1
EXHIBIT 8(a)
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
Among
VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND,
FIDELITY DISTRIBUTORS CORPORATION
and
IL ANNUITY AND INSURANCE COMPANY
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of the 1st day of
March, 1995 by and among IL ANNUITY AND INSURANCE COMPANY, (hereinafter the
"Company"), a Massachusetts corporation, on its own behalf and on behalf of
each segregated asset account of the Company set forth on Schedule A hereto as
may be amended from time to time (each such account hereinafter referred to as
the "Account"), and the VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND, an unincorporated
business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
(hereinafter the "Fund") and FIDELITY DISTRIBUTORS CORPORATION (hereinafter the
"Underwriter"), a Massachusetts corporation.
WHEREAS, the Fund engages in business as an open-end
management investment company and is available to act as the investment vehicle
for separate accounts established for variable life insurance policies and
variable annuity contracts (collectively, the "Variable Insurance Products") to
be offered by insurance companies which have entered into participation
agreements with the Fund and the Underwriter (hereinafter "Participating
Insurance Companies"); and
WHEREAS, the beneficial interest in the Fund is divided into
several series of shares, each representing the interest in a particular
managed portfolio of securities and other assets, any one or more of which may
be made available under this Agreement, as may be amended from time to time by
mutual agreement of the parties hereto (each such series hereinafter referred
to as a "Portfolio"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund has obtained an order from the Securities
and Exchange Commission, dated October 15, 1985 (File No. 812-6102), granting
Participating Insurance Companies and variable annuity and variable life
insurance separate accounts exemptions from the provisions of sections 9(a),
13(a), 15(a), and 15(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended,
(hereinafter the "1940 Act") and Rules 6e-2(b) (15) and 6e-3(T) (b) (15)
thereunder, to the extent necessary to permit shares of the Fund to be sold to
and held by variable annuity and variable life insurance separate accounts of
both affiliated and unaffiliated life insurance companies (hereinafter the
"Shared Funding Exemptive Order"); and
2
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management
investment company under the 1940 Act and its shares are registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (hereinafter the "1933 Act"); and
WHEREAS, Fidelity Management & Research Company (the
"Adviser") is duly registered as an investment adviser under the federal
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and any applicable state securities law; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register certain
variable life insurance or variable annuity contracts under the 1933 Act; and
WHEREAS, each Account is a duly organized, validly existing
segregated asset account, established by resolution of the Board of Directors
of the Company, on the date shown for such Account on Schedule A hereto, to set
aside and invest assets attributable to the aforesaid variable annuity
contracts; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register each
Account as a unit investment trust under the 1940 Act; and
WHEREAS, the Underwriter is registered as a broker dealer with
the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, (hereinafter the "1934 Act"), and is a member in good
standing of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (hereinafter
"NASD"); and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws
and regulations, the Company intends to purchase shares in the Portfolios on
behalf of each Account to fund certain of the aforesaid variable life and
variable annuity contracts and the Underwriter is authorized to sell such
shares to unit investment trusts such as each Account at net asset value;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the
Company, the Fund and the Underwriter agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Sale of Fund Shares
1.1. The Underwriter agrees to sell to the Company those
shares of the Fund which each Account orders, executing such orders on a daily
basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by the Fund or its
designee of the order for the shares of the Fund. For purposes of this Section
1.1, the Company shall be the designee of the Fund for receipt of such orders
from each Account and receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the
Fund; provided that the Fund receives notice of such order by 9:00 a.m. Boston
time on the next following Business Day. "Business Day" shall mean any day on
which the New York Stock
2
3
Exchange is open for trading and on which the Fund calculates its net asset
value pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
1.2. The Fund agrees to make its shares available
indefinitely for purchase at the applicable net asset value per share by the
Company and its Accounts on those days on which the Fund calculates its net
asset value pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the
Fund shall use reasonable efforts to calculate such net asset value on each day
which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Board of Trustees of the Fund (hereinafter the "Board") may
refuse to sell shares of any Portfolio to any person, or suspend or terminate
the offering of shares of any Portfolio if such action is required by law or by
regulatory authorities having jurisdiction or is, in the sole discretion of the
Board acting in good faith and in light of their fiduciary duties under federal
and any applicable state laws, necessary in the best interests of the
shareholders of such Portfolio.
1.3. The Fund and the Underwriter agree that shares of the
Fund will be sold only to Participating Insurance Companies and their separate
accounts. No shares of any Portfolio will be sold to the general public.
1.4. The Fund and the Underwriter will not sell Fund
shares to any insurance company or separate account unless an agreement
containing provisions substantially the same as Articles I, III, V, VII and
Section 2.5 of Article II of this Agreement is in effect to govern such sales.
1.5. The Fund agrees to redeem for cash, on the Company's
request, any full or fractional shares of the Fund held by the Company,
executing such requests on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed
after receipt by the Fund or its designee of the request for redemption. For
purposes of this Section 1.5, the Company shall be the designee of the Fund for
receipt of requests for redemption from each Account and receipt by such
designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund; provided that the Fund receives
notice of such request for redemption on the next following Business Day.
1.6. The Company agrees that purchases and redemptions of
Portfolio shares offered by the then current prospectus of the Fund shall be
made in accordance with the provisions of such prospectus. The Company agrees
that all net amounts available under the variable annuity contracts with the
form number(s) which are listed on Schedule A attached hereto and incorporated
herein by this reference, as such Schedule A may be amended from time to time
hereafter by mutual written agreement of all the parties hereto, (the
"Contracts") shall be invested in the Fund, in such other Funds advised by the
Adviser as may be mutually agreed to in writing by the parties hereof, or in
the Company's general account, provided that such amounts may also be invested
in an investment company other than the Fund if (a) such other investment
company, or series thereof, has investment objectives or policies that are
substantially different from the investment objectives and policies of all the
Portfolios of the Fund which are actually used by the Company to fund the
Contracts; or (b) the Company gives the Fund and the
3
4
Underwriter 45 days written notice of its intention to make such other
investment company available as a funding vehicle for the Contracts; or (c)
such other investment company was available as a funding vehicle for the
Contracts prior to the date of this Agreement and the Company so informs the
Fund and Underwriter prior to their signing this Agreement (a list of such
funds appearing on Schedule C to this Agreement); or (d) the Fund or
Underwriter consents to the use of such other investment company.
