at the net asset value
per share computed on the Business Day immediately preceding the next
following Business Day upon which such conditions have been satisfied in
accordance with the requirements of this Section and Section 3.8.
Insurance Company represents and warrants that all orders submitted by
the Insurance Company for execution on the effective trade date shall
represent purchase or redemption orders received from Contractholders
prior to the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on the
effective trade date.
3.7 Insurance Company will make its best efforts to notify each applicable
Participating Fund in advance of any unusually large purchase or
redemption orders.
3.8 If Insurance Company's order requests the purchase of a Participating
Fund's shares, Insurance Company will pay for such purchases by wiring
Federal Funds to the Participating Fund or its designated custodial
account on the day the order is transmitted. Insurance Company shall
make all reasonable efforts to transmit to the applicable Participating
Fund payment in Federal Funds by 12:00 noon Eastern time on the Business
Day the Participating Fund receives the notice of the order pursuant to
Section 3.5. Each applicable Participating Fund will execute such orders
at the applicable net asset value per share determined as of the close of
trading on the effective trade date if the Participating Fund receives
payment in Federal Funds by 12:00 midnight Eastern time on the Business
Day the Participating Fund receives the notice of the order pursuant to
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Section 3.5. If payment in Federal Funds for any purchase is not
received or is received by a Participating Fund after 12:00 noon Eastern
time on such Business Day, Insurance Company shall promptly, upon each
applicable Participating Fund's request, reimburse the respective
Participating Fund for any charges, costs, fees, interest or other
expenses incurred by the Participating Fund in connection with any
advances to, or borrowings or overdrafts by, the Participating Fund, or
any similar expenses incurred by the Participating Fund, as a result of
portfolio transactions effected by the Participating Fund based upon such
purchase request. If Insurance Company's order requests the redemption
of any Participating Fund's shares valued at or greater than $1 million
dollars, the Participating Fund will wire such amount to Insurance
Company within seven days of the order.
3.9 Each Participating Fund has the obligation to ensure that its shares are
registered with applicable federal agencies at all times.
3.10 Each Participating Fund will confirm each purchase or redemption order
made by Insurance Company. Transfer of Participating Fund shares will be
by book entry only. No share certificates will be issued to Insurance
Company. Insurance Company will record shares ordered from a
Participating Fund in an appropriate title for the corresponding account.
3.11 Each Participating Fund shall credit Insurance Company with the
appropriate number of shares.
3.12 On each ex-dividend date of a Participating Fund or, if not a Business
Day, on the first Business Day thereafter, each Participating Fund shall
communicate to Insurance Company the amount of dividend and capital gain,
if any, per share. All dividends and capital gains shall be
automatically reinvested in additional shares of the applicable
Participating Fund at the net asset value per share on the ex-dividend
date. Each Participating Fund shall, on the day after the ex-dividend
date or, if not on a Business Day, on the first Business Day thereafter,
notify Insurance Company of the number of shares so issued.
ARTICLE IV
STATEMENTS AND REPORTS
4.1 Each Participating Fund shall provide monthly statements of account as of
the end of each month for all of Insurance Company's accounts by the
fifteenth (15th) Business Day of the following month.
4.2 Each Participating Fund shall distribute to Insurance Company copies of
the Participating Fund's Prospectuses, proxy materials, notices, periodic
reports and other printed materials (which the Participating Fund
customarily provides to its shareholders) in quantities as
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Insurance Company may reasonably request for distribution to each
Contractholder and Participant.
4.3 Each Participating Fund will provide to Insurance Company at least
one complete copy of all registration statements, Prospectuses,
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 Participating Fund or its shares, contemporaneously with the
filing of such document with the Commission or other regulatory
authorities.
4.4 Insurance Company will provide to each Participating Fund at least one
copy of all registration statements, Prospectuses, 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 Contracts or the
Separate Account, contemporaneously with the filing of such document
with the Commission.
ARTICLE V
EXPENSES
5.1 The charge to each Participating Fund for all expenses and costs of the
Participating Fund, including but not limited to management fees,
administrative expenses and legal and regulatory costs, will be made in
the determination of the Participating Fund's daily net asset value per
share.
