PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG AIM VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.,
BY AND AMONG
AIM VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.,
A I M DISTRIBUTORS, INC.,
FORTIS BENEFITS INSURANCE COMPANY,
ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND
ITS SEPARATE ACCOUNTS,
AND
FORTIS INVESTORS, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Description | Page | |
Section 1. Available Funds | 2 | |
1.1 | Availability | 2 |
1.2 | Addition, Deletion or Modification of Funds | 2 |
1.3 | No Sales to the General Public | 2 |
Section 2. Processing Transactions | 2 | |
2.1 | Timely Pricing and Orders | 2 |
2.2 | Timely Payments | 3 |
2.3 | Applicable Price | 3 |
2.4 | Dividends and Distributions | 4 |
2.5 | Book Entry | 4 |
Section 3. Costs and Expenses | 4 | |
3.1 | General | 4 |
3.2 | Parties to Cooperate | 4 |
Section 4. Legal Compliance | 5 | |
4.1 | Tax Laws | 5 |
4.2 | Insurance and Certain Other Laws | 7 |
4.3 | Securities Laws | 8 |
4.4 | Notice of Certain Proceedings and Other Circumstances | 9 |
4.5 | LIFE COMPANY To Provide Documents; Information About AVIF | 9 |
4.6 | AVIF To Provide Documents; Information About LIFE COMPANY | 10 |
Section 5. Mixed and Shared Funding | 12 | |
5.1 | General | 12 |
5.2 | Disinterested Directors | 12 |
5.3 | Monitoring for Material Irreconcilable Conflicts | 12 |
5.4 | Conflict Remedies | 13 |
5.5 | Notice to LIFE COMPANY | 14 |
5.6 | Information Requested by Board of Directors | 14 |
5.7 | Compliance with SEC Rules | 15 |
5.8 | Other Requirements | 15 |
Description | Page | |
Section 6. Termination | 15 | |
6.1 | Events of Termination | 15 |
6.2 | Notice Requirement for Termination | 16 |
6.3 | Funds To Remain Available | 17 |
6.4 | Survival of Warranties and Indemnifications | 17 |
6.5 | Continuance of Agreement for Certain Purposes | 17 |
6.6 | Reimbursement of Expenses | 17 |
Section 7. Parties To Cooperate Respecting Termination | 18 | |
Section 8. Assignment | 18 | |
Section 9. Notices | 18 | |
Section 10 . Voting Procedures | 19 | |
Section 11 . Foreign Tax Credits | 19 | |
Section 12 . Indemnification | 19 | |
12.1 | Of AVIF by LIFE COMPANY and UNDERWRITER | 19 |
12.2 | Of LIFE COMPANY and UNDERWRITER by AVIF and AIM | 21 |
12.3 | Effect of Notice | 24 |
12.4 | Successors | 24 |
Section 13. Applicable Law | 24 | |
Section 14. Execution in Counterparts | 25 | |
Section 15. Severability | 25 | |
Section 16. Rights Cumulative | 25 | |
Section 17. Headings | 25 | |
Section 18. Confidentiality | 25 | |
Section 19. Trademarks and Fund Names | 26 | |
Section 20. Parties to Cooperate | 27 |
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of the 1st day of May, 1998 (“Agreement”), by and among AIM Variable Insurance Funds, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“AVIF”), AIM Distributors, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“AIM”); Fortis Benefits Insurance Company, a Minnesota life insurance company (“LIFE COMPANY”), on behalf of itself and each of its segregated asset accounts listed in Schedule A hereto, as the parties hereto may amend from time to time (each, an “Account,” and collectively, the “Accounts”); and Fortis Investors, Inc.., an affiliate of LIFE COMPANY and the principal underwriter of the Contracts (“UNDERWRITER”) (collectively, the “Parties”).
WHEREAS, AVIF is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”); and
WHEREAS, AVIF currently consists of nine separate series (“Series”), shares (“Shares”) of each of which are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) and are currently sold to one or more separate accounts of life insurance companies to fund benefits under variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance contracts; and
WHEREAS, AVIF will make Shares of each Series listed on Schedule A hereto as the Parties hereto may amend from time to time (each a “Fund”; reference herein to “AVIF” includes reference to each Fund, to the extent the context requires) available for purchase by the Accounts ; and
WHEREAS, LIFE COMPANY will be the issuer of certain variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance contracts (“Contracts”) as set forth on Schedule A hereto, as the Parties hereto may amend from time to time, which Contracts (hereinafter collectively, the “Contracts”), if required by applicable law, will be registered under the 1933 Act; and
WHEREAS, LIFE COMPANY will fund the Contracts through the Accounts, each of which may be divided into two or more subaccounts (“Subaccounts”; reference herein to an “Account” includes reference to each Subaccount thereof to the extent the context requires); and
WHEREAS, LIFE COMPANY will serve as the depositor of the Accounts, each of which is registered as a unit investment trust investment company under the 1940 Act (or exempt therefrom), and the security interests deemed to be issued by the Accounts under the Contracts will be registered as securities under the 1933 Act (or exempt therefrom); and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and regulations, LIFE COMPANY intends to purchase Shares in one or more of the Funds on behalf of the Accounts to fund the Contracts; and
WHEREAS, UNDERWRITER is a broker-dealer registered with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“1934 Act”) and a member in good standing of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”);
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual benefits and promises contained herein, the Parties hereto agree as follows:
1.1 Availability.
AVIF will make Shares of each Fund available to LIFE COMPANY for purchase and redemption at net asset value and with no sales charges, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. The Board of Directors of AVIF may refuse to sell Shares of any Fund to any person, or suspend or terminate the offering of Shares of any Fund if such action is required by law or by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction or if, in the sole discretion of the Directors acting in good faith and in light of their fiduciary duties under federal and any applicable state laws, such action is deemed in the best interests of the shareholders of such Fund.
The Parties hereto may agree, from time to time, to add other Funds to provide additional funding media for the Contracts, or to delete, combine, or modify existing Funds, by amending Schedule A hereto. Upon such amendment to
Schedule A, any applicable reference to a Fund, AVIF, or its Shares herein shall include a reference to any such additional Fund. Schedule A, as amended from time to time, is incorporated herein by reference and is a part hereof.
AVIF represents and warrants that no Shares of any Fund have been or will be sold to the general public.
(a) AVIF or its designated agent will use its best efforts to provide LIFE COMPANY with the net asset value per Share for each Fund by 6:00 p.m. Central Time on each Business Day. As used herein, “Business Day” shall mean any day on which (i) the New York Stock Exchange is open for regular trading, (ii) AVIF calculates the Fund’s net asset value, and (iii) LIFE COMPANY is open for business.
(b) LIFE COMPANY will use the data provided by AVIF each Business Day pursuant to paragraph (a) immediately above to calculate Account unit values and to process transactions that receive that same Business Day’s Account unit values. LIFE COMPANY will perform such Account processing the same Business Day, and will place corresponding orders to purchase or redeem Shares with AVIF by 9:00 a.m. Central Time the following Business Day; provided, however, that AVIF shall provide additional time to LIFE COMPANY in the event that AVIF is unable to meet the 6:00 p.m. time stated in paragraph (a) immediately above. Such additional time shall be equal to the additional time that AVIF takes to make the net asset values available to LIFE COMPANY.
(c) With respect to payment of the purchase price by LIFE COMPANY and of redemption proceeds by AVIF, LIFE COMPANY and AWE shall net purchase and redemption orders with respect to each Fund and shall transmit one net payment per Fund in accordance with Section 2.2, below.
(d) If AVIF provides materially incorrect Share net asset value information (as determined under SEC guidelines), LIFE COMPANY shall be entitled to an adjustment to the number of Shares purchased or redeemed 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 gain information shall be reported promptly upon discovery to LIFE COMPANY.
2.2 Timely Payments.
LIFE COMPANY will wire payment for net purchases to a custodial account designated by AVIF by 1:00 p.m. Central Time on the same day as the order for Shares is placed, to the extent practicable. AVIF will wire payment for net redemptions to an account designated by LIFE COMPANY by 1:00 p.m. Central Time on the same day as the Order is placed, to the extent practicable, but in any event within five (5) calendar days after the date the order is placed in order to enable LIFE COMPANY to pay redemption proceeds within the time specified in Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act or such shorter period of time as may be required by law.
(a) Share purchase payments and redemption orders that result from purchase payments, premium payments, surrenders and other transactions under Contracts (collectively, “Contract transactions”) and that LIFE COMPANY receives prior to the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on a Business Day will be executed at the net asset values of the appropriate Funds next computed after receipt by AVIF or its .designated agent of the orders. For purposes of this Section 2.3(a), LIFE COMPANY shall be the designated agent of AVIF for receipt of orders relating to Contract transactions on each Business Day and receipt by such designated agent shall constitute receipt by AVIF; provided that AVIF receives notice of such
orders by 9:00 a.m. Central Time on the next following Business Day or such later time as computed in accordance with Section 2.1(b) hereof.
(b) All other Share purchases and redemptions by LIFE COMPANY will be effected at the net asset values of the appropriate Funds next computed after receipt by AVIF or its designated agent of the order therefor, and such orders will be irrevocable.
AVIF will furnish notice by wire or telephone (followed by written confirmation) on or prior to the payment date to LIFE COMPANY of any income dividends or capital gain distributions payable on the Shares of any Fund. LIFE COMPANY hereby elects to reinvest all dividends and capital gains distributions in additional Shares of the corresponding Fund at the ex-dividend date net asset values until LIFE COMPANY otherwise notifies AVIF in writing, it being agreed by the Parties that the ex-dividend date and the payment date with respect to any dividend or distribution will be the same Business Day. LIFE COMPANY reserves the right to revoke this election and to receive all such income dividends and capital gain distributions in cash.
2.5 Book Entry.
Issuance and transfer of AVIF Shares will be by book entry only. Stock certificates will not be issued to LIFE COMPANY. Shares ordered from AVIF will be recorded in an appropriate title for LIFE COMPANY, on behalf of its Account.
3.1 General.
Except as otherwise specifically provided in Schedule C, attached hereto and made a part hereof, each Party will bear all expenses incident to its performance under this Agreement.
Each Party agrees to cooperate with the others, as applicable; in arranging to print, mail and/or deliver, in a timely manner, combined or coordinated prospectuses or other materials of AVIF and the Accounts. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, each Party will bear all expenses incident to its performance under this Agreement.
4.1 Tax Laws.
(a) AVIF represents and warrants that each Fund is currently qualified as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and represents that it will use its best efforts to qualify and to maintain qualification of each Fund as a RIC. AVIF will notify LIFE COMPANY immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that a Fund has ceased to so qualify or that it might not so qualify in the future.
(b) AVIF represents that it will use its best efforts to comply and to maintain each Fund’s compliance with the diversification requirements set forth in Section 817(h) of the Code and Section 1.817-5(b) of the regulations under the Code. AVIF will notify LIFE COMPANY immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that a Fund has ceased to so comply or that a Fund might not so comply in the future. In the event of a breach of this Section 4.1(b) by AVIF, it will take all reasonable steps to adequately diversify the Fund so as to achieve compliance within the grace period afforded by Section 1.817-5 of the regulations under the Code.
(c) LIFE COMPANY agrees that if the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) asserts in writing in connection with any governmental audit or review of LIFE COMPANY or, to LIFE COMPANY’s knowledge, of any Participant, that any Fund has failed to comply with the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Code or LIFE COMPANY otherwise becomes aware of any facts that could give rise to any claim against AVIF or its affiliates as a result of such a failure or alleged failure:
(i) LIFE COMPANY shall promptly notify AVIF of such assertion or potential claim (subject to the Confidentiality provisions of Section 18 as to any Participant);
(ii) LIFE COMPANY shall consult with AVIF as to bow to minimize any liability that may arise as a result of such failure or alleged failure;
(iii) LIFE COMPANY shall use its best efforts to minimize any liability of AVIF or its affiliates resulting from such failure, including, without limitation, demonstrating, pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.8175(a)(2), to the Commissioner of the IRS that such failure was inadvertent;
(iv) LIFE COMPANY shall permit AVIF, its affiliates and their legal and accounting advisors to participate in any conferences, settlement discussions or other administrative or judicial proceeding or contests (including judicial appeals thereof) with the IRS, any Participant or any other claimant regarding any claims that could give rise to liability to AVIF or its affiliates as a result of such a failure or alleged failure; provided, however, that LIFE COMPANY will retain control of the conduct of such conferences discussions, proceedings, contests or appeals;
(v) any written materials to be submitted by LIFE COMPANY to the IRS, any Participant or any other claimant in connection with any of the foregoing proceedings or contests (including, without limitation, any such materials to be submitted to the IRS pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.8175(a)(2)), (a) shall be provided by LIFE COMPANY to AVIF (together with any supporting information or analysis); subject to the confidentiality provisions of Section 18, at least ten (10) business days or such shorter period to which the Parties hereto agree prior to the day on which such proposed materials are to be submitted, and (b) shall not be submitted by LIFE COMPANY to any such person without the express written consent of AVIF which shall not be unreasonably withheld;
(vi) LIFE COMPANY shall provide AVIF or its affiliates and their accounting and legal advisors with such cooperation as AVIF shall reasonably request (including, without limitation, by permitting AVIF and its accounting and legal advisors to review the relevant books and records of LIFE COMPANY) in order to facilitate review by AVIF or its advisors of any written submissions provided to it pursuant to the preceding clause or its assessment of the validity or amount of any claim against its arising from such a failure or alleged failure;
(vii) LIFE COMPANY shall not with respect to any claim of the IRS or any Participant that would give rise to a claim against AVIF or its affiliates (a) compromise or settle any claim, (b) accept any adjustment on audit, or (c) forego any allowable administrative or judicial appeals, without the express written consent of AVIF or its affiliates, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, provided that LIFE COMPANY shall not be required, after exhausting all administrative penalties, to appeal any adverse judicial decision unless AVIF or its affiliates shall have provided an opinion of independent counsel to the effect that a reasonable basis exists for taking such appeal; and provided further that the costs of any such appeal shall be borne equally by the Parties hereto; and
(viii) AVIF and its affiliates shall have no liability as a result of such failure or alleged failure if LIFE COMPANY fails to comply with any of the foregoing clauses (i) through (vii), and such failure could be shown to have materially contributed to the liability.
Should AVIF or any of its affiliates refuse to give its written consent to any compromise or settlement of any claim or liability hereunder, LIFE COMPANY may, in its discretion, authorize AVIF or its affiliates to act in the name of LIFE COMPANY in, and to control the conduct of, such conferences, discussions, proceedings, contests or appeals and all administrative or judicial appeals thereof, and in that event AVIF or its affiliates shall bear the fees and expense s associated with the conduct of the proceedings that it is so authorized to control; provided, that in no event shall LIFE COMPANY have any liability resulting from AVIF’s refusal to accept the proposed settlement or compromise with respect to any failure caused by AVIF. As used in this Agreement, the term “affiliates” shall have the same meaning as “affiliated person” as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act.
(d) LIFE COMPANY represents and warrants that the Contracts currently are and will be treated as annuity contracts or life insurance contracts under applicable provisions of the Code and that it will use its best efforts to maintain such treatment; LIFE COMPANY will notify AVIF immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that any of the Contracts have ceased to be so treated or that they might not be so treated in the future.
