PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
Among
SUN CAPITAL ADVISERS TRUST,
SUN CAPITAL ADVISERS, INC.
and
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this ___ day of _________ 19___ by
and among SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.) (hereinafter the
"Company"), on its own behalf and on behalf of each segregated asset account of
the Company set forth on Schedule A hereto as may be amended from time to time
(each such account hereinafter referred to as the ("Account"), SUN CAPITAL
ADVISERS TRUST, a Delaware business trust (hereinafter the "Fund"), and SUN
CAPITAL ADVISERS, INC. (hereinafter the "Adviser"), a ___________ corporation.
WHEREAS, the Fund engages in business as an open-end management investment
company and is available to act as (i) the investment vehicle for certain
qualified pension or retirement plans ("Qualified Plans") and (ii) the
investment vehicle for separate accounts established for variable life insurance
policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, the "Variable Insurance
Products") to be offered by insurance companies which have entered into
participation agreements with the Fund and the Adviser (hereinafter
"Participating Insurance Companies"); and
WHEREAS, the beneficial interests in the Fund are divided into several
series of shares (each designated a "Portfolio"), each representing the interest
in a particular managed portfolio of securities and other asset; and
WHEREAS, the Fund has obtained an order from the Securities and Exchange
Commission, dated ________, _____ (File No. _________, granting Participating
Insurance Companies and variable annuity and variable life insurance separate
accounts exemptions from the provisions of Sections 9(a), 13(a), 15(a), and
15(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (hereinafter the "1940
Act") and Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and 6e-3(l)(b)(15) thereunder, to the extent
necessary to permit shares of the Fund to be sold to and held by variable
annuity and variable life insurance separate accounts of both affiliated and
unaffiliated life insurance companies and to Qualified Plans (hereinafter the
"Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the 1940 Act and its shares are registered under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (hereinafter the "1933 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Adviser is duly registered as an Investment Adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and any applicable state securities law; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register certain variable life
insurance and variable annuity contracts ("Contracts") under the 1933 Act; and
WHEREAS, each Account is a duly organized, validly existing segregated
asset account, established by resolution of the Board of Directors of the
Company, on the date shown for such Account on Schedule A hereto, to set aside
and invest assets attributable to one or more variable life insurance or
variable annuity contracts; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register each Account as a unit
investment trust under the 1940 Act; and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Company intends to purchase shares in the Portfolios on behalf
of each Account to fund certain of the Contracts,
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises the Company, the
Fund and the Adviser agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. SALE OF FUND SHARES
1.1 The Fund agrees to sell to the Company those shares of the Fund which
each Account orders, executing such orders on a daily basis at the net asset
value next computed after receipt by the Fund or its designee of the order for
the shares of the Fund. For purposes of this Section 1.1, the Company shall be
the designee of the Fund for receipt of such orders from each Account and
receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund; provided that the
Fund receives notice of such order by [9:00 a.m. Eastern time] on the next
following Business Day. "Business Day" shall mean any day on which the New York
Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which the Fund calculates its net
asset value pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission").
1.2. The Fund agrees to make its shares available indefinitely for purchase
at the applicable net asset value per share by the Company and its Accounts on
those days on which the Fund calculates its net asset value pursuant to rules of
the Commission, and the Fund shall use reasonable efforts to calculate such net
asset value on each day which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Trustees of the Fund (hereinafter
the "Board") may refuse to sell shares of any Portfolio to any person, or
suspend or terminate the offering of shares of any Portfolio if such action is
required by law or by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction or is, in the
sole discretion of the Board acting in good faith and in light of their
fiduciary duties under federal and any applicable state laws, necessary in the
best interest of the shareholders of such Portfolio.
1.3. The Fund and the Adviser agree that shares of the Fund will be sold
only to
Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts and certain
Qualified Plans, in accordance with the terms of the Mixed and Shared Funding
Exemptive Order. No shares of any Portfolio will be sold to the general public.
1.4. The Fund will not sell Fund shares to any insurance company or
separate account unless an agreement containing provisions substantially the
same as Articles I, III, V, and VII of this Agreement is in effect to govern
such sales.
