PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT AMONG PRINCIPAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY PRINCOR FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION ALLIANCE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT L.P. AND ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INVESTMENT RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT, INC. DATED AS OF DECEMBER 15,2004
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT |
AMONG |
PRINCIPAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY |
PRINCOR FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION |
ALLIANCE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT L.P. |
AND |
ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INVESTMENT RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT, INC. |
DATED AS OF |
DECEMBER 15,2004 |
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT |
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of the 15th day of December, 2004 |
("Agreement"), by and among Principal Life Insurance Company, an Iowa life insurance company |
("Insurer"), and Princor Financial Services Corporation, ("Contracts Distributor"), the principal |
underwriter with respect to the Contracts referred to below (collectively, Insurer and Contracts |
Distributor are referred to as the "Company"); Alliance Capital Management L.P., a Delaware |
limited partnership ("Adviser"), the investment adviser of the Fund referred to below; and |
AllianceBernstein Investment Research And Management, Inc., a Delaware corporation |
("Distributor"), the Fund's principal underwriter (collectively, the "Parties"), |
WITNESSETH THAT: |
WHEREAS the Company, the Distributor, and AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series |
Fund, Inc. (the "Fund") desire that Class A shares ("shares") of the Fund's Portfolios listed on |
Schedule A (the "Portfolios"; reference herein to the "Fund" includes reference to each Portfolio |
to the extent the context requires) be made available by Distributor to serve as underlying |
investment media for those combination fixed and variable annuity contracts of the Insurer that are |
the subject of Insurer's Form N-4 registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange |
Commission (the "SEC"), File No. 811-02091 (the "Contracts"), to be offered through Contracts |
Distributor and other registered broker-dealer firms as agreed to by the Company; and |
WHEREAS the Contracts provide for the allocation of net amounts received by the |
Company to separate series (the "Divisions"); of the Insurer's "Separate Accounts" (as shown on |
Schedule A-I) for investment in the shares of corresponding Portfolios of the Fund that are made | |
available through the Separate Account to act as underlying investment media, | |
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual benefits and promises contained | |
herein, the Fund and Distributor will make shares of the Portfolios available to the Company for | |
this purpose at net asset value and with no sales charges, all subject to the following provisions: | |
Section 1. Additional Portfolios | |
The Fund has and may, from time to time, add additional Portfolios, which will become | |
subject to this Agreement, if, upon the written consent of each of the Parties hereto, they are made | |
available as investment media for the Contracts. | |
Section 2. Processing Transactions | |
2.1 | Timely Pricing and Orders. |
The Adviser or its designated agent will provide closing net asset value, dividend and | |
capital gain information for each Portfolio to Insurer at the close of trading on each day (a | |
"Business Day") on which (a) the New York Stock Exchange is open for regular trading, (b) the | |
Fund calculates the Portfolio's net asset value and (c) Insurer is open for business. The Fund or its | |
designated agent will use its best efforts to provide this information by 6:00 p.m., Eastern time. | |
Insurer will use these data to calculate unit values, which in turn will be used to process | |
transactions that receive that same Business Day's Separate Account Division's unit values. Such | |
Separate Account processing will be done the same evening, and corresponding orders with |
respect to Fund shares will be placed the morning of the following Business Day. The Company | |
will use its best efforts to place such orders with the Fund by 10:OO a.m., Eastern time. The parties | |
agree to modify the provisions of this paragraph as necessary to comply with changes in applicable | |
law. | |
2.2 | Timely Payments. |
The Company will transmit orders for purchases and redemptions of Fund shares to | |
Distributor, and will wire payment for net purchases to a custodial account designated by the Fund on | |
the day the order for Fund shares is placed, to the extent practicable. Payment for net redemptions | |
will be wired by the Fund to an account designated by the Company on the same day as the order is | |
placed, to the extent practicable, and in any event be made within six calendar days after the date the | |
order is placed in order to enable the Company to pay redemption proceeds within the time specified | |
in Section 22(e) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). | |
2.3 | Redemption in Kind. |
The Fund reserves the right to pay any portion of a redemption in kind of portfolio securities, | |
if the Fund's board of directors (the "Board of Directors") determines that it would be detrimental | |
to the best interests of shareholders to make a redemption wholly in cash. | |
2.4 | Applicable Price. |
The Parties agree that Portfolio share purchase and redemption orders by owners of the | |
Contracts ("Contractowners") resulting fiom their purchase payments, surrenders, partial | |
withdrawals, routine withdrawals of charges, or other transactions under the Contracts will be | |
executed at the net asset values as determined as of the close of regular trading on the New York |
Stock Exchange (the "Close of Trading") on the Business Day that the Company receives such | |
orders and processes such transactions. Subject to the right of the Fund to reject any order, orders | |
received by the Company prior to the Close of Trading on any Business Day and transmitted to the | |
Distributor by 8:00 a.m. New York Time on the next Business Day will be executed by the | |
Distributor at the net asset value determined as of the Close of Trading on the Business Day the order | |
was received by the Company. For the purposes of this section, the Company shall be deemed to be | |
the agent of the Fund for receipt of such orders from holders or applicants of contracts, and receipt by | |
the Company shall constitute receipt by the Fund. Any orders received by the Company after the | |
Close of Trading on a Business Day and all orders that are transmitted to the Distributor after 8:00 | |
a.m. New York City time on the next Business Day, will be executed by the Distributor at the net | |
asset value next determined. The Company hereby represents and warrants that it has adopted and | |
implemented internal controls reasonably designed to prevent orders received after the Close of | |
Trading on any Business Day from being submitted to the Distributor as or with orders received prior | |
to the Close of Trading on such Business Day. The Company hereby elects to reinvest all dividends | |
and capital gains distributions in additional shares of the corresponding Portfolio at the record-date | |
net asset values until the Company otherwise notifies the Fund in writing, it being agreed by the | |
Parties that the record date and the payment date with respect to any dividend or distribution will be | |
the same Business Day. The parties agree to modify the provisions of this paragraph as necessary to | |
comply with changes in applicable law. | |
Section 3. Costs and Expenses | |
3.1 | General. |
Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, each Party will bear all expenses incident to | |
its performance under this Agreement. | |
3.2 | Registration. |
The Fund will bear the cost of its registering as a management investment company under the | |
1940 Act and registering its shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), | |
and keeping such registrations current and effective; including, without limitation, the preparation of | |
and filing with the SEC of Forms N-SAR, N-CSR, and Rule 24f-2 Notices respecting the Fund and | |
its shares and payment of all applicable registration or filing fees with respect to any of the foregoing. | |
The Company will bear the cost of registering the Separate Account as a unit investment trust under | |
the 1940 Act and registering units of interest under the Contracts under the 1933 Act and keeping | |
such registrations current and effective; including, without limitation, the preparation and filing with | |
the SEC of Forms N-SAR and Rule 24f-2 Notices respecting the Separate Account and its units of | |
interest and payment of all applicable registration or filing fees with respect to any of the foregoing. | |
3.3 | Other (Non-Sales-Related) Expenses. |
The Fund will bear the costs of preparing, filing with the SEC and setting for printing the | |
Fund's prospectus, statement of additional information and any amendments or supplements thereto | |
(collectively, the "Fund Prospectus"), periodic reports to shareholders, Fund proxy material and | |
other shareholder communications and any related requests for voting instructions fiom Participants | |
(as defined below). The Company will bear the costs of preparing, filing with the SEC and setting | |
for printing, the Separate Account's prospectus, statement of additional information and any | |
amendments or supplements thereto (collectively,the "Separate Account Prospectus"), any |
periodic reports to owners, annuitants or participants under the Contracts (collectively, | |
"Participants"), and other Participant communications. The Fund and the Company each will bear | |
the costs of printing in quantity and delivering to existing Participants the documents as to which it | |
bears the cost of preparation as set forth above in this Section 3.3, it being understood that reasonable | |
cost allocations will be made in cases where any such Fund and the Company documents are printed | |
or mailed on a combined or coordinated basis. The Fund will provide annual Prospectus text to | |
Insurer on diskette for printing and binding with the Separate Account Prospectus. | |
3.4 | Other Sales-Related Expenses. |
Expenses of distributing the Portfolio's shares and the Contracts will be paid by Contracts | |
Distributor and other parties, as they shall determine by separate agreement. | |
3.5 | Parties to Cooperate. |
The Adviser, the Company, Contracts Distributor, and Distributor each agrees to cooperate | |
with the others, as applicable, in arranging to print, mail and/or deliver combined or coordinated | |
prospectuses or other materials of the Fund and Separate Account. | |
Section 4. Legal Compliance | |
4.1 | Tax Laws. |
(a) | The Adviser will use its best efforts to qualify and to maintain qualification of each |
Portfolio as a regulated investment company ("RIC") under Subchapter M of the Internal | |
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and the Adviser or Distributor will 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. | |
(b) | The Company represents that it believes, in good faith, that the Contracts will be |
treated as annuity contracts under applicable provisions of the Code and that it will make every effort | |
to maintain such treatment. The Company will notify the Fund and Distributor immediately upon | |
having a reasonable basis for believing that any of the Contracts have ceased to be so treated or that | |
they might not be so treated in the future. | |
(c) | The Fund will use its best efforts to comply and to maintain each Portfolio's |
compliance with the diversification requirements set forth in Section 817(h) of the Code and Section | |
1.817-5(b) of the regulations under the Code, and the Fund, Adviser or Distributor will notify the | |
Company immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that a Portfolio has ceased to so | |
comply or that a Portfolio might not so comply in the future. | |
(d) | The Company represents that it believes, in good faith, that the Separate Account is a |
"segregated asset account" and that interests in the Separate Account are offered exclusively through | |
the purchase of or transfer into a "variable contract," within the meaning of such terms under Section | |
817(h) of the Code and the regulations thereunder. The Company will make every effort to continue | |
to meet such definitional requirements, and it will notify the Fund and ~istributorimmediately upon | |
having a reasonable basis for believing that such requirements have ceased to be met or that they | |
might not be met in the future. |
(e) | The Adviser will manage the Fund as a RIC in compliance with Subchapter M of the |
Code and will use its best efforts to manage to be in compliance with Section 817(h) of the Code and | |
regulations thereunder. The Fund has adopted and will maintain procedures for ensuring that the | |
Fund is managed in compliance with Subchapter M and Section 817(h) and regulations thereunder. | |
(f) | Should the Distributor or Adviser become aware of a failure of Fund, or any of its |
Portfolios, to be in compliance with Subchapter M of the Code or Section 817(h) of the Code and | |
regulations thereunder, they represent and agree that they will immediately notify the Company of | |
such in writing. | |
4.2 | Insurance and Certain Other Laws. |
(a) | The Adviser will use its best efforts to cause the Fund to comply with any applicable |
state insurance laws or regulations, to the extent specificallyrequested in writing by the Company. If | |
it cannot comply, it will so notify Insurer in writing. | |
(b) | Insurer represents and warrants that (i) it is an insurance company duly organized, |
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Iowa and has full corporate | |
power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver and perform its duties and comply with its | |
obligations under this Agreement, (ii) it has legally and validly established and maintains the | |
Separate Account as a segregated asset account under the laws of the State of Iowa, and (iii) the | |
Contracts comply in all material respects with all other applicable federal and state laws and | |
regulations. |
(c) | The Company and Contracts Distributor represent and warrant that Contracts |
Distributor is a business corporation duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the | |
laws of the State of Iowa and has full corporate power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver, | |
and perform its duties and comply with its obligations under this Agreement. | |
(d) | Distributor represents and warrants that it is a business corporation duly organized, |
validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the state of Delaware and has full corporate | |
power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver, and perform its duties and comply with its | |
obligations under this Agreement. | |
(e) | Distributor represents and warrants that the Fund is a corporation duly organized, |
validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland and has full power, | |
authority, and legal right to execute, deliver, and perform its duties and comply with its obligations | |
under this Agreement. | |
(f) | Adviser represents and warrants that it is a limited partnership, duly organized, |
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has full power, | |
authority, and legal right to execute, deliver, and perform its duties and comply with its obligations | |
under this Agreement. | |
(g) | Company undertakes to comply with all anti-money laundering laws and regulations |
relating to the offer and sale of Contracts. In addition, Company represents that it has instituted, and | |
that it follows, procedures designed to identifjl and prevent money laundering activities with respect | |
to the Contracts. |
4.3 | Securities Laws. |
(a) | Insurer represents and warrants that (i) interests in the Separate Account pursuant to |
the Contracts will be registered under the 1933Act to the extent required by the 1933 Act and the | |
Contracts will be duly authorized for issuance and sold in compliance with applicable state law, (ii) | |
the Separate Account is and will remain registeredunder the 1940Act to the extent required by the | |
1940 Act, (iii) the SeparateAccount does and will comply in all material respects with the | |
requirements of the 1940Act and the rules thereunder, (iv) the Separate Account's 1933 Act | |
registration statement relating to the Contracts, together with any amendments thereto, will, at all | |
times comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules thereunder, | |
and (v) the Separate Account Prospectus will at all times comply in all material respects with the | |
requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules thereunder. | |
(b) | The Adviser and Distributor represent and warrant that (i) Fund shares sold pursuant |
to this Agreement will be registered under the 1933 Act to the extent required by the 1933 Act and | |
duly authorized for issuance and sold in compliance with Maryland law, (ii) the Fund is and will | |
remain registered under the 1940 Act to the extent required by the 1940 Act, (iii) the Fund will | |
amend the registration statement for its shares under the 1933 Act and itself under the 1940Act from | |
time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of its shares, (iv) the Fund does and | |
will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1940Act and the rules thereunder, | |
(v) the Fund's 1933Act registration statement, together with any amendmentsthereto, will at all | |
times comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933Act and rules thereunder, and |
(vi) the Fund Prospectus will at all times comply in all material respects with the requirements of the | |
1933 Act and the rules thereunder. | |
(c) | The Fund will register and qualify its shares for sale in accordance with the laws of |
any state or other jurisdiction only if and to the extent reasonably deemed advisable by the Fund, | |
Insurer or any other life insurance company utilizing the Fund. | |
(d) | Distributor and Contracts Distributor each represents and warrants that it is registered |
as a broker-dealer with the SEC under the SecuritiesExchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is a | |
member in good standing of the National Association of SecuritiesDealers Inc. (the "NASD"). | |
4.4 | Notice of Certain Proceedin~sand Other Circumstances. |
(a) | Distributor or the Fund shall immediately notify the Company of (i) the issuance by |
any court or regulatorybody of any stop order, cease and desist order, or other similar order with | |
respect to the Fund's registration statement under the 1933 Act or the Fund Prospectus, (ii) any | |
request by the SEC for any amendment to such registration statement or Fund Prospectus, (iii) the | |
. initiation of any proceedings for that purpose or for any other purpose relating to the registration or | |
offering of the Fund's shares, or (iv) any other action or circumstancesthat may prevent the lawful | |
offer or sale of Fund shares in any state or jurisdiction, including, without limitation, any | |
circumstances in which (x) the Fund's shares are not registered and, in all material respects, issued | |
and sold in accordance with applicable state and federal law or (y) such law precludes the use of such | |
shares as an underlying investment medium of the Contracts issued or to be issued by Insurer. | |
Distributor and the Fund 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 Fund of (i) the issuance by any court or |
regulatory body of any stop order, cease and desist order or similar order with respect to the Separate | |
Account's registration statement under the 1933Act relating to the Contracts or the Separate | |
Account Prospectus, (ii) any request by the SEC for any amendment to such registration statement or | |
Separate Account Prospectus, (iii) the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose or for any other | |
purpose relating to the registration or offering of the Separate Account interests pursuant to the | |
Contracts, or (iv) any other action or circumstances that may prevent the lawful offer or sale of said | |
interests in any state or jurisdiction, including, without limitation, any circumstances in which said | |
interests are not registered and, in all material respects, issued and sold in accordance with applicable | |
state and federal law. 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. | |
4.5 | Company to Provide Documents. |
Upon request, the Company will provide the Fund and the Distributor one complete copy of | |
SEC registration statements, Separate Account Prospectuses, reports, any preliminary and final | |
voting instruction solicitation material, applications for exemptions, requests for no-action letters, | |
and amendments to any of the above, that relate to the Separate Account or the Contracts, | |
contemporaneously with the filing of such document with the SEC or other regulatory authorities. | |
4.6 | Fund to Provide Documents. |
Upon request, the Fund will provide to Insurer one complete copy of SEC registration | |
statements, Fwd Prospectuses, reports, any preliminary and final proxy material, applications for | |
exemptions, requests for no-action letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that relate to the | |
Fund or its shares, contemporaneouslywith the filing of such document with the SEC or other | |
regulatory authorities. | |
4.7 | Market Timing |
The Company agrees that it will take any and all actions reasonably necessary to ensure the | |
compliance by Contractowners with the Fund's policies prohibiting "market tinling," as set forth in | |
the Fund's current prospectus. In the event that it should come to the Company's attention that any | |
Contractowner is engaging in a pattern of purchases, redemptions andlor exchanges of shares of a | |
Fund that may evidence "market timing," the Company shall notify the Distributor of such pattern. | |
The Company agrees to cooperate fully with the Distributor for the purpose of preventing "market | |
timing", and will furnish to the Distributor such information as Distributor may consider necessary or | |
desirable to review the possible existence and extent of "market timing" by any Contractowner. The | |
Company will take any and all such actions, to the extent permitted by law, as the Distributor may | |
reasonably request in order to terminate any pattern of trading that the Distributor considers to be | |
"market timing," including, without limitation, refusing the orders of any Contractowner to purchase | |
or exchange shares of the Fund. | |
Section 5. Mixed and Shared Funding | |
5.1 | General. |
The Fund has obtained an order exempting it from certain provisions of the 1940 Act and | |
rules thereunder so that the Fund is available for investment by certain other entities, including, | |
without limitation, separate accounts funding variable life insurance policies and separate accounts of | |
insurance companies unaffiliated with Insurer ("Mixed and Shared Funding Order"). The Parties | |
recognize that the SEC has imposed terms and conditions for such orders that are substantially | |
identical to many of the provisions of this Section 5. | |
5.2 | Disinterested Directors. |
The Fund agrees that its Board of Directors shall at all times consist of directors a majority of | |
whom (the "Disinterested Directors") are not interested persons of Adviser or Distributor within the | |
meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act. | |
5.3 | Monitoring for Material Irreconcilable Conflicts. |
The Fund agrees that its Board of Directors will monitor for the existence of any material | |
irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the participants in all separate accounts of life | |
insurance companies utilizing the Fund, including the Separate Account. The Company agrees to | |
inform the Board of Directors of the Fund of the existence of or any potential for any such material | |
irreconcilable conflict of which it is aware. The concept of a "material irreconcilable conflict" is not | |
defined by the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder, but the Parties recognize that such a conflict may | |
arise for a variety of reasons, including, without limitation: | |
(a) | an action by any state insurance or other regulatory authority; |
(b) | a change in applicable federal or state insurance, tax or securities laws or |
regulations, or a public ruling, private letter ruling, no-action or interpretative letter, or any similar | |
action by insurance, tax or securities regulatory authorities; | |
(c) | an administrative or judicial decision in any relevant proceeding; |
(d) | the manner in which the investments of any Portfolio are being managed; |
(e) | a difference in voting instructions given by variable annuity contract and variable |
life insurance contract participants or by participants of different life insurance companies utilizing | |
the Fund; or | |
(f) | a decision by a life insurance company utilizing the Fund to disregard the voting |
instructions of participants. | |
The Company will assist the Board of Directors in carrying out its responsibilities by | |
providing the Board of Directors with all information reasonably necessary for the Board of | |
Directors to consider any issue raised, including information as to a decision by the Company to | |
disregard voting instructions of Participants. | |
5.4 | Conflict Remedies. |
(a) | It is agreed that if it is determined by a majority of the members of the Board of |
Directors or a majority of the Disinterested Directors that a material irreconcilable conflict exists, the | |
Company and the other life insurance companiesutilizing the Fund will, at their own expense and to | |
the extent reasonably practicable (as determined by a majority of the Disinterested Directors), take |
whatever steps are necessary to remedy or eliminate the material irreconcilable conflict, which steps | |
may include, but are not limited to: | |
(i) | withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the separate accounts from the |
Fund or any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a different investment medium, | |
including another Portfolio of the Fund, or submitting the question whether such | |
segregation should be implemented to a vote of all affected participants and, as | |
appropriate, segregating the assets of any particular group (e.g., annuity contract | |
owners or participants, life insurance contract owners or all contract owners and | |
participants of one or more life insurance companies utilizing the Fund) that votes | |
in favor of such segregation, or offering to the affected contract owners or | |
participants the option of making such a change; and | |
(ii) | establishing a new registered investment company of the type defined as a |
"Management Company" in Section 4(3) of the 1940Act or a new separate account | |
that is operated as a Management Company. | |
(b) | If the material irreconcilable conflict arises because of Insurer's decision to disregard |
Participant voting instructions and that decision represents a minority position or would preclude a | |
majority vote, the Company may be required, at the Fund's election, to withdraw the Separate | |
Account's investment in the Fund. No charge or penalty will be imposed as a result of such | |
withdrawal. Any such withdrawal must take place within six months after the Fund gives notice to | |
hsurer that this provision is being implemented, and until such withdrawal Distributor and the Fund |
shall continue to accept and implement orders by Insurer for the purchase and redemption of shares | |
of the Fund. | |
(c) | If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a particular state insurance |
regulator's decision applicable to Insurer conflicts with the majority of other state regulators, then | |
Insurer will withdraw the Separate Account's investment in the Fund within six months after the | |
Fund's Board of Directors informs Insurer that it has determined that such decision has created a | |
material irreconcilable conflict, and until such withdrawal Distributor and Fund shall continue to | |
accept and implement orders by the Company for the purchase and redemption of shares of the Fund. | |
(d) | The Company agrees that any remedial action taken by it in resolving any material |
irreconcilable conflict will be carried out at its expense and with a view only to the interests of | |
Participants. | |
(e) | For purposes hereof, a majority of the Disinterested Directors will determine whether |
or not any proposed action adequately remedies any material irreconcilable conflict. In no event, | |
however, will the Fund or Distributor be required to establish a new funding medium for any | |
Contracts. The Company will not be required by the terms hereof to establish a new fbnding | |
medium for any Contracts if an offer to do so has been declined by vote of a majority of Participants | |
materially adversely affected by the material irreconcilable conflict. |
5.5 | Notice to the Company. |
The Fund will promptly make known in writing to the Company the Board of Directors7 | |
determination of the existence of a material irreconcilable conflict, a description of the facts that give | |
rise to such conflict and the implications of such conflict. | |
5.6 | Information Requested by Board of Directors. |
The Company and the Fund will at least annually submit to the Board of Directors of the | |
Fund such reports, materials or data as the Board of Directors may reasonably request so that the | |
Board of Directors may hlly carry out the obligations imposed upon it by the provisions hereof, and | |
said reports, materials and data will be submitted at any reasonable time deemed appropriate by the | |
Board of Directors. All reports received by the Board of Directors of potential or existing conflicts, | |
and all Board of Directors actions with regard to determining the existence of a conflict, notifying life | |
insurance companies utilizing the Fund of a conflict, and determining whether any proposed action | |
adequately remedies a conflict, will be properly recorded in the minutes of the Board of Directors or | |
other appropriate records, and such minutes or other records will be made available to the SEC upon | |
request. | |
5.7 | Compliance with SEC Rules. |
If, at any time during which the Fund is serving an investment medium for variable life | |
insurance policies, 1940 Act Rules 6e-3(T) or, if applicable, 6e-2 are amended or Rule 6e-3 is | |
adopted to provide exemptive relief with respect to mixed and shared funding, the Parties agree that | |
they will comply with the terms and conditions thereof and that the terms of this Section 5 shall be |
deemed modified if and only to the extent required in order also to comply with the terms and | |
conditions of such exernptiverelief that is afforded by any of said rules that are applicable. | |
Section 6. Ternination | |
6.1 | Events of Termination. |
Subject to Section 6.4 below, this Agreement will terminate as to a Portfolio: | |
(a) | at the option of the Company or Distributorupon at least six months advance written |
notice to the other Parties, or | |
(b) | at the option of the Fund upon (i) at least sixty days advance written notice to the |
other parties, and (ii) approval by (x) a majority of the disinterested Directors upon a finding that a | |
continuation of this Contract is contrary to the best interests of the Fund, or (y) a majority vote of the | |
shares of the affected Portfolio in the correspondingDivision of the Separate Account (pursuant to | |
the procedures set forth in Section 10of this Agreement for voting Trust shares in accordancewith | |
Participant instructions). | |
(c) | at the option of the Fund upon institution of formal proceedings against the Company |
by the NASD, the SEC, any state insurance regulator or any other regulatorybody regarding the | |
Company's obligations under this Agreement or related to the sale of the Contracts, the operation of | |
the Separate Account, or the purchase of the Fund shares, if, in each case, the Fund reasonably | |
determines that such proceedings, or the facts on which such proceedings would be based, have a | |
material likelihood of imposing material adverse consequenceson the Portfolio to be terminated; or |
(d) | at the option of the Company upon institution of formal proceedings against the |
Fund, Adviser, or Distributor by the NASD, the SEC, or any state insurance regulator or any other | |
regulatory body regarding the Fund's, Adviser's or Distributor's obligations under this Agreement or | |
related to the operation or management of the Fund or the purchase of Fund shares, if, in each case, | |
the Company reasonably determines that such proceedings, or the facts on which such proceedings | |
would be based, have a material likelihood of imposing material adverse consequences on the | |
Company or the Division corresponding to the Portfolio to be terminated; or | |
(e) | at the option of any Party in the event that (i) the Portfolio's shares are not registered |
and, in all material respects, issued and sold in accordance with any applicable state and federal law | |
or (ii) such law precludes the use of such shares as an underlying investment medium of the | |
Contracts issued or to be issued by the Company; or | |
(f) | upon termination of the corresponding Division's investment in the Portfolio pursuant |
to Section 5 hereof; or | |
(g) | at the option of the Company if the Portfolio ceases to qualify as a RIC under |
Subchapter M of the Code or under successor or similar provisions; or | |
(h) | at the option of the Company if the Portfolio fails to comply with Section 817(h) of |
the Code or with successor or similar provisions; or |
(i) | at the option of the Company if the Company reasonably believes that any change in |
a Fund's investment adviser or investment practices will materially increase the risks incurred by the | |
Company. | |
6.2 | Funds to Remain Available. |
Except (i) as necessary to implement Participant-initiatedtransactions, (ii) as required by state | |
insurance laws or regulations, (iii) as required pursuant to Section 5 of this Agreement, or (iv) with | |
respect to any Portfolio as to which this Agreement has terminated, the Company shall not (x) | |
redeem Fund shares attributable to the Contracts, or (y) prevent Participants from allocating | |
payments to or transferring amounts from a Portfolio that was otherwise available under the | |
Contracts, until, in either case, 30 calendar days after the Company shall have notified the Fund or | |
Distributor of its intention to do so. | |
6.3 | Survival of Warranties and Indemnifications. |
