EXHIBIT 99.27(h)(12)
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
By and Among
MINNESOTA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
And
WARBURG, XXXXXX TRUST
And
CREDIT SUISSE ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC
And
CREDIT SUISSE ASSET MANAGEMENT SECURITIES, INC.
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this 1ST day of May 2000, by and among
Minnesota Life Insurance Company (the "Company") organized under the laws of the
State of Minnesota, on its own behalf and on behalf of each separate account of
the Company named in Schedule I to this Agreement as may be amended from time to
time (each account referred to as the "Account"), Warburg, Xxxxxx Trust. an
open-end management investment company and business trust organized under the
laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the "Fund"); Credit Suisse Asset
Management. LLC a limited liability company organized under the laws of the
State of Delaware (the "Adviser"); and Credit Suisse Asset Management
Securities, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of New
York (f/k/a Counsellors Securities Inc.)("CSAMSI").
WHEREAS, the Fund engages in business as an open-end management investment
company and was established for the purpose of serving as the investment vehicle
for separate accounts established for variable life insurance contracts and
variable annuity contracts to be offered by insurance companies that have
entered into participation agreements similar to this Agreement (the
"Participating Insurance Companies"), and
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 received an order from the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the I'SEC") 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 ~ (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 outside of the
separate account context (the "Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order"). The
parties to this Agreement agree that the conditions or undertakings specified in
the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order and that may be imposed on the
Company, the Fund, the Adviser and/or CSAMSI by virtue of the receipt of such
order by the SEC will be incorporated herein by reference, and such parties
agree to comply with such conditions and undertakings to the extent applicable
to each such party; 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 (the "1933 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register certain variable annuity or
variable life contracts (the "Contracts") under the 1933 Act unless such
contracts are exempt from registration; and
WHEREAS, each 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 State of Minnesota, to set aside and invest assets
attributable to the Contracts; and
WHEREAS. the Company has registered each Account as a unit investment trust
under the 1940 Act unless such Account is exempt from registration thereunder;
and
WHEREAS. the Adviser is registered as an investment adviser under the federal
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and any applicable state securities law; and
WHEREAS, CSAMSI, the Fund's distributor, is registered as a broker-dealer with
the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act") and is a
member in good standing of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
(the "NASD"); and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and regulations,
the Company intends to purchase shares of the Portfolios named in Schedule 2, as
such schedule may be amended from time to time (the "Designated Portfolios"), on
behalf of each Account to fund the Contracts, and the Fund and CSAMSI are
authorized to sell such shares to unit investment trusts such as the Account at
net asset value;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises. the Company, the
Fund, the Adviser and CSAMSI agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. Sale of Fund Shares
1.1. The Fund agrees to sell to the Company those shares of the Designated
Portfolios that each Account orders, executing such orders on a daily basis at
the net asset value next computed after receipt and acceptance by the Fund or
its designee of the order for the shares of the Fund. For purposes of this
Section 1.1, the Company will be the designee of the Fund for receipt of such
orders from each Account and receipt by such designee will constitute receipt by
the Fund; provided that the Fund receives notice of such order by 9:30 a.1n.
Eastern Time on the next following Business Day ("T + 1 "). "Business Day" will
mean any day on which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "NYSE") is open for
trading and on which the Fund calculates its net asset value pursuant to the
rules of the SEC.
1.2. The Company will pay for Fund shares on T + 1 in each case that an order to
purchase Fund shares is made in accordance with Section 1.1 above. Payment will
be in federal funds transmitted by wire. This wire transfer will be initiated by
12:00 p.m. Eastern Ti~. For purposes of Section 2.11, upon receipt by the Fund
of the federal funds wired, such funds shall cease to be the responsibility of
the Company.
1.3. The Fund agrees to make shares of the Designated Portfolios available
indefinitely for purchase at the applicable net asset value per share by
Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts on those days on
which the Fund calculates its Designated Portfolio net asset value pursuant to
rules of the SEC. The Fund shall use reasonable efforts to calculate such net
asset value on each day the NYSE is open for trading; provided, however, that
the Fund, the Adviser or CSAMSI 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
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required by law or by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction or is, in its
or their sole discretion acting in good faith, in the best interests of the
shareholders of such Portfolio.
1.4. On each Business Day on which the Fund calculates its net asset value, the
Company will aggregate and calculate the net purchase or redemption orders for
each Account maintained by the Fund in which contract owner assets are invested.
Net orders will only reflect orders that the Company has received prior to the
close of regular trading on the NYSE currently 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time) on that
Business Day. Orders that the Company has received after the close of regular
trading on the NYSE will be treated as though received on the next Business Day.
Each communication of orders by the Company will constitute a representation
that such orders were received by it prior to the close of regular trading on
the NYSE on the Business Day on which the purchase or redemption order is priced
in accordance with Rule 22c-l under the 1940 Act. Other procedures relating to
the handling of orders will be in accordance with the prospectus and statement
of information of the relevant Designated Portfolio or written instructions that
CSAMSI or the Fund will forward to the Company from time to time.
1.5. The Fund agrees that shares of the Fund will 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 will be sold to the general public except as set forth in this Section
1.5.