1.5. The Fund agrees to redeem for cash, on the Company's request, any
full or fractional shares of the Fund held by the Company, executing such
requests on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by
the Fund or its designee of the request for redemption. For purposes of this
Section 1.5, the Company shall be the designee of the Fund for receipt of
requests for redemption from each Account and receipt by such designee shall
constitute receipt by the Fund; provided that the Fund receives notice of such
request for redemption by [9:00 a.m. Eastern time] on the next following
Business Day.
1.6. The Company agrees to purchase and redeem the shares of each
Portfolio offered by the then current prospectus of the Fund and in accordance
with the provisions of such prospectus.
1.7. The Company shall pay for Fund shares by 11:00 a.m. Eastern time on
the next Business Day after an order to purchase Fund shares is made in
accordance with the provisions of Section 1.1 hereof. Payment shall be in
federal funds transmitted by wire.
1.8. Issuance and transfer of the Fund's shares will be by book entry
only. Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or any Account.
Shares ordered from the Fund will be recorded in an appropriate title for each
Account or the appropriate subaccount of each Account.
1.9. The Fund shall furnish same day notice (by wire or telephone,
followed by written confirmation) to the Company of any income dividends or
capital gain distributions payable on the Fund's shares. The Company hereby
elects to receive all such income dividends and capital gain distributions as
are payable on the Portfolio shares in additional shares of that Portfolio. The
Company reserves the right to revoke this election and to receive all such
income dividends and capital gain distributions in cash. The Fund shall notify
the Company of the number of shares so issued as payment of such dividends and
distributions.
1.10. The Fund shall make the net asset value per share for each Portfolio
available to the Company on a daily basis as soon as reasonably practicable
after the net asset value per share is calculated (normally 6:30 p.m. Eastern
time) and shall use its best efforts to make such net asset value per share
available by 7:00 p.m. Eastern time.
ARTICLE II. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
2.1. The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts are or will be
registered under the 1933 Act; that the Contracts will be issued and sold in
compliance in all material
respects with all applicable Federal and State laws and that the sale of the
Contracts shall comply in all material respects with state insurance suitability
requirements. The Company further represents and warrants that it is an
insurance company duly organized and in good standing under applicable law and
that it has legally and validly established each Account prior to any issuance
or sale thereof as a segregated asset account under Section 2932 of the Delaware
Insurance Code and has registered or, prior to any issuance or sale of the
Contracts, will register each Account as a unit investment trust in accordance
with the provisions of the 1940 Act to serve as a segregated investment account
for the Contracts.
2.2. The Fund represents and warrants that Fund shares sold pursuant to
this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act, duly authorized for
issuance and sold in compliance with the laws of the State of Delaware and all
applicable federal and state securities laws and that the Fund is and shall
remain registered under the 0000 Xxx. The Fund shall amend the Registration
Statement for its shares under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act from time to time
as required in order to effect the continuous offering of its shares. The Fund
shall register and qualify the shares for sale in accordance with the laws of
the various states if and to the extent deemed advisable by the Fund or the
Adviser.
2.3. The Fund represents that it intends to qualify as a regulated
investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), and that it will make every effort to maintain such
qualification (under Subchapter M or any successor or similar provision) and
that it will notify the Company immediately upon having a reasonable basis for
believing that it has ceased to so qualify or that it might not so qualify in
the in the future.
2.4. The Company represents that each Account is properly treated as a
"segregated asset account" for purposes of Treasury Regulation
Section 1.817-5(f), that the Contracts are currently treated as endowment,
annuity or life insurance contacts under applicable provisions of the Code and
that it will maintain such treatment and that it will notify the Fund and the
Adviser immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that any
Account or Contract has ceased to be so treated or might not be so treated in
the future.
2.5. The Fund makes no representation as to whether any aspect of its
operations (including, but not limited to, fees and expenses and investment
polices) complies with the insurance laws or regulations of the various states
except that the Fund and the Adviser represent that their respective operations
are and shall at all times remain in material compliance with applicable laws of
the State of Delaware to the extent required to perform this Agreement.