1.7. The Company shall pay for Fund shares on the next
Business Day after an order to purchase Fund shares is made in accordance with
the provisions of Section 1.1 hereof. Payment shall be in federal funds
transmitted by wire. For purpose of Section 2.10 and 2.11, upon receipt by the
Fund of the federal funds so wired, such funds shall cease to be the
responsibility of the Company and shall become the responsibility of the Fund.
1.8. Issuance and transfer of the Fund's shares will be by
book entry only. Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or any
Account. Shares ordered from the Fund will be recorded in an appropriate title
for each Account or the appropriate subaccount of each Account.
1.9. The Fund shall furnish same day notice (by wire or
telephone, followed by written confirmation) to the Company of any income,
dividends or capital gain distributions payable on the Fund's shares. The
Company hereby elects to receive all such income dividends and capital gain
distributions as are payable on the Portfolio shares in additional shares of
that Portfolio. The Company reserves the right to revoke this election and to
receive all such income dividends and capital gain distributions in cash. The
Fund shall notify the Company of the number of shares so issued as payment of
such dividends and distributions.
1.10. The Fund shall make the net asset value per share for
each Portfolio available to the Company on a daily basis as soon as reasonably
practical after the net asset value per share is calculated (normally by 6:30
p.m. Boston time) and shall use its best efforts to make such net asset value
per share available by 7 p.m. Boston time.
ARTICLE II
Representations and Warranties
2.1. The Company represents and warrants that the
Contracts are or will be registered under the 1933 Act; that the Contracts will
be issued and sold in compliance in all material respects with all applicable
Federal and State laws and that the sale of the Contracts shall comply in all
material respects with state insurance suitability requirements. The Company
further represents and warrants that it is an insurance company duly organized
and in good standing under applicable law and that it has legally and validly
established each Account prior to any issuance or sale thereof as a segregated
asset account under Section 175:132G of the
4
5
Massachusetts Insurance Code and has registered or, prior to any issuance or
sale of the Contracts, will register each Account as a unit investment trust in
accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act to serve as a segregated
investment account for the Contracts.
2.2. The Fund represents and warrants that Fund shares
sold pursuant to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act, duly
authorized for issuance and sold in compliance with the laws of the State of
Massachusetts and all applicable federal and state securities laws and that the
Fund is and shall remain registered under the 0000 Xxx. The Fund shall amend
the Registration Statement for its shares under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act
from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of its
shares. The Fund shall register and qualify the shares for sale in accordance
with the laws of the various states only if and to the extent deemed advisable
by the Fund or the Underwriter.
2.3. The Fund represents that it is currently qualified as
a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended, (the "Code") and that it will make every effort to
maintain such qualification (under Subchapter M or any successor or similar
provision) and that it will notify the Company immediately upon having a
reasonable basis for believing that it has ceased to so qualify or that it
might not so qualify in the future.
2.4. So long as the Fund complies with the diversification
requirements noted in Article VI, the Company represents that the Contracts are
currently treated as endowment, annuity or life insurance contracts, under
applicable provisions of the Code and that it will make every effort to
maintain such treatment and that it will notify the Fund and the Underwriter
immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Contracts
have ceased to be so treated or that they might not be so treated in the
future.
2.5. The Fund currently does not intend to make any
payments to finance distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940
Act or otherwise, although it may make such payments in the future. The Fund
has adopted a "no fee" or "defensive" Rule 12b-1 Plan under which it makes no
payments for distribution expenses. To the extent that it decides to finance
distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1, the Fund undertakes to have a
board of trustees, a majority of whom are not interested persons of the Fund,
formulate and approve any plan under Rule 12b-1 to finance distribution
expenses.
2.6. The Fund makes no representation as to whether any
aspect of its operations (including, but not limited to, fees and expenses and
investment policies) complies with the insurance laws or regulations of the
various states except that the Fund represents that the Fund's investment
policies, fees and expenses are and shall at all times remain in compliance
with the laws of the State of Massachusetts and Indiana and the Fund and the
Underwriter represent that their respective operations are and shall at all
times remain in material compliance with the laws of the State of Massachusetts
to the extent required to perform this Agreement.
5
6
2.7. The Underwriter represents and warrants that it is a
member in good standing of the NASD and is registered as a broker-dealer with
the SEC. The Underwriter further represents that it will sell and distribute
the Fund shares in accordance with the laws of the State of Massachusetts and
all applicable state and federal securities laws, including without limitation
the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, and the 0000 Xxx.
2.8. The Fund represents that it is lawfully organized and
validly existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that
it does and will comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act.
2.9. The Underwriter represents and warrants that the
Adviser is and shall remain duly registered in all material respects under all
applicable federal and state securities laws and that the Adviser shall perform
its obligations for the Fund in compliance in all material respects with the
laws of the State of Massachusetts and any applicable state and federal
securities laws.
2.10. The Fund and Underwriter represent and warrant that
all of their directors, officers, employees, investment advisers, and other
individuals/entities dealing with the money and/or securities of the Fund are
and shall continue to be at all times covered by a blanket fidelity bond or
similar coverage for the benefit of the Fund in an amount not less than the
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
shall include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a
reputable bonding company.
