SVS II
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of the 1st day of May, 2002 by and among ALLMERICA
FINANCIAL LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY, (the "Company"), a Delaware life
insurance company, 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 separate account hereinafter referred to as the "Account"),
XXXXXXX VARIABLE SERIES II (the "Fund"), a Massachusetts business trust created
under a Declaration of Trust, as amended, XXXXXXX DISTRIBUTORS, INC. (the
"Underwriter"), a Delaware corporation, and DEUTSCHE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
AMERICAS INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Adviser").
WHEREAS, the Fund engages in business as an open-end management investment
company and is or will be 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 beneficial interest in the Fund is divided into several series
of shares of beneficial interest without par value, and, with respect to certain
series, classes thereof ("Shares"), and additional series of Shares, and classes
thereof, may be established, each such series of Shares 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"), dated October 13, 1989 (Release No. IC-17164; File No.
812-7345) 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, 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, the Adviser, which serves as investment adviser to the Fund, is
duly registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of
1940, as amended, and any applicable state securities laws;
WHEREAS, the Company has issued or will issue certain variable life
insurance and/or variable annuity contracts supported wholly or partially by the
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 Account is duly established and maintained as a segregated
asset account, established by resolution of the Board of Directors of the
Company, on the date shown for such 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 shares in the Portfolios, and
classes thereof, listed in Schedule B hereto, as it may be amended from time to
time by mutual written agreement (the "Designated Portfolios") on behalf of the
Account to fund the aforesaid Contracts, and the Underwriter is authorized to
sell such Shares to the Account at net asset value;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Company, the
Fund, the Adviser 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
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 Account, Shares of those Designated Portfolios listed on Schedule B 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 B) 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 refuse to sell shares of any Designated Portfolio to any person, or
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 in the best interests of the
shareholders of such Designated Portfolio.
1.2. The Fund shall redeem, at the Company's request, any full or
fractional Designated Portfolio Shares held by the Company on behalf of the
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
suspend the right of redemption or postpone the date of payment or satisfaction
upon redemption of Fund Shares of any Designated Portfolio to the extent
permitted by the 1940 Act, any rules, regulations or orders thereunder, or the
then current Fund Prospectus.
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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
Account (but not with respect to any Fund Shares that may be held in the general
account of the Company) for Shares of those Designated Portfolios made available
hereunder, based on allocations of amounts to the Account or subaccounts thereof
under the Contracts and other transactions relating to the Contracts or the
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 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 9:30
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 12:00 p.m. Eastern
Time on the 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 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 Account or
the Company shall be made in federal funds transmitted by wire to the Company
or any other designated person normally 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
Portfolio 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.
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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 6:30 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. 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 notice (by wire or telephone followed by
written confirmation) to the Company 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 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 Account, to revoke this election and to receive all such dividends
and capital gain distributions in cash. The Fund shall notify the Company 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 Account. Purchase
and redemption orders for Fund Shares shall be recorded in an appropriate ledger
for the Account or the appropriate subaccount of the Account.
1.7. 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 to certain qualified
retirement plans, and the cash value of the Contracts may be invested in other
investment companies.
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 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 Account to
consider the portfolio investments of the Fund as constituting investments of
the 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. The Company hereby
represents and warrants that it and the Account are Qualified Persons. The Fund
reserves the right to cease offering Shares of any Designated Portfolio in the
discretion of the Fund.
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, alternatively (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
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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 Account prior to any issuance or sale thereof as a
segregated asset account under applicable insurance laws, and that it (a) has
registered or, prior to any issuance or sale of the Contracts, will register the
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 Account in proper reliance upon an
exclusion from registration under the 1940 Act. The Company shall register and
qualify the Contracts or 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 in all material respects with all applicable
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 the shares of the Designated Portfolios. The
Fund shall register and qualify such 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 after taking into consideration any state insurance law
requirements that the Company advises the Fund may be applicable.
