PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT AMONG PACIFIC LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, PACIFIC SELECT DISTRIBUTORS, INC., ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN L.P. AND ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INVESTMENTS, INC. DATED AS OF MARCH 10, 2008
Exhibit 99.(8)(c)
AMONG
PACIFIC LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY,
PACIFIC SELECT DISTRIBUTORS, INC.,
ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN L.P.
AND
ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INVESTMENTS, INC.
DATED AS OF
MARCH 10, 2008
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of the 10th day of March, 2008 (“Agreement”), by and
among Pacific Life Insurance Company, a Nebraska life insurance company (“Insurer”) (on behalf of
itself and its “Separate Account,” defined below); Pacific Select Distributors, Inc., a California
corporation (“Contracts Distributor”), the principal underwriter with respect to the Contracts
referred to below; AllianceBernstein L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (“Adviser”), the
investment adviser of the Fund referred to below; and AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (“Distributor”), the Fund’s principal underwriter (collectively, the
“Parties”),
WITNESSETH THAT:
WHEREAS Insurer, the Distributor, and AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund, Inc.
(the “Fund”) desire that Class B shares of the Fund’s Portfolios listed on Schedule A (the
“Portfolios”; reference herein to the “Fund” includes reference to each Portfolio to the extent the
context requires) be made available by Distributor to serve as underlying investment media for life
insurance policies and variable annuity contracts listed on Schedule B and any separate accounts
and contracts which may be added hereafter (“Contracts”), to be offered through Contracts
Distributor and other registered broker-dealer firms as agreed to by Insurer and Contracts
Distributor; and
WHEREAS the Contracts provide for the allocation of net amounts received by Insurer to
separate series (the “Divisions”; reference herein to the “Separate Account” includes reference to
each Division to the extent the context requires) of the Separate Account for investment in Class B
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shares of corresponding Portfolios of the Fund that are made available through the Separate
Account to act as underlying investment media,
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual benefits and promises contained herein, the
Fund and Distributor will make Class B shares of the Portfolios available to Insurer for this
purpose at net asset value and with no sales charges, all subject to the following provisions:
Section 1. Additional Portfolios
The Fund has and may, from time to time, add additional Portfolios, which will become subject
to this Agreement, if, upon the written consent of each of the Parties hereto, they are made
available as investment media for the Contracts.
Section 2. Processing Transactions
2.1 Timely Pricing and Orders.
The Adviser or its designated agent will provide closing net asset value, dividend and capital
gain information for each Portfolio to Insurer at the close of trading on each day (a “Business
Day”) on which (a) the New York Stock Exchange is open for regular trading, (b) the Fund calculates
the Portfolio’s net asset value and (c) Insurer is open for business. The Fund or its designated
agent will use its best efforts to provide this information by p.m., Eastern time. Insurer will
use these data to calculate unit values, which in turn will be used to process transactions that
receive that same Business Day’s Separate Account Division’s unit values. Such Separate Account
processing will be done the same evening, and corresponding orders with
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respect to Fund shares will be placed the morning of the following Business Day. Insurer will
use its best efforts to place such orders with the Fund by a.m., Eastern time.
2.2 Timely Payments.
Insurer will transmit orders for purchases and redemptions of Fund shares to Distributor, and
will wire payment for net purchases to a custodial account designated by the Fund on the day the
order for Fund shares is placed, to the extent practicable. Payment for net redemptions will be
wired by the Fund to an account designated by Insurer on the same day as the order is placed, to
the extent practicable, and in any event be made within six calendar days after the date the order
is placed in order to enable Insurer to pay redemption proceeds within the time specified in
Section 22(e) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).
2.3 Redemption in Kind.
The Fund reserves the right to pay any portion of a redemption in kind of portfolio
securities, if the Fund’s board of directors (the “Board of Directors”) determines that it would be
detrimental to the best interests of shareholders to make a redemption wholly in cash.
2.4 Applicable Price.
The Parties agree that Portfolio share purchase and redemption orders resulting from Contract
owner purchase payments, surrenders, partial withdrawals, routine withdrawals of charges, or other
transactions under Contracts will be executed at the net asset values as determined as of the close
of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on the Business Day that Insurer receives such
orders and processes such transactions, which, Insurer agrees shall occur not earlier than the
Business Day prior to Distributor’s receipt of the corresponding orders for purchases and
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redemptions of Portfolio shares. For the purposes of this section, Insurer shall be deemed to
be the agent of the Fund for receipt of such orders from holders or applicants of contracts, and
receipt by Insurer shall constitute receipt by the Fund. All other purchases and redemptions of
Portfolio shares by Insurer, will be effected at the net asset values next computed after receipt
by Distributor of the order therefor, and such orders will be irrevocable. Insurer hereby elects
to reinvest all dividends and capital gains distributions in additional shares of the corresponding
Portfolio at the record-date net asset values until Insurer otherwise notifies the Fund in writing,
it being agreed by the Parties that the record date and the payment date with respect to any
dividend or distribution will be the same Business Day.
Section 3. Costs and Expenses
3.1 General.
Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, each Party will bear all expenses incident
to its performance under this Agreement.
