Exhibit 99.(b)(8)(a)
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PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
AMONG
EQUITRUST VARIABLE INSURANCE SERIES FUND,
EQUITRUST INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.,
AND
COUNTRY INVESTORS LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of this 23rd day of October, 2003
by and among COUNTRY Investors Life Assurance Company (hereinafter, the
"Company"), an Illinois insurance company, 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 account hereinafter referred to as the
"Account"), and the undersigned fund, a business trust organized under the laws
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (hereinafter referred to as the "Fund") and
EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc. (hereinafter the "Underwriter"),
a Delaware corporation.
WHEREAS, the Fund engages in business as an open-end management investment
company and is or will be available to act as the investment vehicle for
separate accounts established for variable life insurance and variable annuity
contracts (the "Variable Insurance Products") to be offered by insurance
companies which have entered into participation agreements with the Fund and
Underwriter (hereinafter "Participating Insurance Companies"); and
WHEREAS, the beneficial interest in the Fund is divided into several series
of shares, each designated a "Portfolio" and representing the interest in a
particular managed portfolio of securities and other assets; and
WHEREAS, the Fund has obtained an order from the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC") granting Participating Insurance Companies and variable
annuity and variable life insurance separate accounts exemptions from the
provisions of sections 9(a), 13(a), 15(a), and 15(b) of the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended, (hereinafter the "1940 Act") and Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and
6e-3(T)(b)(15) thereunder, to the extent necessary to permit shares of the Fund
to be sold to and held by variable annuity and variable life insurance separate
accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated insurers (hereinafter the "Shared
Funding Exemptive Order"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the 1940 Act and shares of the Portfolios are registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (hereinafter the "1933 Act"); and
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WHEREAS, EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc. (hereinafter
referred to as the "Adviser") is duly registered as an investment adviser under
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and any applicable state
securities laws; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register certain variable life
insurance or variable annuity contracts supported wholly or partially by the
Account (the "Contracts") under the 1933 Act, 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, established by resolution of the Board of Directors of the
Company, on the date shown for such Account on Schedule A hereto, to set aside
and invest assets attributable to the aforesaid Contracts; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register the Account as a unit
investment trust under the 1940 Act; and
WHEREAS, the Underwriter is registered as a broker dealer with the SEC
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (hereinafter the "1934
Act"), and is a member in good standing of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (hereinafter "NASD"); and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, 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, and the Underwriter is authorized to sell such shares to
unit investment trusts such as the Account at net asset value;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Company, the
Fund and the Underwriter agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. SALE OF FUND SHARES
1.1 The Underwriter agrees to sell to the Company those shares of the
Designated Portfolios which the Account orders, executing such orders on a daily
basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by the Fund or its
designee of the order for the shares of the Designated Portfolios.
1.2 The Fund agrees to make shares of the Designated Portfolios available
for purchase at the applicable net asset value per share by the Company and the
Account on those days on which the Fund calculates its net asset value pursuant
to rules of the SEC, and the Fund shall use its best efforts to calculate such
net asset value on each day which the New York Stock Exchange is open for
trading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Trustees of the Fund
(hereinafter the "Board") may refuse to sell shares of any Designated Portfolio
to any person, or suspend or terminate the offering of shares of any Designated
Portfolio if such action is required by law or by regulatory authorities having
jurisdiction, or is, in the sole discretion of the Board
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acting in good faith and in light of their fiduciary duties under federal and
any applicable state laws, necessary in the best interests of the shareholders
of such Designated Portfolio. Notice of election to suspend or terminate shall
be furnished by the Fund to the Company as soon as reasonably practicable.
1.3 The Fund and the Underwriter agree that shares of the Fund will be
sold only to Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts. No
shares of any Designated Portfolios will be sold to the general public. The Fund
and the Underwriter will not sell Fund shares to any insurer or separate account
unless an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as Articles I,
III and VII of this Agreement is in effect to govern such sales.
1.4 The Fund agrees to redeem, on the Company's request, any full or
fractional shares of the Designated Portfolios held by the Company, executing
such requests on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed after
receipt by the Fund or its designee of the request for redemption, except that
the Fund reserves the right to suspend the right of redemption or postpone the
date of payment or satisfaction upon redemption consistent with Section 22(e) of
the 1940 Act and any sales thereunder, and in accordance with the procedures and
policies of the Fund as described in the then current prospectus.
1.5 For purposes of Sections 1.1 and 1.4, the Company shall be the
designee of the Fund for receipt of purchase and redemption orders from the
Account, and receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund;
provided that the Company receives the order by 3:00 p.m. central time and the
Fund receives notice of such order by 9:30 a.m. central time on the next
following Business Day. "Business Day" shall mean any day on which the New York
Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which the Fund calculates its net
asset value pursuant to the rules of the SEC.
