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EXHIBIT 1(A)(8)(c)
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made this 31st day of January, 1996, by and among
The Xxxxx American Fund (the "Trust"), an open-end management investment
company organized as a Massachusetts business trust, National Life Insurance
Company, a life insurance company organized as a corporation under the laws of
the State of Vermont (the "Company"), on its own behalf and on behalf of each
segregated asset account of the Company set forth in Schedule A, as may be
amended from time to time (the "Accounts"), and Xxxx Xxxxx and Company,
Incorporated, a Delaware corporation, the Trust's distributor (the
"Distributor").
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") as an open-end management investment company
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), and has
an effective registration statement relating to the offer and sale of the
various series of its shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"1933 Act");
WHEREAS, the Trust and the Distributor desire that Trust shares be
used as an investment vehicle for separate accounts established for variable
life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts to be offered by life
insurance companies which have entered into fund participation agreements with
the Trust (the "Participating Insurance Companies");
WHEREAS, shares of beneficial interest in the Trust are divided into
the following series which are available for purchase by the Company for the
Accounts: Xxxxx American Small Capitalization Portfolio, Xxxxx American Growth
Portfolio, Xxxxx American Income & Growth Portfolio, Xxxxx American Balanced
Portfolio, Xxxxx American MidCap Growth Portfolio, and Xxxxx American Leveraged
AllCap Portfolio;
WHEREAS, the Trust has received an order from the Commission, dated
February 17, 1989 (File No. 812-7076), granting Participating Insurance
Companies and their separate accounts exemptions from the provisions of
Sections 9(a), 13(a), 15(a) and 15(b) of the 1940 Act, and Rules 6e-2(b)(15)
and 6e-3(T)(b)(15) thereunder, to the extent necessary to permit shares of the
Portfolios of the Trust to be sold to and held by variable annuity and variable
life insurance separate accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated life
insurance companies (the "Shared Funding Exemptive Order");
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register under the 1933
Act certain variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts to
be issued by the Company under which the Portfolios are to be made available as
investment vehicles (the "Contracts");
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register each Account as a
unit investment trust under the 1940 Act unless an exemption from registration
under the 1940 Act is available and the Trust has been so advised;
WHEREAS, the Company desires to use shares of one or more Portfolios
as investment vehicles for the Accounts;
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the parties
agree as follows:
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ARTICLE I.
PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF TRUST PORTFOLIO SHARES
1.1. For purposes of this Article I the Company shall be the Trust's agent
for the receipt from each account of purchase orders and requests for
redemption pursuant to the Contracts relating to each Portfolio,
provided that the Company notifies the Trust of such purchase orders
and requests for redemption by 9:30 a.m. Eastern time on the next
following Business Day, as defined in Section 1.3.
1.2. The Trust shall make shares of the Portfolios available to the
Accounts at the net asset value next computed after receipt of a
purchase order by the Trust (or its agent), as established in
accordance with the provisions of the then current prospectus of the
Trust describing Portfolio purchase procedures. The Company will
transmit orders from time to time to the Trust for the purchase and
redemption of shares of the Portfolios. The Trustees of the Trust
(the "Trustees") 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 if, in the sole discretion of the
Trustees acting in good faith and in light of their fiduciary duties
under federal and any applicable state laws, such action is deemed in
the best interests of the shareholders of such Portfolio.
1.3. The Company shall pay for the purchase of shares of a Portfolio on
behalf of an Account with federal funds to be transmitted by wire to
the Trust, with the reasonable expectation of receipt by the Trust by
2:00 p.m. Eastern time on the next Business Day after the Trust (or
its agent) receives the purchase order. Upon receipt by the Trust of
the federal funds so wired, such funds shall cease to be the
responsibility of the Company and shall become the responsibility of
the Trust for this purpose. "Business Day" shall mean any day on
which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which the
Trust calculates its net asset value pursuant to the rules of the
Commission.