3.2 Registration.
The Fund will bear the cost of its registering as a management investment company under the
1940 Act and registering its shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”),
and keeping such registrations current and effective; including, without limitation, the
preparation of and filing with the SEC of Forms N-SAR and Rule 24f-2 Notices respecting the Fund
and its shares and payment of all applicable registration or filing fees with respect to any of the
foregoing. Insurer will bear the cost of registering the Separate Account as a unit investment
trust under the 1940 Act and registering units of interest under the Contracts under the 1933 Act
and keeping such registrations
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current and effective; including, without limitation, the preparation and filing with the SEC
of Forms N-SAR and Rule 24f-2 Notices respecting the Separate Account and its units of interest and
payment of all applicable registration or filing fees with respect to any of the foregoing.
3.3 Other (Non-Sales-Related) Expenses.
The Fund will bear the costs of preparing, filing with the SEC and setting for printing the
Fund’s prospectus, statement of additional information and any amendments or supplements thereto
(collectively, the “Fund Prospectus”), periodic reports to shareholders, Fund proxy material and
other shareholder communications and any related requests for voting instructions from Participants
(as defined below). Insurer will bear the costs of preparing, filing with the SEC and setting for
printing, the Separate Account’s prospectus, statement of additional information and any amendments
or supplements thereto (collectively, the “Separate Account Prospectus”), any periodic reports to
owners, annuitants or participants under the Contracts (collectively, “Participants”), and other
Participant communications. The Fund and Insurer each will bear the costs of printing in quantity
and delivering to existing Participants the documents as to which it bears the cost of preparation
as set forth above in this Section 3.3, it being understood that reasonable cost allocations will
be made in cases where any such Fund and Insurer documents are printed or mailed on a combined or
coordinated basis. If requested by Insurer, the Fund will provide annual Prospectus text
to Insurer on diskette for printing and binding with the Separate Account Prospectus.
3.4 Other Sales-Related Expenses.
Expenses of distributing the Portfolio’s shares and the Contracts will be paid by Contracts
Distributor and other parties, as they shall determine by separate agreement.
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3.5 Parties to Cooperate.
The Adviser, Insurer, Contracts Distributor, and Distributor each agrees to cooperate with the
others, as applicable, in arranging to print, mail and/or deliver combined or coordinated
prospectuses or other materials of the Fund and Separate Account.
Section 4. Legal Compliance
4.1 Tax Laws.
(a) The Adviser will use its best efforts to qualify and to maintain qualification of each
Portfolio as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the Adviser or Distributor will notify Insurer
immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that a Portfolio has ceased to so qualify
or that it might not so qualify in the future.
(b) Insurer represents that it believes, in good faith, that the Contracts will be treated as
annuity contracts under applicable provisions of the Code and that it will make every effort to
maintain such treatment. Insurer will notify the Fund and Distributor immediately upon having a
reasonable basis for believing that any of the Contracts have ceased to be so treated or that they
might not be so treated in the future.
(c) The Fund will use its best efforts to comply and to maintain each Portfolio’s compliance
with the diversification requirements set forth in Section 817(h) of the Code and Section
1.817-5(b) of the regulations under the Code, and the Fund, Adviser or Distributor will notify
Insurer immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that a Portfolio has ceased to so
comply or that a Portfolio might not so comply in the future.
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(d) Insurer represents that it believes, in good faith, that the Separate Account is a
“segregated asset account” and that interests in the Separate Account are offered exclusively
through the purchase of or transfer into a “variable contract,” within the meaning of such terms
under Section 817(h) of the Code and the regulations thereunder. Insurer will make every effort to
continue to meet such definitional requirements, and it will notify the Fund and Distributor
immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that such requirements have ceased to be
met or that they might not be met in the future.
(e) The Adviser will manage the Fund as a RIC in compliance with Subchapter M of the Code and
will use its best efforts to manage to be in compliance with Section 817(h) of the Code and
regulations thereunder. The Fund has adopted and will maintain procedures for ensuring that the
Fund is managed in compliance with Subchapter M and Section 817(h) and regulations thereunder.
(f) Should the Distributor or Adviser become aware of a failure of Fund, or any of its
Portfolios, to be in compliance with Subchapter M of the Code or Section 817(h) of the Code and
regulations thereunder, they represent and agree that they will immediately notify Insurer of such
in writing.
4.2 Insurance and Certain Other Laws.
(a) The Adviser will use its best efforts to cause the Fund to comply with any applicable
state insurance laws or regulations, to the extent specifically requested in writing by Insurer.
If it cannot comply, it will so notify Insurer in writing.
(b) Insurer represents and warrants that (i) it is an insurance company duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Nebraska and has full
corporate
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power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver and perform its duties and comply with
its obligations under this Agreement, (ii) it has legally and validly established and maintains the
Separate Account as a segregated asset account under California law, and (iii) the Contracts comply
in all material respects with all other applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
(c) Insurer and Contracts Distributor represent and warrant that Contracts Distributor is a
business corporation duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the
State of California and has full corporate power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver,
and perform its duties and comply with its obligations under this Agreement.
(d) Distributor represents and warrants that it is a business corporation duly organized,
validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has full
corporate power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver, and perform its duties and comply
with its obligations under this Agreement.
(e) Distributor represents and warrants that the Fund is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing, and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland and has full power,
authority, and legal right to execute, deliver, and perform its duties and comply with its
obligations under this Agreement.
