PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT Among VAN ECK WORLDWIDE INSURANCE TRUST VAN ECK SECURITIES CORPORATION VAN ECK ASSOCIATES CORPORATION and PROTECTIVE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
Exhibit 30(h)(21)
FILE COPY
Among
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ WORLDWIDE INSURANCE TRUST
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ SECURITIES CORPORATION
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ASSOCIATES CORPORATION
and
PROTECTIVE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into to be effective on May 1, 1999, by and among Protective Life and Annuity Insurance Company, (hereinafter the “Company”), an Alabama corporation, on its own behalf and on behalf of each segregated asset account of the Company set forth on Schedule A hereto and incorporated herein by this reference, as such Schedule A may from time to time be amended by mutual written agreement of the parties hereto (each such account hereinafter referred to as the “Account”), and ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ WORLDWIDE INSURANCE TRUST, an unincorporated business trust organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (hereinafter the “Fund”), ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ SECURITIES CORPORATION (hereinafter the “Underwriter”), a Delaware corporation and ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ASSOCIATES CORPORATION (hereinafter the “Adviser”), a Delaware corporation.
WHEREAS, the Fund engages in business as an open-end management investment company and is available to act as the investment vehicle for separate accounts established for variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (hereafter referred to collectively as the “Variable Insurance Products”) to be offered by insurance companies which have entered into participation agreements with the Fund and the Underwriter (hereinafter the “Participating Insurance Companies”); and
WHEREAS, the beneficial interest in the Fund is divided into several series of shares, each representing the interest in a particular managed portfolio of securities and other assets (each such series hereinafter referred to as a “Portfolio”); and
WHEREAS, the Fund has obtained an order from the Securities and Exchange Commission (hereinafter the “SEC”) (File No. 811-5083), 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 Order”); and
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment company under the 1940 Act and its shares are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (hereinafter the “1933 Act”); and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register certain variable life insurance and variable annuity contracts (the “Contracts”) under the 1933 Act, unless such contracts are exempt from registration thereunder; and
WHEREAS, each Account is a duly organized, validly existing 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 variable life insurance and variable annuity contracts; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register each Account as a unit investment trust under the 1940 Act, unless such Account is exempt from registration thereunder; 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 the “NASD”); and
WHEREAS, the Adviser is duly registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and any applicable state securities law; and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and regulations, the Company intends to purchase shares in the Portfolios on behalf of each Account to fund certain of the aforesaid variable life and variable annuity contracts and the Underwriter is authorized to sell such shares to unit investment trusts such as each Account at net asset value;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Company, the Fund, the Underwriter and the Adviser agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Sale of Fund Shares
1.1. The Underwriter agrees to sell to the Company those shares of the Portfolios (which are listed on Schedule B attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference, as such Schedule B may from time to time be amended by mutual written agreement of the parties hereto) which each Account orders, executing such orders on a daily basis at the net asset value per share next computed after receipt by the Fund or its designee of the order for the shares of the Portfolios subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. For purposes of this Section 1.1, the Company shall be the designee of the Fund for receipt of such orders from each Account and receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund; provided that the Fund receives notice of such order by 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, on the next following Business Day; however, the company undertakes to use its best efforts to provide such notice to the Fund by no later than 9:30 a.m. Eastern time. “Business Day” shall mean any day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for business and on which the Fund calculates the Portfolios’ net asset values pursuant to the rules of the SEC.
1.2. The Fund agrees to make Portfolio shares available for purchase at the applicable net asset value per share by the Company and its Accounts on those days on which the Fund calculates net asset values pursuant to the rules of the SEC and the Fund shall use reasonable efforts to calculate such net asset values on each day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Trustees of the Fund (hereinafter the “Board”) may refuse to sell shares of any Portfolio to any person, or suspend or terminate the offering of shares of any Portfolio, if such action is required by law or by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction, or if it 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, in the best interests of the shareholders of such 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 or other accounts (e.g., qualified retirement plans) as may be permitted so that the Variable Insurance Products continue to qualify as a “life insurance, annuity or variable contract” under Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (hereinafter the “Code”). No shares of any Portfolio will be sold to the general public.
