PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG AIM VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS (INVESCO VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS), INVESCO DISTRIBUTORS, INC., THE VARIABLE ANNUITY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND ITS SEPARATE ACCOUNTS, AND AIG CAPITAL SERVICES,...
BY AND AMONG
AIM VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS
(INVESCO VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS),
INVESCO DISTRIBUTORS, INC.,
THE VARIABLE ANNUITY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY,
ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND
ITS SEPARATE ACCOUNTS,
AND
AIG CAPITAL SERVICES, INC.
AS UNDERWRITER OF CERTAIN VARIABLE CONTRACTS AND POLICIES
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THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of the 1st day of May, 2015 (“Agreement”), by and among AIM VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS (INVESCO VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS), a Delaware Trust (“AVIF (IVIF)”), INVESCO DISTRIBUTORS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“INVESCO”), THE VARIABLE ANNUITY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, a Texas life insurance company (“LIFE COMPANY”), on behalf of itself and each of its segregated asset accounts listed in Schedule A hereto, as the parties hereto may amend from time to time (each, an “Account,” and collectively, the “Accounts”); and AIG CAPITAL SERVICES, INC., an affiliate of LIFE COMPANY and the principal underwriter of the Contracts (“UNDERWRITER”) (collectively, the “Parties”).
WITNESSETH THAT:
WHEREAS, AVIF (IVIF) is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and
WHEREAS, AVIF (IVIF) currently consists of twenty-one separate series (“Series”), shares (“Shares”) each of which are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) and are currently sold to one or more separate accounts of life insurance companies to fund benefits under variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance contracts; and
WHEREAS, AVIF (IVIF) will make Shares of each Series listed on Schedule A hereto as the Parties hereto may amend from time to time (each a “Fund”; reference herein to “AVIF (IVIF)” includes reference to each Fund, to the extent the context requires) available for purchase by the Accounts; and
WHEREAS, LIFE COMPANY will be the issuer of certain variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance contracts (“Contracts”) as set forth on Schedule A hereto, as the Parties hereto may amend from time to time, which Contracts (hereinafter collectively, the “Contracts”), if required by applicable law, will be registered under the 1933 Act; and
WHEREAS, LIFE COMPANY will fund the Contracts through the Accounts, each of which may be divided into two or more subaccounts (“Subaccounts”; reference herein to an “Account” includes reference to each Subaccount thereof to the extent the context requires); and
WHEREAS, LIFE COMPANY will serve as the depositor of the Accounts, each of which is registered as a unit investment trust investment company under the 1940 Act (or exempt therefrom), and the security interests deemed to be issued by the Accounts under the Contracts will be registered as securities under the 1933 Act (or exempt therefrom); and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and regulations, LIFE COMPANY intends to purchase Shares in one or more of the Funds on behalf of the Accounts to fund the Contracts; and
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WHEREAS, UNDERWRITER is a broker-dealer registered with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“1934 Act”) and a member in good standing of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”);
WHEREAS, INVESCO is a broker-dealer registered with the SEC under the 1934 Act and a member in good standing of the FINRA;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual benefits and promises contained herein, the Parties hereto agree as follows:
Section 1. Available Funds
1.1 | Availability |
AVIF (IVIF) will make Shares of each Fund available to LIFE COMPANY for purchase and redemption at net asset value and with no sales charges, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. The Board of AVIF (IVIF) (the “Board”) may refuse to sell Shares of any Fund to any person, or suspend or terminate the offering of Shares of any Fund (a) if such action is required by law or by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, (b) if, in the sole discretion of the Trustees acting in good faith and in light of their fiduciary duties under federal and any applicable state laws, such action is deemed in the best interests of the shareholders of such Fund, or (c) if such action is required by any policies that the Board has adopted and that apply to all Participating Insurance Companies (as defined in Section 5.3 below).
1.2 | Addition, Deletion or Modification of Funds |
The Parties hereto may agree, from time to time, to add other Funds to provide additional funding media for the Contracts, or to delete, combine, or modify existing Funds, by amending Schedule A hereto. Upon such amendment to Schedule A, any applicable reference to a Fund, AVIF (IVIF), or its Shares herein shall include a reference to any such additional Fund. Schedule A, as amended from time to time, is incorporated herein by reference and is a part hereof.
1.3 | No Sales to the General Public |
AVIF (IVIF) represents and warrants that no Shares of any Fund have been or will be sold to the general public.
Section 2. Processing Transactions
2.1 | Timely Pricing and Orders |
(a) AVIF (IVIF) or its designated agent will use its best efforts to provide LIFE COMPANY with the net asset value per Share for each Fund by 6:00 p.m. Central Time on each Business Day. As used herein, “Business Day” shall mean any day on which (i) the New York Stock Exchange is open for regular trading, (ii) AVIF (IVIF) calculates the Fund’s net asset value, and (iii) LIFE COMPANY is open for business.
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(b) LIFE COMPANY will use the data provided by AVIF (IVIF) each Business Day pursuant to paragraph (a) immediately above to calculate Account unit values and to process transactions that receive that same Business Day’s Account unit values. LIFE COMPANY will perform such Account processing the same Business Day, and will place corresponding orders to purchase or redeem Shares with AVIF (IVIF) by 9:00 a.m. Central Time the following Business Day; provided, however, that AVIF (IVIF) shall provide additional time to LIFE COMPANY in the event that AVIF (IVIF) is unable to meet the 6:00 p.m. time stated in paragraph (a) immediately above. Such additional time shall be equal to the additional time that AVIF (IVIF) takes to make the net asset values available to LIFE COMPANY.
(c) With respect to payment of the purchase price by LIFE COMPANY and of redemption proceeds by AVIF (IVIF), LIFE COMPANY and AVIF (IVIF) shall net purchase and redemption orders with respect to each Fund and shall transmit one net payment per Fund in accordance with Section 2.2, below.
(d) If AVIF (IVIF) provides materially incorrect Share net asset value information (as determined under SEC guidelines), LIFE COMPANY shall be entitled to an adjustment to the number of Shares purchased or redeemed to reflect the correct net asset value per Share. 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 LIFE COMPANY. Materiality and reprocessing cost reimbursement shall be determined in accordance with standards established by AVIF (IVIF), as provided in Schedule D, as such Schedule D may be amended by the AVIF (IVIF) from time to time (except that for any money market fund, materiality shall be determined in a manner consistent with rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act).
2.2 | Timely Payments |
LIFE COMPANY will wire payment for net purchases to a custodial account designated by AVIF (IVIF) by 1:00 p.m. Central Time on the same day as the order for Shares is placed, to the extent practicable. AVIF (IVIF) will wire payment for net redemptions to an account designated by LIFE COMPANY by 1:00 p.m. Central Time on the same day as the Order is placed, to the extent practicable, but in any event within five (5) calendar days after the date the order is placed in order to enable LIFE COMPANY to pay redemption proceeds within the time specified in Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act or such shorter period of time as may be required by law.
2.3 | Applicable Price |
(a) Share purchase payments and redemption orders that result from purchase payments, premium payments, surrenders and other transactions under Contracts (collectively, “Contract transactions”) and that LIFE COMPANY receives prior to the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (or such other time set by the Board for purposes of determining the current net asset value of a Fund in accordance with Rule 22c-1 under the 0000 Xxx) on a Business Day will be executed at the net asset values of the appropriate Funds next computed after receipt by AVIF (IVIF) or its designated agent of the orders. For purposes of this Section 2.3(a), LIFE COMPANY shall be the designated agent of AVIF (IVIF) for receipt of
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orders relating to Contract transactions, , in accordance with Section 22(c) and Rule 22c-1 under the 1940 Act, on each Business Day and receipt by such designated agent shall constitute receipt by AVIF (IVIF); provided that AVIF (IVIF) receives notice of such orders by 9:00 a.m. Central Time on the next following Business Day or such later time as computed in accordance with Section 2.1(b) hereof. In connection with this Section 2.3(a), LIFE COMPANY represents and warrants that it will not submit any order for Shares or engage in any practice, nor will it allow or suffer any person acting on its behalf to submit any order for Shares or engage in any practice, that would violate or cause a violation of applicable law or regulation including, without limitation Section 22 of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder.
(b) All other Share purchases and redemptions by LIFE COMPANY will be effected at the net asset values of the appropriate Funds next computed after receipt by AVIF (IVIF) or its designated agent of the order therefor, and such orders will be irrevocable.
(c) Without limiting the scope or effect of Section 1.1 hereof, pursuant to which the Board may reject a Share purchase order by or on behalf of LIFE COMPANY under the circumstances described therein, LIFE COMPANY and UNDERWRITER agree to cooperate with the Fund and INVESCO to prevent any person exercising, or purporting to exercise, rights or privileges under one or more Contracts (including, but not limited to Contract owners, annuitants, insureds or participants, as the case may be (collectively, “Participants”)) from engaging in any trading practices in any Fund that the Board or INVESCO determines, in good faith and in their sole discretion, to be detrimental or potentially detrimental to the other shareholders of the Fund, or to be in contravention of any applicable law or regulation including, without limitation, Section 22 of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. Such cooperation may include, but shall not be limited to, identifying the person or persons engaging in such trading practices, facilitating the imposition of any applicable redemption fee on such person or persons, limiting the telephonic or electronic trading privileges of such person or persons, and taking such other remedial steps, all to the extent permitted or required by applicable law. LIFE COMPANY agrees that purchases and redemptions of Fund shares offered by the then current prospectus and statement of additional information of the Fund shall be made in accordance with the provisions of the prospectus and statement of additional information; provided, however, that the LIFE COMPANY will apply its frequent trading policy described in and attached as Schedule C to this Agreement to Contract owners investing in the shares of the Fund, as such Schedule may be amended by the LIFE COMPANY from time to time.
