Exhibit 99.B8f
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
AMONG
MFS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST,
[ ]
AND
MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this ____ day of November 1994, by
and among MFS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST, a Massachusetts business trust (the
"Trust"), ______________________Company, a __________ corporation (the "Company)
on its own behalf and on behalf of each of the segregated asset accounts of the
Company set forth in Schedule A hereto, as may be amended from time to time (the
"Accounts"), and MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY, a Delaware
corporation ("MFS").
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"),
and its shares are registered or will be registered under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "1933 Act");
WHEREAS, shares of beneficial interest of the Trust are divided into
several series of shares, each representing the interests in a particular
managed pool of securities and other assets;
WHEREAS, the series of shares of the Trust offered by the Trust to the
Company and the Accounts are set forth on Schedule A attached hereto (each, a
"Portfolio," and, collectively, the "Portfolios");
WHEREAS, MFS is duly registered as an investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and any applicable state securities
law, and is the Trust's investment adviser;
WHEREAS, the Company will issue certain variable annuity and/or variable
life insurance contracts (individually, the "Policy" or, collectively, the
"Policies") which, if required by applicable law, will be registered under the
1933 Act;
WHEREAS, the Accounts are duly organized, validly existing segregated asset
accounts, established by resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company, to
set aside and invest assets attributable to the aforesaid variable annuity
and/or variable life insurance contracts that are allocated to the Accounts (the
Policies and the Accounts covered by this Agreement, and each corresponding
Portfolio covered by this Agreement in which the Accounts invest, is specified
in Schedule A attached hereto as may be modified from time to time);
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register the Accounts as unit
investment trusts under the 1940 Act (unless exempt therefrom);
WHEREAS, MFS Investor Services, Inc. (the "Underwriter") is registered as a
broker-dealer with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "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. (the "NASD");
WHEREAS, CIGNA Financial Advisors, Inc. the underwriter for the individual
variable annuity and the variable life policies, is registered as a broker-
dealer with the SEC under the 1934 Act and is a member in good standing of the
NASD; and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Company intends to purchase shares in one or more of the
Portfolios specified in Schedule A attached hereto (the "Shares") on behalf of
the Accounts to fund the Policies, and the Trust intends to sell such Shares to
the Accounts at net asset value;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Trust, MFS,
and the Company agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. SALE OF TRUST SHARES
1.1. The Trust agrees to sell to the Company those Shares which the
Accounts order (based on orders placed by Policy holders on that Business
Day, as defined below) and which are available for purchase by such
Accounts, executing such orders on a daily basis at the net asset value
next computed after receipt by the Trust or its designee of the order for
the Shares. For purposes of this Section 1.1, the Company shall be the
designee of the Trust for receipt of such orders from Policy owners and
receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the Trust; provided
that the Trust receives notice of such orders by 9:30 a.m. New York time on
the next following Business Day. "Business Day" shall mean any day on which
the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "NYSE") is open for trading and on
which the Trust calculates its net asset value pursuant to the rules of the
SEC.
1.2. The Trust agrees to make the Shares available indefinitely for
purchase at the applicable net asset value per share by the Company and the
Accounts on those days on which the Trust calculates its net asset value
pursuant to rules of the SEC and the Trust shall calculate such net asset
value on each day which the NYSE is open for trading. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the "Board") may refuse to
sell any Shares to the Company and the Accounts, or suspend or terminate
the offering of the Shares 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 its fiduciary duties under
federal and any applicable state laws, necessary in the best interest of
the Shareholders of such Portfolio.
1.3. The Trust and MFS agree that the Shares will be sold only to insurance
companies which have entered into participation agreements with the Trust
and MFS (the "Participating Insurance Companies") and their separate
accounts, qualified pension and retirement plans and MFS or its affiliates.
The Trust and MFS will not sell Trust shares to any insurance company or
separate account unless and agreement containing provisions substantially
the same as Articles III and VII of this Agreement is in effect to govern
such sales. The Company will not resell the Shares except to the Trust or
its agents.
1.4. The Trust agrees to redeem for cash, on the Company's request, any
full or fractional Shares held by the Accounts (based on orders placed by
Policy holders on that Business Day), executing such requests on a daily
basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by the Trust or
its designee of the request for redemption. For purposes of this Section
1.4, the Company shall be the designee of the Trust for receipt of requests
for redemption from Policy owners and receipt by such designee shall
constitute receipt by the Trust; provided that the Trust receives notice of
such request for redemption by 9:30 a.m. New York time on the next
following Business Day.
