FUND PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT made as of the 1st day of August, 1998, by and between the
PBHG INSURANCE SERIES FUND, INC. ("FUND"), a Maryland corporation, PILGRIM
XXXXXX & ASSOCIATES, LTD. ("Adviser"), a Delaware corporation, and ALLMERICA
FINANCIAL LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY ("LIFE COMPANY"), a life insurance
company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, on its own behalf and
on behalf of each separate account of the LIFE COMPANY set forth on Schedule B
hereto, as may be amended from time to time.
WHEREAS, FUND is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC") under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "'40 Act"), as
an open-end, diversified management investment company; and
WHEREAS, FUND is organized as a series fund comprised of several Portfolios
("Portfolios"), with those currently available being listed on Appendix A
hereto; and
WHEREAS, FUND was organized to act as the funding vehicle for certain
variable life insurance and/or variable annuity contracts ("Variable Contracts")
offered by life insurance companies through separate accounts ("Separate
Accounts") of such life insurance companies ("Participating Insurance
Companies"); and
WHEREAS, FUND may also offer its shares to certain qualified pension and
retirement plans ("Qualified Plans"); and
WHEREAS, FUND has received an order from the SEC, 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 '40 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 FUND to be sold to and held by Variable Contract separate
accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated Participating Insurance Companies
and Qualified Plans ("Exemptive Order"); and
WHEREAS, LIFE COMPANY has established or will establish one or more
separate accounts ("Separate Accounts") to offer Variable Contracts and is
desirous of having FUND as one of the underlying funding vehicles for such
Variable Contracts; and
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WHEREAS, ADVISER is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser under
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and as a broker-dealer under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and acts as the FUND's investment adviser; and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, LIFE COMPANY intends to purchase shares of FUND to fund the
aforementioned Variable Contracts and FUND is authorized to sell such shares to
LIFE COMPANY at net asset value;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, LIFE COMPANY,
FUND, and ADVISER agree as follows:
Article I. SALE OF FUND SHARES
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1.1 FUND, so long as this Agreement is in effect, agrees to make
available in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to the Separate
Accounts of LIFE COMPANY shares of the selected Portfolios as listed on Appendix
B for investment of purchase payments of Variable Contracts allocated to the
designated Separate Accounts as provided in FUND's Registration Statement.
1.2 FUND agrees to sell to LIFE COMPANY those shares of the selected
Portfolios of FUND which LIFE COMPANY orders, executing such orders on a daily
basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by FUND or its designee
of the order for the shares of FUND. For purposes of this Section 1.2, LIFE
COMPANY shall be the designee of FUND for receipt of such orders from the
designated Separate Account and receipt by such designee shall constitute
receipt by FUND; provided that LIFE COMPANY receives the order by the earlier of
(i) 4:00 p.m. New York time or (ii) the close of trading on the floor of the New
York Stock Exchange and FUND receives notice from LIFE COMPANY by telephone or
facsimile (or by such other means as FUND and LIFE COMPANY may agree in writing)
of such order by 9:00 a.m. New York time on the next following Business Day.
"Business Day" shall mean any day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open
for trading and on which FUND calculates its net asset value pursuant to the
rules of the SEC.
1.3 FUND agrees to redeem on LIFE COMPANY's request, any full or
fractional shares of FUND held by LIFE COMPANY, executing such requests on a
daily basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by FUND or its
designee of the request for redemption, in accordance with the provisions of
this agreement and FUND's Registration Statement. For purposes of this Section
1.3, LIFE COMPANY shall be the designee of FUND for receipt of requests for
redemption from the designated Separate Account and receipt by such designee
shall constitute receipt by FUND; provided that
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LIFE COMPANY receives the request for redemption by the earlier of (i) 4:00
p.m. New York time or (ii) the close of trading on the floor of the New York
Stock Exchange and FUND receives notice from LIFE COMPANY by telephone or
facsimile (or by such other means as FUND and LIFE COMPANY may agree in
writing) of such request for redemption by 9:00 a.m. New York time on the
next following Business Day.
1.4 FUND shall furnish promptly (electronically or by telephone, followed
by written confirmation), notice to LIFE COMPANY of any income dividends or
capital gain distributions payable on the shares of any Portfolio of FUND. LIFE
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 the
Portfolio. LIFE COMPANY reserves the right to revoke this election and to
receive all such income dividends and capital gain distributions in cash. FUND
shall notify LIFE COMPANY or its designee of the number of shares so issued as
payment of such dividends and distributions.
