Exhibit (8)(i)
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this __ day of ________, 2007 by and
between MLIG VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST, statutory trust formed under the laws of
Delaware (the "Trust"), XXXXXXX XXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXX & XXXXX, INC., a Delaware
corporation (the "Distributor"), and ML LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK, a
New York life insurance company (the "Company"), on its own behalf and on behalf
of each separate account of the Company identified herein.
WHEREAS, the Trust engages in business as an open-end management investment
company of the series-type mutual fund offering shares of beneficial interest
(the "Trust shares") consisting of one or more separate series ("Series"), each
such Series representing an interest in a particular investment portfolio of
securities and other assets (a "Portfolio"), and which Series may be subdivided
into various classes ("Classes") with each such Class supporting a distinct
charge and expense arrangement; and
WHEREAS, the Trust was established for the purpose of serving as an
investment vehicle for life insurance company separate accounts supporting
variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies to be offered by
insurance companies and may also be utilized by qualified retirement plans; and
WHEREAS, an order of the Securities and Exchange Commission dated November
4, 2003, (File No. 812-12981) grants certain separate accounts supporting
variable life insurance policies, their life insurance company depositors, and
their principal underwriters, exemptions from Sections 9(a), 13(a), 15(a) and
15(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, and from Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and
6e-3(T)(b)(15) thereunder, to the extent necessary for such separate accounts to
purchase and hold Trust shares at the same time that such shares are sold to or
held by separate accounts of affiliated and unaffiliated insurance companies
supporting either variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance
policies, or both, or by qualified pension and retirement plans (the "SEC
Order"); and
WHEREAS, the Distributor has the exclusive right to distribute Trust shares
to qualifying investors; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires that the Trust serve as an investment vehicle
for a certain separate account(s) of the Company and the Distributor desires to
sell shares of certain Series and/or Class(es) to such separate account(s);
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Trust, the
Distributor and the Company agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
ADDITIONAL DEFINITIONS
1.1. "Accounts" -- the separate accounts of the Company described more
specifically in Schedules 1A, 2A and 3A to this Agreement.
1.2. "Business Day"--each day that the Trust is open for business as
provided in the Trust's Prospectus.
1.3. "Code"--the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any
successor thereto.
1.4. "Contracts"--the class or classes of variable annuity contracts and/or
variable life insurance policies issued by the Company and described more
specifically on Schedules 1B, 2B, or 3B to this Agreement.
1.5. "Contract Owners"--the owners of the Contracts, as distinguished from
all Product Owners.
1.6 "Contract Owner-Initiated Transaction"--a transaction in Account units
initiated by a Contract Owner; and not including transactions occurring: (a)
automatically pursuant to a contractual or systematic program such a
"dollar-cost averaging" program, asset allocation program, or automatic contract
value rebalancing program, (b) pursuant to a death-benefit payment, (c) pursuant
to a contract value "step-up" of a death benefit, (d) as a result of a loan
repayment, or (e) pursuant to a systematic purchase program, such as a
retirement plan salary reduction program.
1.7 "Financial Intermediary"--any broker-dealer (or registered
representative of a broker-dealer), bank, trust company, trustee, investment
adviser (or advisory representative of an investment adviser), or a financial
planner for, or fiduciary of, a Contract Owner.
1.8. "Participating Account"--a separate account investing all or a portion
of its assets in the Trust, including the Accounts.
1.9. "Participating Insurance Company"--any insurance company with a
Participating Account, including the Company.
1.10. "Participating Plan"--any qualified retirement plan investing in the
Trust.
1.11 "Participating Investor"--any Participating Account, Participating
Insurance Company or Participating Plan, including the Accounts and the Company.
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1.12. "Products"--variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance
policies supported by Participating Accounts, including the Contracts.
1.13. "Product Owners"--owners of Products, including Contract Owners.
1.14. "Trust Board"--the board of trustees of the Trust.
1.15. "Registration Statement"--with respect to the Trust shares or a class
of Contracts, the registration statement filed with the SEC to register such
securities under the 1933 Act, or the most recently filed amendment thereto, in
either case in the form in which it was declared or became effective. The
Contracts' Registration Statement for each class of Contracts is described more
specifically on Schedule 1B to this Agreement. The Trust's Registration
Statement is filed on Form N-1A (File No. 333-83074).
1.16. "1940 Act Registration Statement"--with respect to the Trust or the
Schedule 1 Accounts, the registration statement filed with the SEC to register
such person as an investment company under the 1940 Act, or the most recently
filed amendment thereto. The Schedule 1 Accounts' 1940 Act Registration
Statements are described more specifically on Schedule 1A to this Agreement. The
Trust's 1940 Act Registration Statement is filed on Form N-1A (File No.
811-21038).
1.17. "Prospectus"--with respect to shares of a Series (or Class) of the
Trust or a class of Contracts, each version of the definitive prospectus or
supplement thereto filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 497 under the 1933 Act.
With respect to any provision of this Agreement requiring a party to take action
in accordance with a Prospectus, such reference thereto shall be deemed to be to
the version for the applicable Series, Class or Contracts last so filed prior to
the taking of such action. For purposes of Article IX, the term "Prospectus"
shall include: (a) any statement of additional information incorporated therein,
and (b) any offering memorandum for a Schedule 2 Contract or Schedule 3
Contract.
1.18. "Schedule 1 Accounts"--Accounts registered under the 1940 Act as unit
investment trusts and listed on Schedule 1A.
1.19. "Schedule 2 Accounts"--Accounts excluded from the definition of an
investment company as provided for by Section 3(c)(11) of the 1940 Act and
listed on Schedule 2A.
1.20. "Schedule 3 Accounts"--Accounts excluded from the definition of an
investment company as provided for by Section 3(c)(1) or Section 3(c)(7) of the
1940 Act and listed on Schedule 3A.
1.21. "Schedule 1 Contracts"--Contracts through which interests in Schedule
1 Accounts are offered and issued, which interests are registered as securities
under the 0000 Xxx.
1.22. "Schedule 2 Contracts"--Contracts through which interests in Schedule
2 Accounts are offered and issued to trustees of qualified pension and
profit-sharing plans and
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certain government plans identified in Section 3(a)(2) of the 1933 Act (which
interests are not registered as securities in reliance upon Section 3(a)(2) of
the 1933 Act).
1.23. "Schedule 3 Contracts"--Contracts through which interests in Schedule
3 Accounts are offered and issued to "accredited investors", as that term is
defined in Regulation D under the 1933 Act, or other investors permitted by
Regulation D (which interests are not registered as securities in reliance upon
Regulation D).
1.24. "Statement of Additional Information"--with respect to Trust shares
or a class of Contracts, each version of the definitive statement of additional
information or supplement thereto filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 497 under
the 1933 Act. With respect to any provision of this Agreement requiring a party
to take action in accordance with a Statement of Additional Information, such
reference thereto shall be deemed to be the last version so filed prior to the
taking of such action.
1.25. "SEC"--the Securities and Exchange Commission.
1.26. "NASD"--The National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
1.27. "1933 Act"--the Securities Exchange Act of 1933, as amended.
1.28. "1940 Act"--the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
ARTICLE II
SALE OF TRUST SHARES
2.1. AVAILABILITY OF SHARES.
(a) The Trust has granted to the Distributor exclusive authority to
distribute the Trust shares and to select which Series or Classes of Trust
shares shall be made available to Participating Investors. Pursuant to such
authority, and subject to Article X hereof, the Distributor shall make
available to the Company for purchase on behalf of the Accounts, shares of
the Series and Classes listed on Schedules 1B, 2B, and 3B to this
Agreement, such purchases to be effected at net asset value in accordance
with Section 2.3 of this Agreement. The Distributor shall make such Series
and Classes available to the Company in accordance with the terms and
provisions of this Agreement until: (i) this Agreement is terminated
pursuant to Article X, or (ii) the Distributor suspends or terminates the
offering of shares of such Series or Classes in the circumstances described
in Article X.
(b) Notwithstanding clause (a) of this Section 2.1, Series or Classes
of Trust shares in existence now or in the future will be made available to
the Company only as the Distributor may so provide, subject to the
Distributor's rights set forth in Article X to suspend or terminate the
offering of shares of any Series or Class or to terminate this Agreement.
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(c) The parties acknowledge and agree that: (i) the Trust may revoke
the Distributor's authority pursuant to the terms and conditions of its
distribution agreement with the Distributor, and (ii) the Trust reserves
the right in its sole discretion to refuse to accept a request for the
purchase of Trust shares.
2.2. REDEMPTIONS. The Trust shall redeem, at the Company's request, any
full or fractional Trust shares held by the Company on behalf of the Account,
such redemptions to be effected at net asset value in accordance with Section
2.3 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing: (a) the Company shall not
redeem Trust shares attributable to Contract Owners except in the circumstances
permitted in Article X of this Agreement, and (b) the Trust may delay redemption
of Trust shares of any Series or Class to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act,
any rules, regulations or orders thereunder, or the Prospectus for such Series
or Class.
2.3. PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION PROCEDURES.
(a) The Trust hereby appoints the Company as an agent of the Trust for
the limited purpose of receiving purchase and redemption requests on behalf
of the Accounts (but not the Company's general account) for shares of those
Series or Classes made available hereunder, based on transactions in
Account Units. Receipt of any such requests (or effectuation of such
transaction or processing) on any Business Day by the Company as such
limited agent of the Trust prior to the Trust's close of business as
defined from time to time in the applicable Prospectus for such Series or
Class (which as of the date of execution of this Agreement is the close of
regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m. New York
Time)) shall constitute receipt by the Trust on that Business Day, provided
that the Trust receives actual and sufficient notice of such request by
9:00 a.m. New York Time on the next following Business Day. Such notice
shall be communicated by a mutually agreed upon means of electronic
communication and shall be confirmed by facsimile.
(b) The Company shall pay for shares of each Series or Class on the
same day that it provides actual notice to the Trust of a purchase request
for such shares. Payment for Series or Class shares shall be made in
federal funds transmitted to the Trust by wire by 12:00 p.m. New York Time
on the day the Trust receives actual notice of the purchase request for
Series or Class shares (unless the Trust determines and so advises the
Company that sufficient proceeds are available from redemption of shares of
other Series or Classes effected pursuant to redemption requests tendered
by the Company on behalf of the Account). In no event may proceeds from the
redemption of shares requested pursuant to an order received by the Company
after the Trust's close of business on any Business Day be applied to the
payment for shares for which a purchase order was received prior to the
Trust's close of business on the same day. If the issuance of Trust shares
is canceled because federal funds are not timely received, the Company
shall reimburse the respective Portfolio and Distributor with respect to
all costs, expenses and losses directly relating thereto. Upon the Trust's
receipt of federal funds so wired, such funds shall cease to be the
responsibility of the Company and shall become the responsibility of the
Trust. If federal funds are not received on time, such funds will be
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invested, and Trust shares purchased thereby will be issued, as soon as
practicable after actual receipt of such funds but in any event not on the
same day that the purchase order was received.
