PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
By and Among
OCC ACCUMULATION TRUST
And
TRANSAMERICA LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY
And
OCC DISTRIBUTORS
And
OpCap Advisors
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this 15th day of December,1997,
by and among Transamerica Life Insurance and Annuity Company, a North Carolina
Corporation (hereinafter the "Company"), on its own behalf and on behalf of
each separate account of the Company named in Schedule 1 to this Agreement, as
may be amended from time to time (each account referred to as the "Account"),
OCC ACCUMULATION TRUST, an open-end diversified management investment company
organized under the laws of the State of Massachusetts (hereinafter the "Fund"),
OpCap Advisors (hereinafter the "Adviser") and OCC DISTRIBUTORS, a Delaware
general partnership (hereinafter the "Underwriter").
WHEREAS, the Fund engages in business as an open-end diversified,
management investment company and was established for the purpose of serving as
the investment vehicle for separate accounts established for variable life
insurance contracts and variable annuity contracts to be offered by insurance
companies which have entered into participation agreements substantially
identical to this Agreement (hereinafter "Participating Insurance Companies");
and
WHEREAS, beneficial interests in the Fund are divided into several
series of shares, each representing the interest in a particular managed
portfolio of securities and other assets (the "Portfolios"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund has obtained an order from the Securities & Exchange
Commission (alternatively referred to as the "SEC" or the "Commission"), dated
February 22, 1995 (File No. 812-9290), granting Participating Insurance
Companies and variable annuity separate accounts and variable life insurance
separate accounts relief from the provisions of Sections 9(a), 13(a), 15(a), and
15(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (hereinafter the "1940
Act") and Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15) thereunder,
to the extent necessary to permit shares of the Fund to be sold to and held by
variable annuity separate accounts and variable life insurance separate accounts
of both affiliated and unaffiliated Participating Insurance Companies and
qualified pension and retirement plans (hereinafter the "Mixed and Shared
Funding Exemptive Order");and
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the 1940 Act and its shares are registered under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (hereinafter the "1933 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register certain variable
annuity or life insurance contracts (the "Contracts") under the 1933 Act; and
WHEREAS, the Account is a duly organized, validly existing segregated
asset account, established by resolution of the Board of Directors of the
Company under the insurance laws of the State of North Carolina, to set aside
and invest assets attributable to the Contracts; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered the Account as a unit investment
trust under the 1940 Act; and
WHEREAS, the Underwriter is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (hereinafter the "1934
Act"), and is a member in good standing of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (hereinafter "NASD"); and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Company intends to purchase shares in the Portfolios named in
Schedule 2 on behalf of the Account to fund the Contracts and the Underwriter is
authorized to sell such shares to unit investment trusts such as the Account at
net asset value;
WHEREAS, the Company may contract with an Administrator to perform
certain services with regard to the Contracts and, therefore, certain
obligations and services of the Adviser and/or Trust should be directed to the
Administrator, as directed by the Company;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the
Company, the Fund and the Underwriter agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. Sale of Fund Shares
1.1. The Underwriter agrees to sell to the Company those shares of the
Fund which the Company or its Administrator orders on behalf of the Account,
executing such orders on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed
after receipt and acceptance by
the Fund or its agent of the order for the shares of the Fund. For purposes of
this Section 1.1, the Company or its Administrator shall be the designee of the
Fund for receipt of such orders from each Account and receipt by such designee
shall constitute receipt by the Fund; provided that the Fund receives notice of
such order by 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the next following Business Day.
"Business Day" shall mean any day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open
for trading.
1.2. The Company shall pay for Fund shares on the next Business Day after
it places an order to purchase Fund shares in accordance with Section 1.1
hereof. Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire.
1.3. The Fund agrees to make its shares available indefinitely for
purchase at the applicable net asset value per share by Participating Insurance
Companies and their separate accounts each Business Day; provided, however, that
the Board of Trustees of the Fund (hereinafter the "Directors") may refuse to
sell shares of any Portfolio to any person, or suspend or terminate the offering
of shares of any Portfolio if such action is required by law or by regulatory
authorities having jurisdiction or is, in the sole discretion of the Directors,
acting in good faith and in light of their fiduciary duties under federal and
any applicable state laws, necessary in the best interests of the shareholders
of any Portfolio.
1.4. The Fund and the Underwriter agree that shares of the Fund shall be
sold only to Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts,
qualified pension and retirement plans or such other persons as are permitted
under applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
(the "Internal Revenue Code"), and regulations promulgated thereunder, the sale
to which will not impair the tax treatment currently afforded the contracts. No
shares of any Portfolio shall be sold to the general public.
1.5. The Fund and the Underwriter shall not sell Fund shares to any
insurance company or separate account unless an agreement containing provisions
substantially the same as Articles I, III, V, VI and VII of this Agreement are
in effect to govern such sales. The Fund shall make available upon written
request from the Company (i) a list of all other Participating Insurance
Companies and (ii) a copy of the Participation Agreement executed by any other
Participating Insurance Company.