(f) Adviser represents and warrants that it is a limited partnership, duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has full power,
authority, and legal right to execute, deliver, and perform its duties and comply with its
obligations under this Agreement.
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4.3 Securities Laws.
(a) Insurer represents and warrants that (i) interests in the Separate Account pursuant to the
Contracts will be registered under the 1933 Act to the extent required by the 1933 Act and the
Contracts will be duly authorized for issuance and sold in compliance with State law, (ii) the
Separate Account is and will remain registered under the 1940 Act to the extent required by the
1940 Act, (iii) the Separate Account does and will comply in all material respects with the
requirements of the 1940 Act and the rules thereunder, (iv) the Separate Account’s 1933 Act
registration statement relating to the Contracts, together with any amendments thereto, will, at
all times comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules
thereunder, and (v) the Separate Account Prospectus will at all times comply in all material
respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules thereunder.
(b) The Adviser and Distributor represent and warrant that (i) Fund shares sold pursuant to
this Agreement will be registered under the 1933 Act to the extent required by the 1933 Act and
duly authorized for issuance and sold in compliance with Maryland law, (ii) the Fund is and will
remain registered under the 1940 Act to the extent required by the 1940 Act, (iii) the Fund will
amend the registration statement for its shares under the 1933 Act and itself under the 1940 Act
from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of its shares, (iv) the
Fund does and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1940 Act and the
rules thereunder, (v) the Fund’s 1933 Act registration statement, together with any amendments
thereto, will at all times comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act
and rules thereunder, and (vi) the Fund Prospectus will at all times comply in all material
respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules thereunder.
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(c) The Fund will register and qualify its shares for sale in accordance with the laws of
any state or other jurisdiction only if and to the extent reasonably deemed advisable by the Fund,
Insurer or any other life insurance company utilizing the Fund.
(d) Distributor and Contracts Distributor each represents and warrants that it is registered
as a broker-dealer with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is a
member in good standing of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (the “FINRA”).
4.4 Notice of Certain Proceedings and Other Circumstances.
(a) Distributor or the Fund shall immediately notify Insurer of (i) the issuance by any court
or regulatory body of any stop order, cease and desist order, or other similar order with respect
to the Fund’s registration statement under the 1933 Act or the Fund Prospectus, (ii) any request by
the SEC for any amendment to such registration statement or Fund Prospectus, (iii) the initiation
of any proceedings for that purpose or for any other purpose relating to the registration or
offering of the Fund’s shares, or (iv) any other action or circumstances that may prevent the
lawful offer or sale of Fund shares in any state or jurisdiction, including, without limitation,
any circumstances in which (x) the Fund’s shares are not registered and, in all material respects,
issued and sold in accordance with applicable state and federal law or (y) such law precludes the
use of such shares as an underlying investment medium of the Contracts issued or to be issued by
Insurer. Distributor and the Fund will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any
such stop order, cease and desist order or similar order and, if any such order is issued, to
obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible time.
(b) Insurer and Contracts Distributor shall immediately notify the Fund of (i) the issuance by
any court or regulatory body of any stop order, cease and desist order or similar order with
respect
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to the Separate Account’s registration statement under the 1933 Act relating to the Contracts
or the Separate Account Prospectus, (ii) any request by the SEC for any amendment to such
registration statement or Separate Account Prospectus, (iii) the initiation of any proceedings for
that purpose or for any other purpose relating to the registration or offering of the Separate
Account interests pursuant to the Contracts, or (iv) any other action or circumstances that may
prevent the lawful offer or sale of said interests in any state or jurisdiction, including, without
limitation, any circumstances in which said interests are not registered and, in all material
respects, issued and sold in accordance with applicable state and federal law. Insurer and
Contracts Distributor will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any such stop
order, cease and desist order or similar order and, if any such order is issued, to obtain the
lifting thereof at the earliest possible time.
4.5 Insurer to Provide Documents.
Upon request, Insurer will provide the Fund and the Distributor one complete copy of SEC
registration statements, Separate Account Prospectuses, reports, any preliminary and final voting
instruction solicitation material, applications for exemptions, requests for no-action letters, and
amendments to any of the above, that relate to the Separate Account or the Contracts,
contemporaneously with the filing of such document with the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
4.6 Fund to Provide Documents.
Upon request, the Fund will provide to Insurer one complete copy of SEC registration
statements, Fund Prospectuses, reports, any preliminary and final proxy material, applications for
exemptions, requests for no-action letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that relate to
the Fund or its shares, contemporaneously with the filing of such document with the SEC or other
regulatory authorities.
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4.7 Shareholder Information
(a) Agreement to Provide Information. The Insurer agrees to provide the Distributor upon
written request, the taxpayer identification number (“TIN”), if known, of any or all Shareholder(s)
of the account and the amount, date, name or other identifier of any investment professional(s)
associated with the Shareholder(s) or account (if known), and transaction type (purchase,
redemption, transfer, or exchange) of every purchase, redemption, transfer, or exchange of Shares
held through an account maintained by the Insurer during the period covered by the request.
