PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT By and Among PACIFIC LIFE & ANNUITY COMPANY And GE INVESTMENTS FUNDS, INC. And GE INVESTMENT DISTRIBUTORS, INC. And GE ASSET MANAGEMENT INCORPORATED
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
By and Among
PACIFIC LIFE & ANNUITY COMPANY
And
GE INVESTMENTS FUNDS, INC.
And
GE INVESTMENT DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
And
GE ASSET MANAGEMENT INCORPORATED
By and Among
PACIFIC LIFE & ANNUITY COMPANY
And
GE INVESTMENTS FUNDS, INC.
And
GE INVESTMENT DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
And
GE ASSET MANAGEMENT INCORPORATED
THIS PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), made and entered into as of the
1st day of December, 2008, by and among PACIFIC LIFE & ANNUITY COMPANY, organized under
the laws of the state of Nebraska (the “Company”), on its own behalf and on behalf of each
segregated asset account of the Company named in Schedule 1 (Registered Accounts) and Schedule 2
(Unregistered Accounts) to this Agreement as may be amended from time to time (each account
individually referred to as an “Account” and collectively referred to as the “Accounts”), GE
INVESTMENTS FUNDS, INC., an open-end management investment company organized under the laws of the
Commonwealth of Virginia (the “Fund”) on its own behalf and on behalf of the Portfolios named in
Schedule 3 (Portfolios) to this Agreement (each portfolio individually referred to as a “Portfolio”
and collectively referred to as the “Portfolios”); GE INVESTMENT DISTRIBUTORS, INC., a corporation
organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Distributor”); and GE ASSET MANAGEMENT
INCORPORATED, a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Adviser”).
WHEREAS, the Fund engages in business as an open-end 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 that have entered into participation agreements similar to this Agreement (the
“Participating Insurance Companies”) and for qualified pension and retirement plans; and
WHEREAS, the Fund has received an order from the Securities & Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)
granting Participating Insurance Companies 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, (the “1940 Act”) and Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15) thereunder, to the
extent necessary to permit Fund shares of a Portfolio 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 outside of the
separate account context (the “Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order”); and
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment company under the 1940
Act and its shares of stock representing an interest in the Portfolios shown on Schedule 3 (the
“Shares”) are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”); and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered each Account listed on Schedule 1 as a unit investment
trust under the 1940 Act; and
WHEREAS, each Account listed on Schedule 2 is excluded from the definition of an investment
company as provided for by Section 3(c)(11) of the 1940 Act; and
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WHEREAS, the Company issues certain other variable life insurance and variable annuity
policies (the “Contracts”) set forth in Schedule 4 (Registered Contracts), interests under which
have been or will be registered with the SEC under the 1933 Act; and
WHEREAS, the Company may issue certain other variable annuity contracts (also hereinafter
included within the term “Contracts”) to trustees of both qualified pension and profit-sharing
plans and certain government employee benefit plans as identified in Section 3(a)(2) of the 1933
Act, set forth in Schedule 5 (Exempt Contracts) hereto; and
WHEREAS, the Company may issue certain variable annuity insurance contracts (also hereinafter
included within the term “Contracts”) set forth in Schedule 6 (Contracts with Accredited
Investors), for sale to “accredited investors” as that term is defined in Regulation D promulgated
under the 1933 Act (hereinafter “Regulation D”), or other investors permitted by Regulation D; and
WHEREAS, Pacific Select Distributors, Inc., the principal underwriter and distributor of the
variable annuity contracts and life insurance policies (“Contract Distributor”), is registered as
a broker-dealer with the SEC under the 1934 Act and is a member in good standing with the
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”); and
WHEREAS, each Account listed on Schedule 7 is excluded from the definition of an investment
company as provided by Section 3(c)(1) or Section 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act; and
WHEREAS, each Account is a duly organized, validly existing segregated asset account,
established by resolution or under authority of the board of directors of the Company, to set aside
and invest assets attributable to the Contracts; and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and regulations, the Company
intends to purchase Shares of the Portfolios named in Schedule 3, as such schedule may be amended
from time to time on behalf of the Accounts to fund the Contracts, and the Fund is authorized to
sell such Shares to the Accounts at net asset value; and
WHEREAS, the Fund, acting through the Fund’s transfer agent, has established a master account
on its mutual fund shareholder account system (the “T/A Account”) reflecting the aggregate
ownership of Shares of the Fund and all transactions involving such Shares by the Company on behalf
of the Accounts; and
WHEREAS, in the event both parties agree to use National Securities Clearing Corporation
(“NSCC”) Fund/SERV System (“Fund/SERV System”), upon notification to the Fund of such availability,
the parties may permit the Fund to receive, and the Company to transmit, purchase and redemption
orders of Portfolio Shares using the NSCC Fund/SERV System; and
WHEREAS, upon such notification, in order to receive and transmit orders for Fund Shares via
Fund/SERV, it is intended that the Fund and the Company, or their duly authorized agents, will
establish an account using Fund/SERV (the “Fund/SERV Account”) that will reflect corresponding
transactions and Fund Share balances in the T/A Account.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Company, the Fund, the
Distributor and the Adviser agree as follows:
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ARTICLE I. Sale of Shares
1.1. Subject to Article X hereof, the Fund agrees to make available to the Company for purchase on
behalf of the Accounts, Shares of those Portfolios listed on Schedule 3 to this Agreement, such
purchases to be effected at net asset value in accordance with Section 1.3 hereof. Notwithstanding
the foregoing:
(a) The Company may offer additional Portfolios and Classes of Shares (other than those
listed on Schedule 3) on terms and conditions negotiated from time to time among the
parties.
(b) The board of directors of the Fund (the “Board”) may suspend or terminate the offering
of the Shares of any Portfolio, if such action is required by law or by regulatory
authorities having jurisdiction or if, in the sole discretion of the Board acting in good
faith and in light of its fiduciary duties under federal and any applicable state securities
laws, suspension or termination is necessary and in the best
interests of the shareholders
of such Portfolio.
1.2. The Fund shall redeem, at the Company’s request, any full or fractional Shares held by the
Company on behalf of an Account, such redemptions to be effected at net asset value in accordance
with Section 1.3 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund may delay redemption
of Shares, and the Fund reserves the right to make payment in any manner permitted under the
procedures and policies of the Fund, as described in the then current registration statement and to
the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, and any rules, regulations or orders thereunder.
1.3. Purchase and Redemption Procedures
(a) The Fund hereby appoints the Company as its agent for the limited purpose of receiving
purchase and redemption requests on behalf of the Accounts listed on Schedules 1, 2 and 7,
where permitted by applicable law, for Shares made available hereunder, based on allocations
of amounts to such Accounts or subaccounts thereof under the Contracts listed in Schedules
4, 5 and 6 and other transactions relating to such Contracts or such Accounts; provided,
however, that if applicable law is amended in the future to prevent the foregoing, the
Company shall only act as the Fund’s agent for the limited purpose of receiving purchase and
redemption requests on behalf of the Accounts listed on Schedule 1 (but not on behalf of the
Accounts listed on Schedules 2 and 7 or with respect to any Shares that may be held in the
general account of the Company). Receipt of any such request (or relevant transactional
information therefor), by the Company as such limited agent of the Fund, on any day the New
York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for trading and on which the Fund calculates its net
asset value pursuant to the rules of the SEC (a “Business Day”) prior to the time that the
Fund ordinarily calculates its net asset value as described from time to time in the Fund’s
prospectus (which as of the date of execution of this Agreement is the close of regular
trading on the NYSE) shall constitute receipt by the Fund on that same Business Day,
provided that:
(i) if the Company transmits such request to the Fund via the National Securities
Clearing Corporation’s (the “NSCC”) Fund/SERV System and/or Defined Contribution
Clearance & Settlement (“DCC&S”) platform, such request must be received by the
Company by the close of regular trading on the NYSE (or such reasonably earlier time
designated by the Company in response to a change by the NSCC in the deadline for
receipt of requests via its systems) and must be transmitted by the Company to the
Fund in the time and manner designated by the NSCC pursuant to Rule 22c-1 of the
1940 Act
(which as of the date of execution of this Agreement is 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on
the next following Business Day); or
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(ii) If there are technical problems with Fund/SERV, or if the parties are not able
to transmit or receive information through Fund/SERV (e.g., by fax), such request
must be received by the Fund by 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the next following
Business Day.
