EXHIBIT(8)(i)
Participation Agreement between Variable Insurance Products Fund III
and The Life Insurance Company of Virginia.
1
FUND PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT made as of the 1st day of May, 1997, by and between
the PBHG INSURANCE SERIES FUND, INC. ("FUND"), a Maryland corporation, PILGRIM
XXXXXX & ASSOCIATES, LTD. ("Adviser"), a Delaware corporation, THE LIFE
INSURANCE COMPANY OF VIRGINIA ("LIFE COMPANY"), a life insurance company
organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
WHEREAS, FUND is registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC") under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"`40 Act"), as an open-end, diversified management investment company; and
WHEREAS, FUND is organized as a series fund comprised of several
Portfolios ("Portfolios"), with those currently available being listed on
Appendix A hereto; and
WHEREAS, FUND was organized to act as the funding vehicle for
certain variable life insurance and/or variable annuity contracts ("Variable
Contracts") offered by life insurance companies through separate accounts
("Separate Accounts") of such life insurance companies ("Participating Insurance
Companies"); and
WHEREAS, FUND may also offer its shares to certain qualified pension
and retirement plans ("Qualified Plans"); and
WHEREAS, FUND will apply for an order from the SEC, granting
Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts exemptions from
the provisions of Sections 9(a), 13(a), 15(a) and 15(b) of the `40 Act, and
Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15) thereunder, to the extent necessary to
permit shares of the Portfolios of the FUND to be sold to and held by Variable
Contract separate accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated Participating
Insurance Companies and Qualified Plans ("Exemptive Order"); and
WHEREAS, LIFE COMPANY has established or will establish one or more
separate accounts ("Separate Accounts") to offer Variable Contracts and is
desirous of having FUND as one of the underlying funding vehicles for such
Variable Contracts; and
WHEREAS, ADVISER is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser
under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and as a broker-dealer under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and acts as the FUND's investment
adviser; and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, LIFE COMPANY intends to purchase shares of FUND to fund the
aforementioned Variable Contracts and FUND is authorized to sell such shares to
LIFE COMPANY at net asset value;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, LIFE
COMPANY, FUND, and ADVISER agree as follows:
Article I. SALE OF FUND SHARES
1.1 FUND agrees to make available to the Separate Accounts of LIFE
COMPANY shares of the selected Portfolios as listed on Appendix B for investment
of purchase payments of Variable Contracts allocated to the designated Separate
Accounts as provided in FUND's Registration Statement.
1.2 FUND agrees to sell to LIFE COMPANY those shares of the selected
Portfolios of FUND which LIFE COMPANY orders, executing such orders on a daily
basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by FUND or its designee
of the order for the shares of FUND. For purposes of this Section 1.2, LIFE
COMPANY shall be the designee of FUND for receipt of such orders from the
designated Separate Account and receipt by such designee shall constitute
receipt by FUND; provided that LIFE COMPANY receives the order by 4:00 p.m. New
York time and FUND receives notice from LIFE COMPANY by telephone or facsimile
(or by such other means as FUND and LIFE COMPANY may agree in writing) of such
order by 8:30 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 FUND calculates its net asset value pursuant to the rules of the
SEC.
1.3 FUND agrees to redeem on LIFE COMPANY's request, any full or
fractional shares of FUND held by LIFE COMPANY, executing such requests on a
daily basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by FUND or its
designee of the request for redemption, in accordance with the provisions of
this agreement and FUND's Registration Statement. For purposes of this Section
1.3, LIFE COMPANY shall be the designee of FUND for receipt of requests for
redemption from the designated Separate Account and receipt by such designee
shall constitute receipt by FUND; provided that LIFE COMPANY receives the
request for redemption by 4:00 p.m. New York time and FUND receives notice from
LIFE COMPANY by telephone or facsimile (or by such other means as FUND and LIFE
COMPANY may agree in writing) of such request for redemption by 8:30 a.m. New
York time on the next following Business Day.
1.4 FUND shall furnish, on or before the ex-dividend date, notice to
LIFE COMPANY of any income dividends or capital gain distributions payable on
the shares of any Portfolio of FUND. LIFE COMPANY hereby elects to receive all
such income dividends and capital gain distributions as are payable on a
Portfolio's shares in additional shares of the Portfolio. FUND shall notify LIFE
COMPANY or its designee of the number of shares so issued as payment of such
dividends and distributions.