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 designee of the request for redemption. For purposes of this
Section 1.6, the Company will be the designee of the Fund for receipt of
requests for redemption from each Account and receipt by such designee will
constitute receipt by the Fund, provided the Fund receives notice of request for
redemption by 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the next following Business Day. Payment
will 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. 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 by the 0000 Xxx. The
Fund will not bear any responsibility whatsoever for the proper disbursement or
crediting of redemption proceeds; the Company alone will 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 Designated
Portfolios offered by the then current prospectus of the Fund in accordance with
the provisions of such prospectus.
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 will furnish ~ day notice (by telecopier, followed by written
confirmation) to the Company of the declaration of any income, dividends or
capital gain distributions payable on each Designated Portfolio's shares. The
Company hereby elects to receive all such dividends and distributions as are
payable on the Designated Portfolio shares in the form of additional shares of
that Designated Portfolio. The Company reserves the right to revoke this
election upon reasonable prior notice to the Fund and to receive all such
dividends and distributions in cash. The Fund will notify the Company of the
number of shares so issued as payment of such dividends and distributions.
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1.10. The Fund will make the net asset value per share for each Designated
Portfolio available to the Company on a daily basis as soon as reasonably
practical after the net asset value per share is calculated and will use its
best efforts to make such net asset value per share available by 6:00 p.m.,
Eastern Time, but in no event later than 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time, each Business
Day.
1.11. In the event adjustments are required to correct any error in the
computation of the net asset value of the Fund's shares, the Fund or CSAMSI will
notify the Company as soon as practicable after discovering the need for those
adjustments that result in an aggregate reimbursement of $150 or more to anyone
Account maintained by a Designated Portfolio unless notified otherwise by the
Company (or, if lesser, results in an adjustment of $10 or more to each
contractowner's account). Any such notice will state for each day for which an
error occurred the incorrect price, the correct price and, to the extent
communicated to the Fund's shareholders, the reason for the price change. The
Company may send this notice or a derivation thereof (so long as such derivation
is approved in advance by CSAMSI or the Adviser) to contractowners whose
accounts are affected by the price change. The parties will negotiate in good
faith to develop a reasonable method for effecting such adjustments.
ARTICLE ll. Representations and Warranties
2.1. The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts are or will be
registered under the 1933 Act or are exempt from registration thereunder; and
that the Contracts will be issued and sold in compliance with all applicable
federal and state laws, including state insurance suitability requirements. The
Company further represents and warrants that it is an insurance company duly
organized and in good standing under applicable law and that it has legally and
validly established each Account as a separate account under applicable state
law and has registered the Account as a unit investment trust in accordance with
the provisions of the 1940 Act to serve as a segregated investment account for
the Contracts, and that it will maintain such registration for so long as any
Contracts are outstanding unless such Account is exempt from registration. The
Company will 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 will
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 annuity contracts or life insurance contracts under
applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, and that it will make every
effort to maintain such treatment and that it will notify the Fund and the
Adviser 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 Company represents and warrants that it will not purchase shares of the
Designated Portfolios with assets derived from tax-qualified retirement plans
except, indirectly, through Contracts purchased in connection with such plans.
2.4. The Fund represents and warrants that Fund shares of the Designated
Portfolios sold pursuant to this Agreement will be registered under the 1933 Act
and duly authorized for issuance in accordance with applicable law and that the
Fund is and will remain registered under the 1940 Act for as long as such shares
of the Designated Portfolios are outstanding. The Fund will 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 or as may otherwise be required by applicable law. The Fund will register
and qualify the
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shares of the Designated Portfolios for sale in accordance with the laws of the
various states only if and to the extent deemed advisable by the Fund.
2.5. The Fund represents that each Designated Portfolio is currently qualified
as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue
Code and that it will make every effort to maintain such qualification (under
Subchapter M or any successor or similar provision) and that it will notify the
Company immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that a
Designated Portfolio has ceased to so qualify or that it might not so qualify in
the future.
2.6. The Fund represents and warrants that in performing the services described
in this Agreement, the Fund will comply with all applicable laws, rules and
regulations. The Fund makes no representation as to whether any aspect of its
operations (including, but not limited to, fees and expenses and investment
policies, objectives and restrictions) complies with the insurance laws and
regulations of any state, except that the Fund represents that the Fund's
investment policies, fees and expenses are and shall at all times remain in
compliance with the laws of the State of Minnesota to the extent required to
perform this Agreement. The Fund and CSAMSI agree that upon request they will
use their best efforts to furnish the information required by state insurance
laws so that the Company can obtain the authority needed to issue the Contracts
in the various states.
2.7. The Fund currently does not intend to make any payments to finance
distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, although it
reserves the right to 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 Fund Board formulate and approve any plan under Rule
12b-1 to finance distribution expenses in accordance with the 1940 Act.
2.8. The Fund represents that it is lawfully organized and validly existing
under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that it does and will
comply in all material respects with applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and
related regulations.
2.9. CSAMSI represents and warrants that it will distribute the Fund shares of
the Designated Portfolios in accordance with all applicable federal and state
securities laws including, without limitation, the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and
the 0000 Xxx.
2.10. CSAMSI represents and warrants that it is a member in good standing of the
NASD and that it is and will remain duly registered under all applicable federal
and state securities laws and that it will perform its obligations for the Fund
in accordance in all material respects with any applicable state and federal
securities laws.
2.11. The Fund represents and warrants that all of its trustees, officers,
employees, 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 l7g-(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. CSAMSI and the Adviser represent and warrant that they are and
any of the Fund's other investment advisers are and continue to be at all times,
covered by policies similar to the aforesaid bond.
