PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
By and Among
QUEST FOR VALUE ACCUMULATION TRUST
And
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
And
QUEST FOR VALUE DISTRIBUTORS
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this 21st day of February
1995 by and among American Enterprise Life Insurance Company, an Indiana
Corporation (hereinafter the "Company"), on its own behalf and on behalf of
each separate account of the Company named in Schedule 1 to this Agreement,
as may be amended from time to time (each account referred to as the
"Account"), QUEST FOR VALUE ACCUMULATION TRUST, an open-end diversified
management investment company organized under the laws of the State of
Massachusetts (hereinafter the "Fund") and QUEST FOR VALUE DISTRIBUTORS, a
Delaware general partnership (hereinafter the "Underwriter").
WHEREAS, the Fund engages in business as an open-end diversified,
management investment company and was established for the purpose of serving
as the investment vehicle for separate accounts established for variable life
insurance contracts and variable annuity contracts to be offered by insurance
companies which have entered into participation agreements substantially
identical to this Agreement (hereinafter "Participating Insurance Companies");
and
WHEREAS, beneficial interests in the Fund are divided into several
series of shares, each representing the interest in a particular managed
portfolio of securities and other assets (the "Portfolios"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund has filed an application with the Securities &
Exchange Commission (alternatively referred to as the "SEC" or the
"Commission") to request an order granting Participating Insurance Companies
and variable annuity separate accounts and variable life insurance separate
accounts relief 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 separate accounts and variable life insurance separate accounts of
both affiliated and unaffiliated Participating Insurance Companies and
qualified pension and retirement plans (hereinafter the "application for a
mixed and shared funding exemptive order"). The parties to this Agreement
agree that the conditions or undertakings specified in the application for a
mixed and shared funding exemptive order and that may be imposed on the
Company, the Fund and/or the Underwriter by virtue of the receipt of such
order by the SEC shall be incorporated herein by reference, as of the date
such order is granted and such parties agree to comply with such conditions
and undertakings to the extent applicable to each such party; and
WHEREAS, the Fund 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
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WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register certain variable
annuity contracts (the "Contracts") under the 1933 Act; and
WHEREAS, the Account is a duly organized, validly existing segregated
asset account, established by resolution of the Board of Directors of the
Company under the insurance laws of the State of Indiana, to set aside and
invest assets attributable to the Contracts; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered the subaccounts of the Account
together 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 of the Portfolios named in
Schedule 2 on behalf of the Account to fund the 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 Fund which the Company orders on behalf of the Account, executing such
orders on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt and
acceptance by the Fund or its agent of the order
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for the shares of the Fund. For purposes of this Section 1.1, the Company shall
be the designee of the Fund for receipt of such orders from each Account and
receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund; provided that the
Fund receives notice of such order by 10:00 a.m. Eastern 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.
1.2. The Company shall pay for Fund shares on the next Business Day
after it places an order to purchase Fund shares in accordance with Section 1.1
hereof. Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire.
1.3. The Fund agrees to make its shares available indefinitely for
purchase at the applicable net asset value per share by Participating Insurance
Companies and their separate accounts on those days on which the Fund calculates
its net asset value pursuant to rules of the SEC; provided, however, that the
Board of Trustees of the Fund (hereinafter the "Directors") may refuse to sell
shares of any Portfolio to any person, or suspend or terminate the offering of
shares of any Portfolio if such action is required by law or by regulatory
authorities having jurisdiction or is, in the sole discretion of the Directors,
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 any Portfolio.
1.4. The Fund and the Underwriter agree that shares of the Fund will
be sold only to Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts,
qualified pension and retirement plans or such other persons as are permitted
under applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
(the "Internal Revenue Code"), and regulations promulgated
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thereunder, the sale to which will not impair the tax treatment currently
afforded the Contracts. No shares of any Portfolio will be sold to the general
public.
1.5. The Fund and the Underwriter will not sell Fund shares to any
insurance company or separate account unless an agreement containing provisions
substantially the same as Articles I, III, V, and VII of this Agreement are in
effect to govern such sales. The Fund shall make available upon written request
from the Company (i) a list of all other Participating Insurance Companies and
(ii) a copy of the Participation Agreement executed by any other Participating
Insurance Company.
