PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
AMONG
MFS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST,
LINCOLN BENEFIT LIFE COMPANY
AND
MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this ____ day of ____ 199_, by and
among MFS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST, a Massachusetts business trust (the
"Trust"), Lincoln Benefit Life Company, Nebraska corporation (the "Company") on
its own behalf and on behalf of each of the segregated asset accounts of the
Company set forth in Schedule A hereto, as may be amended from time to time (the
"Accounts"), and MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY, a Delaware
corporation ("MFS").
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"),
and its shares are registered or will be registered under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "1933 Act");
WHEREAS, shares of beneficial interest of the Trust are divided into
several series of shares, each representing the interests in a particular
managed pool of securities and other assets;
WHEREAS, the series of shares of the Trust offered by the Trust to the
Company and the Accounts are set forth on Schedule A attached hereto (each, a
"Portfolio," and, collectively, the "Portfolios");
WHEREAS, MFS is duly registered as an investment adviser under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and any applicable state securities
law, and is the Trust's investment adviser;
WHEREAS, the Company will issue certain variable annuity and/or variable
life insurance contracts (individually, the "Policy" or, collectively, the
"Policies") which, if required by applicable law, will be registered under the
1933 Act;
WHEREAS, the Accounts are duly organized, validly existing segregated
asset accounts, established by resolution of the Board of Directors of the
Company, to set aside and invest assets attributable to the aforesaid variable
annuity and/or variable life insurance contracts that are allocated to the
Accounts (the Policies and the Accounts covered by this Agreement, and each
corresponding Portfolio covered by this Agreement in which the Accounts invest,
is specified in Schedule A attached hereto as may be modified from time to
time);
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register the Accounts as unit
investment trusts under the 1940 Act (unless exempt therefrom);
WHEREAS, MFS Fund Distributors, Inc. (the "Underwriter") is registered as
a broker-dealer with the Securities and Exchange Commission (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. (the "NASD");
WHEREAS, Lincoln Benefit Financial Services, the underwriter for the
individual variable annuity and the variable life policies, is registered as a
broker-dealer with the SEC under the 1934 Act and is a member in good standing
of the NASD; and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Company intends to purchase shares in one or more of the
Portfolios specified in Schedule A attached hereto (the "Shares") on behalf of
the Accounts to fund the Policies, and the Trust intends to sell such Shares to
the Accounts at net asset value;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Trust,
MFS, and the Company agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. SALE OF TRUST SHARES
1.1. The Trust agrees to sell to the Company those Shares which the
Accounts order (based on orders placed by Policy holders on that Business
Day, as defined below) and which are available for purchase by such
Accounts, executing such orders on a daily basis at the net asset value
next computed after receipt by the Trust or its designee of the order for
the Shares. For purposes of this Section 1.1, the Company shall be the
designee of the Trust for receipt of such orders from Policy owners and
receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the Trust; PROVIDED
that the Trust receives notice of such orders by 9:30 a.m. New York time
on the next following Business Day. "Business Day" shall mean any day on
which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "NYSE") is open for trading
and on which the Trust calculates its net asset value pursuant to the
rules of the SEC.
1.2. The Trust agrees to make the Shares available indefinitely for
purchase at the applicable net asset value per share by the Company and
the Accounts on those days on which the Trust calculates its net asset
value pursuant to rules of the SEC and the Trust shall calculate such net
asset value on each day which the NYSE is open for trading.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Trustees of the Trust (the
"Board") may refuse to sell any Shares to the Company and the Accounts,
or suspend or terminate the offering of the Shares if such action is
required by law or by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction or is,
in the sole discretion of the Board acting in good faith and in light of
its fiduciary duties under federal and any applicable state laws,
necessary in the best interest of the Shareholders of such Portfolio.
1.3. The Trust and MFS agree that the Shares will be sold only to
insurance companies which have entered into participation agreements with
the Trust and MFS (the "Participating Insurance Companies") and their
separate accounts, qualified pension and retirement plans and MFS or its
affiliates. The Trust and MFS will not sell Trust shares to any insurance
company or separate account unless an agreement containing provisions
substantially the same as Articles III and VII of this Agreement is in
effect to govern such sales. The Company will not resell the Shares
except to the Trust or its agents.
