Exhibit 3(b)(iv)
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
Among
THE UNITED STATES LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK,
AMERICAN GENERAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED,
NAVELLIER VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND, INC.
AND
NAVELLIER & ASSOCIATES, INC.
DATED AS OF
DECEMBER 1, 1998
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I. Fund Shares......................................... 4
ARTICLE II. Representations and Warranties...................... 6
ARTICLE III. Prospectuses, Reports to Shareholders and Proxy..... 8
Statements; Voting
ARTICLE IV. Sales Material and Information...................... 12
ARTICLE V. Diversification..................................... 13
ARTICLE VI. Potential Conflicts................................. 14
ARTICLE VII. Indemnification..................................... 16
ARTICLE VIII. Applicable Law...................................... 19
ARTICLE IX. Termination......................................... 19
ARTICLE X. Notices............................................. 22
ARTICLE XI. Foreign Tax Credits................................. 22
ARTICLE XII. Miscellaneous....................................... 23
SCHEDULE A Portfolios of Navellier Variable Insurance Series
Fund, Inc.
Available for Purchase by the United States
Life Insurance Company in the City of New York
Under this Agreement................................ 26
SCHEDULE B Separate Accounts and Contracts..................... 27
SCHEDULE C Proxy Voting Procedures............................. 28
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THIS PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of the 1st day of
December, 1998 by and among THE UNITED STATES LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY IN THE CITY
OF NEW YORK (hereinafter the "Company"), a New York insurance company, on its
own behalf and on behalf of each separate account of the Company set forth on
Schedule B hereto as may be amended from time to time (each such account
hereinafter referred to as the "Account"), AMERICAN GENERAL SECURITIES
INCORPORATED ("AGSI"), a Texas corporation, NAVELLIER VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES
FUND, INC. (hereinafter the "Fund"), a Maryland corporation, and NAVELLIER &
ASSOCIATES, INC. (the "Adviser"), a Nevada corporation.
WHEREAS, the Fund engages in business as an open-end management investment
company and is available to act as (i) the investment vehicle for separate
accounts established by insurance companies for individual and group life
insurance policies and annuity contracts with variable accumulation and/or pay-
out provisions (hereinafter referred to individually and/or collectively as
"Variable Insurance Products") and (ii) the investment vehicle for certain
qualified pension and retirement plans (hereinafter "Qualified Plans"); and
WHEREAS, insurance companies desiring to utilize the Fund as an investment
vehicle under their Variable Insurance Products are required to enter into a
participation agreement with the Fund and the Adviser (the "Participating
Insurance Companies"); and
WHEREAS, shares of the Fund are divided into several series of shares, each
representing the interest in a particular managed portfolio of securities and
other assets, any one or more of which may be made available for Variable
Insurance Products of Participating Insurance Companies; and
WHEREAS, the Fund intends to offer shares of the series set forth on Schedule A
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(each such series hereinafter referred to as a "Portfolio"), as may be amended
from time to time by mutual agreement of the parties hereto, under this
Agreement to the Accounts of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Fund intends to apply for an order from the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting Participating Insurance Companies and Variable Insurance
Product separate accounts exemptions from the provisions of Sections 9(a),
13(a), 15(a), and 15(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(hereinafter the "1940 Act"), and Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15)
thereunder, to the extent necessary to permit shares of the Fund to be sold to
and held by Variable Insurance Product separate accounts of both affiliated and
unaffiliated life insurance companies and Qualified Plans (hereinafter the
"Shared Funding Exemptive Order"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment company
under the 1940 Act and its shares are registered under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (hereinafter the "1933 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Adviser is duly registered as an investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and any applicable state securities
laws; and
WHEREAS, the Adviser manages certain Portfolios of the Fund; and
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WHEREAS, Navellier Securities Corp. (the "Underwriter") is registered as a
broker/dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (hereinafter
the "1934 Act"), is a member in good standing of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (hereinafter "NASD") and serves as principal
underwriter of the shares of the Fund; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register certain Variable Insurance
Products under the 1933 Act; and
WHEREAS, each Account is a duly organized, validly existing segregated asset
account, established by resolution or under authority of the Board of Directors
of the Company, on the date shown for such Account on Schedule B hereto, to set
aside and invest assets attributable to the aforesaid Variable Insurance
Product; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register each Account as a unit
investment trust under the 1940 Act; and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and regulations,
the Company intends to purchase shares in the Portfolios on behalf of each
Account to fund certain of the aforesaid Variable Insurance Products and the
Underwriter is authorized to sell such shares to each such Account at net asset
value; and
WHEREAS, AGSI serves as both the distributor and the principal underwriter of
the Variable Insurance Products that are set forth on Schedule B;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Company, AGSI,
the Fund, and the Adviser agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. FUND SHARES
1.1. The Fund agrees to make available for purchase by the Company shares
of the Portfolios set forth on Schedule A and shall execute orders placed for
each Account on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt
by the Fund or its designee of such order. For purposes of this Section 1.1,
the Company shall be the designee of the Fund for receipt of such orders from
each Account and receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund;
provided that the Fund receives notice of such order by 10:15 a.m. Eastern time
on the next following Business Day. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company
shall use its best efforts to provide the Fund with notice of such orders by
10:00 a.m. Eastern 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 the net asset value pursuant to the rules of the
SEC, as set forth in the Fund's Prospectus and Statement of Additional
Information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors of the Fund
(hereinafter the "Board") may refuse to permit the Fund to sell shares of any
Portfolio to any person, or suspend or terminate the offering of shares of any
Portfolio, if such action is required by law or by regulatory authorities having
jurisdiction or is, in the sole discretion of the Board acting in good faith and
in light of their fiduciary duties under federal and any applicable state laws,
necessary in the best interests of the shareholders of such Portfolio.
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1.2. The Fund agrees that shares of the Fund will be sold only to
Participating Insurance Companies and their Variable Insurance Products and to
certain Qualified Plans all in accordance with the requirements of Section
817(h)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ( the "Code") and
Treasury Regulation 1.817-5. No shares of any Portfolio will be sold to the
general public.
