PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
Among
INVESCO VARIABLE INVESTMENT FUNDS, INC.
INVESCO FUNDS GROUP, INC.
and
AMERICAN CENTURION LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this 4th day of December, 1996 by
and among AMERICAN CENTURION LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY, (hereinafter the "Insurance
Company"), a New York corporation, on its own behalf and on behalf of each
separate account of the Insurance Company set forth on Schedule A hereto as may
be amended from time to time (each such account hereinafter referred to as the
"Account"), INVESCO VARIABLE INVESTMENT FUNDS, INC., a Maryland corporation (the
"Company") and INVESCO FUNDS GROUP, INC. ("INVESCO"), a Delaware corporation.
WHEREAS, the Company engages in business as an open-end management
investment company and is available to act as the investment vehicle for
separate accounts established for variable annuity and life insurance contracts
to be offered by insurance companies which have entered into participation
agreements substantially identical to this Agreement ("Participating Insurance
Companies"); and
WHEREAS, the beneficial interest in the Company is divided into several
series of shares, each designated a "Fund" and representing the interest in a
particular managed portfolio of securities and other assets; and
WHEREAS, the Company has obtained an order from the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), dated December 29, 1993 (File No.
812-8590), 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 Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (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 Company to be sold to and held by variable annuity and
variable life insurance separate accounts of life insurance companies that may
or may not be affiliated with one another (the "Mixed and Shared Funding
Exemptive Order"); and
WHEREAS, the Company is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the 1940 Act and its shares are registered under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (hereinafter the "1933 Act"); and
WHEREAS, INVESCO is duly registered as an investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and any applicable state securities law and as a
broker dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the "1934
Act"), and is a member in good standing of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD"); and
WHEREAS, the Insurance Company has registered under the 1933 Act, or will
register under the 1933 Act, certain variable annuity contracts identified by
the form number(s) listed on Schedule B to this Agreement, as amended from time
to time hereafter by mutual written agreement of all the parties hereto (the
"Contracts"); and
WHEREAS, each Account is a duly organized, validly existing segregated
asset account, established by resolution of the board of directors of the
Insurance Company on the date shown for that Account on Schedule A hereto, to
set aside and invest assets attributable to the Contracts; and
WHEREAS, the Insurance Company has registered or will register each
Account as a unit investment trust under the 1940 Act; and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Insurance Company intends to purchase shares in the Funds
designated on Schedule C to this Agreement, as it may be amended from time to
time, on behalf of the Accounts to fund the Contracts and INVESCO 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 Insurance
Company, the Company and INVESCO agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. Sale of Company Shares
1.1. INVESCO agrees to sell to the Insurance Company those shares of the
Company which each Account orders, executing such orders on a daily basis at the
net asset value next computed after receipt by the Company or its designee of
the order for the shares of the Company. For purposes of this Section 1.1, the
Insurance Company shall be the designee of the Company for receipt of such
orders from the Accounts and receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt
by the Company; provided that the Company receives notice of such order by 9:00
a.m., Mountain 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 Company calculates its net asset value pursuant to the rules of the
Commission.
1.2. The Company agrees to make its shares available for purchase at the
applicable net asset value per share by the Insurance Company and its Accounts
on those days on which the Company calculates its Funds' net asset values
pursuant to rules of the Commission and the Company shall use reasonable efforts
to calculate its Funds' net asset values on each day on which the New York Stock
Exchange is open for trading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the board of
directors of the Company (hereinafter the "Board") may refuse to sell shares of
any Fund to any person, or suspend or terminate the offering of shares of any
Fund if such action is required by law or by regulatory authorities having
jurisdiction or is, in the sole discretion of the Board acting in good faith and
in light of their fiduciary duties under federal and any applicable state laws,
necessary in the best interests of the shareholders of that Fund.
1.3. The Company and INVESCO agree that shares of the Company will be sold
only to Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts. No shares
of any Fund will be sold to the general public.
1.4. The Company and INVESCO will not sell Company shares to any insurance
company or separate account unless an agreement containing provisions
substantially the same as Sections 2.1, 3.4, 3.5 and Article VII of this
Agreement is in effect to govern such sales.
1.5. The Company agrees to redeem, on the Insurance Company's request, any
full or fractional shares of the Company held by the Insurance Company,
executing such requests on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed
after receipt by the Company or its designee of the request for redemption. For
purposes of this Section 1.5, the Insurance Company shall be the designee of the
Company for receipt of requests for redemption from each Account and receipt by
that designee shall constitute receipt by the Company; provided that the Company
receives notice of the request for redemption by 9:00 a.m., Mountain Time, on
the next following Business Day.
1.6. The Insurance Company agrees to purchase and redeem the shares of
each Fund offered by the then-current prospectus of the Company in accordance
with the provisions of that prospectus.
1.7. The Insurance Company shall pay for Company shares by 9:00 a.m.,
Mountain Time, on the next Business Day after an order to purchase Company
shares is made in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.1 hereof. Payment
shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire. For the purpose of Sections 2.10
and 2.11, upon receipt by the Company of the federal funds so wired, such funds
shall cease to be the responsibility of the Insurance Company and shall become
the responsibility of the Company. Payment of aggregate redemption proceeds
(aggregate redemptions of a Fund's shares by an Account) for a given Business
Day will be made by wiring federal funds to the Insurance Company on the next
Business Day after receipt of the redemption request. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in the event that one or more Funds has insufficient cash on hand to
pay aggregate redemptions on the next Business Day, and if such Fund has
determined to settle redemption transactions for all of its shareholders on a
delayed basis (more than one Business Day, but in no event more than seven
calendar days, after the date on which the redemption order is received, unless
otherwise permitted by an order of the Commission under Section 22(e) of the
1940 Act), the Company shall be permitted to delay sending redemption proceeds
to the Insurance Company by the same number of days that the Company is delaying
sending redemption proceeds to the other shareholders of the Fund.