(e) LIFE COMPANY represents and warrants that each Account is a “segregated asset account” and that interests in each Account are offered exclusively through the purchase of or transfer into a “variable contract,” within the meaning of such terms under Section 817 of the Code and the regulations thereunder. LIFE COMPANY will use its best efforts to continue to meet such definitional requirements, and it will notify AVIF immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that such requirements have ceased to be met or that they might not be met in the future.
(a) AVIF will use its best efforts to comply with any applicable state insurance laws or regulations, to the extent specifically requested in writing by LIFE COMPANY, including, the furnishing of information not otherwise available to LIFE COMPANY which is required by state insurance law to enable LIFE COMPANY to obtain the authority needed to issue the Contracts in any applicable state.
(b) LIFE COMPANY represents and warrants that (i) it is an insurance company duly organi7ed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Minnesota and has full corporate power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver and perform its duties and comply with its obligations under this Agreement, (ii) it has legally and validly established and maintains each Account as a segregated asset account under Section 61A.14 of the Minnesota Insurance Code and the regulations thereunder, and (iii) the Contracts comply in all material respects with all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
(c) AVIF represents and warrants that it is a corporation duly organi7ed, validly existing; and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland and has full power, authority, and legal right to execute, deliver, and perform its duties and comply with its obligations under this Agreement.
4.3 Securities Laws.
(a) LIFE COMPANY represents and warrants that (i) interests in each Account pursuant to the Contracts will be registered under the 1933 Act to the extent required by the 193 3 Act, (ii) the Contracts will be duly authorized for issuance and sold in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, including, without limitation, the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act and Minnesota law, (iii) each Account is and will remain registered under the 1940 Act , to the extent required by the 1940 Act, (iv) each Account does and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder, to the extent required, (v) each Account’s 1933 Act registration statement relating to the Contracts, together with any amendments thereto, will at all times comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules thereunder, (vi) LIFE COMPANY will amend the registration statement for its Contracts under the 1933 Act and for its Accounts under the 1940 Act from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of its Contracts or as may otherwise be required by applicable law, and (vii) each Account Prospectus will at all times comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules thereunder.
(b) AVIF represents and warrants that (i) Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement will be registered under the 1933 Act to the extent required by the 1933 Act and duly authorized for issuance and sold in compliance with Maryland law, (ii) AVIF is and will remain registered under the 1940 Act to the extent required by the 1940 Act, (iii) AVIF will amend the registration statement for its Shares under the 1933 Act and itself under the 1940 Act from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of its Shares, (iv) AVIF does and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder, (v) AVIF’s 1933 Act registration statement, together with any amendments thereto, will at all times comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and rules thereunder, and (vi) AVIF’s Prospectus will at all times comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules thereunder.
(c) AVIF will at its expense register and qualify its Shares for sale in accordance with the laws of any state or other jurisdiction if and to the extent reasonably deemed advisable by AVIF.
(d) AVIF currently does not intend to make any payments to finance distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act or otherwise, although it 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, AVIF undertakes to have its Board of Directors, a majority of whom are not “interested” persons of the Fund, formulate and approve any plan under Rule 12b-1 to finance distribution expenses.
(e) AVIF represents and warrants that all of its trustees, officers, employees, investment advisers, and other individuals/entities having access to the funds and/or securities of the Fund are and continue to be at all times covered by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverag e for the benefit of the Fund in an amount not less than the minimal coverage as required currently by Rule 17g-(1) of the 1940 Act or related provisions as may be promulgated from time to time. The aforesaid bond includes coverage for larceny and embezzlement and is issued by a reputable bonding company.
(a) AVIF will immediately notify LIFE COMPANY of (i) the issuance by any court or regulatory body of any stop order, cease and desist order, or other similar order with respect to AVIF’s registration statement under the 1933 Act or AVIF Prospectus, (ii) any request by the SEC for any amendment to such registration statement or AVIF Prospectus that may
affect the offering of Shares of AVIF, (iii) the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose or for any other purpose relating to the registration or offering of AVIF’s Shares, or (iv) any other action or circumstances that may prevent the lawful offer or sale of Shares of any Fund in any state or jurisdiction, including, without limitation, any circumstances in which (a) such Shares are not registered and, in all material respects, issued and sold in accordance with applicable state and federal law, or (b) such law precludes the use of such Shares as an underlying investment medium of the Contracts issued or to be issued by LIFE COMPANY. AVIF will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance, with respect to any Fund, of any such stop order, cease and desist order or similar order and, if any such order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible time.
(b) LIFE COMPANY will immediately notify AVIF of (i) the issuance by any court or regulatory body of any stop order, cease and desist order, or other similar order with respect to each Account’s registration statement under the 1933 Act relating to the Contracts or each Account Prospectus, (ii) any request by the SEC for any amendment to such registration statement or Account Prospectus that may affect the offering of Shares of AVIF, (iii) the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose or for any other purpose relating to the registration or offering of each Account’s interests pursuant to the Contracts, or (iv) any other action or circumstances that may prevent the lawful offer or sale of said interests in any state or jurisdiction, including, without limitation, any circumstances in which said interests are not registered and, in all material respects, issued and sold in accordance with applicable state and federal law. LIFE COMPANY will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any such stop order, cease and desist order or similar order and, if any such order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible time.
(a) LIFE COMPANY will provide to AVIF or its designated agent, at least one (1) complete copy of all SEC registration statements, Account Prospectuses, reports, any preliminary and final voting instruction solicitation material, applications for exemptions, requests for no-action letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that relate to each Account or the Contracts, contemporaneously with the filing of such document with the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
(b) LIFE COMPANY will provide to AVIF or its designated agent at least one (1) complete copy of each piece of sales literature or other promotional material in which AVIF or any of its affiliates is named, at least five (5) Business Days prior to its use or such shorter period as the Parties hereto may, from time to time, agree upon. No such material shall be used if AVIF or its designated agent objects to such use within five (5) Business Days after receipt of such material or such shorter period as the Parties hereto may, from time to time, agree upon. AVIF hereby designates AIM as the entity to receive such sales literature, until such time as AVIF appoints another designated agent by giving notice to LIFE COMPANY in the manner required by Section 9 hereof.
(c) Neither LIFE COMPANY nor any of its affiliates, will give any information or make any representations or statements on behalf of or concerning AVIF or its affiliates in connection with the sale of the Contracts other than (1) the information or representations contained in the registration statement, including the AVIF Prospectus contained therein, relating to Shares, as such registration statement and AVIF Prospectus may be amended from time to time ; or (ii) in reports or proxy materials for AVIF; or (iii) in published reports for AVIF that are in the public domain and approved by AVIF for distribution; or (iv) in sales literature or other promotional material approved by AVIF, except with the express written permission of AVIF.
(d) LIFE COMPANY shall adopt and implement procedures reasonably designed to ensure that information concerning AVIF and its affiliates that is intended for use only by brokers or agents selling the Contracts (i.e., information that is not intended for distribution to Participants) (“broker only materials”) is so used, and neither AVIF nor any of its affiliates shall be liable for any losses, damages or expenses relating to the improper use of such broker only materials.
(e) For the purposes of this Section 4.5, 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 advertisement, sales literature, or published article), educational or training materials or other communications distributed or made generally available to some or all agents or employees, registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional information, shareholder reports, and proxy materials and any other material constituting sales literature or advertising under the NASD rules, the 1933 Act or the 0000 Xxx.
(a) AVIF will provide to LIFE COMPANY, at least one (1) complete copy of all SEC registration statements, AVIF Prospectuses, reports, any preliminary and final proxy material, applications for exemptions, requests for no-action letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that relate to AVIF or the Shares of a Fund, contemporaneously with the filing of such document with the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
(b) AVIF will provide to LIFE COMPANY camera ready or computer diskette copies of all AVIF prospectuses and printed copies, in an amount specified by LIFE COMPANY, of AVIF statements of additional information, proxy materials, periodic reports to shareholders and other materials required by law to be sent to Participants who have allocated any Contract value to a Fund. AVIF will provide such copies to LIFE COMPANY in a timely manner so as to enable LIFE COMPANY, as the case may be, to print and distribute such materials within the time required by law to be furnished to Participants.
(c) AVIF will provide to LIFE COMPANY or its designated agent at least one (1) complete copy of each piece of sales literature or other promotional material in which LIFE COMPANY, or any of its respective affiliates is named, or that refers to the Contracts, at least five (5) Business Days prior to its use or such shorter period as the Parties hereto may, from time to time, agree upon. No such material shall be used if LIFE COMPANY or its designated agent objects to such use within five (5) Business Days after receipt of such material or such shorter period as the Parties hereto may, from time to time, agree upon. LIFE COMPANY shall receiv e all such sales literature until such time as it appoints a designated agent by giving notice to AVIF in the manner required by Section 9 hereof.
(d) Neither AVIF nor any of its affiliates will give any information or make any representations or statements on behalf of or concerning LIFE COMPANY, each Account, or the Contracts other than (i) the information or representations contained in the registration statement, including each Account Prospectus contained therein, relating to the Contracts, as such registration statement and Account Prospectus may be amended from time to time; or (ii) in published reports for the Account or the Contracts that are in the public domain and approved by LIFE COMPANY for distribution; or (iii) in sales literature or other promotional material approved by LIFE COMPANY or its affiliates, except with the express written permission of LIFE COMPANY.
(e) AVIF shall cause its principal underwriter to adopt and implement procedures reasonably designed to ensure that information concerning LIFE COMPANY, and its respective affiliates that is intended for use only by brokers or agents selling the Contracts (i.e., information that is not intended for distribution to Participants) (“broker only materials”) is so used, and neither LIFE COMPANY, nor any of its respective affiliates shall be liable for any losses, damages or expenses relating to the improper use of such broker only materials.
(f) For purposes of this Section 4.6, 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 advertisement, sales literature, or published article), educational or training materials or other communications distributed or made generally available to some or all agents or employees, registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional information, shareholder reports, and proxy materials and any other material constituting sales literature or advertising under the NASD rules, the 1933 Act or the 1940 Act.
5.1 General.
The SEC has granted an order to AVIF exempting it from certain provisions of the 1940 Act and rules thereunder so that AVIF may be available for investment by certain other entities, including, without limitation, separate accounts funding variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance contracts, separate accounts of insurance companies unaffiliated with LIFE COMPANY, and trustees of qualified pension and retirement plans (collectively, “Mixed and Shared Funding”) . The Parties recognize that the SEC has imposed terms and conditions for such orders that are substantially identical to many of the provisions of this Section 5. Sections 5.2 through 5.8 below shall apply pursuant to such an exemptive order granted to AVIF. AVIF hereby notifies LIFE COMPANY that, in the event that AVIF implements Mixed and Shared Funding, it may be appropriate to include in the prospectus pursuant to which a Contract is offered disclosure regarding the potential risks of Mixed and Shared Funding.
AVIF agrees that its Board of Directors shall at all times consist of directors a majority of whom (the “Disinterested Directors”) are not interested persons of AVIF within the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder and as modified by any applicable orders of the SEC, except that if this condition is not met by reason of the death, disqualification , or bona fide resignation of any director, then the operation of this condition shall be suspended (a) for a period of forty-five (45) days if the vacancy or vacancies may be filled by the Board ; (b) for a period of sixty (60) days if a vote of shareholders is required to fill the vacancy or vacancies ; or (c) for such longer period as the SEC may prescribe by order upon application.
AVIF agrees that its Board of Directors will monitor for the existence of any material irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the Participants in all separate accounts of life insurance companies utilizing AVIF (“Participating Insurance Companies”), including each Account, and participants in all qualified retirement and pension plans investing in AVIF (“Participating Plans”). LIFE COMPANY agrees to inform the Board of Directors of AVIF of the existence of or any potential for any such material irreconcilable conflict of which it is awar e. The concept of a “material irreconcilable conflict” is not defined by the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder, but the Parties recognize that such a conflict may arise for a variety of reasons, including, without limitation:
(a) an action by any state insurance or other 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 Fund are being managed;
(e) a difference in voting instructions given by variable annuity contract and variable life insurance contract Participants or by Participants of different Participating Insurance Companies;
(f) a decision by a Participating Insurance Company to disregard the voting instructions of Participants; or
(g) a decision by a Participating Plan to disregard the voting instructions of Plan participants.
Consistent with the SEC’s requirements in connection with exemptive orders of the type referred to in Section 5.1 hereof, LIFE COMPANY will assist the Board of Directors in carrying out its responsibilities by providing the Board of Directors with all information reasonably necessary for the Board of Directors to consider any issue raised, including information as to a decision by LIFE COMPANY to disregard voting instructions of Participants.
(a) It is agreed that if it is determined by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors or a majority of the Disinterested Directors that a material irreconcilable conflict exists, LIFE COMPANY will, if it is a Participating Insurance Company for which a material irreconcilable conflict is relevant, at its own expense and to the extent reasonably practicable (as determined by a majority of the Disinterested Directors), take whatever steps are necessary to remedy or eliminate the material irreconcilable conflict, which steps may include, but are not limited to:
(i) withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the Accounts from AVIF or any Fund and reinvesting such assets in a different investment medium, including another Fund of AVIF, or submitting the question whether such segregation should be implemented to a vote of all affected Participants and, as appropriate, segregating the assets of any particular group (e.g., annuity Participants, life insurance Participants or all Participants) that votes in favor of such segregation, or offering to the affected Participants the option of making such a change; and
(ii) establishing a new registered investment company of the type defined as a “management company” in Section 4(3) of the 1940 Act or a new separate account that is operated as a management company.
(b) If the material irreconcilable conflict arises because of XXXX, COMPANY’ s decision to disregard Participant voting instructions and that decision represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote, LIFE COMPANY may be required, at AVIF’s election, to withdraw each Account’s investment in AVIF or any Fund. No charge or penalty will be imposed as a result of such withdrawal. Any such withdrawal must take place within six (6) months after AVIF gives notice to LIFE COMPANY that this provision is being implemented, and until such withdrawal AVIF shall continue to accept and implement orders by LIFE COMPANY for the purchase and redemption of Shares of AVIF.
(c) If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a particular state insurance regulator’s decision applicable to LIFE COMPANY conflicts with the majority of other state regulators, then LIFE COMPANY will withdraw each Account’s investment in AVIF within six (6) months after AVIF’s Board of Directors informs LIFE COMPANY that it has determined that such decision has created a material irreconcilable conflict, and until such withdrawal AVIF shall continue to accept and implement orders by LIFE COMPANY for the purchase and redemption of Shares of AVIF. No charge or penalty will be imposed as a result of such withdrawal.
(d) LIFE COMPANY agrees that any remedial action taken by it in resolving any material irreconcilable conflict will be carried out at its expense and with a view only to the interests of Participants.
(e) For purposes hereof, a majority of the Disinterested Directors will determine whether or not any proposed action adequately remedies any material irreconcilable conflict. In no event, however, will AVIF or any of its affiliates be required to establish a new funding medium for any Contracts. LIFE COMPANY will not be required by the terms hereof to establish a new funding medium for any Contracts if an offer to do so has been declined by vote of a majority of Participants materially adversely affected by the material irreconcilable conflict.
AVIF will promptly make known in writing to LIFE COMPANY the Board of Dire ctors’ determination of the existence of a material irreconcilable conflict, a description of the facts that give rise to such conflict and the implications of such conflict.