5.2 Except as provided in this Article V and, in particular in the next
sentence, Insurance Company shall not be required to pay directly any
expenses of any Participating Fund or expenses relating to the
distribution of its shares. Insurance Company shall pay the following
expenses or costs:
a. Such amount of the production expenses of any Participating
Fund materials, including the cost of printing a Participating
Fund's Prospectus, or marketing materials for prospective
Insurance Company Contractholders and Participants as Dreyfus and
Insurance Company shall agree from time to time.
b. Distribution expenses of say Participating Fund materials or
marketing materials for prospective Insurance Company
Contractholders and Participants.
c. Distribution expenses of any Participating Fund materials or
marketing materials for Insurance Company Contractholders and
Participants.
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Except as provided herein, all other expenses of each Participating Fund
shall not be borne by Insurance Company.
ARTICLE VI
EXEMPTIVE RELIEF
6.1 Insurance Company has reviewed a copy of (i) the amended order dated
December 31, 1997 of the Securities and Exchange Commission under
Section 6(c) of the Act with respect to Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund
and Dreyfus Life and Annuity Index Fund, Inc.; and (ii) the order dated
February 5, 1998 of the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section
6(c) of the Act with respect to The Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth
Fund, Inc. and Dreyfus Investment Portfolios, and, in particular, has
reviewed the conditions to the relief set forth in each related Notice.
As set forth therein, if Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund, Dreyfus Life
and Annuity Index Fund, Inc., The Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth
Fund, Inc. or Dreyfus Investment Portfolios is a Participating Fund,
Insurance Company agrees, as applicable, to report any potential or
existing conflicts promptly to the respective Board of Dreyfus Variable
Investment Fund, Dreyfus Life and Annuity Index Fund, Inc., The Dreyfus
Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc. and/or Dreyfus Investment
Portfolios, and, in particular, whenever contract voting instructions
are disregarded, and recognizes that it will be responsible for
assisting each applicable Board in carrying out its responsibilities
under such application. Insurance Company agrees to carry out such
responsibilities with a view to the interests of existing
Contractholders.
6.2 If a majority of the board, or a majority of Disinterested Board
Members, determines that a material irreconcilable conflict exists with
regard to Contractholder investments in a Participating Fund, the Board
Shall give prompt notice to all Participating Companies and any other
Participating Fund. If the Board determines that Insurance Company is
responsible for causing or creating said conflict, Insurance Company
shall at its sole cost and expense, and to the extent reasonably
practicable (as determined by a majority of the Disinterested Board
Members), take such action as is necessary to remedy or eliminate
the irreconcilable material conflict. Such necessary action may
include, but shall not be limited to:
a. Withdrawing the assets allocable to the Separate Account from the
Participating Fund and reinvesting such assets in another
Participating Fund (if applicable) or a different investment
medium, or submitting the question of whether such segregation
should be implemented to a vote of all affected contractholders;
and/or
b. Establishing a new registered management investment company.
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6.3 If a material irreconcilable conflict arises as a result of a decision
by Insurance Company to disregard Contractholder voting instructions and
said decision represents a minority position or would preclude a
majority vote by all Contractholders having an interest in a
Participating Fund, Insurance Company may be required, at the Board's
election, to withdraw the investments of the Separate Account in that
Participating Fund.
6.4 For the purpose of this Article, a majority of the Disinterested Board
Members shall determine whether or not any proposed action adequately
remedies any irreconcilable material conflict, but in no event will any
Participating Fund be required to bear the expense of establishing a new
funding medium for any Contract. Insurance Company shall not be required
by this Article to establish a new funding medium for any Contract if an
offer to do so has been declined by vote of a majority of the
Contractholders materially adversely affected by the irreconcilable
material conflict.
6.5 No action by Insurance Company taken or omitted, and no action by the
Separate Account or any Participating Fund taken or omitted as a result
of any act or failure to act by Insurance Company pursuant to this
Article VI, shall relieve Insurance Company of its obligations under,
or otherwise affect the operation of, Article V, VOTING OF PARTICIPATING
FUND SHARES.
ARTICLE VII
VOTING OF PARTICIPATING FUND SHARES
7.1 Each Participating Fund shall provide Insurance Company with copies, at
no cost to Insurance Company, of the Participating Fund's proxy
material, reports to shareholders and other communications to
shareholders in such quantity as Insurance Company shall reasonably
require for distributing to Contractholders or Participants.
