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EXHIBIT 8(n)
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
AMONG
BANKERS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK ,
SOGEN VARIABLE FUNDS, INC.,
AND
SOCIETE GENERALE SECURITIES CORPORATION
THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of the ____ day of ______, 1998 by and among
Bankers Life Insurance Company of New York, (the "Company"), a New York
insurance 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 account hereinafter referred to as the "Account"), SoGen
Variable Funds, Inc. (the "Fund"), a corporation organized under the laws of
Maryland, and Societe Generale Securities Corporation (the "Underwriter"), a New
York corporation.
WHEREAS, the Fund engages in business as an open-end management investment
company and is or will be available to act as the investment vehicle for
separate accounts established for variable life insurance and variable annuity
contracts (the "Variable Insurance Products") to be offered by insurance
companies which have entered into participation agreements with the Fund and
Underwriter ("Participating Insurance Companies");
WHEREAS, the shares of common stock of the Fund are divided into several
series of shares, each designated a "Portfolio" and representing the interest in
a particular managed portfolio of securities and other assets;
WHEREAS, the Fund has, to the extent necessary, obtained an order from the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") 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, (the "1940 Act") and Rules
6e-2(b)(15) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15) thereunder, if and 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 (the "Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order");
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the 1940 Act and shares of the Portfolios are registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act");
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WHEREAS, Societe Generale Asset Management Corp. (the "Adviser"), which
serves as investment adviser to the Fund, is duly registered as an investment
adviser under the federal Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and any
applicable state securities laws;
WHEREAS, the Company has issued or will issue certain variable life
insurance and/or variable annuity contracts supported wholly or partially by the
Account (the "Contracts"), and said Contracts are listed in Schedule A hereto,
as it may be amended from time to time by mutual written agreement;
WHEREAS, the Account is duly established and maintained as a segregated
asset account, duly established by the Company, on the date shown for such
Account on Schedule A hereto, to set aside and invest assets attributable to the
aforesaid Contracts;
WHEREAS, the Underwriter, which serves as distributor to the Fund, is
registered as a broker dealer with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and is a member in good standing of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD"); and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Company intends to purchase shares in the Portfolios listed in
Schedule A hereto, as it may be amended from time to time by mutual written
agreement (the "Designated Portfolios") on behalf of the Account to fund the
aforesaid Contracts, and the Underwriter is authorized to sell such shares to
the Account at net asset value;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Company,
the Fund and the Underwriter agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. Sale of Fund Shares
1.1. The Fund has granted to the Underwriter exclusive
authority to distribute the Fund's shares, and has agreed to instruct, and has
so instructed, the Underwriter to make available to the Company for purchase on
behalf of the Account Fund shares of those Designated Portfolios selected by the
Underwriter. Pursuant to such authority and instructions, and subject to Article
X hereof, the Underwriter agrees to make available to the Company for purchase
on behalf of the Account, shares of those Designated Portfolios listed on
Schedule A to this Agreement, such purchases to be effected at net asset value
in accordance with Section 1.3 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
(i) Fund series (other than those listed on Schedule A) in existence now or that
may be established in the future will be made available to the Company only as
the Underwriter may so provide, and (ii) the Board of Directors of the Fund (the
"Board") may suspend or terminate the offering of Fund shares of any
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Designated Portfolio or class thereof, if such action is required by law or by
regulatory authorities having jurisdiction or if, 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, suspension or termination is necessary in the
best interests of the shareholders of such Designated Portfolio.
1.2 The Fund shall redeem, at the Company's request, any
full or fractional Designated Portfolio shares held by the Company on behalf of
the Account, such redemptions to be effected at net asset value in accordance
with Section 1.3 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the
Company shall not redeem Fund shares attributable to Contract owners except in
the circumstances permitted in Section 10.3 of this Agreement, and (ii) the Fund
may delay redemption of Fund shares of any Designated Portfolio to the extent
permitted by the 1940 Act, any rules, regulations or orders thereunder, or the
then current Fund Prospectus.
1.3 Purchase and Redemption Procedures
(a) The Fund hereby appoints the Company as an agent
of the Fund for the limited purpose of receiving purchase and
redemption requests on behalf of the Account (but not with respect to
any Fund shares that may be held in the general account of the
Company) for shares of those Designated Portfolios made available
hereunder, based on allocations of amounts to the Account or
subaccounts thereof under the Contracts and other transactions
relating to the Contracts or the Account. Receipt of any such request
(or relevant transactional information therefor) on any day the New
York Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which the Fund
calculates it net asset value pursuant to the rules of the SEC (a
"Business Day") by the Company as such limited agent of the Fund
prior to the time that the Fund calculates its net asset value as
described from time to time in the Fund Prospectus (which as of the
date of execution of this Agreement is 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) shall
constitute receipt by the Fund on that same Business Day, provided
that the Fund receives notice of such request by 9:30 a.m. Eastern
Time on the next following Business Day.