1.5 FUND shall make the net asset value per share for the selected
Portfolio(s) available to LIFE COMPANY on a daily basis as soon as reasonably
practicable after the net asset value per share is calculated but shall use its
best efforts to make such net asset value available by 7:00 p.m. New York time.
If FUND provides LIFE COMPANY with materially incorrect share net asset value
information through no fault of LIFE COMPANY, LIFE COMPANY on behalf of the
Separate Accounts, shall be entitled to an adjustment to the number of shares
purchased or redeemed to reflect the correct share net asset value. Any
material error in the calculation of net asset value per share, dividend or
capital gain information shall be reported promptly upon discovery to LIFE
COMPANY.
1.6 At the end of each Business Day, LIFE COMPANY shall use the
information described in Section 1.5 to calculate Separate Account unit values
for the day. Using these unit values, LIFE COMPANY shall process each such
Business Day's Separate Account transactions based on requests and premiums
received by it by the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock
Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m. New York time) to determine the net dollar amount
of FUND shares which shall be purchased or redeemed at that day's closing net
asset value per share. The net purchase or redemption orders so determined
shall be transmitted to FUND by LIFE COMPANY by 9:00 a.m. New York Time on the
Business Day next following LIFE COMPANY's receipt of such requests and premiums
in accordance with the terms of Sections 1.2 and 1.3 hereof.
1.7 If LIFE COMPANY's order requests the purchase of FUND shares, LIFE
COMPANY shall pay for such purchase by wiring federal funds to FUND or its
designated custodial account on the day the order is transmitted by LIFE
COMPANY. If LIFE COMPANY's order requests a net redemption resulting in a
payment of
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redemption proceeds to LIFE COMPANY, FUND shall use its best efforts to wire
the redemption proceeds to LIFE COMPANY on the same Business Day, unless
doing so would require FUND to dispose of Portfolio securities or otherwise
incur additional costs. In any event, proceeds shall be wired to LIFE
COMPANY within three Business Days or such longer period permitted by the '40
Act or the rules, orders or regulations thereunder and FUND shall notify the
person designated in writing by LIFE COMPANY as the recipient for such notice
of such delay by 3:00 p.m. New York Time the same Business Day that LIFE
COMPANY transmits the redemption order to FUND.
1.8 FUND agrees that all shares of the Portfolios of FUND will be sold
only to Participating Insurance Companies which have agreed to participate in
FUND to fund their Separate Accounts and/or to Qualified Plans, all in
accordance with the requirements of Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended ("Code") and Treasury Regulation 1.817-5. Shares of the
Portfolios of FUND will not be sold directly to the general public.
1.9 FUND may refuse to sell shares of any Portfolio to any person, or
suspend or terminate the offering of the shares of or liquidate any Portfolio of
FUND if such action is required by law or by regulatory authorities having
jurisdiction or is, in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors of the FUND
(the "Board"), acting in good faith and in light of its duties under federal and
any applicable state laws, deemed necessary, desirable or appropriate and in the
best interests of the shareholders of such Portfolios.
1.10 Issuance and transfer of Portfolio shares will be by book entry only.
Stock certificates will not be issued to LIFE COMPANY or the Separate Accounts.
Shares ordered from Portfolio will be recorded in appropriate book entry titles
for the Separate Accounts.
Article II. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
------------------------------
2.1 LIFE COMPANY represents and warrants that it is an insurance company
duly organized and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and
that it has legally and validly established each Separate Account as a
segregated asset account under such laws, and that Allmerica Investments, Inc.,
the principal underwriter for the Variable Contracts, is registered as a
broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "'34 Act").
2.2 LIFE COMPANY represents and warrants that it has registered or, prior
to any issuance or sale of the Variable Contracts, will register each Separate
Account as a unit investment trust ("UIT") in accordance with the provisions of
the '40 Act and cause each Separate Account to remain so registered to serve as
a segregated asset account for the Variable Contracts, unless an exemption from
registration is available.
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2.3 LIFE COMPANY represents and warrants that the Variable Contracts will
be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "'33 Act") unless an
exemption from registration is available prior to any issuance or sale of the
Variable Contracts and that the Variable Contracts will be issued and sold in
compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and state laws
and further that the sale of the Variable Contracts shall comply in all material
respects with applicable state insurance law suitability requirements.