2.11. The Company represents and warrants that all of its
directors, officers, employees, investment advisers, and other
individuals/entities dealing with the money and/or securities of the Fund are
covered by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage, and that said bond is
issued by a reputable bonding company, includes coverage for larceny and
embezzlement, and is in an amount not less than $5 million. The Company agrees
that any amounts received under such bond in connection with claims that arise
from the arrangements described in this Agreement will be held by the Company
for the benefit of the Fund. The Company agrees to make all reasonable efforts
to see that this bond or another bond containing these provisions is always in
effect, and agrees to notify the Fund and the Underwriter in the event that
such coverage no longer applies.
ARTICLE III
Prospectuses and Proxy Statements: Voting
3.1. The Underwriter shall provide the Company with as
many printed copies of the Fund's current prospectus and Statement of
Additional Information as the Company may reasonably request. If requested by
the Company in lieu thereof the Fund shall provide camera-ready film or
computer diskettes containing the Fund's prospectus and Statement of Additional
6
7
Information, and such other assistance as is reasonably necessary in order for
the Company once each year (or more frequently if the prospectus and/or
Statement of Additional Information for the Fund is amended during the year) to
have the prospectus for the Contracts and the Fund's prospectus printed
together in one document, and to have the Statement of Additional Information
for the Fund and the Statement of Additional Information for the Contracts
printed together in one document. Alternatively, the Company may print the
Fund's prospectus and/or its Statement of Additional Information in combination
with other fund companies' prospectuses and statements of additional
information. The Fund will make reasonable efforts to create a separate
prospectus and Statement of Additional Information for each Portfolio, but does
not guarantee that such prospectuses or SAIs will be generated in any
particular year.
Except as provided in the following three sentences, all expenses of printing
and distributing Fund prospectuses and Statements of Additional Information
shall be the expense of the Company. For prospectuses and Statements of
Additional Information provided by the Company to its existing owners of
Contracts in order to update disclosure as required by the 1933 Act and/or the
1940 Act, the cost of printing shall be borne by the Fund. If the Company
chooses to receive camera-ready film or computer diskettes in lieu of receiving
printed copies of the Fund's prospectus, the Fund will reimburse the Company in
an amount equal to the product of A and B where A is the number of such
prospectuses distributed to owners of the Contracts, and B is the Fund's per
unit cost of typesetting and printing the Fund's prospectus. The same
procedures shall be followed with respect to the Fund's Statement of Additional
Information.
The Company agrees to provide the Fund or its designee with
such information as may be reasonably requested by the Fund to assure that the
Fund's expenses do not include the cost of printing any prospectuses or
Statements of Additional Information other than those actually distributed to
existing owners of the Contracts.
3.2. The Fund's prospectus shall state that the Statement
of Additional Information for the Fund is available from the Underwriter or the
Company (or in the Fund's discretion, the Prospectus shall state that such
Statement is available from the Fund).
3.3. The Fund, at its expense, shall provide the Company
with copies of its proxy statements, reports to shareholders, and other
communications (except for prospectuses and Statements of Additional
Information, which are covered in Section 3.1) to shareholders in such quantity
as the Company shall reasonably require for distributing to Contract owners.
3.4. If and to the extent required by law the Company
shall:
(i) solicit voting instructions from Contract
owners;
(ii) vote the Fund shares in accordance with
instructions received from Contract owners;
and
7
8
(iii) vote Fund shares for which no instructions
have been received in a particular separate
account in the same proportion as Fund shares
of such portfolio for which instructions have
been received in that separate account,
so long as and to the extent that the Securities and Exchange Commission
continues to interpret the 1940 Act to require pass-through voting privileges
for variable contract owners. The Company reserves the right to vote Fund
shares held in any segregated asset account in its own right, to the extent
permitted by law. Participating Insurance Companies shall be responsible for
assuring that each of their separate accounts participating in the Fund
calculates voting privileges in a manner consistent with the standards set
forth on Schedule B attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference,
which standards will also be provided to the other Participating Insurance
Companies.
3.5. The Fund will comply with all provisions of the 1940
Act requiring voting by shareholders, and in particular the Fund will either
provide for annual meetings or comply with Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act
(although the Fund is not one of the trusts described in Section 16(c) of that
Act) as well as with Sections 16(a) and, if and when applicable, 16(b).
Further, the Fund will act in accordance with the Securities and Exchange
Commission's interpretation of the requirements of Section 16(a) with respect
to periodic elections of trustees and with whatever rules the Commission may
promulgate with respect thereto.
ARTICLE IV
Sales Material and Information
4.1. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be
furnished, to the Fund or its designee, each piece of sales literature or other
promotional material in which the Fund or its investment adviser or the
Underwriter is named, at least fifteen Business Days prior to its use. No such
material shall be used if the Fund or its designee reasonably objects to such
use within fifteen Business Days after receipt of such material.
4.2. The Company shall not give any information or make
any representations or statements on behalf of the Fund or concerning the Fund
in connection with the sale of the Contracts other than the information or
representations contained in the registration statement or prospectus for the
Fund shares, as such registration statement and prospectus may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, or in reports or proxy statements for the Fund,
or in sales literature or other promotional material approved by the Fund or
its designee or by the Underwriter, except with the permission of the Fund or
the Underwriter or the designee of either.
4.3. The Fund, Underwriter, or its designee shall furnish,
or shall cause to be furnished, to the Company or its designee, each piece of
sales literature or other promotional material in which the Company and/or its
separate account(s), is named at least fifteen Business
8
9
Days prior to its use. No such material shall be used if the Company or its
designee reasonably objects to such use within fifteen Business Days after
receipt of such material.
4.4. The Fund and the Underwriter shall not give any
information or make any representations on behalf of the Company or concerning
the Company, each Account, or the Contracts other than the information or
representations contained in a registration statement or prospectus for the
Contracts, as such registration statement and prospectus may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, or in published reports for each Account which
are in the public domain or approved by the Company for distribution to
Contract owners, or in sales literature or other promotional material approved
by the Company or its designee, except with the permission of the Company.
