PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
-----------------------
AMONG
FAFLIC ALLMERICA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY,
PIMCO VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST,
AND
PIMCO FUNDS DISTRIBUTORS LLC
THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of the 17 day of August, 2000, by and among First
Allmerica Financial Life Insurance Company, (the "Company"), aMassachusetts
life insurance company, on its own behalf and on behalf of each segregated
asset account of the Company set forth on Schedule A hereto as may be amended
from time to time (each account hereinafter referred to as the "Account"),
PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust (the "Fund"), a Delaware business trust, and
PIMCO Funds Distributors LLC (the "Underwriter"), a Delaware limited liability
company.
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 and variable annuity contracts (the
"Variable Insurance Products") to be offered by insurance companies which have
entered into participation agreements with the Fund and Underwriter
("Participating Insurance Companies");
WHEREAS, the shares of beneficial interest of the Fund are divided into
several series of shares, each designated a "Portfolio" and representing the
interest in a particular managed portfolio of securities and other assets;
WHEREAS, the Fund has obtained an order from the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") granting Participating Insurance Companies and variable
annuity and variable life insurance separate accounts exemptions from the
provisions of sections 9(a), 13(a), 15(a), and 15(b) of the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended, (the "1940 Act") and Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and
6e-3(T)(b)(15) thereunder, if and 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
(the "Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order");
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the 1940 Act and shares of the Portfolios are registered under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act");
WHEREAS, Pacific Investment Management Company (the "Adviser"), which
serves as investment adviser to the Fund, is duly registered as an investment
adviser under the federal Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended;
WHEREAS, the Company has issued or will issue certain variable life
insurance and/or variable annuity contracts supported wholly or partially by
the Account (the "Contracts"), and said Contracts are listed in Schedule A
hereto, as it may be amended from time to time by mutual written agreement;
WHEREAS, the Account is duly established and maintained as a segregated
asset account, duly established by the Company, on the date shown for such
Account on Schedule A hereto, to set aside and invest assets attributable to
the aforesaid Contracts;
WHEREAS, the Underwriter, which serves as distributor to the Fund, is
registered as a broker dealer with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and is a member in good standing of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD"); and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Company intends to purchase ADMINISTRATIVE Class shares in the
Portfolios listed in Schedule A hereto, as it may be amended from time to time
by mutual written agreement (the "Designated Portfolios") on behalf of the
Account to fund the aforesaid Contracts, and the Underwriter is authorized to
sell such shares to the Account at net asset value;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Company,
the Fund and the Underwriter agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. Sale of Fund Shares
-------------------
1.1. The Fund has granted to the Underwriter exclusive authority to
distribute the Fund's shares, and has agreed to instruct, and has so
instructed, the Underwriter to make available to the Company for purchase on
behalf of the Account Fund shares of those Designated Portfolios selected by
the Underwriter. Pursuant to such authority and instructions, and subject to
Article X hereof, the Underwriter agrees to make available to the Company for
purchase on behalf of the Account, shares of those Designated Portfolios listed
on Schedule A to this Agreement, such purchases to be effected at net asset
value in accordance with Section 1.3 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, (i) Fund series (other than those listed on Schedule A) in existence
now or that may be established in the future will be made available to the
Company only as the Underwriter may so provide, and (ii) the Board of Trustees
of the Fund (the "Board") may suspend or terminate the offering of Fund shares
of any Designated Portfolio or class thereof, 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 laws, suspension or termination is necessary
in the best interests of the shareholders of such Designated Portfolio.
1.2. The Fund shall redeem, at the Company's request, any full or
fractional Designated Portfolio shares held by the Company on behalf of the
Account, such redemptions to be effected at net asset value in accordance with
Section 1.3 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Company
shall not redeem Fund shares attributable to Contract owners except in the
circumstances permitted in Section 10.3 of this Agreement, and (ii) the Fund
may delay redemption of Fund shares of any Designated Portfolio 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 an agent of the Fund for
the limited purpose of receiving purchase and redemption requests on behalf
of the Account (but not with respect to any Fund shares that may be held in
the general account of the Company) for shares of those Designated
Portfolios made available hereunder, based on allocations of amounts to the
Account or subaccounts thereof under the Contracts and other transactions
relating to the Contracts or the Account. Receipt of any such request (or
relevant transactional information
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therefor) on any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading and
on which the Fund calculates its net asset value pursuant to the rules of
the SEC (a "Business Day") by the Company as such limited agent of the
Fund prior to the time that the Fund ordinarily calculates its net asset
value as described from time to time in the Fund Prospectus (which as of
the date of execution of this Agreement is 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) shall
constitute receipt by the Fund on that same Business Day, provided that
the Fund receives notice of such request by 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the
next following Business Day.
