PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
AMONG
MFS/SUN LIFE SERIES TRUST,
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
AND
MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of this 17th day of February 1998,
by and among MFS/SUN LIFE SERIES TRUST, a Massachusetts business trust (the
"Trust"), SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.), a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), on its own behalf and on behalf of each of the segregated asset
accounts of the Company set forth in Schedule A hereto, as may be amended from
time to time (the "Accounts"), and MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY, a
Delaware corporation ("MFS").
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"),
and its shares are registered or will be registered under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "1933 Act");
WHEREAS, shares of beneficial interest of the Trust are divided into
several series of shares, each representing the interests in a particular
managed pool of securities and other assets;
WHEREAS, the series of shares of the Trust offered by the Trust to the
Company and the Accounts are set forth on Schedule A attached hereto (each, a
"Portfolio," and, collectively, the "Portfolios");
WHEREAS, MFS is duly registered as an investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and any applicable state securities
law, and is the Trust's investment adviser;
WHEREAS, the Company will issue certain variable annuity and/or variable
life insurance contracts (individually, the "Policy" or, collectively, the
"Policies") which, if required by applicable law, will be registered under the
1933 Act;
WHEREAS, the Accounts are duly organized, validly existing segregated asset
accounts, established by resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company, to
set aside and invest assets attributable to the aforesaid variable annuity
and/or variable life insurance contracts that are allocated to the Accounts (the
Policies and the Accounts covered by this Agreement, and each corresponding
Portfolio covered by this Agreement in which the Accounts invest, are specified
in Schedule A attached hereto as may be modified from time to time);
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register the Accounts as unit
investment trusts under the 1940 Act (unless exempt therefrom);
WHEREAS, Clarendon Insurance Agency, Inc. ("Clarendon"), the underwriter
for the Policies, is registered as a broker-dealer with the Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC") under the 1934 Act and is a member in good standing
of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"); and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Company intends, to purchase shares in one or more of the
Portfolios specified in Schedule A attached hereto (the "Shares") on behalf of
the Accounts to fund the Policies, and the Trust intends to sell such Shares to
the Accounts at net asset value;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Trust, MFS,
and the Company agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. SALE OF TRUST SHARES
1.1. The Trust agrees to sell to the Company those Shares which the
Accounts order (based on orders
placed by Policy holders on that Business Day, as defined below) and
which are available for purchase by such Accounts, executing such orders
on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by
the Trust or its designee of the order for the Shares. For purposes of
this Section 1.1, the Company shall be the designee of the Trust for
receipt of such orders from Policy owners and receipt by such designee
shall constitute receipt by the Trust; PROVIDED that the Trust receives
notice of such orders by 9:00 a.m. New York time on the next following
Business Day. "Business Day" shall mean any day on which the New York
Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "NYSE") is open for trading and on which the
Trust calculates its net asset value pursuant to the rules of the SEC.
1.2. The Trust agrees to make the Shares available indefinitely for
purchase at the applicable net asset value per share by the Company and
the Accounts on those days on which the Trust calculates its net asset
value pursuant to rules of the SEC and the Trust shall calculate such
net asset value on each day which the NYSE is open for trading.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the
"Board") may refuse to sell any Shares to the Company and the Accounts,
or suspend or terminate the offering of the Shares if such action is
required by law or by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction or is,
in the sole discretion of the Board acting in good faith and in light
of its fiduciary duties under federal and any applicable state laws,
necessary in the best interest of the Shareholders of such Portfolio.
1.3. The Trust agrees to redeem for cash, on the Company's request, any
full or fractional Shares held by the Accounts (based on orders placed by
Policy owners on that Business Day), executing such requests on a daily
basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by the Trust or
its designee of the request for redemption. For purposes of this Section
1.3, the Company shall be the designee of the Trust for receipt of
requests for redemption from Policy owners and receipt by such designee
shall constitute receipt by the Trust; provided that the Trust receives
notice of such request for redemption by 9:00 a.m. New York time on the
next following Business Day. The Company will not resell the Shares
except to the Trust or its agents.
1.4 Each purchase, redemption and exchange order placed by the Company
shall be placed separately for each Portfolio and shall not be netted
with respect to any Portfolio. However, with respect to payment of the
purchase price by the Company and of redemption proceeds by the Trust,
the Company and the Trust shall net purchase and redemption orders with
respect to each Portfolio and shall transmit one net payment for all of
the Portfolios in accordance with Section 1.5 hereof.
