Amendment to Schedule A to Participation Agreement
Among
Variable Insurance Products Fund III,
Fidelity Distributors Corporation,
and
Allmerica Financial Life Insurance and Annuity Company
WHEREAS, Allmerica Financial Life Insurance and Annuity Company (formerly
known as SMA Life Assurance Company), Variable Insurance Products Fund III
and Fidelity Distributors Corporation entered into a Participation Agreement
on February 22, 1999 ("Participation Agreement"); and
WHEREAS, the parties desire to amend the Participation Agreement and restate
in its entirety Schedule A by mutual written consent;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties do hereby agree to replace Schedule A to the
Participation Agreement and any amendments thereto with the attached Schedule
A dated as of December 21, 2000.
All terms and conditions of the Participation Agreement and Schedules thereto
shall continue in full force and effect except as modified hereby.
In witness whereof, each of the parties has caused this agreement to be
executed in its name and on its behalf by its duly authorized representative
as of the date specified below.
ALLMERICA FINANCIAL LIFE INSURANCE
AND ANNUITY COMPANY
By:
-----------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-----------------------------------------
Title: President
-----------------------------------------
Date: December 21, 2000
-----------------------------------------
VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND III FIDELITY DISTRIBUTORS CORPORATION
By: By:
---------------------- --------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
---------------------- --------------------
Title: Senior Vice President Title: Vice President
---------------------- --------------------
Date: December 21, 2000 Date: December 21, 2000
---------------------- --------------------
Schedule A
Separate Accounts and Associated Contracts
Name of Separate Account
and Date Established by Board Contract Name and Form Numbers Registration Numbers
of Directors by Separate Account of Contracts
------------------------------ ------------------------------- ----------------------
VA-K Allmerica ExecAnnuityPlus 33-39702
(Annuity) Policy Form A3018-91; A3021-93 811-6293
11/1/90
Allmerica Advantage 33-39702
Policy Form A3025-96 811-6293
Allmerica Accumulator 333-87099
Policy Form A3030-99 811-6293
Allmerica Ultimate Advantage 333-38274
Policy Form A3033-00 811-6293
DirectedAdvisorySolutions (Fund Quest) 333-90543
Policy Form A3031-00 811-6293
Allmerica Value Generation (Annuity Scout) 333-87099
Policy Form A3031-00 811-6293
Allmerica Immediate Advantage (IVA) 333-81861
Policy Form A3027-99 811-6293
Group VEL Group Vari-Exceptional Life 33-82658
(Variable Life) Policy Form 1029-94 811-8704
11/22/93
Allmerica Select Allmerica Select Reward 333-78245
(Annuity) Policy Form A3028-99 811-6622
Allmerica Select Acclaim 333-92117
Policy Form 811-8116
Allmerica Select Resource 33-47216
Policy Form A3030-00 811-6293
Allmerica Select Resource II 33-47216
Policy Form A3025-96 811-6632
Allmerica Select Charter 333-63093
Policy Form A3028-99 811-6632
2
IMO Allmerica VUL 2001 333-84879
(Variable Life) Policy Form 1033-99 811-09529
12/10/99
Allmerica Select Life Plus 333-84879
Policy Form 1033-99 811-09529
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
Among
VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND III,
FIDELITY DISTRIBUTORS CORPORATION
and
ALLMERICA FINANCIAL LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of the 22nd day of
February 1999 by and among ALLMERICA FINANCIAL LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY
COMPANY, (hereinafter the "Company"), a Delaware corporation, on its own
behalf and on behalf of each segregated asset account of the Company set
forth on Schedule A hereto as may be amended from time to time (each such
account hereinafter referred to as the "Account"), and the VARIABLE INSURANCE
PRODUCTS FUND III, an unincorporated business trust organized under the laws
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (hereinafter the "Fund") and FIDELITY
DISTRIBUTORS CORPORATION (hereinafter the "Underwriter"), a Massachusetts
corporation.
WHEREAS, the Fund engages in business as an open-end
management investment company and is available to act as the investment
vehicle for separate accounts established for variable life insurance
policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, the "Variable
Insurance Products") to be offered by insurance companies which have entered
into participation agreements with the Fund and the Underwriter (hereinafter
"Participating Insurance Companies"); and
WHEREAS, the beneficial interest in the Fund is divided into
several series of shares, each representing the interest in a particular
managed portfolio of securities and other assets, any one or more of which
may be made available under this Agreement, as may be amended from time to
time by mutual agreement of the parties hereto (each such series hereinafter
referred to as a "Portfolio"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund has obtained an order from the Securities
and Exchange Commission, dated September 17, 1986 (File No. 812-6422),
granting Participating Insurance Companies and variable annuity and variable
life insurance separate accounts exemptions from the provisions of sections
9(a), 13(a), 15(a), and 15(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, (hereinafter the "1940 Act") and Rules 6e-2(b) (15) and 6e-3(T) (b)
(15) thereunder, to the extent necessary to permit
1
shares of the Fund to be sold to and held by variable annuity and variable
life insurance separate accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated life
insurance companies (hereinafter the "Shared Funding Exemptive Order"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management
investment company under the 1940 Act and its shares are registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (hereinafter the "1933 Act"); and
WHEREAS, Fidelity Management & Research Company (the
"Adviser") is duly registered as an investment adviser under the federal
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and any applicable state securities law; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register certain
variable life insurance and variable annuity contracts under the 1933 Act; and
WHEREAS, each Account is a duly organized, validly existing
segregated asset account, established by resolution of the Board of Directors
of the Company, on the date shown for such Account on Schedule A hereto, to
set aside and invest assets attributable to the aforesaid variable annuity
contracts; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register each
Account as a unit investment trust under the 1940 Act; and
WHEREAS, the Underwriter is registered as a broker dealer
with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (hereinafter the "1934 Act"), and is a
member in good standing of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. (hereinafter "NASD"); and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws
and regulations, the Company intends to purchase shares in the Portfolios on
behalf of each Account to fund certain of the aforesaid variable life and
variable annuity contracts and the Underwriter is authorized to sell such
shares to unit investment trusts such as each Account at net asset value;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises,
the Company, the Fund and the Underwriter agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. SALE OF FUND SHARES
1.1. The Underwriter agrees to sell to the Company those
shares of the Fund which each Account orders, executing such orders on a
daily basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by the Fund or
its designee of the order for the shares of the Fund. For purposes of this
Section 1.1, the Company shall be the designee of the Fund for receipt of
such orders from each Account and receipt by such designee shall
2
constitute receipt by the Fund; provided that the Fund receives notice of
such order by 9:00 a.m. Boston 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 the Fund calculates its net asset value
pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
1.2. The Fund agrees to make its shares available
indefinitely for purchase at the applicable net asset value per share by the
Company and its Accounts on those days on which the Fund calculates its net
asset value pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and
the Fund shall use reasonable efforts to calculate such net asset value on
each day which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Trustees of the Fund (hereinafter
the "Board") may refuse to sell shares of any Portfolio to any person, or
suspend or terminate the offering of shares of any Portfolio if such action
is required by law or by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction or is, in
the sole discretion of the Board acting in good faith and in light of their
fiduciary duties under federal and any applicable state laws, necessary in
the best interests of the shareholders of such Portfolio.
