PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
By and Among
OCC ACCUMULATION TRUST
And
AMERICAN CENTURION LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY
And
OCC DISTRIBUTORS
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this 17th day of September
1997 by and among American Centurion Life Assurance Company, a New York
Corporation (hereinafter the "Company"), on its own behalf and on behalf of
each separate account of the Company named in Schedule 1 to this Agreement,
as may be amended from time to time (each account referred to as the
"Account"), OCC ACCUMULATION TRUST, an open-end diversified management
investment company organized under the laws of the State of Massachusetts
(hereinafter the "Fund") and OCC DISTRIBUTORS, a Delaware general partnership
(hereinafter the "Underwriter").
WHEREAS, the Fund engages in business as an open end diversified,
management investment company and was established for the purpose of serving as
the investment vehicle for separate accounts established for variable life
insurance contracts and variable annuity contracts to be offered by insurance
companies which have entered into participation agreements substantially
identical to this Agreement (hereinafter "Participating Insurance Companies");
and
WHEREAS, beneficial interests in the Fund are divided into several
series of shares, each representing the interest in a particular managed
portfolio of securities and other assets (the "Portfolios"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund has filed an application with the Securities &
Exchange Commission (alternatively referred to as the "SEC" or the "Commission")
to request an order granting Participating Insurance Companies and variable
annuity separate accounts and variable life insurance separate accounts relief
from the provisions of Sections 9(a), 13(a), 15(a), and 15(b) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, (hereinafter the "1940 Act") and Rules
6e-2(b)(15) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15) thereunder, to the extent necessary to permit
shares of the Fund to be sold to and held by variable annuity separate accounts
and variable life insurance separate accounts of both affiliated and
unaffiliated Participating Insurance Companies and qualified pension and
retirement plans (hereinafter the "application for a mixed and shared funding
exemptive order"). The parties to this Agreement agree that the conditions or
undertakings specified in the application for a mixed and shared funding
exemptive order and that may be imposed on the Company, the Fund and/or the
Underwriter by virtue of the receipt of such order by the SEC shall be
incorporated herein by reference, as of the date such order is granted and such
parties agree to comply with such conditions and undertakings to the extent
applicable to each such party; and
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open end management investment
company under the 1940 Act and its shares are registered under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (hereinafter the "1933 Act"); and
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WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register certain variable
annuity contracts (the "Contracts") under the 1933 Act; and
WHEREAS, the Account is a duly organized, validly existing segregated
asset account, established by resolution of the Board of Directors of the
Company under the insurance laws of the State of New York, to set aside and
invest assets attributable to the Contracts; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered the subaccounts of the Account
together as a unit investment trust under the 1940 Act; and
WHEREAS, the Underwriter is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (hereinafter the "1934
Act"), and is a member in good standing of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (hereinafter "NASD"); and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Company intends to purchase shares of the Portfolios named in
Schedule 2 on behalf of the Account to fund the Contracts and the Underwriter is
authorized to sell such shares to unit investment trusts such as the Account at
net asset value;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the
Company, the Fund and the Underwriter agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. SALE OF FUND SHARES
1.1. The Underwriter agrees to sell to the Company those shares of
the Fund which the Company orders on behalf of the Account, executing such
orders on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt and
acceptance by the Fund or its agent of the order
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for the shares of the Fund. For purposes of this Section 1.1 , the Company
shall be the designee of the Fund for receipt of such orders from each Account
and receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund; provided that
the Fund receives notice of such order by 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the next
following Business Day. "Business Day" shall mean any day on which the New York
Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which the Fund calculates its net
asset value pursuant to the rules of the SEC.
1.2. The Company shall pay for Fund shares on the next Business Day
after it places an order to purchase Fund shares in accordance with Section 1.1
hereof. Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire.
1.3. The Fund agrees to make its shares available indefinitely for
purchase at the applicable net asset value per share by Participating Insurance
Companies and their separate accounts on those days on which the Fund calculates
its net asset value pursuant to rules of the SEC; provided, however, that the
Board of Trustees of the Fund (hereinafter the "Directors") may refuse to sell
shares of any Portfolio to any person, or suspend or terminate the offering of
shares of any Portfolio if such action is required by law or by regulatory
authorities having jurisdiction or is, in the sole discretion of the Directors,
acting in good faith and in light of their fiduciary duties under federal and
any applicable state laws, necessary in the best interests of the shareholders
of any Portfolio.
1.4. The Fund and the Underwriter agree that shares of the Fund will
be sold only to Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts,
qualified pension and retirement plans or such other persons as are permitted
under applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
(the "Internal Revenue Code"), and regulations promulgated
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thereunder, the sale to which will not impair the tax treatment currently
afforded the Contracts. No shares of any Portfolio will be sold to the general
public.
1.5. The Fund and the Underwriter will not sell Fund shares to any
insurance company or separate account unless an agreement containing provisions
substantially the same as Articles I, III, V, and VII of this Agreement are in
effect to govern such sales. The Fund shall make available upon written request
from the Company (i) a list of all other Participating Insurance Companies and
(ii) a copy of the Participation Agreement executed by any other Participating
Insurance Company.