1.6 The Company agrees to purchase and redeem the shares of each
Designated Portfolio offered by the then current prospectus of the Fund and in
accordance with the provisions of such prospectus.
1.7 The Company shall pay for Fund shares one Business Day after receipt
of an order to purchase Fund shares is made in accordance with the provisions of
Section 1.5 hereof. Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire by
3:00 p.m. central time. If payment in Federal Funds for any purchase is not
received or is received by the Fund after 3:00 p.m. central time on such
Business Day, 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 borrowings 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. For purposes
of Section 2.8 and 2.9 hereof, upon receipt by the Fund of the federal funds so
wired, such funds shall cease to be the responsibility of the Company and shall
become the responsibility of the Fund.
1.8 Issuance and transfer of the Fund's shares will be by book entry only.
Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or any Account. Shares
ordered from the Fund will be recorded in an appropriate title for each Account
or the appropriate subaccount of each
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Account.
1.9 The Fund shall furnish same day notice (by wire or telephone, followed
by written confirmation) to the Company of any income, dividends or capital gain
distributions payable on the Designated Portfolios' shares. The Company hereby
elects to receive all such income, dividends, and capital gain distributions as
are payable on Designated Portfolio shares in additional shares of that
Portfolio. The Company reserves the right to revoke this election and to receive
all such income dividends and capital gain distributions in cash. The Fund shall
notify the Company of the number of shares so issued as payment of such
dividends and distributions.
1.10 The Fund shall make the net asset value per share for each Designated
Portfolio available to the Company on a daily basis as soon as reasonably
practical after the net asset value per share is calculated (normally by 5:30
p.m. central time) and shall use its best efforts to make such net asset value
per share available by 6:00 p.m. central time. If the net asset value is
materially incorrect through no fault of the Company, the Company on behalf of
each Account, shall be entitled to an adjustment to the number of shares
purchased or redeemed to reflect the correct net asset value in accordance with
Fund procedures. Any material error in the net asset value shall be reported to
the Company promptly upon discovery.
1.11 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 (subject to Section 1.3 and Article VI hereof) and the cash
value of the Contracts may be invested in other investment companies.
ARTICLE II. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
2.1 The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts are or will be
registered under the 1933 Act; that the Contracts will be issued and sold in
compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and state laws,
and that the sale of the Contracts shall comply in all material respects with
state insurance suitability requirements. The Company further represents and
warrants that it is an insurer duly organized and in good standing under
applicable law and that it has legally and validly established the Account prior
to any issuance or sale thereof as a segregated asset account under the Illinois
insurance laws and 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.
2.2 The Fund represents and warrants that Fund shares sold pursuant to
this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act, duly authorized for
issuance and sold in compliance with the laws of the state of Iowa and all
applicable federal and state 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 or the
Underwriter.
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2.3 The Fund currently does not intend to make any payments to finance
distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, although it may
make such payments in the future. To the extent that it decides to finance
distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1, the Fund will undertake to have
the Board, a majority of whom are not interested persons of the Fund, formulate
and approve any plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act to finance
distribution expenses.
2.4 The Fund makes no representations as to whether any aspect of its
operations, including but not limited to, investment policies, fees and
expenses, complies with the insurance and other applicable laws of the various
states, except that the Fund represents that the Fund's investment policies,
fees and expenses are and shall at all times remain in compliance with the laws
of the state of Iowa to the extent required to perform this Agreement. The Fund
also represents that it will comply with any additional state insurance law
restrictions that apply generally to similar variable insurance funds in
jurisdictions where the Fund is already offered, as provided in writing to the
Fund by the Company, including the furnishing of information not otherwise
available to the Company which is required by state insurance law to enable the
Company to obtain the authority needed to issue the Contracts in any applicable
state.
2.5 The Fund represents that it is lawfully organized and validly existing
under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that it does and will
comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act.
2.6 The Underwriter represents and warrants that it is a member in good
standing of the NASD and is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC. The
Underwriter represents and warrants that it is duly organized and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.
2.7 The Underwriter represents that it will sell and distribute the Fund
shares in accordance with the laws of the State of Iowa and any applicable state
and federal securities laws.
2.8 The Underwriter represents and warrants that the Adviser is and shall
remain duly registered under applicable federal securities laws and that the
Adviser shall perform its obligations for the Fund in compliance in all material
respects with the laws of the State of Iowa and any applicable state and federal
securities laws.
2.9 The Fund and the Underwriter represent and warrant that all of their
directors, managers, officers, employees, investment advisers, 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. The Fund and the Underwriter agree to make all reasonable
efforts to see that this bond or another bond containing these provisions is
always in effect, and agree to notify the Company in the event that such
coverage no longer applies.