1.6. The Fund agrees to redeem for cash, upon the Company's request,
any full or fractional shares of the Fund held by the Company, executing such
requests on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt and
acceptance by the Fund or its agent of the request for redemption. For purposes
of this Section 1.6, the Company shall be the designee of the Fund for receipt
of requests for redemption from each Account and receipt by such designee shall
constitute receipt by the Fund; provided the Fund receives notice of request for
redemption by 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the next following Business Day.
Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire to the Company's account
as designated by the Company in writing from time to time, on the same Business
Day the Fund receives notice of the redemption order from the Company except
that the Fund reserves the right to delay payment of redemption proceeds, but in
no event may such payment be delayed longer than the period permitted under
Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act. Neither the Fund nor the Underwriter shall bear
any responsibility whatsoever for the proper disbursement or crediting of
redemption proceeds; the Company alone shall be
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responsible for such action. If notification of redemption is received after
10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, payment for redeemed shares will be made on the next
following Business Day.
1.7. The Company agrees to purchase and redeem the shares of the
Portfolios named in Schedule 2 offered by the then current prospectus of the
Fund in accordance with the provisions of such prospectus. The Company agrees
that all net amounts available under the Contracts shall be invested in the
Fund, or in the Company's general account; provided that such amounts may also
be invested in an investment company other than the Fund if (a) such other
investment company, or series thereof, has investment objectives or policies
that are substantially different from the investment objectives and policies of
the Portfolios of the Fund named in Schedule 2; or (b) the Company gives the
Fund and the Underwriter 45 days written notice of its intention to make such
other investment company available as a funding vehicle for the Contracts; or
(c) such other investment company was available as a funding vehicle for the
Contracts prior to the date of this Agreement and the Company so informs the
Fund and Underwriter prior to their signing this Agreement; or (d) the Fund or
Underwriter consents in writing to the use of such other investment company.
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.
Purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares will be recorded in an
appropriate title for each Account or the appropriate subaccount of each
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 Fund's shares. The Company hereby
elects to receive all such dividends and
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distributions as are payable on the Portfolio shares in the form of additional
shares of that Portfolio. The Company reserves the right to revoke this
election and to receive all such dividends and distributions in cash. The 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
Portfolio available to the 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 such net asset value per share available by 5:30 p.m.,
Eastern Standard Time, each business day.
ARTICLE II. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
2.1. The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts are or
will be registered under the 1933 Act and that the Contracts will be issued
and sold in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws. The
Company further represents and warrants that it is an insurance company duly
organized and in good standing under applicable law and that it has legally
and validly established each Account as a separate account under applicable
state law and has registered the subaccounts of each Account together as a
unit investment trust in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act to
serve as segregated investment accounts for the Contracts, and that it will
maintain such registration for so long as any Contracts are outstanding. The
Company shall amend the registration statement under the 1933 Act for the
Contracts and the registration statement under the 1940 Act for the Account
from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of
the Contracts or as may otherwise be required by applicable
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law. The Company shall register and qualify the Contracts for sale in
accordance with the securities laws of the various states only if and to the
extent deemed necessary by the Company.
2.2. The Company represents that it believes that the Contracts are
currently and at the time of issuance will be treated as annuity contracts under
applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue 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 that the
Contracts have ceased to be so treated or that they might not be so treated in
the future.
2.3. The Fund represents and warrants that Fund shares sold pursuant
to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act and duly authorized for
issuance in accordance with applicable law and that the Fund is and shall remain
registered under the 1940 Act for as long as the Fund shares are sold. 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.
2.4. The Fund represents that it is currently qualified as a
Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code,
and that it will make every effort to maintain such qualification (under
Subchapter M or any successor or similar provision) 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.
2.5. The Fund represents that its investment objectives, policies and
restrictions comply with applicable state investment laws as they may apply to
the Fund. The Fund makes no
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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 and regulations of any state. The Company alone shall be
responsible for informing the Fund of any insurance restrictions imposed by
state insurance laws which are applicable to the Fund. To the extent feasible
and consistent with market conditions, the Fund will adjust its investments to
comply with the aforementioned state insurance laws upon written notice from the
Company of such requirements and proposed adjustments, it being agreed and
understood that in any such case the Fund shall be allowed a reasonable period
of time under the circumstances after receipt of such notice to make any such
adjustment.