1.4. The Trust agrees to redeem for cash, on the Company's request, any
full or fractional Shares held by the Accounts (based on orders placed by
Policy owners on that Business Day), executing such requests on a daily
basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by the Trust or
its designee of the request for redemption. For purposes of this Section
1.4, the Company shall be the designee of the Trust for receipt of
requests for redemption from Policy owners and receipt by such designee
shall constitute receipt by the Trust; provided that the Trust receives
notice of such request for redemption by 9:30 a.m. New York time on the
next following Business Day.
1.5. Each purchase, redemption and exchange order placed by the Company
shall be placed separately for each Portfolio and shall not be netted
with respect to any Portfolio. However, with respect to payment of the
purchase price by the Company and of redemption proceeds by the Trust,
the Company and the Trust shall net purchase and redemption orders with
respect to each Portfolio and shall transmit one net payment for all of
the Portfolios in accordance with Section 1.6 hereof.
1.6. In the event of net purchases, the Company shall pay for the
Shares by 2:00 p.m. New York time on the next Business Day after an order
to purchase the Shares is made in accordance with the provisions of
Section 1.1. hereof. In the event of net redemptions, the Trust shall
pay the redemption proceeds by 2:00
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p.m. New York time on the next Business Day after an order to redeem the
shares is made in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.4. hereof.
All such payments shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire.
1.7. Issuance and transfer of the Shares will be by book entry only.
Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or the Accounts.
The Shares ordered from the Trust will be recorded in an appropriate
title for the Accounts or the appropriate subaccounts of the Accounts.
1.8. The Trust shall furnish same day notice (by wire or telephone
followed by written confirmation) to the Company of any dividends or
capital gain distributions payable on the Shares. The Company hereby
elects to receive all such dividends and distributions as are payable on
a Portfolio's Shares in additional Shares of that Portfolio. The Trust
shall notify the Company of the number of Shares so issued as payment of
such dividends and distributions.
1.9. The Trust or its custodian shall make the net asset value per
share for each Portfolio available to the Company on each Business Day 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 6:30 p.m. New York time. In the event that the
Trust is unable to meet the 6:30 p.m. time stated herein, it shall
provide additional time for the Company to place orders for the purchase
and redemption of Shares. Such additional time shall be equal to the
additional time which the Trust takes to make the net asset value
available to the Company. If the Trust provides materially incorrect
share net asset value information, the Trust 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. CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS
2.1. The Company represents and warrants that the Policies are or will
be registered under the 1933 Act or are exempt from or not subject to
registration thereunder, and that the Policies will be issued, sold, and
distributed in compliance in all material respects with all applicable
state and federal laws, including without limitation the 1933 Act, the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and the
1940 Act. 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 the Account as a
segregated asset account under applicable law and has registered or,
prior to any issuance or sale of the Policies, will register the Accounts
as unit investment trusts in accordance with the provisions of the 1940
Act (unless exempt therefrom) to serve as segregated investment accounts
for the Policies, and that it will maintain such registration for so long
as any Policies are outstanding. The Company shall amend the
registration statements under the 1933 Act for the Policies and the
registration statements under the 1940 Act for the Accounts from time to
time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of the
Policies or as may otherwise be required by applicable law. The Company
shall register and qualify the Policies for sales 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 and warrants that the Policies are
currently and at the time of issuance will be treated as life insurance,
endowment or annuity contract under applicable provisions of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), that it will maintain such
treatment and that it will notify the Trust or MFS immediately upon
having a reasonable basis for believing that the Policies have ceased to
be so treated or that they might not be so treated in the future.
2.3. The Company represents and warrants that Lincoln Benefit
Financial Services, Inc., the underwriter for the individual variable
annuity and the variable life policies, is a member in good standing of
the NASD and is a registered broker-dealer with the SEC. The Company
represents and warrants that the Company and Lincoln Benefit Financial
Services, Inc. will sell and distribute such policies in accordance in
all material respects with all applicable state and federal securities
laws, including without limitation the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, and the
0000 Xxx.
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2.4. The Trust and MFS represent and warrant that the Shares sold
pursuant to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act, duly
authorized for issuance and sold in compliance with the laws of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and all applicable federal and state
securities laws and that the Trust is and shall remain registered under
the 1940 Act. The Trust 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 Trust
shall register and qualify the Shares for sale in accordance with the
laws of the various states only if and to the extent deemed necessary by
the Trust.
2.5. MFS represents and warrants that the Underwriter is a member in
good standing of the NASD and is registered as a broker-dealer with the
SEC. The Trust and MFS represent that the Trust and the Underwriter will
sell and distribute the Shares in accordance in all material respects
with all applicable state and federal securities laws, including without
limitation the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, and the 0000 Xxx.