1.8. Issuance and transfer of the Company's shares will be by book entry
only. Stock certificates will not be issued to the Insurance Company or any
Account. Shares ordered from the Company will be recorded in an appropriate
title for each Account or the appropriate subaccount of each Account.
1.9. The Company shall furnish same day notice (by wire or telephone,
followed by written confirmation) to the Insurance Company of any income,
dividends or capital gain distributions payable on the Funds' shares. The
Insurance Company hereby elects to receive all income dividends and capital gain
distributions payable on a Fund's shares in additional shares of that Fund. The
Insurance Company reserves the right to revoke this election and to receive all
such income, dividends and capital gain distributions in cash. The Company shall
notify the Insurance Company of the number of shares issued as payment of
dividends and distributions.
1.10. The Company shall make the net asset value per share for each Fund
available to the Insurance Company on a daily basis as soon as reasonably
practical after the net asset value per share is calculated and shall use its
best efforts to make those per-share net asset values available by 4:00 p.m.,
Mountain Time. If there are dividends or capital gain distributions payable on
the Funds' Shares, the Company will use its best efforts to make the per share
net asset values and dividend or distribution amounts available by 5:00 p.m.,
Mountain Time, but in no event later than 6:00 p.m., Mountain Time. In the event
adjustments are required to correct any error in the computation of the net
asset value of Fund shares made by the Company or INVESCO, INVESCO shall notify
the Insurance Company as soon as possible after discovering the need for such
adjustments. The parties shall negotiate in good faith to develop a reasonable
method for effecting such adjustments.
ARTICLE II. Representations and Warranties
2.1. The Insurance 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 applicable state insurance suitability requirements. The Insurance
Company further represents and warrants that it is an insurance company duly
organized and in good standing under applicable law and that it has legally and
validly established the Account prior to any issuance or sale thereof as a
segregated asset account under Section 4240 of the New York Insurance Law 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 Company represents and warrants that Company shares sold pursuant
to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act, duly authorized for
issuance and sale in compliance with the laws of the State of Maryland and all
applicable federal securities laws and that the Company is and shall remain
registered under the 1940 Act. The Company 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
Company 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 Company or INVESCO.
2.3. The Company represents that it is currently qualified as a Regulated
Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, (the "Code") and that it will make every effort to maintain that
qualification (under Subchapter M or any successor or similar provision) and
that it will notify the Insurance 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.
2.4. The Insurance Company represents and warrants that the Contracts are
currently treated as annuity contracts under applicable provisions of the Code
and that it will make every effort to maintain such treatment and that it will
notify the Company and INVESCO immediately upon having a reasonable basis for
believing that the Contracts have ceased to be so treated or that they might not
be so treated in the future.
2.5. The Company currently does not intend to make any payments to finance
distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act or otherwise,
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 Company undertakes
to have a board of directors, a majority of whom are not interested persons of
the Company, formulate and approve any plan under Rule 12b-1 to finance
distribution expenses.
2.6. The Company makes no representation as to whether any aspect of its
operations (including, but not limited to, fees and expenses and investment
policies) complies with the insurance laws or regulations of any state.
2.7. INVESCO represents and warrants that it is a member in good standing
of the NASD and is registered as a broker-dealer with the Commission. INVESCO
further represents that it will sell and distribute the Company shares in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York and all applicable state and
federal securities laws, including without limitation the 1933 Act, the 1934
Act, and the 0000 Xxx.
2.8. The Company represents that it is lawfully organized and validly
existing under the laws of the State of Maryland and that it does and will
comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act.
2.9. INVESCO represents and warrants that it is and shall remain duly
registered in all material respects under all applicable federal and state
securities laws and that it shall perform its obligations for the Company in
compliance in all material respects with the laws of the State of Colorado and
any applicable state and federal securities laws.
2.10. The Company and INVESCO represent and warrant that all of their
officers, employees, investment advisers, investment sub-advisers, and other
individuals or entities dealing with the money and/or securities of the Company
are, and shall continue to be at all times, covered by a blanket fidelity bond
or similar coverage for the benefit of the Company in an amount not less than
the minimum coverage required currently by Section 17g-(1) of the 1940 Act or
related provisions as may be promulgated from time to time. That fidelity bond
shall include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a
reputable bonding company.
2.11. The Insurance Company represents and warrants that all of its
officers, employees, investment advisers and other individuals/entities dealing
with the money and/or securities of the Company are covered by a blanket
fidelity bond or similar coverage for the benefit of the Company, in an amount
not less than $5 million. The aforesaid includes coverage for larceny and
embezzlement and is issued by a reputable bonding company. The Insurance 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
Company and INVESCO in the event that such coverage no longer applies. The
Insurance Company further represents and warrants that the employees of
Insurance Company, or such other persons designated by Insurance Company, listed
on Schedule D have been authorized by all necessary action of Insurance Company
to give directions, instructions and certifications to the Company and INVESCO
on behalf of Insurance Company. The Company and INVESCO are authorized to act
and rely upon any directions, instructions and certifications received from such
persons unless and until they have been notified in writing by the Insurance
Company of a change in such persons, and the Company and INVESCO shall incur no
liability in doing so.