1.4. The Trust will redeem for cash any full or fractional shares of any
Portfolio, when requested by the Company on behalf of an Account, at
the net asset value next computed after receipt by the Trust (or its
agent) of the request for redemption, as established in accordance
with the provisions of the then current prospectus of the Trust
describing Portfolio redemption procedures. The Trust shall make
payment for such shares in the manner established from time to time by
the Trust. Proceeds of redemption with respect to a Portfolio will
normally be paid to the Company for an Account in federal funds
transmitted by wire to the Company by order of the Trust with the
reasonable expectation of receipt by the Company by 2:00 p.m. Eastern
time on the next Business Day after the receipt by the Trust (or its
agent) of the request for redemption. Such payment may be delayed if,
for example, the Portfolio's cash position so requires or if
extraordinary market conditions exist, but in no event shall payment
be delayed for a greater period than is permitted by the 1940 Act.
The Trust reserves the right to suspend the right of redemption,
consistent with Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act and any rules
thereunder.
1.5. Payments for the purchase of shares of the Trust's Portfolios by the
Company under Section 1.3 and payments for the redemption of shares of
the Trust's Portfolios under Section 1.4 on any Business Day may be
netted against one another for the purpose of determining the amount
of any wire transfer.
1.6. Issuance and transfer of the Trust's Portfolio shares will be by book
entry only. Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or
the Accounts. Portfolio Shares purchased from the Trust will be
recorded in the appropriate title for each Account or the appropriate
subaccount of each Account.
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1.7. The Trust shall furnish, on or before the ex-dividend date, notice to
the Company of any income dividends or capital gain distributions
payable on the shares of any Portfolio of the Trust. The Company
hereby elects to receive all such income dividends and capital gain
distributions as are payable on a Portfolio's shares in additional
shares of that Portfolio. The Trust shall notify the Company of the
number of shares so issued as payment of such dividends and
distributions.
1.8. The Trust shall calculate the net asset value of each Portfolio on
each Business Day, as defined in Section 1.3. The Trust shall make the
net asset value per share for each Portfolio available to the Company
or its designated agent on a daily basis as soon as reasonably
practical after the net asset value per share is calculated and shall
use its best efforts to make such net asset value per share available
to the Company by 6:30 p.m. Eastern time each Business Day.
1.9. The Trust agrees that its Portfolio shares will be sold only to
Participating Insurance Companies and their segregated asset accounts,
to the Fund Sponsor or its affiliates and to such other entities as
may be permitted by Section 817(h) of the Code, the regulations
hereunder, or judicial or administrative interpretations thereof. No
shares of any Portfolio will be sold directly to the general public.
The Company agrees that it will use Trust shares only for the purposes
of funding the Contracts through the Accounts listed in Schedule A, as
amended from time to time.
1.10. The Trust agrees that all Participating lnsurance Companies shall have
the obligations and responsibilities regarding pass-through voting and
conflicts of interest corresponding materially to those contained in
Section 2.9 and Article IV of this Agreement.
ARTICLE II.
OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES
2.1. The Trust shall prepare and be responsible for filing with the
Commission and any state regulators requiring such filing all
shareholder reports, notices, proxy materials (or similar materials
such as voting instruction solicitation materials), prospectuses and
statements of additional information of the Trust. The Trust shall
bear the costs of registration and qualification of shares of the
Portfolios, preparation and filing of the documents listed in this
Section 2.1 and all taxes to which an issuer is subject on the
issuance and transfer of its shares.
2.2. The Company shall distribute such prospectuses, proxy statements and
periodic reports of the Trust to the Contract owners as required to be
distributed to such Contract owners under applicable federal or state
law.
2.3. The Trust shall provide such documentation (including a final copy of
the Trust's prospectus as set in type or in camera-ready copy) and
other assistance as is reasonably necessary in order for the Company
to print together in one document the current prospectus for the
Contracts issued by the Company and the current prospectus for the
Trust. The Trust shall bear the expense of printing copies of its
current prospectus that will be distributed to existing Contract
owners, and the Company shall bear the expense of printing copies of
the Trust's prospectus that are used in connection with offering the
Contracts issued by the Company.
2.4. The Trust and the Distributor shall provide (1) at the Trust's
expense, one copy of the Trust's current Statement of Additional
Information ("SAI") to the Company and to any Contract owner who
requests such SAI, (2) at the Company's expense, such additional
copies of the Trust's current SAI as the Company shall reasonably
request
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and that the Company shall require in accordance with applicable law
in connection with offering the Contracts issued by the Company.
2.5. The Trust, at its expense, shall provide the Company with copies of
its proxy material, periodic reports to shareholders and other
communications to shareholders in such quantity as the Company shall
reasonably require for purposes of distributing to Contract owners.