2.6. The Trust represents that it is lawfully organized and validly
existing under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that it
does and will comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act and any
applicable regulations thereunder.
2.7. MFS represents and warrants that it is and shall remain duly
registered under all applicable federal securities laws and that it shall
perform its obligations for the Trust in compliance in all material
respects with any applicable federal securities laws and with the
securities laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. MFS represents and
warrants that it is not subject to state securities laws other than the
securities laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that it is
exempt from registration as an investment adviser under the securities
laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
2.8. No less frequently than annually, the Company shall submit to the
Board such reports, material or data as the Board may reasonably request
so that it may carry out fully the obligations imposed upon it by the
conditions contained in the exemptive application pursuant to which the
SEC has granted exemptive relief to permit mixed and shared funding (the
"Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order").
ARTICLE III. PROSPECTUS AND PROXY STATEMENTS; VOTING
3.1. At least annually, the Trust or its designee shall provide the
Company, free of charge, with as many copies of the current prospectus
(describing only the Portfolios listed in Schedule A hereto) for the
Shares as the Company may reasonably request for distribution to existing
Policy owners whose Policies are funded by such Shares. The Trust or its
designee shall provide the Company, at the Company's expense, with as
many copies of the current prospectus for the Shares as the Company may
reasonably request for distribution to prospective purchasers of
Policies. If requested by the Company in lieu thereof, the Trust or its
designee shall provide such documentation (including a "camera ready"
copy of the new prospectus as set in type or, at the request of the
Company, as a diskette in the form sent to the financial printer) and
other assistance as is reasonably necessary in order for the parties
hereto once each year (or more frequently if the prospectus for the
Shares is supplemented or amended) to have the prospectus for the
Policies and the prospectus for the Shares printed together in one
document; the expenses of such printing to be apportioned between (a) the
Company and (b) the Trust or its designee in proportion to the number of
pages of the Policy and Shares' prospectuses, taking account of other
relevant factors affecting the expense of printing, such as covers,
columns, graphs and charts; the Trust or its designee to bear the cost of
printing the Shares' prospectus portion of such document for distribution
to owners of existing Policies funded by the Shares and the Company to
bear the expenses of printing the portion of such document relating to
the Accounts; PROVIDED, however, that the Company shall bear all printing
expenses of such combined documents where used for distribution to
prospective purchasers or to owners of existing Policies not funded by
the Shares. In the event that the Company requests that the Trust or its
designee provides the Trust's prospectus in a "camera ready" or diskette
format, the Trust shall be responsible for providing the prospectus in
the format in which it or
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MFS is accustomed to formatting prospectuses and shall bear the expense
of providing the prospectus in such format (E.G., typesetting expenses),
and the Company shall bear the expense of adjusting or changing the
format to conform with any of its prospectuses.
3.2. The prospectus for the Shares shall state that the statement of
additional information for the Shares is available from the Trust or its
designee. The Trust or its designee, at its expense, shall print and
provide such statement of additional information to the Company (or a
master of such statement suitable for duplication by the Company) for
distribution to any owner of a Policy funded by the Shares. The Trust or
its designee, at the Company's expense, shall print and provide such
statement to the Company (or a master of such statement suitable for
duplication by the Company) for distribution to a prospective purchaser
who requests such statement or to an owner of a Policy not funded by the
Shares.
3.3. The Trust or its designee shall provide the Company free of charge
copies, if and to the extent applicable to the Shares, of the Trust's
proxy materials, reports to Shareholders and other communications to
Shareholders in such quantity as the Company shall reasonably require for
distribution to Policy owners.
3.4. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3
above, or of Article V below, the Company shall pay the expense of
printing or providing documents to the extent such cost is considered a
distribution expense. Distribution expenses would include by way of
illustration, but are not limited to, the printing of the Shares'
prospectus or prospectuses for distribution to prospective purchasers or
to owners of existing Policies not funded by such Shares.
3.5. The Trust hereby notifies the Company that it may be appropriate
to include in the prospectus pursuant to which a Policy is offered
disclosure regarding the potential risks of mixed and shared funding.
3.6. If and to the extent required by law, the Company shall:
(a) solicit voting instructions from Policy owners;
(b) vote the Shares in accordance with instructions received
from Policy owners; and
(c) vote the Shares for which no instructions have been
received in the same proportion as the Shares of such
Portfolio for which instructions have been received from
Policy owners;
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. The Company will in no way recommend action in connection with
or oppose or interfere with the solicitation of proxies for the Shares
held for such Policy owners. The Company reserves the right to vote
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 holding
Shares calculates voting privileges in the manner required by the Mixed
and Shared Funding Exemptive Order. The Trust and MFS will notify the
Company of any changes of interpretations or amendments to the Mixed and
Shared Funding Exemptive Order.
