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EXHIBIT 8(e)
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
AMONG
FARMERS NEW WORLD LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY,
PIMCO VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST,
AND
PIMCO FUNDS DISTRIBUTORS LLC
THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of the _____ day of March, 2000, by and among
Farmers New World Life Insurance Company (the "Company"), a Washington life
insurance company, on its own behalf and on behalf of each segregated asset
account of the Company set forth on Schedule A hereto as may be amended from
time to time (each account hereinafter referred to as the "Account"), PIMCO
Variable Insurance Trust (the "Fund"), a Delaware business trust, and PIMCO
Funds Distributors LLC (the "Underwriter"), a Delaware limited liability
company.
WHEREAS, the Fund engages in business as an open-end management
investment company and is available to act as the investment vehicle for
separate accounts established for variable life insurance and variable annuity
contracts (the "Variable Insurance Products") to be offered by insurance
companies which have entered into participation agreements with the Fund and
Underwriter ("Participating Insurance Companies");
WHEREAS, the shares of beneficial interest of the Fund are divided
into several series of shares, each designated a "Portfolio" and representing
the interest in a particular managed portfolio of securities and other assets;
WHEREAS, the Fund has obtained an order from the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") granting Participating Insurance Companies and
variable annuity and variable life insurance separate accounts exemptions from
the provisions of sections 9(a), 13(a), 15(a), and 15(b) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the "1940 Act") and Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and
6e-3(T)(b)(15) thereunder, if and to the extent necessary to permit shares of
the Fund to be sold to and held by variable annuity and variable life insurance
separate accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated life insurance companies
(the "Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order");
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the 1940 Act and shares of the Portfolios are registered under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act");
WHEREAS, Pacific Investment Management Company (the "Adviser"), which
serves as investment adviser to the Fund, is duly registered as an investment
adviser under the federal Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended;
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WHEREAS, the Company has issued or will issue certain variable life
insurance and/or variable annuity contracts supported wholly or partially by
the Account (the "Contracts"), and said Contracts are listed in Schedule A
hereto, as it may be amended from time to time by mutual written agreement;
WHEREAS, the Account is duly established and maintained as a
segregated asset account, duly established by the Company, on the date shown
for such Account on Schedule A hereto, to set aside and invest assets
attributable to the aforesaid Contracts;
WHEREAS, the Underwriter, which serves as distributor to the Fund, is
registered as a broker dealer with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and is a member in good standing of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD"); and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Company intends to purchase shares in the Portfolios listed in
Schedule A hereto, as it may be amended from time to time by mutual written
agreement (the "Designated Portfolios") on behalf of the Account to fund the
aforesaid Contracts, and the Underwriter is authorized to sell such shares to
the Account at net asset value.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the
Company, the Fund and the Underwriter agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. Sale of Fund Shares
1.1. The Fund has granted to the Underwriter exclusive authority
to distribute the Fund's shares, and has agreed to instruct, and has so
instructed, the Underwriter to make available to the Company for purchase on
behalf of the Account Fund shares of those Designated Portfolios selected by
the Underwriter. Pursuant to such authority and instructions, and subject to
Article X hereof, the Underwriter agrees to make available to the Company for
purchase on behalf of the Account, shares of those Designated Portfolios listed
on Schedule A to this Agreement, such purchases to be effected at net asset
value in accordance with Section 1.3 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, (i) Fund series (other than those listed on Schedule A) in existence
now or that may be established in the future will be made available to the
Company only as the Underwriter may so provide, and (ii) the Board of Trustees
of the Fund (the "Board") may suspend or terminate the offering of Fund shares
of any Designated Portfolio or class thereof, if such action is required by law
or by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction or if, in the sole discretion
of the Board acting in good faith and in light of its fiduciary duties under
federal and any applicable state laws, suspension or termination is necessary
in the best interests of the shareholders of such Designated Portfolio.
1.2. The Fund shall redeem, at the Company's request, any full or
fractional Designated Portfolio shares held by the Company on behalf of the
Account, such redemptions to
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be effected at net asset value in accordance with Section 1.3 of this
Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Company shall not redeem Fund
shares attributable to Contract owners except in the circumstances permitted in
Section 10.3 of this Agreement, and (ii) the Fund may delay redemption of Fund
shares of any Designated Portfolio to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, and
any rules, regulations or orders thereunder.
1.3. Purchase and Redemption Procedures
(a) The Fund hereby appoints the Company as an agent of
the Fund for the limited purpose of receiving purchase and redemption requests
on behalf of the Account (but not with respect to any Fund shares that may be
held in the general account of the Company) for shares of those Designated
Portfolios made available hereunder, based on allocations of amounts to the
Account or subaccounts thereof under the Contracts and other transactions
relating to the Contracts or the Account. Receipt of any such request (or
relevant transactional information therefor) on any day the New York Stock
Exchange is open for trading and on which the Fund calculates its net asset
value pursuant to the rules of the SEC (a "Business Day") by the Company as
such limited agent of the Fund prior to the time that the Fund ordinarily
calculates its net asset value as described from time to time in the Fund
Prospectus (which as of the date of execution of this Agreement is 4:00 p.m.
Eastern Time) shall constitute receipt by the Fund on that same Business Day,
provided that the Fund receives notice of such request by 9:30 a.m. Eastern
Time on the next following Business Day.
(b) The Company shall pay for shares of each Designated
Portfolio on the same day that it notifies the Fund of a purchase request for
such shares. Payment for Designated Portfolio shares shall be made in federal
funds transmitted to the Fund by wire to be received by the Fund by 4:00 p.m.
Eastern Time on the day the Fund is notified of the purchase request for
Designated Portfolio shares (unless the Fund determines and so advises the
Company that sufficient proceeds are available from redemption of shares of
other Designated Portfolios effected pursuant to redemption requests tendered
by the Company on behalf of the Account). If federal funds are not received on
time, such funds will be invested, and Designated Portfolio shares purchased
thereby will be issued, as soon as practicable and the Company shall promptly,
upon the Fund's request, reimburse the Fund for any charges, costs, fees,
interest or other expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with any advances
to, or borrowing or overdrafts by, the Fund, or any similar expenses incurred
by the Fund, as a result of portfolio transactions effected by the Fund based
upon such purchase request. Upon receipt of federal funds so wired, such funds
shall cease to be the responsibility of the Company and shall become the
responsibility of the Fund.
