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EXHIBIT 8 (a)(k)
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN CANADA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF
AMERICA AND DREYFUS VARIABLE INVESTMENT FUND
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FUND PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
This Agreement is entered into as of the 1st day of May, 1996, between Canada
Life Insurance Company of America ("Insurance Company"), a life insurance
company organized under the laws of the State of Michigan, and DREYFUS VARIABLE
INVESTMENT FUND ("Fund"), an unincorporated business trust organized under the
laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 "Act" shall mean the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
1.2 "Board" shall mean the Board of Trustees of the Fund having the
responsibility for management and control of the Fund.
1.3 "Business Day" shall mean any day for which the Fund calculates net
asset value per share as described in the Fund's Prospectus.
1.4 "Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
1.5 "Contract" shall mean a variable annuity contract that uses the Fund as
an underlying investment medium. Individuals who participate under a
group Contract are "Participants".
1.6 "Contractholder" shall mean any entity that is a party to a Contract
with a Participating Company.
1.7 "Disinterested Board Members" shall mean those members of the Board that
are not deemed to be "interested persons" of the Fund, as defined by the
Act.
1.8 "Dreyfus" shall mean The Dreyfus Corporation and its affiliates,
including Dreyfus Service Corporation.
1.9 "Participating Companies" shall mean any insurance company (including
Insurance Company), which offers variable annuity and/or variable life
insurance contracts to the public and which has entered into an
agreement with the Fund for the purpose of making Fund shares available
to serve as the underlying investment medium for the aforesaid
Contracts.
1.10 "Prospectus" shall mean the Fund's current prospectus and statement of
additional information, as most recently filed with the Commission.
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1.11 "Separate Account" shall mean Variable Annuity Account I, a separate
account established by Insurance Company in accordance with the laws of
the State of Michigan.
1.12 "Software Program" shall mean the software program used by the Fund for
providing Fund and account balance information including net asset value
per share. Such Program may include the Lion System. In situations where
the Lion System or any other Software Program used by the Fund is not
available, such information may be provided by telephone. The Lion
System shall be provided to Insurance Company at no charge.
1.13 Insurance Company's General Account(s)" shall mean the general
account(s) of Insurance Company and its affiliates which invest in the
Fund.
ARTICLE II
REPRESENTATIONS
2.1 Insurance Company represents and warrants that (a) it is an insurance
company duly organized and in good standing under applicable law; (b) it
has legally and validly established the Separate Account pursuant to the
Michigan Insurance Code for the purpose of offering to the public
certain individual variable annuity contracts; (c) it has registered the
Separate Account as a unit investment trust under the Act to serve as
the segregated investment account for the Contracts; and (d) each
Separate Account is eligible to invest in shares of the Fund without
such investment disqualifying the Fund as an investment medium for
insurance company separate accounts supporting variable annuity
contracts or variable life insurance contracts.
2.2 Insurance Company represents and warrants that (a) the Contracts will be
described in a registration statement filed under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended ("1933 Act"); (b) the Contracts will be issued and sold
in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and
state laws; and (c) the sale of the Contracts shall comply in all
material respects with state insurance law requirements. Insurance
Company agrees to inform the Fund promptly of any investment
restrictions imposed by state insurance law and applicable to the Fund.
2.3 Insurance Company represents and warrants that the income, gains and
losses, whether or not realized, from assets allocated to the Separate
Account are, in accordance with the applicable Contracts, to be credited
to or charged against such Separate Account without regard to other
income, gains or losses from assets allocated to any other
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accounts of Insurance Company. Insurance Company represents and warrants
that the assets of the Separate Account are and will be kept separate
from Insurance Company's General Account and any other separate accounts
Insurance Company may have, and will not be charged with liabilities
from any business that Insurance Company may conduct or the liabilities
of any companies affiliated with Insurance Company.
2.4 Fund represents that the Fund is registered with the Commission under
the Act as an open-end, diversified management investment company and
possesses, and shall maintain, all legal and regulatory licenses,
approvals, consents and/or exemptions required for Fund to operate and
offer its shares as an underlying investment medium for Participating
Companies. The Fund has established six series of shares (each, a
"Series") and may in the future establish other series of shares.
