EXHIBIT 8(4)
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
-----------------------
AMONG
X. XXXX PRICE INTERNATIONAL SERIES, INC.,
X. XXXX PRICE EQUITY SERIES, INC.,
X. XXXX PRICE FIXED INCOME SERIES, INC.,
X. XXXX PRICE INVESTMENT SERVICES, INC.,
AND
AMERICAN NATIONAL LIFE
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of this ________ day of
________________________, 1997 by and among American National Life (hereinafter,
the "Company"), a Texas 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"), and the undersigned funds, each, a corporation organized under the
laws of Maryland (hereinafter referred to as the "Fund") and X. Xxxx Price
Investment Services, Inc. (hereinafter the "Underwriter"), a Maryland
corporation.
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 (hereinafter "Participating Insurance Companies"); and
WHEREAS, the beneficial interest in the Fund is divided into several series
of shares, each designated a "Portfolio" and representing the interest in a
particular managed portfolio of securities and other assets; and
WHEREAS, the Fund has obtained an order from the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("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, (hereinafter the "1940 Act") and Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and
6e-3(T) (b)(15) thereunder, to the extent necessary to permit shares of the Fund
to be sold to and held by variable annuity and variable life insurance separate
accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated life insurance companies
(hereinafter the "Shared Funding Exemptive Order"); and
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 (hereinafter the "1933 Act"); and
WHEREAS, X. Xxxx Price Associates, Inc. and Xxxx Xxxxx-Xxxxxxx
International, Inc. (each hereinafter referred to as the "Adviser") are each
duly registered as an investment adviser under the federal Investment Advisers
Act of 1940, as amended, and any applicable state securities laws; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register certain variable life
insurance or variable annuity contracts supported wholly or partially by the
Account (the "Contracts") under the 1933 Act, and said Contracts are listed in
Schedule A hereto, as it may be amended from time to time by mutual written
agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Account is duly established and maintained as a segregated
asset account, established by resolution of the Board of Directors of the
Company, on the date shown for such Account on Schedule A hereto, to set aside
and invest assets attributable to the aforesaid Contracts; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register the Account as a unit
investment trust under the 1940 Act; and
WHEREAS, the Underwriter is registered as a broker dealer with the SEC
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (hereinafter the "1934
Act"), and is a member in good standing of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (hereinafter "NASD"); and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Company intends to purchase shares 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
unit investment trusts such as the Account at net asset value;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Company, the
Fund and the Underwriter agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. Sale of Fund Shares
1.1 The Underwriter agrees to sell to the Company those shares of the
Designated Portfolios which the Account orders, executing such orders on a daily
basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by the Fund or its
designee of the order for the shares of the Designated Portfolios.
1.2 The Fund agrees to make shares of the Designated Portfolios available
for purchase at the applicable net asset value per share by the Company and the
Account on those days on which the Fund calculates its net asset value pursuant
to rules of the SEC, and the Fund
shall use its best efforts to calculate such net asset value on each day which
the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Board of Directors of the Fund (hereinafter the "Board") may refuse to sell
shares of any Designated Portfolio to any person, or suspend or terminate the
offering of shares of any Designated Portfolio if such action is required by law
or by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, or is, in the sole discretion
of the Board acting in good faith and in light of their fiduciary duties under
federal and any applicable state laws, necessary in the best interests of the
shareholders of such Designated Portfolio.
1.3 The Fund and the Underwriter agree that shares of the Fund will be
sold only to Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts. No
shares of any Designated Portfolios will be sold to the general public. The
Fund and the Underwriter will not sell Fund shares to any insurance company or
separate account unless an agreement containing provisions substantially the
same as Articles I and VII of this Agreement is in effect to govern such sales.
1.4 The Fund agrees to redeem, on the Company's request, any full or
fractional shares of the Designated Portfolios held by the Company, executing
such requests on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed after
receipt by the Fund or its designee of the request for redemption, except that
the Fund reserves the right to suspend the right of redemption or postpone the
date of payment or satisfaction upon redemption consistent with Section 22(e) of
the 1940 Act and any sales thereunder, and in accordance with the procedures and
policies of the Fund as described in the then current prospectus.