2.6. The Fund represents that it is lawfully organized and validly
existing under the laws of the State of Delaware and that it does and will
comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act.
2.7. The Adviser represents and warrants that the Adviser is and shall
remain duly
registered as an investment adviser in all material respects under all
applicable federal and state securities laws and that the Adviser shall perform
its obligations for the Fund in compliance in all material respects with
applicable state and federal securities laws.
2.8. The Fund and Adviser represent and warrant that all of their
directors, officers, employees, investment advisers, and other
individuals/entities dealing with the money and/or securities of the Fund are
and shall continue to be at all times covered by a blanket fidelity bond or
similar coverage for the benefit of the Fund in an amount not less than the
minimal coverage as required currently by Rule 17g-1 of the 1940 Act or related
provisions as may be promulgated from time to time. The aforesaid Bond shall
include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable
bonding company.
2.9. The Company represents and warrants that all of its directors,
officers, employees, investment advisers, and other individuals/entities dealing
with the money and/or securities of the Fund are and shall continue to be at all
times covered by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage for the benefit of
the Fund, in an amount not less than the minimal coverage as required currently
by entities subject to the requirements of Rule 17g-1 of the 1940 Act or related
provisions as may be promulgated from time to time. The aforesaid Bond shall
include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable
bonding company.
ARTICLE III. PROSPECTUSES AND PROXY STATEMENTS; VOTING
3.1. The Adviser shall provide the Company (at the Company's expense) with
as many copies of the Fund's current prospectus as the Company may reasonably
request. If requested by the Company in lieu thereof, the Fund shall provide
such documentation (including a final "camera ready" or diskette copy of the new
prospectus as set in type at the Fund's expense) and other assistance as is
reasonably necessary in order for the Company once each year (or more frequently
if the prospectus for the Fund is amended) to have the prospectus for the
Contracts and the Fund's prospectus printed together in one document (such
printing to be at the Company's expense).
3.2. The Fund's prospectus shall state that the Statement of Additional
Information for the Fund is available from the Adviser (or in the Fund's
discretion, the Prospectus shall state that such Statement is available from the
Fund), and the Adviser (or the Fund), at its expense, shall provide a copy of
such Statement free of charge to the Company and to any owner of a Contract or
prospective owner who requests such Statement.
3.3. The Fund, at its expense, shall provide the Company with copies of
its proxy material, reports to shareholders, and other communications to
shareholders in such quantity as the Company shall reasonably require for
distributing to Contract owners.
3.4. If and to the extent required by law the Company shall:
(i) solicit voting instructions from Contract owners;
(i) vote the Fund shares in accordance with instructions received
from Contract owners; and
(iii) vote Fund shares for which no instructions have been received in
the same proportion as Fund shares of such Portfolio for which
instructions have been received:
so long as and to the extent that the Commission continues to interpret the 1940
Act to require pass-through voting privileges for owners of Variable Insurance
Products. The Company reserves the right to vote Fund shares held in any
segregated asset account in its own right, to the extent permitted by law.
Participating Insurance Companies shall be responsible for assuring that each of
their separate accounts participating in the Fund calculates voting privileges
in a manner consistent with this Section and with each other.
ARTICLE IV. SALES MATERIAL AND INFORMATION
4.1. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the
Fund or its designee, each piece of sales literature or other promotional
material in which the Fund, the Adviser or one of their respective affiliates is
named, at least fifteen Business Days prior to its use. No such material shall
be used if the Fund or its designee objects to such use within fifteen Business
Days after receipt of such material.
4.2. The Company shall not give any information or make any
representations or statements on behalf of the Fund or concerning the Fund in
connection with the sale of the Contracts other than the information or
representations contained in the registration statement or prospectus for the
Fund shares, as such registration statement and prospectus may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, or in reports or proxy statements for the Fund,
or in sales literature or other promotional material approved by the Fund or its
designee or by the Adviser, except with the permission of the Fund or the
Adviser or the designee of either.
4.3. The Fund and the Adviser, or its designee, shall furnish, or shall
cause to be furnished, to the Company or its designee, each piece of sales
literature or other promotional material in which the Company and/or its
separate account(s) is named at least fifteen Business Days prior to its use.