2.5 Fund represents that it is currently qualified as a Regulated Investment
Company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), and that it will make every effort to maintain
such qualification (under Subchapter M or any successor or similar
provision) and that it will notify Insurance 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.
2.6 Insurance Company represents and agrees that the Contracts are
currently, and at the time of issuance will be, treated as life
insurance policies or annuity contracts, whichever is appropriate, 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 Dreyfus
immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the
Contracts have ceased to be so treated or that they might not be so
treated in the future. Insurance 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, will identify such
Contract as a modified endowment contract (or policy).
2.7 Fund agrees that the Fund's assets shall be managed and invested in a
manner that complies with the requirements of Section 817(h) of the
Code.
2.8 Insurance Company agrees that the Fund shall be permitted (subject to
the other terms of this Agreement) to make Series' shares available to
other Participating Companies and contractholders.
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2.9 Fund represents and warrants that any of its trustees, officers,
employees, investment advisers, and other individuals/entities who deal
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 that required by
Rule 17g-1 under the Act. The aforesaid Bond shall include coverage for
larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable bonding
company.
2.10 Insurance Company represents and warrants that all of its employees and
agents who deal 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 in an amount not less than the coverage required to be
maintained by the Fund. The aforesaid Bond shall include coverage for
larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable bonding
company.
2.11 Insurance Company agrees that Dreyfus shall be deemed a third party
beneficiary under this Agreement and may enforce any and all rights
conferred by virtue of this Agreement.
ARTICLE III
FUND SHARES
3.1 The Contracts funded through the Separate Account will provide for the
investment of certain amounts in the Series' shares.
3.2 Fund agrees to make the shares of its Series available for purchase at
the then applicable net asset value per share by Insurance Company and
the Separate Account on each Business Day pursuant to rules of the
Commission. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund may refuse to sell
the shares of any Series to any person, or suspend or terminate the
offering of the shares of any Series 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 its
fiduciary duties under federal and any applicable state laws, necessary
and in the best interests of the shareholders of such Series.
3.3 Fund agrees that shares of the Fund will be sold only to Participating
Companies and their separate accounts and to the general accounts of
those Participating Companies and their affiliates. No shares of any
Series will be sold to the general public.
3.4 Fund shall use its best efforts to provide closing net asset value,
dividend and capital gain information for each Series
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available on a per-share and Series basis to Insurance Company by 6:00
p.m. Eastern Time on each Business Day. Any material errors in the
calculation of net asset value, dividend and capital gain information
shall be reported immediately upon discovery to Insurance Company.
Non-material errors will be corrected in the next Business Day's net
asset value per share for the Series in question.
3.5 At the end of each Business Day, Insurance Company will use the
information described in Sections 3.2 and 3.4 to calculate the Separate
Account unit values for the day. Using this unit value, Insurance
Company will process the day's Separate Account transactions received by
it by the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange
(currently 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) to determine the net dollar amount of
Series shares which will be purchased or redeemed at that day's closing
net asset value per share for such Series. The net purchase or
redemption orders will be transmitted to the Fund by Insurance Company
by 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the Business Day next following Insurance
Company's receipt of that information. Subject to Sections 3.6 and 3.8,
all purchase and redemption orders for Insurance Company's General
Accounts shall be effected at the net asset value per share of the
relevant Series next calculated after receipt of the order by the Fund
or its Transfer Agent.
3.6 Fund appoints Insurance Company as its agent for the limited purpose of
accepting orders for the purchase and redemption of shares of each
Series for the Separate Account. Fund will execute orders for any Series
at the applicable net asset value per share determined as of the close
of trading on the day of receipt of such orders by Insurance Company
acting as agent ("effective trade date"), provided that the Fund
receives notice of such orders by 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the next
following Business Day and, if such orders request the purchase of
Series shares, the conditions specified in Section 3.8, as applicable,
are satisfied. A redemption or purchase request for any Series that does
not satisfy the conditions specified above and in Section 3.8, as
applicable, will be effected at the net asset value computed for such
Series on the Business Day immediately preceding the next following
Business Day upon which such conditions have been satisfied.
3.7 Insurance Company will make its best efforts to notify Fund in advance
of any unusually large purchase or redemption orders.