(c) Payment for Trust shares redeemed by the Accounts or the Company
shall be made in federal funds transmitted by wire to the Company or any
other person properly designated in writing by the Company, such funds
normally to be transmitted by 6:00 p.m. New York Time on the next Business
Day after the Trust receives actual notice of the redemption order for such
shares (unless redemption proceeds are to be applied to the purchase of
Trust shares of other Series or Classes in accordance with Section 2.3(b)
of this Agreement), except that the Trust reserves the right to redeem
trust shares in assets other than cash and to delay payment of redemption
proceeds to the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, any rules or regulations
or orders thereunder, or the applicable Prospectus. The Trust shall not
bear any responsibility whatsoever for the proper disbursement or crediting
of redemption proceeds by the Company or the Accounts; the Company alone
shall be responsible for such action.
(d) Any purchase or redemption request for Trust shares held or to be
held by the Company's general account, shall be effected at the net asset
value per share next determined after the Trust's actual receipt of such
request, provided that, in the case of a purchase request, payment for
Trust shares so requested is received by the Trust in federal funds prior
to close of business for determination of such value, as defined from time
to time in the Prospectus for such Series or Class.
(e) Prior to the first purchase of any Trust shares hereunder, the
Company and the Trust shall provide each other with all information
necessary to effect wire transmissions of federal funds to the other party
and all other designated persons pursuant to such protocols and security
procedures as the parties may agree upon. Should such information change
thereafter, the Trust and the Company, as applicable, shall notify the
other in writing of such changes, observing the same protocols and security
procedures, at least three Business Days in advance of when such change is
to take effect. The Company and the Trust shall observe customary
procedures to protect the confidentiality and security of such information,
but the Trust shall not be liable to the Company for any breach of
security.
(f) The procedures set forth herein are subject to any additional
terms set forth in the applicable Prospectus for the Series or Class or by
the requirements of applicable law.
2.4. NET ASSET VALUE. The Trust shall use its best efforts to inform the
Company of the net asset value per share for each Series or Class available to
the Company as soon as reasonably practicable after the net asset value per
share for such Series or Class is calculated. The Trust shall calculate such net
asset values in accordance with the Prospectus for such Series or Class.
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2.5. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS. The Trust shall furnish notice to the
Company as soon as reasonably practicable of any income dividends or capital
gain distributions payable on any Series or Class shares. The Company, on its
behalf and on behalf of the Accounts, hereby elects to receive all such
dividends and distributions as are payable on any Series or Class shares in the
form of additional shares of that Series or Class. The Company reserves the
right, on its behalf and on behalf of the Accounts, to revoke this election and
to receive all such dividends and capital gain distributions in cash; to be
effective, such revocation must be made in writing and received by the Trust at
least [ten] Business Days prior to a dividend or distribution date. The Trust
shall notify the Company promptly of the number of Series or Class shares so
issued as payment of such dividends and distributions.
2.6. BOOK ENTRY. Issuance and transfer of Trust shares shall be by book
entry only. Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or the
Accounts. Purchase and redemption orders for Trust shares shall be recorded in
an appropriate ledger for each Account.
2.7. PRICING ERRORS. In the event of an error in the computation of a
Portfolio's net asset value per share ("NAV") or any dividend or capital gain
distribution (each, a "pricing error"), the Trust's investment adviser or the
Trust shall notify the Company as soon as reasonably 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 1/2 of 1% of the
Portfolio's NAV at the time of the error, then the Trust's investment 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 1/2 of 1%
of the Portfolio's NAV at the time of the error, then the Trust's investment
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. If an
adjustment is necessary to correct a material error which has caused Contract
Owners to receive less than the amount to which they are entitled, the number of
Account units of such Contract Owners will be adjusted and the amount of any
underpayments shall be credited by the Trust's investment adviser to the Company
for crediting of such amounts in the form of Account units for such Contract
Owners. Upon notification by the Trust's investment adviser of any overpayment
due to a material error, the Company shall promptly remit to the Trust's
investment adviser any overpayment that has not been paid to Contract Owners. In
no event shall the Company be liable to Contract Owners for any such adjustments
or underpayment amounts. 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 2.7 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.
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2.8. LIMITS ON PURCHASERS. The Distributor and the Trust shall sell Trust
shares only to insurance companies and their separate accounts and to persons or
plans ("Qualified Persons") that qualify to purchase shares of the Trust under
Section 817(h) of the Code and the regulations thereunder without impairing the
ability of the Accounts to consider the portfolio investments of the Trust as
constituting investments of the Accounts for the purpose of satisfying the
diversification requirements of Section 817(h). The Company hereby represents
and warrants that it and the Accounts are Qualified Persons. The Distributor and
the Trust shall not sell Trust shares to any insurance company or separate
account unless an agreement complying with Article VIII of this Agreement is in
effect to govern such sales. The Distributor and the Trust shall not sell more
than 10% of any Series of Trust shares to any Participating Plan unless an
agreement is in effect between the Distributor, the Trust and the trustee (or
other fiduciary) of the Plan containing provisions substantially the same as
those in Article VIII of this Agreement. The Distributor and the Trust shall not
sell Trust shares to any Participating Plan unless a written acknowledgment of
the foregoing condition is received from the trustee (or other fiduciary) of the
Plan.
2.9. DISRUPTIVE TRADING.
(a) The Trust has adopted policies designed to prevent frequent
purchases and redemptions of any Series of Trust shares in quantities great
enough to: (i) disrupt orderly management of the corresponding Portfolio's
investment portfolio, or (ii) dilute the value of the outstanding Trust
shares of that Series ("Disruptive Trading Policies"). These policies are
disclosed in the Trust's Prospectus. From time to time, the Trust and the
Distributor implement procedures reasonably designed to enforce the Trust's
Disruptive Trading Policies and shall provide a written description of such
procedures (and revisions thereto) to the Company. As a procedure in
furtherance of its Disruptive Trading Policies, the Trust may assess fees,
to be paid by one or more Accounts or by the Company, upon redemption one
or more Series or Classes of Trust shares within certain stated time
periods after such shares have been purchased.
(b) The Company agrees to develop, adopt and maintain policies
regarding transactions in Account units reasonably designed to complement
the Trust's Disruptive Trading Policies and, from time to time, to
implement procedures regarding transactions in Account units reasonably
designed to effectuate the Trust's procedures for preventing disruptive
trading in Trust shares. In particular, in the event that the Trust or the
Distributor has identified a particular Contract Owner as having engaged in
transactions in Account units that directly or indirectly violate the
Trust's Disruptive Trading Policies, the Company agrees, at the written
request of the Trust or the Distributor, to restrict or prohibit further
transactions in Account units by that Contract Owner which could result in
additional purchases and redemptions of a specified Series and/or Class of
Trust shares in violation of the Trust's Disruptive Trading Policies.
(c) In furtherance of Section 2.9(b), the Trust and the Distributor
may, from time to time, investigate purchases and redemptions of any Series
or Class of Trust shares
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by the Company on behalf of the Accounts that appear to violate, or have
the potential to violate, the Trust's Disruptive Trading Policies. When
requested by the Trust or the Distributor in writing in order to facilitate
such an investigation, the Company agrees to provide the following with
respect to purchases and redemptions of a specific Series and/or Class of
Trust shares over a designated period beginning not more than [180] days
prior to the day of the request, and not to exceed [15 ] days,:
- the identity of the Contract Owner or Contract Owners (including
tax identification numbers) whose transactions in Account units
underlies the Trust share purchases and redemptions being
investigated,
- the amounts and dates of transactions in Account units during the
designated period representing an indirect investment in the
Series and/or Class of Trust shares being investigated, and
- an identifying number of any investment professional known by the
Company to be associated with the Contract Owner or Contract
Owners.
The Company agrees to provide the foregoing information that is on its
books and records promptly. However, unless specifically requested by the
Trust, the Company need not provide the foregoing information unless it
relates to Contract Owner-Initiated Transactions in Account units. If the
requested information is not on its books and records, it agrees to make
reasonable efforts to:
- promptly obtain the requested information, or
- if requested in writing by the Trust or the Distributor, restrict
or prohibit further transactions in Account units by that
Contract Owner which could result in additional purchases and
redemptions of a specified Series and/or Class of Trust shares.
If a Financial Intermediary other than the Company holds or has control
over a Contract, the Company agrees to:
- promptly provide to the Trust or the Distributor all of the
foregoing information as it relates to the Financial
Intermediary, or
- if requested in writing by the Trust or the Distributor, restrict
or prohibit further transactions in Account units by through that
Contract that could result in additional purchases and
redemptions of a specified Series and/or Class of Trust shares.
If the Trust or the Distributor is not conducting an investigation of
purchases and redemptions of Trust shares by the Company that appear to
violate, or have the potential to violate, the Trust's Disruptive Trading
Policies, then the Company agrees to provide
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the foregoing information in response to one written request per calendar
quarter from either the Trust or the Distributor.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
3.1. COMPANY. The Company represents and warrants that: (a) it is an
insurance company duly organized and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its organization, (b) it has legally and validly established
each Account as a segregated asset account under applicable state law to serve
as segregated investment accounts for the Contracts, (c) each Schedule 1 Account
is duly registered as a unit investment trust under the 1940 Act and each such
Account's 1940 Act Registration Statement has been filed with the SEC in
accordance with the 1940 Act, (d) the Schedule 2 Accounts and Schedule 3
Accounts each qualify for the exclusions on which they rely for not registering
as investment companies under the 1940 Act, (e) it has registered, or will
register, all Schedule 1 Contracts offered and sold pursuant to this Agreement
under the 1933 Act and has effective Registration Statements for that purpose,
(f) it will offer and sell the Contracts in compliance in all material respects
with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations, including, but not
limited to, state insurance law and federal securities law suitability
requirements, (g) the Contracts have been filed, qualified and/or approved for
sale, as applicable, under the insurance laws and regulations of the states in
which the Contracts will be offered, (h) sales of the Schedule 2 Contracts and
Schedule 3 Contracts properly qualify for exemptions on which the Company relies
in not registering such Contracts, or interests in the Account through which
each is issued, under the 1933 Act, (i) its activities and those of its
employees in promoting the sale and distribution of the Contracts and effecting
Contract Owner transactions in Account units have not caused, and will not
cause, the Company to be deemed a broker-dealer, (j) orders it places for the
purchase and redemption of Trust shares pursuant to Article 2.3 of this
Agreement are the net result of transactions in units issued by an Account,
instructions for which are received by the Company prior to the Trust's close of
business as defined from time to time in the applicable Prospectus for such
Series or Class (which as of the date of execution of this Agreement is the
close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (normally 4:00 p.m. New
York Time)), (k) as long as this Agreement remains in effect, it shall remain in
continuous compliance with Article 6.3, Article 6.4 and Article 6.5 of this
Agreement and (l) it will notify the Distributor and the Trust promptly if for
any reason it is unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
3.2. TRUST. The Trust represents and warrants that: (a) it is a statutory
trust duly organized and validly existing under Delaware law, (b) it is duly
registered under the 1940 Act as an open-end management investment company and
has filed a 1940 Act Registration Statement with the SEC in accordance with the
provisions of the 1940 Act, (c) Trust shares issued pursuant to this Agreement
have been, or will be, duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with
applicable law, (d) it will offer and sell Trust shares pursuant to this
Agreement in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and
state laws and regulations, (e) it has registered, or will register, all Trust
shares offered and sold pursuant to this Agreement under the 1933 Act and has an
effective Registration Statement for that purpose, (f) as long as this Agreement
remains in effect, it shall remain in continuous compliance with Article 6.1 and
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Article 6.2 of this Agreement, and (g) the Trust's Board, a majority of whom are
not interested persons of the Trust, have formulated and approved any plan under
Rule 12b-1 ("Rule 12b-1 Plan") to finance distribution expenses.