(b) The Company shall pay for shares of each
Designated Portfolio on the same day that it notifies the Fund of a
purchase request for such shares. Payment for Designated Portfolio
shares shall be made in federal funds transmitted to the Fund by wire
to be received by the Fund by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the day the
Fund is notified of the purchase request for Designated Portfolio
shares (unless the Fund determines and so advises the Company that
sufficient proceeds are available from redemption of shares of other
Designated Portfolios effected pursuant to redemption requests
tendered by the Company on behalf of the Account). If federal funds
are not received on time, such funds will be invested, and Designated
Portfolio shares purchased thereby will be issued, as soon as
practicable and the Company shall promptly, upon the Fund's request,
reimburse the Fund for any charges, costs, fees, interest or other
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expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with any advances to, or
borrowing or overdrafts by, the Fund, or any similar expenses incurred by
the Fund, as a result of portfolio transactions effected by the Fund based
upon such purchase request. Upon receipt of federal funds so wired, such
funds shall cease to be the responsibility of the Company and shall become
the responsibility of the Fund.
(c) Payment for Designated Portfolio shares redeemed
by the Account or the Company shall be made in federal funds transmitted
by wire to the Company or any other designated person on the next Business
Day after the Fund is properly notified of the redemption order of such
shares (unless redemption proceeds are to be applied to the purchase of
shares of other Designated Portfolio in accordance with Section 1.3(b) of
this Agreement), except that the Fund reserves the right to delay payment
of redemption proceeds to the extent permitted under Section 22(e) of the
1940 Act and any Rules thereunder, and in accordance with the procedures
and policies of the Fund as described in the then current prospectus. The
Fund shall not bear any responsibility whatsoever for the proper
disbursement or crediting of redemption proceeds by the Company, the
Company alone shall be responsible for such action.
(d) Any purchase or redemption request for Designated
Portfolio shares held or to be held in the Company's general account shall
be effected at the net asset value per share next determined after the
Fund's receipt of such request, provided that, in the case of a purchase
request, payment for Fund shares so requested is received by the Fund in
federal funds prior to close of business for determination of such value,
as defined from time to time in the Fund Prospectus.
1.4 The Fund shall use its best efforts to make the net asset
value per share for each Designated Portfolio available to the Company by 6:30
p.m. Eastern Time each Business Day, and in any event, as soon as reasonably
practicable after the net asset value per share for such Designated Portfolio is
calculated, and shall calculate such net asset value in accordance with the
Fund's Prospectus. If the Fund provides the Company with materially incorrect
share net asset value information through no fault of the Company, the Company
on behalf of the Account shall be entitled, to the extent reasonably
practicable, to an adjustment to the number of shares purchased or redeemed to
reflect the correct net asset value, and the Underwriter shall promptly, on
request of the Company, reimburse the Company, or cause the responsible party to
reimburse the Company, for any reasonable out-of-pocket charges, costs, fees or
other expenses incurred by the Company in implementing the steps determined by
the Fund to be necessary to correct the pricing error. Neither the Fund, any
Designated Portfolio, the Underwriter, nor any of their affiliates shall be
liable for any information provided to the Company pursuant to this Agreement
which information is based on incorrect information supplied by the Company to
the Fund or the Underwriter.
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1.5 The Fund shall furnish notice (by wire or telephone followed
by written confirmation) to the Company as soon as reasonably practicable of any
income dividends or capital gain distributions payable on any Designated
Portfolio shares. The Company, on its behalf and on behalf of the Account,
hereby elects to receive all such dividends and distributions as are payable on
any Designated Portfolio shares in the form of additional shares of that
Designated Portfolio. The Company reserves the right, on its behalf and on
behalf of the Account, to revoke this election and to receive all such dividends
and capital gain distributions in cash. The Fund shall notify the Company
promptly of the number of Designated Portfolio shares so issued as payment of
such dividends and distributions.
1.6. Issuance and transfer of Fund shares shall be by book entry
only. Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or the Account.
Purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares shall be recorded in an
appropriate ledger for the Account or the appropriate subaccount of the Account.
