FORM OF OPPENHEIMER PARTICIPATION PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT Among OPPENHEIMER VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUNDS, OPPENHEIMERFUNDS, INC. and __________________LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
| EX-99.B.8.53 |
| FORM OF ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ PARTICIPATION |
| PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT |
| Among |
| ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUNDS, |
| OPPENHEIMERFUNDS, INC. |
| and |
| __________________LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY |
| THIS AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), made and entered into as of the ___ day of |
| ____________, 200_ by and among ____________________ 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, variable annuity |
| contracts and other tax-deferred products (collectively, the “Variable Insurance Products”) |
| offered by insurance companies (hereinafter “Participating Insurance Companies”); |
| 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 (the “SEC”), dated July 16, 1986 (File No. 812-6324) 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 “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 Separate |
| Account(s) covered by the Agreement are specified in Schedule 1 attached hereto, as may |
| be modified by mutual consent from time to time); |
| WHEREAS, the Company has 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 intends to purchase shares in the Portfolios (the |
| Portfolios covered by this Agreement are specified in Schedule 2 attached hereto |
| as may be modified by mutual consent from time to time), |
| on behalf of the Accounts to fund the Contracts, 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. Purchase and Redemption 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 Accounts, 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 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 by 2:00 P.M. New York time on |
| the next Business Day after it places an order to purchase Fund shares in |
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| 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 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 (including without limitation purchase orders |
| that individually or together with other contemporaneous orders represent large |
| transactions in shares of any Portfolio held for a relatively brief period of |
| time). Such shares shall be purchased at the applicable net asset value per |
| share, increased by any initial sales charge, if the Fund's prospectus then in |
| effect imposes such a charge on such purchases. |
| 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, reduced by any redemption fee or |
| deferred sales charge, if the Fund's prospectus in effect as of the date of such |
| redemption imposes such a fee or charge on such redemptions. 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; however the Company undertakes to use its best efforts to provide such |
| notice to the Fund by no later than 9:00 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, provided, |
| however, 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 to the |
| Company's bank accounts as designated by the Company in writing from time to |
| time. |
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| 1.5. The Company agrees to purchase and redeem the shares of the Portfolios |
| named in Schedule 2 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. Representations and Warranties |
| ------------------------------ |
| 2.1. The Company represents and warrants that the securities deemed to be |
| issued by the Accounts under the Contracts are or will be registered under the |
| 1933 Act (unless an exemption from registration is available) and, that the |
| Contracts will be issued, offered and sold in compliance in all material |
| respects with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations, including |
| without limitation state insurance suitability requirements and National |
| Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (“NASD”) conduct rules. The Company |
| further represents and warrants that it is an insurance company duly organized |
| and in good standing under applicable state law and that it has legally and |
| validly established the Accounts prior to the issuance or sale of units thereof |
| as a segregated asset account and has registered the Accounts as unit investment |
| trusts in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act (unless an exemption |
| from registration is available) to serve as segregated investment accounts for |
| the Contracts, and that it will maintain such registration for so long as any |
| Contracts are outstanding or until registration is no longer required under |
| federal and state securities laws. The Company shall amend the registration |
| statement under the 1933 Act for the Contracts and the registration statement |
| under the 1940 Act for the Accounts from time to time as required in order to |
| effect the continuous offering of the Contracts or as may otherwise be |
| required by applicable law. The Company shall register and qualify the Contracts |
| for sale in accordance with the securities laws of the various states only if |
| and to the extent deemed necessary by the Company. |
| 2.2. The Company represents and warrants, for purposes other than |
| diversification under Section 817 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as |
| amended (the “Code”), that the Contracts are currently and at the time of |
| issuance will be treated as life insurance or annuity contracts under applicable |
| provisions of the Code and the regulations issued thereunder, and that it will |
| make every effort to maintain such treatment and that it will notify the Fund |
| and the Adviser immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that |
| the Contracts have ceased to be so treated or that they might not be so treated |
| in the future. In addition, the Company represents and warrants that the |
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| Accounts are a “segregated asset accounts” and that interests in the Accounts |
| are offered exclusively through the purchase of or transfer into a “variable |
| contract” within the meaning of such terms under Section 817 of the Code and the |
| regulations issued thereunder (and any amendments or other modifications to such |
| section or such regulations (and any revenue rulings, revenue procedures, |
| notices and other published announcements of the Internal Revenue Service |
| interpreting these provisions). The Company shall continue to meet such |
| definitional requirements, and it will notify the Fund and the Adviser |
| immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that such requirements |
| have ceased to be met or that they might not be met in the future. The Company |
| represents and warrants that it will not purchase Fund shares with assets |
| derived from tax-qualified retirement plans except indirectly, through Contracts |