1.5 FUND shall make the net asset value per share for the selected
Portfolio(s) available to LIFE COMPANY on a daily basis as soon as reasonably
practicable after the net asset value per share is calculated but shall use its
best efforts to make such net asset value available by 7:00 p.m. New York time.
If FUND provides LIFE COMPANY with incorrect share net asset value information
through no fault of LIFE COMPANY, LIFE COMPANY on behalf of the Separate
Accounts, shall be entitled to an adjustment to the number of shares purchased
or redeemed to reflect the correct share net asset value. Any error in the
calculation of net asset value per share, dividend or capital gain information
shall be reported promptly upon discovery to LIFE COMPANY.
1.6 At the end of each Business Day, LIFE COMPANY shall use the
information described in Section 1.5 to calculate Separate Account unit values
for the day. Using these unit values, LIFE COMPANY shall process each such
Business Day's Separate Account transactions based on requests and premiums
received by it by the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock
Exchange (currently 4:00 p.m. New York time) to determine the net dollar amount
of FUND shares which shall be purchased or redeemed at that day's closing net
asset value per share. The net purchase or redemption orders so determined shall
be transmitted to FUND by LIFE COMPANY by 8:30 a.m. New York Time on the
Business Day next following LIFE COMPANY's receipt of such requests and premiums
in accordance with the terms of Sections 1.2 and 1.3 hereof.
1.7 If LIFE COMPANY's order requests the purchase of FUND shares,
LIFE COMPANY shall pay for such purchase by wiring federal funds to FUND or its
designated custodial account on the day the order is transmitted by LIFE
COMPANY. If LIFE COMPANY's order requests a net redemption resulting in a
payment of redemption proceeds to LIFE COMPANY, FUND shall use its best efforts
to wire the redemption proceeds to LIFE COMPANY by the next Business Day, unless
doing so would require FUND to dispose of Portfolio securities or otherwise
incur additional costs. In any event, proceeds shall be wired to LIFE COMPANY
within three Business Days or such longer period permitted by the '40 Act or the
rules, orders or regulations thereunder and FUND shall notify the person
designated in writing by LIFE COMPANY as the recipient for such notice of such
delay by 3:00 p.m. New York Time the same Business Day that LIFE COMPANY
transmits the redemption order to FUND.
1.8 FUND agrees that all shares of the Portfolios of FUND will be
sold only to Participating Insurance Companies which have agreed to participate
in FUND to fund their Separate Accounts and/or to Qualified Plans, all in
accordance with the requirements of Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended ("Code") and Treasury Regulation 1.817-5. Shares of the
Portfolios of FUND will not be sold directly to the general public.
1.9 FUND may refuse to sell shares of any Portfolio to any person,
or suspend or terminate the offering of the shares of or liquidate any Portfolio
of FUND if such action is required by law or by regulatory authorities having
jurisdiction or is, in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors of the FUND
(the "Board"), acting in good faith and in light of its duties under federal and
any applicable state laws, deemed necessary, desirable or appropriate and in the
best interests of the shareholders of such Portfolios.
1.10 Issuance and transfer of Portfolio shares will be by book entry
only. Stock certificates will not be issued to LIFE COMPANY or the Separate
Accounts. Shares ordered from Portfolio will be recorded in appropriate book
entry titles for the Separate Accounts.
Article II. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
2.1 LIFE COMPANY represents and warrants that it is an insurance
company duly organized and in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth
of Virginia and that it has legally and validly established each Separate
Account as a segregated asset account under such laws, and that Forth Financial
Securities Corporation, the principal underwriter for the Variable Contracts, is
registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
"'34 Act").
2.2 LIFE COMPANY represents and warrants that it has registered or,
prior to any issuance or sale of the Variable Contracts, will register each
Separate Account as a unit investment trust ("UIT") in accordance with the
provisions of the `40 Act and cause each Separate Account to remain so
registered to serve as a segregated asset account for the Variable Contracts,
unless an exemption from registration is available.
