PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
AMONG
NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY CORPORATION,
PIMCO VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST,
AND
PIMCO ADVISORS DISTRIBUTORS LLC
THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of the 12 day of April, 2004, by and among New
York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation, (the "Company"), a life insurance
company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, on its own behalf and
on behalf of each segregated asset account of the Company set forth on Schedule
A hereto as may be amended from time to time (each account hereinafter referred
to as the "Separate Account"), PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust (the "Fund"), a
Delaware business trust, and PIMCO Advisors Distributors LLC (the
"Underwriter"), a Delaware limited liability company.
WHEREAS, the Fund engages in business as an open-end management
investment company and is available to act as the investment vehicle for
separate accounts established for variable life insurance and variable annuity
contracts (the "Variable Insurance Products") to be offered by insurance
companies which have entered into participation agreements with the Fund and
Underwriter ("Participating Insurance Companies");
WHEREAS, the shares of beneficial interest of the Fund are divided into
several series of shares, each designated a "Portfolio" and representing the
interest in a particular managed portfolio of securities and other assets;
WHEREAS, the Fund has obtained an order from the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") granting Participating Insurance Companies and
variable annuity and variable life insurance separate accounts exemptions from
the provisions of sections 9(a), 13(a), 15(a), and 15(b) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, (the "1940 Act") and Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and
6e-3(T)(b)(15) thereunder, if and to the extent necessary to permit shares of
the Fund to be sold to and held by variable annuity and variable life insurance
separate accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated life insurance companies
(the "Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order");
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the 1940 Act and shares of the Portfolios are registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act");
WHEREAS, Pacific Investment Management Company (the "Adviser"), which
serves as investment adviser to the Fund, is duly registered as an investment
adviser under the federal Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended;
WHEREAS, the Company has issued or will issue certain variable life
insurance and/or variable annuity contracts supported wholly or partially by the
Separate Account (the "Contracts"), and said Contracts are listed in Schedule A
hereto, as it may be amended from time to time by mutual written agreement;
WHEREAS, the Separate Account is duly established and maintained as a
segregated asset account, duly established by the Company, on the date shown for
such Separate Account on Schedule A hereto, to set aside and invest assets
attributable to the aforesaid Contracts;
WHEREAS, the Underwriter, which serves as distributor to the Fund, is
registered as a broker dealer with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and is a member in good standing of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD"); and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Company intends to purchase Administrative Class shares in the
Portfolios listed in Schedule A hereto, as it may be amended from time to time
by mutual written agreement (the "Designated Portfolios") on behalf of the
Separate Account to fund the aforesaid Contracts, and the Underwriter is
authorized to sell such shares to the Separate Account at net asset value;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Company,
the Fund and the Underwriter agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. Sale of Fund Shares
1.1. The Fund has granted to the Underwriter exclusive authority to
distribute the Fund's shares, and has agreed to instruct, and has so instructed,
the Underwriter to make available to the Company for purchase on behalf of the
Separate Account Fund shares of those Designated Portfolios selected by the
Underwriter. Pursuant to such authority and instructions, and subject to Article
X hereof, the Underwriter agrees to make available to the Company for purchase
on behalf of the Separate Account, shares of those Designated Portfolios listed
on Schedule A to this Agreement, such purchases to be effected at net asset
value in accordance with Section 1.3 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, (i) Fund series (other than those listed on Schedule A) in existence
now or that may be established in the future will be made available to the
Company only as the Underwriter may so provide, and (ii) the Board of Trustees
of the Fund (the "Board") may suspend or terminate the offering of Fund shares
of any Designated Portfolio or class thereof, if such action is required by law
or by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction or if, in the sole discretion
of the Board acting in good faith and in light of its fiduciary duties under
federal and any applicable state laws, suspension or termination is necessary in
the best interests of the shareholders of such Designated Portfolio.
1.2. The Fund shall redeem for cash, at the Company's request, any full
or fractional Designated Portfolio shares held by the Company on behalf of the
Separate Account, such redemptions to be effected at net asset value in
accordance with Section 1.3 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
(i) the Company shall not redeem Fund shares attributable to Contract owners
except in the circumstances permitted in Section 10.3 of this Agreement, and
(ii) the Fund may delay redemption of Fund shares of any Designated Portfolio to
the extent permitted by the 1940 Act, and any rules, regulations or orders
thereunder; provided that in no event may any delay by the Fund in paying
redemption proceeds cause the Company or Separate Account to fail to meet its
obligations under Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act, or require the Company to pay
redemption proceeds out of its general account, unless such delay is the direct
result of an exception stated in Section 22(e) to which the Fund but not the
Company is entitled.
1.3. Purchase and Redemption Procedures
(a) The Fund hereby appoints the Company as an agent of the
Fund for the limited purpose of receiving purchase and redemption
requests on behalf of the Separate Account (but not with respect to any
Fund shares that may be held in the general account of the Company)
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for shares of those Designated Portfolios made available hereunder,
based on allocations of amounts to the Separate Account or subaccounts
thereof under the Contracts and other transactions relating to the
Contracts or the Separate Account. Receipt of any such request (or
relevant transactional information therefor) on any day the New York
Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which the Fund calculates its
net asset value pursuant to the rules of the SEC (a "Business Day") by
the Company as such limited agent of the Fund prior to the time that
the Fund ordinarily calculates its net asset value as described from
time to time in the Fund Prospectus (which as of the date of execution
of this Agreement is 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) shall constitute receipt
by the Fund on that same Business Day, provided that the Fund receives
notice of such request by 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the next following
Business Day.
(b) The Company shall pay for shares of each Designated
Portfolio on the same day that it notifies the Fund of a purchase
request for such shares. Payment for Designated Portfolio shares shall
be made in federal funds transmitted to the Fund by wire to be received
by the Fund by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the Business Day the Fund is
notified of the purchase request for Designated Portfolio shares
(unless the Fund determines and so advises the Company that sufficient
proceeds are available from redemption of shares of other Designated
Portfolios effected pursuant to redemption requests tendered by the
Company on behalf of the Separate Account). If federal funds are not
received on time, such funds will be invested, and Designated Portfolio
shares purchased thereby will be issued, as soon as practicable and the
Company shall promptly, upon the Fund's request, reimburse the Fund for
any charges, costs, fees, interest or other expenses incurred by the
Fund in connection with any advances to, or borrowing or overdrafts by,
the Fund, or any similar expenses incurred by the Fund, as a result of
portfolio transactions effected by the Fund based upon such purchase
request. Upon receipt of federal funds so wired, such funds shall cease
to be the responsibility of the Company and shall become the
responsibility of the Fund.
