EXHIBIT 99.B8
FORM OF FUND PARTICIPATION AGREEMENTS
FUND PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT made as of the ___ day of ________, __________, by and
between TOMORROW FUNDS RETIREMENT TRUST ("TRUST"), a Delaware business trust,
XXXXX, XXXX & XXXXX, L.L.C. ("WPG") a Delaware Limited Liability Company, and
______________ ("LIFE COMPANY"), a life insurance company organized under the
laws of the State of __________.
WHEREAS, TRUST is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC") under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "'40 Act"),
as an open-end, diversified management investment company; and
WHEREAS, TRUST is organized as a series fund comprised of several Funds
("Funds"), those currently available are listed on Appendix A hereto; and
WHEREAS, TRUST was organized to act as the funding vehicle for certain
variable life insurance and/or variable annuity contracts ("Variable
Contracts") offered by life insurance companies through separate accounts
("Separate Accounts") of such life insurance companies ("Participating
Insurance Companies") and also offers its shares to certain qualified pension
and retirement plans ("Qualified Plans"); and
WHEREAS, TRUST has applied for an order from the SEC, granting
Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts exemptions from
the provisions of Sections 9(a), 13(a), 15(a) and 15(b) of the '40 Act, and
Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15) thereunder, to the extent necessary to
permit shares of the Funds of the TRUST to be sold to and held by variable
annuity and variable life insurance separate accounts of both affiliated and
unaffiliated Participating Insurance Companies and Qualified Plans ("Exemptive
Order"); and
WHEREAS, LIFE COMPANY has established or will establish one or more
separate accounts ("Separate Accounts") to offer Variable Contracts and is
desirous of having TRUST as one of the underlying funding vehicles for such
Variable Contracts; and
WHEREAS, WPG is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser under
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and as a broker-dealer under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and acts as the TRUST's investment
adviser and principal underwriter; and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, LIFE COMPANY intends to purchase shares of TRUST to fund the
aforementioned Variable Contracts and TRUST is authorized to sell such shares
to LIFE COMPANY at net asset value;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, LIFE COMPANY,
TRUST, and WPG agree as follows:
Article I. SALE OF TRUST SHARES
1.1 TRUST agrees to make available to the Separate Accounts of LIFE
COMPANY shares of the selected Funds as listed on Appendix B for investment of
purchase payments of Variable Contracts allocated to the designated Separate
Accounts as provided in TRUST's Registration Statement.
1.2 TRUST agrees to sell to LIFE COMPANY those shares of the selected
Funds of TRUST which LIFE COMPANY orders, executing such orders on a daily
basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by TRUST or its
designee of the order for the shares of TRUST. For purposes of this Section
1.2, LIFE COMPANY shall be the designee of TRUST for receipt of such orders
from the designated Separate Account and receipt by such designee shall
constitute receipt by TRUST; provided that LIFE COMPANY receives the order by
4:00 p.m. New York time and TRUST receives notice from LIFE COMPANY by
telephone or facsimile (or by such other means as TRUST and LIFE COMPANY may
agree in writing) of such order by 9:00 a.m. New York time on the next
following Business Day. "Business Day" shall mean any day on which the New
York Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which TRUST calculates its net
asset value pursuant to the rules of the SEC.
1.3 TRUST agrees to redeem on LIFE COMPANY's request, any full or
fractional shares of TRUST held by LIFE COMPANY, executing such requests on a
daily basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by TRUST or its
designee of the request for redemption, in accordance with the provisions of
this agreement and TRUST's Registration Statement. For purposes of this
Section 1.3, LIFE COMPANY shall be the designee of TRUST for receipt of
requests for redemption from the designated Separate Account and receipt by
such designee shall constitute receipt by TRUST; provided that LIFE COMPANY
receives the request for redemption by 4:00 p.m. New York time and TRUST
receives notice from LIFE COMPANY by telephone or facsimile (or by such other
means as TRUST and LIFE COMPANY may agree in writing) of such request for
redemption by 9:00 a.m. New York time on the next following Business Day.
1.4 TRUST shall furnish, on or before the ex-dividend date, notice to
LIFE COMPANY of any income dividends or capital gain distributions payable on
the shares of any Fund of TRUST. LIFE COMPANY hereby elects to receive all
such income dividends and capital gain distributions as are payable on a
Fund's shares in additional shares of the Fund. TRUST shall notify LIFE
COMPANY or its designee of the number of shares so issued as payment of such
dividends and distributions.