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ARTICLE III. Prospectuses and Proxy Statements: Voting
3.1. The Fund or CSAMSI will provide the Company, at the Fund's or its
affiliate's expense, with as many copies of the current Fund prospectus for the
Designated Portfolios as the Company may reasonably request for distribution,
such distribution to be at the Company's expense, to prospective contractowners
and applicants. The Fund or CSAMSI will provide, at the Fund's or its
affiliate's expense, as many copies of said prospectus as necessary for
distribution, such distribution to be at the Company's expense, to existing
contractowners. The Fund or CSAMSI will provide the copies of said prospectus to
the Company or to its mailing agent. If requested by the Company, the Fund or
CSAMSI will provide such documentation, including a computer diskette of the
Company's specification or a final copy of a current prospectus set in type at
the Fund's or its affiliate's expense, and such other assistance as is
reasonably necessary in order for the Company at least annually (or more
frequently if the Fund prospectus is amended more frequently) to have the Fund's
prospectus, the prospectus for the Contracts and the prospectuses of other
mutual funds in which assets attributable to the Contracts may be invested
printed together in one document (the "Multifund Prospectus"), in which case the
Fund or its affiliate will bear its reasonable share of expenses as described
above, allocated based on the proportionate number of pages of the Fund's and
other fund's respective portions of the document.
3.2. The Fund or CSAMSI will provide the Company, at the Fund's or its
affiliate's expense, with as many copies of the statement of additional
information as the Company may reasonably request for distribution, such
distribution to be at the Company's expense, to prospective contractowners and
applicants. The Fund or CSAMSI will provide, at the Fund's or its affiliate's
expense, as many copies of said statement of additional information as necessary
for distribution, such distribution to be at the Company's expense, to any
existing contractowner who requests such statement or whenever state or federal
law otherwise requires that such statement be provided. The Fund or CSAMSI will
provide the copies of said statement of additional information to the Company or
to its mailing agent.
3.3 The Company may in its discretion elect to include any of the materials
provided. specifically. prospectuses, statements of additional information or
shareholder reports on its web site or in any other computer or electronic
format. The Fund agrees to provide all such materials requested by the Company
in Portable Document Format (PDF) in a fashion and at no cost to the Company.
Company agrees to update such materials in a fashion similar to any print
materials requiring such update.
3.4. To the extent that the Fund or CSAMSI desires to change (whether by
revision or supplement) any of the information contained in any form of Fund
prospectus or statement of additional information provided to the Company for
inclusion in a Multifund Prospectus, the Company agrees to make such changes
within a reasonable period of ~ after receipt of a request to make such change
from the Fund or CSAMSI, subject to the following limitation. To the extent that
the Fund is legally required to make a change to a Fund prospectus or statement
of additional information provided to the Company for inclusion in a Multifund
Prospectus, the Company agrees to make any such change as soon as possible
following receipt of the form of revised prospectus and/or statement of
additional information or supplement. as applicable. To the extent that the Fund
is required by law to cease selling shares of a Designated Portfolio, the Fund
will notify the Company in writing immediately and the Company agrees to cease
offering shares of the Designated Portfolio until the Fund or CSAMSI notifies
the Company otherwise.
3.5. The Fund or CSAMSI, at the Fund's or its affiliate's expense, will provide
the Company or its mailing agent with copies of its proxy material, if any,
reports to shareholders and other communications to shareholders in such
quantity as the Company will reasonably require. The Company will distribute
this proxy material, reports and other communications to existing contract
owners and tabulate the votes.
6
3.6. If and to the extent required by law the Company will
(a) solicit voting instructions from contractowners;
(b) vote the shares of the Designated Portfolios held in each Account in
accordance with instructions received from contractowners; and
(c) vote shares of the Designated Portfolios held in each Account for which no
timely instructions have been received, as well as shares it owns, in the same
proportion as shares of such Designated Portfolio for which instructions have
been received from the Company's contractowners;
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. Except as
set forth above, 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. The
Company will be responsible for assuring that each of its separate accounts
participating in the Fund calculates voting privileges in a manner consistent
with all legal requirements, including the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive
Order.
3.7. The Fund will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act requiring voting
by shareholders, and in particular, the Fund either will provide for annual
~tings (except insofar as the SEC may interpret Section 16 of the 1940 Act not
to require such ~tings) or, as the Fund currently intends, will 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's interpretation of the requirements of Section 16(a) with respect to
periodic elections of trustees and with whatever rules the SEC may promulgate
with respect thereto.
ARTICLE IV. Sales Material and Information
4.1. CSAMSI will provide the Company on a timely basis with investment
performance information for each Designated Portfolio in which the Company
maintains an Account, including total return for the preceding calendar month
and calendar quarter, the calendar year to date, and the prior one-year,
five-year, and ten year (or life of the Designated Portfolio) periods. The
Company may, based on the SEC mandated information supplied by CSAMSl prepare
communications for contractowners ("Contractowner Materials"). The Company will
provide copies of all Contractowner Materials concurrently with their first use
for CSAMSI's internal recordkeeping purposes. It is understood that neither
CSAMSI nor any Designated Portfolio will be responsible for errors or omissions
in, or the content of, Contractowner Materials except to the extent that the
error or omission resulted from information provided by or on behalf of CSAMSI,
its affiliates, or the Designated Portfolio. Any printed information that is
furnished to the Company pursuant to this Agreement other than each Designated
Portfolio's prospectus or statement of additional information (or information
supplemental thereto), periodic reports, shareholder reports and proxy
solicitation materials is CSAMSI's sole responsibility and not the
responsibility of any Designated Portfolio or the Fund. The Company agrees that
the Portfolios, the shareholders of the Portfolios and the officers and
governing Board of the Fund will have no liability or responsibility to the
Company in these respects.