2.6. The Fund 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 Fund
undertakes to have its Board of Trustees, a majority of whom are not interested
persons of the Fund, formulate and approve any plan under Rule 12b-1 to finance
distribution expenses.
2.7. The Underwriter represents and warrants that it is a member
in good standing of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.,
("NASD") and is registered as a broker dealer with the SEC. The Underwriter
further represents that it will sell and distribute the Fund shares in
accordance with all applicable federal and state securities laws, including
without limitation the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, and the 1940 Act.
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2.8. The Fund represents that it is lawfully organized and validly
existing under the laws of Massachusetts and that it does and will comply with
applicable provisions of the 0000 Xxx.
2.9. The Underwriter represents and warrants that the Fund's
Adviser, Quest for Value Advisors, is and shall remain duly registered under
all applicable federal and state securities laws and that the Adviser will
perform its obligations to the Fund in accordance with the laws of
Massachusetts and any applicable state and federal securities laws.
2.10. The Fund and Underwriter represent and warrant that all of
their directors, officers, employees, investment advisers, and other
individuals/entities having access to the funds and/or securities of the Fund
are and 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
minimal 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
includes coverage for larceny and embezzlement and is issued by a reputable
bonding company.
2.11. The Company represents and warrants that all of its directors,
officers, employees, investment advisers, and other individuals/entities dealing
with the money and/or securities of the Fund are covered by a blanket fidelity
bond or similar coverage for the benefit of the Fund, 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 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.
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ARTICLE III. PROSPECTUSES 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 as the Company
may reasonably request for use with prospective contractowners and
applicants. The Underwriter shall print and distribute, at the Fund's or
Underwriter's expense, as many copies of said prospectus as necessary for
distribution to existing contractowners or participants. If requested by the
Company in lieu thereof, the Fund shall provide such documentation including
a final copy of a current prospectus set in type at the Fund's expense and
other assistance as is reasonably necessary in order for the Company at least
annually (or more frequently if the Fund prospectus is amended more
frequently) to have the new prospectus for the Contracts and the Fund's new
prospectus printed together in one document, in such case the Fund shall bear
its share of expenses as described above.
3.2. The Fund's prospectus shall state that the Statement of
Additional Information for the Fund is available from the Underwriter or
alternatively from the Company (or, in the Fund's discretion, the Prospectus
shall state that such Statement is available from the Fund), and the Underwriter
(or the Fund) shall provide such Statement, at its expense, to the Company and
to any owner of or participant under a Contract who requests such Statement or,
at the Company's expense, to any prospective contractowner and applicant who
requests such statement.
3.3. The Fund, at its expense, shall provide the Company with copies
of its proxy material, if any, reports to shareholders and other communications
to shareholders in such
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quantity as the Company shall reasonably require and shall bear the costs of
distributing them to existing contractowners or participants.
3.4. If and to the extent required by law the Company shall:
(i) solicit voting instructions from contractowners or participants;
(ii) vote the Fund shares held in the Account in accordance with
instructions received from contractowners or participants; and
(iii) vote Fund shares held in the Account for which no timely
instructions have been received, in the same proportion as Fund
shares of such Portfolio for which instructions have been
received from the Company's contractowners or participants;
so long as and to the extent that the SEC continues to interpret the 1940 Act to
require pass through voting privileges for variable contractowners. 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. Participating Insurance
Companies shall be responsible for assuring that each of their separate accounts
participating in the Fund calculates voting privileges in a manner consistent
with other Participating Insurance Companies.
3.5. The Fund will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act
requiring voting by shareholders, and in particular as required, 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 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.
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ARTICLE IV. SALES MATERIAL AND INFORMATION
4.1. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to
the Fund or the Underwriter, each piece of sales literature or other promotional
material in which the Fund or the Fund's adviser or the Underwriter is named, at
least fifteen business days prior to its use. No such material shall be used if
the Fund or the Underwriter reasonably objects in writing to such use within
fifteen business days after receipt of such material.