1.5. Purchase, redemption and exchange orders placed by the Company shall
be placed separately for each Portfolio and shall not be netted among
Portfolios. However, with respect to payment of the purchase price by the
Company and of redemption proceeds by the Trust, the Company and the Trust
shall net purchase and redemption orders with respect to each Portfolio and
shall transmit one net payment for all of the Portfolios in accordance with
Section 1.6.
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1.6. In the event of net purchases, the Company shall pay for the Shares by
2:00 p.m. New York time on the next Business Day after an order to purchase
the Shares is made in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.1. hereof.
In the event of net redemptions, the Trust shall pay the redemption proceeds
by 2:00 p.m. New York time on the next Business Day after an order to redeem
the shares is made in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.4. hereof.
All such payments shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire.
1.7. Issuance and transfer of the Shares will be by book entry only. Stock
certificates will not be issued to the Company or the Accounts. The Shares
ordered from the Trust will be recorded in an appropriate title for the
Accounts or the appropriate subaccounts of the Accounts.
1.8. The Trust shall furnish same day notice (by wire or telephone followed
by written confirmation) to the Company of any dividends or capital gain
distributions payable on the Shares. The Company hereby elects to receive
all such dividends and distributions as are payable on a Portfolio's Shares
in additional Shares of that Portfolio. The Trust shall notify the Company
of the number of Shares so issued as payment of such dividends and
distributions.
1.9. The Trust or its custodian shall make the net asset value per share for
each Portfolio available to the Company on each Business Day as soon as
reasonably practical after the net asset value per share is calculated and
shall use its best efforts to make such net asset value per share available
by 6:30 p.m. New York time. In the event that the Trust is unable to meet
the 6:30 p.m. time stated herein, it shall provide additional time for the
Company to place orders for the purchase and redemption of Shares. Such
additional time shall be equal to the additional time which the Trust takes
to make the net asset value available to the Company. If the Trust provides
materially incorrect share net asset value information, the Trust shall make
an adjustment to the number of shares purchased or redeemed for the Accounts
to reflect the correct net asset value per share. Any material error in the
calculation or reporting of net asset value per share, dividend or capital
gains information shall be reported promptly upon discovery to the Company.
ARTICLE II. CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS
2.1. The Company represents and warrants that the Policies are or will be
registered under the 1933 Act or are exempt from or not subject to
registration thereunder, and that the Policies will be issued, sold, and
distributed in compliance in all material respects with all applicable state
and federal laws, including without limitation the 1933 Act, the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and the 1940 Act. 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 the Account as a segregated asset account under
applicable law and has registered or, prior to any issuance or sale of the
Policies, will register the Accounts as unit investment trusts in accordance
with the provisions of the 1940 Act (unless exempt therefrom) to serve as
segregated investment accounts for the Policies, and that it will maintain
such registration for so long as any Policies are outstanding. The Company
shall amend the registration statements under the 1933 Act for the Policies
and the registration statements under the 1940 Act for the Accounts from
time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of the
Policies or as may otherwise be required by applicable law. The Company
shall register and qualify the Policies for sales accordance with the
securities laws of the various states only if and to the extent deemed
necessary by the Company.
2.2. The Company represents and warrants that the Policies are currently and
at the time of issuance will be treated as life insurance, endowment or
annuity contract under applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the "Code"), that it will maintain such treatment and that
it will notify the Trust or MFS immediately upon having a reasonable basis
for believing that the policies have ceased to be so treated or that they
might not be so treated in the future.
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2.3. The Company represents and warrants that [ ], the underwriter for the
individual variable annuity and the variable life policies, is a member in
good standing of the NASD and is a registered broker-dealer with the SEC.
The Company represents and warrants that the Company and [ ] will sell and
distribute such policies in accordance in all material respects with all
applicable state and federal securities laws, including without limitation
the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, and the 0000 Xxx.
2.4. The Trust and MFS represent and warrant that the 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 Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and all applicable federal and state securities laws and that
the Trust is and shall remain registered under the 1940 Act. The Trust 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 Trust shall register and qualify the Shares for
sale in accordance with the laws of the various states only if and to the
extent deemed necessary by the Trust.
2.5. MFS represents and warrants that the Underwriter is a member in good
standing of the NASD and is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC. The
Trust and MFS represent that the Trust and the Underwriter will sell and
distribute the Shares in accordance in all material respects with all
applicable state and federal securities laws, including without limitation
the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, and the 0000 Xxx.