1.3. The Fund will not make its shares available for purchase by any
insurance company or separate account unless an agreement containing provisions
substantially the same as Sections 2.4, 2.9, 3.4 and Article VII of this
Agreement is in effect to govern such sales.
1.4. 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 1.4, the Company shall be the designee of the Fund for receipt of
requests for redemption from each Account and receipt by such designee shall
constitute receipt by the Fund; provided that the Fund receives notice of such
request for redemption on the next following Business Day in accordance with the
timing rules described in Section 1.1.
1.5. The Company agrees that purchases and redemptions of Portfolio shares
offered by the then current prospectus of the Fund shall be made in accordance
with the provisions of such prospectus. The Accounts of the Company, under
which amounts may be invested in the Fund, are listed on Schedule B attached
hereto and incorporated herein by reference, as such Schedule B may be amended
from time to time by mutual written agreement of all of the parties hereto. The
Company will give the Fund and the Adviser sixty (60) days written notice of its
intention to make available in the future, as a funding vehicle under the
Contracts, any other investment company.
1.6. The Company will place separate orders to purchase or redeem shares
of each Portfolio. Each order shall describe the net amount of shares and
dollar amount of each Portfolio to be purchased or redeemed. In the event of
net purchases, the Company shall pay for Portfolio shares on the next Business
Day after an order to purchase Portfolio shares is made in accordance with the
provisions of Section 1.1 hereof. Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted
by wire. In the event of net redemptions, the Portfolio shall pay the redemption
proceeds in federal funds transmitted by wire on the next Business Day after an
order to redeem a Portfolio's shares is made in accordance with the provision of
Section 1.4 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the payment of redemption
proceeds on the next Business Day would require the Portfolio to dispose of
securities or otherwise incur substantial additional costs, and if the Portfolio
has determined to settle redemption transactions for all shareholders on a
delayed basis, proceeds shall be wired to the Company within seven (7) days and
the Portfolio shall notify in writing the person designated by the Company as
the recipient for such notice of such delay by 3:00 p.m. Eastern time on the
same Business Day that the Company transmits the redemption order to the
Portfolio.
1.7. Issuance and transfer of the Fund's shares will be by book entry
only. 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.
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1.8. The Fund shall make the dividends or capital gain distributions
payable on the Fund's shares available to the Company as soon as reasonably
practical after the dividends or capital gains are calculated (normally by 6:30
p.m. Eastern time) and shall use its best efforts to furnish same day notice by
7:00 p.m. Eastern time (by wire or telephone, followed by written confirmation)
to the Company of any dividends or capital gain distributions payable on the
Fund's shares. The Company hereby elects to receive all such dividends and
capital gain distributions as are payable on the Portfolio shares in additional
shares of that Portfolio. The Company reserves the right to revoke this
election and to receive all such dividends and capital gain distributions in
cash. The Fund shall notify the Company of the number of shares so issued as
payment of such dividends and distributions.
1.9. The 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. Eastern time)
and shall use its best efforts to make such net asset value per share available
by 7:00 p.m. Eastern time. In the event that the Fund is unable to meet the
7:00 p.m. time stated immediately above, then the Fund shall provide the Company
with additional time to notify the Fund of purchase or redemption orders
pursuant to Sections 1.1 and 1.4, respectively, above. Such additional time
shall be equal to the additional time that the Fund takes to make the net asset
values available to the Company; provided, however, that notification must be
made by 10:15 a.m. Eastern time on the Business Day such order is to be executed
regardless of when the net asset value is made available.
1.10. If the Fund provides materially incorrect share net asset value
information through no fault of the Company, the Company shall be entitled to an
adjustment with respect to the Fund shares purchased or redeemed to reflect the
correct net asset value per share. The determination of the materiality of any
net asset value pricing error shall be based on the SEC's recommended guidelines
regarding such errors. The correction of any such errors shall be made at the
Company level and shall be made pursuant to the SEC's recommended guidelines.
Any material error in the calculation or reporting of net asset value per share,
dividend or capital gain information shall be reported promptly upon discovery
to the Company.
ARTICLE II. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
2.1. The Company represents and warrants that the interests of the
Accounts (the "Contracts") are or will be registered and will maintain the
registration under the 1933 Act and the regulations thereunder to the extent
required by the 1933 Act; that the Contracts will be issued in compliance in all
material respects with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
The Company further represents and warrants that it is an insurance company duly
organized and in good standing under applicable law and that it has legally and
validly established each Account prior to any issuance or sale thereof as a
segregated asset account under the insurance laws of the State of New York and
the regulations thereunder and has registered or, prior to any issuance or sale
of the Contracts, will register and will maintain the registration of each
Account as a unit investment trust in accordance with and to the extent required
by the provisions of the 1940 Act and the regulations thereunder to serve as a
segregated investment account for the Contracts. The Company shall amend its
registration statement for its contracts under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act
from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of its
Contracts.
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2.2. The Fund represents and warrants that Fund shares sold pursuant to
this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act and the regulations
thereunder to the extent required by the 1933 Act, duly authorized for issuance
in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland and sold in compliance with
all applicable federal and state securities laws and regulations and that the
Fund is and shall remain registered under the 1940 Act and the regulations
thereunder to the extent required by the 0000 Xxx. The Fund shall amend the
registration statement for its shares under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act from
time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of its
shares. The Fund shall register and qualify the shares for sale in accordance
with the laws of the various states only if and to the extent deemed advisable
by the Fund.
2.3 The Fund and the Adviser represent that the Fund is currently
qualified as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Code and
that the Fund and the Adviser (with respect to those Portfolios for which such
Adviser acts as investment adviser) will make every effort to maintain such
qualification (under Subchapter M or any successor or similar provision) and
that the Fund or the appropriate Adviser will notify the Company immediately
upon having a reasonable basis for believing that a Portfolio has ceased to so
qualify or that a Portfolio might not so qualify in the future.