4.5. The Fund will provide to the Company at least one
complete copy of all registration statements, prospectuses, Statements of
Additional Information, reports, proxy statements, sales literature and other
promotional materials, applications for exemptions, requests for no-action
letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that relate to the Fund or
its shares, contemporaneously with the filing of such document with the
Securities and Exchange Commission or other regulatory authorities.
4.6. The Company will provide to the Fund at least one
complete copy of all registration statements, prospectuses, Statements of
Additional Information, reports, solicitations for voting instructions, sales
literature and other promotional materials, applications for exemptions,
requests for no action letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that
relate to the Contracts or each Account, contemporaneously with the filing of
such document with the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
4.7. For purposes of this Article IV, the phrase "sales
literature or other promotional material" includes, but is not limited to, any
of the following that refer to the Fund or any affiliate of the Fund:
advertisements (such as material published, or designed for use in, a
newspaper, magazine, or other periodical, radio, television, telephone or tape
recording, videotape display, signs or billboards, motion pictures, or other
public media), sales literature (i.e., any written communication distributed or
made generally available to customers or the public, including brochures,
circulars, research reports, market letters, form letters, seminar texts,
reprints or excerpts of any other advertisement, sales literature, or published
article), educational or training materials or other communications distributed
or made generally available to some or all agents or employees, and
registration statements, prospectuses, Statements of Additional Information,
shareholder reports, and proxy materials.
ARTICLE V
Fees and Expenses
5.1. The Fund and Underwriter shall pay no fee or other
compensation to the
9
10
Company under this agreement, except that if the Fund or any Portfolio adopts
and implements a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 to finance distribution expenses,
then the Underwriter may make payments to the Company or to the Underwriter for
the Contracts if and in amounts agreed to by the Underwriter in writing and
such payments will be made out of existing fees otherwise payable to the
Underwriter, past profits of the Underwriter or other resources available to
the Underwriter. No such payments shall be made directly by the Fund.
Currently, no such payments are contemplated.
5.2. All expenses incident to performance by the Fund
under this Agreement shall be paid by the Fund. The Fund shall see to it that
all its shares are registered and authorized for issuance in accordance with
applicable federal law and, if and to the extent deemed advisable by the Fund,
in accordance with applicable state laws prior to their sale. The Fund shall
bear the expenses for the cost of registration and qualification of the Fund's
shares, preparation and filing of the Fund's prospectus and registration
statement, proxy materials and reports, setting the prospectus in type, setting
in type and printing the proxy materials and reports to shareholders (including
the costs of printing a prospectus that constitutes an annual report), the
preparation of all statements and notices required by any federal or state law,
and all taxes on the issuance or transfer of the Fund's shares.
5.3. The Company shall bear the expenses of distributing
the Fund's prospectus, proxy materials and reports to owners of Contracts
issued by the Company.
ARTICLE VI
Diversification
6.1. The Fund will at all times invest money from the
Contracts in such a manner as to ensure that the Contracts will be treated as
variable contracts under the Code and the regulations issued thereunder.
Without limiting the scope of the foregoing, the Fund will at all times comply
with Section 817(h) of the Code and Treasury Regulation 1.817-5, relating to
the diversification requirements for variable annuity, endowment, or life
insurance contracts and any amendments or other modifications to such Section
or Regulations. In the event of a breach of this Article VI by the Fund, it
will take all reasonable steps (a) to notify Company of such breach and (b) to
adequately diversify the Fund so as to achieve compliance with the grace period
afforded by Regulation 1.817-5.
ARTICLE VII
Potential Conflicts
7.1. The Board will monitor the Fund for the existence of
any material irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the contract
owners of all separate accounts investing in the Fund. An irreconcilable
material conflict may arise for a variety of reasons,
10
11
including: (a) an action by any state insurance regulatory authority; (b) a
change in applicable federal or state insurance, tax, or securities laws or
regulations, or a public ruling, private letter ruling, no-action or
interpretative letter, or any similar action by insurance, tax, or securities
regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative or judicial decision in any
relevant proceeding; (d) the manner in which the investments of any Portfolio
are being managed; (e) a difference in voting instructions given by variable
annuity contract and variable life insurance contract owners; or (f) a decision
by an insurer to disregard the voting instructions of contract owners. The
Board shall promptly inform the Company if it determines that an irreconcilable
material conflict exists and the implications thereof.
7.2. The Company will report any potential or existing
conflicts of which it is aware to the Board. The Company will assist the Board
in carrying out its responsibilities under the Shared Funding Exemptive Order,
by providing the Board with all information reasonably necessary for the Board
to consider any issues raised. This includes, but is not limited to, an
obligation by the Company to inform the Board whenever contract owner voting
instructions are disregarded.
7.3. If it is determined by a majority of the Board, or a
majority of its disinterested trustees, that a material irreconcilable conflict
exists, the Company and other Participating Insurance Companies shall, at their
expense and to the extent reasonably practicable (as determined by a majority
of the disinterested trustees), take whatever steps are necessary to remedy or
eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict, up to and including: (1)
withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the separate accounts from
the Fund or any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a different investment
medium, including (but not limited to) another Portfolio of the Fund, or
submitting the question whether such segregation should be implemented to a
vote of all affected Contract owners and, as appropriate, segregating the
assets of any appropriate group (i.e., annuity contract owners, life insurance
contract owners, or variable contract owners of one or more Participating
Insurance Companies) that votes in favor of such segregation, or offering to
the affected contract owners the option of making such a change; and (2)
establishing a new registered management investment company or managed separate
account.