LIFE COMPANY and AVIF (or its investment adviser) will at least annually submit to the Board of Directors of AVIF such reports, materials or data as the Board of Directors may reasonably request so that the Board of Directors may fully carry out the obligations imposed upon it by the provisions hereof or any exemptive order granted by the SEC to permit Mixed and Shared Funding, and said reports, materials and data will be submitted at any reasonable time deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors. All reports received by the Board of Directors of potential or existing conflicts, and all Board of Directors actions with regard to determining the existence of a conflict, notifying Participating Insurance Companies and Participating Plans of a conflict, and determining whether any proposed action adequately remedies a conflict, will be properly recorded in the minutes of the Board of Directors or other appropriate records, and such minutes or other records will be made available to the SEC upon request.
If, at any time during which AVIF is serving as an investment medium for variable life insurance Contracts, 1940 Act Rules 6e-3(T) or, if applicable, 6e-2 are amended or Rule 6e-3 is adopted to provide exemptive relief with respect to Mixed and Shared Funding, AVIF agrees that it will comply with the terms and conditions thereof and that the terms of this Section 5 shall be deemed modified if and only to the extent required in order also to comply with the terms and conditions of such exemptive relief that is afforded by any of said rules that are applicable.
AVIF will require that each Participating Insurance Company and Participating Plan enter into an agreement with AVIF that contains in substance the same provisions as are set forth in Sections 4.1(b), 4.1(d), 4.3(a), 4.4(b), 4.5(a), 5, and 10 of this Agreement.
Subject to Section 6.4 below, this Agreement will terminate as to a Fund:
(a) at the option of any party, with or without cause with respect to the Fund, upon six (6) months advance written notice to the other parties, or, if later, upon receipt of any required exemptive relief from the SEC, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the parties; or
(b) at the option of AVIF upon institution of formal proceedings against LIFE COMPANY or its affiliates by the NASD, the SEC, any state insurance regulator or any other regulatory body regarding LIFE COMPANY’s obligations under this Agreement or related to the sale of the Contracts, the operation of each Account, or the purchase of Shares, if, in each case, AVIF reasonably determines that such proceedings, or the facts on which such proceedings would be based, have a material likelihood of imposing material adverse consequences on the Fund with respect to which the Agreement is to be terminated; or
(c) at the option of LIFE COMPANY upon institution of formal proceedings against AVIF, its principal underwriter, or its investment adviser by the NASD, the SEC, or any state insurance regulator or any other regulatory body regarding AVIF’s obligations under this Agreement or related to the operation or management of AVIF or the purchase of AVIF Shares, if, in each case, LIFE COMPANY reasonably determines that such proceedings, or the facts on which such proceedings would be based, have a material likelihood of imposing material adverse consequences on LIFE COMPANY, or the Subaccount corresponding to the Fund with respect to which the Agreement is to be terminated; or
(d) at the option of any Party in the event that (1) the Fund’s Shares are not registered and, in all material respects, issued and sold in accordance with any applicable federal or state law, or (ii) such law precludes the use of such Shares as an underlying investment medium of the Contracts issued or to be issued by LJH COMPANY; or
(e) upon termination of the corresponding Subaccount’s investment in the Fund pursuant to Section 5 hereof; or
(f) at the option of LIFE COMPANY if the Fund ceases to qualify as a MC under Subchapter M of the Code or under successor or similar provisions, or if LIFE COMPANY reasonably believes that the Fund may fail to so qualify; or
(g) at the option of LIFE COMPANY if the Fund fails to comply with Section 817(h) of the Code or with successor or similar provisions, or if LIFE COMPANY reasonably believes that the Fund may fail to so comply; or
(h) at the option of AVIF if the Contracts issued by LIFE COMPANY cease to qualify as annuity contracts or life insurance contracts under the Code (other than by reason of the Fund’s noncompliance with Section 817(h) or Subchapter M of the Code) or if interests in an Account under the Contracts are not registered, where required, and, in all material respects, are not issued or sold in accordance with any applicable federal or state law; or
(i) upon another Party’s material breach of any provision of this Agreement; or
No termination of this Agreement will be effective unless and until the Party terminating this Agreement gives prior written notice to the other Party to this Agreement of its intent to terminate, and such notice shall set forth the basis for such termination. Furthermore:
(a) in the event that any termination is based upon the provisions of Sections 6.1(a) or 6.1(e) hereof, such prior written notice shall be given at least six (6) months in advance of the effective date of termination unless a shorter time is agreed to by the Parties hereto;
(b) in the event that any termination is based upon the provisions of Sections 6.1(b) or 6.1(c) hereof, such prior written notice shall be given at least ninety (90) days in advance of the effective date of termination unless a shorter time is agreed to by the Parties hereto; and
(c) in the event that any termination is based upon the provisions of Sections 6.1(d), 6.1(f), 6.1(g), 6.1(h) or 6.1(i) hereof, such prior written notice shall be given as soon as possible within twenty-four (24) hours after the terminating Party learns of the event causing termination to be required.
Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, AVIF will, at the option of LIFE 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 Fund (as in effect on such date), redeem investments in the Fund and/or invest in the Fund upon the making of additional purchase payments under the Existing Contracts. The parties agree that this Section 6.3 will not apply to any terminations under Section 5 and the effect of such terminations will be governed by Section 5 of this Agreement.
All warranties and indemnifications will survive the termination of this Agreement.
If any Party terminates this Agreement with respect to any Fund pursuant to Sections 6.1(b), 6.1(c), 6.1(d), 5.1(f), 6.1(g), 6.1(h) or 6.1(i) hereof, this Agreement shall nevertheless continue in effect as to any Shares of that Fund that are outstanding as of the date of such termination (the “Initial Termination Date”). This continuation shall extend to the earlier of the date as of which an Account owns no Shares of the affected Fund or a date (the “Final Termination Date”) six (6) months following the Initial Termination Date, except that LIFE COMPANY may, by written notice shorten said six (6) month period in the case of a termination pursuant to Sections 6.1(d), 6.1(f), 6.1(g), 6.1(h) or 6.1(i).
In the event that this Agreement is terminated without cause as to one or more Funds by AVIF pursuant to Section 6.1(a) hereof, and provided that LIFE COMPANY has at least fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) of Account assets invested in such Funds at the time of such termination, AIM agrees to reimburse LIFE COMPANY for its reasonable expenses, not to exceed, in the aggregate, fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000), incurred in connection with the substitution of interest in another investment company or companies for those of the affected Funds. The reimbursable expenses associated with any such substitution shall include: (a) reasonable attorney fees related to obtaining an exemptive order from the Securities and Exchange Commission, to the extent required; and (b) printing and mailing costs of any required form of notification to affected Contract owners.
The Parties hereto agree to cooperate and give reasonable assistance to one another in taking all necessary and appropriate steps for the purpose of ensuring that an Account owns no Shares of a Fund after the Final Termination Date with respect thereto, or, in the case of a termination pursuant to Section 6.1(a), the termination date specified in the notice of termination. Such steps may include combining the affected Account with another Account, substituting other mutual fund shares for those of the affected Fund, or otherwise terminating participation by the Contracts in such Fund.
This Agreement may not be assigned by any Party, except with the written consent of each other Party.
Notices and communications required or permitted by Section 9 hereof will be given by means mutually acceptable to the Parties concerned. Each other notice or communication required or permitted by this Agreement will be given to the following persons at the following addresses and facsimile numbers, or such other persons, addresses or facsimile numbers as the Party receiving such notices or communications may subsequently direct in writing:
AIM Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.
A I M Advisors, Inc.
00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Fortis Benefits Insurance Company
Fortis Investors, Inc.
X.X. Xxx 00000
Xx. Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attn: General Counsel
Subject to the cost allocation procedures set forth in Section 3 hereof, LIFE COMPANY will distribute all proxy material furnished by AVIF to Participants to whom pass-through voting privileges are required to be extended and will solicit voting instructions from Participants. LIFE COMPANY will vote Shares in accordance with timely instructions received from Participants. LIFE COMPANY will vote Shares that are (a) not attributable to Participants to whom pass-through voting privileges are extended, or (b) attributable to Participants, but for which no timely instructions have been received, in the same proportion as Shares for which said instructions have been received from Participants, so long as and to the extent that the SEC continues to interpret the 1940 Act to require pass through voting privileges for Participants. Neither LIFE COMPANY nor any of its affiliates will in any way recommend action in connection with or oppose or interfere with the solicitation of proxies for the Shares held for such Participants. LIFE COMPANY reserves the right to vote shares held in any Account in its own right, to the extent permitted by law. LIFE COMPANY shall be responsible for assuring that each of its Accounts holding Shares calculates voting privileges in the manner required by the Mixed and Shared Funding exemptive order obtained by AVIF. AVIF will notify LIFE COMPANY of any changes of interpretations or amendments to Mixed and Shared Funding exemptive order it has obtained. AVIF will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act requiring voting by shareholders, and in particular, AVIF either will provide for annual meetings (except insofar as the SEC may interpret Section 16 of the 1940 Act not to require such meetings) or will comply with Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act (although AVIF is not one of the trusts described in Section 16(e) of that Act) as well as with Sections 16(a) and, if and when applicable, 16(b). Further, AVIF will act in accordance with the SEC’s interpretation of the requirements of Section 16(a) with respect to periodic elections of directors and with whatever rules the SEC may promulgate with respect thereto.
AVIF agrees to consult in advance with LIFE COMPANY concerning any decision to elect or not to elect pursuant to Section 853 of the Code to pass through the benefit of any foreign tax credits to its shareholders.
(a) Except to the extent provided in Sections 12.1(b) and 12.1(c), below, LIFE COMPANY and UNDERWRITER agree to indemnify and hold harmless AVIF, its affiliates, and each person, if any, who controls AVIF or its affiliates within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act and each of their respective directors and officers, (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties” for purposes of this Section 12.1) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of LIFE COMPANY and UNDERWRITER) or actions in respect thereof (including, to the extent reasonable, legal and other expenses), to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute, regulation, at common law or otherwise; provided, the Account owns shares of the Fund and insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions:
(1) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Account’s 1933 Act registration statement, any Account Prospectus, the Contracts, or sales literature or advertising for the Contracts (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, that this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to LIFE COMPANY or UNDERWRITER by or on behalf of AVIF for use in any Account’s 1933 Act registration statement, any Account Prospectus, the Contracts, or sales literature or advertising or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of Contracts or Shares (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing); or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of any other statements or representations (other than statements or representations contained in AVIF’s 1933 Act registration statement, AVIF Prospectus, sales literature or advertising of AVIF, or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing, not supplied for use therein by or on behalf of LIFE COMPANY, UNDERWRITER or their respective affiliates and on which such persons have reasonably relied) or the negligent , illegal or fraudulent conduct of LIFE COMPANY, UNDERWRITER or their respective affiliates or persons under their control (including, without limitation, their employees and “Associated Persons,” as that term is defined in paragraph (m) of Article I of the NASD’s By-Laws), in connection with the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Shares; or
(iii) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in AVIF’s 1933 Act registration statement, AVIF Prospectus, sales literature or advertising of AVIF, or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading if such a statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to AVIF or its affiliates by or on behalf of LIFE COMPANY, UNDERWRITER or their respective affiliates for use in AVIF’s 1933 Act registration statement, AVIF Prospectus, sales literature or advertising of AVIF, or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by LIFE COMPANY or UNDERWRITER to perform the obligations, provide the services and furnish the materials required of them under the terms of this Agreement, or any material breach of any representation and/or warranty made by LIFE COMPANY or UNDERWRITER in this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by LIFE COMPANY or UNDERWRITER; Or
(v) arise as a result of failure by the Contracts issued by LIFE COMPANY to qualify as annuity contracts or life insurance contracts under the Code, otherwise than by reason of any Fund’s failure to comply with Subchapter M or Section 817(h) of the Code.
(b) Neither LIFE COMPANY nor UNDERWRITER shall be liable under this Section 12.1 with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance by that Indemnified Party of its duties or by reason of that Indemnified Party’ s reckless disregard of obligations or duties (i) under this Agreement, or (ii) to AVIF.
(c) Neither LIFE COMPANY nor UNDERWRITER shall be liable under this Section 12.1 with respect to any action against an Indemnified Party unless AVIF shall have notified LIFE COMPANY and UNDERWRITER in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the action shall have been served up on such Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify LIFE COMPANY and UNDERWRITER of any such action shall not relieve LIFE COMPANY and UNDERWRITER from any liability which they may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this Section 12.1. Except as otherwise provided herein, in case any such action is brought against an Indemnified Party, LIFE COMPANY and UNDERWRITER shall be entitled to participate, at their own expense, in the defense of such action and also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel approved by the Indemnified Party named in the action, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. After notice from LIFE COMPANY or UNDERWRITER to such Indemnified Party of LIFE COMPANY’s or UNDERWRITER’S election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party will cooperate fully with LIFE COMPANY and UNDERWRITER and shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and neither LIFE COMPANY nor UNDERWRITER will be liable to such Indemnified Party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party independently in connection with the defense thereof, other than reasonable costs of investigation.
(a) Except to the extent provided in Sections 12.2(c), 12.2(d) and 12.2(e), below, AVIF and AIM agree to indemnify and hold harmless LIFE COMPANY, UNDERWRITER, their respective affiliates, and each person, if any, who controls LIFE COMPANY, UNDERWRITER or their respective affiliates within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act and each of their respective directors and officers, (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties” for purposes of this Section 12.2) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of AVIF) or actions in respect thereof (including, to the extent reasonable, legal and other expenses), to which the Indemnified Parties
may become subject under any statute, regulation, at common law, or otherwise; provided, the Account owns shares of the Fund and insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions:
(i) | arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in AVIF’s 1933 Act registration statement, AVIF Prospectus or sales literature or advertising of AVIF (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, that this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to AVIF or its affiliates by or on behalf of LIFE COMPANY, UNDERWRITER or their respective affiliates for use in AVIF’s 1933 Act registration statement, AVIF Prospectus, or in sales literature or advertising or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of Contracts or Shares (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing); or |
(ii) | arise out of or as a result of any other statements or representations (other than statements or representations contained in any Account’s 1933 Act registration statement, any Account Prospectus, sales literature or advertising for the Contracts, or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing, not supplied for use therein by or on behalf of AVIF or its affiliates and on which such persons have reasonably relied) or the negligent, illegal or fraudulent conduct of AVIF or its affiliates or persons under its control (including, without limitation, their employees and “Associated Persons” as that term is defined in Section (n) of Article I of the NASD By-Laws), in connection with the sale or distribution of AVIF Shares; or |
(iii) | arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any Account’s 1933 Act registration statement, any Account Prospectus, sales literature or advertising covering the Contracts, or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to LIFE COMPANY, UNDERWRITER or their respective affiliates by or on behalf of AVIF for use in any Account’s 1933 Act registration statement, any Account Prospectus, sales literature or advertising covering the Contracts, or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing; or |
(iv) | arise as a result of any failure by AVIF to perform the obligations, provide the services and furnish the materials required of it under the terms of this Agreement, or any material breach of any representation and/or warranty made by AVIF in this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by AVIF. |
(b) Except to the extent provided in Sections I2.2(c), 12.2(d) and 12.2(e) hereof, AVIF and AIM agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Indemnified Parties from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement thereof with, the written consent of AVIF) or actions in respect thereof (including, to the extent reasonable, legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject directly or indirectly under any statute, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions directly or indirectly result from or arise out of the failure of any Fund to operate as a regulated investment company in compliance with (i) Subchapter M of the Code and regulations thereunder, or (ii) Section 817(h) of the Code and regulations thereunder, including, without limitation, any income taxes and related penalties, rescission charges, liability under state law to Participants asserting liability against LIFE COMPANY pursuant to the Contracts, the costs of any ruling and closing agreement or other settlement with the IRS, and the cost of any substitutio n by LIFE COMPANY of Shares of another investment company or portfolio for those of any adversely affected Fund as a funding medium for each Account that LIFE COMPANY reasonably deems necessary or appropriate as a result of the noncompliance.