(b) The Company shall pay for shares of each Designated Portfolio on
the same day that it notifies the Fund of a purchase request for such
shares. Payment for Designated Portfolio shares shall be made in federal
funds transmitted to the Fund by wire to be received by the Fund by 4:00
p.m. Eastern Time on the day the Fund is notified of the purchase request
for Designated Portfolio shares (unless the Fund determines and so advises
the Company that sufficient proceeds are available from redemption of
shares of other Designated Portfolios effected pursuant to redemption
requests tendered by the Company on behalf of the Account). If federal
funds are not received on time, such funds will be invested, and Designated
Portfolio shares purchased thereby will be issued, as soon as practicable
and the Company shall promptly, upon the Fund's request, reimburse the Fund
for any charges, costs, fees, interest or other expenses incurred by the
Fund in connection with any advances to, or borrowing or overdrafts by, the
Fund, or any similar expenses incurred by the Fund, as a result of
portfolio transactions effected by the Fund based upon such purchase
request. 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 Designated Portfolio shares redeemed by the Account or
the Company 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
Designated Portfolios in accordance with Section 1.3(b) of this Agreement),
except that the Fund reserves the right to redeem Designated Portfolio
shares in assets other than cash and to delay payment of redemption
proceeds to the extent permitted under Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act and
any Rules thereunder, and in accordance with the procedures and policies of
the Fund as described in the then current prospectus. 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 Designated Portfolio shares
held or to be held in the Company's general account shall be effected at
the 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
Fund 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 net asset value per
share for each Designated Portfolio available to the Company by 7:00 p.m.
Eastern Time each Business Day, and in any event, as soon as reasonably
practicable after the net asset value per share for such Designated Portfolio is
calculated, and shall calculate such net asset value in accordance with the
Fund's Prospectus. Neither the Fund, any Designated Portfolio, the Underwriter,
nor any of their affiliates shall be liable for any information provided to the
Company pursuant to this Agreement which information is based on
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incorrect information supplied by the Company or any other Participating
Insurance Company to the Fund or the Underwriter.
1.5. The Fund shall furnish notice (by wire or telephone followed by
written confirmation) to the Company as soon as reasonably practicable of any
income dividends or capital gain distributions payable on any Designated
Portfolio shares. The Company, on its behalf and on behalf of the Account,
hereby elects to receive all such dividends and distributions as are payable on
any Designated Portfolio shares in the form of additional shares of that
Designated Portfolio. The Company reserves the right, on its behalf and on
behalf of the Account, 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 Designated Portfolio shares so issued as
payment of such dividends and distributions.
1.6. Issuance and transfer of Fund shares shall be by book entry only.
Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or the Account. Purchase
and redemption orders for Fund shares shall be recorded in an appropriate
ledger for the Account or the appropriate subaccount of the Account.
1.7. (a) The parties hereto acknowledge that the arrangement contemplated
by this Agreement is not exclusive; the Fund's shares may be sold to other
insurance companies (subject to Section 1.8 hereof) and the cash value of the
Contracts may be invested in other investment companies, provided, however,
that until this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Article X, the Company
shall promote the Designated Portfolios on the same basis as other funding
vehicles available under the Contracts. Funding vehicles other than those
listed on Schedule A to this Agreement may be available for the investment of
the cash value of the Contracts, provided, however, (i) any such vehicle or
series thereof, has investment objectives or policies that are substantially
different from the investment objectives and policies of the Designated
Portfolios available hereunder;; or (iii) unless such other investment company
was available as a Funding vehicle for the Contracts prior to the date of this
Agreement and the Company has so informed the Fund and the Underwriter prior to
their signing this Agreement, the Fund or Underwriter consents in writing to
the use of such other vehicle, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld.
(b) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the Underwriter (unless
otherwise required by applicable law), take any action to operate the Account
as a management investment company under the 1940 Act.
(c) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the Underwriter (unless
otherwise required by applicable law), induce Contract owners to change or
modify the Fund or change the Fund's distributor or investment 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 of
Trustees of the Fund.
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1.8. The Underwriter and the Fund shall sell Fund shares only to
Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts and to persons or
plans ("Qualified Persons") that communicate to the Underwriter and the Fund
that they qualify to purchase shares of the Fund under Section 817(h) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and the regulations
thereunder without impairing the ability of the Account to consider the
portfolio investments of the Fund as constituting investments of the Account
for the purpose of satisfying the diversification requirements of Section
817(h). The Underwriter and the Fund shall not sell Fund shares to any
insurance company or separate account unless an agreement complying with
Article VI of this Agreement is in effect to govern such sales, to the extent
required. The Company hereby represents and warrants that it and the Account
are Qualified Persons. The Fund reserves the right to cease offering shares of
any Designated Portfolio in the discretion of the Fund.