2.3. With respect to the Class B Shares of a Designated Portfolio, the Fund
may make payments quarterly for distribution expenses incurred or paid (as the
case may be) by the Company or the Underwriter and approved by the Fund's Board
pursuant to the Fund's Master Distribution Plan for Class B Shares, as amended
from time to time. No such payment to the Company shall be made with respect to
any quarterly period in excess of an amount determined for such period at the
annual rate of .25% of the average daily net asset value of the Class B shares
of such Designated Portfolio attributable to the Contract owners during that
quarterly period. The Company shall submit to the Underwriter within a
reasonable period of time following each quarter for which payment is sought a
Quarterly Distribution Expense Report in a form reasonably acceptable to the
Underwriter. The Fund's prospectus or statement of additional information may
provide further details about such payments.
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, except that the Fund represents that the investment policies, fees and
expenses of the Designated Portfolios, are and shall at all times remain in
compliance with the insurance laws of the state of organization of the Company
set forth on the first page (the "State") to the extent required to perform this
Agreement. The Company will advise the Fund in writing as to any requirements of
State insurance law that affect the Designated Portfolios, and the Fund will be
deemed to be in compliance with this Section 2.4 so long as the Fund complies
with such advice of the Company.
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2.5. The Fund represents that it is a Massachusetts business trust duly
organized and validly existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts and that the Designated Portfolios do and will comply in all
material respects with all applicable provisions of 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 shares of
the Designated Portfolios in accordance with any applicable state and federal
securities laws.
2.7. The Adviser represents and warrants that it is and shall remain duly
registered as an investment adviser under all applicable federal and state
securities laws and that it shall perform its obligations for the Fund in
compliance in all material respects with any applicable state and federal
securities laws.
2.8. The Fund, the Adviser 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 such
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.
2.9. The Company represents and warrants that all of its directors,
officers, employees, investment advisers, and other individuals or entities
employed or controlled by the Company dealing with the money and/or securities
of the Account are covered by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage for
the benefit of the Account, in an amount not less than $20 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.
2.10. The Company represents and warrants that all shares of the Designated
Portfolios purchased by the Company will be purchased on behalf of one or more
unmanaged separate accounts that offer interests therein that are registered
under the 1933 Act and upon which a registration fee has been or will be paid or
that are unregistered because the interests are exempt from registration under
the 1933 Act, and the Company acknowledges that the Fund intends to rely upon
this representation and warranty for purposes of calculating SEC registration
fees payable with respect to such Shares of the Designated Portfolios pursuant
to Form 24F-2 or any similar form or SEC registration fee calculation procedure
that allows the Fund to exclude Shares so sold for purposes of calculating its
SEC registration fee. The Company will certify the amount of any Shares of the
Designated Portfolios purchased by the Company on behalf of any separate account
offering interests not subject to registration under the 1933 Act. The Company
agrees to cooperate with the Fund on no less than an annual basis to certify as
to its continuing compliance with this representation and warranty.
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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 (describing only the Designated Portfolios listed on
Schedule B) as the Company may reasonably request. If requested by the Company
in lieu thereof, the Fund shall provide such documentation (including a final
copy of the new prospectus on computer diskette or other electronic means 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 a Designated
Portfolio is amended) to have the prospectus for the Contracts and the
prospectus for the Designated Portfolios printed together in one document.
Expenses with respect to the foregoing shall be borne as provided under
Article V.
3.2. The Fund's prospectus shall state that the current Statement of
Additional Information ("SAI") for the Fund is available from the Company (or in
the Fund's discretion, from the Fund), and the Fund shall provide a copy of such
SAI to any owner of a Contract who requests such SAI and to the Company in such
quantities as the Company may reasonably request. Expenses with respect to the
foregoing shall be borne as provided under Article V.
3.3. The Fund shall provide the Company with copies of its proxy material,
reports to shareholders, and other communications to shareholders of the
Designated Portfolios in such quantity as the Company shall reasonably require
for distributing to Contract owners. Expenses with respect to the foregoing
shall be borne as provided under Article V.