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2.10 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 Fund are covered by
a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage in an amount not less than $2.5
million. The aforesaid bond includes coverage for larceny and embezzlement and
is issued by a reputable bonding company. The Company agrees that any amounts
received under such bond in connection with claims that arise from the
arrangements described in this Agreement will be held by the Company for the
benefit of the Fund if, and when, applicable. The Company agrees to make all
reasonable efforts to see that this bond or another bond containing these
provisions is always in effect, and agrees to notify the Fund and the
Underwriter in the event that such coverage no longer applies.
ARTICLE III. PROSPECTUSES. STATEMENTS OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. AND PROXY
STATEMENTS: VOTING
3.1 The Underwriter shall provide the Company (at the Company's expense)
with as many copies of the Fund's current prospectus (describing only the
Designated Portfolios listed on Schedule A) as the Company may reasonably
request. If requested by the Company in lieu thereof, the Fund shall provide
such documentation (including a final copy of the new prospectus as set in type
or on a diskette, at the Fund's expense) and other assistance as is reasonably
necessary in order for the Company (at the Company's expense) once each year (or
more frequently if the prospectus for the Fund is amended) to have the
prospectus for the Contracts and the Fund's prospectus printed together in one
document (such printing to be at the Company's expense).
3.2 The Fund's prospectus shall state that the current Statement of
Additional Information ("SAI") for the Fund is available from the Company (or,
in the Fund's discretion, from the Fund), and the Underwriter (or the Fund), at
its expense, shall print, or otherwise reproduce, and provide a copy of such SAI
free of charge to the Company for itself and for any owner of a Contract who
requests such SAI.
3.3 The Fund, at its expense, shall provide the Company with copies of its
proxy material, reports to shareholders, and other communications to
shareholders in such quantity as the Company shall reasonably require for
distributing to Contract owners in the Fund. The Underwriter (at the Company's
expense) shall provide the Company with copies of the Fund's annual and
semi-annual reports to shareholders in such quantity as the Company shall
reasonably request for use in connection with offering the Variable Contracts
issued by the Company. If requested by the Company in lieu thereof, the
Underwriter shall provide such documentation (which may include a final copy of
the Fund's annual and semi-annual reports as set in type or on diskette) and
other assistance as is reasonably necessary in order for the Company (at the
Company's expense) to print such annual and semi-annual reports in one document
for distribution to Contract owners.
3.4. 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 or prospectus, particularly
any change resulting in a change to the registration statement or prospectus for
any Account. The Fund will work with the Company
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so as to enable the Company to solicit proxies from Contract owners, or to make
changes to the Company's registration statement or prospectus, in an orderly
manner.
3.5 The Company shall:
(i) solicit voting instructions from Contract owners;
(ii) vote the Fund shares in accordance with instructions received
from Contract owners; and
(iii) vote Fund shares for which no instructions have been received
in the same proportion as Fund shares of such Designated
Portfolio for which instructions have been received,
so long as and to the extent that the SEC continues to interpret the 1940 Act to
require passthrough voting privileges for variable contract owners or to the
extent otherwise required by law. The Company reserves the right to vote Fund
shares held in any segregated asset account in its own right, to the extent
permitted by law.
3.6 Participating Insurance Companies shall be responsible for assuring
that each of their separate accounts participating in a Designated Portfolio
calculates voting privileges as required by the Shared Funding Exemptive Order
and consistent with any reasonable standards that the Fund may adopt.
3.7 The Fund will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act requiring
voting by shareholders, and in particular the Fund will either provide for
annual meetings or comply with Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act (although the Fund
is not one of the trusts described in Section 16(c) of that Act) as well as with
Sections 16(a) and, if and when applicable, 16(b). Further, the Fund will act in
accordance with the SEC's interpretation of the requirements of Section 16(a)
with respect to periodic elections of directors or trustees and with whatever
rules the SEC may promulgate with respect thereto.
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 or uses and in which the Fund (or a Portfolio thereof)
or the Adviser or the Underwriter is named, at least ten calendar days prior to
its use. No such material shall be used if the Fund or its designee reasonably
object to such use within ten calendar days after receipt of such material. The
Fund or its designee reserves the right to reasonably object to the continued
use of such material, and no such material shall be used if the Fund or its
designee so object.
4.2 The Company shall not give any information or make any representations
or statements on behalf of the Fund or concerning the Fund in connection with
the sale of the Contracts other than the information or representations
contained in the registration statement or prospectus or SAI for the Fund
shares, as such registration statement and prospectus or SAI may
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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 or by the Underwriter, except with the permission of
the Fund or the Underwriter or the designee of either.
