PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
AMONG
SECURITY BENEFIT LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY,
INVESCO SECTOR FUNDS, INC., INVESCO STOCK FUNDS, INC.
AND
INVESCO FUNDS GROUP, INC.
THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of the 1st day of July, 2001, by and among
Security Benefit Life Insurance Company, (the "Company"), a stock life insurance
company organized under the laws of the State of Kansas, on its own behalf and
on behalf of each segregated asset account of the Company set forth on Schedule
A hereto, as may be amended from time to time (each an "Account"), INVESCO
Sector Funds, Inc., and INVESCO Stock Funds, Inc. each a Maryland corporation
(the "Fund"), and INVESCO Funds Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Adviser").
WHEREAS, the shares of beneficial interest/common stock of the Fund are
divided into several series of shares, each representing the interest in a
particular managed portfolio of securities and other assets (each a
"Portfolio"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") and shares of
the Portfolios are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"1933 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Adviser, which serves as investment adviser to the Fund,
is duly registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of
1940, as amended; and
WHEREAS, the Company has issued or will issue certain variable annuity
contracts supported wholly or partially by the Account (the "Contracts"), and
said Contracts are listed in Schedule A hereto, as it may be amended from time
to time by mutual written agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Account is duly established and maintained as a segregated
asset account, duly established by the Company, on the date shown for such
Account on Schedule A hereto, to set aside and invest assets attributable to the
aforesaid Contracts; and
WHEREAS, the Company intends to purchase shares in the Portfolios
listed in Schedule A hereto, as it may be amended from time to time by mutual
written agreement (the "Designated Portfolios"), on behalf of the Account to
fund the aforesaid Contracts.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Company,
the Fund and the Adviser agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. SALE OF FUND SHARES
1.1. Subject to Article IX hereof, the Fund agrees to make available
to the Company for purchase on behalf of the Account, shares of the Designated
Portfolios, such purchases to be effected at net asset value in accordance with
Section 1.3 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Portfolios
(other than those listed on Schedule A) in existence now or that may be
established in the future will be made available to the Company only as the Fund
may so provide, and (ii) the Board of Directors of the Fund (the "Board") may
suspend or terminate the offering of shares of any Designated Portfolio or class
thereof, if such action is required by law or by regulatory authorities having
jurisdiction or if, 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,
suspension or termination is necessary and in the best interests of the
shareholders of such Designated Portfolio.
1.2. The Fund shall redeem, at the Company's request, any full or
fractional Designated Portfolio shares held by the Company on behalf of the
Account, such redemptions to be effected at net asset value in accordance with
Section 1.3 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund may delay
redemption of Fund shares of any Designated Portfolio to the extent permitted by
the 1940 Act, and any rules, regulations or orders thereunder.
1.3. PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION PROCEDURES
(a) The Fund hereby appoints the Company as an agent of the
Fund for the limited purpose of receiving and accepting purchase and redemption
requests on behalf of the Account (but not with respect to any Fund shares that
may be held in the general account of the Company) for shares of those
Designated Portfolios made available hereunder, based on allocations of amounts
to the Account or subaccounts thereof under the Contracts and other transactions
relating to the Contracts or the Account. Receipt and acceptance of any such
request (or relevant transactional information therefor) on any day the New York
Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which a Designated Portfolio
calculates its net asset value (a "Business Day") pursuant to the rules of the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), by the Company as such limited agent
of the Fund prior to the time that the Fund ordinarily calculates its net asset
value as described from time to time in the Fund's prospectus shall constitute
receipt and acceptance by the Designated Portfolio on that same Business Day,
provided that the Fund receives notice of such request by 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time
on the next following Business Day.
(b) The Company shall pay for shares of each Designated
Portfolio on the same Business Day that it notifies the Fund of a purchase
request for such shares. Payment for Designated Portfolio shares shall be made
in federal funds transmitted to the Fund or other designated person by wire to
be received by 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the Business Day the Fund is notified
of the purchase request for Designated Portfolio shares (unless the Fund
determines and so advises the Company that sufficient proceeds are available
from redemption of shares of other Designated Portfolios effected pursuant to
redemption requests tendered by the Company on behalf of the Account, or unless
the Fund otherwise determines and so advises the Company to delay the date of
payment, to the extent the Fund may do so under the 1940 Act). If federal funds
are not received on time, such funds will be invested, and Designated Portfolio
shares purchased thereby will be issued, as soon as practicable and the Company
shall promptly, upon the Fund's request, reimburse the Fund for any charges,
costs, fees, interest or other expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with
any advances to, or borrowing or overdrafts by, the Fund, or any similar
expenses incurred by the Fund, as a result of portfolio transactions effected by
the Fund based upon such purchase request. Upon receipt of federal funds so
wired, such funds shall cease to be the responsibility of the Company and shall
become the responsibility of the Fund.