(1) Period Covered by Request. Requests must set forth a specific period, not to exceed 120
days from the date of the request, for which transaction information is sought. The Distributor
may request transaction information older than 120 days from the date of the request as it deems
necessary to investigate compliance with policies established by the Fund for purpose of
eliminating or reducing any dilution of the value of the outstanding shares issued by the Fund.
(2) Form and Timing of Response. The Insurer agrees to transmit the requested information
that is on its books and records to the Distributor or their designee promptly, but in any event
not later than 10 business days, after receipt of a request. If the requested information is not
on the Insurer’s books and records, the Insurer agrees to use reasonable efforts to: (i) provide
or arrange to provide to the Distributor the requested information regarding Shareholders who hold
an account with an indirect intermediary; or (ii) if directed by the Distributor, block further
purchase of Fund Shares from such indirect intermediary.
In such instance, the Insurer agrees to inform the Distributor whether it plans to perform (i) or
(ii). Responses required by this paragraph must be communicated in writing and in a format
mutually
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agreed upon by the parties. To the extent practicable, the format for any transaction information
provided to the Distributor should be consistent with the NSCC Standardized Data Reporting Format.
For purposes of this provision “indirect intermediary” has the same meaning as in SEC Rule 22c-2
under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
(3) Limitations on Use of Information. The Distributor agrees not to use the information
received for marketing or any other similar purpose without prior written consent of the Insurer.
(b) Agreement to Restrict Trading. The Insurer agrees to execute written instructions from
the Distributor to restrict or prohibit further purchase or exchanges of Shares by a Shareholder
that has been identified by the Distributor as having engaged in transactions of the Fund’s Shares
(directly or indirectly through the Insurer’s account) that violate policies established by the
Distributor for the purpose of eliminating or reducing any dilution of the value of the outstanding
Shares issued by the Fund.
(1) Form of Instructions. Instructions must include the TIN, if known, and the specific
restriction(s) to be executed. If the TIN is not known, the instructions must include an
equivalent identifying number of the Shareholder(s) or account(s) or other agreed upon information
to which the instruction relates.
(2) Timing of Response. The Insurer agrees to execute instructions as soon as reasonably
practicable, but not later than five business days after receipt of the instructions by the
Insurer.
(3) Confirmation by the Insurer. The Insurer must provide written confirmation to the
Distributor that instructions have been executed. The Insurer agrees to provide confirmation as
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soon as reasonably practicable, but no later than ten business days after the instructions have
been executed.
(c) Definitions. For purposes of this Section:
(1) The term “Shares” means the interests of the Shareholders corresponding to the redeemable
securities of record issued by the Fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940 that are held by
the Insurer.
(2) The term “Shareholder” means the holder of interests in a variable annuity or a variable
life insurance contract issued by the Insurer.
(3) The term “written” includes electronic writings and facsimile transmissions.
Section 5. Mixed and Shared Funding
5.1 General.
The Fund has obtained an order exempting it from certain provisions of the 1940 Act and rules
thereunder so that the Fund is available for investment by certain other entities, including,
without limitation, separate accounts funding variable life insurance policies and separate
accounts of insurance companies unaffiliated with Insurer (“Mixed and Shared Funding Order”). The
Parties recognize that the SEC has imposed terms and conditions for such orders that are
substantially identical to many of the provisions of this Section 5.
5.2 Disinterested Directors.
The Fund agrees that its Board of Directors shall at all times consist of directors a majority
of whom (the “Disinterested Directors”) are not interested persons of Adviser or Distributor within
the meaning of Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act.
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5.3 Monitoring for Material Irreconcilable Conflicts.
The Fund agrees that its Board of Directors will monitor for the existence of any material
irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the participants in all separate accounts of life
insurance companies utilizing the Fund, including the Separate Account. Insurer agrees to inform
the Board of Directors of the Fund of the existence of or any potential for any such material
irreconcilable conflict of which it is aware. The concept of a “material irreconcilable conflict”
is not defined by the 1940 Act or the rules thereunder, but the Parties recognize that such a
conflict may arise for a variety of reasons, including, without limitation:
(a) an action by any state insurance or other 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 participants or by participants of different life insurance companies utilizing
the Fund; or
(f) a decision by a life insurance company utilizing the Fund to disregard the voting
instructions of participants.
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Insurer will assist the Board of Directors in carrying out its responsibilities by providing
the Board of Directors with all information reasonably necessary for the Board of Directors to
consider any issue raised, including information as to a decision by Insurer to disregard voting
instructions of Participants.
5.4 Conflict Remedies.
(a) It is agreed that if it is determined by a majority of the members of the Board of
Directors or a majority of the Disinterested Directors that a material irreconcilable conflict
exists, Insurer and the other life insurance companies utilizing the Fund will, at their own
expense and to the extent reasonably practicable (as determined by a majority of the Disinterested
Directors), take whatever steps are necessary to remedy or eliminate the material irreconcilable
conflict, which steps may include, but are not limited to:
(i) | 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 another Portfolio of the Fund, or submitting the question whether such segregation should be implemented to a vote of all affected participants and, as appropriate, segregating the assets of any particular group (e.g., annuity contract owners or participants, life insurance contract owners or all contract owners and participants of one or more life insurance companies utilizing the Fund) that votes in favor of such segregation, or offering to the affected contract owners or participants the option of making such a change; and |
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(ii) | establishing a new registered investment company of the type defined as a “Management Company” in Section 4(3) of the 1940 Act or a new separate account that is operated as a Management Company. |
(b) If the material irreconcilable conflict arises because of Insurer’s decision to disregard
Participant voting instructions and that decision represents a minority position or would preclude
a majority vote, Insurer may be required, at the Fund’s election, to withdraw the Separate
Account’s investment in the Fund. No charge or penalty will be imposed as a result of such
withdrawal. Any such withdrawal must take place within six months after the Fund gives notice to
Insurer that this provision is being implemented, and until such withdrawal Distributor and the
Fund shall continue to accept and implement orders by Insurer for the purchase and redemption of
shares of the Fund.