ARTICLE II. Representations and Warranties
------------------------------
2.1. The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts (a) are, or
prior to issuance will be, registered under the 1933 Act, or (b) are not
registered because they are properly exempt from registration under the 1933
Act or will be offered exclusively in transactions that are properly exempt
from registration under the 1933 Act. The Company further represents and
warrants that the Contracts will be issued and sold in compliance in all
material respects with all applicable federal securities and state securities
and insurance 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, that it has legally and validly
established the Account prior to any issuance or sale thereof as a segregated
asset account under MASSACHUSETTS insurance laws, and that it (a) has
registered or, prior to any issuance or sale of the Contracts, will register
the Account as a unit investment trust in accordance with the provisions of the
1940 Act to serve as a segregated investment account for the Contracts, or
alternatively (b) has not registered the Account in proper reliance upon an
exclusion from registration under the 1940 Act. The Company shall register and
qualify the Contracts or interests therein as securities in accordance with the
laws of the various states only if and to the extent deemed advisable by the
Company.
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 applicable state and federal 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 may make payments to finance distribution expenses pursuant
to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Prior to financing distribution expenses
pursuant to Rule 12b-1, the Fund will have the Board, a majority of whom are
not interested persons of the Fund, formulate and approve a plan pursuant to
Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act to finance distribution expenses.
2.4. The Fund makes no representations as to whether any aspect of its
operations, including, but not limited to, investment policies, fees and
expenses, complies with the insurance and other applicable laws of the various
states.
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2.5. The Fund represents that it is lawfully organized and validly
existing under the laws of the State of Delaware and that it does and will
comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act.
2.6. The Underwriter represents and warrants that it is a member in good
standing of the NASD and is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC. The
Underwriter further represents that it will sell and distribute the Fund shares
in accordance with any applicable state and federal securities laws.
2.7. The Fund and the Underwriter represent and warrant that all of their
trustees/directors, officers, employees, investment advisers, and other
individuals or entities dealing with the money and/or securities of the Fund
are and shall continue to be at all times covered by a blanket fidelity bond or
similar coverage for the benefit of the Fund in an amount not less than the
minimum coverage as required currently by Rule 17g-1 of the 1940 Act or related
provisions as may be promulgated from time to time. The aforesaid bond shall
include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a
reputable bonding company.
2.8. The Company represents and warrants that all of its directors,
officers, employees, and other individuals/entities employed or controlled by
the Company dealing with the money and/or securities of the Account are covered
by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage for the benefit of the Account,
in an amount not less than $5 million. The aforesaid bond includes coverage for
larceny and embezzlement and is issued by a reputable bonding company. The
Company agrees to hold for the benefit of the Fund and to pay to the Fund any
amounts lost from larceny, embezzlement or other events covered by the
aforesaid bond to the extent such amounts properly belong to the Fund pursuant
to the terms of this Agreement. 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 copies of the
Fund's current prospectus (describing only the Designated Portfolios listed on
Schedule A) or, to the extent permitted, the Fund's profiles as the Company may
reasonably request. The Company shall bear the expense of printing copies of
the current prospectus and profiles for the Contracts that will be distributed
to existing Contract owners, and the Company shall bear the expense of printing
copies of the Fund's prospectus and profiles that are used in connection with
offering the Contracts issued by the Company. If requested by the Company in
lieu thereof, the Fund shall provide such documentation (including a final copy
of the new prospectus on diskette at the Fund's expense) and other assistance
as is reasonably necessary in order for the Company once each year (or more
frequently if the prospectus for the Fund is amended) to have the prospectus
for the Contracts and the Fund's prospectus or profile printed together in one
document (such printing to be at the Company's expense).
3.2. The Fund's prospectus shall state that the current Statement of
Additional Information ("SAI") for the Fund is available, and the Underwriter
(or the Fund), at its expense, shall provide a reasonable number of copies of
such SAI free of charge to the Company for itself and for any owner of a
Contract who requests such SAI.
3.3. The Fund shall provide the Company with information regarding the
Fund's expenses, which information may include a table of fees and related
narrative disclosure for use in any prospectus or other descriptive document
relating to a Contract. The Company agrees that it will use such information in
the form provided. The Company shall provide prior written notice of any
proposed
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modification of such information, which notice will describe in detail the
manner in which the Company proposes to modify the information, and agrees that
it may not modify such information in any way without the prior consent of the
Fund.
3.4. The Fund, at its expense, shall provide the Company with copies of
its proxy material, reports to shareholders, and other communications to
shareholders in such quantity as the Company shall reasonably require for
distributing to Contract owners.