3.4. The Company shall:
(i) solicit voting instructions from Contract owners;
(ii) vote the shares of each Designated Portfolio in accordance
with instructions received from Contract owners; and
(iii) vote shares of each Designated Portfolio for which no
instructions have been received in the same proportion as
fund shares of such Designated 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 reserves the right to vote shares of each Designated
Portfolio in any segregated asset account in its own right,
to the extent permitted by law.
3.5. The Fund reserves the right, upon prior written notice to the Company
(given at the earliest practicable time), to take all actions, including but not
limited to, the dissolution, termination, merger and sale of all assets of the
Fund or any Designated Portfolio upon the sole authorization of the Board, to
the extent permitted by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the
1940 Act.
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 Mixed and Shared Funding
Exemptive Order and consistent with any reasonable standards that the Fund may
adopt and provide in writing.
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3.7. It is understood and agreed that, except with respect to information
regarding the Fund, the Underwriter, the Adviser or Designated Portfolios
provided in writing by the Fund, the Underwriter or the Adviser, none of the
Fund, the Underwriter or the Adviser is responsible for the content of the
prospectus or statement of additional information for the Contracts.
3.8. The Company 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.
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 or uses and in which the Fund (or a Designated
Portfolio thereof) or the Adviser or the Underwriter is named. No such material
shall be used until approved by the Fund or its designee, and the Fund will use
its best efforts for it or its designee to review such sales literature or
promotional material within ten 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 objects.
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 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 and the Underwriter, or their designee, shall furnish, or
shall cause to be, furnished, to the Company, each piece of sales literature or
other promotional material that it develops or uses and in which the Company,
and/or its Account, is named. No such material shall be used until approved by
the Company, and the Company will use its best efforts to review such sales
literature or promotional material within ten 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 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
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 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.
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4.5. The Fund will provide to the Company, at the Company's written
request, at least one complete copy of all registration statements, prospectuses
and SAIs that relate to the Fund or its Shares, contemporaneously with the
filing of such document(s) with the SEC or other regulatory authorities. The
Fund will provide to the Company, at least one complete copy of 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(s) with the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
4.6. The Company will provide to the Fund, at the Fund's written request,
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 0000 Xxx) and SAIs
that relate to the Contracts or the Account, contemporaneously with the filing
of such document(s) with the SEC or other regulatory authorities. The Company
will provide to the Fund at least one complete copy of reports, solicitations
for voting instructions, sales literature and other promotional materials,
applications for exemptions or substitutions, requests for no-action letters,
and all amendments to any of the above, that relate to the Contracts or the
Account, contemporaneously with 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
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, internet website (or other electronic
media), 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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ARTICLE V . FEES AND EXPENSES
5.1. The Fund, the Adviser and the Underwriter shall pay no fee or other
compensation to the Company under this Agreement, although the parties hereto
will bear certain expenses in accordance with Schedule C and other provisions of
this Agreement, including Section 2.03. The parties acknowledge that certain
expenses that are allocated to the Company under Schedule C may be paid by the
Adviser, the Underwriter, or an affiliate thereof, under the terms of other
agreements with the Company.
5.2. All expenses incident to performance by the Fund under this Agreement
shall be paid by the Fund, except and as further provided in Schedule C. The
cost of setting the Fund's prospectus in type, setting in type and printing the
Fund's 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 relating to the Fund required by any federal or state
law, and all taxes on the issuance or transfer of the Fund's Shares shall be
borne by the parties hereto as set forth in Schedule C.
5.3. The expenses of distributing the Fund's prospectus to new and existing
owners of Contracts issued by the Company and of distributing the Fund's proxy
materials and reports to Contract owners shall be borne by the parties hereto as
set forth in Schedule C.