2.12. The Insurance Company represents and warrants that it will not
purchase Company shares with Account assets derived from tax-qualified
retirement plans except indirectly, through Contracts purchased in connection
with such plans.
ARTICLE III. Prospectuses and Proxy Statements; Voting
3.1. INVESCO shall provide the Insurance Company (at INVESCO's expense)
with as many copies of the Company's current prospectus as the Insurance Company
may reasonably request for distribution, at the Insurance Company's expense, to
prospective Contract owners and applicants. The Company will provide, at the
Company's expense, as many copies of said prospectus as necessary for
distribution, at the Company's expense, to existing Contract owners whose
Contract values are invested in the Company. INVESCO (or the Company) will
provide the copies of said prospectus to the Insurance Company or to its mailing
agent. The Insurance Company will distribute the prospectus to existing Contract
owners and will xxxx the Company for the reasonable cost of such distribution.
If requested by the Insurance Company in lieu thereof, the Company shall provide
such documentation (including a final copy of the new prospectus as set in type
at the Company's expense) and other assistance as is reasonably necessary in
order for the Insurance Company once each year (or more frequently if the
prospectus for the Company is amended) to have the Company's prospectus and the
prospectuses of other mutual funds in which assets attributable to the Contracts
may be invested printed together in one document, in which case the Company or
INVESCO will bear its reasonable share of expenses as described above, allocated
based on the proportionate number of pages of the Company's and other funds'
respective portions of the document.
3.2. The Company's prospectus shall state that the Statement of Additional
Information for the Company (the "SAI") is available from INVESCO (or in the
Company's discretion, the Prospectus shall state that the SAI is available from
the Company), and INVESCO, at its expense, shall print and provide the SAI free
of charge to the Insurance Company for distribution, at INVESCO's expense, to
prospective Contract owners and applicants. The Company will provide, at the
Company's expense, as many copies of said SAI as necessary for distribution, at
the Company's expense, to any existing Contract owner whose Contract values are
invested in the Company who requests such SAI or whenever state or federal law
otherwise requires that such SAI be provided. INVESCO (or the Company) will
provide the copies of said SAI to the Insurance Company or to its mailing agent.
The Insurance Company will distribute the SAI as requested or required and will
xxxx the Company or INVESCO for the reasonable cost of such distribution.
3.3. The Company, at its expense, shall provide the Insurance Company or
its mailing agent with copies of its proxy material, reports to stockholders and
other communications to stockholders in such quantity as the Insurance Company
shall reasonably require for distributing to Contract owners. The Insurance
Company will distribute this proxy material, reports and other communications to
existing Contract owners and tabulate the votes and will xxxx the Company for
the reasonable cost of such distribution and tabulation.
3.4. If and to the extent required by law, the Insurance Company shall:
(i) solicit voting instructions from Contract owners;
(ii) vote the Company shares in accordance with instructions
received from Contract owners; and
(iii) vote Company shares for which no instructions have been
received in the same proportion as Company shares of such portfolio for which
instructions have been received:
so long as and to the extent that the Commission continues to interpret the 1940
Act to require pass-through voting privileges for variable contract owners. The
Insurance Company reserves the right to vote Company shares held in any
segregated asset account in its own right, to the extent permitted by law.
Participating Insurance Companies shall be responsible for assuring that each of
their separate accounts participating in the Company calculates voting
privileges in a manner consistent with the standards agreed to by the parties,
which standards will also be consistent with those of the other Participating
Insurance Companies. The Insurance Company shall fulfill its obligations under,
and abide by the terms and conditions of, the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive
Order.
3.5. The Company will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act requiring
voting by shareholders, and in particular the Company will either provide for
annual meetings (except insofar as the Commission may interpret Section 16 of
the 1940 Act not to require such meetings) or, as the Company currently intends,
comply with Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act (although the Company 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 Company will act in
accordance with the Commission's interpretation of the requirements of Section
16(a) with respect to periodic elections of directors and with whatever rules
the Commission may promulgate with respect thereto.
ARTICLE IV. Sales Material and Information
4.1. The Insurance Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished,
to the Company or its designee, each piece of sales literature or other
promotional material in which the Company, a sub-adviser of one of the Funds, or
INVESCO is named, at least ten calendar days prior to its use. No such material
shall be used if the Company or its designee objects to such use within five
calendar days after receipt of such material.
4.2. The Insurance Company shall not give any information or make any
representations or statements on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company
in connection with the sale of the Contracts other than the information or
representations contained in the registration statement, prospectus or SAI for
the Company's shares, as such registration statement, prospectus or SAI may be
amended or supplemented from time to time, or in reports or proxy statements for
the Company, or in published reports for the Company which are in the public
domain and approved by the Company or INVESCO for distribution, or in sales
literature or other promotional material approved by the Company or its designee
or by INVESCO, except with the permission of the Company or INVESCO. The Company
and INVESCO agree to respond to any request for approval on a reasonably prompt
and timely basis. Nothing in this Section 4.2 will be construed as preventing
the Insurance Company or its employees or agents from giving advice on
investment in the Company.
4.3. The Company, INVESCO, or its designee shall furnish, or shall cause
to be furnished, to the Insurance Company or its designee, each piece of sales
literature or other promotional material in which the Insurance Company and/or
its separate account(s), is named at least ten calendar days prior to its use.
No such material shall be used if the Insurance Company or its designee object
to such use within five calendar days after receipt of that material.