4.3 The Fund, Underwriter, or its designee shall furnish, or shall cause
to be furnished, to the Company, each piece of sales literature or other
promotional material in which the Company, and/or its Account, is named at least
ten calendar days prior to its use. No such material shall be used if the
Company reasonably objects to such use within ten calendar days after receipt of
such material. The Company reserves the right to reasonably object to the
continued use of such material and no such material shall be used if the Company
so objects.
4.4. The Fund and the Underwriter 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, 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 or its
designee, 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 and all amendments to any of the
above, that relate to the Fund or its shares, within a reasonable time after the
filing of such document(s) with the SEC or the NASD.
4.6 The Fund shall furnish to the Company at least ten (10) Business Days
prior to its first submission to the SEC or its staff, any request or filing for
no-action assurance or exemptive relief naming the Company, the Account or the
Contracts. The Fund shall furnish to the Company upon submission to the SEC or
its staff, any request or filing for no-action assurance or exemptive relief
pertaining to or affecting the Company, the Account or the Contracts.
4.7 The Company will provide to the Fund at least one complete copy of all
registration statements, prospectuses, SAIs, reports, solicitations for voting
instructions, sales literature and other promotional materials, and all
supplements and amendments to any of the above, that relate to the Contracts or
the Account, within a reasonable time after the filing of such document(s) with
the SEC or the NASD.
4.8 For purposes of this Article IV, the phrase "sales literature and
other promotional materials" includes, but is not limited to, any of the
following that refer to the Fund or any affiliate of the Fund: 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, telephone directories (other than
routine listings), electronic communications, or other public media), sales
literature (i.e., any written communication distributed or made generally
available to customers or the public, including brochures, circulars, reports,
market letters, performance reports or summaries, form letters, telemarketing
scripts, seminar texts, reprints or excerpts of any other advertisement, sales
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literature, or published article), educational or training materials or other
communications distributed or made generally available to some or all agents or
employees, and registration statements, prospectuses, SAIs, shareholder reports,
proxy materials, and any other communications distributed or made generally
available with regard to the Funds.
4.9 The Company shall furnish to the Fund at least ten (10) Business Days
prior to its first submission to the SEC or its staff, any request or filing for
no-action assurance or exemptive relief naming the Fund. The Company shall
furnish to the Fund upon submission to the SEC or its staff, any request or
filing for no-action assurance or exemptive relief pertaining to or affecting
the Fund.
ARTICLE V. FEES AND EXPENSES
5.1 The Fund and the Underwriter shall pay no fee or other compensation to
the Company under this Agreement, except that if the Fund or any Portfolio
adopts and implements a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 to finance distribution
expenses, then the Underwriter may make payments to the Company or to the
Underwriter for the Contracts if and in amounts agreed to by the Underwriter in
writing, and such payments will be made out of existing fees otherwise payable
to the Underwriter, past profits of the Underwriter, or other resources
available to the Underwriter. No such payments shall be made directly by the
Fund. Currently, no such payments are contemplated.
5.2 All expenses incident to performance by the Fund under this Agreement
shall be paid by the Fund, except as otherwise provided herein. 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 of the Fund's shares.
5.3 The Company shall bear the expenses of printing the Fund's prospectus
(in accordance with 3.1) and of distributing the Fund's prospectus, proxy
materials, and reports to Contract owners and prospective Contract owners.
ARTICLE VI. DIVERSIFICATION AND QUALIFICATION
6.1 The Fund will invest the assets of each Designated Portfolio in such a
manner as to ensure that the Contracts will be treated as annuity, endowment, or
life insurance contracts, whichever is appropriate, under the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and the regulations issued thereunder (or
any successor provisions). Without limiting the scope of the foregoing, each
Designated Portfolio of the Fund will comply with Section 817(h) of the Code and
Treasury Regulation Section 1.817-5, and any Treasury interpretations thereof,
relating to the diversification requirements for variable annuity, endowment, or
life insurance contracts, and
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any amendments or other modifications or successor provisions to such Section or
Regulations. The Fund represents that, under the terms of its investment
advisory agreements with Adviser, the Adviser is and will be responsible for
managing each Designated Portfolio in compliance with that Designated
Portfolio's investment objectives, policies and restrictions as set forth in the
Fund Prospectus. In the event of a breach of this Article VI by the Fund, it
will take all reasonable steps (a) to notify the Company of such breach and (b)
to adequately diversify the Fund so as to achieve compliance within the grace
period afforded by Regulation 817.5.