2.3 LIFE COMPANY represents and warrants that the Variable Contracts
will be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "`33 Act") unless an
exemption from registration is available prior to any issuance or sale of the
Variable Contracts and that the Variable Contracts will be issued and sold in
compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and state laws
and further that the sale of the Variable Contracts shall comply in all material
respects with applicable state insurance law suitability requirements.
2.4 LIFE COMPANY represents and warrants that the Variable Contracts
are currently and at the time of issuance will be treated as life insurance,
endowment or annuity contracts under applicable provisions of the Code, that it
will maintain such treatment and that it will notify FUND immediately upon
having a reasonable basis for believing that the Variable Contracts have ceased
to be so treated or that they might not be so treated in the future.
2.5 FUND represents and warrants that the Fund shares offered and
sold pursuant to this Agreement will be registered under the '33 Act and sold in
accordance with all applicable federal and state laws, and FUND shall be
registered under the `40 Act prior to and at the time of any issuance or sale of
such shares. FUND, subject to Section 1.9 above, shall amend its registration
statement under the `33 Act and the x00 Xxx from time to time as required in
order to effect the continuous offering of its shares. FUND shall register and
qualify its shares for sale in accordance with the laws of the various states
only if and to the extent deemed advisable by FUND.
2.6 FUND represents and warrants that each Portfolio will comply
with the diversification requirements set forth in Section 817(h) of the Code,
and the rules and regulations thereunder, including without limitation Treasury
Regulation 1.817-5, and will notify LIFE COMPANY immediately upon having a
reasonable basis for believing any Portfolio has ceased to comply or might not
so comply and will immediately take all reasonable steps to adequately diversify
the Portfolio to achieve compliance.
2.7 FUND represents and warrants that each Portfolio invested in by
the Separate Account intends to elect to be treated as a "regulated investment
company" under Subchapter M of the Code, and to qualify for such treatment for
each taxable year and will notify LIFE COMPANY immediately upon having a
reasonable basis for believing it has ceased to so qualify or might not so
qualify in the future.
2.8. ADVISER represents and warrants that it is and will remain duly
registered and licensed in all material respects under all applicable federal
and state securities laws and shall perform its obligations hereunder in
compliance in all material respects with any applicable state and federal laws.
Article III. PROSPECTUS AND PROXY STATEMENTS
3.1 FUND shall prepare and be responsible for filing with the SEC
and any state regulators requiring such filing all shareholder reports, notices,
proxy materials (or similar materials such as voting instruction solicitation
materials), prospectuses and statements of additional information of FUND. FUND
shall bear the costs of registration and qualification of shares of the
Portfolios, preparation and filing of the documents listed in this Section 3.1
and all taxes and filing fees to which an issuer is subject on the issuance and
transfer of its shares.
3.2 At least annually, FUND or its designee shall provide LIFE
COMPANY, free of charge, with as many copies of the current prospectus for the
shares of the Portfolios as LIFE COMPANY may reasonably request for distribution
to existing Variable Contract owners whose Variable Contracts are funded by such
shares. FUND or its designee shall provide LIFE COMPANY, at LIFE COMPANY's
expense, with as many copies of the current prospectus for the shares as LIFE
COMPANY may reasonably request for distribution to prospective purchasers of
Variable Contracts. If requested by LIFE COMPANY in lieu thereof, FUND or its
designee shall provide such documentation (including a "camera ready" copy of
the new prospectus as set in type or, at the request of LIFE COMPANY, as a
diskette in the form sent to the financial printer) and other assistance as is
reasonably necessary in order for the parties hereto once a year (or more
frequently if the prospectus for the shares is supplemented or amended) to have
the prospectus for the FUND shares and the prospectuses for other funds serving
as underlying investments for the Variable Contract printed together in one
document. The expenses of such printing will be apportioned between (a) LIFE
COMPANY and (b) FUND in proportion to the number of pages of the FUND's
prospectus and the total number of pages of prospectus of other underlying
funds, taking account of other relevant factors affecting the expense of
printing, such as covers, columns, graphs and charts; FUND to bear the cost of
printing the FUND's prospectus portion of such document for distribution only to
owners of existing Variable Contracts funded by the FUND's shares and LIFE
COMPANY to bear the remaining expense; provided, however, LIFE COMPANY shall
bear all printing expenses of such combined documents where used for
distribution to prospective purchasers or to owners of existing Variable
Contracts not funded by the FUND's shares. In the event that LIFE COMPANY
requests that FUND or its designee provide FUND's prospectus in a "camera ready"
or diskette format, FUND shall be responsible for providing the prospectus in
the format in which it is accustomed to formatting prospectuses and shall bear
the expense of providing the prospectus in such format (e.g. typesetting
expenses), and LIFE COMPANY shall bear the expense of adjusting or changing the
format to conform with any of its prospectuses.