1.5. In the event of net purchases, the Company shall pay for the Shares
by 2:00 p.m. New York time on the next Business Day after an order to
purchase the Shares is made in accordance with the provisions of Section
1.1. hereof. In the event of net redemptions, the Trust shall pay the
redemption proceeds by 2:00 p.m. New York time on the next Business Day
after an order to redeem the shares is made in accordance with the
provisions of Section 1.3. hereof. All such payments shall be in federal
funds transmitted by wire.
1.6. Issuance and transfer of the Shares will be by book entry only.
Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or the Accounts.
The Shares ordered from the Trust will be recorded in an appropriate
title for the Accounts or the appropriate subaccounts of the Accounts.
1.7. The Trust shall furnish same day notice (by wire or telephone
followed by written confirmation) to the Company of any dividends or
capital gain distributions payable on the Shares. The Company hereby
elects to receive all such dividends and distributions as are payable on
a Portfolio's Shares in additional Shares of that Portfolio. The Company
reserves the right to revoke this election and to receive all such
dividends and distributions in cash. The Trust shall notify the Company
of the number of Shares so issued as payment of such dividends and
distributions.
1.8 The Trust or its custodian shall make the net asset value per share
for each Portfolio available to the Company on each Business Day as
soon as reasonably practical after the net asset value per share is
calculated and shall use its best efforts to make such net asset value
per share available by 6:30 p.m. New York time. In the event that the
Trust is unable to meet the 6:30 p.m. time stated herein, it shall
provide additional time for the Company to place orders for the purchase
and redemption of Shares. Such additional time shall be equal to the
additional time which the Trust takes to make the net asset value
available to the Company. If the Trust provides materially incorrect
share net asset value information, the Trust shall make an adjustment to
the number of shares purchased or redeemed for the Accounts 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 gains information shall be reported promptly upon discovery to
the Company.
ARTICLE II. CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS
2.1. The Company represents and warrants that the Policies are or will
be registered under the 1933 Act or are exempt from or not subject to
registration thereunder, and that the Policies will be issued, sold, and
distributed in compliance in all material respects with all applicable
state and federal laws, including without limitation the 1933 Act, the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and the
1940 Act. The Company further represents and warrants that it is an
insurance company duly organized and in good standing under applicable
law and that it has legally and validly established the Account as a
segregated asset account under applicable law and has registered or,
prior to any issuance or sale of the Policies, will register the Accounts
as unit investment trusts in accordance with the provisions of the 1940
Act (unless exempt therefrom) to serve as segregated investment accounts
for the Policies, and that it will maintain such registration for so long
as any Policies are outstanding. The Company shall amend the registration
statements under the 1933 Act for the Policies and the registration
statements under the 1940 Act for the Accounts from time to time as
required in order to effect the continuous offering of the Policies or as
may otherwise be required by applicable law. The Company shall register
and qualify the Policies for sales in accordance with the securities laws
of the various states only if and to the extent deemed necessary by the
Company.
2.2. The Company represents and warrants that the Policies are currently
and at the time of issuance will be treated as life insurance, endowment
or annuity contracts under applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), that it will maintain such
treatment and that it will notify the Trust or MFS immediately upon
having a reasonable basis for believing that the Policies have ceased to
be so treated or that they might not be so treated in the future.
2.3. The Company represents and warrants that Clarendon, the underwriter
for the Policies, is a member in good standing of the NASD and is a
registered broker-dealer with the SEC. The Company represents and
warrants that it will, and will cause Clarendon to, sell and distribute
the Policies in accordance in all material respects with all applicable
state and federal securities laws, including without limitation the 1933
Act, the 1934 Act and the 0000 Xxx.
2.4. The Trust and MFS represent and warrant that the Shares sold
pursuant to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act, duly
authorized for issuance and sold in compliance with the laws of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and all applicable federal and state
securities laws and that the Trust is and shall remain registered under
the 1940 Act. The Trust shall amend the registration statement for its
Shares under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act from time to time as required
in order to effect the continuous offering of its Shares. The Trust
shall register and qualify the Shares for sale in accordance with the
laws of the various states only if and to the extent deemed necessary by
the Trust.
2.5. The Trust and MFS represent that the Trust will sell and distribute
the Shares in accordance in all material respects with all applicable
state and federal securities laws, including without limitation the 1933
Act, the 1934 Act, and the 0000 Xxx.
2.6. The Trust represents that it is lawfully organized and validly
existing under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that it
does and will comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act and any
applicable regulations thereunder.