1.4. The Fund and the Underwriter will not sell Fund shares to any insurance company, separate account or other account unless an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as Article I, Section 2.5 of Article II, Sections 3.4 and 3.5 of Article III, Article V and Article VII of this Agreement is in effect to govern such sales.
1.5. Subject to its rights under Section 18(f) of the 1940 Act, the Fund agrees to redeem for cash, on the Company’s request, any full or fractional shares of a Portfolio held by the Company, executing such requests on a daily basis at the net asset value per share next computed after receipt by the Fund or its designee of the request for redemption. For purposes of this Section 1.5, the Company shall be the designee of the Fund for receipt of requests for redemption from each Account and receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund; provided that the Fund receives notice of such request for redemption by 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on the next following Business Day; however, the Company undertakes to use its best efforts to provide such notice to the Fund by no later than 9:30 a.m. Eastern time. Payment of redemption proceeds for any whole or fractional shares shall be made within seven days of actual receipt of the redemption request by the Fund, or within such greater or lesser period as may be permitted by law or rule, regulation, interpretive position or order of the SEC; provided that if the Fund does not pay for the Fund shares that are redeemed on the next Business Day after a request to redeem shares is made, then the Fund shall apply any such delay in redemptions uniformly to all holders of shares of that Portfolio. Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire pursuant to the instructions of the Company or by a credit toward any shares purchased on the Business Day on which the redemption payment is made.
1.6. The Company agrees that purchases and redemptions of Portfolio shares offered by the then-current prospectus of the Fund shall be made in accordance with the provisions of such prospectus. The Company agrees that all net amounts available in the Accounts which are listed in Schedule A attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference, as such Schedule A may from time to time be amended by mutual written agreement of the parties hereto, shall be invested in the Portfolios and in such other funds advised by the Adviser as are listed in Schedule B, or in the Company’s general account; provided that such amounts may also be invested in an investment company other than the Fund if (a) such other investment company, or series thereof, has investment objectives or policies that are substantially different from the investment objectives and policies of the Portfolios of the Fund listed on Schedule B to this Agreement; 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 (a list of such funds appearing on Schedule C to this Agreement); or (d) the Fund or Underwriter consents in writing to the use of such other investment company.
1.7. The Company shall pay for Portfolio shares on the next Business Day after an order to purchase such shares is made in accordance with the provisions of this Article I. Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire or by a credit for any shares redeemed. For purposes of Sections 2.10 and 2.11, 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 Portfolios’ shares. The Company hereby elects to receive all such income dividends and capital gain distributions as are payable on the 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.
1.10. The Fund shall make the net asset value per share for each Portfolio available to the Company on a daily basis as soon as reasonably practical after the net asset value per share is calculated, and shall use its best efforts to make such net asset value per share available by 6:30 p.m., Eastern Time. If the Fund provides materially incorrect share net asset value information, the Fund shall make an adjustment to the number of shares purchased or redeemed for the Accounts to reflect the correct net asset value per share. Any material error in the calculation or reporting of net asset value per share, dividend or capital gains information shall be reported promptly upon discovery to the Company.
ARTICLE II
Representations and Warranties
2.1. The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts are or will be registered under the 1933 Act or exempt therefrom; 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 each Account prior to any issuance or sale thereof as a segregated asset account under the Insurance Code and Regulations of the State of Tennessee, and has registered or, prior to any issuance or sale of the Contracts, will, unless exempt from registration, register each 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. Subject to Article IV hereof, the Company represents that it believes that the Contracts are currently and at the time of issuance will be eligible for treatment as life insurance or annuity 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 promptly upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Contracts may have ceased to be so treated or that they might not be so treated in the future.
2.3. The Company represents and warrants that all of its directors/trustees, employees, investment advisers and other individuals/entities dealing with 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 $5 million. The aforesaid bond shall include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable bonding company. The Company shall notify the Fund, the Underwriter and the Adviser in the event that such coverage no longer applies.
2.4. The Fund represents and warrants that Fund shares sold pursuant to this Agreement are registered under the 1933 Act, duly authorized for issuance and sale in compliance in all material respects with the terms of this Agreement and all applicable federal and state securities laws, and that, while shares of the Portfolios are being offered for sale, the Fund is and shall remain registered under the 1940 Act. The Fund shall amend its Registration Statement under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of Portfolio shares. The Fund shall register or otherwise 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.