(c) Payment for Designated Portfolio shares redeemed by the
Account or the Company shall be made by the Fund in federal funds transmitted by
wire to the Company or any other designated person by 3 p.m. Eastern Time on the
same Business Day the Fund is properly notified of the redemption order of such
shares (unless redemption proceeds are to be applied to the purchase of shares
of other Designated Portfolios in accordance with Section 1.3(b) of this
Agreement), except that the Fund reserves the right to delay payment of
redemption proceeds to the extent permitted under Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act
and any rules thereunder, and in accordance with the procedures and policies of
the Fund as described in the then-current prospectus.
(d) Any purchase or redemption request for Designated Portfolio
shares held or to be held in the Company's general account shall be effected at
the net asset value per share next determined after the Fund's receipt and
acceptance of such request, provided that, in the case of a purchase request,
payment for Fund shares so requested is received by the Fund in federal funds
prior to close of business for determination of such value, as defined from time
to time in the Fund's prospectus.
1.4. The Fund shall use its best efforts to make the net asset value
per share for each Designated Portfolio available to the Company by 6:30 p.m.
Eastern Time each Business Day, and in any event, as soon as reasonably
practicable after the net asset value per share for such Designated Portfolio is
calculated, and shall calculate such net asset value in accordance with the
Fund's prospectus. If the Trust provides the Company with materially incorrect
share net asset value information, the Company on behalf of the Account, shall
be entitled to an adjustment to the number of shares purchased or redeemed to
reflect the correct share net asset value. Any material error in the calculation
of the net asset value per share, dividend or capital gain information shall be
reported promptly to the Company upon discovery. In the event that any such
material error (as defined by then current SEC rules and/or guidelines) is the
result of the gross negligence of the Fund, or its designated agent for
calculating the net asset value, any reasonable processing costs incurred for
correcting underlying Contract owner accounts shall be at the Adviser's expense;
however, in no case shall such reimbursements exceed $3,000 per occurrence.
1.5. The Fund shall use its best efforts to furnish notice (by wire
or telephone followed by written confirmation) to the Company of any income
dividends or capital gain distributions payable on any Designated Portfolio
shares by the record date, but in no event later than 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time on
the ex-dividend date. The Company, on its behalf and on behalf of the Account,
hereby elects to receive all such dividends and distributions as are payable on
any Designated Portfolio shares in the form of additional shares of that
Designated Portfolio. The Company reserves the right, on its behalf and on
behalf of the Account, to revoke this election and to receive all such dividends
and capital gain distributions in cash. The Fund shall notify the Company
promptly of the number of Designated Portfolio shares so issued as payment of
such dividends and distributions.
1.6. Issuance and transfer of Fund shares shall be by book entry
only. Share certificates will not be issued to the Company or the Account.
Purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares shall be recorded in an
appropriate ledger for the Account or the appropriate subaccount of the Account.
1.7. (a) The parties hereto acknowledge that the arrangement
contemplated by this Agreement is not exclusive; the Fund's shares may be sold
to other insurance companies and the cash value of the Contracts may be invested
in other investment companies.
(b) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the Adviser
(unless otherwise required by applicable law), take any action to operate the
Account as a management investment company under the 1940 Act.
(c) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the Adviser
(unless otherwise required by applicable law), induce Contract owners to change
or modify the Fund or change the Fund's investment adviser.
(d) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the Fund,
induce Contract owners to vote on any matter submitted for consideration by the
shareholders of the Fund in a manner other than as recommended by the Board.
1.8 The parties may agree, in lieu of the procedures set forth
above in this Article 1, to place and settle trades for Fund shares through a
clearing corporation. In the event that such a clearing corporation is used, the
parties agree to abide by the rules of the clearing corporation.
ARTICLE II. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
2.1. The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts (a) are,
or prior to issuance will be, registered under the 1933 Act, or (b) are not
registered because they are properly exempt from registration under the 1933 Act
or will be offered exclusively in transactions that are properly exempt from
registration under the 1933 Act. The Company further represents and warrants
that the Contracts will be issued and sold in compliance in all material
respects with all applicable federal securities and state securities and
insurance laws. The Company further represents and warrants that it is an
insurance company duly organized and in good standing under applicable law, that
it has legally and validly established the Account as a segregated asset account
under Kansas insurance laws, and that it (a) has registered or, prior to any
issuance or sale of the Contracts, will register the Account as a unit
investment trust in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act to serve as a
segregated investment account for the Contracts, or alternatively (b) has not
registered the Account in proper reliance upon an exclusion from registration
under the 0000 Xxx.