2.7. MFS represents and warrants that it is and shall remain duly
registered under all applicable federal securities laws and that it shall
perform its obligations for the Trust in compliance in all material
respects with any applicable federal securities laws and with the
securities laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. MFS represents and
warrants that it is not subject to state securities laws other than the
securities laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that it is
exempt from registration as an investment adviser under the securities
laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
ARTICLE III. PROSPECTUS AND PROXY STATEMENTS; VOTING
3.1. The Trust or its designee shall provide the Company, free of
charge, with as many copies of the current prospectus for the Trust and
any supplements thereto as the Company may reasonably request for
distribution to existing Policy owners. The Trust or its designee shall
provide the Company, at the Company's expense, with as many copies of the
current prospectus for the Trust and any supplements
thereto as the Company may reasonably request for distribution to
prospective purchasers of Policies. If requested by the Company in lieu
thereof, the Trust or its designee shall provide such documentation
(including a "camera ready" copy of the prospectus as set in type or, at
the request of the Company, as a diskette containing the prospectus) and
other assistance as is reasonably necessary in order for the parties
hereto once each year (or more frequently if the prospectus for the Trust
is supplemented or amended) to have the prospectus for the Policies and
the prospectus for the Trust printed together in one document; the
expenses of such printing to be apportioned between (a) the Company and
(b) the Trust or its designee in proportion to the number of pages of the
Policy and Trust prospectuses, taking account of other relevant factors
affecting the expense of printing, such as covers, columns, graphs and
charts; the Trust or its designee to bear the cost of printing the
Trust's prospectus portion of such document for distribution to owners of
existing Policies and the Company to bear the expenses of printing the
portion of such document relating to the Accounts; PROVIDED, however,
that the Company shall bear all printing expenses of such combined
documents where used for distribution to prospective purchasers.
Alternatively, the Company may print the Trust's prospectus in
combination with other fund prospectuses in accordance with the expense
allocation provisions set forth in the immediately preceding sentence
(provided that the applicable fund will bear expenses with respect to its
prospectus). In the event that the Company requests that the Trust or
its designee provides the Trust's prospectus in a "camera ready" or
diskette format, the Trust shall be responsible for providing the
prospectus in the format in which it or MFS is accustomed to formatting
prospectuses and shall bear the expense of providing the prospectus in
such format (E.G., typesetting expenses), and the Company shall bear the
expense of adjusting or changing the format to conform with any of its
prospectuses.
3.2. The prospectus for the Trust shall state that the statement of
additional information for the Trust is available from the Trust or its
designee. The Trust or its designee, at its expense, shall print and
provide such statement of additional information to the Company (or a
master of such statement suitable for duplication by the Company) for
distribution to any owner of a Policy. The Trust or its designee, at the
Company's expense, shall print and provide such statement to the Company
(or a master of such statement suitable for duplication by the Company)
for distribution to a prospective purchaser who requests such statement.
3.3. The Trust or its designee shall provide the Company free of charge
copies, if and to the extent applicable to the Shares, of the Trust's
proxy materials, reports to Shareholders and other communications to
Shareholders in such quantity as the Company shall reasonably require for
distribution to Policy owners.
3.4. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3 above,
or of Article V below, the Company shall pay the expense of printing or
providing such documents to the extent such cost is considered a
distribution expense. Distribution expenses would include by way of
illustration, but are not limited to, the printing of the Trust's
prospectus or prospectuses for distribution to prospective purchasers.
3.5. If and to the extent required by law, the Company shall:
(a) solicit voting instructions from Policy owners;
(b) vote the Shares in accordance with instructions received
from Policy owners; and
(c) vote the Shares for which no instructions have been received
in the same proportion as the Shares of such Portfolio for
which instructions have been received from Policy owners;
so long as and to the extent that the SEC continues to interpret the 1940 Act to
require pass through voting privileges for variable contract owners. The
Company will in no way recommend action in connection with or oppose or
interfere with the solicitation of proxies for the Shares held for such Policy
owners. The Company reserves the right to vote shares held in any segregated
asset account in its own right, to the extent permitted by law.
ARTICLE IV. SALES MATERIAL AND INFORMATION
4.1. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the
Trust or its designee, each piece of sales literature or other
promotional material in which the Trust, MFS, any other investment
adviser to the Trust, or any affiliate of MFS are named, at least three
(3) Business Days prior to its use. No such material shall be used if
the Trust, MFS, or their respective designees reasonably objects to such
use within three (3) Business Days after receipt of such material.