1.7. (a) The parties hereto acknowledge that the
arrangement contemplated by this Agreement is not exclusive; the
Fund's shares may be sold to other insurance companies (subject to
Section 1.8 hereof) and the cash value of the Contracts may be
invested in other investment companies, provided, however, that until
this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Article X, the Company shall
give equivalent prominence to the Designated Portfolios as the
Company provides to other funding vehicles available under the
Contracts in promotional materials that describe funding vehicles
available under the Contracts and are published by the Company.
(b) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the
Underwriter (unless otherwise required by applicable law) take any action
to operate the Account as a management investment company under the 1940
Act.
(c) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the
Underwriter (unless otherwise required by applicable law), induce Contract
owners to change or modify the Fund or change the Fund's distributor or
investment adviser.
1.8. The Underwriter and the Fund shall sell Fund shares only to
Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts and to persons or
plans ("Qualified Persons") that qualify to purchase shares of the Fund under
Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and
the regulations thereunder without impairing the ability of the Account to
consider the portfolio investments of the Fund as constituting investments of
the Account for the purpose of satisfying the diversification requirements of
Section 817(h). The Underwriter and the Fund shall not sell Fund shares to any
insurance company or separate account unless an agreement complying with Article
VI of this Agreement is in effect to govern such sales. Subject to Sections 6.1
and 6.2 hereof, the Company hereby represents and warrants that
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it and the Account are Qualified Persons. The Fund reserves the right to cease
offering shares of any Designated Portfolio in the discretion of the Fund.
ARTICLE II. Representations and Warranties
2.1 The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts (a) are
or, prior to issuance, will be registered under the 1933 Act or, alternatively
(b) are not registered because they are properly exempt from registration under
the 1933 Act or will be offered exclusively in transactions that are properly
exempt from registration under the 1933 Act. The Company further represents and
warrants that the Contracts will be issued and sold in compliance in all
material respects with all applicable federal securities and state securities
and insurance 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, that it has legally and validly
established the Account prior to any issuance or sale thereof as a segregated
asset account under New York insurance laws, and that it (a) has registered or,
prior to any issuance or sale of the Contracts, will register the 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, or alternatively (b) has
not registered the Account in proper reliance upon an exclusion from
registration under the 1940 Act. The Company shall register and qualify the
Contracts or interests therein as securities in accordance with the laws of the
various states only if and to the extent deemed advisable by the Company.
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 New
York and the State of Indiana and applicable federal 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 only if and to the extent deemed advisable
by the Fund or the Underwriter.
2.3 The Fund intends to make payments to finance distribution
expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. In this regard, the Fund's
board of directors, a majority of whom are not interested persons of the Fund,
have formulated and approved the Fund's plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1
under the 1940 Act to finance distribution expenses.
2.4 The Fund makes no representations as to whether any aspect of
its operations, including, but not limited to, investment policies, fees and
expenses, complies with the insurance and other applicable laws of the various
states, except that the Fund
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represents that the Fund's investment policies, fees and expenses, are and shall
at all times remain in compliance with the laws of the State of New York and the
State of Indiana to the extent required to perform this Agreement, provided,
however, that the Company shall notify the Fund with respect to any additional
requirements that are specifically directed to the Company by state insurance
departments.
2.5 The Fund represents that it is lawfully organized and validly
existing under the laws of the State of Maryland and that it does and will
comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act.
2.6 The Underwriter represents and warrants that it is a member in
good standing of the NASD and is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC. The
Underwriter further represents that it will sell and distribute the Fund shares
in accordance with the laws of the State of New York and the State of Indiana
and any applicable state and federal securities laws.
2.7 The Underwriter represents and warrants that the Adviser is
and shall remain duly registered 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 the laws of the State of New York
and the State of Indiana and any applicable state and federal securities laws.
2.8 The Fund and the Underwriter represent and warrant that all of
their directors, officers, employees, investment advisers, and other individuals
or 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 minimum
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
employed or controlled by the Company dealing with the money and/or securities
of the Account are covered by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage for
the benefit of the Account, in an amount not less than $5 million. The aforesaid
bond includes coverage for larceny and embezzlement and is issued by a reputable
bonding company.
ARTICLE III. Prospectuses and Proxy Statements; Voting
3.1 The Underwriter shall provide the Company with as many copies
of the Fund's current prospectus (describing only the Designated Portfolios
listed on Schedule A) as the Company may reasonably request. The Company shall
bear the expense of printing copies of the current prospectus for the Contracts
that will be
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distributed to existing Contract owners, and the Company shall bear the expense
of printing copies of the Fund's prospectus that are used in connection with
offering the Contracts issued by the Company. If requested by the Company in
lieu thereof, the Fund shall provide such documentation (including a final copy
of the new prospectus on diskette 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 prospectus for the Designated Portfolios printed together
in one document (such printing to be at the Company's expense).