ARTICLE IV. SALES MATERIAL AND INFORMATION
4.1. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the
Trust or its designee, each piece of sales literature or other
promotional material in which the Trust, MFS, any other investment
adviser to the Trust, or any affiliate of MFS are named, at least three
(3) Business Days prior to its use. No such material shall be used if
the Trust, MFS, or their respective designees reasonably objects to such
use within three (3) Business Days after receipt of such material.
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4.2. The Company shall not give any information or make any
representations or statement on behalf of the Trust, MFS, any other
investment adviser to the Trust, or any affiliate of MFS or concerning
the Trust or any other such entity in connection with the sale of the
Policies other than the information or representations contained in the
registration statement, prospectus or statement of additional information
for the Shares, as such registration statement, prospectus and statement
of additional information may be amended or supplemented from time to
time, or in reports or proxy statements for the Trust, or in sales
literature or other promotional material approved by the Trust, MFS or
their respective designees, except with the permission of the Trust, MFS
or their respective designees. The Trust, MFS or their respective
designees each agrees to respond to any request for approval on a prompt
and timely basis. The Company shall adopt and implement procedures
reasonably designed to ensure that information concerning the Trust, MFS
or any of their affiliates which is intended for use only by brokers or
agents selling the Policies (I.E., information that is not intended for
distribution to Policy owners or prospective Policy owners) is so used,
and neither the Trust, MFS nor any of their affiliates shall be liable
for any losses, damages or expenses relating to the improper use of such
broker only materials.
4.3. The Trust or its designee shall furnish, or shall cause to be
furnished, to the Company or its designee, each piece of sales literature
or other promotional material in which the Company and/or the Accounts is
named, at least three (3) Business Days prior to its use. No such
material shall be used if the Company or its designee reasonably objects
to such use within three (3) Business Days after receipt of such
material.
4.4. The Trust and MFS shall not give, and agree that the Underwriter
shall not give, any information or make any representations on behalf of
the Company or concerning the Company, the Accounts, or the Policies in
connection with the sale of the Policies other than the information or
representations contained in a registration statement, prospectus, or
statement of additional information for the Policies, as such
registration statement, prospectus and statement of additional
information may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in
reports for the Accounts, or in sales literature or other promotional
material approved by the Company or its designee, except with the
permission of the Company. The Company or its designee agrees to respond
to any request for approval on a prompt and timely basis. The parties
hereto agree that this Section 4.4. is neither intended to designate nor
otherwise imply that MFS is an underwriter or distributor of the
Policies.
4.5. The Company and the Trust (or its designee in lieu of the Company
or the Trust, as appropriate) will each provide to the other 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 Policies, or to the Trust or its Shares, prior to or
contemporaneously with the filing of such document with the SEC or other
regulatory authorities. The Company and the Trust shall also each
promptly inform the other of the results of any examination by the SEC
(or other regulatory authorities) that relates to the Policies, the Trust
or its Shares, and the party that was the subject of the examination
shall provide the other party with a copy of relevant portions of any
"deficiency letter" or other correspondence or written report regarding
any such examination.
4.6. The Trust and MFS will provide the Company with as much notice as
is reasonably practicable of any proxy solicitation for any Portfolio,
and of any material change in the Trust's registration statement,
particularly any change resulting in change to the registration statement
or prospectus or statement of additional information for any Account.
The Trust and MFS will cooperate with the Company so as to enable the
Company to solicit proxies from Policy owners or to make changes to its
prospectus, statement of additional information or registration
statement, in an orderly manner. The Trust and MFS will make reasonable
efforts to attempt to have changes affecting Policy prospectuses become
effective simultaneously with the annual updates for such prospectuses.
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4.7. For purpose of this Article IV and Article VIII, 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), and sales literature (such as brochures,
circulars, reprints or excerpts or any other advertisement, sales
literature, or published articles), distributed or made generally
available to customers or the public, educational or training materials
or communications distributed or made generally available to some or all
agents or employees.