1.5 For purposes of Sections 1.1 and 1.4, the Company shall be the
designee of the Fund for receipt of purchase and redemption orders from the
Account, and receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund;
provided that the Company receives the order by 4:00 p.m. Baltimore time and the
Fund receives notice of such order by 9:30 a.m. Baltimore time on the next
following Business Day. "Business Day" shall mean any day on which the New York
Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which the Fund calculates its net
asset value pursuant to the rules of the SEC.
1.6 The Company agrees to purchase and redeem the shares of each
Designated Portfolio offered by the then current prospectus of the Fund and in
accordance with the provisions of such prospectus.
1.7 The Company shall pay for Fund shares on the next Business Day after
receipt of an order to purchase Fund shares. Payment shall be in federal funds
transmitted by wire by 4:00 p.m. Baltimore time. If payment in Federal Funds
for any purchase is not received or is received by the Fund after 4:00 p.m.
Baltimore time on such Business Day, 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 borrowings
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. For purposes of Section 2.8 and 2.9 hereof, upon receipt by the Fund
of the federal funds so wired, such funds shall cease to be the
responsibility of the Company and shall become the responsibility of the Fund.
1.8 Issuance and transfer of the Fund's shares will be by book entry only.
Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or any Account. Shares
ordered from the Fund will be recorded in an appropriate title for each Account
or the appropriate subaccount of each Account.
1.9 The Fund shall furnish same day notice (by wire or telephone, followed
by written confirmation) to the Company of any income, dividends or capital gain
distributions payable on the Designated Portfolios' shares. The Company hereby
elects to receive all such income, dividends, and capital gain distributions as
are payable on Designated Portfolio shares in additional shares of that
Portfolio. The Company reserves the right to revoke this election and to
receive all such income dividends and capital gain distributions in cash. The
Fund shall notify the Company of the number of shares so issued as payment of
such dividends and distributions. The Fund shall use its best efforts to
furnish advance notice of the day such dividends and distributions are expected
to be paid.
1.10 The Fund shall make the net asset value per share for each Designated
Portfolio available to the Company on a daily basis as soon as reasonably
practical after the net asset value per share is calculated (normally by 6:30
p.m. Baltimore time) and shall use its best efforts to make such net asset value
per share available by 7 p.m. Baltimore time.
1.11 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 1.3 and Article VI hereof) and the cash
value of the Contracts may be invested in other investment companies, provided,
however, that (a) such other investment company, or series thereof, has
investment objectives or policies that are different from the investment
objectives and policies of the Fund; or (b) the Company gives the Fund and the
Underwriter 45 days written notice of its intention to make such other
investment company available as a funding vehicle for the Contracts; or (c) such
other investment company was available as a funding vehicle for the Contracts
prior to the date of this Agreement and the Company so informs the Fund and
Underwriter prior to their signing this Agreement; or (d) the Fund or
Underwriter consents to the use of such other investment company, such consent
not to be unreasonably withheld.
ARTICLE II. Representations and Warranties
2.1 The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts are or will be
registered under the 1933 Act; that the Contracts will be issued and sold in
compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and state 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 and that it has legally and validly established the Account
prior to any issuance or sale thereof as a segregated asset account under the
Texas insurance laws and 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.
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 the laws of the state of Texas and all
applicable federal and state 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 currently does not intend to make any payments to finance
distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, although it may
make such payments in the future. To the extent that it decides to finance
distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1, the Fund will undertake to have a
Board, a majority of whom are not interested persons of the Fund, formulate and
approve any plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act to finance
distribution expenses.
2.4 The Fund makes no representations as to whether any aspect of its
operations, including but not limited to, investment policies, fees and
expenses, complies with the insurance and other applicable laws of the various
states, 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 the state of Texas to the extent required to perform this Agreement.
2.5 The Fund represents that it is lawfully organized and validly existing
under the laws of the State of Maryland 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 the State of Texas 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 the State of Texas and any applicable
state and federal securities laws.