2.4 | Dividends and Distributions |
AVIF (IVIF) will furnish notice by wire or telephone (followed by written confirmation) on or prior to the payment date to LIFE COMPANY of any income dividends or capital gain distributions payable on the Shares of any Fund. LIFE COMPANY hereby elects to reinvest all dividends and capital gains distributions in additional Shares of the corresponding Fund at the ex-dividend date net asset values until LIFE COMPANY otherwise notifies AVIF (IVIF) in writing, it being agreed by the Parties that the ex-dividend date and the payment date with respect to any dividend or distribution will be the same Business Day. LIFE COMPANY reserves the right to revoke this election and to receive all such income dividends and capital gain distributions in cash.
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2.5 | Book Entry |
Issuance and transfer of AVIF (IVIF) Shares will be by book entry only. Stock certificates will not be issued to LIFE COMPANY. Shares ordered from AVIF (IVIF) will be recorded in an appropriate title for LIFE COMPANY, on behalf of its Account.
Section 3. Costs and Expenses
3.1 | General |
Except as otherwise specifically provided in Schedule B, attached hereto and made a part hereof, each Party will bear, or arrange for others to bear, all expenses incident to its performance under this Agreement.
3.2 | Parties To Cooperate |
Each Party agrees to cooperate with the others, as applicable, in arranging to print, mail and/or deliver, in a timely manner, combined or coordinated prospectuses or other materials of AVIF (IVIF) and the Accounts.
Section 4. Legal Compliance
4.1 | Tax Laws |
(a) AVIF (IVIF) represents and warrants that each Fund is currently qualified as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and represents that it will use its best efforts to qualify and to maintain qualification of each Fund as a RIC. AVIF (IVIF) will notify LIFE COMPANY immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that a Fund has ceased to so qualify or that it might not so qualify in the future.
(b) AVIF (IVIF) represents that it will use its best efforts to comply and to maintain each Fund’s compliance with the diversification requirements set forth in Section 817(h) of the Code and Section 1.817-5(b) of the regulations under the Code. AVIF (IVIF) will notify LIFE COMPANY immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that a Fund has ceased to so comply or that a Fund might not so comply in the future. In the event of a breach of this Section 4.1(b) by AVIF (IVIF), it will take all reasonable steps to adequately diversify the Fund so as to achieve compliance within the grace period afforded by Section 1.817-5 of the regulations under the Code.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, but without limiting the ability of AVIF (IVIF) and/or INVESCO to assume the defense of any action pursuant to Section 12.2(d) hereof, LIFE COMPANY agrees that if the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) asserts in writing in connection with any governmental audit or review of LIFE COMPANY or, to LIFE COMPANY’s knowledge, of any Participants, that any Fund has failed to comply with the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Code or LIFE COMPANY otherwise becomes aware of any facts that could give rise to any claim against AVIF (IVIF) or its affiliates as a result of such a failure or alleged failure:
(i) | LIFE COMPANY shall promptly notify AVIF (IVIF) of such assertion or potential claim (subject to the Confidentiality provisions of Section 18 as to any Participant); |
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(ii) | LIFE COMPANY shall consult with AVIF (IVIF) as to how to minimize any liability that may arise as a result of such failure or alleged failure; |
(iii) | LIFE COMPANY shall use its best efforts to minimize any liability of AVIF (IVIF) or its affiliates resulting from such failure, including, without limitation, demonstrating, pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.817-5(a)(2), to the Commissioner of the IRS that such failure was inadvertent; |
(iv) | LIFE COMPANY shall permit AVIF (IVIF), its affiliates and their legal and accounting advisors to participate in any conferences, settlement discussions or other administrative or judicial proceeding or contests (including judicial appeals thereof) with the IRS, any Participant or any other claimant regarding any claims that could give rise to liability to AVIF (IVIF) or its affiliates as a result of such a failure or alleged failure; provided, however, that LIFE COMPANY will retain control of the conduct of such conferences discussions, proceedings, contests or appeals; |
(v) | any written materials to be submitted by LIFE COMPANY to the IRS, any Participant or any other claimant in connection with any of the foregoing proceedings or contests (including, without limitation, any such materials to be submitted to the IRS pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.817-5(a)(2)), (a) shall be provided by LIFE COMPANY to AVIF (IVIF) (together with any supporting information or analysis); subject to the confidentiality provisions of Section 18, at least ten (10) business days or such shorter period to which the Parties hereto agree prior to the day on which such proposed materials are to be submitted, and (b) shall not be submitted by LIFE COMPANY to any such person without the express written consent of AVIF (IVIF) which shall not be unreasonably withheld; |
(vi) | LIFE COMPANY shall provide AVIF (IVIF) or its affiliates and their accounting and legal advisors with such cooperation as AVIF (IVIF) shall reasonably request (including, without limitation, by permitting AVIF (IVIF) and its accounting and legal advisors to review the relevant books and records of LIFE COMPANY) in order to facilitate review by AVIF (IVIF) or its advisors of any written submissions provided to it pursuant to the preceding clause or its assessment of the validity or amount of any claim against its arising from such a failure or alleged failure; |
(vii) | LIFE COMPANY shall not with respect to any claim of the IRS or any Participant that would give rise to a claim against AVIF (IVIF) or its |
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affiliates (a) compromise or settle any claim, (b) accept any adjustment on audit, or (c) forego any allowable administrative or judicial appeals, without the express written consent of AVIF (IVIF) or its affiliates, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, provided that LIFE COMPANY shall not be required, after exhausting all administrative remedies, to appeal any adverse judicial decision unless AVIF (IVIF) or its affiliates shall have provided an opinion of independent counsel to the effect that a reasonable basis exists for taking such appeal; and provided further that the costs of any such appeal shall be borne equally by the Parties hereto; and |
(viii) | AVIF (IVIF) and its affiliates shall have no liability as a result of such failure or alleged failure if LIFE COMPANY fails to comply with any of the foregoing clauses (i) through (vii), and such failure could be shown to have materially contributed to the liability. |
Should AVIF (IVIF) or any of its affiliates refuse to give its written consent to any compromise or settlement of any claim or liability hereunder, LIFE COMPANY may, in its discretion, authorize AVIF (IVIF) or its affiliates to act in the name of LIFE COMPANY in, and to control the conduct of, such conferences, discussions, proceedings, contests or appeals and all administrative or judicial appeals thereof, and in that event AVIF (IVIF) or its affiliates shall bear the fees and expenses associated with the conduct of the proceedings that it is so authorized to control; provided, that in no event shall LIFE COMPANY have any liability resulting from AVIF (IVIF)‘s refusal to accept the proposed settlement or compromise with respect to any failure caused by AVIF (IVIF). As used in this Agreement, the term “affiliates” shall have the same meaning as “affiliated person” as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act.
(d) LIFE COMPANY represents and warrants that the Contracts currently are and will be treated as annuity contracts or life insurance contracts under applicable provisions of the Code and that it will use its best efforts to maintain such treatment; LIFE COMPANY will notify AVIF (IVIF) immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that any of the Contracts have ceased to be so treated or that they might not be so treated in the future.
(e) LIFE COMPANY represents and warrants that each Account is a “segregated asset account” and that interests in each Account are offered exclusively through the purchase of or transfer into a “variable contract,” within the meaning of such terms under Section 817 of the Code and the regulations thereunder. LIFE COMPANY will use its best efforts to continue to meet such definitional requirements, and it will notify AVIF (IVIF) immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that such requirements have ceased to be met or that they might not be met in the future.
4.2 | Insurance and Certain Other Laws |
(a) AVIF (IVIF) will use its best efforts to comply with any applicable state insurance laws or regulations, to the extent specifically requested in writing by LIFE COMPANY, which efforts shall include, without limitation, the furnishing of information that is not otherwise available to LIFE COMPANY and that is required by state insurance law to enable LIFE COMPANY to obtain the authority needed to issue the Contracts in any applicable state.
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(b) LIFE COMPANY represents and warrants that (i) it is an insurance company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Texas and has full corporate power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver and perform its duties and comply with its obligations under this Agreement, (ii) it has legally and validly established and maintains each Account as a segregated asset account under Texas Insurance Law and the regulations thereunder, and (iii) the Contracts comply in all material respects with all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
(c) AVIF (IVIF) represents and warrants that it is lawfully organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has full power, authority, and legal right to execute, deliver, and perform its duties and comply with its obligations under this Agreement.
4.3 | Securities Laws |
(a) LIFE COMPANY represents and warrants that (i) interests in each Account pursuant to the Contracts will be registered under the 1933 Act to the extent required by the 1933 Act, (ii) the Contracts will be duly authorized for issuance and sold in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, including, without limitation, the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act and the law(s) of LIFE COMPANY’s state(s) of organization and domicile, (iii) each Account is and will remain registered under the 1940 Act, to the extent required by the 1940 Act, (iv) each Account does and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder, to the extent required, (v) each Account’s 1933 Act registration statement relating to the Contracts, together with any amendments thereto, will at all times comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules thereunder, (vi) LIFE COMPANY will amend the registration statement for its Contracts under the 1933 Act and for its Accounts under the 1940 Act from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of its Contracts or as may otherwise be required by applicable law, and (vii) each Account Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information, and then-current stickers (collectively referred to herein as “Account Prospectus”), will at all times comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules thereunder.
(b) AVIF (IVIF) represents and warrants that (i) Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement will be registered under the 1933 Act to the extent required by the 1933 Act and duly authorized for issuance and sold in compliance with Delaware law, (ii) AVIF (IVIF) is and will remain registered under the 1940 Act to the extent required by the 1940 Act, (iii) AVIF (IVIF) will amend the registration statement for its Shares under the 1933 Act and itself under the 1940 Act from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of its Shares, (iv) AVIF (IVIF) does and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder, (v) AVIF (IVIF)‘s 1933 Act registration statement, together with any amendments thereto, will at all times comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and rules thereunder, and (vi) AVIF (IVIF)’s Prospectus, Statement of Additional Information, and then-current stickers (collectively referred to herein as “AVIF (IVIF) Prospectus”), will at all times comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules thereunder.