ARTICLE V. FEES AND EXPENSES
5.1. The Trust shall pay no fee or other compensation to the Company
under this Agreement, and the Company shall pay no fee or other
compensation to the Trust, except that if the Trust or any Portfolio
adopts and implements a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act to
finance distribution and Shareholder servicing expenses, then, subject to
obtaining any required exemptive orders or regulatory approvals, the
Trust may make payments to the Company or to the underwriter for the
Policies if and in amounts agreed to by the Trust in writing. Each
party, however, shall, in accordance with the allocation of expenses
specified in Articles III and V hereof, reimburse other parties for
expenses initially paid by one party but allocated to another party. In
addition, nothing herein shall prevent the parties hereto from otherwise
agreeing to perform, and arranging for appropriate compensation for,
other services relating to the Trust and/or to the Accounts.
5.2. The Trust or its designee shall bear the expenses for the cost of
registration and qualification of the Shares under all applicable federal
and state laws, including preparation and filing of the Trust's
registration statement, and payment of filing fees and registration fees;
preparation and filing of the Trust's proxy materials and reports to
Shareholders; setting in type and printing its prospectus and statement
of additional information (to the extent provided by and as determined in
accordance with Article III above); setting in type and printing the
proxy materials and reports to Shareholders (to the extent provided by
and as determined in accordance with Article III above); the preparation
of all statements and notices required of the Trust by any federal or
state law with respect to its Shares; all taxes on the issuance or
transfer of the Shares; and the costs of distributing the Trust's
prospectuses and proxy materials to owners of Policies funded by the
Shares and any expenses permitted to be paid or assumed by the Trust
pursuant to a plan, if any, under Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The
Trust shall not bear any expenses of marketing the Policies.
5.3. The Company shall bear the expenses of distributing the Shares'
prospectus or prospectuses in connection with new sales of the Policies
and of distributing the Trust's Shareholder reports to Policy owners.
The Company shall bear all expenses associated with the registration,
qualification, and filing of the Policies under applicable federal
securities and state insurance laws; the cost of preparing, printing and
distributing the Policy prospectus and statement of additional
information; and the cost of preparing, printing and distributing annual
individual account statements for Policy owners as required by state
insurance laws.
5.4 MFS 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 Policy owners of
shares of the Portfolios of the Trust, equal to ________% per annum of
the aggregate net assets of the Trust attributable to variable life or
variable annuity contracts offered by the Company or its affiliates up
to $100 million and ________% per annum of the net assets of the Trust
attributable to such contracts over $100 million. In no event shall
such fee be paid by the Trust, its shareholders or by the Policy holders
ARTICLE VI. DIVERSIFICATION AND RELATED LIMITATIONS
6.1. The Trust and MFS represent and warrant that each Portfolio of the
Trust will meet the diversification requirements of Section 817 (h) (1)
of the Code and Treas. Reg. 1.817-5, relating to the diversification
requirements for variable annuity, endowment, or life insurance
contracts, as they may be amended from time to time (and any revenue
rulings, revenue procedures, notices, and other published announcements
of the Internal Revenue Service interpreting these sections), as if those
requirements applied directly to each such Portfolio.
6.2. The Trust and MFS represent that each Portfolio will elect to be
qualified as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the
Code and that they will maintain such qualification (under Subchapter M
or any successor or similar provision).
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ARTICLE VII. POTENTIAL MATERIAL CONFLICTS
7.1. The Trust agrees that the Board, constituted with a majority of
disinterested trustees, will monitor each Portfolio of the Trust for the
existence of any material irreconcilable conflict between the interests
of the variable annuity contract owners and the variable life insurance
policy owners of the Company and/or affiliated companies ("contract
owners") investing in the Trust. The Board shall have the sole authority
to determine if a material irreconcilable conflict exists, and such
determination shall be binding on the Company only if approved in the
form of a resolution by a majority of the Board, or a majority of the
disinterested trustees of the Board. The Board will give prompt notice of
any such determination to the Company.
7.2. The Company agrees that it will be responsible for assisting the
Board in carrying out its responsibilities under the conditions set forth
in the Trust's exemptive application pursuant to which the SEC has
granted the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order by providing the
Board, as it may reasonably request, with all information necessary for
the Board to consider any issues raised and agrees that it will be
responsible for promptly reporting any potential or existing conflicts of
which it is aware to the Board including, but not limited to, an
obligation by the Company to inform the Board whenever contract owner
voting instructions are disregarded. The Company also agrees that, if a
material irreconcilable conflict arises, it will at its own cost remedy
such conflict up to and including (a) withdrawing the assets allocable to
some or all of the Accounts from the Trust or any Portfolio and
reinvesting such assets in a different investment medium, including (but
not limited to) another Portfolio of the Trust, or submitting to a vote
of all affected contract owners whether to withdraw assets from the Trust
or any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a different investment
medium and, as appropriate, segregating the assets attributable to any
appropriate group of contract owners that votes in favor of such
segregation, or offering to any of the affected contract owners the
option of segregating the assets attributable to their contracts or
policies, and (b) establishing a new registered management investment
company and segregating the assets underlying the Policies, unless a
majority of Policy owners materially adversely affected by the conflict
have voted to decline the offer to establish a new registered management
investment company.