1.3. The Fund and the Underwriter agree that shares of the
Fund will be sold only to Participating Insurance Companies and their
separate accounts. No shares of any Portfolio will be sold to the general
public.
1.4. The Fund and the Underwriter will not sell Fund shares
to any insurance company or separate account unless an agreement containing
provisions substantially the same as Articles I, III, V, VII and Section 2.5
of Article II of this Agreement is in effect to govern such sales.
1.5. The Fund agrees to redeem for cash, on the Company's
request, any full or fractional shares of the Fund held by the Company,
executing such requests on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed
after receipt by the Fund or its designee of the request for redemption. For
purposes of this Section 1.5, the Company shall be the designee of the Fund
for receipt of requests for redemption from each Account and receipt by such
designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund; provided that the Fund
receives notice of such request for redemption on the next following Business
Day.
1.6. The Company agrees that purchases and redemptions of
Portfolio shares offered by the then current prospectus of the Fund shall be
made in accordance with the provisions of such prospectus. The Company agrees
that all net amounts available under the variable annuity contracts with the
form number(s) which are listed on Schedule A attached hereto and
incorporated herein by this reference, as such Schedule A may be amended from
time to time hereafter by mutual written agreement of all the parties hereto,
(the "Contracts") shall be invested in the Fund, in such other Funds advised
by the Adviser as may be mutually agreed to in writing by the parties hereto,
or in the Company's general account, provided that such amounts may also be
invested in an investment company other than the Fund if (a) such other
investment company, or series
3
thereof, has investment objectives or policies that are substantially
different from the investment objectives and policies of all the Portfolios
of the Fund; or (b) the Company gives the Fund and the Underwriter 45 days
written notice of its intention to make such other investment company
available as a funding vehicle for the Contracts; or (c) such other
investment company was available as a funding vehicle for the Contracts prior
to the date of this Agreement and the Company so informs the Fund and
Underwriter prior to their signing this Agreement (a list of such funds
appearing on Schedule C to this Agreement); or (d) the Fund or Underwriter
consents to the use of such other investment company.
1.7. The Company shall pay for Fund shares on the next
Business Day after an order to purchase Fund shares is made in accordance
with the provisions of Section 1.1 hereof. Payment shall be in federal funds
transmitted by wire. For purpose of Section 2.10 and 2.11, upon receipt by
the Fund of the federal funds so wired, such funds shall cease to be the
responsibility of the Company and shall become the responsibility of the Fund.
1.8. Issuance and transfer of the Fund's shares will be by
book entry only. Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or any
Account. Shares ordered from the Fund will be recorded in an appropriate
title for each Account or the appropriate subaccount of each Account.
1.9. The Fund shall furnish same day notice (by wire or
telephone, followed by written confirmation) to the Company of any income,
dividends or capital gain distributions payable on the Fund's shares. The
Company hereby elects to receive all such income dividends and capital gain
distributions as are payable on the Portfolio shares in additional shares of
that Portfolio. The Company reserves the right to revoke this election and to
receive all such income dividends and capital gain distributions in cash. The
Fund shall notify the Company of the number of shares so issued as payment of
such dividends and distributions.
1.10. The Fund shall make the net asset value per share for
each Portfolio available to the Company on a daily basis as soon as
reasonably practical after the net asset value per share is calculated
(normally by 6:30 p.m. Boston time) and shall use its best efforts to make
such net asset value per share available by 7 p.m. Boston time.
ARTICLE II. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
2.1. The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts are
or will be registered under the 1933 Act; that the Contracts will be issued and
sold in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Federal and
State laws and that the sale of the Contracts shall comply in all material
respects with state insurance suitability requirements. The Company further
represents and warrants that it is an insurance company duly organized and in
good standing under applicable law and that it has legally
4
and validly established each Account prior to any issuance or sale thereof as
a segregated asset account under Section 2932 of the Delaware Code and has
registered or, prior to any issuance or sale of the Contracts, will register
each Account as a unit investment trust in accordance with the provisions of
the 1940 Act to serve as a segregated investment account for the Contracts.
2.2. The Fund represents and warrants that Fund shares sold
pursuant to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act, duly
authorized for issuance and sold in compliance with the laws of the State of
Delaware and all applicable federal and state securities laws and that the
Fund is and shall remain registered under the 0000 Xxx. The Fund shall amend
the Registration Statement for its shares under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act
from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of
its shares. The Fund shall register and qualify the shares for sale in
accordance with the laws of the various states only if and to the extent
deemed advisable by the Fund or the Underwriter.
2.3. The Fund 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 the Company immediately upon having a
reasonable basis for believing that it has ceased to so qualify or that it
might not so qualify in the future.
2.4. The Company represents that the Contracts are currently
treated as endowment or annuity contracts or life insurance policies, under
applicable provisions of the Code and that it will make every effort to
maintain such treatment and that it will notify the Fund and the Underwriter
immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Contracts
have ceased to be so treated or that they might not be so treated in the
future.