2.4. The Company represents that each Account is and will continue to be a
"segregated account" under applicable provisions of the Code and that each
Contract is and will be treated as a "variable contract" under applicable
provisions of the Code and that it will make every effort to maintain such
treatments and that it will notify the Fund immediately upon having a reasonable
basis for believing that the Account or Contract has ceased to be so treated or
that they might not be so treated in the future.
2.5. The Fund represents that to the extent that it decides to finance
distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, the Fund
undertakes to have a board of directors, a majority of whom are not interested
persons of the Fund, formulate and approve any plan under Rule 12b-1 to finance
distribution expenses.
2.6. The Fund makes no representation as to whether any aspect of its
operations (including, but not limited to, fees and expenses and investment
policies) complies with the insurance laws or regulations of the various states.
2.7. The Fund and the Adviser represent that the Fund is lawfully
organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Maryland and that
the Fund does and will comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act.
2.8. The Adviser and AGSI each represents and warrants that it is and
shall remain duly registered in all material respects under all applicable
federal and state securities laws and that it will perform its obligations for
the Fund and the Company in compliance in all material respects with the laws
and regulations of its state of domicile and any applicable state and federal
securities laws and regulations.
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2.9. The Company represents and warrants that all of its trustees,
officers, employees, investment Adviser, and other individuals/entities dealing
with the money and/or securities of the Fund are covered by a blanket fidelity
bond or similar coverage, in an amount equal to the greater of $5 million or any
amount required by applicable federal or state law or regulation. The aforesaid
includes coverage for larceny and embezzlement is issued by a reputable bonding
company. The Company agrees to make all reasonable efforts to see that this
bond or another bond containing these provisions is always in effect, and agrees
to notify the Fund and the Underwriter in the event that such coverage no longer
applies.
ARTICLE III. PROSPECTUSES, REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS AND PROXY STATEMENTS; VOTING
3.1(a) The Fund or its designee shall provide the Company with as many
printed copies of the Fund's current prospectus, including the profile
prospectus, (the "Fund Prospectus") as the Company may reasonably request. If
requested by the Company, in lieu of providing printed copies of the Fund
Prospectus, the Fund shall provide camera-ready film or computer diskettes
containing the Fund Prospectus and such other assistance as is reasonably
necessary in order for the Company once each year (or more frequently if the
Fund Prospectus is amended during the year) to have the prospectus for the
Contracts (the "Contract Prospectus") and the Fund Prospectus printed together
in one document or separately. The Company may elect to print the Fund
Prospectus in combination with other fund companies' prospectuses. For purposes
hereof, any combined prospectus including the Fund Prospectus along with the
Contract Prospectus or prospectus of other fund companies shall be referred to
as a "Combined Prospectus." For purposes hereof, the term "Fund Portion of the
Combined Prospectus" shall refer to the percentage of the number of Fund
Prospectus pages in the Combined Prospectus in relation to the total number of
pages of the Combined Prospectus.
3.1(b) The Fund shall provide the Company with as many printed copies of
the Fund's current statement of additional information (the "Fund SAI") as the
Company may reasonably request. If requested by the Company in lieu of
providing printed copies of the Fund SAI, the Fund shall provide camera-ready
film or computer diskettes containing the Fund SAI, and such other assistance as
is reasonably necessary in order for the Company once each year (or more
frequently if the Fund SAI is amended during the year) to have the statement of
additional information for the Contracts (the "Contract SAI") and the Fund SAI
printed together or separately. The Company may also elect to print the Fund
SAI in combination with other fund companies' statements of additional
information. For purposes hereof, any combined statement of additional
information including the Fund SAI along with the Contract SAI or statement of
additional information of other fund companies shall be referred to as a
"Combined SAI." For purposes hereof, the term "Fund Portion of the Combined
SAI" shall refer to the percentage of the number of Fund SAI pages in the
Combined SAI in relation to the total number of pages of the Combined SAI.
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3.1(c) The Fund shall provide the Company with as many printed copies of
the Fund's annual report and semi-annual report (collectively, the "Fund
Reports") as the Company may reasonably request. If requested by the Company in
lieu of providing printed copies of the Fund Reports, the Fund shall provide
camera-ready film or computer diskettes containing the Fund's Reports, and such
other assistance as is reasonably necessary in order for the Company once each
year to have the annual report and semi-annual report for the Contracts
(collectively, the "Contract Reports") and the Fund Reports printed together or
separately. The Company may also elect to print the Fund Reports in combination
with other fund companies' annual reports and semi-annual reports. For purposes
hereof, any combined annual reports and semi-annual reports including the Fund
Reports along with the Contract Reports or annual reports and semi-annual
reports of other fund companies shall be referred to as "Combined Reports." For
purposes hereof, the term "Fund Portion of the Combined Reports" shall refer to
the percentage of the number of Fund Reports pages in the Combined Reports in
relation to the total number or pages of the Combined Reports.
3.2 Expenses
3.2(a) Expenses Borne by Company. Except as otherwise provided in this
Section 3.2., all expenses of preparing, setting in type and printing and
distributing (i) Contract Prospectuses, Fund Prospectuses, and Combined
Prospectuses; (ii) Fund SAIs, Contract SAIs, and Combined SAIs; (iii) Fund
Reports, Contract Reports, and Combined Reports, and (iv) Contract proxy
material that the Company may require in sufficient quantity to be sent to
Contract owners, annuitants, or participants under Contracts (collectively, the
"Participants"), shall be the expense of the Company.
3.2(b) Expenses Borne by Fund
Fund Prospectuses
With respect to existing Participants, the Fund shall pay the cost of
setting in type, printing and distributing Fund Prospectuses made available by
the Company to such existing Participants in order to update disclosure as
required by the 1933 Act and/or the 1940 Act. With respect to existing
Participants, in the event the Company elects to prepare a Combined Prospectus,
the Fund shall pay the cost of setting in type, printing and distributing the
Fund Portion of the Combined Prospectus made available by the Company to its
existing Participants in order to update disclosure as required by the 1933 Act
and/or the 1940 Act. In such event, the Fund shall bear the cost of typesetting
to provide the Fund Prospectus to the Company in the format in which the Fund is
accustomed to formatting prospectus. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event
shall the Fund pay for any such costs that exceed by more than five (5) percent
what the Fund would have paid to print such documents. The Fund shall not pay
any costs of typesetting, printing and distributing the Fund Prospectus (or
Combined Prospectus, if applicable) to prospective Participants.