3.2 The Fund's prospectus shall state that the current Statement
of Additional Information ("SAI") for the Fund is available, and the Underwriter
(or the Fund), at its expense, shall provide a reasonable number of copies of
such SAI free of charge to the Company for itself and for any owner of a
Contract who requests such SAI.
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 The Company shall:
(i) solicit voting instructions from Contract owners;
(ii) 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.
The Company will vote Fund shares held in any segregated asset account in the
same proportion as Fund shares of such portfolio for which voting instructions
have been received from Contract owners, to the extent permitted by law.
3.5 Participating Insurance Companies shall be responsible for
assuring that each of their separate accounts participating in a Designated
Portfolio calculates voting privileges as required by the Shared Funding
Exemptive Order and consistent with any reasonable standards that the Fund may
adopt and provide in writing. The Fund hereby confirms that the manner in which
the Company currently calculates voting privileges is consistent with the manner
in which other Participating Insurance Companies are required to calculate
voting privileges. The Fund and the Underwriter will notify the Company if
either becomes aware that another Participating Insurance Company has changed
the manner in which it so calculates voting privileges.
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3.6 The Fund will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act
requiring voting by shareholders, and in particular the fund will either provide
for annual meetings or comply with Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act (although the
Fund is not one of the trusts described in Section 16(c) of that Act) as well as
Sections 16(a) and, if and when applicable, 16(b). Further, the Fund will act in
accordance with the SEC's interpretation of the requirements of Section 16(a)
with respect to periodic elections of trustees and with whatever rule the
Commission may promulgate with respect thereto.
ARTICLE IV. Sales Material and Information
4.1 The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the
Fund or its designee, at least fifteen business days prior to first use, each
piece of sales literature or other promotional material that the Company
develops and in which the Fund (or a Designated Portfolio thereof) or the
Adviser or the Underwriter is named. No such material shall be used until
approved by the Fund or its designee, and the Fund will use its best efforts for
it or its designee to review such sales literature or promotional material
within ten Business Days after receipt of such material. The Fund or its
designee reserves the right to reasonably object to the continued use of any
such sales literature or other promotional material in which the Fund (or a
Designated Portfolio thereof) or the Adviser or the Underwriter is named, and no
such material shall be used if the Fund or its designee so object.
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 or SAI for
the Fund shares, as such registration statement and prospectus or SAI 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 Underwriter, except with the permission of the
Fund or the Underwriter or the designee of either.
4.3 The Fund and the Underwriter, or their designee, shall furnish, or
shall cause to be, furnished, to the Company, at least fifteen business days
prior to first use, each piece of sales literature or other promotional material
that it develops and in which the Company, and/or its Account, or the Contracts,
is named. No such material shall be used until approved by the Company, and the
Company will use its best efforts to review such sales literature or promotional
material within ten Business Days after receipt of such material. The Company
reserves the right to reasonably object to the continued use of any such sales
literature or other promotional material in which the Company and/or its
Account, or the Contracts, is named, and no such material shall be used if the
Company so objects.
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4.4. The Fund and the Underwriter shall not give any information or make
any representations on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company, the
Account, or the Contracts other than the information or representations
contained in a registration statement, prospectus (which shall include an
offering memorandum, if any, if the Contracts issued by the Company or interests
therein are not registered under the 1933 Act), or SAI for the Contracts, as
such registration statement, prospectus, or SAI may be amended or supplemented
from time to time, or in published reports for the 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, SAIs, 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(s) with the SEC or other regulatory authorities. The Fund will provide
to the Company any complaints received that pertain to the Company, the Account,
or the Contracts.
4.6 The Company will provide to the Fund at least one complete copy of
all registration statements, prospectuses (which shall include an offering
memorandum, if any, if the Contracts issued by the Company or interests therein
are not registered under the 1933 Act), SAIs, 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 the Account, contemporaneously with the
filing of such document(s) with the SEC or other regulatory authorities. The
Company shall provide to the Fund and the Underwriter any complaints received
from the Contract owners pertaining to the Fund or the Designated Portfolio.
4.7 The Fund will provide the Company with as much notice as is
reasonably practicable of any proxy solicitation for any Designated Portfolio,
and of any material change in the Fund's registration statement, particularly
any change resulting in a change to the registration statement or prospectus for
any Account. The Fund will work with the Company so as to enable the Company to
solicit proxies from Contract owners, or to make changes to its prospectus or
registration statement, in an orderly manner. The Fund will make reasonable
efforts to attempt to have changes affecting Contract prospectuses become
effective simultaneously with the annual updates for such prospectuses.