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(c) AVIF (IVIF) will at its expense register and qualify its Shares for sale in accordance with the laws of any state or other jurisdiction if and to the extent reasonably deemed advisable by AVIF (IVIF).
(d) AVIF (IVIF) represents and warrants that all of its trustees, officers, employees, investment advisers, and other individuals/entities having access to the funds and/or securities of the Fund are and continue to be at all times covered by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage for the benefit of the Fund in an amount not less than the minimal coverage as required currently by Rule 17g-(1) of the 1940 Act or related provisions as may be promulgated from time to time. The aforesaid bond includes coverage for larceny and embezzlement and is issued by a reputable bonding company.
4.4 | Notice of Certain Proceedings and Other Circumstances |
(a) AVIF (IVIF) or INVESCO will immediately notify LIFE COMPANY of (i) the issuance by any court or regulatory body of any stop order, cease and desist order, or other similar order with respect to AVIF (IVIF)‘s registration statement under the 1933 Act or AVIF (IVIF) Prospectus, (ii) any request by the SEC for any amendment to such registration statement or AVIF (IVIF) Prospectus that may affect the offering of Shares of AVIF (IVIF), (iii) the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose or for any other purpose relating to the registration or offering of AVIF (IVIF)‘s Shares, or (iv) any other action or circumstances that may prevent the lawful offer or sale of Shares of any Fund in any state or jurisdiction, including, without limitation, any circumstances in which (a) such Shares are not registered and, in all material respects, issued and sold in accordance with applicable state and federal law, or (b) such law precludes the use of such Shares as an underlying investment medium of the Contracts issued or to be issued by LIFE COMPANY. AVIF (IVIF) and INVESCO will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance, with respect to any Fund, of any such stop order, cease and desist order or similar order and, if any such order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible time.
(b) LIFE COMPANY or UNDERWRITER will immediately notify AVIF (IVIF) of (i) the issuance by any court or regulatory body of any stop order, cease and desist order, or other similar order with respect to each Account’s registration statement under the 1933 Act relating to the Contracts or each Account Prospectus, (ii) any request by the SEC for any amendment to such registration statement or Account Prospectus that may affect the offering of Shares of AVIF (IVIF), (iii) the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose or for any other purpose relating to the registration or offering of each Account’s interests pursuant to the Contracts, or (iv) any other action or circumstances that may prevent the lawful offer or sale of said interests in any state or jurisdiction, including, without limitation, any circumstances in which said interests are not registered and, in all material respects, issued and sold in accordance with applicable state and federal law. LIFE COMPANY and UNDERWRITER will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any such stop order, cease and desist order or similar order and, if any such order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible time.
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4.5 | LIFE COMPANY To Provide Documents; Information About AVIF (IVIF) |
(a) Upon request, LIFE COMPANY will provide to AVIF (IVIF) or its designated agent at least one (1) complete copy of all SEC registration statements, Account Prospectuses, reports, any preliminary and final voting instruction solicitation material, applications for exemptions, requests for no-action letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that relate to each Account or the Contracts.
(b) LIFE COMPANY will provide to AVIF (IVIF) or its designated agent at least one (1) complete copy of each piece of sales literature or other promotional material in which AVIF (IVIF) or any of its affiliates is named, at least five (5) Business Days prior to its use or such shorter period as the Parties hereto may, from time to time, agree upon. No such material shall be used if AVIF (IVIF) or its designated agent objects to such use within five (5) Business Days after receipt of such material or such shorter period as the Parties hereto may, from time to time, agree upon. AVIF (IVIF) hereby designates INVESCO as the entity to receive such sales literature, until such time as AVIF (IVIF) appoints another designated agent by giving notice to LIFE COMPANY in the manner required by Section 9 hereof.
(c) Neither LIFE COMPANY nor any of its affiliates, will give any information or make any representations or statements on behalf of or concerning AVIF (IVIF) or its affiliates in connection with the sale of the Contracts other than (i) the information or representations contained in the registration statement, including the AVIF (IVIF) Prospectus contained therein, relating to Shares, as such registration statement and AVIF (IVIF) Prospectus may be amended from time to time; or (ii) in reports or proxy materials for AVIF (IVIF); or (iii) in published reports for AVIF (IVIF) that are in the public domain and approved by AVIF (IVIF) for distribution; or (iv) in sales literature or other promotional material approved by AVIF (IVIF), except with the express written permission of AVIF (IVIF).
(d) LIFE COMPANY shall adopt and implement procedures reasonably designed to ensure that information concerning AVIF (IVIF) and its affiliates that is intended for use only by brokers or agents selling the Contracts (i.e., information that is not intended for distribution to Participants) (“broker only materials”) is so used, and neither AVIF (IVIF) nor any of its affiliates shall be liable for any losses, damages or expenses relating to the improper use of such broker only materials.
(e) For the purposes of this Section 4.5, the phrase “sales literature or other promotional material” includes, but is not limited to, 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, (e.g., on-line networks such as the Internet or other electronic messages), 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, registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional information, shareholder reports, and proxy materials and any other material constituting sales literature or advertising under the FINRA rules, the 1933 Act, or the 1940 Act.
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(f) If reasonably practicable, the Fund will provide the LIFE COMPANY with advance notice of any proxy solicitation for the Fund and of any material change in the Fund’s registration statement or prospectus. The Fund will work with the LIFE COMPANY so as to enable the LIFE COMPANY to solicit proxies from Contract owners, or to make changes to its registration statement and prospectus. The Fund will make reasonable efforts to attempt to have changes affecting Contract prospectuses become effective simultaneously with the annual updates for such prospectuses.
4.6 | AVIF (IVIF) To Provide Documents; Information About LIFE COMPANY |
(a) AVIF (IVIF) will provide to LIFE COMPANY at least one (1) complete copy of all SEC registration statements, AVIF (IVIF) Prospectuses, reports, any preliminary and final proxy material, applications for exemptions, requests for no-action letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that relate to AVIF (IVIF) or the Shares of a Fund, contemporaneously with the filing of such document with the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
(b) AVIF (IVIF) will provide to LIFE COMPANY a camera ready copy of all AVIF (IVIF) prospectuses and printed copies, in an amount specified by LIFE COMPANY, of AVIF (IVIF) statements of additional information, proxy materials, periodic reports to shareholders and other materials required by law to be sent to Participants who have allocated any Contract value to a Fund. AVIF (IVIF) will provide such copies to LIFE COMPANY in a timely manner so as to enable LIFE COMPANY, as the case may be, to print and distribute such materials within the time required by law to be furnished to Participants. Upon LIFE Company’s reasonable request, AVIF (IVIF) shall provide the necessary documents no later than five (5) business days prior to the date that LIFE COMPANY is legally obligated to file such documents with any regulatory body or provide such documents to contract owners. In the event that such documents are not provided in a manner described in this Section 4.6(b), AVIF (IVIF) will pay overtime printing or delivery surcharges reasonable incurred by LIFE COMPANY in timely printing and/or delivery of such documents; provided such expenses result solely from AVIF (IVIF)‘s failure to provide the documents in a timely manner.
(c) AVIF (IVIF) will provide to LIFE COMPANY or its designated agent at least one (1) complete copy of each piece of sales literature or other promotional material in which LIFE COMPANY, or any of its respective affiliates is named, or that refers to the Contracts, at least five (5) Business Days prior to its use or such shorter period as the Parties hereto may, from time to time, agree upon. No such material shall be used if LIFE COMPANY or its designated agent objects to such use within five (5) Business Days after receipt of such material or such shorter period as the Parties hereto may, from time to time, agree upon. LIFE COMPANY shall receive all such sales literature until such time as it appoints a designated agent by giving notice to AVIF (IVIF) in the manner required by Section 9 hereof.
(d) Neither AVIF (IVIF) nor any of its affiliates will give any information or make any representations or statements on behalf of or concerning LIFE COMPANY, each Account,
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or the Contracts other than (i) the information or representations contained in the registration statement, including each Account Prospectus contained therein, relating to the Contracts, as such registration statement and Account Prospectus may be amended from time to time; or (ii) in published reports for the Account or the Contracts that are in the public domain and approved by LIFE COMPANY for distribution; or (iii) in sales literature or other promotional material approved by LIFE COMPANY or its affiliates, except with the express written permission of LIFE COMPANY.
(e) AVIF (IVIF) shall cause its principal underwriter to adopt and implement procedures reasonably designed to ensure that information concerning LIFE COMPANY, and its respective affiliates that is intended for use only by brokers or agents selling the Contracts (i.e., information that is not intended for distribution to Participants) (“broker only materials”) is so used, and neither LIFE COMPANY, nor any of its respective affiliates shall be liable for any losses, damages or expenses relating to the improper use of such broker only materials.
(f) For purposes of this Section 4.6, the phrase “sales literature or other promotional material” includes, but is not limited to, 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, (e.g., on-line networks such as the Internet or other electronic messages), 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, registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional information, shareholder reports, and proxy materials and any other material constituting sales literature or advertising under the FINRA rules, the 1933 Act, or the 1940 Act.