(c) Neither AVM nor AIM shall be liable under this Section 12.2 with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance by that Indemnified Party of its duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party’s reckless disregard of its obligations and duties (i) under this Agreement, or (ii) to LIFE COMPANY, UNDERWRITER, each Account or Participants.
(d) Neither AVM nor AIM shall be liable under this Section 12.2 with respect to any action against an Indemnified Party unless the Indemnified Party shall have notified AVIF and/or AIM in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the action shall have been served upon such Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify AVIF or AIM of any such action shall not relieve AVIF or AIM from any liability which it may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this Section 12.2. Except as otherwise provided herein, in case any such action is brought against an Indemnified Party, AVIF and/or AIM will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense of such action and also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof (which shall include, without limitation, the conduct of any ruling request and closing agreement or other settlement proceeding with the IRS), with counsel approved by the Indemnified Party named in the action, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. After notice from AVIF and/or AIM to such Indemnified Party of AVIF’s or AIM’s election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party will cooperate fully with AVIF and AIM and shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and neither AVIF nor AIM will be liable to such Indemnified Party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party independently in connection with the defense thereof, other than reasonable costs of investigation.
(e) In no event shall AVIF or AIM be liable under the indemnification provisions contained in this Agreement to any individual or entity, including, without limitation, LIFE COMPANY, UNDERWRITER or any other Participating Insurance Company or any Participant, with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses that arise out of or result from (1) a breach of any representation, warranty, and/or covenant made by LIFE COMPANY or UNDERWRITER hereunder or by any Participating Insurance Company under an agreement containing substantially similar representations, warranties and covenants; (ii) the failure by LIFE COMPANY or any Participating Insurance Company to maintain its segregated asset account (which invests in any Fund) 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 LIFE COMPANY or any Participating Insurance Company to maintain its variable annuity or life insurance contracts (with respect to which any Fund serves as an underlying funding vehicle) as annuity contracts or life insurance contracts under applicable provisions of the Code.
12.3 Effect of Notice.
Any notice given by the indemnifying Party to an Indemnified Party referred to in Sections 12.1(c) or 12.2(d) above of participation in or control of any action by the indemnifying Party will in no event be deemed to be an admission by the indemnifying Party of liability, culpability or responsibility, and the indemnifying Party will remain free to contest liability with respect to the claim among the Parties or otherwise.
12.4 Successors.
A successor by law of any Party shall be entitled to the benefits of the indemnification contained in this Section 12.
This Agreement will be construed and the provisions hereof interpreted under and in accordance with Maryland law, without regard for that state’s principles of conflict of laws.
This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which taken together will constitute one and the same instrument.
If any provision of this Agreement is held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement will not be affected thereby.
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, that the Parties are entitled to under federal and state laws.
The Table of Contents and headings used in this Agreement are for purposes of reference only and shall not limit or define the meaning of the provisions of this Agreement.
AVIF acknowledges that the identities of the customers of LIFE COMPANY or any of its affiliates (collectively, the “LIFE COMPANY Protected Parties” for purposes of this Section 18) , information maintained regarding those customers, and all computer programs and procedures or other information developed by the LIEU COMPANY Protected Parties or any of their employees or agents in connection with LIFE COMPANY’s performance of its duties under this Agreement are the valuable property of the LIFE COMPANY Protected Parties. AVIF agrees that if it comes into possession of any list or compilation of the identities of or other information about the LIT+, COMPANY Protected Parties’ customers, or any other information or property of the LIFE COMPANY Protected Parties, other than such information as may be independently developed or compiled by AVIF from information supplied to it by the LIFE COMPANY Protected Parties’ customers who also maintain accounts directly with AVIF, AVIF 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 LIFE COMPANY’s prior written consent; or (b) as required by law or judicial process. LIFE COMPANY acknowledges that the identities of the customers of AVIF or any of its affiliates (collectively, the “AVIF Protected Parties” for purposes of this Section 18), information maintained regarding those customers, and all computer programs and procedures or other information developed by the AVIF Protected Parties or any of their employees or agents in connection with AVIF’s performance of its duties under this Agreement are the valuable property of the AVIF Protected Parties. LIFE COMPANY agrees that if it comes into possession of any list or compilation of the identities of or other information about the AVIF Protected Parties’ customers or any other information or property of the AVIF Protected Parties, other than such information as may be independently developed or compiled by LIFE COMPANY from information supplied to it by the AVIF Protected Parties’ customers who also maintain accounts directly with LIFE COMPANY, LIFE 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 AVIF’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 18 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.
(a) A I M Management Group Inc. (“AIM” or “licensor”), an affiliate of AVIF, owns all right, title and interest in and to the name, trademark and service xxxx “AIM” and s uch other tradenames, trademarks and service marks as may be set forth on Schedule B, as amended from time to time by written notice from AIM to LIFE COMPANY (the “AIM licensed marks” or the “licensor’s licensed marks”) and is authorized to use and to license other persons to use such marks. LIFE COMPANY and its affiliates are hereby granted a non-exclusive license to use the AIM licensed marks in connection with LIFE COMPANY’s performance of the services contemplated under this Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 19.
(b) The grant of license to LIFE COMPANY and its affiliates ( the “licensee”) shall terminate automatically upon termination of this Agreement. Upon automatic termination, the licensee shall cease to use the licensor’s licensed marks, except that LIFE COMPANY sha 11 have the right to continue to service any outstanding Contracts bearing any of the AIM licensed marks . Upon AIM’ s elective termination of this license, LIFE COMPANY and its affiliates shall immediately cease to issue any new annuity or life insurance contracts bearing any of the AIM licensed marks and shall likewise cease any activity which suggests that it has any right under any of the AIM licensed marks or that it has any association with AIM, except that LIFE COMPAN Y shall have the right to continue to service outstanding Contracts bearing any of the AIM licensed marks.
(c) The licensee shall obtain the prior written approval of the licensor for the public release by such licensee of any materials bearing the licensor’s licensed marks. The licensor’s approvals shall not be unreasonably withheld.
(d) During the term of this grant of license, a licensor may request that a licensee submit samples of any materials bearing any of the licensor’s licensed marks which were previously approved by the licensor but, due to changed circumstances, the licensor may wish to reconsider. If, on reconsideration, or on initial review, respectively, any such samples fail to meet with the written approval of the licensor, then the licensee shall immediately cease distributing such disapproved materials. The licensor’s approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, and the licensor, when requesting reconsideration of a
prior approval, shall assume the reasonable expenses of withdrawing and replacing such disapproved materials. The licensee shall obtain the prior written approval of the licensor for the use of any new materials developed to replace the disapproved materials, in the manner set forth above.
(e) The licensee hereunder: (i) acknowledges and stipulates that, to the best of the knowledge of the licensee, the licensor’s licensed marks are valid and enforceable trademarks and/or service marks and that such licensee does not own the licensor’s licensed marks and claims no rights therein other than as a licensee under this Agreement; (ii) agrees never to contend otherwise in legal proceedings or in other circumstances; and (iii) acknowledges and agrees that the use of the licensor’s licensed marks pursuant to this grant of license shall inure to the benefit of the licensor.
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 (including copies thereof) in connection with any investigation or inquiry relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
__________________________________________
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed in their names and on their behalf by and through their duly authorized officers signing below.
AIM VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.
Attest: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Assistant Secretary Title: President
A I M DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
Attest: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
Assistant Secretary Title: President
FORTIS BENEFITS INSURANCE COMPANY, on
behalf of itself and its separate accounts
Attest: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: Vice President Title: Vice President
FORTIS INVESTORS, INC.
Attest: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Name: Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx
Title: Vice President Title: Vice President
SCHEDULE A
FUNDS AVAILABLE UNDER THE CONTRACTS.
• | AIM VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC. |
AIM X.X. Value Fund
AIM V.I. International Equity Fund
SEPARATE ACCOUNTS UTILIZING THE FUNDS
Separate Account D
CONTRACTS FUNDED BY THE SEPARATE ACCOUNTS
Norwest Passage Variable Annuity
SCHEDULE B
• | AIM VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC. |
AIM ____________________________ Fund
• | AIM and Design |
[LOGO]
Schedule C
EXPENSE ALLOCATIONS
Fortis Life | AVIF / AIM | |
preparing and filing the Account’s registration statement | preparing and filing the Fund’s registration statement | |
text composition for Account prospectuses and supplements | text composition for Fund prospectuses and supplements | |
text alterations of prospectuses (Account) and supplements (Account) | text alterations of prospectuses (Fund) and supplements (Fund) | |
printing Account and Fund prospectuses and supplements | a camera ready Fund prospectus, printing costs of Fund prospectus to existing policy owners with amounts allocated to the Fund | |
text composition and printing Account SAIs | text composition and printing Fund SAIs | |
mailing and distributing Account SAIs to policy owners upon request by policy owners | mailing and distributing Fund SAIs to policy owners upon request by policy owners | |
mailing and distributing prospectuses (Account and Fund) and supplements (Account and Fund) to policy owners of record as required by Federal Securities Laws and to prospective purchasers | ||
text composition (Account), printing, mailing, and distributing annual and semi- annual reports for Account (Fund and Account as, applicable) | text composition of annual and semi-annual reports (Fund) | |
text composition, printing, mailing, distributing, and tabulation of proxy statements and voting instruction solicitation materials to policy owners with respect to proxies related to the Account | text composition, printing, mailing, distributing and tabulation of proxy statements and voting instruction solicitation materials to policy owners with respect to proxies related to the Fund | |
preparation, printing and distributing sales material and advertising relating to the Funds, insofar as such materials relate to the Contracts and filing such materials with and obtaining approval from, the SEC, the NASD, any state insurance regulatory authority, and any other appropriate regulatory authority, to the extent required |
AMENDMENT NO. 1
The Participation Agreement (the "Agreement"), dated May 1, 1998, by and among AIM Variable Insurance Funds, a Delaware trust; A I M Distributors, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Fortis Benefits Insurance Company, a Minnesota corporation, Fortis Investors, Inc., a Minnesota corporation, is hereby amended as follows:
The following entity is hereby added as a party to the Agreement and will be encompassed by the defined term "LIFE COMPANY" as set forth in the Agreement:
• | Union Security Life Insurance Company of New York (formerly known as First Fortis Life Insurance Company), organized under the laws of the State of New York. |
Effective October 1, 2004, Fortis Benefits will change its state of domicile and become an Iowa corporation. Effective September 2, 2005, Fortis Benefits Insurance Company (defined as "LIFE COMPANY") will change its name to "Union Security Insurance Company." All references to Fortis Benefits Insurance Company will hereby be deleted and replaced with "Union Security Insurance Company."
Effective April 1, 2001 Fortis Investors, Inc., changed its name to "Woodbury Financial Services, Inc." All references to Fortis Investors, Inc. are hereby deleted and replaced with "Woodbury Financial Services, Inc."
Schedule A of the Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
SCHEDULE A
AIM V.I. Basic Balanced Fund AIM V.I. Mid Cap Core Fund
AIM V.I. Basic Value Fund AIM V.I. Money Market Fund
AIM V.I. Blue Chip Fund* AIM V.I. Real Estate Fund**
AIM V.I. Capital Appreciation Fund AIM V.I. Small Cap Equity Fund
AIM V.I. Capital Development Fund AIM V.I. Dynamics Fund
AIM V.I. Core Equity Fund AIM V.I. Financial Services Fund
AIM V.I. Demographic Trends Fund AIM V.I. Global Health Care Fund
AIM V.I. Diversified Dividend Fund AIM V.I. Leisure Fund
AIM V.I. Diversified Income Fund AIM V.I. Small Company Growth Fund***
AIM V.I. Global Equity Fund AIM V.I. Technology Fund
AIM V.I. Government Securities Fund AIM V.I. Utilities Fund
AIM V.I. High Yield Fund
AIM V.I. International Core Equity Fund
AIM V.I. International Growth Fund
AIM V.I. Large Cap Growth Fund
* Effective June 12, 2006, AIM V.I. Blue Chip Fund will be merged into AIM V.I. Large Cap Growth Fund.
** Effective July 3, 2006, AIM V.I. Real Estate Fund will be renamed AIM V.I. Global Real Estate Fund.
*** Effective July 3, 2006, AIM V.I. Small Company Growth Fund will be renamed AIM V.I. Small Cap Growth Fund.
•Separate Account D of Union Security Insurance Company
•Separate Account D of Union Security Insurance Company
•Separate Account A of Union Security Life Insurance Company of New York
CONTRACTS FUNDED BY THE SEPARATE ACCOUNTS
•Norwest Passage Variable Annuity
•Contract Form Number 56952
•Contract Form Number 56758
All other terms and provisions of The Agreement not amended herein remain in fail force
and effect.
Effective date: April 30, 2004
AIM VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.
Attest: /s/ Xxx Xxxxxxxx By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxx Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Assistant Secretary Title: President
A I M DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
Attest: /s/ P. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx By: /s/ Xxxx X. Needles
P. Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx Name: Xxxx X. Needles
Assistant Secretary Title: President
UNION SECURITY INSURANCE COMPANY
(formerly known as Fortis Benefits Insurance
Company)
Attest: /s/ Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
Name: Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
Title: V.P. Corporate Counsel Title: Vice President-Law
UNION SECURITY LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY OF NEW YORK (formerly known
as First Fortis Life Insurance Company of New
York)
Attest: /s/ Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
Name: Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
Title: V.P. Corporate Counsel Title: Vice President-Law
WOODBURY FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
(formerly known as Fortis Investors, Inc.)
Attest: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx By: /s/ Xxxx X.Sides
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx Name: Xxxx X. Sides
Chief Legal Officer
Title: Sr. Administrative Assistant Title: Woodbury Financial Services, Inc.
AMENDED AND RESTATED
Xxxxxxx Resolution Life Insurance Company
Xxxxxxx Resolution Life and Annuity Insurance Company
Hartford Funds Management Company, LLC
Hartford Funds Distributors, LLC
Hartford Administrative Services Company
Xxxxxxx Resolution Distribution Company, Inc.
and
Each of the Investment Companies, on behalf of its respective series listed
on Schedule A Attached Hereto
August 1, 2018
THIS AGREEMENT, is made and entered into as of this August 1, 2018, by and among XXXXXXX RESOLUTION LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY (formerly HARTFORD LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY and XXXXXXX RESOLUTION LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY (formerly HARTFORD LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY) (collectively referred to as the “Company”), each a Connecticut corporation, on its own behalf and on behalf of its separate accounts, as set forth in Schedule B as may be revised from time to time (each an “Account” and collectively, the “Accounts”); each of the registered investment companies (each a “FUND” and collectively, the “FUNDS”) on behalf of its respective
series identified on SCHEDULE A (each a “Portfolio” and collectively, the Portfolios) as it may be amended from time to time, each an open-end management investment company organized under the laws of the State of Maryland; HARTFORD FUNDS MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLC (“HFMC”), a Delaware limited liability company; HARTFORD FUNDS DISTRIBUTORS, LLC (“HFD”), a Delaware limited liability company; HARTFORD ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES COMPANY (“HASCO”), a Minnesota corporation; and XXXXXXX RESOLUTION Distribution Company, Inc. (formerly Hartford Securities Distribution Company, Inc.) (“TRSD” or the “underwriter”), a Connecticut corporation. HFMC in its capacity as investment adviser to the Portfolios is referred to herein as the “Adviser.” HFD in its capacity as principal underwriter to the Portfolios is referred to herein as the “Distributor.” HASCO in its capacity as transfer agent to the Portfolios is referred to herein as the “Transfer Agent.”