2.4 LIFE COMPANY represents and warrants that the Variable Contracts are
currently and at the time of issuance will be treated as life insurance,
endowment or annuity contracts under applicable provisions of the Code, that it
will maintain such treatment and that it will notify FUND immediately upon
having a reasonable basis for believing that the Variable Contracts have ceased
to be so treated or that they might not be so treated in the future.
2.5 FUND represents and warrants that the Fund shares offered and sold
pursuant to this Agreement will be registered under the '33 Act and sold in
accordance with all applicable federal and state laws, and FUND shall be
registered under the '40 Act prior to and at the time of any issuance or sale of
such shares. FUND, subject to Section 1.9 above, shall amend its registration
statement under the '33 Act and the '40 Act from time to time as required in
order to effect the continuous offering of its shares. FUND 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 FUND.
2.6. 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 '40 Act.
2.7 FUND represents and warrants that each Portfolio will comply with the
diversification requirements set forth in Section 817(h) of the Code, and the
rules and regulations thereunder, including without limitation Treasury
Regulation 1.817-5, and will notify LIFE 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.
2.8 FUND represents and warrants that each Portfolio invested in by the
Separate Account intends to elect to be treated as a "regulated investment
company" under Subchapter M of the Code, and to qualify for such treatment for
each taxable year and will notify LIFE COMPANY immediately upon having a
reasonable basis for believing it has ceased to so qualify or might not so
qualify in the future.
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2.9 ADVISER represents and warrants that it is and will remain duly
registered and licensed in all material respects under all applicable federal
and state securities laws and shall perform its obligations hereunder in
compliance in all material respects with any applicable state and federal laws.
Article III. PROSPECTUS AND PROXY STATEMENTS
-------------------------------
3.1 FUND shall prepare and be responsible for filing with the SEC 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 FUND. FUND
shall bear the costs of registration and qualification of shares of the
Portfolios, preparation and filing of the documents listed in this Section 3.1
and all taxes and filing fees to which an issuer is subject on the issuance and
transfer of its shares.
3.2 At least annually, FUND or its designee shall provide LIFE COMPANY,
free of charge, with as many copies of the current prospectus for the shares of
the Portfolios as LIFE COMPANY may reasonably request for distribution to
existing Variable Contract owners whose Variable Contracts are funded by such
shares. FUND or its designee shall provide LIFE COMPANY, at LIFE COMPANY's
expense, with as many copies of the current prospectus for the shares as LIFE
COMPANY may reasonably request for distribution to prospective purchasers of
Variable Contracts. If requested by LIFE COMPANY in lieu thereof, FUND or its
designee shall provide such documentation (including a "camera ready" copy of
the new prospectus as set in type or, at the request of LIFE COMPANY, as a
diskette in the form sent to the financial printer) and other assistance as is
reasonably necessary in order for the parties hereto once a year (or more
frequently if the prospectus for the shares is supplemented or amended) to have
the prospectus for the Variable Contracts and the prospectus for the FUND shares
printed together in one document. The expenses of such printing will be
apportioned between (a) LIFE COMPANY and (b) FUND in proportion to the number of
pages of the Variable Contract and FUND's prospectus, taking account of other
relevant factors affecting the expense of printing, such as covers, columns,
graphs and charts; FUND to bear the cost of printing the FUND's prospectus
portion of such document for distribution only to owners of existing Variable
Contracts funded by the FUND's shares and LIFE COMPANY to bear the expense of
printing the portion of such documents relating to the Separate Account;
provided, however, LIFE COMPANY shall bear all printing expenses of such
combined documents where used for distribution to prospective purchasers or to
owners of existing Variable Contracts not funded by the FUND's shares. In the
event that LIFE COMPANY requests that FUND or its designee provide FUND's
prospectus in a "camera ready" or diskette format, FUND shall be responsible for
providing the prospectus in the format in which it is accustomed to formatting
prospectuses and shall bear the expense of providing the prospectus in such
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format (e.g. typesetting expenses), and LIFE COMPANY shall bear the expense of
adjusting or changing the format to conform with any of its prospectuses.