3.5. The Company shall:
(i) solicit voting instructions from Contract owners;
(ii) vote the Fund shares in accordance with instructions received
from Contract owners; and
(iii) vote Fund shares for which no instructions have been received in
the same proportion as Fund shares of such portfolio for which
instructions have been received,
so long as and to the extent that the SEC continues to interpret the 1940 Act
to require pass-through voting privileges for variable contract owners or to
the extent otherwise required by law. The Company will vote Fund shares held in
any segregated asset account in the same proportion as Fund shares of such
portfolio for which voting instructions have been received from Contract
owners, to the extent permitted by law.
3.6. Participating Insurance Companies shall be responsible for assuring
that each of their separate accounts participating in a Designated Portfolio
calculates voting privileges as required by the Shared Funding Exemptive Order
and consistent with any reasonable standards that the Fund may adopt and
provide in writing.
ARTICLE IV. Sales Material and Information
------------------------------
4.1. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the
Fund or its designee, each piece of sales literature or other promotional
material that the Company develops and in which the Fund (or a Designated
Portfolio thereof) or the Adviser or the Underwriter is named. No such material
shall be used until approved by the Fund or its designee, and the Fund will use
its best efforts for it or its designee to review such sales literature or
promotional material within ten Business Days after receipt of such material.
The Fund or its designee reserves the right to reasonably object to the
continued use of any such sales literature or other promotional material in
which the Fund (or a Designated Portfolio thereof) or the Adviser or the
Underwriter is named, and no such material shall be used if the Fund or its
designee so object.
4.2. The Company shall not give any information or make any
representations or statements on behalf of the Fund or concerning the Fund or
the Adviser or the Underwriter in connection with the sale of the Contracts
other than the information or representations contained in the registration
statement or prospectus or SAI for the Fund shares, as such registration
statement and prospectus or SAI may 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.
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4.3. The Fund and the Underwriter, or their designee, shall furnish, or
cause to be furnished, to the Company, each piece of sales literature or other
promotional material that it develops and in which the Company, and/or its
Account, is named. No such material shall be used until approved by the
Company, and the Company will use its best efforts to review such sales
literature or promotional material within ten Business Days after receipt of
such material. The Company reserves the right to reasonably object to the
continued use of any such sales literature or other promotional material in
which the Company and/or its Account is named, and no such material shall be
used if the Company so objects.
4.4. The Fund and the Underwriter shall not give any information or make
any representations on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company, the
Account, or the Contracts other than the information or representations
contained in a registration statement, prospectus (which shall include an
offering memorandum, if any, if the Contracts issued by the Company or
interests therein are not registered under the 1933 Act), or SAI for the
Contracts, as such registration statement, prospectus, or SAI may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, or in published reports for the Account which
are in the public domain or approved by the Company for distribution to
Contract owners, or in sales literature or other promotional material approved
by the Company or its designee, except with the permission of the Company.
4.5. The Fund will provide to the Company at least one complete copy of
all registration statements, prospectuses, SAIs, reports, proxy statements,
sales literature and other promotional materials, applications for exemptions,
requests for no-action letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that
relate to the Fund or its shares, promptly after the filing of such document(s)
with the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
4.6. The Company will provide to the Fund at least one complete copy of
all registration statements, prospectuses (which shall include an offering
memorandum, if any, if the Contracts issued by the Company or interests therein
are not registered under the 1933 Act), 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 relate to the Contracts or the Account, promptly after the
filing of such document(s) with the SEC or other regulatory authorities. The
Company shall provide to the Fund and the Underwriter any complaints received
from the Contract owners pertaining to the Fund or the Designated Portfolio.
4.7. The Fund will provide the Company with as much notice as is
reasonably practicable of any proxy solicitation for any Designated Portfolio,
and of any material change in the Fund's registration statement, particularly
any change resulting in a change to the registration statement or prospectus
for any Account. The Fund will work with the Company so as to enable the
Company to solicit proxies from Contract owners, or to make changes to its
prospectus or registration statement, in an orderly manner. The Fund will make
reasonable efforts to attempt to have changes affecting Contract prospectuses
become effective simultaneously with the annual updates for such prospectuses.
4.8. For purposes of this Article IV, the phrase "sales literature and
other promotional materials" includes, but is not limited to, any of the
following that refer to the Fund or any affiliate of the Fund: advertisements
(such as material published, or designed for use in, a newspaper, magazine, or
other periodical, radio, television, telephone or tape recording, videotape
display, signs or billboards, motion pictures, or other public media), sales
literature (I.E., any written communication distributed or made generally
available to customers or the public, including brochures, circulars, reports,
market letters, 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,
SAIs,
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shareholder reports, proxy materials, and any other communications distributed
or made generally available with regard to the Fund.