No such material shall be used if the Company or its designee object to such use
within fifteen Business Days after receipt of such material.
4.4. The Fund and the Adviser shall not give any information or make any
representations on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company, each
Account, or the Contracts other than the information or representations
contained in a registration statement or prospectus for the Contracts, as such
registration statement and prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time
to time, or in published reports for each Account which are in the public domain
or approved by the Company for distribution to Contract owners, or in sales
literature or other promotional material approved by the Company or its
designee, except with the permission
of the Company.
4.5. The Fund will provide to the Company at least one complete copy of
all registration statements, prospectuses, Statements of Additional Information,
reports, proxy statements, sales literature and other promotional materials,
applications for exemptions, requests for no-action letters, and all amendments
to any of the above, that relate to the Fund or its shares, contemporaneously
with the filing of such document with the Commission or other regulatory
authorities.
4.6. The Company will provide to the Fund at least one complete copy of
all registration statements, prospectuses, Statements of Additional Information,
reports, solicitations for voting instructions, sales literature and other
promotional materials, applications for exemptions, requests for no action
letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that relate to the Contracts or
each Account, contemporaneously with the filing of such document with the
Commission or other regulatory authorities.
4.7. For purposes of this Article IV, the phrase "sales literature or
other promotional material" includes, but is not limited to, advertisements
(such as materials published, or designed for use in, in a newspaper, magazine,
or other periodical, radio, television, telephone or tape recording, videotape
display, signs or billboards, motion pictures, or other public media), sales
literature (i.e., any written communication distributed or made generally
available to customers or the public, including brochures, circulars, research
reports, market letters, form letters, seminar texts, reprints or excerpts of
any other advertisement, sales literature, or published article), educational or
training materials or other communications distributed or made generally
available to some or all agents or employees, and registration statements,
prospectuses, Statements of Additional Information, shareholder reports, and
proxy materials.
ARTICLE V. FEES AND EXPENSES
5.1. The Fund and Adviser shall pay no fee or other compensation to the
Company under this Agreement, except that: (a) if the Fund or any Portfolio
adopts and implements a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 to finance distribution
expenses, then the Adviser may make payments to the Company for the Contracts if
and in amounts agreed to by the Adviser in writing; and (b) the Adviser may make
payments out of existing fees otherwise payable to the Adviser, past profits of
the Adviser or other resources available to the Adviser, to the extent permitted
by law.
5.2. All expenses incident to performance by the Fund under this Agreement
shall be paid by the Fund. The Fund shall see to it that all its shares are
registered and authorized for issuance in accordance with applicable federal law
and, if and to the extent deemed advisable by the Fund, in accordance with
applicable state laws prior to their sale. The Fund shall bear the expenses for
the cost of registration and qualification of the Fund's shares, preparation and
filing of the Fund's prospectus and registration statement, proxy materials and
reports, setting the
prospectus in type, setting in type and printing the proxy materials and reports
to shareholders (including, if so elected, the costs of printing a prospectus
that constitutes an annual report), and the preparation of all statements and
notices required by any federal or state law.
5.3. The Company shall bear the expenses of printing and distributing the
Fund's prospectus to owners of Contracts issued by the Company and of
distributing the Fund's proxy materials and reports to such Contract owners.
ARTICLE VI. DIVERSIFICATION
6.1. Each Portfolio of the Fund will at all times comply with Section
817(h) of the Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.817-5, relating to the
diversification requirements for variable annuity, endowment, or life insurance
contracts, to the extent such requirements apply to the Portfolio's investments
pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.817-5(f), and any amendments or other
modifications to such Section or Regulations.
ARTICLE VII. POTENTIAL CONFLICTS
7.1. The Board will monitor the Fund for the existence of any material
irreconcilable conflict among the interests of the contract owners of all
separate accounts investing in the Fund and determine what action is to be
taken. 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
interpretive 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, variable life insurance contract owners and Plan
trustees; (f) a decision by an insurer to disregard the voting instructions of
contract owners; or (g) if applicable, a decision by a Qualified Plan to
disregard the voting instructions of Plan participants. The Board shall
promptly inform the Company if it determines that an irreconcilable material
conflict exists and the implications thereof.