WHEREAS, this agreement replaces that certain participation agreement dated December 1, 2008, as amended from time to time (“Prior Agreement”) with respect to the Accounts and the Funds; and
WHEREAS, the Prior Agreement also covered certain accounts that were subject to reinsurance transactions with the Company and the parties agree that such accounts will be covered by a separate participation agreement among the applicable parties; and
WHEREAS, this Agreement shall create a separate participation agreement for each Fund, as though the Company, the Adviser and the Distributor had executed a separate, identical form of participation agreement with each Fund; and
ARTICLE I. Definitions
1.1. “Business Day” shall mean any day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which a Portfolio calculates its net asset value pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
1.2. “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor thereto.
1.3. “Contract Owners” shall mean the owners of the Contracts, as distinguished from all other product owners.
1.4. “Independent Directors” shall mean those members of a Fund’s Board of Directors who are not interested persons of the Fund, the Distributor, the Adviser or any sub-adviser to any of the Portfolios.
1.5. “IRS” shall mean the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
1.6. “NAV” shall mean a Portfolio’s net asset value per share (“NAV”).
1.7. “Prospectus” with respect to shares of a Portfolio or with respect to a Contract through which interests in an Account registered as a unit investment trust under the 1940 Act are offered and issued, which interests are registered as securities under the 1933 Act, shall mean each version of the effective prospectus, including any supplements thereto, filed with the SEC under the 1933 Act. Unless otherwise indicated, the
term “Prospectus” shall include any private placement memo or other similar disclosure document used in connection with the offer or sale of Contracts through which interests in unregistered Accounts are offered and issued. With respect to any provision of this Agreement requiring a party to take action in accordance with a Prospectus, such reference will be to the version of the Prospectus last filed and effective prior to the taking of such action, including any supplements thereto. The term Prospectus shall include any statement of additional information incorporated by reference therein.
1.8. “SEC” shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
1.9. “SAI” shall mean each version of the effective Statement of Additional Information, including any supplements thereto, filed with the SEC under the 1933 Act. With respect to any provision of this Agreement requiring a party to take action in accordance with a SAI, such reference will be to the version of the SAI last filed and effective prior to the taking of such action, including any supplements thereto. The term SAI shall include any Prospectus incorporated by reference therein.
1.10. “Valuation Time” shall mean the time as of which a Fund calculates net asset value for the shares of its Portfolios on the relevant Business Day.
Without limiting the generality of anything contained elsewhere in this Agreement, the parties hereto acknowledge that actions described in this Article II of this Agreement, or described in any Schedule to this Agreement, as being actions or duties to be taken or executed by the Company with respect to the Contracts may, in fact, be performed by other service providers pursuant to written agreements with the Company.
2.1. (a) Each Fund and the Distributor shall make shares of the Portfolios available to the Accounts. The Company shall be the designee of each Fund for receipt of such orders and receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund; provided that the Fund receives notice in accordance with the operational procedures set forth in Section 2.5 below.
2.2. Each Fund reserves the right to refuse any purchase order or to suspend or terminate the offering of shares of any Portfolio for any reason. All orders accepted by the Company shall be subject to the terms of the then current Prospectus of the applicable Fund. The Company shall use its best efforts, and shall reasonably cooperate with a Fund, to enforce stated Prospectus policies regarding transactions in Portfolio shares. The Company acknowledges that orders accepted by it in violation of a Fund’s stated
policies may be subsequently revoked or canceled by the Fund and that the Fund shall not be responsible for any losses incurred by the Company, the Account or the Contract Owner as a result of such cancellation.
2.3. Each Fund will redeem for cash any full or fractional shares of any Portfolio when requested by the Company on behalf of an Account. The Company shall be the designee of each Fund for receipt of requests for redemption and receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund, provided that the Fund receives notice of any such request for redemption in accordance with the operational procedures set forth in Section 2.5 below.
2.4. The Distributor and each Fund agree that shares of the Portfolios will be sold only to (a) insurance companies for use in conjunction with variable life insurance policies or variable annuities or (b) qualified pension and retirement plans (“Qualified Plans”). The parties hereto acknowledge that the arrangement contemplated by this Agreement is not exclusive; a Portfolio’s shares may be sold to other insurance companies and the cash value of the Contracts may be invested in other investment companies.
2.5. Operational Procedures. The Company will receive instructions from Contract Owners for the purchase, redemption and exchange of shares of the Portfolios (“Instructions”), and shall aggregate and calculate the net purchase and redemption orders for each Account received each Business Day prior to the close of the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) (“Market Close”). The Company will not aggregate Instructions received from the Contract Owners after Market Close with Instructions it received before Market Close, and warrants that its internal control structure concerning the processing and transmission of Instructions is suitably designed to prevent or detect on a timely basis Instructions received after Market Close from being aggregated with Instructions received before Market Close and to minimize errors that could result in late transmission of Instructions. Instructions received by the Company before Market Close on any Business Day will receive that day’s NAV. Instructions received by the Company after Market Close on any Business Day will be treated as received on the next Business Day and will be executed at the next Business Day’s NAV.
(a) Fund/SERV Transactions: The parties will ordinarily use the NSCC Fund/SERV system and will follow the applicable operating procedures of the NSCC Defined Contribution Clearance & Settlement (DCC&S) Cycle 8 (generally, 6:30 a.m. Eastern Time) as the preferred method of processing the transactions described herein. If the Company is unable to meet NSCC DCC&S Cycle 8, the Company will immediately notify the Fund or its designee, but in no event shall such notice be provided later than 6:45 a.m. Eastern Time on the applicable day. Upon such notice, the Fund or its designee will agree to allow the
Company additional time; provided that the Company shall provide trade amounts no later than 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. If the NSCC Fund/SERV system is used, the following provisions will apply: (i) On each Business Day, the Company shall communicate by Fund/SERV, the aggregate purchase or redemption orders (if any) of Portfolio shares, based on Instructions received for each Account by the prior Business Day’s Market Close, by no later than NSCC DCC&S Cycle 8 or such other time as may be agreed upon by the parties from time to time as described above. All Instructions received by the Company after Market Close on a Business Day shall not be transmitted to NSCC prior to the conclusion of NSCC DCC&S Cycle 8 on the following Business Day, or such other time as may be agreed upon by the parties from time to time as described above, and the Company represents that orders it receives after Market Close on any given Business Day will be transmitted using the following Business Day’s NAV. The Fund or its designee may process orders received after NSCC DCC&S Cycle 8 deadline, or such other time as may be agreed upon by the parties from time to time as described above, using the NAV next determined. (ii) When transmitting purchase or redemption orders for shares of the Portfolios, the Company shall submit one order for all Account purchase transactions and one order for all Account redemption transactions, unless otherwise agreed to by the Company the Fund or its designee. (iii) All orders are subject to acceptance by the Fund or its designee and become effective only upon confirmation by the Fund or its designee. Upon confirmation, the Fund or its designee will verify total purchases and redemptions and the closing share position for each Account. In the case of delayed settlement, the Fund or its designee shall make arrangements for the settlement of redemptions by wire no later than the time permitted for settlement of redemption orders by the 0000 Xxx. (iv) The Company’s payment for purchases of Portfolio shares shall be from the designated NSCC Settling Bank on behalf of the Company by the time specified by the Transfer Agent. “Settling Bank” shall mean the entity appointed by the party to perform such settlement services, which entity agrees to abide by NSCC’s then current rules and procedures insofar as they related to funds settlement. (v) Each Fund shall pay and transmit the proceeds of redemptions of Portfolio shares from the designated NSCC Settling Bank on behalf of the Fund in accordance with NSCC’s then current rules and procedures; provided, however, that the Fund may delay payment in extraordinary circumstances to the extent permitted under Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act.
(b) Manual Transactions: The parties will process manual transactions via facsimile (or by other agreed electronic means) if there are technical problems with Fund/SERV, or if the parties are not able to transmit or receive information through Fund/SERV. If manual transactions are used, the following provisions will apply: (i) On each Business Day, by 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, the Company shall communicate to the Fund or its designee the aggregate amounts for purchase or redemption orders (if any) of Portfolio shares, based on Instructions received for each Account by the prior Business Day’s Market Close. All Instructions received by the Company after Market Close on a Business Day shall not be communicated to
the Fund or its designee until after 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the following Business Day, and the Company represents that orders it receives after Market Close on any given Business Day will be transmitted using the following Business Day’s NAV. The Fund or its designee will process orders received after the 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time deadline using the NAV next determined. (ii) The Company will communicate orders to purchase or redeem shares of each Portfolio separately, and submit one order for all Account purchase transactions, reflecting the net dollar amount to be invested in each Portfolio, and one order for all Account redemption transactions, reflecting the net dollar amount to be redeemed from each Portfolio, unless otherwise agreed to by the Company the Fund or its designee. (iii) All orders are subject to acceptance by the Fund or its designee and become effective only upon confirmation by the Fund or its designee. Upon confirmation, the Fund or its designee will verify total purchases and redemptions and the closing share position for each Account. In the case of delayed settlement, the Fund or its designee shall make arrangements for the settlement of redemptions by wire no later than the time permitted for settlement of redemption orders by the 1940 Act. (iv) The Company shall pay for Portfolio shares by 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the next Business Day after an order to purchase Portfolio shares is received in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.5(b). Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire and/or by a credit for any shares redeemed the same day as the purchase. (v) Each Fund shall pay and transmit the proceeds of redemptions of Portfolio shares by 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the next Business Day after a redemption order is received in accordance with this Section 2.5(b); provided, however, that the Fund may delay payment in extraordinary circumstances to the extent permitted under Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act. Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire and/or a credit for any shares purchased the same day as the redemption. Each Fund shall not bear any responsibility for the proper disbursement or crediting of redemption proceeds by the Company; the Company alone shall be responsible for such action.
2.6. Issuance and transfer of a Portfolio’s shares will be by book entry only. Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or the Accounts. Shares purchased from a Portfolio will be recorded in an appropriate title for the relevant Account or the relevant sub-account of an Account. Each Fund will furnish to the Company the CUSIP number assigned to each Portfolio identified in Schedule A hereto, as it may be amended from time to time.
2.7. The Distributor shall notify the Company in advance, but not later than same day notice (by electronic communication or telephone, followed by electronic confirmation) to the Company, of any income, dividends or capital gain distributions payable on a Portfolio’s shares. The Company hereby elects to receive all such income dividends and capital gain distributions as are payable on a Portfolio’s shares in additional
shares of that Portfolio. A Fund shall notify the Company by the end of the next following Business Day of the number of shares so issued as payment of such dividends and distributions.
2.8. Each Fund shall make the NAV for each Portfolio available to the Company on each Business Day as soon as reasonably practicable after the NAV is calculated and shall use its best efforts to make such NAV available by 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time. In the event of an error in the computation of a Portfolio’s NAV or any dividend or capital gain distribution (each, a “pricing error”), the applicable Fund shall immediately notify the Company as soon as possible after discovery of the error. Such notification may be verbal, but shall be confirmed promptly in writing. A pricing error shall be corrected as follows: (a) if the pricing error results in a difference between the erroneous NAV and the correct NAV of less than $0.01 per share, then no corrective action need be taken; (b) if the pricing error results in a difference between the erroneous NAV and the correct NAV equal to or greater than $0.01 per share, but less than ½ of 1% of the Portfolio’s NAV at the time of the error, then the Adviser shall reimburse the Portfolio for any loss, after taking into consideration any positive effect of such error; however, no adjustments to Contract Owner accounts need be made; and (c) if the pricing error results in a difference between the erroneous NAV and the correct NAV equal to or greater than ½ of 1% of the Portfolio’s NAV at the time of the error, then the Adviser shall reimburse the Portfolio for any loss (without taking into consideration any positive effect of such error) and shall reimburse the Company for the costs of adjustments made to correct Contract Owner accounts, such reimbursements to be made in accordance with the provisions of the Adviser’s current pricing policy. If an adjustment is necessary to correct a material error that has caused Contract Owners to receive less than the amount to which they are entitled, the number of shares of the applicable sub-account of such Contract Owners will be adjusted and the amount of any underpayments shall be credited by the Adviser to the Company for crediting of such amounts to the applicable Contract Owner’s accounts. Upon notification by the Adviser of any overpayment due to a material error, the Company shall promptly remit to the Adviser any overpayment that has not been paid to Contract Owners. A pricing error within categories (b) or (c) above shall be deemed to be “materially incorrect” or constitute a “material error” for purposes of this Agreement. The standards set forth in this Section 2.8 are based on the parties’ understanding of the views expressed by the staff of the SEC as of the date of this Agreement. In the event the views of the SEC staff are later modified or superseded by SEC or judicial interpretation, the parties shall amend the foregoing provisions of this Agreement to comport with the appropriate applicable standards, on terms mutually satisfactory to all parties.
.
2.9. The Company agrees to notify a Fund of any investment restrictions imposed by state insurance law and/or any contracts applicable to the Fund. The parties agree to mutually cooperate with respect to any
state insurance law restriction or requirement applicable to a Fund’s investments to the extent such cooperation is permissible under the terms and conditions of Funds’ prospectuses and other governing laws.
ARTICLE III . Representations and Warranties
3.1. The Company represents and warrants that:
(a) (i) The securities deemed to be issued by the Accounts under the Contracts are or will be registered under the 1933 Act, or are not so registered in proper reliance upon an exemption from such registration requirements; (ii) the Contracts will be issued and sold in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and state laws; and (iii) the Contracts will be sold only by duly licensed and appointed parties with which the Company has written agreements that require, among other things, that the sale of the Contracts shall comply in all material respects with applicable FINRA Conduct Rules.
(b) (i) It is an insurance company duly organized and in good standing under applicable law; (ii) it has legally and validly established each Account prior to any issuance or sale of units thereof as a segregated asset account under Connecticut law; and (iii) it has registered each Account as a unit investment trust in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act to serve as a segregated investment account for the Contracts and will maintain such registration for so long as any Contracts are outstanding as required by applicable law or, alternatively, the Company has not registered one or more Accounts in proper reliance upon an exclusion from such registration requirements.
(c) [reserved]
(d) For purposes other than diversification under Section 817 of the Code, that the Contracts are currently and at the time of issuance will be treated as annuity contracts or life insurance policies under applicable provisions of the Code, and that it will make every effort to maintain such treatment and that it will notify the Funds, the Distributor 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. In addition, the Company represents and warrants that each Account is a “segregated asset account” and that interests in each Account are offered exclusively through the purchase of or transfer into a “variable contract” within the meaning of such terms under Section 817 of the Code and the regulations thereunder. The Company will use every effort to continue to meet such definitional requirements, and it will notify the Funds, the Distributor and the Adviser immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that such requirements have ceased to be met or that they might not be met in the future. The Company represents and warrants
that it will not purchase Portfolio shares with assets derived from tax-qualified retirement plans except, indirectly, through Contracts purchased in connection with such plans.