With regard to purchase and redemptions of Shares under this Section 1.3(a), the Company is
solely responsible for ensuring that each such purchase or redemption is the net result of
requests from Contract owners for Contract transactions received by it or its duly
designated agent each Business Day before the time(s) that the Fund calculates its net asset
value.
(b) The Company shall pay for Shares on the same day that it notifies the Fund of a purchase
request for such Shares. Payment for Shares shall be made in federal funds transmitted to
the Fund by wire to be received by the Fund by 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the day the Fund is
notified of the purchase request for Shares (unless the Fund determines and so advises the
Company that sufficient proceeds are available from redemption of Shares of other Portfolios
effected pursuant to redemption requests tendered by the Company on behalf of an Account).
Upon receipt of federal funds so wired, such funds shall cease to be the responsibility of
the Company and shall become the responsibility of the Fund.
(c) Payment for Shares redeemed by the Company on behalf of an Account shall be made in
federal funds transmitted by wire to the Company or any other designated person on the next
Business Day after the Fund is properly notified of the redemption order of such Shares
(unless redemption proceeds are to be applied to the purchase of Shares of other Portfolios
in accordance with Section 1.3(b) of this Agreement), except that the Fund reserves the
right to delay payment of redemption proceeds to the extent permitted under Section 22(e) of
the 1940 Act and any rules thereunder, and to make payment in any manner permitted under the
procedures and policies of the Fund as described in the then current registration statement.
The Fund shall not bear any responsibility whatsoever for the proper disbursement or
crediting of redemption proceeds by the Company; the Company alone shall be responsible for
such action.
(d) Any purchase or redemption request for Shares held or to be held in the Company’s
general account shall be effected at the closing net asset value per Share next determined
after the Fund’s receipt of such request, provided that, in the case of a purchase request,
payment for Shares so requested is received by the Fund in federal funds prior to close of
business for determination of such value, as defined from time to time in the Fund
Prospectus.
1.4. The Fund shall use its best efforts to make the closing net asset value per Share for each
Portfolio available to the Company by 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time each Business Day, and in any event,
as soon as reasonably practicable after the closing net asset value per Share for such Portfolio is
calculated, and shall calculate such closing net asset value in accordance with the Fund’s
Prospectus. Neither the Fund, any Portfolio, the Distributor, nor any of their affiliates shall be
liable for any information provided to the Company pursuant to this Agreement which information is
based on incorrect information supplied by the Company to the Fund or the Distributor. Neither the
Company nor any of its affiliates shall be liable for any information provided to the Fund, the
Distributor or the Adviser pursuant to this Agreement which information is based on incorrect
information supplied by the Fund, the Distributor, or the Adviser to the Company. Any material
error in the calculation or reporting of the closing net asset value per Share shall be reported
promptly upon discovery to the Company. In such event the Company shall be entitled to an
adjustment to the number of Shares purchased or redeemed to reflect the correct closing net asset
value per Share and the Fund shall bear the reasonable direct cost of correcting such errors;
provided, however, that if such errors are directly caused by the Company’s breach of this
Agreement or its willful misconduct or negligence in the performance of, or failure to perform, its
obligations hereunder, the
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Company shall be liable for such cost of correcting such errors. Any
error of a lesser amount shall be corrected as soon as reasonably practicable.
1.5. The Company, on its behalf and on behalf of each Account, hereby elects to receive all
dividends and distributions as are payable on any Shares in the form of additional Shares of that
Portfolio. The Company reserves the right, on its behalf and on behalf of the Accounts, to revoke
this election and to receive all such dividends and capital gain distributions in cash. The Fund
shall notify the Company promptly of the number of Shares so issued as payment of such dividends
and distributions.
1.6. Issuance and transfer of Shares shall be by book entry only. Stock certificates will not be
issued to the Company or any Account. Purchase and redemption orders for Shares shall be recorded
in an appropriate ledger for each Account or the appropriate subaccount of an Account.
1.7. | (a) The parties hereto acknowledge that the arrangement contemplated by this Agreement is not exclusive; except as provided in this Section 1.7, the Shares may be sold to other insurance companies (subject to Section 1.8 hereof) and amounts allocated to the Contracts may be invested in other investment companies, subject to the terms of such Contracts. | |
(b) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the Distributor (unless otherwise required by applicable law), take any action to operate any Account that is a unit investment trust as a management investment company under the 1940 Act. | ||
(c) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the Distributor (unless otherwise required by applicable law), induce Contract owners to vote to change or modify the Fund or change the Fund’s Distributor or the Adviser. | ||
(d) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the Fund, induce Contract owners to vote on any matter submitted for consideration by the shareholders of the Fund in a manner other than as recommended by the Board. |
1.8. The Fund shall sell Shares only to Participating Insurance Companies and their separate
accounts and to trustees of qualified pension and profit-sharing plans, trustees of certain
government employee benefit plans, or other persons (“Qualified Persons”) that communicate to the
Fund that they qualify to purchase Shares under Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the regulations thereunder without impairing the ability of any
Account to treat the portfolio investments of the Fund as constituting investments of the Account
for the purpose of satisfying the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Code (the
“Diversification Requirements”). To the extent required by the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive
Order, the Fund shall not sell Shares to any insurance company or separate account unless it enters
into an agreement having provisions that require of the parties what is, in substance, required by
Articles VI and VII of this Agreement to govern such sales. The Company hereby represents and
warrants that it and each Account are Qualified Persons.
1.9. The Company shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations designed to prevent money
“laundering,” and if required by such laws or regulations, to share with the Fund information about
individuals, entities, organizations and countries suspected of possible terrorist or money
“laundering” activities in accordance with Section 314(b) of the USA Patriot Act. In particular,
the Company agrees that: (a) as part of processing an application for a Contract it will verify the
identity of applicants and, if an applicant is not a natural person, will verify the identity of
prospective principal and beneficial owners
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submitting an application for a Contract, (b) as part
of its ongoing compliance with the USA Patriot Act it will from time to time re-verify the identity
of Contract owners, including the identity of principal and beneficial owners of Contracts held by
non-natural persons, (c) as part of processing an application for a Contract it will verify that no
applicant, including prospective principal or beneficial Contract owners is a “specially designated
national” or a person from an embargoed or “blocked” country as indicated by the Office of Foreign
Asset Control (“OFAC”) list of such persons, (d) as part of its ongoing compliance with the USA
Patriot Act it will from time to time re-verify that no Contract owner, including a principal or
beneficial Contract owner, is a “specially designated national” or a person from an embargoed or
“blocked” country as indicated by the OFAC list of such persons, (e) it will ensure that money
tendered to the Fund as payment for Shares did not originate with a bank from a country or
territory named on the list of high-risk or non-cooperating countries or jurisdictions published by
the Financial Action Task Force, and (f) if any of (a) through (e) become untrue, then the Fund or
its agent(s) in compliance with the USA Patriot Act or Bank Secrecy Act, may seek authority to
block one or more Contract owner accounts with the Company or one or more of the Company’s accounts
with the Fund.