Section 5. Mixed and Shared Funding
5.1 | General |
The SEC has granted an order to AVIF (IVIF) exempting it from certain provisions of the 1940 Act and rules thereunder so that AVIF (IVIF) may be available for investment by certain other entities, including, without limitation, separate accounts funding variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance contracts, separate accounts of insurance companies unaffiliated with LIFE COMPANY, and trustees of qualified pension and retirement plans (collectively, “Mixed and Shared Funding”). The Parties recognize that the SEC has imposed terms and conditions for such orders that are substantially identical to many of the provisions of this Section 5. Sections 5.2 through 5.8 below shall apply pursuant to the exemptive order granted to AVIF (IVIF). AVIF (IVIF) hereby notifies LIFE COMPANY that, in the event that AVIF (IVIF) implements Mixed and Shared Funding, it may be appropriate to include in the prospectus pursuant to which a Contract is offered disclosure regarding the potential risks of Mixed and Shared Funding.
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5.2 | Disinterested Trustees |
AVIF (IVIF) agrees that its Board shall at all times consist of trustees a majority of whom (the “Disinterested Trustees”) are not interested persons of AVIF (IVIF) within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder and as modified by any applicable orders of the SEC, except that if this condition is not met by reason of the death, disqualification, or bona fide resignation of any director, then the operation of this condition shall be suspended (a) for a period of forty-five (45) days if the vacancy or vacancies may be filled by the Board; (b) for a period of sixty (60) days if a vote of shareholders is required to fill the vacancy or vacancies or (c) for such longer period as the SEC may prescribe by order upon application.
5.3 | Monitoring for Material Irreconcilable Conflicts |
AVIF (IVIF) agrees that its Board will monitor for the existence of any material irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the Participants in all separate accounts of life insurance companies utilizing AVIF (IVIF) (“Participating Insurance Companies”), including each Account, and participants in all qualified retirement and pension plans investing in AVIF (IVIF) (“Participating Plans”). LIFE COMPANY agrees to inform the Board of AVIF (IVIF) of the existence of or any potential for any such material irreconcilable conflict of which it is aware. The concept of a “material irreconcilable conflict” is not defined by the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder, but the Parties recognize that such a conflict may arise for a variety of reasons, including, without limitation:
(a) an action by any state insurance or other 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 and variable life insurance contract Participants or by Participants of different Participating Insurance Companies;
(f) a decision by a Participating Insurance Company to disregard the voting instructions of Participants; or
(g) a decision by a Participating Plan to disregard the voting instructions of Plan participants.
Consistent with the SEC’s requirements in connection with exemptive orders of the type referred to in Section 5.1 hereof, LIFE COMPANY will assist the Board in carrying out its responsibilities by providing the Board with all information reasonably necessary for the Board to consider any issue raised, including information as to a decision by LIFE COMPANY to disregard voting instructions of Participants. LIFE COMPANY’s responsibilities in connection with the foregoing shall be carried out with a view only to the interests of Participants.
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5.4 | Conflict Remedies |
(a) It is agreed that if it is determined by a majority of the members of the Board or a majority of the Disinterested Trustees that a material irreconcilable conflict exists, and if the LIFE COMPANY is responsible for such material irreconcilable conflict, and provided that AVIF did not cause such a material irreconcilable conflict, LIFE COMPANY will, if it is a Participating Insurance Company for which a material irreconcilable conflict is relevant, at its own 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 material irreconcilable conflict, which steps may include, but are not limited to:
(i) | withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the Accounts from AVIF (IVIF) or any Fund and reinvesting such assets in a different investment medium, including another Fund of AVIF (IVIF), or submitting the question whether such segregation should be implemented to a vote of all affected Participants and, as appropriate, segregating the assets of any particular group (e.g., annuity Participants, life insurance Participants or all Participants) that votes in favor of such segregation, or offering to the affected Participants the option of making such a change; and |
(ii) | establishing a new registered investment company of the type defined as a “management company” in Section 4(3) of the 1940 Act or a new separate account that is operated as a management company. |
If the irreconcilable conflict was caused by AVIF (IVIF) or its affiliates, AVIF (IVIF) agrees to reimburse LIFE COMPANY for costs, expenses and fees associated with the LIFE COMPANY’S completion of the steps referenced in sub-paragraph (i) of this Section 5.4(a).
(b) If the material irreconcilable conflict arises because of LIFE COMPANY’s decision to disregard Participant voting instructions and that decision represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote, LIFE COMPANY may be required, at AVIF (IVIF)‘s election, to withdraw each Account’s investment in AVIF (IVIF) or any Fund. No charge or penalty will be imposed as a result of such withdrawal. Any such withdrawal must take place within six (6) months after AVIF (IVIF) gives notice to LIFE COMPANY that this provision is being implemented, and until such withdrawal AVIF (IVIF) shall continue to accept and implement orders by LIFE COMPANY for the purchase and redemption of Shares of AVIF (IVIF).
(c) If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a particular state insurance regulator’s decision applicable to LIFE COMPANY conflicts with the majority of other state regulators, then LIFE COMPANY will withdraw each Account’s investment in AVIF (IVIF) within six (6) months after AVIF (IVIF)‘s Board informs LIFE COMPANY that it has
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determined that such decision has created a material irreconcilable conflict, and until such withdrawal AVIF (IVIF) shall continue to accept and implement orders by LIFE COMPANY for the purchase and redemption of Shares of AVIF (IVIF). No charge or penalty will be imposed as a result of such withdrawal.
(d) The Parties agree that any remedial action taken by it in resolving any material irreconcilable conflict will be carried out with a view only to the interests of Participants.
(e) For purposes hereof, a majority of the Disinterested Trustees will determine whether or not any proposed action adequately remedies any material irreconcilable conflict. In no event, however, will AVIF (IVIF) or any of its affiliates be required to establish a new funding medium for any Contracts. LIFE COMPANY will not be required by the terms hereof to establish a new funding medium for any Contracts if an offer to do so has been declined by vote of a majority of Participants materially adversely affected by the material irreconcilable conflict.
5.5 | Notice to LIFE COMPANY |
AVIF (IVIF) will promptly make known in writing to LIFE COMPANY the Board’s determination of the existence of a material irreconcilable conflict, a description of the facts that give rise to such conflict and the implications of such conflict.
5.6 Information Requested by BoardLIFE COMPANY and AVIF (IVIF) (or its investment adviser) will at least annually submit to the Board of AVIF (IVIF) such reports, materials or data as the Board may reasonably request so that the Board may fully carry out the obligations imposed upon it by the provisions hereof or any exemptive order granted by the SEC to permit Mixed and Shared Funding, and said reports, materials and data will be submitted at any reasonable time deemed appropriate by the Board. All reports received by the Board of potential or existing conflicts, and all Board actions with regard to determining the existence of a conflict, notifying Participating Insurance Companies and Participating Plans of a conflict, and determining whether any proposed action adequately remedies a conflict, will be properly recorded in the minutes of the Board or other appropriate records, and such minutes or other records will be made available to the SEC upon request.
5.7 | Compliance with SEC Rules |
If, at any time during which AVIF (IVIF) is serving as an investment medium for variable life insurance Contracts, 1940 Act Rules 6e-3(T) or, if applicable, 6e-2 are amended or Rule 6e-3 is adopted to provide exemptive relief with respect to Mixed and Shared Funding, AVIF (IVIF) agrees that it will comply with the terms and conditions thereof and that the terms of this Section 5 shall be deemed modified if and only to the extent required in order also to comply with the terms and conditions of such exemptive relief that is afforded by any of said rules that are applicable.
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5.8 | Other Requirements |
AVIF (IVIF) will require that each Participating Insurance Company and Participating Plan enter into an agreement with AVIF (IVIF) that contains in substance the same provisions as are set forth in Sections 4.1(b), 4.1(d), 4.3(a), 4.4(b), 4.5(a), 5, and 10 of this Agreement.
Section 6. Termination
6.1 | Events of Termination |
Subject to Section 6.4 below, this Agreement will terminate as to a Fund:
(a) at the option of any Party, with or without cause with respect to the Fund, upon six (6) months advance written notice to the other parties, or, if later, upon receipt of any required exemptive relief from the SEC, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the parties; or
(b) at the option of AVIF (IVIF) upon institution of formal proceedings against LIFE COMPANY or its affiliates by the FINRA, the SEC, any state insurance regulator or any other regulatory body regarding LIFE COMPANY’s obligations under this Agreement or related to the sale of the Contracts, the operation of each Account, or the purchase of Shares, if, in each case, AVIF (IVIF) reasonably determines that such proceedings, or the facts on which such proceedings would be based, have a material likelihood of imposing material adverse consequences on the Fund with respect to which the Agreement is to be terminated; or
(c) at the option of LIFE COMPANY upon institution of formal proceedings against AVIF (IVIF), its principal underwriter, or its investment adviser by the FINRA, the SEC, or any state insurance regulator or any other regulatory body regarding AVIF (IVIF)‘s obligations under this Agreement or related to the operation or management of AVIF (IVIF) or the purchase of AVIF (IVIF) Shares, if, in each case, LIFE COMPANY reasonably determines that such proceedings, or the facts on which such proceedings would be based, have a material likelihood of imposing material adverse consequences on LIFE COMPANY, or the Subaccount corresponding to the Fund with respect to which the Agreement is to be terminated; or
(d) at the option of any Party in the event that (i) the Fund’s Shares are not registered and, in all material respects, issued and sold in accordance with any applicable federal or state law, or (ii) such law precludes the use of such Shares as an underlying investment medium of the Contracts issued or to be issued by LIFE COMPANY; or
(e) upon termination of the corresponding Subaccount’s investment in the Fund pursuant to Section 5 hereof; or
(f) at the option of LIFE COMPANY if the Fund ceases to qualify as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code or under successor or similar provisions, or if LIFE COMPANY reasonably believes that the Fund may fail to so qualify; or
(g) at the option of LIFE COMPANY if the Fund fails to comply with Section 817(h) of the Code or with successor or similar provisions, or if LIFE COMPANY reasonably believes that the Fund may fail to so comply; or
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(h) at the option of AVIF (IVIF) if the Contracts issued by LIFE COMPANY cease to qualify as annuity contracts or life insurance contracts under the Code (other than by reason of the Fund’s noncompliance with Section 817(h) or Subchapter M of the Code) or if interests in an Account under the Contracts are not registered, where required, and, in all material respects, are not issued or sold in accordance with any applicable federal or state law; or
(i) upon another Party’s material breach of any provision of this Agreement.