ARTICLE V. Fees and Expenses
-----------------
5.1. The Fund and the Underwriter shall pay no fee or other compensation
to the Company under this Agreement, except that if the Fund or any Portfolio
adopts and implements a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 to finance distribution
expenses, then the Fund or 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. 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 to owners of Contracts issued by the Company and of distributing the
Fund's proxy materials and reports to such Contract owners.
ARTICLE VI. Diversification and Qualification
---------------------------------
6.1. The Fund will invest its assets in such a manner as to ensure that
the Contracts will be treated as annuity or life insurance contracts, whichever
is appropriate, under the Code and the regulations issued thereunder (or any
successor provisions). Without limiting the scope of the foregoing, each
Designated Portfolio has complied and will continue to comply with Section
817(h) of the Code and Treasury Regulation ss.1.817-5, and any Treasury
interpretations thereof, relating to the diversification requirements for
variable annuity, endowment, or life insurance contracts, and any amendments or
other modifications or successor provisions 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 the Company of such breach and (b) to adequately
diversify the Fund so as to achieve compliance within the grace period afforded
by Regulation 1.817-5.
6.2. The Fund represents that it is or will be 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 provisions) and that it will notify the Company immediately upon having
a reasonable basis for believing that it has ceased to so qualify or that it
might not so qualify in the future.
6.3. The Company represents that the Contracts are currently, and at the
time of issuance shall be, treated as life insurance or annuity insurance
contracts, under applicable provisions of the Code, and that it will make every
effort to maintain such treatment, and that it will notify the Fund and the
Underwriter immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing the
Contracts have ceased
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to be so treated or that they might not be so treated in the future. The
Company agrees that any prospectus offering a contract that is a "modified
endowment contract" as that term is defined in Section 7702A of the Code (or
any successor or similar provision), shall identify such contract as a modified
endowment contract.
ARTICLE VII. Potential Conflicts
-------------------
The following provisions shall apply only upon issuance of the Mixed and Shared
Funding Order and the sale of shares of the Fund to variable life insurance
separate accounts, and then only to the extent required under the 0000 Xxx.
7.1. The Board will monitor the Fund for the existence of any material
irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the Contract owners of all
separate accounts investing in the Fund. An irreconcilable material conflict
may arise for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to: (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 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 Contract owner voting instructions
are disregarded.
7.3. If it is determined by a majority of the Board, or a majority of its
disinterested members, that a material irreconcilable conflict exists, the
Company and other Participating Insurance Companies shall, at their expense and
to the extent reasonably practicable (as determined by a majority of the
disinterested Board members), take whatever steps are necessary to remedy or
eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict, up to and including: (1)
withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the separate accounts from
the Fund or any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a different investment
medium, including (but not limited to) another Portfolio of the Fund, or
submitting the question whether such segregation should be implemented to a
vote of all affected contract owners and, as appropriate, segregating the
assets of any appropriate group (I.E., annuity contract owners, life insurance
contract owners, or variable contract owners of one or more Participating
Insurance Companies) that votes in favor of such segregation, or offering to
the affected contract owners the option of making such a change; and (2)
establishing a new registered management investment company or managed separate
account.
7.4. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a decision by
the Company to disregard Contract owner voting instructions and that decision
represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote, the Company
may be required, at the Fund's election, to withdraw the Account's investment
in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with respect to each 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
-10-
this provision is being implemented, and until the end of that six month period
the Fund shall continue to accept and implement orders by the Company for the
purchase (and redemption) of shares of the Fund.
7.5. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a particular
state insurance regulator's decision applicable to the Company conflicts with
the majority of other state regulators, then the Company will withdraw the
affected Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with
respect to such Account within six months after the Board informs the Company
in writing that it has determined that such decision has created an
irreconcilable material conflict; provided, however, that such withdrawal and
termination shall be limited to the extent required by the foregoing material
irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the disinterested
members of the Board. Until the end of the foregoing six month period, the Fund
shall continue to accept and implement orders by the Company for the purchase
(and redemption) of shares of the Fund.
7.6. For purposes of Section 7.3 through 7.6 of this Agreement, a majority
of the disinterested members of the Board shall determine whether any proposed
action adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict, but in no
event will the Fund be required to establish a new funding medium for the
Contracts. The Company shall not be required by Section 7.3 to establish a new
funding medium for the Contract if an offer to do so has been declined by vote
of a majority of Contract owners materially adversely affected by the
irreconcilable material conflict. In the event that the Board determines that
any proposed action does not adequately remedy any irreconcilable material
conflict, then the Company will withdraw the Account's investment in the Fund
and terminate this Agreement within six (6) months after the Board informs the
Company in writing of the foregoing determination; provided, however, that such
withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by any such
material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the
disinterested members of the Board.