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 for the
Fund shares, as such registration statement and prospectus may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, or in reports or proxy statements for the Fund,
or in sales literature or other promotional material approved by the Fund or by
the Underwriter, except with the permission of the Fund or the Underwriter. The
Fund and the Underwriter agree to respond to any request for approval on a
prompt and timely basis.
4.3. The Fund or the Underwriter 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 or its separate account is
named, at least fifteen business days prior to its use. No such material shall
be used if the Company reasonably objects in writing to such use within fifteen
business days after receipt of such material.
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, each Account, or the Contracts other than the information or
representations contained in a registration statement or
13
prospectus for the Contracts, as such registration statement and prospectus
may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in published reports for
each Account which are in the public domain or approved by the Company for
distribution to contractowners or participants, or in sales literature or
other promotional material approved by the Company, except with the
permission of the Company. The Company agrees to respond to any request for
approval on a prompt and timely basis.
4.5. The Fund will provide to the Company at least one complete
copy of all registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional
information, reports, proxy statements, sales literature and other
promotional materials, applications for exemptions, requests for no-action
letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that relate to the Fund or
its shares, contemporaneously with the filing of such document with the SEC
or other regulatory authorities.
4.6. The Company will provide to the Fund at least one complete
copy of all registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional
information, reports, solicitations for voting instructions, sales literature
and other promotional materials, applications for exemptions, requests for no
action letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that relate to the
Contracts or each Account, contemporaneously with the filing of such document
with the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
4.7. For purposes of this Article IV, the phrase "sales literature
or other promotional material" includes, but is not limited to,
advertisements (such as material published, or designed for use in, a
newspaper, magazine, or other periodical, radio, television, telephone or
tape recording, videotape display, signs or billboards, motion pictures, or
other public media), sales literature (i.e., any written communication
distributed or made generally available to
14
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, registration statements,
prospectuses, statements of additional information, shareholder reports, and
proxy materials and any other material constituting sales literature or
advertising under NASD rules, the 1940 Act or the 0000 Xxx.
4.8 The Company agrees and acknowledges that Xxxxxxxxxxx Capital
is the sole owner of name and xxxx "Quest for Value" and that all use of any
designation comprised in whole or part of such name or xxxx under this
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of Xxxxxxxxxxx Capital. Except as
provided in Section 4.1, the Company shall not use any such name or xxxx on
its own behalf or on behalf of each Account in connection with marketing the
Contracts without prior written consent of Xxxxxxxxxxx Capital. Xxxxxxxxxxx
Capital consents to the use of the name and xxxx "Quest for Value" in
connection with each Account, subject to the terms of this agreement. Upon
termination of this Agreement for any reason, the Company shall cease all use
of such name or xxxx.
ARTICLE V. FEES AND EXPENSES
5.1. The Fund and 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 under the
1940 Act to finance distribution expenses, then, subject to obtaining any
required exemptive orders or other regulatory approvals, the Underwriter may
make payments to the Company or to the underwriter for the Contracts if and
in amounts agreed
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may make payments to the Company or to the underwriter for the Contracts if
and in amounts agreed to by the Underwriter in writing. Currently, no such
payments are contemplated.
5.2. All expenses incident to performance by the Fund of this
Agreement shall be paid by the Fund to the extent permitted by law. All Fund
shares will be duly authorized for issuance and registered in accordance with
applicable federal law and to the extent deemed advisable by the Fund, in
accordance with applicable state law, prior to 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,
Fund proxy materials and reports, setting in type, printing and distributing
the prospectuses, the proxy materials and reports to existing shareholders
and contractowners, the preparation of all statements and notices required by
any federal or state law, all taxes on the issuance or transfer of the Fund's
shares, and any expenses permitted to be paid or assumed by the Fund pursuant
to a plan, if any, under Rule 12b 1 under the 1940 Act.
ARTICLE VI. DIVERSIFICATION
6.1. The Fund will at all times invest money from the Contracts in
such a manner as to ensure that the Contracts will be treated as variable
contracts under the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations issued
thereunder. Without limiting the scope of the foregoing, the Fund will comply
with Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code and Treasury Regulation
1.817-5, relating to the diversification requirements for variable annuity,
endowment, or life insurance contracts and any amendments or other
modifications to such Section or Regulations in accordance with guidelines
provided by the Company prior to the execution of this Agreement
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and as necessary thereafter. 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
with the grace period afforded by Treasury Regulation 1.817-5.