2.6. The Trust 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 and any applicable
regulations thereunder.
2.7. MFS represents and warrants that it is and shall remain duly registered
under all applicable federal securities laws and that it shall perform its
obligations for the Trust in compliance in all material respects with any
applicable federal securities laws and with the securities laws of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. MFS represents and warrants that it is not
subject to state securities laws other than the securities laws of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that it is exempt from registration as an
investment adviser under the securities laws of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
2.8. No less frequently than annually, the Company shall submit to the Board
such reports, material or data as the Board may reasonably request so that
it may carry out fully the obligations imposed upon it by the conditions
contained in the exemptive application pursuant to which the SEC has granted
exemptive relief to permit mixed and shared funding (the "Mixed and Shared
Funding Exemptive Order").
ARTICLE III. PROSPECTUS AND PROXY STATEMENTS; VOTING
3.1. At least annually, the Trust or its designee shall provide the Company,
free of charge, with as many copies of the current prospectus (describing
only the Portfolios listed in Schedule A hereto) for the Shares as the
Company may reasonably request for distribution to existing Policy owners
whose Policies are funded by such Shares. The Trust or its designee shall
provide the Company, at the Company's expense, with as many copies of the
current prospectus for the Shares as the Company may reasonably request for
distribution to prospective purchasers of Policies. If requested by the
Company in lieu thereof, the Trust or its designee shall provide such
documentation (including a "camera ready" copy of the new prospectus as set
in type or, at the request of the Company, as a diskette in the form sent to
the financial printer) and other assistance as is reasonably necessary in
order for the parties hereto once each year (or more frequently if the
prospectus for the Shares is supplemented or amended) to have the prospectus
for the Policies and the prospectus for the Shares printed together in one
document; the expenses of such printing to be apportioned between (a) the
Company and (b) the Trust or its designee in proportion to the number of
pages of the Policy and Shares' prospectuses, taking account of other
relevant factors affecting the expense of printing, such as covers, columns,
graphs and charts; the Trust or its designee to bear the cost of printing
the Shares' prospectus portion of such document for distribution to owners
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of existing Policies funded by the Shares and the Company to bear the
expenses of printing the portion of such document relating to the Accounts;
provided, however, that the Company shall bear all printing expenses of such
combined documents where used for distribution to prospective purchasers or
to owners of existing Policies not funded by the Shares. In the event that
the Company requests that the Trust or its designee provides the Trust's
prospectus in a "camera ready" or diskette format, the Trust shall be
responsible for providing the prospectus in the format in which it or MFS is
accustomed to formatting prospectuses and shall bear the expense of
providing the prospectus in such format (e.g., typesetting expenses), and
the Company shall bear the expense of adjusting or changing the format to
conform with any of its prospectuses.
3.2. The prospectus for the Shares shall state that the statement of
additional information for the Shares is available from the Trust or its
designee. The Trust or its designee, at its expense, shall print and provide
such statement of additional information to the Company (or a master of such
statement suitable for duplication by the Company) for distribution to any
owner of a Policy funded by the Shares. The Trust or its designee, at the
Company's expense, shall print and provide such statement to the Company (or
a master of such statement suitable for duplication by the Company) for
distribution to a prospective purchaser who requests such statement or to an
owner of a Policy not funded by the Shares.
3.3. The Trust or its designee shall provide the Company free of charge
copies, if and to the extent applicable to the Shares, of the Trust's proxy
materials, reports to Shareholders and other communications to Shareholders
in such quantity as the Company shall reasonably require for distribution to
Policy owners.
3.4. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3 above, or
of Article V below, the Company shall pay the expense of printing or
providing documents to the extent such cost is considered a distribution
expense. Distribution expenses would include by way of illustration, but are
not limited to, the printing of the Shares' prospectus or prospectuses for
distribution to prospective purchasers or to owners of existing Policies not
funded by such Shares.
3.5. The Trust hereby notifies the Company that it may be appropriate to
include in the prospectus pursuant to which a Policy is offered disclosure
regarding the potential risks of mixed and shared funding.