7.2. The Company will report any potential or existing conflicts of which
it is aware to the Board. The Company and the Adviser will assist the Board in
carrying out its responsibilities under the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive
Order by providing the Board with all information reasonably necessary for the
Board to consider any issues raised. This includes, but is not limited to, an
obligation by the Company to inform the Board whenever contract owner voting
instructions are disregarded.
7.3. If it is determined by a majority of the Board, or a majority of its
disinterested trustees that a material irreconcilable conflict exists, the
Company and other Participating Insurance Companies shall, at their expense and
to the extent reasonably practicable (as
determined by a majority of the disinterested trustees), take whatever steps are
necessary to remedy or eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict, up to and
including: (1) withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the separate
accounts from the Fund or any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a
different investment medium, including (but not limited to) another Portfolio of
the Fund, or submitting the question whether such segregation should be
implemented to a vote of all affected Contract owners and, as appropriate,
segregating the assets of any appropriate group (i.e., annuity contract owners,
life insurance contract owners, or variable contract owners of one or more
Participating Insurance Companies) that votes in favor of such segregation, or
offering to the affected contract owners the option of making such a change; and
(2) establishing a new registered management investment company or series
thereof or managed separate account.
7.4. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a decision by
the Company to disregard contract owner voting instructions and that decision
represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote, the Company
may be required, at the Fund's election, to withdraw the affected Account's
investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with respect to such
Account; provided, however that such withdrawal and termination shall be limited
to the extent required by the foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as
determined by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board. No charge
or penalty will be imposed as a result of the withdrawal. Any such withdrawal
and termination must take place within six (6) months after the Fund gives
written notice that this provision is being implemented, and until the end of
that six (6) month period the Adviser and Fund shall continue to accept and
implement orders by the Company for the purchase (and redemption) of shares of
the Fund.
7.5. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a particular
state insurance regulator's decision applicable to the Company conflicts with
the majority of other state regulators, then the Company will withdraw the
affected Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with
respect to such Account within six (6) months after the Board informs the
Company in writing that it has determined that such decision has created an
irreconcilable material conflict; provided, however, that such withdrawal and
termination shall be limited to the extent required by the foregoing material
irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the disinterested members
of the Board. Until the end of the foregoing six (6) month period, the Adviser
and Fund shall continue to accept and implement orders by the Company for file
purchase (and redemption) of shares of the Fund.
7.6. For purposes of Sections 7.3 through 7.6 of this Agreement, a
majority of the disinterested members of the Board shall determine whether any
proposed action adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict, but in
no event will the Fund be required to establish a new funding medium for the
Contracts. The Company shall not be required by Section 7.3 to establish a new
funding medium for the contracts if an offer to do so has been (a)
declined by vote of a majority of Contract owners materially adversely affected
by the irreconcilable material conflict or (b) pursuant to governing Qualified
Plan documents and applicable law, the Qualified Plan makes the decision without
a vote of its participants. In the event that the Board determines that any
proposed action does not adequately remedy any irreconcilable material conflict,
then the Company will withdraw the Account's investment in the Fund and
terminate this Agreement within six (6) months after the Board informs the
Company in writing of the foregoing determination, provided, however, that such
withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by any such
material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the
disinterested members of the Board.
ARTICLE VIII. INDEMNIFICATION
8.1. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY
8.1(a). The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and each
of its directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Fund or
the Adviser within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the
"Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 8.1) against any and all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with
the written consent of the Company) or litigation (including legal and other
expenses), to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any
statute, regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements
are related to the sale or acquisition of the Fund's shares or the Contracts
and:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements or alleged
untrue statements of any material fact contained in the Registration
Statement or prospectus for the Contract or contained in the Contracts or
sales literature for the Contracts (or any amendment or supplement to any
of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
provided that this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any
Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement
or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Fund for use in the
Registration Statement or prospectus for the Contracts or in the Contracts
or sales literature (or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use
in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations
(other than statements or representations contained in the Registration
Statement, prospectus or sales literature of the Fund not supplied by the
Company, or persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of the Company
or persons under its control, with respect to the sale or
distribution of the Contracts or Fund Shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement,
prospectus, or sales literature of the Fund or any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading if such a statement or omission was made
in reliance upon information furnished to the Fund by or on behalf of the
Company; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Company to provide the
services and furnish the materials under the terms of this Agreement; or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Company in this Agreement or
arise out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by
the Company, as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of
Sections 8.1(b) and 8.1(c) hereof.
