Exhibit 1.A.9.L
FUND PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT made as of the 30th day of April, 1997, by and between
NEUBERGER&BERMAN ADVISERS MANAGEMENT TRUST ("TRUST"), a Delaware business trust,
ADVISERS MANAGERS TRUST ("MANAGERS TRUST"), a New York common law trust,
NEUBERGER&BERMAN MANAGEMENT INCORPORATED ("N&B MANAGEMENT"), a New York
corporation, and GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY ("LIFE COMPANY"), a
life insurance company organized under the laws of the State of Texas.
WHEREAS, TRUST and MANAGERS TRUST are registered with the Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC") under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
("40 Act") as open-end, diversified management investment companies; and
WHEREAS, TRUST is organized as a series fund comprised of several
portfolios ("Portfolios"), the currently available of which are listed on
Appendix A hereto; and
WHEREAS, MANAGERS TRUST is organized as a series fund, comprised of
several portfolios ("Series"), the currently operational of which are listed on
Appendix A hereto; and
WHEREAS, each Portfolio of TRUST will invest all of its net investable
assets in a corresponding Series of MANAGERS TRUST; and
WHEREAS, TRUST was organized to act as the funding vehicle for certain
variable life insurance and/or variable annuity contracts ("Variable Contracts")
offered by life insurance companies through separate accounts of such life
insurance companies ("Participating Insurance Companies") and also offers its
shares to certain qualified pension and retirement plans; and
WHEREAS, TRUST has received an order from the SEC, dated May 5,1995 (File
No. 812-9164), granting Participating Insurance Companies and their separate
accounts exemptions from the provisions of Sections 9(a), 13(a), 15(a) and 15(b)
of the '40 Act, and Rules 6e-2(b) (15) and 6e-3(T) (b) (15) thereunder, to the
extent necessary to permit shares of the Portfolios of the TRUST to be sold to
and held by variable annuity and variable life insurance separate accounts of
both affiliated and unaffiliated life insurance companies and certain qualified
pension and retirement plans (the "Order"); and
WHEREAS, LIFE COMPANY has established or will establish one or more
separate accounts ("Separate Accounts") to offer Variable Contracts and is
desirous of having TRUST as one of the underlying funding vehicles for such
Variable Contracts; and
WHEREAS, N&B MANAGEMENT is registered with the SEC as an investment
adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and
as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and
WHEREAS, N&B MANAGEMENT is the administrator and distributor of the
shares of each Portfolio of TRUST and investment manager of the corresponding
Series of MANAGERS TRUST; and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, LIFE COMPANY intends to purchase shares of TRUST to fund the
aforementioned Variable Contracts and TRUST is authorized to sell such shares to
LIFE COMPANY at net asset value;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, LIFE COMPANY,
TRUST, MANAGERS TRUST and N&B MANAGEMENT agree as follows:
Article I. SALE OF TRUST SHARES
1.1 TRUST agrees to make available to the Separate Accounts of LIFE
COMPANY shares of the selected Portfolios as listed in Appendix B for investment
of proceeds from Variable Contracts allocated to the designated Separate
Accounts, such shares to be offered as provided in TRUST's Prospectus.
1.2 TRUST agrees to sell to LIFE COMPANY those shares of the selected
Portfolios of TRUST which LIFE COMPANY orders, executing such orders on a daily
basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by TRUST or its
designee of the order for the shares of TRUST. For purposes of this Section 1.2,
LIFE COMPANY shall be the designee of TRUST for receipt of such orders from LIFE
COMPANY and receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by TRUST; provided
that TRUST receives notice of such order by 8:30 a.m. New York time on the next
following Business Day. "Business Day" shall mean any day on which the New York
Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which TRUST calculates its net asset
value pursuant to the rules of the SEC.
1.3 TRUST agrees to redeem for cash, on LIFE COMPANY's request, any
full or fractional shares of TRUST held by LIFE COMPANY, executing such requests
on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by TRUST or
its designee of the request for redemption. For purposes of this Section 1.3,
LIFE COMPANY shall be the designee of TRUST for receipt of requests for
redemption from LIFE COMPANY and receipt by such designee shall constitute
receipt by TRUST; provided that TRUST receives notice of such request for
redemption by 8:30 a.m. New York time on the next following Business Day.