2.2. The Fund represents and warrants that Designated Portfolio
shares sold pursuant to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act,
shall be duly authorized for issuance and sold in compliance with applicable
state and federal securities laws and that the Fund is and shall remain
registered under the 0000 Xxx. The Fund shall amend the registration statement
for its shares under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act from time to time as required
in order to effect the continuous offering of its shares. The Fund shall
register and qualify the shares for sale in accordance with the laws of the
various states only if and to the extent deemed advisable by the Fund.
2.3. The Fund represents that it is lawfully organized and validly
existing under the laws of the State of Maryland and that it does and will
comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act.
2.4. The Adviser represents and warrants that it is registered as an
investment adviser with the SEC.
2.5. The Fund and the Adviser represent and warrant that all of
their trustees/directors, officers, employees, and other individuals or entities
dealing with the money and/or securities of the Fund are and shall continue to
be at all times covered by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage for the
benefit of the Fund in an amount not less than the minimum 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 shall include coverage for
larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable bonding company.
2.6. The Company represents and warrants that all of its directors,
officers, employees, and other individuals/entities employed or controlled by
the Company dealing with the money and/or securities of the Account are covered
by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage for the benefit of the Account,
in an amount not less than $5 million. The aforesaid bond includes coverage for
larceny and embezzlement and is issued by a reputable bonding company.
ARTICLE III. PROSPECTUSES AND PROXY STATEMENTS; VOTING
3.1. The Fund shall provide the Company with as many printed copies
of the current prospectus, supplements, proxy statements, and annual or
semi-annual reports of each Designated Portfolio (for distribution to Contract
owners with value allocated to such Designated Portfolios) as the Company may
reasonably request to deliver to existing Contract owners. If requested by the
Company in lieu thereof, the Fund shall provide such documents (including a
"camera-ready" copy of such documents as set in type, a diskette in the form
sent to the financial printer, or an electronic copy of the documents in a
format suitable for posting on the Company's website, all as the Company may
reasonably request) and such other assistance as is reasonably necessary in
order for the Company to have prospectuses, supplements and annual or
semi-annual reports for the Contracts and the Fund printed together in a single
document or posted on the Company's web-site or printed individually by the
Company if it so chooses. The expenses associated with printing and providing
such documentation shall be as set forth in Article V.
3.2. The Fund's prospectus shall state that the current Statement of
Additional Information ("SAI") for the Fund is available. The Fund shall provide
the Company with as many printed copies of the current SAI, and any supplements
thereto, as the Company may reasonably request.
3.3. The Fund shall provide the Company with information regarding
the Fund's expenses, which information may include a table of fees and related
narrative disclosure for use in any prospectus or other descriptive document
relating to a Contract. The Company agrees that it will use such information
substantially in the form provided. The Company shall provide prior written
notice of any proposed modification of such information, which notice will
describe the manner in which the Company proposes to modify the information, and
agrees that it may not modify such information in any way without the prior
consent of the Fund, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
3.4. The Fund will pay or cause to be paid the expenses associated
with text composition, printing, mailing, distributing, and tabulation of proxy
statements and voting instruction solicitation materials to Contract owners with
respect to proxies related to the Fund, consistent with applicable provisions of
the 1940 Act.
3.5. When the Fund submits proposals to shareholders, the Company
shall, so long as, and to the extent the SEC continues to interpret the 1940 Act
to require pass-through voting privileges for variable contract owners, follow
one of the two procedures outlined below:
(a) If the Company chooses to solicit Contract owners itself,
or hire its own proxy service, it shall:
(i) solicit voting instructions from owners of or
participants in the Contract;
(ii) vote the Fund shares in accordance with instructions
received from owners of or participants in the Contract; and
(iii) vote Fund shares for which no instructions have been
received in the same proportion as Fund shares of such Fund for
which instructions have been received.
(b) If the Company chooses to work with the Fund's proxy
service, the Company shall provide a list of Contract owners with value
allocated to a Designated Portfolio as of the record date to the Fund or its
agent in order to facilitate the Fund's solicitation of voting instructions from
Contract owners. The Company shall also provide such other information to the
Fund as is reasonably necessary in order for the Fund to properly tabulate votes
for Fund initiated proxies.
The Company reserves the right to vote Fund shares held in any segregated asset
account in its own right, as well as any shares held in its general account, in
each case, to the extent permitted by law. In the event that the Company chooses
to follow the procedures set forth in (a) above, it agrees to follow the Proxy
Voting Procedures set forth in Schedule B to this Agreement.
ARTICLE IV. SALES MATERIAL AND INFORMATION
4.1. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to
the Fund or its designee, each piece of sales literature or other promotional
material that the Company develops and in which the Fund (or a Designated
Portfolio thereof) or the Adviser is named. No such material shall be used until
approved by the Fund or its designee, and the Fund will use its best efforts for
it or its designee to review such sales literature or promotional material
within five (5) Business Days after receipt of such material. The Fund or its
designee reserves the right to reasonably object to the continued use of any
such sales literature or other promotional material in which the Fund (or a
Designated Portfolio thereof) or the Adviser is named, and no such material
shall be used if the Fund or its designee so objects.