5.4. The Company agrees to cooperate with the Fund, the Underwriter and the
Adviser with a view to exercising rights reserved by the Company under the terms
of the Contracts, if any, to limit transfers to the extent reasonably requested
by the Fund, the Underwriter or the Adviser if such party reasonably believes
that certain Contract owners are engaged in short-term trading to the degree
that such trading interferes with the orderly management of any of the
Designated Portfolios. The Company agrees that the Fund, the Underwriter and the
Adviser shall bear no responsibility for any act or omission of any unaffiliated
fund or the investment adviser or underwriter thereof.
ARTICLE VI . DIVERSIFICATION AND QUALIFICATION
6.1. The Fund will invest the assets of each Designated Portfolio 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, the Fund will, with respect to each Designated
Portfolio, 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 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 affected Designated Portfolio so as to
achieve compliance within the grace period afforded by Treasury Regulation
Section 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.
10
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
7.1. The Board will monitor the Fund for the existence of any material
irreconcilable conflict among 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 insurance laws or regulations;
(c) a tax ruling or provision of the Internal Revenue Code or the regulations
thereunder; (d) any other development relating to the tax treatment of insurers,
Contract or policy owners or beneficiaries of variable annuity contracts or
variable life insurance policies; (e) the manner in which the investments of any
Designated Portfolio are being managed; (f) a difference in voting instructions
given by variable annuity contract holders, on the one hand, and variable life
insurance policy owners, on the other hand, or by the contract holders or policy
owners of different Participating Insurance Companies; or (g) a decision by a
Participating Insurance Company to disregard the voting instructions of its
Contract owners. The Board shall promptly inform the Company by written notice
if it determines that an irreconcilable material conflict exists and the
implications thereof.
7.2. The Company and the Adviser 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. At least annually, and more
frequently if deemed appropriate by the Board, the Company shall submit to the
Adviser, and the Adviser shall at least annually submit to the Board, such
reports, materials and data as the Board may reasonably request so that the
Board may fully carry out the obligations imposed upon it by the conditions
contained in the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order; and said reports,
materials and data shall be submitted more frequently if deemed appropriate by
the Board. The responsibility to report such information and conflicts to the
Board 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 Designated Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a different
investment medium, including (but not limited to) another Designated 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
11
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.
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 affected Account's
investment in any Designated Portfolio and terminate this Agreement with respect
to such 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.
The Company will bear the cost of any remedial action, including such withdrawal
and termination. 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 such Designated Portfolio.
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 Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with
respect to such 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 such Designated Portfolios.
7.6. For purposes of Sections 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 an Account's investment in any Designated Portfolio 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,
3.6, 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, 3.6, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4 and 7.5 of this Agreement
12
shall continue in effect only to the extent that terms and conditions
substantially identical to such Sections are contained in the Mixed 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 or any similar rule 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 or any similar rule, as adopted, to the extent such
rules are applicable; and (b) Sections 3.4, 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.
ARTICLE VIII . INDEMNIFICATION
8.1. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, the
Adviser and the Underwriter and each of its trustees, directors, trustees and
officers, and each person, if any, who controls the Fund, the Adviser 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 are related to the sale
or acquisition of the Shares of the Designated Portfolios or the Contracts; and:
(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 an offering memorandum, if any), 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 in writing 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 are based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statements of any material fact contained in the registration
statement, prospectus (which shall include an offering memorandum, if any), or
SAI covering insurance products sold by the Company or any insurance company
which is an affiliate thereof, or any amendments or supplements thereto, 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
13
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 in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the Fund for
use in the registration statement, prospectus or SAI covering insurance products
sold by the Company or any insurance company which is an affiliate thereof, or
any amendments or supplements thereto; or
(iii) 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,
or any affiliate thereof, with respect to the sale or distribution of the
Contracts or Fund Shares; or
(iv) 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
(v) 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
(vi) 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,
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.1(b), 8.1(c)
and 8.1(d) hereof.
(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.