7.3. A majority of the disinterested trustees of the Board shall
determine whether any proposed action by the Company adequately remedies
any material irreconcilable conflict. In the event that the Board
determines that any proposed action does not adequately remedy any
material irreconcilable conflict, the Company will withdraw from
investment in the Trust each of the Accounts designated by the
disinterested trustees 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 to remedy any such material
irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the disinterested
trustees of the Board.
7.4. 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 Trust
and/or the Participating Insurance Companies, as appropriate, shall take
such steps as may be necessary to comply with Rule 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 and 7.4 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
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8.1. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY
The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, MFS,
any affiliates of MFS, and each of their respective directors/trustees,
officers and each person, if any, who controls the Trust or MFS within
the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act, and any agents or employees of
the foregoing (each an "Indemnified Party," or 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 expenses
(including reasonable counsel fees) to which any Indemnified Party may
become subject under any statute, regulation, at common law or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or
actions in respect thereof) or settlements are related to the sale or
acquisition of the Shares or the Policies and:
(a) 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 Policies or contained in the
Policies or sales literature or other promotional material
for the Policies (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 reasonable
reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished
to the Company or its designee by or on behalf of the Trust
or MFS for use in the registration statement, prospectus or
statement of additional information for the Policies or in
the Policies or sales literature or other promotional
material (or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for
use in connection with the sale of the Policies or Shares;
or
(b) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations (other than statements or representations
contained in the registration statement, prospectus,
statement of additional information or sales literature or
other promotional material of the Trust not supplied by the
Company or its designee, or persons under its control and
on which the Company has reasonably relied) or wrongful
conduct of the Company or persons under its control, with
respect to the sale or distribution of the Policies or
Shares; or
(c) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the registration
statement, prospectus, statement of additional information,
or sales literature or other promotional literature of the
Trust, 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 Trust by or on behalf of the
Company; or
(d) 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
(e) arise as a result of any failure by the Company to provide
the services and furnish the materials under the terms of
this Agreement;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of this Article VIII.
8.2. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE TRUST
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The Trust 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, and any
agents or employees of the foregoing (each an "Indemnified Party," or
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 Trust) or
expenses (including reasonable counsel fees) to which any Indemnified
Party may become subject under any statute, at common law or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or
actions in respect thereof) or settlements are related to the sale or
acquisition of the Shares or the Policies and:
(a) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in
the registration statement, prospectus, statement of
additional information or sales literature or other
promotional material of the Trust (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 statement 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
reasonable reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished to the Trust, MFS, the Underwriter or their
respective designees by or on behalf of the Company for use
in the registration statement, prospectus or statement of
additional information for the Trust or in sales literature
or other promotional material for the Trust (or any
amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in connection
with the sale of the Policies or Shares; or
(b) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations (other than statements or representations
contained in the registration statement, prospectus,
statement of additional information or sales literature or
other promotional material for the Policies not supplied by
the Trust, MFS, the Underwriter or any of their respective
designees or persons under their respective control and on
which any such entity has reasonably relied) or wrongful
conduct of the Trust or persons under its control, with
respect to the sale or distribution of the Policies or
Shares; or
(c) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the registration
statement, prospectus, statement of additional information,
or sales literature or other promotional literature of the
Accounts or relating to the Policies, 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 Trust, MFS or the
Underwriter; or
(d) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Trust in this
Agreement (including a failure, whether unintentional or in
good faith or otherwise, to comply with the diversification
requirements specified in Article VI of this Agreement) or
arise out of or result from any other material breach of
this Agreement by the Trust; or
(e) 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; or
(f) arise as a result of any failure by the Trust to provide
the services and furnish the materials under the terms of
the Agreement;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of this Article VIII.