1.4 TRUST shall furnish, on or before the ex-dividend date, notice to
LIFE COMPANY of any income dividends or capital gain
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distributions payable on the shares of any, Portfolio of TRUST. LIFE COMPANY
hereby elects to receive all such income dividends and capital gain
distributions as are payable on a Portfolio's shares in additional shares of the
Portfolio. TRUST shall notify LIFE COMPANY of the number of shares so issued as
payment of such dividends and distributions.
1.5 TRUST shall make the net asset value per share for the selected
Portfolio(s) available to LIFE COMPANY on a daily basis as soon as reasonably
practicable after the net asset value per share is calculated but shall use its
best efforts to make such net asset value available by 6:30 p.m. New York time.
If TRUST provides LIFE COMPANY with materially incorrect share net asset value
information through no fault of LIFE COMPANY, LIFE COMPANY on behalf of the
Separate Accounts, shall be entitled to an adjustment to the number of shares
purchased or redeemed to reflect the correct share net asset value. Any material
error in the calculation of net asset value per share, dividend or capital gain
information shall be reported promptly upon discovery to LIFE COMPANY.
1.6 At the end of each Business Day, LIFE COMPANY shall use the
information described in Section 1.5 to calculate Separate Account unit values
for the day. Using these unit values, LIFE COMPANY shall process each such
Business Day's Separate Account transactions based on requests and premiums
received by it by the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock
Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m. New York time) to determine the net dollar amount
of TRUST shares which shall be purchased or redeemed at that day's closing net
asset value per share. The net purchase or redemption orders so determined shall
be transmitted to TRUST by LIFE COMPANY by 8:30 a.m. New York Time on the
Business Day next following LIFE COMPANY's receipt of such requests and premiums
in accordance with the terms of Sections 1.2 and 1.3 hereof.
1.7 If LIFE COMPANY's order requests the purchase of TRUST shares,
LIFE COMPANY shall pay for such purchase by wiring federal funds to TRUST or its
designated custodial account on the day the order is transmitted by LIFE
COMPANY. If LIFE COMPANY's order requests a net redemption resulting in a
payment of redemption proceeds to LIFE COMPANY, TRUST shall wire the redemption
proceeds to LIFE COMPANY by the next Business Day, unless doing so would require
TRUST to dispose of portfolio securities or otherwise incur additional costs,
but in such event, proceeds shall be wired to LIFE COMPANY within three days and
TRUST shall notify the person designated in writing by LIFE COMPANY as the
recipient for such notice of such delay by 3:00 p.m. New York Time the same
Business Day that LIFE COMPANY transmits the redemption order to TRUST. If LIFE
COMPANY's order requests the application of redemption proceeds from the
redemption of shares to the purchase of shares of another fund administered or
distributed by N&B MANAGEMENT, TRUST
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shall so apply such proceeds the same Business Day that LIFE COMPANY transmits
such order to TRUST.
1.8 Notwithstanding Section 1.7, TRUST reserves the right to suspend
the right of redemption or postpone the date of payment or satisfaction upon
redemption consistent with Section 22(e) of the 40 Act and any rules thereunder.
1.9 TRUST agrees that all shares of the Portfolios of TRUST will be
sold only to Participating Insurance Companies which have agreed to participate
in TRUST to fund their Separate Accounts and/or to certain qualified pension and
other retirement plans, all in accordance with the requirements of Section
817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Code") and Treasury
Regulation 1.817-5. Shares of the Portfolios of TRUST will not be sold directly
to the general public.
1.10 TRUST may refuse to sell shares of any Portfolio to any person,
or suspend or terminate the offering of the 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 of Trustees of TRUST, acting in good
faith and in light of its fiduciary duties under federal and any applicable
state laws, deemed necessary and in the best interests of the shareholders of
such Portfolios.
Article II. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
2.1 LIFE COMPANY represents and warrants that it is an insurance
company duly organized and in good standing under the laws of Texas and that it
has legally and validly established each Separate Account as a segregated asset
account under such laws, and that Conseco Equity Sales, Inc., the principal
underwriter for the Variable Contracts, is registered as a broker-dealer under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
2.2 LIFE COMPANY represents and warrants that it has registered or,
prior to any issuance or sale of the Variable Contracts, will register each
Separate Account as a unit investment trust ("UIT") in accordance with the
provisions of the '40 Act and cause each Separate Account to remain so
registered to serve as a segregated asset account for the Variable Contracts,
unless an exemption from registration is available.