4.2. The Company shall not give any information or make any
representations or statement on behalf of the Trust, MFS, any other
investment adviser to the Trust, or any affiliate of MFS or concerning
the Trust or any other such entity in connection with the sale of the
Policies other than the information or representations contained in the
registration statement, prospectus or statement of additional
information for the Trust, as such registration statement, prospectus
and statement of additional information may be amended or supplemented
from time to time, or in reports or proxy statements for the Trust, or
in sales literature or other promotional material approved by the
Trust, MFS or their respective designees, except with the permission of
the Trust, MFS or their respective designees. The Trust, MFS or their
respective designees each agrees to respond to any request for approval
on a prompt and timely basis. The Company shall cause to be adopted
and implemented procedures reasonably designed to ensure that
information concerning the Trust, MFS or any of their affiliates which
is intended for use only by brokers or agents selling the Policies
(I.E., information that is not intended for distribution to Policy
owners or prospective Policy owners) is so used, and neither the Trust,
MFS nor any of their affiliates shall be liable for any losses, damages
or expenses relating to the improper use of such broker only materials.
4.3. The Trust or its designee shall furnish, or shall cause to be
furnished, to the Company or its designee, each piece of sales literature
or other promotional material in which the Company and/or the Accounts is
named, at least three (3) Business Days prior to in use. No such
material shall be used if the Company or its designee reasonably objects
to such use within three (3) Business Days after receipt of such
material.
4.4. The Trust and MFS shall not give my information or make any
representations on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company, the
Accounts, or the Policies in connection with the sale of the Policies
other than the information or representations contained in a registration
statement, prospectus, or statement of additional information for the
Policies, as such registration statement, prospectus and statement of
additional information may be amended or supplemented from time to time,
or in reports for the Accounts, or in sales literature or other
promotional material approved by the Company or its designee, except with
the permission of the Company. The Company or its designee agrees to
respond to any request for approval on a prompt and timely basis. The
parties hereto agree that this Section 4.4. is neither intended to
designate nor otherwise imply that MFS is an underwriter or distributor
of the Policies.
4.5. The Company and the Trust (or its designee in lieu of the Company
or the Trust, as appropriate) will each provide to the other at least one
complete copy of all registration statements, prospectuses, statements of
additional information, reports, proxy statements, sales literature and
other promotional materials, applications for exemptions, requests for
no-action letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that relate to
the Policies, or to the Trust or its Shares, prior to or
contemporaneously with the filing of such document with the SEC or other
regulatory authorities. The Company and the Trust shall also each
promptly inform the other of the results of any examination by the SEC
(or other regulatory authorities) that relates to the Policies, the Trust
or its Shares, and the party that was the subject of the examination
shall provide the other party with a copy of relevant opinions of any
"deficiency letter" or other correspondence or written report regarding
any such examination.
4.6. The Trust and MFS will provide the Company with as much notice as
is reasonably practicable of any proxy solicitation for any Portfolio,
and of any material change in the Trust's registration statement,
particularly any change resulting in change to the registration statement
or prospectus or statement of additional information for any Account.
The Trust and MFS will cooperate with the Company so as to enable the
Company to solicit proxies from Policy owners or to make changes to its
prospectus, statement of additional information or registration
statement, in an orderly manner. The Trust and MFS will make reasonable
efforts to attempt to have changes affecting Policy prospectuses become
effective simultaneously with the annual updates for such prospectuses.
4.7. For purpose of this Article IV and Article VIII, 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), and sales literature (such as brochures,
circulars, reprints or excerpts or any other advertisement, sales
literature, or published articles), distributed or made generally
available to customers or the public, educational or training materials
or communications distributed or made generally available to some or all
agents or employees.
ARTICLE V. FEES AND EXPENSES
5.1. The Trust shall pay no fee or other compensation to the Company
under this Agreement, and the Company shall pay no fee or other
compensation to the Trust, except that if the Trust or any Portfolio
adopts and implements a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act to
finance distribution and Shareholder servicing expenses, then, subject to
obtaining any required exemptive orders or regulatory approvals, the
Trust may make payments to the Company or to the underwriter for the
Policies if and in amounts agreed to by the Trust in writing. Each
party, however, shall, in accordance with the allocation of expenses
specified in Articles III and V hereof, reimburse other parties for
expenses initially paid by one party but allocated to another party. In
addition, nothing herein shall prevent the parties hereto from otherwise
agreeing to perform, and arranging for appropriate compensation for,
other services relating to the Trust and/or to the Accounts.