4.2. The Company will not give any information or make any representations or
statements on behalf of the Fund or concerning the Fund in connection with the
sale of the Contracts other than the information or representations contained in
the registration statement. prospectus or statement of additional information
for Fund shares, as such registration statement. prospectus and statement of
additional information may be
7
amended or supplemented from time to time, or in reports or proxy statements for
the Fund, or in published reports for the Fund which are in the public domain or
approved by the Fund or CSAMSI for distribution, or in sales literature or other
material provided by the Fund, the Adviser or by CSAMSL except with permission
of CSAMSI. The Company will furnish, or will cause to be furnished. to the Fund.
the Adviser or CSAMSI, each piece of sales literature or other promotional
material in which the Company or its Account is named, at least ten (10)
business days prior to its use. No such sales literature or other promotional
material which requires the permission of CSAMSI prior to use will be used if
CSAMSI reasonably objects to such use within five (5) business days after
receipt.
Nothing in this Section 4.2 will be construed as preventing the Company or its
employees or agents from giving advice on investment in the Fund.
4.3. The Fund. the Adviser and CSAMSI will not give any information or make any
representations or statements on behalf of the Company or concerning the
Company, each Account, or the Contracts other than the information or
representations contained in a registration statement. prospectus or statement
of additional information for the Contracts. as such registration statement.
prospectus and statement of additional information may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, or in published reports for each Account or the
Contracts which are in the public domain or approved by the Company for
distribution to contractowners, or in sales literature or other material
provided by the Company. except with permission of the Company. The Company
agrees to respond to any request for approval on a prompt and timely basis. The
Fund, the Adviser or CSAMSI will furnish, or will cause to be furnished. to the
Company or its designee, each piece of sales literature or other promotional
material in which the Company or its Account is named at least ten (10) business
days prior to its use. No such material will be used if the Company reasonably
objects to such use within five (5) business days after receipt of such
material.
4.4. The Fund will provide to the Company at least one complete copy of all
registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional information,
reports and proxy solicitations for voting instructions and amendments to any of
the above, other material filings that relate to the Fund or its shares,
promptly after the filing of such document with the SEC, the NASD or other
regulatory authority.
4.5. 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,
the NASD or other regulatory authority.
4.6. For purposes of this Article IV, the phrase "sales literature or other
promotional material" includes, but is not limited to, advertisements (such as
material published, or designed for use in, a newspaper, magazine, or other
periodical, radio, television, telephone or tape recording, videotape display,
signs or billboards, motion pictures, or other public media (e.g., on-line
networks such as the Internet or other electronic messages)) sales literature
(i.e., any written communication distributed or made generally available to
customers or the public, including brochures, circulars, research reports,
market letters, form letters, seminar texts, reprints or excerpts of any other
advertisements sales literature, or published article), educational or training
materials or other communications distributed or made generally available to so~
or all agents or employees, registration statements, prospectuses, statements of
additional information, shareholder reports, proxy materials and any other
material constituting sales literature or advertising under the NASD rules. the
1933 Act or the 0000 Xxx.
4.7. The Fund and CSAMSI hereby consent to the Company's use of the names
Warburg. Xxxxxx Trust Global Post-Venture Capital Portfolio. or other Designated
Portfolio, and Warburg. Xxxxxx Counsellors, Inc.
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in connection with the marketing of the Contracts, subject to the terms of
Sections 4.1 and 4.2 of this Agreement. Such consent will continue only as long
as any Contracts are invested in the relevant Designated Portfolio.
ARTICLE V. FEES AND EXPENSES
5.1. The Fund. the Adviser and CSAMSI will pay no fee or other compensation to
the Company (other than as set forth in the administrative services letter
agreement between CSAMSI or the Adviser and the Company) except if the Fund or
any Designated Portfolio adopts and implements a plan pursuant to Rule 121>-1
under the 1940 Act to finance distribution expenses. then. subject to obtaining
any required exemptive orders or other regulatory approvals. the Fund may make
payments to the Company or to the underwriter for the Contracts if and in such
amounts agreed to by the Fund and the Company in writing.
5.2. All expenses incident to performance by the Fund of this Agreement will be
paid by the Fund to the extent permitted by law. The Fund will bear the expenses
for the cost of registration and qualification of the Fund's shares; preparation
and filing of the Fund's prospectus, statement of additional information and
registration statement, proxy materials and reports; setting in type and
printing the Fund's prospectus; setting in type and printing proxy materials and
reports by it to contractowners (including the costs of printing a Fund
prospectus that contains an annual report); 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; any expenses permitted to be paid or as~ by the
Fund pursuant to a plan, if any, under Rule 12b-l under the 1940 Act; and all
other expenses set forth in Article ill of this Agreement.