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8.3. In no event shall the Trust be liable under the indemnification
provisions contained in this Agreement to any individual or entity,
including without limitation, the Company, or any Participating Insurance
Company or any Policy holder, with respect to any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses that arise out of or result from (i) a
breach of any representation, warranty, and/or covenant made by the
Company hereunder or by any Participating Insurance Company under an
agreement containing substantially similar representations, warranties
and covenants; (ii) the failure by the Company or any Participating
Insurance Company to maintain its segregated asset account (which invests
in any Portfolio) as a legally and validly established segregated asset
account under applicable state law and as a duly registered unit
investment trust under the provisions of the 1940 Act (unless exempt
therefrom); or (iii) the failure by the Company or any Participating
Insurance Company to maintain its variable annuity and/or variable life
insurance contracts (with respect to which any Portfolio serves as an
underlying funding vehicle) as life insurance, endowment or annuity
contracts under applicable provisions of the Code.
8.4. Neither the Company nor the Trust shall be liable under the
indemnification provisions contained in this Agreement with respect to
any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses to which an
Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of such
Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, willful misconduct, 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.
8.5. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Party under this Section
8.5. of notice of commencement of any action, such Indemnified Party
will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
indemnifying party under this section, notify the indemnifying party of
the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying
party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any
Indemnified Party otherwise than under this section. In case any such
action is brought against any Indemnified Party, and it notified the
indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party
will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may
wish, assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such
Indemnified Party. After notice from the indemnifying party of its
intention to assume the defense of an action, the Indemnified Party shall
bear the expenses of any additional counsel obtained by it, and the
indemnifying party shall not be liable to such Indemnified Party under
this section for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by
such Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof other than
reasonable costs of investigation.
8.6. Each of the parties agrees promptly to notify the other parties of
the commencement of any litigation or proceeding against it or any of its
respective officers, directors, trustees, employees or 1933 Act control
persons in connection with the Agreement, the issuance or sale of the
Policies, the operation of the Accounts, or the sale or acquisition of
Shares.
8.7. 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.
ARTICLE IX. APPLICABLE LAW
9.1. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
9.2. This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the 1933,
1934 and 1940 Acts, and the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder,
including such exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as
the SEC may grant and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed
in accordance therewith.
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ARTICLE X. NOTICE OF FORMAL PROCEEDINGS
The Trust, MFS, and the Company agree that each such party shall promptly
notify the other parties to this Agreement, in writing, of the institution of
any formal proceedings brought against such party or its designees by the NASD,
the SEC, or any insurance department or any other regulatory body regarding such
party's duties under this Agreement or related to the sale of the Policies, the
operation of the Accounts, or the purchase of the Shares.
ARTICLE XI. TERMINATION
11.1. This Agreement shall terminate with respect to the Accounts, or
one, some, or all Portfolios:
(a) at the option of any party upon six (6) months' advance
written notice to the other parties; or
(b) at the option of the Company to the extent that the Shares
of Portfolios are not reasonably available to meet the
requirements of the Policies or are not "appropriate
funding vehicles" for the Policies, as reasonably
determined by the Company. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, the Shares of a Portfolio would not be
"appropriate funding vehicles" if, for example, such Shares
did not meet the diversification or other requirements
referred to in Article VI hereof; or if the Company would
be permitted to disregard Policy owner voting instructions
pursuant to Rule 6e-2 or 6e-3(T) under the 1940 Act.
Prompt notice of the election to terminate for such cause
and an explanation of such cause shall be furnished to the
Trust by the Company; or
(c) at the option of the Trust or MFS upon institution of
formal proceedings against the Company by the NASD, the
SEC, or any insurance department or any other regulatory
body regarding the Company's duties under this Agreement or
related to the sale of the Policies, the operation of the
Accounts, or the purchase of the Shares; or
(d) at the option of the Company upon institution of formal
proceedings against the Trust by the NASD, the SEC, or any
state securities or insurance department or any other
regulatory body regarding the Trust's or MFS' duties under
this Agreement or related to the sale of the Shares; or
(e) at the option of the Company, the Trust or MFS upon receipt
of any necessary regulatory approvals and/or the vote of
the Policy owners having an interest in the Accounts (or
any subaccounts) to substitute the shares of another
investment company for the corresponding Portfolio Shares
in accordance with the terms of the Policies for which
those Portfolio Shares had been selected to serve as the
underlying investment media. The Company will give thirty
(30) days' prior written notice to the Trust of the Date of
any proposed vote or other action taken to replace the
Shares; or
(f) termination by either the Trust or MFS by written notice to
the Company, if either one or both of the Trust or MFS
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
(g) termination by the Company by written notice to the Trust
and MFS, if the Company shall determine, in its sole
judgment exercised in good faith, that the Trust or MFS has
suffered a
- 12 -
material adverse change in this business, operations,
financial condition or prospects since the date of this
Agreement or is the subject of material adverse publicity;
or
(h) at the option of any party to this Agreement, upon another
party's material breach of any provision of this Agreement;
or
(i) upon assignment of this Agreement, unless made with the
written consent of the parties hereto.