3.6. If and to the extent required by law, the Company shall:
(a) solicit voting instructions from Policy owners;
(b) vote the Shares in accordance with instructions received from
Policy owners; and
(c) vote the Shares for which no instructions have been received in
the same proportion as the Shares of such Portfolio for which
instructions have been received from Policy owners;
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 will in no way recommend action in connection with or oppose or
interfere with the solicitation of proxies for the Shares held for such
Policy owners. The Company reserves the right to vote 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 holding Shares calculates voting privileges
in the manner required by the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order. The
Trust and MFS will notify the Company of any changes of interpretations or
amendments to the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order.
ARTICLE IV. SALES MATERIAL AND INFORMATION
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4.1. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the Trust
or its designee, each piece of sales literature or other promotional
material in which the Trust, MFS, any other investment adviser to the Trust,
or any affiliate of MFS are named, at least three (3) Business Days prior to
its use. No such material shall be used if the Trust, MFS, or their
respective designees reasonably objects to such use within three (3)
Business Days after receipt of such material.
4.2. The Company shall not give any information or make any representations
or statement on behalf of the Trust, MFS, any other investment adviser to
the Trust, or any affiliate of MFS or concerning the Trust or any other such
entity in connection with the sale of the Policies other than the
information or representations contained in the registration statement,
prospectus or statement of additional information for the Shares, as such
registration statement, prospectus and statement of additional information
may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in reports or proxy
statements for the Trust, or in sales literature or other promotional
material approved by the Trust, MFS or their respective designees, except
with the permission of the Trust, MFS or their respective designees. The
Trust, MFS or their respective designees each agrees to respond to any
request for approval on a prompt and timely basis. The Company shall adopt
and implement procedures reasonably designed to ensure that information
concerning the Trust, MFS or any of their affiliates which is intended for
use only by brokers or agents selling the Policies (i.e., information that
is not intended for distribution to Policy holders or prospective Policy
holders) is so used, and neither the Trust, MFS nor any of their affiliates
shall be liable for any losses, damages or expenses relating to the improper
use of such broker only materials.
4.3. The Trust 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 the Accounts is
named, at least three (3) Business Days prior to its use. No such material
shall be used if the company or its designee reasonably objects to such use
within three (3) Business Days after receipt of such material.
4.4. The Trust and MFS shall not give, and agree that the Underwriter shall
not give, any information or make any representations on behalf of the
Company or concerning the Company, the Accounts, or the Policies in
connection with the sale of the Policies other than the information or
representations contained in a registration statement, prospectus, or
statement of additional information for the Policies, as such registration
statement, prospectus and statement of additional information may be amended
or supplemented from time to time, or in reports for the Accounts, or in
sales literature or other promotional material approved by the Company or
its designee, except with the permission of the Company. The Company or its
designee agrees to respond to any request for approval on a prompt and
timely basis. The parties hereto agree that this Section 4.4. is neither
intended to designate nor otherwise imply that MFS is an underwriter or
distributor of the Policies.
4.5. The Company and the Trust (or its designee in lieu of the Company or
the Trust, as appropriate) will each provide to the other 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
Policies, or to the Trust or its Shares, prior to or contemporaneously with
the filing of such document with the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
The Company and the Trust shall also each promptly inform the other or the
results of any examination by the SEC (or other regulatory authorities) that
relates to the Policies, the Trust or its Shares, and the party that was the
subject of the examination shall provide the other party with a copy of
relevant portions of any "deficiency letter" or other correspondence or
written report regarding any such examination.
4.6. The Trust and MFS will provide the Company with as much notice as is
reasonably practicable of any proxy solicitation for any Portfolio, and of
any material change in the Trust's registration statement, particularly any
change resulting in change to the registration statement or prospectus or
statement of additional information for any Account. The Trust and MFS will
cooperate with the Company so as to enable the Company to solicit proxies
from Policy owners or to make changes to its prospectus, statement of
additional information or registration statement, in an orderly manner. The
Trust and MFS will make reasonable efforts to attempt to have
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changes affecting Policy prospectuses become effective simultaneously with
the annual updates for such prospectuses.
4.7. For purpose of this Article IV and Article VIII, the phrase "sales
literature or other promotional material" includes but is not limited to
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), and sales literature (such as brochures, circulars,
reprints or excerpts or any other advertisement, sales literature, or
published articles), distributed or made generally available to customers or
the public, educational or training materials or communications distributed
or made generally available to some or all agents or employees.