(c) If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a particular state insurance
regulator’s decision applicable to Insurer conflicts with the majority of other state regulators,
then Insurer will withdraw the Separate Account’s investment in the Fund within six months after
the Fund’s Board of Directors informs Insurer that it has determined that such decision has created
a material irreconcilable conflict, and until such withdrawal Distributor and Fund shall continue
to accept and implement orders by Insurer for the purchase and redemption of shares of the Fund.
(d) Insurer agrees that any remedial action taken by it in resolving any material
irreconcilable conflict will be carried out at its expense and with a view only to the interests of
Participants.
(e) For purposes hereof, a majority of the Disinterested Directors will determine whether or
not any proposed action adequately remedies any material irreconcilable conflict. In no event,
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however, will the Fund or Distributor be required to establish a new funding medium for any
Contracts. Insurer will not be required by the terms hereof to establish a new funding medium for
any Contracts if an offer to do so has been declined by vote of a majority of Participants
materially adversely affected by the material irreconcilable conflict.
5.5 Notice to Insurer.
The Fund will promptly make known in writing to Insurer the Board of Directors’ determination
of the existence of a material irreconcilable conflict, a description of the facts that give rise
to such conflict and the implications of such conflict.
5.6 Information Requested by Board of Directors.
Insurer and the Fund will at least annually submit to the Board of Directors of the Fund such
reports, materials or data as the Board of Directors may reasonably request so that the Board of
Directors may fully carry out the obligations imposed upon it by the provisions hereof, and said
reports, materials and data will be submitted at any reasonable time deemed appropriate by the
Board of Directors. All reports received by the Board of Directors of potential or existing
conflicts, and all Board of Directors actions with regard to determining the existence of a
conflict, notifying life insurance companies utilizing the Fund of a conflict, and determining
whether any proposed action adequately remedies a conflict, will be properly recorded in the
minutes of the Board of Directors or other appropriate records, and such minutes or other records
will be made available to the SEC upon request.
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5.7 Compliance with SEC Rules.
If, at any time during which the Fund is serving as an investment medium for variable life
insurance policies, 1940 Act Rules 6e-3(T) or, if applicable, 6e-2 are amended or Rule 6e-3 is
adopted to provide exemptive relief with respect to mixed and shared funding, the Parties agree
that they will comply with the terms and conditions thereof and that the terms of this Section 5
shall be deemed modified if and only to the extent required in order also to comply with the terms
and conditions of such exemptive relief that is afforded by any of said rules that are applicable.
Section 6. Termination
6.1 Events of Termination.
Subject to Section 6.4 below, this Agreement will terminate as to a Portfolio:
(a) at the option of Insurer or Distributor upon at least six months advance written notice
to the other Parties, or
(b) at the option of the Fund upon (i) at least sixty days advance written notice to the other
parties, and (ii) approval by (x) a majority of the disinterested Directors upon a finding that a
continuation of this Contract is contrary to the best interests of the Fund, or (y) a majority vote
of the shares of the affected Portfolio in the corresponding Division of the Separate Account
(pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 11 of this Agreement for voting Trust shares in
accordance with Participant instructions).
(c) at the option of the Fund upon institution of formal proceedings against Insurer or
Contracts Distributor by the FINRA, the SEC, any state insurance regulator or any other regulatory
19
body regarding Insurer’s obligations under this Agreement or related to the sale of the
Contracts, the operation of the Separate Account, or the purchase of the Fund shares, if, in each
case, the Fund reasonably determines that such proceedings, or the facts on which such proceedings
would be based, have a material likelihood of imposing material adverse consequences on the
Portfolio to be terminated; or
(d) at the option of Insurer upon institution of formal proceedings against the Fund, Adviser,
or Distributor by the FINRA, the SEC, or any state insurance regulator or any other regulatory body
regarding the Fund’s, Adviser’s or Distributor’s obligations under this Agreement or related to the
operation or management of the Fund or the purchase of Fund shares, if, in each case, Insurer
reasonably determines that such proceedings, or the facts on which such proceedings would be based,
have a material likelihood of imposing material adverse consequences on Insurer, Contracts
Distributor or the Division corresponding to the Portfolio to be terminated; or
(e) at the option of any Party in the event that (i) the Portfolio’s shares are not registered
and, in all material respects, issued and sold in accordance with any applicable state and federal
law or (ii) such law precludes the use of such shares as an underlying investment medium of the
Contracts issued or to be issued by Insurer; or
(f) upon termination of the corresponding Division’s investment in the Portfolio pursuant to
Section 5 hereof; or
(g) at the option of Insurer if the Portfolio ceases to qualify as a RIC under Subchapter M of
the Code or under successor or similar provisions; or
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(h) at the option of Insurer if the Portfolio fails to comply with Section 817(h) of the Code
or with successor or similar provisions; or
(i) at the option of Insurer if Insurer reasonably believes that any change in a Fund’s
investment adviser or investment practices will materially increase the risks incurred by Insurer.