1.6. The Fund agrees to redeem for cash, upon the Company's request,
any full or fractional shares of the Fund held by the Company, executing such
requests on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt and
acceptance by the Fund or its agent of the request for redemption. For purposes
of this Section 1.6, the Company shall be the designee of the Fund for receipt
of requests for redemption from each Account and receipt by such designee shall
constitute receipt by the Fund; provided the Fund receives notice of request for
redemption by 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the next following Business Day.
Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire to the Company's account
as designated by the Company in writing from time to time, on the same Business
Day the Fund receives notice of the redemption order from the Company except
that the Fund reserves the right to delay payment of redemption proceeds, but in
no event may such payment be delayed longer than the period permitted under
Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act. Neither the Fund nor the Underwriter shall bear
any responsibility whatsoever for the proper disbursement or crediting of
redemption proceeds; the Company alone shall be
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responsible for such action. If notification of redemption is received after
10:00 a.m. Eastern Time, payment for redeemed shares will be made on the next
following Business Day.
1.7. The Company agrees to purchase and redeem the shares of the
Portfolios named in Schedule 2 offered by the then current prospectus of the
Fund in accordance with the provisions of such prospectus. The Company agrees
that all net amounts available under the Contracts shall be invested in the
Fund, or in the Company's general account; provided that such amounts may also
be invested in an investment company other than the Fund if (a) such other
investment company, or series thereof, has investment objectives or policies
that are substantially different from the investment objectives and policies of
the Portfolios of the Fund named in Schedule 2; or (b) the Company gives the
Fund and the Underwriter 45 days written notice of its intention to make such
other investment company available as a funding vehicle for the Contracts; or
(c) such other investment company was available as a funding vehicle for the
Contracts prior to the date of this Agreement and the Company so informs the
Fund and Underwriter prior to their signing this Agreement; or (d) the Fund or
Underwriter consents in writing to the use of such other investment company.
1.8. Issuance and transfer of the Fund's shares will be by book entry
only. Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or any Account.
Purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares will be recorded in an
appropriate title for each Account or the appropriate subaccount of each
Account.
1.9. The Fund shall furnish same day notice (by wire or telephone,
followed by written confirmation) to the Company of any income, dividends or
capital gain distributions payable on the Fund's shares. The Company hereby
elects to receive all such dividends and
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distributions as are payable on the Portfolio shares in the form of additional
shares of that Portfolio. The Company reserves the right to revoke this
election and to receive all such dividends and distributions in cash. The Fund
shall notify the Company of the number of shares so issued as payment of such
dividends and distributions.
1.10. The Fund shall make the net asset value per share for each
Portfolio available to the Company on a daily basis as soon as reasonably
practical after the net asset value per share is calculated and shall use its
best efforts to make such net asset value per share available by 5:30 p.m.,
Eastern Standard Time, each business day.
ARTICLE II. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
2.1. The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts are or
will be registered under the 1933 Act and that the Contracts will be issued and
sold in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws. The Company
further represents and warrants that it is an insurance company duly organized
and in good standing under applicable law and that it has legally and validly
established each Account as a separate account under applicable state law and
has registered the subaccounts of each Account together as a unit investment
trust in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act to serve as segregated
investment accounts for the Contracts, and that it will maintain such
registration for so long as any Contracts are outstanding. The Company shall
amend the registration statement under the 1933 Act for the Contracts and the
registration statement under the 1940 Act for the Account from time to time as
required in order to effect the continuous offering of the Contracts or as may
otherwise be required by applicable
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law. The Company shall register and qualify the Contracts for sale in
accordance with the securities laws of the various states only if and to the
extent deemed necessary by the Company.
2.2. The Company represents that it believes that the Contracts are
currently and at the time of issuance will be treated as annuity contracts under
applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and that it will make every
effort to maintain such treatment and that it will notify the Fund and the
Underwriter immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the
Contracts have ceased to be so treated or that they might not be so treated in
the future.
2.3. The Fund represents and warrants that Fund shares sold pursuant
to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act and duly authorized for
issuance in accordance with applicable law and that the Fund is and shall remain
registered under the 1940 Act for as long as the Fund shares are sold. The Fund
shall amend the registration statement for its shares under the 1933 Act and the
1940 Act from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous
offering of its shares. The Fund shall register and qualify the shares for sale
in accordance with the laws of the various states only if and to the extent
deemed advisable by the Fund or the Underwriter.
2.4. The Fund represents that it is currently qualified as a
Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code,
and that it will make every effort to maintain such qualification (under
Subchapter M or any successor or similar provision) and that it will notify the
Company immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that it has
ceased to so qualify or that it might not so qualify in the future.
2.5. The Fund represents that its investment objectives, policies and
restrictions comply with applicable state investment laws as they may apply to
the Fund. The Fund makes no
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representation as to whether any aspect of its operations (including, but not
limited to, fees and expenses and investment policies) complies with the
insurance laws and regulations of any state. The Company alone shall be
responsible for informing the Fund of any insurance restrictions imposed by
state insurance laws which are applicable to the Fund. To the extent feasible
and consistent with market conditions, the Fund will adjust its investments to
comply with the aforementioned state insurance laws upon written notice from the
Company of such requirements and proposed adjustments, it being agreed and
understood that in any such case the Fund shall be allowed a reasonable period
of time under the circumstances after receipt of such notice to make any such
adjustment.