5.3 The Company shall bear the expenses of distributing the Fund's prospectus,
statements of additional information and reports to owners of Contracts issued
by the Company. The Fund shall bear the costs of soliciting Fund proxies from
Contract owners, including the costs of mailing proxy materials and tabulating
proxy voting instructions. The Fund shall not be responsible for the costs of
any proxy solicitations other than proxies sponsored by the Fund.
ARTICLE VI. DIVERSIFICATION
6.1. The Adviser will ensure 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 annuity contracts and variable life insurance 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, as amended from time to
time, relating to the diversification requirements for variable annuity,
endowment, or life insurance contracts and any amendments or other modifications
to such Section or Regulation. In the event of a breach of this Article VI by
the Fund. it will take all reasonable steps: (a) to notify the Company of such
breach; and (b) to adequately diversify the Fund so as to achieve compliance
within the grace period afforded by Treasury Regulation 1.817-5.
ARTICLE VII. Potential Cont1ic~
7.1. The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Fund Board") will monitor the Fund
for the existence of any irreconcilable material 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
9
managed; (e) a difference in voting instructions given by Participating
Insurance Companies or by variable annuity and variable life insurance
contractowners; or (f) a decision by an insurer to disregard the voting
instructions of contractowners. The Fund Board will promptly inform the Company
if it determines that an irreconcilable material conflict exists and the
implications thereof.
7.2. The Company will report any potential or existing conflicts of which it is
aware to the Fund Board. The Company agrees to assist the Fund Board in carrying
out its responsibilities, as delineated in 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 to be disregarded. The Company's
responsibilities hereunder will be carried out with a view only to the interest
of contractowners.
7.3. If it is determined by a majority of the Fund Board, or a majority of its
disinterested trustees, that an irreconcilable material conflict exists, the
Company will, at its expense and to the extent reasonably practicable (as
determined by a majority of the disinterested trustees), take whatever steps are
necessary to remedy or eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict, up to and
including: (a) withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the Accounts
from the Fund or any Designated 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
(b) establishing a new registered management investment company or managed
separate account.
7.4. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a decision by the
Company to disregard 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 affected
subaccount of the Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement
with respect to such subaccount; provided, however, that such withdrawal and
termination will be limited to the extent required by the foregoing
irreconcilable material conflict as determined by a majority of the
disinterested trustees of the Fund Board. No charge or penalty will be imposed
as a result of such withdrawal.
7.5. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a particular state
insurance regulator's decision applicable to the Company conflicts with the
majority of other state insurance regulators, then the Company will withdraw the
affected subaccount of the Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this
Agreement with respect to such subaccount; provided, however, that such
withdrawal and termination will be limited to the extent required by the
foregoing irreconcilable material conflict as determined by a majority of the
disinterested directors of the Fund Board. No charge or penalty will be imposed
as a result of such withdrawal.
7.6. For purposes of Sections 7.3 through 7.6 of this Agreement. a majority of
the disinterested members of the Fund Board will determine whether any proposed
action adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict, but in no event
will the Fund or the Adviser (or any other investment adviser to the Fund) be
required to establish a new funding medium for the Contracts. The Company will
not be required by Section 7.3 to establish a new funding medium for the
Contracts if an offer to do so has been declined by vote of a majority of
contractowners materially affected by the irreconcilable material conflict.
10
7.7. The Company will 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 will 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 1940 Act
or the roles 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: (8) the Fund and/or the Participating Insurance
Companies. as appropriate, will take such steps as may be necessary to comply
with Rules 6e-2 and 6e-3(T), as amended, and Rule 6e-3, as adopted, to the
extent such rules are applicable; and (b) Sections 3.5, 3.6, 7.1. 7.2, 7.3. 7.4,
and 7.5 of this Agreement will continue in effect only to the extent that terms
and conditions substantially identical to such Sections are contained in such
Rule(s) as so amended or adopted.
ARTICLE VIII. Indemnification
8.1 Indemnification by the Company
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund. the Adviser,
CSAMSL and each person, if any, who controls or is associated with the Fund, the
Adviser or CSAMSI within the meaning of such terms under the federal securities
laws and any director, trustee, officer, partner, employee or agent of the
foregoing (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section
8.1) against any and all losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities
(including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Company)
or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the
Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute, regulation, at common
law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements:
(1) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements or alleged untrue
statements of any material fact contained in the registration statement,
prospectus or 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), including
any prospectuses or statements of additional information of the Fund to which
the Company has made any changes to the information provided to the Company or
arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated or necessary to make such
statements not misleading in light of the circumstances in which they were made;
provided that this agreement to indemnify win not apply as to any Indemnified
Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission was
made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to
the Company by the Fund. the Adviser or CSAMSI for use in the registration
statement. prospectus or statement of additional information for the Contracts
or in the Contracts or sales literature (or any amendment or supplement) or
otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares;
or
(2) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations by or on behalf
of the Company or wrongful conduct of the Company or persons under its control,
with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Fund shares (other
than statements or representations contained in the Fund registration statement,
Fund prospectus, Fund statement of additional information, sales literature or
other promotional material of the Fund not supplied by the Company or persons
under its control); or
(3) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in the Fund registration statement, prospectus, statement of
additional information or sales
11
literature or other promotional material of the Fund (or amendment or
supplement) or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make such statements not
misleading in light of the circumstances in which they were made, if such a
statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished to the Fund by or on behalf of the Company or persons
under its control; or
(4) arise as a result of any failure by the Company to provide the services and
furnish the materials under the terms of this Agreement; or
(5) 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, including, but not limited to,
a failure to comply with the provisions of Section 3.4;
except to the extent provided in Sections 8.1(b) and 8.3 hereof. This
indemnification will be in addition to any liability that the Company otherwise
may have.