2.3 LIFE COMPANY represents and warrants that the Variable Contracts
will be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "'33 Act") unless an
exemption from registration is available prior to any issuance or sale of the
Variable Contracts and that the Variable Contracts will be issued and sold in
compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and state laws
and further that the sale of the Variable Contracts shall comply in all
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material respects with state Insurance law suitability requirements.
2.4 LIFE COMPANY represents and warrants that the Variable Contracts
are currently and at the time of issuance will be treated as life insurance,
endowment or annuity contracts under applicable provisions of the Code, that it
will maintain such treatment and that it will notify TRUST immediately upon
having a reasonable basis for believing that the Variable Contracts have ceased
to be so treated or that they might not be so treated in the future.
2.5 LIFE COMPANY represents and warrants that it shall deliver such
prospectuses, statements of additional information, proxy statements and
periodic reports of the Trust as required to be delivered under applicable
federal or state law and interpretations of federal and state securities
regulators thereunder in connection with the offer, sale or acquisition of the
Variable Contracts.
2.6 TRUST represents and warrants that the Portfolio shares offered
and sold pursuant to this Agreement will be registered under the '33 Act and
sold in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws, and TRUST shall
be registered under the '40 Act prior to and at the time of any issuance or sale
of such shares. TRUST shall amend its registration statement under the '33 Act
and the '40 Act from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous
offering of its shares. TRUST shall register and qualify its shares for sale in
accordance with the laws of the various states only if and to the extent deemed
advisable by TRUST.
2.7 TRUST represents and warrants that each Portfolio will comply with
the diversification requirements set forth in Section 817{h) of the Code, and
the rules and regulations thereunder, including without limitation Treasury
Regulation 1.817-5, and will notify LIFE COMPANY immediately upon having a
reasonable basis for believing any Portfolio has ceased to comply or might not
so comply and will immediately take all reasonable steps to adequately diversify
the Portfolio to achieve compliance within the grace period afforded by
Regulation 1.817-5.
2.8 TRUST represents and warrants that each Portfolio invested in by
the Separate Account is currently qualified as a "regulated investment company"
under Subchapter M of the Code, that it will make every effort to maintain such
qualification and will notify LIFE COMPANY immediately upon having a reasonable
basis for believing it has ceased to so qualify or might not so qualify in the
future.
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Article III. PROSPECTUS AND PROXY STATEMENTS
3.1 TRUST shall prepare and be responsible for filing with the SEC and
any state regulators requiring such filing all shareholder reports, notices,
proxy materials (or similar materials such as voting instruction solicitation
materials), prospectuses and statements of additional information of TRUST.
TRUST shall bear the costs of registration and qualification of shares of the
Portfolios, preparation and filing of the documents listed in this Section 3.1
and all taxes to which an issuer is subject on the issuance and transfer of its
shares.
3.2 TRUST will bear the printing costs (or duplicating costs with
respect to the statement of additional information) and mailing costs associated
with the delivery of the following TRUST (or individual Portfolio) documents,
and any supplements thereto, to existing Variable Contract owners of LIFE
COMPANY:
(i) prospectuses and statements of additional information;
(ii) annual and semi-annual reports; and
(iii) proxy materials.
LIFE COMPANY will submit any bills for printing, duplicating and/or
mailing costs, relating to the TRUST documents described above, to TRUST for
reimbursement by TRUST. LIFE COMPANY shall monitor such costs and shall use its
best efforts to control these costs. LIFE COMPANY will provide TRUST on a
semi-annual basis, or more frequently as reasonably requested by TRUST, with a
current tabulation of the number of existing Variable Contract owners of LIFE
COMPANY whose Variable Contract values are invested in TRUST. This tabulation
will be sent to TRUST in the form of a letter signed by a duly authorized
officer of LIFE COMPANY attesting to the accuracy of the information contained
in the letter. If requested by LIFE COMPANY, the TRUST shall provide such
documentation (including a final copy of the TRUST's prospectus as set in type
or in camera-ready copy) and other assistance as is reasonably necessary in
order for LIFE COMPANY to print together in one document the current prospectus
for the Variable Contracts issued by LIFE COMPANY and the current prospectus for
the TRUST. Should LIFE COMPANY wish to print any of these documents in a format
different from that provided by TRUST, LIFE COMPANY shall provide Trust with
sixty (60) days' prior written notice and LIFE COMPANY shall bear the cost
associated with any format change.