2.5. (a) With respect to Initial Class shares, the Fund
currently does not intend to make any payments to finance distribution
expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act or otherwise, although it
may make such payments in the future. The Fund has adopted a "no fee" or
"defensive" Rule 12b-1 Plan under which it makes no payments for distribution
expenses. To the extent that it decides to finance distribution expenses
pursuant to Rule 12b-1, the Fund undertakes to have a board of trustees, a
majority of whom are not interested persons of the Fund, formulate and
approve any plan under Rule 12b-1 to finance distribution expenses.
(b) With respect to Service Class shares, the Fund has
adopted a Rule 12b-1 Plan under which it makes payments to finance
distribution expenses. The Fund represents and warrants that it has a board
of trustees, a majority of whom are not interested persons of the Fund, which
has formulated and approved the Fund's Rule 12b-1 Plan to finance
distribution expenses of the Fund and that any changes to the Fund's Rule
12b-1 Plan will be approved by a similarly constituted board of trustees.
5
2.6. The Fund makes no representation as to whether any
aspect of its operations (including, but not limited to, fees and expenses
and investment policies) complies with the insurance laws or regulations of
the various states except that the Fund represents that the Fund's investment
policies, fees and expenses are and shall at all times remain in compliance
with the laws of the State of Delaware and the Fund and the Underwriter
represent that their respective operations are and shall at all times remain
in material compliance with the laws of the State of Delaware to the extent
required to perform this Agreement.
2.7. The Underwriter represents and warrants that it is a
member in good standing of the NASD and is registered as a broker-dealer with
the SEC. The Underwriter further represents that it will sell and distribute
the Fund shares in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware and all
applicable state and federal securities laws, including without limitation
the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, and the 0000 Xxx.
2.8. The Fund represents that it is lawfully organized and
validly existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that
it does and will comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act.
2.9. The Underwriter represents and warrants that the Adviser
is and shall remain duly registered in all material respects under all
applicable federal and state securities laws and that the Adviser shall
perform its obligations for the Fund in compliance in all material respects
with the laws of the State of Delaware and any applicable state and federal
securities laws.
2.10. The Fund and Underwriter represent and warrant that all
of their directors, officers, employees, investment advisers, and other
individuals/entities dealing with the money and/or securities of the Fund are
and shall continue to be at all times covered by a blanket fidelity bond or
similar coverage for the benefit of the Fund in an amount not less than the
minimal coverage as required currently by Rule 17g-(1) of the 1940 Act or
related provisions as may be promulgated from time to time. The aforesaid
Bond shall include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued
by a reputable bonding company.
2.11. The Company represents and warrants that all of its
directors, officers, employees, investment advisers, and other
individuals/entities dealing with the money and/or securities of the Fund are
covered by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage for the benefit of the
Fund, and that said bond is issued by a reputable bonding company, includes
coverage for larceny and embezzlement, and is in an amount not less than $5
million. The Company agrees to make all reasonable efforts to see that this
bond or another bond containing these provisions is always in effect, and
agrees to notify the Fund and the Underwriter in the event that such coverage
no longer applies.
6
ARTICLE III. PROSPECTUSES AND PROXY STATEMENTS; VOTING
3.1. The Underwriter shall provide the Company with as many
printed copies of the Fund's current prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information as the Company may reasonably request. If requested by the
Company in lieu thereof, the Fund shall provide camera-ready film containing
the Fund's prospectus and Statement of Additional Information, and such other
assistance as is reasonably necessary in order for the Company once each year
(or more frequently if the prospectus and/or Statement of Additional
Information for the Fund is amended during the year) to have the prospectus
for the Contracts and the Fund's prospectus printed together in one document,
and to have the Statement of Additional Information for the Fund and the
Statement of Additional Information for the Contracts printed together in one
document. Alternatively, the Company may print the Fund's prospectus and/or
its Statement of Additional Information in combination with other fund
companies' prospectuses and statements of additional information. Except as
provided in the following three sentences, all expenses of printing and
distributing Fund prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information shall
be the expense of the Company. For prospectuses and Statements of Additional
Information provided by the Company to its existing owners of Contracts in
order to update disclosure annually as required by the 1933 Act and/or the
1940 Act, the cost of printing shall be borne by the Fund. If the Company
chooses to receive camera-ready film in lieu of receiving printed copies of
the Fund's prospectus, the Fund will reimburse the Company in an amount equal
to the product of A and B where A is the number of such prospectuses
distributed to owners of the Contracts, and B is the Fund's per unit cost of
typesetting and printing the Fund's prospectus. The same procedures shall be
followed with respect to the Fund's Statement of Additional Information.
The Company agrees to provide the Fund or its designee with
such information as may be reasonably requested by the Fund to assure that
the Fund's expenses do not include the cost of printing any prospectuses or
Statements of Additional Information other than those actually distributed to
existing owners of the Contracts.
3.2. The Fund's prospectus shall state that the Statement of
Additional Information for the Fund is available from the Underwriter or the
Company (or in the Fund's discretion, the Prospectus shall state that such
Statement is available from the Fund).
3.3. The Fund, at its expense, shall provide the Company with
copies of its proxy statements, reports to shareholders, and other
communications (except for prospectuses and Statements of Additional
Information, which are covered in Section 3.1) to shareholders in such
quantity as the Company shall reasonably require for distributing to Contract
owners.
3.4. If and to the extent required by law the Company shall:
(i) solicit voting instructions from Contract owners;
7
(ii) vote the Fund shares in accordance with
instructions received from Contract owners; and
(iii) vote Fund shares for which no instructions have
been received in a particular separate account in
the same proportion as Fund shares of such
portfolio for which instructions have been received
in that separate account,
so long as and to the extent that the Securities and Exchange Commission
continues to interpret the 1940 Act to require pass-through voting privileges
for variable contract owners. The Company reserves the right to vote Fund
shares held in any segregated asset account in its own right, to the extent
permitted by law. Participating Insurance Companies shall be responsible for
assuring that each of their separate accounts participating in the Fund
calculates voting privileges in a manner consistent with the standards set
forth on Schedule B attached hereto and incorporated herein by this
reference, which standards will also be provided to the other Participating
Insurance Companies.