4.2. The Company shall not give any information or make any
representations or statements on behalf of the Fund or concerning the Fund or
the Adviser in connection with the sale of the Contracts other than the
information or representations contained in the registration statement or
prospectus or SAI for the Fund shares, as such registration statement and
prospectus or SAI may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in
reports or proxy statements for the Fund, or in sales literature or other
promotional material approved by the Fund or its designee, except with the
permission of the Fund or its designee.
4.3. The Fund and the Adviser, or their designee, shall furnish, or
cause to be furnished, to the Company, each piece of sales literature or other
promotional material that it develops and in which the Company, and/or the
Account, is named. No such material shall be used until approved by the Company,
and the Company will use its best efforts to review such sales literature or
promotional material within five (5) Business Days after receipt of such
material. The Company reserves the right to reasonably object to the continued
use of any such sales literature or other promotional material in which the
Company and/or its Account is named, and no such material shall be used if the
Company so objects.
4.4. The Fund shall not give any information or make any
representations on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company, the Account,
or the Contracts other than the information or representations contained in a
registration statement, prospectus (which shall include an offering memorandum,
if any, if the Contracts issued by the Company or interests therein are not
registered under the 1933 Act), or SAI for the Contracts, as such registration
statement, prospectus, or SAI may be amended or supplemented from time to time,
or in published reports for the Account which are in the public domain or
approved by the Company for distribution to Contract owners, or in sales
literature or other promotional material approved by the Company, except with
the permission of the Company.
4.5. The Fund will provide to the Company at least one complete copy
of all registration statements, prospectuses, SAIs, 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 Designated Portfolios or their shares, promptly after the filing
of such document(s) with the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
4.6. The Company will provide to the Fund at least one complete copy
of all registration statements, prospectuses (which shall include an offering
memorandum, if any, if the Contracts issued by the Company or interests therein
are not registered under the 1933 Act), SAIs, reports, solicitations for voting
instructions, 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 Contracts or the Account, promptly after the filing of
such document(s) with the SEC or other regulatory authorities. The Company shall
provide to the Fund and the Adviser any complaints received from the Contract
owners pertaining to the Fund or a Designated Portfolio.
4.7. The Fund will provide the Company with as much notice as is
reasonably practicable of any proxy solicitation for any Designated Portfolio,
and of any material change in the Fund's registration statement, particularly
any change resulting in a change to the registration statement or prospectus for
any Account. The Fund will work with the Company so as to enable the Company to
solicit proxies from Contract owners, or to make changes to its prospectus or
registration statement, in an orderly manner. The Fund will make reasonable
efforts to attempt to have changes affecting Contract prospectuses become
effective simultaneously with the annual updates for such prospectuses.
4.8. Each party to this Agreement agrees to implement procedures
reasonably designed to ensure that information concerning any other party that
is intended for use only by brokers or agents selling the Contracts is properly
marked as "Not for use with the Public" and is used as such.
ARTICLE V. FEES AND EXPENSES
5.1. The Fund shall pay no fee or other compensation to the Company
under this Agreement, except that: (1) if the Fund or any Designated Portfolio
adopts and implements a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 to finance distribution
expenses, then the Fund may make payments to the Company or to the underwriter
for the Contracts if and in amounts agreed to by the Fund in writing and (2) the
Fund may pay fees to the Company for administrative services that are not
primarily intended to result in the sale of shares of the Designated Portfolio
or of underlying Contracts.
5.2. All expenses incident to performance by the Fund under this
Agreement shall be paid by the Fund. The Fund shall see to it that all its
shares are registered and authorized for issuance in accordance with applicable
federal law and, if and to the extent deemed advisable by the Fund, in
accordance with applicable state laws prior to their sale. The Fund shall bear
the expenses for the cost of registration and qualification of the Fund's
shares, preparation and filing of the Fund's prospectus and registration
statement, proxy materials and reports, setting the prospectus in type, setting
in type and printing the proxy materials and reports to shareholders (including
the costs of printing a prospectus that constitutes an annual report), the
preparation of all statements and notices required by any federal or state law,
and all taxes on the issuance or transfer of the Fund's shares. The Fund shall
bear the expenses of distributing the Fund's proxy materials and reports to
existing Contract owners. The Fund shall also bear the expense of printing the
Fund's prospectus which is delivered to existing Contract owners.
5.3. The Company shall bear the expense of distributing all
prospectuses and reports to shareholders (whether for existing Contract owners
or prospective Contract owners). The Company shall bear the expense of printing
copies of the prospectus for the Contracts for use with prospective Contract
owners. The Company shall bear the expenses incident to (including the costs of
printing) sales literature and other promotional material that the Company
develops and in which the Fund (or a Designated Portfolio thereof) is named.