7.4. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because
of a decision by the Company to disregard contract owner voting instructions
and that decision represents a minority position or would preclude a majority
vote, the Company may be required, at the Fund's election, to withdraw the
affected Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with
respect to such Account; provided, however that such withdrawal and termination
shall be limited to the extent required by the foregoing material
irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the disinterested
members of the Board. Any such withdrawal and termination must take place
within six (6) months after the Fund gives written notice that this provision
is being implemented, and until the end of that six month period the
Underwriter and Fund shall continue to accept and implement orders by the
Company for the purchase (and redemption) of shares of the Fund.
11
12
7.5. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because
a particular state insurance regulator's decision applicable to the Company
conflicts with the majority of other state regulators, then the Company will
withdraw the affected Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this
Agreement with respect to such Account within six months after the Board
informs the Company in writing that it has determined that such decision has
created an irreconcilable material conflict; provided, however, that such
withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by the
foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the
disinterested members of the Board. Until the end of the foregoing six month
period, the Underwriter and Fund shall continue to accept and implement orders
by the Company for the purchase (and redemption) of shares of the Fund.
7.6. For purposes of Sections 7.3 through 7.6 of this
Agreement, a majority of the disinterested members of the Board shall determine
whether any proposed action adequately remedies any irreconcilable material
conflict, but in no event will the Fund be required to establish a new funding
medium for the Contracts. The Company shall not be required by Section 7.3 to
establish a new funding medium for the Contracts if an offer to do so has been
declined by vote of a majority of Contract owners materially adversely affected
by the irreconcilable material conflict. In the event that the Board
determines that any proposed action does not adequately remedy any
irreconcilable material conflict, then the Company will withdraw the Account's
investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement within six (6) months after
the Board informs the Company in writing of the foregoing determination,
provided, however, that such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the
extent required by any such material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a
majority of the disinterested members of the Board.
7.7. If and to the extent that Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T)
are amended, or Rule 6e-3 is adopted, to provide exemptive relief from any
provision of the Act or the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to mixed
or shared funding (as defined in the Shared Funding Exemptive Order) on terms
and conditions materially different from those contained in the Shared Funding
Exemptive Order, then (a) the Fund and/or the Participating Insurance
Companies, as appropriate, shall take such steps as may be necessary to comply
with Rules 6e-2 and 6e-3(T), as amended, and Rule 6e-3, as adopted, to the
extent such rules are applicable; and (b) Sections 3.4, 3.5, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3,
7.4, and 7.5 of this Agreement shall continue in effect only to the extent that
terms and conditions substantially identical to such Sections are contained in
such Rule(s) as so amended or adopted.
12
13
ARTICLE VIII
Indemnification
8.1. Indemnification By The Company
8.1(a). The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Fund and each trustee of the Board and officers and each person, if any, who
controls the Fund within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 8.1)
against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts
paid in settlement with the written consent of the Company) or litigation
(including legal and other expenses), to which the Indemnified Parties may
become subject under any statute, regulation, at common law or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in
respect thereof) or settlements are related to the sale or acquisition of the
Fund's shares or the Contracts and:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements
or alleged untrue statements of any material fact
contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus
for the Contracts or contained in the Contracts or
sales literature for the Contracts (or any amendment
or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out
of or are based upon the omission or the alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, provided that this agreement
to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified
Party if such statement or omission or such alleged
statement or omission was made in reliance upon and
in conformity with information furnished to the
Company by or on behalf of the Fund for use in the
Registration Statement or prospectus for the
Contracts or in the Contracts or sales literature (or
any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in
connection with the sale of the Contracts or Fund
shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations (other than statements or
representations contained in the Registration
Statement, prospectus or sales literature of the Fund
not supplied by the Company, or persons under its
control) or wrongful conduct of the Company or
persons under its control, with respect to the sale
or distribution of the Contracts or Fund Shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a
Registration Statement, prospectus, or sales
literature of the Fund or any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto or the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading if such
13
14
a statement or omission was made in reliance upon
information furnished to the Fund by or on behalf of
the Company; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Company to
provide the services and furnish the materials under
the terms of this Agreement; or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of
any representation and/or warranty made by the
Company in this Agreement or arise out of or result
from any other material breach of this Agreement by
the Company, as limited by and in accordance with the
provisions of Sections 8.1(b) and 8.1(c) hereof.
8.1(b). The Company shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or litigation incurred or assessed against an Indemnified
Party as such may arise from such Indemnified Party's willful
misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of such
Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party's
reckless disregard of obligations or duties under this Agreement or to
the Fund, whichever is applicable.
8.1(c). The Company shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an
Indemnified Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified
the Company in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or
other first legal process giving information of the nature of the
claim shall have been served upon such Indemnified Party (or after
such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on
any designated agent), but failure to notify the Company of any such
claim shall not relieve the Company from any liability which it may
have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought
otherwise than on account of this indemnification provision. In case
any such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties, the
Company shall be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the
defense of such action. The Company also shall be entitled to assume
the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in
the action. After notice from the Company to such party of the
Company's decision to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified
Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel
retained by it, and the Company will not be liable to such party under
this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred
by such party independently in connection with the defense thereof
other than reasonable costs of investigation.
8.1(d). The Indemnified Parties will promptly notify the
Company of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against
them in connection with the issuance or sale of the Fund Shares or the
Contracts or the operation of the Fund.