| purchased in connection with such plans. |
| 2.3. Subject to Section 2.5 hereof, the Company represents and warrants |
| that the Contracts are currently and at the time of issuance will be treated 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 Adviser immediately upon having a reasonable basis for |
| believing that the Contracts have ceased to be so treated or that they might not |
| be so treated in the future. |
| 2.4. The Fund represents and warrants that Fund shares sold pursuant to |
| this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act and duly authorized for |
| issuance and sold in accordance with applicable state and federal law and that |
| the Fund is and shall remain registered under the 1940 Act for as long as the |
| Fund shares are sold. The Fund shall amend the registration statement for its |
| shares under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act from time to time as required in |
| order to effect the continuous offering of its shares. The Fund shall register |
| and qualify the shares for sale in accordance with the laws of the various |
| states only if and to the extent deemed advisable by the Fund. |
| 2.5. 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 represents and warrants that each Portfolio of the |
| Fund will 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 Regulations (and any revenue rulings, revenue procedures, |
| notices, and other published announcements of the Internal Revenue Service |
| interpreting these provisions). In the event the Fund |
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| should fail to so qualify, it will take all reasonable steps (a) to notify the |
| Company of such breach and (b) to resume compliance with such diversification |
| requirement within the grace period afforded by Treasury Regulation 1.817.5. The |
| Fund and Adviser represent that each Portfolio is qualified as a Regulated |
| Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Code and that it will maintain such |
| qualification (under Subchapter M or any successor provision), and that it will |
| notify the Company immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that |
| it has ceased to so qualify or that it might not so qualify in the future. |
| 2.6. If the Contracts purchase shares of a series and class of the Fund |
| that have adopted a plan under Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act to finance |
| distribution expenses (a “12b-1 Plan”), the Company agrees to provide the |
| Trustees any information as may be reasonably necessary for the Trustees to |
| review the Fund's 12b-1 Plan or Plans. |
| 2.7. 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 with applicable provisions of the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇. |
| 2.8. The Adviser represents and warrants that it is and will remain duly |
| registered under all applicable federal and state securities laws and that it |
| shall perform its obligations for the Fund in compliance with any applicable |
| state and federal securities laws. |
| 2.9. The Fund and Adviser each represent and warrant that all of its |
| respective directors, trustees, officers, employees, investment advisers, and |
| transfer agent of the Fund are and shall continue to be at all times covered by |
| a blanket fidelity bond (which may, at the Fund's election, be in the form of a |
| joint insured bond) or similar coverage for the benefit of the Fund in an amount |
| not less than the minimal coverage as required currently by Section 17(g) and |
| Rule 17g-1 of the 1940 Act or related provisions as may be promulgated from |
| time to time. The aforesaid Bond shall include coverage for larceny and |
| embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable insurance company. The Adviser |
| agrees to make all reasonable efforts to see that this bond or another bond |
| containing these provisions is always in effect, and agrees to notify the Company |
| in the event that such coverage no longer applies. |
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| 2.10. The Company represents and warrants that all of its directors, |
| officers, employees, agents, investment advisers, and other individuals and |
| entities dealing with the money and/or securities of the Fund are covered by a |
| blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage in an amount not less than the |
| equivalent of U.S. $10 million. The aforesaid bond shall include coverage for |
| larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable insurance company. |
| The Company agrees that any amount received under such bond in connection with |
| claims that derive from arrangements described in this Agreement will be paid by |
| the Company for the benefit of the Fund. The Company agrees to make all |
| reasonable efforts to see that this bond or another bond containing these |
| provisions is always in effect, and agrees to notify the Fund and the Adviser in |
| the event that such coverage no longer applies. |
| 2.11. The Fund and the Adviser represent that they will make a good faith |
| effort to (a) materially comply with any applicable state insurance law |
| restrictions with which the Fund must comply to perform its obligations under |
| this Agreement, provided, however, that the Company provide specific |
| notification of such restrictions to the Fund and the Adviser in advance and in |
| writing,; and (b) furnish information to the Company about the Fund not |
| otherwise available to the Company which is required by state insurance law to |
| enable the Company to obtain the authority needed to issue the Contracts in any |
| applicable state. |
| ARTICLE III. Sales Material, Prospectuses and Other Reports |
| ---------------------------------------------- |
| 3.1. 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. |
| 3.2. 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. |
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| 3.3. For purposes of this Article III, 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. |
| 3.4. The Fund shall provide a copy of its current prospectus 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. |
| 3.5. 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, 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, shareholder reports and communications |
| prior to such printing. |
| 3.6. In the event a meeting of shareholders of the Fund (or any Portfolio) |
| is called by the Trustees, the Company shall: |
| (i) solicit voting instructions from Contract owners; |
(ii) vote the Portfolio(s) shares held in the Account in accordance with |
| instructions received from Contract owners; |
(iii) vote Portfolio shares held in the Account for which no instructions have |
| been received, as well as Portfolio shares held by the Company, in the same |
| proportion as Portfolio(s) shares for which instructions have been received |
| from Contract owners, 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; and |