2.5. The Fund represents that each Portfolio is 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 provision) and that it will notify the Company promptly upon having determined that any Portfolio may have ceased to so qualify or that it might not so qualify in the future.
2.6. The Fund currently does not intend to make any payments to finance distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act or otherwise, although it may make such payments in the future. To the extent that it decides to finance distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-l, the Fund undertakes to have a board of trustees, a majority of whom are not interested persons of the Fund, formulate and approve any plan under Rule 12b-1 to finance distribution expenses.
2.7. The Fund makes no representation as to whether any aspect of its operations (including, but not limited to, fees, expenses and investment policies) complies with the insurance laws or regulations of the various states except that the Fund represents that the Fund has disclosed or made available, in writing, all information requested by Company and represents and warrants that such written information is true and accurate in all material respects as of the effective date of this Agreement. Without prior written notice to the Company, the Fund will not make any changes in fundamental investment policies or advisory fees, and shall at all times remain in compliance with federal securities law as it applies to insurance products. The Company will use its best efforts to provide the Fund with copies of amendments to provisions of state insurance laws and regulations related to separate accounts and variable products, which may affect Fund operations.
2.8. The Fund represents that it is lawfully organized and validly existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that it does and will comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act.
2.9. 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 Portfolio shares to the Company in accordance with all applicable state and federal securities laws, including, without limitation, the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇.
2.10. The Adviser represents and warrants that it is and shall remain duly registered in all material respects under all applicable federal and state securities laws and that it shall perform its obligations for the Fund in compliance in all material respects with any applicable state and federal securities laws.
2.11. The Fund, the Underwriter and the Adviser represent and warrant that all of their directors/trustees, officers, employees, investment advisers and other individuals/entities dealing with 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 by Rule 17g-1 of the 1940 Act or related provisions as may from time to time be promulgated. The aforesaid bond shall include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable bonding company. The Fund shall notify the Company in the event such coverage no longer applies.
ARTICLE III
Prospectuses and Proxy Statements; Voting
3.1. The Underwriter shall provide the Company (at the Underwriter’s expense) with as many copies of the Fund’s current prospectus 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 (or private offering memorandum, if a Contract and its associated Account are exempt from registration) for the Contracts and the Fund’s prospectus printed together in one document (such printing to be at the Company’s expense unless otherwise agreed upon in writing by the Company and the Underwriter or the Company and the Adviser).
3.2. The Fund’s prospectus shall state that the Statement of Additional Information for the Fund is available from the Underwriter (or in the Fund’s discretion, from the Fund), and the Underwriter (or the Fund), at its expense, shall provide such Statement of Additional Information free of charge to the Company and to any owner of a Contract or prospective owner who requests such Statement.
3.3. The Fund, at its expense, shall provide the Company with copies of its proxy statements, reports to shareholders, and other communications to shareholders in such quantity as the Company shall reasonably require for distributing to Contract owners.
3.4. If and to the extent required by law, the Company shall:
(i) solicit voting instructions from Contract owners;
(ii) vote Portfolio shares in accordance with instructions received from Contract owners; and
(iii) vote Portfolio shares for which no instructions have been received in the same proportion as shares of such 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. The Company reserves the right to vote Fund shares held in any account in its own right, to the extent permitted by law. The Company shall be responsible for assuring that each of its separate accounts participating in the Fund calculates voting privileges in a manner consistent with the standards set forth in the Shared Funding Order and rules and regulations of the SEC, which standards will also be provided to other Participating Insurance Companies.
3.5 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 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 in which the Fund, the Underwriter or the Adviser is named, at least fifteen Business Days prior to its use. No such material shall be used if the Fund or its designee reasonably objects in writing to such use within fifteen business days after receipt of such material.
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 for the Fund, as such registration statement and prospectus may from time to time be amended or supplemented, or in reports or proxy statements for the Fund, or in sales literature or other promotional material provided to the Company by the Fund or its designee or by the Underwriter, except with the permission of the Fund or its designee. The Fund agrees to respond to any request for approval on a prompt and timely basis.