5.2. The Trust or its designee shall bear the expenses for the cost of
registration and qualification of the Shares under all applicable federal
and state laws, including preparation and filing of the Trust's
registration statement, and payment of filing fees and registration fees;
preparation and filing of the Trust's proxy materials and reports to
Shareholders; setting in type and printing its prospectus and statement
of additional information (to the extent provided by and as determined in
accordance with Article III above); setting in type and printing the
proxy materials and reports to Shareholders (to the extent provided by
and as determined in accordance with Article III above); the preparation
of all statements and notices required of the Trust by any federal or
state law with respect to its Shares; all taxes on the issuance or
transfer of the Shares; and the costs of distributing the Trust's
prospectuses, any supplements thereto and proxy materials to owners of
Policies funded by the Shares and any expenses permitted to be paid or
assumed by the Trust pursuant to a plan, if any, under Rule 12b-1 under
the 1940 Act. The Trust shall not bear any expenses of marketing the
Policies.
5.3. The Company shall bear the expenses of printing and distributing
the Trust's prospectus or prospectuses in connection with new sales of
the Policies and of distributing the Trust's shareholder reports to
Policy owners. The company shall bear all expenses associated with the
registration, qualification, and filing of the Policies under applicable
federal securities and state insurance laws; the cost of preparing,
printing and distributing the Policy prospectus and statement of
additional information, if any; and the cost of preparing, printing and
distributing annual individual account statements for Policy owners as
required by state insurance laws.
5.4. MFS will monthly reimburse the Company certain of the
administrative costs and expenses incurred by the Company as a result of
operations necessitated by the beneficial ownership by Policy owners of
shares of the Portfolios of the Trust, equal to 0.25% per annum of the
aggregate net assets of the Trust attributable to variable life or
variable annuity contracts offered by the Company or its affiliates. In
no event shall such fee be paid by the Trust, its shareholders or by the
Policy holders.
ARTICLE VI. DIVERSIFICATION AND RELATED LIMITATIONS
6.1. The Trust and MFS represent and warrant that each Portfolio of the
Trust will meet the diversification requirements of Section 817 (h) (1)
of the Code and Treas. Reg. 1.817-5, relating to the diversification
requirements for variable, annuity, endowment, or life insurance
contracts, as they may be amended from time to time (and any revenue
rulings, revenue procedures, notices, and other published announcements
of the Internal Revenue Service interpreting these sections), as if those
requirements applied directly to each such Portfolio, and they shall
immediately notify the Company upon having a reasonable basis for
believing that a Portfolio has ceased to qualify or that it might not so
qualify in the future.
6.2. The Trust and MFS represent that each Portfolio will elect to be
qualified as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the
Code and that they will maintain such qualification (under Subchapter M
or any successor or similar provision), and they shall immediately notify
the Company upon having a reasonable basis for believing that a Portfolio
has ceased to qualify or that it might not so qualify in the future.
ARTICLE VII. POTENTIAL MATERIAL CONFLICTS
7.1. The Trust agrees that the Board, constituted with a majority of
disinterested trustees, will monitor each Portfolio of the Trust for
the existence of any material irreconcilable conflict between the
interests of the variable annuity contract owners and the variable life
insurance policy owners of the Company and/or affiliated companies
("contract owners") investing in the Trust. The Board shall have the
sole authority to determine if a material irreconcilable conflict
exists, and such determination shall be binding on the Company only if
approved in the form of a resolution by a majority of the Board, or a
majority of the disinterested trustees of the Board. The Board will
give prompt notice of any such determination to the Company.
7.2. The Company agrees that it will be responsible for promptly
reporting any potential or existing conflicts of which it is aware to
the Board including, but not limited to, an obligation by the Company
to inform the Board whenever contract owner voting instructions are
disregarded. The Company also agrees that, if a material
irreconcilable conflict arises, it will at its own cost remedy such
conflict up to and including (a) withdrawing the assets allocable to
some or all of the Accounts from the Trust or any Portfolio and
reinvesting such assets in a different investment medium, including
(but not limited to) another Portfolio of the Trust, or submitting to a
vote of all affected contract owners whether to withdraw assets from
the Trust or any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a different
investment medium and, as appropriate, segregating the assets
attributable to any appropriate group of contract owners that votes in
favor of such segregation, or offering to any of the affected contract
owners the option of segregating the assets attributable to their
contracts or policies, and (b) establishing a new registered management
investment company and segregating the assets underlying the Policies,
unless a majority of Policy owners materially adversely affected by the
conflict have voted to decline the offer to establish a new registered
management investment company.