8.1(b). The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation
incurred or assessed against an Indemnified Party as such may arise from such
Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the
performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified
Party's reckless disregard of obligations or duties under this Agreement or to
the Fund, whichever is applicable.
8.1(c). The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless
such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Company in writing within a
reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of
such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Company of any
such claim shall not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to
the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on
account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought
against the Indemnified Parties, the Company shall be entitled to participate,
at its own expense, in the defense of such action. The Company also shall be
entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party
named in the action. After notice from the Company to such party of the
Company's election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall
bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the
Company will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or
other expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection
with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
8.1(d). The Indemnified Parties will promptly notify the Company of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against them in connection with
the issuance or sale of the Fund
Shares or the Contracts or the operations of the Fund.
8.2. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE ADVISER
8.2(a). The Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and
each of its directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the
Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the
"Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 8.2) against any and all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with
the written consent of the Adviser) or litigation (including legal and other
expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute,
at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities
or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements are related to the
sale or acquisition of the Fund's shares or the Contracts and:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration
Statement or prospectus or sales literature of the Fund (or any amendment
or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon
the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, provided that this agreement to indemnify shall not apply
as to any Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged
statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished to the Adviser or Fund by or on behalf of the Company
specifically for use in the Registration Statement or prospectus for the
Fund or in sales literature (or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise
specifically for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Fund
shares: or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations
(other than statements or representations contained in the Registration
Statement, prospectus or sales literature for the Contracts not supplied by
the Adviser or persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of the Fund
or Adviser or persons under their control, with respect to the sale or
distribution of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of material fact contained in a Registration Statement, prospectus or
sales literature covering the Contracts, or any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statement or statements therein not misleading, if such statement or
omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Fund specifically for
inclusion therein, or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund to provide the
services and furnish the materials under the terms of this Agreement
(including a failure of any
Portfolio, whether unintentional or in good faith or otherwise, to
invest in a manner that complies with the diversification requirements
specified in Article VI of this Agreement); or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Adviser in this Agreement or
arise out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by
the Adviser; as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of
Sections 8.2(b) and 8.2(c) hereof.
8.2(b). The Adviser shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation
to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of such
Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the
performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified
Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement or to
each Company or Account, whichever, is applicable.
8.2(c). The Adviser shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless
such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Adviser in writing within a
reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of
such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Adviser of any
such claim shall not relieve the Adviser from any liability which it may, have
to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on
account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought
against the Indemnified Parties, the Adviser will be entitled to participate, at
its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Adviser also shall be entitled to
assume the defense thereof with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the
action. After notice from the Adviser to such party of the Adviser's election
to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and
expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Adviser will not be
liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection with the defense
thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
8.2(d). The Company agrees promptly to notify the Adviser of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers
or directors in connection with the issuance or sale of the Contracts or the
operation of each Account.
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 Commission may grant (including, but
not limited to, the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order) and the terms
hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance therewith.