(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 that it may have to
the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on
account of this indemnification provision, except to the extent that the Company
has been materially prejudiced by such failure to give notice. 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
14
defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action and
to settle the claim at its own expense; provided, however, that no such
settlement shall, without the Indemnified Parties' written consent, include any
factual stipulation referring to the Indemnified Parties or their conduct. 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, but, in case the Company does not elect to
assume the defense of any such suit, the Company will reimburse the Fund, such
officers, trustees and directors or controlling person or persons, defendant or
defendants in such suit, for the reasonable fees and expenses of any counsel
retained by them.
(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
(a) The Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company
and each of its directors and officers 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 8.2) 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
are related to the sale or acquisition of Shares of the Designated Portfolios or
the Contracts; and:
(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
15
(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), 8.2(c)
and 8.2(d) hereof.
(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 negligence in the
performance or 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 Adviser, the Underwriter or the Account, whichever is
applicable.
(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, except to the extent that the
Underwriter has been prejudiced by such failure to give notice. 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 and to settle the claim at its own
expense; provided, however, that no such settlement shall, without the
Indemnified Parties' written consent, include any factual stipulation to the
Indemnified Parties or their conduct. 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.
16
(d) 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 Account.
8.3. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE FUND
(a) The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and
each of its directors and officers 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 or result from any material breach of any
representationand/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), 8.3(c)
and 8.3(d) hereof.
(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 Adviser, the Underwriter or the Account, whichever is
applicable.
(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, except to the extent the Fund has been prejudiced by
such failure to give notice. 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 and
to settle the claim at its own expense; provided, however, that no such
settlement shall, without the Indemnified Parties' written consent include any
factual stipulation referring to the Indemnified Parties or their conduct. After
notice from
17
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.
(d) The Company, the Adviser 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 trustees in connection with the Agreement,
the issuance or sale of the Contracts, the operation of any 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 Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
9.2. This Agreement shall be subject to the applicable 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, upon six (6) months advance written notice delivered
to the other parties; or
(b) termination by the Company upon 30 days' written notice to the
Fund, the Adviser and the Underwriter based upon the Company's reasonable and
good faith determination that Shares of any Designated Portfolio are not
reasonably available to meet the requirements of the Contracts; or
(c) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund, the
Adviser 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 securities laws 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, the Adviser or Underwriter upon 30 days'
written notice to the Company in the event that formal administrative
proceedings are instituted against the Company or any affiliate 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 Account, or the purchase of
the Fund's Shares; provided, however, that the Fund, the Adviser or Underwriter
determines in its sole
18
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 upon 30 days' written notice to the
Fund, the Adviser and the Underwriter in the event that formal administrative
proceedings are instituted against the Fund, the Adviser 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, the
Adviser 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 Designated Portfolio may fail to so qualify or comply; or
(g) termination by the Fund, the Adviser 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 any of the Fund, the Adviser or the Underwriter
upon 30 days' written notice to the Company, if any of the Fund, the Adviser 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, insurance company rating or prospects
since the date of this Agreement or is the subject of material adverse publicity
and that material adverse change or publicity will have a material effect on the
Company's ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement; or
(i) termination by the Company upon 30 days' written notice to the
Fund, the Adviser and the Underwriter, if the Company shall determine, in its
sole judgment exercised in good faith, that the Fund, the 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, and that material adverse change or
publicity will have a material effect on the Fund's or the Underwriter's ability
to perform its obligation under this Agreement; or
(j) 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
(k) 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; or
19
(l) at the option of the Company, as one party, or the Fund, the
Adviser and the Underwriter, as one party, upon the other party's material
breach of any provision of this Agreement upon 30 days' written notice and the
opportunity to cure within such notice period; or
(m) at the option of the Fund or the Adviser by written notice to the
Company in the event the Contracts are not treated as annuity or life insurance
contracts under applicable provisions of the Code.
10.2. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Fund and the
Underwriter shall, at the option of the Company, continue, for a one year period
from the date of termination and from year to year thereafter if deemed
appropriate by the Fund and the Adviser, to make available additional Shares of
a Designated Portfolio 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 elects to compel a substitution of other securities for the Shares
of the Designated Portfolios. Specifically, the owners of the Existing Contracts
may be permitted to reallocate investments in the Designated Portfolios, redeem
investments in the Designated Portfolios and/or invest in the Designated
Portfolios 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(d),(g) or (m) 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 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) as permitted
by an order of the SEC pursuant to Section 26(b) 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 Designated 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.