1.6. The Fund agrees to redeem for cash, upon the Company's request, any
full or fractional shares of the Fund held by the Company, executing such
requests on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt and
acceptance by the Fund or its agent of the request for redemption. For purposes
of this Section 1.6, the Company or its Administrator shall be the designee of
the Fund for receipt of requests for redemption from each Account and receipt by
such designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund; provided the Fund receives
notice of request for redemption by 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the next
following Business Day. Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire
to the Company's account as designated by the Company in writing from
time to time, on the same Business Day the Fund receives notice of the
redemption order from the Company except that the Fund reserves the right to
delay payment of redemption proceeds, but in no event may such payment be
delayed longer than the period permitted under Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act.
Neither the Fund nor the Underwriter shall bear any responsibility whatsoever
for the proper disbursement or crediting of redemption proceeds to Contract
owners; the Company alone shall be responsible for such action. If notification
of redemption is received after 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, payment for redeemed
shares will be made on the next following Business Day.
1.7. The Company agrees to purchase and redeem the shares of the
Portfolios named in Schedule 2 offered by the then current prospectus of the
Fund in accordance with the provisions of such prospectus. The Company agrees
that all net amounts available under the Contracts shall be invested in the
Fund, or in the Company's general account; provided that such amounts may also
be invested in an investment company other than the Fund if (a) such other
investment company, or series thereof, has investment objectives or policies
that are substantially different from the investment objectives and policies of
the Portfolios of the Fund named in Schedule 2; or (b) the Company gives the
Fund and the Underwriter 45 days written notice of its intention to make such
other investment company available as a funding vehicle for the Contracts; or
(c) such other investment company was available as a funding vehicle for the
Contracts prior to the date of this Agreement and the Company so informs the
Fund and Underwriter prior to their signing this Agreement; or (d) the Fund or
Underwriter consents in writing to the use of such other investment company.
1.8. Issuance and transfer of the Fund's shares will be by book entry
only. Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or any Account.
Purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares will be recorded in an
appropriate title for each Account or the appropriate subaccount of each
Account.
1.9. The Fund shall furnish notice to Company or its Administrator by
Company, two days prior to the distribution of any income, dividends or capital
gain distributions payable on the Fund's shares. The Company hereby elects to
receive all such dividends and distributions as are payable on the Portfolio
shares in the form of additional shares of that Portfolio. The Company reserves
the right to revoke this election and to receive all such dividends and
distributions in cash. The Fund shall notify the Company of the number of
shares so issued as payment of such dividends and distributions the day of
distribution when it reports the Portfolio's NAV pursuant to Section 1.10.
1.10. The Fund shall report the net asset value per share for each
Portfolio to the Company or its Administrator, as directed by Company, on a
daily basis as soon as reasonably practical after the net asset value per share
is calculated and shall use its best efforts to make such net asset value per
share available by 5:30 p.m., Eastern Time, each business day. If the Fund
provides materially incorrect share net asset value information, the Fund shall
make an adjustment to the number of shares purchased
or redeemed for the Accounts to reflect the correct net asset value per share.
Any material error in the calculation or reporting of net asset value per share,
dividend or capital gains information shall be reported promptly upon discovery
to the Company.
ARTICLE II. Representations and Warranties
2.1. The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts are or will be
registered under the 1933 Act and that the Contracts will be issued and sold in
compliance with all applicable federal and state laws. The Company further
represents and warrants that it is an insurance company duly organized and in
good standing under applicable law and that it has legally and validly
established each Account as a segregated asset account under applicable state
law and has registered each Account as a unit investment trust in accordance
with the provisions of the 1940 Act to serve as segregated investment accounts
for the Contracts, and that it will maintain such registration for so long as
any Contracts are outstanding. The Company shall amend the registration
statement under the 1933 Act for the Contracts and the registration statement
under the 1940 Act for the Account from time to time as required in order to
effect the continuous offering of the Contracts or as may otherwise be required
by applicable law. The Company shall register and qualify the Contracts for
sale in accordance with the securities laws of the various states only if and to
the extent deemed necessary by the Company.
2.2. The Company represents that the Contracts are currently and at the
time of issuance will be treated as life insurance or annuity contracts under
Sections 7702 or 72 of the Internal Revenue Code and that it will maintain such
treatment and that it will notify the Fund and the Underwriter immediately upon
having a reasonable basis for believing that the Contracts have ceased to be so
treated or that they might not be so treated in the future.
2.3. The Fund and Adviser represent and warrant that Fund shares sold
pursuant to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act and duly
authorized for issuance in accordance with applicable law and that the Fund is
and shall remain registered under the 1940 Act for as long as the Fund shares
are sold. The Fund shall amend the registration statement for its shares under
the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act from time to time as required in order to effect
the continuous offering of its shares. The Fund shall register and qualify the
shares for sale in accordance with the laws of the various states only if and to
the extent deemed advisable by the Fund or the Underwriter.
2.4. The Fund and Adviser represent and warrant that the Fund and each of
the Portfolios is currently qualified as a Regulated Investment Company under
Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, and that they will maintain such
qualification (under Subchapter M or any successor or similar provision) (or
correct any failure during the applicable grace period) and that they will
notify the Company immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that
it has ceased to so qualify or that it might not so qualify in the future.
2.5. The Fund represents that its investment objectives, policies and
restrictions comply with applicable state investment laws as they may apply to
the Fund. The Fund makes no representation as to whether any aspect of its
operations (including, but not limited to, fees and expenses and investment
policies) complies with the insurance laws and regulations of any state. The
Company alone shall be responsible for informing the Fund of any insurance
restrictions imposed by state insurance laws which are applicable to the Fund.