6.2 The Fund represents that each Designated Portfolio is or will be
qualified as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Code
("RIC"), and that it will make every effort to 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. In
the event of any noncompliance regarding the status of any Designated Portfolio
as a RIC in compliance with Subchapter M and/or noncompliance under Section
817(h), the Fund will pursue those efforts necessary to enable that Designated
Portfolio to qualify once again for treatment as a RIC in compliance with
Subchapter M and/or to be in compliance with Section 817(h), including
cooperation in good faith with the Company. If the Fund does not so cure the
noncompliance regarding that Designated Portfolio's status as a RIC under
Subchapter M and/or the noncompliance under Section 817(h), the Fund will
cooperate in good faith with the Company's efforts to obtain a ruling and
closing agreement, as provided in Revenue Procedure 92-25 issued by the Internal
Revenue Service (or any applicable ruling or procedure subsequently issued by
the Internal Revenue Service), that the Designated Portfolio satisfies the
requirements of Subchapter M and/or compliance with Section 817(h), for the
period or periods of non-compliance.
6.3 Subject to the Fund's compliance with applicable diversification
requirements under Section 817(h) of the Code, the Company represents that the
Contracts are currently, and at the time of issuance shall be, treated as life
insurance contracts, life endowment contracts, or annuity insurance contracts,
under applicable provisions of the Code, and that it will make every effort to
maintain such treatment, and that it will notify the Fund and the Underwriter
immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing the Contracts have
ceased to be so treated or that they might not be so treated in the future. The
Company agrees that any prospectus offering a contract that is a "modified
endowment contract" as that term is defined in Section 7702A of the Code (or any
successor or similar provision), shall identify such contract as a modified
endowment contract.
ARTICLE VII. POTENTIAL CONFLICTS.
7.1 The Board will monitor the Fund for the existence of any material
irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the Contract owners of all
separate accounts investing in the Fund. An irreconcilable material conflict may
arise for a variety of reasons, including: (a) an action by any state insurance
regulatory authority; (b) a change in applicable federal or state insurance,
tax, or securities laws or regulations, or a public ruling, private letter
ruling, no-action or interpretative letter, or any similar action by insurance,
tax, or securities regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative or judicial
decision in any relevant proceeding; (d) the manner in which the
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investments of any Portfolio are being managed; (e) a difference in voting
instructions given by variable annuity and variable life insurance Contract
owners; or (f) a decision by an insurer to disregard the voting instructions of
Contract owners. The Board shall promptly inform the Company if it determines
that an irreconcilable material conflict exists and the implications thereof.
7.2. The Company will report any potential or existing conflicts of which
it is aware to the Board. The Company will assist the Board in carrying out its
responsibilities under the Shared Funding Exemptive Order, by providing the
Board with all information reasonably necessary for the Board to consider any
issues raised. This includes, but is not limited to, an obligation by the
Company to inform the Board whenever Contract owner voting instructions are
disregarded.
7.3 If it is determined by a majority of the Board, or a majority of its
disinterested members, that a material irreconcilable conflict exists, the
Company and other Participating Insurance Companies shall, at their expense and
to the extent reasonably practicable (as determined by a majority of the
disinterested Board members), take whatever steps are necessary to remedy or
eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict, up to and including: (1),
withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the separate accounts from
the Fund or any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a different investment
medium, including (but not limited to) another Portfolio of the Fund, or
submitting the question whether such segregation should be implemented to a vote
of all affected Contract owners and, as appropriate, segregating the assets of
any appropriate group (i.e., annuity Contract owners, life insurance Contract
owners, or variable Contract owners of one or more Participating Insurance
Companies) that votes in favor of such segregation, or offering to the affected
Contract owners the option of making such a change; and (2), establishing a new
registered management investment company or managed separate account.
7.4 If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a decision by
the Company to disregard Contract owner voting instructions and that decision
represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote, the Company
may be required, at the Fund's election, to withdraw the affected Account's
investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with respect to such Account
provided, however, that such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the
extent required by the foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined
by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board. Any such withdrawal and
termination must take place within six (6) months after the Fund gives written
notice that this provision is being implemented, and until the end of that six
month period the Fund shall continue to accept and implement orders by the
Company for the purchase (and redemption) of shares of the Fund.
7.5 If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a particular
state insurance regulator's decision applicable to the Company conflicts with
the majority of other state regulators, then the Company will withdraw the
affected Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with
respect to such Account within six months after the Board informs the Company in
writing that it has determined that such decision has created an irreconcilable
material conflict; provided, however, that such withdrawal and termination shall
be limited to the extent required by the foregoing material irreconcilable
conflict as determined
12
by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board. Until the end of the
foregoing six month period, the Fund shall continue to accept and implement
orders by the Company for the purchase (and redemption) of shares of the Fund.
7.6 For purposes of Section 7.3 through 7.6 of this Agreement, a majority
of the disinterested members of the Board shall determine whether any proposed
action adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict, but in no event
will the Fund be required to establish a new funding medium for the Contracts.