7.3. A majority of the disinterested trustees of the Board shall
determine whether any proposed action by the Company adequately remedies
any material irreconcilable conflict. In the event that the Board
determines that any proposed action does not adequately remedy any
material irreconcilable conflict, the Company will withdraw from
investment in the Trust each of the Accounts designated by the
disinterested trustees and terminate this Agreement within six (6) months
after the Board informs the Company in writing of the foregoing
determination; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such withdrawal and termination
shall be limited to the extent required to remedy any such material
irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the disinterested
trustees of the Board.
ARTICLE VIII. INDEMNIFICATION
8.1. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY
The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, MFS, any
affiliates of MFS, and each of their respective directors/trustees, officers and
each person, if any, who controls the Trust or MFS within the meaning of Section
15 of the 1933 Act, and any agents or employees of the foregoing (each an
"Indemnified Party," or collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of
this Section 8.1) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities
(including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Company)
or expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable counsel fees) to which
any Indemnified Party may become subject under any statute, regulation, at
common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements are related to the sale
or acquisition of the Shares or the Policies and:
(a) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in the registration
statement, prospectus or statement of additional information for
the Policies or contained in the Policies or sales literature or
other promotional material for the Policies (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 reasonable reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished to the Company or its designee by or on behalf of the
Trust or MFS for use in the registration statement, prospectus or
statement of additional information for the Policies or in the
Policies or sales literature or other promotional material (or any
amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in connection with
the sale of the Policies or Shares; or
(b) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other
than statements or representations contained in the registration
statement, prospectus, statement of additional information or sales
literature or other promotional material of the Trust not supplied
by the Company or its designee, or persons under its control and on
which the Company has reasonably relied) or wrongful conduct of the
Company or persons under its control, with respect to the sale or
distribution of the Policies or Shares; or
(c) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in the registration statement, prospectus,
statement of additional information, or sales literature or other
promotional literature of the Trust, or any amendment thereof or
supplemented thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statement or statements therein not misleading if such
statement or omission was made in reliance upon information
furnished to the Trust by or on behalf of the Company; or
(d) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Company in this
Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach
of this Agreement by the Company; or
(e) arise as a result of any failure by the Company to provide the
services and furnish the materials under the terms of this
Agreement;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of this Article VIII.
8.2. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE TRUST
The Trust agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each of
its directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company
within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, and any agents or employees of
the foregoing (each an "Indemnified Party," or collectively, the "Indemnified
Parties" for purposes of this Section 8.2) against any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written
consent of the Trust) or expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable
counsel fees) to which any Indemnified Party may become subject under any
statute, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements are
related to the sale or acquisition of the Shares or the Policies and:
(a) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in the registration
statement, prospectus, statement of additional information or sales
literature or other promotional material of the Trust (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 statement therein not misleading, PROVIDED that this
agreement to indemnify shall not apply to any Indemnified Party if
such statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission
was made in reasonable reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished to the Trust, MFS or their respective
designees by or on behalf of the Company for use in the
registration statement, prospectus or statement of additional
information for the Trust or in sales literature or other
promotional material for the Trust (or any amendment or supplement)
or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Policies or
Shares; or
(b) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other
than statements or representations contained in the registration
statement, prospectus, statement of additional information or sales
literature or other promotional material for the Policies not
supplied by the Trust, MFS or any of their respective designees or
persons under their respective control and on which any such entity
has reasonably relied) or wrongful conduct of the Trust or persons
under its control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the
Policies or Shares; or
(c) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in the registration statement, prospectus,
statement of additional information, or sales literature or other
promotional literature of the Accounts or relating to the Policies,
or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or the omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statement or statements
therein not misleading, if such
statement or omission was made in reliance upon information
furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Trust or MFS; or
(d) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Trust in this Agreement
(including a failure, whether unintentional or in good faith or
otherwise, to comply with the diversification requirements
specified in Article VI of this Agreement) or arise out of or
result from any other material breach of this Agreement by the
Trust; or
(e) arise out of or result from the materially incorrect or untimely
calculation or reporting of the daily net asset value per share or
dividend or capital gain distribution rate; or
(f) arise as a result of any failure by the Trust to provide the
services and furnish the materials under the terms of the
Agreement;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of this Article VIII.
8.3. Neither the Company nor the Trust shall be liable under the
indemnification provisions contained in this Agreement with respect to
any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses to which an
Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of such
Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, willful misconduct, or gross
negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by
reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations and
duties under this Agreement.