To the extent feasible and consistent with market conditions, the Fund will
adjust its investments to comply with the aforementioned state insurance laws
upon written notice from the Company of such requirements and proposed
adjustments, it being agreed and understood that in any such case the Fund shall
be allowed a reasonable period of time under the circumstances after receipt of
such notice to make any such adjustment.
2.6. The Fund currently does not intend to make any payments to finance
distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act or otherwise,
although it may make such payments in the future. To the extent that it decides
to finance distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1, the Fund undertakes to
have its Board of Trustees, a majority of whom are not interested persons of the
Fund, formulate and approve any plan under Rule 12b-1 to finance distribution
expenses.
2.7. The Underwriter represents and warrants that it is a member in good
standing of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., ("NASD") and
is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC. The Underwriter further
represents that it will sell and distribute the Fund shares in accordance with
all applicable federal and state securities laws, including without limitation
the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, and the 0000 Xxx.
2.8. The Fund represents that it is lawfully organized and validly
existing under the laws of Massachusetts and that it does and will comply with
applicable provisions of the 0000 Xxx.
2.9. The Underwriter and the Adviser represent and warrant that Adviser
is and shall remain duly registered under all applicable federal and state
securities laws and that the Adviser will perform its obligations to the Fund in
accordance with the laws of Massachusetts and any applicable state and federal
securities laws.
2.10. The Fund, Adviser and Underwriter represent and warrant that all of
their directors, officers, employees, investment advisers, and other
individuals/entities having access to the funds and/or securities of the Fund
are and continue to be at all times covered by a blanket fidelity bond or
similar coverage for the benefit of the Fund in an amount not less than the
minimal coverage as required currently by Rule 17g-(1) of the 1940 Act or
related provisions as may be promulgated from time to time. The aforesaid Bond
includes coverage for larceny and embezzlement and is issued by a reputable
bonding company.
2.11. The Company represents and warrants that all of its directors,
officers, employees, investment advisers, and other individuals/entities dealing
with the money and/or securities of the Fund are covered by a blanket fidelity
bond or similar coverage for the benefit of the Fund, in an amount not less than
$5 million. The aforesaid includes coverage for larceny and embezzlement and is
issued by a reputable bonding company. The Company agrees to make all
reasonable efforts to see that this bond or another bond containing these
provisions is always in effect, and agrees to notify the Fund and the
Underwriter in the event that such coverage no longer applies.
ARTICLE III. Prospectuses and Proxy Statements; Voting
3.1. The Underwriter shall provide the Company, at the Company's expense,
with as many copies of the current prospectuses for the Portfolios listed on
Schedule 2 as the Company may reasonably request for use with prospective
contractowners and applicants. The Underwriter shall print and distribute, at
the Fund's or Underwriter's expense, as many copies of said prospectuses as
necessary for distribution to existing contractowners or participants. If
requested by the Company in lieu thereof, the Fund shall provide such
documentation including a final copy of a current prospectus set in type at the
Fund's expense and other assistance as is reasonably necessary in order for the
Company at least annually (or more frequently if the said prospectuses are
amended more frequently) to have the new prospectus for the Contracts and the
Portfolios' new prospectuses printed together in one document. In such case the
Fund shall bear its share of expenses as described above.
3.2. The Fund's prospectus shall state that the Statement of Additional
Information for the Fund is available from the Underwriter or alternatively from
the Company (or, in the Fund's discretion, the Prospectus shall state that such
Statement is available from the Fund), and the Underwriter (or the Fund) shall
provide such Statement, at its expense, to the Company and to any owner of or
participant under a Contract who requests such Statement or, at the Company's
expense, to any prospective contractowner and applicant who requests such
statement.
3.3. The Fund, at its expense, shall provide the Company with copies of
proxy material, if any, reports to shareholders and other communications to
shareholders with regard to the Portfolios listed in Schedule 2 in such quantity
as the Company shall reasonably require and shall bear the costs of distributing
them to existing contractowners or participants.
3.4. If and to the extent required by law the Company shall:
(i) solicit voting instructions from contractowners or
participants;
(ii) vote the Fund shares held in the Account in accordance
with instructions received from contractowners or participants; and
(iii) vote Fund shares held in the Account for which no timely
instructions have been received, in the same proportion as Fund shares of such
Portfolio for which instructions have been received from the Company's
contractowners or participants;
so long as and to the extent that the SEC continues to interpret the 1940 Act to
require pass through voting privileges for variable contractowners. The Company
reserves the right to vote Fund shares held in any segregated asset account in
its own right, to the extent permitted by law. Participating Insurance
Companies shall be responsible for assuring that each of their separate accounts
participating in the Fund calculates voting privileges in a manner consistent
with other Participating Insurance Companies.
3.5. The Fund will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act requiring
voting by shareholders, and in particular as required, the Fund will either
provide for annual meetings or comply with Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act
(although the Fund is not one of the trusts described in Section 16(c) of that
Act) as well as with Sections 16(a) and, if and when applicable, 16(b).
Further, the Fund will act in accordance with the SEC interpretation of the
requirements of Section 16(a) with respect to periodic elections of directors
and with whatever rules the Commission may promulgate with respect thereto.