2.6. The Fund currently does not intend to make any payments to
finance distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act or
otherwise, although it may make such payments in the future. To the extent that
it decides to finance distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1, the Fund
undertakes to have its Board of Trustees, a majority of whom are not interested
persons of the Fund, formulate and approve any plan under Rule 12b-1 to finance
distribution expenses.
2.7. The Underwriter represents and warrants that it is a member in
good standing of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., ("NASD")
and is registered as a broker dealer with the SEC. The Underwriter further
represents that it will sell and distribute the Fund shares in accordance with
all applicable federal and state securities laws, including without limitation
the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, and the 1940 Act.
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2.8. The Fund represents that it is lawfully organized and validly
existing under the laws of Massachusetts and that it does and will comply with
applicable provisions of the 0000 Xxx.
2.9. The Underwriter represents and warrants that the Fund's Adviser,
OpCap Advisors, is and shall remain duly registered under all applicable federal
and state securities laws and that the Adviser will perform its obligations to
the Fund in accordance with the laws of Massachusetts and any applicable state
and federal securities laws.
2.10. The Fund and Underwriter represent and warrant that all of
their directors, officers, employees, investment advisers, and other
individuals/entities having access to the funds and/or securities of the Fund
are and continue to be at all times covered by a blanket fidelity bond or
similar coverage for the benefit of the Fund in an amount not less than the
minimal coverage as required currently by Rule 17g-(1) of the 1940 Act or
related provisions as may be promulgated from time to time. The aforesaid Bond
includes coverage for larceny and embezzlement and is issued by a reputable
bonding company.
2.11. The Company represents and warrants that all of its officers,
employees, investment advisers, and other individuals/entities dealing with the
money and/or securities of the Fund are covered by a blanket fidelity bond or
similar coverage for the benefit of the Fund, in an amount not less than $5
million. The aforesaid includes coverage for larceny and embezzlement and is
issued by a reputable bonding company. The Company agrees to make all
reasonable efforts to see that this bond or another bond containing these
provisions is always in effect, and agrees to notify the Fund and the
Underwriter in the event that such coverage no longer applies.
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ARTICLE III. PROSPECTUSES AND PROXY STATEMENTS; VOTING
3.1. The Underwriter shall provide the Company, at the Company's
expense, with as many copies of the Fund's current prospectus as the Company may
reasonably request for use with prospective contractowners and applicants. The
Underwriter shall print and distribute, at the Fund's or Underwriter's expense,
as many copies of said prospectus as necessary for distribution to existing
contractowners or participants. If requested by the Company in lieu thereof,
the Fund shall provide such documentation including a final copy of a current
prospectus set in type at the Fund's expense and other assistance as is
reasonably necessary in order for the Company at least annually (or more
frequently if the Fund prospectus is amended more frequently) to have the new
prospectus for the Contracts and the Fund's new prospectus printed together in
one document, in such case the Fund shall bear its share of expenses as
described above.
3.2. The Fund's prospectus shall state that the Statement of
Additional Information for the Fund is available from the Underwriter or
alternatively from the Company (or, in the Fund's discretion, the Prospectus
shall state that such Statement is available from the Fund), and the Underwriter
(or the Fund) shall provide such Statement, at its expense, to the Company and
to any owner of or participant under a Contract who requests such Statement or,
at the Company's expense, to any prospective contractowner and applicant who
requests such statement.
3.3. The Fund, at its expense, shall provide the Company with copies
of its proxy material, if any, reports to shareholders and other communications
to shareholders in such quantity as the Company shall reasonably require and
shall bear the costs of distributing them to existing contractowners or
participants.
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3.4. If and to the extent required by law the Company shall:
(i) solicit voting instructions from contractowners or
participants;
(ii) vote the Fund shares held in the Account in accordance
with instructions received from contractowners or
participants; and
(iii) vote Fund shares held in the Account for which no
timely instructions have been received, in the same
proportion as Fund shares of such Portfolio for which
instructions have been received from the Company's
contractowners or participants;
so long as and to the extent that the SEC continues to interpret the 1940 Act to
require pass through voting privileges for variable contractowners. The Company
reserves the right to vote Fund shares held in any segregated asset account in
its own right, to the extent permitted by law. Participating Insurance
Companies shall be responsible for assuring that each of their separate accounts
participating in the Fund calculates voting privileges in a manner consistent
with other Participating Insurance Companies.
3.5. The Fund will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act
requiring voting by shareholders, and in particular as required, the Fund will
either provide for annual meetings or comply with Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act
(although the Fund is not one of the trusts described in Section 16(c) of that
Act) as well as with Sections 16(a) and, if and when applicable, 16(b).
Further, the Fund will act in accordance with the SEC interpretation of the
requirements of Section 16(a) with respect to periodic elections of directors
and with whatever rules the Commission may promulgate with respect thereto.
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ARTICLE IV. SALES MATERIAL AND INFORMATION
4.1. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to
the Fund or the Underwriter, each piece of sales literature or other promotional
material in which the Fund or the Fund's adviser or the Underwriter is named, at
least fifteen business days prior to its use. No such material shall be used if
the Fund or the Underwriter reasonably objects in writing to such use within
fifteen business days after receipt of such material.