3.3. DISTRIBUTOR. The Distributor represents and warrants that: (a) it is a
limited partnership duly organized and in good standing under New York law, and
(b) it is registered as a broker-dealer under federal and applicable state
securities laws and is a member of the NASD.
3.4. LEGAL AUTHORITY. Each party represents and warrants that the execution
and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated herein have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate,
partnership or trust action, as applicable, by such party, and, when so executed
and delivered, this Agreement will be the valid and binding obligation of such
party enforceable in accordance with its terms.
3.5. BONDING REQUIREMENT. Each party represents and warrants that all of
its directors, officers, partners and employees dealing with the money and/or
securities of the Trust are and shall continue to be at all times covered by a
blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage for the benefit of the Trust in an
amount not less than the amount required by the applicable rules of the NASD and
the federal securities laws. The aforesaid bond shall include coverage for
larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable bonding company. All
parties shall make all reasonable efforts to see that this bond or another bond
containing these provisions is always in effect, shall provide evidence thereof
promptly to any other party upon written request therefor, and shall notify the
other parties promptly in the event that such coverage no longer applies.
ARTICLE IV
REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS
4.1. TRUST FILINGS. The Trust shall amend the Trust's Registration
Statement from time to time and maintain its effectiveness as required in order
to effect the continuous offering of Trust shares in compliance with applicable
law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust shall register and qualify Trust
shares for sale in accordance with the laws of various states if, and to the
extent, deemed advisable by the Trust or the Distributor. The Trust shall amend
its 1940 Act Registration Statement as required by the 1940 Act to maintain its
registration under the 1940 Act for as long as Trust shares are outstanding. The
Trust shall file Form 24F-2 and pay 1933 Act registration fees for all Series
and Classes of Trust shares, other than such shares issued to Schedule 1
Accounts, as required by Rule 24f-2 under the 1940 Act. The Trust shall comply
in all material respects with the 1940 Act.
4.2. ACCOUNT FILINGS. The Company shall amend the Registration Statement
for each Schedule 1 Contract from time to time and maintain its effectiveness as
required in order to effect the continuous offering of such Contracts in
compliance with applicable law for as long as purchase payments are made under
such Contracts. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company: (a) may permit the
effectiveness of a Schedule 1 Contract's Registration Statement to expire if the
Company has supplied the Trust with an SEC "no-action" letter or opinion of
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counsel satisfactory to the Trust's counsel to the effect that maintaining such
Registration Statement on a current basis is no longer required, and (b) shall
register and qualify the Contracts for sale in accordance with the securities
laws of the various states only if, and to the extent, it considers such
registration and qualification necessary. The Company shall amend each Schedule
1 Account's 1940 Act Registration Statement as required by the 1940 Act to
maintain the Account's registration under the 1940 Act for as long as the
Schedule 1 Contracts issued through that Account are in force. With regard to
each Schedule 1 Account, the Company shall comply in all material respects with
the 1940 Act.
The Company shall be responsible for filing all Contract forms,
applications, marketing materials and other documents relating to the Contracts
and/or the Accounts with state insurance commissions, as required or customary,
and shall use its best efforts: (a) to obtain any and all approvals thereof,
under applicable state insurance law, of each state or other jurisdiction in
which Contracts are or may be offered for sale, and (b) to keep such approvals
in effect for so long as the Contracts are outstanding.
4.3. DELIVERY OF PROSPECTUSES BY THE COMPANY. The Company shall deliver (or
arrange for delivery of) an appropriate Prospectus to each prospective Contract
Owner describing in all material respects the terms and features of the Contract
being offered. The Company also shall deliver (or arrange for delivery of) a
Prospectus for each Portfolio that a prospective Contract Owner identifies on
his or her application as an intended investment option under a Contract or to
which a Contract Owner allocates premium payments to or transfers Contract
value. The Company shall deliver (or arrange for delivery of) such Prospectuses
at the times required by applicable provisions of the 1933 Act and rules or
regulations thereunder.
4.4. VOTING OF TRUST SHARES. The extent required by Section
12(d)(1)(E)(iii)(aa) of the 1940 Act or Rule 6e-2 or Rule 6e-3(T) thereunder, or
other applicable law, whenever the Trust shall have a meeting of holders of any
Series or Class of Trust shares, the Company shall:
- solicit voting instructions from Contract Owners,
- vote Trust shares held in each Account at such shareholder
meetings in accordance with instructions received from Contract
Owners,
- vote Trust shares held in each Account for which it has not
received timely instructions in the same proportion as it votes
the applicable Series or Class of Trust shares for which it has
received timely instructions, and
- vote Trust shares held in its general account in the same
proportion as it votes the applicable Series or Class of Trust
shares held by the Accounts for which it has received timely
instructions.
Except with respect to matters as to which the Company has the right in
connection with Schedule 1 Contracts under Rule 6e-2 or Rule 6e-3(T) under the
1940 Act, to vote Trust shares without regard to voting instructions from
Contract Owners, neither the Company nor any of its affiliates will recommend
action in connection with, or oppose or interfere with, the actions of
12
the Trust Board to hold shareholder meetings for the purpose of obtaining
approval or disapproval from shareholders (and, indirectly, from Contract
Owners) of matters put before the shareholders.
As required by the conditions attaching to the SEC Order, the Company shall
remain responsible for ensuring that it calculates voting instructions and votes
Trust shares at shareholder meetings in a manner consistent with other
Participating Investors. The Trust will notify the Company of any changes to the
SEC Order, the conditions attaching thereto, or to any interpretation of the SEC
Order or conditions.
4.5. STATE INSURANCE LAW RESTRICTIONS. The Company acknowledges and agrees
that it is the responsibility of the Company and other Participating Insurance
Companies to determine investment restrictions and any other restrictions,
limitations or requirements under state insurance law applicable to any
Portfolio or the Trust or the Distributor, and that neither the Trust nor the
Distributor shall bear any responsibility to the Company, other Participating
Insurance Companies or any Product Owners for any such determination or the
correctness of such determination. The Company shall inform the Trust in writing
of any investment restrictions imposed by state insurance law that the Company
determines may become applicable to the Trust or a Portfolio from time to time
as a result of the Accounts' investment therein. Upon receipt of any such
information from the Company or any other Participating Insurance Company, the
Trust shall determine whether it is in the best interests of shareholders to
comply with any such restrictions. If the Trust determines that it is not in the
best interests of shareholders (which, for this purpose, shall mean Product
Owners) to comply with a restriction determined to be applicable by the Company,
the Trust shall so inform the Company, and the Trust and the Company shall
discuss alternative accommodations in the circumstances.
4.6. INTERPRETATION OF LAW. Under no circumstances will the Trust, the
Distributor or any of their affiliates (excluding Participating Investors) be
held responsible or liable in any respect for any statements or representations
made by them or their legal advisers to the Company or any Contract Owner
concerning the applicability of any federal or state laws, regulations or other
authorities to the activities contemplated by this Agreement.
4.7. DISCLOSURE. The Trust's Prospectus shall state that the statement of
additional information for the Trust is available from either the Distributor or
the Trust. The Trust hereby notifies the Company that it is appropriate to
include in Contract Prospectuses, disclosure of the potential risks of mixed and
shared funding.
4.8. DRAFTS OF FILINGS. The Trust and the Company shall provide to each
other copies of draft versions of any Registration Statements, Prospectuses,
Statements of Additional Information, periodic and other shareholder or Contract
Owner reports, proxy statements, solicitations for voting instructions,
applications for exemptions, requests for no-action letters, and all amendments
or supplements to any of the above, prepared by or on behalf of either of them
and that mentions the other party by name. Such drafts shall be provided to the
other party sufficiently in advance of filing such materials with regulatory
authorities in order to allow such other party a reasonable opportunity to
review the materials.
13
4.9. COPIES OF FILINGS. The Trust and the Company shall provide to each
other at least one complete copy of all Registration Statements, Prospectuses,
Statements of Additional Information, periodic and other shareholder or Contract
Owner reports, proxy statements, solicitations of voting instructions,
applications for exemptions, requests for "no-action" letters, and all
amendments or supplements to any of the above, that relate to the Trust, the
Contracts or the Accounts, as the case may be, promptly after the filing by or
on behalf of each such party of such document with the SEC or other regulatory
authorities (it being understood that this provision is not intended to require
the Trust to provide to the Company copies of any such documents prepared, filed
or used by Participating Investors other than the Company and the Accounts).
4.10. REGULATORY RESPONSES. Each party shall promptly provide to all other
parties copies of responses to no-action requests, notices, orders and other
rulings received by such party with respect to any filing covered by Section 4.9
of this Agreement.
4.11. COMPLAINTS AND PROCEEDINGS.
(a) The Trust and/or the Distributor shall immediately notify the
Company of: (i) the issuance by any court or regulatory body of any stop
order, cease and desist order, or other similar order (but not including an
order of a regulatory body exempting or approving a proposed transaction or
arrangement) with respect to the Trust's Registration Statement or the
Prospectus of any Series or Class, (ii) any request by the SEC for any
amendment to the Trust's Registration Statement or the Prospectus of any
Series or Class, (iii) the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose
or for any other purposes relating to the registration or offering of the
Trust shares, or (iv) any other action or circumstances that may prevent
the lawful offer or sale of Trust shares or any Class or Series in any
state or jurisdiction, including, without limitation, any circumstance 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 for the Contracts. The Trust 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.
(b) The Company shall immediately notify the Trust and the Distributor
of: (i) the issuance by any court or regulatory body of any stop order,
cease and desist order, or other similar order (but not including an order
of a regulatory body exempting or approving a proposed transaction or
arrangement) with respect to the Contracts' Registration Statement or the
Contracts' Prospectus, (ii) any request by the SEC for any amendment to the
Contracts' Registration Statement or Prospectus, (iii) the initiation of
any proceedings for that purpose or for any other purposes relating to the
registration or offering of the Contracts, or (iv) any other action or
circumstances that may prevent the lawful offer or sale of the Contracts or
any class of Contracts in any state or jurisdiction, including, without
limitation, any circumstance in which such Contracts are not
14
registered, qualified and approved, and, in all material respects, issued
and sold in accordance with applicable state and federal laws. The 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.
(c) Each party shall immediately notify the other parties when it
receives notice, or otherwise becomes aware of, the commencement of any
litigation or proceeding against such party or a person affiliated
therewith in connection with the issuance or sale of Trust shares or the
Contracts.
(d) The Company shall provide to the Trust and the Distributor any
complaints it has received from Contract Owners pertaining to the Trust or
a Portfolio, and the Trust and Distributor shall each provide to the
Company any complaints it has received from Contract Owners relating to the
Contracts.
4.12. COOPERATION. Each party hereto shall cooperate with the other parties
and all appropriate government authorities (including without limitation the
SEC, the NASD and state securities and insurance regulators) and shall permit
such authorities reasonable access to its books and records in connection with
any investigation or inquiry by any such authority relating to this Agreement or
the transactions contemplated hereby. However, such access shall not extend to
attorney-client privileged information.
ARTICLE V
SALE, ADMINISTRATION AND SERVICING OF THE CONTRACTS
5.1. SALE OF THE CONTRACTS. The Company shall be fully responsible as to
the Trust and the Distributor for the sale and marketing of the Contracts. The
Company shall provide Contracts, the Contracts' and Trust's Prospectuses,
Contracts' and Trust's Statements of Additional Information, and all amendments
or supplements to any of the foregoing to Contract Owners and prospective
Contract Owners, all in accordance with federal and state laws. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, the Company shall: (1) enter into and enforce
agreements with affiliated and unaffiliated parties to, and (2) adopt and
implement written compliance policies and procedures reasonably designed to,
ensure that:
- all persons offering or selling the Contracts are duly
licensed and registered under applicable insurance and
securities laws,
- all individuals offering or selling the Contracts are duly
appointed agents of the Company and, when required by
applicable law, are registered representatives of a NASD
member broker-dealer,
- each sale of a Contract satisfies applicable suitability
requirements under insurance and securities laws and
regulations, including without limitation the rules of the
NASD,
15
- persons offering or selling the Contracts disclose to
prospective Contract Owners remuneration each expects to
receive in connection with sales of the Contracts and any
conflicts of interest arising therefrom as required by
applicable law, and
- persons offering or selling the Contracts do not intend to
engage in Account unit transactions that would violate the
Company's or the Trust's Disruptive Trading Policies.
5.2. ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING. The Company shall comply with all applicable
laws and regulations designed to prevent money "laundering" and financing of
terrorist activity, and if required by such laws or regulations, to share with
the Trust information about individuals, entities, organizations and countries
suspected of possible terrorist or money "laundering" activities in accordance
with Section 314(b) of the USA Patriot Act. In addition, the Company shall adopt
and implement policies and procedures reasonably designed to achieve compliance
with the applicable laws and regulations designed to prevent money "laundering"
and financing of terrorist activity. [In particular, the Company agrees that:
- as part of processing an application for a Contract, it will
verify the identity of applicants and, if an applicant is
not a natural person, will verify the identity of
prospective principal and beneficial owners submitting an
application for a Contract,
- as part of its ongoing compliance with the USA Patriot Act,
it will, from time to time, reverify the identity of
Contract Owners, including the identity of principal and
beneficial owners of Contracts held by non-natural persons,
- as part of processing an application for a Contract, it will
verify that no applicant, including prospective principal or
beneficial Contract Owners, is a "specially designated
national" or a person from an embargoed or "blocked" country
as indicated by the Office of Foreign Asset Control ("OFAC")
list of such persons,
- as part of its ongoing compliance with the USA Patriot Act,
it will, from time to time, reverify that no Contract Owner,
including a principal or beneficial Contract Owners, is a
"specially designated national" or a person from an
embargoed or "blocked" country as indicated by the OFAC list
of such persons,
- it will ensure that money tendered to the Trust as payment
for Trust shares did not originate with a bank lacking a
physical place of business (i.e., a "shell" bank) or from a
country or territory named on the list of high-risk or
non-cooperating countries or jurisdictions published by the
Financial Action Task Force, and
- if any of the foregoing cease to be true, the Trust or its
agents, in compliance with the USA Patriot Act or Bank
Secrecy Act, may seek
16
authority to block transactions in Account units arising
from accounts of one or more such Contract Owners with the
Company or of one or more of the Company's accounts with the
Trust.]
The Trust and the Distributor shall comply with all applicable laws and
regulations designed to prevent money "laundering", and if required by such laws
or regulations, to share with the Company information about individuals,
entities, organizations and countries suspected of possible terrorist or money
"laundering" activities in accordance with Section 314(b) of the USA Patriot
Act.
5.3. ADMINISTRATION AND SERVICING OF THE CONTRACTS. The Company shall be
fully responsible for the underwriting, issuance, service and administration of
the Contracts and for the administration of the Account, including, without
limitation, the calculation of performance information for the Contracts, the
timely payment of Contract Owner redemption requests and processing of Contract
transactions, and the maintenance of a service center, such functions to be
performed in all respects at a level commensurate with those standards
prevailing in the variable insurance industry. The Company shall provide to
Contract Owners all Trust reports, solicitations for voting instructions
including any related Trust proxy solicitation materials, and updated Trust
Prospectuses as required under the federal securities laws.
5.4. CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS. The Company shall promptly address all complaints
from Contract Owners and resolve such complaints consistent with high ethical
standards and principles of ethical conduct.
5.5. TRUST PROSPECTUSES AND REPORTS. In order to enable the Company to
fulfill its obligations under this Agreement and the federal securities laws,
the Trust shall provide the Company with a copy, in camera-ready form or form
otherwise suitable for printing or duplication of: (a) the Trust's Prospectus
for the Series and Classes listed on Schedules 1B, 2B, and 3B and any supplement
thereto; (b) any Trust proxy soliciting material for such Series or Classes; and
(c) any Trust periodic shareholder reports. The Trust and the Company may agree
upon alternate arrangements, but in all cases, the Trust reserves the right to
approve the printing of any such material. The Trust shall also make available
to the Company each Statement of Additional Information and supplement thereto.
The Trust shall provide the Company at least 10 days advance written notice when
any such material shall become available, provided, however, that in the case of
a supplement, the Trust shall provide the Company notice reasonable in the
circumstances, it being understood that circumstances surrounding such
supplement may not allow for advance notice. The Company may not alter any
material so provided by the Trust or the Distributor (including, without
limitation, presenting or delivering such material in a different medium such as
electronic mail or attachments thereto) without the prior written consent of the
Distributor.
5.6. TRUST ADVERTISING MATERIAL. Neither the Company or any person directly
or indirectly authorized by the Company (including, without limitation,
underwriters, distributors, and sellers of the Contracts) shall use any piece of
advertising, sales literature or other promotional material in which the Trust,
the Distributor, or an affiliate of either is named, except
17
with the prior written consent of the Trust or the Distributor. The Company
shall furnish to the Trust or the Distributor each such piece of advertising,
sales literature or other promotional material at least ten (10) days prior to
its use. The Trust or the Distributor shall respond to any request for written
consent on a prompt and timely basis, but failure to respond shall not relieve
the Company of the obligation to obtain the prior written consent of the Trust
or the Distributor. After receiving the Trust's or Distributor's consent to the
use of any such material, no further changes may be made without obtaining the
Trust's or Distributor's consent to such changes. The Trust or Distributor may
at any time in its sole discretion revoke such written consent, and upon
notification of such revocation, the Company shall no longer use the material
subject to such revocation. The Company shall not be responsible for filing any
materials with the NASD as applicable.
5.7. CONTRACTS ADVERTISING MATERIAL. The Trust and the Distributor shall
not use any piece of advertising or sales literature or other promotional
material in which the Company, an Account or a Contract is named, except with
the prior written consent of the Company. The Trust or the Distributor shall
furnish to the Company each such piece of advertising, sales literature or other
promotional material at least ten (10) days prior to its use. The Company shall
respond to any request for written consent on a prompt and timely basis, but
failure to respond shall not relieve the Trust or the Distributor of the
obligation to obtain the prior written consent of the Company. After receiving
the Company's consent to the use of any such material, no further changes may be
made by the Trust or Distributor without obtaining the Company's consent to such
changes. The Company may at any time in its sole discretion revoke any written
consent, and upon notification of such revocation, neither the Trust nor the
Distributor shall use the material subject to such revocation. The Trust and the
Distributor shall not be responsible for filing any such materials with the NASD
as applicable.
5.8. TRADE NAMES. No party shall use any other party's names, logos,
trademarks or service marks, whether registered or unregistered, without the
prior written consent of such other party, or after written consent therefor has
been revoked. The Company shall not use in advertising, publicity or otherwise
the name of the Trust, Distributor, or any of their affiliates nor any trade
name, trademark, trade device, service xxxx, symbol or any abbreviation,
contraction or simulation thereof of the Trust, Distributor, or their affiliates
without the prior written consent of the Trust or the Distributor in each
instance.
5.9. REPRESENTATIONS BY COMPANY. Except with the prior written consent of
the Trust, the Company shall not give any information or make any
representations or statements about the Trust or the Portfolios nor shall it
authorize or allow any other person to do so except information or
representations contained in the Trust's Registration Statement or the Trust's
Prospectuses or in reports or proxy statements for the Trust, or in
advertisements, sales literature or other promotional material approved in
writing by the Trust or its designee in accordance with this Article V, or in
published reports or statements of the Trust in the public domain.
The Company agrees to ensure that advertisements, sales literature or other
promotional material for the Contracts prepared by the Company or its affiliates
will be consistent with applicable laws, rules, and regulations of any
regulatory agency or self-regulatory agency
18
relating to the Contracts or to the sale of the Contracts, including, but not
limited to, NASD Conduct Rule 2210 and XX-0000-0, XX-0000-0 and IM-2210-3
thereunder.
The Company has adopted and implemented, or shall adopt and implement,
written compliance procedures reasonably designed to ensure that information
concerning the Trust, the Distributor, or any of their affiliates which is
intended for use by brokers or agents selling the Contracts (i.e., information
that is not intended for distribution to Contract Owners or prospective Contract
Owners) is so used. Neither the Trust, the Distributor, nor any of their
affiliates shall be liable for any losses, damages, or expenses relating to the
improper use of such "broker only" materials by agents of the Company or its
affiliates who are unaffiliated with the Trust or the Distributor. The parties
agree that this Section 5.9 is not intended to designate nor otherwise imply
that the Company is an underwriter or distributor of the Trust's shares.
5.10. REPRESENTATIONS BY TRUST. Except with the prior written consent of
the Company, the Trust shall not give 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 the
appropriate Contract Registration Statement or Contract Prospectus or in
published reports of the Company or the Accounts which are in the public domain
or in advertisements, sales literature or other promotional material approved in
writing by the Company in accordance with this Article V.
The Trust agrees to ensure that advertisements, sales literature or other
promotional material for the Trust prepared by the Distributor or its affiliates
in connection with the sale of the Contracts will be consistent with applicable
laws, rules, and regulations of any regulatory agency or self regulatory agency
relating to the Trust or to the sale of Trust shares, including, but not limited
to, NASD Conduct Rule 2210 and XX-0000-0, XX-0000-0 and IM-2210-3 thereunder.
The Trust or the Distributor shall xxxx information produced by or on
behalf of the Trust which is intended for use by brokers or agents selling the
Contracts (i.e., information that is not intended for distribution to Contract
Owners or prospective Contract Owners) "FOR BROKER USE ONLY," and neither the
Company nor any of its affiliates shall be liable for any losses, damages, or
expenses arising on account of the use by brokers of such information with third
parties in the event that it is not so marked.
5.11. ADVERTISING. For purposes of this Article V, the phrase "advertising,
sales literature or other promotional material" includes, but is not limited to,
any material constituting sales literature or advertising under the NASD Conduct
rules, the 1940 Act or the 1933 Act. Such material includes, without limitation,
the following materials for prospective Contract Owners, existing Contract
Owners, wholesalers and other broker-dealers, rating or ranking agencies, or the
press:
- 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, websites, or other
public media),
19
- 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,
electronic mail, 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, statements of
additional information, shareholder reports, and proxy
materials.
ARTICLE VI
COMPLIANCE WITH CODE
6.1. SECTION 817(H). The Trust will at all times invest money from the
Contracts in such a manner as to ensure that the Contracts will be treated as
variable contracts under the Code and regulations thereunder. Without limiting
the scope of the foregoing, the Trust shall ensure that each Portfolio will
comply with Section 817(h) of the Code and Treasury Regulation 1.817-5
thereunder, relating to the diversification requirements for variable annuity,
endowment, or life insurance contracts, and any amendments or other
modifications to such Section and Regulation or successors thereto. The Trust
shall notify the Company immediately upon having a reasonable basis for
believing that a Portfolio has failed to so comply or that it might not comply
in the future.
6.2. SUBCHAPTER M. The Trust shall maintain the qualification of each
Portfolio as a regulated investment company (under Subchapter M or any successor
or similar provision), and the Trust shall notify the Company immediately upon
having a reasonable basis for believing that a Portfolio has ceased to so
qualify or that it might not so qualify in the future.
6.3. CONTRACTS. The Company shall ensure that at the time each Contract is
issued it is treated as a life insurance, endowment, or annuity contract under
applicable provisions of the Code, and that as long as the Accounts hold shares
of the Trust the Company shall maintain such treatment for each outstanding
Contract. The Company shall notify the Trust and the Distributor immediately
upon having any basis for believing that the Contracts will not be treated as
life insurance, endowment, or annuity contracts under applicable provisions of
the Code.
6.4 REGULATION 1.817-5(F). The Company shall ensure that no Portfolio fails
to remain eligible for "look-through" treatment under Treasury Regulation
1.817-5(f) by reason of a current or future failure of the Company, the Accounts
or the Contracts to comply with any applicable requirements of the Code or
Treasury Regulations. The Company shall notify the Trust and the Distributor
immediately upon having any basis for believing that the failure of the Company,
the Accounts or the Contracts to comply with any applicable requirements of the
Code or Treasury Regulations could render a Portfolio ineligible, or jeopardize
a Portfolio's eligibility, for "look-through" treatment under Treasury
Regulation 1.817-5(f). In the event of such a failure, the Company shall take
all necessary steps to cure any such failure, including, if
20
necessary, obtaining a waiver or closing agreement with respect to such failure
from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service at the Company's expense.
6.5 MODIFIED ENDOWMENT CONTRACTS. The Company shall ensure that any
Prospectus offering a variable life insurance Contract in circumstances where it
is reasonably probable that such Contract would be a "modified endowment
contract," as that term is defined in Section 7702A of the Code, will identify
such Contract as a modified endowment contract.
ARTICLE VII
EXPENSES
7.1. EXPENSES. All expenses incident to each party's performance under this
Agreement (including expenses expressly assumed by such party pursuant to this
Agreement) shall be paid by such party to the extent permitted by law.
7.2. TRUST EXPENSES. Expenses incident to the Trust's performance of its
duties and obligations under this Agreement include, but are not limited to, the
costs of:
(a) registration and qualification of the Trust shares under the
federal securities laws;
(b) preparation and filing with the SEC of the Trust's Prospectuses,
Trust's Statement of Additional Information, Trust's Registration
Statement, Trust proxy materials and shareholder reports, and preparation
of a "camera-ready" copy of the foregoing;
(c) preparation of all statements and notices required by any federal
or state securities law;
(d) printing of all proxy materials, shareholder reports, prospectuses
and other documents required to be provided by the Trust to its existing
shareholders, and providing sufficient copies of the same to the Company
for distribution to Contract Owners currently invested in the Trust;
provided, however, that if the Company prints copies of the Trust's
Prospectus (or portions thereof) as part of a larger document containing
prospectuses of other investment companies, the Trust shall bear the
expense only of its share of the cost of printing the document (for this
purpose, the Trust's share shall be the percentage of the total cost of the
document represented by the ratio that the number of pages of the Trust's
Prospectus bears to the total number of pages);
(e) all taxes on the issuance or transfer of Trust shares;
(f) payment of all applicable fees relating to the Trust, including,
without limitation, all fees due under Rule 24f-2 in connection with sales
of Trust shares to qualified retirement plans, custodial, auditing,
transfer agent and advisory fees, fees for insurance coverage and Trustees'
fees; and
(g) any expenses permitted to be paid or assumed by the Trust pursuant
to a Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act.
21
7.3. COMPANY EXPENSES. Expenses incident to the Company's performance of
its duties and obligations under this Agreement include, but are not limited to,
the costs of:
(a) registration and qualification of the Schedule 1 Contracts under
the federal securities laws;
(b) preparation Contract Prospectuses, and filing with the SEC of the
Prospectuses and Registration Statements for Schedule 1 Contracts;
(c) the sale, marketing and distribution of the Contracts, including
printing and dissemination of Contract Prospectuses to current and
prospective Contract Owners and of the Trust's Prospectuses to prospective
Contract Owners as well as compensation for Contract sales;
(d) administration of the Contracts;
(e) solicitation of voting instructions, including distribution of
Trust proxy materials to Contract Owners;
(f) payment of all applicable fees relating to Accounts and the
Contracts;
(g) preparation, printing and dissemination of all statements and
notices to Contract Owners required by any federal or state insurance law
other than those paid for by the Trust; and
(h) preparation, printing and dissemination of all marketing materials
for the Contracts and Trust except where other arrangements are made in
advance.
7.4. OTHER EXPENSES AND PAYMENTS. The Trust and the Distributor shall pay
no fee or other compensation to the Company under this Agreement. Each party,
however, shall, in accordance with the allocation of expenses specified in this
Agreement, reimburse other parties for expenses paid by such other parties, but
allocated to it. In addition, nothing herein shall prevent the parties from
otherwise agreeing to perform, and arranging for appropriate compensation for,
other services relating to the Trust, the Distributor, the Company or the
Accounts. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Trust or any Series or Class
adopts and implements a distribution plan under Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act,
as contemplated by Article 3.2(g) of this Agreement, then the Trust or any
Series or Class thereof may pay the Distributor, and the Distributor may pay the
principal underwriter or distributor of one or more classes of Contracts, for
activities primarily intended to result in the sale of Trust shares to the
Accounts through which such Contracts are issued. Likewise, if the Trust or any
Series or Class adopts and implements a shareholder service plan pursuant to
Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, or otherwise, then the Trust or the appropriate
Series or Class may pay the Distributor and the Distributor may pay the
principal underwriter or distributor of one or more classes of Contracts, or the
Company, for activities related to personal service and/or maintenance of
Contract Owner accounts, as permitted by such plan.
22
ARTICLE VIII
POTENTIAL CONFLICTS
8.1. SEC ORDER. The parties to this Agreement acknowledge that the Trust
has obtained the SEC Order granting exemptions from various provisions of the
1940 Act and the rules thereunder to Participant Accounts supporting variable
life insurance policies to the extent necessary to permit them to hold Trust
shares when Trust share also are sold to and held by variable annuity and
variable life insurance separate accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated
Participating Insurance Companies and other Qualified Persons (as defined in
Section 2.8 hereof). The SEC Order is conditioned upon the Trust and each
Participating Insurance Company complying with conditions and undertakings
substantially as provided in this Article VIII. The Trust will not enter into a
participation agreement with any other Participating Insurance Company unless it
imposes the same conditions and undertakings on that company as are imposed on
the Company pursuant to this Article VIII.
8.2. COMPANY MONITORING REQUIREMENTS. The Company will monitor its
operations and those of the Trust for the purpose of identifying any material
irreconcilable conflicts or potential material irreconcilable conflicts between
or among the interests of Participating Plans, Product Owners of variable life
insurance policies and Product Owners of variable annuity contracts.
8.3. COMPANY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. The Company shall report any conflicts
or potential conflicts to the Trust Board and will provide the Trust Board, at
least annually, with all information reasonably necessary for the Trust Board to
consider any issues raised by such existing or potential conflicts or by the
conditions and undertakings required by the Exemptive Order. The Company also
shall assist the Trust Board in carrying out its obligations including, but not
limited to: (a) informing the Trust Board whenever it disregards Contract Owner
voting instructions with respect to variable life insurance policies, and (b)
providing such other information and reports as the Trust Board may reasonably
request. The Company will carry out these obligations with a view only to the
interests of Contract Owners.