Insurance Company shall:
(a) solicit voting instructions from Contractholders or Participants
on a timely basis and in accordance with applicable law;
(b) vote the Participating Fund shares in accordance with
instructions received from Contractholders or Participants; and
(c) vote the Participating Fund shares for which no instructions have
been received in the same proportion as Participating Fund shares
for which instructions have been received.
Insurance Company agrees at all times to vote its General Account shares
in the same proportion as the Participating Fund shares for which
instructions have been received from Contractholders or Participants.
Insurance Company further agrees to be
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responsible for assuring that voting the Participating Fund shares for
the Separate Account is conducted in a manner consistent with other
Participating Companies.
7.2 Insurance Company agrees that it shall not, without the prior written
consent of each applicable Participating Fund and Dreyfus, solicit, induce
or encourage Contractholders to (a) change or supplement the
Participating Fund's current investment adviser or (b) change, modify,
substitute, add to or delete from the current investment media for the
Contracts.
ARTICLE VIII
MARKETING AND REPRESENTATIONS
8.1 Each Participating Fund or its underwriter shall periodically furnish
Insurance Company with the following documents, in quantities as
Insurance Company may reasonably request:
a. Current Prospectus and any supplements thereto; and
b. Other marketing materials.
Expenses for the production of such documents shall be borne by Insurance
Company in accordance with Section 5.2 of this Agreement.
8.2 Insurance Company shall designate certain persons or entities that shall
have the requisite licenses to solicit applications for the sale of
Contracts. No representation is made as to the number or amount of
Contracts that are to be sold by Insurance Company. Insurance Company
shall make reasonable efforts to market the Contracts and shall comply
with all applicable federal and state laws in connection therewith.
8.3 Insurance Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to each
applicable Participating Fund or its designee, each piece of sales
literature or other promotional material in which the Participating Fund,
its investment adviser or the administrator is named, at least fifteen
Business Days prior to its use. No such material shall be used unless the
Participating Fund or its designee approves such material. Such approval
(if given) must be in writing and shall be presumed not given if not
received within ten Business Days after receipt of such material. Each
applicable Participating Fund or its designee, as the case may be, shall
use all reasonable efforts to respond within ten days of receipt.
8.4 Insurance Company shall not give any information or make any
representations or statements on behalf of a Participating Fund or
concerning a Participating Fund in connection with the sale of the
Contracts other than the information or representations contained in the
registration statement or Prospectus of, as may be amended or
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supplemented from time to time, or in reports or proxy statements for,
the applicable Participating Fund, or in sales literature or other
promotional material approved by the applicable Participating Fund.
8.5 Each Participating Fund shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to
Insurance Company, each piece of the Participating Fund's sales
literature or other promotional material in which Insurance Company or
the Separate Account is named, at least fifteen Business Days prior to
its use. No such material shall be used unless Insurance Company approves
such material. Such approval (if given) must be in writing and shall be
presumed not given if not received within ten Business Days after receipt
of such material. Insurance Company shall use all reasonable efforts to
respond within ten days of receipt.
8.6 Each Participating Fund shall not, in connection with the sale of
Participating Fund shares, give any information or make any
representations on behalf of Insurance Company or concerning insurance
company, the Separate Account, or the Contracts other than the
information or representations contained in a registration statement or
prospectus for the Contracts, as may be amended or supplemented from time
to time, or in published reports for the Separate Account that are in the
public domain or approved by Insurance Company for distribution to
Contractholders or Participants, or in sales literature or other
promotional material approved by Insurance Company.
8.7 For purposes of this Agreement, the phrase "sales literature or other
promotional material" or words of similar import include, without
limitation, 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 (such as any
written communication distributed or made generally available to
customers or the public, including brochures, circulars, research reports,
market letters, form letters, seminar texts, or 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 National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. rules, the Act or the 1933 Act.