Fund SAIs, Fund Reports and Proxy Material
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With respect to existing Participants, the Fund shall pay the cost of
setting in type and printing Fund SAIs, Fund Reports and Fund proxy material
made available by the Company to its existing Participants. With respect to
existing Participants, in the event the Company elects to prepare a Combined SAI
or Combined Reports, the Fund shall pay the cost of setting in type and printing
the Fund Portion of the Combined SAI or Combined Reports, respectively, made
available by the Company to its existing Participants. In such event, the Fund
shall bear the cost of typesetting to provide the Fund SAI or Fund Reports to
the Company in the format in which the Fund is accustomed to formatting
statements of additional information and annual and semi-annual reports.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Fund pay for any such costs
that exceed by more than five (5) percent what the Fund would have paid to print
such documents. The Fund shall pay one half the cost of distributing Fund SAIs,
Fund Reports and Fund proxy statements and proxy-related material to such
existing Participants. The Fund shall pay the cost of distributing the Fund
Portion of the Combined SAIs and the Fund Portion of the Combined Reports to
existing Participants. The Fund shall not pay any costs of distributing Fund
SAIs, Combined SAIs, Fund Reports, Combined Reports or proxy statements or
proxy-related material to prospective Participants.
The Company agrees to provide the Fund or its designee with such
information as may be reasonably requested by the Fund to assure that the Fund's
expenses do not include the cost of typesetting, printing or distributing any of
the foregoing documents other than those actually distributed to existing
Participants.
The Fund shall pay no fee or other compensation to the Company under this
Agreement, except that if the Fund or any Portfolio adopts and implements a plan
pursuant to Rule 12b-1 to finance distribution expenses, then the Underwriter
may make payments to the Company or to AGSI if and in amounts agreed to by the
Underwriter in writing.
All expenses, including expenses to be borne by the Fund pursuant to
Section 3.2 hereof, incident to performance by the Fund under this Agreement
shall be paid by the Fund. The Fund shall see to it that all its shares are
registered and authorized for issuance in accordance with applicable federal law
and, if and to the extent deemed available by the Fund, in accordance with
applicable state laws prior to their sale. The Fund shall bear the expenses for
the cost of registration and qualification of the Fund's shares.
3.2(c) Expenses Borne by AGSI.
Fund Prospectuses
With respect to prospective Participants, AGSI shall pay one half of the
cost of setting in type, printing and distributing Fund Prospectuses made
available by the Company as sales literature to such prospective Participants.
With respect to prospective Participants, in the event the Company elects to
prepare a Combined Prospectus, AGSI shall pay one half of the cost of printing
and distributing the Combined Prospectus made available by the Company to its
prospective Participants as sales literature. In such event, AGSI shall bear
the cost of typesetting to provide the Fund
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Prospectus to the Company in the format in which the Fund is accustomed to
formatting prospectuses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall AGSI
pay for any such costs that exceed by more than five (5) percent what AGSI would
have paid to print such documents.
Fund SAIs, Fund Reports and Proxy Material.
With respect to prospective Participants, AGSI shall pay one half of the
cost of setting in type and printing Fund SAIs, Fund Reports and Fund proxy
material made available by the Company to its prospective Participants as sales
literature. In the event the Company elects to prepare a Combined SAI or
Combined Reports, AGSI shall pay one half of the cost of printing the Combined
SAI or Combined Reports, respectively, made available by the Company to its
prospective Participants as sales literature. In such event, AGSI shall bear
the cost of typesetting to provide the Fund SAI and Fund Reports to the Company
in the format in which the Fund is accustomed to formatting statements of
additional information and annual and semi-annual reports. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in no event shall AGSI pay for any such costs that exceed by more
than five (5) percent what AGSI would have paid to print such documents. AGSI
shall pay one half the cost of distributing Fund SAIs, Combined SAIs, Fund
Reports, Combined Reports, and Fund proxy material to such prospective
Participants as sales literature.
3.2(d) If the Company chooses to receive camera-ready film or computer
diskettes in lieu of receiving printed copies of the Fund Prospectus, Fund SAI
or Fund Reports, the Fund or its designee will be responsible for providing the
Fund Prospectus, Fund SAI or Fund Reports in the format in which it is
accustomed to formatting such documents, and, notwithstanding anything in
Sections 3.2(b) or 3.2(c), the Company shall bear the expense of adjusting or
changing the format to conform with any of its prospectuses or reports.
3.3 The Fund SAI shall be obtainable from the Fund, the Company or such
other person as the Fund may designate.
3.4. If and to the extent required by law the Company shall distribute all
proxy material furnished by the Fund to Participants to whom voting privileges
are required to be extended and shall:
(i) solicit voting instructions from Participants;
(ii) vote the Fund shares in accordance with instructions received
from Participants; and
(iii) vote Fund shares for which no instructions have been received
in the same proportion as Fund shares of such Portfolio for which
instructions have been received,
so long as and to the extent that the SEC 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. The Fund and the
Company shall follow the procedures, and shall have the corresponding
responsibilities, for the
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handling of proxy and voting instruction solicitations, as set forth in Schedule
C attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference. Participating Insurance
Companies shall be responsible for ensuring that each of their separate accounts
participating in the Fund calculates voting privileges in a manner consistent
with the standards set forth on Schedule C, which standards will also be
provided to the other Participating Insurance Companies.
3.5. The Fund will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act requiring
voting by shareholders, and in particular the Fund will either provide for
annual meetings (except insofar as the Securities and Exchange Commission may
interpret Section 16 not to require such meetings) or comply with Section 16(c)
of the 1940 Act (although the Fund is not one of the trusts described in Section
16(c) of that Act) as well as with Sections 16(a) and, if and when applicable,
16(b). Further, the Fund will act in accordance with the Securities and
Exchange Commission's interpretation of the requirements of Section 16(a) with
respect to periodic elections of directors and with whatever rules the
Commission may promulgate with respect thereto.