(b) No party will be entitled to indemnification under Section 8.1 (a) to the
extent such loss. claim. damage. liability or litigation is due to the willful
misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of such party's
duties under this Agreement. or by reason of such party's reckless disregard of
its obligations or duties under this Agreement by the party seeking
indemnification.
(c) The Indemnified Parties promptly will notify the Company of the commencement
of any litigation, proceedings, complaints or actions by regulatory authorities
against them in connection with the issuance or sale of the Fund shares or the
Contracts or in connection with the operation of the Fund.
8.2. Indemnification By The Adviser. the Fund and CSAMSI
(a) The Adviser and CSAMSI and the Fund (in the case of the Fund, solely to the
extent of its responsibilities hereunder) agree to indemnify and hold harmless
the Company and each person, if any, who controls or is associated with the
Company within the meaning of such terms under the federal securities laws and
any director, trustee, officer, partner, employee or agent of the foregoing
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 8.2)
against any and all losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities (including
amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the 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:
(1) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of any material fact contained in the registration statement,
prospectus or 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 or necessary to make such statements not misleading in light of the
circumstances in which they were made (in each case substantially as transmitted
to the Company by the Fund or CSAMSI), provided that this agreement to indemnify
will not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such
alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished to the Adviser, CSAMSI or the 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 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
12
(2) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations or wrongful
conduct of the Adviser, the Fund or CSAMSI or persons under the control of the
Adviser, the Fund or CSAMSI respectively, with respect to the sale or
distribution of the Fund shares (other than statements or representations
contained in a registration statement, prospectus, statement of additional
information, sales literature or other promotional material covering the
Contracts not supplied by CSAMSI or persons under its control); or
(3) 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 or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated or necessary to
make such statement or statements not misleading in light of the circumstances
in which they were made, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon
and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the
Adviser, the Fund or CSAMSI or persons under the control of the Adviser, the
Fund or CSAMSI; or
(4) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund, the Adviser or CSAMSI 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 of this Agreement); or
(5) arise out of or result from any material breach of any representation and/or
warranty made by the Adviser, the Fund or CSAMSI in this Agreement, or arise out
of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by the Adviser the
Fund or CSAMSI;
except to the extent provided in Sections 8.2(b) and 8.3 hereof. These
indemnifications will be in addition to any liability that the Fund, Adviser or
CSAMSI otherwise may have.
(b) No party will be entitled to indemnification under Section 8.2(a) to the
extent such loss, claim, damage, liability or litigation is due to the willful
misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of such party's
duties under this Agreement, or by reason of such party's reckless disregard of
its obligations or duties under this Agreement by the party seeking
indemnification.
(c) The Indemnified Parties will promptly notify the Adviser, the Fund and
CSAMSI of the commencement of any litigation, proceedings, complaints or actions
by regulatory authorities against them in connection with the issuance or sale
of the Contracts or the operation of the account.
8.3. Indemnification Procedure
Any person obligated to provide indemnification under this Article VIII
("Indemnifying Party" for the purpose of this Section 8.3) will not be liable
under the indemnification provisions of this Article VIII with respect to any
claim made against a party entitled to indemnification under this Article VIII
("Indemnified Party" for the purpose of this Section 8.3) unless such
Indemnified Party will have notified the Indemnifying Party in writing within a
reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claim will have been served upon such
Indemnified Party (or after such party will have received notice of such service
on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Indemnifying Party of any
such claim will not relieve the Indemnifying Party from any liability which it
may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise
than on account of the indemnification provision of this Article VIII, 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
13
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 will 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 will bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel
retained by it, and the Indemnifying Party will not be liable to such party
under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by
such party independently in connection with the defense thereof other than
reasonable costs of investigation, unless: (a) the Indemnifying Party and the
Indemnified Party will have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel; or
(b) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties)
include both the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party and representation
of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or
potential differing interests between them The Indemnifying Party will not be
liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent
but if settled with such consent or if there is a final judgment for the
plaintiff, the Indemnifying Party agrees to indemnify the Indemnified Party from
and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. A
successor by law of the parties to this Agreement will be entitled to the
benefits of the indemnification contained in this Article VIII. The
indemnification provisions contained in this Article VIII will survive any
termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE IX. Applicable Law
9.1. This Agreement will be construed and the provisions hereof interpreted
under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
9.2. This Agreement will be subject to the provisions of the 1933 Act, the 1934
Act and the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder,
including such exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as the SEC
may grant (including, but not limited to, the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive
Order) and the terms hereof will be interpreted and construed in accordance
therewith.