1.5 TRUST shall make the net asset value per share for the selected
Fund(s) available to LIFE COMPANY on a daily basis as soon as reasonably
practicable after the net asset value per share is calculated but shall use
its best efforts to make such net asset value available by 6:30 p.m. New York
time. If TRUST provides LIFE COMPANY with materially incorrect share net
asset value information through no fault of LIFE COMPANY, LIFE COMPANY on
behalf of the Separate Accounts, shall be entitled to an adjustment to the
number of shares purchased or redeemed to reflect the correct share net asset
value. Any material error in the calculation of net asset value per share,
dividend or capital gain information shall be reported promptly upon discovery
to LIFE COMPANY.
1.6 At the end of each Business Day, LIFE COMPANY shall use the
information described in Section 1.5 to calculate Separate Account unit values
for the day. Using these unit values, LIFE COMPANY shall process each such
Business Day's Separate Account transactions based on requests and premiums
received by it by the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock
Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m. New York time) to determine the net dollar
amount of TRUST shares which shall be purchased or redeemed at that day's
closing net asset value per share. The net purchase or redemption orders so
determined shall be transmitted to TRUST by LIFE COMPANY by 9:00 a.m. New York
Time on the Business Day next following LIFE COMPANY's receipt of such
requests and premiums in accordance with the terms of Sections 1.2 and 1.3
hereof.
1.7 If LIFE COMPANY's order requests the purchase of TRUST shares, LIFE
COMPANY shall pay for such purchase by wiring federal funds to TRUST or its
designated custodial account on the day the order is transmitted by LIFE
COMPANY. If LIFE COMPANY's order requests a net redemption resulting in a
payment of redemption proceeds to LIFE COMPANY, TRUST shall use its best
efforts to wire the redemption proceeds to LIFE COMPANY by the next Business
Day, unless doing so would require TRUST to dispose of Fund securities or
otherwise incur additional costs. In any event, proceeds shall be wired to
LIFE COMPANY within three Business Days or such longer period permitted by the
'40 Act or the rules, orders or regulations thereunder and TRUST shall notify
the person designated in writing by LIFE COMPANY as the recipient for such
notice of such delay by 3:00 p.m. New York Time the same Business Day that
LIFE COMPANY transmits the redemption order to TRUST. If LIFE COMPANY's order
requests the application of redemption proceeds from the redemption of shares
to the purchase of shares of another Fund advised by WPG, TRUST shall so apply
such proceeds the same Business Day that LIFE COMPANY transmits such order to
TRUST.
1.8 TRUST agrees that all shares of the Funds of TRUST will be sold only
to Participating Insurance Companies which have agreed to participate in
TRUST to fund their Separate Accounts and/or to Qualified Plans, all in
accordance with the requirements of Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended ("Code") and Treasury Regulation 1.817-5. Shares of
the Funds of TRUST will not be sold directly to the general public.
1.9 TRUST may refuse to sell shares of any Fund to any person, or suspend
or terminate the offering of the shares of or liquidate any Fund or TRUST if
such action is required by law or by regulatory authorities having
jurisdiction or is, in the sole discretion of the Board of Trustees of the
TRUST (the "Board"), acting in good faith and in light of its duties under
federal and any applicable state laws, deemed necessary, desirable or
appropriate and in the best interests of the shareholders of such Funds.
1.10 Issuance and transfer of Fund shares will be by book entry only.
Stock certificates will not be issued to LIFE COMPANY or the Separate
Accounts. Shares ordered from Fund will be recorded in appropriate book entry
titles for the Separate Accounts.
Article II. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
2.1 LIFE COMPANY represents and warrants that it is an insurance company
duly organized and in good standing under the laws of ___________________ and
that it has legally and validly established each Separate Account as a
segregated asset account under such laws, and that ___________________, the
principal underwriter for the Contracts, is registered as a broker-dealer
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "'34 Act").
2.2 LIFE COMPANY represents and warrants that it has registered or,
prior to any issuance or sale of the Variable Contracts, will register each
Separate Account as a unit investment trust ("UIT") in accordance with the
provisions of the '40 Act and cause each Separate Account to remain so
registered to serve as a segregated asset account for the Variable Contracts,
unless an exemption from registration is available.