ARTICLE VI. QUALIFICATION
The Fund represents and warrants that it is or will be qualified as
a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Internal Revenue Code,") and that it will maintain
such qualification (under Subchapter M or any successor or similar provisions)
and that it will notify the Company immediately upon having a reasonable basis
for believing that it has ceased to so qualify or that it might not so qualify
in the future.
ARTICLE VII. INDEMNIFICATION
7.1. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of
the Fund and the Adviser and each of its trustees/directors and officers, and
each person, if any, who controls the Fund or Adviser within the meaning of
Section 15 of the 1933 Act or who is under common control with the Fund or the
Adviser (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section
7.1) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts
paid in settlement with the written consent of the Company) or litigation
(including legal and other expenses), to which the Indemnified Parties may
become subject under any statute or regulation, at common law or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in
respect thereof) or settlements:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statements of any material fact contained in the
registration statement, prospectus (which shall include a written
description of a Contract that is not registered under the 1933
Act), or SAI for the Contracts or contained in the Contracts or
sales literature for the Contracts (or any amendment or supplement
to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, provided that this agreement to indemnify
shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement or
omission or such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance
upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company by
or on behalf of the Fund or the Adviser for use in the registration
statement, prospectus or SAI for the Contracts or in the Contracts
or sales literature (or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise
for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts, or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations by or on behalf of the Company (other than
statements or representations contained in the registration
statement, prospectus, SAI, or sales literature of the Fund not
supplied by the Company or persons under its control) or wrongful
conduct of the Company or its agents or persons under the Company's
authorization or control, with respect to the sale or distribution
of the Contracts, or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a registration statement,
prospectus, SAI, or sales literature of the Fund or any amendment
thereof or supplement thereto or the omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading if such a
statement or omission was made in reliance upon information
furnished to the Fund by or on behalf of the Company; or
(iv) arise as a result of any material failure by the
Company to provide the services and furnish the materials under the
terms of this Agreement; or
(v) 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;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 7.1(b)and 7.1(c)
hereof.
(b) The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation
to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of such
Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the
performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified
Party's reckless disregard of its obligations or duties under this Agreement.
(c) The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless
such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Company in writing within a
reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of
such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Company of any
such claim shall not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to
the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on
account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought
against an Indemnified Party, the Company shall be entitled to participate, at
its own expense, in the defense of such action. The Company also shall be
entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to
the party named in the action. After notice from the Company to such party of
the Company's election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party
shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and
the Company will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal
or other expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in
connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of
investigation.
(d) The Indemnified Parties will promptly notify the Company of
the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against them in connection
with the issuance or sale of the Fund shares or the Contracts or the operation
of the Fund.
7.2. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE ADVISER
(a) The Adviser 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
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 7.2)
against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid
in settlement with the written consent of the Adviser) or litigation (including
legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject
under any statute or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof)
or settlements:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the
registration statement or prospectus or SAI or sales literature of
the Fund (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing),
or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
provided that this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any
Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged
statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity
with information furnished to the Adviser or Fund by or on behalf of
the Company for use in the registration statement, prospectus or SAI
for the Fund or in sales literature (or any amendment or supplement)
or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or
Fund shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations by or on behalf of the Fund or the Adviser (other
than statements or representations contained in the registration
statement, prospectus, SAI or sales literature for the Contracts not
supplied by the Fund or the Adviser) or wrongful conduct of the
Adviser or the Fund with respect to the sale or distribution of the
Contracts or Fund shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a registration statement,
prospectus, SAI or sales literature covering the Contracts, or any
amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statement or statements therein not
misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon
information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Adviser
or the Fund; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund or the
Adviser to provide the services and furnish the materials under the
terms of this Agreement (including a failure of the Fund, whether
unintentional or in good faith or otherwise, to comply with the
diversification and other qualification requirements specified in
Article VI of this Agreement); or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by or on behalf of the Adviser
or the Fund in this Agreement or arise out of or result from any
other material breach of this Agreement by or on behalf of the
Adviser or the Fund;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 7.2(b)and 7.2(c)
hereof.
(b) The Adviser shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation
to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of such
Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the
performance or such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified
Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement or to
the Company or the Account, whichever is applicable.
(c) The Adviser shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless
such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Adviser in writing within a
reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of
such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Adviser of any
such claim shall not relieve the Adviser from any liability which it may have to
the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on
account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought
against the Indemnified Party, the Adviser will be entitled to participate, at
its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Adviser also shall be entitled to
assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the party
named in the action. After notice from the Adviser to such party of the
Adviser's election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall
bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the
Adviser will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or
other expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection
with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
(d) The Company agrees promptly to notify the Adviser of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers
or directors in connection with the issuance or sale of the Contracts or the
operation of the Account.