3.5. The Fund will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act
requiring voting by shareholders, and in particular the Fund will either
provide for annual meetings or comply with Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act
(although the Fund is not one of the trusts described in Section 16(c) of
that Act) as well as with Sections 16(a) and, if and when applicable, 16(b).
Further, the Fund will act in accordance with the Securities and Exchange
Commission's interpretation of the requirements of Section 16(a) with respect
to periodic elections of trustees and with whatever rules the Commission may
promulgate with respect thereto.
ARTICLE IV. SALES MATERIAL AND INFORMATION
4.1. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be
furnished, to the Fund or its designee, each piece of sales literature or
other promotional material in which the Fund or its investment adviser or the
Underwriter is named, at least fifteen Business Days prior to its use. No
such material shall be used if the Fund or its designee reasonably objects to
such use within fifteen Business Days after receipt of such material.
4.2. The Company shall not give any information or make any
representations or statements on behalf of the Fund or concerning the Fund in
connection with the sale of the Contracts other than the information or
representations contained in the registration statement or prospectus for the
Fund shares, as such registration statement and prospectus may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, or in reports or proxy statements for the
Fund, or in sales literature or other promotional material approved by the
Fund or its designee or by the Underwriter, except with the permission of the
Fund or the Underwriter or the designee of either.
8
4.3. The Fund, Underwriter, or its designee shall furnish, or
shall cause to be furnished, to the Company or its designee, each piece of
sales literature or other promotional material in which the Company and/or
its separate account(s), is named at least fifteen Business Days prior to its
use. No such material shall be used if the Company or its designee reasonably
objects to such use within fifteen Business Days after receipt of such
material.
4.4. The Fund and the Underwriter shall not give any
information or make any representations on behalf of the Company or
concerning the Company, each Account, or the Contracts other than the
information or representations contained in a registration statement or
prospectus for the Contracts, as such registration statement and prospectus
may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in published reports for
each Account which are in the public domain or approved by the Company for
distribution to Contract owners, or in sales literature or other promotional
material approved by the Company or its designee, except with the permission
of the Company.
4.5. The Fund will provide to the Company at least one
complete copy of all registration statements, prospectuses, Statements of
Additional Information, reports, proxy statements, sales literature and other
promotional materials, applications for exemptions, requests for no-action
letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that relate to the Fund or
its shares, contemporaneously with the filing of such document with the
Securities and Exchange Commission or other regulatory authorities.
4.6. The Company will provide to the Fund at least one
complete copy of all registration statements, prospectuses, Statements of
Additional Information, reports, solicitations for voting instructions, sales
literature and other promotional materials, applications for exemptions,
requests for no action letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that
relate to the Contracts or each Account, contemporaneously with the filing of
such document with the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
4.7. For purposes of this Article IV, the phrase "sales
literature or other promotional material" includes, but is not limited to,
any of the following that refer to the Fund or any affiliate of the Fund:
advertisements (such as material published, or designed for use in, a
newspaper, magazine, or other periodical, radio, television, telephone or
tape recording, videotape display, signs or billboards, motion pictures, or
other public media), sales literature (I.E., any written communication
distributed or made generally available to customers or the public, including
brochures, circulars, research reports, market letters, form letters, seminar
texts, reprints or excerpts of any other advertisement, sales literature, or
published article), educational or training materials or other communications
distributed or made generally available to some or all agents or employees,
and registration statements, prospectuses, Statements of Additional
Information, shareholder reports, and proxy materials.
9
ARTICLE V. FEES AND EXPENSES
5.1. The Fund and Underwriter shall pay no fee or other
compensation to the Company under this agreement, except that if the Fund or
any Portfolio adopts and implements a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 to finance
distribution expenses, then the Underwriter may make payments to the Company
or to the underwriter for the Contracts if and in amounts agreed to by the
Underwriter in writing and such payments will be made out of existing fees
otherwise payable to the Underwriter, past profits of the Underwriter or
other resources available to the Underwriter. No such payments shall be made
directly by the Fund.
5.2. All expenses incident to performance by the Fund under
this Agreement shall be paid by the Fund. The Fund shall see to it that all
its shares are registered and authorized for issuance in accordance with
applicable federal law and, if and to the extent deemed advisable by the
Fund, in accordance with applicable state laws prior to their sale. The Fund
shall bear the expenses for the cost of registration and qualification of the
Fund's shares, preparation and filing of the Fund's prospectus and
registration statement, proxy materials and reports, setting the prospectus
in type, setting in type and printing the proxy materials and reports to
shareholders (including the costs of printing a prospectus that constitutes
an annual report), the preparation of all statements and notices required by
any federal or state law, and all taxes on the issuance or transfer of the
Fund's shares.
5.3. The Company shall bear the expenses of distributing the
Fund's prospectus, proxy materials and reports to owners of Contracts issued
by the Company.
ARTICLE VI. DIVERSIFICATION
6.1. The Fund will at all times invest money from the
Contracts in such a manner as to ensure that the Contracts will be treated as
variable contracts under the Code and the regulations issued thereunder.
Without limiting the scope of the foregoing, the Fund will at all times
comply with Section 817(h) of the Code and Treasury Regulation 1.817-5,
relating to the diversification requirements for variable annuity, endowment,
or life insurance contracts and any amendments or other modifications to such
Section or Regulations. In the event of a breach of this Article VI by the
Fund, it will take all reasonable steps (a) to notify Company of such breach
and (b) to adequately diversify the Fund so as to achieve compliance within
the grace period afforded by Regulation 1.817-5.
ARTICLE VII. POTENTIAL CONFLICTS
10
7.1. The Board will monitor the Fund for the existence of any
material irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the contract owners
of all separate accounts investing in the Fund. An irreconcilable material
conflict may arise for a variety of reasons, including: (a) an action by any
state insurance regulatory authority; (b) a change in applicable federal or
state insurance, tax, or securities laws or regulations, or a public ruling,
private letter ruling, no-action or interpretative letter, or any similar
action by insurance, tax, or securities regulatory authorities; (c) an
administrative or judicial decision in any relevant proceeding; (d) the
manner in which the investments of any Portfolio are being managed; (e) a
difference in voting instructions given by variable annuity contract and
variable life insurance contract owners; or (f) a decision by an insurer to
disregard the voting instructions of contract owners. The Board shall
promptly inform the Company if it determines that an irreconcilable material
conflict exists and the implications thereof.