4.3. The Fund, the Underwriter or their designee shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the Company or its designee, each piece of sales literature or other promotional material in which the Company and/or its separate account(s), is named at least fifteen Business Days prior to its use. No such material shall be used if the Company reasonably objects in writing to such use within fifteen business days after receipt of such material.
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, each Account, or the Contracts other than the information or representations contained in a registration statement or prospectus for the Contracts, as such registration statement and prospectus may from time to time be amended or supplemented, or in published reports 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, Statements of Additional Information, 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 any of the Portfolios or their shares, promptly following the filing of such document 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, Statements of Additional Information, 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 each Account, promptly following the filing of such document with the SEC or other regulatory authorities; and, if a Contract and its associated Account are exempt from registration, the equivalents to the above.
4.7. For purposes of this Agreement, the phrase “sales literature or other promotional material” 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 or electronic 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, research 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.
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 as provided herein or in any other written agreement.
5.2. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Agreement, all expenses incident to performance by the Fund under this Agreement shall be paid by the Fund. The Fund shall see to it that all Portfolio 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 Portfolios’ 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 Portfolios’ shares.
5.3. The Company shall bear the expenses of distributing the Fund’s prospectus to owners of Contracts issued by the Company and of distributing the Fund’s proxy materials and reports to such Contract owners.
ARTICLE VI
Diversification
6.1. The Fund will at all times invest money from the Contracts in such a manner as to ensure that the Contracts will be treated as variable contracts under the Code and the regulations issued thereunder. Without limiting the scope of the foregoing, the Fund will at all times comply with Section 817(h) of the Code and Treasury Regulation 1.817-5, relating to the diversification requirements for variable annuity, endowment or life insurance contracts and any amendments or other modifications to such Section or Regulation. In the event of a breach of this Article VI by the Fund, it will take all reasonable steps (a) to notify Company of such breach and (b) to adequately diversify the Fund so as to achieve compliance with the grace period afforded by Regulation 1.817-5.
ARTICLE VII
Potential Conflicts
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. A material irreconcilable 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 interpretive 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 a 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 a Participating Insurance Company to disregard the voting instructions of contract owners. The Board shall promptly inform the Company if it determines that a material irreconcilable conflict exists and the implications thereof.
7.2. The Company will report any potential or existing conflicts to the Board. The Company will assist the Board in carrying out its responsibilities under the Shared Funding 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 any of the events in Section 7.1, as they pertain to the Company, occur (e.g., a decision to disregard contract owner voting instructions).
7.3. If it is determined by a majority of the Board, or a majority of its disinterested trustees, 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 trustees), take whatever steps are necessary to remedy or eliminate the material irreconcilable 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 trustees of the Board. Any such withdrawal and termination must take place within six months after the Fund gives written notice that this provision is being implemented, and until the end of that six month period the Fund and the Underwriter 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 that 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 a material irreconcilable 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 trustees of the Board. Until the end of that six month period, the Fund and the Underwriter 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 Sections 7.3 through 7.6 of this Agreement, a majority of the disinterested trustees of the Board shall determine whether any proposed action adequately remedies a material irreconcilable 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 Contracts if an offer to do so has been declined by vote of a majority of Contract owners materially adversely affected by the material irreconcilable conflict. In the event that the Board determines that any proposed action does not adequately remedy a material irreconcilable conflict, then the Company will withdraw the Account’s investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement within six 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 trustees of the Board.
7.7. If and to the extent that Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) are amended, or Rule 6e-3 is adopted, to provide exemptive relief from any provision of the 1940 Act or the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to mixed or shared funding (as defined in the Shared Funding Order) on terms and conditions materially different from those contained in the Shared Funding Order, then (a) the Fund and/or the Participating Insurance Companies, as appropriate, shall take such steps as may be necessary to comply with Rules 6e-2 and 6e-3(T), as amended, and Rule 6e-3 as adopted, to the extent such rules are applicable; and(b) Sections 3.4, 3.5, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4 and 7.5 of this Agreement shall continue in effect only to the extent that terms and conditions substantially identical to such Sections are contained in such Rule(s) as so amended or adopted.
