PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
Among
[COMPANY]
FIRST EAGLE VARIABLE FUNDS
and
FIRST EAGLE FUNDS DISTRIBUTORS
A DIVISION OF ASB SECURITIES, LLC.
THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of the 31st day of March, 2004 by and among
[INSURANCE COMPANY NAME], (the "Company"), a [name of state] 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 account
hereinafter referred to as the "Account"), First Eagle Variable Funds (the
"Fund"), a statutory trust organized under the laws of Delaware, and First Eagle
Funds Distributors, a division of ASB Securities, LLC (the "Underwriter"), a
Delaware limited liability company.
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 shares of common stock 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, Xxxxxxx and X. Xxxxxxxxxxxx Advisers, LLC (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, and any applicable state securities laws;
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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, duly established by 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 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 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 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 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, 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
delay redemption of Fund shares of any Designated Portfolio to the extent
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permitted by the 1940 Act, any rules, regulations or orders thereunder, or the
then current Fund Prospectus.
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 it 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 4:00 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 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 delay payment of redemption proceeds to the extent
permitted under Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act and any Rules
thereunder, and in accordance
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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 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. If the Fund provides the Company with materially incorrect
share net asset value information through no fault of the Company, the Company
on behalf of the Account shall be entitled, to the extent reasonably
practicable, to an adjustment to the number of shares purchased or redeemed to
reflect the correct net asset value, and the Underwriter shall promptly, on
request of the Company, reimburse the Company, or cause the responsible party to
reimburse the Company, for any reasonable out-of-pocket charges, costs, fees or
other expenses incurred by the Company in implementing the steps determined by
the Fund to be necessary to correct the pricing error. 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 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
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 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 (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
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invested in other investment companies, provided, however, that until this
Agreement is terminated pursuant to Article X, the Company shall give equivalent
prominence to the Designated Portfolios as the Company provides to other funding
vehicles available under the Contracts in promotional materials that describe
funding vehicles available under the Contracts and are published by the Company.
(b) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the
Underwriter (unless otherwise required by applicable law) take any action to
operate the Account as a management investment company under the 1940 Act.
(c) The Company shall not, without 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.
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. Subject to Sections 6.1
and 6.2 hereof, 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
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 [name of state] 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.
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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 intends to make payments to finance distribution
expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. In this regard, the Fund's
board of trustees, a majority of whom are not interested persons of the Fund,
have formulated and approved the Fund's plan adopted 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, except that the Fund represents that the Fund's investment policies,
fees and expenses, are and shall at all times remain in compliance with the laws
of [name of state] to the extent required to perform this Agreement, provided,
however, that the Company shall notify the Fund with respect to any additional
requirements that are specifically directed to the Company by state insurance
departments.
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 the laws of [name of state] and any applicable state
and federal securities laws.
2.7 The Underwriter represents and warrants that the Adviser is
and shall remain duly registered under all applicable federal and state
securities laws and that the Adviser shall perform its obligations for the Fund
in compliance in all material respects with the laws of [name of state] and any
applicable state and federal securities laws.
2.8 The Fund and the Underwriter represent and warrant that all
of their directors/trustees, 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.
2.9 The Company represents and warrants that all of its
directors, officers, employees, investment advisers, and other
individuals/entities employed or controlled by the Company dealing with the
money and/or securities of the Account are covered by a
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blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage for the benefit of the 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.
2.10 The Company represents and warrants that it has adopted
policies and procedures reasonably designed to detect and prevent money
laundering activities in compliance with applicable laws, regulations and
regulatory interpretations. The Company undertakes that it shall (a) conduct its
operations in accordance with applicable laws, regulations and regulatory
interpretations; (b) provide access to its books, records and operations
relating to its anti-money laundering compliance by appropriate regulatory
authorities, the Underwriter and, if appropriate, the Fund; (c) upon request,
provide a copy of its anti-money laundering program (or a summary of its
program) to the Underwriter and, if appropriate, the Fund; (d) upon reasonable
request, certify, in writing that the Company is in compliance with applicable
anti-money laundering laws, rules, regulations and regulatory interpretations
with respect to the services provided under this Agreement; and (e) provide
periodic reports to the Underwriter and, if appropriate, the Fund, concerning
anti-money laundering activities and compliance exceptions, as may agree from
time to time among the parties.
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 A) 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 on diskette 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 prospectus for the Designated
Portfolios printed together in one 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, at its expense, 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.
3.4 The Company shall:
(i) solicit voting instructions from Contract owners;
(ii) vote the Fund shares in accordance with instructions
received from Contract owners; and
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(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.
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.
3.5 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. The Fund hereby confirms that the manner in which
the Company currently calculates voting privileges is consistent with the manner
in which other Participating Insurance Companies are required to calculate
voting privileges. The Fund and the Underwriter will notify the Company if
either becomes aware that another Participating Insurance Company has changed
the manner in which it so calculates voting privileges.
3.6 The Fund will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act
requiring voting by shareholders, and in particular the fund will either provide
for annual meetings or comply with Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act (although the
Fund is not one of the trusts described in Section 16(c) of that Act) as well as
Sections 16(a) and, if and when applicable, 16(b). Further, the Fund will act in
accordance with the SEC's interpretation of the requirements of Section 16(a)
with respect to periodic elections of trustees and with whatever rule the
Commission may promulgate with respect thereto.
