EXHIBIT 8(B)(4)
AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT ("Agreement") made as of November 1, 2000, is by and between
ARIEL DISTRIBUTORS, INC., a Illinois corporation ("Underwriter") and THE
VARIABLE ANNUITY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, a Texas corporation ("VALIC").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, each of the investment companies listed on Schedule One hereto
("Schedule One," as the same may be amended from time to time), is registered
as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended (the "Act") (such investment companies are hereinafter
collectively called the "Funds," or each a "Fund"); and
WHEREAS, each of the Funds is available as an investment vehicle for VALIC for
its separate account to fund variable annuity contracts ("Contracts") listed on
Schedule Two hereto ("Schedule Two," as the same may be amended from time to
time); and
WHEREAS, VALIC has entered into a participation agreement dated November 1,
2000, among VALIC, the Fund, and the Funds' underwriter (the "Participation
Agreement," as the same may be amended from time to time); and
WHEREAS, Underwriter desires VALIC to provide the administrative services
specified in the attached Exhibit A ("Administrative Services and other
Shareholder Services"), in connection with the Contracts for the benefit of
persons who maintain their ownership interests in the separate account, whose
interests are included in the master account ("Master Account") referred to in
paragraph 1 of Exhibit A ("Shareholders"), and VALIC is willing and able to
provide such Administrative Services on the terms and conditions hereinafter
set forth;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants
hereinafter contained, each party hereto severally agrees as follows:
1. VALIC agrees to perform the Administrative Services specified in Exhibit A
and other Shareholder Services hereto for the benefit of the Shareholders.
2. VALIC represents and agrees that it will maintain and preserve all records
as required by law to be maintained and preserved in connection with
providing the Administrative Services, and will otherwise comply with all
laws, rules and regulations applicable to the Administrative Services.
3. VALIC agrees to provide copies of all the historical records relating to
transactions between the Funds and Shareholders, and all written
communications and other related materials regarding the Fund(s) to or from
such Shareholders, as reasonably requested by The Fund or Underwriter or its
representatives (which representatives, include, without limitation, its
auditors, legal counsel or the Investment Adviser of the Fund, as the case
may be), to enable Underwriter or its representatives to monitor and review
the Administrative Services performed by VALIC, or comply with any request
of the board of directors, or trustees or general partners
(collectively, the "Directors") of any Fund, or of a governmental body,
self-regulatory organization or Shareholder.
In addition, VALIC agrees that it will permit Underwriter, the Funds or
their representatives, to have reasonable access to its personnel and
records in order to facilitate the monitoring of the quality of the
Administrative Services.
4. VALIC may, with the consent of Underwriter, contract with or establish
relationships with other parties for the provision of the Administrative
Services or other activities of VALIC required by this Agreement, or the
Participation Agreement, provided that VALIC shall be fully responsible for
the acts and omissions of such other parties.
5. VALIC hereby agrees to notify Underwriter promptly if for any reason it is
unable to perform fully and promptly any of its obligations under this
Agreement.
6. VALIC hereby represents and covenants that it does not, and will not, own or
hold or control with power to vote any shares of the Funds which are
registered in the name of VALIC or the name of its nominee and which are
maintained in VALIC variable annuity or variable life insurance accounts.
VALIC represents further that it is not registered as a broker-dealer under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the"1934 Act"), and it is
not required to be so registered, including as a result of entering into
this Agreement and performing the Administrative Services, and other
obligations of VALIC set forth in this Agreement.
7. The provisions of the Agreement shall in no way limit the authority of
Underwriter, the Fund or the Fund's Investment Adviser to take such action
as any of such parties may deem appropriate or advisable in connection with
all matters relating to the operations of any of such Funds and/or sale of
its shares.
8. In consideration of the performance of the Administrative Services and other
Shareholder Services by VALIC, beginning on the date hereof, agrees to pay
VALIC a quarterly amount that is equal on an annual basis to 0.25 basis
points (0.25%) of the average daily net assets of the Fund held in the
Contracts. The foregoing fee will be paid by Underwriter to VALIC within 20
days of the end of each calendar quarter, without demand or notice by VALC.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or the Participation Agreement
appearing to the contrary, the payments by Adviser to VALIC relate solely to
the performance by VALIC of the Administrative Services described herein and
other Shareholder Services, and do not constitute payment in any manner for
insurance services provided by VALIC to VALIC policy or contract owners, or
to any separate account organized by VALIC, or for any investment advisory
services, or for costs associated with the distribution of any variable
annuity or variable life insurance contracts.
9. VALIC shall indemnify and hold harmless each of the Funds, the Fund's
Investment Adviser and Underwriter and each of their respective officers,
Directors, employees and agents from and against any and all losses, claims,
damages, expenses, or liabilities that any one or more of them may incur
including without limitation reasonable attorneys' fees, expenses and costs
arising out of or related to the performance or non-performance by VALIC of
the Administrative Services under this Agreement.
10.This Agreement may be terminated without penalty at any time by VALIC or by
the Underwriter as to one or more of the Funds collectively, upon ninety
days (90) written notice to the other party. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the provisions of paragraphs 2, 3, 9 and 11 of this Agreement, shall
continue in full force and effect after termination of this Agreement.