7.2. The Company will report any potential or existing
conflicts of which it is aware to the Board. The Company will assist the
Board in carrying out its responsibilities under the Shared Funding Exemptive
Order, by providing the Board with all information reasonably necessary for
the Board to consider any issues raised. This includes, but is not limited
to, an obligation by the Company to inform the Board whenever contract owner
voting instructions are disregarded.
7.3. If it is determined by a majority of the Board, or a
majority of its disinterested trustees, that a material irreconcilable
conflict exists, the Company and other Participating Insurance Companies
shall, at their expense and to the extent reasonably practicable (as
determined by a majority of the disinterested trustees), take whatever steps
are necessary to remedy or eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict, up
to and including: (1), withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the
separate accounts from the Fund or any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets
in a different investment medium, including (but not limited to) another
Portfolio of the Fund, or submitting the question whether such segregation
should be implemented to a vote of all affected Contract owners and, as
appropriate, segregating the assets of any appropriate group (I.E., annuity
contract owners, life insurance contract owners, or variable contract owners
of one or more Participating Insurance Companies) that votes in favor of such
segregation, or offering to the affected contract owners the option of making
such a change; and (2), establishing a new registered management investment
company or managed separate account.
7.4. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of
a decision by the Company to disregard contract owner voting instructions and
that decision represents a minority position or would preclude a majority
vote, the Company may be required, at the Fund's election, to withdraw the
affected Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with
respect to such Account; provided, however that such withdrawal and
termination shall be limited to the extent required by the foregoing material
irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the disinterested
members of the Board. Any such withdrawal and termination must take place
within six (6)
11
months after the Fund gives written notice that this provision is being
implemented, and until the end of that six month period the Underwriter and
Fund shall continue to accept and implement orders by the Company for the
purchase (and redemption) of shares of the Fund.
7.5. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a
particular state insurance regulator's decision applicable to the Company
conflicts with the majority of other state regulators, then the Company will
withdraw the affected Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this
Agreement with respect to such Account within six months after the Board
informs the Company in writing that it has determined that such decision has
created an irreconcilable material conflict; provided, however, that such
withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by the
foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the
disinterested members of the Board. Until the end of the foregoing six month
period, the Underwriter and Fund shall continue to accept and implement
orders by the Company for the purchase (and redemption) of shares of the Fund.
7.6. For purposes of Sections 7.3 through 7.6 of this
Agreement, a majority of the disinterested members of the Board shall
determine whether any proposed action adequately remedies any irreconcilable
material conflict, but in no event will the Fund be required to establish a
new funding medium for the Contracts. The Company shall not be required by
Section 7.3 to establish a new funding medium for the Contracts if an offer
to do so has been declined by vote of a majority of Contract owners
materially adversely affected by the irreconcilable material conflict. In the
event that the Board determines that any proposed action does not adequately
remedy any irreconcilable material conflict, then the Company will withdraw
the Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement within six
(6) months after the Board informs the Company in writing of the foregoing
determination, provided, however, that such withdrawal and termination shall
be limited to the extent required by any such material irreconcilable
conflict as determined by a majority of the disinterested members of the
Board.
7.7. If and to the extent that Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) are
amended, or Rule 6e-3 is adopted, to provide exemptive relief from any
provision of the Act or the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to
mixed or shared funding (as defined in the Shared Funding Exemptive Order) on
terms and conditions materially different from those contained in the Shared
Funding Exemptive Order, then (a) the Fund and/or the Participating Insurance
Companies, as appropriate, shall take such steps as may be necessary to
comply with Rules 6e-2 and 6e-3(T), as amended, and Rule 6e-3, as adopted, to
the extent such rules are applicable; and (b) Sections 3.4, 3.5, 7.1, 7.2,
7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 of this Agreement shall continue in effect only to the
extent that terms and conditions substantially identical to such Sections are
contained in such Rule(s) as so amended or adopted.
12
ARTICLE VIII. INDEMNIFICATION
8.1. INDEMNIFICATION By THE COMPANY
8.1(a). The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Fund and each trustee of the Board and officers and each person, if any, who
controls the Fund within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 8.1)
against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts
paid in settlement with the written consent of the Company) or litigation
(including legal and other expenses), to which the Indemnified Parties may
become subject under any statute, regulation, at common law or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions
in respect thereof) or settlements are related to the sale or acquisition of
the Fund's shares or the Contracts and:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements
or alleged untrue statements of any material fact contained in
the Registration Statement or prospectus for the Contracts or
contained in the Contracts or sales literature for the Contracts
(or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or
arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, provided that this agreement to indemnify shall not
apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement or omission
or such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon
and in conformity with information furnished to the Company by
or on behalf of the Fund for use in the Registration Statement
or prospectus for the Contracts or in the Contracts or sales
literature (or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use
in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations (other than statements or representations
contained in the Registration Statement, prospectus or sales
literature of the Fund not supplied by the Company, or persons
under its control) or wrongful conduct of the Company or persons
under its control, with respect to the sale or distribution of
the Contracts or Fund Shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a Registration
Statement, prospectus, or sales literature of the Fund or any
amendment thereof or supplement thereto or the omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading if such a statement or omission was made in reliance
upon information furnished to the Fund by or on behalf of the
Company; or
13
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Company to
provide the services and furnish the materials under the terms
of this Agreement; or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Company in this
Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material
breach of this Agreement by the Company, as limited by and in
accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.1(b) and 8.1(c)
hereof.
8.1(b). The Company shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or litigation 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 the Fund, whichever is
applicable.
8.1(c). The Company shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against
an Indemnified Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have
notified the Company in writing within a reasonable time after
the summons or other first legal process giving information of
the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have
received notice of such service on any designated agent), but
failure to notify the Company of any such claim shall not
relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to the
Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise
than on account of this indemnification provision. In case any
such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties, the
Company shall be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in
the defense of such action. The Company also shall be entitled
to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the
party named in the action. After notice from the Company to such
party of the Company's election to assume the defense thereof,
the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any
additional counsel retained by it, and the Company will not be
liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or other
expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in
connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs
of investigation.