ARTICLE X. TERMINATION
10.1. This Agreement shall terminate:
(a) at the option of any party upon one-year advance written notice
to the other parties unless otherwise agreed in a separate written agreement
among the parties; or
(b) at the option of the Company if shares of the Portfolios
delineated in Schedule B are not reasonably available to meet the requirements
of the Contracts as determined by the Company within ten (10) days of notice by
Company to Fund of such fact; or
(c) at the option of the Fund upon institution of formal proceedings
against the Company by the NASD, the Commission, the insurance or securities
commission or division of any state or any other regulatory body regarding the
Company's duties under this Agreement or related to the sale of the Contracts,
the administration of the Contracts, the operation of the Account, or the
purchase of the Fund shares; or
(d) at the option of the Company upon institution of formal
proceedings against the Fund by the NASD, the Commission, or any state
securities or insurance department or any other regulatory body; or
(e) at the option of the Company or the Fund upon receipt of any
necessary regulatory approvals and/or the vote of the contract owners having an
interest in the Account (or any subaccount) to substitute the shares of another
investment company for the corresponding Portfolio shares of the Fund in
accordance with the terms of the Contracts for which those Portfolio shares had
been selected to serve as the underlying investment media. The Company will
give 30 days' prior written notice to the Fund of the date of any proposed vote
or other action taken to replace the Fund's shares; or
(f) at the option of the Company or the Fund upon a determination by
a majority of the Fund Board, or a majority of the disinterested Fund Board
members, that an irreconcilable material conflict exists from the Company's
continued investment in the Fund; or
(g) at the option of the Company if any Portfolio of the Fund ceases
to qualify as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Internal
Revenue Code, or under any successor or similar provision, or if the Company
reasonably believes that the Portfolio may fail to so qualify; or
(h) at the option of the Company if any Portfolio of the Fund fails
to meet the diversification requirements specified in Article VI hereof; or
(i) at the option of any party to this Agreement, upon another
party's material breach of any provision of this Agreement; or
(j) at the option of the Company, if the Company determines in its
sole judgment exercised in good faith, that either the Fund or the Adviser has
suffered a material adverse change in its business, operations or financial
condition since the date of this Agreement or is the subject of material adverse
publicity which is likely to have a material adverse impact upon the business
and operations of the Company; or
(k) at the option of the Fund or Adviser, if the Fund or Adviser
respectively, shall determine in its sole judgment exercised in good faith, that
the Company has suffered a material adverse change in its business, operations
or financial condition since the date of this Agreement or is the subject of
material adverse publicity which is likely to have a material adverse impact
upon the business and operations of the Fund or Adviser; or
(l) at the option of the Fund or Adviser in the event any of the
Contracts are not issued or sold in accordance with applicable federal and/or
state law or if any Account or Contract ceased to qualify as annuity contracts
or life insurance contracts, as applicable, under the Code or if the Fund or
Adviser reasonably believes the Account or Contract may fail to so qualify.
10.2 NOTICE REQUIREMENT
(a) In the event that any termination of this Agreement is based upon
the provisions of Article VII such prior written notice shall be given in
advance of the effective date of termination as required by such provisions.
(b) In the event that any termination of this Agreement is based upon
the provisions of Sections 10.1(b) - (d) or 10.1(g) - (i), prompt written notice
of the election to terminate this Agreement for cause shall be furnished by the
party terminating the Agreement to the non-terminating parties, with said
termination to be effective: (x) upon receipt of such notice by the
non-terminating parties in the case of terminations based on Sections 10.1(b) -
(d); or (y) in the event of terminations based on Sections 10.1(g) - (i) if the
breaching party has not cured such breach.
(c) In the event that any termination of this Agreement is based upon
the provisions of Sections 10.10) or 10.1(k), prior written notice of the
election to terminate this Agreement for cause shall be furnished by the party
terminating this Agreement to the non-terminating parties. Such prior written
notice shall be given by the party terminating this Agreement to the
non-terminating parties at least 30 days before the effective date of
termination.
(d) In the event that any termination of this Agreement is based upon
the provisions of Section 10.1(1), termination shall be effective immediately
upon such occurrence without notice.
10.3. It is understood and agreed that the right to terminate this
Agreement pursuant to Section 10.1(a) may be exercised for any reason or for no
reason.