3.3. TRUST will provide, at its expense, LIFE COMPANY with the
following TRUST (or individual Portfolio) documents, and any supplements
thereto, with respect to prospective Variable Contract owners of LIFE COMPANY:
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(i) camera-ready copy of the current prospectus for printing by
LIFE COMPANY;
(ii) a copy of the statement of additional information suitable
for duplication;
(iii) camera-ready copy of proxy material suitable for printing;
and
(iv) camera-ready copy of the annual and semi-annual reports for
printing by LIFE COMPANY.
3.4 TRUST will provide LIFE COMPANY with at least one complete copy of
all prospectuses, statements of additional information, annual and semi-annual
reports, proxy statements, exemptive applications and all amendments or
supplements to any of the above that relate to the Portfolios promptly after the
filing of each such document with the SEC or other regulatory authority. LIFE
COMPANY will provide TRUST with at least one complete copy of all prospectuses,
statements of additional information, annual and semi-annual reports, proxy
statements, exemptive applications and all amendments or supplements to any of
the above that relate to a Separate Account promptly after the filing of each
such document with the SEC or other regulatory authority.
Article IV. SALES MATERIALS
4.1 LIFE COMPANY will furnish, or will cause to be furnished, to TRUST
and N&B MANAGEMENT, each piece of sales literature or other promotional material
in which TRUST, MANAGERS TRUST or N&B MANAGEMENT is named, at least fifteen (15)
Business Days prior to its intended use. No such material will be used if TRUST,
MANAGERS TRUST or N&B MANAGEMENT objects to its use in writing within ten (10)
Business Days after receipt of such material.
4.2 TRUST and N&B MANAGEMENT will furnish, or will cause to be
furnished, to LIFE COMPANY, each piece of sales literature or other promotional
material in which LIFE COMPANY or its Separate Accounts are named, at least
fifteen (15) Business Days prior to its intended use. No such material will be
used if LIFE COMPANY objects to its use in writing within ten (10) Business Days
after receipt of such material.
4.3 TRUST and its affiliates and agents shall not give any information
or make any representations on behalf of LIFE COMPANY or concerning LIFE
COMPANY, the Separate Accounts, or the Variable Contracts issued by LIFE
COMPANY, other than the information or representations contained in a
registration statement or prospectus for such Variable Contracts, as such
registration statement and prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time
to time, or in reports of the Separate Accounts or reports prepared for
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distribution to owners of such Variable Contracts, or in sales literature or
other promotional material approved by LIFE COMPANY or its designee, except with
the written permission of LIFE COMPANY.
4.4 LIFE COMPANY and its affiliates and agents shall not give any
information or make any representations on behalf of TRUST or concerning TRUST
other than the information or representations contained in a registration
statement or prospectus for TRUST, as such registration statement and prospectus
may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in sales literature or
other promotional material approved by TRUST or its designee, except with the
written permission of TRUST.
4.5 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 '40 Act or the '33 Act.
Article V. POTENTIAL CONFLICTS
5.1 The Board of Trustees of TRUST and MANAGERS TRUST (the "Boards")
will monitor TRUST and MANAGERS TRUST, respectively, (collectively the "Funds"),
for the existence of any material irreconcilable conflict between the interests
of the Variable Contract owners of Participating Insurance Company Separate
Accounts investing in the Funds. A material irreconcilable conflict may arise
for a variety of reasons, including: (a) state insurance regulatory authority
action; (b) a change in applicable federal or state insurance, tax, or
securities laws or regulations, or a public ruling, private letter ruling, 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 the Funds are being managed; (e) a difference
in voting instructions given by variable annuity and variable life insurance
contract owners or by contract owners of different Participating Insurance
Companies; or (f) a decision
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by a Participating Insurance instructions of Variable Contract Company to
disregard voting owners.
5.2 LIFE COMPANY will report any potential or existing conflicts to
the Boards. LIFE COMPANY will be responsible for assisting each appropriate
Board in carrying out its responsibilities under the Conditions set forth in the
notice issued by the SEC for the Funds on April 12, 1995 (the "Notice")
(Investment Company Act Release No. 21003), which LIFE COMPANY has reviewed, by
providing each appropriate Board with all information reasonably necessary for
it to consider any issues raised. This responsibility includes, but is not
limited to, an obligation by LIFE COMPANY to inform each appropriate Board
whenever Variable Contract owner voting instructions are disregarded by LIFE
COMPANY. These responsibilities will be carried out with a view only to the
interests of the Variable Contract owners.