The Trust, at the Company's expense, shall provide the Company with
copies of its periodic reports to shareholders and other
communications to shareholders in such quantity as the Company shall
reasonably request for use in connection with offering the Contracts
issued by the Company. If requested by the Company in lieu thereof,
the Trust shall provide such documentation (including a final copy of
the Trust's proxy materials, periodic reports to shareholders and
other communications to shareholders, as set in type or in
camera-ready copy) and other assistance as reasonably necessary in
order for the Company to print such shareholder communications for
distribution to Contract owners.
2.6. The Company agrees and acknowledges that the Distributor is the sole
owner of the name and xxxx "Xxxxx" and that all use of any designation
comprised in whole or part of such name or xxxx under this Agreement
shall insure to the benefit of the Distributor. Except as provided in
Section 2.5, the Company shall not use any such name or xxxx on its
own behalf or on behalf of the Accounts or Contracts in any
registration statement, advertisement, sales literature or other
materials relating to the Accounts or Contracts without the prior
written consent of the Distributor. Upon termination of this
Agreement for any reason, the Company shall cease all use of any such
name or xxxx as soon as reasonably practicable.
2.7. The Company shall furnish, or cause to be furnished, to the Trust or
its designee a copy of each Contract prospectus and/or statement of
additional information describing the Contracts, each report to
Contract owners, proxy statement, application for exemption or request
for no-action letter in which the Trust or the Distributor is named
contemporaneously with the filing of such document with the
Commission. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be
furnished, to the Trust or its designee each piece of sales literature
or other promotional material in which the Trust or the Distributor is
named, at least five Business Days prior to its use. No such material
shall be used if the Trust or its designee reasonably objects to such
use within three Business Days after receipt of such material.
2.8. The Company shall not give any information or make any representations
or statements on behalf of the Trust or concerning the Trust or the
Distributor in connection with the sale of the Contracts other than
information or representations contained in and accurately derived
from the registration statement or prospectus for the Trust shares (as
such registration statement and prospectus may be amended or
supplemented from time to time), annual and semi-annual reports of the
Trust, Trust-sponsored proxy statements, or in sales literature or
other promotional material approved by the Trust or its designee,
except as required by legal process or regulatory authorities or with
the prior written permission of the Trust, the Distributor or their
respective designees. The Trust and the Distributor agree to respond
to any request for approval on a prompt and timely basis. The Company
shall adopt and implement procedures reasonably designed to ensure
that "broker only" materials including information therein about the
Trust or the Distributor are not distributed to existing or
prospective Contract owners.
2.9. The Trust shall use its best efforts to provide the Company, on a
timely basis, with such information about the Trust, the Portfolios
and the Distributor, in such form as the Company may reasonably
require, as the Company shall reasonably request in connection with
the preparation of registration statements, prospectuses and annual
and semi-annual reports pertaining to the Contracts.
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2.10. The Trust and the Distributor shall not give, and agree that no
affiliate of either of them shall give, any information or make any
representations or statements on behalf of the Company or concerning
the Company, the Accounts or the Contracts other than information or
representations contained in and accurately derived from the
registration statement or prospectus for the Contracts (as such
registration statement and prospectus may be amended or supplemented
from time to time), or in materials approved by the Company for
distribution including sales literature or other promotional
materials, except as required by legal process or regulatory
authorities or with the prior written permission of the Company. The
Company agrees to respond to any request for approval on a prompt and
timely basis.
2.11 So long as, and to the extent that, the Commission interprets the 1940
Act to require passthrough voting privileges for Contract owners, the
Company will provide pass-through voting privileges to Contract owners
whose cash values are invested, through the registered Accounts, in
shares of one or more Portfolios of the Trust. The Trust shall
require all Participating Insurance Companies to calculate voting
privileges in the same manner and the Company shall be responsible for
assuring that the Accounts calculate voting privileges in the manner
established by the Trust. With respect to each registered Account,
the Company will vote shares of each Portfolio of the Trust held by a
registered Account and for which no timely voting instructions from
Contract owners are received in the same proportion as those shares
for which voting instructions are received. The Company and its
agents will in no way recommend or oppose or interfere with the
solicitation of proxies for Portfolio shares held to fund the Contacts
without the prior written consent of the Trust, which consent may be
withheld in the Trust's sole discretion. The Company reserves the
right, to the extent permitted by law, to vote shares held in any
Account in its sole discretion.