(c) Payment for Designated Portfolio shares redeemed by the
Separate Account or the Company shall be made in federal funds
transmitted by wire to the Company or any other designated person on
the next Business Day after the Fund is properly notified of the
redemption order of such shares (unless redemption proceeds are to be
applied to the purchase of shares of other Designated Portfolios in
accordance with Section 1.3(b) of this Agreement), except that the Fund
reserves the right to redeem Designated Portfolio shares in assets
other than cash and to delay payment of redemption proceeds to the
extent permitted under Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act and any Rules
thereunder, and in accordance with the procedures and policies of the
Fund as described in the then current prospectus. The Fund shall not
bear any responsibility whatsoever for the proper disbursement or
crediting of redemption proceeds by the Company; the Company alone
shall be responsible for such action.
(d) Any purchase or redemption request for Designated
Portfolio shares held or to be held in the Company's general account
shall be effected at the net asset value per share next determined
after the Fund's receipt of such request, provided that, in the case of
a purchase request, payment for Fund shares so requested is received by
the Fund in federal funds prior to close of business for determination
of such value, as defined from time to time in the Fund Prospectus.
1.4. The Fund shall use its best efforts to make the net asset value
per share for each Designated Portfolio available to the Company by 7:00 p.m.
Eastern Time each Business Day, and in any event, as soon as reasonably
practicable after the net asset value per share for such Designated Portfolio is
calculated, and shall calculate such net asset value in accordance with the
Fund's Prospectus. In the
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event that the Fund is unable to meet the 7:00 p.m. time stated herein, the Fund
shall provide additional time for the Company to place orders for the purchase
and redemption of shares equal to the additional time it takes the Fund to make
the net asset values available to the Company. However, if net asset values are
not available for inclusion in the next business cycle and purchase
orders/redemptions are not able to be calculated and available for the Company
to execute within the time frame identified in Sections 1.2 and 1.3 hereof, the
Company on behalf of the Separate Account(s), shall be entitled to an adjustment
to the number of shares purchased or redeemed to reflect the correct share net
asset value. The Fund shall calculate such net asset value in accordance with
the Fund 's registration statement. Neither the Fund, any Designated Portfolio,
the Underwriter, nor any of their affiliates shall be liable for any information
provided to the Company pursuant to this Agreement which information is based on
incorrect information supplied by the Company or any other Participating
Insurance Company to the Fund or the Underwriter.
1.5. The Fund shall furnish same-day notice (by wire or telephone
followed by written confirmation) to the Company, or as soon as reasonably
practicable, of any income dividends or capital gain distributions payable on
any Designated Portfolio shares. The Company, on its behalf and on behalf of the
Separate Account, hereby elects to receive all such dividends and distributions
as are payable on any Designated Portfolio shares in the form of additional
shares of that Designated Portfolio. The Company reserves the right, on its
behalf and on behalf of the Separate Account, to revoke this election and to
receive all such dividends and capital gain distributions in cash. The Fund
shall notify the Company promptly of the number of Designated Portfolio shares
so issued as payment of such dividends and distributions.
1.6. Issuance and transfer of Fund shares shall be by book entry only.
Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or the Separate Account.
Purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares shall be recorded in an
appropriate ledger for the Separate Account or the appropriate subaccount of the
Separate Account.
1.7. (a) The parties hereto acknowledge that the arrangement
contemplated by this Agreement is not exclusive; the Fund's shares may be sold
to other insurance companies (subject to Section 1.8 hereof) and the cash value
of the Contracts may be invested in other investment companies, provided,
however, that until this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Article X, the
Company shall promote the Designated Portfolios on the same basis as other
funding vehicles available under the Contracts. Funding vehicles other than
those listed on Schedule A to this Agreement may be available for the investment
of the cash value of the Contracts, provided, however, (i) any such vehicle or
series thereof, has investment objectives or policies that are substantially
different from the investment objectives and policies of the Designated
Portfolios available hereunder; (ii) the Company gives the Fund and the
Underwriter 45 days written notice of its intention to make such other
investment vehicle available as a funding vehicle for the Contracts; and (iii)
unless such other investment company was available as a Funding vehicle for the
Contracts prior to the date of this Agreement and the Company has so informed
the Fund and the Underwriter prior to their signing this Agreement, the Fund or
Underwriter consents in writing to the use of such other vehicle, such consent
not to be unreasonably withheld.
(b) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the Underwriter
(unless otherwise required by applicable law), take any action to operate the
Separate Account as a management investment company under the 1940 Act.
(c) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the Underwriter
(unless otherwise required by applicable law), induce Contract owners to change
or modify the Fund or change the Fund's distributor or investment adviser.
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(d) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the Fund,
induce Contract owners to vote on any matter submitted for consideration by the
shareholders of the Fund in a manner other than as recommended by the Board of
Trustees of the Fund
1.8. The Underwriter and the Fund shall sell Fund shares only to
Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts and to persons or
plans ("Qualified Persons") that communicate to the Underwriter and the Fund
that they qualify to purchase shares of the Fund under Section 817(h) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and the regulations
thereunder without impairing the ability of the Separate Account to consider the
portfolio investments of the Fund as constituting investments of the Separate
Account for the purpose of satisfying the diversification requirements of
Section 817(h). The Underwriter and the Fund shall not sell Fund shares to any
insurance company or separate account unless an agreement complying with Article
VI of this Agreement is in effect to govern such sales, to the extent required.
The Company hereby represents and warrants that it and the Separate Account are
Qualified Persons. The Fund reserves the right to cease offering shares of any
Designated Portfolio in the discretion of the Fund.
1.9 In the event of an error in the computation of a Designated
Portfolio's net asset value per share ("NAV") or any dividend or capital gain
distribution (each, a "pricing error"), the Underwriter or the Fund shall
immediately notify the Company as soon as possible after discovery of the error.
Such notification may be verbal, but shall be confirmed promptly in writing in
accordance with Article IX of this Agreement. A pricing error shall be corrected
in accordance with the Fund's NAV error correction policies, as amended from
time to time in accordance with applicable SEC standards as expressed by the
staff of the SEC. Upon notification by the Underwriter of any overpayment due to
a material error, the Company shall promptly remit to the Underwriter any
overpayment that has not been paid to Contract owners; however, the Underwriter
acknowledges that the Company does not intend to seek additional payments from
any Contract owner who, because of a pricing error, may have underpaid for units
of interest credited to his/her account. In no event shall the Company be liable
to Contract owners for any such adjustments or underpayment amounts.