ARTICLE VIII
Indemnification
8.1. Indemnification By The Company
8.1(a). The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, the Underwriter and the Adviser and each trustee/director and officer thereof and each person, if any, who controls the Fund, the Underwriter, or the Adviser 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), expenses or litigation (including legal and other expenses) (hereinafter referred to collectively as a “Loss”), to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as a Loss is 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, prospectus or private offering memorandum for the Contracts or contained in the Contracts or sales literature or other promotional materials 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 statement 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 written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Indemnified Party for use in the registration statement or prospectus for the Contracts or in the Contracts or in sales literature or any other promotional materials or activities (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing); 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 or other promotional materials of the Fund not supplied by the Company, or persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of the Company or persons under its 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 or other promotional materials 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 if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon or in conformity with written information
furnished to the Fund, the Underwriter or the Adviser by or on behalf of the Company; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Company to provide the services and furnish the materials under the terms 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 Loss incurred or assessed against an Indemnified Party as such may arise from 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 or duties under this Agreement or to the Fund, the Underwriter or the Adviser, whichever is applicable.
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 the Indemnified Parties, the Company shall be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Company also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the Indemnified Party named in the action. After notice from the Company to such Indemnified 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 Indemnified Party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
8.1(d). The Indemnified Parties will promptly notify the Company of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against them in connection with this Agreement, the issuance or sale of Portfolio shares or the Contracts or the operation of the Fund.
8.2. Indemnification By The Fund
8.2(a). The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, and each of its directors/trustees 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 Loss to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as a Loss is 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, prospectus, statement of additional information, sales literature or other promotional materials 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 written information furnished to the Fund, the Underwriter or the Adviser by or on behalf of the Indemnified Party for use in the registration statement, prospectus, statement of additional information, sales literature or other promotional materials or activities for the Fund or the Contracts (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing); or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other than statements or representations contained in the registration statement, prospectus, statement of additional information, sales literature or other promotional materials for the Contracts not supplied by the Fund, the Underwriter, the Adviser, or persons under their control) or wrongful conduct of the Fund, the Underwriter, the Adviser, or persons under their control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(iii) arise out of the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a registration statement, prospectus, statement of additional information or private offering memorandum for the Contracts, or contained in the Contracts or sales literature or other promotional materials for the Contracts (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing) or arise out of or are based upon 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 or in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Fund, the Underwriter or the Adviser, or persons under their control; 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 to comply with the diversification 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 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 8.2(b) and 8.2(c) hereof; or
(vi) arise out of or result from the material incorrect or untimely calculation or reporting of the daily net asset value per share or dividend or capital gain distribution rate.
8.2(b). The Fund shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any Loss incurred or assessed against an Indemnified Party as such may arise from 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, an Account, the Fund, the Underwriter or the Adviser, whichever is applicable.
8.2(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 shall be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Fund also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. 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 Indemnified Party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
8.2(d). The Company will promptly notify the Fund of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Indemnified Parties in connection with this Agreement, the issuance or sale of Portfolio shares or the Contracts, the operation of each Account or the acquisition of shares of the Fund.
8.3. Indemnification By The Underwriter
8.3(a) The Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each of its directors/trustees 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 Loss to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as a Loss is 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, prospectus, statement of additional information, sales literature or other promotional materials 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 written information furnished to the Fund, the Underwriter or the Adviser by or on behalf of the Indemnified Party for use in the registration statement, prospectus, statement of additional information, sales literature or other promotional materials or activities for the Fund or the Contracts (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing); or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other than statements or representations contained in the registration statement, prospectus, statement of additional information, sales literature or other promotional materials for the Contracts not supplied by the Fund, the Underwriter, the Adviser, or persons under their control) or wrongful conduct of the Fund, the Underwriter, the Adviser, 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, statement of additional information or private offering memorandum for the Contracts, or contained in the Contracts or sales literature or other promotional materials for the Contracts (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing) or arise out of or are based upon 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 or in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Fund, the Underwriter, the Adviser, or persons under their control; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Underwriter 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 requirements specified in Article VI of this Agreement);
(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 8.3(b) and 8.3(c) hereof; or
(vi) arise out of or result from the materially incorrect or untimely calculation or reporting of the daily net asset value per share or dividend or capital gain distribution rate.
8.3(b). The Underwriter shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any Loss incurred or assessed against an Indemnified Party as such may arise from 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 or an Account, whichever is applicable.