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.
20
If to the Fund:
Xxxxxxx Variable Series II
Two International Place
Boston, MA 02110-4103
Attn.: Secretary
If to the Company:
Allmerica Financial Life Insurance and Annuity Company
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn.: Secretary
If to Underwriter:
Xxxxxxx Distributors, Inc.
Xxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attn.: Secretary
If to the Adviser:
Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc.
Xxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attn.: Secretary
ARTICLE XII . MISCELLANEOUS
12.1. The Fund's name is the designation of the Board for the time being
under a Declaration of Trust, as amended, and 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 B 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. No Portfolio shall be liable for any
obligations properly attributable to any other Portfolio.
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.
21
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. This Agreement incorporates the entire understanding and agreement
among the parties hereto, and supersedes any and all prior understandings and
agreements between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.
12.6. 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.
12.7. 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 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 State Insurance Commissioner with any information or
reports in connection with services provided under this Agreement which such
Commissioner may request in order to ascertain whether the variable annuity
operations of the Company are being conducted in a manner consistent with the
State variable annuity laws and regulations and any other applicable law or
regulations.
12.8. 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.
12.9. 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.
12.10. All persons are expressly put on notice of the Fund's Agreement and
Declaration of Trust and all amendments thereto, all of which are on file with
the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the limitation of
shareholder and trustee liability contained therein. This Agreement has been
executed by and on behalf of the Fund by its representatives as such
representatives and not individually, and the obligations of the Fund with
respect to a Designated Portfolio hereunder are not binding upon any of the
trustees, officers or shareholders of the Fund individually, but are binding
upon only the assets and property of such Designated Portfolio. All parties
dealing with the Fund with respect to a Designated Portfolio shall look solely
to the assets of such Designated Portfolio for the enforcement of any claims
against the Fund hereunder.
22
12.11. The Company is expressly put on notice that prospectus disclosure
regarding the potential risks of mixed and shared funding may be appropriate.
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.
COMPANY:
By its authorized officer
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Hug
------------------------------------
Title: Vice President
------------------------------------
Date: 05/01/02
------------------------------------
FUND:
By its authorized officer
By: /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxx
------------------------------------
Title: Vice President
------------------------------------
Date: 05/01/02
------------------------------------
UNDERWRITER:
By its authorized officer
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
------------------------------------
Title: President
------------------------------------
Date: 05/01/02
------------------------------------
ADVISER:
By its authorized officer
By: /s/ (ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE)
------------------------------------
Title: Managing Director
------------------------------------
Date: 05/01/02
------------------------------------
23
SCHEDULE A
NAME OF SEPARATE ACCOUNT AND DATE ESTABLISHED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Separate Account KG (06/13/96)
Separate Account KGC (06/13/96)
Separate Account VA-K (11/01/90)
Separate Account IMO (06/13/96)
Allmerica Select Separate Account (03/05/92)