(e) The Company will comply with its obligations under applicable anti-money laundering (“AML”) laws, rules and regulations, including but not limited to its obligations under the United States Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, as amended (by the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and other laws), and the rules, regulations and official guidance issued thereunder. The Company agrees to undertake inquiry and due diligence regarding the customers to whom the Company offers and/or sells Portfolio shares or on whose behalf the Company purchases shares and that the inquiry and due diligence is reasonably designed to determine that the Company is not prohibited from dealing with any such customer by (i) any sanction administered by the Office of Foreign Asset Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury; (ii) and any special measures imposed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury pursuant to the BSA.
(f) It is currently in compliance, and will remain in compliance, with all applicable laws, rules and regulations relating to consumer privacy, including, but not limited to, SEC Regulation S-P and the Xxxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Act.
(g) (i) It operates in compliance with and will continue to operate in compliance with its duties and obligations described by Rule 22c-2, as well as under the Rule 22c-2 Agreement set forth in Schedule D, as may be amended from time to time.
(ii) It has adopted, and will at all times during the term of this Agreement maintain, reasonable and appropriate procedures (“Late Trading Procedures”) designed to ensure that any and all orders relating to the purchase, sale or exchange of Portfolio shares communicated to the applicable Fund to be treated in accordance with Article I of this Agreement as having been received on a Business Day have been received by the Valuation Time on such Business Day and were not modified after the Valuation Time, and that all orders received from Contract Owners, but not rescinded by the Valuation Time, were communicated to the Fund or its agent as received for that Business Day. Each transmission of orders by the Company shall constitute a representation by the Company that such orders are accurate and complete and relate to orders received by the Company by the Valuation Time on the Business Day for which the order is to be priced and that such transmission includes all orders relating to Portfolio shares received from Contract Owners but not rescinded by the Valuation Time. The Company agrees to provide each Fund or its designee with a copy of the Late Trading Procedures and such certifications and representations regarding the Late Trading Procedures as the Fund or its designee may reasonably request. The Company will promptly notify the Funds in writing of any material change to the Late Trading Procedures.
(iii) It has adopted, and will at all times during the term of this Agreement maintain, reasonable and appropriate procedures (“Market Timing Procedures”) designed to minimize excessive trading in its Contracts. The Company agrees to provide each Fund or its designee with a copy of the Market Timing Procedures and such certifications and representations regarding the Market Timing Procedures as the Fund or its designee may reasonably request. The Company will promptly notify the Funds of any material change to the Market Timing Procedures. The parties agree to make reasonable efforts to address any conflict between the Market Timing Procedures and actions taken or policies adopted by a Fund designed to minimize any adverse impact on other Fund investors due to excessive trading.
3.2. Each Fund and the Distributor represent and warrant that:
(a) (i) The Portfolio shares sold pursuant to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act; (ii) the Portfolio shares sold pursuant to this Agreement shall be duly authorized for issuance and sold in compliance with all applicable federal securities laws including without limitation the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, and the 1940 Act; (iii) the Fund is and shall remain registered under the 1940 Act; and (iv) the Fund shall amend the registration statement for its Portfolios’ shares under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of the shares.
(b) The Fund has adopted a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (a “Rule 12b-1 Plan”) for certain classes of its shares. The parties acknowledge that each Fund reserves the right to modify or terminate its existing plan or to adopt additional Rule 12b-1 Plans (including with respect to its shares for which it has not currently adopted a Rule 12b-1 plan) and to impose an asset-based or other charge to finance distribution expenses as permitted by applicable law and regulation. The Fund and the Adviser agree to comply with applicable provisions and SEC interpretation of the 1940 Act with respect to any distribution plan.
(c) The Fund shall register and qualify the shares for sale in accordance with the laws of the various states if and to the extent required by applicable law. Each Fund makes no representation as to whether any aspect of its operations complies with the insurance laws and regulations of any state.
(d) The Fund is lawfully organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Maryland and that it does and will comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act.
(e) The Fund and the Distributor shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations designed to prevent money laundering and, if required by such laws or regulations, share with the Company information about individuals, entities, organizations and countries suspected of possible terrorist or money laundering activities.
3.3. The Adviser represents and warrants that it is and shall remain duly registered under all applicable federal and state securities laws and that it shall perform its obligations for each Fund and Portfolio in compliance in all material respects with any applicable state and federal securities laws.
3.4. The Distributor represents and warrants that it is and shall remain duly registered under all applicable federal and state securities laws and that it shall perform its obligations for each Fund and Portfolio in compliance in all material respects with the laws of any applicable state and federal securities laws.
3.5. Each Fund and the Adviser represent and warrant that:
(a) All of their respective officers, employees, investment advisers, and other individuals or entities dealing with the money and/or securities of a Fund are, and shall continue to be at all times, covered by one or more blanket fidelity bonds or similar coverage for the benefit of the Fund in an amount not less than the minimal coverage required by Rule 17g-1 under the 1940 Act or related provisions as may be promulgated from time to time. The aforesaid bonds shall include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable bonding company.
(b) They will use their best efforts to provide the Company with as much advance notice as is reasonably practicable of any material change affecting the Portfolios (including, but not limited to, any material change in the registration statement or prospectus affecting the Portfolios) and any proxy solicitation or information statement affecting the Portfolios and consult with the Company in order to implement any such change in an orderly manner, recognizing the expenses of changes and attempting to minimize such expenses by implementing them in conjunction with regular annual updates of the Prospectus for the Contracts.
3.6 The Transfer Agent and the Company each represents and warrants to the other that it: (a) has entered into an agreement with NSCC, (b) has met and will continue to meet all of the requirements to participate in Fund/SERV and Networking, and (c) intends to remain at all times in compliance with the then current rules and procedures of NSCC to the extent necessary or appropriate to facilitate such communications, processing, and settlement of Portfolio share transactions.
4.1. At least annually, the Distributor shall provide the Company with as many copies of a Fund’s current Prospectus as the Company may reasonably request, with expenses to be borne in accordance with Schedule C hereof. If requested by the Company in lieu thereof, the Distributor or Fund shall provide such documentation (including an electronic version of the current prospectus) and other assistance as is reasonably necessary in order for the Company once each year (or more frequently if the prospectus for the Fund is amended) to have the prospectus for the Contracts and the Prospectus for the Fund printed together in one document.
4.2. If applicable state or federal laws or regulations require that the SAI for a Fund be distributed to all Contract Owners, then the Fund and/or the Distributor shall provide the Company with copies of the Fund’s SAI in such quantities, with expenses to be borne in accordance with Schedule C hereof, as the Company may reasonably require to permit timely distribution thereof to Contract Owners. The Distributor and/or the Fund shall also provide an SAI to any Contract Owner or prospective owner who requests such SAI from the Fund.
4.3. Each Fund and/or the Distributor shall provide the Company with copies of the Fund’s proxy material, information statements, reports to shareholders and other communications to shareholders in such quantity, with expenses to be borne in accordance with Schedule C hereof, as the Company may reasonably require to permit timely distribution thereof to Contract Owners.
4.4. It is understood and agreed that the Company shall not be responsible for the content of the Prospectus or SAI for a Fund, except with respect to information regarding the Company provided in writing by that party. It is also understood and agreed that, except with respect to information regarding a Fund, the Distributor, the Adviser or the Portfolios provided in writing by a Fund, the Distributor or the Adviser, neither the Fund, the Distributor nor the Adviser are responsible for the content of the prospectus or SAI for the Contracts.
4.5. Each Fund or its designee will use its best efforts to provide the Company with notice as soon as is reasonably practicable of any change for a Fund or Portfolio, including but not limited to: (a) fund objective changes; (b) anticipated fund reorganizations or substitutions; (c) no action or exemptive requests granted by the SEC; (d) Fund and/or Portfolio name changes; (e) Fund or Portfolio adviser, sub-adviser and/
or portfolio manager changes; and/or (f) conditions or undertakings that affect the Company’s rights or obligations under this Agreement.
4.6. If and to the extent required by law the Company shall:
(a) solicit voting instructions from Contract Owners;
(b) vote the Portfolio shares held in the Accounts in accordance with instructions received from Contract Owners;
(c) vote Portfolio shares held in the Accounts for which no instructions have been received in the same proportion as Portfolio shares for which instructions have been received from Contract 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; and
(d) vote Portfolio shares held in its general account or otherwise in the same proportion as Portfolio shares for which instructions have been received from Contract Owners, so long as and to the extent that the SEC continues to interpret the 1940 Act to require such voting by an insurance company. The Company reserves the right to vote Portfolio shares in its own right, to the extent permitted by law.
4.7. The Company shall be responsible for assuring that each of its separate accounts holding shares of a Portfolio calculates voting privileges as directed by the applicable Fund and agreed to by the Company and the Fund.
4.8. Each Fund will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act requiring voting by shareholders, and in particular each Fund will either provide for annual meetings (except insofar as the SEC may interpret Section 16 of the 1940 Act not to require such meetings) or, as each Fund currently intends, comply with Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act (although no Fund is 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, each Fund will act in accordance with the SEC’s interpretation of the requirements of Section 16(a) with respect to periodic elections of directors or trustees and with whatever rules the SEC may promulgate with respect thereto.
5.1. (a) The Company shall not disclose any information or make any representations or statements relating to a Fund or Portfolio in connection with the sale of the Contracts other than the information, representations or statements contained in the registration statement, including a Fund’s Prospectus or SAI, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in sales literature or other promotional material approved by a Fund, the Distributor and/or the Adviser, except with the prior written consent of the Fund, Distributor and/or Adviser, as applicable.
(b) The Company shall furnish, or cause to be furnished, to each Fund, as applicable, prior to use each piece of sales literature or other promotional material (collectively, “material”) prepared by the Company in which a Fund (or a Portfolio), the Distributor, the Adviser and/or any of their respective affiliates is named or described at least 5 business days prior to its use. No piece of such material shall be used by the Company without the prior approval of the Fund, Distributor and/or Adviser, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld. No material will be used if the Fund, the Distributor or the Adviser reasonably objects to its use within 5 business days following receipt of such material. Notwithstanding the forgoing, the Company may refer to a Fund or Portfolio as part of a list of mutual funds available under the Contracts without such prior approval or furnishing such material to the Fund, Distributor and/or the Adviser. Neither the Funds, Distributor or the Adviser will be responsible for errors or omissions in, or the content of, the Company’s material except to the extent that the error or omission resulted from information provided by or on behalf of the Fund, Distributor or the Adviser.
5.2. (a) Each Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser shall not disclose any information or make any representations on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company, the Accounts, or the Contracts other than the information or representations contained in a registration statement, including the prospectus or SAI, for the Contracts, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in material approved by the Company or their designees, except with the prior written consent of the Company.
(b) Each Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser shall furnish, or cause to be furnished, to the Company prior to use each piece of material prepared by the Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser in which the Company and/or any of its affiliates are named or described at least 5 business days prior to its use. No piece of such material shall be used by the Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser without the prior approval of the Company, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld. The Company agrees that it will use its best efforts to respond promptly to any request by a Fund, the Distributor or the Adviser for such prior approval.
5.3. For purposes of this Article V and Article IX, the phrase “sales literature and 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 media), sales literature (i.e., any written communication distributed or made generally available to customers or the public, including brochures, circulars, research reports, market letters, form letters, seminar texts, reprints or excerpts of any other advertisement, sales literature, or published article), educational or training materials or other communications distributed or made generally available to some or all agents or employees, and shareholder reports, and proxy materials (including solicitations for voting instructions), information statements and any other material constituting sales literature or advertising under the FINRA rules, the 1933 Act or the 0000 Xxx.
5.4. At the request of any party to this Agreement, each other party will make available to the requesting party’s independent auditors and/or representatives of the appropriate regulatory agencies, all records, data and access to operating procedures that may be reasonably requested in connection with compliance and regulatory requirements related to this Agreement or any party’s obligations under this Agreement.
6.1. Each Fund, the Distributor, the Transfer Agent and the Adviser shall pay no fee or other compensation to the Company under this Agreement, and the Company shall pay no fee or other compensation to a Fund, the Distributor, the Transfer Agent or the Adviser under this Agreement; provided, however, that (a) the parties will bear their own expenses as reflected in Schedule C and other provisions of this Agreement, and (b) the parties may enter into other agreements relating to the Company’s investment in a Fund or Portfolio, including services agreements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, pursuant to the distribution plans adopted by each Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act for certain classes of its shares, and as contemplated by Section 3.2(b) of this Agreement, each Fund or Portfolio or class of shares thereof, with the exception of Class IA shares, may pay the Distributor and the Distributor may pay the Underwriter as principal underwriter or distributors of one or more classes of Contracts, or the Company, for activities primarily intended to result in the servicing of Contracts or of the sale/servicing of Portfolio shares to the Accounts through which such Contracts were issued. In addition, if a Fund or Portfolio or any class of shares thereof implements a service fee, such Fund or Portfolio or class of shares thereof shall pay the Company for administrative support services.
7.1. Each Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser represent and warrant that each Fund and each Portfolio thereof will at all times comply with Section 817(h) of the Code and Treasury Regulation §1.817-5 or any other regulations promulgated under Section 817(h), as amended from time to time, and any Treasury interpretations thereof, relating to the diversification requirements for variable annuity, endowment, or life insurance contracts and any amendments or other modifications or successor provisions to such Section or Regulations. Each Fund, the Distributor or the Adviser will notify the Company immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that a Fund or any Portfolio has ceased to comply with the Section 817(h) diversification or might not so comply in the future. To the extent that a Fund or Portfolio ceases to so qualify, the Fund and the Adviser will use their best efforts to take all steps necessary to adequately diversify the affected Portfolio so as to achieve compliance within the grace period afforded by Treasury Regulation §1.817-5.
7.2. Each Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser represent and warrant that each Fund and each Portfolio is currently qualified as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Code, and that each Portfolio will maintain such qualification (under Subchapter M or any successor or similar provisions) as long as this Agreement is in effect. Each Fund, the Distributor or the Adviser will notify the Company immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that a Fund or any Portfolio has ceased to comply with the Subchapter M qualification requirements or might not so comply in the future.
7.3. Without in any way limiting the effect of Sections 9.2, 9.3 and 9.4 hereof and without in any way limiting or restricting any other remedies available to the Company, the Adviser or the Distributor will pay all costs associated with or arising out of any failure, or any anticipated or reasonably foreseeable failure, of a Fund or any Portfolio to comply with Sections 7.1 or 7.2, hereof, including all costs associated with reasonable and appropriate corrections or responses to any such failure; such costs may include, but are not limited to, the costs involved in creating, organizing, and registering a new investment company as a funding medium for the Contracts and/or the costs of obtaining whatever regulatory authorizations are required to substitute shares of another investment company for those of the failed Portfolio (including but not limited to an order pursuant to Section 26(c) of the 1940 Act). In addition, the Distributor or the Adviser shall bear the costs of bringing Contracts into compliance with section 817(h) of the Code following a diversification failure, and the costs of adverse tax consequences to affected Contract holders if the Contracts cannot be brought into compliance.