6.2 Funds to Remain Available.
Except (i) as necessary to implement Participant-initiated transactions, (ii) as required by
state insurance laws or regulations, (iii) as required pursuant to Section 5 of this Agreement, or
(iv) with respect to any Portfolio as to which this Agreement has terminated, Insurer shall not (x)
redeem Fund shares attributable to the Contracts, or (y) prevent Participants from allocating
payments to or transferring amounts from a Portfolio that was otherwise available under the
Contracts, until, in either case, 90 calendar days after Insurer shall have notified the Fund or
Distributor of its intention to do so.
6.3 Survival of Warranties and Indemnifications.
All warranties and indemnifications will survive the termination of this Agreement.
6.4 Continuance of Agreement for Certain Purposes.
Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Distributor shall continue to make
available shares of the Portfolios pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for all
Contracts in effect on the effective date of termination of this Agreement (the “Existing
Contracts”), except as otherwise provided under Section 5 of this Agreement. Specifically, and
without limitation, the Distributor shall facilitate the sale and purchase of shares of the
Portfolios as necessary in order to
21
process premium payments, surrenders and other withdrawals, and transfers or reallocations of
values under Existing Contracts.
Section 7. Parties to Cooperate Respecting Termination
The other Parties hereto agree to cooperate with and give reasonable assistance to Insurer in
taking all necessary and appropriate steps for the purpose of ensuring that the Separate Account
owns no shares of a Portfolio after the Final Termination Date with respect thereto.
Section 8. Assignment
This Agreement may not be assigned by any Party, except with the written consent of
each other Party.
Section 9. Class B Distribution Payments
From time to time during the term of this Agreement the Distributor may make payments to the
Contracts Distributor pursuant to a distribution plan adopted by the Fund with respect to the Class
B shares of the Portfolios pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act (the “Rule 12b-1 Plan) in
consideration of the Contracts Distributor’s furnishing distribution services relating to the Class
B shares of the Portfolios and providing administrative, accounting and other services, including
personal service and/or the maintenance of Participant accounts, with respect to such shares. The
Distributor has no obligation to make any such payments, and the Contracts Distributor waives any
such payment, until the Distributor receives monies therefor from the Fund. Any such payments made
pursuant to this Section 9 shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:
22
(a) Any such payments shall be in such amounts as the Distributor may from time to time advise
the Contracts Distributor in writing but in any event not in excess of the amounts permitted by the
Rule 12b-1 Plan. Such payments may include a service fee in the amount of of 1% per annum of the
average daily net assets of the Fund attributable to the Class B shares of a Portfolio held by
clients of the Contracts Distributor. Any such service fee shall be paid solely for personal
service and/or the maintenance of Participant accounts.
(b) The provisions of this Section 9 relate to a plan adopted by the Fund pursuant to Rule
12b-1. In accordance with Rule 12b-1, any person authorized to direct the disposition of monies
paid or payable by the Fund pursuant to this Section 9 shall provide the Fund’s Board of Directors,
and the Directors shall review, at least quarterly, a written report of the amounts so expended and
the purposes for which such expenditures were made.
(c) The provisions of this Section 9 shall remain in effect for not more than a year and
thereafter for successive annual periods only so long as such continuance is specifically approved
at least annually in conformity with Rule 12b-1 and the 1940 Act. The provisions of this Section 9
shall automatically terminate in the event of the assignment (as defined by the 1940 Act) of this
Agreement, in the event the Rule 12b-1 Plan terminates or is not continued or in the event this
Agreement terminates or ceases to remain in effect. In addition, the provisions of this Section 9
may be terminated at any time, without penalty, by either the Distributor or the Contracts
Distributor with respect to any Portfolio on not more than 60 days’ nor less than 30 days’ written
notice delivered or mailed by registered mail, postage prepaid, to the other party.
23
Section 10. Notices
Notices and communications required or permitted by Section 2 hereof will be given by means
mutually acceptable to the Parties concerned. Each other notice or communication required or
permitted by this Agreement will be given to the following persons at the following addresses and
facsimile numbers, or such other persons, addresses or facsimile numbers as the Party receiving
such notices or communications may subsequently direct in writing:
Pacific Life Insurance Company
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Pacific Select Distributors, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
AllianceBernstein Investments, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx XX 00000
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx XX 00000
AllianceBernstein L.P.
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx XX 00000
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx XX 00000
Section 11. Voting Procedures
Subject to the cost allocation procedures set forth in Section 3 hereof, Insurer will
distribute all proxy material furnished by the Fund to Participants and will vote Fund shares in
accordance with instructions received from Participants. Insurer will vote Fund shares that are
(a) not attributable to Participants or (b) attributable to Participants, but for which no
instructions have been received, in the same proportion as Fund shares for which said instructions
have been received from
24
Participants. Insurer agrees that it will disregard Participant voting instructions only to
the extent it would be permitted to do so pursuant to Rule 6e-3 (T)(b)(15)(iii) under the 1940 Act
if the Contracts were variable life insurance policies subject to that rule. Other participating
life insurance companies utilizing the Fund will be responsible for calculating voting privileges
in a manner consistent with that of Insurer, as prescribed by this Section 11.