8.2. Indemnification by the Underwriter
14
15
8.2(a). The Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
the Company and each of its directors and officers and each person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 8.2)
against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts
paid in settlement with the written consent of the Underwriter) or litigation
(including legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may
become subject under any statute, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect
thereof) or settlements are related to the sale or acquisition of the Fund's
shares or the Contracts and:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of any material fact
contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus
or sales literature of the Fund (or any amendment or
supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of
or are based upon the omission or the alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, provided that this agreement
to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified
Party if such statement or omission or such alleged
statement or omission was made in reliance upon and
in conformity with information furnished to the
Underwriter or Fund by or on behalf of the Company
for use in the Registration Statement or prospectus
for the Fund or in sales literature (or any amendment
or supplement) or otherwise for use in connection
with the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations (other than statements or
representations contained in the Registration
Statement, prospectus or sales literature for the
Contracts not supplied by the Underwriter or persons
under its control) or wrongful conduct of the Fund,
Adviser or Underwriter or persons under their
control, with respect to the sale or distribution of
the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a
Registration Statement, prospectus, or sales
literature covering the Contracts, or any amendment
thereof or supplement thereto, or the omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statement or statements therein not misleading,
if such statement or omission was made in reliance
upon information furnished to the Company by or on
behalf of the Fund; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund to
provide the services and furnish the materials under
the terms of this Agreement (including a failure,
whether unintentional or in good faith or otherwise,
to comply
15
16
with the diversification requirements specified in
Article VI of this Agreement); or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of
any representation and/or warranty made by the
Underwriter in this Agreement or arise out of or
result from any other material breach of this
Agreement by the Underwriter; as limited by and in
accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.2(b) and
8.2(c) hereof.
8.2(b). The Underwriter shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or litigation to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be
subject by reason of such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith,
or gross negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by
reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties
under this Agreement or to each Company or the Account, whichever is
applicable.
8.2(c). The Underwriter shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified
Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Underwriter in
writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process
giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice
of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Underwriter
of any such claim shall not relieve the Underwriter from any liability which it
may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise
than on account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is
brought against the Indemnified Parties, the Underwriter will be entitled to
participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Underwriter also
shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to
the party named in the action. After notice from the Underwriter to such party
of the Underwriter's election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified
Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by
it, and the Underwriter will not be liable to such party under this Agreement
for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such party
independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable
costs of investigation.
8.2(d). The Company agrees promptly to notify the Underwriter
of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its
officers or directors in connection with the issuance or sale of the Contracts
or the operation of each Account.
8.3. Indemnification By the Fund
8.3(a). The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company, and each of its directors and officers and each person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 8.3)
against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts
paid
16
17
in settlement with the written consent of the Fund) or litigation (including
legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject
under any statute, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements
result from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of the Board
or any member thereof, be related to the operations of the Fund and:
(i) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund to
provide the services and furnish the materials under
the terms of this Agreement (including a failure to
comply with the diversification requirements
specified in Article VI of this Agreement); or
(ii) arise out of or result from any material breach of
any representation and/or warranty made by the Fund
in this Agreement or arise out of or result from any
other material breach of this Agreement by the Fund;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.3(b) and
8.3(c) hereof.
8.3(b). The Fund shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or litigation incurred or assessed against an Indemnified Party as
such may arise from such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or
gross negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by
reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties
under this Agreement or to the Company, the Fund, the Underwriter or each
Account, whichever is applicable.
8.3(c). The Fund shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified
Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Fund in writing
within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice
of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Fund of any
such claim shall not relieve the Fund from any liability which it may have to
the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on
account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought
against the Indemnified Parties, the Fund will be entitled to participate, at
its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Fund also shall be entitled to
assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the
action. After notice from the Fund to such party of the Fund's election to
assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and
expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Fund will not be
liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection with the
defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
8.3(d). The Company and the Underwriter agree promptly to
notify the Fund of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it
or any of its respective officers or
17
18
directors in connection with this Agreement, the issuance or sale of the
Contracts, with respect to the operation of either Account, or the sale or
acquisition of shares of the Fund.
ARTICLE IX
Applicable Law
9.1. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions
hereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
9.2. This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of
the 1933, 1934 and 1940 Acts, and the rules and regulations and rulings
thereunder, including such exemptions from those statutes, rules and
regulations as the Securities and Exchange Commission may grant (including, but
not limited to, the Shared Funding Exemptive Order) and the terms hereof shall
be interpreted and construed in accordance therewith.
ARTICLE X
Termination
10.1. This Agreement shall continue in full force and
effect until the first to occur of:
(a) termination by any party for any reason by six
months' advance written notice delivered to the other
parties; or
(b) termination by the Company by written notice to the
Fund and the Underwriter with respect to any
Portfolio based upon the Company's determination that
shares of such Portfolio are not reasonably available
to meet the requirements of the Contracts; or
(c) termination by the Company by written notice to the
Fund and the Underwriter with respect to any
Portfolio in the event any of the Portfolio's shares
are not registered, issued or sold in accordance with
applicable state and/or federal law or such law
precludes the use of such shares as the underlying
investment media of the Contracts issued or to be
issued by the Company; or
(d) termination by the Company by written notice to the
Fund and the Underwriter with respect to any
Portfolio in the event that such 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
believes that the Fund may fail to so qualify; or
18
19
(e) termination by the Company by written notice to the
Fund and the Underwriter with respect to any
Portfolio in the event that such Portfolio fails to
meet the diversification requirements specified in
Article VI hereof; or
(f) termination by either the Fund or the Underwriter by
written notice to the Company, if either one or both
of the Fund or the Underwriter respectively, shall
determine, in their sole judgment exercised in good
faith, that the Company and/or its affiliated
companies has suffered a material adverse change in
its business, operations, financial condition or
prospects since the date of this Agreement or is the
subject of material adverse publicity; or
(g) termination by the Company by written notice to the
Fund and the Underwriter, if the Company shall
determine, in its sole judgment exercised in good
faith, that either the Fund or the Underwriter has
suffered a material adverse change in its business,
operations, financial condition or prospects since
the date of this Agreement or is the subject of
material adverse publicity; or
(h) termination by the Fund or the Underwriter by written
notice to the Company, if the Company gives the Fund
and the Underwriter the written notice specified in
Section 1.6(b) hereof and at the time such notice was
given there was no notice of termination outstanding
under any other provision of this Agreement;
provided, however any termination under this Section
10.1(h) shall be effective sixty (60) days after the
notice specified in Section 1.6(b) was given.