ARTICLE VII. POTENTIAL CONFLICTS
7.1. The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Fund Board") will
monitor the Fund for the existence of any material irreconcilable conflict
among the interests of the contractowners 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 investments of any
Portfolio are being managed; (e) a difference in voting instructions given by
Participating Insurance Companies or by variable annuity contract and
variable life insurance contractowners; or (f) a decision by an insurer to
disregard the voting instructions of contractowners. The Board shall
promptly inform the Company if it determines that an irreconcilable material
conflict exists and the implications thereof. A majority of the Fund Board
shall consist of persons who are not "interested" persons of the Fund.
7.2. The Company will report any potential or existing conflicts
of which it is aware to the Fund Board. The Company agrees to assist the
Fund Board in carrying out its responsibilities as delineated in the
application for a mixed and shared funding exemptive order, by
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providing the Fund Board with all information reasonably necessary for the Fund
Board to consider any issues raised. This includes, but is not limited to, an
obligation by the Company to inform the Fund Board whenever contractowner voting
instructions are disregarded. The Fund Board shall record in its minutes or
other appropriate records, all reports received by it and all action with regard
to a conflict.
7.3. If it is determined by a majority of the Fund Board, or a
majority of its disinterested Directors, that an irreconcilable material
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 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
subaccounts 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
contractowners and, as appropriate, segregating the assets of any appropriate
group (i.e., variable annuity contractowners or variable life insurance
contractowners, of one or more Participating Insurance Companies) that votes
in favor of such segregation, or offering to the affected contractowners the
option of making such a change; and (2) establishing a new registered
management investment company or managed separate account.
7.4. If the Company's disregard of voting instructions could
conflict with the majority of contractowner voting instructions, and the
Company's judgment represents a minority position or would preclude a
majority vote, the Company may be required, at the Fund's election, to
withdraw the affected subaccount of the Account's investment in the Fund and
terminate this
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Agreement with respect to such subaccount of the Account. Any such
withdrawal and termination must take place within 60 days after the Fund
gives written notice to the Company that this provision is being implemented.
Until the end of such 60 day period the Underwriter and 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 particular state insurance regulator's decision
applicable to the Company conflicts with the majority of other state
insurance regulators, then the Company will withdraw the affected subaccount
of the Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with
respect to such subaccount of the Account. Any such withdrawal and
termination must take place within 60 days after the Fund gives written
notice to the Company that this provision is being implemented. Until the
end of such 60 day period the Underwriter and 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 Sections 7.3 through 7.6 of this Agreement, a
majority of the disinterested members of the Fund 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 Contracts if an offer
to do so has been declined by vote of a majority of contractowners materially
adversely affected by the irreconcilable material conflict.
7.7. The Company shall at least annually submit to the Fund Board
such reports, materials or data as the Fund Board may reasonably request so
that the Fund Board may fully carry out the duties imposed upon it as
delineated in the application for a mixed and shared
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funding exemptive order, and said reports, materials and data shall be
submitted more frequently if deemed appropriate by the Fund Board.
7.8. 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 application for a mixed and shared
funding exemptive order) on terms and conditions materially different from
those contained in the application for a mixed and shared funding exemptive
order and/or a Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order, once issued, 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, 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
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund,
the Underwriter, and each person, if any, who controls or is associated with
the Fund or the Underwriter within the meaning of such terms under the
federal securities laws 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
Company) or litigation (including reasonable legal
20
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:
(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 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 in light of the circumstances in which they were made;
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 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 Fund shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations by
or on behalf of the Company (other than statements or
representations contained in the Fund registration statement,
Fund prospectus, Fund statement of additional information 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 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 the Fund registration statement,
Fund prospectus, statement of additional information 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 in light of the circumstances in which they were made,
if such a statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished to the Fund by or on behalf
of the Company or persons under its control; or
21
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Company to provide the
services and furnish the materials or to make any payments under
the terms of this Agreement; or
(v) arise out of 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 by the Company of this
Agreement;
except to the extent provided in Sections 8.1(b) and 8.3 hereof. This
indemnification shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may
otherwise have.