7.3. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE FUND
(a) The Fund 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 (collectively, the
"Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 7.3) against any and all
losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in
settlement with the written consent of the Fund) or litigation (including legal
and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may be required to pay or
may become subject under any statute or regulation, at common law or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities or expenses (or
actions in respect thereof) or settlements, are related to the operations of the
Fund and:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the
registration statement or prospectus or SAI or sales literature of
the Fund (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing),
or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
provided that this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any
Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged
statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity
with information furnished to the Adviser or Fund by or on behalf of
the Company for use in the registration statement, prospectus or SAI
for the Fund or in sales literature (or any amendment or supplement)
or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or
Fund shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations by or on behalf of the Fund or the Adviser (other
than statements or representations contained in the registration
statement, prospectus, SAI or sales literature for the Contracts not
supplied by the Fund or the Adviser) or wrongful conduct of the
Adviser or the Fund with respect to the sale or distribution of the
Contracts or Fund shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a registration statement,
prospectus, SAI or sales literature covering the Contracts, or any
amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statement or statements therein not
misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon
information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Adviser
or the Fund; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund to
provide the services and furnish the materials under the terms of
this Agreement (including a failure, whether unintentional or in
good faith or otherwise, to comply with the diversification and
other qualification requirements specified in Article VI of this
Agreement); or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by or on behalf of the Fund in
this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material
breach of this Agreement by or on behalf of the Fund;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 7.3(b) and
7.3(c) hereof. The parties acknowledge that the Fund's indemnification
obligations under this Section 7.3 are subject to applicable law. The Company
agrees that, in the event an obligation to indemnify exists pursuant to Section
7.3 as well as Section 7.2 hereof, it will seek satisfaction under the
indemnification provisions of Section 7.2 before seeking indemnification under
this Section 7.3.
(b) The Fund shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation
to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of such
Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or 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 or to
the Company or the Account, whichever is applicable.
(c) The Fund shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless
such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Fund in writing within a
reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of
such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Fund of any
such claim shall not relieve the Fund from any liability which it may have to
the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on
account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought
against the Indemnified Parties, the Fund will be entitled to participate, at
its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Fund also shall be entitled to
assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the party
named in the action. After notice from the Fund to such party of the Fund's
election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the
fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Fund will
not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection with the defense
thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
(d) The Company agrees promptly to notify the Fund of the
commencement of any litigation or proceeding against it or any of its respective
officers or directors in connection with the Agreement, the issuance or sale of
the Contracts, the operation of the Account, or the sale or acquisition of
shares of the Fund.
ARTICLE VIII. APPLICABLE LAW
8.1. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware,
without regard to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.
8.2. This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the 1933
and 1940 Acts as well as the Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules and regulations
and rulings thereunder, including such exemptions from those statutes, rules and
regulations as the SEC may grant, and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and
construed in accordance therewith.
ARTICLE IX. TERMINATION
9.1. This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until
the first to occur of:
(a) termination by any party, for any reason with respect to
some or all Designated Portfolios, by six (6) months advance written notice
delivered to the other parties; or
(b) termination by the Company by written notice to the other
parties based upon the Company's determination that shares of the Fund are not
reasonably available to meet the requirements of the Contracts; or
(c) termination by the Company by written notice to the other
parties in the event any of the Designated Portfolio's shares are not
registered, issued or sold in accordance with applicable state and/or federal
law or such law precludes the use of such shares as the underlying investment
media of the Contracts issued or to be issued by the Company; or
(d) termination by the Fund or Adviser in the event that formal
administrative proceedings are instituted against the Company by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD"), the SEC, the Insurance
Commissioner or like official of any state or any other regulatory body
regarding the Company's duties under this Agreement or related to the sale of
the Contracts, the operation of any Account, or the purchase of the Designated
Portfolios' shares; provided, however, that the Fund or Adviser determines in
its sole judgment exercised in good faith, that any such administrative
proceedings will have a material adverse effect upon the ability of the Company
to perform its obligations under this Agreement; or
(e) termination by the Company in the event that formal
administrative proceedings are instituted against the Fund or Adviser by the SEC
or any state securities department or any other regulatory body; provided,
however, that the Company determines in its sole judgment exercised in good
faith, that any such administrative proceedings will have a material adverse
effect upon the ability of the Fund or Adviser to perform its obligations under
this Agreement; or
(f) termination by the Company by written notice to the other
parties in the event that any Designated Portfolio ceases to qualify as a
regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, or if the Company reasonably believes that any such Portfolio may fail to
so qualify or comply; or
(g) termination by either the Fund or the Adviser by 60 days
prior written notice to the other parties, if either one or both the Fund and
the Adviser, 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
(h) termination by the Company by 60 days prior written notice
to the other parties, if the Company shall determine, in its sole judgment
exercised in good faith, that the Fund or the Adviser 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
(i) termination by the Company upon any substitution of the
shares of another investment company or series thereof for shares of a
Designated Portfolio of the Fund in accordance with the terms of the Contracts,
provided that the Company has given at least 60 days prior written notice to the
Fund and Adviser of the date of substitution; or
(j) termination by the Fund in the event any of the Contracts
are not issued or sold in accordance, in all material respects, with applicable
federal or state law, such termination to be effective immediately upon such
occurrence; or
(k) termination by any party to this Agreement, upon written
notice to the other parties, upon another party's material breach of any
provision of this Agreement.