3.8 If Insurance Company's order requests the purchase of Series shares,
Insurance Company will pay for such purchases by wiring Federal Funds to
Fund or its designated custodial
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account on the day the order is transmitted. Insurance Company shall
make all reasonable efforts to transmit to the Fund payment in Federal
Funds by 12:00 noon Eastern Time on the Business Day the Fund receives
the notice of the order pursuant to Section 3.5. Fund will execute such
orders at the applicable net asset value per share determined as of the
close of trading on the effective trade date if Fund receives payment in
Federal Funds by 12:00 midnight Eastern Time on the Business Day the
Fund receives the notice of the order pursuant to Section 3.5. If
payment in Federal Funds for any purchase is not received or is received
by the Fund after 12:00 noon Eastern Time on such Business Day,
Insurance 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. If Insurance Company's order requests the
redemption of Series shares valued at or greater than $1 million
dollars, the Fund will wire such amount to Insurance Company within
seven days of the order.
3.9 Fund has the obligation to ensure that Series shares are registered with
applicable federal agencies at all times.
3.10 Fund will confirm each purchase or redemption order made by Insurance
Company. Transfer of Series shares will be by book entry only. No share
certificates will be issued to Insurance Company. Insurance Company will
record shares ordered from Fund in an appropriate title for the
corresponding account.
3.11 Fund shall credit Insurance Company with the appropriate number of
shares.
3.12 On each ex-dividend date of the Fund or, if not a Business Day, on the
first Business Day thereafter, Fund shall communicate to Insurance
Company the amount of dividend and capital gain, if any, per share of
each Series. All dividends and capital gains of any Series shall be
automatically reinvested in additional shares of the relevant Series at
the applicable net asset value per share of such Series on the payable
date. Fund shall, on the day after the payable date or, if not a
Business Day, on the first Business Day thereafter, notify Insurance
Company of the number of shares so issued.
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ARTICLE IV
STATEMENTS AND REPORTS
4.1 Fund shall provide monthly statements of account as of the end of each
month for all of Insurance Company's accounts by the fifteenth (15th)
Business Day of the following month.
4.2 Fund shall distribute to Insurance Company copies of the Fund's
Prospectuses, proxy materials, notices, periodic reports and other
printed materials (which the Fund customarily provides to its
shareholders) in quantities as Insurance Company may reasonably request
for distribution to each Contractholder and Participant.
4.3 Fund will provide to Insurance Company at least one complete copy of all
registration statements, Prospectuses, 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 with the Commission or other regulatory authorities.
4.4 Insurance Company will provide to the Fund at least one copy of all
registration statements, Prospectuses, 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 Contracts or the Separate Account, contemporaneously
with the filing of such document with the Commission.
ARTICLE V
EXPENSES
5.1 The charge to the Fund for all expenses and costs of the Series,
including but not limited to management fees, administrative expenses
and legal and regulatory costs, will be made in the determination of the
relevant Series' daily net asset value per share so as to accumulate to
an annual charge at the rate set forth in the Fund's Prospectus.
Excluded from the expense limitation described herein shall be brokerage
commissions and transaction fees and extraordinary expenses.
5.2 Except as provided in this Article V and, in particular in the next
sentence, Insurance Company shall not be required to pay directly any
expenses of the Fund or expenses relating to the distribution of its
shares. Insurance Company shall pay the following expenses or costs:
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a. Such amount of the production expenses of any Fund materials,
including the cost of printing the Fund's Prospectus, or
marketing materials for prospective Insurance Company
Contractholders and Participants as Dreyfus and Insurance
Company shall agree from time to time.
b. Distribution expenses of any Fund materials or marketing
materials for prospective Insurance Company Contractholders and
Participants.
c. Distribution expenses of Fund materials or marketing materials
for Insurance Company Contractholders and Participants.
Except as provided herein, all other Fund expenses shall not be borne by
Insurance Company.
ARTICLE VI
EXEMPTIVE RELIEF
6.1 Insurance Company has reviewed a copy of the order dated December 23,
1987 of the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 6(c) of the
Act and, in particular, has reviewed the conditions to the relief set
forth in the related Notice. As set forth therein, Insurance Company
agrees to report any potential or existing conflicts promptly to the
Board, and in particular whenever contract voting instructions are
disregarded, and recognizes that it will be responsible for assisting
the Board in carrying out its responsibilities under such application.