2.12. The Company and the Trust will each provide to the other information
about the results of any regulatory examination relating to the
Contracts or the Trust, including relevant portions of any "deficiency
letter" and any response thereto.
2.13. No compensation shall be paid by the Trust to the Company, or by the
Company to the Trust, under this Agreement (except for specified
expense reimbursements). However, nothing herein shall prevent the
parties hereto from otherwise agreeing to perform, and arranging for
appropriate compensation for, other services relating to the Trust,
the Accounts or both.
ARTICLE III.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
3.1. The Company represents and warrants that it is an insurance company
duly organized and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Vermont and that it has legally and validly established each Account
as a segregated asset account under such law as of the date set forth
in Schedule A, and that Equity Services, Inc., the principal
underwriter for the Contracts, is registered as a broker-dealer under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is a member in good standing
of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
3.2. The Company represents and warrants that it 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 and cause each Account to remain so registered to serve as a
segregated asset account for the Contracts, unless an exemption from
registration is available.
3.3. The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts will be
registered under the 1933 Act unless an exemption from registration is
available prior to any issuance or
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sale of the Contracts; the Contracts will be issued and sold in
compliance in all materials respects with all applicable federal and
state laws; and the sale of the Contracts shall comply in all material
respects with state insurance law suitability requirements.
3.4. The Trust represents and warrants that it is duly organized and
validly existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
and that it does and will comply in all material respects with the
1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
3.5. The Trust and the Distributor represent and warrant that the Portfolio
shares offered and sold pursuant to this Agreement will be registered
under the 1933 Act and sold in accordance with all applicable federal
and state laws, and the Trust shall be registered under the 1940 Act
prior to and at the time of any issuance or sale of such shares. The
Trust shall amend its registration statement under the 1933 Act and
the 1940 Act from time to time as required in order to effect the
continuous offering of its shares. The Trust shall register and
qualify its shares for sale in accordance with the laws of the various
states only if and to the extent deemed advisable by the Trust.
3.6. The Trust represents and warrants that the investments of each
Portfolio will comply with the diversification requirements for
variable annuity, endowment or life insurance contracts set forth in
Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code"), and the rules and regulations thereunder, including without
limitation Treasury Regulation 1.817-5, and will notify the Company
immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing any Portfolio
has ceased to comply or might not so comply and will immediately take
all reasonable steps to adequately diversify the Portfolio to achieve
compliance within the grace period afforded by Regulation 1.817-5.
3.7. The Trust represents and warrants that it is currently qualified as a
"regulated investment company" under Subchapter M of the Code, that it
will make every effort to maintain such qualification and will notify
the Company immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing
it has ceased to so qualify or might not so qualify in the future.
3.8. The Trust represents and warrants that it, its directors, officers,
employees and others dealing with the money or securities, or both, of
a Portfolio shall at all times be covered by a blanket fidelity bond
or similar coverage for the benefit of the Trust in an amount not less
than the minimum coverage required by Rule 17g-1 or other applicable
regulations under the 1940 Act. Such bond shall include coverage for
larceny and embezzlement and be issued by a reputable bonding company.
3.9. The Distributor represents that it is duly organized and validly
existing under the laws of the State of Delaware and that it is
registered, and will remain registered, during the term of this
Agreement, as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 and is a member in good standing of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc.
ARTICLE IV.
POTENTIAL CONFLICTS
4.1. The parties acknowledge that a Portfolio's shares may be made
available for investment to other Participating Insurance Companies.
In such event, the Trustees will monitor the Trust for the existence
of any material irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the
contract owners of all Participating Insurance Companies. A material
irreconcilable 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
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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 Trust shall promptly
inform the Company of any determination by the Trustees that a
material irreconcilable conflict exists and of the implications
thereof.
4.2. The Company agrees to report promptly any potential or existing
conflicts of which it is aware to the Trustees. The Company will
assist the Trustees in carrying out their responsibilities under the
Shared Funding Exemptive Order by providing the Trustees with all
information reasonably necessary for and requested by the Trustees to
consider any issues raised including, but not limited to, information
as to a decision by the Company to disregard Contract owner voting
instructions. All communications from the Company to the Trustees may
be made in care of the Trust.