4.2. The Company shall not give any information or make any
representations or statements on behalf of the Fund or concerning the Fund in
connection with the sale of the Contracts other than the information or
representations contained in the registration statement or prospectus for the
Fund shares, as such registration statement and prospectus may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, or in reports or proxy statements for the Fund,
or in sales literature or other promotional material approved by the Fund or by
the Underwriter, except with the permission of the Fund or the Underwriter. The
Fund and the Underwriter agree to respond to any request for approval on a
prompt and timely basis.
4.3. The Fund or the Underwriter shall furnish, or shall cause to be
furnished, to the Company or its designee, each piece of sales literature or
other promotional material in which the Company or its separate account is
named, at least fifteen business days prior to its use. No such material shall
be used if the Company reasonably objects in writing to such use within fifteen
business days after receipt of such material.
4.4. The Fund and the Underwriter shall not give any information or
make any representations on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company,
each Account, or the Contracts other than the information or representations
contained in a registration statement or
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prospectus for the Contracts, as such registration statement and prospectus may
be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in published reports for each
Account which are in the public domain or approved by the Company for
distribution to contractowners or participants, or in sales literature or other
promotional material approved by the Company, except with the permission of the
Company. The Company agrees to respond to any request for approval on a prompt
and timely basis.
4.5. The Fund will provide to the Company at least one complete copy
of all registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional
information, reports, proxy statements, sales literature and other promotional
materials, applications for exemptions, requests for no-action letters, and all
amendments to any of the above, that relate to the Fund or its shares,
contemporaneously with the filing of such document with the SEC or other
regulatory authorities.
4.6. The Company will provide to the Fund at least one complete copy
of all registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional
information, reports, solicitations for voting instructions, sales literature
and other promotional materials, applications for exemptions, requests for no
action letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that relate to the
Contracts or each Account, contemporaneously with the filing of such document
with the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
4.7. For purposes of this Article IV, the phrase "sales literature or
other promotional material" includes, but is not limited to, advertisements
(such as material published, or designed for use in, a newspaper, magazine, or
other periodical, radio, television, telephone or tape recording, videotape
display, signs or billboards, motion pictures, or other public media), sales
literature (i.e., any written communication distributed or made generally
available to
14
customers or the public, including brochures, circulars, research reports,
market letters, form letters, seminar texts, reprints or excerpts of any other
advertisement, sales literature, or published article), educational or training
materials or other communications distributed or made generally available to
some or all agents or employees, registration statements, prospectuses,
statements of additional information, shareholder reports, and proxy materials
and any other material constituting sales literature or advertising under NASD
rules, the 1940 Act or the 0000 Xxx.
4.8. The Company agrees and acknowledges that Xxxxxxxxxxx Capital is
the sole owner of the names and marks "OCC" and "OpCap" and that all use of any
designation comprised in whole or part of such names or marks under this
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of Xxxxxxxxxxx Capital. Except as provided
in Section 4.1, the Company shall not use any such names or marks on its own
behalf or on behalf of each Account in connection with marketing the Contracts
without prior written consent of Xxxxxxxxxxx Capital. Xxxxxxxxxxx Capital
consents to the use of the names and marks "OCC" and "OpCap" in connection with
each Account, subject to the terms of this agreement. Upon termination of this
Agreement for any reason, the Company shall cease all use of any such names or
marks.
ARTICLE V. FEES AND EXPENSE
5.1. The Fund and Underwriter shall pay no fee or other compensation
to the Company under this Agreement, except that if the Fund or any Portfolio
adopts and implements a plan pursuant to Rule 12b 1 under the 1940 Act to
finance distribution expenses, then, subject to obtaining any required exemptive
orders or other regulatory approvals, the Underwriter may make payments to the
Company or to the underwriter for the Contracts if and in amounts agreed to by
the Underwriter in writing. Currently, no such payments are contemplated.
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5.2. All expenses incident to performance by the Fund of this
Agreement shall be paid by the Fund to the extent permitted by law. All Fund
shares will be duly authorized for issuance and registered in accordance with
applicable federal law and to the extent deemed advisable by the Fund, in
accordance with applicable state law, prior to sale. The Fund shall bear the
expenses for the cost of registration and qualification of the Fund's shares,
preparation and filing of the Fund's prospectus and registration statement, Fund
proxy materials and reports, setting in type, printing and distributing the
prospectuses, the proxy materials and reports to existing shareholders and
contractowners, the preparation of all statements and notices required by any
federal or state law, all taxes on the issuance or transfer of the Fund's
shares, and any expenses permitted to be paid or assumed by the Fund pursuant to
a plan, if any, under Rule 12b 1 under the 1940 Act.
ARTICLE VI. DIVERSIFICATION
6.1. The Fund will at all times invest money from the Contracts in
such a manner as to ensure that the Contracts will be treated as variable
contracts under the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations issued thereunder.
Without limiting the scope of the foregoing, the Fund will comply with Section
817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code and Treasury Regulation 1.817-5, relating to
the diversification requirements for variable annuity, endowment, or life
insurance contracts and any amendments or other modifications to such Section or
Regulations in accordance with guidelines provided by the Company prior to the
execution of this Agreement and as necessary thereafter. In the event of a
breach of this Article VI by the Fund, it will take all
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reasonable steps (a) to notify the Company of such breach and (b) to adequately
diversify the Fund so as to achieve compliance with the grace period afforded by
Treasury Regulation 1.817-5.