(c) Payment for Designated Portfolio shares redeemed by
the Account or the Company shall be made in federal funds transmitted by wire
to the Company or any other designated person on the next Business Day after
the Fund is properly notified of the redemption order of such shares (unless
redemption proceeds are to be applied to the purchase of shares of other
Designated Portfolios in accordance with Section 1.3(b) of this Agreement),
except that the
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Fund reserves the right to redeem Designated Portfolio shares in assets other
than cash and to delay payment of redemption proceeds to the extent permitted
under Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act and any Rules thereunder, and in accordance
with the procedures and policies of the Fund as described in the then current
prospectus. The Fund shall not bear any responsibility whatsoever for the
proper disbursement or crediting of redemption proceeds by the Company; the
Company alone shall be responsible for such action.
(d) Any purchase or redemption request for Designated
Portfolio shares held or to be held in the Company's general account shall be
effected at the closing net asset value per share next determined after the
Fund's receipt of such request, provided that, in the case of a purchase
request, payment for Fund shares so requested is received by the Fund in
federal funds prior to close of business for determination of such value, as
defined from time to time in the Fund Prospectus.
1.4. The Fund shall use its best efforts to make the closing net
asset value per share for each Designated Portfolio available to the Company by
7:00 p.m. Eastern Time each Business Day, and in any event, as soon as
reasonably practicable after the closing net asset value per share for such
Designated Portfolio is calculated, and shall calculate such closing net asset
value in accordance with the Fund's Prospectus. In the event the Fund is unable
to make the 7:00 p.m. deadline stated herein, it shall provide additional time
for the Company to place orders for the purchase and redemption of shares. Such
additional time shall be equal to the additional time which the Fund takes to
make the closing net asset value available to the Company. Neither the Fund,
any Designated Portfolio, the Underwriter, nor any of their affiliates shall be
liable for any information provided to the Company pursuant to this Agreement
which information is based on incorrect information supplied by the Company or
any other Participating Insurance Company to the Fund or the Underwriter.
1.5. The Fund shall furnish notice (by wire or telephone followed
by written confirmation) to the Company as soon as reasonably practicable of
any income dividends or capital gain distributions payable on any Designated
Portfolio shares. The Company, on its behalf and on behalf of the Account,
hereby elects to receive all such dividends and distributions as are payable on
any Designated Portfolio shares in the form of additional shares of that
Designated Portfolio. The Company reserves the right, on its behalf and on
behalf of the Account, to revoke this election and to receive all such
dividends and capital gain distributions in cash. The Fund shall notify the
Company promptly of the number of Designated Portfolio shares so issued as
payment of such dividends and distributions.
1.6. Issuance and transfer of Fund shares shall be by book entry
only. Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or the Account.
Purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares shall be recorded in an
appropriate ledger for the Account or the appropriate subaccount of the
Account.
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1.7. (a) The parties hereto acknowledge that the arrangement
contemplated by this Agreement is not exclusive; the Fund's shares may be sold
to other insurance companies (subject to Section 1.8 hereof) and the cash value
of the Contracts may be invested in other investment companies, provided,
however, that until this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Article X, the
Company shall promote the Designated Portfolios on the same basis as other
funding vehicles available under the Contracts. Funding vehicles other than
those listed on Schedule A to this Agreement may be available for the
investment of the cash value of the Contracts, provided, however, (i) any such
vehicle or series thereof, has investment objectives or policies that are
substantially different from the investment objectives and policies of the
Designated Portfolios available hereunder; (ii) the Company gives the Fund and
the Underwriter 45 days written notice of its intention to make such other
investment vehicle available as a funding vehicle for the Contracts; and (iii)
unless such other investment company was available as a Funding vehicle for the
Contracts prior to the date of this Agreement and the Company has so informed
the Fund and the Underwriter prior to their signing this Agreement, the Fund or
Underwriter consents in writing to the use of such other vehicle, such consent
not to be unreasonably withheld.
(b) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the
Underwriter (unless otherwise required by applicable law), take any action to
operate the Account as a management investment company under the 1940 Act.
(c) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the
Underwriter (unless otherwise required by applicable law), induce Contract
owners to change or modify the Fund or change the Fund's distributor or
investment adviser.
(d) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the
Fund, induce Contract owners to vote on any matter submitted for consideration
by the shareholders of the Fund in a manner other than as recommended by the
Board of Trustees of the Fund.
1.8. The Underwriter and the Fund shall sell Fund shares only to
Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts and to persons or
plans ("Qualified Persons") that communicate to the Underwriter and the Fund
that they qualify to purchase shares of the Fund under Section 817(h) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and the regulations
thereunder without impairing the ability of the Account to consider the
portfolio investments of the Fund as constituting investments of the Account
for the purpose of satisfying the diversification requirements of Section
817(h). The Underwriter and the Fund shall not sell Fund shares to any
insurance company or separate account unless an agreement complying with
Article VI of this Agreement is in effect to govern such sales, to the extent
required. The Company hereby represents and warrants that it and the Account
are Qualified Persons. The Fund reserves the right to cease offering shares of
any Designated Portfolio in the discretion of the Fund.
1.9. The Fund will provide notice of any material error in
calculation of net asset value per share, dividend or capital gain information
of a Designated Portfolio as soon as reasonably
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practical after discovery thereof. Any such notice will state for each day for
which an error occurred, the incorrect price, the correct price, and the reason
for the price change. The Fund will make the Company and the Account whole for
any payments or adjustments to the number of shares in the Account that are
reasonably demonstrated to be required as a result of pricing errors. Such
payments from the Fund shall include any additional processing costs that are
reasonably incurred by the Company as a result of the Fund's pricing errors.