4.3. If it is determined by a majority of the Trustees, or a majority of
the disinterested Trustees, that a material irreconcilable conflict
exists that affects the interests of contract owners, the Company
shall, in cooperation with other Participating Insurance Companies
whose contract owners are also affected, at its own expense and to the
extent reasonably practicable (as determined by the Trustees) take
whatever steps are necessary to remedy or eliminate the material
irreconcilable conflict, which steps could include: (a) withdrawing
the assets allocable to some or all of the Accounts from the Trust or
any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a different investment
medium, including (but not limited to) another Portfolio of the Trust,
or submitting the question of whether or not 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 (b)
establishing a new registered management investment company or managed
separate account.
4.4. 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 Trust's election, to
withdraw the affected Account's investment in the Trust 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 Trustees. Any such
withdrawal and termination must take place within six (6) months after
the Trust gives written notice that this provision is being
implemented. Until the end of such six (6) month period, the Trust
shall continue to accept and implement orders by the Company for the
purchase and redemption of shares of the Trust.
4.5. 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 Trust
and terminate this Agreement with respect to such Account within six
(6) months after the Trustees inform the Company in writing that the
Trust has determined that such decision has created a material
irreconcilable 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 Trustees. Until the end of such six (6) month period,
the Trust shall continue to accept
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and implement orders by the Company for the purchase and redemption
of shares of the Trust.
4.6. For purposes of Section 4.3 through 4.6 of this Agreement, a majority
of the disinterested Trustees shall determine whether any proposed
action adequately remedies any material irreconcilable conflict, but
in no event will the Trust be required to establish a new funding
medium for any Contract. The Company shall not be required to
establish a new funding medium for the Contracts if an offer to do so
has been declined by vote of a majority of Contract owners materially
adversely affected by the material irreconcilable conflict. In the
event that the Trustees determine that any proposed action does not
adequately remedy any material irreconcilable conflict, then the
Company will withdraw the Account's investment in the Trust and
terminate this Agreement within six (6) months after the Trustees
inform 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 Trustees.
4.7. The Company shall at least annually submit to the Trustees such
reports, materials or data as the Trustees may reasonably request so
that the Trustees may fully carry out the duties imposed upon them by
the Shared Funding Exemptive Order, and said reports, materials and
data shall be submitted more frequently if reasonably deemed
appropriate by the Trustees.
4.8. If and to the extent that Rule 6e-3(T) is amended, or Rule 6e-3 is
adopted, to provide exemptive relief from any provision of the 1940
Act or the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to mixed or
shared funding (as defined in the Shared Funding Exemptive Order) on
terms and conditions materially different from those contained in the
Shared Funding Exemptive Order, then the Trust and/or the
Participating Insurance Companies, as appropriate, shall take such
steps as may be necessary to comply with Rule 6e-3(T), as amended, or
Rule 6e-3, as adopted, to the extent such rules are applicable.
ARTICLE V.
INDEMNIFICATION
5.1. Indemnification By the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless the Distributor, the Trust and each of its Trustees,
officers, employees and agents and each person, if any, who controls
the Trust within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section
5.1) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities
(including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the
Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) or expenses
(including the reasonable costs of investigating or defending any
alleged loss, claim, damage, liability or expense and reasonable legal
counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) (collectively,
"Losses"), to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under
any statute or regulation, or at common law or otherwise, insofar as
such Losses are related to the sale or acquisition of the Contracts or
Trust shares and:
(a) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements or
alleged untrue statements of any material fact contained in a
registration statement or prospectus for the Contracts or in
the Contracts themselves or in sales literature generated or
approved by the Company on behalf of the Contracts or Accounts
(or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing)
(collectively, "Company Documents" for the purposes of this
Article V), 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
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misleading, provided that this indemnity 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
was accurately derived from written information furnished to
the Company by or on behalf of the Trust for use in Company
Documents or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of
the Contracts or Trust shares; or
(b) arise out of or result from statements or representations
(other than statements or representations contained in and
accurately derived from Trust Documents as defined in Section
5.2(a)) or wrongful conduct of the Company or persons under
its control, with respect to the sale or acquisition of the
Contracts or Trust shares; or
(c) arise out of or result from any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in Trust
Documents as defined in Section 5.2(a) 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 statement or omission was made in
reliance upon and accurately derived from written information
furnished to the Trust by or on behalf of the Company; or
(d) arise out of or result from any failure by the Company to
provide the services or furnish the materials required under
the terms of this Agreement; or
(e) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Company in this
Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material
breach of this Agreement by the Company; or
(f) arise out of or result from the provision by the Company to
the Trust of insufficient or incorrect information regarding
the purchase or sale of shares of any Portfolio, or the
failure of the Company to provide such information on a timely
basis.