ARTICLE IV. Sales Material and Information
4.1. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the
Fund or the Underwriter, each piece of sales literature or other promotional
material in which the Fund or the Fund's adviser or the Underwriter is named, at
least five business days prior to its use. No such material shall be used if
the Fund or the Underwriter reasonably objects in writing to such use within
fifteen business days after receipt of such material.
4.2. The Company shall not give any information or make any
representations or statements on behalf of the Fund or concerning the Fund in
connection with the sale of the Contracts other than the information or
representations contained in the registration statement or prospectus for the
Fund shares, as such registration statement and prospectus may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, or in reports or proxy statements for the Fund,
or in sales literature or other promotional material approved by the Fund or by
the Underwriter, except with the permission of the Fund or the Underwriter. The
Fund and the Underwriter agree to respond to any request for approval on a
prompt and timely basis.
4.3. The Fund or the Underwriter shall furnish, or shall cause to be
furnished, to the Company or its designee, each piece of sales literature or
other promotional material in which the Company or its separate account is
named, at least fifteen business days prior to its use. No such material shall
be used if the Company reasonably objects in writing to such use within fifteen
business days after receipt of such material.
4.4. The Fund and the Underwriter shall not give any information or make
any representations on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company, each
Account, or the Contracts other than the information or representations
contained in a registration statement or prospectus for the Contracts, as such
registration statement and prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time
to time, or in published reports for each Account which are in the public domain
or approved by the Company for distribution to contractowners or participants,
or in sales literature or other promotional material approved by the Company,
except with the permission of the Company. The Company agrees to respond to any
request for approval on a prompt and timely basis.
4.5. The Fund will provide to the Company at least one complete copy of
all registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional information,
reports, proxy statements, sales literature and other promotional materials,
applications for exemptions, requests for no-action letters, and all amendments
to any of the above, that relate to the Fund or its shares, contemporaneously
with the filing of such document with the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
4.6. The Company will provide to the Fund at least one complete copy of
all registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional information,
reports, solicitations for voting instructions, sales literature and other
promotional materials, applications for exemptions, requests for no-action
letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that relate to the Contracts or
each Account, contemporaneously with the filing of such document with the SEC or
other regulatory authorities.
4.7. For purposes of this Article IV, the phrase "sales literature or
other promotional material" includes, but is not limited to, advertisements
(such as material published, or designed for use in, a newspaper, magazine, or
other periodical, radio, television, telephone or tape recording, videotape
display, signs or billboards, motion pictures, or other public media), sales
literature (i.e., any written communication distributed or made generally
available to customers or the public, including brochures, circulars, research
reports, market letters, form letters, seminar texts, reprints or excerpts of
any other advertisement, sales literature, or published article), educational or
training materials or other communications distributed or made generally
available to some or all agents or employees, registration statements,
prospectuses, statements of additional information, shareholder reports, and
proxy materials and any other material constituting sales literature or advert!
ising under NASD rules, the 1940 Act or the 1933 Act.
ARTICLE V. Fees and Expenses
5.1. The Fund and Underwriter shall pay no fee or other compensation to
the Company under this Agreement, except that if the Fund or any Portfolio
adopts and implements a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 to finance distribution
expenses, then, subject to obtaining
any required exemptive orders or other regulatory approvals, the Underwriter may
make payments to the Company or to the underwriter for the Contracts if and in
amounts agreed to by the Underwriter in writing. Currently, no such payments
are contemplated.
5.2. All expenses incident to performance by the Fund of this Agreement
shall be paid by the Fund to the extent permitted by law. All Fund shares will
be duly authorized for issuance and registered in accordance with applicable
federal law and to the extent deemed advisable by the Fund, in accordance with
applicable state law, prior to sale. The Fund shall bear the expenses for the
cost of registration and qualification of the Fund's shares, preparation and
filing of the Fund's prospectus and registration statement, Fund proxy materials
and reports, setting in type, printing and distributing the prospectuses, the
proxy materials and reports to existing shareholders and contractowners, the
preparation of all statements and notices required by any federal or state law,
all taxes on the issuance or transfer of the Fund's shares, and any expenses
permitted to be paid or assumed by the Fund pursuant to a plan, if any, under
Rule 12b-1 under the 0000 Xxx.
5.3 Adviser will quarterly reimburse the Company certain of the
administrative costs and expenses incurred by the Company as a result of
operations necessitated by the beneficial ownership by Contract owners of shares
of the Portfolios of the Fund, equal to 0.15% per annum of the average daily net
assets of the Fund attributable to variable life or variable annuity contracts
offered by the Company or its affiliates up to $300 million and 0.20% per annum
of the average daily net assets of the Fund attributable to such contracts in
excess of $300 million but less than $600 million and 0.25% per annum of the
average daily net assets of the Fund attributable to such contracts in excess of
$600 million. In no event shall such fee be paid by the Fund, its shareholders
or by the contract holders.
ARTICLE VI. Diversification
6.1. The Fund and the Adviser represent and warrant that the Fund will at
all times invest money from the Contracts in such a manner as to ensure that the
Contracts will be treated as variable contracts under the Internal Revenue Code
and the regulations issued thereunder. Without limiting the scope of the
foregoing, the Fund will comply with Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code
and Treasury Regulation 1.817-5, relating to the diversification requirements
for variable annuity, endowment, or life insurance contracts and any amendments
or other modifications to such Section or Regulations. In the event of a breach
of this Article VI by the Fund, it will take all reasonable steps (a) to notify
the Company of such breach and (b) to adequately diversify the Fund so as to
achieve compliance with the grace period afforded by Treasury Regulation
1.817-5.