5.3 If a majority of the Board of a Fund or a majority of its
disinterested trustees or directors, determines that a material irreconcilable
conflict exists, affecting LIFE COMPANY, LIFE COMPANY, at its expense and to the
extent reasonably practicable (as determined by a majority of disinterested
trustees or directors), will take any steps necessary to remedy or eliminate the
irreconcilable material conflict, including: (a) withdrawing the assets
allocable to some or all of the Separate Accounts from the Funds or any series
thereof and reinvesting those assets in a different investment medium, which may
include another series of TRUST or MANAGERS TRUST, or another investment company
or submitting the question as to whether such segregation should be implemented
to a vote of all affected Variable Contract owners and, as appropriate,
segregating the assets of any appropriate group (i.e., Variable Contract owners
of one or more Participating Insurance Companies) that votes in favor of such
segregation, or offering to the affected Variable Contract owners the option of
making such a change; and (b) establishing a new registered management
investment company or managed separate account. If a material irreconcilable
conflict arises because of LIFE COMPANY's decision to disregard Variable
Contract owner voting instructions, and that decision represents a minority
position or would preclude a majority vote, LIFE COMPANY may be required, at the
election of the relevant Fund, to withdraw its Separate Account's investment in
such Fund, and no charge or penalty will be imposed as a result of such
withdrawal. The responsibility to take such remedial action shall be carried out
with a view only to the interests of the Variable Contract owners.
For the purposes of this Section 5.3, a majority of the disinterested
members of the applicable Board shall determine whether or not any proposed
action adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict, but in no event
will the relevant Fund or N&B MANAGEMENT (or any other investment adviser of the
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Funds) be required to establish a new funding medium for any Variable Contract.
Further, LIFE COMPANY shall not be required by this Section 5.3 to establish a
new funding medium for any Variable Contract if any offer to do so has been
declined by a vote of a majority of Variable Contract owners materially affected
by the irreconcilable material conflict.
5.4 Any Board's determination of the existence of an irreconcilable
material conflict and its implications shall be made known promptly and in
writing to LIFE COMPANY.
5.5 No less than annually, LIFE COMPANY shall submit to the Boards
such reports materials or data as such Boards may reasonably request so that the
Boards may fully carry out the obligations imposed upon them by these
Conditions. Such reports, materials, and data shall be submitted more frequently
if deemed appropriate by the applicable Boards.
Article VI. VOTING
6.1 LIFE COMPANY will provide pass-through voting privileges to all
Variable Contract owners so long as the SEC continues to interpret the '40 Act
as requiring pass-through voting privileges for Variable Contract owners. This
condition will apply to UIT Separate Accounts investing in TRUST and to managed
separate accounts investing in MANAGERS TRUST to the extent a vote is required
with respect to matters relating to MANAGERS TRUST. Accordingly, LIFE COMPANY,
where applicable, will vote shares of a Fund held in its Separate Accounts in a
manner consistent with voting instructions timely received from its Variable
Contract owners. LIFE COMPANY will be responsible for assuring that each of its
Separate Accounts that participates in any Fund calculates voting privileges in
a manner consistent with other participants as defined in the Conditions set
forth in the Notice ("Participants"). The obligation to calculate voting
privileges in a manner consistent with all other Separate Accounts investing in
a Fund will be a contractual obligation of all Participants under the agreements
governing participation in the Funds. Each Participant will vote shares for
which it has not received timely voting instructions, as well as shares it owns,
in the same proportion as its votes those shares for which it has received
voting instructions.
6.2 If and to the extent 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 '40
Act or the rules thereunder with respect to mixed and shared funding on terms
and conditions materially different from any exemptions granted in the Order,
then TRUST, MANAGERS TRUST and/or the Participants, as appropriate, shall take
such steps as may be necessary to comply with Rule 6e-2 and Rule
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6e-3(T), as amended, and Rule 6e-3, as adopted, to the extent such Rules are
applicable.