9.2. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Fund and
the Adviser shall, at the option of the Company, continue to make available
additional shares of the Fund pursuant to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, for all Contracts in effect on the effective date of termination of
this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as "Existing Contracts"), unless the
Company seeks an order pursuant to Section 26(b) of the 1940 Act to permit the
substitution of other securities for the shares of the Designated Portfolios.
Specifically, the owners of the Existing Contracts may be permitted to
reallocate investments in the Fund, redeem investments in the Fund and/or invest
in the Fund upon the making of additional purchase payments under the Existing
Contracts (subject to any such election by the Company).
9.3. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, each party's
obligation under Article VII to indemnify the other parties shall survive.
ARTICLE X. NOTICES
Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or
certified mail to the other party at the address of such party set forth below
or at such other address as such party may from time to time specify in writing
to the other party.
If to the Company: Security Benefit Life Insurance Company
Attention General Counsel
000 XX Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx 00000 - 0001
If to the Fund: Applicable Registered Investment Company
0000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn.: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Senior Vice President
If to the Adviser: INVESCO Funds Group, Inc.
0000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn.: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Senior Vice President
ARTICLE XI. MISCELLANEOUS
11.1. All persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the
property of the respective Designated Portfolios listed on Schedule A hereto as
though each such Designated Portfolio had separately contracted with the Company
and the Adviser for the enforcement of any claims against the Fund. The parties
agree that neither the Board, officers, agents or shareholders of the Fund
assume any personal liability or responsibility for obligations entered into by
or on behalf of the Fund.
11.2. Subject to the requirements of legal process and regulatory
authority, the Fund and the Adviser shall treat as confidential the names and
addresses of the owners of the Contracts. Each party shall treat as confidential
all information reasonably identified as confidential in writing by any other
party hereto and, except as permitted by this Agreement, shall not disclose,
disseminate or utilize such information without the express written consent of
the affected party until such time as such information has come into the public
domain.
11.3. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of
reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or
otherwise affect their construction or effect.
11.4. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
11.5. 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.
11.6. Each party hereto shall cooperate with each other party and
all appropriate governmental authorities (including without limitation the SEC,
the NASD, and state insurance regulators) and shall permit such authorities
reasonable access to its books and records in connection with any investigation
or inquiry relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
11.7. 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.
11.8 This Agreement or any of the rights and obligations hereunder
may not be assigned by any party without the prior written
consent of all parties hereto.
{The rest of this page intentionally left blank.}
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.
Security Benefit Life
Insurance Company By its authorized officer
XXXXXX XXXX
-----------------------
By: Xxxxxx Xxxx
Title: Senior Vice President
INVESCO Sector Funds, Inc. By its authorized officer
XXXXXX X. XXXXXX
-----------------------
By: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Senior Vice President
INVESCO Stock Funds, Inc. By its authorized officer
XXXXXX X. XXXXXX
-----------------------
By: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Senior Vice President
INVESCO Funds Group, Inc. By its authorized officer
XXXXXX X. XXXXXX
-----------------------
By: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Title: Senior Vice President
July 1, 2001
SCHEDULE A
ACCOUNT(S) CONTRACT(S) DESIGNATED PORTFOLIO(S)
SBL VARIABLE ANNUITY
ACCOUNT XIV V6029 INVESCO DYNAMICS FUND - CLASS K
INVESCO TECHNOLOGY FUND - CLASS K
SCHEDULE B
PROXY VOTING PROCEDURES
The following is a list of procedures and corresponding
responsibilities for the handling of proxies and voting instructions relating to
the Fund. The defined terms herein shall have the meanings assigned in the
Participation Agreement except that the term "Company" shall also include the
department or third party, if any, assigned by the Company to perform the steps
delineated below.
1. The proxy proposals are given to the Company by the Fund as early as
possible before the date set by the Fund for the shareholder meeting to
enable the Company to consider and prepare for the solicitation of voting
instructions from owners of the Contracts and to facilitate the
establishment of tabulation procedures. At this time the Fund will inform
the Company of the Record, Mailing and Meeting dates. This will be done
verbally approximately two months before the shareholder meeting.