3.3 FUND will provide LIFE COMPANY with at least one complete copy of all
prospectuses, statements of additional information, annual and semi-annual
reports, proxy statements, exemptive applications and all amendments or
supplements to any of the above that relate to the Portfolios promptly after the
filing of each such document with the SEC or other regulatory authority. LIFE
COMPANY will provide FUND with at least one complete copy of all prospectuses,
statements of additional information, annual and semi-annual reports, proxy
statements, exemptive applications and all amendments or supplements to any of
the above that relate to a Separate Account promptly after the filing of each
such document with the SEC or other regulatory authority.
3.4 The prospectus for the Portfolios shall state that the Statement of
Additional Information for the Portfolios is available from FUND or its
designee. FUND or its designee, at its expense, shall print and provide such
statement of additional information to LIFE COMPANY (or a master of such
statement suitable for duplication by LIFE COMPANY) for distribution to any
owner of a Variable Contract funded by the Portfolios. FUND or its designee, at
LIFE COMPANY's expense, shall print and provide such statement to LIFE COMPANY
(or a master of such statement suitable for duplication by LIFE COMPANY) for
distribution to a prospective purchaser who requests such statement or to an
owner of a Variable Contract not funded by the Portfolio.
3.5 FUND, at its expense, shall provide LIFE COMPANY with copies of its
proxy statements, reports to shareholders, and other communications (except for
prospectus and statements of additional information, which are covered above) to
shareholders in such quantity as LIFE COMPANY shall reasonably require for
distributing to contract owners. FUND or its designee shall bear the reasonable
cost of printing, duplicating, and mailing of these documents to current
contract owners.
Article IV. SALES MATERIALS
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4.1 LIFE COMPANY will furnish, or will cause to be furnished, to FUND and
ADVISER, each piece of sales literature or other promotional material in which
FUND or ADVISER is named, at least fifteen (15) Business Days prior to its
intended use. No such material will be used if FUND or ADVISER objects to its
use in writing within ten (10) Business Days after receipt of such material.
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4.2 FUND and ADVISER will furnish, or will cause to be furnished, to LIFE
COMPANY, each piece of sales literature or other promotional material in which
LIFE COMPANY or its Separate Accounts are named, at least fifteen (15) Business
Days prior to its intended use. No such material will be used if LIFE COMPANY
objects to its use in writing within ten (10) Business Days after receipt of
such material.
4.3 FUND and its affiliates and agents shall not give any information or
make any representations on behalf of LIFE COMPANY or concerning LIFE COMPANY,
the Separate Accounts, or the Variable Contracts issued by LIFE COMPANY, other
than the information or representations contained in a registration statement or
prospectus for such Variable Contracts, as such registration statement and
prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in reports of
the Separate Accounts or reports prepared for distribution to owners of such
Variable Contracts, or in sales literature or other promotional material
approved by LIFE COMPANY or its designee, except with the written permission of
LIFE COMPANY.
4.4 LIFE COMPANY and its affiliates and agents shall not give any
information or make any representations on behalf of FUND or concerning FUND
other than the information or representations contained in a registration
statement or prospectus for FUND, as such registration statement and prospectus
may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in sales literature or
other promotional material approved by FUND or its designee, except with the
written permission of FUND.
4.5 For purposes of this Agreement, the phrase "sales literature or other
promotional material" or words of similar import include, without limitation,
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),
sales literature (such as any written communication distributed or made
generally available to customers or the public, including brochures, circulars,
research reports, market letters, form letters, seminar texts, or reprints or
excerpts of any other advertisement, sales literature, or published article),
educational or training materials or other communications distributed or made
generally available to some or all agents or employees, registration statements,
prospectuses, statements of additional information, shareholder reports and
proxy materials, and any other material constituting sales literature or
advertising under National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD")
rules, the '40 Act or the '33 Act.
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Article V. POTENTIAL CONFLICTS
-------------------
5.1 The parties acknowledge that FUND has filed an application with the
SEC to request an order granting relief from various provisions of the '40 Act
and the rules thereunder to the extent necessary to permit FUND shares to be
sold to and held by Variable Contract separate accounts of both affiliated and
unaffiliated Participating Insurance Companies and Qualified Plans. It is
anticipated that the Exemptive Order, when and if issued, shall require FUND and
each Participating Insurance Company to comply with conditions and undertakings
substantially as provided in this Section 5. If the Exemptive Order imposes
conditions materially different from those provided for in this Section 5, the
conditions and undertakings imposed by the Exemptive Order shall govern this
Agreement and the parties hereto agree to amend this Agreement consistent with
the Exemptive Order. The Fund will not enter into a participation agreement with
any other Participating Insurance Company unless it imposes the same conditions
and undertakings as are imposed on LIFE COMPANY hereby.
5.2 The Board will monitor FUND for the existence of any material
irreconcilable conflict between the interests of Variable Contract owners of all
separate accounts investing in FUND. An irreconcilable material conflict may
arise for a variety of reasons, which may include: (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 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 FUND are being managed;
(e) a difference in voting instructions given by Variable Contract owners; (f) a
decision by a Participating Insurance Company to disregard the voting
instructions of Variable Contract owners and (g) if applicable, a decision by a
Qualified Plan to disregard the voting instructions of plan participants.
5.3 LIFE COMPANY will report any potential or existing conflicts, of which
it is aware, to the Board. LIFE COMPANY will be responsible for assisting the
Board in carrying out its duties in this regard by providing the Board with all
information reasonably necessary for the Board to consider any issues raised.
The responsibility includes, but is not limited to, an obligation by the LIFE
COMPANY to inform the Board whenever it has determined to disregard Variable
Contract owner voting instructions. These responsibilities of LIFE COMPANY
will be carried out with a view only to the interests of the Variable Contract
owners.
5.4 If a majority of the Board or majority of its disinterested Directors,
determines that a material irreconcilable conflict exists affecting LIFE
COMPANY, LIFE COMPANY, at its expense and to the extent reasonably practicable
(as determined by
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a majority of the Board's disinterested Directors), will take any steps
necessary to remedy or eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict,
including; (a) withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the
Separate Accounts from FUND or any Portfolio thereof and reinvesting those
assets in a different investment medium, which may include another Portfolio
of FUND, or another investment company; (b) submitting the question as to
whether such segregation should be implemented to a vote of all affected
Variable Contract owners and as appropriate, segregating the assets of any
appropriate group (i.e variable annuity or variable life insurance Contract
owners of one or more Participating Insurance Companies) that votes in favor
of such segregation, or offering to the affected Variable Contract owners the
option of making such a change; and (c) establishing a new registered
management investment company (or series thereof) or managed separate
account. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of LIFE
COMPANY's decision to disregard Variable Contract owner voting instructions,
and that decision represents a minority position or would preclude a majority
vote, LIFE COMPANY may be required, at the election of FUND, to withdraw the
Separate Account's investment in FUND, and no charge or penalty will be
imposed as a result of such withdrawal. The responsibility to take such
remedial action shall be carried out with a view only to the interests of the
Variable Contract owners and shall be limited to the extent required by the
foregoing irreconcilable material conflict as determined by a majority of the
disinterested members of the Board.
For the purposes of this Section 5.4, a majority of the disinterested
members of the Board shall determine whether or not any proposed action
adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict but in no event will
FUND or ADVISER (or any other investment adviser of FUND) be required to
establish a new funding medium for any Variable Contract. Further, LIFE COMPANY
shall not be required by this Section 5.4 to establish a new funding medium for
any Variable Contracts if any offer to do so has been declined by a vote of a
majority of Variable Contract owners materially and adversely affected by the
irreconcilable material conflict.
5.5 The Board's determination of the existence of an irreconcilable
material conflict and its implications shall be made known promptly and in
writing to LIFE COMPANY.
5.6 No less than annually, LIFE COMPANY shall submit to the Board such
reports, materials or data as the Board may reasonably request so that the Board
may fully carry out its obligations. Such reports, materials, and data shall be
submitted more frequently if deemed appropriate by the Board.
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Article VI. VOTING
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6.1 LIFE COMPANY will provide pass-through voting privileges to all
Variable Contract owners so long as the SEC continues to interpret the '40 Act
as requiring pass-through voting privileges for Variable Contract owners.
Accordingly, LIFE COMPANY, where applicable, will vote shares of the Portfolio
held in its Separate Accounts in a manner consistent with voting instructions
timely received from its Variable Contract owners. LIFE COMPANY will be
responsible for assuring that each of its Separate Accounts that participates in
FUND calculates voting privileges in a manner consistent with other
Participating Insurance Companies or the Exemptive Order. LIFE COMPANY will vote
shares for which it has not received timely voting instructions, as well as
shares it owns, in the same proportion as its votes those shares for which it
has received voting instructions.
6.2 If and to the extent Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) are amended, or if
Rule 6e-3 is adopted, to provide exemptive relief from any provision of the '40
Act or the rules thereunder with respect to mixed and shared funding on terms
and conditions materially different from any exemptions granted in the Exemptive
Order, then FUND, and/or the Participating Insurance Companies, as appropriate,
shall take such steps as may be necessary to comply with Rule 6e-2 and Rule
6e-3(T), as amended, and Rule 6e-3, as adopted, to the extent such Rules are
applicable.
Article VII. INDEMNIFICATION
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7.1 INDEMNIFICATION BY LIFE COMPANY. LIFE COMPANY agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless FUND, ADVISER and each of their directors, principals,
officers, employees and agents and each person, if any, who controls FUND or
ADVISER within the meaning of Section 15 of the '33 Act (collectively, the
"Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Article VII) against any and all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with
the written consent of LIFE COMPANY, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld) or litigation (including legal and other expenses), to which the
Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute, regulation, at common
law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements are related to the sale
or acquisition of FUND's shares or the Variable Contracts 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 Variable Contracts or contained in the
Variable 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
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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 LIFE COMPANY by or on behalf
of FUND for use in the registration statement or prospectus for the
Variable Contracts or in the Variable Contracts or sales literature
(or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in connection
with the sale of the Variable Contracts or FUND shares; or
(b) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other
than statements or representations contained in the registration
statement, prospectus or sales literature of FUND not supplied by LIFE
COMPANY, or persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of LIFE
COMPANY or persons under its control, with respect to the sale or
distribution of the Variable Contracts or FUND shares; or
(c) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in a registration statement, prospectus, or
sales literature of 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 statement or omission or
such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished to FUND by or on behalf of LIFE
COMPANY; or
(d) arise as a result of any failure by LIFE COMPANY to provide
substantially the services and furnish the materials 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 LIFE COMPANY in this Agreement or arise out of
or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by LIFE
COMPANY.
7.2 LIFE COMPANY shall not be liable under this indemnification provision
with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation incurred
or assessed against an Indemnified Party as such may arise from such Indemnified
Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or 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.
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7.3 LIFE 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 LIFE 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 LIFE COMPANY of any
such claim shall not relieve LIFE 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, LIFE COMPANY shall be entitled to participate at
its own expense in the defense of such action. LIFE COMPANY also shall be
entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party
named in the action. After notice from LIFE COMPANY to such party of LIFE
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 LIFE
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.
7.4 INDEMNIFICATION BY ADVISER. ADVISER agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless LIFE COMPANY and each of its directors, officers, employees, and agents
and each person, if any, who controls LIFE COMPANY within the meaning of Section
15 of the '33 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for the purposes of
this Article VII) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities
(including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of ADVISER which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) 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 are related to the sale or acquisition of FUND's shares or the
Variable Contracts and:
(a) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of any material fact contained in the registration statement
or prospectus or sales literature of 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 ADVISER or FUND
by or on behalf of
13
LIFE COMPANY for use in the registration statement or prospectus for
FUND or in sales literature (or any amendment or supplement) or
otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Variable
Contracts or FUND shares; or
(b) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other
than statements or representations contained in the registration
statement, prospectus or sales literature for the Variable Contracts
not supplied by ADVISER or persons under its control) or wrongful
conduct of FUND or ADVISER or persons under their control, with
respect to the sale or distribution of the Variable Contracts or FUND
shares; or
(c) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in a registration statement, prospectus, or
sales literature covering the Variable 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 statements therein not misleading, if such
statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission was made
in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to LIFE
COMPANY for inclusion therein by or on behalf of FUND; or
(d) arise as a result of (i) a failure by FUND to provide substantially
the services and furnish the materials under the terms of this
Agreement; or (ii) a failure by a Portfolio(s) invested in by the
Separate Account to comply with the diversification requirements of
Section 817(h) of the Code; or (iii) a failure by a Portfolio(s)
invested in by the Separate Account to qualify as a "regulated
investment company" under Subchapter M of the Code; or
(e) arise out of or result from any material breach of any representation
and/or warranty made by ADVISER in this Agreement or arise out of or
result from any other material breach of this Agreement by ADVISER.
7.5 ADVISER shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with
respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation to which an
Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of such Indemnified
Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or 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.
14
7.6 ADVISER shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with
respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless such Indemnified
Party shall have notified ADVISER in writing within a reasonable time after the
summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the
claim shall have been served upon such Indemnified Party (or after such
Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on any designated
agent), but failure to notify ADVISER of any such claim shall not relieve
ADVISER from any liability which it may have to the Indemnified Party against
whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this indemnification
provision. In case any such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties,
ADVISER shall be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense
thereof. ADVISER also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with
counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from
ADVISER to such party of ADVISER's election to assume the defense thereof, the
Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel
retained by it, and ADVISER will not be liable to such party under this
Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such party
independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs
of investigation.
Article VIII. TERM; TERMINATION
-----------------
8.1 This Agreement shall be effective as of the date hereof and shall
continue in force until terminated in accordance with the provisions herein.
8.2 This Agreement shall terminate in accordance with the following
provisions:
(a) At the option of LIFE COMPANY or FUND at any time from the date hereof
upon 60 days' notice, unless a shorter time is agreed to by the
parties;
(b) At the option of LIFE COMPANY, if FUND shares are not reasonably
available to meet the requirements of the Variable Contracts as
determined by LIFE COMPANY. Prompt notice of election to terminate
shall be furnished by LIFE COMPANY, said termination to be effective
ten days after receipt of notice unless FUND makes available a
sufficient number of shares to reasonably meet the requirements of the
Variable Contracts within said ten-day period;
15
(c) At the option of LIFE COMPANY, upon the institution of formal
proceedings against FUND by the SEC, the NASD, or any other regulatory
body, the expected or anticipated ruling, judgment or outcome of which
would, in LIFE COMPANY's reasonable judgment, materially impair FUND's
ability to meet and perform FUND's obligations and duties hereunder.
Prompt notice of election to terminate shall be furnished by LIFE
COMPANY with said termination to be effective upon receipt of notice;
(d) At the option of FUND, upon the institution of formal proceedings
against LIFE COMPANY by the SEC, the NASD, or any other regulatory
body, the expected or anticipated ruling, judgment or outcome of which
would, in FUND's reasonable judgment, materially impair LIFE
COMPANY's ability to meet and perform its obligations and duties
hereunder. Prompt notice of election to terminate shall be furnished
by FUND with said termination to be effective upon receipt of notice;
(e) In the event FUND's shares are not registered, issued or sold in
accordance with applicable state or federal law, or such law precludes
the use of such shares as the underlying investment medium of Variable
Contracts issued or to be issued by LIFE COMPANY. Termination shall
be effective upon receipt of notice by LIFE COMPANY;
(f) At the option of FUND if the Variable Contracts cease to qualify as
annuity contracts or life insurance contracts, as applicable, under
the Code, or if FUND reasonably believes that the Variable Contracts
may fail to so qualify. Termination shall be effective upon receipt
of notice by LIFE COMPANY;
(g) At the option of LIFE COMPANY, upon FUND's breach of any material
provision of this Agreement, which breach has not been cured to the
satisfaction of LIFE COMPANY within ten days after written notice of
such breach is delivered to FUND;
(h) At the option of FUND, upon LIFE COMPANY's breach of any material
provision of this Agreement, which breach has not been cured to the
satisfaction of FUND within ten days after written notice of such
breach is delivered to LIFE COMPANY;
16
(i) At the option of FUND, if the Variable Contracts are not registered,
issued or sold in accordance with applicable federal and/or state law.
Termination shall be effective immediately upon receipt of notice by
LIFE COMPANY;
(j) In the event this Agreement is assigned without the prior written
consent of LIFE COMPANY, FUND, and ADVISER, termination shall be
effective immediately upon receipt of notice;
(k) At the option of LIFE COMPANY with respect to any Portfolio in the
event that such Portfolio ceases to qualify as a Regulated Investment
Company under Subchapter M of the Code or under any successor or
similar provision, or if LIFE COMPANY reasonably believes that the
FUND may fail to so qualify. Termination shall be effective
immediately upon receipt of notice;
(l) At the option of LIFE COMPANY with respect to any Portfolio in the
event that such Portfolio fails to meet the diversification
requirements specified in Article 2.6. Termination shall be effective
immediately upon receipt of notice.
8.3 Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section
8.2 hereof, FUND shall, at the option of LIFE COMPANY, continue to make
available additional FUND shares, as provided below, pursuant to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, for all Variable Contracts in effect on the
effective date of termination of this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as
"Existing Contracts"). Specifically, without limitation, if LIFE COMPANY so
elects, the owners of the Existing Contracts or LIFE COMPANY, whichever shall
have legal authority to do so, shall be permitted to reallocate investments in
FUND, redeem investments in FUND and/or invest in FUND upon the payment of
additional premiums under the Existing Contracts. In the event of a termination
of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.2 hereof, LIFE COMPANY, as promptly as
is practicable under the circumstances, shall notify FUND AND ADVISER whether
LIFE COMPANY elects to have FUND continue to make FUND shares available after
such termination. If FUND shares continue to be made available after such
termination, the provisions of this Agreement shall remain in effect and
thereafter either FUND or LIFE COMPANY may terminate the Agreement, as so
continued pursuant to this Section 8.3, upon sixty (60) days prior written
notice to the other party.
8.4 Except as necessary to implement Variable Contract owner initiated
transactions, or as required by state insurance laws or regulations, LIFE
COMPANY shall not redeem the shares attributable to the Variable Contracts (as
opposed to the
17
shares attributable to LIFE COMPANY's assets held in the Separate Accounts),
and LIFE COMPANY shall not prevent Variable Contract owners from allocating
payments to a Portfolio that was otherwise available under the Variable
Contracts until thirty (30) days after the LIFE COMPANY shall have notified
FUND of its intention to do so.
Article IX. NOTICES
-------
Any notice hereunder shall be given by registered or certified mail return
receipt requested 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 FUND:
PBHG Insurance Series Fund, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xx. Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
With a copy to:
PBHG Insurance Series Fund, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Zerrr, Esq.
If to the ADVISER:
Pilgrim Xxxxxx & Associates, Ltd.
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xx. Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
With a copy to:
Pilgrim Xxxxxx & Associates, Ltd.
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Zerrr, Esq.
18
If to LIFE COMPANY:
Allmerica Financial Life Insurance and
Annuity Company
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, President
Notice shall be deemed given on the date of receipt by the addressee as
evidenced by the return receipt.
Article X. MISCELLANEOUS
-------------
10.1 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.
10.2 This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
10.3 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.
10.4 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania. 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 SEC granting exemptive relief therefrom and the conditions of such orders.
10.5 It is understood and expressly stipulated that neither the
shareholders of shares of any Portfolio nor the Directors or officers of FUND or
any Portfolio shall be personally liable hereunder. No Portfolio shall be
liable for the liabilities of any other Portfolio. All persons dealing with
FUND or a Portfolio must look solely to the property of FUND or that Portfolio,
respectively, for enforcement of any claims against FUND or that Portfolio. It
is also understood that each of the Portfolios shall be deemed to be entering
into a separate Agreement with LIFE COMPANY so that it is as if each of the
Portfolios had signed a separate Agreement with LIFE COMPANY and that a single
document is being signed simply to facilitate the execution and administration
of the Agreement.
19
10.6 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 Variable Contracts and all information reasonably
identified as confidential in writing by any other party hereto and, except as
permitted by this Agreement, shall not disclose, disseminate or utilize such
names and addresses and other confidential information until such time as the
confidential information may come into the public domain without fault of the
parties hereto.
10.7 Each party 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.
10.8 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.
20
10.9 No provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified in any
manner except by a written agreement properly authorized and executed by FUND,
ADVISER and the LIFE COMPANY.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused their duly authorized officers
to execute this Fund Participation Agreement as of the date and year first above
written.
PBHG INSURANCE SERIES FUND, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
---------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: V.P.
PILGRIM XXXXXX & ASSOCIATES, LTD.
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
---------------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Title: CFO
ALLMERICA FINANCIAL LIFE INSURANCE
AND ANNUITY COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
---------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: V.P.
21
APPENDIX A
PBHG INSURANCE SERIES FUND, INC. - PORTFOLIOS
---------------------------------------------
PBHG Growth II Portfolio
PBHG Large Cap Growth Portfolio
PBHG Technology & Communications Portfolio
PBHG Select 20 Portfolio*
PBHG Large Cap Value Portfolio
PBHG Small Cap Value Portfolio
* Shares not available for sale until November 1, 1998.
APPENDIX B
SEPARATE ACCOUNTS SELECTED PORTFOLIOS
----------------- -------------------
Fulcrum Account of Allmerica Financial Life PBHG Select 20 Portfolio*
Insurance and Annuity Company
Fulcrum Variable Life Account of Allmerica PBHG Select 20 Portfolio*
Financial Life Insurance and Annuity Company
* Shares not available for sale until November 1, 1998.