5.2. Indemnification by the Distributor. The Distributor agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each of its directors,
officers, employees, and agents and each person, if any, who controls
the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for the purposes of this
Section 5.2) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities
(including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the
Distributor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) or
expenses (including the reasonable costs of investigating or defending
any alleged loss, claim, damage, liability or expense and reasonable
legal counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) (collectively,
"Losses"), to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under
any statute or regulation, or at common law or otherwise, insofar as
such Losses are related to the sale or acquisition of the Contracts or
Trust shares and:
(a) 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 Trust (or any
amendment or supplement thereto) (collectively, "Trust
Documents" for the purposes of this Article V), 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 indemnity 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
was accurately derived from written information furnished to
the Distributor or the Trust by or on behalf of the Company
for use in Trust Documents or otherwise for use in connection
with the sale of the Contracts or Trust shares and; or
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(b) arise out of or result from statements or representations
(other than statements or representations contained in and
accurately derived from Company Documents) or wrongful conduct
of the Distributor or persons under its control, with respect
to the sale or acquisition of the Contracts or Portfolio
shares; or
(c) arise out of or result from any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in Company
Documents 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 statement
or omission was made in reliance upon and accurately derived
from written information furnished to the Company by or on
behalf of the Trust; or
(d) arise out of or result from any failure by the Distributor or
the Trust to provide the services or furnish the materials
required under the terms of this Agreement; or
(e) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Distributor or the
Trust in this Agreement or arise out of or result from any
other material breach of this Agreement by the Distributor or
the Trust.
5.3. Indemnification by the Trust. The Trust agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless the Company and each of its directors, officers, employees,
and agents and each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the
"Indemnified Parties" for the purposes of this Section 5.3) against
any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts
paid in settlement with the written consent of the Trust, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) or expenses (including the
reasonable costs of investigating or defending any alleged loss,
claim, damage, liability or expense and reasonable legal counsel fees
incurred in connection therewith) (collectively, "Losses"), to which
the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute or
regulation, or at common law or otherwise, insofar as such Losses are
related to the sale or acquisition of the Contracts or Trust shares
and:
(a) 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 Trust (or any
amendment or supplement thereto) (collectively, "Trust
Documents" for the purposes of this Article V), 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 indemnity 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
was accurately derived from written information furnished to
the Trust by or on behalf of the Company for use in Trust
Documents or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of
the Contracts or Trust shares and; or
(b) arise out of or result from statements or representations
(other than statements or representations contained in and
accurately derived from Company Documents) or wrongful conduct
of the Trust or persons under its control, with respect to the
sale or acquisition of the Contracts or Portfolio shares; or
(c) arise out of or result from any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in Company
Documents 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 statement
or
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omission was made in reliance upon and accurately derived from
written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf
of the Trust; or
(d) arise out of or result from any failure by the Trust to
provide the services or furnish the materials required under
the terms of this Agreement; or
(e) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Trust in this
Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material
breach of this Agreement by the Trust.
5.4. None of the Company, the Trust or the Distributor shall be liable
under the indemnification provisions of Sections 5.1, 5.2 or 5.3, as
applicable, with respect to any Losses incurred or assessed against an
Indemnified Party that arise from such Indemnified Party's willful
misfeasance, bad faith or 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.
5.5. None of the Company, the Trust or the Distributor shall be liable
under the indemnification provisions of Sections 5.1, 5.2 or 5.3, as
applicable, with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified
party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the other
party in writing within a reasonable time after the summons, or other
first written notification, giving information of the nature of the
claim shall have been served upon or otherwise received by such
Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received
notice of service upon or other notification to any designated agent),
but failure to notify the party against whom indemnification is sought
of any such claim shall not relieve that party from any liability
which it may have to the Indemnified Party in the absence of Sections
5.1, 5.2 and 5.3.