1.10. | (a) The Company shall comply with the applicable terms and conditions of the Fund’s prospectus and statement of additional information and all applicable laws, rules and regulations governing the Company’s performance under this Agreement, including without limitation compliance with the 1940 Act and Rule 22c-1 thereunder. The Company agrees to comply with policies and procedures adopted by the Fund, as may be modified by the Fund from time to time, to prevent or minimize “market timing” and other types of frequent or disruptive trading in Shares that may harm one or more Portfolios (the “Fund’s Disruptive Trading Policy”). The Company and Fund agree to abide by the Company’s Disruptive Trading Policies as described below for purposes of abiding with the Fund’s Disruptive Trading Policies. | |
(b) The Company has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to protect the Fund from disruption or harm caused by “market timing” and other types of frequent trading in Shares (the “Company’s Disruptive Trading Policy”), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A. The Company shall take all reasonable measures to consistently and effectively enforce the Company’s Disruptive Trading Policy for the duration of this Agreement. The Company shall also provide the Distributor written notice of any proposed material amendments to the Company’s Disruptive Trading Policy and the complete text of such proposed amendments concurrently with the filing of such amendments with the SEC, provided, however, that if such filing shall become effective on the date upon which it is filed with the SEC (i.e., a Rule 485(b) filing), the Company shall provide the Distributor such amendments for review no later than 10 days prior to such filing. Should the Distributor determine, in its sole discretion, that the Company’s Disruptive Trading Policy would be unreasonable or unacceptable as a result of the proposed amendments, the Distributor may terminate this Agreement in accordance with Article X hereof. | ||
(c) The Company shall provide, promptly upon request by the Distributor, certain Contract owner or Contract owners information (“Information”), including, but not limited to: |
(i) a unique identifier and the Taxpayer Identification Number of each Contract owner
or Contract owners that purchased, redeemed, transferred, or exchanged Account units
supported by the Shares,
(ii) the amount and dates of such Contract owner or Contract owners purchases,
redemptions, transfers and exchanges,
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(iii) the name or other identifier of any investment professional(s) associated with
each Contract owner or Contract owners or account (if known), and
(iv) transaction type (purchase, redemption, transfer or exchange) of every purchase,
redemption, transfer or exchange of Shares held through an account maintained by the Company
during the period covered by the request.
For purposes of this Section 1.10(c), the term Contract owner shall include a participant
under group Contracts issued to an employee benefit plan or a trustee of an employee benefit
plan.
The Company also agrees to use its best efforts to determine, promptly upon request by
Distributor, whether any Contract owner or Contract owners hold Shares through the Company
is itself a financial intermediary as defined in Rule 22c-2(c)(1) and, upon request by
Distributor, provide (or arrange to have provided) Information with respect to beneficial
owners of interests held through the Contract who hold Shares through that other financial
intermediary. If the Company cannot provide the Information with respect to that other
financial intermediary, the Company agrees upon request from Distributor and as soon as
reasonably practicable, to restrict or prohibit that other financial intermediary from
further purchases or exchanges.
Information requests shall set forth a specific period (not to exceed ninety (90) days from
the date of the request) for which the Information is sought. The Fund may request
transaction information older than ninety (90) days from the date of the request as it deems
necessary to investigate compliance with policies established by the Fund. The Company
agrees to transmit such Information to the Distributor promptly, but in no event later than
ten (10) business days after receipt of a request. The Distributor agrees not to use the
Information for marketing or any other similar purpose without the Company’s prior written
consent.
(d) The Company understands and agrees that the Distributor may review omnibus transactions
for potentially harmful or disruptive trading activity and notify the Company in writing if
it believes that any such activity may have occurred. Upon such written notification from
the Distributor, the Company shall, within ten (10) days of receiving such notification,
investigate such activity and work with the Distributor to determine if disruptive trading
has occurred under the Fund’s Disruptive Trading Policy or the Company’s Disruptive Trading
Policy, as applicable. If it is determined that disruptive trading has occurred, the Company
shall restrict any offending Contract owner or Contract owners and otherwise cooperate with
the Distributor to prevent future violations of the applicable policy.
(e) The Company understands and agrees that, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to
the contrary, the Distributor reserves the right to (i) refuse any purchase order at any
time for any reason without prior notice to the Company, and (ii) delay settlement of any
redemption order if the Distributor determines, in its sole discretion, that such delay is
necessary to protect the Fund from
potential disruption or harm. In no way will any delay in settlement be beyond that allowed
under Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act.
(f) In compliance with this Section 1.10, the Company shall not undertake any activity that
will cause it to violate any federal or state law, rule or regulation concerning the privacy
of owners of the Contracts. This includes, but is not limited to, the provision of names or
other identifying information.
1.11. The Company understands and agrees that: (a) the Distributor offers shares of other classes
of mutual funds with the same investment objective, strategy and portfolio management team as the
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Portfolios, (b) the mutual fund and share class most appropriate for each Account depends, among
other things, on the eligibility for investment and servicing requirements of each such Account,
and (c) to the extent the appropriate eligibility requirements are satisfied, the parties hereto
shall cooperate to effect a transfer of Account assets to the mutual fund best suited for such
assets.
ARTICLE II. Representations and Warranties
2.1. | The Company represents and warrants that: |
(a) the Contracts listed on Schedule 4 are or will be registered under the 1933 Act and that
the Contracts listed on Schedules 5 and 6 are exempt from registration under the 1933 Act;
(b) the Accounts listed on Schedules 2 and 7 are and will remain excluded from the
definition of an investment company under the 1940 Act, and that it will immediately notify
the Fund and the Distributor upon having a reasonable basis for believing that such Accounts
have ceased to be so excluded or that they might become investment companies in the future;
(c) each Account listed on Schedule 1 is and will remain registered as unit investment trust
in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act for so long as required by the 1940 Act;
(d) the Contracts are and will be issued and sold in compliance in all material respects
with all applicable federal and state laws;
(e) each Account meets the definition of a “separate account” under the 1940 Act;
(f) it is an insurance company duly organized and in good standing under applicable law and
that each Account, prior to any issuance or sale of any Contract funded by that Account, has
been legally and validly established as, and will continue to be, a “segregated asset
account” under applicable provisions of the Code and applicable Treasury regulations
promulgated thereunder;
(g) it will amend the registration statement under the 1933 Act for the Contracts listed on
Schedule 4 and the registration statement under the 1940 Act for the Accounts listed on
Schedule 1 from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of the
Contracts or as may otherwise be required by applicable law;
(h) it will register and qualify the Contracts for sale in accordance with the securities
laws of the various states to the extent required by applicable law;
(i) each Account is a segregated asset account and that interests in each Account are
offered exclusively through the purchase of or transfer into a variable contract, within the
meaning of such
terms under Section 817 of the Code and the regulations thereunder. The Company will use
every effort to continue to meet such definitional requirement and will notify the Fund
immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing such requirements have ceased to be
met or that they might not be met in the future;
(j) the Contracts are currently and at the time of issuance will be treated as life
insurance or 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 Fund and the
Distributor 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;
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(k) it will not purchase Shares with assets derived from tax-qualified retirement plans
except, indirectly, through Contracts purchased in connection with such plans;
(l) | it has or will adopt and implement policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that each purchase or redemption order for Shares that it submits pursuant to Section 1.3(a) herein is the net result of requests from Contract owners for Contract transactions received by it or its agents each Business Day before the time(s) that the Fund calculates its net asset value; which procedures shall include the establishment and maintenance of records sufficient to demonstrate such compliance; and | ||
(m) | in the event the Company opts to use NSCC’s trading platforms and notifies the Fund of such availability, it is or will become a member in good standing of the NSCC, or is or will become otherwise entitled to use Fund/SERV and/or DCCS, and it or its designee will abide by the rules and regulations of the NSCC. |
2.2. | The Fund represents and warrants that: |
(a) it will not knowingly sell Shares to any purchaser whose purchase of such Shares would
result in a violation of the conditions imposed by the Mixed and Shared Fund Exemptive
Order;
(b) Shares of each Portfolio sold pursuant to this Agreement and listed on Schedule 3 will
be registered under the 1933 Act and duly authorized for issuance in accordance with
applicable law and that the Fund is and will remain registered under the 1940 Act for as
long as such Shares are outstanding. The Fund will amend the registration statement for its
Shares of the Portfolios under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act from time to time as required
in order to effect the continuous offering of Shares. The Fund will 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;
(c) each Portfolio listed on Schedule 3 is currently qualified as a “regulated investment
company” under Subchapter M of the 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 a Portfolio
has ceased to so qualify or that it might not so qualify in the future;
(d) in performing the services described in this Agreement, the Fund will comply in all
material respects with all applicable federal securities laws, rules and regulations. The
Fund further represents and warrants that its investment objectives, policies and
restrictions comply with all applicable state investment laws, rules and regulations. The
Fund makes no representation as to
whether any aspect of its operations (including, but not limited to, fees and expenses and
investment policies, objectives and restrictions) complies with the insurance laws and
regulations of any state. The Fund agrees that upon request it will use its best efforts to
furnish the information required by state insurance laws so that the Company can obtain the
authority needed to issue the Contracts in the various states;
(e) to the extent the Fund may finance distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under
the 1940 Act, it undertakes to have its Board, at least 75% of whom are not interested
persons of the Fund, formulate and approve any plan under Rule 12b-1 to finance distribution
expenses;
(f) it is lawfully organized and validly existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of
Virginia and that it does and will comply in all material respects with applicable
provisions of the 1940 Act;
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all of its directors, trustees, officers, employees, investment advisers, and other
individuals/entities having access to the funds and/or securities of the Portfolios are and
continue to be at all times covered by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage for the
benefit of the Portfolios 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; and
(h) it is a member in good standing of the NSCC, or is otherwise entitled to use Fund/SERV
and/or DCCS and will abide by the rules and regulations of the NSCC.