8.4. TRUST BOARD MONITORING AND DETERMINATION. The Trust Board shall
monitor the Trust for the existence of any material irreconcilable conflicts
between or among the interests of Participating Plans, Product Owners of
variable life insurance policies and Product Owners of variable annuity
contracts and determine what action, if any, should be taken in response to
those conflicts. A majority vote of Trustees who are not interested persons of
the Trust as defined in the 1940 Act (the "disinterested trustees") shall
represent a conclusive determination as to the existence of a material
irreconcilable conflict between or among the interests of Product Owners and
Participating Plans and as to whether any proposed action adequately remedies
any material irreconcilable conflict. The Trust Board shall give prompt written
notice to the Company and Participating Plan of any such determination. Minutes
of the meetings of the Trust Board, or other appropriate records of the Trust,
shall record all reports received by the Board regarding such conflicts and all
actions taken by the Board in response.
23
8.5. UNDERTAKING TO RESOLVE CONFLICT. In the event that a material
irreconcilable conflict of interest arises between Product Owners of variable
life insurance policies or Product Owners of variable annuity contracts and
Participating Plans, the Company will, at its own expense, take whatever action
is necessary to remedy such conflict as it adversely affects Contract Owners up
to and including: (1) establishing a new registered management investment
company, and (2) withdrawing assets from the Trust attributable to reserves for
the Contracts subject to the conflict and reinvesting such assets in a different
investment medium (including another Portfolio) or submitting the question of
whether such withdrawal should be implemented to a vote of all affected Contract
Owners, and, as appropriate, segregating the assets supporting the Contracts of
any group of such owners that votes in favor of such withdrawal, or offering to
such owners the option of making such a change. The Company will carry out the
responsibility to take the foregoing action with a view only to the interests of
Contract Owners.
8.6. WITHDRAWAL. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of
the Company's decision to disregard the voting instructions of Contract Owners
of variable life insurance policies and that decision represents a minority
position or would preclude a majority vote at any Portfolio shareholder meeting,
then, if Trust Board so requests, the Company will redeem the shares of the
Trust to which the disregarded voting instructions relate. No charge or penalty,
however, will be imposed in connection with such a redemption.
8.7. EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH REMEDIAL ACTION. In no event shall the Trust
be required to bear the expense of establishing a new funding medium for any
Contract. The Company shall not be required by this Article VIII to establish a
new funding medium for any Contract if an offer to do so has been declined by
vote of a majority of the Contract Owners materially adversely affected by the
irreconcilable material conflict.
8.8. SUCCESSOR RULES. If and to the extent that Rule 6e-2 or Rule 6e-3(T)
are amended, or Rule 6e-3 is adopted, to provide exemptive relief from any
provisions of the 1940 Act or the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to
mixed and shared funding on terms and conditions materially different from those
contained in the SEC Order, then: (a) the Trust and/or the Company, as
appropriate, shall take such steps as may be necessary to comply with Rules 6e-2
and 6e-3(T), as amended, or Rule 6e-3, as adopted, as applicable, to the extent
such rules are applicable, and (b) Sections 8.2 through 8.7 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 IX
INDEMNIFICATION
9.1. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY. The Company hereby agrees to, and
shall, indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, the Distributor and each person
who controls or is affiliated with the Trust or the Distributor within the
meaning of such terms under the 1933 Act or 1940 Act (but not any Participating
Insurance Companies or Qualified Persons) and any officer, trustee, partner,
director, employee or agent of the foregoing, against any and all losses,
claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several (including any investigative,
legal and other
24
expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amounts paid in
settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted), to which
they or any of them may become subject under any statute or regulation, at
common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, expenses or
liabilities:
(a) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement of any
material fact or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in the
Contract Registration Statements, Contract Prospectuses, sales literature
or other promotional material for the Contracts or the Contracts themselves
(or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of
or are based upon the omission to state therein a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading in light of the circumstances in which they were made; provided
that this obligation to indemnify shall not apply if such statement or
omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished in writing to the Company by the Trust or the Distributor for use
in the Contract Registration Statements, Contract Prospectuses or in the
Contracts or sales literature or promotional material for the Contracts (or
any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing) or otherwise for use
in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Trust shares; or
(b) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in the Trust Registration Statement, any Prospectus
for Series or Classes or sales literature or other promotional material of
the Trust (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or the
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the
circumstances in which they were made, if such statement or omission was
made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the
Trust or Distributor in writing by or on behalf of the Company; or
(c) arise out of or are based upon any wrongful conduct of, or
violation of federal or state law by, the Company or persons under its
control or subject to its authorization, including without limitation, any
broker-dealers or agents authorized to sell the Contracts, with respect to
the sale, marketing or distribution of the Contracts or Trust shares,
including, without limitation, any impermissible use of broker-only
material, unsuitable or improper sales of the Contracts or unauthorized
representations about the Contracts or the Trust; or
(d) arise as a result of any failure by the Company or persons under
its control (or subject to its authorization) to provide services, furnish
materials or make payments as required under this Agreement; or
(e) arise out of any material breach by the Company or persons under
its control (or subject to its authorization) of this Agreement; or
(f) any breach of any warranties contained in Article III hereof, any
failure to transmit a request for redemption or purchase of Trust shares or
payment therefor on a timely basis in accordance with the procedures set
forth in Article II, or any unauthorized use of the names or trade names of
the Trust or the Distributor.
25
This indemnification is in addition to any liability that the Company may
otherwise have; provided, however, that no party shall be entitled to
indemnification if such loss, claim, damage, expense or liability is caused by
the willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of
duty by the party seeking indemnification.
9.2. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE TRUST. The Trust hereby agrees to, and shall,
indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each person who controls or is
affiliated with the Company within the meaning of such terms under the 1933 Act
or 1940 Act and any officer, director, employee or agent of the foregoing,
against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several
(including any investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in
connection with, and any amounts paid in settlement of, any action, suit or
proceeding or any claim asserted), to which they or any of them may become
subject under any statute or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as
such losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities:
(a) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement of any
material fact or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in the
Trust Registration Statement, any Prospectus for Series or Classes or sales
literature or other promotional material of the Trust (or any amendment or
supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the
circumstances in which they were made; provided that this obligation to
indemnify shall not apply if such statement or omission was made in
reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing by
the Company to the Trust or the Distributor for use in the Trust
Registration Statement, Trust Prospectus or sales literature or promotional
material for the Trust (or any amendment or supplement to any of the
foregoing) or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the
Contracts or Trust shares; or
(b) arise out of any untrue statement of a material fact or alleged
untrue statement of material fact contained in the Contract Registration
Statements, Contract Prospectuses or sales literature or other promotional
material for the Contracts (or any amendment or supplement to any of the
foregoing), or the omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading
in light of the circumstances in which they were made, if such statement or
omission was made in reliance upon information furnished in writing by the
Trust to the Company; or
(c) arise out of or are based upon wrongful conduct of the Trust or
its Trustees or officers with respect to the sale of Trust shares; or
(d) arise as a result of any failure by the Trust to provide services,
furnish materials or make payments as required under the terms of this
Agreement; or
(e) arise out of any material breach by the Trust of this Agreement
(including any breach of Section 6.1 of this Agreement and any warranties
contained in Article III hereof);
26
it being understood that in no way shall the Trust be liable to the Company with
respect to any violation of insurance law, compliance with which is a
responsibility of the Company under this Agreement or otherwise or as to which
the Company failed to inform the Trust in accordance with Section 4.5 hereof.
This indemnification is in addition to any liability that the Trust may
otherwise have; provided, however, that no party shall be entitled to
indemnification if such loss, claim, damage or liability is caused by the
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of duty
by the party seeking indemnification.
9.3. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE DISTRIBUTOR. The Distributor hereby agrees to,
and shall, indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each person who controls
or is affiliated with the Company within the meaning of such terms under the
1933 Act or 1940 Act and any officer, director, employee or agent of the
foregoing, against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or
several (including any investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably
incurred in connection with, and any amounts paid in settlement of, any action,
suit or proceeding or any claim asserted), to which they or any of them may
become subject under any statute or regulation, at common law or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities:
(a) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement of any
material fact or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in the
Trust Registration Statement, any Prospectus for Series or Classes or sales
literature or other promotional material of the Trust (or any amendment or
supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the
circumstances in which they were made; provided that this obligation to
indemnify shall not apply if such statement or omission was made in
reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing by
the Company to the Trust or Distributor for use in the Trust Registration
Statement, Trust Prospectus or sales literature or promotional material for
the Trust (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing) or
otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Trust
shares; or
(b) arise out of any untrue statement of a material fact or alleged
untrue statement of material fact contained in the Contracts Registration
Statement, Contracts Prospectus or sales literature or other promotional
material for the Contracts (or any amendment or supplement to any of the
foregoing), or the omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading
in light of the circumstances in which they were made, if such statement or
omission was made in reliance upon information furnished in writing by the
Distributor to the Company; or
(c) arise out of or are based upon wrongful conduct of the Distributor
or persons under its control with respect to the sale of Trust shares; or
(d) arise as a result of any failure by the Distributor or persons
under its control to provide services, furnish materials or make payments
as required under the terms of this Agreement; or
27
(e) arise out of any material breach by the Distributor or persons
under its control of this Agreement (including any breach of Section 6.1 of
this Agreement and any warranties contained in Article III hereof);
it being understood that in no way shall the Distributor be liable to the
Company with respect to any violation of insurance law, compliance with which is
a responsibility of the Company under this Agreement or otherwise or as to which
the Company failed to inform the Distributor in accordance with Section 4.5
hereof. This indemnification is in addition to any liability that the
Distributor may otherwise have; provided, however, that no party shall be
entitled to indemnification if such loss, claim, damage or liability is caused
by the wilful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of
duty by the party seeking indemnification.
9.4. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. It is the parties' intention that, in the event
of an occurrence for which the Trust has agreed to indemnify the Company, the
Company shall seek indemnification from the Trust only in circumstances in which
the Trust is entitled to seek indemnification from a third party with respect to
the same event or cause thereof.