5.6. In case any such action is brought against an Indemnified Party, the
indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate, at its own
expense, in the defense of such action. The indemnifying party also
shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the party named in the action. After
notice from the indemnifying party to the Indemnified Party of an
election to assume such defense, the Indemnified Party shall bear the
fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the
indemnifying party will not be liable to the Indemnified 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.
ARTICLE VI.
TERMINATION
6.1. This Agreement shall terminate:
(a) at the option of any party upon 60 days advance written notice
to the other parties, unless a shorter time is agreed to by
the parties; or
(b) at the option of the Trust or the Distributor if the Contracts
issued by the Company cease to qualify as annuity contracts or
life insurance contracts, as applicable, under the Code or if
the Contracts are not registered, issued or sold in accordance
with applicable state and/or federal law; or
(c) at the option of any party upon a determination by a majority
of the Trustees of the Trust, or a majority of its
disinterested Trustees, that a material irreconcilable
conflict exists; or
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(d) at the option of the Company upon institution of formal
proceedings against the Trust or the Distributor by the NASD,
the SEC, or any state securities or insurance department or
any other regulatory body regarding the Trust's or the
Distributor's duties under this Agreement or related to the
sale of Trust shares or the operation of the Trust; or
(e) at the option of the Company if the Trust or a Portfolio fails
to meet the diversification requirements specified in Section
3.6 hereof; or
(f) at the option of the Company if shares of the Series are not
reasonably available to meet the requirements of the Variable
Contracts issued by the Company, as determined by the Company,
and upon prompt notice by the Company to the other parties; or
(g) at the option of the Company in the event any of the shares of
the Portfolio 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 Variable Contracts issued or to be issued by the
Company; or
(h) at the option of the Company, if the Portfolio fails to
qualify as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M
of the Code; or
(i) at the option of the Distributor if it shall determine in its
sole judgment exercised in good faith, that the Company and/or
its affiliated companies 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) at the option of the Company if it shall determine in its sole
judgment exercised in good faith, that the Trust or the
Distributor and/or their affiliated companies 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.
6.2. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Trust shall, at
the option of the Company, continue to make available additional
shares of any Portfolio and redeem shares of any Portfolio pursuant to
the terms and conditions of this Agreement for all Contracts in effect
on the effective date of termination of this Agreement.
6.3. The provisions of Article V shall survive the termination of this
Agreement, and the provisions of Article IV and Section 2.9 shall
survive the termination of this Agreement as long as shares of the
Trust are held on behalf of Contract owners in accordance with Section
6.2.
ARTICLE VII.
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 TRUST OR ITS DISTRIBUTOR:
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00
Xxxx Xxxxx Management, Inc.
00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
IF TO THE COMPANY:
National Life Insurance Company
National Life Drive
Montpelier, Vermont 05604
Attn: D. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
ARTICLE VIII.
MISCELLANEOUS
8.1. 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.
8.2. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of
which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
8.3. 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.
8.4. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New
York. It shall also be subject to the provisions of the federal
securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder and to any
orders of the Commission granting exemptive relief therefrom and the
conditions of such orders. Copies of any such orders shall be
promptly forwarded by the Trust to the Company.
8.5. All liabilities of the Trust arising, directly or indirectly, under
this Agreement, of any and every nature whatsoever, shall be satisfied
solely out of the assets of the Trust and no Trustee, officer, agent
or holder of shares of beneficial interest of the Trust shall be
personally liable for any such liabilities.
8.6. Each party shall cooperate with each other party and all appropriate
governmental authorities (including without limitation the Commission,
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. 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.
8.7. 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.
8.8. This Agreement shall not be exclusive in any respect.
8.9. Neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder may be
assigned by either party without the prior written approval of the
other party.
8.10. No provisions of this Agreement may be amended or modified in any
manner except by a written agreement properly authorized and executed
by both parties.
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8.11. Each party hereto shall, except as required by law or otherwise
permitted by this Agreement, 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 shall not disclose such confidential information without
the written consent of the affected party unless such information has
become publicly available.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused their duly authorized
officers to execute this Participation Agreement as of the date and year first
above written.
XXXX XXXXX AND COMPANY, INCORPORATED
By: [SIG]
----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
XXXXX AMERICAN FUND
By: [SIG]
----------------------------------
Name:
Title:
NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By: /s/ XXXXX X. XXXXX
----------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title: Senior Vice President-Product
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Schedule A
National Variable Life Insurance Account
Page 15