8.3(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 Parties, the Underwriter shall 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 Indemnified Party named in the action. After notice from the Underwriter to such Party of the Underwriter’s election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Underwriter will not be liable to such Party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such Party independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
8.3(d). The Company will promptly notify the Underwriter of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Indemnified Parties in connection with this Agreement, the issuance or sale of Portfolio shares or the Contracts or the operation of each Account.
8.4. Indemnification By The Adviser
8.4(a) The Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each of its directors/trustees 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 8.4) against any Loss to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as a Loss is 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, prospectus, statement of additional information, sales literature or other promotional materials 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 written information furnished to the Fund, the Underwriter or the Adviser by or on behalf of the Indemnified Party for use in the registration statement, prospectus, statement of additional information, sales literature or other promotional materials or activities for the Fund or the Contracts (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing); or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other than statements or representations contained in the registration statement, prospectus, statement of additional information, sales literature or other promotional materials for the Contracts not supplied by the Fund, the Underwriter, the Adviser, or persons under their control) or wrongful conduct of the Fund, the Underwriter, the Adviser 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, statement of additional information or private offering memorandum for the Contracts, or contained in the Contracts, or sales literature or other promotional materials for the Contracts (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing) or arise out of or are based upon 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 or in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Fund, the Underwriter, the Adviser, or persons under their control; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Adviser to provide the services and furnish the materials under the terms of this Agreement (including a failure by the Fund, whether unintentional or in good faith or otherwise, to comply with the diversification 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 Adviser in this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by the Adviser, as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.4(b) and 8.4(c) hereof; or
(vi) arise out of or result from the materially incorrect or untimely calculation or reporting of the daily net asset value per share or dividend or capital gain distribution rate.
8.4(b). The Adviser shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any Loss incurred or assessed against an Indemnified Party as such may arise from 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 or an Account, whichever is applicable.
8.4(c). The Adviser 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 Adviser 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 Adviser of any such claim shall not relieve the Adviser 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 Adviser shall be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Adviser also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the Indemnified Party named in the action. After notice from the Adviser to such party of the Adviser’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 Adviser will not be liable to such Indemnified Party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
8.4(d). The Company will promptly notify the Adviser of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Indemnified Parties in connection with this Agreement, the issuance or sale of Portfolio shares or the Contracts or the operation of each Account.
8.5. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Agreement, no party shall be liable to any other party for special, consequential, punitive or exemplary damages, or damages of a like kind or nature.
ARTICLE IX
Applicable Law
9.1. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
9.2. This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the 1940 Act 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, the Shared Funding Order) and the terms of this Agreement 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 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 Portfolio based upon the Company’s determination that shares of such Portfolio are not reasonably available to meet the requirements of the Contracts; or
(c) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and the Underwriter with respect to any Portfolio in the event any of the 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 Company by written notice to the Fund, the Underwriter and the Adviser with respect to any Portfolio in the event that such Portfolio ceases to qualify as a “regulated investment company” under Subchapter M of the Code or under any successor or similar provision, or if the Company reasonably believes that the Fund will fail to so qualify; or
(e) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund, the Underwriter and the Adviser with respect to any Portfolio in the event that such Portfolio fails to meet the diversification requirements specified in Article VI hereof; or
(f) 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 shall determine, in their sole judgment exercised in good faith, that the Company and/or its affiliated companies 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 which is likely to have a material adverse impact upon the business and operations of the Company; or
(g) 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, the Adviser or the Underwriter has suffered a material adverse change in its business, operations, financial condition or prospects since the date of this Agreement or is the subject of material adverse publicity which is likely to have a material adverse impact upon the business and operations of the Fund, the Adviser, or the Underwriter; or
(h) 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 1.6(b) hereof and at the time such notice was given there was no notice of termination outstanding under any other provision of this Agreement and the investment company that is the subject of Section 1.6(b) notice has investment objectives or policies that are not substantially different from the investment objectives and policies of the Portfolios of the Fund listed on Schedule B to this Agreement; provided, however, that any termination under this Section 10.1(h) shall be effective ninety days after the notice specified in Section 1.6(b) was given; or
(i) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and the Underwriter or by the Fund or the Underwriter by written notice to the Company, in the event that an irreconcilable material conflict exists among the interests of (1) all Contract owners of variable insurance products or all separate accounts or (2) the interest of the Participating Insurance Companies investing in the Fund as delineated in Article VII of this Agreement; or
(j) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and the Underwriter or by the Fund or the Underwriter by written notice to the Company, in the event of the non-terminating party’s material breach of any provision of this Agreement; or
(k) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and the Underwriter, or by the Fund or the Underwriter by written notice to the Company, upon receipt of any necessary regulatory approvals or the vote of the Contract owners having an interest in the Account (or any subaccount) to substitute the shares of another investment company for the corresponding Portfolio shares of the Fund in accordance with the terms of the Contracts for which those Portfolio shares had been selected to serve as the underlying investment media. The Company will give forty-five (45) days prior written notice to the Fund and the Underwriter of the date of any proposed vote or other action taken to replace the Fund’s shares.