ARTICLE VII. Potential Conflicts
7.1. The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Fund Board") will monitor the
Fund for the existence of any material irreconcilable conflict among the
interests of the contractowners of all separate accounts investing in the Fund.
An irreconcilable material conflict may arise for a variety of reasons,
including: (a) an action by any state insurance regulatory authority; (b) a
change in applicable federal or state insurance, tax, or securities laws or
regulations, or a public ruling, private letter ruling, no-action or
interpretative letter, or any similar action by insurance, tax, or securities
regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative or judicial decision in any
relevant proceeding; (d) the manner in which the investments of any Portfolio
are being managed; (e) a difference in voting instructions given by
Participating Insurance Companies or by variable annuity contract and variable
life insurance contractowners; or (f) a decision by an insurer to disregard the
voting instructions of contractowners. The Board shall promptly inform the
Company if it determines that an irreconcilable material conflict exists and the
implications thereof. A majority of the Fund Board shall consist of persons who
are not "interested" persons of the Fund.
7.2. The Company has reviewed a copy of the Mixed and Shared Funding
Exemptive Order, and in particular, has reviewed the conditions to the requested
relief set forth therein. As set forth in the Mixed and Shared Funding
Exemptive Order, the Company will report any potential or existing conflicts of
which it is aware to the Fund Board. The Company agrees to assist the Fund
Board in carrying out its responsibilities under the Mixed and Shared Funding
Exemptive Order, by providing the Fund Board with all information reasonably
necessary for the Fund Board to consider any issues raised. This includes, but
is not limited to, an obligation by the Company to inform the Fund Board
whenever contractowner voting instructions are disregarded. The Fund Board
shall record in its minutes or other appropriate records, all reports received
by it and all action with regard to a conflict.
7.3. If it is determined by a majority of the Fund Board, or a majority of
its disinterested Directors, that an irreconcilable material conflict exists,
the Company and other Participating Insurance Companies shall, at their expense
and to the extent reasonably practicable (as determined by a majority of the
disinterested Directors), take whatever steps are necessary to remedy or
eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict, up to and including: (1)
withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the separate accounts from
the Fund or any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a different investment
medium, including (but not limited to) another Portfolio of the Fund, or
submitting the question whether such segregation should be implemented to a vote
of all affected contractowners and, as appropriate, segregating the assets of
any appropriate group (i.e., variable annuity contractowners or variable life
insurance contractowners, of one or more Participating Insurance Companies) that
votes in favor of such segregation, or offering to the affected contractowners
the option of making such a change; and (2) establishing a new registered
management investment company or managed separate account.
7.4. If the Company's disregard of voting instructions could conflict with
the majority of contractowner voting instructions, and the Company's judgment
represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote, the Company
may be required, at the Fund's election, to withdraw the Account's investment in
the Fund and terminate this Agreement with respect to such Account. Any such
withdrawal and termination must take place within 60 days after the Fund gives
written notice to the Company that this provision is being implemented. Until
the end of such 60 day period the Underwriter and Fund shall continue to accept
and implement orders by the Company for the purchase (and redemption) of shares
of the Fund.
7.5. If a particular state insurance regulator's decision applicable to
the Company conflicts with the majority of other state insurance regulators,
then the Company will withdraw the Account's investment in the Fund and
terminate this Agreement with respect to such Account. Any such withdrawal and
termination must take place within 60 days after the Fund gives written notice
to the Company that this provision is being implemented. Until the end of such
60 day period the Underwriter and Fund shall continue to accept and implement
orders by the Company for the purchase (and redemption) of shares of the Fund.
7.6. For purposes of Sections 7.3 through 7.6 of this Agreement, a
majority of the disinterested members of the Fund Board shall determine whether
any proposed action adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict,
but in no event will the Fund or Quest Advisors be required to establish a new
funding medium for the Contracts. The Company shall not be required by Section
7.3 to establish a new funding medium for the Contracts if an offer to do so has
been declined by vote of a majority of contractowners materially adversely
affected by the irreconcilable material conflict.
7.7. The Company shall at least annually submit to the Fund Board such
reports, materials or data as the Fund Board may reasonably request so that the
Fund Board may fully carry out the duties imposed upon it as delineated in the
Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order, and said reports, materials and data
shall be submitted more frequently if deemed appropriate by the Fund Board.
7.8. If and to the extent that Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3 (T) are amended, or
Rule 6e-3 is adopted, to provide exemptive relief from any provision of the Act
or the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to mixed or shared funding (as
defined in the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order) on terms and conditions
materially different from those contained in the Mixed and Shared Funding
Exemptive Order, (a) the Fund and/or the Participating Insurance Companies, as
appropriate, shall take such steps as may be necessary to comply with Rules 6e-2
and 6e-3 (T), as amended, and Rule 6e-3, as adopted, to the extent such rules
are applicable; and (b) Sections 3.4, 3.5, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 of this
Agreement shall continue in effect only to the extent that terms and conditions
substantially identical to such Sections are contained in such Rule(s) as so
amended or adopted.