8.1(d). The Indemnified Parties will promptly notify the
Company of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings
against them in connection with the issuance or sale of the Fund
Shares or the Contracts or the operation of the Fund.
14
8.2. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE UNDERWRITER
8.2(a). The Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
the Company and each of its directors and officers and each person, if any,
who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 8.2)
against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts
paid in settlement with the written consent of the Underwriter) or litigation
(including legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may
become subject under any statute, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect
thereof) or settlements are related to the sale or acquisition of the Fund's
shares or the Contracts and:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of any material fact
contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus
or sales literature of the Fund (or any amendment or
supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of
or are based upon the omission or the alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, provided that this agreement
to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified
Party if such statement or omission or such alleged
statement or omission was made in reliance upon and
in conformity with information furnished to the
Underwriter or Fund by or on behalf of the Company
for use in the Registration Statement or prospectus
for the Fund or in sales literature (or any amendment
or supplement) or otherwise for use in connection
with the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations (other than statements or
representations contained in the Registration
Statement, prospectus or sales literature for the
Contracts not supplied by the Underwriter or persons
under its control) or wrongful conduct of the Fund,
Adviser or Underwriter or persons under their
control, with respect to the sale or distribution of
the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(iii)arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a
Registration Statement, prospectus, or sales
literature covering the Contracts, or any amendment
thereof or supplement thereto, or the omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statement or statements therein not misleading,
if such statement or omission was made in reliance
upon information furnished to the Company by or on
behalf of the Fund; or
15
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund to
provide the services and furnish the materials under
the terms of this Agreement (including a failure,
whether unintentional or in good faith or otherwise,
to comply with the diversification requirements
specified in Article VI of this Agreement); or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of
any representation and/or warranty made by the
Underwriter in this Agreement or arise out of or
result from any other material breach of this
Agreement by the Underwriter; as limited by and in
accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.2(b) and
8.2(c) hereof.
8.2(b). The Underwriter shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or litigation to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be
subject by reason of such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith,
or gross negligence in the performance 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 each Company or the Account, whichever is
applicable.
8.2(c). The Underwriter shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an
Indemnified Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the
Underwriter in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other
first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have
been served upon such Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party
shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but
failure to notify the Underwriter of any such claim shall not relieve the
Underwriter from any liability which it may have to the Indemnified Party
against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this
indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought against the
Indemnified Parties, the Underwriter will be entitled to participate, at its
own expense, in the defense thereof. The Underwriter also shall be entitled
to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named
in the action. After notice from the Underwriter to such party of the
Underwriter's election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party
shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it,
and the Underwriter will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for
any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently
in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of
investigation.
8.2(d). The Company agrees promptly to notify the Underwriter
of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its
officers or directors in connection with the issuance or sale of the
Contracts or the operation of each Account.
16
8.3. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE FUND
8.3(a). The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company, and each of its directors and officers and each person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 8.3)
against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts
paid in settlement with the written consent of the Fund) or litigation
(including legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may
become subject under any statute, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect
thereof) or settlements result from the gross negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct of the Board or any member thereof, are related to the
operations of the Fund and:
(i) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund to
provide the services and furnish the materials under
the terms of this Agreement (including a failure to
comply with the diversification requirements
specified in Article VI of this Agreement);or
(ii) arise out of or result from any material breach of
any representation and/or warranty made by the Fund
in this Agreement or arise out of or result from any
other material breach of this Agreement by the Fund;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.3(b) and
8.3(c) hereof.
8.3(b). The Fund shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or litigation 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 and duties under this Agreement or to the Company, the Fund, the
Underwriter or each Account, whichever is applicable.
8.3(c). The Fund shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an
Indemnified Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Fund
in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal
process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served
upon such Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have
received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to
notify the Fund of any such claim shall not relieve the Fund from any
liability which it may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action
is brought otherwise than on account of this indemnification provision. In
case any such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties, the Fund
will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof.
17
The Fund also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel
satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from the Fund to
such party of the Fund's election to assume the defense thereof, the
Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel
retained by it, and the Fund will not be liable to such party under this
Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such party
independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable
costs of investigation.
8.3(d). The Company and the Underwriter agree promptly to
notify the Fund of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against
it or any of its respective officers or directors in connection with this
Agreement, the issuance or sale of the Contracts, with respect to the
operation of either Account, or the sale or acquisition of shares of the Fund.
ARTICLE IX. APPLICABLE LAW
9.1. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions
hereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts.
9.2. This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the
1933, 1934 and 1940 acts, and the rules and regulations and rulings
thereunder, including such exemptions from those statutes, rules and
regulations as the Securities and Exchange Commission may grant (including,
but not limited to, the Shared Funding Exemptive Order) and the terms hereof
shall be interpreted and construed in accordance therewith.
ARTICLE X. TERMINATION
10.1. This Agreement shall continue in full force and
effect until the first to occur of:
(a) termination by any party for any reason by sixty (60) days
advance written notice delivered to the other parties; or
(b) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund
and the Underwriter with respect to any Portfolio based
upon the Company's determination that shares of such
Portfolio are not reasonably available to meet the
requirements of the Contracts; or
(c) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund
and the Underwriter with respect to any Portfolio in the
event any of the Portfolio's shares are not registered,
issued or sold in accordance with applicable state and/or
federal law or such law precludes the use of
18
such shares as the underlying investment media of the
Contracts issued or to be issued by the Company; or
(d) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund
and the Underwriter with respect to any Portfolio in the
event that such Portfolio ceases to qualify as a Regulated
Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Code or under
any successor or similar provision, or if the Company
reasonably believes that the Fund may fail to so qualify;
or
(e) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund
and the Underwriter with respect to any Portfolio in the
event that such Portfolio fails to meet the
diversification requirements specified in Article VI
hereof; or
(f) termination by either the Fund or the Underwriter by
written notice to the Company, if either one or both of
the Fund or the Underwriter respectively, shall determine,
in their sole judgment exercised in good faith, that the
Company and/or its affiliated companies has suffered a
material adverse change in its business, operations,
financial condition or prospects since the date of this
Agreement or is the subject of material adverse publicity;
or
(g) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund
and the Underwriter, if the Company shall determine, in
its sole judgment exercised in good faith, that either the
Fund or the Underwriter has suffered a material adverse
change in its business, operations, financial condition or
prospects since the date of this Agreement or is the
subject of material adverse publicity; or
(h) termination by the Fund or the Underwriter by written
notice to the Company, if the Company gives the Fund and
the Underwriter the written notice specified in Section
1.6(b) hereof and at the time such notice was given there
was no notice of termination outstanding under any other
provision of this Agreement; provided, however any
termination under this Section 10.1(h) shall be effective
forty five (45) days after the notice specified in Section
1.6(b) was given.