ARTICLE IV. Sales Material and Information
4.1 The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to
the Fund or its designee, at least fifteen business days prior to first use,
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. 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 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 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.
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4.3 The Fund and the Underwriter, or their designee, shall
furnish, or shall cause to be, furnished, to the Company, at least fifteen
business days prior to first use, each piece of sales literature or other
promotional material that it develops and in which the Company, and/or its
Account, or the Contracts, 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, or the Contracts, 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.
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, contemporaneously with the filing
of such document(s) with the SEC or other regulatory authorities. The Fund will
provide to the Company any complaints received that pertain to the Company, the
Account, or the Contracts.
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 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.
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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), and sales
literature (i.e., any written or electronic communication distributed or made
generally available to customers or the public, including brochures, circulars,
reports, market letters, form letters, telemarketing scripts, seminar texts,
reprints or excerpts of any other advertisement, sales literature, or published
article), distributed or made generally available to customers or to the public,
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.
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, except that, the Underwriter
may, to the extent permitted under the Fund's distribution plan adopted pursuant
to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act or as otherwise authorized by the Fund's Board
of Trustees, 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. No such payments shall be made directly by the Fund, provided that
the Fund may separately agree to make payments to the Company or to the
underwriter for the Contracts for certain transfer agency or other services.
Notwithstanding the previous two sentences, the Underwriter may also separately
agree to make payments to the Company or to the underwriter for the Contracts
for these transfer agency or other services.
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.
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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 'SS' 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 Fund so as to achieve compliance within the grace period afforded
by Regulation 817.5.
6.2 The Fund represents that it 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 it has ceased to so qualify or
that it might not so qualify in the future.
6.3 Subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.2 hereof, 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.
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.
11
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.
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
(to be allocated as near as practicable in proportion to such parties'
respective responsibilities for such conflict) 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 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.
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 Account's
investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with respect to each
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.
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 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
12
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 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 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
3.4, 3.5, 7.1., 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 of this Agreement shall continue in
effect only to the extent that terms and conditions substantially identical to
such Sections are contained in such Rule(s) as so amended or adopted.
ARTICLE VIII. Indemnification
8.1 Indemnification By the Company
8.1(a). The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Fund, the Underwriter, the Adviser and each of its directors/trustees and
officers, and each person, if any, who controls the Fund or Underwriter within
the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (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
13
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 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
(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,
14
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 it directors and officer 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:
(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
15
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.
16
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 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 or the 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.
8.2(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.
ARTICLE IX. Applicable Law
9.1 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
9.2 This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the
1933, 1934 and 1940 Acts, and the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder,
including such exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as the SEC
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:
17
(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
(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
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
18
(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
(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.
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 elects to compel a substitution of other securities for the shares
of the Designated Portfolios as may be required under Article VII. 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 (f) or (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 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,
19
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 terns of the Contracts,
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.
ARTICLE XI. Notices
Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, or by nationally
recognized overnight courier, charges prepaid, with evidence of delivery, 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
parties, and such notice shall be effective upon delivery.
If to the Fund:
First Eagle Variable Funds
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxx
If to the Company:
[COMPANY NAME]
[address]
Attention: [name]
If to the Underwriter:
ASB Securities LLC
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxx
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 trust, 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 nor shareholders of the Fund assume any personal
liability or responsibility for obligations entered into by or on behalf of the
Fund.
20
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 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 Insurance Commissioner of the relevant state(s) 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 applicable state 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, except that the Underwriter may effect such an assignment to
any successor that becomes general distributor with respect to the Fund without
such consent of the other 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:
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
21
any registration statement (without exhibits) and financial
reports of the Company filed with the SEC or any state insurance
regulatory, as soon as practicable after the filing thereof.
12.10 Each of the Underwriter and the Fund reserve the right, in
its discretion upon notice to (and acceptance by) the other and the Company, to
amend or modify this Agreement at any time. Orders received following notice to
the Company of any amendment or modification to this Agreement shall be deemed
to be a confirmation of the Company's acceptance of such amendment or
modification. The creation of any series or class of shares of the Fund in the
future will not affect the terms of this Agreement with respect to any existing
series or class of shares, and will not constitute an amendment or modification
to this Agreement.
22
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: [COMPANY NAME]
By its authorized officer
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
----------------------------------
Date:
-----------------------------------
FUND: FIRST EAGLE VARIABLE FUNDS
By its authorized officer
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
----------------------------------
Date:
-----------------------------------
UNDERWRITER: FIRST EAGLE FUND DISTRIBUTORS,
A DIVISION OF ASB SECURITIES, LLC.
By its authorized officer
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
----------------------------------
Date:
-----------------------------------
23
SCHEDULE A
Segregated Asset Accounts of the Company
[_]
Contracts to be Issued by the Company
[_]
Designated Portfolio Shares to be Purchased
First Eagle Overseas Variable Fund
Other Funding Vehicles Available Under the Contracts
[_]
24