(b) No party shall be entitled to indemnification if such loss, claim,
damage, liability or litigation is due to the willful misfeasance, bad faith,
gross negligence or reckless disregard of duty by the party seeking
indemnification.
(c) 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
(a) The Underwriter, on its own behalf and on behalf of the Fund,
agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each person, if any,
who controls or is associated with the Company within the meaning of such
terms under the federal securities laws 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
the Underwriter) or litigation (including reasonable legal and other
expenses) to which the indemnified parties may become subject under
22
any statute, regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or
settlements:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in the
registration statement, prospectus or statement of additional
information for the Fund 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 in light of the circumstances
in which they were made; 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 by or on behalf of the
Company for use in the registration statement, prospectus or
statement of additional information for the Fund or in sales
literature of the Fund (or any amendment or supplement thereto)
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
Contracts or in the Contract or Fund registration statement, the
Contract or Fund prospectus or statement of additional
information or sales literature or other promotional material
for the Contracts or of the Fund not supplied by the Underwriter
or the Fund or persons under the control of the Underwriter or
the Fund respectively) or wrongful conduct of the Underwriter or
the Fund or persons under the control of the Underwriter or the
Fund respectively, 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, statement of additional information or sales
literature or other promotional material 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 in light of the
circumstances in which they were made, if such statement or
omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished to the Company by or on
23
behalf of the Underwriter or the Fund or persons under the
control of the Underwriter or the Fund; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund to provide the
services and furnish the materials under the terms of this
Agreement (including a failure, whether unintentional or in good
faith or otherwise, to comply with the diversification
requirements and procedures related thereto specified in Article
VI of this Agreement except if such failure is a result of the
Company's failure to comply with the notification procedures
specified in Article VI); or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Underwriter or the
Fund in this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other
material breach of this Agreement by the Underwriter or the
Fund;
except to the extent provided in Sections 8.2(b) and 8.3 hereof. This
indemnification shall be in addition to any liability which the Underwriter
may otherwise have.
(b) No party shall be entitled to indemnification if such loss, claim,
damage, liability or litigation is due to the willful misfeasance, bad faith,
gross negligence or reckless disregard of duty by the party seeking
indemnification.
(c) The indemnified parties will promptly notify the Underwriter and
the Fund of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against them
in connection with the issuance or sale of the Contracts or the operation of
the Account.
8.3. INDEMNIFICATION PROCEDURE
Any person obligated to provide indemnification under this Article
VIII ("indemnifying party" for the purpose of this Section 8.3) shall not be
liable under the indemnification provisions of this Article VIII with respect
to any claim made against a party entitled to indemnification under this
Article VIII ("indemnified party" for the purpose of this
24
Section 8.3) unless such indemnified party shall have notified the indemnifying
party 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 party shall have received notice of
such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the indemnifying
party of any such claim shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any
liability which it may have to the indemnified party against whom such action is
brought under the indemnification provision of this Article VIII, except to the
extent that the failure to notify results in the failure of actual notice to the
indemnifying party and such indemnifying party is damaged solely as a result of
failure to give such notice. In case any such action is brought against the
indemnified party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate, at
its own expense, in the defense thereof. The indemnifying party also shall be
entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party
named in the action. After notice from the indemnifying party to the
indemnified party of the indemnifying party'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 indemnifying party 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, unless (i) the indemnifying party
and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such
counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any
impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party
and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate
due to actual or potential differing interests between them. The indemnifying
party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without
its written consent but if
25
settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff,
the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and
against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.
A successor by law of the parties to this Agreement shall be
entitled to the benefits of the indemnification contained in this Article
VIII. The indemnification provisions contained in this Article VIII shall
survive any termination of this Agreement.
8.4. CONTRIBUTION
In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in
circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is
due in accordance with its terms but for any reason is held to be
unenforceable with respect to a party entitled to indemnification
("indemnified party" for purposes of this Section 8.4) pursuant to the terms
of this Section 8, then each party obligated to indemnify pursuant to the
terms of this Section 8 shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by
such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and litigations in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative benefits received by the parties to this Agreement in connection
with the offering of Fund shares to the Account and the acquisition, holding
or sale of Fund shares by the Account, or if such allocation is not permitted
by applicable law, in such proportions as is appropriate to reflect the
relative net benefits referred to above but also the relative fault of the
parties to this Agreement in connection with any actions that lead to such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigations, as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations.