Article VII. INDEMNIFICATION
7.1 INDEMNIFICATION BY LIFE COMPANY. LIFE COMPANY agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless TRUST, MANAGERS TRUST, N&B MANAGEMENT and each of their
Trustees, directors, officers, employees and agents and each person, if any, who
controls TRUST or MANAGERS TRUST or N&B MANAGEMENT within the meaning of Section
15 of the '33 Act (collectively, the II Indemnified Parties II for purposes of
this Article VII) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities
(including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of LIFE COMPANY,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) 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 offer, sale or acquisition of TRUST's shares or
the Variable Contracts and:
(a) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements or
alleged untrue statements of any material fact contained in
the Registration Statement or prospectus for the Variable
Contracts or contained in the Variable 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 LIFE COMPANY by or on behalf of TRUST for use
in the registration statement or prospectus for the Variable
Contracts or in the Variable Contracts or sales literature
(or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in
connection with the sale of the Variable Contracts or TRUST
shares; or
(b) 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
TRUST not supplied by LIFE COMPANY, or persons under its
control) or wrongful conduct of LIFE COMPANY or persons
under its control, with respect to the sale
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or distribution of the Variable Contracts or TRUST shares; or
(c) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a registration
statement, prospectus, or sales literature of TRUST or any
amendment thereof or supplement thereto or the omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading if such statement or omission or such
alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and
in conformity with information furnished to TRUST by or on
behalf of LIFE COMPANY; or
(d) arise as a result of any failure by LIFE COMPANY to
substantially provide the services and furnish the materials
under the terms of this Agreement; or
(e) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by LIFE COMPANY in this
Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material
breach of this Agreement by LIFE COMPANY.
7.2 LIFE 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 or to
TRUST, whichever is applicable.
7.3 LIFE 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 LIFE 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 LIFE COMPANY of any
such claim shall not relieve LIFE COMPANY from any liability which it may have
to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on
account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought
against an Indemnified Party, LIFE COMPANY shall be entitled to participate at
its own expense in the defense of such action. LIFE COMPANY also shall be
entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party
named in the action. After
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notice from LIFE COMPANY to such party of LIFE 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 LIFE 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.
7. 4 INDEMNIFICATION BY N&B MANAGEMENT. N&B MANAGEMENT agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless LIFE COMPANY and each of its directors, officers,
employees, and agents and each person, if any, who controls LIFE COMPANY within
the meaning of Section 15 of the '33 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified
Parties" for the purposes of this Article VII) against any and all losses,
claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the
written consent of N&B MANAGEMENT which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld) or litigation (including legal and other expenses) to which the
Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute, or regulation, at
common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements are related to the
offer, sale or acquisition of TRUST's shares or the Variable Contracts and:
(a) 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 TRUST (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 N&B MANAGEMENT or
TRUST by or on behalf of LIFE COMPANY for use in the
registration statement or prospectus for TRUST or in sales
literature (or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for
use in connection with the sale of the Variable Contracts or
TRUST shares; or
(b) 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 Variable Contracts not supplied by N&B MANAGEMENT or
persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of TRUST or
N&B MANAGEMENT or persons under their
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control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the
Variable Contracts or TRUST shares; or
(c) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a registration
statement, prospectus, or sales literature covering the
Variable 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 statements therein not misleading, if such
statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission
was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished to LIFE COMPANY for inclusion therein by or on
behalf of TRUST; or
(d) arise as a result of (i) a failure by TRUST or MANAGERS
TRUST to substantially provide the services and furnish the
materials under the terms of this Agreement; or (ii) a
failure by a Portfolio(s) invested in by the Separate
Account or a corresponding series of MANAGERS TRUST to
comply with the diversification requirements of Section
817(h) of the Code; or (iii) a failure by a Portfolio(s)
invested in by the Separate Account to qualify as a
"regulated investment company" under Subchapter M of the
Code; or
(e) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by N&B MANAGEMENT,
TRUST, or MANAGERS TRUST in this Agreement or arise out of
or result from any other material breach of this Agreement
by N&B MANAGEMENT, TRUST, or MANAGERS TRUST.
7.5 N&B MANAGEMENT shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation
to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of such
Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the
performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified
Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement or to
LIFE COMPANY.
7.6 N&B MANAGEMENT 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 N&B MANAGEMENT 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
14
Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such
service on any designated agent), but failure to notify N&B MANAGEMENT of any
such claim shall not relieve N&B MANAGEMENT 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, N&B MANAGEMENT shall be entitled to participate
at its own expense in the defense thereof. N&B MANAGEMENT also shall be entitled
to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in
the action. After notice from N&B MANAGEMENT to such party of N&B MANAGEMENT's
election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the
fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and N&B MANAGEMENT
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.