ARTICLE IX
INDEMNIFICATION
9.1 Insurance Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Participating Fund, Dreyfus, each respective Participating Fund's
investment adviser and sub-investment adviser (if applicable), each
respective Participating Fund's distributor, and their respective
affiliates, and each of their directors, trustees, officers, employees,
agents and
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each person, if any, who controls or is associated with any of the
foregoing entities or persons within the meaning of the 1933 Act
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of Section 9.1),
against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities joint or
several (including any investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably
incurred in connection with, and any amounts paid in settlement of, any
action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted) for which the
Indemnified Parties may become subject, under the 1933 Act or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect to thereof) (i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in
information furnished by Insurance Company for use in the registration
statement or Prospectus or sales literature or advertisements of the
respective Participating Fund or with respect to the Separate Account or
Contracts, 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; (ii) arise
out of or as a result of conduct, statements or representations (other
than statements or representations contained in the Prospectus and sales
literature or advertisements of the respective Participating Fund) of
Insurance Company or its agents, with respect to the sale and
distribution of Contracts for which the respective Participating Fund's
shares are an underlying investment; (iii) arise out of the wrongful
conduct of Insurance Company or persons under its control with respect to
the sale or distribution of the Contracts or the respective Participating
Fund's shares; (iv) arise out of Insurance Company's incorrect calculation
and/or untimely reporting of net purchase or redemption orders; or (v)
arise out of any breach by Insurance Company of a material term of this
Agreement or as a result of any failure by Insurance Company to provide
the services and furnish the materials or to make any payments provided
for in this Agreement. Insurance Company will reimburse any Indemnified
Party in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim,
damage, liability or action; provided, however, that with respect to
clauses (i) and (ii) above Insurance Company will not be liable in any
such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability
arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission made in such registration statement, prospectus, sales
literature, or advertisement in conformity with written information
furnished to Insurance Company by the respective Participating Fund
specifically for use therein. This indemnity agreement will be in
addition to any liability which Insurance Company may otherwise have.
9.2 Each Participating Fund severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
Insurance Company and each of its directors, officers, employees, agents
and each person, if any, who controls Insurance Company within the meaning
of the 1933 Act against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to
which Insurance Company or any such director, officer, employee, agent or
controlling person may become subject, under the 1933 Act or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect thereof) (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 or advertisements
of the respective Participating Fund: (2) arise out of or
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are based upon the omission to state in the registration statement or
Prospectus or sales literature or advertisements of the respective
Participating Fund any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (3) 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 or advertisements with respect to the Separate Account or
the Contracts and such statements were based on information provided to
Insurance Company by the respective Participating Fund; and the respective
Participating Fund will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by Insurance Company or any such director, officer, employee,
agent or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending
any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that
the respective Participating Fund will not be liable in any such case to
the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or
is based upon an untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in
such registration statement, Prospectus, sales literature or advertisements
in conformity with written information furnished to the respective
Participating Fund by Insurance Company specifically for use therein. This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the
respective Participating Fund may otherwise have.
9.3 Each Participating Fund severally shall indemnify and hold Insurance
Company harmless against any and all liability, loss, damages, costs or
expenses which Insurance Company may incur, suffer or be required to pay
due to the respective Participating Fund's (1) incorrect calculation of the
daily net asset value, dividend rate or capital gain distribution rate; (2)
incorrect reporting of the daily net asset value, dividend rate or capital
gain distribution rate; and (3) untimely reporting of the net asset value,
dividend rate or capital gain distribution rate; provided that the
respective Participating Fund shall have no obligation to indemnify and
hold harmless Insurance Company if the incorrect calculation or incorrect
or untimely reporting was the result of incorrect information furnished by
Insurance Company or information furnished untimely by Insurance Company or
otherwise as a result of or relating to a breach of this Agreement by
Insurance Company.
9.4 Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Article of notice
of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim
in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this
Article, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof. The
omission to so notify the indemnifying party will not relieve the
indemnifying party from any liability under this Article IX, except to the
extent that the omission results in a failure of actual notice to the
indemnifying party and such indemnifying party is damaged solely as a
result of the failure to give such notice. In case any such action is
brought against any indemnified party, and it notified the indemnifying
party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled
to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, assume the
defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party, and
to the extent that the indemnifying party has given notice to such effect
to the indemnified party and is
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performing its obligations under this Article, the indemnifying party shall
not be liable for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof, other than
reasonable costs of investigation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any
such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its
own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the
expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the
indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such
counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any
impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be
inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them.
The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any
proceeding effected without its written consent.
A successor by law of the parties to this Agreement shall be entitled to
the benefits of the indemnification contained in this Article IX. The
provisions of this Article IX shall survive termination of this Agreement.