ARTICLE V. FEES AND EXPENSES
5.1. The Trust shall pay no fee or other compensation to the Company under
this Agreement, and the Company shall pay no fee or other compensation to
the Trust, except that if the Trust or any Portfolio adopts and implements a
plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act to finance distribution and
Shareholder servicing expenses, then, subject to obtaining any required
exemptive orders or regulatory approvals, the Trust may make payments to the
Company or to the underwriter for the Policies if and in amounts agreed to
by the Trust in writing. Each party, however, shall, in accordance with the
allocation of expenses specified in Articles III and V hereof, reimburse
other parties for expense initially paid by one party but allocated to
another party. In addition, nothing herein shall prevent the parties hereto
from otherwise agreeing to perform, and arranging for appropriate
compensation for, other services relating to the Trust and/or to the
Accounts.
5.2. The Trust or its designee shall bear the expenses for the cost of
registration and qualification of the Shares under all applicable federal
and state laws, including preparation and filing of the Trust's registration
statement, and payment of filing fees and registration fees; preparation and
filing of the Trust's proxy materials and reports to Shareholders; setting
in type and printing its prospectus and statement of additional information
(to the extent provided by and as determined in accordance with Article III
above); setting in type and printing the proxy materials and reports to
Shareholders (to the extent provided by and as determined in accordance with
Article III above); the preparation of all statements and notices required
of the Trust by any federal or state law with respect to its Shares; all
taxes on the issuance or transfer of the Shares; and the costs of
distributing the Trust's prospectuses and proxy materials to owners of
Policies funded by the Shares and any expenses permitted to be paid or
assumed by the Trust pursuant to a plan, if any, under Rule 12b-1 under the
1940 Act. The Trust shall not bear any expenses of marketing the Policies.
5.3. The Company shall bear the expenses of distributing the Shares'
prospectus or prospectuses in connection with new sales of the Policies and
of distributing the Trust's Shareholder reports and proxy materials to
Policy owners. The Company shall bear all expenses associated with the
registration, qualification, and filing of the Policies under applicable
federal securities and state insurance laws; the cost of preparing, printing
and distributing the Policy prospectus and statement of additional
information; and the cost of preparing, printing and distributing annual
individual account statements for Policy owners as required by state
insurance laws .
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ARTICLE VI. DIVERSIFICATION AND RELATED LIMITATIONS
6.1. The Trust and MFS represent and warrant that they will use their best
efforts to ensure that each Portfolio of the Trust will meet the
diversification requirements of Section 817(h)(1) of the Code and Treas.
Reg. 1.817-5, relating to the diversification requirements for variable
annuity, endowment, or life insurance contracts, as they may be amended from
time to time (and any revenue rulings, revenue procedures, notices, and
other published announcements of the Internal Revenue Service interpreting
these sections).
ARTICLE VII. POTENTIAL MATERIAL CONFLICTS
7.1. The Trust agrees that the Board, constituted with a majority of
disinterested trustees, will monitor each Portfolio of the Trust for the
existence of any material irreconcilable conflict between the interests of
the variable annuity contract owners and the variable life insurance policy
owners of the Company and/or affiliated companies ("contract owners")
investing in the Trust. The Board shall have the sole authority to determine
if a material irreconcilable conflict exists, and such determination shall
be binding on the Company only if approved in the form of a resolution by a
majority of the Board, or a majority of the disinterested trustees of the
Board. The Board will give prompt notice of any such determination to the
Company.
7.2. The Company agrees that it will be responsible for assisting the Board
in carrying out its responsibilities under the conditions set forth in the
Trust's exemptive application pursuant to which the SEC has granted the
Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order by providing the Board, as it may
reasonably request, with all information necessary for the Board to consider
any issues raised and agrees that it will be responsible for promptly
reporting any potential or existing conflicts of which it is aware to the
Board including, but not limited to, an obligation by the Company to inform
the Board whenever contract owner voting instructions are disregard. The
Company also agrees that, if a material irreconcilable conflict arises, it
will at is own cost remedy such conflict up to an including (a) withdrawing
the assets allocable to some or all of the Accounts from the Trust or any
Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a different investment medium,
including (but not limited to) another Portfolio of the Trust, or submitting
to a vote of all affected contract owners whether to withdraw assets from
the Trust or any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a different
investment medium and, as appropriate, segregating the assets attributable
to any appropriate group of contract owners that votes in favor of such
segregation, or offering to any of the affected contract owners the option
of segregating the assets attributable to their contracts or policies, and
(b) establishing a new registered management investment company and
segregating the assets underlying the Policies, unless a majority of Policy
owners materially adversely affected by the conflict have voted to decline
the offer to establish a new registered management investment company.