2.8 The Fund and the Underwriter represent and warrant that all of their
directors, officers, employees, investment advisers, and other individuals or
entities dealing with the money and/or securities of the Fund are and shall
continue to be at all times covered by a blanket
fidelity bond or similar coverage for the benefit of the Fund in an amount not
less than the minimum coverage as required currently by Rule 17g-1 of the 1940
Act or related provisions as may be promulgated from time to time. The aforesaid
bond shall include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by
a reputable bonding company.
2.9 The Company represents and warrants that all of its directors,
officers, employees, and other individuals/entities employed or controlled by
the Company dealing with the money and/or securities of the Fund are covered by
a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage in an amount not less than $5
million. The aforesaid bond includes coverage for larceny and embezzlement and
is issued by a reputable bonding company. The Company agrees that any amounts
received under such bond in connection with claims that arise from the
arrangements described in this Agreement will be held by the Company for the
benefit of the Fund. The Company agrees to make all reasonable efforts to see
that this bond or another bond containing these provisions is always in effect,
and agrees to notify the Fund and the Underwriter in the event that such
coverage no longer applies. The Company agrees to exercise its best efforts to
ensure that other individuals/entities not employed or controlled by the Company
and dealing with the money and/or securities of the Fund maintain a similar bond
or coverage in a reasonable amount.
ARTICLE III. Prospectuses, Statements of Additional Information, and Proxy
Statements; Voting
3.1 The Underwriter shall provide the Company (at the Company's expense)
with as many copies of the Fund's current prospectus (describing only the
Designated Portfolios listed on Schedule A) as the Company may reasonably
request. If requested by the Company in lieu thereof, the Fund shall provide
such documentation (including a final copy of the new prospectus as set in type
at the Fund's expense) and other assistance as is reasonably necessary in order
for the Company once each year (or more frequently if the prospectus for the
Fund is amended) to have the prospectus for the Contracts and the Fund's
prospectus printed together in one document.
3.2 The Fund's prospectus shall state that the current Statement of
Additional Information ("SAI") for the Fund is available from the Company (or,
in the Fund's discretion, from the Fund), and the Underwriter (or the Fund), at
its expense, shall print, or otherwise reproduce, and provide a copy 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
(iii) vote Fund shares for which no instructions have been received in
the same proportion as Fund shares of such Designated Portfolio for which
instructions have been received, so long as and to the extent that the SEC
continues to interpret the 1940 Act to require pass-through voting privileges
for variable contract owners or to the extent otherwise required by law. The
Company reserves the right to vote Fund shares held in any segregated asset
account in its own right, 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.
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 with
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 directors or trustees and with whatever
rules the SEC 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, each piece of sales literature or other promotional material
that the Company develops or uses and in which the Fund (or a Portfolio thereof)
or the Adviser or the Underwriter is named, at least fifteen calendar days prior
to its use. No such material shall be used if the Fund or its designee
reasonably object to such use within fifteen calendar days after receipt of such
material. The Fund or its designee reserves the right to reasonably object to
the continued use of such material, 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.
4.3 The Fund, Underwriter, or its designee shall furnish, or shall cause
to be furnished, to the Company, each piece of sales literature or other
promotional material in which the Company, and/or its Account, is named at least
fifteen calendar days prior to its use. No such material shall be used if the
Company reasonably objects to such use within fifteen calendar days after
receipt of such material. The Company reserves the right to reasonably object
to the continued use of such material 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, 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.
4.6 The Company will provide to the Fund at least one complete copy of all
registration statements, prospectuses, 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.
4.7 For purposes of this Article IV, the phrase "sales literature and
other promotional materials" includes, but is not limited to, any of the
following that refer to the Fund or any affiliate of the Fund: advertisements
(such as material published, or designed for use in, a newspaper, magazine, or
other periodical, radio, television, telephone or tape recording, videotape
display, signs or billboards, motion pictures, or other public media), sales
literature (i.e., any written communication distributed or made generally
available to customers or the public, including brochures, circulars, reports,
market letters, form letters, seminar texts, reprints or excerpts of any other
advertisement, sales literature, or published article), educational or training
materials or other communications distributed or made generally available to
some or all agents or employees, and registration statements, prospectuses,
SAIs, shareholder reports, proxy materials, and any other communications
distributed or made generally available with regard to the Funds.
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 if the Fund or any Portfolio
adopts and implements a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 to finance distribution
expenses, then the Underwriter may make payments to the Company or to the
underwriter for the Contracts if and in amounts agreed to by the Underwriter in
writing, 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. Currently, no such payments are contemplated.
5.2 All expenses incident to performance by the Fund under this Agreement
shall be paid by the Fund, except as otherwise provided herein. 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 printing the Fund's prospectus
(in accordance with 3.1) and of distributing the Fund's prospectus, proxy
materials, and reports to Contract owners and prospective Contract owners.
ARTICLE VI. Diversification and Qualification
6.1 Subject to the Company's maintaining the treatment of the Contracts as
life insurance, endowment, or annuity contracts under applicable provisions of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and the regulations
issued thereunder (or any successor provisions), the Fund will invest its assets
in such a manner as to ensure that the Contracts will be treated as annuity,
endowment, or life insurance contracts, whichever is appropriate, under the Code
and the regulations issued thereunder (or any successor provisions). Without
limiting the scope of the foregoing, the Fund will comply with Section 817(h) of
the Code and Treasury Regulation (S)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 the Fund's compliance with Section 817(h) of the Code and
Treasury Regulation (S)1.817-5, and any Treasury interpretations thereof,
relating to the diversification requirements for variable annuity, endowment, or
life insurance contracts, any amendments or other modifications or successor
provisions to such Sections or Regulations, the Company represents that the
Contracts are currently, and at the time of issuance shall be, treated as life
insurance, endowment contracts, 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 apply effective
upon investment in the Fund by a separate account of a Participating Insurance
Company supporting variable life insurance contracts.
7.1 The Board will monitor the Fund for the existence of any material
irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the contract owners of all
separate accounts investing in the Fund. An irreconcilable material conflict
may arise for a variety of reasons, including: (a) an action by any state
insurance regulatory authority; (b) a change in applicable federal or state
insurance, tax, or securities laws or regulations, or a public ruling, private
letter ruling, no-action or interpretative letter, or any similar action by
insurance, tax, or securities regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative or
judicial decision in any relevant proceeding; (d) the manner in which the
investments of any Portfolio are being managed; (e) a difference in voting
instructions given by variable annuity contract and variable life insurance
contract owners; or (f) a decision by an insurer to disregard the voting
instructions of contract owners. The Board shall promptly inform the Company if
it determines that an irreconcilable material conflict exists and the
implications thereof.
7.2. The Company will report any potential or existing conflicts of which
it is aware to the Board. The Company will assist the Board in carrying out its
responsibilities under the 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 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 affected Account's
investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with respect to such Account
provided, however, that such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the
extent required by the foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined
by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board. 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 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 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 Shared Funding Exemptive Order) on terms and conditions
materially different from those contained in the 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, 3.6, 7.1., 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 of this Agreement
shall continue in effect only to the extent that terms and conditions
substantially identical to such Sections are contained in such Rule(s) as so
amended or adopted.
ARTICLE VIII. Indemnification
8.1 Indemnification By the Company
8.1(a). The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund
and the Underwriter and each of their officers and directors and each person, if
any, who controls the Fund or the 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 are related to the sale or
acquisition of the Fund's shares or the Contracts and:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements or alleged
untrue statements of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement,
prospectus, or statement of additional information for the Contracts or
contained in the Contracts or sales literature 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 statement of additional information for the Contracts
or in the Contracts or sales literature (or any amendment or supplement) or
otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares;
or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations
(other than statements or representations contained in the Registration
Statement, prospectus or sales literature of the Fund not supplied by the
Company or persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of the Company or
persons under its 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, 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,
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 and to settle the claim at its own expense; provided,
however, that no such settlement shall, without the Indemnified Parties' written
consent, include any factual stipulation referring to the Indemnified Parties or
their conduct. After notice from the Company to such party of the Company's
election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the
fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Company will
not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection with the defense
thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
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 officers and each person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 8.2)
against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid
in settlement with the written consent of the Underwriter) or litigation
(including legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become
subject under any statute or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect
thereof) or settlements are related to the sale or acquisition of the Fund's
shares or the Contracts; and
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement or
prospectus or SAI or sales literature of the Fund (or any amendment or
supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
provided that this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified
Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission was
made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the
Underwriter or Fund by or on behalf of the Company for use in the Registration
Statement or prospectus 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 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 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
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund to provide the
services and furnish the materials under the terms of this Agreement (including
a failure, whether unintentional or in good faith or otherwise, to comply with
the diversification and other qualification requirements specified in Article VI
of this Agreement); or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Underwriter in this Agreement or
arise out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by the
Underwriter;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.2(b) and
8.2(c) hereof.
8.2(b). The Underwriter shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or litigation to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be
subject by reason of such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or
gross 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 and to settle the claim at its own expense;
provided, however, that no such settlement shall, without the Indemnified
Parties' written consent, include any factual stipulation referring to the
Indemnified Parties or their conduct. After notice from the 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.
8.3 Indemnification By the Fund
8.3(a). The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company
and each of its directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the
Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the
"Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 8.3) against any and all
losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in
settlement with the written consent of the Fund) or litigation (including legal
and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may be required to pay or
may become subject under any statute or regulation, at common law or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities or expenses (or
actions in respect thereof) or settlements, are related to the operations of the
Fund and:
(i) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund to provide the
services and furnish the materials under the terms of this Agreement (including
a failure, whether unintentional or in good faith or otherwise, to comply with
the diversification and other qualification requirements specified in Article VI
of this Agreement); or
(ii) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Fund in this Agreement or arise out
of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by the Fund;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.3(b) and
8.3(c) hereof.
8.3(b). The Fund shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation
to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of such
Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the
performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified
Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement or to
the Company, the Fund, the Underwriter or the Account, whichever is applicable.
8.3(c). The Fund shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless
such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Fund in writing within a
reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
Indemnified Party (or after such indemnified Party shall have received notice of
such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Fund of any
such claim shall not relieve the Fund from any liability which it may have to
the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on
account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought
against the Indemnified Parties, the Fund will be entitled to participate, at
its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Fund also shall be entitled to
assume the expense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the
action and to settle the claim at its own expense; provided, however, that no
such settlement shall, without the Indemnified Parties' written consent, include
any factual stipulation referring to the Indemnified Parties or their
conduct. After notice from the Fund to such party of the Fund's election to
assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and
expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Fund will not be
liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection with the defense
thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
8.3(d). The Company and the Underwriter agree promptly to notify the
Fund of the commencement of any litigation or proceeding against it or any of
its respective officers or directors in connection with the Agreement, the
issuance or sale of the Contracts, the operation of the Account, or the sale or
acquisition of shares of the Fund.
ARTICLE IX. Applicable Law
9.1 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland.
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 Shared Funding Exemptive Order) and the
terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance therewith.
ARTICLE X. Termination
10.1 This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until the first
to occur of:
(a) termination by any party, for any reason with respect to some or
all Designated Portfolios, by six (6) months' advance written notice delivered
to the other parties; or
(b) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and the
Underwriter with respect to any Designated Portfolio based upon the Company's
determination that shares of the Fund are not reasonably available to meet the
requirements of the Contracts; provided that such termination shall apply only
to the Designated Portfolio not reasonably available; 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
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
Designated Portfolio ceases to qualify as a Regulated Investment Company under
Subchapter M or fails to comply with the Section 817(h) diversification
requirements specified in Article VI hereof, or if the Company reasonably
believes that such Designated Portfolio may fail to so qualify or comply; or
(g) termination by the Fund or Underwriter by written notice to the
Company in the event that the Contracts fail to meet the qualifications
specified in Article VI hereof; or
(h) termination by either the Fund or the Underwriter by written
notice to the Company, if either one or both of the Fund or the Underwriter
respectively, shall determine, in their sole judgment exercised in good faith,
that the Company has suffered a material adverse change in its business,
operations, financial condition, or prospects since the date of this Agreement
or is the subject of material adverse publicity; or
(i) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and the
Underwriter, if the Company shall determine, in its sole judgment exercised in
good faith, that the Fund 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 Fund or the Underwriter by written notice to
the Company, if the Company gives the Fund and the Underwriter the written
notice specified in Section 1.11 hereof and at the time such notice was given
there was no notice of termination outstanding under any other provision of this
Agreement; provided, however, any termination under this Section 10.1(j) shall
be effective sixty days after the notice specified in Section 1.11 was given.