7.4. The Company agrees that if the IRS asserts in writing in connection with any governmental audit or review of the Company (or, to the Company’s knowledge, of any Contract Owner) that any Portfolio has failed to comply with the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Code or the Company otherwise becomes aware of any facts that could give rise to any claim against a Fund, the Distributor or the Adviser as a result of such a failure or alleged failure:
(a) The Company shall promptly notify the Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser of such assertion or potential claim;
(b) The Company shall consult with the Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser as to how to minimize any liability that may arise as a result of such failure or alleged failure;
(c) The Company shall use its best efforts to minimize any liability of the Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser resulting from such failure, including, without limitation, demonstrating, pursuant to Treasury Regulations, Section 1.817-5(a)(2), to the commissioner of the IRS that such failure was inadvertent;
(d) Any written materials to be submitted by the Company to the IRS, any Contract Owner or any other claimant in connection with any of the foregoing proceedings or contests (including, without limitation, any such materials to be submitted to the IRS pursuant to Treasury Regulations, Section 1.817-5(a)(2)) shall be provided by the Company to the Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser (together with any supporting information or analysis) within a reasonable time after submission;
(e) The Company shall provide the Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser with such cooperation as the Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser shall reasonably request (including, without limitation, by permitting the Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser to review the relevant books and records of the Company) in order to facilitate review by the Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser of any written submissions provided to it or its assessment of the validity or amount of any claim against it arising from such failure or alleged failure;
(f) The Company shall not with respect to any claim of the IRS or any Contract Owner that would give rise to a claim against the Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser (i) compromise or settle any claim, (ii) accept any adjustment on audit, or (iii) forego any allowable administrative or judicial appeals, without the express written consent of the Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser, which shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided that, the Company shall not be required to appeal any adverse judicial
decision unless the Fund and the Adviser shall have provided an opinion of independent counsel to the effect that a reasonable basis exists for taking such appeal; and further provided that the Fund, the Distributor and the Adviser shall bear the costs and expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees, incurred by the Company in complying with this clause (f).
ARTICLE VIII. [reserved]
9.1. Indemnification By The Company
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Fund, each Portfolio, the Distributor, and the Adviser and each of their respective officers and directors or trustees and each person, if any, who controls the Funds, the Distributor or the Adviser within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties” for purposes of this Section 9.1) against any and all losses, claims, expenses, damages and 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 or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, expenses, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements are related, directly or indirectly, to the sale or acquisition of the Fund’s shares or the Contracts and:
(i) | arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements or alleged untrue statements of any material fact contained in the registration statement or prospectus or SAI covering the Contracts or contained in the Contracts or sales literature or other promotional material for the Contracts (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, provided that this Agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the Adviser, Distributor or Fund for use in the registration statement or prospectus for the Contracts or in the Contracts or sales literature or other promotional material (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing) or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Portfolio shares; or |
(ii) | arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other than statements or representations contained in the registration statement, Prospectus, SAI or sales literature or other promotional material of the Fund not supplied by the Company or persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of the Company or persons under its control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Portfolio shares; or |
(iii) | arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a registration statement, Prospectus, SAI, or sales literature or other promotional material of a Fund, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if such a statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished in writing to the Fund by or on behalf of the Company; or |
(iv) | arise as a result of any failure by the Company to provide the services and furnish the materials required under the terms of this Agreement; or |
(v) | arise out of or result from any material breach of this Agreement by the Company, including without limitation Section 3.11 and Section 8.6 hereof, as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 9.1(b) and 9.1(c) hereof. |
(b) The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities or litigation to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of such Indemnified Party’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, or negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party’s duties or by reason of (i) any violation of federal or state securities law, compliance with which is a responsibility of the Adviser under this Agreement or as to which the Advisor failed to inform the Company, or (ii) such Indemnified Party’s reckless disregard of its obligations or duties under this Agreement or to any of the Indemnified Parties.
(c) The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Company in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Company of any such claim shall not relieve the Company from any liability that it may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this indemnification provision, except to the extent that the Company has been prejudiced by such failure to give notice. In case any such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties, the Company shall be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense of such action. The Company also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from the Company to such party of the Company’s election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Company will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
(d) The Indemnified Parties will promptly notify the Company of the commencement of any material litigation or proceedings against them in connection with the issuance or sale of Portfolio shares or the Contracts or the operation of a Fund.
9.2. Indemnification by the Adviser
(a) The Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties” for purposes of this Section 9.2) 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 or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements are related, directly or indirectly, to the sale or acquisition of a Fund’s shares or the Contracts and:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the registration statement or Prospectus or SAI or sales literature or other promotional material of a Fund prepared by the Fund or the Adviser (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, provided that this Agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Adviser or the Fund by or on behalf of the Company for use in the registration statement, Prospectus or SAI for the Fund or in sales literature or other promotional material (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing) or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Portfolio shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other than statements or representations contained in the registration statement, prospectus, SAI or sales literature or other promotional material for the Contracts not supplied by the Fund or the Adviser or persons under their control) or wrongful conduct of a Fund or the Adviser or persons under their control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Portfolio shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a registration statement, prospectus, SAI, or sales literature or other promotional material covering the Contracts, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement or statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the Adviser or a Fund; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by a Fund or the Adviser to provide the services and furnish the materials required under the terms of this Agreement (including a failure, whether unintentional or in good faith or otherwise, to comply with the diversification and other qualification requirements specified in Article VII of this Agreement); or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of this Agreement by the Adviser or the Fund; or
(vi) arise out of or result from the incorrect or untimely calculation or reporting by a Fund or the Adviser of the daily NAV (subject to Section 2.8 of this Agreement) or dividend or capital gain distribution rate;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 9.2(b) and 9.2(c) hereof.
(b) The Adviser shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities or litigation to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of (i) any violation of insurance law, compliance with which is a responsibility of the Company under this Agreement or as to which the Company failed to inform the Adviser or (ii) such Indemnified Party’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, or negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party’s duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party’s reckless disregard of its obligations or duties under this Agreement or to any of the Indemnified Parties.
(c) The Adviser shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Adviser in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Adviser of any such claim shall not relieve the Adviser from any liability that it may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this indemnification provision, except to the extent that the Adviser has been prejudiced by such failure to give notice. In case any such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties, the Adviser will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Adviser also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from the Adviser to such party of the Adviser’s election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Adviser 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.
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(d) The Company agrees promptly to notify the Adviser of the commencement of any material litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers or directors in connection with the issuance or sale of Portfolio shares or the Contracts or the operation of the Account.
9.3. | Indemnification by the Distributor |
(a) The Distributor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties” for purposes of this Section 9.3) against any and all losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Distributor) or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements are related, directly or indirectly, to the sale or acquisition of a Fund’s shares or the Contracts and:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the registration statement or Prospectus or SAI or sales literature or other promotional material of a Fund prepared by the Distributor (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, provided that this Agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Distributor by or on behalf of the Company for use in the registration statement, Prospectus or SAI for a Fund or in sales literature or other promotional material (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing) or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Portfolio shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other than statements or representations contained in the registration statement, prospectus, SAI or sales literature or other promotional material for the Contracts not supplied by the Distributor or persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of the Distributor or persons under its control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Portfolio shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a registration statement, prospectus, SAI, or sales literature or other promotional material covering the Contracts, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement or statements therein not
misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the Distributor; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Distributor to provide the services and furnish the materials required under the terms of this Agreement; or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of this Agreement by the Distributor; or
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 9.3(b) and 9.3(c) hereof.
(b) The Distributor shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities or litigation to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of (i) any violation of insurance law, compliance with which is a responsibility of the Company under this Agreement or as to which the Company failed to inform the Distributor or (ii) such Indemnified Party’s willful misfeasance, bad faith, or negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party’s duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party’s reckless disregard of its obligations or duties under this Agreement or to any of the Indemnified Parties.
(c) The Distributor shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Distributor in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Distributor of any such claim shall not relieve the Distributor from any liability that it may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this indemnification provision, except to the extent that the Distributor has been prejudiced by such failure to give notice. In case any such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties, the Distributor will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Distributor also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from the Distributor to such party of the Distributor’s election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Distributor 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.
(d) The Company agrees promptly to notify the Distributor of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers or directors in connection with the issuance or sale of Portfolio shares or the Contracts or the operation of the Account.
10.1. This Agreement and all related documents including all schedules attached hereto, and all matters arising out of or relating to this Agreement, are governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Connecticut, without regard to the conflict of laws provisions thereof to the extent such principles or rules would require or permit the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than those of the State of Connecticut.
10.2. 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.
ARTICLE XI. Termination
11.1. This Agreement shall terminate:
(a) at the option of any party, with or without cause, with respect to some or all Portfolios, upon sixty (60) days’ prior written notice delivered to the other parties; or
(b) immediately at the option of the Company by written notice to the other parties with respect to any Portfolio based upon the Company’s determination that shares of such Portfolio are not reasonably available to meet the requirements of the Contracts; or
(c) immediately at the option of the Company by written notice to the other parties with respect to any Portfolio in the event any of the Portfolio’s shares are not registered, issued or sold in accordance with applicable state and/or federal law or such law precludes the use of such shares as the underlying investment media of the Contracts issued or to be issued by the Company; or
(d) at the option of a Fund, the Distributor or the Adviser in the event that formal administrative proceedings are instituted against the Company by FINRA, the SEC, the Insurance Commissioner or like official of any state or any other regulatory body regarding the Company’s duties under this Agreement or related to the sale of the Contracts, the operation of any Account, or the purchase of Portfolio shares, if, in each case, the Fund, Distributor or Adviser, as the case may be, reasonably determines in its sole judgment exercised in good faith, that any such administrative proceedings will have a material adverse effect upon the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement; or
(e) at the option of the Company in the event that formal administrative proceedings are instituted against a Fund, the Distributor or the Adviser by FINRA, the SEC, or any state securities or insurance department or any other regulatory body, if the Company reasonably determines in its sole judgment exercised in good faith, that any such administrative proceedings will have a material adverse effect upon the ability of the Fund, the Distributor or the Adviser to perform their obligations under this Agreement; or
(f) at the option of the Company by prior written notice to a Fund with respect to any Portfolio if the Company reasonably believes that the Portfolio will fail to meet the Section 817(h) diversification requirements or Subchapter M qualifications specified in Article VII hereof; or
(g) at the option of any non-defaulting party hereto in the event of a material breach of this Agreement by any party hereto (the “defaulting party”) other than as described in Section 11.1(a)-(h); provided, that the non-defaulting party gives written notice thereof to the defaulting party, with copies of such notice to all other non-defaulting parties, and if such breach shall not have been remedied within thirty (30) days after such written notice is given, then the non-defaulting party giving such written notice may terminate this Agreement by giving thirty (30) days’ written notice of termination to the defaulting party; or
(h) At the option of a Fund or the Adviser if the Contracts cease to qualify as annuity contracts or life insurance contracts, as applicable, under the Code, or if the Fund or Adviser reasonably believe that the Contracts may fail to so qualify; or
(i) At the option of a Fund or the Adviser, if the Contracts are not registered (if registration is required), issued or sold in accordance with applicable federal and/or state law; or
(j) At the option of the party from which consent was not obtained, in the event this Agreement is assigned without the prior written consent of all parties hereto; or
(k) At the option of a Fund, by a vote of the majority of the Fund’s Board, Adviser or Company, upon a reasonable determination by the Fund’s Board that a material irreconcilable conflict exists among the interests of (i) all Contract Owners of all Accounts, or (ii) the interests of participating insurance companies investing in the Portfolio; or
(l) At any time upon written agreement of all parties to this Agreement.
11.2. This Agreement may be terminated as to one or more Funds or one or more Portfolios of a Fund (but less than all Portfolios) by delivery of an amended Schedule A deleting such Fund or Portfolio pursuant to Section 13.12 hereof, in which case termination as to such deleted Fund or Portfolio shall take effect thirty (30) days after the date of such delivery. The execution and delivery of an amended Schedule A that deletes one or more Funds or one or more Portfolios shall constitute a termination of this Agreement only with respect to such deleted Fund or Portfolio and shall not affect the obligations of the Company and any Fund hereunder with respect to the other Funds and Portfolios set forth in Schedule A, as amended from time to time.
11.3. Notice Requirement
No termination of this Agreement or any portion hereof shall 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 shall set forth the basis for the termination. Furthermore,
(a) in the event any termination is based upon the provisions of Section 11.1(a) of this Agreement, the prior written notice shall be given in advance of the effective date of termination as required by those provisions unless such notice period is shortened by mutual written agreement of the parties;
(b) in the event any termination is based upon the provisions of Section 11.1(d), 11.1(e) or 11.1(g) of this Agreement, the prior written notice shall be given at least sixty (60) days before the effective date of termination; and
(c) in the event any termination is based upon the provisions of Section 11.1(b), 11.1(c), 11.1(f), 11.1(h), 11.1(i), 11.1(j) or 11.1(k), the prior written notice shall be given in advance of the effective date of termination, which date shall be determined by the party sending the notice.
11.4. Effect of Termination
Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, other than as a result of a failure by either a Fund or a Portfolio or the Company to meet Section 817(h) of the Code diversification requirements, upon the mutual agreement of the parties hereto, the Fund will continue to make available additional shares of the Fund or Portfolio 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, if the Fund and its designees agree to make additional Portfolio shares available, the owners of the Existing Contracts shall be permitted to reallocate investments in a Fund or Portfolio, redeem investments in a Fund or Portfolio and/or invest in a Fund or Portfolio upon the making of additional purchase payments under the Existing Contracts.
11.5. Surviving Provisions
Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, each party’s obligations under Article IX to indemnify other parties shall survive and not be affected by any termination of this Agreement. In addition, with respect to Existing Contracts, all provisions of this Agreement shall also survive and not be affected by any termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE XII. Notices
Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or certified mail to the other party at the address of such party set forth below or at such other address as such party may from time to time specify in writing to the other parties.
If to the Company:
Xxxxxxx Resolution Life Insurance Company
Xxxxxxx Resolution Life and Annuity Insurance Company
0 Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile No.: [ ]
If to the Adviser:
Hartford Funds Management Company, LLC
000 Xxx Xxxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
If to the Distributor:
Hartford Funds Distributors, LLC
000 Xxx Xxxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
If to the Transfer Agent:
Hartford Administrative Services Company
000 Xxx Xxxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
If to a Fund or a Portfolio:
000 Xxx Xxxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: General Counsel
ARTICLE XIII. Miscellaneous
13.1. Confidentiality. The parties hereto agree that each shall treat confidentially all information provided by one party to one or more of the other parties regarding its business and operations. All confidential information provided by a party hereto, including non-public personal information within the meaning of SEC Regulation S-P and/or the Xxxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Act, whichever is applicable, shall be used by any other party hereto solely for the purpose of rendering services pursuant to this Agreement and, except as may be required in carrying out this Agreement, shall not be disclosed to any third party without the prior written consent of the other party. Without limiting the foregoing, no party hereto shall disclose any information that another party has designated as proprietary. The foregoing shall not be applicable to any information that is required to be disclosed by any auditor of the parties hereto, by judicial or administrative process or otherwise by applicable law or regulation.