8.4. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Party under this Section
8.4. of notice of commencement of any action, such Indemnified Party
will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
indemnifying party under this section, notify the indemnifying party of
the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying
party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any
Indemnified Party otherwise than under this section. In case of any such
action is brought against any Indemnified Party, and it notified the
indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party
will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may
wish, assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such
Indemnified Party. After notice from the indemnifying party of its
intention to assume the defense of an action, the Indemnified Party shall
bear the expenses of any additional counsel obtained by it, and the
indemnifying party shall not be liable to such Indemnified Party under
this section for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by
such Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof other than
reasonable costs of investigation.
8.5. Each of the parties agrees promptly to notify the other parties of
the commencement of any litigation or proceeding against it or any of its
respective officers, directors, trustees, employees or 1933 Act control
persons in connection with the Agreement, the issuance or sale of the
Policies, the operation of the Accounts, or the sale or acquisition of
Shares.
8.6. A successor by law of the parties to this Agreement shall be
entitled to the benefits of the indemnification contained in this Article
VIII. The indemnification provisions contained in this Article VIII
shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE IX. APPLICABLE LAW
9.1. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
9.2. This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the 1933, 1934
and 1940 Acts, and the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder,
including such exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as
may SEC may grant and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed
in accordance therewith.
ARTICLE X. NOTICE OF FORMAL PROCEEDINGS
The Trust, MFS, and the Company agree that each such party shall promptly
notify the other parties to this Agreement, in writing, of the institution of
any formal proceedings brought against such party or its designees by the
NASD, the SEC, or any insurance department or any other regulatory body
regarding such party's duties under this Agreement or related to the sale of the
Policies, the operation of the Accounts, or the purchase of the Shares.
ARTICLE XI. TERMINATION
11.1. This Agreement shall terminate with respect to the Accounts, or
one, some, or all Portfolios:
(a) at the option of any Party upon six (6) months' advance
written notice to the other parties; or
(b) at option of the Company to the extent that the Shares of
Portfolios are not reasonably available to meet the
requirements of the Policies or are not "appropriate funding
vehicles" for the Policies, as reasonably determined by the
Company. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the Shares of a Portfolio would not be "appropriate funding
vehicles" if, for example, such Shares did not meet the
diversification or other requirements referred to in Article
VI hereof; or if the Company would be permitted to disregard
Policy owner voting instructions pursuant to Rule 6e-2 or
6e-3(T) under the 1940 Act. Prompt notice of the election
to terminate for such cause and an explanation of such cause
shall be furnished to the Trust by the Company; or
(c) at the option of the Trust or MFS upon institution of formal
proceedings against the Company by the NASD, the SEC, or any
insurance department or any other regulatory body regarding
the Company's duties under this Agreement or related to the
sale of the Policies, the operation of the Accounts, or the
purchase of Shares; or
(d) at the option of the Company upon institution of formal
proceedings against the Trust by the NASD, the SEC, or any
state securities or insurance department or any other
regulatory body regarding the Trust's or MFS' duties under
this Agreement or related to the sale of the Shares; or
(e) at the option of the Company, the Trust or MFS upon receipt
of any necessary regulatory approvals and/or the vote of the
Policy owners having an interest in the Accounts (or any
subaccounts) to substitute the shares of other investment
company for the corresponding Portfolio Shares in accordance
with the terms of the Policies for which those Portfolio
Shares had been selected to serve as the underlying
investment media. The Company will give thirty (30) days'
prior written notice to the Trust of the date of any
proposed vote or other action taken to replace the Shares;
or
(f) termination by either the Trust or MFS by written notice to
the Company, if either one or both of the Trust or MFS
respectively, shall determine, in their sole judgment
exercised in good faith, that the Company has suffered a
material adverse change in its business, operations,
financial condition, or prospects since the date of this
Agreement or is the subject of material adverse publicity;
or
(g) termination by the Company by written notice to the Trust
and MFS, if the Company shall determine, in its sole
judgment exercised in good faith, that the Trust or MFS has
suffered a material adverse change in this business,
operations, financial condition or prospects since the date
of this Agreement or is the subject of material adverse
publicity; or
(h) at the option of any party to this Agreement, upon another
party's material breach of any provision of this Agreement
after providing the breaching party thirty (30) days written
notice and an opportunity to cure the breach during the
notice period; or
(i) upon assignment of this Agreement, unless made with the
written consent of the parties hereto.
