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1. (8) (a) (7) Participation Agreement with ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Funds
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PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
Among
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUNDS,
OPPENHEIMERFUNDS, INC.
and
ACACIA NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
THIS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), made and entered into as of the 26th
day of March, 1997 by and among Acacia National Life Insurance Company
(hereinafter the "Company"), on its own behalf and on behalf of each separate
account of the Company named in Schedule 1 to this Agreement, as may be amended
from time to time by mutual consent (hereinafter collectively the "Accounts"),
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Variable Account Funds (hereinafter the "Fund") and
OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (hereinafter the "Adviser").
WHEREAS, the Fund is an open-end management investment company and is
available to act as the investment vehicle for separate accounts now in
existence or to be established at any date hereafter for variable life
insurance policies and variable annuity contracts (collectively, the "Variable
Insurance Products") offered by insurance companies (hereinafter "Participating
Insurance Company");
WHEREAS, the beneficial interest in the Fund is divided into several
series of shares, each designated a "Portfolio", and each representing the
interests in a particular managed pool of securities and other assets;
WHEREAS, the Fund has obtained an order from the Securities and
Exchange Commission, dated July 16, 1986 (File No. 812-6324) granting
Participating Insurance Company 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
"Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order")
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");
WHEREAS, the Adviser is duly registered as an investment adviser under
the federal Investment Advisers Act of 1940;
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register certain variable
annuity and/or life insurance contracts under the 1933 Act (hereinafter
"Contracts") (unless an exemption from registration is available);
WHEREAS, the Accounts are or will be duly organized, validly existing
segregated asset accounts, established by resolution of the Board of Directors
of the Company, to set aside and invest assets attributable to the aforesaid
variable contracts (the Contract(s) and the Account(s) covered by the Agreement
are specified in Schedule 2 attached hereto, as may be modified by mutual
consent from time to time);
WHEREAS, the Company have registered or will register the Accounts as
unit investment trusts under the 1940 Act (unless an exemption from
registration is available);
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Company intend to purchase shares in the Portfolios (the
Portfolios covered by this Agreement are specified in Schedule 3 attached
hereto as may be modified by mutual consent from time to time), on behalf of
the Accounts to fund the Contracts named in Schedule 2, as may be amended from
time to time by mutual consent, and the Fund is authorized to sell such shares
to unit investment trusts such as the Accounts at net asset value; and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Fund,
the Adviser and the Company agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. Sale of Fund Shares
1.1. The Fund agrees to sell to the Company those shares of the Fund
which the Company orders on behalf of the Account, executing such orders on a
daily basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by the Fund or
its designee of the order for the shares of the Fund. 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 written (or facsimile) notice of
such order by 9:30 a.m. New York time on the next following
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Business Day. "Business Day" shall mean any day on which the New York Stock
Exchange is open for trading and on which the Fund calculates its net asset
value pursuant to the rules of the SEC.
1.2. The Company shall pay for Fund shares on the next Business Day
after it places an order to purchase Fund shares in accordance with Section 1.1
hereof. Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire or by a credit
for any shares redeemed.
1.3. The Fund agrees to make Fund shares available for purchase at
the applicable net asset value per share by the Company for their separate
Accounts listed in Schedule 1 on those days on which the Fund calculates its
net asset value pursuant to rules of the SEC; provided, however, that the Board
of Trustees of the Fund (hereinafter the "Trustees") 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 is, in the sole discretion of the Trustees, acting in
good faith and in light of their fiduciary duties under federal and any
applicable state laws, in the best interests of the shareholders of any
Portfolio.
1.4. The Fund agrees to redeem, upon the Company's request, any full
or fractional shares of the Fund held by the Company, executing such requests
on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by the Fund
or its designee of the request for redemption. For purposes of this Section
1.4, the Company shall be the designee of the Fund for receipt of requests for
redemption and receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund;
provided that the Fund receives written (or facsimile) notice of such request
for redemption by 9:30 a.m. New York time on the next following Business Day.
Payment shall be made within the time period specified in the Fund's prospectus
or statement of additional information, in federal funds transmitted by wire
to the Company's account as designated by the Company in writing from time to
time.
1.5. The Company shall pay for the Fund shares on the next Business
Day after an order to purchase shares is made in accordance with the provisions
of Section 1.4 hereof. Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire
pursuant to the instructions of the Fund's treasurer or by a credit for any
shares redeemed.
1.6. The Company agrees to purchase and redeem the shares of the
Portfolios named in Schedule 3 offered by the then current prospectus and
statement of additional information of the Fund in accordance with the
provisions of such prospectus and statement of additional information. The
Company shall not permit any person other than a Contract owner to give
instructions to the Company which would require the Company to redeem or
exchange shares of the Fund.