4.8 For purposes of this Article IV, the phrase "sales literature and
other promotional materials" includes, but is not limited to, any of the
following that refer to the Fund or any affiliate of the Fund: 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 (i.e., any written or electronic communication
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distributed or made generally available to customers or the public, including
brochures, circulars, reports, market letters, form letters, telemarketing
scripts, seminar texts, reprints or excerpts of any other advertisement, sales
literature, or published article), distributed or made generally available to
customers or to the public, educational or training materials or other
communications distributed or made generally available to some or all agents or
employees, and registration statements, prospectuses, SAIs, shareholder reports,
proxy materials, and any other communications distributed or made generally
available with regard to the Fund.
ARTICLE V. Fees and Expenses
5.1 The Fund and the Underwriter shall pay no fee or other compensation
to the Company under this Agreement, except that, the Underwriter may, to the
extent permitted under the Fund's distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule
12b-1 under the 1940 Act, make payments to the Company or to the underwriter for
the Contracts if and in amounts agreed to by the Underwriter in writing, and
such payments will be made out of existing fees otherwise payable to the
Underwriter, past profits of the Underwriter, or other resources available to
the Underwriter. No such payments shall be made directly by the Fund.
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
the costs of printing a prospectus that constitutes an annual report), the
preparation of all statements and notices required by any federal or state law,
and all taxes on the issuance or transfer of the Fund's shares.
5.3 The Company shall bear the expenses of 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 and Qualification
6.1 The Fund will invest its assets in such a manner as to ensure that
the Contracts will be treated as annuity or life insurance contracts, whichever
is appropriate, under the Code and the regulations issued thereunder (or any
successor provisions). Without limiting the scope of the foregoing, each
Designated Portfolio has complied and will continue to comply with Section
817(h) of the Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.817-5, and any Treasury
interpretations thereof, relating to the diversification
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requirements for variable annuity, endowment, or life insurance contracts, and
any amendments or other modifications or successor provisions to such Section or
Regulations. In the event of a breach of this Article VI by the Fund, it will
take all reasonable steps (a) to notify the Company of such breach and (b) to
adequately diversify the Fund so as to achieve compliance within the grace
period afforded by Regulation 817.5.
6.2 The Fund represents that it is or will be qualified as a Regulated
Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Code, and that it will make every
effort to maintain such qualification (under Subchapter M or any successor or
similar provisions) 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 future.
6.3 Subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.2 hereof, the Company represents that
the Contracts are currently, and at the time of issuance shall be, treated as
life insurance or annuity insurance contracts, under applicable provisions of
the Code, and that it will make every effort to maintain such treatment, and
that it will notify the Fund and the Underwriter immediately upon having a
reasonable basis for believing the Contracts have ceased to be so treated or
that they might not be so treated in the future. The Company agrees that any
prospectus offering a contract that is a "modified endowment contract" as that
term is defined in Section 7702A of the Code (or any successor or similar
provision), shall identify such contract as a modified endowment contract.
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ARTICLE VII. Potential Conflicts
The following provisions shall apply only upon issuance of the Mixed and Shared
Funding Order and the sale of shares of the Fund to variable life insurance
separate accounts.
7.1 The Board will monitor the Fund for the existence of any material
irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the Contract owners of all
separate accounts investing in the Fund. An irreconcilable material conflict may
arise for a variety of reasons, including: (a) an action by any state insurance
regulatory authority; (b) a change in applicable federal or state insurance,
tax, or securities laws or regulations, or a public ruling, private letter
ruling, no-action or interpretative letter, or any similar action by insurance,
tax, or securities regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative or judicial
decision in any relevant proceeding; (d) the manner in which the investments of
any Portfolio are being managed; (e) a difference in voting instructions given
by variable annuity contract and variable life insurance contract owners; or (f)
a decision by an insurer to disregard the voting instructions of contract
owners. The Board shall promptly inform the Company if it determines that an
irreconcilable material conflict exists and the implications thereof.
7.2. The Company will report any potential or existing conflicts of which
it is aware to the Board. The Company 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 members, that a material irreconcilable conflict exists, the
Company and other Participating Insurance Companies shall, at their expense (to
be allocated as near as practicable in proportion to such parties' respective
responsibilities for such conflict) and to the extent reasonably practicable (as
determined by a majority of the disinterested Board members), 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 managed
separate account.
- 13 -
14
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 Account's investment in
the Fund and terminate this Agreement with respect to each 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. 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
month period the 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 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 month period, the Fund shall continue to
accept and implement orders by the Company for the purchase (and redemption) of
shares of the Fund.