7.3. A majority of the disinterested trustees of the Board shall determine
whether any proposed action by the Company adequately remedies any material
irreconcilable conflict. In the event that the Board determines that any
proposed action does not adequately remedy any material irreconcilable
conflict, the Company will withdraw from investment in the Trust each of the
Accounts designated by the disinterested trustees 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 to remedy
any such material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the
disinterested trustees of the Board.
7.4. 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 shares
funding (as defined in the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order) on
terms and conditions materially different from those contained in the Mixed
Shared Funding Exemptive Order, then (a) the Trust and/or the Participating
Insurance Companies, as appropriate, shall take such steps as may be
necessary to comply with Rule 6e-2 and 6e-3(T), as amended, and Rule 6e-3,
as adopted, to the extent such rules are applicable; and (b) Sections 3.5,
3.6, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4 and 7.5 of this Agreement shall continue in effect
only to
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the extent that terms and conditions substantially identical to such
Sections are contained in such Rule(s) as so amended or adopted.
ARTICLE VIII. INDEMNIFICATION
8.1. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY
The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, MFS, any
affiliates of MFS, and each of their respective directors/trustees, officers
and each person, if any, who controls the Trust or MFS within the meaning of
Section 15 of the 1933 Act, and any agents or employees of the foregoing
(each an "Indemnified Party," or 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 expenses (including reasonable counsel fees) to which an
Indemnified Party 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 Shares or the Policies and:
(a) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in the
registration statement, prospectus or statement of additional
information for the Policies or containe d in the Policies or
sales literature or other promotional material for the Policies
(or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise
out of or are based upon the commission 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 reasonable reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished to the Company or its
designee by or on behalf of the Trust or MFS for use in the
registration statement, prospectus or statement of additional
information for the Policies or in the Policies or sales
literature or other promotional material (or any amendment or
supplement) or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of
the Policies or Shares; or
(b) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations
(other than statements or representations contained in the
registration statement, prospectus, statement of additional
information or sales literature or other promotional material of
the Trust not supplied by the Company or this designee, or persons
under its control and on which the Company has reasonably relied)
or wrongful conduct of the Company or persons under its control,
with respect to the sale or distribution of the Policies or
Shares; or
(c) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
a material fact contained in the registration statement,
prospectus, statement of additional information, or sales
literature or other promotional literature of the Trust, or any
amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or the omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statement or statements
therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in
reliance upon information furnished to the Trust by or on behalf
of the Company; or
(d) 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; or
(e) arise as a result of any failure by the Company to provide the
services and furnish the materials under the terms of this
Agreement;
-9-
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of this Article VIII.
8.2. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE TRUST
The Trust 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, and any agents or
employees of the foregoing (each an "Indemnified Party," or 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 Trust) or expenses (including
reasonable counsel fees) to which any Indemnified Party 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 Shares or the
Policies and:
(a) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in the
registration statement, prospectus, statement of additional
information or sales literature or other promotional material of
the Trust (or any amendment or supplement to any of the
foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statement 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 reasonable
reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the
Trust, MFS, the Underwriter or their respective designees by or
on behalf of the Company for use in the registration statement,
prospectus or statement of additional information for the Trust
or in sales literature or other promotional material for the
Trust (or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in
connection with the sale of the Policies or Shares; or
(b) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations
(other than statement or representations contained in the
registration statement, prospectus, statement of additional
information or sales literature or other promotional material for
the Policies not supplied by the Trust, MFS the Underwriter or
any of their respective designees or persons under their
respective control and on which any such entity has reasonably
relied) or wrongful conduct of the Trust or persons under its
control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the Policies
or Shares; or
(c) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Trust in 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 arise
out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement
by the Trust; or
(d) arise out of or result from the materially incorrect or untimely
calculation or reporting of the daily net asset value per share
or dividend or capital gain distribution rate; or
(e) arise as a result of any failure by the Trust to provide the
services and furnish the materials under the terms of the
Agreement;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of this Article VIII.