Insurance Company agrees to carry out such responsibilities with a view
to the interests of existing Contractholders.
6.2 If a majority of the Board, or a majority of Disinterested Board
Members, determines that a material irreconcilable conflict exists with
regard to Contractholder investments in the Fund, the Board shall give
prompt notice to all Participating Companies. If the Board determines
that Insurance Company is responsible for causing or creating said
conflict, Insurance Company shall at its sole cost and expense, and to
the extent reasonably practicable (as determined by a majority of the
Disinterested Board Members), take such action as is necessary to remedy
or eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict. Such necessary action
may include, but shall not be limited to:
a. Withdrawing the assets allocable to the Separate Account from
the Series and reinvesting such assets in a different investment
medium, or submitting the question of whether such segregation
should be
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implemented to a vote or all affected Contractholders; and/or
b. Establishing a new registered management investment company.
6.3 If a material irreconcilable conflict arises as a result of a decision
by Insurance Company to disregard Contractholder voting instructions and
said decision represents a minority position or would preclude a
majority vote by all Contractholders having an interest in the Fund,
Insurance Company may be required, at the Board's election, to withdraw
the Separate Account's investment in the Fund.
6.4 For the purpose of this Article, a majority of the Disinterested Board
Members shall determine whether or not any proposed action adequately
remedies any irreconcilable material conflict, but in no event will the
Fund be required to bear the expense of establishing a new funding
medium for any Contract. Insurance Company shall not be required by this
Article to establish a new funding medium for any Contract if an offer
to do so has been declined by vote of a majority of the Contractholders
materially adversely affected by the irreconcilable material conflict.
6.5 No action by Insurance Company taken or omitted, and no action by the
Separate Account or the Fund taken or omitted as a result of any act or
failure to act by Insurance Company pursuant to this Article VI shall
relieve Insurance Company of its obligations under, or otherwise affect
the operation of, Article V.
ARTICLE VII
VOTING OF FUND SHARES
7.1 Fund shall provide Insurance Company with copies at no cost to Insurance
Company, of the Fund's proxy material, reports to shareholders and other
communications to shareholders in such quantity as Insurance Company
shall reasonably require for distributing to Contractholders or
Participants.
Insurance Company shall:
(a) solicit voting instructions from Contractholders or Participants
on a timely basis and in accordance with applicable law;
(b) vote the Series shares in accordance with instructions received
from Contractholders or Participants; and
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(c) vote Series shares for which no instructions have been received
in the same proportion as Series shares for which instructions
have been received.
Insurance Company agrees at all times to vote its General Account shares
in the same proportion as Series shares for which instructions have been
received from Contractholders or Participants. Insurance Company further
agrees to be responsible for assuring that voting Fund shares for the
Separate Account is conducted in a manner consistent with other
Participating Companies.
7.2 Insurance Company agrees that it shall not, without the prior written
consent of the Fund and Dreyfus, solicit, induce or encourage
Contractholders to (a) change or supplement the Fund's current
investment adviser or (b) change, modify, substitute, add to or delete
the Fund from the current investment media for the Contracts.
ARTICLE VIII
MARKETING AND REPRESENTATIONS
8.1 The Fund or its underwriter shall periodically furnish Insurance Company
with the following documents, in quantities as Insurance Company may
reasonably request:
a. Current Prospectus and any supplements thereto;
b. other marketing materials.
Expenses for the production of such documents shall be borne by
Insurance Company in accordance with Section 5.2 of this Agreement.
8.2 Insurance Company shall designate certain persons or entities which
shall have the requisite licenses to solicit applications for the sale
of Contracts. No representation is made as to the number or amount of
Contracts that are to be sold by Insurance Company. Insurance Company
shall make reasonable efforts to market the Contracts and shall comply
with all applicable federal and state laws in connection therewith.
8.3 Insurance Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the
Fund, each piece of sales literature or other promotional material in
which the Fund, its investment adviser or the administrator is named, at
least fifteen Business Days prior to its use. No such material shall be
used unless the Fund approves such material. Such approval (if given)
must be in writing and shall be presumed not given if not received
within ten Business Days after receipt
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of such material. The Fund shall use all reasonable efforts to respond
within ten days of receipt.