CONTRACTS FUNDED BY SEPARATE ACCOUNT
Xxxxxxx Gateway Elite
Xxxxxxx Gateway Custom
Xxxxxxx Gateway Advisor
XXXXXXX GATEWAY PLUS
Xxxxxxx Gateway Advisor 2 (No-Load)
Xxxxxxx Gateway Incentive (Secondary)
Xxxxxxx Gateway Flex Life
Allmerica ExecAnnuity Plus
Allmerica Advantage Agency C-Shares
Allmerica Accumulator (No-Load)
VUL 2001
Agency VUL 2001
Select VUL 2001
VUL 2001 Survivorship
Allmerica Select Reward
Allmerica Select Acclaim
Allmerica Value Generation (Annuity Scout)
DirectedAdvisorySolutions (Fund Quest)
ALLMERICA SELECT RESOURCE
Allmerica Select Charter
24
SCHEDULE B
DESIGNATED PORTFOLIOS
AND CLASSES THEREOF
DESIGNATED PORTFOLIOS FOR XXXXXXX GATEWAY CONTRACTS*
CLASS
-----
Xxxxxxx Aggressive Growth Portfolio A
Xxxxxxx Blue Chip Portfolio A
Xxxxxxx Contrarian Value Portfolio A
Xxxxxxx Global Blue Chip Portfolio A
Xxxxxxx Government Securities Portfolio A
Xxxxxxx Growth Portfolio A
Xxxxxxx High Yield Portfolio A
Xxxxxxx International Select Equity Portfolio A
Xxxxxxx Investment Grade Bond Portfolio A
Xxxxxxx Money Market Portfolio A
Xxxxxxx New Europe Portfolio A
Xxxxxxx Small Cap Growth Portfolio A
Xxxxxxx Strategic Income Portfolio A
Xxxxxxx Technology Growth Portfolio A
Xxxxxxx Total Return Portfolio A
SVS Xxxxx Venture Value Portfolio A
SVS Dreman Financial Services Portfolio A
SVS Dreman High Return Equity Portfolio A
SVS Dreman Small Cap Value Portfolio A
SVS Eagle Focused Large Cap Growth Portfolio A
SVS Focus Value+Growth Portfolio A
SVS Index 500 Portfolio A
SVS INVESCO Dynamic Growth Portfolio A
SVS Janus Growth and Income Portfolio A
SVS Janus Growth Opportunities Portfolio A
SVS MFS Strategic Value Portfolio A
SVS Oak Strategic Equity Portfolio A
SVS Xxxxxx Mid Cap Growth Portfolio A
DESIGNATED PORTFOLIOS FOR ALLMERICA EXECANNUITY PLUS, ALLMERICA ADVANTAGE,
AGENCY C-SHARES, ALLMERICA SELECT REWARD, AND ALLMERICA SELECT ACCLAIM,
ALLMERICA SELECT RESOURCE AND ALLMERICA SELECT CHARTER CONTRACTS
CLASS
-----
Xxxxxxx Technology Growth Portfolio A
SVS Dreman Financial Services Portfolio A
25
DESIGNATED PORTFOLIOS FOR ALLMERICA ACCUMULATOR, ALLMERICA VALUE GENERATION
(ANNUITY SCOUT) AND DIRECTEDADVISORYSOLUTIONS (FUND QUEST) CONTRACTS
CLASS
-----
Xxxxxxx Government Securities Portfolio A
Designated Portfolios for VUL 2001, Agency VUL 2001, Select VUL 2001 and VUL
2001 Survivorship Contracts
CLASS
-----
Xxxxxxx Technology Growth Portfolio A
-----------------
* Additional Designated Portfolios may be added at the request of the Fund,
Adviser and Underwriter and with the consent of the Company, which consent will
not be unreasonably withheld.
26
SCHEDULE C
EXPENSES
PARTY
RESPONSIBLE FOR
ITEM FUNCTION EXPENSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FUND PROSPECTUS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Update Typesetting Fund
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Sales: Printing Company
Distribution Company
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Existing Owners: Printing Fund
Distribution Fund
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STATEMENTS OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Same as Prospectus
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROXY MATERIALS OF THE FUND Typesetting Fund
Printing Fund
Distribution Fund
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANNUAL REPORTS AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS
WITH SHAREHOLDERS OF THE FUND
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All Typesetting Fund
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Marketing(1) Printing Company
Distribution Company
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Existing Owners: Printing Fund
Distribution Fund
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPERATIONS OF FUND All operations and related expenses, including the Fund
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, the preparation of all
statements and notices required by any federal or
state law and all taxes on the issuance of the Fund's
shares, and all costs of management of the business
affairs of the Fund.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
(1) Solely as it relates to the contracts listed on Schedule A, as it
is attached to the same Agreement as this Schedule C.
27