7.6 For purposes of Section 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 Contract if an offer to do so has been declined by vote
of a majority of Contract owners materially adversely affected by the
irreconcilable material conflict. 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.
7.7 If and to the extent the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemption Order or
any amendment thereto contains terms and conditions different from Sections 3.4,
3.5, 3.6, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 of this Agreement, then the Fund and/or
the Participating Insurance Companies, as appropriate, shall take such steps as
may be necessary to comply with the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order,
and Sections 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4 and 7.5 of this Agreement shall
continue in effect only to the extent that
- 14 -
15
terms and conditions substantially identical to such Sections are contained in
the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order or any amendment thereto. If and to
the extent that Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) are amended, or Rule 6e-3 is adopted,
to provide exemptive relief from any provision of the 1940 Act or the rules
promulgated thereunder with respect to mixed or shared funding (as defined in
the 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 Fund and/or the Participating Insurance Companies, as appropriate,
shall take such steps as may be necessary to comply with Rules 6e-2 and 6e-3(T),
as amended, and Rule 6e-3, as adopted, to the extent such rules are applicable;
and (b) Sections 3.4, 3.5, 7.1., 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 of this Agreement shall
continue in effect only to the extent that terms and conditions substantially
identical to such Sections are contained in such Rule(s) as so amended or
adopted.
ARTICLE VIII. Indemnification
8.1 Indemnification By the Company
8.1(a). The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, the
Underwriter, the Adviser and each of its directors and officers, and each
person, if any, who controls the Fund or Underwriter 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 or regulation, at common law or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or
actions in respect thereof) or settlements:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statements of any
material fact contained in the registration
statement, prospectus (which shall include an
offering memorandum, if any), or SAI for the
Contracts or contained in the Contracts or sales
literature for the Contracts (or any amendment or
supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out
of or are based upon the omission or the alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, provided that
this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to
any Indemnified Party if such statement or
omission or such alleged statement or omission was
made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished to the
- 15 -
16
Company by or on behalf of the Fund for use in the
registration statement, prospectus or SAI 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, SAI, or sales literature of
the Fund not supplied by the Company or persons
under its control) or wrongful conduct of the
Company or its agents or persons under the
Company's authorization or 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, SAI, 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 material failure by the
Company to provide the services and furnish the
materials under the terms of this Agreement
(including a failure, whether unintentional or in
good faith or otherwise, to comply with the
qualification 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
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.
- 16 -
17
8.1(b). The Company 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 its obligations or duties under this Agreement.
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 an Indemnified Party, 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 operation of the
Fund.
8.2 Indemnification by the Underwriter
8.2(a). The Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company
and each of it directors and officer 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 Underwriter) or litigation (including legal and other
expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute
or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements:
(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
- 17 -
18
or SAI 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 Underwriter
or Fund by or on behalf of the Company for use
in the registration statement, prospectus or
SAI for the Fund or in sales literature (or any
amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use
in connection with the sale of the Contracts or
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, SAI or sales literature for
the Contracts not supplied by the Underwriter or
persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of
the Fund or Underwriter 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 a material fact contained in a
registration statement, prospectus, SAI or sales
literature covering the Contracts, or any
amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statement or statements
therein not misleading, if such statement or
omission was made in reliance upon information
furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the
Fund or the Underwriter; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund
or the Underwriter to provide the services and
furnish the materials under the terms of this
Agreement (including a failure of the Fund,
whether unintentional or in good faith or
otherwise, to
- 18 -
19
comply with the diversification and other
qualification 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
Underwriter in this Agreement or arise out of or
result from any other material breach of this
Agreement by the Underwriter;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.2(b) and
8.2(c) hereof.
8.2(b). The Underwriter 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 Part's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the
performance or such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified
Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement or to
the Company or the Account, whichever is applicable.
8.2(c). The Underwriter 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 Underwriter 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 Underwriter of
any such claim shall not relieve the Underwriter 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 Party, the Underwriter will be entitled to participate,
at its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Underwriter also shall be
entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party
named in the action. After notice from the Underwriter to such party of the
Underwriter'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 Underwriter 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 Underwriter 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 the Account.