2.3 LIFE COMPANY represents and warrants that the Variable Contracts
will be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "'33 Act") unless an
exemption from registration is available prior to any issuance or sale of the
Variable Contracts and that the Variable Contracts will be issued and sold in
compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and state laws
and further that the sale of the Variable Contracts shall comply in all
material respects with state insurance law suitability requirements.
2.4 LIFE COMPANY represents and warrants that the Variable Contracts are
currently and at the time of issuance will be treated as life insurance,
endowment or annuity contracts under applicable provisions of the Code, that
it will maintain such treatment and that it will notify TRUST immediately upon
having a reasonable basis for believing that the Variable Contracts have
ceased to be so treated or that they might not be so treated in the future.
2.5 TRUST represents and warrants that the Fund shares offered and sold
pursuant to this Agreement will be registered under the '33 Act and sold in
accordance with all applicable federal and state laws, and TRUST shall be
registered under the '40 Act prior to and at the time of any issuance or sale
of such shares. TRUST, subject to Section 1.9 above, shall amend its
registration statement under the '33 Act and the '40 Act from time to time as
required in order to effect the continuous offering of its shares. TRUST
shall register and qualify its shares for sale in accordance with the laws of
the various states only if and to the extent deemed advisable by TRUST.
2.6 TRUST represents and warrants that each Fund will comply with the
diversification requirements set forth in Section 817(h) of the Code, and the
rules and regulations thereunder, including without limitation Treasury
Regulation 1.817-5, and will notify LIFE COMPANY immediately upon having a
reasonable basis for believing any Fund has ceased to comply or might not so
comply and will immediately take all reasonable steps to adequately diversify
the Fund to achieve compliance.
2.7 TRUST represents and warrants that each Fund invested in by the
Separate Account intends to elect to be treated as a "regulated investment
company" under Subchapter M of the Code, and to qualify for such treatment for
each taxable year and will notify LIFE COMPANY immediately upon having a
reasonable basis for believing it has ceased to so qualify or might not so
qualify in the future.
2.8 WPG represents and warrants that it is and will be a member in good
standing of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") and
is and will be registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC. WPG further
represents that it will sell and distribute Fund shares in accordance with all
applicable state and federal laws and regulations, including without
limitation the '33 Act, the '34 Act and the '40 Act. WPG represents that its
operations are and shall at all times remain in material compliance with the
laws of the State of Delaware to the extent required to perform this
Agreement.
2.9 WPG represents and warrants that it is and will remain duly
registered and licensed in all material respects under all applicable federal
and state securities laws and shall perform its obligations hereunder in
compliance in all material respects with any applicable state and federal
laws.
Article III. PROSPECTUS AND PROXY STATEMENTS
3.1 TRUST shall prepare and be responsible for filing with the SEC and
any state regulators requiring such filing all shareholder reports, notices,
proxy materials (or similar materials such as voting instruction solicitation
materials), prospectuses and statements of additional information of TRUST.
TRUST shall bear the costs of registration and qualification of shares of the
Funds, preparation and filing of the documents listed in this Section 3.1 and
all taxes and filing fees to which an issuer is subject on the issuance and
transfer of its shares.