7.7. If and to the extent the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemption Order or
any amendment thereto contains terms and conditions different from Sections
3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 of this Agreement, then the Fund
and/or the Participating Insurance Companies, as appropriate, shall take such
steps as may be necessary to comply with the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive
Order, and Sections 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4 and 7.5 of this Agreement
shall continue in effect only to the extent that terms and conditions
substantially identical to such Sections are contained in the Mixed and Shared
Funding Exemptive Order or any amendment thereto. 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 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, 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 3.5, 3.6, 7.1., 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 of this Agreement shall
continue in effect only to the extent that terms and conditions substantially
identical to such Sections are contained in such Rule(s) as so amended or
adopted.
ARTICLE VIII. Indemnification
---------------
8.1. Indemnification by the Company
------------------------------
8.1(a). The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and the
Underwriter and each of its trustees/directors and officers, and each person,
if any, who controls the Fund or Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15
of the 1933 Act or who is under common control with
-11-
the Underwriter (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 or regulation, at common law or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or
actions in respect thereof) or settlements:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statements of any material fact contained in the registration
statement, prospectus (which shall include a written description of a
Contract that is not registered under the 1933 Act), or SAI 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, 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 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, SAI, or sales literature of the
Fund not supplied by the Company or persons under its control) or
wrongful conduct of the Company or its agents or persons under the
Company's authorization or control, with respect to the sale or
distribution of the Contracts or Fund Shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
a material fact contained in a registration statement, prospectus,
SAI, or sales literature of the Fund or any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto or the omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading if such a statement or
omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Fund
by or on behalf of the Company; or
(iv) arise as a result of any material failure by the Company to
provide the services and furnish the materials under the terms of this
Agreement (including a failure, whether unintentional or in good faith
or otherwise, to comply with the qualification requirements specified
in Article VI of this Agreement); or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Company in this Agreement
or arise out of or result from any other material breach of this
Agreement by the Company; or
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 to which an Indemnified Party would
-12-
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 its
obligations or duties under this Agreement.
8.1(c). The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless
such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Company in writing within a
reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice
of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Company of
any such claim shall not relieve the Company from any liability which it may
have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise
than on account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is
brought against an Indemnified Party, the Company shall be entitled to
participate, at its own expense, in the defense of such action. The Company
also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory
to the party named in the action. After notice from the Company to such party
of the Company's election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party
shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and
the Company will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal
or other expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in
connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of
investigation.
8.1(d). The Indemnified Parties will promptly notify the Company of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against them in connection with
the issuance or sale of the Fund shares or the Contracts or the operation of
the Fund.
8.2. Indemnification by the Underwriter
----------------------------------
8.2(a). The Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company
and 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 or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or
settlements:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in the registration
statement or prospectus or SAI 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, prospectus or SAI 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
-13-
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations
(other than statements or representations contained in the
registration statement, prospectus, SAI or sales literature for the
Contracts not supplied by the Underwriter or persons under its
control) or wrongful conduct of the Fund or Underwriter or persons
under their control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the
Contracts or Fund shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
a material fact contained in a registration statement, prospectus, SAI
or sales literature 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 the Underwriter; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund or the Underwriter
to provide the services and furnish the materials under the terms of
this Agreement (including a failure of the Fund, whether unintentional
or in good faith or otherwise, to comply with the diversification and
other qualification requirements specified in Article VI of this
Agreement); or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the 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 or such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such
Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this
Agreement or to the Company or the Account, whichever is applicable.
8.2(c). The Underwriter shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless
such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Underwriter in writing within a
reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice
of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Underwriter
of any such claim shall not relieve the Underwriter from any liability which it
may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise
than on account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is
brought against the Indemnified Party, the Underwriter will be entitled to
participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Underwriter also
shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to
the party named in the action. 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.
-14-
The Company agrees promptly to notify the Underwriter of the commencement
of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers or directors
in connection with the issuance or sale of the Contracts or the operation of
the Account.
8.3. Indemnification By the Fund
---------------------------
8.3(a). The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and
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, expenses, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in
settlement with the written consent of the Fund) or litigation (including legal
and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may be required to pay or
may become subject under any statute or regulation, at common law or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities or expenses (or
actions in respect thereof) or settlements, are 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, whether unintentional or in good faith or
otherwise, to comply with the diversification and other qualification
requirements specified in Article VI of this Agreement); or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations
(other than statements or representations contained in the
registration statement, prospectus, SAI or sales literature for the
Contracts not supplied by the Fund or persons under its control) or
wrongful conduct of the Fund or persons under its control, with
respect to the sale or distribution of Fund shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
a material fact contained in a registration statement, prospectus,
SAI, or sales literature of the Company or any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto or the omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading if such a statement or
omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the
Company by or on behalf of the Fund; or
(iv) arise as a result of any material failure by the Fund to provide
the services and furnish the materials under the terms of this
Agreement (including a failure, whether unintentional or in good faith
or otherwise, to comply with the qualification requirements specified
in Article VI of this Agreement); or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Fund 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 to which
an Indemnified Party would
-15-
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 the Company, the Fund, the
Underwriter or the Account, whichever is applicable.