1.10 The Parties acknowledge that market timing, short-term trading or
excessive trading (hereinafter "Market Timing") may be harmful to the Designated
Portfolios. The Parties agree to establish policies and procedures reasonably
designed to prevent Market Timing trading abuses.
ARTICLE II. Representations and Warranties
2.1. The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts (a) are, or
prior to issuance will be, registered under the 1933 Act, or (b) are not
registered because they are properly exempt from registration under the 1933 Act
or will be offered exclusively in transactions that are properly exempt from
registration under the 1933 Act. The Company further represents and warrants
that the Contracts will be issued and sold in compliance in all material
respects with all applicable federal securities and state securities and
insurance laws and that the sale of the Contracts shall comply in all material
respects with state insurance suitability requirements. The Company further
represents and warrants that it is an insurance company duly organized and in
good standing under applicable law, that it has legally and validly established
the Separate Account prior to any issuance or sale thereof as a segregated asset
account under the State of Delaware insurance laws, and that it (a) has
registered or, prior to any issuance or sale of the Contracts, will register the
Separate Account as a unit investment trust in accordance with the provisions of
the 1940 Act to serve as a segregated investment account for the Contracts, or
alternatively (b) has not registered the Separate Account in proper reliance
upon an exclusion from registration under the 1940 Act. The Company shall
register and qualify the Contracts or
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interests therein as securities in accordance with the laws of the various
states only if and to the extent deemed advisable by the Company.
2.2. The Fund represents and warrants that Fund shares sold pursuant to
this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act, duly authorized for
issuance and sold in compliance with applicable state and federal securities
laws and that the Fund is and shall remain registered under the 0000 Xxx. The
Fund shall amend the registration statement for its shares under the 1933 Act
and the 1940 Act from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous
offering of its shares. The Fund shall register and qualify the shares for sale
in accordance with the laws of the various states only if and to the extent
deemed advisable by the Fund or the Underwriter.
2.3. The Fund may make payments to finance distribution expenses
pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Prior to financing distribution
expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1, the Fund will have the Board, a majority of
whom are not interested persons of the Fund, formulate and approve a plan
pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act to finance distribution expenses.
2.4. The Fund makes no representations as to whether any aspect of its
operations, including, but not limited to, investment policies, fees and
expenses, complies with the insurance and other applicable laws of the various
states.
2.5. The Fund represents that it is lawfully organized and validly
existing under the laws of the State of Delaware and that it does and will
comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act.
2.6. The Underwriter represents and warrants that it is a member in
good standing of the NASD and is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC. The
Underwriter further represents that it will sell and distribute the Fund shares
in accordance with any applicable state and federal securities laws.
2.7. The Fund and the Underwriter represent and warrant that all of
their trustees/directors, officers, employees, investment advisers, and other
individuals or entities dealing with the money and/or securities of the Fund are
and shall continue to be at all times covered by a blanket fidelity bond or
similar coverage for the benefit of the Fund in an amount not less than the
minimum coverage as required currently by Rule 17g-1 of the 1940 Act or related
provisions as may be promulgated from time to time. The aforesaid bond shall
include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable
bonding company.
2.8. The Company represents and warrants that all of its directors,
officers, employees, and other individuals/entities employed or controlled by
the Company dealing with the money and/or securities of the Separate Account are
covered by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage for the benefit of the
Separate Account, in an amount not less than $5 million. The aforesaid bond
includes coverage for larceny and embezzlement and is issued by a reputable
bonding company. The Company agrees to hold for the benefit of the Fund and to
pay to the Fund any amounts lost from larceny, embezzlement or other events
covered by the aforesaid bond to the extent such amounts properly belong to the
Fund pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. The Company agrees to make all
reasonable efforts to see that this bond or another bond containing these
provisions is always in effect, and agrees to notify the Fund and the
Underwriter in the event that such coverage no longer applies.
2.9 Each Party shall comply with applicable anti-money laundering laws
and regulations, including the relevant provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act (Pub.
L. No. 107-56 (2001)) and the regulations issued thereunder, and the Company
represents and warrants that, to the extent required, it has in place an
anti-money laundering program consistent with the provisions of such Act.
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2.10 Each Party represents and warrants that it shall comply with any
applicable privacy and notice provisions of 15 U.S.C.Sections 6801-6827 and
any applicable regulations promulgated thereunder (including but not limited to
17 C.F.R. Part 248) as they may be amended.
2.11 The Company acknowledges that, pursuant to Form 24F-2, the Fund is
not required to pay fees to the SEC for registration of its shares under the
1933 Act with respect to its shares issued to a Separate Account that is a UIT
that offers interests that are registered under the 1933 Act and on which a
registration fee has been or will be paid to the SEC (a "Registered Account").
The Company agrees to provide the Fund each year within 60 days of the end of
the Fund's fiscal year, or when reasonably requested by the Fund, information as
to the number of shares purchased by a Registered Account and any other Separate
Account the interests of which are not registered under the 0000 Xxx. The
Company acknowledges that the Trust intends to rely on the information so
provided and represents and warrants that such information shall be accurate.
2.12 The Company represents and warrants that (a) all transactions
submitted with respect to a Business Day in accordance with Article I will be
received in good order by the Company prior to calculation of the NAV on that
Business Day and will be processed by the Company in compliance with Rule 22c-1
under the 1940 Act; and (b) the Company will provide the Fund or its agent with
assurances regarding the compliance of its order handling with the requirements
of Rule 22c-1 upon reasonable request.
ARTICLE III. Prospectuses and Proxy Statements; Voting
3.1. The Underwriter shall provide the Company with as many copies of
the Fund's current prospectus as the Company may reasonably request. The Company
shall bear the expense of printing copies of the current prospectus for the
Contracts that will be distributed to existing Contract owners, and the Company
shall bear the expense of printing copies of the Fund's prospectus that are used
in connection with offering the Contracts issued by the Company. If requested by
the Company in lieu thereof, the Fund shall provide such documentation
(including a final copy of the new prospectus in electronic format at the Fund's
expense) and other assistance as is reasonably necessary in order for the
Company once each year (or more frequently if the prospectus for the Fund is
amended) to have the prospectus for the Contracts and the Fund's prospectus
printed together in one document or as a stand alone document (such printing to
be at the Company's expense).