10.2. EFFECT OF TERMINATION. Notwithstanding any termination
of this Agreement, the Fund and the Underwriter shall at the option of the
Company, continue to make available additional shares of the Fund pursuant to
the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for all Contracts in effect on
the effective date of termination of this Agreement (hereinafter referred to
as "Existing Contracts"). Specifically, without limitation, the owners of the
Existing Contracts shall be permitted to reallocate investments in the Fund,
redeem investments in the Fund and/or invest in the Fund upon the making of
additional purchase payments under the Existing
19
Contracts. The parties agree that this Section 10.2 shall not apply to any
terminations under Article VII and the effect of such Article VII
terminations shall be governed by Article VII of this Agreement.
10.3 The Company shall not redeem Fund shares attributable to
the Contracts (as opposed to Fund shares attributable to the Company's assets
held in the Account) except (i) as necessary to implement Contract Owner
initiated or approved transactions, or (ii) as required by state and/or
federal laws or regulations or judicial or other legal precedent of general
application (hereinafter referred to as a "Legally Required Redemption") or
(iii) as permitted by an order of the SEC pursuant to Section 26(b) of the
1940 Act. Upon request, the Company will promptly furnish to the Fund and the
Underwriter the opinion of counsel for the Company (which counsel shall be
reasonably satisfactory to the Fund and the Underwriter) to the effect that
any redemption pursuant to clause (ii) above is a Legally Required
Redemption. Furthermore, except in cases where permitted under the terms of
the Contracts, the Company shall not prevent Contract Owners from allocating
payments to a Portfolio that was otherwise available under the Contracts
without first giving the Fund or the Underwriter 90 days notice of its
intention to do so.
ARTICLE XI. NOTICES
Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by
registered or certified mail to the other party at the address of such party
set forth below or at such other address as such party may from time to time
specify in writing to the other party.
If to the Fund:
00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Treasurer
If to the Company:
Allmerica Financial Life Insurance and Annuity Company
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, President
If to the Underwriter:
00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Treasurer
ARTICLE XII. MISCELLANEOUS
20
12.1 All persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to
the property of the Fund for the enforcement of any claims against the Fund
as neither the Board, officers, agents or shareholders assume any personal
liability for obligations entered into on behalf of the Fund.
12.2 Subject to the requirements of legal process and
regulatory authority, each party hereto shall treat as confidential the names
and addresses of the owners of the Contracts and all information reasonably
identified as confidential in writing by any other party hereto and, except
as permitted by this Agreement, shall not disclose, disseminate or utilize
such names and addresses and other confidential information until such time
as it may come into the public domain without the express written consent of
the affected party.
12.3 The captions in this Agreement are included for
convenience of reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the
provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
12.4 This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or
more counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the
same instrument.
12.5 If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made
invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of the
Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
12.6 Each party hereto shall cooperate with each other party
and all appropriate governmental authorities (including without limitation
the SEC, the NASD and state insurance regulators) and shall permit such
authorities reasonable access to its books and records in connection with any
investigation or inquiry relating to this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby. Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, each
party hereto further agrees to furnish the California Insurance Commissioner
with any information or reports in connection with services provided under
this Agreement which such Commissioner may request in order to ascertain
whether the insurance operations of the Company are being conducted in a
manner consistent with the California Insurance Regulations and any other
applicable law or regulations.
12.7 The rights, remedies and obligations contained in this
Agreement are cumulative and are in addition to any and all rights, remedies
and obligations, at law or in equity, which the parties hereto are entitled
to under state and federal laws.
12.8. This Agreement or any of the rights and obligations
hereunder may not be assigned by any party without the prior written consent
of all parties hereto; provided, however, that the Underwriter may assign
this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder to any affiliate of or
company under common control with the Underwriter, if such assignee is duly
licensed and registered to perform the obligations of
21
the Underwriter under this Agreement. The Company shall promptly notify the
Fund and the Underwriter of any change in control of the Company.
12.9. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be
furnished, to the Fund or its designee copies of the following reports:
(a) the Company's annual statement (prepared under
statutory accounting principles) and annual report
(prepared under generally accepted accounting
principles ("GAAP"), if any), as soon as practical
and in any event within 90 days after the end of
each fiscal year;
(b) the Company's quarterly statements (statutory)
(and GAAP, if any), as soon as practical and in
any event within 45 days after the end of each
quarterly period:
(c) any financial statement, proxy statement, notice
or report of the Company sent to stockholders
and/or policyholders, as soon as practical after
the delivery thereof to stockholders;
(d) any registration statement (without exhibits) and
financial reports of the Company filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission or any state
insurance regulator, as soon as practical after
the filing thereof;
(e) any other report submitted to the Company by
independent accountants in connection with any
annual, interim or special audit made by them of
the books of the Company, as soon as practical
after the receipt thereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused
this Agreement to be executed in its name and on its behalf by its duly
authorized representative.