9.5. INDEMNIFICATION PROCEDURES. After receipt by a party entitled to
indemnification ("indemnified party") under this Article IX of notice of the
commencement of any action, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made by the
indemnified party against any person obligated to provide indemnification under
this Article IX ("indemnifying party"), such indemnified party will notify the
indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof as soon as practicable
thereafter, provided that the omission to so notify the indemnifying party will
not relieve it from any liability under this Article IX, except to the extent
that the omission results in a failure of actual notice to the indemnifying
party and such indemnifying party is damaged solely as a result of the failure
to give such notice. The indemnifying party, upon the request of the indemnified
party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to
represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may
designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and disbursements
of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any
indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees
and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party
unless (a) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually
agreed to the retention of such counsel or (b) the named parties to any such
proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party
and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel
would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between
them. The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any
proceeding effected without its written consent but if settled with such consent
or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees
to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by
reason of such settlement or judgment.
A successor by law of the parties to this Agreement shall be entitled to
the benefits of the indemnification contained in this Article IX. The
indemnification provisions contained in this Article IX shall survive any
termination of this Agreement.
28
ARTICLE X
RELATIONSHIP OF THE PARTIES; TERMINATION
10.1. RELATIONSHIP OF PARTIES. The Company is to be an independent
contractor vis-a-vis the Trust, the Distributor, or any of their affiliates for
all purposes hereunder and will have no authority to act for or represent any of
them (except to the limited extent the Company acts as agent of the Trust
pursuant to Section 2.3(a) of this Agreement). In addition, no officer or
employee of the Company will be deemed to be an employee or agent of the Trust,
Distributor, or any of their affiliates. The Company will not act as an
"underwriter" or "distributor" of the Trust, as those terms variously are used
in the 1940 Act, the 1933 Act, and rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Likewise, the Company is not a "transfer agent" or "administrator" of the Trust
as those terms are defined in Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act.
10.2. NON-EXCLUSIVITY AND NON-INTERFERENCE. The parties hereto acknowledge
that the arrangement contemplated by this Agreement is not exclusive; the Trust
shares may be sold to other insurance companies and investors (subject to
Section 2.8 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 this Article X:
(a) the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the
Distributor (unless otherwise required by applicable law), solicit, induce
or encourage Contract Owners to change or modify the Trust to change the
Trust's distributor or investment adviser; and
(b) the Company shall not substitute another investment company for
one or more Portfolios without providing written notice to the Distributor
at least [90] days in advance of effecting any such substitution.
10.3. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall not terminate until:
(a) the Trust is dissolved, liquidated, or merged into another entity, or (b) as
to any Portfolio that has been made available hereunder, the Accounts no longer
invest in that Portfolio and the Company has confirmed in writing to the
Distributor, if so requested by the Distributor, that it no longer intends to
invest in such Portfolio. However, certain obligations of, or restrictions on,
the parties to this Agreement may terminate as provided in Sections 10.4 through
10.6 and the Company may be required to redeem Trust shares pursuant to Section
10.7 or in the circumstances contemplated by Article VIII. Article IX and
Sections 5.8 and 10.8 shall survive any termination of this Agreement.
10.4. TERMINATION OF OFFERING OF TRUST SHARES. The obligation of the Trust
and the Distributor to make Trust shares available to the Company for purchase
pursuant to Article II of this Agreement shall terminate at the option of the
Distributor upon written notice to the Company as provided below:
(a) upon institution of formal proceedings against the Company, or the
Distributor's reasonable determination that institution of such proceedings
is being
29
considered by the NASD, the SEC, the insurance commission of any state or
any other regulatory body regarding the Company's duties under this
Agreement or related to the sale of the Contracts, the operation of the
Account, the administration of the Contracts or the purchase of Trust
shares, or an expected or anticipated ruling, judgment or outcome which
would, in the Distributor's reasonable judgment exercised in good faith,
materially impair the Company's or Trust's ability to meet and perform the
Company's or Trust's obligations and duties hereunder, such termination
effective upon 15 days prior written notice;
(b) in the event any of the Contracts are not registered, issued or
sold in accordance with applicable federal and/or state law, such
termination effective immediately upon receipt of written notice;
(c) if the Distributor shall determine, in its sole judgment exercised
in good faith, that either (1) the Company shall have suffered a material
adverse change in its business or financial condition or (2) the Company
shall have been the subject of material adverse publicity which is likely
to have a material adverse impact upon the business and operations of
either the Trust or the Distributor, such termination effective upon 30
days prior written notice;
(d) if the Distributor suspends or terminates the offering of Trust
shares of any Series or Class to all Participating Investors or only
designated Participating Investors, when such action is required by law or
by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction or if, in the sole discretion
of the Distributor acting in good faith, suspension or termination is
necessary in the best interests of the Product Owners invested in any
Series or Class, such suspension or termination effective immediately upon
receipt of written notice;
(e) upon the Company's assignment of this Agreement (including,
without limitation, any transfer of the Contracts or the Account to another
insurance company pursuant to an assumption reinsurance agreement) unless
the Trust consents thereto, such termination effective upon 30 days prior
written notice;
(f) if the Company is in material breach of any provision of this
Agreement, which breach has not been cured to the satisfaction of the Trust
within 20 days after written notice of such breach has been delivered to
the Company, such termination effective upon expiration of such 20-day
period; or
(g) upon the determination of the Trust's Board to dissolve, liquidate
or merge the Trust as contemplated by Section 10.3(a), upon termination of
the Agreement pursuant to Section 10.3(b), or upon notice from the Company
pursuant to Section 10.5 or 10.6, such termination pursuant hereto to be
effective upon 15 days prior written notice.
Except in the case of an option exercised under clause (b), (d) or (g), the
obligations shall terminate only as to new Contracts and the Distributor shall
continue to make Trust shares available to the extent necessary to permit owners
of Contracts in effect on the effective date of such termination (hereinafter
referred to as "Existing Contracts") to reallocate investments in the
30
Trust, redeem investments in the Trust and/or invest in the Trust upon the
making of additional purchase payments under the Existing Contracts.
10.5. TERMINATION OF INVESTMENT IN A PORTFOLIO. The Company may elect to
cease investing in a Portfolio, promoting a Portfolio as an investment option
under the Contracts, or withdraw its investment or the Account's investment in a
Portfolio, subject to compliance with applicable law, upon written notice to the
Trust within 15 days of the occurrence of any of the following events (unless
provided otherwise below):
(a) if the Trust informs the Company pursuant to Section 4.5 that it
will not cause such Portfolio to comply with investment restrictions as
requested by the Company and the Trust and the Company are unable to agree
upon any reasonable alternative accommodations;
(b) if shares in such Portfolio are not reasonably available to meet
the requirements of the Contracts as determined by the Company (including
any non-availability as a result of notice given by the Distributor
pursuant to Section 10.4(d)), and the Distributor, after receiving written
notice from the Company of such non-availability, fails to make available,
within 10 days after receipt of such notice, a sufficient number of shares
in such Portfolio or an alternate Portfolio to meet the requirements of the
Contracts; or
(c) if such Portfolio fails to meet the diversification requirements
specified in Section 817(h) of the Code and any regulations thereunder and
the Trust, upon written request, fails to provide reasonable assurance that
it will take action to cure or correct such failure;
Such termination shall apply only as to the affected Portfolio and shall not
apply to any other Portfolio in which the Company or the Account invests.
10.6. TERMINATION OF INVESTMENT BY THE COMPANY. The Company may elect to
cease investing in all Series or Classes of the Trust made available hereunder,
promoting the Trust as an investment option under the Contracts, or withdraw its
investment or the Accounts' investment in the Trust, subject to compliance with
applicable law, upon written notice to the Trust within 15 days of the
occurrence of any of the following events (unless provided otherwise below):
(a) upon institution of formal proceedings against the Trust or the
Distributor (but only with regard to the Trust) by the NASD, the SEC or any
state securities or insurance commission or any other regulatory body;
(b) if, with respect to the Trust or a Portfolio, the Trust or the
Portfolio ceases to qualify as a regulated investment company under
Subchapter M of the Code, as defined therein, or any successor or similar
provision, or if the Company reasonably believes that the Trust may fail to
so qualify, and the Trust, upon written request, fails to
31
provide reasonable assurance that it will take action to cure or correct
such failure within 30 days; or
(c) if the Trust or Distributor is in material breach of a provision
of this Agreement, which breach has not been cured to the satisfaction of
the Company within 20 days after written notice of such breach has been
delivered to the Trust or the Distributor, as the case may be.
10.7. COMPANY REQUIRED TO REDEEM. The parties understand and acknowledge
that it is essential for compliance with Section 817(h) of the Code that the
Contracts qualify as annuity contracts or life insurance policies, as
applicable, under the Code. Accordingly, if any of the Contracts cease to
qualify as annuity contracts or life insurance policies, as applicable, under
the Code, or if the Trust reasonably believes that any such Contracts may fail
to so qualify, the Trust shall have the right to require the Company to redeem
Trust shares attributable to such Contracts upon notice to the Company and the
Company shall so redeem such Trust shares in order to ensure that the Trust
complies with the provisions of Section 817(h) of the Code applicable to
ownership of Trust shares. Notice to the Company shall specify the period of
time the Company has to redeem the Trust shares or to make other arrangements
satisfactory to the Trust and its counsel, such period of time to be determined
with reference to the requirements of Section 817(h) of the Code. In addition,
the Company may be required to redeem Trust shares pursuant to action taken or
request made by the Trust Board in accordance with the SEC Order described in
Article VIII or any conditions or undertakings set forth or referenced therein,
or other SEC rule, regulation or order that may be adopted after the date
hereof. The Company agrees to redeem Trust shares in the circumstances described
herein and to comply with applicable terms and provisions. Also, in the event
that the Distributor suspends or terminates the offering of a Series or Class
pursuant to Section 10.4(d) of this Agreement, the Company, upon request by the
Distributor, will cooperate in taking appropriate action to withdraw the
Account's investment in the respective Portfolio.
10.8. CONFIDENTIALITY. Subject to the requirements of legal process and
other applicable law, each party to this Agreement shall treat as confidential
all information reasonably identified by as confidential in writing by another
party, and, except as permitted by this Agreement, shall not disclose,
disseminate, or utilize such confidential information without the written
consent of the party to which such information belongs until such time as such
confidential information comes into the public domain. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary in this Agreement, in addition to and not in lieu of other
provisions in this Agreement:
(a) Confidential information includes, without limitation, all
information regarding Contract Owners (or other customers of the Company),
investors in the Trust, customers of the Distributor, or customers of the
parties' subsidiaries, affiliates, or licencees; or the accounts, account
numbers, names, addresses, social security numbers, or any other personal
identifier of such customers; or any information derived from the
foregoing.
32
(b) The parities may not disclose Confidential Information for any
purpose other than to carry out the purpose for which the Confidential
Information was provided to the party, as forth in this Agreement. The
parties agree to cause their employees, agents and representatives, or any
other person to whom such party may disclose (or provide access to)
Confidential Information, to limit the use and disclosure of Confidential
Information to that purpose.