3.2. The Fund's prospectus shall state that the current Statement of
Additional Information ("SAI") for the Fund is available, and the Underwriter
(or the Fund), at its expense, shall provide a reasonable number of copies of
such SAI free of charge to the Company for itself and for any owner of a
Contract who requests such SAI.
3.3. The Fund shall provide the Company with information regarding the
Fund's expenses, which information may include a table of fees and related
narrative disclosure for use in any prospectus or other descriptive document
relating to a Contract. The Company agrees that it will use such information in
the form provided. The Company shall provide prior written notice of any
proposed modification of such information, which notice will describe in detail
the manner in which the Company proposes to modify the information, and agrees
that it may not modify such information in any way without the prior consent of
the Fund.
3.4. The Fund, at its expense, or at the expense of its designee, shall
provide the Company with copies of its proxy material, reports to shareholders,
and other communications to shareholders in such quantity as the Company shall
reasonably require for distributing to Contract owners. If requested by the
Company in lieu thereof, the Fund shall provide at the Fund's expense, or at
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the expense of its designee, such documentation (including a final copy of the
Fund's proxy statements, periodic reports to shareholders, and other
communications to shareholders, as set in type or in camera-ready copy or in
electronic form) and other assistance as reasonably necessary for the Company to
print such shareholder communications for distribution to Contract owners.
3.5. The Company shall:
(i) solicit voting instructions from Contract owners;
(ii) vote the Fund shares in accordance with instructions
received from Contract owners; and
(iii) vote Fund shares for which no instructions have been
received in the same proportion as Fund shares of
such portfolio for which instructions have been
received,
so long as and to the extent that the SEC continues to interpret the 1940 Act to
require pass-through voting privileges for variable contract owners or to the
extent otherwise required by law. The Company will vote Fund shares held in any
segregated asset account in the same proportion as Fund shares of such portfolio
for which voting instructions have been received from Contract owners, to the
extent permitted by law.
3.6. Participating Insurance Companies shall be responsible for
assuring that each of their separate accounts participating in a Designated
Portfolio calculates voting privileges as required by the Shared Funding
Exemptive Order and consistent with any reasonable standards that the Fund may
adopt and provide in writing.
ARTICLE IV. Sales Material and Information
4.1. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the
Fund or its designee, each piece of sales literature or other promotional
material that the Company develops and in which the Fund (or a Designated
Portfolio thereof) or the Adviser or the Underwriter is named at least ten
Business Days prior to its use. No such material shall be used if the Fund, the
Underwriter, or their designee reasonably objects to such use within five
Business Days after receipt of such material. The Fund or its designee reserves
the right to reasonably object to the continued use of any such sales literature
or other promotional material in which the Fund (or a Designated Portfolio
thereof) or the Adviser or the Underwriter is named, and no such material shall
be used if the Fund or its designee so object.
4.2. The Company shall not give any information or make any
representations or statements on behalf of the Fund or concerning the Fund or
the Adviser or the Underwriter in connection with the sale of the Contracts
other than the information or representations contained in the registration
statement or prospectus or SAI for the Fund shares, as such registration
statement and prospectus or SAI may be amended or supplemented from time to
time, or in reports or proxy statements for the Fund, or in sales literature or
other promotional material approved by the Fund or its designee or by the
Underwriter, except with the permission of the Fund or the Underwriter or the
designee of either.
4.3. The Fund or the Underwriter, or their designee, shall furnish, or
cause to be furnished, to the Company or its designee, each piece of sales
literature or other promotional material that it develops and in which the
Company, and/or its Separate Account, is named at least ten Business Days prior
to its use. No such material shall be used if the Company or its designee
reasonably objects to
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such use within five Business Days after receipt of such material. The Company
reserves the right to reasonably object to the continued use of any such sales
literature or other promotional material in which the Company and/or its
Separate Account is named, and no such material shall be used if the Company so
objects.
4.4. The Fund and the Underwriter shall not give any information or
make any representations on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company, the
Separate Account, or the Contracts other than the information or representations
contained in a registration statement, prospectus (which shall include an
offering memorandum, if any, if the Contracts issued by the Company or interests
therein are not registered under the 1933 Act), or SAI for the Contracts, as
such registration statement, prospectus, or SAI may be amended or supplemented
from time to time, or in published reports for the Separate Account which are in
the public domain or approved by the Company for distribution to Contract
owners, or in sales literature or other promotional material approved by the
Company or its designee, except with the permission of the Company.
4.5. The Fund will provide to the Company at least one complete copy of
all registration statements, prospectuses, SAIs, reports, proxy statements,
sales literature and other promotional materials, applications for exemptions,
requests for no-action letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that
relate to the Fund or its shares, promptly after the filing of such document(s)
with the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
4.6. The Company will provide to the Fund at least one complete copy of
all registration statements, prospectuses (which shall include an offering
memorandum, if any, if the Contracts issued by the Company or interests therein
are not registered under the 1933 Act), SAIs, reports, solicitations for voting
instructions, sales literature and other promotional materials, applications for
exemptions, requests for no-action letters, and all amendments to any of the
above, that relate to the Contracts or the Separate Account, promptly after the
filing of such document(s) with the SEC or other regulatory authorities. The
Company shall provide to the Fund and the Underwriter any complaints received
from the Contract owners pertaining to the Fund or the Designated Portfolio.
4.7. The Fund will provide the Company with as much notice as is
reasonably practicable of any proxy solicitation for any Designated Portfolio,
and of any material change in the Fund's registration statement, particularly
any change resulting in a change to the registration statement or prospectus for
any Separate Account. The Fund will work with the Company so as to enable the
Company to solicit proxies from Contract owners, or to make changes to its
prospectus or registration statement, in an orderly manner. The Fund will make
reasonable efforts to attempt to have changes affecting Contract prospectuses
become effective simultaneously with the annual updates for such prospectuses.
4.8. For purposes of this Article IV, the phrase "sales literature and
other promotional materials" includes, but is not limited to, any of the
following that refer to the Fund or any affiliate of the Fund: advertisements
(such as material published, or designed for use in, a newspaper, magazine, or
other periodical, radio, television, telephone or tape recording, videotape
display, signs or billboards, motion pictures, or other public media), sales
literature (i.e., any written communication distributed or made generally
available to customers or the public, including brochures, circulars, reports,
market letters, form letters, seminar texts, reprints or excerpts of any other
advertisement, sales literature, or published article), educational or training
materials or other communications distributed or made generally available to
some or all agents or employees, and registration statements, prospectuses,
SAIs, shareholder reports, proxy materials, and any other communications
distributed or made generally available with regard to the Fund.