ARTICLE X. TERMINATION
10.1 This Agreement will terminate:
(a) at the option of any party, with or without cause, with respect to some or
all of the Designated Portfolios, upon ninety (90) days' advance written notice
to the other parties; or
(b) at the option of the Company, upon receipt of the Company's written notice
by the other parties, with respect to any Designated Portfolio if shares of the
Designated Portfolio are not reasonably available to meet the requirements of
the Contracts as determined in good faith by the Company; or
(c) at the option of the Company, upon receipt of the Company's written notice
by the other parties, with respect to any Designated Portfolio in the event any
of the Designated Portfolio's shares are not registered, issued or sold in
accordance with applicable state and/or Federal law or such law precludes the
use of such shares as the underlying investment media of the Contracts issued or
to be issued by Company; or
(d) at the option of the Fund, upon receipt of the Fund's written notice by the
other parties, upon institution of formal proceedings against the Company 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
14
the purchase of the Fund shares, provided that the Fund determines in its sole
judgment, exercised in good faith, that any such proceeding would have a
material adverse effect on the Company's ability to perform its obligations
under this Agreement; or
(e) at the option of the Company, upon receipt of the Company's written notice
by the other parties, upon institution of formal proceedings against the Fund,
Adviser or CSAMSI by the NASD, the SEC, or any state securities or insurance
department or any other regulatory body, provided that the Company determines in
its sole judgment, exercised in good faith, that any such proceeding would have
a material adverse effect on the Fund's, Adviser's or CSAMSI's ability to
perform its obligations under this Agreement; or
(f) at the option of the Company. upon receipt of the Company's written notice
by the other parties, with respect to any Designated Portfolio if the Designated
Portfolio 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 and in good faith believes that the Designated Portfolio
may fail to so qualify; or
(g) at the option of the Company, upon receipt of the Company's written notice
by the other parties, with respect to any Designated Portfolio if the Designated
Portfolio fails to meet the diversification requirements specified in Article VI
hereof or if the Company reasonably and in good faith believes the Designated
Portfolio may fail to meet such requirements; or
(h) at the option of any party to this Agreement, upon written notice to the
other parties, upon another party's material breach of any provision of this
Agreement which material breach is not cured within thirty (30) days of said
notice; or
(i) at the option of the Company, if the Company determines in its sole judgment
exercised in good faith, that either the Fund, the Adviser or CSAMSI 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, such termination to be effective sixty (60) days'
after receipt by the other parties of written notice of the election to
terminate; or
(j) at the option of the Fund or CSAMSL if the Fund or CSAMSI respectively,
determines 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 the Adviser, such termination to be effective
sixty (60) days' after receipt by the other parties of written notice of the
election to terminate; or
(k) 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 Designated Portfolio shares of the Fund in
accordance with the terms of the Contracts for which those Designated Portfolio
shares had been selected to serve as the underlying investment media. The
Company will give sixty (60) 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
(1) 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
15
among the interests of: (I) all contractowners of variable insurance products of
all separate accounts; or (2) the interests of the Participating Insurance
Companies investing in the Fund as set forth in Article VII of this Agreement;
or
(m) 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 will
be effective immediately upon notice to the Company by the Fund.
10.2 Notice Requirement
No termination of this Agreement will be effective unless and until the party
terminating this Agreement gives prior written notice to all other parties of
its intent to terminate, which notice will set forth the basis for the
termination.
10.3 Effect of Termination
In the event of any termination of this Agreement other than pursuant to
subsection (d), (j), (1) or (m) of Section 10.1, the Fund and CSAMSI will, at
the option of the Company, continue to make available additional shares of the
Fund pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. For all Contracts
in effect on the effective date of termination of this Agreement (hereinafter
referred to as "Existing Contracts."). Specifically, without limitation, the
owners of the Existing Contracts will be permitted to reallocate investments in
the Designated Portfolios (as in effect on such date), redeem investments in the
Designated Portfolios and/or invest in the Designated Portfolios upon the making
of additional purchase payments under the Existing Contracts. In the event of
any termination of this Agreement pursuant to subsection (d), (j), (I) or (m) of
Section 10.1, the Fund and CSAMSI will, at the option of the Company, continue
to make additional shares of the Fund available for purchase pursuant to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement for all Existing Contracts, subject to
approval by the Fund Board.
10.4 Surviving Provisions
Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, each party's obligations
under Article VIII to indemnify other parties will survive and not be affected
by any termination of this Agreement. In addition, each party's obligations
under Section 12.6 will survive and not be affected by any termination of this
Agreement. Finally, with respect to Existing Contracts, all provisions of this
Agreement also will survive and not be affected by any termination of this
Agreement.
ARTICLE XI. Notices
11.1. Any notice will be deemed duly given when sent by registered or certified
mail to the other party at the address of such party set forth below or at such
other address as such party may from time to time specify in writing to the
other parties.
If to the Company:
Minnesota Life Insurance Company
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xx. Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: General Counsel
If to the Fund, the Adviser and/or CSAMSI:
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Legal Dept.
16
ARTICLE XII. Miscellaneous
12.1. The Fund, the Adviser and CSAMSI acknowledge that the identities of the
customers of the Company or any of its affiliates (collectively the "Company
Protected Parties" for purposes of this Section 12.1), information maintained
regarding those customers, and all computer programs and procedures or other
information developed or used by the Company Protected Parties or any of their
employees or agents in connection with the Company's performance of its duties
under this Agreement are the valuable property of the Company Protected Parties
and/or the Company. The Fund, the Adviser and CSAMSI agree that if they come
into possession of any list or compilation of the identities of or other
information about the Company Protected Parties' customers, or any other
information or property of the Company Protected Parties, other than such
information as is publicly available or as may be independently developed or
compiled by the Fund, the Adviser or CSAMSI from information supplied to them by
the Company Protected Parties' customers who also maintain accounts directly
with the Fund, the Adviser or CSAMSI, the Fund, the Adviser and CSAMSI will hold
such information or property in confidence and refrain from using, disclosing or
distributing any of such information or other property except: (a) with the
Company's prior written consent; or (b) as required by law or judicial process.