ARTICLE VIII. Indemnification
8.1. Indemnification By The Company
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, the
Adviser, the Underwriter, and each of the Fund's or the Underwriter's directors,
officers, employees or agents and each person, if any, who controls or is
associated with the Fund or the Underwriter within the meaning of such terms
under the federal securities laws (collectively, the "indemnified parties" for
purposes of this Section 8.1) against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of
the Company) or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to
which the indemnified parties may become subject under any statute, regulation,
at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities
or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements or
alleged untrue statements of any material fact contained in the registration
statement, prospectus or statement of additional information for the Contracts
or contained in the Contracts or sales literature or other promotional material
for the Contracts (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or
arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances in which they
were made; provided that this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any
indemnified party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement or
omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished
to the Company by or on behalf of the Fund for use in the registration
statement, prospectus or statement of additional information for the Contracts
or in the Contracts or sales literature or other promotional material for the
Contracts (or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in connection
with the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations by or on behalf of the Company (other than statements or
representations contained in the Fund registration statement, Fund prospectus,
Fund statement of additional information or sales literature or other
promotional material of the Fund not supplied by the Company or persons under
its control) or wrongful conduct of the Company or persons under its control,
with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Fund registration statement, Fund
prospectus, statement of additional information or sales literature or other
promotional material of the Fund or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto
or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in
light of the circumstances in which they were made, if
such a statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished to the Fund by or on behalf of the Company or persons
under its control; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Company to provide
the services and furnish the materials or to make any payments under the terms
of this Agreement; or
(v) arise out of any material breach of any representation
and/or warranty made by the Company in this Agreement or arise out of or result
from any other material breach by the Company of this Agreement;
except to the extent provided in Sections 8.1(b) and 8.3 hereof. This
indemnification shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may
otherwise have.
(b) No party shall be entitled to indemnification if such loss,
claim, damage, liability or litigation is due to the willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of duty by the party seeking
indemnification.
(c) The indemnified parties will promptly notify the Company of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against them in connection with
the issuance or sale of the Fund shares or the Contracts or the operation of the
Fund.
8.2. Indemnification By the Underwriter
(a) The Underwriter and Adviser, on their own behalf and on behalf of
the Fund, joint and severally agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Company
and each of its directors, officers, employees or agents and each person, if
any, who controls or is associated with the Company within the meaning of such
terms under the federal securities laws (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 Adviser) or litigation (including reasonable legal and other
expenses) to which the indemnified parties may become subject under any statute,
regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the registration
statement, prospectus or statement of additional information for the Fund or
sales literature or other promotional material of the Fund (or any amendment or
supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein no!
t misleading in light of the circumstances in which they were made; provided
that this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any indemnified party if
such statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission was made in
reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished to the Underwriter or Fund by or on behalf
of the Company for use in the registration statement, prospectus or statement of
additional information for the Fund or in sales literature or other promotional
material of the Fund (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or otherwise for
use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations (other than statements or representations contained in the
Contracts or in the Contract or Fund registration statement, the Contract or
Fund prospectus, statement of additional information, or sales literature or
other promotional material for the Contracts or of the Fund not supplied by the
Underwriter or the Fund or persons under the control of the Underwriter or the
Fund respectively) or wrongful conduct of the Underwriter or the Fund or persons
under ?the control of the Underwriter or the Fund respectively, with respect to
the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a registration statement, prospectus,
statement of additional information or sales literature or other promotional
material covering the Contracts (or any amendment thereof or supplement
thereto), or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement or statements
therein not misleading in light of the circumstances in which they were made, if
such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Underwriter or the
Fund or persons under the control of the Underwriter or the Fund; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund to provide
the services and furnish the materials under the terms of this Agreement
(including a failure, whether unintentional or in good faith or otherwise, to
comply with the diversification requirements and procedures related thereto
specified in Article VI or the Sub-Chapter M qualification specified in Section
2.4 of this Agreement; or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Underwriter or the Fund in this
Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach of this
Agreement by the Underwriter or the Fund; or
(vi) arise out of or result from the materially incorrect or
untimely calculation or reporting of the daily net asset value per share or
dividend or capital gain distribution rate;
except to the extent provided in Sections 8.2(b) and 8.3 hereof. This
indemnification shall be in addition to any liability which the Underwriter may
otherwise have.
(b) No party shall be entitled to indemnification if such loss,
claim, damage, liability or litigation is due to the willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of duty by the party seeking
indemnification.
(c) The indemnified parties will promptly notify the Underwriter of
the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against them in connection
with the issuance or sale of the Contracts or the operation of the Account.
