PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
Exhibit 99.8f1
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this 30th day of July, 2004 by
and between XXXXXXX XXXXX VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST, an unincorporated business trust
formed under the laws of Delaware (the “Trust”), XXXXXXX, SACHS & CO., a New York
limited partnership (the “Distributor”), and PRINCIPAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, an Iowa
life insurance company on its own behalf and on behalf of each of its separate accounts
identified herein, and PRINCOR FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION (Principal and Princor
are, collectively, the “Company”).
WHEREAS, the Trust is a series-type mutual fund offering shares of beneficial
interest (the “Trust shares”) consisting of one or more separate series (“Series”) of
shares, each such Series representing an interest in a particular investment portfolio
of securities and other assets (a “Fund”), 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 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, 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
Additional Definitions
1.1. “Account” — the separate account of the Company described more specifically
in Schedule 1 to this Agreement. If more than one separate account is described on
Schedule 1, the term shall refer to each separate account so described.
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 Schedule 2 to this Agreement.
Contract # GOL-06030-2004-08-04-IND
1.5. “Contract Owners” — the owners of the Contracts, as distinguished from all Product
Owners.
1.6. “Participating Account” — a separate account investing all or a portion of its assets in
the Trust, including the Account.
1.7. “Participating Insurance Company” — any insurance company investing in the Trust on its
behalf or on behalf of a Participating Account, including the Company.
1.8. “Participating Plan” — any qualified retirement plan investing in the Trust.
1.9. “Participating Investor” — any Participating Account, Participating Insurance Company or
Participating Plan, including the Account and the Company.
1.10. “Products” — variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies supported
by Participating Accounts, including the Contracts.
1.11. “Product Owners” — owners of Products, including Contract Owners.
1.12. “Trust Board” — the board of trustees of the Trust.
1.13. “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 2 to this Agreement. The Trust’s Registration Statement is filed on
Form N-l A (File No. 333-35883).
1.14. “1940 Act Registration Statement” — with respect to the Trust or the Account, 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 Account’s 1940 Act Registration
Statement is described more specifically on Schedule 2 to this Agreement. The Trust’s 1940 Act
Registration Statement is filed on Form N-1A (File No. 811-08361).
1.15. “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 any statement of
additional information incorporated therein.
1.16. “Statement of Additional Information” — with respect to the shares of the Trust 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.
1.17. “SEC” — the Securities and Exchange Commission.
1.18. “NASD” — The National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
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1.19. “1933 Act” — the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
1.20. “1940 Act” — the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
ARTICLE II
Sale of Trust Shares
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 Account,
shares of the Series and Classes listed on Schedule 3 to this Agreement, such purchases to
be effected at net asset value in accordance with Section 2.3 of this Agreement. Such Series
and Classes shall be made available to the Company in accordance with the terms and
provisions of this Agreement until this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Article X or 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 that may be established 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.
(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, (i)
the Company shall not redeem Trust shares attributable to Contract Owners except in the
circumstances permitted in Article X of this Agreement, and (ii) 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 Account (but not
with respect to any Trust shares that may be held in the general account of the Company)
for shares of those Series or Classes made available hereunder, based on allocations of
amounts to the Account or subaccounts thereof under the Contracts, other transactions
relating to the Contracts or the Account and customary processing of the Contracts. 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 defined as
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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 same Business Day, provided that the Trust receives
actual and sufficient notice of such request by 8:00 a.m. New York Time on the next following
Business Day. Such notice may be communicated by telephone to the office or person designated for
such notice by the Trust, 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 to be received by the Trust
by 12:00 noon 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 such day. If the issuance of
shares is canceled because Federal funds are not timely received, the Company shall indemnify the
respective Fund and Distributor with respect to all costs, expenses and losses 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 invested, and Series or Class 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 Series or Class shares redeemed by the Account 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 Series or
Class 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 Series or Class 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; the
Company alone shall be responsible for such action.
(d) [Reserved]
(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.
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(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, but, in any
event, the Trust shall seek to transmit net asset value per share for each Series or Class
available to the Company via email each night by 7 p.m. (ET). The Trust shall calculate such net
asset value in accordance with the Prospectus for such Series or Class. In the event that the Trust
determines a material error in the NAV (as determined by the Trust’s policy on NAV errors) reported
to the Company, it shall contact the Company promptly.
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 Account, 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 Account, 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 Account. Purchase and redemption orders for
Trust shares shall be recorded in an appropriate ledger for the Account or the appropriate
subaccount of the Account.
2.7. Pricing Errors. Any material errors in the calculation of net asset value, dividends or
capital gain information shall be reported immediately upon discovery to the Company. An error
shall be deemed “material” based on our interpretation of the SEC’s position and policy with
regard to materiality, as it may be modified from time to time. Neither the Trust, any Fund, the
Distributor, nor any of their affiliates shall be liable for any information provided to the
Company pursuant to this Agreement which information is based on incorrect information supplied by
or on behalf of the Company or any other Participating Company to the Trust or the Distributor.
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 Account to consider the portfolio investments of
the Trust as constituting investments of the Account for the purpose of satisfying the
diversification requirements of Section 817(h). 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 Company hereby represents and
warrants that it and the Account are Qualified Persons.
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ARTICLE III
Representations and Warranties
Representations and Warranties
3.1. Company. The Company represents and warrants that: (i) the Company is an insurance
company duly organized and in good standing under Iowa insurance law; (ii) the Account is a validly
existing separate account, duly established and maintained in accordance with applicable law; (iii)
the Account’s 1940 Act Registration Statement has been filed with the SEC in accordance with the
provisions of the 1940 Act and the Account is duly registered as a unit investment trust
thereunder; (iv) the Contracts’ Registration Statement has been declared effective or will be
declared effective by the SEC prior to any Contract sales involving shares of the Trust; (v) the
Contracts will be issued in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Federal and
state laws; (vi) 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;
(vii) the Account will maintain its registration under the 1940 Act and will comply in all material
respects with the 1940 Act; (viii) the Contracts currently are, and at the time of issuance and for
so long as they are outstanding will be, treated as annuity contracts or life insurance policies,
whichever is appropriate, under applicable provisions of the Code; and (ix) the Company’s entering
into and performing its obligations under this Agreement does not and will not violate its charter
documents or by-laws, rules or regulations, or any agreement to which it is a party. The Company
will notify the Trust promptly if for any reason it is unable to perform its obligations under this
Agreement.
3.1a Money Laundering. The Company represents and warrants that is has implemented policies
and procedures reasonably designed to guard against money laundering activities, to detect and
report suspicious activities and to comply with the applicable provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act,
as amended by the USA PATRIOT Act, and any and all related regulations. In this regard, (a) to the
extent required by law, the Company or its agents have obtained and will obtain in the future,
evidence that satisfactorily establishes the identity of each of its Contract Owners; (b) such
information will be made available to the Trust and the Distributor or their agents upon their
request for regulatory purposes; and (c) the Company will identify any suspicious transactions to
the Trust and the Distributor.
3.1b Market Timing and Late Trading. The Company represents and warrants that it has
implemented policies and procedures reasonably designed (a) to guard against market timing of the
Funds by its Contract Owners and (b) to ensure that purchase and redemption transactions are
processed in compliance with all applicable rules and regulations, including but not limited to
Rule 22c-l of the 1940 Act. The Company further represents and warrants that it will follow (a)
any procedures set forth in the Agreement; (b) all applicable rules and regulations, including but
not limited to Rule 22c-1 of the 1940 Act; and (c) its own internal policies and procedures
regarding the processing of purchase and redemption transactions in a timely fashion and regarding
anti-market timing policies.
3.2. Trust. The Trust represents and warrants that: (i) the Trust is an unincorporated
business trust duly formed and validly existing under the Delaware law; (ii) the Trust’s 1940 Act
Registration Statement has been filed with the SEC in accordance with the provisions of the 1940
Act and the Trust is duly registered as an open-end management investment company thereunder;
(iii) the Trust’s Registration Statement has been declared effective by the SEC; (iv) the Trust
shares will be issued in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal laws; (v)
the Trust will remain registered under and will comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act
during the term of this Agreement; (vi) each Fund of the Trust intends to qualify as a “regulated
investment company” under Subchapter M of the Code and to comply with the diversification
standards prescribed in Section 817(h) of the Code and the regulations thereunder; and (vii) the
investment policies of each Fund are in material compliance with any investment restrictions set
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forth on Schedule 4 to this Agreement. The Trust, however, makes no representation as to whether
any aspect of its operations (including, but not limited to, fees and expenses and investment
policies) otherwise complies with the insurance laws or regulations of any state.
3.3. Distributor. The Distributor represents and warrants that: (i) the Distributor is a
limited partnership duly organized and in good standing under New York law; (ii) the Distributor
is registered as a broker-dealer under federal and applicable state securities laws and is a
member of the NASD; and (iii) the Distributor is registered as an investment adviser under federal
securities laws.
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. Princor, the Trust and the Distributor represent and warrant that
all of their 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
Regulatory Requirements
4.1. Trust Filings. The Trust shall amend the Trust’s Registration Statement and the Trust’s
1940 Act Registration Statement from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous
offering of Trust shares in compliance with applicable law and to maintain the Trust’s
registration under the 1940 Act for so long as Trust shares are sold.
4.2. Contracts Filings. The Company shall amend the Contracts’ Registration Statement and the
Account’s 1940 Act Registration Statement from time to time as required in order to effect the
continuous offering of the Contracts in compliance with applicable law or as may otherwise be
required by applicable law, but in any event shall maintain a current effective Contracts’
Registration Statement and the Account’s registration under the 1940 Act for so long as the
Contracts are outstanding unless the Company has supplied the Trust with an SEC no-action letter
or opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Trust’s counsel to the effect that maintaining such
Registration Statement on a current basis is no longer required. The Company shall be responsible
for filing all such Contract forms, applications, marketing materials and other documents relating
to the Contracts and/or the Account with state insurance commissions, as required or customary,
and shall use its best efforts: (i) 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 (ii) to keep such approvals in effect for so long as the Contracts are outstanding.
4.3. Voting of Trust Shares. With respect to any matter put to vote by the holders of Trust
shares (“Voting Shares”), the Company will provide “pass-through” voting privileges to
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owners of Contracts registered with the SEC as long as the 1940 Act requires such privileges in
such cases. In cases in which “pass-through” privileges apply, the Company will (i) solicit voting
instructions from Contract Owners of SEC-registered Contracts; (ii) vote Voting Shares attributable
to Contract Owners in accordance with instructions or proxies timely received from such Contract
Owners; and (iii) vote Voting Shares held by it that are not attributable to reserves for
SEC-registered Contracts or for which it has not received timely voting instructions in the same
proportion as instructions received in a timely fashion from Owners of SEC-registered Contracts.
The Company shall be responsible for ensuring that it calculates “pass-through” votes for the
Account in a manner consistent with the provisions set forth above and with other Participating
Insurance Companies. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates will in any way recommend action
in connection with, or oppose or interfere with, the solicitation of proxies for the Trust shares
held for such Contract Owners, except with respect to matters as to which the Company has the right
under Rule 6e-2 or 6e-3(T) under the 1940 Act, to vote Voting Shares without regard to voting
instructions from Contract Owners.
4.4. State Insurance Restrictions. The Company acknowledges and agrees that it is the
responsibility of the Company to determine investment restrictions and any other restrictions,
limitations or requirements under state insurance law applicable to any Fund or the Trust or the
Distributor, and that neither the Trust nor the Distributor shall bear any responsibility to the
Company, for any such determination or the correctness of such determination. Schedule 4 sets
forth the investment restrictions that the Company and/or other Participating Insurance Companies
have determined are applicable to any Fund and with which the Trust has agreed to comply as of the
date of this Agreement. The Company shall inform the Trust of any investment restrictions imposed
by state insurance law that the Company determines may become applicable to the Trust or a Fund
from time to time as a result of the Account’s investment therein, other than those set forth on
Schedule 4 to this Agreement. 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 (it being understood that “shareholders” 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. If the Trust determines that it is in the best interests of
shareholders to comply with such restrictions, the Trust and the Company shall amend Schedule 4 to
this Agreement to reflect such restrictions, subject to obtaining any required shareholder
approval thereof.
4.5. Compliance. Under no circumstances will the Trust, the Distributor or any of their
affiliates (excluding Participating Investors) be deemed to have provided any legal or tax advice
to the Company concerning the applicability of any federal or state laws, regulations or other
authorities to the activities contemplated by this Agreement.
4.6. 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.
4.7. 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,
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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 Account, 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 Account).
4.8. 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 4.7 of this Agreement.
4.9. 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 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.
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(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 Fund, and the Trust and
Distributor shall each provide to the Company any complaints it has received from Contract
Owners relating to the Contracts.
4.10. 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
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. The Company shall ensure that all
persons offering the Contracts are duly licensed and registered under applicable insurance and
securities laws. The Company shall ensure that each sale of a Contract satisfies applicable
suitability requirements under insurance and securities laws and regulations, including without
limitation the rules of the NASD. The Company shall adopt and implement procedures reasonably
designed to ensure that information concerning the Trust and the Distributor that is intended for
use only by brokers or agents selling the Contracts (i.e., information that is not intended for
distribution to Contract Owners or offerees) is so used.
5.2. Administration and Servicing of the Contracts. The Company shall be fully responsible as
to the Trust and the Distributor 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.
5.3. Customer Complaints. The Company shall promptly address all customer complaints and
resolve such complaints consistent with high ethical standards and principles of ethical conduct.
5.4. 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: (i) the Trust’s Prospectus for the Series and Classes listed on Schedule 3 and any supplement
thereto; (ii) each Statement of Additional Information and any supplement thereto; (iii) any Trust
proxy soliciting material for such Series or Classes; and (iv) 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 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
10
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, e.g., electronic or Internet) without the prior
written consent of the Distributor.
5.5. Trust Advertising Material. No piece of marketing, advertising or sales literature or
other promotional material in which the Trust or the Distributor or the trade name and trademark
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx (the “Xxxx”) is named (including, without limitation, material for prospects,
existing Contract Owners, brokers, rating or ranking agencies, or the press, whether in print,
radio, television, video, Internet, or other electronic medium) shall be used by the Company or
any person directly or indirectly authorized by the Company, including without limitation,
underwriters, distributors, and sellers of the Contracts, except with the prior written consent of
the Trust or the Distributor, as applicable, as to the form, content and medium of such material
Any such piece shall be furnished to the Trust for such consent prior to its use; provided, that
the Trust and Distributor agree that any such authorization shall not be unreasonably delayed or
denied; and provided, further, that if the Company does not receive a response to its request for
authorization within ten business days, the Trust or Distributor shall be deemed to have
authorized us of the materials submitted. 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. Until further notice to the Company,
the Trust has delegated its rights and responsibilities under this provision to the Distributor.
5.6. Contracts Advertising Material. No piece of marketing, advertising or sales literature
or other promotional material in which the Company is named shall be used by the Trust or the
Distributor, except with the prior written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be
unreasonably delayed or denied. Any such piece shall be furnished to the Company for such consent
prior to its use. The Company shall respond to any request for written consent on a prompt and
timely basis, and failure to respond to the Trust or the Distributor within three business days
shall be deemed as the Company’s consent to the use of such sales or marketing literature. 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 Company, upon prior written notice to the Trust, may delegate its rights and
responsibilities under this provision to the principal underwriter for the Contracts.
5.7. Trade Names. No party shall use any other party’s trade 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. The Company acknowledges that the
Distributor owns all right, title and interest in and to the Xxxx and the registrations thereof.
The Company shall use the Xxxx intact and shall not modify or alter the Xxxx. Upon termination of
this Agreement, the Company or its successor (to the extent and as soon as it lawfully can) will
cease the use of the Xxxx.
5.8. 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 Funds nor shall it authorize or allow any other person to do so except
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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 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.
5.9. 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 Account or the Contracts other than the information or representations
contained in the Contracts’ Registration Statement or Contracts’ Prospectus or in published
reports of the Account which are in the public domain or in sales literature or other promotional
material approved in writing by the Company in accordance with this Article V.
5.10. Advertising. For purposes of this Article V, the phrase “sales literature or other
promotional material” includes, but is not limited to, any material constituting sales literature
or advertising under the NASD rules, the 1940 Act or the 1933 Act.
ARTICLE VI
Compliance with Code
Compliance with Code
6.1. Section 817(h). Each Fund of the Trust shall comply with Section 817(h) of the Code and
the regulations issued thereunder to the extent applicable to the Fund as an investment company
underlying the Account, and the Trust shall notify the Company immediately upon having a
reasonable basis for believing that a Fund has ceased to so qualify or that it might not so
qualify in the future.
6.2. Subchapter M. Each Fund of the Trust shall maintain the qualification of the Fund 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
Fund has ceased to so qualify or that it might not so qualify in the future.
6.3. Contracts. The Company shall ensure the continued treatment of the Contracts as annuity
contracts or life insurance policies, whichever is appropriate, under applicable provisions of the
Code and shall notify the Trust and the Distributor immediately upon having a reasonable basis for
believing that the Contracts have ceased to be so treated or that they might not be so treated in
the future.
ARTICLE VII
Expenses
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; |
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(c) | preparation of all statements and notices required by any Federal or state securities law; | ||
(d) | all taxes on the issuance or transfer of Trust shares; | ||
(e) | 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 | ||
(f) | any expenses permitted to be paid or assumed by the Trust pursuant to a plan, if any, under Rule 12b-l under the 1940 Act. |
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 Contracts under the federal securities laws; | ||
(b) | preparation and filing with the SEC of the Contracts’ Prospectus and Contracts’ Registration Statement; | ||
(c) | the sale, marketing and distribution of the Contracts, including printing and dissemination of Contracts’ Prospectuses and compensation for Contract sales; | ||
(d) | administration of the Contracts; | ||
(e) | payment of all applicable fees relating to the Contracts, including, without limitation, all fees due under Rule 24f-2; | ||
(f) | 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 | ||
(g) | preparation, printing and dissemination of all marketing materials for the Contracts and Trust except where other arrangements are made in advance. |
7.4. 12b-1 Payments. The Trust shall pay no fee or other compensation to the
Company under this Agreement, except that if the Trust or any Series or Class adopts and
implements a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act to finance distribution expenses,
then payments may be made to the Company in accordance with such plan. The Trust currently
does not intend to make any payments to finance distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-l
under the 1940 Act or in contravention of such rule, although it may make payments pursuant
to Rule 12b-l in the future. To the extent that it decides to finance distribution expenses
pursuant to Rule 12b-l and such formulation is required by the 1940 Act or any rules or order
thereunder, the Trust undertakes to have a Board of Trustees, a majority of whom are not interested
persons of the Trust, formulate and approve any plan under Rule 12b-1 to finance distribution
expenses.
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ARTICLE VIII
Potential Conflicts
Potential Conflicts
8.1. Exemptive Order. The parties to this Agreement acknowledge that the Trust has received an
exemptive order from the SEC (the “Exemptive Order”) granting relief from various provisions of the
1940 Act and the rules thereunder to the extent necessary to permit Trust shares to be 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 Exemptive Order requires the Trust and each Participating Insurance Company to
comply 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 the Products, 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.
8.5. Undertaking to Resolve Conflict. In the event that a material irreconcilable conflict of
interest arises between Product Owners and Participating Plans, the Company will, at its own
expense, take such action as is necessary and practicable to remedy such conflict as it adversely
affects Contract Owners, including, for example (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 Fund of the Trust) 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.
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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
Fund shareholder meeting, then, at the request of the Trust Board, 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 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 and 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 Exemptive Order, then (i) 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
(ii) Sections 8.2 through 8.5 of this Agreement shall continue in effect only to the extent that
terms and conditions substantially identical to such Sections are contained in such Rule(s) as so
amended or adopted.
ARTICLE IX
Indemnification
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 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 or liabilities:
(a) | arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Contracts Registration Statement, Contracts Prospectus, 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 Contracts Registration Statement, Contracts Prospectus 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 |
15
(b) | arise out of any 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) | arise out of 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, trade names or trademark of the Trust or the Distributor. |
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
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 or liabilities:
(a) | arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement of any 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 |
16
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 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 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); |
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 4.4 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 or liabilities:
(a) | arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement of any 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 |
17
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 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 | ||
(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 4.4 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 willful 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 (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to
the retention of such
18
counsel or (ii) 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.
ARTICLE X
Relationship of the Parties; Termination
Relationship of the Parties; Termination
10.1. Relationship of Parties. The Company is to be an independent contractor vis-avis 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.
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 promote the Trust and the Funds made available hereunder on the same basis as other funding vehicles available under the Contracts; | ||
(b) | the Company shall not, without prior notice to the Distributor (unless otherwise required by applicable law), take any action to operate the Account as a management investment company under the 1940 Act; | ||
(c) | the Company shall not, without 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, to transfer or withdraw Contract Values allocated to a Fund, or to exchange their Contracts for contracts not allowing for investment in the Trust; | ||
(d) | the Company shall not substitute another investment company for one or more Funds without providing written notice to the Distributor at least 60 days in advance of effecting any such substitution; and | ||
(e) | the Company shall not withdraw the Account’s investment in the Trust or a Fund of the Trust except as necessary to facilitate Contract Owner requests and routine Contract processing. |
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10.3. Termination of Agreement. This Agreement shall not terminate until (i) the Trust is
dissolved, liquidated, or merged into another entity, or (ii) as to any Fund that has been made
available hereunder, the Account no longer invests in that Fund 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 Fund. 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 5.7, 10.8 and 10.9 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 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 90 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, if 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 shareholders of any Series or Class (it being understood that “shareholders” for this purpose shall mean Product Owners), such notice effective immediately upon receipt of written notice, it being understood that a lack of Participating Investor interest in a Series or Class may be grounds for a suspension or termination as to such Series or Class and that a suspension or termination shall apply only to the specified Series or Class; | ||
(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 90 days prior written notice; |
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(f) | if any Party is in material breach of any provision of this Agreement, which breach has not been cured to the satisfaction of the other Parties within 90 days after written notice of such breach has been delivered, such termination is effective upon expiration of such 90-day period; or | ||
(g) | upon the determination of the Trusts Board to dissolve, liquidate or merge the Trust as contemplated by Section 10.3(i), upon termination of the Agreement pursuant to Section 10.3(ii), or upon notice from the Company pursuant to Section 10.5 or 10.6, such termination pursuant hereto to be effective upon 60 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
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 Fund. The Company may elect to cease
investing in a Fund, promoting a Fund as an investment option under the Contracts, or
withdraw its investment or the Account’s investment in a Fund, subject to compliance with applicable
law, upon written notice to the Trust within 15 days of the occurrence or actual knowledge of the
occurrence, of any of the following events (unless provided otherwise below):
occurrence, of any of the following events (unless provided otherwise below):
(a) | if the Trust informs the Company pursuant to Section 4.4 that it will not cause such Fund 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 Fund 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 nonavailability, fails to make available, within 10 days after receipt of such notice, a sufficient number of shares in such Fund or an alternate Fund to meet the requirements of the Contracts; | ||
(c) | if such Fund fails to meet the diversification requirements specified in Section 817(h) of the Code and any regulations thereunder; or | ||
(d) | if such Fund 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 Fund may fail to so qualify; or |
Such termination shall apply only as to the affected Fund and shall not apply to any other Fund 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 Account’s
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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; or | ||
(b) | 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 10 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. 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 Exemptive 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 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(c) 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 Fund.
10.8. Confidentiality. The Company will keep confidential any information acquired as a
result of this Agreement regarding the business and affairs of the Trust, the Distributor, and
their affiliates.
ARTICLE XI
Applicability to New Accounts and New Contracts
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 separate 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
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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 XxXxxxxx
President
Xxxxxxx Sachs Variable Insurance Trust
00 Xxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
President
Xxxxxxx Sachs Variable Insurance Trust
00 Xxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
If to the Distributor:
Xxxxx XxXxxxxx Managing
Director Xxxxxxx Sachs & Co.