Article VIII. TERM; TERMINATION
8.1 This Agreement shall be effective as of the date hereof and shall
continue in force until terminated in accordance with the provisions herein.
8.2 This Agreement shall terminate in accordance with the following
provisions:
(a) At the option of LIFE COMPANY or TRUST at any time from the
date hereof upon 180 days' notice, unless a shorter time is
agreed to by the parties;
(b) At the option of LIFE COMPANY, if TRUST shares are not
reasonably available to meet the requirements of the
Variable Contracts as determined by LIFE COMPANY. Prompt
notice of election to terminate shall be furnished by LIFE
COMPANY, said termination to be effective ten days after
receipt of notice unless TRUST makes available a sufficient
number of shares to reasonably meet the requirements of the
Variable Contracts within said ten-day period;
(c) At the option of LIFE COMPANY, upon the institution of
formal proceedings against TRUST by the SEC, or any other
regulatory body, the expected or anticipated ruling,
judgment or outcome of which would, in LIFE COMPANY's
reasonable judgment, materially impair TRUST's ability to
meet and perform Trust's obligations and duties hereunder.
Prompt notice of election to terminate shall be
15
furnished by LIFE COMPANY with said termination to be
effective upon receipt of notice;
(d) At the option of TRUST, upon the institution of formal
proceedings against LIFE COMPANY by the SEC, the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or any other
regulatory body, the expected or anticipated ruling,
judgment or outcome of which would, in TRUST's reasonable
judgment, materially impair LIFE COMPANY's ability to meet
and perform its obligations and duties hereunder. Prompt
notice of election to terminate shall be furnished by TRUST
with said termination to be effective upon receipt of
notice;
(e) In the event TRUST's shares are not registered, issued or
sold in accordance with applicable state or federal law, or
such law precludes the use of such shares as the underlying
investment medium of Variable Contracts issued or to be
issued by LIFE COMPANY. Termination shall be effective upon
such occurrence without notice;
(f) At the option of TRUST if the Variable Contracts cease to
qualify as annuity contracts or life insurance contracts, as
applicable, under the Code, or if TRUST reasonably believes
that the Variable Contracts may fail to so qualify.
Termination shall be effective upon receipt of notice by
LIFE COMPANY;
(g) At the option of LIFE COMPANY, upon TRUST'S or MANAGERS
TRUST'S breach of any material provision of this Agreement,
which breach has not been cured to the satisfaction of LIFE
COMPANY within ten days after written notice of such breach
is delivered to TRUST or MANAGERS TRUST, as appropriate;
(h) At the option of TRUST, upon LIFE COMPANY's breach of any
material provision of this Agreement, which breach has not
been cured to the satisfaction of TRUST within ten days
after written notice of such breach is delivered to LIFE
COMPANY;
(i) At the option of TRUST, if the Variable Contracts are not
registered, issued or sold in accordance with applicable
federal and/or state law. Termination shall be effective
immediately upon such occurrence without notice;
16
(j) In the event this Agreement is assigned without the prior
written consent of LIFE COMPANY, TRUST, MANAGERS TRUST and
N&B MANAGEMENT, termination shall be effective immediately
upon such occurrence without notice.
8.3 Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement pursuant to
Section 8.2 hereof, TRUST at its option may elect to continue to make available
additional TRUST shares, as provided below, for so long as TRUST desires
pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for all Variable
Contracts in effect on the effective date of termination of this Agreement
(hereinafter referred to as "Existing Contracts"). Specifically, without
limitation, if TRUST so elects to make additional TRUST shares available, the
owners of the Existing Contracts or LIFE COMPANY, whichever shall have legal
authority to do so, shall be permitted to reallocate investments in TRUST,
redeem investments in TRUST and/or invest in TRUST upon the payment of
additional premiums under the Existing Contracts. In the event of a termination
of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.2 hereof, TRUST and N&B MANAGEMENT, as
promptly as is practicable under the circumstances, shall notify LIFE COMPANY
whether TRUST elects to continue to make TRUST shares available after such
termination. If TRUST shares continue to be made available after such
termination, the provisions of this Agreement shall remain in effect and
thereafter either TRUST or LIFE COMPANY may terminate the Agreement, as so
continued pursuant to this Section 8.3, upon sixty (60) days prior written
notice to the other party.