6.2 | Notice Requirement for Termination |
No termination of this Agreement will be effective unless and until the Party terminating this Agreement gives prior written notice to the other Party to this Agreement of its intent to terminate, and such notice shall set forth the basis for such termination. Furthermore:
(a) in the event that any termination is based upon the provisions of Sections 6.1(a) or 6.1(e) hereof, such prior written notice shall be given at least six (6) months in advance of the effective date of termination unless a shorter time is agreed to by the Parties hereto;
(b) in the event that any termination is based upon the provisions of Sections 6.1(b) or 6.1(c) hereof, such prior written notice shall be given at least six (6) months in advance of the effective date of termination or such other date as required to receive any required exemptive relief from the SEC unless a shorter time is agreed to by the Parties hereto; and
(c) in the event that any termination is based upon the provisions of Sections 6.1(d), 6.1(f), 6.1(g), 6.1(h) or 6.1(i) hereof, such prior written notice shall be given as soon as possible within twenty-four (24) hours after the terminating Party learns of the event causing termination to be required.
6.3 | Funds To Remain Available |
Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, AVIF (IVIF) will, at the option of LIFE 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 INVESCO or the Board determines that doing so would not serve the best interests of the shareholders of the affected Funds or would be inconsistent with applicable law or regulation. Specifically, without limitation, the owners of the Existing Contracts will be permitted to reallocate investments in the Fund (as in effect on such date), redeem investments in the Fund and/or invest in the Fund upon the making of additional purchase payments under the Existing Contracts. The parties agree that this Section 6.3 will not apply to any (i) terminations under Section 5 and the effect of such terminations will be governed by Section 5 of this Agreement or (ii) any rejected purchase and/or redemption order as described in Section 2.3(c) hereof.
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6.4 | Survival of Warranties and Indemnifications |
All warranties and indemnifications will survive the termination of this Agreement.
6.5 | Continuance of Agreement for Certain Purposes |
If any Party terminates this Agreement with respect to any Fund pursuant to Sections 6.1(b), 6.1(c), 6.1(d), 6.1(f), 6.1(g), 6.1(h) or 6.1(i) hereof, this Agreement shall nevertheless continue in effect as to any Shares of that Fund that are outstanding as of the date of such termination (the “Initial Termination Date”). This continuation shall extend to the earlier of the date as of which an Account owns no Shares of the affected Fund or a date (the “Final Termination Date”) six (6) months following the Initial Termination Date, except that LIFE COMPANY may, by written notice shorten said six (6) month period in the case of a termination pursuant to Sections 6.1(d), 6.1(f), 6.1(g), 6.1(h) or 6.1(i).
6.6 | Continuance or Cost Coverage for Asset Allocation Models |
If the agreement is terminated (in its entirety or with respect to any Fund) by INVESCO or AVIF (IVIF) or due to INVESCO ‘s or AVIF (IVIF)’s breach of the Agreement, where the Fund(s) are offered in the Contracts as part of an asset allocation model, INVESCO or AVIF (IVIF) will either (1) delay the termination date until the next scheduled update of the asset allocation models, which occurs once annually, or (2) pay the expenses associated with removing the Fund(s) from the models, which would include, among other things, fees paid to the asset allocation service or registered investment adviser to create revised models that omit the Fund(s).
Section 7. Parties To Cooperate Respecting Termination
The Parties hereto agree to cooperate and give reasonable assistance to one another in taking all necessary and appropriate steps for the purpose of ensuring that an Account owns no Shares of a Fund after the Final Termination Date with respect thereto, or, in the case of a termination pursuant to Section 6.1(a), the termination date specified in the notice of termination. Such steps may include combining the affected Account with another Account, substituting other mutual fund shares for those of the affected Fund, or otherwise terminating participation by the Contracts in such Fund.
Section 8. Assignment
This Agreement may not be assigned by any Party, except with the written consent of each other Party.
Section 9. Notices
Notices and communications required or permitted will be given by means mutually acceptable to the Parties concerned. Each other notice or communication required or permitted by this Agreement will be given to the following persons at the following addresses and facsimile numbers, or such other persons, addresses or facsimile numbers as the Party receiving such notices or communications may subsequently direct in writing:
AIM VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS
(INVESCO VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS)
INVESCO DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
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THE VARIABLE ANNUITY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, X00
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxx Xxxx
E-mail: xxx.xxxx@xxxxx.xxx
With a copy to:
The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, X0-00
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxx
E-mail: xxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx
UNDERWRITER
AIG Capital Services, Inc.
Harborside Financial Center
0000 Xxxxx 0
Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
Attn: General Counsel
Section 10. Voting Procedures
Subject to the cost allocation procedures set forth in Section 3 hereof, LIFE COMPANY will distribute all proxy material furnished by AVIF (IVIF) to Participants to whom pass-through voting privileges are required to be extended and will solicit voting instructions from Participants. LIFE COMPANY will vote Shares in accordance with timely instructions received from Participants. LIFE COMPANY will vote Shares that are (a) not attributable to Participants to whom pass-through voting privileges are extended, or (b) attributable to Participants, but for which no timely instructions have been received, in the same proportion as Shares for which said instructions have been received from Participants, so long as and to the extent that the SEC continues to interpret the 1940 Act to require pass through voting privileges for Participants. Neither LIFE COMPANY nor any of its affiliates will in any way recommend action in connection with or oppose or interfere with the solicitation of proxies for the Shares held for such Participants. LIFE COMPANY reserves the right to vote shares held in any Account in its own right, to the extent permitted by law. LIFE COMPANY shall be responsible for assuring that each of its Accounts holding Shares calculates voting privileges in a manner consistent with that of other Participating Insurance Companies or in the manner required by the Mixed and Shared Funding exemptive order obtained by AVIF (IVIF). AVIF (IVIF) will notify LIFE COMPANY of any changes of interpretations or amendments to Mixed and Shared Funding
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exemptive order it has obtained. AVIF (IVIF) will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act requiring voting by shareholders, and in particular, AVIF (IVIF) either will provide for annual meetings (except insofar as the SEC may interpret Section 16 of the 1940 Act not to require such meetings) or will comply with Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act (although AVIF (IVIF) 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, AVIF (IVIF) will act in accordance with the SEC’s interpretation of the requirements of Section 16(a) with respect to periodic elections of trustees and with whatever rules the SEC may promulgate with respect thereto.
Section 11. Foreign Tax Credits
AVIF (IVIF) agrees to consult in advance with LIFE COMPANY concerning any decision to elect or not to elect pursuant to Section 853 of the Code to pass through the benefit of any foreign tax credits to its shareholders.
Section 12. Indemnification
12.1 | Of AVIF (IVIF) and INVESCO by LIFE COMPANY and UNDERWRITER |
(a) Except to the extent provided in Sections 12.1(b) and 12.1(c), below, LIFE COMPANY and UNDERWRITER agree to indemnify and hold harmless AVIF (IVIF), INVESCO, their affiliates, and each person, if any, who controls AVIF (IVIF), INVESCO, or their affiliates within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act and each of their respective trustees and officers, (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties” for purposes of this Section 12.1) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of LIFE COMPANY and UNDERWRITER) or actions in respect thereof (including, to the extent reasonable, 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 actions are related to the sale or acquisition of, or investment in, the Fund’s Shares or the Contracts and:
(i) | arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Account’s 1933 Act registration statement, any Account Prospectus, the Contracts, or sales literature or advertising 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 LIFE COMPANY or UNDERWRITER by or on behalf of AVIF (IVIF) or INVESCO for use in any Account’s 1933 Act registration statement, any Account Prospectus, the Contracts, or sales literature or advertising or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of Contracts or Shares (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing); or |
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(ii) | arise out of or as a result of any other statements or representations (other than statements or representations contained in AVIF (IVIF)‘s 1933 Act registration statement, AVIF (IVIF) Prospectus, sales literature or advertising of AVIF (IVIF), or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing, not supplied for use therein by or on behalf of LIFE COMPANY, UNDERWRITER or their respective affiliates and on which such persons have reasonably relied) or the negligent, illegal or fraudulent conduct of LIFE COMPANY, UNDERWRITER or their respective affiliates or persons under their control (including, without limitation, their employees and “persons associated with a member,” as that term is defined in paragraph (q) of Article I of the FINRA’s By-Laws), in connection with the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Shares; or |
(iii) | arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in AVIF (IVIF)‘s 1933 Act registration statement, AVIF (IVIF) Prospectus, sales literature or advertising of AVIF (IVIF), or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading if such a statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to AVIF (IVIF), INVESCO or their affiliates by or on behalf of LIFE COMPANY, UNDERWRITER or their respective affiliates for use in AVIF (IVIF)‘s 1933 Act registration statement, AVIF (IVIF) Prospectus, sales literature or advertising of AVIF (IVIF), or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing; or |
(iv) | arise as a result of any failure by LIFE COMPANY or UNDERWRITER to perform the obligations, provide the services and furnish the materials required of them under the terms of this Agreement, or any material breach of any representation and/or warranty made by LIFE COMPANY or UNDERWRITER in this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by LIFE COMPANY or UNDERWRITER; or |
(v) | arise as a result of failure by the Contracts issued by LIFE COMPANY to qualify as annuity contracts or life insurance contracts under the Code, otherwise than by reason of any Fund’s failure to comply with Subchapter M or Section 817(h) of the Code. |
(b) Neither LIFE COMPANY nor UNDERWRITER shall be liable under this Section 12.1 with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence
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in the performance by that Indemnified Party of its duties or by reason of that Indemnified Party’s reckless disregard of obligations or duties (i) under this Agreement, or (ii) to AVIF (IVIF) or INVESCO.