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4.9 At the request of any Party to this Agreement, each other Party
will make available to the other Party's independent auditors and/or
representative of the appropriate regulatory agencies, all records, data and
access to operating procedures that may be reasonably requested in connection
with compliance and regulatory requirements related to this Agreement or any
Party's obligations under this Agreement.
ARTICLE V. Fees and Expenses
5.1. The Fund and the Underwriter shall pay no fee or other
compensation to the Company under this Agreement. If the Fund or any Portfolio
adopts and implements a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 to finance distribution
expenses, then the Fund or Underwriter may make payments to the Company or to
the underwriter for the Contracts if and in amounts agreed to by the Underwriter
in writing, and such payments will be made out of existing fees otherwise
payable to the Underwriter, past profits of the Underwriter, or other resources
available to the Underwriter. Currently, no such payments are contemplated.
5.2. All expenses incident to performance by the Fund under this
Agreement shall be paid by the Fund. The Fund shall see to it that all its
shares are registered and authorized for issuance in accordance with applicable
federal law and, if and to the extent deemed advisable by the Fund, in
accordance with applicable state laws prior to their sale. The Fund shall bear
the expenses for the cost of registration and qualification of the Fund's
shares, preparation and filing of the Fund's prospectus and registration
statement, proxy materials and reports, setting the prospectus in type, setting
in type and printing the proxy materials and reports to shareholders (including
the costs of printing a prospectus that constitutes an annual report), the
preparation of all statements and notices required by any federal or state law,
and all taxes on the issuance or transfer of the Fund's shares.
5.3. The Company shall bear the expenses of distributing the Fund's
prospectus to owners of Contracts issued by the Company and of distributing the
Fund's proxy materials and reports to such Contract owners.
5.4 Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Fund, the
Underwriter or their designee shall reimburse the Company for the reasonable
costs associated with substituting one or more different portfolios of a
registered investment company for one or more Designated Portfolios where due to
the acts of the Fund or the Underwriter (i) the Fund either offers its Shares at
public sale, ceases to qualify as a regulated investment company under
Subchapter M of the Code (or any successor or similar provision), or fails to
comply with the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Code (or
any successor or similar provision), and as a result the Fund no longer
qualifies to serve as a funding vehicle for the Contracts or (ii) the Agreement
is terminated in accordance with Article X. The costs of such substitution shall
include, without limitation, reasonable legal fees for obtaining any required
SEC order approving such substitution, and expenses for printing and
distributing any Separate Account prospectus or SAI supplement or other
disclosure of the substitution of the Designated Portfolios as an investment
vehicle under the Contracts.
ARTICLE VI. Diversification and Qualification
6.1. The Fund will invest its assets in such a manner as to ensure that
the Contracts will be treated as annuity or life insurance contracts, whichever
is appropriate, under the Code and the regulations issued thereunder (or any
successor provisions). Without limiting the scope of the foregoing, each
Designated Portfolio has complied and will continue to comply with Section
817(h) of the Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.817-5, and any Treasury
interpretations thereof, relating to the diversification requirements for
variable annuity, endowment, or life insurance contracts, and any amendments or
other
-10-
modifications or successor provisions to such Section or Regulations. In the
event of a breach of this Article VI by the Fund, it will take all reasonable
steps (a) to notify the Company of such breach and (b) to adequately diversify
the Fund so as to achieve compliance within the grace period afforded by
Regulation 1.817-5.
6.2. The Fund represents that each Designated Portfolio is or will be
qualified as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Code, and
that it will make every effort to maintain such qualification (under Subchapter
M or any successor or similar provisions) and that it will notify the Company
immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that a Designated
Portfolio has ceased to so qualify or that it might not so qualify in the
future.
6.3. The Company represents that the Contracts are currently, and at
the time of issuance shall be, treated as life insurance or annuity insurance
contracts, under applicable provisions of the Code, and that it will make every
effort to maintain such treatment, and that it will notify the Fund and the
Underwriter immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing the
Contracts have ceased to be so treated or that they might not be so treated in
the future. The Company agrees that any prospectus offering a contract that is a
"modified endowment contract" as that term is defined in Section 7702A of the
Code (or any successor or similar provision), shall identify such contract as a
modified endowment contract.
ARTICLE VII. Potential Conflicts
The following provisions shall apply only upon issuance of the Mixed and Shared
Funding Order and the sale of shares of the Fund to variable life insurance
separate accounts, and then only to the extent required under the 0000 Xxx.
7.1. The Board will monitor the Fund for the existence of any material
irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the Contract owners of all
separate accounts investing in the Fund. An irreconcilable material conflict may
arise for a variety of reasons, including: (a) an action by any state insurance
regulatory authority; (b) a change in applicable federal or state insurance,
tax, or securities laws or regulations, or a public ruling, private letter
ruling, no-action or interpretative letter, or any similar action by insurance,
tax, or securities regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative or judicial
decision in any relevant proceeding; (d) the manner in which the investments of
any Portfolio are being managed; (e) a difference in voting instructions given
by variable annuity contract and variable life insurance contract owners; or (f)
a decision by an insurer to disregard the voting instructions of contract
owners. The Board shall promptly inform the Company if it determines that an
irreconcilable material conflict exists and the implications thereof.
7.2. The Company will report any potential or existing conflicts of
which it is aware to the Board. The Company will assist the Board in carrying
out its responsibilities under the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order, by
providing the Board with all information reasonably necessary for the Board to
consider any issues raised. This includes, but is not limited to, an obligation
by the Company to inform the Board whenever Contract owner voting instructions
are disregarded. These responsibilities will be carried out with a view only to
the interests of the Contract owners.
7.3. If it is determined by a majority of the Board, or a majority of
its disinterested members, that a material irreconcilable conflict exists, the
Company and other Participating Insurance Companies shall, at their expense and
to the extent reasonably practicable (as determined by a majority of the
disinterested Board members), take whatever steps are necessary to remedy or
eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict, up to and including: (1)
withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the separate accounts from
the Fund or any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a different
-11-
investment medium, including (but not limited to) another Portfolio of the Fund,
or submitting the question whether such segregation should be implemented to a
vote of all affected contract owners and, as appropriate, segregating the assets
of any appropriate group (i.e., annuity contract owners, life insurance contract
owners, or variable contract owners of one or more Participating Insurance
Companies) that votes in favor of such segregation, or offering to the affected
contract owners the option of making such a change; and (2) establishing a new
registered management investment company or managed separate account. These
responsibilities will be carried out with a view only to the interests of the
Contract owners.
7.4. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a decision
by the Company to disregard Contract owner voting instructions and that decision
represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote, the Company
may be required, at the Fund's election, to withdraw the Separate Account's
investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with respect to each
Separate Account; provided, however, that such withdrawal and termination shall
be limited to the extent required by the foregoing material irreconcilable
conflict as determined by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board.
Any such withdrawal and termination must take place within six (6) months after
the Fund gives written notice that this provision is being implemented, and
until the end of that six month period the Fund shall continue to accept and
implement orders by the Company for the purchase (and redemption) of shares of
the Fund. No charge or penalty will be imposed as a result of such withdrawal,
unless required by applicable statute or regulation.
7.5. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a particular
state insurance regulator's decision applicable to the Company conflicts with
the majority of other state regulators, then the Company will withdraw the
affected Separate Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement
with respect to such Separate Account within six months after the Board informs
the Company in writing that it has determined that such decision has created an
irreconcilable material conflict; provided, however, that such withdrawal and
termination shall be limited to the extent required by the foregoing material
irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the disinterested members
of the Board. Until the end of the foregoing six month period, the Fund shall
continue to accept and implement orders by the Company for the purchase (and
redemption) of shares of the Fund.
7.6. For purposes of Section 7.3 through 7.6 of this Agreement, a
majority of the disinterested members of the Board shall determine whether any
proposed action adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict, but in
no event will the Fund be required to establish a new funding medium for the
Contracts. The Company shall not be required by Section 7.3 to establish a new
funding medium for the Contract if an offer to do so has been declined by vote
of a majority of Contract owners materially adversely affected by the
irreconcilable material conflict. In the event that the Board determines that
any proposed action does not adequately remedy any irreconcilable material
conflict, then the Company will withdraw the Separate Account's investment in
the Fund and terminate this Agreement within six (6) months after the Board
informs the Company in writing of the foregoing determination; provided,
however, that such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent
required by any such material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a
majority of the disinterested members of the Board.
7.7. If and to the extent the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemption Order
or any amendment thereto contains terms and conditions different from Sections
3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 of this Agreement, then the Fund
and/or the Participating Insurance Companies, as appropriate, shall take such
steps as may be necessary to comply with the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive
Order, and Sections 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4 and 7.5 of this Agreement
shall continue in effect only to the extent that terms and conditions
substantially identical to such Sections are contained in the Mixed
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and Shared Funding Exemptive Order or any amendment thereto. If and to the
extent that Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) are amended, or Rule 6e-3 is adopted, to
provide exemptive relief from any provision of the 1940 Act or the rules
promulgated thereunder with respect to mixed or shared funding (as defined in
the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order) on terms and conditions materially
different from those contained in the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order,
then (a) the Fund and/or the Participating Insurance Companies, as appropriate,
shall take such steps as may be necessary to comply with Rules 6e-2 and 6e-3(T),
as amended, and Rule 6e-3, as adopted, to the extent such rules are applicable;
and (b) Sections 3.5, 3.6, 7.1., 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 of this Agreement shall
continue in effect only to the extent that terms and conditions substantially
identical to such Sections are contained in such Rule(s) as so amended or
adopted.
7.8 The Board's determination of the existence of a material
irreconcilable conflict and its implications shall be made known promptly and in
writing to the Company.
ARTICLE VIII. Indemnification
8.1. Indemnification By the Company
8.1(a). The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund
and the Underwriter and each of its trustees/directors, officers, employees, and
agents, and each person, if any, who controls the Fund or Underwriter within the
meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or who is under common control with the
Underwriter (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this
Section 8.1) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including
amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Company) or
litigation (including legal and other expenses), to which the Indemnified
Parties may become subject under any statute or regulation, at common law or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or
actions in respect thereof) or settlements:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statements of any material fact contained in
the registration statement, prospectus (which shall include a
written description of a Contract that is not registered under
the 1933 Act), or SAI for the Contracts or contained in the
Contracts or sales literature for the Contracts (or any
amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out
of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
provided that this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as
to any Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such
alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished to the Company by or on
behalf of the Fund for use in the registration statement,
prospectus or SAI for the Contracts or in the Contracts or
sales literature (or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise
for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Fund
shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations (other than statements or representations
contained in the registration statement, prospectus, SAI, or
sales literature of the Fund not supplied by the Company or
persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of the Company
or its agents or persons under the Company's authorization or
control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the
Contracts or Fund Shares; or
-13-
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a registration
statement, prospectus, SAI, or sales literature of the Fund or
any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or the omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading if such a statement or omission was made in
reliance upon information furnished to the Fund by or on
behalf of the Company; or
(iv) arise as a result of any material failure by the Company
to provide the services and furnish the materials under the
terms of this Agreement (including a failure, whether
unintentional or in good faith or otherwise, to comply with
the qualification requirements specified in Article VI of this
Agreement); or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Company in this
Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material
breach of this Agreement by the Company; or
(vi) as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of
Sections 8.1(b) and 8.1(c) hereof.
8.1(b). The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation
to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of such
Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the
performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified
Party's reckless disregard of its obligations or duties under this Agreement.
8.1(c). The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless
such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Company in writing within a
reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of
such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Company of any
such claim shall not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to
the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on
account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought
against an Indemnified Party, the Company shall be entitled to participate, at
its own expense, in the defense of such action. The Company also shall be
entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party
named in the action. After notice from the Company to such party of the
Company's election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall
bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the
Company will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or
other expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection
with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
8.1(d). The Indemnified Parties will promptly notify the Company
of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against them in connection
with the issuance or sale of the Fund shares or the Contracts or the operation
of the Fund.