4.4. The Company and INVESCO shall not give any information or make any
representations on behalf of the Insurance Company or concerning the Insurance
Company, the Account, or the Contracts other than the information or
representations contained in a registration statement, prospectus or statement
of additional information for the Contracts, as that registration statement,
prospectus or statement of additional information may be amended or supplemented
from time to time, or in published reports for the Account which are in the
public domain and approved by the Insurance Company for distribution to Contract
owners, or in sales literature or other promotional material approved by the
Insurance Company or its designee, except with the permission of the Insurance
Company. The Insurance Company agrees to respond to any request for approval on
a reasonably prompt and timely basis.
4.5. The Company will provide to the Insurance Company at least one
complete copy of each registration statement, prospectus, SAI, report, proxy
statement, piece of sales literature or other promotional material, application
for exemption, request for no-action letter, and any amendment to any of the
above, that relate to the Company or its shares, contemporaneously with the
filing of the document with the Commission, the NASD, or other regulatory
authorities.
4.6. The Insurance Company will provide to the Company at least one
complete copy of each registration statement, prospectus, statement of
additional information, report, solicitation for voting instructions, piece of
sales literature and other promotional material, application for exemption,
request for no action letter, and any amendment to any of the above, that
relates to the Contracts or the Account, contemporaneously with the filing of
the document with the Commission, the NASD, or other regulatory authorities.
4.7. For purposes of this Agreement, the phrase "sales literature or other
promotional material" includes, but is not limited to, advertisements,
newspaper, magazine, or other periodical, radio, television, telephone or tape
recording, videotape display, signs or billboards, motion pictures, or other
public media (e.g., on-line networks such as the Internet or other electronic
messages), sales literature (i.e., any written communication distributed or made
generally available to customers or the public, including brochures, circulars,
research reports, market letters, form letters, seminar texts, reprints or
excerpts of any other advertisement, sales literature, or published article),
educational or training materials or other communications distributed or made
generally available to some or all agents or employees, and registration
statements, prospectuses, statements of additional information, shareholder
reports, and proxy materials.
4.8. At the request of any party to this Agreement, each other party will
make available to the other party's independent auditors and/or representative
of the appropriate regulatory agencies, all records, data and access to
operating procedures that may be reasonably requested. However, Company and
INVESCO shall own and control all of their respective records pertaining to
their performance of the services under this Agreement.
4.9. The Company and INVESCO hereby consent to the Insurance Company's use
of the names INVESCO and INVESCO VIF-Industrial Income Portfolio in connection
with marketing the Contracts, subject to Sections 4.1 and 4.2 of this Agreement.
Such consent will terminate with the termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE V. Fees and Expenses
5.1. The Company and INVESCO shall pay no fee or other compensation to the
Insurance Company under this Agreement, except that if the Company or any Fund
adopts and implements a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 to finance distribution
expenses, then INVESCO may make payments to the Insurance Company if and in
amounts agreed to by INVESCO in writing, subject to review by the board of
directors of the Company. No such payments shall be made directly by the
Company.
5.2. All expenses incident to performance by the Company under this
Agreement shall be paid by the Company. The Company 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 Company or
INVESCO, in accordance with applicable state laws prior to their sale. The
Company shall bear the expenses for the cost of registration and qualification
of the Company's shares, preparation and filing of the Company's prospectus, SAI
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, all taxes on the issuance or transfer of the Company's
shares and other typesetting, printing and distribution expenses set forth in
Article III of this Agreement.
5.3. The Insurance Company shall bear the expenses of printing and
distributing to Contract owners the Contract prospectuses.
ARTICLE VI. Diversification
6.1. The Company will, at the end of each calendar quarter, comply with
Section 817(h) of the Code and Treasury Regulation 1.817-5 relating to the
diversification requirements for variable annuity, endowment, modified endowment
or life insurance contracts and any amendments or other modifications to that
Section or Regulation. In the event of a breach of this Article VI by the
Company, it will take all reasonable steps to: (i) notify the Insurance Company
of such breach; and (ii) adequately diversify the Company so as to achieve
compliance within the grace period afforded by Treasury Regulation 1.817-5.
ARTICLE VII. Potential Conflicts
7.1. The Board will monitor the Company for the existence of any material
irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the variable contract owners of
all separate accounts investing in the Company. 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 interpretive letter, or any similar action
by insurance, tax, or securities regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative
or judicial decision in any relevant proceeding; (d) the manner in which the
investments of any Fund are being managed; (e) a difference in voting
instructions given by variable annuity contract and variable life insurance
contract owners; or (f) a decision by a Participating Insurance Company to
disregard the voting instructions of variable contract owners. The Board shall
promptly inform the Insurance Company if it determines that an irreconcilable
material conflict exists and the implications thereof. The Board shall have sole
authority to determine whether an irreconcilable material conflict exists and
such determination shall be binding upon the Insurance Company.
7.2 The Insurance Company will report promptly any potential or existing
conflicts of which it is aware to the Board. The Insurance Company will assist
the Board in carrying out its responsibilities under the Mixed and 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 Insurance Company to inform the Board whenever
Contract owner voting instructions are to be disregarded. Such responsibilities
shall be carried out by Insurance Company with a view only to the interests of
the Contract owners.