ARTICLE 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 prepared by the Company, AGSI or any person contracting with the
Company or AGSI in which the Fund or the Adviser is named, at least ten Business
Days prior to its use. No such material shall be used if the Fund, the Adviser,
or their designee reasonably objects to such use within ten Business Days after
receipt of such material.
4.2. Neither the Company, AGSI nor any person contracting with the Company
or AGSI shall give any information or make any representations or statements on
behalf of the Fund or concerning the Fund in connection with the sale of the
Contracts other than the information or representations contained in the
registration statement or the Fund Prospectus, as such registration statement or
Fund 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, except with the permission of the
Fund.
4.3. The Fund 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 prepared by the Fund in which the Company or its
Account(s) are named at least ten Business Days prior to its use. No such
material shall be used if the Company or its designee reasonably objects to such
use within ten Business Days after receipt of such material.
4.4. Neither the Fund nor the Adviser shall give any information or make
any representations on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company, each
Account, or the Contracts, other than the information or representations
contained in a registration statement or prospectus for the
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Contracts, as such registration statement and prospectus may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, or in published reports or solicitations for
voting instructions for each Account which are in the public domain or approved
by the Company for distribution to Participants, 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 SEC or other regulatory authorities.
4.6. The Company will provide to the Fund at least one complete copy of
all registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional information,
reports, solicitations for voting instructions, sales literature and other
promotional materials, applications for exemptions, requests for no action
letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that relate to the investment
in an Account or Contract contemporaneously with the filing of such document
with the 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: advertisements (such as material published, or designed for use in, a
newspaper, magazine, or other periodical, radio, television, telephone or tape
recording, videotape display, signs or billboards, motion pictures, or other
public media), sales literature (i.e., any written communication distributed or
made generally available to customers or the public, including brochures,
circulars, research reports, market letters, form letters, seminar texts,
reprints or excerpts of any other advertisement, sales literature, or published
article), educational or training materials or other communications distributed
or made generally available to some or all agents or employees, and registration
statements, prospectuses, statements of additional information, shareholder
reports, and proxy materials.
ARTICLE V. Diversification
5.1. The Adviser represents, as to the Portfolios for which it acts as
investment adviser, that it will use its best efforts at all times to 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 a Portfolio ceases to so qualify, the Adviser will
take all reasonable steps (a) to notify the Company of such breach and (b) to
adequately diversify the Portfolio so as to achieve compliance within the grace
period afforded by Regulation 1.817-5.
13
ARTICLE VI. POTENTIAL CONFLICTS
6.1. The parties acknowledge that the Fund intends to file an application
with the SEC to request an order granting relief from various provisions of the
1940 Act and the rules thereunder to the extent necessary to permit the Fund
shares to be sold to and held by variable contract separate accounts of both
affiliated and unaffiliated Participating Insurance Companies and Qualified
Plans. It is anticipated that the Exemptive Order, when and if issued, shall
require the Fund and each Participating Insurance Company to comply with
conditions and undertakings substantially as provided in this Article VI. If
the Exemptive Order imposes conditions materially different from those provided
for in this Article VI, the conditions and undertakings imposed by the Exemptive
Order shall govern this Agreement and the parties hereto agree to amend this
Agreement consistent with the Exemptive Order.
6.2. The Board will monitor the Fund for the existence of any material
irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the contract owners of all
separate accounts investing in the Fund. An irreconcilable material conflict
may arise for a variety of reasons, including: (a) an action by any state
insurance regulatory authority; (b) a change in applicable federal or state
insurance, tax, or securities laws or regulations, or a public ruling, private
letter ruling, no-action or interpretative letter, or any similar action by
insurance, tax, or securities regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative or
judicial decision in any relevant proceeding; (d) the manner in which the
investments of any Portfolio are being managed; (e) a difference in voting
instructions given by variable annuity contract owners and variable life
insurance contract owners; (f) a decision by a Participating Insurance Company
to disregard the voting instructions of Contract owners or (g) if applicable, a
decision by a Qualified Plan to disregard the voting instructions of plan
participants. The Board shall promptly inform the Company if it determines that
an irreconcilable material conflict exists and the implications thereof.
6.3. The Company will report any potential or existing material
irreconcilable 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. These responsibilities of
the Company shall be carried out with a view only to the interests of the
Contract owners.
6.4. If a majority of the Board or majority of its disinterested Members,
determines that a material irreconcilable conflict exists affecting Company,
Company, at its expense and to the extent reasonably practicable (as determined
by a majority of the Board's disinterested Members), 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 Fund or any portfolio thereof and reinvesting those assets in
a different investment medium, which may include another Portfolio of the Fund,
or another investment company; (b) submitting the question as to 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. variable
annuity or variable life insurance 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 (c)
establishing a new registered management investment company (or series thereof)
or
14
managed separate account. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because
of Company's decision to disregard Contract owner voting instructions and that
decision represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote,
Company may be required, at the election of the Fund, to withdraw the Separate
Account's investment in the 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 Contract owners.
6.5. 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
(at the Company's expense); provided, however that such withdrawal and
termination shall be limited to the extent required by the foregoing material
irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the disinterested members
of the Board. No charge or penalty will be imposed as a result of such
withdrawal. The Company agrees that it bears the responsibility to take
remedial action in the event of a Board determination of an irreconcilable
material conflict and the cost of such remedial action, and these
responsibilities will be carried out with a view only to the interests of
Contract owners.
6.6. For purposes of Sections 6.4 and 6.5 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 6.4 or 6.5 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.
6.7. 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 1940
Act or the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to mixed or shared funding
(as defined in the Shared Funding Exemptive Order) on terms and conditions
materially different from those contained in the Shared Funding Exemptive Order,
then the Fund and/or the Participating Insurance Companies, as appropriate,
shall take such steps as may be necessary to comply with Rules 6e-2 and 6e-3(T),
as amended, and Rule 6e-3, as adopted, to the extent such rules are applicable.