The Company shall not be required by Section 7.3 to establish a new funding
medium for the Contract if an offer to do so has been declined by vote of a
majority of Contract owners materially adversely affected by the irreconcilable
material conflict. In the event that the Board determines that any proposed
action does not adequately remedy any irreconcilable material conflict, then the
Company will withdraw the Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this
Agreement within six (6) months after the Board informs the Company in writing
of the foregoing determination; provided, however, that such withdrawal and
termination shall be limited to the extent required by any such material
irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the disinterested members
of the Board.
7.7 If and to the extent Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) are amended, or Rule
6e-3 is adopted, to provide exemptive relief from any provision of the 1940 Act
or the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to mixed or shared funding (as
defined in the Shared Funding Exemptive Order) on terms and conditions
materially different from those contained in the Shared Funding Exemptive Order,
then (a) the Fund and/or the Participating Insurance Companies, as appropriate,
shall take such steps as may be necessary to comply with Rules 6e-2 and 6e-3(T),
as amended, and Rule 6e-3, as adopted, to the extent such rules are applicable;
and (b) Sections 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 7.1., 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 of this Agreement
shall continue in effect only to the extent that terms and conditions
substantially identical to such Sections are contained in such Rule(s) as so
amended or adopted.
ARTICLE VIII. INDEMNIFICATION
8.1 INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY
8.1(a). The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and
the Underwriter and each of their respective officers, directors and managers
and each person, if any, who controls the Fund or the Underwriter within the
meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (excluding any Participating Insurance
Company) (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section
8.1) against any and all losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities
(including amounts paid in settlement) or litigation expenses (including the
reasonable costs of investigating or defending any alleged loss, claim, damage,
finds, liability or expense and reasonable legal counsel fees incurred in
connection therewith)(collectively, "Losses"), to which the Indemnified Parties
may become subject under any statute or regulation, at common law or otherwise,
insofar as such Losses are related to the sale or acquisition of the Fund's
shares or the Contracts and:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements or
alleged untrue
13
statements of any material fact contained in the registration
statement, prospectus, or SAI for the Contracts or contained
in the Contracts or sales literature or other promotional
material for the Contracts (or any amendment or supplement to
any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, provided that this
agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified
Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement
or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the
Fund for use in the registration statement, prospectus or SAI
for the Contracts or in the Contracts or sales literature or
other promotional material (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
(other than statements or representations contained in the
registration statement, prospectus or sales literature or
other promotional material of the Fund not supplied by the
Company or persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of
the Company or persons under its authorization or control,
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 or other promotional
material 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 (including a failure, whether unintentional
or in good faith or otherwise, to comply with the
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 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 8.1(b) and
8.1(c) hereof.
8.1(b). The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any Losses 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
14
of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party's
reckless disregard of its obligations or duties under this Agreement.
8.1(c). The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless
such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Company in writing within 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 satisfactory to the party
named in the action and to settle the claim at its own expense; provided,
however, that no such settlement shall, without the Indemnified Parties' written
consent, include any factual stipulation referring to the Indemnified Parties or
their conduct. After notice from the Company to such party of the Company's
election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the
fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Company will
not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection with the defense
thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
8.1(d). The Indemnified Parties will promptly notify the Company of
the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against them in connection
with the issuance or sale of the Fund Shares or the Contracts or the operation
of the Fund.
8.2 INDEMNIFICATION BY THE UNDERWRITER
8.2(a). The Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company and the underwriter for the Contracts and each of their respective
directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified
Parties" for purposes of this Section 8.2) against any and all Losses to which
the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute or regulation, at
common law or otherwise, insofar as such Losses are related to the sale or
acquisition of the Fund's shares or the Contracts; and
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in the
registration statement or prospectus or SAI or sales
literature or other promotional material 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 Underwriter or
Fund
15
by or on behalf of the Company for use in the registration
statement or prospectus for the Fund or in sales literature or
other promotional material (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
(other than statements or representations contained in the
registration statement, prospectus or sales literature or
other promotional material for the Contracts not supplied by
the Underwriter or persons under its control) or wrongful
conduct of the Fund or Underwriter or persons under their
control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the
Contracts or Fund shares; or
(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 or other promotional
material of the Contracts, or any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statement or statements therein not
misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance
upon information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of
the Fund or Underwriter; or
(iv) arise as a result of any material failure by the Fund or
Undewriter 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 the Fund or Underwriter
in this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other
material breach of this Agreement by the Underwriter;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.2(b) and
8.2(c) hereof.
8.2(b). The Underwriter shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any Losses 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.