(c) Neither LIFE COMPANY nor UNDERWRITER shall be liable under this Section 12.1 with respect to any action against an Indemnified Party unless AVIF (IVIF) or INVESCO shall have notified LIFE COMPANY and UNDERWRITER in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the action 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 and UNDERWRITER of any such action shall not relieve LIFE COMPANY and UNDERWRITER from any liability which they may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this Section 12.1. Except as otherwise provided herein, in case any such action is brought against an Indemnified Party, LIFE COMPANY and UNDERWRITER shall be entitled to participate, at their own expense, in the defense of such action and also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel approved by the Indemnified Party named in the action, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. After notice from LIFE COMPANY or UNDERWRITER to such Indemnified Party of LIFE COMPANY’s or UNDERWRITER’s election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party will cooperate fully with LIFE COMPANY and UNDERWRITER and shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and neither LIFE COMPANY nor UNDERWRITER will be liable to such Indemnified Party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party independently in connection with the defense thereof, other than reasonable costs of investigation.
12.2 | Of LIFE COMPANY and UNDERWRITER by AVIF (IVIF) and INVESCO |
(a) Except to the extent provided in Sections 12.2(c), 12.2(d) and 12.2(e), below, AVIF (IVIF) and INVESCO agree to indemnify and hold harmless LIFE COMPANY, UNDERWRITER, their respective affiliates, and each person, if any, who controls LIFE COMPANY, UNDERWRITER or their respective affiliates within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act and each of their respective trustees and officers, (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties” for purposes of this Section 12.2) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of AVIF (IVIF) and/or INVESCO) or actions in respect thereof (including, to the extent reasonable, 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 actions are related to the sale or acquisition of, or investment in, the Fund’s Shares or the Contracts and:
(i) | arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in AVIF (IVIF)‘s 1933 Act registration statement, AVIF (IVIF) Prospectus or sales literature or advertising of AVIF (IVIF) (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the |
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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 AVIF (IVIF) or its affiliates by or on behalf of LIFE COMPANY, UNDERWRITER or their respective affiliates for use in AVIF (IVIF)‘s 1933 Act registration statement, AVIF (IVIF) Prospectus, or in sales literature or advertising or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of Contracts or Shares (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing); or |
(ii) | arise out of or as a result of any other statements or representations (other than statements or representations contained in any Account’s 1933 Act registration statement, any Account Prospectus, sales literature or advertising for the Contracts, or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing, not supplied for use therein by or on behalf of AVIF (IVIF), INVESCO or their affiliates and on which such persons have reasonably relied) or the negligent, illegal or fraudulent conduct of AVIF (IVIF), INVESCO or their affiliates or persons under their control (including, without limitation, their employees and “persons associated with a member” as that term is defined in Section (q) of Article I of the FINRA By-Laws), in connection with the sale or distribution of AVIF (IVIF) Shares; or |
(iii) | arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Account’s 1933 Act registration statement, any Account Prospectus, sales literature or advertising covering the Contracts, or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to LIFE COMPANY, UNDERWRITER or their respective affiliates by or on behalf of AVIF (IVIF) or INVESCO for use in any Account’s 1933 Act registration statement, any Account Prospectus, sales literature or advertising covering the Contracts, or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing; or |
(iv) | arise as a result of any failure by AVIF (IVIF) to perform the obligations, provide the services and furnish the materials required of it under the terms of this Agreement, or any material breach of any representation and/or warranty made by AVIF (IVIF) in this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by AVIF (IVIF). |
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(b) The parties agree that the foregoing indemnification by AVIF (IVIF) shall not apply to any acts or omissions of INVESCO. Except to the extent provided in Sections 12.2(c), 12.2(d) and 12.2(e) hereof, AVIF (IVIF) and INVESCO agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Indemnified Parties from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement thereof with, the written consent of AVIF (IVIF) and/or INVESCO) or actions in respect thereof (including, to the extent reasonable, legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject directly or indirectly under any statute, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions directly or indirectly result from or arise out of the failure of any Fund to operate as a regulated investment company in compliance with (i) Subchapter M of the Code and regulations thereunder, or (ii) Section 817(h) of the Code and regulations thereunder, including, without limitation, any income taxes and related penalties, rescission charges, liability under state law to Participants asserting liability against LIFE COMPANY pursuant to the Contracts, the costs of any ruling and closing agreement or other settlement with the IRS, and the cost of any substitution by LIFE COMPANY of Shares of another investment company or portfolio for those of any adversely affected Fund as a funding medium for each Account that LIFE COMPANY reasonably deems necessary or appropriate as a result of the noncompliance.
(c) Neither AVIF (IVIF) nor INVESCO shall be liable under this Section 12.2 with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance by that Indemnified Party of its duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party’s reckless disregard of its obligations and duties (i) under this Agreement, or (ii) to LIFE COMPANY, UNDERWRITER, each Account or Participants.
(d) Neither AVIF (IVIF) nor INVESCO shall be liable under this Section 12.2 with respect to any action against an Indemnified Party unless the Indemnified Party shall have notified AVIF (IVIF) and/or INVESCO in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the action 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 AVIF (IVIF) or INVESCO of any such action shall not relieve AVIF (IVIF) or INVESCO from any liability which it may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this Section 12.2. Except as otherwise provided herein, in case any such action is brought against an Indemnified Party, AVIF (IVIF) and/or INVESCO will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense of such action and also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof (which shall include, without limitation, the conduct of any ruling request and closing agreement or other settlement proceeding with the IRS), with counsel approved by the Indemnified Party named in the action, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. After notice from AVIF (IVIF) and/or INVESCO to such Indemnified Party of AVIF (IVIF)‘s or INVESCO’s election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party will cooperate fully with AVIF (IVIF) and INVESCO and shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and AVIF (IVIF) and INVESCO will not be liable to such Indemnified Party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party independently in connection with the defense thereof, other than reasonable costs of investigation.
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(e) In no event shall AVIF (IVIF) or INVESCO be liable under the indemnification provisions contained in this Agreement to any individual or entity, including, without limitation, LIFE COMPANY, UNDERWRITER or any other Participating Insurance Company or any Participant, with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses that arise out of or result from (i) a breach of any representation, warranty, and/or covenant made by LIFE COMPANY or UNDERWRITER hereunder or by any other Participating Insurance Company under an agreement containing substantially similar representations, warranties and covenants; (ii) the failure by LIFE COMPANY or any other Participating Insurance Company to maintain its segregated asset account (which invests in any Fund) as a legally and validly established segregated asset account under applicable state law and as a duly registered unit investment trust under the provisions of the 1940 Act (unless exempt therefrom); or (iii) the failure by LIFE COMPANY or any other Participating Insurance Company to maintain its variable annuity or life insurance contracts (with respect to which any Fund serves as an underlying funding vehicle) as annuity contracts or life insurance contracts under applicable provisions of the Code.
12.3 | Effect of Notice |
Any notice given by the indemnifying Party to an Indemnified Party referred to in Sections 12.1(c) or 12.2(d) above of participation in or control of any action by the indemnifying Party will in no event be deemed to be an admission by the indemnifying Party of liability, culpability or responsibility, and the indemnifying Party will remain free to contest liability with respect to the claim among the Parties or otherwise.
12.4 | Successors |
A successor by law of any Party shall be entitled to the benefits of the indemnification contained in this Section 12.
Section 13. Applicable Law
This Agreement will be construed and the provisions hereof interpreted under and in accordance with Delaware law, without regard for that state’s principles of conflict of laws.
Section 14. Execution in Counterparts
This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which taken together will constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 15. Severability
If any provision of this Agreement is held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement will not be affected thereby.
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Section 16. Rights Cumulative
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, that the Parties are entitled to under federal and state laws.
Section 17. Headings
The Table of Contents and headings used in this Agreement are for purposes of reference only and shall not limit or define the meaning of the provisions of this Agreement.
Section 18. Confidentiality
(a) Confidential Information. The Parties acknowledge that, in the performance of the Agreement, they receive or have access to information about customers and other propriety information of the other Parties, including names, addresses, account balances, account numbers, account activity, social security numbers, taxpayer identification numbers, and financial and health information, as well as all forms and types of financial, business, technical or economic information, whether tangible or intangible, and whether or how stored, complied, or memorialized physically, electronically, graphically, photographically, or in writing (“Confidential Information”). Confidential Information excludes information that (1) is independently developed by a party without violating the disclosing party’s proprietary rights, (2) is or becomes publicly known (other than through unauthorized disclosure), (3) is intentionally disclosed by the owner of such information to a third party free of any obligation of confidentiality, (4) is already known by a party, as evidenced by the written records of that party, free of an obligation of confidentiality other than pursuant to this Agreement, or (5) is rightfully received by a party free of any obligation of confidentiality.
(b) Use. The parties may use Confidential Information only in connection with this Agreement and may not disclose Confidential Information to any other party except as permitted by the Xxxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Act, other applicable federal and state laws and regulations regarding privacy, this Agreement or as otherwise agreed to in writing by the parties hereto. The parties may disclose Confidential Information to their respective employees and agents or to third party vendors (1) who are involved in the issuance, administration or maintenance of a customer’s account or (2) otherwise or a need-to-know basis, provided that, in each case, they have first adequately apprised any such employee, agent, and or third party vendor to observe this confidentiality. In the case of employees and/or agents, the party shall provide adequate training to ensure this confidentiality. The parties will take reasonable steps to protect the Confidential Information, applying at least the same security measures and level of care as they employ to protect their own Confidential Information. If a party is compelled by applicable law to disclose any Confidential Information, the party so compelled must promptly notify, in writing, the party whose Confidential Information is being disclosed before disclosing such Confidential Information so that such other party is afforded the opportunity to seek relief from such disclosure or to limit the scope of the disclosure.