ARTICLE IX. APPLICABLE LAW
26
9.1. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
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 grant (including, but not limited to, a Mixed and
Shared Funding Exemptive Order received pursuant to the application for a
mixed and shared 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 one-year advance written
notice to the other parties unless otherwise agreed in a separate written
agreement among the parties; or
(b) at the option of the Company if shares of the Portfolios
delineated in Schedule 2 are not reasonably available to meet the
requirements of the Contracts as determined by the Company; or
(c) at the option of the Fund upon institution of formal
proceedings against the Company by the NASD, the SEC, the insurance commission
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 administration of
the Contracts, the operation of the Account, or the purchase of the Fund shares,
which would have a material adverse effect on the Company's ability to perform
its obligations under this Agreement; or
27
(d) at the option of the Company upon institution of formal
proceedings against the Fund by the NASD, the SEC, or any state securities or
insurance department or any other regulatory body, which would have a
material adverse effect on the Fund's ability to perform its obligations
under this Agreement; or
(e) at the option of the Company or the Fund upon receipt of
any necessary regulatory approvals and/or the vote of the contractowners
having an interest in the Account (or any subaccount) to substitute the
shares of another investment company for the corresponding Portfolio shares
of the Fund in accordance with the terms of the Contracts for which those
Portfolio shares had been selected to serve as the underlying investment
media. The Company will give 30 days prior written notice to the Fund of the
date of any proposed vote or other action taken to replace the Fund's shares;
or
(f) at the option of the Company or the Fund upon a
determination by a majority of the Fund Board, or a majority of the
disinterested Fund Board members, that an irreconcilable material conflict
exists among the interests of (i) all contractowners of variable insurance
products of all separate accounts or (ii) the interests of the Participating
Insurance Companies investing in the Fund as delineated in Article VII of
this Agreement; or
(g) at the option of the Company if the Fund ceases to
qualify as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Internal
Revenue Code, or under any successor or similar provision, or if the Company
reasonably believes that the Fund may fail to so qualify; or
(h) at the option of the Company if the Fund fails to meet
the diversification requirements specified in Article VI hereof; or
28
(i) at the option of any party to this Agreement, upon
another party's material breach of any provision of this Agreement; or
(j) at the option of the Company, if the Company determines
in its sole judgment exercised in good faith, that either the Fund or the
Underwriter has suffered a material adverse change in its business,
operations or financial condition since the date of this Agreement or is the
subject of material adverse publicity which is likely to have a material
adverse impact upon the business and operations of the Company; or
(k) at the option of the Fund or Underwriter, if the Fund or
Underwriter respectively, shall determine in its sole judgment exercised in
good faith, that the Company has suffered a material adverse change in its
business, operations or financial condition since the date of this Agreement
or is the subject of material adverse publicity which is likely to have a
material adverse impact upon the business and operations of the Fund or
Underwriter; or
(l) at the option of the Fund in the event any of the
Contracts are not issued or sold in accordance with applicable federal and/or
state law. Termination shall be effective immediately upon such occurrence
without notice.
10.2. NOTICE REQUIREMENT
(a) In the event that any termination of this Agreement is
based upon the provisions of Article VII, such prior written notice shall be
given in advance of the effective date of termination as required by such
provisions.
(b) In the event that any termination of this Agreement is
based upon the provisions of Sections 10.1(b) - (d) or 10.1(g) - (i), prompt
written notice of the election to terminate this Agreement for cause shall be
furnished by the party terminating the Agreement to
29
the non-terminating parties, with said termination to be effective upon receipt
of such notice by the non-terminating parties.
(c) In the event that any termination of this Agreement is based
upon the provisions of Sections 10.1(j) or 10.1(k), prior written notice of the
election to terminate this Agreement for cause shall be furnished by the party
terminating this Agreement to the non-terminating parties. Such prior written
notice shall be given by the party terminating this Agreement to the non-
terminating parties at least 30 days before the effective date of termination.