2.3. The Adviser represents and warrants that it is and shall remain duly registered in all
material respects under all applicable federal and state securities laws and shall perform its
obligations for the Portfolios in compliance with applicable securities laws.
2.4. The Distributor represents and warrants that it is a member in good standing of the FINRA and
is registered, and shall remain registered, as a broker-dealer with the SEC. The Distributor
further represents that it will sell and distribute Shares in accordance in all material respects
with all applicable federal and state securities laws, including without limitation the 1933 Act,
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), and the 1940 Act. The
Distributor also represents and warrants that it is a member in good standing of the NSCC, or is
otherwise entitled to use Fund/SERV and/or DCCS and will abide by the rules and regulations of the
NSCC.
2.5. 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
board 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.
ARTICLE III. Prospectuses and Proxy Statements: Voting
3.1. Except as otherwise stated herein, the Fund shall bear the costs of preparing, filing with the
SEC, and setting for printing the Fund’s prospectus, Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”),
including any amendments or supplements thereto, periodic reports to shareholders, Fund proxy
material and other shareholder communications (collectively, the “Fund Materials”), and the Fund
will provide to the Company a camera-ready or other formatted copy of all Fund Materials. The Fund
shall use its best
efforts to provide the Fund’s full prospectus (which only includes the Fund portfolios offered by
the Company) and full SAI by April 15th of each year. In no event shall such materials
be provided by the Fund to the Company later than April 21st of each year.
It is understood and agreed that the Company is not responsible for the content of the Fund
Materials, except to the extent that statements in the Fund Materials reflect information given to
the Fund by the Company. It is also understood and agreed that, except with respect to information
provided to the Company by the Fund, the Distributor or the Adviser, the Portfolios, the Fund, the
Distributor and the Adviser shall not be responsible for the content of the prospectus, SAI or
disclosure statement for the Contracts or any non-affiliated funds offered as investment options
under the Contracts.
3.2 The Company shall print and deliver Fund Materials to its Contract owners who currently own
Shares of one or more Portfolios (“Existing Contract Owners”). Except as provided in Section 3.4,
the Fund shall reimburse the Company for the cost of printing and delivering (including postage)
such Fund
10
Materials for Existing Contract Owners for the purpose of providing updated Fund
Materials (including, if requested, the SAI for the Fund) as required by applicable law.
3.3 The Company shall print and deliver to prospective owners of Contracts (and prospective
participants in group Contracts), the Fund Materials and, if requested, the SAI for the Fund. The
Company shall bear the cost of printing and delivering (including postage) the Fund
Materials to
prospective owners of Contracts (and prospective participants in group Contracts).
3.4. The Fund shall provide, at the Fund’s expense, copies of any Fund sponsored proxy materials in
such quantity as the Company shall require for distribution to Contract owners who are invested in
Fund portfolios within designated Accounts. The Fund shall reimburse the Company for usual,
customary and reasonable costs incurred by the Company in connection with delivery of the proxy (or
similar materials such as voting solicitation instructions) including bulk rate postage costs of
mailing proxy materials (or similar materials as voting solicitation instructions) to Contract
Owners, as well as processing, tabulation and project management costs provided that the Company
provide the Fund with copies of appropriate invoices received for such costs. In lieu of all or
part of the foregoing reimbursements, the Fund may elect to retain, at its own expense, a proxy
solicitation firm to perform some or all of the tasks necessary for the Company to obtain voting
instructions from Contract Owners. The Company will distribute such proxy material, reports and
other communications to existing Contract owners and tabulate the votes. If and to the extent
required by law, the Company will:
(a) solicit voting instructions from Contract owners;
(b) vote the Shares of each Portfolio held in the Accounts in accordance with instructions
received from Contract owners; and
(c) vote Shares of each Portfolio held in the Accounts for which no timely instructions have
been received, as well as Shares it owns, in the same proportion as Shares of each such
Portfolio for which instructions have been received from the Contract owners; in each case,
for so long as and to the extent that the SEC continues to interpret the 1940 Act to require
pass-through voting privileges for owners of Contracts listed on Schedule 4. Except as set
forth above, the Company reserves the right to vote Shares held in any account in its own
right, to the extent permitted by law. The Company will be responsible for assuring that
each Account calculates voting privileges in a manner consistent with all legal
requirements, including the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order.
3.5. The Fund will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act requiring voting by shareholders, and
in particular, the Fund will act in accordance with the SEC’s interpretation of the requirements of
Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act with respect to periodic elections of trustees and with whatever
rules the SEC may promulgate with respect thereto.
ARTICLE IV. Sales Material and Information
4.1. The Distributor will provide the Company on a timely basis with investment performance
information for the Portfolios, including total return for the preceding calendar month and
calendar quarter, the calendar year to date, and the prior one-year, five-year, and ten year (or
life of the Portfolio) periods. The Company may, based on the SEC-mandated information supplied by
the Distributor, prepare communications for Contract owners (“Contract Owner Materials”). The
Company will provide the Distributor with copies of all Contract Owner Materials concurrently with
their first use for the Distributor’s internal recordkeeping purposes. It is understood that
neither the Distributor, the Adviser, the Fund nor the Portfolios will be responsible for errors or
omissions in, or the content of, Contract
11
Owner Materials except to the extent that the error or
omission resulted from information provided by or on behalf of the Distributor, the Adviser, the
Fund or the Portfolio. Any printed information that is furnished to the Company pursuant to this
Agreement other than the Portfolio’s prospectus or SAI (or information supplemental thereto),
periodic reports and proxy solicitation materials is the Distributor’s sole responsibility and not
the responsibility of the Portfolio or the Fund. The Company agrees that the Portfolio, the
shareholders of the Portfolio and the officers and members of the Board will have no liability or
responsibility to the Company in these respects.