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(c) Security. Each party shall comply with all federal, state, and local law or regulation related to privacy, including Regulation S-P of the SEC and Title V of the Xxxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Act. AVIF (IVIF) and INVESCO shall notify UNDERWRITER and LIFE COMPANY promptly upon knowledge of any breach of Confidential Information. Each party shall maintain an effective information security program to protect the Confidential Information, which program includes administrative, technical and physical safeguards:
(i) | to insure the security and confidentiality of Confidential Information; |
(ii) | to protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of such Confidential Information; and |
(iii) | to protect against unauthorized access to or use of Confidential Information which could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to either party or other affiliates, or to customers of any of them. |
(d) Injunctive Relief. The parties acknowledge that the unauthorized disclosure of Confidential Information is likely to cause irreparable injury to the disclosing party and that, in the event of a violation or threatened violation of a party’s obligations hereunder, the disclosing party shall have no adequate remedy at law and shall therefore be entitled to enforce each such obligation by temporary or permanent injunctive or mandatory relief obtained in any court of competent jurisdiction without the necessity of proving damages, posting any bond or other security, and without prejudice to any other rights and remedies which may be available at law or in equity.
(e) Information Received in Error. If Confidential Information, which is not necessary for the purposes of this Agreement, is received by one party from the other party in error, the other party shall promptly return the original and destroy all copies of the same and/or destroy or certify in writing to the requesting party that the Confidential Information has been destroyed.
(f) Use Upon Termination. At the termination of this Agreement, or in the event a party makes a request for the return of their Confidential Information, the other parties will promptly return the original and all copies of same, or certify in writing to the requesting party that the Confidential Information has been destroyed, provided, however, that each party shall retain Confidential Information in its possession necessary to service its customers. This Confidentiality provision shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
Section 19. Trademarks and Fund Names
(a) Except as may otherwise be provided in a License Agreement among A I M Management Group Inc., LIFE COMPANY and UNDERWRITER, neither LIFE COMPANY nor UNDERWRITER or any of their respective affiliates, shall use any trademark, trade name, service xxxx or logo of AVIF (IVIF), INVESCO or any of their respective affiliates, or any variation of any such trademark, trade name, service xxxx or logo, without AVIF (IVIF)‘s or INVESCO’s prior written consent, the granting of which shall be at AVIF (IVIF)‘s or INVESCO’s sole option. Notwithstanding the forgoing, AVIF (IVIF) and INVESCO consent to the use of their logo in the LIFE COMPANY’S sales materials for the Contracts.
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(b) Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, neither AVIF (IVIF), its investment adviser, its principal underwriter, or any affiliates thereof shall use any trademark, trade name, service xxxx or logo of LIFE COMPANY, UNDERWRITER or any of their affiliates, or any variation of any such trademark, trade name, service xxxx or logo, without LIFE COMPANY’s or UNDERWRITER’s prior written consent, the granting of which shall be at LIFE COMPANY’s or UNDERWRITER’s sole option.
Section 20. Parties to Cooperate
Each Party to this Agreement will cooperate with each other Party and all appropriate governmental authorities (including, without limitation, the SEC, the FINRA and state insurance regulators) and will permit each other and such authorities reasonable access to its books and records (including copies thereof) in connection with any investigation or inquiry relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 21. Amendments; Need For
No provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified in any manner except by mutual written agreement executed by all parties hereto. The Parties shall, from time to time, review this Agreement to determine the extent to which an amendment thereto may be necessary or appropriate to reflect changes in applicable law or regulation, and shall cooperate in implementing any such amendment in a timely manner, it being understood and agreed to that no such amendment shall take effect except upon mutual written agreement of all Parties as stated above.
Section 22. Force Majeure
Each Party shall be excused from the performance of any of its obligations to the other where such nonperformance is occasioned by any event beyond its control which shall include, without limitation, any applicable order, rule or regulation of any federal, state or local body, agency or instrumentality with jurisdiction, work stoppage, accident, natural disaster, war, acts of terrorism or civil disorder, provided that the Party so excused shall use all reasonable efforts to minimize its nonperformance and overcome, remedy, cure or remove such event as soon as is reasonably practicable, and such performance shall be excused only for so long as, in any given case, the force or circumstances making performance impossible shall exist.
Section 23. Summary Prospectuses
Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, this Section 23 shall control with respect to the subject matter hereof. The Parties to the Agreement desire to set out the roles and responsibilities for complying with Rule 498 under the 1933 Act (“Rule 498”) and other applicable laws as follows:
(a) For purposes of this Section 23, the terms summary prospectus and statutory prospectus shall have the same meaning as set forth in Rule 498.
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(b) AVIF (IVIF) shall deliver to LIFE COMPANY electronic copies of both the AVIF (IVIF) summary prospectus and AVIF (IVIF) statutory prospectus for use by LIFE COMPANY. AVIF (IVIF) also shall deliver to LIFE COMPANY the URL (uniform resource locator) for each AVIF (IVIF) document to enable LIFE COMPANY to send a direct link to the document on the Internet by email in response to Participant requests for an electronic copy of any such document as permitted by Rule 498(f)(1).
(c) The LIFE COMPANY may, in its sole discretion, bind together the summary prospectuses or statutory prospectuses for the Funds with summary prospectuses or statutory prospectuses for other investment options under the Contract and the Contract prospectus(es) as long as such binding is done in compliance with Rule 498(c)(2) and any applicable guidance received from the SEC.
(d) AVIF (IVIF) and INVESCO represent and warrant that the summary prospectuses and the web site hosting of such summary prospectuses will comply with the requirements of Rule 498 applicable to AVIF (IVIF) and its Funds. The Trust further represents and warrants that it has appropriate policies and procedures in place to ensure that such web site continuously complies with Rule 498.
(e) AVIF (IVIF) and INVESCO represent and warrant that they will be responsible for compliance with the provisions of Rule 498(f)(1) involving contract owner requests for additional Fund documents made directly to AVIF (IVIF), INVESCO or one of their affiliates. AVIF (IVIF) and INVESCO further represent and warrant that any information obtained about contract owners pursuant to this provision will be used solely for the purposes or responding to requests for additional Fund documents.
(f) The LIFE COMPANY represents and warrants that it will respond to requests for additional Fund documents made by Contract owners directly to the LIFE COMPANY or one of its affiliates in accordance with the provisions of Rule 498(f)(1). The LIFE COMPANY shall deliver the most current version of the Fund documents that it has received from AVIF (IVIF).
(g) The LIFE COMPANY represents and warrants that any bundling of summary prospectuses and statutory prospectuses will be done in compliance with Rule 498.
(h) AVIF (IVIF) and INVESCO will be responsible for ensuring the integrity of the URLs and for maintaining AVIF (IVIF)’s and Funds’ current documents on the site to which such URLs navigate.
(i) The LIFE COMPANY shall be permitted, but not required, in its sole discretion, to post a copy of AVIF (IVIF)’s statutory prospectuses and/or summary prospectuses on the LIFE COMPANY’S web site. Notwithstanding the foregoing, AVIF (IVIF) shall be and remain solely responsible for ensuring that the Funds’ documents, including the summary prospectuses for the funds, comply with Rule 498(c)(2) and any applicable guidance received from the SEC or from the SEC Staff thereunder.
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(j) If at any time after May 1 of each calendar year AVIF (IVIF) determines (i) to liquidate or merge a Fund with another variable insurance products fund and does not give the LIFE COMPANY 90 days notice of such event, or (ii) that it no longer wishes to utilize the summary prospectus delivery option for the Fund, then AVIF (IVIF) shall bear the total cost of any printing and rebinding of all the summary prospectus and statutory prospectuses required to comply with Rule 498(c)(2) and any applicable guidance received from the SEC.
(k) The parties agree that the LIFE COMPANY is not required to distribute summary prospectuses to its Contract owners, but rather use of the summary prospectus will be at the discretion of the LIFE COMPANY.
(l) AVIF (IVIF) shall not deem the LIFE COMPANY, by reason of this Section 23, to be a service provider of the Fund as that term is used in connection with Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed in their names and on their behalf by and through their duly authorized officers signing below.