10.2 Effect of Termination. 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").
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. The parties agree that this Section 10.2 shall not apply to any
termination under Article VII and the effect of such Article VII termination
shall be governed by Article VII of this Agreement. The parties further agree
that this Section 10.2 shall not apply to any termination under Section 10.1(g)
of this Agreement.
10.3 The Company shall not redeem Fund shares attributable to the Contracts
(as opposed to Fund shares attributable to the Company's assets held in the
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"), or (iii) as
permitted by an order of the SEC pursuant to Section 26(b) of the 1940 Act.
Upon request, the Company will promptly furnish to the Fund and the Underwriter
the opinion of counsel for the Company (which counsel shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the Fund and the Underwriter) to the effect that any redemption
pursuant to clause (ii) above is a Legally Required Redemption. Furthermore,
except in cases where permitted under the terms 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 90 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.
10.5 Any successor by law of the parties hereto shall be entitled to the
benefits of the indemnification provisions contained in Article VIII.
ARTICLE XI. Notices
Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or certified
mail to the other party at the address of such party set forth below or at such
other address as such party may from time to time specify in writing to the
other party.
If to the Fund:
X. Xxxx Price Associates, Inc.
000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
If to the Company:
If to Underwriter:
X. Xxxx Price Investment Services
000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Copy to: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
ARTICLE XII. Miscellaneous
12.1 All persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the property of
such Fund, and in the case of a series company, the respective Designated
Portfolio listed on Schedule A hereto as though such Designated Portfolio had
separately contracted with the Company and the Underwriter for the enforcement
of any claims against the Fund. The parties agree that neither the Board,
officers, agents or shareholders assume any personal liability or responsibility
for obligations entered into by or on behalf of the Fund.
12.2 Subject to the requirements of legal process and regulatory authority,
each party hereto shall treat as confidential the names and addresses of the
owners of the Contracts and all information reasonably identified as
confidential in writing by any other party hereto and, except
as permitted by this Agreement, shall not disclose, disseminate or utilize such
names and addresses and other confidential information without the express
written consent of the affected party until such time as such information may
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 Texas Insurance Commissioner with any information or
reports in connection with services provided under this Agreement which such
Commissioner may request in order to ascertain whether the variable annuity
operations of the Company are being conducted in a manner consistent with Texas
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.
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: AMERICAN NATIONAL LIFE
By its authorized officer
By:__________________________
Title:_______________________
Date:________________________
FUND: X. XXXX PRICE INTERNATIONAL
SERIES, INC.
By its authorized officer
By:__________________________
Title:_______________________
Date:________________________
FUND: X. XXXX PRICE EQUITY SERIES, INC.
By its authorized officer
By:__________________________
Title:_______________________
Date:________________________
FUND: X. XXXX PRICE FIXED INCOME SERIES, INC.
By its authorized officer
By:__________________________
Title:_______________________
Date:________________________
UNDERWRITER: X. XXXX PRICE INVESTMENT SERVICES, INC.
By its authorized officer
By:__________________________
Title:_______________________
Date:________________________
SCHEDULE A
----------
Name of Separate Account and Contracts Funded by
Date Established by Board of Directors Separate Account Designated Portfolios
--------------------------------------- ---------------- ---------------------
X. Xxxx Price International Series, Inc.
----------------------------------------
X. Xxxx Price International Stock
Portfolio
X. Xxxx Price Equity Series, Inc.
---------------------------------
X. Xxxx Price Equity Income Portfolio
X. Xxxx Price Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio
X. Xxxx Price Fixed Income Series, Inc.
---------------------------------------
X. Xxxx Price Limited-Term Bond Portfolio