8.3 Indemnification by the Fund
- 19 -
20
8.3(a). The Fund 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 8.3) against any and all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with
the written consent of the Fund) or litigation (including legal and other
expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute,
at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities
or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements result from the gross
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of the Board or any member thereof,
are related to the operations of the Fund and:
(i) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund to
provide the services and furnish the materials
under the terms of this Agreement, or to comply
with the diversification requirements specified
in Article VI of this Agreement; or
(ii) arise out of or result from any material breach
of any representation and/or warranty made by
the Fund in this Agreement or arise out of or
result from any other material breach of this
Agreement by the Fund; as limited by and in
accordance with the provisions of Sections
8.3(b) and 8.3(c) hereof; or
(iii) arise out of or result from the provision by
the Underwriter or the Fund to the Company of
insufficient or incorrect information regarding
the net asset value per share of any Portfolio,
or the failure of the Distributor or Fund to
provide such information by 6:30 p.m. Eastern
Time.
8.3(b). The Fund 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 and duties under this Agreement or to the
Company, the Fund, the Distributor, or each Account, whichever is applicable.
8.3(c). The Fund 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 Fund 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
- 20 -
21
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 Fund of any such claim shall not relieve the Fund 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 Fund will be entitled to
participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Fund also shall be
entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party
named in the action. After notice from the Fund to such party of the Fund'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 Fund 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.
8.3(d). The Company and the Underwriter agree promptly to notify the Fund
of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its
respective officers or directors in connection with this Agreement, the issuance
or sale of the Contracts, with respect to the operation of either Account, or
the sale or acquisition of shares of the Fund.
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 State of New York.
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
(including, but not limited to, any Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order)
and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance therewith.
If, in the future, the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order should no longer
be necessary under applicable law, then Article VII shall no longer apply.
- 21 -
22
ARTICLE X. Termination
10.1 This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until the
first to occur of:
(a) termination by any party, for any reason with
respect to some or all Designated Portfolios, by 120
days advance written notice delivered to the other
parties; or
(b) termination by the Company by written notice to the
Fund and the Underwriter based upon the Company's
determination that shares of the Fund are not reasonably
available to meet the requirements of the Contracts; or
(c) termination by the Company by written notice to the
Fund and the Underwriter in the event any of the
Designated Portfolio's shares are not registered, issued
or sold in accordance with applicable state and/or
federal law or such law precludes the use of such shares
as the underlying investment media of the Contracts
issued or to be issued by the Company; or
(d) termination by the Fund or Underwriter in the event
that formal administrative proceedings are instituted
against the Company by the NASD, the SEC, the Insurance
Commissioner or like official 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 operation of any Account, or the purchase of the
Fund's shares; provided, however, that the Fund or
Underwriter determines in its sole judgment exercised in
good faith, that any such administrative proceedings
will have a material adverse effect upon the ability of
the Company to perform its obligations under this
Agreement; or
(e) termination by the Company in the event that formal
administrative proceedings are instituted against the
Fund or Underwriter by the NASD, the SEC, or any state
securities or insurance department or any other
regulatory body; provided, however, that the Company
determines in its sole judgment exercised in good faith,
that any such administrative proceedings will have a
material adverse effect upon the ability of the Fund or
Underwriter to perform its obligations under this
Agreement; or
- 22 -
23
(f) termination by the Company by written notice to the
Fund and the Underwriter with respect to any Designated
Portfolio in the event that such Portfolio ceases to
qualify as a Regulated Investment Company under
Subchapter M or fails to comply with the Section 817(h)
diversification requirements specified in Article VI
hereof, or if the Company reasonably believes that such
Portfolio may fail to so qualify or comply; or
(g) termination by the Fund or Underwriter by written
notice to the Company in the event that the Contracts
fail to meet the qualifications specified in Article VI
hereof; or
(h) termination by either the Fund or the Underwriter
by written notice to the Company, if either one or both
of the Fund or the Underwriter 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
(i) termination by the Company by written notice to the
Fund and the Underwriter, if the Company shall
determine, in its sole judgment exercised in good faith,
that the Fund, Adviser, or the Underwriter 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
(j) termination by the Company upon any substitution of
the shares of another investment company or series
thereof for shares of a Designated Portfolio of the Fund
in accordance with the terms of the Contracts, provided
that the Company has given at least 45 days prior
written notice to the Fund and Underwriter of the date
of substitution; or
(k) termination by any party in the event that the
Fund's Board of Directors determines that a material
irreconcilable conflict exists as provided in Article
VII.
10.2 Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Fund and the
Underwriter shall, at the option of the Company, continue to make available
additional shares of the Fund pursuant to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, for all
- 23 -
24
Contracts in effect on the effective date of termination of this Agreement
(hereinafter referred to as "Existing Contracts"), unless the Underwriter elects
to compel a substitution of other securities for the shares of the Designated
Portfolios as may be required under Article VII. Specifically, the owners of the
Existing Contracts may be permitted to reallocate investments in the Fund,
redeem investments in the Fund and/or invest in the Fund upon the making of
additional purchase payments under the Existing Contracts (subject to any such
election by the Underwriter). The parties agree that this Section 10.2 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. The parties
further agree that this Section 10.2 shall not apply to any terminations under
Section 10.1(f) or (g) of this Agreement.