8.3. Indemnification Procedure
Any person obligated to provide indemnification under this Article VIII
("indemnifying party" for the purpose of this Section 8.3) shall not be liable
under the indemnification provisions of this Article VIII with respect to any
claim made against a party entitled to indemnification under this Article VIII
("indemnified party" for the purpose of this Section 8.3) unless such
indemnified party shall have notified the indemnifying party in writing within a
reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
indemnified party (or after such party shall have received notice of such
service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the indemnifying party
of any such claim shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability
which it may have to the indemnified party against whom such action is brought
under the indemnification provision of this Article VIII, except to the extent
that the failure to notify results in the failure of actual notice to the
indemnifying party and such indemnifying party is damaged solely as a result of
failure to give such notice. In case any such action is brought against the
indemnified party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate, at
its own expense, in the defense thereof. The indemnifying party also shall be
entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party
named in the action. After notice from the indemnifying party to the
indemnified party of the indemnifying party's election to assume the defense
thereof, the indemnified party shall bear the fees and expenses of any
additional counsel retained by it, and the indemnifying party will not be liable
to such party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently
incurred by such party independently in connection with the defense thereof
other than reasonable costs of investigation, unless (i) the indemnifying party
and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such
counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any
impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party
and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate
due to actual or potential differing interests between them. The indemnifying
party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without
its written consent but if settled with such consent or if there be a final
judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the
indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such
settlement or judgment.
A successor by law of the parties to this Agreement shall be entitled to
the benefits of the indemnification contained in this Article VIII. The
indemnification provisions contained in this Article VIII shall survive any
termination of this Agreement.
8.4. Contribution
In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in
which the indemnification provided for in this Article VIII is due in accordance
with its terms but for any reason is held to be unenforceable with respect to a
party entitled to indemnification ("indemnified party" for purposes of this
Section 8.4) pursuant to the terms of this Article VIII, then each party
obligated to indemnify pursuant to the terms of this Article VIII shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result
of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and litigations in such proportion
as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the parties to
this Agreement in connection with the offering of Fund shares to the Account and
the acquisition, holding or sale of Fund shares by the Account, or if such
allocation is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportions as is
appropriate to reflect the relative net benefits referred to above but also the
relative fault of the parties to this Agreement in connection with any actions
that lead to such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigations, as well
as any other relevant equitable considerations.
ARTICLE IX. Applicable Law
9.1. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
9.2. This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the 1933, 1934
and 1940 Acts, and the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder, including
such exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as the SEC may grant
(including, but not limited to the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order) and
the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance therewith.
ARTICLE X. Termination
10.1. This Agreement shall terminate:
(a) at the option of any party upon one-year advance written notice to
the other parties unless otherwise agreed in a separate written agreement among
the parties; or
(b) at the option of the Company if shares of the Portfolios
delineated in Schedule 2 are not reasonably available to meet the requirements
of the Contracts as determined by the Company; or
(c) at the option of the Fund upon institution of formal proceedings
against the Company by the NASD, the SEC, the insurance commission of any state
or any other regulatory body regarding the Company's duties under this Agreement
or related to the sale
of the Contracts, the administration of the Contracts, the operation of the
Account, or the purchase of the Fund shares, which would have a material adverse
effect on the Company's ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement;
or
(d) at the option of the Company upon institution of formal
proceedings against the Fund or the Underwriter by the NASD, the SEC, or any
state securities or insurance department or any other regulatory body, which
would have a material adverse effect on the Fund's or the Underwriter's ability
to perform its obligations under this Agreement; or
(e) at the option of the Company or the Fund upon receipt of any
necessary regulatory approvals and/or the vote of the contractowners having an
interest in the Account (or any subaccount) to substitute the shares of another
investment company for the corresponding Portfolio shares of the Fund in
accordance with the terms of the Contracts for which those Portfolio shares had
been selected to serve as the underlying investment media. The Company will
give 30 days prior written notice to the Fund of the date of any proposed vote
or other action taken to replace the Fund's shares; or
(f) at the option of the Company or the Fund upon a determination by a
majority of the Fund Board, or a majority of the disinterested Fund Board
members, that an irreconcilable material conflict exists among the interests of
(i) all contractowners of variable insurance products of all separate accounts
or (ii) the interests of the Participating Insurance Companies investing in the
Fund as delineated in Article VII of this Agreement; or
(g) at the option of the Company if the Fund ceases to qualify as a
Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, or
under any successor or similar provision, or if the Company reasonably believes
that the Fund may fail to so qualify; or
(h) at the option of the Company if the Fund fails to meet the
diversification requirements specified in Article VI hereof; or
(i) at the option of any party to this Agreement, upon another party's
material breach of any provision of this Agreement; or
(j) at the option of the Company, if the Company determines in its
sole judgment exercised in good faith, that either the Fund or the Underwriter
has suffered a material adverse change in its business, operations or financial
condition since the date of this Agreement or is the subject of material adverse
publicity which is likely to have a material adverse impact upon the business
and operations of the Company; or
(k) at the option of the Fund or Underwriter, if the Fund or
Underwriter respectively, shall determine in its sole judgment exercised in good
faith, that the Company has suffered a material adverse change in its business,
operations or financial condition since the date of this Agreement or is the
subject of material adverse publicity which is likely to have a material adverse
impact upon the business and operations of the Fund or Underwriter; or
(l) at the option of the Fund in the event any of the Contracts are
not issued or sold in accordance with applicable federal and/or state law.
Termination shall be effective immediately upon such occurrence without notice.
10.2. Notice Requirement
(a) In the event that any termination of this Agreement is based upon
the provisions of Article VII, such prior written notice shall be given in
advance of the effective date of termination as required by such provisions.
(b) In the event that any termination of this Agreement is based upon
the provisions of Sections 10.1(b) - (d) or 10.1(g) - (i), prompt written notice
of the election to terminate this Agreement for cause shall be furnished by the
party terminating the Agreement to the non-terminating parties, with said
termination to be effective upon receipt of such notice by the non-terminating
parties.