ARTICLE VII. POTENTIAL CONFLICTS
7.1. The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Fund Board") will
monitor the Fund for the existence of any material irreconcilable conflict among
the interests of the contractowners of all separate accounts investing in the
Fund. An irreconcilable material conflict may arise for a variety of reasons,
including: (a) an action by any state insurance regulatory authority; (b) a
change in applicable federal or state insurance, tax, or securities laws or
regulations, or a public ruling, private letter ruling, no action or
interpretative letter, or any similar action by insurance, tax, or securities
regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative or judicial decision in any
relevant proceeding; (d) the manner in which the investments of any Portfolio
are being managed; (e) a difference in voting instructions given by
Participating Insurance Companies or by variable annuity contract and variable
life insurance contractowners; or (f) a decision by an insurer to disregard the
voting instructions of contractowners. The Board shall promptly inform the
Company if it determines that an irreconcilable material conflict exists and the
implications thereof. A majority of the Fund Board shall consist of persons who
are not "interested" persons of the Fund.
7.2. The Company will report any potential or existing conflicts of
which it is aware to the Fund Board. The Company agrees to assist the Fund
Board in carrying out its responsibilities as delineated in the application for
a mixed and shared funding exemptive order, by providing the Fund Board with all
information reasonably necessary for the Fund Board to
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consider any issues raised. This includes, but is not limited to, an obligation
by the Company to inform the Fund Board whenever contractowner voting
instructions are disregarded. The Fund Board shall record in its minutes or
other appropriate records, all reports received by it and all action with regard
to a conflict.
7.3. If it is determined by a majority of the Fund Board, or a
majority of its disinterested Directors, that an irreconcilable material
conflict exists, the Company and other Participating Insurance Companies shall,
at their expense and to the extent reasonably practicable (as determined by a
majority of the disinterested Directors), take whatever steps are necessary to
remedy or eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict, up to and including:
(1) withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the subaccounts of the
separate accounts from the Fund or any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in
a different investment medium, including (but not limited to) another Portfolio
of the Fund, or submitting the question whether such segregation should be
implemented to a vote of all affected contractowners and, as appropriate,
segregating the assets of any appropriate group (i.e., variable annuity
contractowners or variable life insurance contract-owners, of one or more
Participating Insurance Companies) that votes in favor of such segregation, or
offering to the affected contractowners the option of making such a change; and
(2) establishing a new registered management investment company or managed
separate account.
7.4. If the Company's disregard of voting instructions could conflict
with the majority of contractowner voting instructions, and the Company's
judgment represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote, the
Company may be required, at the Fund's election, to withdraw the affected
subaccount of the Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement
with respect to such subaccount of the Account. Any such withdrawal and
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termination must take place within 60 days after the Fund gives written notice
to the Company that this provision is being implemented. Until the end of such
60 day period the Underwriter and Fund shall continue to accept and implement
orders by the Company for the purchase (and redemption) of shares of the Fund.
7.5. If a particular state insurance regulator's decision applicable
to the Company conflicts with the majority of other state insurance regulators,
then the Company will withdraw the affected subaccount of the Account's
investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with respect to such
subaccount of the Account. Any such withdrawal and termination must take place
within 60 days after the Fund gives written notice to the Company that this
provision is being implemented. Until the end of such 60 day period the
Underwriter and Fund shall continue to accept and implement orders by the
Company for the purchase (and redemption) of shares of the Fund.
7.6. For purposes of Sections 7.3 through 7.6 of this Agreement, a
majority of the disinterested members of the Fund Board shall determine whether
any proposed action adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict,
but in no event will the Fund be required to establish a new funding medium for
the Contracts. The Company shall not be required by Section 7.3 to establish a
new funding medium for the Contracts if an offer to do so has been declined by
vote of a majority of contractowners materially adversely affected by the
irreconcilable material conflict.
7.7. The Company shall at least annually submit to the Fund Board
such reports, materials or data as the Fund Board may reasonably request so that
the Fund Board may fully carry out the duties imposed upon it as delineated in
the application for a mixed and shared
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funding exemptive order, and said reports, materials and data shall be submitted
more frequently if deemed appropriate by the Fund Board.
7. 8. If and to the extent that Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) are
amended, or Rule 6e-3 is adopted, to provide exemptive relief from any
provision of the Act or the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to mixed
or shared funding (as defined in the application for a mixed and shared funding
exemptive order) on terms and conditions materially different from those
contained in the application for a mixed and shared funding exemptive order
and/or a Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order, once issued, then (a) the
Fund and/or the Participating Insurance Companies, as appropriate, shall take
such steps as may be necessary to comply with Rules 6e-2 and 6e-3(T), as
amended, and Rule 6e-3, as adopted, to the extent such rules are applicable; and
(b) Sections 3.4, 3.5, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 of this Agreement shall
continue in effect only to the extent that terms and conditions substantially
identical to such Sections are contained in such Rule(s) as so amended or
adopted.