8.4 Insurance Company shall not give any information or make any
representations or statements on behalf of the Fund or concerning the
Fund or any Series in connection with the sale of the Contracts other
than the information or representations contained in the registration
statement or Prospectus, as 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.
8.5 Fund shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to Insurance
Company, each piece of the Fund's sales literature or other promotional
material in which Insurance Company or the Separate Account is named, at
least fifteen Business Days prior to its use. No such material shall be
used unless Insurance Company approves such material. Such approval (if
given) must be in writing and shall be presumed not given if not
received within ten Business Days after receipt of such material.
Insurance Company shall use all reasonable efforts to respond within ten
days of receipt.
8.6 Fund shall not, in connection with the sale of Series shares, give any
information or make any representations on behalf of Insurance Company
or concerning Insurance Company, the Separate Account, or the Contracts
other than the information or representations contained in a
registration statement or prospectus for the Contracts, as may be
amended or supplemented from time to time, or in published reports for
the Separate Account which are in the public domain or approved by
Insurance Company for distribution to Contractholders or Participants,
or in sales literature or other promotional material approved by
Insurance Company.
8.7 For purposes of this Agreement, the phrase "sales literature or other
promotional material" or words of similar import include, without
limitation, 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 (such as any
written communication distributed or made generally available to
customers or the public, including brochures, circulars, research
reports, market letters, form letters, seminar texts, or 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, registration statements, prospectuses, statements of
additional information, shareholder reports
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and proxy materials, and any other material constituting sales
literature or advertising under National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. rules, the Act or the 1933 Act.
ARTICLE IX
INDEMNIFICATION
9.1 Insurance Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund,
Dreyfus, any sub-investment adviser of a Series, and their affiliates,
and each of their directors, trustees, officers, employees, agents and
each person, if any, who controls or is associated with any of the
foregoing entities or persons within the meaning of the 1933 Act
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of Section 9.1),
against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities joint or
several (including any investigative, legal and other expenses
reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amounts paid in
settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted) for
which the Indemnified Parties may become subject, under the 1933 Act or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect to thereof) (i) arise out of or are based upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact
contained in information furnished by Insurance Company for use in the
registration statement or Prospectus or sales literature or
advertisements of the Fund or with respect to the Separate Account or
Contracts, 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; (ii) arise
out of or as a result of conduct, statements or representations (other
than statements or representations contained in the Prospectus and sales
literature or advertisements of the Fund) of Insurance Company or its
agents, with respect to the sale and distribution of Contracts for which
Series' shares are an underlying investment; (iii) arise out of the
wrongful conduct of Insurance Company or persons under its control with
respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Series' shares;
(iv) arise out of Insurance Company's incorrect calculation and/or
untimely reporting of net purchase or redemption orders; or (v) arise
out of any breach by Insurance Company of a material term of this
Agreement or as a result of any failure by Insurance Company to provide
the services and furnish the materials or to make any payments provided
for in this Agreement. Insurance Company will reimburse any Indemnified
Party in connection with investigating or defending any such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that with respect
to clauses (i) and (ii) above Insurance Company will not be liable in
any such case to the extent that any such
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loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such
registration statement, prospectus, sales literature, or advertisement
in conformity with written information furnished to Insurance Company by
the Fund specifically for use therein. This indemnity agreement will be
in addition to any liability which Insurance Company may otherwise have.
9.2 The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Insurance Company and
each of its directors, officers, employees, agents and each person, if
any, who controls Insurance Company within the meaning of the 1933 Act
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which Insurance
Company or any such director, officer, employee, agent or controlling
person may become subject, under the 1933 Act or otherwise, insofar as
such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof) (1) 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 sales literature or
advertisements of the Fund; (2) arise out of or are based upon the
omission to state in the registration statement or Prospectus or sales
literature or advertisements of the Fund any material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading; or (3) 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 sales literature or
advertisements with respect to the Separate Account or the Contracts and
such statements were based on information provided to Insurance Company
by the Fund; and the Fund will reimburse any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by Insurance Company or any such director, officer,
employee, agent or controlling person in connection with investigating
or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action;
provided, however, that the Fund will not be liable in any such case to
the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of
or is based upon an untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
made in such Registration Statement, Prospectus, sales literature or
advertisements in conformity with written information furnished to the
Fund by Insurance Company specifically for use therein. This indemnity
agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Fund may
otherwise have.