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| (iv) take responsibility for assuring that the Accounts calculate voting |
| privileges in a manner consistent with other Participating Insurance |
| Companies. The Fund and Adviser agree to assist the Company and the other |
| Participating Insurance Companies in carrying out this responsibility. |
| ARTICLE IV. Fees and Expenses |
| ---------------------------------- |
| 4.1. 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. |
| 4.2. All 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. |
| 4.3. 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. |
| 4.4. 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 2 or an amendment to |
| this Agreement shall be executed by the parties authorizing the issuance of |
| shares of the new Portfolios to the particular Accounts. The amendment may also |
| provide for the sharing of expenses for the establishment of new Portfolios |
| among Participating Insurance Companies desiring to invest in such Portfolios |
| and the provision of funds as the initial investment in the new Portfolios. |
| ARTICLE V. Potential Conflicts |
| -------------------------------------- |
| 5.1. 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 |
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| 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 |
| participating insurance companies or 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. |
| 5.2. 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. |
| 5.3. 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 its 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 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, |
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| 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 accounts. The Company's obligations under this Section 5.3 shall not |
| depend on whether other affected participating insurance companies fulfill a |
| similar obligation. |
| 5.4. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a decision by |
| the Company to disregard Contract owner voting instructions and that decision |
| could conflict with the majority of Contract owner instructions, the Company may |
| be required, at the Fund's election, to withdraw the Accounts' 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. |
| 5.5. 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 |
| Accounts' 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. |
| 5.6. For purposes of Sections 5.3 through 5.6 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 5.3 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 |
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| action does not adequately remedy any irreconcilable material conflict, then the |
| Company will withdraw the particular Accounts' 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 VI. Applicable Law |
| -------------- |
| 6.1 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof interpreted |
| under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. |
| 6.2. This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the 1933 Act, the |
| Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations |
| and rulings thereunder, including such exemption 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, provided however that the term “Registration Statement or Prospectus |
| for the Variable Contracts” and terms of similar import shall include (i) any |
| offering circular or similar document and sales literature or other promotional |
| materials used to offer and/or sell the variable Contracts in compliance with |
| the private offering exemption in the 1933 Act and applicable federal and state |
| laws and regulations, and (ii) the term “Registration Statement” and |
| “Prospectus” as defined in the 1933 Act. |
| ARTICLE VII. Termination |
| ----------- |
| 7.1 This Agreement shall terminate: |
| (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; |
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| (c) as provided in Article V; |
| (d) at the option of the Fund or the Adviser upon institution of formal |
| proceedings against the Company (or its parent) by the NASD, the SEC, the |
| insurance commission of any state or any other regulatory body having |
| jurisdiction over that party, which would have a material adverse effect on |
| the Company's ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement; |
| (e) at the option of the Company upon institution of formal proceedings |
| against the Fund or the Adviser (or its parent) by the NASD, the SEC, or any |
| state securities or insurance department or any other regulatory body having |
| jurisdiction over that party, which would have a |
| material adverse effect on the Adviser's or the Fund's ability to perform its |
| obligations under this Agreement; |
| (f) at the option of the Company or the Fund 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 have been selected |
| to serve as the underlying investment media. The Company will give 45 days prior |
| written notice to the Fund of the date of any proposed vote or other action |
| taken to replace the Fund's shares; |
| (g) at the option of the Company or the Fund upon a determination by a |
| majority of the Board, or a majority of the disinterested Board members, that an |
| irreconcilable material conflict exists among the interests of (i) all Contract |
| owners of variable insurance products of all separate accounts or (ii) the |
| interests of the Participating Insurance Companies investing in the Fund as |
| delineated in Article VII of this Agreement; |
| (h) at the option of the Company if the Fund 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 may fail to so qualify; |
| (i) at the option of the Company if the Fund fails to meet the |
| diversification requirements specified in section 2.5 hereof or if the Company |
| reasonably believes that the Fund will fail to meet such requirements; |
| 13 of 24 |
| (j) at the option of any party to this Agreement, upon another party's | ||
| failure to cure a material breach of any provision of this Agreement within | ||
|
thirty days after written notice thereof;
| ||
| (k) at the option of the Company, if the Company determines in its sole | ||
| judgment exercised in good faith, that either the Fund or the Adviser has | ||
| suffered a material adverse change in its business, operations or financial | ||
| condition 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;
| ||
| (l) at the option of the Fund or the Adviser, if the Fund or Adviser | ||
| respectively, shall determine in its sole judgment exercised in good faith, that | ||
| the Company has suffered a material adverse change in its business, operations | ||
| or financial condition 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 or the Adviser; or
| ||
| (m) subject to the Fund's compliance with Section 2.5 hereof, at the option | ||
| of the Fund in the event any of the Contracts are not issued or sold in | ||
|
accordance with applicable requirements of federal and/or state law.