6.8 The Company and the Adviser shall at least annually submit to the
Board of the Fund such reports, materials or data as the Board may reasonably
request so that the Board may fully carry out the obligations imposed upon them
by the provisions hereof, and said reports, materials and data shall be
submitted more frequently if deemed appropriate by the Board. All reports
received by the Board of potential or existing conflicts, and all Board action
with regard to determining the existence of a conflict, notifying Participating
Insurance Companies of a conflict, and determining whether any proposed action
adequately remedies a conflict, shall be properly recorded in the minutes of the
Board or other appropriate records, and such minutes or other records shall be
made available to the SEC upon request.
15
ARTICLE VII. INDEMNIFICATION
7.1. Indemnification By The Company and AGSI
7.1(a) The Company and AGSI agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund
and each member of the Board and officers, and the Adviser and each director and
officer of the Adviser, and each person, if any, who controls the Fund or the
Adviser within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the
"Indemnified Parties" and individually, "Indemnified Party," for purposes of
this Section 7.1) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities
(including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Company or
AGSI) 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 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
AGSI, or persons under its control and other than statements or
representations authorized by the Fund or the Adviser) or wrongful conduct
of the Company or AGSI or persons under its control, with respect to the
sale or distribution of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(iii) arise out of or as a result of any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in a registration statement,
prospectus, or sales literature of the Fund or any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading if such a statement or omission was made
in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Fund
by or on behalf of the Company or AGSI; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Company or AGSI 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 or AGSI in this Agreement or arise out
of or result from any other
16
material breach of this Agreement by the Company or AGSI, as limited by and
in accordance with the provisions of Sections 7.1(b) and 7.1(c) hereof.
7.1(b). Neither the Company nor AGSI shall 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.
7.1(c). Neither the Company nor AGSI shall 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 or AGSI 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 or AGSI
of any such claim shall not relieve the Company or AGSI 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 or AGSI shall be
entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense of such action. The
Company or AGSI also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with
counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from the
Company or AGSI to such Party of the Company's or AGSI's election to assume the
defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses 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.
7.1(d). The Indemnified Parties will promptly notify the Company or AGSI
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.
7.2. Indemnification by the Adviser
7.2(a). The Adviser agrees, with respect to each Portfolio that it manages,
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" and
individually, "Indemnified Party," for purposes of this Section 7.2) against any
and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in
settlement with the written consent of the Adviser) or litigation (including
legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject
under any statute, 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, willful misconduct of the Adviser
or any director, officer, employee or agent thereof, or are related to the
operation of the Adviser or the Fund 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
17
Fund (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out
of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, provided that this agreement to
indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement or
omission or such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon
and in conformity with information furnished to the Adviser or the Fund or
the Underwriter by or on behalf of the Company for use in the registration
statement or prospectus for the Fund or in sales literature (or any
amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in connection with the sale
of the Contracts or Portfolio shares; or
(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
Adviser or persons under its control and other than statements or
representations authorized by the Company) or unlawful conduct of the
Adviser or persons under its control, with respect to the sale or
distribution of the Contracts or Portfolio shares; or
(iii) arise out of or as a result of any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in a registration statement,
prospectus, or sales literature covering the Contracts, or any amendment
thereof or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statement or statements therein not misleading, if such statement or
omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Company by
or on behalf of the Adviser; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Adviser to provide the
services and furnish the materials under the terms of this Agreement; or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any representation
and/or warranty made by the Adviser in this Agreement or arise out of or
result from any other material breach of this Agreement by the Fund or the
Adviser; including without limitation any failure by the Fund or the
Adviser to comply with the conditions of Article V hereof.
7.2(b).The Adviser shall not be liable under this indemnification provision
with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation incurred
or assessed against an Indemnified Party as may arise from such Indemnified
Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance
of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party's
reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement.
7.2(c). The Adviser shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless
such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Adviser in writing within a
reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of
such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Adviser of any
such claim shall not relieve the Adviser from any liability which it may have to
the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on
account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought
against the Indemnified Parties,
18
the Adviser will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense
thereof. The Adviser also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with
counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from the
Adviser to such Party of the Adviser's election to assume the defense thereof,
the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel
retained by it, and the Adviser will not be liable to such Party under this
Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such Party
independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs
of investigation.
7.2(d). The Company and AGSI agree promptly to notify the Adviser of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers,
trustees or directors in connection with this Agreement, the issuance or sale of
the Contracts with respect to the operation of each Account, or the sale or
acquisition of shares of the Fund.
ARTICLE VIII. APPLICABLE LAW
8.1. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland.