ARTICLE VIII. INDEMNIFICATION
8.1. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, the
Underwriter, and each person, if any, who controls or is associated with the
Fund or the Underwriter within the meaning of such terms under the federal
securities laws and any director, officer, employee or agent of the foregoing
(collectively, the "indemnified parties" for purposes of this Section 8.1)
against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid
in settlement with the written consent of the Company) or litigation (including
reasonable legal
20
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 expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or
settlements:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements or
alleged untrue statements of any material fact
contained in the registration statement, prospectus or
statement of additional information for the Contracts
or contained in the Contracts or sales literature or
other promotional material for the Contracts (or any
amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or
arise out of or are based upon the omission or the
alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading in light of the
circumstances in which they were made; provided that
this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any
indemnified party if such statement or omission or such
alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon
and in conformity with information furnished to the
Company by or on behalf of the Fund for use in the
registration statement, prospectus or statement of
additional information for the Contracts or in the
Contracts or sales literature (or any amendment or
supplement) or otherwise for use in connection with the
sale of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations by or on behalf of the Company (other
than statements or representations contained in the
Fund registration statement, Fund prospectus, Fund
statement of additional information or sales literature
or other promotional material of the Fund not supplied
by the Company or persons under its control) or
wrongful conduct of the Company or persons under its
control, with respect to the sale or distribution of
the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Fund
registration statement, Fund prospectus, statement of
additional information or sales literature or other
promotional material of the Fund or any amendment
thereof or supplement thereto or the omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading in light of the
circumstances in which they were made, if such a
statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished to the Fund by or
on behalf of the Company or persons under its control;
or
21
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Company to
provide the services and furnish the materials or to
make any payments under the terms of this Agreement; or
(v) arise out of any material breach of any representation
and/or warranty made by the Company in this Agreement
or arise out of or result from any other material
breach by the Company of this Agreement;
except to the extent provided in Sections 8.1(b) and 8.3 hereof. This
indemnification shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may
otherwise have.
(b) No party shall be entitled to indemnification if such loss,
claim, damage, liability or litigation is due to the willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of duty by the party seeking
indemnification.
(c) The indemnified parties will promptly notify the Company of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against them in connection with
the issuance or sale of the Fund shares or the Contracts or the operation of the
Fund.
8.2. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE UNDERWRITER
(a) The Underwriter, on its own behalf and on behalf of the Fund,
agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each person, if any, who
controls or is associated with the Company within the meaning of such terms
under the federal securities laws and any director, officer, employee or agent
of the foregoing (collectively, the "indemnified parties" for purposes of this
Section 8.2) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including
amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Underwriter) or
litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses) to which the
indemnified parties may become subject under
22
any statute, regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or
settlements:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained
in the registration statement, prospectus or statement
of additional information for the Fund or sales
literature or other promotional material of the Fund
(or any amendment or supplement to any of the
foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or the alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading
in light of the circumstances in which they were made;
provided that this agreement to indemnify shall not
apply as to any indemnified party if such statement or
omission or such alleged statement or omission was made
in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished to the Underwriter or Fund by or on behalf of
the Company for use in the registration statement,
prospectus or statement of additional information for
the Fund or in sales literature of the Fund (or any
amendment or supplement thereto) or otherwise for use
in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Fund
shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations (other than statements or
representations contained in the Contracts or in the
Contract or Fund registration statement, the Contract
or Fund prospectus or statement of additional
information or sales literature or other promotional
material for the Contracts or of the Fund not supplied
by the Underwriter or the Fund or persons under the
control of the Underwriter or the Fund respectively) or
wrongful conduct of the Underwriter or the Fund or
persons under the control of the Underwriter or the
Fund respectively, with respect to the sale or
distribution of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a
registration statement, prospectus, statement of
additional information or sales literature or other
promotional material covering the Contracts (or any
amendment thereof or supplement thereto), or the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statement or statements therein
not misleading 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 Company by or on
23
behalf of the Underwriter or the Fund or persons under
the control of the Underwriter or the Fund; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund to provide
the services and furnish the materials under the terms
of this Agreement (including a failure, whether
unintentional or in good faith or otherwise, to comply
with the diversification requirements and procedures
related thereto specified in Article VI of this
Agreement except if such failure is a result of the
Company's failure to comply with the notification
procedures specified in Article VI); or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Underwriter
or the Fund in this Agreement or arise out of or result
from any other material breach of this Agreement by the
Underwriter or the Fund;
except to the extent provided in Sections 8.2(b) and 8.3 hereof. This
indemnification shall be in addition to any liability which the Underwriter may
otherwise have.
(b) No party shall be entitled to indemnification if such loss,
claim, damage, liability or litigation is due to the willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of duty by the party seeking
indemnification.
(c) The indemnified parties will promptly notify the Underwriter and
the Fund of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against them in
connection with the issuance or sale of the Contracts or the operation of the
Account.