This Agreement shall not require VALIC to preserve any records (in any
medium or format) relating to this Agreement beyond the time periods
otherwise required by the laws to which VALIC or the Funds are subject
provided that such records shall be offered to the Funds in the event VALIC
decides to no longer preserve such records following such time periods.
11.After the date of any termination of this Agreement in accordance with
paragraph 10 of this Agreement, no fee will be due with respect to any
amounts in the Contracts first placed in the Master Account for the benefit
of Shareholders after the date of such termination. However, notwithstanding
any such termination, Underwriter will remain obligated to pay VALIC the fee
specified in paragraph 8 of this Agreement, with respect to the value of
each Fund's average daily net assets maintained in the Master Account with
respect to the Contracts as of the date of such termination, for so long as
such amounts are held in the Master Account and VALIC continues to provide
the Administrative Services with respect to such amounts in conformity with
this Agreement. This Agreement, or any provision hereof, shall survive
termination to the extent necessary for each party to perform its
obligations with respect to amounts for which a fee continues to be due
subsequent to such termination.
12.VALIC understands and agrees that the obligations of the Underwriter under
this Agreement are not binding upon any of the Funds, upon any of their
Board members, officers, or upon any shareholder of any of the Funds.
00.Xx is understood and agreed that in performing the services under this
Agreement VALIC, acting in its capacity described herein, shall at no time
be acting as an agent for the Fund's Investment Adviser, Underwriter or any
of the Funds. VALIC agrees, and agrees to cause its agents, not to make any
representations concerning a Fund except those contained in the Fund's
then-current prospectus; in current sales literature furnished by the Fund,
the Fund's Investment Adviser or Underwriter to VALIC; in the then current
prospectus for a variable annuity contract or variable life insurance policy
issued by VALIC or then current sales literature with respect to such
variable annuity contract or variable life insurance policy, approved by the
Fund's Investment Adviser.
14.This Agreement, including the provisions set forth herein in paragraph 8,
may only be amended pursuant to a written instrument signed by the party to
be charged. This Agreement may not be assigned by a party hereto, by
operation of law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the
other party.
15.This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without
giving effect to the principles of conflicts of law of such jurisdiction.
16.This Agreement, including Exhibit A, Schedule One and Schedule Two,
constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the
matters dealt with herein and supersedes any previous agreements and
documents with respect to such matters. The parties agree that Schedule One
and/or Schedule Two may be replaced from time to time with a new Schedule
One and/or Schedule Two to accurately reflect any changes in the Funds
available as investment vehicles and/or the Contracts available, under the
Participation Agreement, respectively.
IN WITNESS HEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this
Agreement as of the date first above written.
THE VARIABLE ANNUITY LIFE
INSURANCE COMPANY
By: /s/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXX
--------------------------
Authorized Signatory
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
--------------------------
Print or Type Name
ARIEL DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
By: /s/ XXXXXXXXX X. XXXXXX
--------------------------
Authorized Signatory
Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
--------------------------
Print or Type Name
SCHEDULE ONE
Investment Company Name: Series Name(s):
Ariel Investment Trust Ariel Fund
Ariel Appreciation
Ariel Premier Bond Fund, Investor Class
SCHEDULE TWO
List of Contracts
.. Portfolio Director Series
EXHIBIT A
Pursuant to the Agreement by and among the parties hereto, VALIC shall perform
the following Administrative Services:
1. Maintain separate records for each Shareholder, which records shall reflect
shares purchased and redeemed for the benefit of the Shareholder and share
balances held for the benefit of the Shareholder. VALIC shall maintain the
Master Account with the transfer agent of the Fund on behalf of Shareholders
and such Master Account shall be in the name of VALIC or its nominee as the
record owner of the shares held for such Shareholders.
2. For each Fund, disburse or credit to Shareholders all proceeds of
redemptions of shares of the Fund and all dividends and other distributions
not reinvested in shares of the Fund or paid to the Separate Account holding
the Shareholders' interests.
3. Prepare and transmit to Shareholders periodic account statements showing the
total number of shares held for the benefit of the Shareholder as of the
statement closing date (converted to interests in the Separate Account),
purchases and redemptions of Fund shares for the benefit of the Shareholder
during the period covered by the statement, and the dividends and other
distributions paid for the benefit of the Shareholder during the statement
period (whether paid in cash or reinvested in Fund shares).
4. Transmit to Shareholders proxy materials and reports and other information
received by VALIC from any of the Funds and required to be sent to
Shareholders under the federal securities laws and, upon request of the
Fund's transfer agent, transmit to Shareholders material Fund communications
deemed by the Fund, through its Board of Directors or other similar
governing body, to be necessary and proper for receipt by all Fund
beneficial shareholders.
5. Transmit to the Fund's transfer agent purchase and redemption orders on
behalf of Shareholders.
6. Provide to the Funds, or to the transfer agent for any of the Funds, or any
of the agents designated by any of them, such periodic reports as shall
reasonably be concluded to be necessary to enable each of the Funds and its
Underwriter to comply with any applicable State Blue Sky requirements.