3.3 FUND will provide LIFE COMPANY with at least one complete copy
of all prospectuses, statements of additional information, annual and
semi-annual reports, proxy statements, exemptive applications and all amendments
or supplements to any of the above that relate to the Portfolios promptly after
the filing of each such document with the SEC or other regulatory authority.
LIFE COMPANY will provide FUND with at least one complete copy of all
prospectuses, statements of additional information, annual and semi-annual
reports, proxy statements, exemptive applications and all amendments or
supplements to any of the above that relate to a Separate Account promptly after
the filing of each such document with the SEC or other regulatory authority.
Article IV. SALES MATERIALS
4.1 LIFE COMPANY will furnish, or will cause to be furnished, to
FUND and ADVISER, each piece of sales literature or other promotional material
in which FUND or ADVISER is named, at least ten (10) Business Days prior to its
intended use. No such material will be used if FUND or ADVISER objects to its
use in writing within five (5) Business Days after receipt of such material.
4.2 FUND and ADVISER will furnish, or will cause to be furnished, to
LIFE COMPANY, each piece of sales literature or other promotional material in
which LIFE COMPANY or its Separate Accounts are named, at least fifteen (15)
Business Days prior to its intended use. No such material will be used if LIFE
COMPANY objects to its use in writing within ten (10) Business Days after
receipt of such material.
4.3 FUND and its affiliates and agents shall not give any
information or make any representations on behalf of LIFE COMPANY or concerning
LIFE COMPANY, the Separate Accounts, or the Variable Contracts issued by LIFE
COMPANY, other than the information or representations contained in a
registration statement or prospectus for such Variable Contracts, as such
registration statement and prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time
to time, or in reports of the Separate Accounts or reports prepared for
distribution to owners of such Variable Contracts, or in sales literature or
other promotional material approved by LIFE COMPANY or its designee, except with
the prior written permission of LIFE COMPANY.
4.4 LIFE COMPANY and its affiliates and agents shall not give any
information or make any representations on behalf of FUND or concerning FUND
other than the information or representations contained in a registration
statement or prospectus for FUND, as such registration statement and prospectus
may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in sales literature or
other promotional material approved by FUND or its designee, except with the
prior written permission of FUND.
4.5 For purposes of this Agreement, the phrase "sales literature or
other promotional material" or words of similar import include, without
limitation, advertisements (such as material published, or designed for use, in
a newspaper, magazine or other periodical, radio, television, telephone or tape
recording, videotape display, signs or billboards, motion pictures or other
public media), sales literature (such as any written communication distributed
or made generally available to customers or the public, including brochures,
circulars, research reports, market letters, form letters, seminar texts, or
reprints or excerpts of any other advertisement, sales literature, or published
article), educational or training materials or other communications distributed
or made generally available to some or all agents or employees, registration
statements, prospectuses, statements of additional information, shareholder
reports and proxy materials, and any other material constituting sales
literature or advertising under National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
("NASD") rules, the `40 Act or the '33 Act.
Article V. POTENTIAL CONFLICTS
5.1 The parties acknowledge that FUND will be filing an application
with the SEC to request an order granting relief from various provisions of the
'40 Act and the rules thereunder to the extent necessary to permit FUND shares
to be sold to and held by Variable Contract separate accounts of both affiliated
and unaffiliated Participating Insurance Companies and Qualified Plans. It is
anticipated that the Exemptive Order, when and if issued, shall require FUND and
each Participating Insurance Company to comply with conditions and undertakings
substantially as provided in this Section 5. If the Exemptive Order imposes
conditions materially different from those provided for in this Section 5, the
conditions and undertakings imposed by the Exemptive Order shall govern this
Agreement and the parties hereto agree to amend this Agreement consistent with
the Exemptive Order. The Fund will not enter into a participation agreement with
any other Participating Insurance Company unless it imposes the same conditions
and undertakings as are imposed on LIFE COMPANY hereby.