4.2. The Company will not give any information or make any representations or statements on behalf
of the Fund or concerning the Portfolios in connection with the sale of the Contracts other than
the information or representations contained in the registration statement, prospectus or SAI for
Shares, as such registration statement, prospectus and SAI may be amended or supplemented from time
to time, or in reports or proxy statements for the Portfolio, or in published reports for the
Portfolio which are in the public domain or approved by the Fund, the Distributor or the Adviser
for distribution, or in sales literature or other material provided by the Fund, the Distributor or
the Adviser, except with permission of the Fund, the Distributor or the Adviser. The Fund, the
Distributor and/or the Adviser, as applicable, agrees to respond to any request for approval on a
prompt and timely basis. Nothing in this Section 4.2 will be construed as preventing the Company or
its employees or agents from giving advice on investment in the Portfolios.
4.3. The Company will furnish, or will cause to be furnished, to the Fund or the Distributor or its
designee, each piece of sales literature or other promotional material in which the Fund, the
Portfolios or the Distributor is named, at least fifteen (15) business days prior to its use. No
such material will be used if the Fund or the Distributor reasonably objects to such use within
fifteen (15) business days after receipt of such material. Likewise, the Fund or the Distributor
will furnish, or will cause to be furnished, to the Company or its designee, each piece of sales
literature or other promotional material in which the Company is named, at least fifteen (15)
business days prior to its use. No such material will be used if the Company reasonably objects to
such use within fifteen (15) business days after receipt of such material.
4.4. The Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser will not give any information or make any
representations or statements 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,
prospectus or SAI for the Contracts, as such registration statement, prospectus and SAI may be
amended or supplemented from time to time, or in published reports for each Account or the
Contracts which are in the
public domain or approved by the Company for distribution to Contract owners, or in sales
literature or other material provided by the Company, except with 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, SAIs, reports, proxy statements, sales literature and other promotional
materials, applications for exemptions, requests for no-action letters, and all amendments to any
of the above, that relate to the Portfolios or their Shares, contemporaneously with the filing of
such document with the SEC, the FINRA or other regulatory authority, except as otherwise agreed to
by the Fund and Company.
4.6. The Company will provide to the Fund at least one complete copy of all registration
statements, prospectuses, SAIs, reports, solicitations for voting instructions, sales literature
and other promotional materials, applications for exemptions, requests for no action letters, and
all amendments to any of the above, that reference the Funds or the Portfolios and relate to the
Contracts or each Account, contemporaneously with the filing of such document with the SEC, the
FINRA or other regulatory authority, except as otherwise agreed to by the Fund and Company.
12
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, (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 advertisements 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, SAIs, shareholder reports, and proxy
materials and any other material constituting sales literature or advertising under the NASD rules,
the 1933 Act or the 0000 Xxx.
4.8. The Fund and each Portfolio hereby consents to the Company’s use of the name “GE Investments
Funds, Inc.” and the name of each Portfolio listed on Schedule 3 in connection with the marketing
of the Contracts, subject to the terms of Sections 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 of this Agreement. Such consent
will terminate with the termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE V. Fees and Expenses
5.1. Except as otherwise provided herein, all expenses incident to performance by the Fund under
this Agreement shall be paid by the Fund. The Fund shall see to it that all its Shares are
registered and authorized for issuance in accordance with applicable federal law and, if and to the
extent deemed advisable by the Fund or the Distributor, in accordance with applicable state laws
prior to their sale. The Fund shall bear the expenses for the cost of registration and
qualification of the Portfolios’ Shares; the preparation of all statements and notices required by
any federal or state law; all taxes on the issuance or transfer of the Portfolios’ Shares; and any
expenses permitted to be paid or assumed by a Portfolio pursuant to a plan, if any, under Rule
12b-1 under the 1940 Act.
ARTICLE VI. Diversification
6.1. The Fund will ensure that each Portfolio will at all times invest money from the Contracts in
such a manner as to ensure that the Contracts will comply with Section 817(h) of the Code and
Treasury
Regulation 1.817-5, as amended from time to time, relating to the Diversification Requirements for
variable annuity or life insurance contracts and any amendments or other modifications to such
Section or Regulation. In the event of a breach of this Article VI by the Portfolio, it will take
all reasonable steps: (a) to notify the Company of such breach; and (b) to adequately diversify the
Portfolio 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 Portfolios for the existence of any material irreconcilable
conflict among the interests of the Contract owners of all Accounts investing in the Portfolios and
determine what action, if any, should be taken in response to such conflicts. A material
irreconcilable 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 the Portfolios are being managed; (e) a difference in voting
instructions given by Participating Insurance Companies or by variable annuity and variable life
insurance Contract owners; or (f) a decision by an insurer to disregard the voting instructions of
Contract owners. The Board will promptly inform the Company if it determines that a material
irreconcilable conflict exists and the implications thereof.
13
7.2. The Company will report any potential or existing conflicts of which it is aware to the Board.
The Company agrees to assist the Board in carrying out its responsibilities, as delineated in 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 Company to inform the Board whenever it has determined to disregard Contract
owner voting instructions. The Company’s responsibilities hereunder will be carried out with a view
only to the interest of Contract owners.
7.3. If it is determined by a majority of the Board, or a majority of its disinterested directors,
that a material irreconcilable conflict exists, the Company will, at its 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 material irreconcilable conflict, including: (a)
withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the Accounts from the Portfolios and reinvesting
such assets in a different investment medium, subject to the requirements of Section 26(c) of the
1940 Act, or submitting the question whether such segregation should be implemented to a vote of
all affected Contract owners and, as appropriate, segregating the assets of any appropriate group
(i.e., variable annuity Contract owners or variable life insurance Contract owners of one or more
Participating Insurance Companies) that votes in favor of such segregation, or offering to the
affected Contract owners the option of making such a change; and (b) establishing a new registered
management investment company or managed separate account.
7.4. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a decision by the Company to disregard
Contract owner voting instructions, and 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 Account’s investment in the Portfolios and terminate this Agreement with respect to
such Account; provided, however, that such withdrawal and termination will be limited to the extent
required to remedy the foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of
the disinterested directors of the Board. No charge or penalty will be imposed as a result of such
withdrawal. Any such withdrawal and termination shall take place within six (6) months after
written notice is given that this provision is being
implemented. Unless doing so would exacerbate the conflict, until such withdrawal and termination
is implemented, the Fund shall continue to accept and implement orders by the Company for the
purchase and redemption of Shares.
7.5. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a particular state insurance regulator’s
decision applicable to the Company conflicts with the majority of other state insurance regulators,
then the Company will withdraw the affected Account’s investment in the Portfolios and terminate
this Agreement with respect to such subaccount; provided, however, that such withdrawal and
termination will be limited to the extent required by the foregoing material irreconcilable
conflict as determined by a majority of the disinterested directors of the Board. No charge or
penalty will be imposed as a result of such withdrawal. Any such withdrawal and termination shall
take place within six (6) months after written notice is given that this provision is being
implemented. Until such withdrawal and termination is implemented, the Fund shall continue to
accept and implement orders by the Company for the purchase and redemption of Shares.
7.6. For purposes of Sections 7.3 through 7.6 of this Agreement, a majority of the disinterested
members of the Board will determine whether any proposed action adequately remedies any material
irreconcilable conflict, but in no event will the Fund, the Distributor or the Adviser be required
to establish a new funding medium for the Contracts. The Company will 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 affected by the material irreconcilable conflict.
14
7.7. The Company will at least annually submit to the Board such reports, materials or data as the
Board may reasonably request so that the Board may fully carry out the duties imposed upon it as
delineated in the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order, and said reports, materials and data
will be submitted more frequently if deemed appropriate by the Board.