7.3. If it is determined by a majority of the Board, or a majority of its
directors who are not interested persons of the Company, INVESCO, or any sub-
adviser to any of the Funds (the "Independent Directors"), that a material
irreconcilable conflict exists, the Insurance Company and/or other Participating
Insurance Companies shall, at their expense and to the extent reasonably
practicable (as determined by a majority of the Independent Directors), 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 Company or any Fund and reinvesting those
assets in a different investment medium, including (but not limited to) another
Fund of the Company, or submitting the question 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 (e.g., 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 variable contract owners the option of
making such a change; and (2), establishing a new registered management
investment company or managed separate account and obtaining approval thereof by
the Commission.
7.4. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a decision by
the Insurance Company to disregard Contract owner voting instructions and that
decision represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote, the
Insurance Company may be required, at the Company's election, to withdraw the
affected Account's investment in the Company and terminate this Agreement with
respect to that 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 Independent Directors. No charge or
penalty will be imposed as a result of such withdrawal. Any such withdrawal and
termination must take place within six (6) months after the Company gives
written notice that this provision is being implemented, and until the end of
that six month period INVESCO and the Company shall continue to accept and
implement orders by the Insurance Company for the purchase (and redemption) of
shares of the Company.
7.5. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a particular
state insurance regulator's decision applicable to the Insurance Company
conflicts with the majority of other state regulators, then the Insurance
Company will withdraw the affected Account's investment in the Company and
terminate this Agreement with respect to that Account within six months after
the Board informs the Insurance Company in writing that it has determined that
the state insurance regulator's 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 by a majority of the Independent Directors. No charge or penalty
will be imposed as a result of such withdrawal. Until the end of the foregoing
six month period, INVESCO and the Company shall continue to accept and implement
orders by the Insurance Company for the purchase (and redemption) of shares of
the Company.
7.6. For purposes of Sections 7.3 through 7.6 of this Agreement, a
majority of the Independent Directors shall determine whether any proposed
action adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict, but in no event
will the Company be required to establish a new funding medium for the
Contracts. The Insurance Company shall not be required by Section 7.3 to
establish a new funding medium for the Contracts 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 Insurance Company will withdraw the Account's investment in
the Company and terminate this Agreement within six (6) months after the Board
informs the Insurance Company in writing of the foregoing determination,
provided, however, that the withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the
extent required by the material irreconcilable conflict, as determined by a
majority of the Independent Directors.
7.7. If and to the extent that 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 Act
or the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to mixed or shared funding (as
defined in the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order) on terms and conditions
materially different from those contained in the Mixed and Shared Funding
Exemptive Order, then (a) the Company 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 those rules are applicable; and (b) Sections 3.4, 3.5, 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 those Sections are contained in
the Rule(s) as so amended or adopted.
ARTICLE VIII. Indemnification
8.1. Indemnification By The Insurance Company
8.1(a). The Insurance Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of
Section 15 of the 1933 Act and any director, officer, employee or agent of the
foregoing (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section
8.1) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts
paid in settlement with the written consent of the Insurance Company) or
litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the
Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute, regulation, at common
law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements are related to the sale
or acquisition of the Company's shares or the Contracts and:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements or alleged
untrue statements of any material fact contained in the registration statement,
prospectus or statement of additional information for the Contracts or contained
in the Contracts or sales literature for the Contracts (or any amendment or
supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
provided that this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified
Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission was
made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to
the Insurance Company by or on behalf of the Company for use in the registration
statement, prospectus or statement of additional information for the Contracts
or in the Contracts or sales literature (or any amendment or supplement) or
otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or shares of the
Company;
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations
(other than statements or representations contained in the registration
statement, prospectus, SAI or sales literature of the Company (or any amendment
or supplement) not supplied by the Insurance Company, or persons under its
control) or wrongful conduct of the Insurance Company or persons under its
control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Company
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 of the Company 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 in
writing to the Company by or on behalf of the Insurance Company: or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Insurance Company to
provide the services and furnish the materials under the terms of this
Agreement; or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Insurance Company in this Agreement
or arise out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by
the Insurance Company,
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.1(b) and
8.1(c) hereof.
8.1(b). The Insurance 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 that
may arise from that Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross
negligence in the performance of that Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of
that Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations or duties under this
Agreement or to the Company, whichever is applicable.
8.1(c). The Insurance Company shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified
Party unless that Indemnified Party shall have notified the Insurance 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 that
Indemnified Party (or after the Indemnified Party shall have received notice of
such service on any designated agent). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
failure of any Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein shall not
relieve the Insurance Company of its obligations hereunder except to the extent
that the Insurance Company has been prejudiced by such failure to give notice.
In addition, any failure by the Indemnified Party to notify the Insurance
Company of any such claim shall not relieve the Insurance Company from any
liability which it may have to the Indemnified Party against whom the action is
brought otherwise than on account of this indemnification provision. In case any
such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties, the Insurance Company
shall be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense of the
action. The Insurance Company also shall be entitled to assume the defense
thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action; provided,
however, that if the Indemnified Party shall have reasonably concluded that
there may be defenses available to it which are different from or
additional to those available to the Insurance Company, the Insurance Company
shall not have the right to assume said defense, but shall pay the costs and
expenses thereof (except that in no event shall the Insurance Company be liable
for the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for Indemnified Parties in
connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the
same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances).
After notice from the Insurance Company to the Indemnified Party of the
Insurance Company's election to assume the defense thereof, and in the absence
of such a reasonable conclusion that there may be different or additional
defenses available to the Indemnified Party, the Indemnified Party shall bear
the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the
Insurance Company will not be liable to that party under this Agreement for any
legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the party independently in
connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of
investigation.