8.3(c). The Fund shall not be liable under this indemnification provision
with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless such
Indemnified Party shall have notified the Fund in writing within a reasonable
time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the
nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Indemnified Party (or
after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on any
designated agent), but failure to notify the Fund of any such claim shall not
relieve the Fund from any liability which it may have to the Indemnified Party
against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this
indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought against the
Indemnified Parties, the Fund will be entitled to participate, at its own
expense, in the defense thereof. The Fund also shall be entitled to assume the
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 proceeding against it or any of its
respective officers or directors in connection with the Agreement, the issuance
or sale of the Contracts, the operation of the Account, or the sale or
acquisition of shares of the Fund.
ARTICLE IX. Applicable Law
--------------
9.1. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of California.
9.2. This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the 1933, 1934
and 1940 Acts, and the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder, including
such exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as the SEC may grant
(including, but not limited to, any Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order)
and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance
therewith. If, in the future, the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order
should no longer be necessary under applicable law, then Article VII shall no
longer apply.
ARTICLE X. Termination
-----------
10.1. This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until the
first to occur of:
(a) termination by any party, for any reason with respect to some or all
Designated Portfolios, by three (3) months advance written notice
delivered to the other parties; or
(b) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and the
Underwriter based upon the Company's determination that shares of the
Fund are not reasonably available to meet the requirements of the
Contracts; or
-16-
(c) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and the
Underwriter in the event any of the Designated Portfolio's shares are
not registered, issued or sold in accordance with applicable state
and/or federal law or such law precludes the use of such shares as
the underlying investment media of the Contracts issued or to be
issued by the Company; or
(d) termination by the Fund or Underwriter in the event that formal
administrative proceedings are instituted against the Company by the
NASD, the SEC, the Insurance Commissioner or like official of any
state or any other regulatory body regarding the Company's duties
under this Agreement or related to the sale of the Contracts, the
operation of any Account, or the purchase of the Fund's shares;
provided, however, that the Fund or Underwriter determines in its
sole judgment exercised in good faith, that any such administrative
proceedings will have a material adverse effect upon the ability of
the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement; or
(e) termination by the Company in the event that formal administrative
proceedings are instituted against the Fund or Underwriter by the
NASD, the SEC, or any state securities or insurance department or any
other regulatory body; provided, however, that the Company determines
in its sole judgment exercised in good faith, that any such
administrative proceedings will have a material adverse effect upon
the ability of the Fund or Underwriter to perform its obligations
under this Agreement; or
(f) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and the
Underwriter with respect to any Designated Portfolio in the event
that such Portfolio ceases to qualify as a Regulated Investment
Company under Subchapter M or fails to comply with the Section 817(h)
diversification requirements specified in Article VI hereof, or if
the Company reasonably believes that such Portfolio may fail to so
qualify or comply; or
(g) termination by the Fund or Underwriter by written notice to the
Company in the event that the Contracts fail to meet the
qualifications specified in Article VI hereof; or
(h) termination by either the Fund or the Underwriter by written notice
to the Company, if either one or both of the Fund or the Underwriter
respectively, shall determine, in their sole judgment exercised in
good faith, that the Company has suffered a material adverse change
in its business, operations, financial condition, or prospects since
the date of this Agreement or is the subject of material adverse
publicity; or
(i) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and the
Underwriter, if the Company shall determine, in its sole judgment
exercised in good faith, that the Fund, Adviser, or the Underwriter
has suffered a material adverse change in its business, operations,
financial condition or prospects since the date of this Agreement or
is the subject of material adverse publicity; or
(j) termination by the Fund or the Underwriter by written notice to the
Company, if the Company gives the Fund and the Underwriter the
written notice specified in
-17-
Section 1.7(a)(ii) 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(j) shall be effective forty-five days after
the notice specified in Section 1.7(a)(ii) was given; or
(k) termination by the Company upon any substitution of the shares of
another investment company or series thereof for shares of a
Designated Portfolio of the Fund in accordance with the terms of the
Contracts, provided that the Company has given at least 45 days prior
written notice to the Fund and Underwriter of the date of
substitution; or
(l) termination by any party in the event that the Fund's Board of
Trustees determines that a material irreconcilable conflict exists as
provided in Article VII.