ARTICLE II. Representations and Warranties
2.1. The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts (a)
are, or prior to issuance will be, registered under the 1933 Act, or (b) are
not registered because they are properly exempt from registration under the
1933 Act or will be offered exclusively in transactions that are properly
exempt from registration under the 1933 Act. The Company further represents and
warrants that the Contracts will be issued and sold in compliance in all
material respects with all applicable federal securities and state securities
and insurance laws and that the sale of the Contracts shall comply in all
material respects with state insurance suitability requirements. The Company
further represents and warrants that it is an insurance company duly organized
and in good standing under applicable law, that it has legally and validly
established the Account prior to any issuance or sale thereof as a segregated
asset account under Washington insurance laws, and that it (a) has registered
or, prior to any issuance or sale of the Contracts, will register the Account
as a unit investment trust in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act to
serve as a segregated investment account for the Contracts, or alternatively
(b) has not registered the Account in proper reliance upon an exclusion from
registration under the 1940 Act. The Company shall register and qualify the
Contracts or interests therein as securities in accordance with the laws of the
various states only if and to the extent deemed advisable by the Company.
2.2. The Fund represents and warrants that Fund shares sold
pursuant to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act, duly
authorized for issuance and sold in compliance with applicable state and
federal securities laws and that the Fund is and shall remain registered under
the 0000 Xxx. The Fund shall amend the registration statement for its shares
under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act from time to time as required in order to
effect the continuous offering of its shares. The Fund shall register and
qualify the shares for sale in accordance with the laws of the various states
only if and to the extent deemed advisable by the Fund or the Underwriter.
2.3. The Fund may make payments to finance distribution expenses
pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Prior to financing distribution
expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1, the Fund will have the Board, a majority of
whom are not interested persons of the Fund, formulate and approve a plan
pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act to finance distribution expenses.
2.4. The Fund represents that it shall register and qualify its
shares for sale in accordance with the laws of the various states, as
necessary.
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2.5. The Fund represents that it is lawfully organized and validly
existing under the laws of the State of Delaware and that it does and will
comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act.
2.6. The Underwriter represents and warrants that it is a member
in good standing of the NASD and is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC.
The Underwriter further represents that it will sell and distribute the Fund
shares in accordance with any applicable state and federal securities laws.
2.7. The Fund and the Underwriter represent and warrant that all
of their trustees/directors, officers, employees, investment advisers, and
other individuals or entities dealing with the money and/or securities of the
Fund are and shall continue to be at all times covered by a blanket fidelity
bond or similar coverage for the benefit of the Fund in an amount not less than
the minimum coverage as required currently by Rule 17g-1 of the 1940 Act or
related provisions as may be promulgated from time to time. The aforesaid bond
shall include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a
reputable bonding company.
2.8. The Company represents and warrants that all of its officers,
employees, and other individuals/entities employed or controlled by the Company
dealing with the money and/or securities of the Account are covered by a
blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage for the benefit of the Account, in an
amount not less than $5 million. The aforesaid bond includes coverage for
larceny and embezzlement and is issued by a reputable bonding company. The
Company agrees to hold for the benefit of the Fund and to pay to the Fund any
amounts lost from larceny, embezzlement or other events covered by the
aforesaid bond to the extent such amounts properly belong to the Fund pursuant
to the terms of this Agreement. The Company agrees to make all reasonable
efforts to see that this bond or another bond containing these provisions is
always in effect, and agrees to notify the Fund and the Underwriter in the
event that such coverage no longer applies.
ARTICLE III. Prospectuses and Proxy Statements; Voting
3.1. The Underwriter shall provide the Company with as many copies
of the Fund's current prospectus (describing only the Designated Portfolios
listed on Schedule A) or, to the extent permitted, the Fund's profiles as the
Company may reasonably request. The Company shall bear the expense of printing
copies of the current prospectus and profiles for the Contracts that will be
distributed to existing Contract owners, and the Company shall bear the expense
of printing copies of the Fund's prospectus and profiles that are used in
connection with offering the Contracts issued by the Company. If requested by
the Company in lieu thereof, the Fund shall provide such documentation
(including a final copy of the new prospectus on diskette at the Fund's
expense) and other assistance as is reasonably necessary in order for the
Company once each year (or more frequently if the prospectus for the Fund is
amended) to have the prospectus for the Contracts and the Fund's prospectus or
profile printed together in one document (such printing to be at the Company's
expense).
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3.2. The Fund's prospectus shall state that the current Statement
of Additional Information ("SAI") for the Fund is available, and the
Underwriter (or the Fund), at its expense, shall provide a reasonable number of
copies of such SAI free of charge to the Company for itself and for any owner
of a Contract who requests such SAI.
3.3. The Fund shall provide the Company with information regarding
the Fund's expenses, which information may include a table of fees and related
narrative disclosure for use in any prospectus or other descriptive document
relating to a Contract. The Company agrees that it will use such information in
the form provided. The Company shall provide prior written notice of any
proposed modification of such information, which notice will describe the
manner in which the Company proposes to modify the information, and agrees that
it may not modify the substance of such information without the prior consent
of the Fund.
3.4. The Fund, at its expense, shall provide the Company with
copies of its proxy material, reports to shareholders, and other communications
to shareholders in such quantity as the Company shall reasonably require for
distributing to Contract owners.
3.5. The Company shall:
(i) solicit voting instructions from Contract owners;
(ii) vote the Fund shares in accordance with instructions
received from Contract owners; and
(iii) vote Fund shares for which no instructions have been
received in the same proportion as Fund shares of
such portfolio for which instructions have been
received,
so long as and to the extent that the SEC continues to interpret the 1940 Act
to require pass-through voting privileges for variable contract owners or to
the extent otherwise required by law. The Company will vote Fund shares held in
any segregated asset account in the same proportion as Fund shares of such
portfolio for which voting instructions have been received from Contract
owners, to the extent permitted by law.
3.6. Participating Insurance Companies shall be responsible for
assuring that each of their separate accounts participating in a Designated
Portfolio calculates voting privileges as required by the Shared Funding
Exemptive Order and consistent with any reasonable standards that the Fund may
adopt and provide in writing.
ARTICLE IV. Sales Material and Information
4.1. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to
the Fund or its designee, each piece of sales literature or other promotional
material that the Company develops
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and in which the Fund (or a Designated Portfolio thereof) or the Adviser or the
Underwriter is named. No such material shall be used if the Fund or its
designee objects to such sales literature or promotional material within five
Business Days after receipt of such material. The Fund or its designee reserves
the right to reasonably object to the continued use of any such sales
literature or other promotional material in which the Fund (or a Designated
Portfolio thereof) or the Adviser or the Underwriter is named, and no such
material shall be used if the Fund or its designee so object.
4.2. The Company shall not give any information or make any
representations or statements on behalf of the Fund or concerning the Fund or
the Adviser or the Underwriter in connection with the sale of the Contracts
other than the information or representations contained in the registration
statement or profiles or prospectus or SAI for the Fund shares, as such
registration statement and profiles and prospectus or SAI may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, or in reports or proxy statements for the Fund,
or in sales literature or other promotional material approved by the Fund or
its designee or by the Underwriter, except with the permission of the Fund or
the Underwriter or the designee of either.
4.3. The Fund and the Underwriter, or their designee, shall
furnish, or cause to be furnished, to the Company, each piece of sales
literature or other promotional material that it develops and in which the
Company, and/or its Account, is named. No such material shall be used if the
Company objects to such sales literature or promotional material within five
Business Days after receipt of such material. The Company reserves the right to
reasonably object to the continued use of any such sales literature or other
promotional material in which the Company and/or its Account is named, and no
such material shall be used if the Company so objects.
4.4. The Fund and the Underwriter shall not give any information
or make any representations on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company,
the Account, or the Contracts other than the information or representations
contained in a registration statement and prospectus (which shall include an
offering memorandum, if any, if the Contracts issued by the Company or
interests therein are not registered under the 1933 Act), or SAI for the
Contracts, as such registration statement, prospectus, or SAI may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, or in published reports for the Account which
are in the public domain or approved by the Company for distribution to
Contract owners, or in sales literature or other promotional material approved
by the Company or its designee, except with the permission of the Company.
4.5. The Fund will provide to the Company at least one complete
copy of all registration statements, profiles, prospectuses, SAIs, reports,
proxy statements, sales literature and other promotional materials,
applications for exemptions, requests for no-action letters, and all amendments
to any of the above, that relate to the Fund or its shares, promptly after the
filing of such document(s) with the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
4.6. The Company will provide to the Fund at least one complete
copy of all registration statements, prospectuses (which shall include an
offering memorandum, if any, if the
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Contracts issued by the Company or interests therein are not registered under
the 1933 Act), SAIs, reports, solicitations for voting instructions, sales
literature and other promotional materials, applications for exemptions,
requests for no-action letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that
relate to the Contracts or the Account, promptly after the filing of such
document(s) with the SEC or other regulatory authorities. The Company shall
provide to the Fund and the Underwriter any complaints received from the
Contract owners pertaining to the Fund or the Designated Portfolio.
4.7. The Fund will provide the Company with as much notice as is
reasonably practicable of any proxy solicitation for any Designated Portfolio,
and of any material change in the Fund's registration statement, particularly
any change resulting in a change to the registration statement or prospectus
for any Account. The Fund will work with the Company so as to enable the
Company to solicit proxies from Contract owners, or to make changes to its
prospectus or registration statement, in an orderly manner. The Fund will make
reasonable efforts to attempt to have changes affecting Contract prospectuses
become effective simultaneously with the annual updates for such prospectuses.
4.8. For purposes of this Article IV, the phrase "sales literature
and other promotional materials" includes, but is not limited to, any of the
following that refer to the Fund or any affiliate of the Fund: advertisements
(such as material published, or designed for use in, a newspaper, magazine, or
other periodical, radio, television, telephone or tape recording, videotape
display, signs or billboards, motion pictures, or other public media), sales
literature (i.e., any written communication distributed or made generally
available to customers or the public, including brochures, circulars, reports,
market letters, form letters, seminar texts, reprints or excerpts of any other
advertisement, sales literature, or published article), educational or training
materials or other communications distributed or made generally available to
some or all agents or employees, and registration statements, prospectuses,
SAIs, shareholder reports, proxy materials, and any other communications
distributed or made generally available with regard to the Fund.
ARTICLE V. Fees and Expenses
5.1. The Fund and the Underwriter shall pay no fee or other
compensation to the Company under this Agreement, except that if the Fund or
any Portfolio adopts and implements a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 to finance
distribution expenses, then the Fund or Underwriter may make payments to the
Company or to the underwriter for the Contracts if and in amounts agreed to by
the Underwriter in writing, and such payments will be made out of existing fees
otherwise payable to the Underwriter, past profits of the Underwriter, or other
resources available to the Underwriter. Currently, no such payments are
contemplated.
5.2. All expenses incident to performance by the Fund under this
Agreement shall be paid by the Fund. The Fund shall see to it that all its
shares are registered and authorized for issuance in accordance with applicable
federal law and, if and to the extent deemed advisable by
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the Fund, in accordance with applicable state laws prior to their sale. The
Fund shall bear the expenses for the cost of registration and qualification of
the Fund's shares, preparation and filing of the Fund's prospectus and
registration statement, proxy materials and reports, setting the prospectus in
type, setting in type and printing the proxy materials and reports to
shareholders (including the costs of printing a prospectus that constitutes an
annual report), the preparation of all statements and notices required by any
federal or state law and all taxes on the issuance or transfer of the Fund's
shares.
5.3. The Company shall bear the expenses of distributing the
Fund's prospectus to owners of Contracts issued by the Company and of
distributing the Fund's proxy materials and reports to such Contract owners.
ARTICLE VI. Diversification and Qualification
6.1. The Fund will invest its assets in such a manner as to ensure
that the Contracts will be treated as annuity or life insurance contracts,
whichever is appropriate, under the Code and the regulations issued thereunder
(or any successor provisions). Without limiting the scope of the foregoing,
each Designated Portfolio has complied and will continue to comply with Section
817(h) of the Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.817-5, and any Treasury
interpretations thereof, relating to the diversification requirements for
variable annuity, endowment, or life insurance contracts, and any amendments or
other modifications or successor provisions to such Section or Regulations. In
the event of a breach of this Article VI by the Fund, it will (a) take all
reasonable steps to notify the Company of such breach and (b) promptly take all
necessary steps to adequately diversify the Fund so as to achieve compliance
within the grace period afforded by Regulation 1.817-5.
6.2. The Fund represents that it is qualified as a Regulated
Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Code, and that it will make every
effort to maintain such qualification (under Subchapter M or any successor or
similar provisions) and that it will notify the Company immediately upon having
a reasonable basis for believing that it has ceased to so qualify or that it
might not so qualify in the future. The Fund acknowledges that compliance with
Subchapter M is an essential element of compliance with Section 817(h).
6.3. The Fund shall provide the Company or its designee with
reports certifying compliance with the aforesaid Section 817(h) diversification
and Subchapter M qualification requirements upon request.
6.4. The Company represents that the Contracts are currently, and
at the time of issuance shall be, treated as life insurance or annuity
insurance contracts, under applicable provisions of the Code, and that it will
make every effort to maintain such treatment, and that it will notify the Fund
and the Underwriter immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing
the Contracts have ceased to be so treated or that they might not be so treated
in the future. The Company agrees that any prospectus offering a contract that
is a "modified
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endowment contract" as that term is defined in Section 7702A of the Code (or
any successor or similar provision), shall identify such contract as a modified
endowment contract.
ARTICLE VII. Potential Conflicts
The following provisions shall apply only upon issuance of the Mixed
and Shared Funding Order and the sale of shares of the Fund to variable life
insurance separate accounts, and then only to the extent required under the
0000 Xxx.
7.1. The Board will monitor the Fund for the existence of any
material irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the Contract owners
of all separate accounts investing in the Fund. An irreconcilable material
conflict may arise for a variety of reasons, including: (a) an action by any
state insurance regulatory authority; (b) a change in applicable federal or
state insurance, tax, or securities laws or regulations, or a public ruling,
private letter ruling, no-action or interpretative letter, or any similar
action by insurance, tax, or securities regulatory authorities; (c) an
administrative or judicial decision in any relevant proceeding; (d) the manner
in which the investments of any Portfolio are being managed; (e) a difference
in voting instructions given by variable annuity contract and variable life
insurance contract owners; or (f) a decision by an insurer to disregard the
voting instructions of contract owners. The Board shall promptly inform the
Company if it determines that an irreconcilable material conflict exists and
the implications thereof.
7.2. The Company will report any potential or existing conflicts
of which it is aware to the Board. The Company will assist the Board in
carrying out its responsibilities under the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive
Order, by providing the Board with all information reasonably necessary for the
Board to consider any issues raised. This includes, but is not limited to, an
obligation by the Company to inform the Board whenever Contract owner voting
instructions are disregarded.
7.3. If it is determined by a majority of the Board, or a majority
of its disinterested members, that a material irreconcilable conflict exists,
the Company and other Participating Insurance Companies shall, at their expense
and to the extent reasonably practicable (as determined by a majority of the
disinterested Board members), take whatever steps are necessary to remedy or
eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict, up to and including: (1)
withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the separate accounts from
the Fund or any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a different investment
medium, including (but not limited to) another Portfolio of the Fund, or
submitting the question whether such segregation should be implemented to a
vote of all affected contract owners and, as appropriate, segregating the
assets of any appropriate group (i.e., annuity contract owners, life insurance
contract owners, or variable contract owners of one or more Participating
Insurance Companies) that votes in favor of such segregation, or offering to
the affected contract owners the option of making such a change; and (2)
establishing a new registered management investment company or managed separate
account.
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7.4. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a
decision by the Company to disregard Contract owner voting instructions and
that decision represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote,
the Company may be required, at the Fund's election, to withdraw the Account's
investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with respect to each
Account; provided, however, that such withdrawal and termination shall be
limited to the extent required by the foregoing material irreconcilable
conflict as determined by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board.
Any such withdrawal and termination must take place within six (6) months after
the Fund gives written notice that this provision is being implemented, and
until the end of that six month period the Fund shall continue to accept and
implement orders by the Company for the purchase (and redemption) of shares of
the Fund.
7.5. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a
particular state insurance regulator's decision applicable to the Company
conflicts with the majority of other state regulators, then the Company will
withdraw the affected Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this
Agreement with respect to such Account within six months after the Board
informs the Company in writing that it has determined that such decision has
created an irreconcilable material conflict; provided, however, that such
withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by the
foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the
disinterested members of the Board. Until the end of the foregoing six month
period, the Fund shall continue to accept and implement orders by the Company
for the purchase (and redemption) of shares of the Fund.
7.6. For purposes of Section 7.3 through 7.6 of this Agreement, a
majority of the disinterested members of the Board shall determine whether any
proposed action adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict, but
in no event will the Fund be required to establish a new funding medium for the
Contracts. The Company shall not be required by Section 7.3 to establish a new
funding medium for the Contract if an offer to do so has been declined by vote
of a majority of Contract owners materially adversely affected by the
irreconcilable material conflict. In the event that the Board determines that
any proposed action does not adequately remedy any irreconcilable material
conflict, then the Company will withdraw the Account's investment in the Fund
and terminate this Agreement within six (6) months after the Board informs the
Company in writing of the foregoing determination; provided, however, that such
withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by any such
material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the
disinterested members of the Board.
7.7. If and to the extent the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemption
Order or any amendment thereto contains terms and conditions different from
Sections 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 of this Agreement, then the
Fund and/or the Participating Insurance Companies, as appropriate, shall take
such steps as may be necessary to comply with the Mixed and Shared Funding
Exemptive Order, and Sections 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4 and 7.5 of this
Agreement shall continue in effect only to the extent that terms and conditions
substantially identical to such Sections are contained in the Mixed and Shared
Funding Exemptive Order or any amendment
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thereto. If and to the extent that Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) are amended, or
Rule 6e-3 is adopted, to provide exemptive relief from any provision of the
1940 Act or the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to mixed or shared
funding (as defined in the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order) on terms
and conditions materially different from those contained in the Mixed and
Shared Funding Exemptive Order, then (a) the Fund and/or the Participating
Insurance Companies, as appropriate, shall take such steps as may be necessary
to comply with Rules 6e-2 and 6e-3(T), as amended, and Rule 6e-3, as adopted,
to the extent such rules are applicable; and (b) Sections 3.5, 3.6, 7.1., 7.2,
7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 of this Agreement shall continue in effect only to the extent
that terms and conditions substantially identical to such Sections are
contained in such Rule(s) as so amended or adopted.
ARTICLE VIII. Indemnification
8.1. Indemnification By the Company
8.1(a). The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Fund and the Underwriter and each of its trustees/directors and officers, and
each person, if any, who controls the Fund or Underwriter within the meaning of
Section 15 of the 1933 Act or who is under common control with the Underwriter
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 8.1 )
against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts
paid in settlement with the written consent of the Company) or litigation
(including legal and other expenses), to which the Indemnified Parties may
become subject under any statute or regulation, at common law or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in
respect thereof) or settlements:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statements of any material fact contained
in the registration statement, prospectus (which shall
include a written description of a Contract that is not
registered under the 1933 Act), or SAI for the Contracts or
contained in the Contracts or sales literature for the
Contracts (or any amendment or supplement to any of the
foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or
the alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, provided that this
agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified
Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement
or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the
Fund for use in the registration statement, prospectus or SAI
for the Contracts or in the Contracts or sales literature (or
any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in
connection with the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations (other than statements or representations
contained in the registration statement, prospectus, SAI, or
sales literature of the Fund not supplied by the Company or
persons under
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its control) or wrongful conduct of the Company or its agents
or persons under the Company's authorization or control, with
respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Fund
Shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a registration
statement, prospectus, SAI, or sales literature of the Fund
or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading if such a statement or
omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to
the Fund by or on behalf of the Company; or
(iv) arise as a result of any material failure by the
Company to provide the services and furnish the materials
under the terms of this Agreement (including a failure,
whether unintentional or in good faith or otherwise, to
comply with the qualification requirements specified in
Article VI of this Agreement); or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of
any representation and/or warranty made by the Company in
this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other
material breach of this Agreement by the Company; or
(vi) as limited by and in accordance with the provisions
of Sections 8.1(b) and 8.1 (c) hereof.
8.1(b). The Company shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or litigation to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be
subject by reason of such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith,
or gross negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by
reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of its obligations or
duties under this Agreement.
8.1(c). The Company shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified
Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Company in writing
within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice
of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Company of
any such claim shall not relieve the Company from any liability which it may
have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise
than on account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is
brought against an Indemnified Party, the Company shall be entitled to
participate, at its own expense, in the defense of such action. The Company
also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory
to the party named in the action. After notice from the Company to such party
of the Company's election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party
shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and
the Company
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will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or other
expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection with
the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
8.1(d). The Indemnified Parties will promptly notify the
Company of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against them in
connection with the issuance or sale of the Fund shares or the Contracts or the
operation of the Fund.
8.2. Indemnification by the Underwriter
8.2(a). The Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
the Company and each of its directors and officers and each person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 8.2)
against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts
paid in settlement with the written consent of the Underwriter) or litigation
(including legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may
become subject under any statute or regulation, at common law or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in
respect thereof) or settlements:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in
the registration statement or profile or prospectus or SAI or
sales literature of the Fund (or any amendment or supplement
to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon
the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, provided that
this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any
Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such
alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and
in conformity with information furnished to the Underwriter
or Fund by or on behalf of the Company for use in the
registration statement, profile, prospectus or SAI for the
Fund or in sales literature (or any amendment or supplement)
or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the
Contracts or Fund shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations (other than statements or representations
contained in the registration statement, prospectus, SAI or
sales literature for the Contracts not supplied by the
Underwriter or persons under its control) or wrongful conduct
of the Fund or Underwriter or persons under their control,
with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or
Fund shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a registration
statement, prospectus, SAI or sales literature covering the
Contracts, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or
the
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omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statement or statements therein not misleading, if such
statement or omission was made in reliance upon information
furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Fund or the
Underwriter; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund or the
Underwriter to provide the services and furnish the materials
under the terms of this Agreement (including a failure of the
Fund, whether unintentional or in good faith or otherwise, to
comply with the diversification and other qualification
requirements specified in Article VI of this Agreement); or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of
any representation and/or warranty made by the Underwriter in
this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other
material breach of this Agreement by the Underwriter;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.2(b) and
8.2(c) hereof.
8.2(b). The Underwriter shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or litigation to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be
subject by reason of such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith,
or gross negligence in the performance or such Indemnified Party's duties or by
reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties
under this Agreement or to the Company or the Account, whichever is applicable.
8.2(c). The Underwriter shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified
Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Underwriter in
writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process
giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice
of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Underwriter
of any such claim shall not relieve the Underwriter from any liability which it
may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise
than on account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is
brought against the Indemnified Party, the Underwriter will be entitled to
participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Underwriter also
shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to
the party named in the action. After notice from the Underwriter to such party
of the Underwriter's election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified
Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by
it, and the Underwriter will not be liable to such party under this Agreement
for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such party
independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable
costs of investigation.
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The Company agrees promptly to notify the Underwriter of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers
or directors in connection with the issuance or sale of the Contracts or the
operation of the Account.
8.3. Indemnification By the Fund
8.3(a). The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company and each of its directors and officers and each person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 8.3)
against any and all losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities (including
amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Fund) or litigation
(including legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may be
required to pay or may become subject under any statute or regulation, at
common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, expenses, damages,
liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements, are
related to the operations of the Fund and:
(i) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund to
provide the services and furnish the materials under the
terms of this Agreement (including a failure, whether
unintentional or in good faith or otherwise, to comply with
the diversification and other qualification requirements
specified in Article VI of this Agreement); or
(ii) arise out of or result from any material breach of
any representation and/or warranty made by the Fund in this
Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material
breach of this Agreement by the Fund; or
(iii) arise out of or result from the materially incorrect
or untimely calculation or reporting of the daily net asset
value per share or dividend or capital gain distribution
rate.
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.3(b) and
8.3(c) hereof.
8.3(b). The Fund shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or litigation to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be
subject by reason of such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith,
or gross negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by
reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties
under this Agreement or to the Company, the Fund, the Underwriter or the
Account, whichever is applicable.
8.3(c). The Fund shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified
Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Fund in writing
within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
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Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice
of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Fund of any
such claim shall not relieve the Fund from any liability which it may have to
the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on
account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought
against the Indemnified Parties, the Fund will be entitled to participate, at
its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Fund also shall be entitled to
assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the
action. After notice from the Fund to such party of the Fund's election to
assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and
expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Fund will not be
liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection with the
defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
8.3(d). The Company and the Underwriter agree promptly to
notify the Fund of the commencement of any litigation or proceeding against it
or any of its respective officers or directors in connection with the
Agreement, the issuance or sale of the Contracts, the operation of the Account,
or the sale or acquisition of shares of the Fund.
ARTICLE IX. Applicable Law
9.1. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of California.
9.2. This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the
1933, 1934 and 1940 Acts, and the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder,
including such exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as the SEC
may grant (including, but not limited to, any Mixed and Shared Funding
Exemptive Order) and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in
accordance therewith. If, in the future, the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive
Order should no longer be necessary under applicable law, then Article VII
shall no longer apply.
ARTICLE X. Termination
10.1. This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until
the first to occur of:
(a) termination by any party, for any reason with
respect to some or all Designated Portfolios, by
three (3) months advance written notice delivered to
the other parties; or
(b) termination by the Company by written notice to the
Fund and the Underwriter based upon the Company's
determination that shares of the Fund are not
reasonably available to meet the requirements of the
Contracts; or
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(c) termination by the Company by written notice to the
Fund and the Underwriter in the event any of the
Designated Portfolio's shares are not registered,
issued or sold in accordance with applicable state
and/or federal law or such law precludes the use of
such shares as the underlying investment media of
the Contracts issued or to be issued by the Company;
or
(d) termination by the Fund or Underwriter in the event
that formal administrative proceedings are
instituted against the Company by the NASD, the SEC,
the Insurance Commissioner or like official of any
state or any other regulatory body regarding the
Company's duties under this Agreement or related to
the sale of the Contracts, the operation of any
Account, or the purchase of the Fund's shares;
provided, however, that the Fund or Underwriter
determines in its sole judgment exercised in good
faith, that any such administrative proceedings will
have a material adverse effect upon the ability of
the Company to perform its obligations under this
Agreement; or
(e) termination by the Company in the event that formal
administrative proceedings are instituted against
the Fund or Underwriter by the NASD, the SEC, or any
state securities or insurance department or any
other regulatory body; provided, however, that the
Company determines in its sole judgment exercised in
good faith, that any such administrative proceedings
will have a material adverse effect upon the ability
of the Fund or Underwriter to perform its
obligations under this Agreement; or
(f) termination by the Company by written notice to the
Fund and the Underwriter with respect to any
Designated Portfolio in the event that such
Portfolio ceases to qualify as a Regulated
Investment Company under Subchapter M or fails to
comply with the Section 817(h) diversification
requirements specified in Article VI hereof, or if
the Company reasonably believes that such Portfolio
may fail to so qualify or comply; or
(g) termination by the Fund or Underwriter by written
notice to the Company in the event that the
Contracts fail to meet the qualifications specified
in Article VI hereof; or
(h) termination by either the Fund or the Underwriter by
written notice to the Company, if either one or both
of the Fund or the Underwriter respectively, shall
determine, in their sole judgment exercised in good
faith, that the Company has suffered a material
adverse change in its business, operations,
financial condition, or prospects since the date of
this Agreement or is the subject of material adverse
publicity; or
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(i) termination by the Company by written notice to the
Fund and the Underwriter, if the Company shall
determine, in its sole judgment exercised in good
faith, that the Fund, Adviser, or the Underwriter
has suffered a material adverse change in its
business, operations, financial condition or
prospects since the date of this Agreement or is the
subject of material adverse publicity; or
(j) termination by the Fund or the Underwriter by
written notice to the Company, if the Company gives
the Fund and the Underwriter the written notice
specified in Section 1.7(a)(ii) hereof and at the
time such notice was given there was no notice of
termination outstanding under any other provision of
this Agreement; provided, however, any termination
under this Section 10.l(j) shall be effective
forty-five days after the notice specified in
Section 1.7(a)(ii) was given; or
(k) termination by the Company upon any substitution of
the shares of another investment company or series
thereof for shares of a Designated Portfolio of the
Fund in accordance with the terms of the Contracts,
provided that the Company has given at least 45 days
prior written notice to the Fund and Underwriter of
the date of substitution; or
(l) termination by any party in the event that the
Fund's Board of Trustees determines that a material
irreconcilable conflict exists as provided in
Article VII.