5.2 The Board of Directors of the Fund (the "Board") will monitor
FUND for the existence of any material irreconcilable conflict between the
interests of Variable Contract owners of all separate accounts investing in FUND
and between the interests of Qualified Plan Participants, if any, and Variable
Contract Owners investing in Fund. An irreconcilable material conflict may arise
for a variety of reasons, which may include: (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 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 FUND are being managed;
(e) a difference in voting instructions given by Variable Contract owners,
Qualified Plans or Qualified Plan Participants, if any; (f) a decision by a
Participating Insurance Company to disregard the voting instructions of Variable
Contract owners and (g) if applicable, a decision by a Qualified Plan to
disregard the voting instructions of plan participants.
5.3 LIFE COMPANY will report any potential or existing conflicts to
the Board. LIFE COMPANY will be responsible for assisting the Board in carrying
out its duties in this regard by providing the Board with all information
reasonably necessary for the Board to consider any issues raised. The
responsibility includes, but is not limited to, an obligation by the LIFE
COMPANY to inform the Board whenever it has determined to disregard Variable
Contract owner voting instructions. These responsibilities of LIFE COMPANY will
be carried out with a view only to the interests of the Variable Contract
owners.
5.4 If a majority of the Board or majority of its disinterested
Directors, determines that a material irreconcilable conflict exists affecting
LIFE COMPANY, LIFE COMPANY, at its expense and to the extent reasonably
practicable (as determined by a majority of the Board's disinterested
Directors), will take any steps necessary to remedy or eliminate the
irreconcilable material conflict, including; (a) withdrawing the assets
allocable to some or all of the Separate Accounts from FUND or any Portfolio
thereof and reinvesting those assets in a different investment medium, which may
include another Portfolio of FUND, or another investment company; (b) submitting
the question as to whether such segregation should be implemented to a vote of
all affected Variable Contract owners and as appropriate, segregating the assets
of any appropriate group (i.e variable annuity or variable life insurance
Contract owners of one or more Participating Insurance Companies) that votes in
favor of such segregation, or offering to the affected Variable Contract owners
the option of making such a change; and (c) establishing a new registered
management investment company (or series thereof) or managed separate account.
If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of LIFE COMPANY's decision
to disregard Variable Contract owner voting instructions, and that decision
represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote, LIFE COMPANY
may be required, at the election of FUND, to withdraw the Separate Account's
investment in FUND, and no charge or penalty will be imposed as a result of such
withdrawal. The responsibility to take such remedial action shall be carried out
with a view only to the interests of the Variable Contract owners.
For the purposes of this Section 5.4, a majority of the
disinterested members of the Board shall determine whether or not any proposed
action adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict but in no event
will FUND or ADVISER (or any other investment adviser of FUND) be required to
establish a new funding medium for any Variable Contract. Further, LIFE COMPANY
shall not be required by this Section 5.4 to establish a new funding medium for
any Variable Contracts if any offer to do so has been declined by a vote of a
majority of Variable Contract owners materially and adversely affected by the
irreconcilable material conflict.
5.5 The Board's determination of the existence of an irreconcilable
material conflict and its implications shall be made known promptly and in
writing to LIFE COMPANY.
5.6 No less than annually, LIFE COMPANY shall submit to the Board
such reports, materials or data as the Board may reasonably request so that the
Board may fully carry out its obligations under the Exemptive Order. Such
reports, materials, and data shall be submitted more frequently if deemed
appropriate by the Board.
Article VI. VOTING
6.1 LIFE COMPANY will provide pass-through voting privileges to all
Variable Contract owners so long as the SEC continues to interpret the `40 Act
as requiring pass-through voting privileges for Variable Contract owners.
Accordingly, LIFE COMPANY, where applicable, will vote shares of the Portfolio
held in its Separate Accounts in a manner consistent with voting instructions
timely received from its Variable Contract owners. LIFE COMPANY will be
responsible for assuring that each of its Separate Accounts that participates in
FUND calculates voting privileges in a manner consistent with other
Participating Insurance Companies. LIFE COMPANY will vote shares for which it
has not received timely voting instructions, as well as shares it owns, in the
same proportion as its votes those shares for which it has received voting
instructions.
6.2 If and to the extent Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) are amended, or
if Rule 6e-3 is adopted, to provide exemptive relief from any provision of the
`40 Act or the rules thereunder with respect to mixed and shared funding on
terms and conditions materially different from any exemptions granted in the
Exemptive Order, then FUND, and/or the Participating Insurance Companies, as
appropriate, shall take such steps as may be necessary to comply with Rule 6e-2
and Rule 6e-3(T), as amended, and Rule 6e-3, as adopted, to the extent such
Rules are applicable.
Article VII. INDEMNIFICATION
7.1 Indemnification by LIFE COMPANY. LIFE COMPANY agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless FUND, ADVISER and each of their directors,
principals, officers, employees and agents and each person, if any, who controls
FUND or ADVISER within the meaning of Section 15 of the `33 Act (collectively,
the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Article VII) against any and all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with
the written consent of LIFE COMPANY, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld) or litigation (including 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 FUND's shares or the Variable Contracts and:
(a) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements
or alleged untrue statements of any material fact
contained in the Registration Statement or prospectus
or sales literature for the Variable Contracts or
contained in the Variable Contracts (or any amendment or
supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of
or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission
to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, provided that this agreement to
indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party
if such statement or omission or such alleged statement
or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity
with information furnished to LIFE COMPANY by or on
behalf of FUND for use in the registration statement
or prospectus for the Variable Contracts or in the
Variable Contracts or sales literature (or any
amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in
connection with the sale of the Variable Contracts or
FUND shares; or
(b) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations (other than statements or
representations contained in the registration statement,
prospectus or sales literature of FUND not supplied by
LIFE COMPANY, or persons under its control) or wrongful
conduct of LIFE COMPANY or persons under its control,
with respect to the sale or distribution of the Variable
Contracts or FUND shares; or
(c) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a registration
statement, prospectus, or sales literature of FUND or
any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading if such statement
or omission or such alleged statement or omission was
made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished to FUND for inclusion therein by or on behalf
of LIFE COMPANY; or
(d) arise as a result of any failure by LIFE COMPANY to
provide substantially the services and furnish the
materials under the terms of this Agreement; or
(e) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by LIFE COMPANY in
this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other
material breach of this Agreement by LIFE COMPANY.
7.2 LIFE COMPANY shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation
to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of such
Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or 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.
7.3 LIFE 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 LIFE 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 LIFE COMPANY of any
such claim shall not relieve LIFE COMPANY from any liability which it may have
to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on
account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought
against an Indemnified Party, LIFE COMPANY shall be entitled to participate at
its own expense in the defense of such action. LIFE COMPANY also shall be
entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party
named in the action. After notice from LIFE COMPANY to such party of LIFE
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 LIFE
COMPANY will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or
other expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection
with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
7.4 Indemnification by ADVISER. ADVISER agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless LIFE COMPANY and each of its directors, officers, employees, and agents
and each person, if any, who controls LIFE COMPANY within the meaning of Section
15 of the `33 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for the purposes of
this Article VII) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities
(including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of ADVISER which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) or litigation (including legal and
other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any
statute, or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or
settlements are related to the sale or acquisition of FUND's shares or the
Variable Contracts and:
(a) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of any material fact
contained in the registration statement or
prospectus or sales literature of FUND (or any
amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or
arise out of or are based upon the omission or the
alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, provided
that this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as
to any Indemnified Party if such statement or
omission or such alleged statement or omission was
made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished to ADVISER or FUND by or on
behalf of LIFE COMPANY for use in the registration
statement or prospectus for FUND or in sales
literature (or any amendment or supplement) or
otherwise for use in connection with the sale of
the Variable Contracts or FUND shares; or
(b) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations (other than statements or
representations contained in the registration
statement, prospectus or sales literature for the
Variable Contracts not supplied by ADVISER or persons
under its control) or wrongful conduct of FUND or
ADVISER or persons under their control, with respect
to the sale or distribution of the Variable Contracts
or FUND shares; or
(c) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a
registration statement, prospectus, or sales
literature covering the Variable 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 statements therein not
misleading, if such statement or omission or such
alleged statement or omission was made in reliance
upon and in conformity with information furnished to
LIFE COMPANY for inclusion therein by or on behalf of
FUND; or
(d) arise as a result of (i) a failure by FUND to provide
substantially the services and furnish the materials
under the terms of this Agreement; or (ii) a failure
by a Portfolio(s) invested in by the Separate Account
to comply with the diversification requirements of
Section 817(h) of the Code; or (iii) a failure by a
Portfolio(s) invested in by the Separate Account to
qualify as a "regulated investment company" under
Subchapter M of the Code; or
(e) arise out of or result from any material breach of
any representation and/or warranty made by ADVISER or
FUND in this Agreement or arise out of or result from
any other material breach of this Agreement by
ADVISER or FUND.
7.5 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 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.
7.6 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 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 ADVISER of any such claim shall not
relieve 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, ADVISER shall be entitled to participate at its own expense
in the defense thereof. ADVISER also shall be entitled to assume the defense
thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. After
notice from ADVISER to such party of 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 ADVISER 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.
Article VIII. TERM; TERMINATION
8.1 This Agreement shall be effective as of the date hereof and
shall continue in force until terminated in accordance with the provisions
herein.
8.2 This Agreement shall terminate in accordance with the following
provisions:
(a) At the option of LIFE COMPANY or FUND at any time
from the date hereof upon six (6) months' prior
written notice, unless a shorter time is agreed to by
the parties;
(b) At the option of LIFE COMPANY, if FUND shares are not
reasonably available to meet the requirements of the
Variable Contracts as determined by LIFE COMPANY.
Prompt notice of election to terminate shall be
furnished by LIFE COMPANY, said termination to be
effective ten days after receipt of notice unless
FUND makes available a sufficient number of shares to
reasonably meet the requirements of the Variable
Contracts within said ten-day period;
(c) At the option of LIFE COMPANY, upon the institution
of formal proceedings against FUND by the SEC, the
NASD, or any other regulatory body, the expected or
anticipated ruling, judgment or outcome of which
would, in LIFE COMPANY's reasonable judgment,
materially impair FUND's ability to meet and perform
FUND's obligations and duties hereunder. Prompt
notice of election to terminate shall be furnished by
LIFE COMPANY with said termination to be effective
upon receipt of notice;
(d) At the option of FUND, upon the institution of formal
proceedings against LIFE COMPANY by the SEC, the
NASD, or any other regulatory body, the expected or
anticipated ruling, judgment or outcome of which
would, in FUND's reasonable judgment, materially
impair LIFE COMPANY's ability to meet and perform its
obligations and duties hereunder. Prompt notice of
election to terminate shall be furnished by FUND with
said termination to be effective upon receipt of
notice;
(e) In the event FUND's shares are not registered, issued
or sold in accordance with applicable state or
federal law, or such law precludes the use of such
shares as the underlying investment medium of
Variable Contracts issued or to be issued by LIFE
COMPANY. Termination shall be effective upon such
occurrence without notice;
(f) At the option of FUND if the Variable Contracts cease
to qualify as annuity contracts or life insurance
contracts, as applicable, under the Code, or if FUND
reasonably believes that the Variable Contracts may
fail to so qualify. Termination shall be effective
upon receipt of notice by LIFE COMPANY;
(g) At the option of LIFE COMPANY, upon FUND's breach of
any material provision of this Agreement, which
breach has not been cured to the satisfaction of LIFE
COMPANY within ten days after written notice of such
breach is delivered to FUND;
(h) At the option of FUND, upon LIFE COMPANY's breach of
any material provision of this Agreement, which
breach has not been cured to the satisfaction of FUND
within ten days after written notice of such breach
is delivered to LIFE COMPANY;
(i) At the option of FUND, if the Variable Contracts are
not registered, issued or sold in accordance with
applicable federal and/or state law. Termination
shall be effective immediately upon such occurrence
without notice;
(j) In the event this Agreement is assigned without the
prior written consent of LIFE COMPANY, FUND, and
ADVISER, termination shall be effective immediately
upon such occurrence without notice.