10.3 The Company shall not redeem Fund shares attributable to the
Contracts (as opposed to Fund shares attributable to the Company's assets held
in the Account) except (i) as necessary to implement Contract owner initiated or
approved transactions, (ii) as required by state and/or federal laws or
regulations or judicial or other legal precedent of general application
(hereinafter referred to as a "Legally Required Redemption"), (iii) as permitted
by an order of the SEC pursuant to Section 26(b) of the 1940 Act, but only if a
substitution of other securities for the shares of the Designated Portfolios is
consistent with the terms of the Contracts, or (iv) as permitted under the terms
of the Contract. Upon request, the Company will promptly furnish to the Fund and
the Underwriter reasonable assurance that any redemption pursuant to clause (ii)
above is a Legally Required Redemption. Furthermore, except in cases where
permitted under the terms of the Contracts, the Company shall not prevent
Contract owners from allocating payments to a Portfolio that was otherwise
available under the Contracts without first giving the Fund or the Underwriter
45 days notice of its intention to do so.
10.4 Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, each party's
obligation under Article VIII to indemnify the other parties shall survive.
ARTICLE XI. Notices
Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or by nationally
recognized overnight courier, charges prepaid, with evidence of delivery, 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
parties, and such notice shall be effective upon delivery.
- 24 -
25
If to the Fund:
SoGen Variable Funds, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx-Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
If to the Company:
Indianapolis Life Insurance Company
0000 X. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxx, Esq.
If to the Underwriter:
Societe Generale Securities Corporation
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
ARTICLE XII. Miscellaneous
12.1 All persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the property
of the Fund, and in the case of a series company, the respective Designated
Portfolios listed on Schedule A hereto as though each such Designated Portfolio
had separately contracted with the Company and the Underwriter for the
enforcement of any claims against the Fund. The parties agree that neither the
Board, officers, agents or shareholders of the Fund assume any personal
liability or responsibility for obligations entered into by or on behalf of the
Fund.
12.2 Subject to the requirements of legal process and regulatory
authority, each party hereto shall treat as confidential the names and addresses
of the owners of the Contracts and all information reasonably identified as
confidential in writing by any other party hereto and, except as permitted by
this Agreement, shall not disclose, disseminate or utilize such names and
addresses and other confidential information without the express written consent
of the affected party until such time as such information has come into the
public domain.
12.3 The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of
reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or
otherwise affect their construction or effect.
12.4 This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
- 25 -
26
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 SEC, the
NASD, and state insurance regulators) and shall permit such authorities
reasonable access to its books and records in connection with any investigation
or inquiry relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, each party hereto further
agrees to furnish the New York and Indiana Insurance Commissioner with any
information or reports in connection with services provided under this Agreement
which such Commissioner may request in order to ascertain whether the variable
annuity operations of the Company are being conducted in a manner consistent
with the New York and Indiana variable annuity laws and regulations and any
other applicable law or regulations.
12.7 The rights, remedies and obligations contained in this Agreement are
cumulative and are in addition to any and all rights, remedies, and obligations,
at law or in equity, which the parties hereto are entitled to under state and
federal laws.
12.8 This Agreement or any of the rights and obligations hereunder may
not be assigned by any party without the prior written consent of all parties
hereto.
- 26 -
27
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: BANKERS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW
YORK
By its authorized officer
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
----------------------------------
Date:
-----------------------------------
FUND: SOGEN VARIABLE FUNDS, INC.
By its authorized officer
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
----------------------------------
Date:
-----------------------------------
UNDERWRITER: SOCIETE GENERALE SECURITIES CORPORATION
By its authorized officer
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
----------------------------------
Date:
-----------------------------------
- 27 -
28
SCHEDULE A
Segregated Asset Accounts of the Company
Bankers Life Insurance Company of New York Separate Account I
Contracts to be Issued by the Company
VCA - 97BL
Designated Portfolio Shares to be Purchased
SoGen Overseas Variable Portfolio
Other Funding Vehicles Available Under the Contracts
The Xxxxx American Fund
Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund
Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund II
OCC Accumulation Trust
X. Xxxx Price Fixed Income Series, Inc.
X. Xxxx Price International Series, Inc.
Xxx Xxx Worldwide Insurance Trust
Royce Capital Fund
SAFECO Resource Series Trust
- 28 -