(c) In the event that any termination of this Agreement is based upon
the provisions of Sections 10.1(j) or 10.1(k), prior written notice of the
election to terminate this Agreement for cause shall be furnished by the party
terminating this Agreement to the non-terminating parties. Such prior written
notice shall be given by the party terminating this Agreement to the
non-terminating parties at least 30 days before the effective date of
termination.
10.3. It is understood and agreed that the right to terminate this
Agreement pursuant to Section 10.1(a) may be exercised for any reason or for no
reason.
10.4. Effect of Termination
(a) Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement pursuant to
Section 10.1 of this Agreement, and subject to Section 1.3 of this Agreement,
the Company may require the Fund and the Underwriter to, continue to make
available additional shares of the Fund for so long after the termination of
this Agreement as the Company desires pursuant to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement as provided in paragraph (b) below, for all Contracts in effect
on the effective date of termination of this Agreement (hereinafter referred to
as "Existing Contracts"). Specifically, without limitation, the owners of the
Existing Contracts shall be permitted to reallocate investments in the Fund,
redeem investments in the Fund and/or invest in the Fund upon the making of
additional purchase payments under the Existing Contracts. The parties agree
that this Section 10.4 shall not apply to any terminations under Article VII and
the effect of such Article VII terminations shall be governed by Article VII of
this Agreement.
(b) If shares of the Fund continue to be made available after
termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.4, the provisions of
this Agreement shall remain in effect except for Section 10.1(a) and thereafter
the Fund, the Underwriter, or
the Company may terminate the Agreement, as so continued pursuant to this
Section 10.4, upon written notice to the other party, such notice to be for a
period that is reasonable under the circumstances but, if given by the Fund or
Underwriter, need not be for more than 90 days.
10.5. Except as necessary to implement contractowner initiated or approved
transactions, or as required by state insurance laws or regulations, the Company
shall not redeem Fund shares attributable to the Contracts (as opposed to Fund
shares attributable to the Company's assets held in the Account), and the
Company shall not prevent contractowners from allocating payments to a Portfolio
that was otherwise available under the Contracts, until 90 days after the
Company shall have notified the Fund or Underwriter of its intention to do so.
ARTICLE XI. Notices
Any notice shall be deemed duly given only if sent by hand, evidenced by
written receipt or by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the other
party at the address of such party set forth below or at such other address as
such party may from time to time specify in writing to the other party. All
notices shall be deemed given three business days after the date received or
rejected by the addressee.
If to the Fund:
Xx. Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
President
OpCap Advisors
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
If to the Company:
[Name]
[Title]
[Co. Name]
[Address]
If to the Underwriter:
Xx. Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Secretary
OCC Distributors
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
ARTICLE XII. Miscellaneous
12.1. All persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the property
of the Fund for the enforcement of any claims against the Fund as neither the
Directors, officers, agents or shareholders assume any personal liability for
obligations entered into on behalf of the Fund.
12.2. Subject to law and regulatory authority, each party hereto shall
treat as confidential all information reasonably identified as such in writing
by any other party hereto (including without limitation the names and addresses
of the owners of the Contracts) and, except as contemplated by this Agreement,
shall not disclose, disseminate or utilize such confidential information until
such time as it may come into the public domain without the express prior
written consent of the affected party.
12.3. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of
reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or
otherwise affect their construction or effect.
12.4. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
12.5. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by
a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of the Agreement
shall not be affected thereby.
12.6. This Agreement shall not be assigned by any party hereto without the
prior written consent of all the parties.
12.7. Each party hereto shall cooperate with each other party and all
appropriate governmental authorities (including without limitation the SEC, the
NASD and state insurance regulators) and shall permit each other and such
authorities reasonable access to its books and records in connection with any
investigation or inquiry relating to this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby.
12.8. Each party represents that the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate or trust action, as applicable, by
such party and when so executed and delivered this Agreement will be the valid
and binding obligation of such party enforceable in accordance with its terms.
12.9. The parties to this Agreement may amend the schedules to this
Agreement from time to time to reflect changes in or relating to the Contracts,
the Accounts or the Portfolios of the Fund.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement
to be executed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized representative as
of the date and year first written above.
Company:
TRANSAMERICA LIFE INSURANCE AND
ANNUITY COMPANY
SEAL By: ______________________________
Fund:
OCC ACCUMULATION TRUST
SEAL By: ______________________________
Underwriter:
OCC DISTRIBUTORS
By: ______________________________
Adviser:
OpCap Advisors
By:_______________________________
Schedule 1
Participation Agreement
Among
OCC Accumulation Trust, Transamerica Life Insurance and Annuity Company
and
OCC Distributors
The following separate accounts of Transamerica Life Insurance and Annuity
Company are permitted in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement to
invest in Portfolios of the Fund shown in Schedule 2:
Separate Account VUL-1
[Date]
Schedule 2
Participation Agreement
Among
OCC Accumulation Trust, Transamerica Life Insurance and Annuity Company
and
OCC Distributors
The Separate Account(s) shown on Schedule 1 may invest in the following
Portfolios of the OCC Accumulation Trust:
[Date]
Xxxxxxxxxxx Capital Managed
Xxxxxxxxxxx Capital Value Equity
35