7.8. The Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser will at least annually submit to the Company such
reports, materials or data as the Company may reasonably request so that the Company may fully
carry out the duties imposed upon it by state and federal regulators, and said reports, materials
and data will be submitted more frequently if deemed appropriate by the Company.
7.9. If and to the extent that Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) under the 1940 Act are amended, or Rule
6e-3 is adopted, to provide exemptive relief from any provision of the 1940 Act or the rules
promulgated thereunder with respect to mixed or shared funding (as defined in the 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 Fund and/or the Participating Insurance
Companies, as appropriate, will 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 will 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 Portfolios, the
Distributor, the Adviser, and each person, if any, who controls or is associated with the
Fund, the Portfolios, the Distributor or the Adviser within the meaning of such terms under
the federal securities laws and any director, trustee, officer, partner, employee or agent
of the foregoing
(collectively, the “Indemnified Parties” for purposes of this Section 8.1) against any and
all losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement
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,
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 Shares or the Contracts and:
(1) 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 SAI for the Contracts or contained in the Contracts or sales literature or other
promotional material for the Contracts (or any amendment or supplement to any of the
foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission
to state therein a material fact required to be stated or necessary to make such
statements not misleading in light of the circumstances in which they were made;
provided that this agreement to indemnify will 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 written information furnished to the Company by
the Fund, the Portfolio, the Distributor or the Adviser for use in the registration
statement, prospectus or SAI for the Contracts or in the Contracts or sales
literature (or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in connection with
the sale of the Contracts or Shares; or
(2) 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’s
registration
15
statement, prospectus, SAI 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 Shares; or
(3) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the Fund’s registration statement, prospectus, SAI or sales literature
or other promotional material of the Fund (or amendment or supplement) or the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make such statements 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
(4) 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.l(b) and 8.4 hereof. This indemnification will
be in addition to any liability that the Company otherwise may have.
(b) No party will be entitled to indemnification under Section 8.l(a) to the extent such
loss, claim, damage, liability or litigation is due to the willful misfeasance, bad faith,
or gross negligence in the performance of such party’s duties under this Agreement, or by
reason of such party’s reckless disregard of its obligations or duties under this Agreement
by the party seeking indemnification.
(c) The Indemnified Parties promptly will notify the Company of the commencement of any
litigation, proceedings, complaints or actions by regulatory authorities against them in
connection with the issuance or sale of the Shares or the Contracts or the operation of the
Fund.
8.2. | Indemnification By the Distributor and the Adviser |
(a) The Distributor and the Adviser, in each case solely to the extent relating to such
party’s responsibilities hereunder, agree 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, trustee, officer, partner,
employee or agent of the
foregoing (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties” for purposes of
this Section 8.2) against any and all losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities
(including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Distributor or the
Adviser, as applicable) 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 Shares
or the Contracts and:
(1) 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 SAI 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 or necessary to make such statements not misleading in light of the
circumstances in which they were made;
16
provided that this agreement to indemnify
will 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 Distributor or the Adviser by or on behalf of the
Company for use in the registration statement, prospectus or SAI 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 Shares; or
(2) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other than
statements or representations contained in the Contracts, or Contract registration
statements, prospectuses, SAIs or sales literature or other promotional materials
for the Contracts not supplied by the Distributor, the Adviser, the Fund or persons
under their control) or wrongful conduct of the Distributor or the Adviser or
persons under the control of the Distributor or the Adviser, respectively, with
respect to the sale of the Shares; or
(3) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in Contract registration statements, prospectuses, SAIs or sales
literature or other promotional material of the Contracts (or any amendment or
supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material
fact required to be stated or necessary to make such statement or statements 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 written information
furnished to the Company by the Distributor or the Adviser or persons under the
control of the Distributor or the Adviser; or
(4) arise out of or result from any material breach of any representation
and/or warranty made by the Distributor or the Adviser in this Agreement, or arise
out of or result
from any other material breach of this Agreement by the Distributor or the Adviser,
including the failure of any Portfolio to comply with the diversification
requirements set forth in Section 817(h) of the Code or to qualify as a “regulated
investment company” under Subchapter M of the Code;
except to the extent provided in Sections 8.2(b) and 8.4 hereof. This indemnification will
be in addition to any liability that the Distributor or the Adviser otherwise may have.
(b) No party will be entitled to indemnification under Section 8.2(a) to the extent such
loss, claim, damage, liability or litigation is due to the willful misfeasance, bad faith,
or gross negligence in the performance of such party’s duties under this Agreement, or by
reason of such party’s reckless disregard of its obligations or duties under this Agreement
by the party seeking indemnification.
(c) The Indemnified Parties will promptly notify the Distributor or the Adviser of the
commencement of any litigation, proceedings, complaints or actions by regulatory authorities
against them in connection with the issuance or sale of the Contracts or the operation of
the account.
8.3. | Indemnification By the the Fund and each Portfolio |
(a) The Fund and each Portfolio, in each case solely to the extent relating to such party’s
responsibilities hereunder, agree 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, trustee, officer, partner,
employee or agent of the
17
foregoing (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties” for purposes of
this Section 8.3) against any and all losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities
(including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Fund or a Portfolio,
as applicable) 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 Shares or the
Contracts and:
(1) 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 SAI 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 or necessary to make such statements not misleading in light of the
circumstances in which they were made; provided that this agreement to indemnify
will 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 Fund or a Portfolio by or on behalf of the Company for
use in the registration statement, prospectus or SAI 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 Shares; or
(2) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other than
statements or representations contained in the Contracts, or Contract registration
statements, prospectuses, SAIs or sales literature or other promotional materials
for the Contracts not
supplied by the Distributor, the Adviser, the Fund or persons under their control)
or wrongful conduct of the Fund or a Portfolio or persons under the control of the
Fund or a Portfolio respectively, with respect to the sale of the Shares; or
(3) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in Contract registration statements, prospectuses, SAIs or sales
literature or other promotional material of the Contracts (or any amendment or
supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material
fact required to be stated or necessary to make such statement or statements 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 written information
furnished to the Company by the Fund or a Portfolio or persons under the control of
the Fund or a Portfolio;
except to the extent provided in Sections 8.3(b) and 8.4 hereof. This indemnification will
be in addition to any liability that the Fund or the Portfolio otherwise may have.
(b) No party will be entitled to indemnification under Section 8.3(a) to the extent such
loss, claim, damage, liability or litigation is due to the willful misfeasance, bad faith,
or gross negligence in the performance of such party’s duties under this Agreement, or by
reason of such party’s reckless disregard of its obligations or duties under this Agreement
by the party seeking indemnification.
(c) The Indemnified Parties will promptly notify the Fund or a Portfolio of the commencement
of any litigation, proceedings, complaints or actions by regulatory authorities against them
in connection with the issuance or sale of the Contracts or the operation of the account.
18
8.4. Indemnification Procedure
Any person obligated to provide indemnification under this Article VIII (“Indemnifying Party”
for the purpose of this Section 8.4) will 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 Section 8.4) unless such Indemnified
Party will 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 will have been
served upon such Indemnified Party (or after such party will have received notice of such service
on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Indemnifying Party of any such claim will not
relieve the Indemnifying Party from any liability, which it may have to the Indemnified Party
against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of the indemnification provision of
this Article VIII. 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 will be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory
to the Indemnified 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 will 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: (a) the Indemnifying Party and the
Indemnified Party will have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel; or (b) 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
will not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent but if
settled with such consent or if there is 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 will be entitled to the
benefits of the indemnification contained in this Article VIII. The indemnification provisions
contained in this Article VIII will survive any termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE IX. Applicable Law
9.1. This Agreement will be construed and the provisions hereof interpreted under and in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York.