8.4 If this Agreement is terminated as to any Portfolio by the TRUST
pursuant to Section 8.2(a), N&B Management will reimburse LIFE COMPANY for its
reasonable costs and expenses in substituting shares of another investment
portfolio for the affected Portfolio, or otherwise terminating the participation
of the Variable Contracts in such Portfolio. The costs associated with such may
include such expenditures as (1) outside counsel fees related to obtaining an
exemption order from the SEC and (2) drafting, printing, and mailing costs of
the necessary notification forms to be mailed to affected contract holders.
8.5 Except as necessary to implement Variable Contract owner initiated
transactions, or as required by state insurance laws or regulations, LIFE
COMPANY shall not redeem the shares attributable to the Variable Contracts (as
opposed to the shares attributable to LIFE COMPANY's assets held in the Separate
Accounts), and LIFE COMPANY shall not prevent Variable Contract owners from
allocating payments to a Portfolio that was otherwise available under the
Variable Contracts, until thirty (30) days after LIFE COMPANY shall have
notified TRUST of its intention to do so.
17
Article IX. NOTICES
Any notice hereunder shall be given by registered or certified mail
return receipt requested 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 TRUST, MANAGERS TRUST or N&B MANAGEMENT:
Neuberger&Berman Management Incorporated
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, General Counsel
If to LIFE COMPANY:
Great American Reserve Insurance Company
00000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
X.X. Xxx 0000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: L. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx,
Senior Vice President
Notice shall be deemed given on the date of receipt by the addressee
as evidenced by the return receipt.
Article X. MISCELLANEOUS
10.1 The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of
reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof
or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
10.2 This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
10.3 If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid
by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of the Agreement
shall not be affected thereby.
10.4 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. It
shall also be subject to the provisions of the federal securities laws and the
rules and regulations thereunder and to any orders of the SEC granting exemptive
relief therefrom and the conditions of such orders.
10.5 The parties agree that the assets and liabilities of each Series
are separate and distinct from the assets and
18
liabilities of each other Series. No Series shall be liable or shall be charged
for any debt, obligation or liability of any other Series. No Trustee, officer
or agent shall be personally liable for such debt, obligation or liability of
any Series or Portfolio and no Portfolio or other investor, other than the
Portfolio or other investors investing in the Series which incurs a debt,
obligation or liability, shall be liable therefor.
10.6 Each party shall cooperate with each other party and all
appropriate governmental authorities (including without limitation the SEC, the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and state insurance regulators)
and shall permit such authorities reasonable access to its books and records in
connection with any investigation or inquiry relating to this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby.
10.7 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.
10.8 No provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified in any
manner except by a written agreement properly authorized and executed by TRUST,
MANAGERS TRUST, N&B MANAGEMENT and LIFE COMPANY.
19
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused their duly authorized
officers to execute this Fund Participation Agreement as of the date and year
first above written.
NEUBERGER&BERMAN
ADVISERS MANAGEMENT TRUST
By: /s/ XXXXXXX EGENEZ
------------------------
Name: XXXXXXX EGENEZ
Title:
ADVISERS MANAGEMENT TRUST
By: /s/ XXXXXXX EGENEZ
------------------------
Name: XXXXXXX EGENEZ
Title:
NEUBERGER&BERMAN
MANAGEMENT INCORPORATED
By: /s/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
------------------------
Name: XXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
Title:
GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE
INSURANCE COMPANY
By: /s/
------------------------
Name:
Title:
20
APPENDIX A
Neuberger&Berman Advisers Management Corresponding Series of Advisers
Trust and Its Series (Portfolios) Managers Trust (Series)
------------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Balanced Portfolio AMT Balanced Investments
Government Income Portfolio AMT Government Income Investments
Growth Portfolio AMT Growth Investments
Limited Maturity Bond Portfolio AMT Limited Maturity Bond Investments
Liquid Asset Portfolio AMT Liquid Asset Investments
Partners Portfolio AMT Partners Investments
International Portfolio AMT International Investments
00
XXXXXXXX X
Separate Accounts Selected Portfolios
----------------- -------------------------------
Variable Annuity Account C and Limited Maturity Bond Portfolio
Account E
Partners Portfolio
22