10.2. Effect of Termination. Notwithstanding any
termination of this Agreement, the Fund and the Underwriter shall at the option
of the Company, continue to make available additional shares of the Fund
pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for all Contracts in
effect on the effective date of termination of this Agreement (hereinafter
referred to as "Existing Contracts"). Specifically, without limitation, the
owners of the Existing Contracts shall be permitted to reallocate investments
in the Fund, redeem investments in the Fund and/or invest in the Fund upon the
making of additional purchase payments under the Existing Contracts. The
parties agree that this Section 10.2 shall not apply to any terminations under
Article VII and the effect of such Article VII terminations shall be governed
by Article VII of this Agreement.
10.3 The Company shall not redeem Fund shares attributable
to the Contracts (as opposed to Fund shares attributable to the Company's
assets held in the Account) except (i) as necessary to implement Contract Owner
initiated or approved transactions, or (ii) as required by state and/or federal
laws or regulations or judicial or other legal precedent of general application
19
20
(hereinafter referred to as a "Legally Required Redemption") or (iii) as
permitted by an order of the SEC pursuant to Section 26(b) of the 1940 Act.
Upon request, the Company will promptly furnish to the Fund and the Underwriter
the opinion of counsel for the Company (which counsel shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the Fund and the Underwriter) to the effect that any redemption
pursuant to clause (ii) above is a Legally Required Redemption. Furthermore,
except in cases where permitted under the terms of the Contracts, the Company
shall not prevent Contract Owners from allocating payments to a Portfolio that
was otherwise available under the Contracts without first giving the Fund or
the Underwriter 90 days notice of its intention to do so.
ARTICLE XI
Notices
Any notice shall be sufficiently 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 party.
If to the Fund: 00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Treasurer
If to the Company: IL Annuity and Insurance Company
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
X.X. Xxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxxx X. XxXxxxxx, Esq.
If to the Underwriter: 00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Treasurer
ARTICLE XII
Miscellaneous
12.1 All persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to
the property of the Fund for the enforcement of any claims against the Fund as
neither the Board, officers, agents or shareholders assume any personal
liability for obligations entered into on behalf of the Fund.
12.2 Subject to the requirements of legal process and
regulatory authority, each party hereto shall treat as confidential the names
and addresses of the owners of the Contracts and all information reasonably
identified as confidential in writing by any other party hereto and,
20
21
except as permitted by this Agreement, shall not disclose, disseminate or
utilize such names and addresses and other confidential information until such
time as it may come into the public domain without the express written consent
of the affected party.
12.3 The captions in this Agreement are included for
convenience of reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the
provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
12.4 This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two
or more counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the
same instrument.
12.5 If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or
made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of
the Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
12.6 Each party hereto shall cooperate with each other
party and all appropriate governmental authorities (including without
limitation the SEC, the NASD and state insurance regulators) and shall permit
such authorities reasonable access to its books and records in connection with
any investigation or inquiry relating to this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby. Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, each
party hereto further agrees to furnish the California Insurance Commissioner
with any information or reports in connection with services provided under this
Agreement which such Commissioner may request in order to ascertain whether the
insurance operations of the Company are being conducted in a manner consistent
with the California Insurance Regulations and any other applicable law or
regulations.
12.7 The rights, remedies and obligations contained in
this Agreement are cumulative and are in addition to any and all rights,
remedies and obligations, at law or in equity, which the parties hereto are
entitled to under state and federal laws.
12.8. This Agreement or any of the rights and obligations
hereunder may not be assigned by any party without the prior written consent of
all parties hereto; provided, however, that the Underwriter may assign this
Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder to any affiliate of or company
under common control with the Underwriter, if such assignee is duly licensed
and registered to perform the obligations of the Underwriter under this
Agreement. In the event that Underwriter assigns this Agreement it will make
reasonable efforts to inform Company in advance of the assignment of the
identity of its assignee and the effective date of the assignment.
12.9. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be
furnished, to the Fund or its designee copies of the following reports:
(a) the Company's annual statement (prepared
under statutory accounting principles) and
annual report (prepared under generally
21
22
accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), if
any), as soon as practical and in any event
within 90 days after the end of each fiscal
year;
(b) the Company's quarterly statements
(statutory) (and GAAP, if any), as soon as
practical and in any event within 45 days
after the end of each quarterly period;
(c) any financial statement, proxy statement,
notice or report of the Company sent to
stockholders and/or policyholders, as soon as
practical after the delivery thereof to
stockholders;
(d) any registration statement (without exhibits)
and financial reports of the Company filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission
or any state insurance regulator, as soon as
practical after the filing thereof;
(e) any other report submitted to the Company by
independent accountants in connection with
any annual, interim or special audit made by
them of the books of the Company, as soon as
practical after the receipt thereof, unless
the sharing of such material would subject
the Company to the disclosure of confidential
information.
22
23
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this
Agreement to be executed in its name and on its behalf by its duly authorized
representative and its seal to be hereunder affixed hereto as of the date
specified below.
IL ANNUITY AND INSURANCE COMPANY
By:
--------------------------
Name:
------------------------
Title:
-----------------------
VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND
By:
--------------------------
Name:
------------------------
Title:
-----------------------
FIDELITY DISTRIBUTORS CORPORATION
By:
--------------------------
Name:
------------------------
Title:
-----------------------
23
24
Schedule A
Separate Accounts and Associated Contracts
Name of Separate Account and Policy Form Numbers of Contracts Funded
Date Established by Board of Directors By Separate Account
-------------------------------------- -------------------
IL Annuity and Insurance Co. Separate Account I VA-95
25
SCHEDULE B
PROXY VOTING PROCEDURE
The following is a list of procedures and corresponding responsibilities for
the handling of proxies relating to the Fund by the Underwriter, the Fund and
the Company. The defined terms herein shall have the meanings assigned in the
Participation Agreement except that the term "Company" shall also include the
department or third party assigned by the Insurance Company to perform the
steps delineated below.