The Company acknowledges that the identities of the customers of the Fund, the
Adviser, CSAMSI or any of their affiliates (collectively the "Adviser Protected
Parties" for purposes of this Section 12.1), information maintained regarding
those customers, and all computer programs and procedures or other information
developed or used by the Adviser Protected Parties or any of their employees or
agents in connection with the Fund's, the Adviser's or CSAMSI's performance of
their respective duties under this Agreement are the valuable property of the
Adviser Protected Parties. The Company agrees that if it comes into possession
of any list or compilation of the identities of or other information about the
Adviser Protected Parties' customers, or any other information or property of
the Adviser Protected Parties, other than such information as is publicly
available or as may be independently developed or compiled by the Company from
information supplied to them by the Adviser Protected Parties' customers who
also maintain accounts directly with the Company, the Company will hold such
information or property in confidence and refrain from using, disclosing or
distributing any of such information or other property except: (a) with the
Fund's, the Adviser's or CSAMSI's prior written consent; or (b) as required by
law or judicial process. Each party acknowledges that any breach of the
agreements in this Section 12.1 would result in immediate and irreparable harm
to the other parties for which there would be no adequate remedy at law and
agree that in the event of such a breach, the other parties will be entitled to
equitable relief by way of temporary and permanent injunctions, as well as such
other relief as any court of competent jurisdiction deems appropriate.
12.2. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference
only and in no way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or otherwise
affect their construction or effect.
12.3. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts,
each of which taken together will constitute one and the same instrument.
12.4. If any provision of this Agreement will be held or made invalid by a court
decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of the Agreement will not be
affected thereby.
12.5. This Agreement will not be assigned by any party hereto without the prior
written consent of all the parties; provided, however, that CSAMSI may assign
without further consent of the parties hereto, in whole or in part, its
responsibilities hereunder as Fund distributor, to a third party distributor
which may be appointed to serve as Fund distributor.
17
12.6. Each party to this Agreement will maintain all records required by law,
including records detailing the services it provides. Such records will be
preserved, maintained and made available to the extent required by law and in
accordance with the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder. Each party to this
Agreement will cooperate with each other party and all appropriate governmental
authorities (including without limitation the SEC, the NASD and state insurance
regulators) and will permit each other and such authorities reasonable access to
its books and records in connection with any investigation or inquiry relating
to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Upon request by the
Fund or CSAMSL the Company agrees to promptly make copies or, if required,
originals of all records pertaining to the performance of services under this
Agreement available to the Fund or CSAMSL as the case may be. The Fund agrees
that the Company will have the right to inspect, audit and copy all records
pertaining to the performance of services under this Agreement pursuant to the
requirements of any state insurance department or upon request by the Company.
Each party also agrees to promptly notify the other parties if it experiences
any difficulty in maintaining the records in an accurate and complete manner.
This provision will survive termination of this Agreement.
12.7. Each party represents that the execution and delivery of this Agreement
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate or board action. as applicable. by such
party and when so executed and delivered this Agreement will be the valid and
binding obligation of such party enforceable in accordance with its terms.
12.8. The parties to this Agreement acknowledge and agree that all liabilities
of the Fund arising, directly or indirectly, under this agreement, will be
satisfied solely out of the assets of the Fund and that no trustee, officer,
agent or holder of shares of beneficial interest of the Fund win be personally
liable for any such liabilities. No Portfolio or series of the Fund win be
liable for the obligations or liabilities of any other Portfolio or series.
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 Designated Portfolios of the Fund or other applicable terms of
this Agreement, provided such amendment is in writing and signed by all parties.
12.10. The rights, remedies and obligations contained in this Agreement are
cumulative and are in addition to any and all rights.
18
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 specified below.
MINNESOTA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Executive Vice President
WARBURG, XXXXXX TRUST
Name:
Title:
CREDIT SUISSE ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC
Name:
Title:
CREDIT SUISSE ASSET MANAGEMENT SECURITIES, INC.
Name:
Title:
19
Schedule 1
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
By and Among
MINNESOTA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
And
WARBURG, XXXXXX TRUST
And
CREDIT SUISSE ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC
And
CREDIT SUISSE ASSET MANAGEMENT SECURITIES, INC.
The following separate accounts of Minnesota Life Insurance Company are
permitted in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement to invest in
Designated Portfolios of the Fund shown in Schedule 2:
Variable Annuity Account
Minnesota Life Variable Life Account
Minnesota Life Variable Universal Life Account
20
Schedule 2
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
By and Among
MINNESOTA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
And
WARBURG, XXXXXX TRUST
And
WARBURG PINCUS ASSET MANAGEMENT, INC.
And
COUNSELLORS SECURITIES INC.
The Separate Account(s} shown on Schedule 1 may invest in the following
Designated Portfolios of the Warburg, Xxxxxx Trust:
Emerging Markets Portfolio
Growth & Income Portfolio
International Equity Portfolio
Global Post-Venture Capital Portfolio
Small Company Growth Portfolio
Emerging Growth Portfolio
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