8.2. Indemnification by the Underwriter
8.2(a). The Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company and each of its directors, officers, employees, and agents, and each
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the
1933 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for
-14-
purposes of this Section 8.2) against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of
the Underwriter) or litigation (including legal and other expenses) to which the
Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute or regulation, at
common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the
registration statement or prospectus or SAI or sales
literature of the Fund (or any amendment or supplement to any
of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, provided that this
agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified
Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement
or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished to the Underwriter or Fund by or on
behalf of the Company for use in the registration statement,
prospectus or SAI for the Fund or in sales literature (or any
amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in connection
with the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations (other than statements or representations
contained in the registration statement, prospectus, SAI or
sales literature for the Contracts not supplied by the
Underwriter or persons under its control) or wrongful conduct
of the Fund or Underwriter or persons under their control,
with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or
Fund shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a registration
statement, prospectus, SAI or sales literature covering the
Contracts, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or
the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statement or statements therein not misleading, if such
statement or omission was made in reliance upon information
furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Fund or the
Underwriter; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund or the
Underwriter to provide the services and furnish the materials
under the terms of this Agreement (including a failure of the
Fund, whether unintentional or in good faith or otherwise, to
comply with the diversification and other qualification
requirements specified in Article VI of this Agreement); or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Underwriter in this
Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material
breach of this Agreement by the Underwriter;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.2(b) and
8.2(c) hereof.
8.2(b). The Underwriter shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or litigation to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be
subject by reason of such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or
gross
-15-
negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of
such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this
Agreement or to the Company or the Separate Account, whichever is applicable.
8.2(c). The Underwriter shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified
Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Underwriter in
writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process
giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of
such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Underwriter of
any such claim shall not relieve the Underwriter from any liability which it may
have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than
on account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought
against the Indemnified Party, the Underwriter will be entitled to participate,
at its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Underwriter also shall be
entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party
named in the action. After notice from the Underwriter to such party of the
Underwriter's election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party
shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and
the Underwriter will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any
legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in
connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of
investigation.
The Company agrees promptly to notify the Underwriter of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers
or directors in connection with the issuance or sale of the Contracts or the
operation of the Separate Account.
8.3. Indemnification By the Fund
8.3(a). The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company
and each of its directors, officers, employees, and agents, and each person, if
any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 8.3)
against any and all losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities (including
amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Fund) or litigation
(including legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may be
required to pay or may become subject under any statute or regulation, at common
law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities
or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements, are related to the
operations of the Fund and:
(i) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund to provide
the services and furnish the materials under the terms of this
Agreement (including a failure, whether unintentional or in
good faith or otherwise, to comply with the diversification
and other qualification requirements specified in Article VI
of this Agreement; or
(ii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any registration
statement, prospectus, sales literature or the promotional
material with respect to the Contracts or the Separate
Accounts, or arise out of or is based upon 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, provided that such statement or omission or
such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon
and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the
Company for inclusion therein by or on behalf of the Fund; or
-16-
(iii) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Fund in this
Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material
breach of this Agreement by the Fund;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.3(b) and
8.3(c) hereof.
8.3(b). The Fund shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation
to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of such
Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the
performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified
Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement or to
the Company, the Fund, the Underwriter or the Separate Account, whichever is
applicable.
8.3(c). The Fund shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless
such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Fund in writing within a
reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of
such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Fund of any
such claim shall not relieve the Fund from any liability which it may have to
the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on
account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought
against the Indemnified Parties, the Fund will be entitled to participate, at
its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Fund also shall be entitled to
assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the
action. After notice from the Fund to such party of the Fund's election to
assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and
expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Fund will not be
liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection with the defense
thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
8.3(d). The Company and the Underwriter agree promptly to notify
the Fund of the commencement of any litigation or proceeding against it or any
of its respective officers or directors in connection with the Agreement, the
issuance or sale of the Contracts, the operation of the Separate Account, or the
sale or acquisition of shares of the Fund.
ARTICLE IX. Applicable Law
9.1. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of California.
9.2. This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the 1933,
1934 and 1940 Acts, and the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder,
including such exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as the SEC
may grant (including, but not limited to, any Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive
Order) and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance
therewith. If, in the future, the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order
should no longer be necessary under applicable law, then Article VII shall no
longer apply.
ARTICLE X. Termination
10.1. This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until the
first to occur of:
(a) termination by any party, for any reason with respect to some
or all Designated Portfolios, by 120 days' advance written
notice delivered to the other parties; or
-17-
(b) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and
the Underwriter based upon the Company's determination that
shares of the Fund are not reasonably available to meet the
requirements of the Contracts; or
(c) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and
the Underwriter in the event any of the Designated Portfolio's
shares are not registered, issued or sold in accordance with
applicable state and/or federal law or such law precludes the
use of such shares as the underlying investment media of the
Contracts issued or to be issued by the Company; or
(d) termination by the Fund or Underwriter in the event that
formal administrative proceedings are instituted against the
Company by the NASD, the SEC, the Insurance Commissioner or
like official of any state or any other regulatory body
regarding the Company's duties under this Agreement or related
to the sale of the Contracts, the operation of any Separate
Account, or the purchase of the Fund's shares; provided,
however, that the Fund or Underwriter determines in its sole
judgment exercised in good faith, that any such administrative
proceedings will have a material adverse effect upon the
ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this
Agreement; or
(e) termination by the Company in the event that formal
administrative proceedings are instituted against the Fund or
Underwriter by the NASD, the SEC, or any state securities or
insurance department or any other regulatory body; provided,
however, that the Company determines in its sole judgment
exercised in good faith, that any such administrative
proceedings will have a material adverse effect upon the
ability of the Fund or Underwriter to perform its obligations
under this Agreement; or
(f) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and
the Underwriter with respect to any Designated Portfolio in
the event that such Portfolio ceases to qualify as a Regulated
Investment Company under Subchapter M or fails to comply with
the Section 817(h) diversification requirements specified in
Article VI hereof, or if the Company reasonably believes that
such Portfolio may fail to so qualify or comply; or
(g) termination by the Fund or Underwriter by written notice to
the Company in the event that the Contracts fail to meet the
qualifications specified in Article VI hereof; or
(h) termination by either the Fund or the Underwriter by written
notice to the Company, if either one or both of the Fund or
the Underwriter respectively, shall determine, in their sole
judgment exercised in good faith, that the Company has
suffered a material adverse change in its business,
operations, financial condition, or prospects since the date
of this Agreement or is the subject of material adverse
publicity; or
(i) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and
the Underwriter, if the Company shall determine, in its sole
judgment exercised in good faith, that the Fund, Adviser, or
the Underwriter has suffered a material adverse change in its
business, operations, financial condition or prospects since
the date of this Agreement or is the subject of material
adverse publicity; or
-18-
(j) termination by the Fund or the Underwriter by written notice
to the Company, if the Company gives the Fund and the
Underwriter the written notice specified in Section 1.7(a)(ii)
hereof and at the time such notice was given there was no
notice of termination outstanding under any other provision of
this Agreement; provided, however, any termination under this
Section 10.1(j) shall be effective forty-five days after the
notice specified in Section 1.7(a)(ii) was given; or
(k) termination by the Company upon any substitution of the shares
of another investment company or series thereof for shares of
a Designated Portfolio of the Fund in accordance with the
terms of the Contracts, provided that the Company has given at
least 45 days prior written notice to the Fund and Underwriter
of the date of substitution; or
(l) termination by any party in the event that the Fund's Board of
Trustees determines that a material irreconcilable conflict
exists as provided in Article VII.
10.2. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Fund and
the Underwriter shall, at the option of the Company, continue to make available
additional shares of the Fund pursuant to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, for all Contracts in effect on the effective date of termination of
this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as "Existing Contracts"), unless the
Underwriter requests that the Company seek an order pursuant to Section 26(c) of
the 1940 Act to permit the substitution of other securities for the shares of
the Designated Portfolios. The Underwriter agrees to split the cost of seeking
such an order, and the Company agrees that it shall reasonably cooperate with
the Underwriter and seek such an order upon request. Specifically, the owners of
the Existing Contracts may be permitted to reallocate investments in the Fund,
redeem investments in the Fund and/or invest in the Fund upon the making of
additional purchase payments under the Existing Contracts (subject to any such
election by the Underwriter). The parties agree that this Section 10.2 shall not
apply to any terminations under Article VII and the effect of such Article VII
terminations shall be governed by Article VII of this Agreement. The parties
further agree that this Section 10.2 shall not apply to any terminations under
Section 10.1(g) of this Agreement.
10.3. The Company shall not redeem Fund shares attributable to the
Contracts (as opposed to Fund shares attributable to the Company's assets held
in the Separate Account) except (i) as necessary to implement Contract owner
initiated or approved transactions, (ii) as required by state and/or federal
laws or regulations or judicial or other legal precedent of general application
(hereinafter referred to as a "Legally Required Redemption"), (iii) upon 45 days
prior written notice to the Fund and Underwriter, as permitted by an order of
the SEC pursuant to Section 26(c) of the 1940 Act, but only if a substitution of
other securities for the shares of the Designated Portfolios is consistent with
the terms of the Contracts, or (iv) as permitted under the terms of the
Contract. Upon request, the Company will promptly furnish to the Fund and the
Underwriter reasonable assurance that any redemption pursuant to clause (ii)
above is a Legally Required Redemption. Furthermore, except in cases where
permitted under the terms of the Contacts, the Company shall not prevent
Contract owners from allocating payments to a Portfolio that was otherwise
available under the Contracts without first giving the Fund or the Underwriter
45 days notice of its intention to do so.
10.4. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, each party's
obligation under Article VIII to indemnify the other parties shall survive.
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ARTICLE XI. Notices
Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or
certified mail to the other party at the address of such party set forth below
or at such other address as such party may from time to time specify in writing
to the other party.
If to the Fund: PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxx Xxxxxxx
If to the Company: New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation
00 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Vice President, with a
copy to the Office of General Counsel/
Variable Product Attorney
If to Underwriter: PIMCO Advisors Distributors LLC
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx.
ARTICLE XII. Miscellaneous
12.1. All persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the
property of the Fund, and in the case of a series company, the respective
Designated Portfolios listed on Schedule A hereto as though each such Designated
Portfolio had separately contracted with the Company and the Underwriter for the
enforcement of any claims against the Fund. The parties agree that neither the
Board, officers, agents or shareholders of the Fund assume any personal
liability or responsibility for obligations entered into by or on behalf of the
Fund.
12.2. Subject to the requirements of legal process and regulatory
authority, each party hereto shall treat as confidential the names and addresses
of the owners of the Contracts and all information reasonably identified as
confidential in writing by any other party hereto and, except as permitted by
this Agreement, shall not disclose, disseminate or utilize such names and
addresses and other confidential information without the express written consent
of the affected party until such time as such information has come into the
public domain.
12.3. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of
reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or
otherwise affect their construction or effect.
12.4. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
12.5. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid
by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of the Agreement
shall not be affected thereby.
12.6. Each party hereto shall cooperate with each other party and all
appropriate governmental authorities (including without limitation the SEC, the
NASD, and state insurance
-20-
regulators) and shall permit such authorities reasonable access to its books and
records in connection with any investigation or inquiry relating to this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Notwithstanding the
generality of the foregoing, each party hereto further agrees to furnish the New
York and Delaware Insurance Commissioners with any information or reports in
connection with services provided under this Agreement which such Commissioners
may request in order to ascertain whether the variable annuity operations of the
Company are being conducted in a manner consistent with the New York and
Delaware variable annuity laws and regulations and any other applicable law or
regulations.
12.7. The rights, remedies and obligations contained in this Agreement
are cumulative and are in addition to any and all rights, remedies, and
obligations, at law or in equity, which the parties hereto are entitled to under
state and federal laws.
12.8. This Agreement or any of the rights and obligations hereunder may
not be assigned by any party without the prior written consent of all parties
hereto.
12.9. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the
Fund or its designee copies of the following reports:
(a) the Company's annual statement (prepared under statutory
accounting principles) and annual report (prepared under
generally accepted accounting principles) filed with any state
or federal regulatory body or otherwise made available to the
public, as soon as practicable and in any event within 90 days
after the end of each fiscal year; and
(b) any registration statement (without exhibits) and financial
reports of the Company filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission or any state insurance regulatory, as soon as
practicable after the filing thereof.
-21-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this
Agreement to be executed in its name and on its behalf by its duly authorized
representative and its seal to be hereunder affixed hereto as of the date
specified below.
NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY CORPORATION:
By its authorized officer
By:
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
------------------------------------
Title: Vice President
------------------------------------
Date:
------------------------------------
PIMCO VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
By its authorized officer
By:
------------------------------------
Name:
------------------------------------
Title:
------------------------------------
Date:
------------------------------------
PIMCO ADVISORS DISTRIBUTORS LLC
By its authorized officer
By:
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx.
------------------------------------
Title: Managing Director
------------------------------------
Date:
------------------------------------
-22-
Schedule A
PIMCO VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST PORTFOLIOS:
PIMCO Real Return -- Administrative Class Shares
PIMCO Total Return -- Administrative Class Shares
PIMCO Low Duration -- Administrative Class Shares
PIMCO All Asset -- Administrative Class Shares
SEGREGATED ASSET ACCOUNTS:
NYLIAC Corporate Sponsored Variable Universal Life Separate Account-I
May 24, 1996