10.2. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Fund
and the Underwriter shall, at the option of the Company, continue to make
available additional shares of the Fund pursuant to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, for all Contracts in effect on the effective date of
termination of this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as "Existing
Contracts"), unless the Underwriter requests that the Company seek an order
pursuant to Section 26(b) of the 1940 Act to permit the substitution of other
securities for the shares of the Designated Portfolios. The Underwriter agrees
to split the cost of seeking such an order, and the Company agrees that it
shall reasonably cooperate with the Underwriter and seek such an order upon
request. Specifically, the owners of the Existing Contracts may be permitted to
reallocate investments in the Fund, redeem investments in the Fund and/or
invest in the Fund upon the making of additional purchase payments under the
existing Contracts (subject to any such election by the Underwriter). The
parties agree that this Section 10.2 shall not apply to any terminations under
Article VII and the effect of such Article VII terminations shall be governed
by Article VII of this Agreement. The parties further agree that this Section
10.2 shall not apply to any terminations under Section 10.1 (g) of this
Agreement.
10.3. The Company shall not redeem Fund shares attributable to the
Contracts (as opposed to Fund shares attributable to the Company's assets held
in the Account) except (i) as
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necessary to implement Contract owner initiated or approved transactions, (ii)
as required by state and/or federal laws or regulations or judicial or other
legal precedent of general application (hereinafter referred to as a "Legally
Required Redemption"), (iii) upon 45 days prior written notice to the Fund and
Underwriter, as permitted by an order of the SEC pursuant to Section 26(b) of
the 1940 Act, but only if a substitution of other securities for the shares of
the Designated Portfolios is consistent with the terms of the Contracts, or
(iv) as permitted under the terms of the Contract. Upon request, the Company
will promptly furnish to the Fund and the Underwriter reasonable assurance that
any redemption pursuant to clause (ii) above is a Legally Required Redemption.
Furthermore, except in cases where permitted under the terms of the Contacts,
the Company shall not prevent Contract owners from allocating payments to a
Portfolio that was otherwise available under the Contracts without first giving
the Fund or the Underwriter 45 days notice of its intention to do so.
10.4. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, each
party's obligation under Article VIII to indemnify the other parties shall
survive.
ARTICLE XI. Notices
Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or
certified mail to the other party at the address of such party set forth below
or at such other address as such party may from time to time specify in writing
to the other party.
If to the Fund: PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
If to the Company: Farmers New World Life Insurance Company
0000 - 00xx Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: C. Xxxx Xxxxxx, President
with a copy to: X. Xxxxxxx Close
Vice President and General Counsel
Farmers New World Life Insurance Company
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
If to Underwriter: PIMCO Funds Distributors LLC
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxx 00000
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ARTICLE XII. Miscellaneous
12.1. All persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the
property of the Fund, and in the case of a series company, the respective
Designated Portfolios listed on Schedule A hereto as though each such
Designated Portfolio had separately contracted with the Company and the
Underwriter for the enforcement of any claims against the Fund. The parties
agree that neither the Board, officers, agents or shareholders of the Fund
assume any personal liability or responsibility for obligations entered into by
or on behalf of the Fund.
12.2. Subject to the requirements of legal process and regulatory
authority, each party hereto shall treat as confidential the names and
addresses of the owners of the Contracts and all information reasonably
identified as confidential in writing by any other party hereto and, except as
permitted by this Agreement, shall not disclose, disseminate or utilize such
names and addresses and other confidential information without the express
written consent of the affected party until such time as such information has
come into the public domain.
12.3. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience
of reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the provisions
hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
12.4. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
12.5. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made
invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of the
Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
12.6. Each party hereto shall cooperate with each other party and
all appropriate governmental authorities (including without limitation the SEC,
the NASD, and state insurance regulators) and shall permit such authorities
reasonable access to its books and records in connection with any investigation
or inquiry relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, each party hereto further
agrees to furnish the Washington Insurance Commissioner with any information or
reports in connection with services provided under this Agreement which such
Commissioner may request in order to ascertain whether the variable annuity
operations of the Company are being conducted in a manner consistent with the
Washington variable annuity laws and regulations and any other applicable law
or regulations.
12.7. The rights, remedies and obligations contained in this
Agreement are cumulative and are in addition to any and all rights, remedies,
and obligations, at law or in equity, which the parties hereto are entitled to
under state and federal laws.
12.8. This Agreement or any of the rights and obligations hereunder
may not be assigned by any party without the prior written consent of all
parties hereto.
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12.9. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to
the Fund or its designee copies of the following reports:
(a) the Company's annual statement (prepared under statutory
accounting principles) and annual report (prepared under
generally accepted accounting principles) filed with any
state or federal regulatory body or otherwise made available
to the public, as soon as practicable and in any event within
90 days after the end of each fiscal year; and
(b) any registration statement (without exhibits) and financial
reports of the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission or any state insurance regulatory, as soon as
practicable after the filing thereof.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this
Agreement to be executed in its name and on its behalf by its duly authorized
representative and its seal to be hereunder affixed hereto as of the date
specified below.
FARMERS NEW WORLD LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY:
By its authorized officer
By: /s/C. Xxxx Xxxxxx
-----------------------------
Name: C. Xxxx Xxxxxx
Title: President
Date:
-----------------------------
PIMCO VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
By its authorized officer
By: /s/
-----------------------------
Name:
-----------------------------
Title:
-----------------------------
Date:
-----------------------------
PIMCO FUNDS DISTRIBUTORS LLC
By its authorized officer
By: /s/
-----------------------------
Name:
-----------------------------
Title:
-----------------------------
Date:
-----------------------------
25
26
SCHEDULE A
Designated Portfolios
PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust Portfolios:
PIMCO Low Duration Portfolio
PIMCO Foreign Bond Portfolio
Separate Accounts and Associated Contracts
------------------------------------------
Name of Separate Account and Contracts Funded
Date Established by Board of Directors By Separate Account
-------------------------------------- -------------------
Farmers Annuity Separate Account A (4/6/99) Farmers Variable Annuity
Farmers Variable Life Separate Account A (4/6/99) Farmers Flexible Premium Variable
Life Insurance Policy
Dated: _____________, 2000