All warranties and indemnifications will survive the termination of this Agreement. | |
6.4 | Continuance of Ameement for Certain Purposes. |
Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Distributor shall continue to make | |
available shares of the Portfolios pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for all | |
Contracts in effect on the effective date of termination of this Agreement (the "Existing Contracts"), | |
except as otherwise provided under Section 5 of this Agreement. Specifically, and without | |
limitation, the Distributor shall facilitate the sale and purchase of shares of the Portfolios as necessary |
in order to process premium payments, surrenders and other withdrawals, and transfers or |
reallocations of values under Existing Contracts. |
Section 7. Parties to Cooperate Respecting Termination |
The other Parties hereto agree to cooperate with and give reasonable assistance to the |
Company in taking all necessary and appropriate steps for the purpose of ensuring that the Separate |
Account owns no shares of a Portfolio after the final termination date with respect thereto. |
Section 8. Assignment |
This Agreement may not be assigned by any Party, except with the written consent of each |
other Party. |
Section 9. Notices |
Notices and communications required or permitted by Section 2 hereof will be given by |
means mutually acceptable to the Parties concerned. Each other notice or communicatioh required |
or permitted by this Agreement will be given to the following persons at the following addresses |
and facsimile numbers, or such other persons, addresses or facsimile numbers as the Party |
receiving such notices or communications may subsequently direct in writing: |
Principal Life Insurance Company |
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx |
Xxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000-0000 |
Attn: Xxxxx Xxxxx, Counsel |
FAX: 5151248-3011 |
Princor Financial Services Corporation |
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx |
Xxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000-0000 |
Attn: Xxxxx Xxxxx, Counsel |
FAX: 5l5I248-3Oll |
AllianceBernstein Investment Research and |
Management, Inc. |
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx |
Xxx Xxxx XX 00000 |
Attn.: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx |
FAX: (0 00) 000-0000 |
Alliance Capital Management L.P. |
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx |
Xxx XxxxXX 00000 |
Attn: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx |
FAX: (0 00) 000-0000 |
Section 10. Voting Procedures |
Subject to the cost allocation procedures set forth in Section 3 hereof, Insurer will distribute |
all proxy material furnished by the Fund to Participants and will vote Fund shares in accordance with |
instructions received from Participants. The Company will vote Fund shares that are (a) not |
attributable to Participants or (b) attributable to Participants, but for which no instructions have been |
received, in the same proportion as Fund shares for which said instructions have been received from |
Participants. The Company agrees that it will disregard Participant voting instructions only to the |
extent it would be permitted to do so pursuant to Rule 6e-3 (T)(b)(lS)(iii) under the 1940 Act if the |
Contracts were variable life insurance policies subject to that rule. Other participating life insurance |
companies utilizing the Fund will be responsible for calculating voting privileges in a manner | |
consistent with that of Insurer, as prescribed by this Section 10. | |
Section 11. Foreign Tax Credits | |
The Adviser agrees to consult in advance with Insurer concerning any decision to elect or not | |
to elect pursuant to Section 853 of the Code to pass through the benefit of any foreign tax credits to | |
the Fund's shareholders. | |
Section 12. Indemnification | |
12.1 | Of Fund, Distributor and Adviser by Insurer. |
(a) | Except to the extent provided in Sections 12.1(b) and 12.1(c), below, the Company |
agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, Distributor and Adviser, each of their directors and | |
officers, and each person, if any, who controls the Fund, Distributor or Adviser within the meaning of | |
Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the "IndemnifiedParties"for purposes of this Section 12. | |
1) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with | |
the written consent of Insurer) or actions in respect thereof (including, to the extent reasonable, legal | |
and other expenses), to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute, | |
regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions | |
are related to the sale, acquisition, or holding of the Fund's shares and: | |
(i) | arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of |
any material fact contained in the Separate Account's 1933 Act registration |
statement, the Separate Account Prospectus, the Contracts or, to the extent prepared | |
by Insurer or Contracts Distributor, sales literature or advertising for the Contracts | |
(or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are | |
based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact | |
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not | |
misleading; provided that this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any | |
Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement or | |
omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished | |
to Insurer or Contracts Distributor by or on behalf of the Fund, Distributor or | |
Adviser for use in the Separate Account's 1933Act registration statement, the | |
Separate Account Prospectus, the Contracts, or sales literature or advertising (or any | |
amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing); or | |
(ii) | arise out of or as a result of any other statements or representations (other than |
statements or representations contained in the Fund's 1933Act registration statement, | |
Fund Prospectus, sales literature or advertising of the Fund, or any amendment or | |
supplement to any of the foregoing, not supplied for use therein by or on behalf of | |
Insurer or Contracts Distributor) or the negligent, illegal or fraudulent conduct of the | |
Company or Contracts Distributor or persons under their control (including, without | |
limitation, their employees and "Associated Persons," as that term is defined in | |
paragraph (m) of Article 1of the NASD's By-Laws), in connection with the sale or | |
distribution of the Contracts or Fund shares; or |
(iii) | arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any |
material fact contained in the Fund's 1933 Act registration statement, Fund | |
Prospectus, sales literature or advertising of the Fund, or any amendment or | |
supplement to any of the foregoing, or the omission or alleged omission to state | |
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the | |
statements therein not misleading if such a statement or omission was made in | |
reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Fund, Adviser or | |
Distributor by or on behalf of Insurer or Contracts Distributor for use in the Fund's | |
1933 Act registration statement, ~ u n Prospectus, sales literature or advertising of the | |
Fund, or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing; or | |
(iv) | arise as a result of any failure by Insurer or Contracts Distributor to perform the |
obligations, provide the services and furnish the materials required of them under the | |
terms of this Agreement. | |
(b) | The Company shall not be liable under this Section 12.1 with respect to any losses, |
claims, damages, liabilities or actions to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by | |
reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance by that Indemnified | |
Party of its duties or by reason of that Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations or duties | |
under this Agreement or to Distributor or to the Fund. | |
(c) | The Company shall not be liable under this Section 12.1 with respect to any action |
against an Indemnified Party unless the Fund, Distributor or Adviser shall have notified Insurer in | |
writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of |
the nature of the action shall have been served upon such lndemnified Party (or after such | |
lndemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to | |
notify Insurer of any such action shall not relieve Insurer from any liability which it may have to the | |
lndemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this Section 12. | |
1. In case any such action is brought against an Indemnified Party, Insurer shall be entitled to | |
participate, at its own expense, in the defense of such action. Insurer also shall be entitled to assume | |
the defense thereof, with counsel approved by the Indemnified Party named in the action, which | |
approval shall not be unreasonably delayed or withheld. After notice from Insurer to such | |
Indemnified Party of Insurer's election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party will | |
cooperate fully with Insurer and shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained | |
by it, and Insurer will not be liable to such lndemnified Party under this Agreement for any legal or | |
other expenses subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party independently in connection with | |
the defense thereof, other than reasonable costs of investigation. | |
12.2 | Indemnification of Insurer and Contracts Distributor by Adviser. |
(a) | Except to the extent provided in Sections 12.2(d) and 12.2(e),below, Adviser agrees |
to indemnify and hold harmless Insurer and Contracts Distributor, each of their directors and officers, | |
and each person, if any, who controls Insurer or Contracts Distributor within the meaning of Section | |
15 of the 1933Act (collectively,the "IndemnifiedParties"for purposes of this Section 12.2) | |
against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the | |
written consent of Adviser) or actions in respect thereof (including, to the extent reasonable, legal | |
and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute, at |
common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions are related to |
the sale, acquisition, or holding of the Fund's shares and: |
(i) | arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of |
any material fact contained in the Fund's 1933 Act registration statement, Fund | |
Prospectus, sales literature or advertising of the Fund or, to the extent not prepared | |
by lnsurer or Contracts Distributor, sales literature or advertising for the Contracts | |
(or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are | |
based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact | |
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not | |
misleading; provided that this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any | |
Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement or | |
omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information hrnished to | |
Distributor,Adviser or the Fund by or on behalf of lnsurer or Contracts Distributor | |
for use in the Fund's 1933 Act registration statement, Fund Prospectus, or in sales | |
literature or advertising (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing); or | |
(ii) | arise out of or as a result of any other statements or representations (other than |
statements or representationscontained in the Separate Account's 1933 Act | |
registration statement, Separate Account Prospectus, sales literature or advertising for | |
the Contracts, or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing, not supplied | |
for use therein by or on behalf of Distributor, Adviser, or the Fund) or the negligent, | |
illegal or fraudulent conduct of the Fund, Distributor, Adviser or persons under their |
control (including, without limitation, their employees and Associated Persons), in | |
connection with the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Fund shares; or | |
(iii) | arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any |
material fact contained in the Separate Account's 1933 Act registration statement, | |
Separate Account Prospectus, sales literature or advertising covering the Contracts, or | |
any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing, or the omission or alleged | |
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to | |
make the statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made | |
in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to Insurer or Contracts | |
Distributor by or on behalf of the Fund, Distributor or Adviser for use in the Separate | |
Account's 1933 Act registration statement, Separate Account Prospectus, sales | |
literature or advertising covering the Contracts, or any amendment or supplement to | |
any of the foregoing; or | |
(iv) | arise as a result of any failure by the Fund, Adviser or Distributor to perform the |
obligations, provide the services and furnish the materials required of them under the | |
terms of this Agreement; | |
(b) | Except to the extent provided in Sections 12.2(d) and 12.2(e) hereof, Adviser agrees |
to indemnify and hold harmless the Indemnified Parties from and against any and all losses, claims, |
damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement thereof with, except as set forth in Section |
12.2(c) below, the written consent of Adviser) or actions in respect thereof (including, to the extent |
reasonable, legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject directly |
or indirectly under any statute, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, | |
liabilities or actions directly or indirectlyresult from or arise out of the failure of any Portfolio to | |
operate as a regulated investment company in compliancewith (i) Subchapter M of the Code and | |
regulations thereunder and (ii) Section 817(h) of the Code and regulations thereunder (except to the | |
extent that such failure is caused by Insurer), including, without limitation, any income taxes and | |