8.1(d). The Indemnified Parties will promptly notify the Insurance Company
of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against them in connection
with the issuance or sale of the Company's shares or the Contracts or the
operation of the Company.
8.2. Indemnification by INVESCO
8.2(a). INVESCO agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Insurance
Company and each person, if any, who controls the Insurance Company within the
meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act and any director, officer, employee or
agent of the foregoing (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of
this Section 8.2) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities
(including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of INVESCO) or
litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses) to which the
Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute, at common law or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or
actions in respect thereof) or settlements are related to the sale or
acquisition of the Company'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,
prospectus, SAI or sales literature of the Company (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 the statement or omission or alleged statement or omission was made in
reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to INVESCO
or the Company by or on behalf of the Insurance Company for use in the
registration statement, prospectus or SAI for the Company or in sales
literature (or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in connection
with the sale of the Contracts or Company 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, statement of additional information or sales literature
for the Contracts (or any amendment or supplement) not supplied by INVESCO or
persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of the Company, INVESCO or
persons under their control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the
Contracts or shares of the Company; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in a registration statement, prospectus, statement
of additional information or sales literature covering the Contracts, or any
amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statement or statements therein not misleading, if such statement or
omission was made in reliance upon information furnished in writing to the
Insurance Company by or on behalf of the Company; or
(iv) arise as a result of any 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 diversification 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 INVESCO in this Agreement or arise out of
or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by INVESCO; as
limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.2(b) and 8.2(c)
hereof.
8.2(b) INVESCO 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 that may arise from the Indemnified
Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance
of the Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of the Indemnified Party's
reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement or to the
Insurance Company or the Account, whichever is applicable.
8.2(c) INVESCO shall not be liable under this indemnification provision
with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless the
Indemnified Party shall have notified INVESCO 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 the Indemnified Party (or after
the Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on any
designated agent). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the failure of any Indemnified
Party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve INVESCO of its
obligations hereunder except to the extent that INVESCO has been prejudiced by
such failure to give notice. In addition, any failure by the Indemnified Party
to notify INVESCO of any such claim shall not relieve INVESCO 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, INVESCO will be entitled to
participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof. INVESCO also shall be
entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party
named in the action; provided, however, that if the Indemnified Party shall have
reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to it which are
different from or additional to those available to INVESCO, INVESCO shall not
have the right to assume said defense, but shall pay the costs and expenses
thereof (except that in no event shall INVESCO be liable for the fees and
expenses of more than one counsel for Indemnified Parties in connection with any
one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction
arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances). After notice from
INVESCO to the Indemnified Party of INVESCO's election to assume the defense
thereof, and in the absence of such a reasonable conclusion that there may be
different or additional defenses available to the Indemnified Party, the
Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel
retained by it, and INVESCO will not be liable to that party under this
Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by that party
independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs
of investigation.
8.2(d) The Insurance Company agrees to notify INVESCO promptly 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 Company
8.3(a). The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Insurance
Company, and each person, if any, who controls the Insurance Company within the
meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act and any director, officer, employee or
agent of the foregoing (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of
this Section 8.3) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities
(including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Company)
or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses) to which the
Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute, at common law or
otherwise, insofar as those losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or
actions in respect thereof) or settlements result from the gross negligence, bad
faith or willful misconduct of the Board or any member thereof, are related to
the operations of the Company and:
(i) arise as a result of any failure by the Company to provide the
services and furnish the materials under the terms of this Agreement (including
a failure to comply with the diversification 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 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 8.3(b) and
8.3(c) hereof.
8.3(b). The 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 that may arise from the
Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the
performance of the Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of the Indemnified
Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement or to
the Insurance Company, the Company, INVESCO or the Account, whichever is
applicable.
8.3(c). The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless the
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 the Indemnified Party (or after
the Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on any
designated agent). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the failure of any Indemnified
Party to give notice as provided herein shall not relieve the Company of its
obligations hereunder except to the extent that the Company has been prejudiced
by such failure to give notice. In addition, any failure by the Indemnified
Party 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 the Indemnified Parties, the Company
will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof. The
Company also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel
satisfactory to the party named in the action; provided, however, that if the
Indemnified Party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses
available to it which are different from or additional to those available to the
Company, the Company shall not have the right to assume said defense, but shall
pay the costs and expenses thereof (except that in no event shall the Company be
liable for the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for Indemnified
Parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related
actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or
circumstances). After notice from the Company to the Indemnified Party of the
Company's election to assume the defense thereof, and in the absence of such a
reasonable conclusion that there may be different or additional defenses
available to the Indemnified Party, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees
and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Company will not
be liable to that party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by that party independently in connection with the defense
thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
8.3(d). The Insurance Company and INVESCO agree promptly to notify the
Company of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any
of its respective officers or directors in connection with this Agreement, the
issuance or sale of the Contracts, the operation of the Account, or the sale or
acquisition of shares of the Company.
8.4. A successor by law of the parties to this Agreement shall be entitled
to the benefits of indemnification contained in this Article VIII. The
indemnification provisions contained in this Article VIII shall survive any
termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE IX. Applicable Law
9.1. This Agreement shall be construed and provisions hereof interpreted
under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado.
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
any exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations the Commission may
grant (including, but not limited to, the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive
Order) and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance
therewith.