Section 12. Foreign Tax Credits
The Adviser agrees to consult in advance with Insurer concerning any decision to elect or not
to elect pursuant to Section 853 of the Code to pass through the benefit of any foreign tax credits
to the Fund’s shareholders.
Section 13. Indemnification
13.1 Indemnification of Fund, Distributor and Adviser by Insurer.
(a) Except to the extent provided in Sections 13.1(b) and 13.1(c), below, Insurer agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, Distributor and Adviser, each of their directors and
officers, and each person, if any, who controls the Fund, Distributor or Adviser within the meaning
of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties” for purposes of this Section
13. 1) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in
settlement with the written consent of Insurer) or actions in respect thereof (including, to the
extent reasonable, legal and other expenses), to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject
under any statute, regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or actions are related to the sale, acquisition, or holding of the Fund’s shares and:
25
(i) | arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Separate Account’s 1933 Act registration statement, the Separate Account Prospectus, the Contracts or, to the extent prepared by Insurer or Contracts Distributor, sales literature or advertising 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 Insurer or Contracts Distributor by or on behalf of the Fund, Distributor or Adviser for use in the Separate Account’s 1933 Act registration statement, the Separate Account Prospectus, the Contracts, or sales literature or advertising (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing); or | ||
(ii) | arise out of or as a result of any other statements or representations (other than statements or representations contained in the Fund’s 1933 Act registration statement, Fund Prospectus, sales literature or advertising of the Fund, or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing, not supplied for use therein by or on behalf of Insurer or Contracts Distributor) or the negligent, illegal or fraudulent conduct of Insurer or Contracts Distributor or persons under their control (including, without limitation, their employees and “Associated Persons,” as that term is defined in |
26
paragraph (m) of Article I of the FINRA’s By-Laws), in connection with the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Fund shares; or |
(iii) | arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Fund’s 1933 Act registration statement, Fund Prospectus, sales literature or advertising of the Fund, or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing, 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 and in conformity with information furnished to the Fund, Adviser or Distributor by or on behalf of Insurer or Contracts Distributor for use in the Fund’s 1933 Act registration statement, Fund Prospectus, sales literature or advertising of the Fund, or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing; or | ||
(iv) | arise as a result of any failure by Insurer or Contracts Distributor to perform the obligations, provide the services and furnish the materials required of them under the terms of this Agreement. |
(b) Insurer shall not be liable under this Section 13.1 with respect to any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or actions to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason
of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance by that Indemnified Party
of its duties or by reason of that Indemnified Party’s reckless disregard of obligations or duties
under this Agreement or to Distributor or to the Fund.
27
(c) Insurer shall not be liable under this Section 13.1 with respect to any action against an
Indemnified Party unless the Fund, Distributor or Adviser shall have notified Insurer in writing
within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the
nature of the action 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
Insurer of any such action shall not relieve Insurer from any liability which it may have to the
Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this Section 13.
1. In case any such action is brought against an Indemnified Party, Insurer shall be entitled to
participate, at its own expense, in the defense of such action. Insurer also shall be entitled to
assume the defense thereof, with counsel approved by the Indemnified Party named in the action,
which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. After notice from Insurer to such Indemnified
Party of Insurer’s election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party will cooperate
fully with Insurer and shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it,
and Insurer will not be liable to such Indemnified Party under this Agreement for any legal or
other expenses subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party independently in connection with the
defense thereof, other than reasonable costs of investigation.