11.2. The notice shall specify the Portfolio or Portfolios, Policies and,
if applicable, the Accounts as to which the Agreement is to be
terminated.
11.3. It is understood and agreed that the right of any party hereto to
terminate this Agreement pursuant
to Section 11.1(a) may be exercised for cause or for no cause.
11.4. Except as necessary to implement Policy owner initiated
transactions, or required by state insurance laws or regulations, the
Company shall not redeem the Shares attributable to the Policies (as
opposed to the Shares attributable to the Company's assets held in the
Accounts), and the Company shall not prevent Policy owners from
allocating payments to a Portfolio that was otherwise available under the
Policies, until thirty (30) days after the Company shall have notified
the Trust of its intention to do so.
11.5. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Trust and
MFS shall, at the option of the Company, continue to make available
additional shares of the Portfolios pursuant to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement, for all Policies in effect on the effective date of
termination of this Agreement (the "Existing Policies"), except as
otherwise provided under Article VII of this Agreement. Specifically,
without limitation, the owners of the Existing Policies shall be
permitted to transfer or reallocate investment under the Policies, redeem
investments in any Portfolio and/or invest in the Trust upon the making
of additional purchase payments under the Existing Policies and MFS shall
continue to reimburse the Company pursuant to Section 5.4 of this
Agreement.
ARTICLE XII. NOTICES
Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or
certified mail, overnight courier or facsimile to the other party at the address
of such Party set forth below or at such other address as such party may from
time to time specify in writing to the other party.
If to the Trust:
MFS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Secretary
If to the Company:
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
Retirement Products and Services
Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile No.:(000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Esq.
If to MFS:
MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: tephen E. Cavan, General Counsel
ARTICLE XIII. MISCELLANEOUS
13.1. Subject to the requirement of legal process and regulatory
authority, each party hereto shall treat as confidential the names and
addresses of the owners of the Policies and all information reasonably
identified as confidential in writing by any other party hereto and,
except permitted by this Agreement or as otherwise required by applicable
law or regulation, shall not disclose, disseminate or utilize such names
and addresses and other confidential information without the express
written consent of the affected party until such time as it may come into
the public domain.
13.2. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of
reference only and in no way define
or delineate any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their
construction or effect.
13.3. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in one or more
counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the
same instrument.
13.4. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by
a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of the
Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
13.5. The Schedule attached hereto, as modified from time to time, is
incorporated herein by reference and is part of this Agreement.
13.6 Each Party hereto shall cooperate with each other party in
connection with inquiries by appropriate governmental authorities
(including without limitation the SEC, the NASD, and state insurance
regulators) relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby.
13.7. The rights, remedies and obligations contained in this Agreement
are cumulative and are in addition to any and all rights, remedies and
obligations, at law or in equity, which the parties hereto are entitled
to under state and federal laws.
13.8. A copy of the Trust's Declaration of Trust is on file with the
Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Company
acknowledges that the obligations of or arising out of this instrument
are not binding upon any of the Trust's trustees, officers, employees,
agents or shareholders individually, but are binding solely upon the
assets and property of the Trust in accordance with its proportionate
interest hereunder. The Company further acknowledges that the assets and
liabilities of each Portfolio are separate and distinct and that the
obligations of or arising out of this instrument are binding solely upon
the assets or property of the Portfolio on whose behalf the Trust has
executed this instrument. The Company also agrees that the obligations
of each Portfolio hereunder shall be several and not joint, in accordance
with its proportionate interest hereunder, and the Company agrees not to
proceed against any Portfolio for the obligations of another Portfolio.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement
to be executed in its name and on its behalf by its duly, authorized
representative and its seal to be hereunder affixed hereto as of the date
specified above.
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
By its authorized officer,
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
--------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Vice President, Finance and Product
MFS/SUN LIFE SERIES TRUST, on behalf of the portfolios
By its authorized officer and not individually,
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Xx.
------------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Xx.
Assistant Secretary
MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY
By its authorized officer,
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
As of February 17, 1998
SCHEDULE A
ACCOUNTS, POLICIES AND PORTFOLIOS
SUBJECT TO THE PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
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Name of Separate Policies Funded Portfolios
Account and Date by Separate Account Applicable to Policies
Established by Board of
Directors
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Sun Life of Canada (U.S.) Futurity Variable Capital Appreciation Series
Variable Account F Annuity Emerging Growth Series
(est. July 13, 1989) Government Security Series
High Yield Series
Money Market Series
Utilities Series
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