| ||
| 7.2. It is understood and agreed that the right of any party hereto to | ||
| terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(a) may be exercised for cause | ||
| or for no cause. | ||
| ARTICLE VIII. Indemnification | ||
| --------------------------- | ||
| 8.1. Indemnification By The Company | ||
| ------------------------------ | ||
| (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and the | ||
| Adviser, each member of their Board of Trustees or Board of Directors, each of | ||
| their officers and each person, if any, who controls the Fund within the meaning | ||
| of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties” for purposes | ||
| of this Section 8.1) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including | ||
| amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Company) or | ||
| litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the | ||
| 14 of 24 |
| Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute, regulation, at common |
| law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or |
| expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements are related to the sale |
|
or acquisition of the Fund's shares or the Contracts and:
|
| (i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue |
| statement of any material fact contained in the registration |
| statement, prospectus or statement of additional information for the |
| Contracts or contained in sales literature or other promotional |
| material for the Contracts (or any amendment or supplement to any of |
| the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the |
| alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be |
| stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not |
| misleading in light of the circumstances which they were made; |
| provided that this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any |
| Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged |
| statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with |
| information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Fund or |
| the Adviser for use in the registration statement, prospectus or |
| statement of additional information for the Contracts or sales |
| literature (or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in |
|
connection with the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
|
| (ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations by or on |
| behalf of the Company (other than statements or representations |
| contained in the Fund registration statement, Fund prospectus or sales |
| literature or other promotional material 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, provided any such statement or |
| representation or such wrongful conduct was not made in reliance upon |
| and in conformity with information furnished in writing, viafax or via |
|
electronic means, to the Company by or on behalf of the Advisor or the Fund; or
|
| (iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a |
| material fact contained in the Fund registration statement, Fund |
| prospectus, statement of additional information or sales literature or |
| other promotional material of the Fund or any amendment thereof or |
| supplement thereto or the omission or alleged omission to state |
| therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to |
| make the statements therein not misleading in light of the |
| 15 of 24 |
| circumstances in which they were made, if such statement or omission |
| was made in reliance upon information furnished in writing, via fax or |
| via electronic means, to the Fund or the Adviser by or on behalf of |
|
the Company or persons under its control; or |
| (iv) arise out of or result from any material breach of this Agreement by |
| the Company. except to the extent provided inSections 8.1(b) |
| and 8.3 hereof. This indemnification shall be in addition to any |
|
liability which the Company may otherwise have. |
| (b). The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification provision |
| with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation to which |
| an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of 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. |
| 8.2. Indemnification by Adviser and Fund |
| ----------------------------------- |
| 8.2 (a)(1). The Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company |
| and each of its directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the |
| Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Actcollectively, the |
| ( “Indemnified Parties” for purposes of this Section 8.2) against any and all losses, |
| claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written |
| consent of the Adviser) or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses) to |
| which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute, regulation, |
| at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities |
| or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements are related to the |
|
sale or acquisition of the Fund's shares or the Contracts and: |
| (i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue |
| statement of any material fact contained in the registration |
| statement, prospectus, statement of additional information or sales |
| literature of the Fund (or any amendment or supplement to any of the |
| foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the |
| alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be |
| stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not |
| misleading in light of the circumstances in which they were made; |
| 16 of 24 |
| provided that this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any |
| Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged |
| statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with |
| information furnished in writing, via fax or via electronic means, to |
| the Adviser or the Fund by or on behalf of the Company for use in the |
| Fund registration statement, prospectus or statement of additional |