9.2. This Agreement will be subject to the provisions of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940
Act, and the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder, including such exemptions from those
statutes, rules and regulations as the SEC may grant (including, but not limited to, the Mixed and
Shared Funding Exemptive Order) and the terms hereof will be interpreted and construed in
accordance therewith.
ARTICLE X. Termination
10.1. | This Agreement will terminate: |
(a) at the option of any party, with or without cause, upon one-hundred-eighty (180) days’
advance written notice to the other parties; or
(b) at the option of the Company, upon ninety (90) days’ advance written notice to the other
parties, with respect to a Portfolio if Shares are not reasonably available to meet the
requirements of the Contracts as determined in good faith by the Company; or
19
(c) at the option of the Company, upon receipt of the Company’s written notice by the other
parties, with respect to a Portfolio in the event any of the Shares are not registered,
issued or sold in accordance with applicable state and/or federal law or such law precludes
the use of such Shares as the underlying investment media of the Contracts issued or to be
issued by the Company; or
(d) at the option of the Fund, upon receipt of the Fund’s written notice by the other
parties, upon institution of formal proceedings against the Company or the Contract
Distributor by the FINRA, 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 Shares, provided that the Fund determines in its sole judgment, exercised in
good faith, that any such proceeding would have a material adverse effect on the Fund or the
Company’s ability to perform its respective obligations under this Agreement; or
(e) at the option of the Company, upon receipt of the Company’s written notice by the other
parties, upon institution of formal proceedings against the Fund, the Distributor, the
Adviser or a Portfolio by the FINRA, the SEC, or any state securities or insurance
department or any other regulatory body, provided that the Company determines in its sole
judgment, exercised in good faith, that any such proceeding would have a material adverse
effect on the Company or the
Fund’s, the Distributor’s, the Adviser’s or a Portfolio’s ability to perform its respective
obligations under this Agreement; or
(f) as to any Portfolio, at the option of the Company, upon receipt of the Company’s written
notice by the other parties, if the Portfolio ceases to qualify as a “regulated investment
company” under Subchapter M of the Code, or under any successor or similar provision, or if
the Company reasonably and in good faith believes that a Portfolio may fail to so qualify;
or
(g) as to any Portfolio, at the option of the Company, upon receipt of the Company’s written
notice by the other parties, if the Portfolio fails to meet the Diversification Requirements
specified in Article VI hereof or if the Company reasonably and in good faith believes the
Portfolio may fail to meet such requirements; or
(h) at the option of any party to this Agreement, upon written notice to the other parties,
upon another party’s material breach of any provision of this Agreement, which material
breach is not cured within thirty (30) days of said notice; or
(i) at the option of the Company, if the Company determines in its sole judgment exercised
in good faith, that either the Fund, the Distributor, the Adviser or a Portfolio 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; provided,
however that no such termination shall be effective under this subsection (i) until the
Fund, the Distributor, the Adviser or the Portfolio (as appropriate) has been afforded a
reasonable opportunity to respond to a statement by the Company concerning the reason for
notice of termination hereunder; or
(j) at the option of the Fund, the Distributor or the Adviser, upon receipt of the Fund’s,
the Distributor’s or the Adviser’s written notice by the Company, if the Fund, the
Distributor or the Adviser, respectively determines in its sole judgment exercised in good
faith, that the Company
20
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, the Distributor or the Adviser; provided, however that no such
termination shall be effective under this subsection (j) until the Company has been afforded
a reasonable opportunity to respond to a statement by the Fund, the Distributor, the Adviser
or the Portfolio (as appropriate) concerning the reason for notice of termination hereunder;
or
(k) at the option of the Company or the Fund upon a determination by a majority of the
Board, or a majority of the disinterested Board members, that a material irreconcilable
conflict exists between or among the interests of: (1) owners of Contracts issued by
different insurance companies, (2) owners of different types of Contracts, or (3) the
Participating Insurance Companies investing in the Portfolio as set forth in Article VII of
this Agreement; 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, it being understood that such issuance
or sale must qualify as a material breach of such laws for the Fund to exercise its
termination option under this subsection. Termination will be effective immediately upon
such occurrence without notice.
10.2. Notice Requirement
Except as provided in 10.1 above, no termination of this Agreement will be effective unless
and until the party terminating this Agreement gives prior written notice to all other parties of
its intent to terminate, which notice will set forth the basis for the termination.
10.3. Effect of Termination
Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Fund will, at the option of the
Company, continue to make available additional Shares to Existing Contract Owners pursuant to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, unless such further sale of Portfolio Shares is proscribed
by law, regulation or applicable regulatory authority, or unless the Board determines that
liquidation of the Portfolio(s) is in the best interests of the Portfolio(s). Specifically, subject
to the foregoing, Existing Contracts Owners will be permitted to reallocate investments in a
Portfolio (as in effect on such date), redeem investments in a Portfolio and/or invest in a
Portfolio upon the making of additional purchase payments under the Existing Contracts.
10.4. Surviving Provisions
Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, each party’s obligations under Article VIII
to indemnify other parties will survive and not be affected by any termination of this Agreement.
In addition, each party’s obligations under Section 12.6 will survive and not be affected by any
termination of this Agreement. Finally, with respect to Existing Contract Owners, all provisions of
this Agreement also will survive and not be affected by any termination of this Agreement.
21
ARTICLE XI. Notices
11.1. Any notice will be deemed duly given when sent by registered or certified mail to the other
party at the address of such party set forth below or at such other address as such party may from
time to time specify in writing to the other parties.
If to the Company:
Pacific Life & Annuity Company
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: General Counsel
Pacific Life & Annuity Company
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: General Counsel
If to the Fund, the Distributor, the Adviser and/or the Portfolio:
c/o GE Investment Distributors, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: General Counsel
c/o GE Investment Distributors, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: General Counsel
ARTICLE XII. Miscellaneous
12.1 Subject to the requirements of legal process and regulatory authority, each party hereto shall
treat as confidential any “non-public personal information” about any “consumer” of another party
(as such terms are defined in SEC Regulation S-P) and any other information reasonably identified
as confidential in writing by another party (“Confidential Information”). Each party agrees not to
disclose, disseminate or utilize another party’s Confidential Information except: (i) as permitted
by this Agreement, (ii) upon the
written consent of the other party, (iii) where the Confidential Information comes into the public
domain through no fault of the party receiving the information, or (iv) as otherwise required or
permitted under applicable law.
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 will constitute one and the same instrument.
12.4. If any provision of this Agreement will be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute,
rule or otherwise, the remainder of the Agreement will not be affected thereby.
12.5. This Agreement will not be assigned by any party hereto without the prior written consent of
all the parties; provided, however, that the Adviser may assign this Agreement or any rights or
obligations hereunder to any affiliate of or company under common control with the Adviser, if such
assignee is duly licensed and registered to perform the obligations of the Adviser under this
Agreement.
12.6. Each party to this Agreement will maintain all records required by law, including records
detailing the services it provides. Such records will be preserved, maintained and made available
to the extent required by law and in accordance with the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. Each
party to this Agreement will cooperate with each other party and all appropriate governmental
authorities (including without limitation the SEC, the FINRA and state insurance regulators) and
will 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. Upon request by the Fund and at the Fund’s expense, the Company agrees to
promptly make copies or, if required, originals of all records
22
pertaining to the performance of
services under this Agreement available to the Fund. The Fund agrees that the Company will have the
right to inspect, audit and copy all records pertaining to the performance of services under this
Agreement pursuant to the requirements of any state insurance department. Each party also agrees to
promptly notify the other parties if it experiences any difficulty in maintaining the records in an
accurate and complete manner. This provision will survive termination of this Agreement.
12.7. 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 or other applicable
terms of this Agreement.
12.8. The rights, remedies and obligations contained in this Agreement are cumulative and are in
addition to any and all rights.
12.9. Notwithstanding anything else in this Agreement to the contrary, absent a negligent act of
commission or omission, each party hereunder shall have no liability to the other parties for any
losses, damages, injuries, claims, cost or expenses arising as a result of war, insurrection,
terrorist activities, strikes or labor difficulties or any other similar or dissimilar acts of God
beyond the reasonable control of such party.
12.10. The parties acknowledge that the consideration received by the Company in exchange for the
performance of its obligations hereunder is the right to purchase and redeem Fund Shares as
provided herein, and the Fund shall not pay any remuneration to the Company hereunder.
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 above.
PACIFIC LIFE & ANNUITY COMPANY | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: Assistant Vice President |
Attest: | ||||||
Corporate Secretary |
23
GE INVESTMENTS FUNDS, INC. | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
GE INVESTMENT DISTRIBUTORS, INC. | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: | ||||||
GE ASSET MANAGEMENT INCORPORATED | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
Title: |
24
Schedule 1
Registered Accounts
Name of Separate Account:
|
Date Established by Board of Directors: | |
Separate Account A of Pacific Life & Annuity Company
|
January 25, 1999 |
Schedule 2
Unregistered Accounts
Name of Separate Account:
|
Date Established by Board of Directors: | |
Not Applicable |
Schedule 3
Name(s) of Portfolio
GE Investments Funds, Inc.:
Total Return Fund — Class 4
Schedule 4
Registered Contracts
Pacific Value
Pacific Value Edge
Pacific Portfolios
Pacific Portfolios for Chase
Pacific Voyages
Pacific Innovations Select
Pacific Explorer
Pacific Journey
Pacific Odyssey
Pacific Value Edge
Pacific Portfolios
Pacific Portfolios for Chase
Pacific Voyages
Pacific Innovations Select
Pacific Explorer
Pacific Journey
Pacific Odyssey
Schedule 5
Exempt Contracts
Not Applicable
Schedule 6
Contracts with Accredited Investors
Not Applicable
Schedule 7
Accounts Excluded from the Definition of Investment Company
Name of Account: | Date of Establishment of Account: | |||
Not Applicable |
Exhibit A
Company’s Disruptive Trading Policy
Company’s Disruptive Trading Policy
Transfers and Market-timing Restrictions
Transfers
Once Investments are allocated to the Investment Options selected, a Contract Owner may transfer
Account Value less Loan Account Value from any Investment Option to any other Investment Option,
except to certain fixed options. Transfers are limited to 25 for each calendar year. Only 2
transfers in any calendar month may involve any of the following Investment Options: International
Value, International Small-Cap, International Large-Cap, or Emerging Markets. In addition, only 2
transfers into or out of the American Funds Growth or American Funds Growth-Income Investment
Options may occur in any calendar month.
Transfers to or from a Variable Investment Option cannot be made before the seventh calendar day
following the last transfer to or from the same Variable Investment Option. If the seventh calendar
day is not a Business Day, then a transfer may not occur until the next Business Day. The day of
the last transfer is not considered a calendar day for purposes of meeting this requirement. For
example, if you make a transfer into the Diversified Research Variable Investment Option on Monday,
you may not make any transfers to or from that Variable Investment Option before the following
Monday. Transfers to or from the Money Market Variable Investment Option are excluded from this
limitation.
For the purpose of applying the limitations, multiple transfers that occur on the same day are
considered 1 transfer. A transfer of Account Value from the Loan Account back into your Investment
Options following a loan repayment is not considered a transfer under these limitations. Transfers
that occur as a result of the DCA Plus program, the dollar cost averaging program, the portfolio
rebalancing program, the earnings sweep program, approved corporate owned life insurance policy
rebalancing programs or an approved asset allocation service are excluded from these limitations.
Also, allocations of Purchase Payments are not subject to these limitations.
If you have used all 25 transfers available to you in a calendar year, you may no longer make
transfers between the Investment Options until the start of the next calendar year. However, you
may make 1 transfer of all or a portion of the Account Value remaining in the Variable Investment
Options into the Money Market Investment Option prior to the start of the next calendar year.
There are no exceptions to the above transfer limitations in the absence of an error by us, a
substitution of Investment Options, or reorganization of underlying Portfolios, or other
extraordinary circumstances.
If we deny a transfer request, we will notify your registered representative via telephone. If you
(or your registered representative) request a transfer via telephone that exceeds the above
limitations, we will notify you (or your registered representative) immediately.
Transfer requests are generally effective on the Business Day we receive them in proper form,
unless you request a date in the future or a systematic transfer program.
We have the right, at our option (unless otherwise required by law), to require certain minimums in
the future in connection with transfers. These may include a minimum transfer amount and a minimum
Account Value, if any, for the Investment Option from which the transfer is made or to which the
transfer is made. If your transfer request results in your having a remaining Account Value in an
Investment Option
that is less
than $500 immediately after such transfer, we may transfer that Account Value to your
other Investment Options on a pro rata basis, relative to your most recent allocation instructions.
We reserve the right (unless otherwise required by law) to limit the size of transfers, to restrict
transfers, to require that you submit any transfer requests in writing, to suspend transfers, and
to impose further limits on the number and frequency of transfers you can make. We also reserve the
right to reject any transfer request. Any policy we may establish with regard to the exercise of
any of these rights will be applied uniformly to all Contract Owners.
Market-timing Restrictions
The Contract is not designed to serve as a vehicle for frequent trading in response to short-term
fluctuations in the market. Accordingly, organizations or individuals that use market-timing
investment strategies and make frequent transfers should not purchase the Contract. Such frequent
trading can disrupt management of the underlying Portfolios and raise expenses. The transfer
limitations set forth above are intended to reduce frequent trading. In addition, we monitor
certain large transaction activity in an attempt to detect trading that may be disruptive to the
Portfolios. In the event transfer activity is found to be disruptive, certain future transactions
by such Contract Owners, or by a registered representative or other party acting on behalf of one or
more Contract Owners, will require preclearance. Frequent trading and large transactions that are
disruptive to portfolio management can have an adverse effect on Portfolio performance and therefore
your Contract’s performance. Such trading may also cause dilution in the value of the Investment
Options held by long-term Contract Owners. While these issues can occur in connection with any of
the underlying Portfolios, Portfolios holding securities that are subject to market pricing
inefficiencies are more susceptible to abuse. For example, Portfolios holding international
securities may be more susceptible to time-zone arbitrage which seeks to take advantage of pricing
discrepancies occurring between the time of the closing of the market on which the security is
traded and the time of pricing of the Portfolios.
Our policies and procedures which limit the number and frequency of transfers and which may impose
preclearance requirements on certain large transactions are applied uniformly to all Contract
Owners. However, there is a risk that these policies and procedures will not detect all potentially
disruptive activity or will otherwise prove ineffective in whole or in part. Further, we and our
affiliates make available to our variable annuity and variable life insurance Contract Owners
underlying funds not affiliated with us. We are unable to monitor or restrict the trading activity
with respect to shares of such funds not sold in connection with our Contracts. In the event the
Board of Trustees/Directors of any underlying fund imposes a redemption fee or trading (transfer)
limitations, we will pass them on to you.
We reserve the right to restrict, in our sole discretion and without prior notice, transfers
initiated by a market timing organization or individual or other party authorized to give transfer
instructions on behalf of multiple Contract Owners. Such restrictions could include: (1) not
accepting transfer instructions from a registered representative acting on behalf of more than one
Contract Owner, and (2) not accepting preauthorized transfer forms from market timers or other
entities acting on behalf of more than one Contract Owner at a time.
We further reserve the right to impose, without prior notice, restrictions on transfers that we
determine, in our sole discretion,will disadvantage or potentially hurt the rights or interests of
other Contract Owners; or to comply with any applicable federal and state laws, rules and
regulations.