1. The number of proxy proposals is given to the Company by the
Underwriter as early as possible before the date set by the Fund for
the shareholder meeting to facilitate the establishment of tabulation
procedures. At this time the Underwriter will inform the Company of
the Record, Mailing and Meeting dates. This will be done verbally
approximately two months before meeting.
2. Promptly after the Record Date, the Company will perform a "tape run",
or other activity, which will generate the names, addresses and number
of units which are attributed to each contractowner/policyholder (the
"Customer") as of the Record Date. Allowance should be made for
account adjustments made after this date that could affect the status
of the Customers' accounts as of the Record Date.
Note: The number of proxy statements is determined by the activities
described in Step #2. The Company will use its best efforts to call
in the number of Customers to Fidelity, as soon as possible, but no
later than two weeks after the Record Date.
3. The Fund's Annual Report no longer needs to be sent to each Customer
by the Company either before or together with the Customers' receipt
of a proxy statement. Underwriter will provide the last Annual Report
to the Company pursuant to the terms of Section 3.3 of the Agreement
to which this Schedule relates.
4. The text and format for the Voting Instruction Cards ("Cards" or
"Card") is provided to the Company by the Fund. The Company, at its
expense, shall produce and personalize the Voting Instruction Cards.
The Legal Department of the Underwriter or its affiliate ("Fidelity
Legal") must approve the Card before it is printed. Allow
approximately 2-4 business days for printing information on the Cards.
Information commonly found on the Cards includes:
a. name (legal name as found on account registration)
b. address
c. Fund or account number
d. coding to state number of units
e. individual Card number for use in tracking and
verification of votes
B-1
26
(already on Cards as printed by the Fund)
(This and related steps may occur later in the chronological process due to
possible uncertainties relating to the proposals.)
5. During this time, Fidelity Legal will develop, produce, and the Fund
will pay for the Notice of Proxy and the Proxy Statement (one
document). Printed and folded notices and statements will be sent to
Company for insertion into envelopes (envelopes and return envelopes
are provided and paid for by the Insurance Company). Contents of
envelope sent to Customers by Company will include:
a Voting Instruction Card(s)
b. One proxy notice and statement (one document)
c. return envelope (postage pre-paid by Company) addressed to the
Company or its tabulation agent
d. "urge buckslip" - optional, but recommended. (This is a
small, single sheet of paper that requests Customers to vote
as quickly as possible and that their vote is important. One
copy will be supplied by the Fund.)
e. cover letter - optional, supplied by Company and reviewed and
approved in advance by Fidelity Legal.
6. The above contents should be received by the Company approximately 3-5
business days before mail date. Individual in charge at Company
reviews and approves the contents of the mailing package to ensure
correctness and completeness. Copy of this approval sent to Fidelity
Legal.
7. Package mailed by the Company.
* The Fund must allow at least a 15-day solicitation time to the
Company as the shareowner. (A 5-week period is recommended.)
Solicitation time is calculated as calendar days from (but not
including) the meeting, counting backwards.
8. Collection and tabulation of Cards begins. Tabulation usually takes
place in another department or another vendor depending on process
used. An often used procedure is to sort Cards on arrival by proposal
into vote categories of all yes, no, or mixed replies, and to begin
data entry.
Note: Postmarks are not generally needed. A need for postmark
information would be due to an insurance company's internal procedure
and has not been required by Fidelity in the past.
9. Signatures on Card checked against legal name on account registration
which was printed on the Card.
B-2
27
Note: For example, if the account registration is under "Xxxxxxx X.
Xxxxx, Trustee," then that is the exact legal name to be printed on
the Card and is the signature needed on the Card.
10. If Cards are mutilated, or for any reason are illegible or are not
signed properly, they are sent back to Customer with an explanatory
letter, a new Card and return envelope. The mutilated or illegible
Card is disregarded and considered to be not received for purposes of
vote tabulation. Any Cards that have "kicked out" (e.g., mutilated,
illegible) of the procedure are "hand verified," i.e., examined as to
why they did not complete the system. Any questions on those Cards are
usually remedied individually.
11. There are various control procedures used to ensure proper tabulation
of votes and accuracy of that tabulation. The most prevalent is to
sort the Cards as they first arrive into categories depending upon
their vote; an estimate of how the vote is progressing may then be
calculated. If the initial estimates and the actual vote do not
coincide, then an internal audit of that vote should occur. This may
entail a recount.
12. The actual tabulation of votes is done in units which is then
converted to shares. (It is very important that the Fund receives the
tabulations stated in terms of a percentage and the number of shares.)
Fidelity Legal must review and approve tabulation format.
13. Final tabulation in shares is verbally given by the Company to
Fidelity Legal on the morning of the meeting not later than 10:00 a m.
Boston time. Fidelity Legal may request an earlier deadline if
required to calculate the vote in time for the meeting.
14. A Certification of Mailing and Authorization to Vote Shares will be
required from the Company as well as an original copy of the final
vote. Fidelity Legal will provide a standard form for each
Certification.
15. The Company will be required to box and archive the Cards received
from the Customers. In the event that any vote is challenged or if
otherwise necessary for legal, regulatory, or accounting purposes,
Fidelity Legal will be permitted reasonable access to such Cards.
16. All approvals and "signing-off" may be done orally, but must always be
followed up in writing.
B-3
28
SCHEDULE C
Other investment companies currently available under variable annuities or
variable life insurance issued by the Company:
The Xxxxx American Fund
Quest for Value Accumulation Trust
X. Xxxx Price Fixed Income Series, Inc.
Xxx Xxx Worldwide Insurance Trust
C-1