10.2. Effect of Termination. Notwithstanding termination of this Agreement, the Fund and the Underwriter shall 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, without limitation, the owners of the Existing Contracts shall be permitted to retain investments in the Fund, reinvest dividends and redeem investments in the Fund. If shares of the Fund continue to be made available after termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.2, the provisions of this Agreement shall remain in effect except for Section 10.1 and thereafter the Fund, the Underwriter or the Company may terminate the Agreement, as so continued pursuant to this Section 10.2, upon written notice to the other party, such notice to be for a period that is reasonable under the circumstances but need not be for more than ninety days (90). The parties agree that this Section 10.2 shall not apply to any terminations under Section 1.2 of Article I or under Article VII, and the effect of such Article VII terminations shall be governed by Article VII 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; or (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 a result of action by the Fund’s Board, acting in good faith, upon ninety (90) days’ advance written notice to the Company and Contract Owners; or upon ninety (90) days’ advance written notice to the Fund of the Company’s intention to do so. 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, or is as permitted by an order of the SEC pursuant to Section 26(b) of the 1940 Act. In the event that the Company is to redeem shares pursuant to clause (iii) above, the Fund will promptly furnish to the Company the opinion of counsel for the Fund (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company) to the effect that any such redemption is not in violation of the 1940 Act or any rule or regulation thereunder, or is as permitted by an order of the SEC. 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 ninety (90) days’ advance written notice of its intention to do so.
ARTICLE XI
Notices
Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or certified mail or next-day delivery to the other parties at the address of such parties set forth below or at such other address as any party may from time to time specify in writing to the other parties.
If to the Company:
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Senior Associate Counsel,
with a copy to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, Senior Vice President
If to the Fund:
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: President, with a copy to the General Counsel
If to the Underwriter:
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: President, with a copy to the General Counsel
If to the Adviser:
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: President, with a copy to the General Counsel
ARTICLE XII
Miscellaneous
12.1 The Company, the Adviser and the Underwriter each understand and agree that the obligations of the Fund under this Agreement are not binding upon the Board, any shareholder, officer or agent personally, but bind only the Fund and the Fund’s property.
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 it 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.
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 hereunder; provided, however, that the Underwriter may assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder to any affiliate of or company under common control with the Underwriter, if such assignee is duly licensed and registered to perform the obligations of the Underwriter under this Agreement.
12.9. Upon request, the Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the Fund or its designee, copies of the following reports:
(a) the Company’s most recent annual statement (prepared under statutory accounting principles) and annual report (prepared under generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) if any;
(b) the Company’s most recent quarterly statements (statutory) (and GAAP, if any);
(c) any financial statement, proxy statement, notice or report of the Company sent to stockholders and/or policyholders;
(d) any registration statement (without exhibits) and financial reports of the Company filed with the SEC or any state insurance regulator.
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.
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/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ |
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Name: |
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ |
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Name: |
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ |
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Title: |
Vice President |
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Title: |
SR VP & CFO |
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SCHEDULE A
ACCOUNTS
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Date Established by the Company’s |
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Name of Account |
Board of Directors |
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Variable Annuity Account A of Protective Life and Annuity Insurance Company |
12/5/97 |
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SCHEDULE B
PORTFOLIOS AND OTHER FUNDS
ADVISED BY ADVISER
I. Portfolios
Worldwide Hard Assets Fund
Worldwide Real Estate Fund
II. Other Funds Advised by the Adviser
Not applicable