8.2. 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 SEC 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 IX. TERMINATION
9.1. This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until the first
to occur of:
(a) termination by any party for any reason upon 180 days advance written
notice delivered to the other parties; or
(b) termination by the Company or AGSI by written notice to the Fund and
the Adviser with respect to any Portfolio based upon the Company's
determination that shares of such Portfolio are not reasonably
available to meet the requirements of the Contracts. Reasonable
advance notice of election to terminate shall be furnished by the
Company, said termination to be effective ten (10) days after receipt
of notice unless the Fund makes available a sufficient number of
shares to reasonably meet the requirements of the Account within said
ten (10) day period; or
(c) termination by the Company or AGSI by written notice to the Fund and
the Adviser with respect to any Portfolio in the event any of the
Portfolio's shares are not registered, issued or sold in accordance
with applicable state and/or federal law or such law precludes the use
of such shares as the underlying investment medium of the Contracts
issued or to be issued by the Company. The terminating party shall
give prompt notice to the other parties of its decision to terminate;
or
19
(d) termination by the Company or AGSI by written notice to the Fund and
the Adviser 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 or AGSI reasonably believes that the Fund may fail
to so qualify; or
(e) termination by the Company or AGSI by written notice to the Fund and
the Adviser with respect to any Portfolio in the event that such
Portfolio fails to meet the diversification requirements specified in
Article V hereof; or
(f) termination by either the Fund or the Adviser by written notice to the
Company if the Adviser or the Fund shall determine, in its sole
judgment exercised in good faith, that the Company, AGSI and/or their
affiliated companies has suffered a material adverse change in its
business, operations, financial condition or prospects since the date
of this Agreement or is the subject of material adverse publicity,
provided that the Fund or the Adviser will give the Company sixty (60)
days' advance written notice of such determination of its intent to
terminate this Agreement, and provided further that after
consideration of the actions taken by the Company or AGSI and any
other changes in circumstances since the giving of such notice, the
determination of the Fund or the Adviser shall continue to apply on
the 60th day since giving of such notice, then such 60th day shall be
the effective date of termination; or
(g) termination by the Company or AGSI by written notice to the Fund and
the Adviser, if the Company or AGSI shall determine, in its sole
judgment exercised in good faith, that either the Fund or the Adviser
(with respect to the appropriate Portfolio) has suffered a material
adverse change in its business, operations, financial condition or
prospects since the date of this Agreement or is the subject of
material adverse publicity; provided that the Company will give the
Fund or the Adviser sixty (60) days' advance written notice of such
determination of its intent to terminate this Agreement, and provided
further that after consideration of the actions taken by the Company
and any other changes in circumstances since the giving of such
notice, the determination of the Company or AGSI shall continue to
apply on the 60th day since giving of such notice, then such 60th day
shall be the effective date of termination; or
(h) termination by the Fund or the Adviser by written notice to the
Company, if the Company gives the Fund and the Adviser the written
notice specified in Section 2.4 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 9.1(h) shall be effective sixty (60) days after the
notice specified in Section 2.4 was given; or
20
(i) termination by any party upon the other party's breach of any
representation in Article II or any material provision of this
Agreement, which breach has not been cured to the satisfaction of the
terminating party within ten (10) days after written notice of such
breach is delivered to the Fund or the Company, as the case may be; or
(j) termination by the Fund or the Adviser by written notice to the
Company in the event an Account or Contract is not registered or sold
in accordance with applicable federal or state law or regulation, or
the Company fails to provide pass-through voting privileges as
specified in Section 3.4.
9.2. EFFECT OF TERMINATION. Notwithstanding any termination of this
Agreement, the Fund shall at the option of the Company, continue to make
available additional shares of the Fund pursuant to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, for all Contracts in effect on the effective date of termination
of this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as "Existing Contracts") unless such
further sale of Fund shares is proscribed by law, regulation or applicable
regulatory body, or unless the Fund determines that liquidation of the Fund
following termination of this Agreement is in the best interests of the Fund and
its shareholders. Specifically, without limitation, the owners of the Existing
Contracts shall be permitted to direct reallocation of investments in the Fund,
redemption of investments in the Fund and/or investment in the Fund upon the
making of additional purchase payments under the Existing Contracts. The
Company agrees however: (i) to immediately terminate the availability of shares
of the Fund to Contracts other than Existing Contracts and (ii) as soon as
reasonably practicable to request and diligently pursue approval from the SEC to
replace shares of the Fund with other investments for Contracts and, if and when
granted such approval, thereafter to so replace the shares of the Fund as soon
as reasonably practicable. Furthermore, the parties agree that this Section 9.2
shall not apply to any terminations under Article VI and the effect of such
Article VI terminations shall be governed by Article VI of this Agreement.
9.3. The Company shall not redeem Fund shares attributable to the
Contracts (as distinct from Fund shares attributable to the Company's assets
held in the Account) except (i) as necessary to implement Contract Owner
initiated or approved transactions, or (ii) as required by state and/or federal
laws or regulations or judicial or other legal precedent of general application
(hereinafter referred to as a "Legally Required Redemption") or (iii) as
permitted by an order of the SEC pursuant to Section 26(b) of the 1940 Act.
Upon request, the Company will promptly furnish to the Fund the opinion of
counsel for the Company (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the
Fund and the Adviser) 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 appropriate
Adviser 90 days prior written notice of its intention to do so.
21
ARTICLE X. 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:
Navellier Variable Insurance Series Fund, Inc.
Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxxxx, 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
IF TO ADVISER:
Navellier & Associates, Inc.
Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxxxx 00000
Attention: ______________________________
IF TO THE COMPANY:
The United States Life Insurance Company
In the City of New York
000 Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
IF TO AGSI:
American General Securities Incorporated
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: F. Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xx.
ARTICLE XI. FOREIGN TAX CREDITS
The Fund and the Adviser agree to consult with the Company concerning
whether any Portfolio of the Fund qualifies to provide a foreign tax credit
pursuant to Section 853 of the Code.
22
ARTICLE XII. MISCELLANEOUS
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 this 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.
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 Adviser may assign this Agreement or any
rights or obligations hereunder to any affiliate of or company under common
control with the Adviser, if such assignee is duly licensed and registered to
perform the obligations of the Adviser under this Agreement.
12.9 The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the
Fund or its designee copies of the following reports upon request from the Fund:
(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;
23
(b) the Company's June 30th quarterly statements (statutory) (and GAAP, if
any), as soon as practical and in any event within 45 days after the
end of each semi-annual 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 SEC or any state insurance regulator, as
soon as practical after the filing thereof;
(e) any other public report submitted to the Company by independent
accountants in connection with any annual, interim or special audit
made by them of the books of the Company, as soon as practical after
the receipt thereof.
12.10. It is agreed by the parties hereto that Article VII and Sections
12.1, 12.6 and 12.7 shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
[Remainder of Page Left Blank.]
24
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
hereto as of the date specified above.
THE UNITED STATES LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK on
behalf of itself and each of its Accounts named in Schedule B hereto,
as amended from time to time.
By: /s/ XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: Vice President
AMERICAN GENERAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
By: /s/ F. XXXX XXXXXX, XX.
-----------------------
Name: F. Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xx.
Title: President
NAVELLIER VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND, INC.