10.3. It is understood and agreed that the right to terminate this
Agreement pursuant to Section 10.1(a) may be exercised for any reason or for no
reason.
10.4. EFFECT OF TERMINATION
(a) Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement,
subject to Section 1.3 of this Agreement, the Company may require the Fund
and the Underwriter to continue to make available additional shares of the
Fund for so long after the termination of this Agreement as the Company
desires pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement as provided in
paragraph (b) below, for all Contracts in effect on the effective date of
termination of this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as "Existing
Contracts"). Specifically, without limitation, the owners of the Existing
Contracts shall 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 10.4 shall not apply to any terminations under Article VII
and the effect of such Article VII terminations shall be governed by Article
VII of this Agreement.
30
(b) If shares of the Fund continue to be made available after
termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.4, the provisions of
this Agreement shall remain in effect except for Section 10.1(a) and thereafter
the Fund, the Underwriter, or the Company may terminate the Agreement, as so
continued pursuant to this Section 10.4, upon written notice to the other party,
such notice to be for a period that is reasonable under the circumstances but,
if given by the Fund or Underwriter, need not be for more than 90 days.
10.5. Except as necessary to implement contractowner initiated or
approved transactions, or as required by state insurance laws or regulations,
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), and the Company shall not prevent contractowners from allocating
payments to a Portfolio that was otherwise available under the Contracts, until
90 days after the Company shall have notified the Fund or Underwriter of its
intention to do so.
ARTICLE XI. NOTICES
Any notice shall be deemed duly given only if sent by hand, evidenced by
written receipt or by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the other
party at the address of such party set forth below or at such other address
as such party may from time to time specify in writing to the other party.
All notices shall be deemed given three business days after the date received
or rejected by the addressee.
If to the Fund:
Xx. Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, President
Quest For Value Advisors
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
31
If to the Company:
American Enterprise Life Insurance Company
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: President
If to the Underwriter:
Xx. Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Secretary
Quest for Value Distributors
Two World Financial Center
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
ARTICLE XII. MISCELLANEOUS
12.1. All persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the
property of the Fund for the enforcement of any claims against the Fund as
neither the Directors, officers, agents or shareholders assume any personal
liability for obligations entered into on behalf of the Fund.
12.2. Subject to law and regulatory authority, each party hereto
shall treat as confidential all information reasonably identified as such in
writing by any other party hereto (including without limitation the names and
addresses of the owners of the Contracts) and, except as contemplated by this
Agreement, shall not disclose, disseminate or utilize such confidential
information until such time as it may come into the public domain without the
express prior written consent of the affected party.
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.
32
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. This Agreement shall not be assigned by any party hereto
without the prior written consent of all the parties.
12.7. 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 each other and 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.
12.8. Each party represents that the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate or trust action, as applicable, by
such party and when so executed and delivered this Agreement will be the valid
and binding obligation of such party enforceable in accordance with its terms.
12.9. The parties to this Agreement may amend the schedules to this
Agreement from time to time to reflect changes in or relating to the Contracts,
the Accounts or the Portfolios of the Fund.
33
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this
Agreement to be executed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized
representative and its seal to be hereunder affixed hereto as of the date
specified below.
COMPANY:
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE LIFE
INSURANCE COMPANY
SEAL By:
------------------------------
Fund:
QUEST FOR VALUE ACCUMULATION TRUST
SEAL By:
------------------------------
UNDERWRITER:
QUEST FOR VALUE DISTRIBUTORS
SEAL By:
------------------------------
34
SCHEDULE 1
Participation Agreement
Among
Quest for Value Accumulation Trust, American Enterprise Life Insurance Company
and
Quest for Value Distributors
The following separate accounts of American Enterprise Life Insurance Company
are permitted in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement to invest
in Portfolios of the Fund shown in Schedule 2:
American Enterprise Variable Annuity Account, established July 15, 1987
February 21, 1995
SCHEDULE 2
Participation Agreement
Among
Quest for Value Accumulation Trust, American Enterprise Life Insurance Company
and
Quest for Value Distributors
The Separate Account(s) shown on Schedule 1 may invest in the following
Portfolios of the Quest for Value Accumulation Trust:
Managed Portfolio
U.S. Government Income Portfolio
February 21, 1995