8.3. In no event shall the Trust be liable under the indemnification
provisions contained in this Agreement to any individual or entity,
including without limitation, the Company, or any Participating Insurance
Company or any Policy holder, with respect to any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses that arise out of or result
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from (i) a breach of any representation, warranty, and/or covenant made by
the Company hereunder or by any Participating Insurance Company under an
agreement containing substantially similar representations, warranties and
covenants; (ii) the failure by the Company or any Participating Insurance
Company to maintain its segregated asset account (which invests in any
Portfolio) as a legally and validly established segregated asset account
under applicable state law and as a duly registered unit investment trust
under the provisions of the 1940 Act (unless exempt therefrom); or (iii)
the failure by the Company or any Participating Insurance Company to
maintain its variable annuity and/or variable life insurance contracts
(with respect to which any Portfolio serves as an underlying funding
vehicle) as life insurance, endowment or annuity contracts under applicable
provisions of the Code.
8.4. Neither the Company nor the Trust shall be liable under the
indemnification provisions contained in this Agreement with respect to any
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses to which an Indemnified
Party would otherwise be subject by reason of such Indemnified Party's
willful misfeasance, willful misconduct, 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.
8.5. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Party under this Section 8.5.
of commencement of action, such Indemnified Party will, if a claim in
respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this
section, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the
omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any
liability which it may have to any Indemnified Party otherwise than under
this section. In case any such action is brought against any Indemnified
Party, and it notified the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof,
the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the
extent that it may wish, assume the defense thereof, with counsel
satisfactory to such Indemnified Party. After notice from the indemnifying
party of its intention to assume the defense of an action, the Indemnified
Party shall bear the expenses of any additional counsel obtained by it, and
the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such Indemnified Party under
this section for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such
Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof other than
reasonable costs of investigation.
8.6. Each of the parties agrees promptly to notify the other parties of the
commencement of any litigation or proceeding against it or any of its
respective officers, directors, trustees, employees or 1933 Act control
persons in connection with the Agreement, the issuance or sale of the
Policies, the operation of the Accounts, or the sale or acquisition of
Shares.
8.7. A successor by law of the parties to this Agreement shall be entitled
to the benefits of the indemnification contained in this Article VIII. The
inde mnification provisions contained in this Article VIII shall survive
any termination of this Agreement.
-11-
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 SEC may
grant and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance
therewith.
ARTICLE X. NOTICE OF FORMAL PROCEEDINGS
The Trust, MFS, and the Company agree that each such party shall promptly
notify the other parties to this Agreement, in writing, of the institution of
any formal proceedings brought against such party or its designees by the NASD,
the SEC, or any insurance department or any other regulatory body regarding such
party's duties under this Agreement or related to the sale of the Policies, the
operation of the Accounts, or the purchase of the Shares.
ARTICLE XI. TERMINATION
11.1. This Agreement shall terminate with respect to the Accounts, or one,
some , or all Portfolios:
(a) at the option of any party upon six (6) months' advance written
notice to the other parties; or
(b) at the option of the Company to the extent that the Shares of
Portfolios are not reasonably available to meet the requirements
of the Policies or are not "appropriate funding vehicles" for the
Policies, as reasonably determined by the Company. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Shares of a
Portfolio would not be "appropriate funding vehicles" if, for
example, such Shares did not meet the diversification or other
requirements referred to in Article VI hereof; or if the Company
would be permitted to disregard Policy owner voting instructions
pursuant to Rule 6e-2 or 6e-3(T) under the 1940 Act. Prompt notice
of the election to terminate for such cause and an explanation of
such cause shall be furnished to the Trust by the Company; or
(c) at the option of the Trust or MFS upon institution of formal
proceedings against the Company by the NASD, the SEC, or any
insurance department or any other regulatory body regarding the
Company's duties under this Agreement or related to the sale of
the Policies, the operation of the Accounts, or the purchase of
the Shares; or
(d) at the option of the Company upon institution of formal
proceedings against the Trust by the NASD, the SEC, or any state
securities or insurance department or any other regulatory body
regarding the Trust's or MFS' duties under this Agreement or
related to the sale of the shares; or
(e) at the option of the Company, the Trust or MFS upon receipt of any
necessary regulatory approvals and/or the vote of the Policy
owners having an interest in the Accounts (or any subaccounts) to
substitute the shares of another investment company for the
corresponding Portfolio Shares in accordance with the terms of the
Policies for which those Portfolio Shares had been selected to
serve as the underlying investment media. The Company will give
thirty (30) day's prior written notice to the Trust of the Date of
any proposed vote or other action taken to replace the Shares; or
-12-
(f) termination by either the Trust or MFS by written notice to the
Company, if either one or both of the Trust or MFS respectively,
shall determine, in their sole judgment exercised in good faith,
that the Company 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 Trust and
MFS, if the Company shall determine, in its sole judgment
exercised in good faith, that the Trust or MFS has suffered a
material adverse change in this business, operations, financial
condition or prospects since the date of this Agreement or is the
subject of material adverse publicity; or
(h) at the option of any party to this Agreement, upon another
party's material
breach of any provision of this Agreement; or
(i) upon assignment of this Agreement, unless made with the written
consent of the parties hereto.