9.3 The Fund shall indemnify and hold Insurance Company harmless against any
and all liability, loss, damages, costs or expenses which Insurance
Company may incur, suffer or be required to pay due to the Fund's (1)
incorrect calculation of the daily net asset value, dividend rate or
capital gain distribution rate of a Series; (2) incorrect reporting of
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the daily net asset value, dividend rate or capital gain distribution
rate; and (3) untimely reporting of the net asset value, dividend rate
or capital gain distribution rate; provided that the Fund shall have no
obligation to indemnify and hold harmless Insurance Company if the
incorrect calculation or incorrect or untimely reporting was the result
of incorrect information furnished by Insurance Company or information
furnished untimely by Insurance Company or otherwise as a result of or
relating to a breach of this Agreement by Insurance Company.
9.4 Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Article of
notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will,
if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying
party under this Article, notify the indemnifying party of the
commencement thereof. The omission to so notify the indemnifying party
will not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability under this
Article IX, except to the extent that the omission results in a failure
of actual notice to the indemnifying party and such indemnifying party
is damaged solely as a result of the failure to give such notice. In
case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it
notified the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the
indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the
extent that it may wish, assume the defense thereof, with counsel
satisfactory to such indemnified party, and to the extent that the
indemnifying party has given notice to such effect to the indemnified
party and is performing its obligations under this Article, the
indemnifying party shall not be liable for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the
defense thereof, other than reasonable costs of investigation.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any such proceeding, any indemnified
party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and
expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified
party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall
have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named
parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include
both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation
of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual
or potential differing interests between them. The indemnifying party
shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected
without its written consent.
A successor by law of the parties to this Agreement shall be entitled to
the benefits of the indemnification contained in this Article IX.
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9.5 Insurance Company shall indemnify and hold the Fund, Dreyfus and any
sub-investment adviser of a Series harmless against any tax liability
incurred by the Fund under Section 851 of the Code arising from
purchases or redemptions by Insurance Company's General Accounts or the
account of its affiliates.
ARTICLE X
COMMENCEMENT AND TERMINATION
10.1 This Agreement shall be effective as of the date hereof and shall
continue in force until terminated in accordance with the provisions
herein.
10.2 This Agreement shall terminate without penalty as to one or more Series
at the option of the terminating party:
a. At the option of Insurance Company or the Fund at any time from
the date hereof upon 180 days' notice, unless a shorter time is
agreed to by the parties;
b. At the option of Insurance Company, if shares of any Series are
not reasonably available to meet the requirements of the
Contracts as determined by Insurance Company. Prompt notice of
election to terminate shall be furnished by Insurance Company,
said termination to be effective ten days after receipt of
notice unless the Fund makes available a sufficient number of
shares to meet the requirements of the Contracts within said
ten-day period;
c. At the option of Insurance Company, upon the institution of
formal proceedings against the Fund by the Commission, National
Association of Securities Dealers or any other regulatory body,
the expected or anticipated ruling, judgment or outcome of which
would, in Insurance Company's reasonable judgment, materially
impair the Fund's ability to meet and perform the Fund's
obligations and duties hereunder. Prompt notice of election to
terminate shall be furnished by Insurance Company with said
termination to be effective upon receipt of notice;
d. At the option of the Fund, upon the institution of formal
proceedings against Insurance Company by the Commission,
National Association of Securities Dealers or any other
regulatory body, the expected or anticipated ruling, judgment or
outcome of which would, in the Fund's reasonable judgment,
materially impair Insurance Company's ability to meet and
perform Insurance Company's obligations and duties hereunder.