ARTICLE X. Termination
10.1. This Agreement shall terminate:
(a) at the option of any party upon ninety (90) days' advance
written notice to the other parties or, if later, upon receipt of any
required exemptive relief or orders from the SEC, unless otherwise agreed among
the parties; provided, however such notice shall not be given earlier than one
year following the date of this Agreement; or
(b) at the option of the Insurance Company to the extent that shares
of Funds are not reasonably available to meet the requirements of the Contracts
as determined by the Insurance Company, provided however, that such a
termination shall apply only to the Fund(s) not reasonably available. Prompt
written notice of the election to terminate for such cause shall be furnished by
the Insurance Company; or
(c) at the option of the Company in the event that formal
administrative proceedings are instituted against the Insurance Company by the
NASD, the Commission, an insurance commissioner or any other regulatory body
regarding the Insurance Company's duties under this Agreement or related to the
sale of the Contracts, the operation of any Account, or the purchase of the
Company's shares, 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 Insurance Company to
perform its obligations under this Agreement; or
(d) at the option of the Insurance Company in the event that formal
administrative proceedings are instituted against the Company or INVESCO by the
NASD, the Commission, or any state securities or insurance department or any
other regulatory body, provided, however, that the Insurance 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 Company
or INVESCO to perform its obligations under this Agreement; or
(e) with respect to any Account, upon requisite vote of the Contract
owners having an interest in that Account (or any subaccount) to substitute the
shares of another investment company for the corresponding Fund shares in
accordance with the terms of the Contracts for which those Fund shares had been
selected to serve as the underlying investment media. The Insurance Company will
give at least 30 days' prior written notice to the Company of the date of any
proposed vote to replace the Company's shares; or
(f) at the option of the Insurance Company, in the event any of the
Company's shares are not registered, issued or sold in accordance with
applicable state and/or federal law or exemptions therefrom, or such law
precludes the use of those shares as the underlying investment media of the
Contracts issued or to be issued by the Insurance Company; or
(g) at the option of the Insurance Company, if the Company ceases to
qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code or
under any successor or similar provision, or if the Insurance Company reasonably
believes that the Company may fail to so qualify; or
(h) at the option of the Insurance Company, if the Company fails to
meet the diversification requirements specified in Article VI hereof;
or
(i) at the option of either the Company or INVESCO, if (1) the
Company or INVESCO, respectively, shall determine, in their sole judgment
reasonably exercised in good faith, that the Insurance Company has suffered a
material adverse change in its business or financial condition or is the subject
of material adverse publicity and that material adverse change or material
adverse publicity will have a material adverse impact upon the business and
operations of either the Company or INVESCO, (2) the Company or INVESCO shall
notify the Insurance Company in writing of that determination and its intent to
terminate this Agreement, and (3) after considering the actions taken by the
Insurance Company and any other changes in circumstances since the giving of
such a notice, the determination of the Company or INVESCO shall continue to
apply on the sixtieth (60th) day following the giving of that notice, which
sixtieth day shall be the effective date of termination; or
(j) at the option of the Insurance Company, if (1) the Insurance
Company shall determine, in its sole judgment reasonably exercised in good
faith, that either the Company or INVESCO has suffered a material adverse change
in its business or financial condition or is the subject of material adverse
publicity and that material adverse change or material adverse publicity will
have a material adverse impact upon the business and operations of the Insurance
Company, (2) the Insurance Company shall notify the Company and INVESCO in
writing of the determination and its intent to terminate the Agreement, and (3)
after considering the actions taken by the Company and/or INVESCO and any other
changes in circumstances since the giving of such a notice, the determination
shall continue to apply on the sixtieth (60th) day following the giving of the
notice, which sixtieth day shall be the effective date of termination; or
(k) at the option of any party to this Agreement upon another
party's material breach of any provision of this Agreement.
10.2. It is understood and agreed that the right of any party hereto to
terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 10.1(a) may be exercised for any
reason or for no reason.
10.3 Notice Requirement. No termination of this Agreement shall be
effective unless and until the party terminating this Agreement gives prior
written notice to all other parties to this Agreement of its intent to
terminate, which notice shall set forth the basis for the termination.
Furthermore,
(a) in the event that any termination is based upon the provisions
of Article VII, or the provisions of Section 10.1(a), 10.1(i), or 10.1(j) of
this Agreement, the prior written notice shall be given in advance of the
effective date of termination as required by those provisions; and
(b) in the event that any termination is based upon the provisions
of Section 10.1(c) or 10.1(d) of this Agreement, the prior written notice shall
be given at least ninety (90) days before the effective date of termination.
10.4. Effect of Termination. Notwithstanding any termination of this
Agreement, the Company and INVESCO shall at the option of the Insurance Company,
continue to make available additional shares of the Company pursuant to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, for all Contracts in effect on the
effective date of termination of this Agreement ("Existing Contracts").
Specifically, without limitation, the owners of the Existing Contracts shall be
permitted to reallocate investments in the Company, redeem investments in the
Company and/or invest in the Company upon the making of additional purchase
payments under the Existing Contracts. The parties agree that this Section 10.4
shall not apply to any terminations under Article VII and the effect of Article
VII terminations shall be governed by Article VII of this Agreement. In
addition, with respect to Existing Contracts, all provisions of this Agreement
will survive and not be affected by any termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE XI. Notices.
Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or
certified mail to the other party at the address of that other party set forth
below or at such other address as the other party may from time to time specify
in writing.
If to the Company:
X.X. Xxx 000000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: General Counsel
If to the Insurance Company:
American Centurion Life Assurance Company
c/o American Express Financial Advisors Inc.
