EXHIBIT 99.27(h)(13)(i)
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
AMONG
MFS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST,
MINNESOTA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
AND
MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this 28th day of March 2002, by and among
MFS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST, a Massachusetts business trust (the "Trust"),
Minnesota Life Insurance Company, a Minnesota 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, certain series of shares of the Trust are divided into two separate
share classes, an Initial Class and a Service Class, and the Trust on behalf of
the Service Class has adopted a Rule 12b-1 plan under the 1940 Act pursuant to
which the Service Class pays a distribution fee;
WHEREAS, the series of shares of the Trust (each, a "Portfolio," and,
collectively, the "Portfolios") and the classes of shares of those Portfolios
(the "Shares") offered by the Trust to the Company and the Accounts are set
forth on Schedule A attached hereto;
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 Fund Distributors, 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, Securian Financial Services, Inc. ("Securian"), 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 the Shares of the Portfolios as specified in
Schedule A attached hereto 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 prior to the close of regular
trading on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "NYSE") 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 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 an 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.
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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 owners
prior to the close of regular trading on the NYSE 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. Each purchase, redemption and exchange order placed by the Company shall be
placed separately for each Portfolio and shall not be netted with respect to any
Portfolio. 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 hereof.
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.
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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 in 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.
2.3. The Company represents and warrants that Securian, 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 Securian 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 1940 Act.
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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 and any
supplements to it throughout the year, (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 and any supplements to it
throughout the year, 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 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--, 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,
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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
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.
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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 (k, information
that is not intended for distribution to Policy owners or prospective Policy
owners) 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 Trust and MFS may not alter any
material so provided by the Company or its designee (including, without
limitation, presenting or delivering such material in a different medium. e.g.,
electronic or internet) without the prior written consent of the Company. 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 of 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.
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4.6. No party shall use any other party's names, logos, trademarks or service
marks, whether registered or unregistered, without the prior written consent of
such other party, or after written consent therefor has been revoked, provided
that separate consent is not required under this Section 4.6 to the extent that
consent to use a party's name, logo, trademark or service xxxx in connection
with a particular piece of advertising or sales literature has previously been
giving by a party under Sections 4.2 and 4.4 of this Agreement. The Company
shall not use in advertising, publicly or otherwise the name of the Trust, MFS
or any of their affiliates nor any trade name, trademark, trade device,
servicemark, symbol or any abbreviation, contraction or simulation thereof of
the Trust, MFS, or their affiliates without the prior written consent of the
Trust or MFS in each instance. The Trust and MFS shall not use in advertising,
publicly or otherwise the name of the Company or any of its affiliates nor any
trade name, trademark, trade device, servicemark, symbol or any abbreviation,
contraction or simulation thereof of the Company or its affiliates without the
prior written consent of the Company in each instance.
4.7. 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 changes affecting Policy prospectuses
become effective simultaneously with the annual updates for such prospectuses.
4.8. 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, to the extent the Trust or any Portfolio has adopted and
implemented a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act to finance
distribution and for Shareholder servicing expenses, then the Trust may make
payments to the Company or to the underwriter for the Policies in accordance
with such plan. Each party, however, shall, in accordance with the allocation of
expenses specified in Articles ill and V hereof, reimburse other parties for
expenses 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;
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preparation and filing of the Trust's proxy materials and reports to
Shareholders; setting in type and printing its prospectus supplements 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-l under the 0000
Xxx. 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 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 supplements and
statement ()f additional information; and the cost of preparing, printing and
distributing annual individual account statements for Policy owners as required
by state insurance laws.
5.4. MFS will monthly reimburse the Company certain of the administrative costs
and expenses incurred by the Company as a result of operations necessitated by
the beneficial ownership by Policy owners of shares of the Portfolios of the
Trust, equal to 0.20% per annum of the aggregate net assets of the Trust
attributable to variable life or variable annuity contracts offered by the
Company or its affiliates. In no event shall such fee be paid by the Trust, its
shareholders or by the Policy holders.
ARTICLE VI. DIVERSIFICATION AND RELATED LIMITATIONS
6.1. The Trust and MFS represent and warrant that each Portfolio of the Trust
will meet the diversification requirements of Section 817 (h) (I) 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), as if those requirements applied directly to each such Portfolio.
6.2. The Trust and MFS represent that each Portfolio will elect to be qualified
as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Code and that they
will maintain such qualification (under Subchapter M or any successor or similar
provision).
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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 disregarded. The Company also agrees that, if a material
irreconcilable conflict arises, it will at its own cost remedy such conflict up
to and 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 00-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) are amended, or Rule
00-3 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 Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order) on terms and conditions
materially different from those contained in the Mixed and 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 00-2 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 and 7.4 of
this Agreement shall continue in effect only to the extent that terms and
10
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 any 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 contained
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 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 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 its 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
11
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;
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 statements 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 any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in the registration statement, prospectus, statement of
additional
12
information. or sales literature or other promotional literature of the Accounts
or relating to the Policies. 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 Trust. MFS or the Underwriter;
or
(d) 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
(e) 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
(f) arise as a result of any failure by the Trust or the Underwriter 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 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, 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.
8.5. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Party under this Section 8.5. of
notice of commencement of any 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
13
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
indemnification provisions contained in this Article VIII shall survive any
termination of this Agreement.
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
14
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) days' prior written notice to the Trust of the Date of any proposed
vote or other action taken to replace the Shares; or
(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.I(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
15
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, overnight courier or facsimile 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 Trust:
MFS Variable Insurance
Trust 000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Secretary
If to the Company:
Minnesota Life Insurance Company
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xx. Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: General Counsel
If to MFS:
Massachusetts Financial Services Company
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
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,
16
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(s) attached hereto, as modified from time to time, is/are
incorporated herein by reference and is/are 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.
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.
17
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 above.
MINNESOT A LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By its authorized officer,
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title President & Actuary
MFS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST,
on behalf of the Portfolios
By its authorized officer and not individually.
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx. Jr. Assistant Secretary
MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY
By its authorized officer,
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
18
As of
SCHEDULE A
ACCOUNTS, POLICIES AND PORTFOLIOS
SUBJECT TO THE PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
Name of Separate
Account and Date Share Class
Established by Policies Funded (Initial or Portfolios
Board of Directors by Separate Account Service Class) Applicable to Policies
------------------------ -------------------- -------------- ---------------------------------
Variable Annuity Account MultiOption Achiever Service MFS Investors Growth Stock Series
MultiOption Classic MFS New Discovery Series
MFS Mid Cap Growth Series
MFS Value Series
19