ALLMERICA FINANCIAL LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
---------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: President
VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND III
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
--------------------
22
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Senior Vice President
FIDELITY DISTRIBUTORS CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
-------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Vice President
23
SCHEDULE A
SEPARATE ACCOUNTS AND ASSOCIATED CONTRACTS
Name of Separate Account Policy Form Numbers of Contracts Fidelity Fund (Class)
And Date Established by Board by Separate Account
Of Directors
Group VEL Separate Account Policy Form # 1029-94 Balanced Portfolio
(Variable Life) 11/13/96 (Initial Class)
24
SCHEDULE B
PROXY VOTING PROCEDURE
The following is a list of procedures and corresponding responsibilities for
the handling of proxies relating to the Fund by the Underwriter, the Fund and
the Company. The defined terms herein shall have the meanings assigned in the
Participation Agreement except that the term "Company" shall also include the
department or third party assigned by the Insurance Company to perform the
steps delineated below.
1. The number of proxy proposals is given to the Company by the Underwriter
as early as possible before the date set by the Fund for the shareholder
meeting to facilitate the establishment of tabulation procedures. At
this time the Underwriter will inform the Company of the Record, Mailing
and Meeting dates. This will be done verbally approximately two months
before meeting.
2. Promptly after the Record Date, the Company will perform a "tape run",
or other activity, which will generate the names, addresses and number
of units which are attributed to each contractowner/policyholder (the
"Customer") as of the Record Date. Allowance should be made for account
adjustments made after this date that could affect the status of the
Customers' accounts as of the Record Date.
Note: The number of proxy statements is determined by the activities
described in Step #2. The Company will use its best efforts to call in
the number of Customers to Fidelity, as soon as possible, but no later
than two weeks after the Record Date.
3. The Fund's Annual Report no longer needs to be sent to each Customer by
the Company either before or together with the Customers' receipt of a
proxy statement. Underwriter will provide the last Annual Report to the
Company pursuant to the terms of Section 3.3 of the Agreement to which
this Schedule relates.
4. The text and format for the Voting Instruction Cards ("Cards" or "Card")
is provided to the Company by the Fund. The Company, at its expense,
shall produce and personalize the Voting Instruction Cards. The Legal
Department of the Underwriter or its affiliate ("Fidelity Legal") must
approve the Card before it is printed. Allow approximately 2-4 business
days for printing information on the Cards. Information commonly found
on the Cards includes:
a. name (legal name as found on account registration)
b. address
c. Fund or account number
d. coding to state number of units
e. individual Card number for use in tracking and
verification of votes (already on Cards as printed by the
Fund)
25
(This and related steps may occur later in the chronological process due to
possible uncertainties relating to the proposals.)
5. During this time, Fidelity Legal will develop, produce, and the Fund
will pay for the Notice of Proxy and the Proxy Statement (one document).
Printed and folded notices and statements will be sent to Company for
insertion into envelopes (envelopes and return envelopes are provided
and paid for by the Insurance Company). Contents of envelope sent to
Customers by Company will include:
a. Voting Instruction Card(s)
b. One proxy notice and statement (one document)
c. return envelope (postage pre-paid by Company)
addressed to the Company or its tabulation agent
d. "urge buckslip" - optional, but recommended. (This is
a small, single sheet of paper that requests Customers
to vote as quickly as possible and that their vote
is important. One copy will be supplied by the Fund.)
e. cover letter - optional, supplied by Company and
reviewed and approved in advance by Fidelity Legal.
6. The above contents should be received by the Company approximately 3-5
business days before mail date. Individual in charge at Company reviews
and approves the contents of the mailing package to ensure correctness
and completeness. Copy of this approval sent to Fidelity Legal.
7. Package mailed by the Company.
* The Fund MUST allow at least a 15-day solicitation time to the
Company as the shareowner. (A 5-week period is recommended.)
Solicitation time is calculated as calendar days from (but NOT
including) the meeting, counting backwards.
8. Collection and tabulation of Cards begins. Tabulation usually takes
place in another department or another vendor depending on process used.
An often used procedure is to sort Cards on arrival by proposal into
vote categories of all yes, no, or mixed replies, and to begin data
entry.
Note: Postmarks are not generally needed. A need for postmark
information would be due to an insurance company's internal procedure
and has not been required by Fidelity in the past.
9. Signatures on Card checked against legal name on account registration
which was printed on the Card.
26
Note: For Example, If the account registration is under "Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxx, Trustee," then that is the exact legal name to be printed on
the Card and is the signature needed on the Card.
10. If Cards are mutilated, or for any reason are illegible or are not
signed properly, they are sent back to Customer with an explanatory
letter, a new Card and return envelope. The mutilated or illegible Card
is disregarded and considered to be NOT RECEIVED for purposes of vote
tabulation. Any Cards that have "kicked out" (e.g. mutilated, illegible)
of the procedure are "hand verified," i.e., examined as to why they did
not complete the system. Any questions on those Cards are usually
remedied individually.
11. There are various control procedures used to ensure proper tabulation of
votes and accuracy of that tabulation. The most prevalent is to sort the
Cards as they first arrive into categories depending upon their vote; an
estimate of how the vote is progressing may then be calculated. If the
initial estimates and the actual vote do not coincide, then an internal
audit of that vote should occur. This may entail a recount.
12. The actual tabulation of votes is done in units which is then converted
to shares. (It is very important that the Fund receives the tabulations
stated in terms of a percentage and the number of SHARES.) Fidelity
Legal must review and approve tabulation format.
13. Final tabulation in shares is verbally given by the Company to Fidelity
Legal on the morning of the meeting not later than 10:00 a.m. Boston
time. Fidelity Legal may request an earlier deadline if required to
calculate the vote in time for the meeting.
14. A Certification of Mailing and Authorization to Vote Shares will be
required from the Company as well as an original copy of the final vote.
Fidelity Legal will provide a standard form for each Certification.
15. The Company will be required to box and archive the Cards received from
the Customers. In the event that any vote is challenged or if otherwise
necessary for legal, regulatory, or accounting purposes, Fidelity Legal
will be permitted reasonable access to such Cards.
16. All approvals and "signing-off" may be done orally, but must always be
followed up in writing.
27
SCHEDULE C
Other investment companies currently available under the Contracts:
Allmerica Investment Trust
Delaware Group Premium Fund, Inc.
X. Xxxx Price International Series, Inc.
Mutual Fund Variable Annuity Trust
INVESCO Variable Investment Funds
28