9.5 Insurance Company shall indemnify and hold each respective Participating
Fund, Dreyfus and sub-investment adviser of the Participating Fund
harmless against any tax liability incurred by the Participating Fund under
Section 851 of the Code arising from purchases or redemptions by Insurance
Company's General Accounts or the account of its affiliates.
ARTICLE X
COMMENCEMENT AND TERMINATION
10.1 This Agreement shall be effective as of the date hereof and shall continue
in force until terminated in accordance with the provisions herein.
10.2 This Agreement shall terminate without penalty:
a. As to any Participating Fund, at the option of Insurance Company or
the Participating Fund at any time from the date hereof upon 180 days'
notice, unless a shorter time is agreed to by the respective
Participating Fund and Insurance Company;
b. As to any Participating Fund, at the option of Insurance Company, if
shares of that Participating Fund are not reasonably available to meet
the requirements of the Contracts as determined by Insurance Company.
Prompt notice of election to terminate shall be furnished by Insurance
Company, said termination to be effective ten days after receipt of
notice unless the Participating Fund makes available a sufficient
number of shares to meet the requirements of the Contracts within said
ten-day period;
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c. As to a Participating Fund, at the option of Insurance Company, upon the
institution of formal proceedings against that Participating Fund by the
Commission, National Association of Securities Dealers or any other
regulatory body, the expected or anticipated ruling, judgment or outcome of
which would, in Insurance Company's reasonable judgment, materially impair
that Participating Fund's ability to meet and perform the Participating
Fund's obligations and duties hereunder. Prompt notice of election to
terminate shall be furnished by Insurance Company with said termination to
be effective upon receipt of notice;
d. As to a Participating Fund, at the option of each Participating Fund, upon
the institution of formal proceedings against Insurance Company by the
Commission, National Association of Securities Dealers or any other
regulatory body, the expected or anticipated ruling, judgment or outcome of
which would, in the Participating Fund's reasonable judgment, materially
impair Insurance Company's ability to meet and perform Insurance Company's
obligations and duties hereunder. Prompt notice of election to terminate
shall be furnished by such Participating Fund with said termination to be
effective upon receipt of notice;
e. As to a Participating Fund, at the option of that Participating Fund, if
the Participating Fund shall determine, in its sole judgment reasonably
exercised in good faith, that Insurance Company has suffered a material
adverse change in its business or financial condition or is the subject of
material adverse publicity and such material adverse change or material
adverse publicity is likely to have a material adverse impact upon the
business and operation of that Participating Fund or Dreyfus, such
Participating Fund shall notify Insurance Company in writing of such
determination and its intent to terminate this Agreement, and after
considering the actions taken by Insurance Company and any other changes in
circumstances since the giving of such notice, such determination of the
Participating Fund shall continue to apply on the sixtieth (60th) day
following the giving of such notice, which sixtieth day shall be the
effective date of termination;
f. As to a Participating Fund, upon termination of the Investment Advisory
Agreement between that Participating Fund and Dreyfus or its successors
unless Insurance Company specifically approves the selection of a new
Participating Fund investment adviser. Such Participating Fund shall
promptly furnish notice of such termination to Insurance Company;
g. As to a Participating Fund, in the event that Participating Fund's shares
are not registered, issued or sold in accordance with applicable federal
law, or such law precludes the use of such shares as the underlying
investment medium of Contracts issued or to be issued by Insurance Company.
Termination shall be effective immediately as to that Participating Fund
only upon such occurrence without notice;
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h. At the option of a Participating Fund upon a determination by its
Board in good faith that it is no longer advisable and in the best
interests of shareholders of that Participating Fund to continue to
operate pursuant to this Agreement. Termination pursuant to this
Subsection (h) shall be effective upon notice by such Participating
Fund to Insurance Company of such termination;
i. At the option of a Participating Fund if the Contracts cease to
qualify as annuity contracts or life insurance policies, as
applicable, under the Code, or if such Participating Fund
reasonably believes that the Contracts may fail to so qualify;
j. At the option of any party to this Agreement, upon another party's
breach of any material provision of this Agreement;
k. At the option of a Participating Fund, if the Contracts are not
registered, issued or sold in accordance with applicable federal
and/or state law; or
l. Upon assignment of this Agreement, unless made with the written
consent of every other non-assigning party.
