the
event the Fund ceases to so qualify, it will take all reasonable steps (a) to notify Company of such event and (b) to adequately diversify the Fund so as to achieve compliance within
the grace period afforded by Regulation 817-5.
ARTICLE VII. Potential Conflicts
7.1. The
Board will monitor the Fund for the existence of any material irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the contract owners of all separate accounts
investing in the Fund. An irreconcilable material conflict may arise for a variety of reasons, including: (a) an action by any state insurance regulatory authority; (b) a change in
applicable federal or state insurance, tax, or securities laws or regulations, or a public ruling, private letter ruling, no-action or interpretative letter, or any similar action by insurance, tax,
or securities regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative or judicial decision in any relevant proceeding; (d) the manner in which the investments of any Portfolio are being managed;
(e) a difference in voting instructions given by variable annuity contract owners and variable life insurance contract owners; or (f) a decision by a Participating Insurance Company to
disregard the voting instructions of contract owners. The Board shall promptly inform the Company if it determines that an irreconcilable material conflict exists and the implications thereof.
7.2. The
Company will report any potential or existing material irreconcilable conflict of which it is aware to the Board. The Company will assist the Board in
carrying out its responsibilities under the Shared Funding Exemptive Order, by providing the Board with all information reasonably necessary for the Board to consider any issues raised. This includes,
but is not limited to, an obligation by the Company to inform the Board whenever contract owner voting instructions are disregarded.
7.3. If
it is determined by a majority of the Board, or a majority of its disinterested trustees, that a material irreconcilable conflict exists, the Company and other
Participating Insurance Companies shall, at their expense and to the extent reasonably practicable (as determined by a majority of the disinterested trustees), take whatever steps are necessary to
remedy or eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict, up to and including: (1) withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the separate accounts from the Fund or any Portfolio and
reinvesting such assets in a different investment medium, including (but not limited to) another Portfolio of the Fund, or submitting the question whether such segregation should be implemented to a
vote of all affected Contract owners and, as appropriate, segregating the assets of any appropriate group (i.e., annuity contract owners, life insurance policy owners, or variable contract owners of
one or more Participating Insurance Companies) that votes in favor of such segregation, or offering to the affected contract owners the option of making such a change; and (2) establishing a
new registered management investment company or managed separate account. 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.
7.4. If
a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a decision by the Company to disregard contract owner voting instructions and that decision represents a
minority position or would preclude a majority vote, the Company may be required, at the Fund's election, to withdraw the affected Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with
respect to such Account (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.
10
7.5. For
purposes of Sections 7.3 through 7.4 of this Agreement, a majority of the disinterested members of the Board shall determine whether any proposed action
adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict, but in no event will the Fund be required to establish a new funding medium for the Contracts. The Company shall not be required by
Section 7.3 through 7.4 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.
7.6. 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.
7.7 Each
of the Company and the Adviser shall at least annually submit to the Board 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 in the Shared Funding Exemptive Order, 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 Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.
ARTICLE VIII. Indemnification
8.1. Indemnification By The Company
8.1(a). The
Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, the Underwriter and each member of their respective Board and officers and each person, if any, who
controls the Fund within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 8.1) against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Company) or litigation (including legal and other expenses), to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under
any statute, regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements are related to the sale or
acquisition of the Fund's shares or the Contracts and: