Exhibit 1.A.9(b)(vii)
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
Among
VALUE LINE CENTURION FUND, INC.
VALUE LINE STRATEGIC ASSET MANAGEMENT TRUST
VALUE LINE SECURITIES, INC.
VALUE LINE, INC.
and
THE GUARDIAN INSURANCE & ANNUITY COMPANY, INC.
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of the ___ day of
________________, 2003 by and among The Guardian Insurance & Annuity Company,
Inc. (hereinafter the "Company"), a Delaware corporation, on its own behalf and
on behalf of each separate account of the Company set forth on Schedule A hereto
as may be amended from time to time (each such account hereinafter referred to
as the "Account"), and Value Line Centurion Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation,
Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust, a Massachusetts business trust,
(hereinafter the "Fund" or "Funds"), Value Line Securities, Inc. a New York
corporation (hereinafter the "Underwriter"), and Value Line, Inc., a New York
corporation (hereinafter the "Adviser").
WHEREAS, the Funds engage in business as open-end management investment
companies and are available to act as investment vehicles for separate accounts
established by insurance companies for individual and group life insurance
policies and annuity contracts with variable accumulation and/or payout
provisions (hereinafter referred to individually and/or collectively as
"Variable Insurance Products"); and
WHEREAS, insurance companies desiring to utilize the Funds as investment
vehicles under their Variable Insurance Products are required to enter into
participation agreements with the Funds and the Underwriter (the "Participating
Insurance Companies"); and
WHEREAS, the Funds intend to offer shares of the Funds, any one or more of
which may be made available for Variable Insurance Products of Participating
Insurance Companies and as set forth on Schedule B as may be amended from time
to time by mutual agreement of the parties hereto, under this Agreement to the
Accounts of the Company; and
WHEREAS, the Funds have obtained an order from the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting Participating Insurance Companies and Variable Insurance
Product separate accounts exemptions from the provisions of Sections 9(a),
13(a), 15(a), and 15(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(hereinafter the "1940 Act") and Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and 6e 3(T)(b)(15) thereunder
to the extent necessary to permit shares of the Fund to be sold to and held by
Variable Annuity Product separate accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated
life insurance companies (hereinafter the "Shared Funding Exemptive Order"); and
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WHEREAS, the Funds are registered as open-end management investment
companies under the 1940 Act and their shares are registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (hereinafter the "1933 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Adviser is duly registered as an investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and any applicable state securities
laws; and
WHEREAS, the Adviser is the investment adviser of the Funds; and
WHEREAS, the Underwriter is registered as a broker/dealer under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (hereinafter the "1934 Act"), is a
member in good standing of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
(hereinafter "NASD") and serves as principal underwriter of the shares of the
Funds; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register certain Variable
Insurance Products under the 1933 Act; and
WHEREAS, each Account is a duly organized, validly existing segregated
asset account, established by resolution or under authority of the Board of
Directors of the Company, on the date shown for such Account on Schedule A
hereto, to set aside and invest assets attributable to the aforesaid Variable
Insurance Products; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register each Account as a
unit investment trust under the 1940 Act; and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Company intends to purchase shares of the Funds on behalf of
each Account to fund certain of the aforesaid Variable Insurance Products and
the Underwriter is authorized to sell such shares to each such Account at net
asset value.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Company,
the Funds, the Underwriter and the Adviser agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Fund Shares
1.1 The Fund and the Underwriter agree to make shares available for
purchase by the Company and shall execute orders placed for each Account on a
daily basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by the Fund or
its designee of such order. For purposes of this Section 1.1, the Company shall
be the designee of the Fund and the Underwriter for receipt of such orders from
each Account and receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund;
provided that the Fund receives notice of such order by 10:00 a.m. Eastern time
on the next following Business Day.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall use its best efforts to provide
the Fund with notice of such orders by 10:00 a.m. Eastern time on the next
following Business Day. "Business Day" shall mean any day on which the New York
Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which the Fund calculates its net
asset value pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, as
set forth in the Fund's prospectus and statement of additional information.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Trustees of the Fund (hereinafter
the "Board") may refuse to permit the Fund to sell shares of any Fund to any
person, or suspend or terminate the offering of shares of any Fund if such
action is required by law or by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction or
is, in the sole discretion of the Board acting in good faith and in light of
their fiduciary duties under federal and any applicable state laws, necessary in
the best interests of the shareholders of such Fund.
1.2 The Fund and the Underwriter agree that shares of the Fund will be
sold only to Participating Insurance Companies for their Variable Insurance
Products. No shares of any Fund will be sold to the general public.
1.3 The Fund will not make its shares available for purchase by any
insurance company or separate account unless an agreement containing provisions
which afford the Company substantially the same protections currently provided
by Sections 2.1, 2.4, 2.9, 3.4 and Article 7 of this Agreement is in effect to
govern such sales.
1.4 The Fund and the Underwriter agree to redeem for cash, on the
Company's request and in accordance with the Fund's currently effective
Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information any full or fractional shares
of the Fund held by the Company, executing such requests on a daily basis at the
net asset value next computed after receipt by the Fund or its designee of the
request for redemption. For purposes of this Section 1.4, the Company shall be
the designee of the Fund for receipt of requests for redemption from each
Account and receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund;
provided that the Underwriter receives notice of such request for redemption on
the next following Business Day in accordance with the timing rules described in
Section 1.1.
1.5 The Company agrees that purchases and redemptions of Fund shares
offered by the then current prospectus of the Fund shall be made in accordance
with the provisions of such prospectus. The Accounts of the Company, under which
amounts may be invested in the Fund are listed on Schedule A attached hereto and
incorporated herein by reference, as such Schedule A may be amended from time to
time by mutual written agreement of all of the parties hereto.
1.6 The Company will place separate orders to purchase or redeem shares of
each Fund. Each order shall describe the net amount of shares and dollar amount
of each Fund to be purchased or redeemed. In the event of net purchases, the
Company shall pay for Fund shares on the next Business Day after an order to
purchase Fund shares is made in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.1
hereof. Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire. In the event of
net redemptions, the Fund shall pay the redemption proceeds in federal funds
transmitted by wire on the next Business Day after an order to redeem Fund
shares is made in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.4 hereof.
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1.7 Issuance and transfer of the Fund's shares will be by book entry only.
Share certificates will not be issued to the Company or any Account. Shares
ordered from the Fund will be recorded in an appropriate title for each Account
or the appropriate subaccount of each Account.
1.8 The Underwriter shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to
furnish same day notice by 6:00 p.m. Eastern time (by wire or telephone,
followed by written confirmation) to the Company of any dividends or capital
gain distributions payable on the Fund's shares. The Company hereby elects to
receive all such dividends and capital gain distributions as are payable on the
Fund shares in additional shares of that Fund. The Company reserves the right to
revoke this election and to receive all such dividends and capital gain
distributions in cash. The Fund shall notify the Company of the number of shares
so issued as payment of such dividends and distributions.
1.9 The Underwriter shall make the net asset value per share of each Fund
available to the Company on a daily basis as soon as reasonably practical after
the net asset value per share is calculated and shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to make such net asset value per share available by 6:00 p.m.
Eastern time. In the event that Underwriter is unable to meet the 6:00 p.m. time
stated immediately above, then Underwriter shall provide the Company with
additional time to notify Underwriter of purchase or redemption orders pursuant
to Sections 1.1 and 1.4, respectively above. Such additional time shall be equal
to the additional time that Underwriter takes to make the net asset values
available to the Company provided, however, that notification must be made by
10:00 a.m. Eastern time on the Business Day such order is to be executed,
regardless of when net asset value is made available.
1.10 If Underwriter provides materially incorrect share net asset value
information through no fault of the Company, the Company shall be entitled to an
adjustment with respect to the Fund shares purchased or redeemed to reflect the
correct net asset value per share. The determination of the materiality of any
net asset value pricing error shall be based on the SEC's recommended guidelines
regarding such errors. The correction of any such errors shall be made at the
Company level pursuant to the SEC's recommended guidelines. Any material error
in the calculation or reporting of net asset value per share, dividend or
capital gain information shall be reported promptly upon discovery to the
Company.
ARTICLE 2
Representations and Warranties
2.1 The Company represents and warrants that the interests of Accounts
(the "Contracts") are or will be registered and will maintain the registration
under the 1933 Act and the regulations thereunder to the extent required by the
1933 Act; that the Contracts will be issued and sold in compliance with all
applicable federal and state laws and regulations. The Company further
represents and warrants that it is an insurance company duly organized and in
good standing under applicable law and that it has legally and validly
established each Account prior to any issuance or sale thereof as a segregated
asset account under the Delaware Insurance Code and the regulations thereunder
and has registered or, prior to any issuance or sale of the Contracts, will
register and will maintain the registration of each Account as a unit investment
trust in accordance with and to the extent required by the provisions of the
1940 Act and the
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regulations thereunder to serve as a segregated investment account for the
Contracts. The Company shall amend its registration statement for its contracts
under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act from time to time as required in order to
effect the continuous offering of its Contracts.
2.2 The Fund and the Underwriter represent and warrant that Fund shares
sold pursuant to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act and the
regulations thereunder to the extent required by the 1933 Act, duly authorized
for issuance in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware and sold in
compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws and regulations
and that the Fund is and shall remain registered under the 1940 Act and the
regulations thereunder to the extent required by the 0000 Xxx. The Fund shall
amend the registration statement for its shares under the 1933 Act and the 1940
Act from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of
its shares. The Fund shall register and qualify the shares for sale in
accordance with the laws of the various states only if and to the extent deemed
advisable by the Fund.
2.3 The Fund and the Adviser represent that the Fund is currently
qualified as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and that each will make every
effort to maintain such qualification (under Subchapter M or any successor or
similar provision) and that each will notify the Company immediately upon having
a reasonable basis for believing that the Fund has ceased to so qualify or that
the Fund might not so qualify in the future.
2.4 The Company represents that each Account is and will continue to be a
"segregated account" under applicable provisions of the Code and that each
Contract is and will be treated as a "variable contract" under applicable
provisions of the Code and that it will make every effort to maintain such
treatment and that it will notify the Fund immediately upon having a reasonable
basis for believing that the Account or Contract has ceased to be so treated or
that they might not be so treated in the future.
2.5 The Fund represents that to the extent that it decides to finance
distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, the Fund
undertakes to have a board of directors, a majority of whom are not interested
persons of the Fund, formulate and approve any plan under Rule 12b-1 to finance
distribution expenses.
2.6 The Fund makes no representation as to whether any aspect of its
operations (including, but not limited to, fees and expenses and investment
policies) complies with the insurance laws or regulations of the various states.
2.7 The Fund and the Adviser represent that the Fund is duly organized and
validly existing under the laws of their respective states of organization and
that the Fund does and will comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act.
2.8 The Underwriter represents and warrants that it is and shall remain
duly registered under all applicable federal and state laws and regulations and
that it will perform its obligations for the Fund and the Company in compliance
with the laws and regulations of its state of domicile and any applicable state
and federal laws and regulations.
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2.9 The Company represents and warrants that all of its directors,
officers, employees, investment advisers, and other individuals/entities dealing
with the money and/or securities of the Fund are and shall continue to be at all
times covered by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage for the benefit of
the Company and/or the Fund that is reasonable and customary in light of the
Company's obligations under this Agreement. The aforesaid includes coverage for
larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable bonding company. The
Company agrees to make all reasonable efforts to see that this bond or another
bond containing these provisions is always in effect, and agrees to notify the
Fund and the Advisers in the event that such coverage no longer applies.
ARTICLE 3
Prospectuses, Reports to Shareholders and Proxy Statements, Voting
3.1 The Fund shall provide the Company with as many printed copies of the
Fund's current prospectus and statement of additional information as the Company
may reasonably request. If requested by the Company in lieu of providing printed
copies the Fund shall provide camera-ready film or computer diskettes containing
the Fund's prospectus and statement of additional information, and such other
assistance as is reasonably necessary in order for the Company once each year
(or more frequently if the prospectus and/or statement of additional information
for the Fund is amended during the year) to have the prospectus for the
Contracts and the Fund's prospectus printed together in one document or
separately. The Company may elect to print the Fund's prospectus and/or its
statement of additional information in combination with other fund companies'
prospectuses and statements of additional information.
3.2(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 3.2, all expenses of
preparing, setting in type and printing and distributing Fund prospectuses and
statements of additional information shall be the expense of the Company. For
prospectuses and statements of additional information provided by the Company to
its existing owners of Contracts in order to update disclosure as required by
the 1933 Act and/or the 1940 Act, the cost of setting in type, printing and
distributing shall be borne by the Fund. If the Company chooses to receive
camera-ready film or computer diskettes in lieu of receiving printed copies of
the Fund's prospectus and/or statement of additional information, the Fund shall
bear the cost of typesetting to provide the Fund's prospectus and/or statement
of additional information to the Company in the format in which the Fund is
accustomed to formatting prospectuses and statements of additional information,
respectively, and the Company shall bear the expense of adjusting or changing
the format to conform with any of its prospectuses and/or statements of
additional information. In such event, the Fund will reimburse the Company in an
amount equal to the product of x and y where x is the number of such
prospectuses distributed to owners of the Contracts, and y is the Fund's per
unit cost of printing the Fund's prospectuses. The same procedures shall be
followed with respect to the Fund's statement of additional information. The
Fund shall not pay any costs of typesetting, printing and distributing the
Fund's prospectus and/or statement of additional information to prospective
Contract owners.
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3.2(c) The Company agrees to provide the Fund or its designee with such
information as may be reasonably requested by the Fund to assure that the Fund's
expenses do not include the cost of typesetting, printing or distributing any of
the foregoing documents other than those actually distributed to existing
Contract owners.
3.2(d) The Fund shall pay no fee or other compensation to the Company
under this Agreement, except that if the Fund adopts and implements a plan
pursuant to Rule 12b-1 to finance distribution expenses, then the Underwriter
may make payments to the Company or to the underwriter for the Contracts if and
in amounts agreed to by the Underwriter in writing.
3.2(e) All expenses, including expenses to be borne by the Fund pursuant
to Section 3.2 hereof, incident to performance by the Fund under this Agreement
shall be paid by the Fund. The Fund shall see to it that all its shares are
registered and authorized for issuance in accordance with applicable federal law
and, if and to the extent deemed advisable by the Fund, in accordance with
applicable state laws prior to their sale. The Fund shall bear the expenses for
the cost of registration and qualification of the Fund's shares.
3.3 The Fund's statement of additional information shall be obtainable
from the Fund, the Underwriter, the Company or such other person as the Fund may
designate.
3.4 If and to the extent required by law the Company shall distribute all
proxy material furnished by the Fund to Contract Owners to whom voting
privileges are required to be extended and shall:
(1) solicit voting instructions from Contract owners;
(2) vote the Fund shares in accordance with instructions received from
Contract owners; and
(3) vote Fund shares for which no instructions have been received in the
same proportion as Fund shares for which instructions have been
received,
so long as and to the extent that the Securities and Exchange Commission
continues to interpret the 1940 Act to require passthrough voting privileges for
variable contract owners. The Company reserves the right to vote Fund shares
held in any segregated asset account in its own right, to the extent permitted
by law.
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3.5 The Fund will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act requiring
voting by shareholders, and in particular the Fund will either provide for
annual meetings (except insofar as the Securities and Exchange Commission may
interpret Section 16 not to require such meetings) or comply with Section 16(c)
of the 1940 Act (although the Fund is not one of the trusts described in Section
16(c) of that Act) as well as with Sections 16(a) and, if and when applicable,
16(b). Further, the Fund will act in accordance with the Securities and Exchange
Commission's interpretation of the requirements of Section 16(a) with respect to
periodic elections of directors and with whatever rules the Commission may
promulgate with respect thereto.
ARTICLE 4
Sales Material and Information
4.1 The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the
Fund, the Underwriter or their designee, each piece of sales literature or other
promotional material (as defined in Section 4.5) prepared by the Company or any
person contracting with the Company in which the Fund, the Adviser or the
Underwriter is named, at least ten Business Days prior to its use. No such
material shall be used if the Fund, the Adviser, the Underwriter or their
designee reasonably objects to such use within ten Business Days after receipt
of such material.
4.2 Neither the Company nor any person contracting with the Company shall
give any information or make any representations or statements on behalf of the
Fund or concerning the Fund in connection with the sale of the Contracts other
than the information or representations contained in the registration statement
or Fund prospectus, as such registration statement or Fund prospectus may be
amended or supplemented from time to time, or in reports to shareholders or
proxy statements for the Fund, or in sales literature or other promotional
material approved by the Fund or its designee, except with the permission of the
Fund or its designee.
4.3 The Fund shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the Company
or its designee, each piece of sales literature or other promotional material
(as defined in Section 4.5) prepared by the Fund in which the Company or its
Accounts, are named at least ten Business Days prior to its use. No such
material shall be used if the Company or its designee reasonably objects to such
use within ten Business Days after receipt of such material.
4.4 Neither the Fund nor the Underwriter shall give any information or
make any representations on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company,
each Account, or the Contracts, other than the information or representations
contained in a registration statement or prospectus for the Contracts, as such
registration statement or prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to
time, or in published reports or solicitations for voting instruction for each
Account which are in the public domain or approved by the Company for
distribution to Contract owners, or in sales literature or other promotional
material approved by the Company or its designee, except with the permission of
the Company.
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4.5 For purposes of this Article 4, the phrase "sales literature or other
promotional material" includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:
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 (i.e., any written communication distributed or made generally
available to customers or the public, including brochures, circulars, research
reports, market letters, form letters, seminar texts, reprints or excerpts of
any other advertisement, sales literature, or published article), educational or
training materials or other communications distributed or made generally
available to some or all agents or employees, and registration statements,
prospectuses, statements of additional information, shareholder reports, and
proxy materials.
ARTICLE 5
Distribution and Service Plans
5.1 The Fund is subject to a plan adopted under Rule 18f-3 under the 1940
Act pursuant to which, as described in the current prospectus of each Fund, the
Fund may sell multiple classes of its shares with a varying combination of
distribution fees, service fees, exchange features, conversion rights, voting
rights, expense allocations and investment requirements.
5.2 Should the Company wish to participate in the Fund's distribution plan
with respect to a class of shares of the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (the "Rule
12b-1 Plan") under the 1940 Act, or the Fund's service plan (the "Service
Plan"), each as described in the current prospectus of each Fund, with respect
to a class of shares of the Fund, it is understood that the Company must be
approved by the Board of Trustees of the Fund. Pursuant to the Rule 12b-1 Plan
and the Service Plan, the Underwriter is authorized to remit payments at rates
specified in the respective plans with respect to the net asset value of shares
maintained by the Company for distribution-related services and/or personal
services to Contract owners accounts provided. If the Company wishes to
participate in these plans and receive the aforementioned remittance, the
Company must enter into a separate agreement specifically regarding these plans.
Pursuant to these aforementioned separate agreements, for Contracts issued on or
after May 1, 2003, the Company or Guardian Investor Services LLC (the
"Broker-Dealer"), as appropriate, will receive a total annual fee of
[information omitted as confidential] of the value of each Fund's assets in the
Accounts as specified in Schedule A. For Contracts issued before May 1, 2003,
the Company or the Broker-Dealer, as appropriate, will receive a total annual
fee of [information omitted as confidential] of the value of each Fund's assets
in the Accounts as specified in Schedule A. The foregoing fee will be paid to
the Company or the Broker-Dealer, as appropriate, on a quarterly basis, and in
this regard payment of such fee will be made to the Company or the Broker-Dealer
within 30 days following the end of each calendar quarter.
5.3 The Company's acceptance of this Agreement constitutes a
representation that it will adopt policies and procedures to comply with Rule
18f-3 under the 1940 Act, with respect to when the Company may appropriately
make available the various classes of shares of the Fund and that it will make
available such shares only in accordance therewith.
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ARTICLE 6
Diversification
6.1 The Fund will use commercially reasonable efforts to at all times
comply with Section 817(h) of the Code and Treasury Regulation 1.817-5, relating
to the diversification requirements for variable annuity, endowment, or life
insurance contracts and any amendments or other modifications to such Section or
Regulations. In the event the Fund ceases to so qualify, it will take all
reasonable steps (a) to notify Company of such event and (b) to adequately
diversify the Fund so as to achieve compliance within the grace period afforded
by Regulation 817-5.
ARTICLE 7
Potential Conflicts
7.1 The Board will monitor the Fund for the existence of any material
irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the contract owners of all
separate accounts investing in the Fund. An irreconcilable material conflict may
arise for a variety of reasons, including: (a) an action by any state insurance
regulatory authority; (b) a change in applicable federal or state insurance,
tax, or securities laws or regulations, or a public ruling, private letter
ruling, no-action or interpretative letter, or any similar action by insurance,
tax, or securities regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative or judicial
decision in any relevant proceeding; (d) the manner in which the investments of
any Fund are being managed; (e) a difference in voting instructions given by
variable annuity contract owners and variable life insurance contract owners; or
(f) a decision by a Participating Insurance Company to disregard the voting
instructions of contract owners. The Board shall promptly inform the Company if
it determines that an irreconcilable material conflict exists and the
implications thereof.
7.2 The Company will report any potential or existing material
irreconcilable conflict of which it is aware to the Board. This includes, but is
not limited to, an obligation by the Company to inform the Board whenever
contract owner voting instructions are disregarded.
7.3 If it is determined by a majority of the Board, or a majority of its
disinterested trustees, that a material irreconcilable conflict exists, the
Company and other Participating Insurance Companies shall, at their expense and
to the extent reasonably practicable (as determined by a majority of the
disinterested trustees), take whatever steps are necessary to remedy or
eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict, up to and including: (1)
withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the separate accounts from
the Fund and reinvesting such assets in a different investment medium, including
(but not limited to) another Fund, or submitting the question whether such
segregation should be implemented to a vote of all affected Contract owners and,
as appropriate, segregating the assets of any appropriate group (i.e., annuity
contract owners, life insurance policy owners, or variable contract owners of
one or more Participating Insurance Companies) that votes in favor of such
segregation, or offering to the affected contract owners the option of making
such a change; and (2) establishing a new registered management investment
company or managed separate account. No charge or penalty will be imposed as a
result of such withdrawal. The Company agrees that it bears the responsibility
to
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take remedial action in the event of a Board determination of an irreconcilable
material conflict and the cost of such remedial action, and these
responsibilities will be carried out with a view only to the interests of
Contract owners.
7.4 If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a decision by
the Company to disregard contract owner voting instructions and that decision
represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote, the Company
may be required, at the Fund's election, to withdraw the affected Accounts
investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with respect to such Account
(at the Company's expense); provided, however that such withdrawal and
termination shall be limited to the extent required by the foregoing material
irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the disinterested members
of the Board. No charge or penalty will be imposed as a result of such
withdrawal. The Company agrees that it bears the responsibility to take remedial
action in the event of a Board determination of an irreconcilable material
conflict and the cost of such remedial action, and these responsibilities will
be carried out with a view only to the interests of Contract owners.
7.5 For purposes of Sections 7.3 through 7.4 of this Agreement, a majority
of the disinterested members of the Board shall determine whether any proposed
action adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict, but in no event
will the Fund be required to establish a new funding medium for the Contracts.
The Company shall not be required by Section 7.3 through 7.4 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
irreconcilable material conflict.
7.6 If and to the extent that Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) are amended, or
Rule 6e-3 is adopted, to provide exemptive relief from any provision of the 1940
Act or the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to mixed or shared funding
(as defined in the Shared Funding Exemptive Order) on terms and conditions
materially different from those contained in the Shared Funding Exemptive Order,
then the Fund and/or the Participating Insurance Companies, as appropriate,
shall take such steps as may be necessary to comply with Rules 6e-2 and 6e-3(T),
as amended, and Rule 6e-3, as adopted, to the extent such rules are applicable.
7.7 Each of the Company and the Adviser shall at least annually submit to
the Board such reports, materials or data as the Board may reasonably request so
that the Board may fully carry out the obligations imposed upon them by the
provisions hereof and in the Shared Funding Exemptive Order, and said reports,
materials and data shall be submitted more frequently if deemed appropriate by
the Board. All reports received by the Board of potential or existing conflicts,
and all Board action with regard to determining the existence of a conflict,
notifying Participating Insurance Companies of a conflict, and determining
whether any proposed action adequately remedies a conflict, shall be properly
recorded in the minutes of the Board or other appropriate records, and such
minutes or other records shall be made available to the Securities and Exchange
Commission upon request.
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ARTICLE 8
Indemnification
8.1 Indemnification By The Company
8.1(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Funds, the
Underwriter, the Adviser and each member of their respective Boards and officers
and each person, if any, who controls the Fund within the meaning of Section 15
of the 1933 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this
Section 8.1) against any and all final and non-appealable decisions by a court
of law, to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute,
regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements are
related to the sale or acquisition of the Fund's shares or the Contracts and:
(1) 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 Contracts or contained in the
Contracts or sales literature for the Contracts (or any amendment or
supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based
upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, provided that this agreement to
indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such
statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission was made
in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the
Company by or on behalf of the Fund for use in the registration
statement or prospectus for the Contracts or in the Contracts or
sales literature (or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for
use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(2) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other
than statements or representations contained in the registration
statement, prospectus or sales literature of the Fund not supplied
by the Company, or persons under its control and other than
statements or representations authorized by the Fund or the
Underwriter) or unlawful conduct of the Company or persons under its
control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts
or Fund shares; or
(3) arise out of or as a result of any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in a registration
statement, prospectus, or sales literature of the Fund or any
amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statement or statements therein not
misleading, if such a statement or omission was made in reliance
upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Fund by or
on behalf of the Company; or
12
(4) arise as a result of any failure by the Company to provide the
services and furnish the materials under the terms of this
Agreement; or
(5) 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.
8.1(b) The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation
incurred or assessed against an Indemnified Party as such may arise from a final
and non-appealable decision by a court of law that such Indemnified Party's
willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of such
Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless
disregard of obligations or duties under this Agreement was the sole cause of
the action.
8.1(c) The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless
such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Company in writing within 30 days
after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature
of the claim shall have been served upon such Indemnified Party (or after such
Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on any designated
agent), but failure to notify the Company of any such claim shall not relieve
the Company from any liability which it may have to the indemnified Party
against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this
indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought against the
Indemnified Parties, the Company shall be entitled to participate, at its own
expense, in the defense thereof. The Company also shall be entitled to assume
the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action.
After notice from the Company to such party of the Company's election to assume
the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of
any additional counsel retained by it, and the Company will not be liable to
such party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently
incurred by such party independently in connection with the defense thereof
other than reasonable costs of investigation.
8.1(d) The Indemnified Parties will promptly notify the Company of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against them in connection with
this Agreement, the issuance or sale of the Fund shares or the Contracts, or the
operation of the Fund.
8.2 Indemnification by Underwriter
8.2(a) The Underwriter agrees, with respect to each Fund that it
distributes, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each of its
directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified
Parties" for purposes of this Section 8.2) against any and all final and
non-appealable decisions by a court of law 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
13
thereof) or settlements are related to the sale or acquisition of the Fund's
shares that it distributes or the Contracts and:
(1) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in the registration
statement or prospectus or sales literature of the Fund (or any
amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or
are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, provided that this agreement
to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such
statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission was made
in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the
Fund or the Underwriter by or on behalf of the Company for use in
the registration statement or prospectus for the Fund or in sales
literature (or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in
connection with the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(2) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other
than statements or representations contained in the registration
statement, prospectus or sales literature for the Contracts not
supplied by the Fund, the Underwriter or persons under their
respective control and other than statements or representations
authorized by the Company) or unlawful conduct of the Fund or
Underwriter or persons under their control, with respect to the sale
or distribution of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(3) arise out of or as a result of any untrue statement of alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in a registration
statement, prospectus, or sales literature covering the Contracts,
or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or the omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statement or statements
therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in
reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the
Company by or on behalf of the Fund or the Underwriter; or
(4) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund or the Underwriter to
provide the services and furnish the materials under the terms of
this Agreement; or
(5) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Underwriter in this
Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach
of this Agreement by the Underwriter; as limited by and in
accordance with the provisions of Section 8.2(b) and 8.2(c) hereof.
8.2(b) The Underwriter shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation
incurred or assessed against an Indemnified Party as such may arise from a final
and non-appealable decision by a court of law that such Indemnified Party's
willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of such
Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless
disregard of obligations or duties under this Agreement was the sole cause of
the action.
14
8.2(c) The Underwriter shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless
such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Underwriter in writing within 30
days after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the
nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Indemnified Party (or after
such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on any
designated agent), but failure to notify the Underwriter of any such claim shall
not relieve the Underwriter from any liability which it may have to the
Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account
of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought against
the Indemnified Parties, the Underwriter will be entitled to participate, at its
own expense, in the defense thereof. The Underwriter also shall be entitled to
assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the
action. After notice from the Underwriter to such party of the Underwriter's
election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the
fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Underwriter
will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or other
expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection with
the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
8.2(d) The Company agrees promptly to notify the Underwriter of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers
or directors in connection with this Agreement, the issuance or sale of the
Contracts or the operation of each Account.
8.3 Indemnification by the Adviser
8.3(a) The Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and
its directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company
within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (hereinafter collectively, the
"Indemnified Parties" and individually, "Indemnified Party," for purposes of
this Section 8.3) against any and all final and non-appealable decisions by a
court of law 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 operations of the Adviser or the Fund and:
(1) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in the registration
statement or prospectus or sales literature of the Fund (or any
amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or
are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, provided that this agreement
to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such
statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission was made
in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the
Adviser, the Fund or the Underwriter by or on behalf of the Company
for use in the registration statement or prospectus for the Fund or
in sales literature (or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise
for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares;
or
(2) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other
than statements or representations contained in the registration
statement, prospectus or sales literature for the Contracts not
supplied by the Fund, the Adviser or persons under its control and
other than statements or representations authorized by the Company)
or unlawful
15
conduct of the Fund, the Adviser or persons under their control,
with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Fund
shares; or
(3) arise out of or as a result of any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in a registration
statement, prospectus, or sales literature covering the Contracts,
or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or the omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statement or statements
therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in
reliance upon information furnished to the Company by or on behalf
of the Fund or the Adviser; or
(4) arise as a result of any failure by the Adviser to provide the
services and furnish the materials under the terms of this
Agreement; or
(5) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Fund or the Adviser in
this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material
breach of this Agreement by the Fund or the Adviser, including
without limitation any failure by the Fund to comply with the
conditions of Article 6 hereof.
8.3(b) The Adviser 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 may arise from a final and
non-appealable decision by a court of law that such Indemnified Party's willful
misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of such
Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless
disregard of obligations or duties under this Agreement was the sole cause of
the action.
8.3(c) The Adviser shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless
such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Adviser in writing within 30 days
after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature
of the claim shall have been served upon such Indemnified Party (or after such
Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on any designated
agent), but failure to notify the Adviser of any such claim shall not relieve
the Adviser from any liability which it may have to the Indemnified Party
against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this
indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought against the
Indemnified Parties, the Adviser will be entitled to participate, at its own
expense, in the defense thereof. The Adviser also shall be entitled to assume
the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action.
After notice from the Adviser to such party of the Adviser's election to assume
the defense thereof, the Indemnified Parties shall bear the fees and expenses of
any additional counsel retained by them, and the Adviser will not be liable to
such parties 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.
16
8.3(d) The Company agrees to promptly notify the Adviser of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers
or directors in connection with this Agreement, the issuance or sale of the
Contracts, with respect to the operation of each Account, or the sale or
acquisition of shares of the Adviser.
ARTICLE 9
Applicable Law
9.1 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
9.2 This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the 1933, 1934
and 1940 Acts, and the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder, including
such exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as the Securities and
Exchange Commission may grant (including, but not limited to, the Shared Funding
Exemptive Order) and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in
accordance therewith.
ARTICLE 10
Termination
10.1 This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until the
first to occur of:
(a) termination by any party for any reason upon six months advance
written notice delivered to the other parties; or
(b) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund, the
Adviser and the Underwriter with respect to any Fund based upon the
Company's determination that shares of such Fund are not reasonably
available to meet the requirements of the Contracts. Reasonable
advance notice of election to terminate shall be furnished by the
Company, said termination to be effective ten days after receipt of
notice unless the fund makes available a sufficient number of shares
to reasonably meet the requirements of the Account within said ten
day period; or
(c) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund, the
Adviser and the Underwriter with respect to any Fund in the event
any of the Fund's shares are not registered, issued or sold in
accordance with applicable state and/or federal law or such law
precludes the use of such shares as the underlying investment medium
of the Contracts issued or to be issued by the Company. The
terminating party shall give prompt notice to the other parties of
its decision to terminate; or
(d) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund, the
Adviser and the Underwriter with respect to any Fund in the event
that such Fund ceases to qualify as a Regulated Investment Company
under Subchapter M of the Code or under any successor or similar
provision; or
17
(e) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and the
Underwriter with respect to any Fund in the event that such Fund
fails to meet the diversification requirements specified in Article
6 hereof, or
(f) termination by either the Fund, the Adviser or the Underwriter by
written notice to the Company, if either one or more of the Fund,
the Adviser or the Underwriter, shall determine, in its or their
sole judgment exercised in good faith, that the Company 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, provided that the Fund, the Adviser or the Underwriter
will give the Company sixty days' advance written notice of such
determination of its intent to terminate this Agreement, and
provided further that after consideration of the actions taken by
the Company and any other changes in circumstances since the giving
of such notice, the determination of the Fund, the Adviser or the
Underwriter shall continue to apply on the 60th day since giving of
such notice, then such 60th day shall be the effective date of
termination, or
(g) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund, the
Adviser and the Underwriter, if the Company shall determine, in its
sole judgment exercised in good faith, that either the Fund, the
Adviser or the Underwriter has suffered a material adverse change in
its business, operations, financial condition or prospects since the
date of this Agreement provided that the Company will give the Fund,
the Adviser and the Underwriter sixtydays' advance written notice of
such determination of its intent to terminate this Agreement, and
provided further that if in light of the actions taken by the Fund,
the Adviser or the Underwriter and any other changes in
circumstances since the giving of such notice, such material adverse
change still pertains, on the 60th day since giving of such notice,
then such 60th day shall be the effective date of termination; or
(h) termination by any party upon the other party's breach of any
representation in Section 2 or any material provision of this
Agreement which breach has not been cured to the satisfaction of the
terminating party within ten days after written notice of such
breach is delivered to the Fund or the Company, as the case may be;
or
(i) termination by the Fund, Adviser or Underwriter by written notice to
the Company in the event an Account or Contract is not registered or
sold in accordance with applicable federal or state law or
regulation, or the Company fails to provide passthrough voting
privileges as specified in Section 3.4.
10.2 Effect of Termination. Notwithstanding any termination of this
Agreement, the Fund shall at the option of the Company, continue to make
available additional shares of the Fund pursuant to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, for all Contracts in effect on the effective date of termination
of this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as "Existing Contracts") unless such
further sale of Fund shares is proscribed by law, regulation or applicable
regulatory body, or unless the Fund determines that liquidation of the Fund
following termination of this Agreement is in the best interests of the Fund and
its shareholders. Specifically, without limitation, the owners of the Existing
18
Contracts shall be permitted to direct reallocation of investments in the Fund,
redemption of investments in the Fund and/or investment in the Fund upon the
making of additional purchase payments under the Existing Contracts. The parties
agree that this Section 10.2 shall not apply to any terminations under Article 7
and the effect of such Article 7 terminations shall be governed by Article 7 of
this Agreement.
10.3 The Company shall not redeem Fund shares attributable to the
Contracts (as distinct from Fund shares attributable to the Company's assets
held in the Account) except (i) as necessary to implement Contract Owner
initiated or approved transactions, or (ii) as required by state and/or federal
laws or regulations or judicial or other legal precedent of general application
(hereinafter referred to as a "Legally Required Redemption") or (iii) as
permitted by an order of the SEC pursuant to Section 26(b) of the 1940 Act. Upon
request, the Company will promptly furnish to the Fund and the Underwriter the
opinion of counsel for the Company (which counsel shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the Fund and the Underwriter) to the effect that anyredemption
pursuant to clause (ii) above is a Legally Required Redemption. Furthermore,
except in cases where permitted under the terms of the Contracts, the Company
shall not prevent Contract Owners from allocating payments to a Fund that was
otherwise available under the Contracts without first giving the Fund or the
Adviser ninety days notice of its intention to do so.
ARTICLE 11
Notices
11.1 Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or
certified mail to the other party at the address of such party set forth below
or at such other address as such party may from time to time specify in writing
to the other party.
If to the Fund:
Value Line Centurion Fund, Inc.
Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust
000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, Esq.
If to Underwriter:
Value Line Securities, Inc.
000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Vice President, Value Line Securities, Inc.
19
If to Adviser:
Value Line, Inc.
000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Chairman & CEO, Value Line, Inc.
If to the Company:
The Guardian Insurance & Annuity Company, Inc.
0 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Equity Counsel
ARTICLE 12
Foreign Tax Credits
12.1 The Fund and Adviser agree to consult in advance with the Company
concerning whether any series of the Fund qualifies to provide a foreign tax
credit pursuant to Section 853 of the Code.
ARTICLE 13
Miscellaneous
13.1 All persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the property of
the Fund for the enforcement of any claims against the Fund as neither the
Board, officers, agents or shareholders assume any personal liability for
obligations entered into on behalf of the Fund. Each of the Company, Adviser and
Underwriter acknowledges and agrees that, as provided by Article 8, Section 8.1,
of the Fund's Agreement and Declaration of Trust, the shareholders, trustees,
officers, employees and other agents of the Fund shall not personally be bound
by or liable for matters set forth hereunder, nor shall resort be had to their
private property for the satisfaction of any obligation or claim hereunder. A
Certificate of Trust referring to the Fund's Agreement and Declaration of Trust
is on file with the Secretary of State of Massachusetts.
13.2 Subject to the requirements of legal process and regulatory
authority, each party hereto shall treat as confidential the names and addresses
of the owners of the Contracts and all information reasonably identified as
confidential in writing by any other party hereto and, except as permitted by
this Agreement, shall not disclose, disseminate or utilize such names and
addresses and other confidential information until such time as it may come into
the public domain without the express written consent of the affected party.
20
13.3 The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of
reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or
otherwise affect their construction or effect.
13.4 This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
13.5 If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a
court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement
shall not be affected thereby.
13.6 Each party hereto shall cooperate with each other party and all
appropriate governmental authorities (including without limitation the
Securities and Exchange Commission, the National Association of Securities
Dealers 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.
13.7 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.
13.8 This Agreement or any of the rights and obligations hereunder may not
be assigned by any party without the prior written consent of all parties
hereto; provided, however, that the Adviser may assign this Agreement or any
rights or obligations hereunder to any affiliate of or company under common
control with the Adviser if such assignee is duly licensed and registered to
perform the obligations of the Adviser under this Agreement.
13.9 This Agreement, which includes and incorporates the Schedules
referred to herein, states the entire understanding among the parties with
respect to its subject matter, and supercedes all prior negotiations and other
written or oral communications among the parties with respect to the subject
matter of this Agreement, including but not limited to, the following written
Agreements: Agreement between Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust and
The Guardian Insurance & Annuity Company, Inc., dated May 1, 1993; Agreement
between Value Line Centurion Fund, Inc. and The Gaurdian Insurance & Annuity
Company, Inc., dated May 1, 1993; and two Agreements between Value Line, Inc.
and The Guardian Insurance & Annuity Company, Inc., both dated July 1, 1996.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement
to be executed in its name and on its behalf by its duly authorized
representative as of the date specified above.
21
THE GUARDIAN INSURANCE & ANNUITY COMPANY, INC. on behalf of itself and each of
its Accounts named in Schedule A, as amended from time to time.
By: _________________________________
VALUE LINE CENTURION FUND, INC.
By: _________________________________
VALUE LINE STRATEGIC ASSET MANAGEMENT TRUST
By: _________________________________
VALUE LINE SECURITIES, INC.
By: _________________________________
VALUE LINE, INC.
By: _________________________________
22
SCHEDULE A
SEPARATE ACCOUNTS AND CONTRACTS
Name of Separate Account and Date Form Numbers and Names of Contracts
Established by Board of Directors Funded by Separate Account
--------------------------------- --------------------------
Separate Account E The Guardian Investor Retirement Asset 1996
Manager
Form IVA - 2020
Separate Account F The Guardian C+C Variable Annuity
2000 Form IVA - 2040
Separate Account Q The Guardian Investor Income Access
March 14, 2002 Variable Annuity
Form IVA - 2050
Separate Account A Value Guard II
1981 Form IVA - 2006
Separate Account D The Guardian Investor
August 1989 Form IVA - 2008
Separate Account C SelectGuard Variable Life
(August 10, 1988)
Separate Account B ValuePlus Variable Life
(November 1984)
Separate Account K Park Avenue Life '95
(November 18, 1993) Park Avenue Life '97
Park Avenue Life Millennium
Separate Account M Variable Universal Life '97
(February 27, 1997)
Separate Account N Variable Universal Life Millennium Series
(September 23, 1999) Survivorship Variable Univeral Life -
Millennium Series
23
SCHEDULE B
PARTICIPATING FUNDS
Value Line Centurion Fund, Inc.
Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust
24