By: /s/ XXXXX XXXXXXXXX
-------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Title: President
NAVELLIER & ASSOCIATES, INC.
By: /s/ XXXXX XXXXXXXXX
-------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Title: President
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SCHEDULE A
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PORTFOLIOS OF
NAVELLIER VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND, INC.
AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE BY
THE UNITED STATES LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
UNDER THIS AGREEMENT
1. Navellier Growth Portfolio
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SCHEDULE B
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SEPARATE ACCOUNTS AND CONTRACTS
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NAME OF SEPARATE ACCOUNT AND FORM NUMBERS AND NAMES OF CONTRACT FUNDED BY
DATE ESTABLISHED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS SEPARATE ACCOUNT
---------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------
The United States Life Insurance Company Form No:
in the City of New York 98505N
Separate Account USL VA-R
Established: August 8, 1997 Name of Contract:
-------------------------------------------------------
Select Reserve(SM) Flexible Payment Variable and Fixed
Individual Deferred Annuity
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SCHEDULE C
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PROXY VOTING PROCEDURES
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The following is a list of procedures and corresponding responsibilities for the
handling of proxies and voting instructions relating to the Fund. The defined
terms herein shall have the meanings assigned in the Participation Agreement
except that the term "Company" shall also include the department or third party
assigned by the Company to perform the steps delineated below.
1. The proxy proposals are given to the Company by the Fund as early as
possible before the date set by the Fund for the shareholder meeting to
enable the Company to consider and prepare for the solicitation of voting
instructions from owners of the Contracts and to facilitate the
establishment of tabulation procedures. At this time the Fund will inform
the Company of the Record, Mailing and Meeting dates. This will be done
verbally approximately two months before meeting.
2. Promptly after the Record Date, the Company will perform a "tape run", or
other activity, which will generate the names, addresses and number of
units which are attributed to each contract owner/policyholder (the
"Customer") as of the Record Date. Allowance should be made for account
adjustments made after this date that could affect the status of the
Customers' accounts as of the Record Date.
Note: The number of proxy statements is determined by the activities
described in this Step #2. The Company will use its best efforts to call
in the number of Customers to the Fund , as soon as possible, but no later
than two weeks after the Record Date.
3. The Fund's Annual Report must be sent to each Customer by the Company
either before or together with the Customers' receipt of a proxy statement
or other voting instructions and solicitation material. The Fund will
provide at least one copy of the last Annual Report to the Company pursuant
to the terms of Section 3.3 of the Agreement to which this Schedule
relates.
4. The text and format for the Voting Instruction Cards ("Cards" or "Card") is
provided to the Company by the Fund. The Company, at its expense, shall
produce and personalize the Voting Instruction Cards. The Fund or its
affiliate must approve the Card before it is printed. Allow approximately
2-4 business days for printing information on the Cards. Information
commonly found on the Cards includes:
a. name (legal name as found on account registration)
b. address
c. fund or account number
d. coding to state number of units
e. individual Card number for use in tracking and verification of votes
(already on Cards as printed by the Fund).
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(This and related steps may occur later in the chronological process due to
possible uncertainties relating to the proposals.)
5. During this time, the Fund will develop, produce and pay for the Notice of
Proxy and the Proxy Statement (one document). Printed and folded notices
and statements will be sent to Company for insertion into envelopes
(envelopes and return envelopes are provided and paid for by the Company).
Contents of envelope sent to Customers by the Company will include:
a. Voting Instruction Card(s)
b. One proxy notice and statement (one document)
c. return envelope (postage pre-paid by Company) addressed to the Company
or its tabulation agent
d. "urge buckslip" - optional, but recommended. (This is a small, single
sheet of paper that requests Customers to vote as quickly as possible
and that their vote is important. One copy will be supplied by the
Fund.)
e. cover letter - optional, supplied by Company and reviewed and approved
in advance by the Fund.
6. The above contents should be received by the Company approximately 3-5
business days before mail date. Individual in charge at Company reviews
and approves the contents of the mailing package to ensure correctness and
completeness. Copy of this approval sent to the Fund.
7. Package mailed by the Company.
* The Fund must allow at least a 15-day solicitation time to the Company
as the shareowner. (A 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 the Fund in the past.
9. Signatures on Card checked against legal name on account registration which
was printed on the Card.
Note: For example, if the account registration is under "Xxxx X. Xxxxx,
Trustee," then that is the exact legal name to be printed on the Card and
is the signature needed on the Card.
10. If Cards are mutilated, or for any reason are illegible or are not signed
properly, they are sent back to Customer with an explanatory letter and a
new Card and return envelope. The mutilated or illegible Card is
disregarded and considered to be not received for purposes of
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vote tabulation. Any Cards that have been "kicked out" (e.g. mutilated,
illegible) of the procedure are "hand verified," i.e., examined as to why
they did not complete the system. Any questions on those Cards are usually
remedied individually.
11. There are various control procedures used to ensure proper tabulation of
votes and accuracy of that tabulation. The most prevalent is to sort the
Cards as they first arrive into categories depending upon their vote; an
estimate of how the vote is progressing may then be calculated. If the
initial estimates and the actual vote do not coincide, then an internal
audit of that vote should occur. This may entail a recount.
12. The actual tabulation of votes is done in units which is then converted to
shares. (It is very important that the Fund receives the tabulations stated
in terms of a percentage and the number of shares.) The Fund must review
and approve tabulation format.
13. Final tabulation in shares is verbally given by the Company to the Fund on
the morning of the meeting not later than 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. The
Fund may request an earlier deadline if reasonable and if required to
calculate the vote in time for the meeting.
14. A Certification of Mailing and Authorization to Vote Shares will be
required from the Company as well as an original copy of the final vote.
The Fund will provide a standard form for each Certification.
15. The Company will be required to box and archive the Cards received from the
Customers. In the event that any vote is challenged or if otherwise
necessary for legal, regulatory, or accounting purposes, the Fund will be
permitted reasonable access to such Cards.
16. All approvals and "signing-off' may be done orally, but must always be
followed up in writing.
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