(c) Each party agrees to implement appropriate measures designed to
ensure the security and confidentiality of Confidential Information, to
protect such information against any anticipated threats or hazards to the
security and integrity of such information, and to protect against
unauthorized access to, or use of, Confidential Information that could
result in substantial harm or inconvenience to any Contract owner (or other
customer of the Company), investors in the Trust, customers of the
Distributor, or customers of the parties' subsidiaries, affiliates, or
licencees. The parties further agree to cause all their respective agents,
representatives or sub-contractors, or any other party to whom they provide
access to, or disclosure of, Confidential Information, to implement
appropriate measures to meet the objectives set forth in this section 10.8.
ARTICLE XI
APPLICABILITY TO NEW ACCOUNTS AND NEW CONTRACTS
The parties to this Agreement may amend the schedules to this Agreement
from time to time to reflect, as appropriate, changes in or relating to the
Contracts, any Series or Class, additions of new classes of Contracts to be
issued by the Company and Accounts therefor investing in the Trust. Such
amendments may be made effective by executing the form of amendment included on
each schedule attached hereto. The provisions of this Agreement shall be equally
applicable to each such class of Contracts, Series, Class or separate account,
as applicable, effective as of the date of amendment of such Schedule, unless
the context otherwise requires. The parties to this Agreement may amend this
Agreement from time to time by written agreement signed by all of the parties.
ARTICLE XII
NOTICE, REQUEST OR CONSENT
Any notice, request or consent to be provided pursuant to this Agreement is
to be made in writing and shall be given:
If to the Trust: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
MLIG Variable Insurance Trust
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx
0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
33
If to the Distributor: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
1st Vice President and Assistant General Counsel
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx & Xxxxx, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx
0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
If to the Company: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
ML Life Insurance Company of New York
1700 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx
0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
or at such other address as such party may from time to time specify in writing
to the other party. Each such notice, request or consent to a party shall be
sent by registered or certified United States mail with return receipt requested
or by overnight delivery with a nationally recognized courier, and shall be
effective upon receipt. Notices pursuant to the provisions of Article II may be
sent by facsimile to the person designated in writing for such notices.
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS
13.1. INTERPRETATION. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions
hereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the state of
Delaware, without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws, subject
to the following rules:
(a) This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the 1933 Act,
1940 Act and Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules,
regulations and rulings thereunder, including such exemptions from those
statutes, rules, and regulations as the SEC may grant, and the terms hereof
shall be limited, interpreted and construed in accordance therewith.
(b) The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of
reference only and do not define or delineate any of the provisions hereof
or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
(c) 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.
(d) 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.
34
13.2. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or
more counterparts, each of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
13.3. NO ASSIGNMENT. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights and
obligations hereunder may be assigned by the Company, the Distributor or the
Trust without the prior written consent of the other parties.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to
be executed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized officer on the date
specified below.
MLIG VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
(Trust)
Date: By:
------------------------------- ------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Title: President
XXXXXXX XXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXX & XXXXX,
INC.
(Distributor)
Date: By:
------------------------------- ------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: 1st Vice President and
Assistant General Counsel
ML LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
(Company)
Date: By:
------------------------------- ------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Title: Vice President and
Senior Counsel
35
SCHEDULE 1
SCHEDULE 1A
SEPARATE ACCOUNTS OF THE COMPANY REGISTERED UNDER THE 1940 ACT AS
UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS
The following separate accounts of the Company are subject to the Agreement:
Date Established by
Board of Directors of SEC 1940 Act Type of Product
Name of Account the Company Registration Number Supported by Account
------------------- --------------------- ------------------- -----------------------
ML of New York August 14, 1991 811-6466 Variable Annuity
Variable Annuity
Separate Account A
ML of New York May 16, 2002 811-21119 Variable Annuity
Variable Annuity
Separate Account C
ML of New York November 20, 1990 811-6226 Variable Life Insurance
Variable Life
Separate Account
ML of New York September 4, 1992 811-7152 Variable Life Insurance
Variable Life
Separate Account II
36
SCHEDULE 1B
VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACTS AND VARIABLE LIFE INSURANCE CONTRACTS REGISTERED
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
The following Contracts are subject to the Agreement:
1933 Act
Registration Type of Product Supported by
Name of Contract Available Portfolios Number Account
---------------- ------------------------------------ ------------ ----------------------------
Investor Choice (Investor Xxxxxx/Allianz CCM Capital 333-119611 Variable Annuity
Series) Appreciation Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Allianz NFJ Small Cap Value
Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Delaware Trend Portfolio
Xxxxxx/JPMorgan Multi-Cap Market
Neutral Portfolio
Xxxxxx/JPMorgan Small Cap Growth
Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Lord Xxxxxx Affiliated
Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Lord Xxxxxx Bond Debenture
Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Lord Xxxxxx Mid Cap Value
Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Marisco Large Cap Growth
Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Xxxxxxxx Mid Cap Growth
Portfolio
Retirement Plus Xxxxxx/Allianz CCM Capital 33-43654 Variable Annuity
Appreciation Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Allianz NFJ Small Cap Value
Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Delaware Trend Portfolio
Xxxxxx/JPMorgan Small Cap Growth
Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Lord Xxxxxx Affiliated
Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Lord Xxxxxx Mid Cap Value
Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Marisco Large Cap Growth
Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Xxxxxxxx Mid Cap Growth
Portfolio
37
1933 Act
Registration Type of Product Supported by
Name of Contract Available Portfolios Number Account
---------------- ------------------------------------ ------------ ----------------------------
Retirement Power Xxxxxx/Allianz CCM Capital 333-34894 Variable Annuity
Appreciation Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Allianz NFJ Small Cap Value
Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Delaware Trend Portfolio
Xxxxxx/JPMorgan Small Cap Growth
Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Lord Xxxxxx Affiliated
Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Lord Xxxxxx Bond Debenture
Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Lord Xxxxxx Mid Cap Value
Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Xxxxxxxx Mid Cap Growth
Portfolio
Retirement Optimizer Xxxxxx/Allianz CCM Capital 333-69220 Variable Annuity
Appreciation Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Allianz NFJ Small Cap Value
Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Delaware Trend Portfolio
Xxxxxx/JPMorgan Small Cap Growth
Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Lord Xxxxxx Affiliated
Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Lord Xxxxxx Bond Debenture
Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Lord Xxxxxx Mid Cap Value
Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Xxxxxxxx Mid Cap Growth
Portfolio
38
1933 Act
Registration Type of Product Supported by
Name of Contract Available Portfolios Number Account
---------------- ------------------------------------ ------------ ----------------------------
Consults Annuity Xxxxxx/AllianceBernstein Large Cap 333-90430 Variable Annuity
Core Portfolio
Xxxxxx/BlackRock Fixed Income
Portfolio
Xxxxxx/BlackRock Relative Value
Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Xxxxx Large Cap Value
Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Delaware Small-Mid Cap
Growth Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Large Cap Core
Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Cadence Mid Cap Growth
Portfolio
Xxxxxx/JPMorgan International
Equity Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Small-Mid Cap Value Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Lazard International
Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Large Cap
Growth Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Lord Xxxxxx Government
Securities Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Lord Xxxxxx Large Cap Value
Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Marisco Large Cap Growth
Portfolio
Xxxxxx/NWQ Small Cap Value Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Xxxxxxxxxxx Large Cap Growth
Portfolio
Prime Plan I Xxxxxx/Allianz CCM Capital 33-38097 Variable Life Insurance
Prime Plan II Appreciation Portfolio
Prime Plan III Xxxxxx/Delaware Trend Portfolio
Prime Plan IV
Directed Life
Prime Plan V Xxxxxx/Allianz CCM Capital 33-37944 Variable Life Insurance
Appreciation Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Delaware Trend Portfolio
Prime Plan VI Xxxxxx/Allianz CCM Capital 33-37947 Variable Life Insurance
Appreciation Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Delaware Trend Portfolio
39
1933 Act
Registration Type of Product Supported by
Name of Contract Available Portfolios Number Account
---------------- ------------------------------------ ------------ ----------------------------
Prime Plan 7 Xxxxxx/Allianz CCM Capital 33-37948 Variable Life Insurance
Appreciation Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Delaware Trend Portfolio
Prime Plan Investor Xxxxxx/Allianz CCM Capital 33-37945 Variable Life Insurance
Appreciation Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Delaware Trend Portfolio
Directed Life 2 Xxxxxx/Allianz CCM Capital 33-37946 Variable Life Insurance
Appreciation Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Delaware Trend Portfolio
Investor Life Xxxxxx/Allianz CCM Capital 33-51794 Variable Life Insurance
Appreciation Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Delaware Trend Portfolio
Investor Life Plus Xxxxxx/Allianz CCM Capital 33-51702 Variable Life Insurance
Appreciation Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Delaware Trend Portfolio
Estate Investor I Xxxxxx/Allianz CCM Capital 33-61672 Variable Life Insurance
Appreciation Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Delaware Trend Portfolio
Estate Investor II Xxxxxx/Allianz CCM Capital 33-61670 Variable Life Insurance
Appreciation Portfolio
Xxxxxx/Delaware Trend Portfolio
40
SCHEDULE 2
Schedule 2A
Separate Accounts of the Company Excluded From the Definition of an Investment
Company as Provided for by Section 3(c)(11) of the 1940 Act
The following separate accounts of the Company are subject to the Agreement:
Date Established by
Board of Directors of Type of Product
Name of Account the Company Supported by Account
--------------- --------------------- --------------------
Schedule 2B
Variable Annuity Contracts and Variable Life Insurance Contracts Not Registered
Under the Securities Act of 1933 in Reliance Upon Section 3(a)(2) of the Act
The following Contracts are subject to the Agreement:
Type of Product
Name of Contract Available Portfolios Group or Individual Supported by Account
---------------- -------------------- ------------------- --------------------
41
SCHEDULE 3
Schedule 3A
Separate Accounts of the Company Excluded From the Definition of an Investment
Company as Provided for by Section 3(c)(1) or 3(c)(7) of the 1940 Act
The following separate accounts of the Company are subject to the Agreement:
Date Established by
Board of Directors of Type of Product
Name of Account the Company Supported by Account
--------------- --------------------- --------------------
Schedule 3B
Variable Annuity Contracts and Variable Life Insurance Contracts Not Registered
Under the Securities Act of 1933 in Reliance Upon Section 4(2) of the Act and
Regulation D Thereunder
The following Contracts are subject to the Agreement:
Type of Product
Name of Contract Available Portfolios Group or Individual Supported by Account
---------------- -------------------- ------------------- --------------------
42