2. Promptly after the Record Date, the Company will perform a "tape run", or
other activity, which will generate the names, addresses and number of
units which are attributed to each contract owner/policyholder (the
"Customer") as of the Record Date. Allowance should be made for account
adjustments made after this date that could affect the status of the
Customers' accounts as of the Record Date.
NOTE: The number of proxy statements is determined by the activities
described in this Step #2. The Company will use its best efforts to call in
the number of Customers to the Fund , as soon as possible, but no later
than two weeks after the Record Date.
3. To the extent required by law, the Fund's Annual Report must be sent to
each Customer by the Company either before or together with the Customers'
receipt of voting, instruction solicitation material. The Fund will provide
the last Annual Report to the Company pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement to which this Schedule relates.
4. The text and format for the Voting Instruction Cards ("Cards" or "Card") is
provided to the Company by the Fund. The Company, shall produce and
personalize the Voting Instruction Cards. The Fund or its affiliate must
approve the Card before it is printed. Allow approximately 2-4 business
days for printing information on the Cards. Information commonly found on
the Cards includes:
* name (legal name as found on account registration)
* address
* Fund or account number
* coding to state number of units
* individual Card number for use in tracking and verification of votes
(already on Cards as printed by the Fund).
(This and related steps may occur later in the chronological process due to
possible uncertainties relating to the proposals.)
5. During this time, the Fund will develop, produce and pay for the Notice of
Proxy and the Proxy Statement (one document). Printed and folded notices
and statements will be sent to Company for insertion into envelopes.
Contents of envelope sent to Customers by the Company will include:
* Voting Instruction Card(s)
* one proxy notice and statement (one document)
* return envelope (postage pre-paid by Company) addressed to the Company or
its tabulation agent
* "urge buckslip" - optional, but recommended. (This is a small, single sheet
of paper that requests Customers to vote as quickly as possible and that
their vote is important. One copy will be supplied by the Fund.)
* cover letter - optional, supplied by Company and reviewed and approved in
advance by the Fund
6. The above contents should be received by the Company approximately 3-5
business days before mail date. Individual in charge at Company reviews and
approves the contents of the mailing package to ensure correctness and
completeness. Copy of this approval sent to the Fund.
7. Package mailed by the Company.
* The Fund must allow at least a 15-day solicitation time to the Company as
the shareowner. (A 5-week period is recommended.) Solicitation time is
calculated as calendar days from (but NOT including,) the meeting, counting
backwards.
8. Collection and tabulation of Cards begins. Tabulation usually takes place
in another department or another vendor depending on process used. An often
used procedure is to sort Cards on arrival by proposal into vote categories
of all yes, no, or mixed replies, and to begin data entry.
NOTE: Postmarks are not generally needed. A need for postmark information
would be due to an insurance company's internal procedure and has not been
required by the Fund in the past.
9. Signatures on Card checked against legal name on account registration which
was printed on the Card.
NOTE: For Example, if the account registration is under "Xxxx X. Xxxxx,
Trustee," then that is the exact legal name to be printed on the Card and
is the signature needed on the Card
10. Customer with an explanatory letter and a new Card and return envelope. The
mutilated or illegible Card is disregarded and considered to be NOT
RECEIVED for purposes of vote tabulation. Any Cards that have been "kicked
out" (e.g. mutilated, illegible) of the procedure are "hand verified,"
i.e., examined as to why they did not complete the system. Any questions on
those Cards are usually remedied individually.
11. There are various control procedures used to ensure proper tabulation of
votes and accuracy of that tabulation. The most prevalent is to sort the
Cards as they first arrive into categories depending upon their vote; an
estimate of how the vote is progressing may then be calculated. If the
initial estimates and the actual vote do not coincide, then an internal
audit of that vote should occur. This may entail a recount.
12. The actual tabulation of votes is done in units which is then converted to
shares. (It is very important that the Fund receives the tabulations stated
in terms of a percentage and the number of SHARES.) The Fund must review
and approve tabulation format.
13. Final tabulation in shares is verbally given by the Company to the Fund on
the morning of the meeting not later than 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. The Fund
may request an earlier deadline if reasonable and if required to calculate
the vote in time for the meeting.
14. A Certification of Mailing and Authorization to Vote Shares will be
required from the Company as well as an original copy of the final vote.
The Fund will provide a standard form for each Certification.
15. The Company will be required to box and archive the Cards received from the
Customers. In the event that any vote is challenged or if otherwise
necessary for legal, regulatory, or accounting purposes, the Fund will be
permitted reasonable access to such Cards.
16. All approvals and "signing-off' may be done orally, but must always be
followed up in writing.