Prompt notice of election to terminate shall be
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furnished by the Fund with said termination to be effective upon
receipt of notice;
e. At the option of the Fund, if the Fund shall determine, in its
sole judgment reasonably exercised in good faith, that Insurance
Company has suffered a material adverse change in its business
or financial condition or is the subject of material adverse
publicity and such material adverse change or material adverse
publicity is likely to have a material adverse impact upon the
business and operation of the Fund or Dreyfus, the Fund shall
notify Insurance Company in writing of such determination and
its intent to terminate this Agreement, and after considering
the actions taken by Insurance Company and any other changes in
circumstances since the giving of such notice, such
determination of the Fund shall continue to apply on the
sixtieth (60th) day following the giving of such notice, which
sixtieth day shall be the effective date of termination;
f. Upon termination of the Investment Advisory Agreement between
the Fund and Dreyfus or its successors unless Insurance Company
specifically approves the selection of a new Fund investment
adviser. The Fund shall promptly furnish notice of such
termination to Insurance Company;
g. In the event the Fund's shares are not registered, issued or
sold in accordance with applicable federal law, or such law
precludes the use of such shares as the underlying investment
medium of Contracts issued or to be issued by Insurance Company.
Termination shall be effective immediately upon such occurrence
without notice;
h. At the option of the Fund upon a determination by the Board in
good faith that it is no longer advisable and in the best
interests of shareholders for the Fund to continue to operate
pursuant to this Agreement. Termination pursuant to this
Subsection (h) shall be effective upon notice by the Fund to
Insurance Company of such termination;
i. At the option of the Fund if the Contracts cease to qualify as
annuity contracts or life insurance policies, as applicable,
under the Code, or if the Fund reasonably believes that the
Contracts may fail to so qualify;
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j. At the option of either party to this Agreement, upon another
party's breach of any material provision of this Agreement;
k. At the option of the Fund, if the Contracts are not registered,
issued or sold in accordance with applicable federal and/or
state law; or
1. Upon assignment of this Agreement, unless made with the written
consent of the non-assigning party.
Any such termination pursuant to Section 10.2a, 10.2d, 10.2e, 10.2f or
10.2k herein shall not affect the operation of Article V of this
Agreement. Any termination of this Agreement shall not affect the
operation of Article IX of this Agreement.
10.3 Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section
10.2 hereof, the Fund and Dreyfus may, at the option of the Fund,
continue to make available additional Series shares for so long as the
Fund desires pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement as
provided below, for all Contracts in effect on the effective date of
termination of this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as "Existing
Contracts"). Specifically, without limitation, if the Fund or Dreyfus so
elects to make additional Series shares available, the owners of the
Existing Contracts or Insurance Company, whichever shall have legal
authority to do so, shall be permitted to reallocate investments in the
Series, redeem investments in the Fund and/or invest in the Fund upon
the making of additional purchase payments under the Existing Contracts.
In the event of a termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 10.2
hereof, the Fund and Dreyfus, as promptly as is practicable under the
circumstances, shall notify Insurance Company whether Dreyfus and the
Fund will continue to make Series shares available after such
termination. If Series shares continue to be made available after such
termination, the provisions of this Agreement shall remain in effect and
thereafter either the Fund or Insurance Company may terminate the
Agreement, as so continued pursuant to this Section 10.3, upon prior
written notice to the other party, such notice to be for a period that
is reasonable under the circumstances but, if given by the Fund, need
not be for more than six months.
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ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS
11.1 Any other changes in the terms of this Agreement shall be made by
agreement in writing between Insurance Company and Fund.
ARTICLE XII
NOTICE
12.1 Each notice required by this Agreement shall be given by certified mail,
return receipt requested, to the appropriate parties at the following
addresses:
Insurance Company: Canada Life Insurance Company of America
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Fund: Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
with copies to: The Dreyfus Corporation
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Stroock & Stroock & Xxxxx
0 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxx, Esq.
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Notice shall be deemed to be given on the date of receipt by the
addresses as evidenced by the return receipt.
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS
13.1 This Agreement has been executed on behalf of the Fund by the
undersigned officer of the Fund in his capacity as an officer of the
Fund. The obligations of this Agreement shall only be binding upon the
assets and property of the Fund and shall not be binding upon any
Trustee, officer or shareholder of the Fund individually.
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ARTICLE XIV
LAW
14.1 This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the internal laws
of the State of New York, without giving effect to principles of
conflict of laws.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement to be duly
executed and attested as of the date first above written.
CANADA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
-------------------------------------
Its: Assistant Secretary
-------------------------------------
Attest: /s/
--------------------------
DREYFUS VARIABLE INVESTMENT FUND
By: /s/ Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
--------------------------------------
Its: Vice President and Assistant Secretary
--------------------------------------
Attest: /s/
--------------------------
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