13.2. Captions. 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. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
13.4. Interpretation. In connection with the operation of this Agreement, the Company, the Adviser, the Distributor and any Fund may agree from time to time on such provisions interpretative of or in addition to the provisions of this Agreement with respect to any party as may in their joint opinion be consistent with the general tenor of this Agreement. Any such interpretative or additional provisions shall be in a writing signed by all parties and shall be annexed hereto, provided that no such interpretative or additional provisions shall contravene any applicable federal or state regulations or any provision of the articles of incorporation or analogous governing document of any party. No interpretative or additional provisions made as provided in the preceding sentence shall be deemed to be an amendment of this Agreement or affect any other party.
13.5. Survival of Terms. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
13.6. Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding on and shall inure to the benefit of each Portfolio (severally), the Distributor, the Adviser and the Company, and their respective successors and assigns, provided that neither the Company, the Distributor, the Adviser nor any Fund, on behalf of a respective Portfolio, may assign this Agreement or any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other parties; provided, further, that it is hereby understood and acknowledged that third-party servicing agents may carry-out certain duties of respective parties hereto, but in such cases the parties hereto retain liability and ultimate obligations of performance hereunder.
13.7. Each party to this Agreement will maintain all records required by law and 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 hereto shall cooperate with each other party and all appropriate governmental authorities (including without limitation the SEC, FINRA and state insurance regulators) and shall permit such authorities reasonable access to its books and records in connection with any investigation or inquiry relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
13.8. 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.
13.9. The Company agrees that the obligations assumed by each Fund, each Portfolio, the Distributor and the Adviser pursuant to this Agreement shall be limited in any case to the applicable Fund or Portfolio, the Distributor and/or the Adviser and their respective assets and the Company shall not seek satisfaction of any such obligation from any other Fund or Portfolio, from the shareholders of any Fund or Portfolio, or
from the Distributor or the Adviser, the Directors, officers, employees or agents of the Fund, the Distributor or the Adviser, or any of them.
13.10. The Funds, the Distributor and the Adviser agree that the obligations assumed by the Company pursuant to this Agreement shall be limited in any case to the Company and its assets and neither the Funds, the Distributor nor the Adviser shall seek satisfaction of any such obligation from the shareholders of the Company or the directors, officers, employees or agents of the Company.
13.11. No provision of this Agreement may be waived, amended or terminated except by a statement in writing signed by the party against which enforcement of such waiver, amendment or termination is sought; provided, Schedule A may be amended from time to time to add one or more Funds or one or more Portfolios of one or more Funds, by each applicable Fund's execution and delivery to the other parties of an amended Schedule A, and the execution of such amended Schedule A by the other parties, in which case such amendment shall take effect immediately upon execution by the other parties. Schedule A may also be amended from time to time to delete one or more Funds or one or more Portfolios (but less than all of the Portfolios) of one or more Funds, by each applicable Fund's execution and delivery to the other parties of an amended Schedule A, in which case such amendment shall take effect thirty (30) days after such delivery, unless otherwise agreed by the parties in writing.
13.12. No provision of this Agreement may be deemed or construed to modify or supersede any contractual rights, duties, or indemnifications, as between the Adviser and one or more Funds, and the Distributor and one or more Funds.
13.13. The parties mutually acknowledge that this Agreement represents the collective drafting efforts of each party and therefore any ambiguity shall not be interpreted against the interests of any party.
Next page is signature page.
XXXXXXX RESOLUTION LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By its authorized officer,
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: XX
XXXXXXX RESOLUTION LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
By its authorized officer,
By: /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: VP
HARTFORD FUNDS MANAGEMENT COMPANY, LLC
By its authorized officer,
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Name:
Title:
Hartford FUNDS DISTRIBUTORS, LLC
By its authorized officer,
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Name:
Title:
Hartford ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES COMPANY
By its authorized officer,
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Name:
Title:
Each Investment Company Listed on Schedule A
By its authorized officer,
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxx
Name:
Title:
SCHEDULE A
LIST OF PORTFOLIOS
Series of Hartford Series Fund, Inc. | CLASS IA SHARES | CLASS IB SHARES | ||
TICKER SYMBOL | CUSIP | TICKER SYMBOL | CUSIP | |
Hartford Balanced HLS Fund | HADAX | 416528875 | HAIBX | 416528818 |
Hartford Capital Appreciation HLS Fund | HIACX | 416528107 | HIBCX | 416528768 |
Hartford Disciplined Equity HLS Fund | HIAGX | 416528404 | hbgix | 416528669 |
Hartford Dividend and Growth HLS Fund | Hiadx | 416528206 | hdgBx | 416528776 |
Hartford Global Growth HLS Fund | HGIAX | 416528305 | HBGLX | 416528628 |
Hartford Healthcare HLS Fund | HIAHX | 416528719 | HBGHX | 416528693 |
Hartford High Yield HLS Fund | hiayx | 416528842 | hbhyx | 416528644 |
Hartford International Opportunities HLS Fund | HIAOX | 416528602 | HBIOX | 416528891 |
Hartford MidCap HLS Fund | HIMCX | 416528701 | HBMCX | 416528677 |
Hartford MidCap Value HLS Fund | HSCGX | 416528529 | HBSCX | 416528511 |
Hartford Small Company HLS Fund | HIASX | 416528800 | HdmBX | 416528784 |
Hartford Stock HLS Fund | HSTAX | 416528883 | HIBSX | 416528750 |
Hartford Total Return Bond HLS Fund | HIABX | 416528859 | HBNBX | 416528792 |
Hartford Ultrashort Bond HLS Fund | HUBAX | 416528826 | HUBBX | 416528743 |
Hartford Value HLS Fund | HIAVX | 416528487 | HBVLX | 416528461 |
Series of Hartford HLS Series Fund II, Inc. | CLASS IA SHARES | CLASS IB SHARES | ||
TICKER SYMBOL | CUSIP | TICKER SYMBOL | CUSIP | |
Hartford Growth Opportunities HLS Fund | HAGOX | 416528313 | HBGOX | 416528255 |
Hartford Small Cap Growth HLS Fund | HISCX | 416528289 | HBSGX | 416528230 |
Hartford Small/Mid Cap Equity HLS Fund | HMCSX | 416528354 | HMCVX | 00000X000 |
Hartford U.S. Government Securities HLS Fund | HAUSX | 416528453 | HBUSX | 416528248 |
SCHEDULE B
LIST OF ACCOUNTS
Xxxxxxx Resolution Life and Annuity Insurance Company
Separate Account One
Separate Account Three
Separate Account Seven
ICMG Registered Variable Life Separate Account One
Xxxxxxx Resolution Life Insurance Company
Separate Account Two
Separate Account Three
Separate Account Seven
ICMG Registered Variable Life Separate Account A
PPVA I Separate Account (Unreg)
ICMG Series VII Separate Account (Unreg)
ICMG Series IID Separate Account (Unreg)
ICMG Series IID Separate Account (Unreg)
ICMG Series IIIB Separate Account (Unreg)
ICMG Series II Separate Account (Unreg)
ICMG Series VIII Separate Account (Unreg)
ICMG Series VII Separate Account (Unreg)
Union Security Insurance Company Variable Separate Account D
Union Security Life Insurance Company of New York Separate Account A
SCHEDULE C
Each Fund and/or the Distributor and/or Adviser, and the Company will coordinate the functions and pay the costs of the completing these functions based upon an allocation of costs in the tables below. Costs shall be allocated to reflect a Fund’s share of the total costs determined according to the number of pages of the Fund’s respective portions of the documents.
Item | Function | Party Responsible for Expense | |
Printing of combined prospectuses | Company | Current - Fund Prospective - Company | |
Distribution (including postage) to New and Current Clients | Company | Fund | |
Distribution (including postage) to Prospective Clients | Company | Company | |
Product Prospectus | Printing and Distribution for Current and Prospective Clients | Company | Company |
Item | Function | Party Responsible for Expense | |
If Required by Fund, Distributor or Adviser | Distributor or Adviser | Fund, Distributor or Adviser | |
If Required by Company | Company (Distributor or Adviser to provide Company with document in PDF format) | Company | |
Product Prospectus Update & Distribution | If Required by Fund, Distributor or Adviser | Company | Fund, Distributor or Adviser |
If Required by Company | Company | Company | |
HLS Mutual Fund SAI | Printing | Distributor or Adviser | Fund, Distributor or Adviser |
Distribution (including postage) | Company | Company | |
Product SAI | Printing | Company | Company |
Distribution | Company | Company | |
Proxy Material for HLS Mutual Fund | Printing if proxy required by Law | Distributor or Adviser | Fund, Distributor or Adviser |
Distribution (including labor) if proxy required by Law | Company | Fund, Distributor or Adviser | |
Printing & distribution if required by Company | Company | Company | |
HLS Mutual Fund Annual & Semi-Annual Report | Printing of reports | Distributor or Adviser | Fund, Distributor or Adviser |
Item | Function | Party Responsible for Expense | |
Distribution | Company | Fund, Distributor or Adviser | |
Other communication to New and Prospective clients | If Required by the Fund, Distributor or Adviser | Company | Fund, Distributor or Adviser |
If Required by Company | Company | Company | |
Other communication to Current | Distribution (including labor and printing) if required by the Fund, Distributor or Adviser | Company | Fund, Distributor or Adviser |
Distribution (including labor and printing) if required by Company | Company | Company | |
Errors in Share Price calculation pursuant to Section 1.10 | Cost of error to participants | Company | Fund or Adviser |
Cost of reasonable expenses related to administrative work to correct error | Company | Fund or Adviser |
Item | Function | Party Responsible for Expense | |
All operations and related expenses, including the cost of registration and qualification of shares, taxes on the issuance or transfer of shares, cost of management of the business affairs of the Fund, and expenses paid or assumed by the fund pursuant to any Rule 12b-1 plan | Distributor or Adviser | Fund or Adviser | |
Operations of the Accounts | Federal registration of units of separate account (24f-2 fees) | Company | Company |
SCHEDULE D
Rule 22c-2 Agreement
AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of _____________, 2018, by and between Hartford Administrative Services Company (“Fund Agent”), on behalf of the series (each a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”) of each of Hartford Series Fund, Inc. and Hartford HLS Series Fund II, Inc. (each a “Registrant” and collectively, the “Registrants”), and ____________________ (“Intermediary”). Unless otherwise indicated, capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to them herein.
1. Shareholder Information
1.1. | Agreement to Provide Information. Intermediary agrees to provide the Funds and their designee, upon written request, the taxpayer identification number (“TIN”), if known, of any or all Shareholder(s) of the account and the amount, date, name or other identifier of any investment professional(s) associated with the Shareholder(s) or account (if known), and transaction type (purchase, redemption, transfer, or exchange) of every purchase, redemption, transfer, or exchange of Shares held through an account maintained by Intermediary during the period covered by the request, plus any other data mutually agreed upon in writing. |
1.1.1 Period Covered by Request. Requests must set forth a specific period, not to exceed 180 days from the date of the request, for which transaction information is sought. The Funds and their designee may request transaction information older than 180 days from the date of the request as it deems necessary to investigate compliance with policies established by the Fund for the purpose of eliminating or reducing any dilution of the value of the outstanding shares issued by the Funds.
1.1.2 Form and Timing of Response. Intermediary agrees to transmit the requested information that is on its books and records to the Funds or their designee promptly, but in any event not later than 5 business days, after receipt of a request. If the requested information is not on Intermediary’s books and records, Intermediary agrees to: (i) provide or arrange to provide to the Funds and their designee the requested information from shareholders who hold an account with an indirect intermediary; or; (ii) if directed by the Funds or their designee, block further purchases of Fund Shares from such indirect intermediary. In such instance, Intermediary agrees to inform the Funds whether it plans to perform (i) or (ii). Responses required by this paragraph must be communicated in writing and in a format mutually agreed upon by the parties. To the extent practicable, the format for any transaction information provided to the Funds and their designee should be consistent with the NSCC Standardized Data Reporting Format. For purposes of this provision, the term indirect intermediary has the same meaning as in Rule 22c-2 under the 1940 Act.
1.1.3 Limitations on Use of Information. The Funds agree not to use the information received for marketing or any other similar purpose without the prior written consent of Intermediary.
1.2 | Agreement to Restrict Trading. Intermediary agrees to execute written instructions from the Funds to restrict or prohibit further purchases or exchanges of Shares by a Shareholder that has been identified by the Funds as having engaged in transactions of any of the Funds’ Shares (directly or indirectly through Intermediary’s account) that violate policies established by the Funds for the purpose of eliminating or reducing any dilution of the value of the outstanding Shares issued by the Funds. Instructions will be deemed delivered when sent to Intermediary at the following address, or such other address communicated to Fund Agent in writing from time to time. |
Compliance Department Contact Information
Contact Name: Xxx L’Esperance
Title: Director of Compliance
E-mail Address (required): xxxxx.xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Phone Number: 000-000-0000
Mailing Address 0 Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Operations Department Contact Information
Contact Name: Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: Compliance Specialist
E-mail Address (required): xxxxxxxxx.xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
Phone Number 000-000-0000
Mailing Address 0 Xxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
1.2.1 Form of Instructions. Instructions must include the TIN, if known, and the specific restriction(s) to be executed, including how long such restriction(s) are to remain in place. If the TIN is not known, the instructions must include an equivalent identifying number of the Shareholder(s) or account(s) or other agreed upon information to which the instruction relates.
1.2.2 Timing of Response. Intermediary agrees to execute instructions as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than five business days after receipt of the instructions by Intermediary.
1.2.3 Confirmation by Intermediary. Intermediary must provide written confirmation to the Funds that instructions have been executed. Intermediary agrees to provide confirmation as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than ten business days after the instructions have been executed. Intermediary agrees to deliver requested information to the Funds’ e-mail address below:
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
1.3 | Other Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement: |
1.3.1 The term “Fund” does not include any “excepted funds” as defined in SEC Rule 22c-2(b) under the 0000 Xxx.
1.3.2 The term “Shares” means the interests of Shareholders corresponding to the redeemable securities of record issued by the Funds under the 1940 Act that are held by Intermediary.1.3.3 The term “Shareholder” means the beneficial owner of Shares, whether the Shares are held directly or by Intermediary in nominee name, includes the holder of interests in a variable annuity or variable life insurance contract issued by
Intermediary, and means the plan participant notwithstanding that the certain plans may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of Shares.
1.3.4 The term “written” includes electronic writings and facsimile transmissions.
2. Miscellaneous
2.1 | Construction of the Agreement. The parties have entered into one or more agreements between or among them for the purchase and redemption of shares of the Funds. This Agreement is intended to supplement such agreements with respect to the subject matter hereof. To the extent the terms of this Agreement conflict with the terms of any other agreements between the parties, the terms of this Agreement shall control. |
2.2 | Cooperation and Good Faith Problem Resolution. The parties agree to cooperate in good faith to observe the procedures set forth in this agreement. In the event of any material disagreement over a party’s performance of this agreement, the parties agree to notify each other and further agree that they shall make good faith efforts to cooperate and to resolve such problem or disagreement and to allow each other a period of not less than 60 days to resolve such disagreement to the reasonable satisfaction of the other. |
2.3 | Amendment. This Agreement may be modified or amended, and the terms of this Agreement may be waived, only by a writing signed by the parties. |
1. | Governing Law. This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland. |
2. | Successors and Assigns. The Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon each of the undersigned and their respective successors and assigns. |
Hartford administrative services Company on behalf of the series of
Hartford Series Fund, Inc. and
Hartford HLS Series Fund II, Inc.
By: __________________________
Name: ________________________
Title: ________________________
__________________________________
Firm Name
By: __________________________
Name: ________________________
Title: ________________________