13.2 Indemnification of Insurer and Contracts Distributor by Adviser.
(a) Except to the extent provided in Sections 13.2(d) and 13.2(e), below, Adviser agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless Insurer and Contracts Distributor, each of their directors and
officers, and each person, if any, who controls Insurer or Contracts Distributor within the meaning
of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties” for purposes of this Section
13.2) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in
settlement with the written
28
consent of Adviser) or actions in respect thereof (including, to the extent reasonable, legal
and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute, at
common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions are
related to the sale, acquisition, or holding of the Fund’s shares and:
(i) | arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Fund’s 1933 Act registration statement, Fund Prospectus, sales literature or advertising of the Fund or, to the extent not prepared by Insurer or Contracts Distributor, sales literature or advertising 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 Distributor, Adviser or the Fund by or on behalf of Insurer or Contracts Distributor for use in the Fund’s 1933 Act registration statement, Fund Prospectus, or in sales literature or advertising (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing); or | ||
(ii) | arise out of or as a result of any other statements or representations (other than statements or representations contained in the Separate Account’s 1933 Act registration statement, Separate Account Prospectus, sales literature or advertising for the Contracts, or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing, not supplied for use therein by or on behalf of Distributor, Adviser, or the Fund) or the negligent, |
29
illegal or fraudulent conduct of the Fund, Distributor, Adviser or persons under their control (including, without limitation, their employees and Associated Persons), in connection with the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Fund shares; or |
(iii) | arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Separate Account’s 1933 Act registration statement, Separate Account Prospectus, sales literature or advertising covering the Contracts, or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing, 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 statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to Insurer or Contracts Distributor by or on behalf of the Fund, Distributor or Adviser for use in the Separate Account’s 1933 Act registration statement, Separate Account Prospectus, sales literature or advertising covering the Contracts, or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing; or | ||
(iv) | arise as a result of any failure by the Fund, Adviser or Distributor to perform the obligations, provide the services and furnish the materials required of them under the terms of this Agreement; |
(b) Except to the extent provided in Sections 13.2(d) and 13.2(e) hereof, Adviser agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless the Indemnified Parties from and against any and all losses, claims,
damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement thereof with, except as set forth in
Section 13.2(c) below, the written consent of Adviser) or actions in respect thereof (including, to
the extent
30
reasonable, legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject
directly or indirectly under any statute, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or actions directly or indirectly result from or arise out of the
failure of any Portfolio to operate as a regulated investment company in compliance with (i)
Subchapter M of the Code and regulations thereunder and (ii) Section 817(h) of the Code and
regulations thereunder (except to the extent that such failure is caused by Insurer), including,
without limitation, any income taxes and related penalties, rescission charges, liability under
state law to Contract owners or Participants asserting liability against Insurer or Contracts
Distributor pursuant to the Contracts, the costs of any ruling and closing agreement or other
settlement with the Internal Revenue Service, and the cost of any substitution by Insurer of shares
of another investment company or portfolio for those of any adversely affected Portfolio as a
funding medium for the Separate Account that Insurer deems necessary or appropriate as a result of
the noncompliance.
(c) The written consent of Adviser referred to in Section 13.2(b) above shall not be required
with respect to amounts paid in connection with any ruling and closing agreement or other
settlement with the Internal Revenue Service.
(d) Adviser shall not be liable under this Section 13.2 with respect to any losses, claims;
damages, liabilities or actions to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason
of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance by that Indemnified Party
of its duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party’s reckless disregard of its obligations and
duties under this Agreement or to Insurer, Contracts Distributor or the Separate Account.
31
(e) Adviser shall not be liable under this Section 13.2 with respect to any action against an
Indemnified Party unless Insurer or Contracts Distributor shall have notified Adviser in writing
within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the
nature of the action 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
Adviser of any such action shall not relieve Adviser from any liability which it may have to the
Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this Section
13.2. In case any such action is brought against an Indemnified Party, Adviser will be entitled to
participate, at its own expense, in the defense of such action. Adviser also shall be entitled to
assume the defense thereof (which shall include, without limitation, the conduct of any ruling
request and closing agreement or other settlement proceeding with the Internal Revenue Service),
with counsel approved by the Indemnified Party named in the action, which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld. After notice from Adviser to such Indemnified Party of Adviser’s election
to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party will cooperate fully with Adviser and shall
bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and Adviser will not be liable
to such Indemnified Party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently
incurred by such Indemnified Party independently in connection with the defense thereof, other than
reasonable costs of investigation.
13.3 Effect of Notice.
Any notice given by the indemnifying Party to an Indemnified Party referred to in Section
13.1(c) or 13.2(e) above of participation in or control of any action by the indemnifying Party
will in no event be deemed to be an admission by the indemnifying Party of liability, culpability
or
32
responsibility, and the indemnifying Party will remain free to contest liability with respect
to the claim among the Parties or otherwise.
Section 14. Applicable Law
This Agreement will be construed and the provisions hereof interpreted under and in accordance
with New York law, without regard for that state’s principles of conflict of laws.
Section 15. Execution in Counterparts
This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which taken
together will constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 16. Severability
If any provision of this Agreement is held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule
or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement will not be affected thereby.
Section 17. Rights Cumulative
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, that the Parties are
entitled to under federal and state laws.
33
Section 18. Restrictions on Sales of Fund Shares
Insurer
agrees that the Fund will be permitted (subject to the other terms of this Agreement) to make its shares available to separate accounts of other life insurance companies.
Section 19. Headings
The Table of Contents and headings used in this Agreement are for purposes of reference only
and shall not limit or define the meaning of the provisions of this Agreement.
34
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed in their names and
on their behalf by and through their duly authorized officers signing below.
PACIFIC LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Assistant Vice President | |||
Attest: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Corporate Secretary | ||||
PACIFIC SELECT DISTRIBUTORS, INC. |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Title: | Vice President & Chief Financial Officer | |||
Attest: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Corporate Secretary | ||||
ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN LP |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President |
35
ALLIANCEBERNSTEIN INVESTMENTS, INC. |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Managing Director |
36
SCHEDULE A
AllianceBerstein Balanced Wealth Strategy Portfolio — Class B
37
SCHEDULE B
• | Pacific One Select | ||
• | Pacific One | ||
• | Pacific Odyssey | ||
• | Pacific Innovations Select | ||
• | Pacific Innovations | ||
• | Pacific Portfolios | ||
• | Pacific Portfolios for Chase | ||
• | Pacific Value | ||
• | Pacific Value Edge | ||
• | Pacific Voyages | ||
• | Pacific Explorer | ||
• | Pacific Journey |
Pacific Select Variable Annuity Separate Account of Pacific Life Insurance Company
• | Pacific Select Variable Annuity |
38