8.3. INDEMNIFICATION PROCEDURE
Any person obligated to provide indemnification under this Article
VIII ("indemnifying party" for the purpose of this Section 8.3) shall not be
liable under the indemnification provisions of this Article VIII with respect to
any claim made against a party entitled to indemnification under this Article
VIII ("indemnified party" for the purpose of this
24
Section 8.3) unless such indemnified party shall have notified the indemnifying
party in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal
process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served
upon such indemnified party (or after such party shall have received notice of
such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the indemnifying
party of any such claim shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any
liability which it may have to the indemnified party against whom such action is
brought under the indemnification provision of this Article VIII, except to the
extent that the failure to notify results in the failure of actual notice to the
indemnifying party and such indemnifying party is damaged solely as a result of
failure to give such notice. In case any such action is brought against the
indemnified party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate, at
its own expense, in the defense thereof. The indemnifying party also shall be
entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party
named in the action. After notice from the indemnifying party to the
indemnified party of the indemnifying party's election to assume the defense
thereof, the indemnified party shall bear the fees and expenses of any
additional counsel retained by it, and the indemnifying party will not be liable
to such party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently
incurred by such party independently in connection with the defense thereof
other than reasonable costs of investigation, unless (i) the indemnifying party
and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such
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
25
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 VIII. The
indemnification provisions contained in this Article VIII shall survive any
termination of this Agreement.
8.4. CONTRIBUTION
In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in
circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is due
in accordance with its terms but for any reason is held to be unenforceable with
respect to a party entitled to indemnification ("indemnified party" for purposes
of this Section 8.4) pursuant to the terms of this Section 8, then each party
obligated to indemnify pursuant to the terms of this Section 8 shall contribute
to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities and litigations in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the parties to this
Agreement in connection with the offering of Fund shares to the Account and the
acquisition, holding or sale of Fund shares by the Account, or if such
allocation is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportions as is
appropriate to reflect the relative net benefits referred to above but also the
relative fault of the parties to this Agreement in connection with any actions
that lead to such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigations, as well
as any other relevant equitable considerations.
26
ARTICLE IX. APPLICABLE LAW
9.1. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
9.2. This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the 1933,
1934 and 1940 Acts, and the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder,
including such exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as the SEC
grant (including, but not limited to, a Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order
received pursuant to the application for a mixed and shared exemptive order) and
the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance therewith.
ARTICLE X. TERMINATION
10.1. This Agreement shall terminate:
(a) at the option of any party upon one-year advance written
notice to the other parties unless otherwise agreed in a separate written
agreement among the parties; or
(b) at the option of the Company if shares of the Portfolios
delineated in Schedule 2 are not reasonably available to meet the requirements
of the Contracts as determined by the Company; or
(c) at the option of the Fund 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 administration of
the Contracts, the operation of the Account, or the purchase of
27
the Fund shares, which would have a material adverse effect on the Company's
ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement; or
(d) at the option of the Company upon institution of formal
proceedings against the Fund by the NASD, the SEC, or any state securities or
insurance department or any other regulatory body, which would have a material
adverse effect on the Fund's ability to perform its obligations under this
Agreement; or
(e) at the option of the Company or the Fund upon receipt of any
necessary regulatory approvals and/or the vote of the contractowners having an
interest in the Account (or any subaccount) to substitute the shares of another
investment company for the corresponding Portfolio shares of the Fund in
accordance with the terms of the Contracts for which those Portfolio shares had
been selected to serve as the underlying investment media. The Company will
give 30 days prior written notice to the Fund of the date of any proposed vote
or other action taken to replace the Fund's shares; or
(f) at the option of the Company or the Fund upon a determination
by a majority of the Fund Board, or a majority of the disinterested Fund Board
members, that an irreconcilable material conflict exists among the interests of
(i) all contractowners of variable insurance products of all separate accounts
or (ii) the interests of the Participating Insurance Companies investing in the
Fund as delineated in Article VII of this Agreement; or
(g) at the option of the Company if the Fund ceases to qualify as
a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code,
or under any successor or similar provision, or if the Company reasonably
believes that the Fund may fail to so qualify; or
28
(h) at the option of the Company if the Fund fails to meet the
diversification requirements specified in Article VI hereof; or
(i) at the option of any party to this Agreement, upon another
party's material breach of any provision of this Agreement; or
(j) at the option of the Company, if the Company determines in
its sole judgment exercised in good faith, that either the Fund or the
Underwriter has suffered a material adverse change in its business, operations
or financial condition since the date of this Agreement or is the subject of
material adverse publicity which is likely to have a material adverse impact
upon the business and operations of the Company; or
(k) at the option of the Fund or Underwriter, if the Fund or
Underwriter respectively, shall determine in its sole judgment exercised in good
faith, that the Company has suffered a material adverse change in its business,
operations or financial condition since the date of this Agreement or is the
subject of material adverse publicity which is likely to have a material adverse
impact upon the business and operations of the Fund or Underwriter; or
(l) at the option of the Fund in the event any of the Contracts
are not issued or sold in accordance with applicable federal and/or state law.
Termination shall be effective immediately upon such occurrence without notice.
10.2. NOTICE REQUIREMENT
(a) In the event that any termination of this Agreement is based
upon the provisions of Article VII, such prior written notice shall be given in
advance of the effective date of termination as required by such provisions.
29
(b) In the event that any termination of this Agreement is based
upon the provisions of Sections 10.1(b) - (d) or 10.1(g) - (i), prompt written
notice of the election to terminate this Agreement for cause shall be furnished
by the party terminating the Agreement to the non-terminating parties, with said
termination to be effective upon receipt of such notice by the non-terminating
parties.