11.2. The notice shall specify the Portfolio or Portfolios, Policies and, if
applicable, the Accounts as to which the Agreement is to be terminated.
11.3. It is understood and agreed that the right of any party hereto to
terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 11.1(a) may be exercised for
cause or for no cause.
11.4. Except as necessary to implement Policy owner initiated transactions,
or as required by state insurance laws or regulations, the Company shall not
redeem the Shares attributable to the Policies (as opposed to the Shares
attributable to the Company's assets held in the Accounts), and the Company
shall not prevent Policy owners from allocating payments to a Portfolio that
was otherwise available under the Policies, until thirty (30) days after the
Company shall have notified the Trust of its intention to do so.
11.5. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Trust and MFS
shall, at the option of the Company, continue to make available additional
shares of the Portfolios pursuant to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, for all Policies in effect on the effective date of termination
of this Agreement (the "Existing Policies"), except as otherwise provided
under Article VII of this Agreement. Specifically, without limitation, the
owners of the Existing Policies shall be permitted to transfer or reallocate
investment under the Policies, redeem investments in any Portfolio and/or
invest in the Trust upon the making of additional purchase payments under
the Existing Policies.
ARTICLE XII. 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.
-13-
If to the Trust:
MFS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Secretary
If to the Company:
[ ]
Attn:
If to MFS:
MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, General Counsel
ARTICLE XIII. MISCELLANEOUS
13.1. Subject to the requirement of legal process and regulatory authority,
each party hereto shall treat as confidential the names and addresses of the
owners of the Policies and all information reasonably identified as
confidential in writing by any other party hereto and, except as permitted
by this Agreement or as otherwise required by applicable law or regulation,
shall not disclose, disseminate or utilize such names and addresses and
other confidential information without the express written consent of the
affected party until such time as it may come into the public domain.
13.2. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of
reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the provisions
hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
13.3. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in one or more
counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
13.4. 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.
13.5. The Schedule attached hereto, as modified from time to time, is
incorporated herein by reference and is part of this Agreement.
13.6. Each party hereto shall cooperate with each other party in connection
with inquiries by appropriate governmental authorities (including without
limitation the SEC, the NASD, and state insurance regulators) relating to
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
13.7. The rights, remedies and obligations contained in this Agreement are
cumulative and are in addition to any and all rights, remedies and
obligations, at law or in equity, which the parties hereto are entitled to
under state and federal laws.
-14-
13.8. A copy of the Trust's Declaration of Trust is on file with the
Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Company
acknowledges that the obligations of or arising out of this instrument are
not binding upon any of the Trust's trustees, officers, employees, agents or
shareholders individually, but are binding solely upon the assets and
property of the Trust in accordance with its proportionate interest
hereunder. The Company further acknowledges that the assets and liabilities
of each Portfolio are separate and distinct and that the obligations of or
arising out of this instrument are binding solely upon the assets or
property of the Portfolio on whose behalf the Trust has executed this
instrument. The Company also agrees that the obligations of each Portfolio
hereunder shall be several and not joint, in accordance with its
proportionate interest hereunder, and the Company agrees not to proceed
against any Portfolio for the obligations of another Portfolio.
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
and its seal to be hereunder affixed hereto as of the date specified below.
[ ]
By its authorized officer,
By: _______________________________
Title: ____________________________
Date: _____________________________
MFS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST, ON BEHALF
OF THE PORTFOLIOS
By its authorized officer and not
individually,
By: _______________________________
Title: ____________________________
Date: _____________________________
MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY
By its authorized officer,
By: _______________________________
Title: ____________________________
Date: _____________________________
-15-
As of ____________________
SCHEDULE A
ACCOUNTS, POLICIES AND PORTFOLIOS
SUBJECT TO THE PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
NAME OF SEPARATE
ACCOUNT AND DATE
ESTABLISHED BY BOARD POLICIES FUNDED PORTFOLIOS
OF DIRECTORS BY SEPARATE ACCOUNT APPLICABLE TO POLICIES
-------------------- ------------------- ----------------------
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