3.2 At least annually, TRUST or its designee shall provide LIFE COMPANY,
free of charge, with as many copies of the current prospectus for the shares
of the Funds as LIFE COMPANY may reasonably request for distribution to
existing Variable Contract owners whose Variable Contracts are funded by such
shares. TRUST or its designee shall provide LIFE COMPANY, at LIFE COMPANY's
expense, with as many copies of the current prospectus for the shares as LIFE
COMPANY may reasonably request for distribution to prospective purchasers of
Variable Contracts. If requested by LIFE COMPANY in lieu thereof, TRUST or its
designee shall provide such documentation (including a "camera ready" copy of
the new prospectus as set in type or, at the request of LIFE COMPANY, as a
diskette in the form sent to the financial printer) and other assistance as is
reasonably necessary in order for the parties hereto once a year (or more
frequently if the prospectus for the shares is supplemented or amended) to
have the prospectus for the Variable Contracts and the prospectus for the
TRUST shares printed together in one document. The expenses of such printing
will be apportioned between (a) LIFE COMPANY and (b) TRUST in proportion to
the number of pages of the Variable Contract and shares' prospectus, taking
account of other relevant factors affecting the expense of printing, such as
covers, columns, graphs and charts; TRUST to bear the cost of printing the
shares' prospectus portion of such document for distribution only to owners of
existing Variable Contracts funded by the TRUST shares and LIFE COMPANY to
bear the expense of printing the portion of such documents relating to the
Separate Account; provided, however, LIFE COMPANY shall bear all printing
expenses of such combined documents where used for distribution to prospective
purchasers or to owners of existing Variable Contracts not funded by the
shares. In the event that LIFE COMPANY requests that TRUST or its designee
provide TRUST's prospectus in a "camera ready" or diskette format, TRUST shall
be responsible for providing the prospectus in the format in which it is
accustomed to formatting prospectuses and shall bear the expense of providing
the prospectus in such format (e.g. typesetting expenses), and Life Company
shall bear the expense of adjusting or changing the format to conform with any
of its prospectuses.
3.3 TRUST will provide LIFE COMPANY with at least one complete copy of
all prospectuses, statements of additional information, annual and semi-annual
reports, proxy statements, exemptive applications and all amendments or
supplements to any of the above that relate to the Funds promptly after the
filing of each such document with the SEC or other regulatory authority. LIFE
COMPANY will provide TRUST with at least one complete copy of all
prospectuses, statements of additional information, annual and semi-annual
reports, proxy statements, exemptive applications and all amendments or
supplements to any of the above that relate to a Separate Account promptly
after the filing of each such document with the SEC or other regulatory
authority.
Article IV. SALES MATERIALS
4.1 LIFE COMPANY will furnish, or will cause to be furnished, to TRUST
and WPG, each piece of sales literature or other promotional material in which
TRUST or WPG is named, at least fifteen (15) Business Days prior to its
intended use. No such material will be used if TRUST or WPG objects to its
use in writing within ten (10) Business Days after receipt of such material.
4.2 TRUST and WPG will furnish, or will cause to be furnished, to LIFE
COMPANY, each piece of sales literature or other promotional material in which
LIFE COMPANY or its Separate Accounts are named, at least fifteen (15)
Business Days prior to its intended use. No such material will be used if
LIFE COMPANY objects to its use in writing within ten (10) Business Days after
receipt of such material.
4.3 TRUST and its affiliates and agents shall not give any information or
make any representations on behalf of LIFE COMPANY or concerning LIFE COMPANY,
the Separate Accounts, or the Variable Contracts issued by LIFE COMPANY, other
than the information or representations contained in a registration statement
or prospectus for such Variable Contracts, as such registration statement and
prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in reports of
the Separate Accounts or reports prepared for distribution to owners of such
Variable Contracts, or in sales literature or other promotional material
approved by LIFE COMPANY or its designee, except with the written permission
of LIFE COMPANY.
4.4 LIFE COMPANY and its affiliates and agents shall not give any
information or make any representations on behalf of TRUST or concerning TRUST
other than the information or representations contained in a registration
statement or prospectus for TRUST, as such registration statement and
prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in sales
literature or other promotional material approved by TRUST or its designee,
except with the written permission of TRUST.
4.5 For purposes of this Agreement, the phrase "sales literature or
other promotional material" or words of similar import include, without
limitation, advertisements (such as material published, or designed for use,
in a newspaper, magazine or other periodical, radio, television, telephone or
tape recording, videotape display, signs or billboards, motion pictures or
other public media), sales literature (such as any written communication
distributed or made generally available to customers or the public, including
brochures, circulars, research reports, market letters, form letters, seminar
texts, or reprints or excerpts of any other advertisement, sales literature,
or published article), educational or training materials or other
communications distributed or made generally available to some or all agents
or employees, registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional
information, shareholder reports and proxy materials, and any other material
constituting sales literature or advertising under National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. rules, the '40 Act or the '33 Act.
Article V. POTENTIAL CONFLICTS
5.1 The parties acknowledge that TRUST has filed an application with the
SEC to request an order granting relief from various provisions of the '40 Act
and the rules thereunder to the extent necessary to permit TRUST shares to be
sold to and held by variable annuity and variable life insurance separate
accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated Participating Insurance Companies
and Qualified Plans. It is anticipated that the Exemptive Order, when and if
issued, shall require TRUST and each Participating Insurance Company to comply
with conditions and undertakings substantially as provided in this Section 5.