(c) In the event that any termination of this Agreement is based
upon the provisions of Sections 10.1(j) or 10.1(k), prior written notice of the
election to terminate this Agreement for cause shall be furnished by the party
terminating this Agreement to the non-terminating parties. Such prior written
notice shall be given by the party terminating this Agreement to the
non-terminating parties at least 30 days before the effective date of
termination.
10.3. It is understood and agreed that the right to terminate this
Agreement pursuant to Section 10.1(a) may be exercised for any reason or for no
reason.
10.4 EFFECT OF TERMINATION
(a) Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, subject to
Section 1.3 of this Agreement, the Company may require the Fund and the
Underwriter to continue to make available additional shares of the Fund for so
long after the termination of this Agreement as the Company desires pursuant to
the terms and conditions of this Agreement as provided in paragraph (b) below,
for all Contracts in effect on the effective date of termination of this
Agreement (hereinafter referred to as "Existing Contracts"). Specifically,
without limitation, the owners of the Existing Contracts shall be permitted to
reallocate investments in the Fund, redeem investments in the Fund and/or invest
in the Fund upon the making of additional purchase payments under the Existing
Contracts. The parties agree that this Section 10.4 shall not apply to
30
any terminations under Article VII and the effect of such Article VII
terminations shall be governed by Article VII of this Agreement.
(b) If shares of the Fund continue to be made available after
termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.4, the provisions of
this Agreement shall remain in effect except for Section 10.1(a) and thereafter
the Fund, the Underwriter, or the Company may terminate the Agreement, as so
continued pursuant to this Section 10.4, upon written notice to the other party,
such notice to be for a period that is reasonable under the circumstances but,
if given by the Fund or Underwriter, need not be for more than 90 days.
10.5. Except as necessary to implement contractowner initiated or
approved transactions, or as required by state insurance laws or regulations,
the Company shall not redeem Fund shares attributable to the Contracts (as
opposed to Fund shares attributable to the Company's assets held in the
Account), and the Company shall not prevent contractowners from allocating
payments to a Portfolio that was otherwise available under the Contracts, until
90 days after the Company shall have notified the Fund or Underwriter of its
intention to do so.
ARTICLE XI. NOTICES
Any notice shall be deemed duly given only if sent by hand, evidenced by
written receipt or by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the other
party at the address of such party set forth below or at such other address as
such party may from time to time specify in writing to the other party. All
notices shall be deemed given three business days after the date received or
rejected by the addressee.
If to the Fund:
Xx. Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, President
31
OpCap Advisors
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
If to the Company:
American Centurion Life Assurance Company
c/o American Express Financial Advisors Inc.
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: President
If to the Underwriter:
Xx. Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Secretary
OCC Distributors
Two World Financial Center
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
ARTICLE XII. MISCELLANEOUS
12.1. All persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the
property of the Fund for the enforcement of any claims against the Fund as
neither the Directors, officers, agents or shareholders assume any personal
liability for obligations entered into on behalf of the Fund.
12.2. Subject to law and regulatory authority, each party hereto
shall treat as confidential all information reasonably identified as such in
writing by any other party hereto (including without limitation the names and
addresses of the owners of the Contracts) and, except as contemplated by this
Agreement, shall not disclose, disseminate or utilize such confidential
information until such time as it may come into the public domain without the
express prior written consent of the affected party.
32
12.3. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of
reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or
otherwise affect their construction or effect.
12.4. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
12.5. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made
invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of the
Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
12.6. This Agreement shall not be assigned by any party hereto
without the prior written consent of all the parties.
12.7. Each party hereto shall cooperate with each other party and all
appropriate governmental authorities (including without limitation the SEC, the
NASD and state insurance regulators) and shall permit each other and such
authorities reasonable access to its books and records in connection with any
investigation or inquiry relating to this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby.
12.8. Each party represents that the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate 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.
12.9. The parties to this Agreement may amend the schedules to this
Agreement from time to time to reflect changes in or relating to the Contracts,
the Accounts or the Portfolios of the Fund.
33
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this
Agreement to be executed in its name and behalf by its duly authorized
representative and its seal to be hereunder affixed hereto as of the date
specified above.
ATTEST: COMPANY:
By: s/ Xxxx X. Marhounx AMERICAN CENTURION LIFE
-------------------- ASSURANCE COMPANY
SEAL By: s/ Xxxx Xxx
------------------------------
Fund:
OCC ACCUMULATION TRUST
SEAL By: s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
------------------------------
UNDERWRITER:
OCC DISTRIBUTORS
SEAL By: s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
------------------------------
34
SCHEDULE 1
Participation Agreement
Among
OCC Accumulation Trust, American Centurion Life Assurance Company
and
OCC Distributors
The following separate accounts of American Centurion Life Assurance Company are
permitted in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement to invest in
Portfolios of the Fund shown in Schedule 2:
ACL Variable Annuity Account 2, established October 12, 1995 as used to fund the
ACL Personal Portfolio-SM-, a flexible premium variable annuity contract.
April 30, 1997
SCHEDULE 2
Participation Agreement
Among
OCC Accumulation Trust, American Centurion Life Assurance Company
and
OCC Distributors
The Separate Account(s) shown on Schedule 1 may invest in the following
Portfolios of the OCC Accumulation Trust:
Managed Portfolio
U.S. Government Income Portfolio
Date: September 17, 1997