AIM VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS | ||||||||||
(INVESCO VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS) | ||||||||||
Attest: |
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By: | ||||||||
Name: | Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | Name: | Xxxx X. Xxxx | |||||||
Title: | Assistant Secretary | Title: | Senior Vice President | |||||||
INVESCO DISTRIBUTORS, INC. | ||||||||||
Attest: |
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By: | ||||||||
Name: | Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx | Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||||||
Title: | Assistant Secretary | Title: | Vice President | |||||||
THE VARIABLE ANNUITY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, on behalf of itself and its separate accounts | ||||||||||
Attest: |
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By: |
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Name: |
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Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxx | |||||||
Title: |
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Title: | Vice President | |||||||
AIG CAPITAL SERVICES, INC. | ||||||||||
Attest: |
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By: |
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Name: |
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Name: |
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Title: |
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Title: |
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SCHEDULE A
FUNDS AVAILABLE UNDER THE CONTRACTS
ALL SERIES I AND SERIES II SHARES OF AIM VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS (INVESCO VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS)
SEPARATE ACCOUNTS UTILIZING THE FUNDS
ALL SEPARATE ACCOUNTS UTILIZING THE FUNDS
CONTRACTS FUNDED BY THE SEPARATE ACCOUNTS
ALL CONTRACTS FUNDED BY THE SEPARATE ACCOUNTS
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SCHEDULE B
EXPENSE ALLOCATIONS
Life Company
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AVIF (IVIF) / INVESCO | |
preparing and filing the Account’s registration statement | Preparing and filing the Fund’s registration statement | |
text composition for Account prospectuses and supplements | text composition for Fund prospectuses and supplements | |
text alterations of prospectuses (Account) and supplements (Account) | text alterations of prospectuses (Fund) and supplements (Fund) | |
printing Account and Fund prospectuses and supplements | a camera ready Fund prospectus | |
text composition and printing Account SAIs | text composition and printing Fund SAIs | |
mailing and distributing Account SAIs to policy owners upon request by policy owners | mailing and distributing Fund SAIs to policy owners upon request by policy owners | |
mailing and distributing prospectuses (Account and Fund) and supplements (Account and Fund) to policy owners of record as required by Federal Securities Laws and to prospective purchasers | ||
text composition (Account), printing, mailing, and distributing annual and semi-annual reports for Account (Fund and Account as, applicable) | text composition of annual and semi-annual reports (Fund) | |
text composition, printing, mailing, distributing, and tabulation of proxy statements and voting instruction solicitation materials to policy owners with respect to proxies related to the Account | text composition, printing, mailing, distributing and tabulation of proxy statements and voting instruction solicitation materials to policy owners with respect to proxies related to the Fund
| |
preparation, printing and distributing sales material and advertising relating to the Funds, insofar as such materials relate to the Contracts and filing such materials with and obtaining approval from, the SEC, the FINRA, any state insurance regulatory authority, and any other appropriate regulatory authority, to the extent required |
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SCHEDULE C
Short-Term Trading Policies of Life Company
We do not want to issue this variable annuity contract to contract owners engaged in trading strategies that seek to benefit from short-term price fluctuations or price inefficiencies in the Variable Portfolios of this product (“Short-Term Trading”) and we discourage Short-Term Trading as more fully described below. However, we cannot always anticipate if a potential contract owner intends to engage in Short-Term Trading. Short-Term Trading may create risks that may result in adverse effects on investment return of the Underlying Fund in which a Variable Portfolio invests. Such risks may include, but are not limited to: (1) interference with the management and planned investment strategies of an Underlying Fund; (2) dilution of the interests in the Underlying Fund due to practices such as “arbitrage”; and/or (3) increased brokerage and administrative costs due to forced and unplanned fund turnover. These circumstances may reduce the value of the Variable Portfolio. In addition to negatively impacting the Owner, a reduction in contract value may also be harmful to Annuitants and/or Beneficiaries.
We have adopted the following administrative procedures to discourage Short-Term Trading which are summarized below.
The first 15 transfers in a rolling 12-month look-back period (“12-Month Rolling Period”) can be made by telephone, through the Company’s website, or in writing by mail or by facsimile. The 15th transfer in a 12-Month Rolling Period triggers the U.S. Mail method of transfer. Therefore, once you make the 15th transfer in a 12-Month Rolling Period, all transfers must be submitted by United States Postal Service first-class mail (“U.S. Mail”) for 12-months following the date of the 15th transfer (“Standard U.S. Mail Policy”).
For example, if you made a transfer on August 16, 2011 and within the previous twelve months (from August 17, 2010 forward) you made 15 transfers including the August 16th transfer, then all transfers made for twelve months after August 16, 2011 must be submitted by U.S. Mail (from August 17, 2011 through August 16, 2012).
U.S. Mail includes any postal service delivery method that offers delivery no sooner than United States Postal Service first-class mail, as determined in the Company’s sole discretion. We will not accept transfer requests sent by any other medium except U.S. Mail during this 12-month period. Transfer requests required to be submitted by U.S. Mail can only be cancelled by a written request sent by U.S. Mail with the appropriate paperwork received prior to the execution of the transfer.
All transfers made on the same day prior to Market Close are considered one transfer request for purposes of applying the Short-Term Trading policy and calculating the number of free transfers. Transfers resulting from your participation in the DCA or Automatic Asset Rebalancing programs are not included for the purposes of determining the number of transfers before applying the Standard U.S. Mail Policy.
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We apply the Standard U.S. Mail Policy uniformly and consistently to all contract owners except for omnibus group contracts as described below.
We believe that the Standard U.S. Mail Policy is a sufficient deterrent to Short-Term Trading. However, we may become aware of transfer patterns among the Variable Portfolios and/or Fixed Accounts which appear to be Short-Term Trading or otherwise detrimental to the Variable Portfolios but have not yet triggered the limitations of the Standard U.S. Mail Policy described above. If such transfer activity comes to our attention, we may require you to adhere to our Standard U.S. Mail Policy prior to reaching the specified number of transfers (“Accelerated U.S. Mail Policy”). To the extent we become aware of Short-Term Trading activities which cannot be reasonably controlled solely by the Standard U.S. Mail Policy or the Accelerated U.S. Mail Policy, we reserve the right to evaluate, in our sole discretion, whether to: (1) impose further limits on the size, manner, number and/or frequency of transfers you can make; (2) impose minimum holding periods; (3) reject any Purchase Payment or transfer request; (4) terminate your transfer privileges; and/or (5) request that you surrender your contract. We will notify you in writing if your transfer privileges are terminated. In addition, we reserve the right not to accept or otherwise restrict transfers from a third party acting for you and not to accept pre-authorized transfer forms.
Some of the factors we may consider when determining whether to accelerate the Standard U.S. Mail Policy, reject transfers or impose other conditions on transfer privileges include:
(1) | the number of transfers made in a defined period; |
(2) | the dollar amount of the transfer; |
(3) | the total assets of the Variable Portfolio involved in the transfer and/or transfer requests that represent a significant portion of the total assets of the Variable Portfolio; |
(4) | the investment objectives and/or asset classes of the particular Variable Portfolio involved in your transfers; |
(5) | whether the transfer appears to be part of a pattern of transfers to take advantage of short term market fluctuations or market inefficiencies; |
(6) | the history of transfer activity in the contract or in other contracts we may offer; and/or |
(7) | other activity, as determined by us, that creates an appearance, real or perceived, of Short-Term Trading or the possibility of Short-Term Trading. |
Notwithstanding the administrative procedures above, there are limitations on the effectiveness of these procedures. Our ability to detect and/or deter Short-Term Trading is limited by operational systems and technological limitations, as well as our ability to predict strategies employed by contract owners (or those acting on their behalf) to avoid detection. We cannot guarantee that we will detect and/or deter all Short-Term Trading and it is likely that some level of Short-Term Trading will occur before it is detected and steps are taken to deter it. To the extent that we are unable to detect and/or deter Short-Term Trading, the Variable Portfolios may be negatively impacted as described above. Additionally, the Variable Portfolios may be harmed by transfer activity related to other insurance companies and/or retirement plans or other investors that invest in shares of the Underlying Fund. Moreover, our ability to deter Short-Term Trading may be limited by decisions by state regulatory bodies and court orders which we cannot predict. You should be aware that the design of our administrative procedures involves inherently subjective decisions which we attempt to make in a fair and reasonable manner consistent with the interests of all owners of this contract. We do not enter into agreements with contract owners whereby we permit or intentionally disregard Short-Term Trading.
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The Standard and Accelerated U.S. Mail Policies are applied uniformly and consistently to contract owners utilizing third party trading services/strategies performing asset allocation services for a number of contract owners at the same time. You should be aware that such third party trading services may engage in transfer activities that can also be detrimental to the Variable Portfolios, including trading relatively large groups of contracts simultaneously. These transfer activities may not be intended to take advantage of short-term price fluctuations or price inefficiencies. However, such activities can create the same or similar risks as Short-Term Trading and negatively impact the Variable Portfolios as described above.
Omnibus group contracts may invest in the same Underlying Funds available in your contract but on an aggregate, not individual basis. Thus, we have limited ability to detect Short-Term Trading in omnibus group contracts and the Standard U.S. Mail Policy does not apply to these contracts. Our inability to detect Short-Term Trading may negatively impact the Variable Portfolios as described above.
We reserve the right to modify the policies and procedures described in this section at any time. To the extent that we exercise this reservation of rights, we will do so uniformly and consistently unless we disclose otherwise.
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SCHEDULE D
INVESCO’s PRICING ERROR POLICIES
Determination of Materiality
In the event that INVESCO discovers an error in the calculation of the Fund’s net asset value, the following policies will apply:
If the amount of the error is less than $.01 per share, it is considered immaterial and no adjustments are made.
If the amount of the error is $.01 per share or more, then the following thresholds are applied:
a. | If the amount of the difference in the erroneous net asset value and the correct net asset value is less than .5% of the correct net asset value, INVESCO will reimburse the affected Fund to the extent of any loss resulting from the error. No other adjustments shall be made. |
b. | If the amount of the difference in the erroneous net asset value and the correct net asset value is .5% of the correct net asset value or greater, then INVESCO will determine the impact of the error to the affected Fund and shall reimburse such Fund (and/or LIFE COMPANY, as appropriate, such as in the event that the error was not discovered until after LIFE COMPANY processed transactions using the erroneous net asset value) to the extent of any loss resulting from the error. To the extent that an overstatement of net asset value per share is detected quickly and LIFE COMPANY has not mailed redemption checks to Participants, LIFE COMPANY and INVESCO agree to examine the extent of the error to determine the feasibility of reprocessing such redemption transaction (for purposes of reimbursing the Fund to the extent of any such overpayment). |
Reprocessing Cost Reimbursement
To the extent a reprocessing of Participant transactions is required pursuant to paragraph (b), above, INVESCO shall reimburse LIFE COMPANY for LIFE COMPANY’s reprocessing costs in an amount not to exceed $1.00 per contract affected by $10 or more.
The Pricing Policies described herein may be modified by AVIF as approved by its Board. INVESCO agrees to use its best efforts to notify LIFE COMPANY at least five (5) days prior to any such meeting of the Board of AVIF to consider such proposed changes.
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