10.4. EFFECT OF TERMINATION
(a) Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement pursuant
to Section 10.1 of this Agreement, the Fund may, at its option, or in the event
of termination of this Agreement by the Fund or the Adviser pursuant to Section
10.1(a) of this Agreement, the Company may require the Fund and the Adviser to,
continue to make available additional shares of the Fund for so long after the
termination of this Agreement as the Fund or the Company, if the Company is so
requiring, desires pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement as
provided in paragraph (b) below for all Contracts in effect on the effective
date of termination of this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as "Existing
Contracts"). Specifically, without limitation, if the Fund so elects to make
available additional shares of the Fund, pursuant to instructions from the
owners of the Existing Contracts, the Company shall be permitted to reallocate
investments in the Fund, redeem investments in the Fund and/or invest in the
Fund upon the making by such owners of additional purchase payments under the
Existing Contracts. The parties agree that this Section 10.4 shall not apply to
any terminations under Article VII and the effect of such Article VII
terminations shall be governed by Article VII of this Agreement.
(b) In the event of a termination of this agreement pursuant to
Section 10.1 of this Agreement, the Fund shall promptly notify the Company
whether the Fund will continue to make available shares of the Fund after such
termination, except that, with respect to a termination by the Fund or the
Adviser pursuant to Section 10.1(a) of this Agreement, the Company shall
promptly notify the Fund whether it wishes the Fund to continue to make
available additional shares of the Fund. If shares of the Fund continue to be
made available after such termination, the provisions of this Agreement shall
remain in effect except for Section 10.1(a) and thereafter the Fund or the
Company may terminate the Agreement, as so continued pursuant to this Section
10.4 upon written notice to the other party, such notice to be for a period that
is reasonable under the circumstances.
10.5. Except as necessary to implement contract owner initiated or
approved transactions, or as required by state insurance laws or regulations,
the Company shall not redeem Fund shares attributable to the Contracts (as
opposed to Fund shares attributable to the Company's assets), and the Company
shall not prevent contract owners from allocating payments to a Portfolio that
was otherwise available under the Contracts, until 90 days after the Company
shall have notified the Fund or Adviser of its intention to do so.
ARTICLE XI. NOTICES
Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or certified
mail to the other party at the address of such party set forth below or at such
other address as such party may from time to time specify in writing to the
other party.
If to the Fund:
Sun Capital Advisers Trust
One Sun Life Executive Park
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: President
If to the Company:
Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.)
One Sun Life Executive Park
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: __________
If to the Adviser:
Sun Capital Advisers, Inc.
One Sun Life Executive Park
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: President
ARTICLE XII. MISCELLANEOUS
12.1. All persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the
property of the Fund, or in the case of a claim relating to a Portfolio, the
assets of that Portfolio for the enforcement of any claims against the Fund as
neither the Board, officers, agents or shareholders assume any personal
liability for obligations entered into on behalf of the Fund. No Portfolio
shall be subject to liability for the allegations of any other Portfolio.
12.2. Except as otherwise required by law, legal process and regulatory
authority, each party hereto shall treat as confidential the names and addresses
of the owners of the Contracts and all information reasonably identified as
confidential in writing by any other party hereto and, except as permitted by
this Agreement shall not disclose, disseminate or utilize such names and
addresses and other confidential information until such time as it may come into
the public domain without the express written consent of the affected party.
12.3. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of
reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the provision hereof or
otherwise affect their construction or effect.
12.4. This Agreement maybe executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
12.5. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid
by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of the Agreement
shall not be affected thereby.
12.6. Each party hereto shall cooperate with each other party and all
appropriate governmental authorities (including without limitation the
Commission, the NASD and state
insurance regulators) and shall permit such authorities reasonable access to its
books and records in connection with any investigation or inquiry relating to
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
12.7. The rights, remedies and obligations contained in this Agreement
are cumulative and are in addition to any and all rights, remedies and
obligations, at law or in equity, which the parties hereto are entitled to under
state and federal laws.
REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY BLANK
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.
Company:
By its authorized officer
By:
Title:
Date:
Fund:
SUN CAPITAL ADVISERS TRUST:
By its authorized officer
By:
Title:
Date:
Adviser:
SUN CAPITAL ADVISERS, INC.
By its authorized officer
By:
Title:
Date:
SCHEDULE A
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
on behalf of its segregated accounts
ACCOUNT DATE OF ORGANIZATION
SCHEDULE B
SUN CAPITAL ADVISERS TRUST
Sun Capital Money Market Fund
Sun Capital Investment Grade Bond Fund
Sun Capital Real Estate Fund