related penalties, rescission charges, liability under state law to Contract owners or Participants | |
asserting liability against Insurer or ContractsDistributorpursuant to the Contracts, the costs of any | |
ruling and closing agreement or other settlement with the Internal Revenue Service, and the cost of | |
any substitution by Insurer of shares of another investment company or portfolio for those of any | |
adversely affected Portfolio as a fundingmedium for the Separate Account that Insurer deems | |
necessary or appropriate as a result of the noncompliance. | |
(c) | The written consent of Adviser referred to in Section 12.2(b) above shall not be |
required with respect to amounts paid in connection with any ruling and closing agreement or other | |
settlement with the Internal Revenue Service. | |
(d) | Adviser shall not be liableunder this Section 12.2 with respect to any losses, claims; |
damages, liabilities or actions to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of | |
willful misfeasance,bad faith, or gross negligencein the performance by that Indemnified Party of its | |
duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of its obligations and duties under | |
this Agreement or to Insurer, Contracts Distnbutor or the Separate Account. | |
(e) | Adviser shall not be liable under this Section 12.2with respect to any action against |
an Indemnified Party unless Insurer or Contracts Distributor shall have notified Adviser in writing |
within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the |
nature of the action shall have been served upon such Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified |
Party shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify |
Adviser of any such action shall not relieve Adviser from any liability which it may have to the |
Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this Section |
12.2. In case any such action is brought against an Indemnified Party, Adviser will be entitled to |
participate, at its own expense, in the defense of such action. Adviser also shall be entitled to assume |
the defense thereof (which shall include, without limitation, the conduct of any ruling request and |
closing agreement or other settlement proceeding with the Internal Revenue Service), with counsel |
approved by the Indemnified Party named in the action, which approval shall not be unreasonably |
withheld. After notice froin Adviser to such Indemnified Party of Adviser's election to assume the |
defense thereof, the Indemnified Party will cooperate fully with Adviser and shall bear the fees and |
expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and Adviser will not be liable to such Indemnified |
Party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such |
Indemnified Party independently in connection with the defense thereof, other than reasonable costs |
of investigation. |
12.3 Effect of Notice. |
Any notice given by the indemnifj.lng Party to an Indemnified Party referred to in |
Section 12.1(c) or 12.2(e) above of participation in or control of any action by the indemnifjmg Party |
will in no event be deemed to be an admission by the indemnikng Party of liability, culpability or |
responsibility, and the indemnifying Party will remain free to contest liability with respect to the |
claim among the Parties or otherwise. |
Section 13. Applidable Law |
This Agreement will be construed and the provisions hereof interpreted under and in |
accordance with New York law, without regard for that state's principles of conflict of laws. |
Section 14. Execution in Countemarts |
This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of |
which taken together will constitute one and the same instrument. |
Section 15. Severability |
If any provision of this Agreement is held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule |
or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement will not be affected thereby. |
Section 16. Rights Cumulative |
The rights, remedies and obligations contained in this Agreement are cumulative and are in |
addition to any and all rights, remedies and obligations, at law or in equity, that the Parties are |
entitled to under federal and state laws. |
Section 17. Restrictions on Sales of Fund Shares |
The Company agrees that the Fund will be permitted (subject to the other terms of this |
Agreement) to make its shares available to separate accounts of other life insurance companies. |
Section 18. Headings |
The Table of Contents and headings used in this Agreement are for purposes of reference |
only and shall not limit or define the meaning of the provisions of this Agreement. |
Section 19. Trade Names |
The Advisor and the Distributor hereby consent to the Company's use of the Advisor's and |
Distributor's respective trade names, logos, trademarks or service marks, as well as the names of |
the Portfolios designated in Schedule A. The Company acknowledges and agrees that Adviser and |
Distributor andlor their affiliates, own all right, title and interest in their respective trade names, |
logos, trademarks or service marks, and covenants not, at any time, to challenge the rights of the |
Adviser and Distributor and/or their affiliates to such names and/or marks. Advisor's and |
Distributor's consent will terminate with the termination of this Agreement. Advisor or |
Distributor may withdraw this consent as to any particular use of any such name or identifying |
marks at any time (i) upon Advisor's or Distributor's reasonable determination that such use |
would have a material adverse effect on the reputation or marketing efforts of Advisor, Distributor |
or Funds or (ii) if no series or class of shares continues to be offered through variable insurance |
contracts issued by the Company; provided however, that the Company may continue to use |
materials prepared or printed prior to the withdrawal of such authorization, and provided further |
that the Company shall have stickered the material to disclose that no series or class of shares |
continues to be offered through the variable insurance contracts issued by the Company. |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed in their |
names and on their behalf by and through their duly authorized officers signing below. |
PRINCIPAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY | |
By: &d | 6w' |
name: Xxxxxxx Crew | |
Title: | Director Product Developent |
PRINCOR FINANCIAL SERVICE | |
CORPORATION | |
Title: | Vice President Product Developent |
ALLIANCE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LP | |
By: | |
Name: | Xxxx X. Xxxxxx |
Title: | Senior Vice PresidenuDeputy |
General Counsel | |
$Jam& Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |
Title: | Senior Vice President and Assistant |
General Counsel |
SCHEDULE A-1 |
SEPARATE ACCOUNTS |
Principal Life Insurance Company Separate Account B |
Principal Life Insurance Company Variable Life Separate Account |
SCHEDULE A-2 |
PORTFOLIOS |
Alliance Bemstein Small Cap Growth Portfolio |