8.3 Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement pursuant to
Section 8.2 hereof, the FUND and the ADVISER at the option of LIFE COMPANY shall
continue to make available additional shares of the Fund pursuant to the terms
of this Agreement, for all Variable Contracts in effect on the effective date of
termination of this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as "Existing Contracts").
Specifically, without limitation, the owners of Existing Contracts or LIFE
COMPANY, whichever shall have the legal authority to do so, shall be permitted
to reallocate investment in the FUND, redeem investments in the FUND and/or
invest in the FUND upon the making of additional premium payments under the
Existing Contracts. The parties agree that this Section 8.3 shall not apply to
any terminations under Article V of this Agreement.
8.4 In the event of a termination of this Agreement pursuant to
Section 8.2 hereof, LIFE COMPANY, as promptly as practicable under the
circumstances, shall notify FUND and ADVISER that it wishes to exercise the
option afforded by Section 8.3 hereof.
8.5 Except as necessary to implement Variable Contract owner
initiated transactions, or as required by state insurance laws or regulations or
as permitted by order of the Securities and Exchange Commission, LIFE COMPANY
shall not redeem the shares attributable to the Variable Contracts (as opposed
to the shares attributable to LIFE COMPANY's assets held in the Separate
Accounts), and LIFE COMPANY shall not prevent Variable Contract owners from
allocating payments to a Portfolio that was otherwise available under the
Variable Contracts until thirty (30) days after the LIFE COMPANY shall have
notified FUND of its intention to do so.
Article IX. NOTICES
Any notice hereunder shall be given by registered or certified mail
return receipt requested to the other party at the address of such party set
forth below or at such other address as such party may from time to time specify
in writing to the other party.
If to FUND:
PBHG Insurance Series Fund, Inc. 0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxxx 000 Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xx. Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
With a copy to:
PBHG Insurance Series Fund, Inc. 0000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000 Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Zerrr, Esq.
If to the ADVISER:
PBHG Insurance Series Fund, Inc. 0000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000 Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xx. Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
With a copy to:
PBHG Insurance Series Fund, Inc. 0000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000 Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Zerrr, Esq.
If to LIFE COMPANY:
The Life Insurance Company of Virginia
0000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
With a copy to:
The Life Insurance Company of Virginia 0000
Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: J. Xxxx XxXxxxxx, Esq.
Notice shall be deemed given on the date of receipt by the addressee
as evidenced by the return receipt.
Article X. MISCELLANEOUS
10.1 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.
10.2 This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
10.3 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.
10.4 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania. It shall also be subject to the provisions of the federal
securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder and to any orders of
the SEC granting exemptive relief therefrom and the conditions of such orders.
10.5 It is understood and expressly stipulated that neither the
shareholders of shares of any Portfolio nor the Directors or officers of FUND or
any Portfolio shall be personally liable hereunder. No Portfolio shall be liable
for the liabilities of any other Portfolio. All persons dealing with FUND or a
Portfolio must look solely to the property of FUND or that Portfolio,
respectively, for enforcement of any claims against FUND or that Portfolio. It
is also understood that each of the Portfolios shall be deemed to be entering
into a separate Agreement with LIFE COMPANY so that it is as if each of the
Portfolios had signed a separate Agreement with LIFE COMPANY and that a single
document is being signed simply to facilitate the execution and administration
of the Agreement.
10.6 Each party 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.
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 No provision of this Agreement may be amended or modified in
any manner except by a written agreement properly authorized and executed by
FUND, ADVISER and the LIFE COMPANY.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused their duly authorized
officers to execute this Fund Participation Agreement as of the date and year
first above written.
PBHG INSURANCE SERIES FUND, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Berecnak
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Berecnak
Title: Vice President
PILGRIM XXXXXX & ASSOCIATES, LTD.
By: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Title: CFO
THE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
OF VIRGINIA
By: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
--------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Title: Senior Vice President
APPENDIX A
PBHG Insurance Series Fund, Inc. - Portfolios
PBHG Growth II Portfolio
PBHG Large Cap Growth Portfolio
APPENDIX B
Separate Accounts Selected Portfolios
Life of Virginia Separate Account II PBHG Growth II
Life of Virginia Separate Account III PBHG Large Cap Growth
Life of Virginia Separate Account 4
Life of Virginia Separate Account 5