10.2. 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"), unless the
Underwriter requests that the Company seek an order pursuant to Section 26(b)
of the 1940 Act to permit the substitution of other securities for the shares
of the Designated Portfolios. The Underwriter agrees to split the cost of
seeking such an order, and the Company agrees that it shall reasonably
cooperate with the Underwriter and seek such an order upon request.
Specifically, the owners of the Existing Contracts may be permitted to
reallocate investments in the Fund, redeem investments in the Fund and/or
invest in the Fund upon the making of additional purchase payments under the
Existing Contracts (subject to any such election by the Underwriter). 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. The parties further agree that this Section
10.2 shall not apply to any terminations under Section 10.1(g) 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, (ii) as required by state and/or federal laws or
regulations or judicial or other legal precedent of general application
(hereinafter referred to as a "Legally Required Redemption"), (iii) upon 45
days prior written notice to the Fund and Underwriter, as permitted by an order
of the SEC pursuant to Section 26(b) of the 1940 Act, but only if a
substitution of other securities for the shares of the Designated Portfolios is
consistent with the terms of the Contracts, or (iv) as permitted under the
terms of the Contract. Upon request, the Company will promptly furnish to the
Fund and the Underwriter reasonable assurance that any redemption pursuant to
clause (ii) above is a Legally Required Redemption. Furthermore, except in
cases where permitted under the terms of the Contacts, 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 45 days notice of its intention to do so.
10.4. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, each party's
obligation under Article VIII to indemnify the other parties shall survive.
-18-
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: PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
If to the Company: First Allmerica Financial Life
Insurance Company
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx,
Vice President
If to Underwriter: PIMCO Funds Distributors LLC
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
ARTICLE XII. Miscellaneous
-------------
12.1. All persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the property
of the Fund, and in the case of a series company, the respective Designated
Portfolios listed on Schedule A hereto as though each such Designated Portfolio
had separately contracted with the Company and the Underwriter for the
enforcement of any claims against the Fund. The parties agree that neither the
Board, officers, agents or shareholders of the Fund assume any personal
liability or responsibility for obligations entered into by or on behalf of the
Fund.
12.2. Subject to the requirements of legal process and regulatory
authority, each party hereto shall treat as confidential the names and
addresses of the owners of the Contracts and all information reasonably
identified as confidential in writing by any other party hereto and, except as
permitted by this Agreement, shall not disclose, disseminate or utilize such
names and addresses and other confidential information without the express
written consent of the affected party until such time as such information has
come into the public domain.
12.3. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of
reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof
or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
12.4. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
12.5. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by
a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of the Agreement
shall not be affected thereby.
12.6. Each party hereto shall cooperate with each other party and all
appropriate governmental authorities (including without limitation the SEC, the
NASD, and state insurance
-19-
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
MASSACHUSETTS Insurance Commissioner with any information or reports in
connection with services provided under this Agreement which such Commissioner
may request in order to ascertain whether the variable annuity operations of
the Company are being conducted in a manner consistent with the MASSACHUSETTS
variable annuity laws and regulations and any other applicable law or
regulations.
12.7. The rights, remedies and obligations contained in this Agreement are
cumulative and are in addition to any and all rights, remedies, and
obligations, at law or in equity, which the parties hereto are entitled to
under state and federal laws.
12.8. This Agreement or any of the rights and obligations hereunder may
not be assigned by any party without the prior written consent of all parties
hereto.
12.9. The Company shall furnish, or 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 accepted
accounting principles) filed with any state or federal regulatory body
or otherwise made available to the public, as soon as practicable and
in any event within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year; and
(b) any registration statement (without exhibits) and financial reports of
the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any
state insurance regulatory, as soon as practicable after the filing
thereof.
-20-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement
to be executed in its name and on its behalf by its duly authorized
representative and its seal to be hereunder affixed hereto as of the date
specified below.
COMPANY:
By its authorized officer
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-------------------------
Title: Vice President
-------------------------
Date: 9/20/00
-------------------------
PIMCO VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
By its authorized officer
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
-------------------------
Title: Chairman
-------------------------
Date: 11/13/00
-------------------------
PIMCO FUNDS DISTRIBUTORS LLC
By its authorized officer
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Xx.
-------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx Xx.
-------------------------
Title: Exec V.P.
-------------------------
Date: 11/2/00
-------------------------
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Schedule A
PIMCO VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST PORTFOLIOS:
PIMCO Total Return Bond Portfolio II
SEGREGATED ASSET ACCOUNTS:
Group VEL Separate Account
Dated August 18, 2000.