| information, or sales literature or other promotional material for the |
|
Contracts or of the Fund; or |
| (ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other |
| than statements or representations contained in the Contracts or in |
| the Contract registration statement, the Contract prospectus, |
| statement of additional information, or sales literature or other |
| promotional material for the Contracts not supplied by the Adviser or |
| the Fund or persons under the control of the Adviser or the Fund |
| respectively) or wrongful conduct of the Adviser or persons under its |
| control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts, |
| provided any such statement or representation or such wrongful conduct |
| was not made in reliance upon and in conformity with information |
| furnished in writing, via fax or via electronic means, to the Adviser |
|
or the Fund by or on behalf of the Company; or |
| (iii) arise out of any untrue statement or allegedly untrue statement of a |
| material fact contained in a registration statement, prospectus, |
| statement of additional information or sales literature covering the |
| Contracts (or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto), or the |
| omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required |
| to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement or statements |
| therein not misleading in light of the circumstances in which they |
| were made, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon |
| information furnished in writing, via fax or via electronic means, to |
| the Company by or on behalf of the Fund or persons under the control |
|
of the Adviser; or |
| (iv) arise out of or result from any material breach of this Agreement by |
| the Adviser; except to the extent provided in Sections 8.2(b) and 8.3 |
| hereof. This indemnification shall be in addition to any liability which the |
| Adviser mayotherwise have. |
except to the extent provided Sections 8.2(b) and 8.3 hereof. This indemnification shall be in addition to any liability which the Adviser may otherwise have. |
| 17 of 24 |
| 8.2(a)(2) The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Indemnified |
| Parties [as defined in Section 8.2(a)(1)] against any and all losses, claims, |
| damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written |
| consent of the Fund) or litigation (including reasonable legal and other |
| expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute, |
| regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, |
| liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements are |
| related to the operations of the Fund or the sale or acquisition of the Fund's |
|
shares and: |
| (i) arise out of or are based upon (a) any untrue statement or |
| alleged untrue statement of any material fact or (b) the omission or the |
| alleged omission to state therein a material fact required |
| to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made |
| therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, |
| not misleading, if such fact, statement or omission is contained |
| in the registration statement for the Fund or the Contracts, or |
| in the prospectus or statement of additional information for the |
| Contracts or the Fund, or in any amendment to any of the |
| foregoing, or in sales literature or other promotional material |
| for the Contracts or of the Fund, provided, however, that this |
| agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified |
| Party if such statement, fact or omission or such alleged |
| statement, fact or omission was made in reliance upon and in |
| conformity with information furnished in writing, via fax or via |
| electronic means, to the Adviser or the Fund by or on behalf of |
|
the Indemnified Party; or |
| (ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations |
| (other than statements or representations contained in the |
| Contracts or in the Contract registration statement, the Contract |
| prospectus, statement of additional information, or sales |
| literature or other promotional material for the Contracts not |
| supplied by the Adviser or the Fund or persons under the control |
| of the Adviser or the Fund respectively) or wrongful conduct of |
| the Fund or persons under its control with respect to the sale or |
| distribution of Contracts, provided any such statement or |
| representation or such wrongful conduct was not made in reliance |
| upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing, via |
| fax or via electronic means, to the Adviser or the Fund by or on |
| behalf of the Company; or |
| 18 of 24 |
| (iii) arise out of or result from any material breach of this |
| Agreement by the Fund (including a failure to comply with the |
| diversification requirements specified in Section 2.5 of this |
|
Agreement); |
| except to the extent provided in Section 8.2(b) and 8.3 hereof. This |
| indemnification shall be in addition to any liability which the Fund may |
|
otherwise have. |
| (b) The Fund and Adviser shall not be liable under this indemnification |
| provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation |
| to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of such |
| Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence |
| in the performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such |
|
Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement. |
| 8.3 Indemnification Procedure |
| -------------------------------- |
| Any person obligated to provide indemnification under this |
| Article VIII (“indemnifying party” for the purpose of |
| this Section 8.3) shall not be liable under the indemnification provisions of |
| this Article VIII with respect to any claim made against a party entitled to |
| indemnification under this Article VIII (“indemnified party” for the purpose of |
| this Section 8.3) unless such indemnified party shall have notified the |
| indemnifying party 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 party shall have |
| received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify |
| the indemnifying party of any such claim shall not relieve the indemnifying |
| party from any liability which it may have to the indemnified party against whom |
| such action is brought under the indemnification provisions of this Article |
| VIII, except to the extent that the failure to notify results in the failure of |
| actual notice to the indemnifying party and such indemnifying party is damaged |
| solely as a result of failure to give such notice. In case any such action is |
| brought against the indemnified party, the indemnifying party will be entitled |
| to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof. The indemnifying |
| party also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel |
| satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from the |
| indemnifying party to the indemnified party of the indemnifying party's election |
| 19 of 24 |
| to assume the defense thereof, the indemnified party shall bear the fees and |
| expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the indemnifying party |
| will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or other |
| expenses subsequently incurred by such party independentlyin connection with |
| the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation, unless (i) the indemnifying |
| party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or |
| (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) |
| include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation |
| of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or |
| potential differing interests between them. The indemnifying party shall not be |
| liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent |
| but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the |
| plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from |
| and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. |
| A successor by law of the parties to this Agreement shall be entitled to |
| the benefits of the indemnification contained in this Article VIII. The |
|
indemnification provisions contained in this Article VIII shall survive any |
|
termination of this Agreement. |
| 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 |
| ▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ |
| ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ |
| Attn: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Vice President and Secretary |
| If to the Adviser: |
| OppenheimerFunds, Inc. |
| ▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ |
| ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ |
| Attn: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Vice President/Manager |
| 20 of 24 |
| Variable Annuity Operations | ||
| If to the Company: | ||
| ARTICLE X. Miscellaneous | ||
| -------------------------- | ||
| 10.1. The Company represents and warrants that any Contracts eligible to | ||
| purchase shares of the Fund and offered and/or sold in private placements will | ||
| comply in all material respects with the exemptions from the registration | ||
| requirements of the 1933 Act and applicable federal and state laws and | ||
| regulations. | ||
| 10.2. 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 | ||
| (i) this Agreement and (ii) by Title V, Subtitle A of the ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇ Act | ||
| and by regulations adopted thereunder by regulators having jurisdiction over the | ||
| parties hereto, 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. | ||
| 10.3. 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. | ||
| 10.4. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more | ||
| counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same | ||
| instrument. | ||
| 10.5. 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. | ||
| 10.6. 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 National Association of | ||
| Securities Dealers, Inc. 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. | ||
| 21 of 24 |
| 10.7. 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. |
| 10.8. It is understood by the parties that this Agreement is not an |
| exclusive arrangement in any respect. |
| 10.9. The Company and the Adviser each understand and agree that the |
| obligations of the Fund under this Agreement are not binding upon any Trustee or |
| shareholder of the Fund personally, but bind only the Fund with respect to the |
| Portfolio and the Portfolio'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 Trustee and shareholder liability for acts or obligations |
| of the Fund. |
| 10.10. This Agreement shall not be assigned by any party hereto without the |
| prior written consent of all the parties. Notwithstanding the foregoing or |
| anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the Adviser may transfer |
| or assign its rights, duties and obligations hereunder or interest herein to any |
| entity owned, directly or indirectly, by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Acquisition Corp. (the |
| Adviser's parent corporation) or to a successor in interest pursuant to a |
| merger, reorganization, stock sale, asset sale or other transaction, without the |
| consent of the Company, as long as (i) that assignee |
| agrees to assume all the obligations imposed on the Adviser by this Agreement, |
| and (ii) the Fund consents to that assignment. |
| 10.11. 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. |
| 22 of 24 |
| 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. |
| _____________ LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY |
| By: |
| Title: |
| Date: |
| ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ VARIABLE ACCOUNT |
| FUNDS |
| By: |
| Title: |
| Date: |
| OPPENHEIMERFUNDS, INC. |
| By: |
| Title: |
| Date: |
| 23 of 24 |
| SCHEDULE 1 | ||
| Separate Accounts | Products | |
| ----------------- | -------- | |
| SCHEDULE 2 | ||
| Portfolios of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Variable Account Funds shown below do not include | ||
| service class shares unless expressly indicated: | ||
| 24 of 24 |