If the Exemptive Order imposes conditions materially different from those
provided for in this Section 5, the conditions and undertakings imposed by the
Exemptive Order shall govern this Agreement and the parties hereto agree to
amend this Agreement consistent with the Exemptive Order. The Fund will not
enter into a participation agreement with any other Participating Insurance
Company unless it imposes the same conditions and undertakings as are imposed
on LIFE COMPANY hereby.
5.2 The Board will monitor TRUST for the existence of any material
irreconcilable conflict between the interests of Variable Contract owners of
all separate accounts investing in TRUST. An irreconcilable material conflict
may arise for a variety of reasons, which may include: (a) an action by any
state insurance regulatory authority; (b) a change in applicable federal or
state insurance, tax, or securities laws or regulations, or a public ruling,
private letter ruling or any similar action by insurance, tax or securities
regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative or judicial decision in any
relevant proceeding; (d) the manner in which the investments of TRUST are
being managed; (e) a difference in voting instructions given by variable
annuity and variable life insurance Contract owners; (f) a decision by a
Participating Insurance Company to disregard the voting instructions of
Variable Contract owners and (g) if applicable, a decision by a Qualified Plan
to disregard the voting instructions of plan participants.
5.3 LIFE COMPANY will report any potential or existing conflicts to the
Board. LIFE COMPANY will be responsible for assisting the Board in carrying
out its duties in this regard by providing the Board with all information
reasonably necessary for the Board to consider any issues raised. The
responsibility includes, but is not limited to, an obligation by the LIFE
COMPANY to inform the Board whenever it has determined to disregard Variable
Contract owner voting instructions. These responsibilities of LIFE COMPANY
will be carried out with a view only to the interests of the Variable Contract
owners.
5.4 If a majority of the Board or majority of its disinterested
trustees, determines that a material irreconcilable conflict exists, affecting
LIFE COMPANY, LIFE COMPANY, at its expense and to the extent reasonably
practicable (as determined by a majority of the Board's disinterested
trustees), will take any steps necessary to remedy or eliminate the
irreconcilable material conflict, including; (a) withdrawing the assets
allocable to some or all of the Separate Accounts from TRUST or any Fund
thereof and reinvesting those assets in a different investment medium, which
may include another Fund of the TRUST, or another investment company; (b)
submitting the question as to whether such segregation should be implemented
to a vote of all affected Variable Contract owners and as appropriate,
segregating the assets of any appropriate group (i.e variable annuity or
variable life insurance Contract owners of one or more Participating Insurance
Companies) that votes in favor of such segregation, or offering to the
affected Variable Contract owners the option of making such a change; and (c)
establishing a new registered management investment company (or series
thereof) or managed separate account. If a material irreconcilable conflict
arises because of LIFE COMPANY's decision to disregard Variable Contract owner
voting instructions, and that decision represents a minority position or would
preclude a majority vote, LIFE COMPANY may be required, at the election of the
TRUST, to withdraw the Separate Account's investment in TRUST, and no charge or
penalty will be imposed as a result of such withdrawal. The responsibility to
take such remedial action shall be carried out with a view only to the
interests of the Variable Contract owners.
For the purposes of this Section 5.4, a majority of the disinterested
members of the Board shall determine whether or not any proposed action
adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict but in no event will
the TRUST or WPG (or any other investment adviser of the TRUST) be required to
establish a new funding medium for any Variable Contract. Further, LIFE
COMPANY shall not be required by this Section 5.4 to establish a new funding
medium for any Variable Contracts if any offer to do so has been declined by a
vote of a majority of Variable Contract owners materially and adversely
affected by the irreconcilable material conflict.
5.5 The Board's determination of the existence of an irreconcilable
material conflict and its implications shall be made known promptly and in
writing to LIFE COMPANY.
5.6 No less than annually, LIFE COMPANY shall submit to the Board such
reports, materials or data as the Board may reasonably request so that the
Board may fully carry out its obligations. Such reports, materials, and data
shall be submitted more frequently if deemed appropriate by the Board.
Article VI. VOTING
6.1 LIFE COMPANY will provide pass-through voting privileges to all
Variable Contract owners so long as the SEC continues to interpret the '40 Act
as requiring pass-through voting privileges for Variable Contract owners.
Accordingly, LIFE COMPANY, where applicable, will vote shares of the Fund held
in its Separate Accounts in a manner consistent with voting instructions
timely received from its Variable Contract owners. LIFE COMPANY will be
responsible for assuring that each of its Separate Accounts that participates
in TRUST calculates voting privileges in a manner consistent with other
Participating Insurance Companies. LIFE COMPANY will vote shares for which it
has not received timely voting instructions, as well as shares it owns, in the
same proportion as its votes those shares for which it has received voting
instructions.
6.2 If and to the extent Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) are amended, or if
Rule 6e-3 is adopted, to provide exemptive relief from any provision of the
'40 Act or the rules thereunder with respect to mixed and shared funding on
terms and conditions materially different from any exemptions granted in the
Exemptive Order, then TRUST, and/or the Participating Insurance Companies, as
appropriate, shall take such steps as may be necessary to comply with Rule
6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T), as amended, and Rule 6e-3, as adopted, to the extent
such Rules are applicable.
Article VII. INDEMNIFICATION
7.1 Indemnification by LIFE COMPANY. LIFE COMPANY agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless TRUST, WPG and each of their Trustees, directors,
principals, officers, employees and agents and each person, if any, who
controls TRUST or WPG within the meaning of Section 15 of the '33 Act
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Article VII)
against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts
paid in settlement with the written consent of LIFE COMPANY, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld) or litigation (including legal and other
expenses), to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any
statute, regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or
settlements are related to the sale or acquisition of TRUST's shares or the
Variable Contracts and:
(a) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements or alleged
untrue statements of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement
or prospectus for the Variable Contracts or contained in the Variable
Contracts (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise
out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, provided that this agreement to indemnify
shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or
such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity
with information furnished to LIFE COMPANY by or on behalf of TRUST for use in
the registration statement or prospectus for the Variable Contracts or in the
Variable Contracts or sales literature (or any amendment or supplement) or
otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Variable Contracts or
TRUST shares; or
(b) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other
than statements or representations contained in the registration statement,
prospectus or sales literature of TRUST not supplied by LIFE COMPANY, or
persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of LIFE COMPANY or persons
under its control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the Variable
Contracts or TRUST shares; or
(c) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in a registration statement, prospectus, or sales
literature of the TRUST or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading if
such statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission was made in
reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to TRUST by or on
behalf of LIFE COMPANY; or
(d) arise as a result of any failure by LIFE COMPANY to provide
substantially the services and furnish the materials under the terms of this
Agreement; or
(e) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by LIFE COMPANY in this Agreement or arise
out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by LIFE
COMPANY.
7.2 LIFE COMPANY shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
litigation incurred or assessed against an Indemnified Party as such may arise
from such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross
negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason
of such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations or duties under
this Agreement.
7.3 LIFE COMPANY shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless
such Indemnified Party shall have notified LIFE COMPANY in writing within a
reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice
of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify LIFE COMPANY
of any such claim shall not relieve LIFE COMPANY from any liability which it
may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought
otherwise than on account of this indemnification provision. In case any such
action is brought against an Indemnified Party, LIFE COMPANY shall be entitled
to participate at its own expense in the defense of such action. LIFE COMPANY
also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel
satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from LIFE COMPANY
to such party of LIFE COMPANY's election to assume the defense thereof, the
Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel
retained by it, and LIFE COMPANY will not be liable to such party under this
Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such party
independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable
costs of investigation.
7.4 Indemnification by WPG. WPG agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
LIFE COMPANY and each of its directors, officers, employees, and agents and
each person, if any, who controls LIFE COMPANY within the meaning of Section
15 of the '33 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for the purposes of
this Article VII) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities
(including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of WPG which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) or litigation (including legal and
other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any
statute, or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or
settlements are related to the sale or acquisition of TRUST's shares or the
Variable Contracts and:
(a) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in the registration statement
or prospectus or sales literature of 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 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 WPG or TRUST
by or on behalf of LIFE COMPANY for use in the registration statement or
prospectus for TRUST or in sales literature (or any amendment or supplement)
or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Variable contracts or
TRUST shares; or
(b) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other
than statements or representations contained in the registration statement,
prospectus or sales literature for the Variable Contracts not supplied by WPG
or persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of TRUST or WPG or persons
under their control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the Variable
Contracts or TRUST shares; or
(c) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in a registration statement, prospectus, or sales
literature covering the Variable Contracts, or any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission or such
alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished to LIFE COMPANY for inclusion therein by or on behalf of
TRUST; or
(d) arise as a result of (i) a failure by TRUST to provide substantially
the services and furnish the materials under the terms of this Agreement; or
(ii) a failure by a Fund(s) invested in by the Separate Account to comply
with the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Code; or (iii)
a failure by a Fund(s) invested in by the Separate Account to qualify as a
"regulated investment company" under Subchapter M of the Code; or
(e) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by WPG in this Agreement or arise out of
or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by WPG.
7.5 WPG 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.
7.6 WPG 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 WPG 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 WPG of any such claim shall not relieve WPG 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, WPG shall
be entitled to participate at its own expense in the defense thereof. WPG
also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel
satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from WPG to such
party of WPG election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party
shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and
WPG will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or
other expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection
with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
Article VIII. TERM; TERMINATION
8.1 This Agreement shall be effective as of the date hereof and shall
continue in force until terminated in accordance with the provisions herein.
8.2 This Agreement shall terminate in accordance with the following
provisions:
(a) At the option of LIFE COMPANY or TRUST at any time from the date
hereof upon 180 days' notice, unless a shorter time is agreed to by the
parties;
(b) At the option of LIFE COMPANY, if TRUST shares are not reasonably
available to meet the requirements of the Variable Contracts as determined by
LIFE COMPANY. Prompt notice of election to terminate shall be furnished by
LIFE COMPANY, said termination to be effective ten days after receipt of
notice unless TRUST makes available a sufficient number of shares to
reasonably meet the requirements of the Variable Contracts within said ten-day
period;
(c) At the option of LIFE COMPANY, upon the institution of formal
proceedings against TRUST by the SEC, the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., or any other regulatory body, the expected or anticipated
ruling, judgment or outcome of which would, in LIFE COMPANY's reasonable
judgment, materially impair TRUST's ability to meet and perform TRUST's
obligations and duties hereunder. Prompt notice of election to terminate
shall be furnished by LIFE COMPANY with said termination to be effective upon
receipt of notice;
(d) At the option of TRUST, upon the institution of formal proceedings
against LIFE COMPANY by the SEC, the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., or any other regulatory body, the expected or anticipated
ruling, judgment or outcome of which would, in TRUST's reasonable judgment,
materially impair LIFE COMPANY's ability to meet and perform its obligations
and duties hereunder. Prompt notice of election to terminate shall be
furnished by TRUST with said termination to be effective upon receipt of
notice;
(e) In the event TRUST's shares are not registered, issued or sold in
accordance with applicable state or federal law, or such law precludes the use
of such shares as the underlying investment medium of Variable Contracts
issued or to be issued by LIFE COMPANY. Termination shall be effective upon
such occurrence without notice;
(f) At the option of TRUST if the Variable Contracts cease to qualify as
annuity contracts or life insurance contracts, as applicable, under the Code,
or if TRUST reasonably believes that the Variable Contracts may fail to so
qualify. Termination shall be effective upon receipt of notice by LIFE
COMPANY;
(g) At the option of LIFE COMPANY, upon TRUST's breach of any material
provision of this Agreement, which breach has not been cured to the
satisfaction of LIFE COMPANY within ten days after written notice of such
breach is delivered to TRUST;
(h) At the option of TRUST, upon LIFE COMPANY's breach of any material
provision of this Agreement, which breach has not been cured to the
satisfaction of TRUST within ten days after written notice of such breach is
delivered to LIFE COMPANY;
(i) At the option of TRUST, if the Variable Contracts are not
registered, issued or sold in accordance with applicable federal and/or state
law. Termination shall be effective immediately upon such occurrence without
notice;
(j) In the event this Agreement is assigned without the prior written
consent of LIFE COMPANY, TRUST, and WPG, termination shall be effective
immediately upon such occurrence without notice.
8.3 Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement pursuant to
Section 8.2 hereof, TRUST at its option may elect to continue to make
available additional TRUST shares, as provided below, for so long as TRUST
desires pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for all
Variable Contracts in effect on the effective date of termination of this
Agreement (hereinafter referred to as "Existing Contracts"). Specifically,
without limitation, if TRUST so elects to make additional TRUST shares
available, the owners of the Existing Contracts or LIFE COMPANY, whichever
shall have legal authority to do so, shall be permitted to reallocate
investments in TRUST, redeem investments in TRUST and/or invest in TRUST upon
the payment of additional premiums under the Existing Contracts. In the event
of a termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.2 hereof, TRUST and
WPG, as promptly as is practicable under the circumstances, shall notify LIFE
COMPANY whether TRUST elects to continue to make TRUST shares available after
such termination. If TRUST shares continue to be made available after such
termination, the provisions of this Agreement shall remain in effect and
thereafter either TRUST or LIFE COMPANY may terminate the Agreement, as so
continued pursuant to this Section 8.3, upon sixty (60) days prior written
notice to the other party.
8.4 Except as necessary to implement Variable Contract owner initiated
transactions, or as required by state insurance laws or regulations, LIFE
COMPANY shall not redeem the shares attributable to the Variable Contracts (as
opposed to the shares attributable to LIFE COMPANY's assets held in the
Separate Accounts), and LIFE COMPANY shall not prevent Variable Contract
owners from allocating payments to a Fund that was otherwise available under
the Variable Contracts until thirty (30) days after the LIFE COMPANY shall
have notified TRUST of its intention to do so.
Article IX. NOTICES
Any notice hereunder shall be given by registered or certified mail
return receipt requested to the other party at the address of such party set
forth below or at such other address as such party may from time to time
specify in writing to the other party.
If to TRUST, or WPG.
Xxxxx, Xxxx & Xxxxx, L.L.C.
Xxx Xxx Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxx X. Xxxxx
If to LIFE COMPANY:
Notice shall be deemed given on the date of receipt by the addressee as
evidenced by the return receipt.
Article X. MISCELLANEOUS
10.1 The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of
reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof
or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
10.2 This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
10.3 If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by
a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of the Agreement
shall not be affected thereby.
10.4 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
It shall also be subject to the provisions of the federal securities laws and
the rules and regulations thereunder and to any orders of the SEC granting
exemptive relief therefrom and the conditions of such orders.
10.5 It is understood and expressly stipulated that neither the
shareholders of shares of any Fund nor the Trustees or officers of the TRUST
or any Fund shall be personally liable hereunder. No Fund shall be liable
for the liabilities of any other Fund. All persons dealing with the TRUST
or a Fund must look solely to the property of the TRUST or that Fund,
respectively, for enforcement of any claims against the TRUST or that Fund.
It is also understood that each of the Funds shall be deemed to be entering
into a separate Agreement with LIFE COMPANY so that it is as if each of the
Funds had signed a separate Agreement with LIFE COMPANY and that a single
document is being signed simply to facilitate the execution and administration
of the Agreement.
10.6 Each party shall cooperate with each other party and all appropriate
governmental authorities (including without limitation the SEC, the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and state insurance regulators) and
shall permit such authorities reasonable access to its books and records in
connection with any investigation or inquiry relating to this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby.
10.7 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.
10.8 No provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified in any
manner except by a written agreement properly authorized and executed by
TRUST, WPG and the LIFE COMPANY.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused their duly authorized
officers to execute this Fund Participation Agreement as of the date and year
first above written.
TOMORROW FUNDS
RETIREMENT TRUST
By:_____________________________
Name:
Title:
XXXXX, XXXX & XXXXX, L.L.C.
By:_____________________________
Name:
Title:
LIFE COMPANY
By:______________________________
Name:
Title:
APPENDIX A
Tomorrow Funds Retirement Trust and its Funds
Tomorrow Long-Term Retirement Fund
Tomorrow Medium-Term Retirement Fund
Tomorrow Short-Term Retirement Fund
Tomorrow Post-Retirement Fund
Core Large-Cap Stock Fund
Core Small-Cap Stock Fund
APPENDIX B
Separate Accounts Selected Funds