IDS Tower 10
Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxx Xxxxxxxxx
Manager - Product Development
with a simultaneous copy to:
American Centurion Life Assurance Company
c/o American Express Financial Advisors Inc.
IDS Tower 10
Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Counsel
If to INVESCO:
X.X. Xxx 000000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attention: General Counsel
ARTICLE XII. Miscellaneous
12.1. The Company and INVESCO acknowledge that the identities of the
customers of the Insurance Company or any of its affiliates (collectively, the
"Insurance Company Protected Parties" for purposes of this Section 12.1),
information maintained regarding those customers, and all computer programs and
procedures or other information developed or used by the Insurance Company
Protected Parties or any of their employees or agents in connection with the
Insurance Company's performance of its duties under this Agreement are the
valuable property of the Insurance Company Protected Parties. The Company and
INVESCO agree that if they come into possession of any list or compilation of
the identities of or other information about the Insurance Company Protected
Parties' customers, or any other information or property of the Insurance
Company Protected Parties, other than such information as may be independently
developed or compiled by the Company or INVESCO from information supplied to
them by the Insurance Company Protected Parties' customers who also maintain
accounts directly with the Company, INVESCO or other mutual funds advised by
INVESCO, the Company and INVESCO shall hold such information or property in
confidence and refrain from using, disclosing or distributing any of such
information or other property except: (i) with the Insurance Company's prior
written consent; or (ii) as required by law or judicial process. The Insurance
Company acknowledges that all computer programs, procedures and other
information developed or used by the Company or INVESCO (collectively, the
"INVESCO Protected Parties" for purposes of this Section 12.1) or any of their
employees or agents in connection with the Company's or INVESCO's performance of
their respective duties under this Agreement are the valuable property of the
INVESCO Protected Parties. The Insurance Company agrees that if it comes into
possession of any information or property of the INVESCO Protected Parties,
other than such information as may be independently developed or compiled by the
Insurance Company, the Insurance Company shall hold such information or property
in confidence and refrain from using, disclosing or distributing any of such
information or other property except: (i) with the prior written consent of
INVESCO and the Company; or (ii) as required by law or judicial process. Each
party acknowledges that any breach of the agreements in this Section 12.1 would
result in immediate and irreparable harm to the other parties for which there
would be no adequate remedy at law and agree that in the event of such a breach,
the other parties shall be entitled to equitable relief by way of temporary and
permanent injunctions, as well as such other relief as any court of competent
jurisdiction deems appropriate.
12.2. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of
reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or
otherwise affect their construction or effect.
12.3. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
12.4. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by
a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of the Agreement
shall not be affected thereby.
12.5. Each party hereto shall cooperate with each other party and all
appropriate governmental authorities (including without limitation the
Commission, the NASD and state insurance regulators) and shall permit those
authorities reasonable access to its books and records in connection with any
investigation or inquiry relating to this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby.
12.6. 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.
12.7. No party may assign this Agreement without the prior written
consent of the others.
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.
Insurance Company:
AMERICAN CENTURION LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY
By its authorized officer,
By: /s/
Title: Vice President, Variable Product Development
Date: 10/18/96
ATTEST:
By: /s/Xxxx X. Xxxxx
-----------------------------------
Title: General Counsel and Secretary
Date: 10/22/96
Company:
INVESCO VARIABLE INVESTMENT FUNDS, INC.
By its authorized officer,
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx
-----------------------------------
Title: Secretary
Date: December 4, 1996
INVESCO:
INVESCO FUNDS GROUP, INC.
By its authorized officer,
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-------------------------------
Title: Senior Vice President
Date: December 4, 1996
Schedule A
Accounts
Name of Account Date of Resolution of Insurance Company's
Board which Established the Account
ACL Variable Annuity Account 1 October 12, 1995
Schedule B
Contracts
American Centurion Life Assurance Company Deferred Annuity Contract
1. Contract Form 38501
2. Certificate Form 38502-NY
3. Certificate Form 38503-XXX-NY
Schedule C
Funds
INVESCO VIF - Industrial Income Portfolio
Schedule D
Persons Authorized to Give Instructions to the Company and INVESCO
NAME ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER
(1) Xxxx Xxxxxx T11/1438
Print or Type Name
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx 612/671-1175
--------------------
Signature Phone
(2) Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx T11/125
Print or Type Name
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx 612/671-3182
-------------------
Signature Phone
(3) Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx T11/125
Print or Type Name
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx 612/671-2748
----------------------
Signature Phone
(4) Xxxx Xxxxxx T11/125
Print or Type Name
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx 612/671-5003
----------------------
Signature Phone
(5) Xxx Xxxxx T11/1438
Print or Type Name
/s/ Xxx Xxxxx 612/671-6165
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Signature Phone
(6) Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx T11/125
Print or Type Name
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx 612/671-1978
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Signature Phone
(7) Xxxx Xxxxxxxx T11-125
Print or Type Name
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxx 612/671-2037
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Signature Phone
(8) Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx T11/125
Print or Type Name
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx 612/671-3843
--------------------
Signature Phone
(9) Xxxxxx Xxxxx T11/1438
Print or Type Name
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxx 612/671-1148
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Signature Phone
(10 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx T11/125
Print or Type Name
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx 612/671-0495
--------------------
Signature Phone
(9) Xxx Xxxxxx T11/125
Print or Type Name
/s/ Xxx Xxxxxx 612/671-3616
--------------------
Signature Phone
All addresses are XXX Xxxxx 00, Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000.