8.2(c). The Underwriter shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless
such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Underwriter in writing within 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
16
Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of
such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Underwriter of
any such claim shall not relieve the Underwriter from any liability which it may
have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than
on account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought
against the Indemnified Party, the Underwriter will be entitled to participate,
at its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Underwriter also shall be
entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party
named in the action and to settle the claim at its own expense; provided,
however, that no such settlement shall, without the Indemnified Parties' written
consent, include any factual stipulation referring to the Indemnified Parties or
their conduct. After notice from the Underwriter to such party of the
Underwriter's election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party
shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and
the Underwriter will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any
legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in
connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of
investigation.
8.2(d). The Company agrees promptly to notify the Underwriter of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers
or directors in connection with the issuance or sale of the Contracts or the
operation of the Account.
8.3 INDEMNIFICATION BY THE FUND
8.3(a). The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and
the underwriter for the Contracts and each of their respective directors and
officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of
Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes
of this Section 8.3) against any and all Losses 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 are related to the operations of
the Fund and:
(i) arise as a result of any material 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
(ii) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Fund in
this Agreement or arise out of or result from any
other material breach of this Agreement by the Fund;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.3(b) and
8.3(c) hereof.
8.3(b). The Fund shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any Losses to which an Indemnified Party would
otherwise be subject by reason of
17
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, the Fund, the Underwriter or the Account, whichever
is applicable.
8.3(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 expense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the
action and to settle the claim at its own expense; provided, however, that no
such settlement shall, without the Indemnified Parties' written consent, include
any factual stipulation referring to the Indemnified Parties or their conduct.
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.
8.3(d). The Company and the Underwriter agree 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 IX. APPLICABLE LAW
9.1 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Iowa.
9.2 This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the 1933, 1934
and 1940 Acts, and the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder, including
such exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as the SEC may grant
(including, but not limited to, any Shared Funding Exemptive Order) and the
terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance therewith.
ARTICLE X. TERMINATION
10.1 This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until the first
to occur of:
(a) termination by any party, for any reason with respect to some
or all Designated Portfolios, by six (6) months' advance
written notice delivered
18
to the other parties; or
(b) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and
the Underwriter with respect to any Designated Portfolio based
upon the Company's determination that shares of the Fund are
not reasonably available to meet the requirements of the
Contracts; provided that such termination shall apply only to
the Designated Portfolio not reasonably available; or
(c) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and
the Underwriter 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 Underwriter in the event that
formal administrative proceedings are instituted against the
Company by 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 Fund shares; provided, however, that the
Fund or Underwriter 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
Underwriter by the NASD, the SEC, or any state securities or
insurance 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 Underwriter to perform its obligations
under this Agreement; or
(f) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and
the Underwriter with respect to any Designated Portfolio in
the event that such Designated Portfolio ceases to qualify as
a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M or fails to
comply with the Section 817(h) diversification requirements
specified in Article VI hereof, or if the Company reasonably
believes that such Designated Portfolio may fail to so qualify
or comply; or
(g) termination by the Fund or Underwriter by written notice to
the Company in the event that the Contracts fail to meet the
qualifications specified in Section 6.3 hereof; or if the Fund
or Underwriter reasonably believes that
19
such Contracts may fail to so qualify; or
(h) termination by either the Fund or the Underwriter by written
notice to the Company, if either one or both of the Fund or
the Underwriter 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
(i) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and
the Underwriter, if the Company shall determine, in its sole
judgment exercised in good faith, that the Fund or the
Underwriter 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
(j) termination by the Company, the Fund or the Underwriter by
written notice to the other parties upon a material breach of
the Agreement by the other party; provided that the
non-breaching counter party determines in its sole judgment
exercised in good faith, that such breach would not be cured
within a reasonable period of time or that such breach would
have a material adverse effect upon the ability of any party
to perform their obligations under this Agreement.
10.2 EFFECT OF TERMINATION. Notwithstanding any termination of this
Agreement, the Fund and the Underwriter 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"). 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. The parties agree that this Section 10.2 shall not apply to
any termination under Article VII and the effect of such Article VII termination
shall be governed by Article VII of this Agreement. The parties further agree
that this Section 10.2 shall not apply to any termination under Section 10.1(g)
of this Agreement.
10.3 The provisions of Articles I (Sale of Fund Shares), II
(Representations and Warranties), VI (Diversification and Qualifications), VIII
(Indemnification), IX (Applicable Law) and XII (Miscellaneous) shall survive
termination of this Agreement. In addition, all other applicable provisions of
this Agreement shall survive termination as long as shares of the Fund are held
on behalf of Contract owners in accordance with Section 10.2, except that the
Fund and Underwriter shall have no further obligation to make Fund shares
available in Contracts issued after termination.
10.4 The Company shall not redeem Fund shares attributable to the Contracts
(as opposed to Fund shares attributable to the Company's assets held in the
Account) except (i) as
20
necessary to implement Contract owner initiated or approved transactions or
other transactions described in the prospectus for the Contracts, (ii) as
required by state and/or federal laws or regulations or judicial or other legal
precedent of general application (hereinafter referred to as a "Legally Required
Redemption"), or (iii) pursuant to the terms of a substitution order issued by
the SEC pursuant to Section 26(b) of the 1940 Act. Upon request, the Company
will promptly furnish to the Fund and the Underwriter the opinion of counsel for
the Company (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Fund and the
Underwriter) to the effect that any redemption pursuant to clause (ii) above is
a Legally Required Redemption. Furthermore, except in cases where permitted
under the terms of the Contracts, the Company shall not prevent Contract owners
from allocating payments to a Portfolio that was otherwise available under the
Contracts without first giving the Fund or the Underwriter 30 days notice of its
intention to do so.
10.5 In the event that the Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section
10.1(f), the Underwriter shall reimburse the Company for expenses that the
Company reasonably incurs in connection with the substitution of shares of
another investment company or companies for the shares of the Designated
Portfolio(s) as to which the Agreement has been terminated, including, without
limitation, all costs and expenses reasonably incurred in obtaining an order of
the SEC pursuant to Section 26(c) of the 1940 Act; provided, however, that the
Underwriter's obligation to reimburse shall be subject to a limit of $5,000 for
all such substitution expenses.
ARTICLE XI. NOTICES
Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or certified
mail or overnight mail through a nationally-recognized delivery service to the
other party at the address of such party set forth below or at such other
address as such party may from time to time specify in writing to the other
party.
If to the Fund:
EquiTrust Variable Insurance Series Fund
Attn: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000
If to the Company:
COUNTRY Investors Life Assurance Company
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, Vice President, Life/Health Operations
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxx.
XX Xxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
If to Underwriter:
EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc.
21
Attn: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
0000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000
ARTICLE XII. MISCELLANEOUS
12.1 All persons dealing with a Fund must look solely to the property of
such Fund, and in the case of a series company, the respective Designated
Portfolio listed on Schedule A hereto as though such Designated Portfolio had
separately contracted with the Company and the Underwriter for the enforcement
of any claims against the Fund. The parties agree that neither the Board,
officers, agents or shareholders assume any personal liability or responsibility
for obligations entered into by or on behalf of the Fund.
12.2 Subject to the requirements of legal process and regulatory authority,
each party hereto shall treat as confidential the names and addresses of the
owners of the Contracts and all information reasonably identified as
confidential in writing by any other party hereto and, except as permitted by
this Agreement, shall not disclose, disseminate or utilize such names and
addresses and other confidential information without the express written consent
of the affected party until such time as such information may come into the
public domain.
12.3 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.
12.4 This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
12.5 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.
12.6 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 to
the extent practicable and except where a party's respective interests are
adverse to or in conflict with another party's interests. Notwithstanding the
generality of the foregoing, each party hereto further agrees to furnish the
Iowa Insurance Commissioner with any information or reports in connection with
services provided under this Agreement which such Commissioner may request in
order to ascertain whether the variable annuity operations of the Company are
being conducted in a manner consistent with Iowa variable annuity laws and
regulations and any other applicable law or regulations.
12.7 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.
22
12.8 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.
12.9 The Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished, to the Fund or its
designee copies of the following reports:
(a) the Company's annual statement (prepared under statutory accounting
principles) and annual report (prepared under generally accepted
accounting principles ("GAAP"), if any), as soon as practical and in
any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year.
(b) the Company's quarterly statements (statutory) (and GAAP, if any), as
soon as practical and in any event within 45 days after the end of
each quarterly period.
23
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to
be executed in its name and on its behalf by its duly authorized representative
and its seal to be hereunder affixed hereto as of the date specified below.
COMPANY:
COUNTRY Investors Life Assurance Company
By its authorized officer
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
-----------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Vice President, Life/Health Operations
Date: October 23, 2003
FUND: EquiTrust Variable Insurance Series Fund
By its authorized officer
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-----------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Vice President - Investment Administration
Date: November 7, 2003
UNDERWRITER: EquiTrust Investment Management Services, Inc.
By its authorized officer
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-----------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
President
Date: November 7, 2003
24
SCHEDULE A
NAME OF SEPARATE ACCOUNT AND DATE ESTABLISHED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS
COUNTRY Investors Variable Annuity Account, April 17, 2002
COUNTRY Investors Variable Life Account, April 17, 2002
CONTRACTS FUNDED BY SEPARATE ACCOUNT
Individual Flexible Premium Deferred Variable Annuity Contract
Flexible Premium Deferred Variable Life Contract
DESIGNATED PORTFOLIOS
Blue Chip Portfolio
High Grade Bond Portfolio
Strategic Yield Portfolio
Managed Portfolio
Money Market Portfolio