ARTICLE II. Sales Material, Prospectuses and Other Reports
2.1. 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 or the Adviser is named, at least ten Business Days
prior to its use. No such material shall be used if the Fund or its designee
reasonably object to such use within ten Business Days after receipt of such
material. "Business Day" shall mean any day in which the New York Stock
Exchange is open for trading and in which the Fund calculates its net asset
value pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
2.2. 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 shares, as such registration statement and prospectus may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, or in reports or proxy statements for the Fund,
or in sale literature or other promotional material approved by the Fund or its
designee, except with the permission of the Fund.
2.3. For purposes of this Article II, the phrase "sales literature or
other promotional material" means 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 billboard
or electronic media), and sales literature (such as brochures, circulars,
market letters and form letters), distributed or made generally available to
customers or the public.
2.4. The Fund shall provide a copy of its current prospectus for the
portfolios named in Schedule 3 within a reasonable period of its filing date,
and provide other assistance as is reasonably necessary in order for the
Company once each year (or more frequently if the prospectus for the Fund is
supplemented or amended) to have the prospectus for the Contracts and the
Fund's prospectus printed together in one document (such printing to be at the
Company's expense). The Adviser shall be permitted to review and approve the
typeset form of the Fund's Prospectus prior to such printing.
2.5. The Fund or the Adviser shall provide the Company with either:
(i) a copy of the Fund's proxy material, reports to shareholders, other
information relating to the Fund necessary to prepare financial reports, and
other communications to shareholders for printing and distribution to Contract
owners at the Company's expense, or (ii) camera ready and/or printed copies, if
appropriate, of such material for distribution to Contract owners at the
Company' expense,
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within a reasonable period of the filing date for definitive copies of such
material. The Adviser shall be permitted to review and approve the typeset
form of such proxy material and shareholder reports prior to such printing
provided such materials have been provided within a reasonable period.
ARTICLE III. Fees and Expenses
3.1. The Fund and Adviser shall pay no fee or other compensation to
the Company under this agreement, and the Company shall pay no fee or other
compensation to the Fund or Adviser, except as provided herein.
3.2. If the Fund or the Adviser elects to have the Company withdraw
the Account's investment in the Fund for reasons other than the existence of a
material irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the Contract owners
of all separate accounts investing in the Fund, then the Fund or the Advisor
shall pay the Company's out of pocket costs of obtaining a substitution order.
All other expenses incident to performance by each party of its respective
duties under this Agreement shall be paid by that party. The Fund shall see to
it that all its shares are registered and authorized for issuance in accordance
with applicable federal law and, if and to the extent advisable by the Fund, in
accordance with applicable state laws prior to their sale. The Fund shall bear
the expenses for the cost of registration and qualification of the Fund's
shares, preparation and filing of the Fund's prospectus and registration
statement, proxy materials and reports, and the preparation of all statements
and notices required by any federal or state law.
3.3. The Company shall bear the expenses of typesetting, printing and
distributing the Fund's prospectus, proxy materials and reports to owners of
Contracts issued by the Company.
3.4. In the event the Fund adds one or more additional Portfolios and
the parties desire to make such Portfolios available to the respective Contract
owners as an underlying investment medium, a new Schedule 3 or an amendment to
this Agreement shall be executed by the parties authorizing the issuance of
shares of the new Portfolios to the particular Account. The amendment may also
provide for the sharing of expenses for the establishment of new Portfolios
among Participating Insurance Company desiring to invest in such Portfolios and
the provision of funds as the initial investment in the new Portfolios.
ARTICLE IV. Potential Conflicts
4.1. The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") will monitor the
Fund for the existence of any material irreconcilable conflict between the
interests of the Contract owners of all separate accounts investing in the
Fund. An irreconcilable material conflict may arise for a variety of reasons,
including: (a) an action by any state insurance regulatory authority; (b) a
change in applicable federal or state insurance, tax, or securities laws or
regulations, or a public ruling, private letter ruling, no-action or
interpretative letter, or any similar action by insurance, tax, or securities
regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative or judicial decision in any
relevant proceeding; (d) the manner in which the investments of any Portfolio
are being managed; (e) a difference in voting instructions given by variable
annuity contract and variable life insurance contract owners; or (f) a decision
by an insurer to disregard the voting instructions of Contract owners. The
Board shall promptly inform the Company if it determines that an irreconcilable
material conflict exists and the implications thereof.
4.2. The Company has reviewed a copy of the Mixed and Shared Funding
Exemptive Order, and in particular, has reviewed the conditions to the
requested relief set forth therein. The Company agrees to be bound by the
responsibilities of a participating insurance company as set forth in the Mixed
and Shared Funding Exemptive Order, including without limitation the
requirement that the Company report any potential or existing conflicts of
which it is aware to the Board. The Company will assist the Board in carrying
out its responsibilities in monitoring such conflicts under the Mixed and
Shared Funding Exemptive Order, by providing the Board in a timely manner with
all information reasonably necessary for the Board to consider any issues
raised. This includes, but is not limited to, an obligation by the Company to
inform the Board whenever Contract owner voting instructions are disregarded
and by confirming in writing, at the Fund's request, that the Company are
unaware of any such potential or existing material irreconcilable conflicts.
4.3. 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 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 irreconcilable material conflict, up
to an 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 Company) 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.
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4.4. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a
decision by the Company to disregard Contract owner voting instructions and
that decision represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote,
the Company may be required, at the Fund's election, to withdraw the Account's
investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement; provided, however, that
such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by the
foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the
disinterested members of the Board. Any such withdrawal and termination must
take place within six (6) months after the Fund gives written notice that this
provision is being implemented, and until the end of the six month period the
Fund shall continue to accept and implement orders by the Company for the
purchase and redemption of shares of the Fund.
4.5. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a
particular state insurance regulator's decision applicable to the Company
conflicts with the majority of other state regulators, then the Company will
withdraw the Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement
within six months after the Board informs the Company in writing that it has
determined that such decision has created an irreconcilable material conflict;
provided, however, that such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the
extent required by the foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined
by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board. Until the end of the
foregoing six month period, the Fund shall continue to accept and implement
orders by the Company for the purchase and redemption of shares of the Fund,
subject to applicable regulatory limitation.
4.6. For purposes of Sections 4.3 through 4.6 of this Agreement, a
majority of the disinterested members of the Board shall determine whether any
proposed action adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict, but
in no event will the Fund be required to establish a new funding medium for the
Contracts. The Company shall not be required by Section 4.3 to establish a new
funding medium for Contracts if an offer to do so has been declined by vote of
a majority of Contract owners materially adversely affected by the
irreconcilable material conflict. In the event that the Board determines that
any proposed action does not adequately remedy any irreconcilable material
conflict, then the Company will withdraw the particular Account's investment in
the Fund and terminate this Agreement within six (6) months after the Board
informs the Company in writing of the foregoing determination, provided,
however, that such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent
required by any such material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a
majority of the disinterested members of the Board.
ARTICLE V. Applicable Law
5.1. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
5.2. This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the 1933,
1934 and 1940 Acts, and the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder,
including such exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as the
Securities and Exchange Commission may grant (including, but not limited to,
the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order) and the terms hereof shall be
interpreted and construed in accordance therewith.
ARTICLE VI. Termination
6.1 This Agreement shall terminate with respect to some or all
Portfolios:
(a) at the option of any party upon six month's advance
written notice to the other parties;
(b) at the option of the Company to the extent that shares of
Portfolios are not reasonably available to meet the
requirements of its Contracts or are not appropriate
funding vehicles for the Contracts, as determined by the
Company reasonably and in good faith. Prompt notice of
the election to terminate for such cause and an
explanation of such cause shall be furnished by the
Company; or
(c) as provided in Article IV.
6.2. It is understood and agreed that the right of any party
hereto to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section
6.1(a) may be exercised for cause or for no cause.
ARTICLE VII. Notices
Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or
certified mail to the other party at the address of such party set forth below
or at such other address as such party may from time to time specify to the
other party.
If to the Fund:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Variable Account Funds
c/o OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
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Attn: Legal Department
If to the Adviser:
OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attn: General Counsel
If to the Company:
Acacia National Life Insurance Company
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
ARTICLE VIII. Miscellaneous
8.1. 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.
8.2. 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.
8.3. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or
more counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the
same instrument.
8.4. 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.
8.5. Each party hereto shall cooperate with, and promptly
notify each other party and all appropriate governmental authorities (including
without limitation the Securities and Exchange Commission, 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.
8.6. 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.
8.7. It is understood by the parties that this Agreement is not
an exclusive arrangement in any respect.
8.8. The Company and the Adviser each understand and agree that
the obligations of the Fund under this Agreement are not binding upon any
shareholder of the Fund personally, but bind only the Fund and the Fund's
property; the Company and the Adviser each represent that it has notice of the
provisions of the Declaration of Trust of the Fund disclaiming shareholder
liability for acts or obligations of the Fund.
8.9. This Agreement shall not be assigned by any party hereto
without the prior written consent of all the parties.
8.10. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement between the
parties and supercedes all prior communications, agreements and understandings,
oral or written, between the parties regarding the subject matter hereof.
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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 as of the date specified
below.
ACACIA NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Executive Vice President, Marketing
Date:
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUNDS
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Secretary
Date: April 7, 1997
OPPENHEIMERFUNDS, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Secretary
Date: April 7, 1997