Any such termination pursuant to Section 10.2a, 10.2d, 10.2e, 10.2f or
10.2k herein shall not affect the operation of Article V of this
Agreement. Any termination of this Agreement shall not affect the
operation of Article IX of this Agreement.
10.3 Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section
10.2 hereof, each Participating Fund and Dreyfus may, at the option of
the Participating Fund, continue to make available additional shares of
that Participating Fund for as long as the Participating Fund desires
pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement as provided below,
for all Contracts in effect on the effective date of termination of this
Agreement (hereinafter referred to as "Existing Contracts").
Specifically, without limitation, if that Participating Fund and Dreyfus
so elect to make additional Participating Fund shares available, the
owners of the Existing Contracts or Insurance Company, whichever shall
have legal authority to do so, shall be permitted to reallocate
investments in that Participating Fund, redeem investments in that
Participating Fund and/or invest in that Participating Fund upon the
making of additional purchase payments under the Existing Contracts. In
the event of a termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 10.2
hereof, such Participating Fund and Dreyfus, as promptly as is
practicable under the circumstances, shall notify Insurance Company
whether Dreyfus and that Participating Fund will continue to make that
Participating Fund's shares available after such termination. If such
Participating Fund shares continue to be made available after such
termination, the provisions of this Agreement shall remain in effect and
thereafter either of that Participating Fund or Insurance Company may
terminate the Agreement as to that Participating Fund, as so continued
pursuant to this Section 10.3, upon prior written
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notice to the other party, such notice to be for a period that is
reasonable under the circumstances but, if given by the Participating
Fund, need not be for more than six months.
10.4 Termination of this Agreement as to any one Participating Fund shall not
be deemed a termination as to any other Participating Fund unless
Insurance Company or such other Participating Fund, as the case may be,
terminates this Agreement as to such other Participating Fund in
accordance with this Article X.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS
11.1 Any other changes in the terms of this Agreement, except for the addition
or deletion of any Participating Fund as specified in Exhibit A, shall be
made by agreement in writing between Insurance Company and each
respective Participating Fund.
ARTICLE XII
NOTICE
12.1 Each notice required by this Agreement shall be given by certified mail,
return receipt requested, to the appropriate parties at the following
addresses:
Insurance Company: EquiTrust Life Insurance Company
0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Attn: Xxx Xxxxxxx
Participating Funds: [Name of Fund]
c/o Premier Mutual Fund Services, Inc.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn: Vice President and Assistant Secretary
with copies to: [Name of Fund]
c/o The Dreyfus Corporation
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Stroock & Stroock & Xxxxx
000 Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
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Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxx, Esq.
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Notice shall be deemed to be given on the date of receipt by the
addresses as evidenced by the return receipt.
MISCELLANEOUS
13.1 This Agreement has been executed on behalf of each Fund by the
undersigned officer of the Fund in his capacity as an officer of the
Fund. The obligations of this Agreement shall only be binding upon the
assets and property of the Fund and shall not be binding upon any
director, trustee, officer or shareholder of the Fund individually. It
is agreed that the obligations of the Funds are several and not joint,
that no Fund shall be liable for any amount owing by another Fund and
that the Funds have executed one instrument for convenience only.
LAW
14.1 This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the internal laws of
the State of New York, without giving effect to principles of conflict of
laws.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement to be duly
executed and attested as of the date first above written.
AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx
-----------------------------
Its: Executive Vice President &
Treasurer
----------------------------
Attest: /s/ Xxx X. Xxxxxxx
-----------------------------
DREYFUS LIFE AND ANNUITY INDEX FUND, INC.
(d/b/a DREYFUS STOCK INDEX FUND)
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
-----------------------------
Its: Vice President
----------------------------
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Attest: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
-----------------------------
THE DREYFUS SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE GROWTH
FUND, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
-----------------------------
Its: Vice President
----------------------------
Attest: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
-----------------------------
DREYFUS VARIABLE INVESTMENT FUND
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
-----------------------------
Its: Vice President
----------------------------
Attest: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
-----------------------------
DREYFUS INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
-----------------------------
Its: Vice President
----------------------------
Attest: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
-----------------------------
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EXHIBIT A
LIST OF PARTICIPATING FUNDS
Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund
Capital Appreciation Portfolio
Disciplined Stock Portfolio
Growth and Income Portfolio
International Equity Portfolio
Small Cap Portfolio
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