00 Xxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Director Xxxxxxx Sachs & Co.
00 Xxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
If to the Company:
Principal Life Insurance Company Attn:
Xxxxx Xxxxx, Counsel
Principal Life Insurance Company
Xxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Xxxxx Xxxxx, Counsel
Principal Life Insurance Company
Xxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
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
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 in no way 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. |
23
(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. |
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.
13.4. Declaration of Trust. A copy of the Declaration of Trust of the Trust is on file with
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, and notice is hereby given that this instrument
is executed on behalf of the Trustees of the Trust as trustees, and is not binding upon any of the
Trustees, officers or shareholders of the Trust individually, but binding only upon the assets and
property of the Trust. No Series of the Trust shall be liable for the obligations of any other
Series of the Trust.
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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.
XXXXXXX XXXXX VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST (Trust) |
||||
Date: 7/30/04 | By: | /s/ Illegible | ||
Name: | Illegible | |||
Title: | Secretary | |||
XXXXXXX, SACHS & CO. (Distributor) |
||||
Date: 7/30/04 | By: | /s/ Illegible | ||
Name: | Illegible | |||
Title: | Vice President | |||
PRINCIPAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY (Company) |
||||
Date: 8/4/04 | By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx Crew | ||
Name: | Xxxxxxx Crew. | |||
Title: | Director, Annuity Product Development | |||
PRINCOR FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION (Company) |
||||
Date: 8/4/04 | By: | /s/ Illegible | ||
Name: | Illegible | |||
Title: | Senior vice President |
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Schedule 1
Accounts of the Company
Investing in the Trust
Investing in the Trust
Effective as of the date the Agreement was executed, the following separate accounts of the
Company are subject to the Agreement:
Date Established by | ||||||
Name of Account and | Board of Directors of | SEC 1940 Act | Type of Product | |||
Subaccounts | the Company | Registration Number | Supported by Account | |||
Principal Life Insurance Company Separate Account B |
Variable Annuities | |||||
Principal Life Insurance Company Variable Life Separate Account |
Variable Life Insurance |
[Form of Amendment to Schedule 1]
Effective as of _______, the following separate accounts of the Company are hereby added to this
Schedule 1 and made subject to the Agreement:
Date Established by | Type of Product | |||||
Name of Account and | Board of Directors | SEC 1940 Act | Supported by | |||
Subaccounts | of the Company | Registration Number | Account | |||
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust the Distributor and the Company hereby amend this Schedule 1 in
accordance with Article XI of the Agreement.
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Schedule 2
Classes of Contracts
Supported by Separate Accounts
Listed on Schedule 1
Supported by Separate Accounts
Listed on Schedule 1
Effective as of the date the Agreement was executed, the following classes of Contracts are
subject to the Agreement:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | XXX 0000 Xxx | |||||
Name | Registration Number | Contract Form Number | Annuity or Life | |||
Annuity |
[Form of Amendment to Schedule 2]
Effective as of _______, the following classes of Contracts are hereby added to this Schedule 2
and made subject to the Agreement:
Contract Marketing | SEC 1933 Act | Name of Supporting | ||||
Name | Registration Number | Account | Annuity or Life | |||
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust the Distributor and the Company hereby amend this Schedule 2 in
accordance with Article XI of the Agreement.
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Schedule 3
Trust Classes and Series
Available Under Each
Class of Contracts
Available Under Each
Class of Contracts
Effective as of the date the Agreement was executed, the following Trust Classes and Series are
available under the Contracts:
Contracts Marketing Name | Trust Classes and Series | |
[Form of Amendment to Schedule 3]
Effective as of ____________________, this Schedule 3 is hereby amended to reflect the following
changes in Trust Classes and Series:
Contracts Marketing Name | Trust Classes and Series | |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust the Distributor and the Company hereby amend this Schedule 3 in
accordance with Article XI of the Agreement.
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Schedule 4
Investment Restrictions
Applicable to the Trust
Applicable to the Trust
Effective as of the date the Agreement was executed, the following investment restrictions are
applicable to the Trust:
[Form of Amendment to Schedule 4]
Effective as of _________________________, this Schedule 4 is hereby amended to reflect the
following changes:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust the Distributor and the Company hereby amend this Schedule 4 in
accordance with Article XI of the Agreement.
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