11.2. The notice shall specify the Portfolio or Portfolios, Policies
and, if applicable, the Accounts as to which the Agreement is to be
terminated.
11.3. It is understood and agreed that the right of any party hereto to
terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 11.1(a) may be exercised for
cause or for no cause.
11.4. Except as necessary to implement Policy owner initiated
transactions, or as required by state insurance laws or regulations, the
Company shall not redeem the Shares attributable to the Policies (as
opposed to the Shares attributable to the Company's assets held in the
Accounts), and the Company shall not prevent Policy owners from
allocating payments to a Portfolio that was otherwise available under the
Policies, until thirty (30) days after the Company shall have notified
the Trust of its intention to do so.
11.5. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Trust and
MFS shall, at the option of the Company, continue to make available
additional shares of the Portfolios pursuant to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement, for all Policies in effect on the effective date of
termination of this Agreement (the "Existing Policies"), except as
otherwise provided under Article VII of this Agreement. Specifically,
without limitation, the owners of the Existing Policies shall be
permitted to transfer or reallocate investment under the Policies, redeem
investments in any Portfolio and/or invest in the Trust upon the making
of additional purchase payments under the Existing Policies.
ARTICLE XII. NOTICES
Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or
certified mail, overnight courier or facsimile 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 Trust:
MFS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Secretary
If to the Company:
Lincoln Benefit Life Company
000 Xxxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxx Xxxxxx
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If to MFS:
MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile No.: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, General Counsel
ARTICLE XIII. MISCELLANEOUS
13.1. Subject to the requirement of legal process and regulatory
authority, each party hereto shall treat as confidential the names and
addresses of the owners of the Policies and all information reasonably
identified as confidential in writing by any other party hereto and,
except as permitted by this Agreement or as otherwise required by
applicable law or regulation, 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 it may
come into the public domain.
13.2. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of
reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the provisions
hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
13.3. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in one or more
counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the
same instrument.
13.4. 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.
13.5. The Schedule attached hereto, as modified from time to time, is
incorporated herein by reference and is part of this Agreement.
13.6. Each party hereto shall cooperate with each other party in
connection with inquiries by appropriate governmental authorities
(including without limitation the SEC, the NASD, and state insurance
regulators) relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby.
13.7. 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.
13.8. A copy of the Trust's Declaration of Trust is on file with the
Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Company
acknowledges that the obligations of or arising out of this instrument
are not binding upon any of the Trust's trustees, officers, employees,
agents or shareholders individually, but are binding solely upon the
assets and property of the Trust in accordance with its proportionate
interest hereunder. The Company further acknowledges that the assets and
liabilities of each Portfolio are separate and distinct and that the
obligations of or arising out of this instrument are binding solely upon
the assets or property of the Portfolio on whose behalf the Trust has
executed this instrument. The Company also agrees that the obligations
of each Portfolio hereunder shall be several and not joint, in accordance
with its proportionate interest hereunder, and the Company agrees not to
proceed against any Portfolio for the obligations of another Portfolio.
- 14 -
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 above.
LINCOLN BENEFIT LIFE COMPANY,
By its authorized officer,
By:
---------------------------------
Title:
------------------------------
MFS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST, ON BEHALF OF
THE PORTFOLIOS
By its authorized officer and not
individually,
By:
---------------------------------
Title:
------------------------------
MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY
By its authorized officer,
By:
---------------------------------
Title:
------------------------------
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As of
--------------
SCHEDULE A
ACCOUNTS, POLICIES AND PORTFOLIOS
SUBJECT TO THE PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME OF SEPARATE
ACCOUNT AND DATE POLICIES FUNDED PORTFOLIOS
ESTABLISHED BY BOARD OF BY SEPARATE ACCOUNT APPLICABLE TO POLICIES
DIRECTORS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lincoln Benefit Life VAP9830 MFS Growth with Income Series
Variable Annuity Account VAP9840 MFS Research Series
August 3, 1992 MFS Emerging Growth Series
MFS Total Return Series
MFS New Discovery Series
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lincoln Benefit Life VUL9800 (effective May 1, 1998)
Variable Life Account
May 17, 1990
- 16 -
