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EXHIBIT A(9)(b)
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JANUS ASPEN SERIES
FUND PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made this 1st day of June, 1999, between JANUS ASPEN
SERIES, an open-end management investment company organized as a Delaware
business trust (the "Trust"), and Sentry Life Insurance Company, a life
insurance company organized under the laws of the State of Wisconsin (the
"Company"), on its own behalf and on behalf of each segregated asset account of
the Company set forth on Schedule A, as may be amended from time to time (the
"Accounts").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Trust has registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission as an open-end management investment company under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), and has registered the offer
and sale of its shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933
Act"); and
WHEREAS the Trust desires to act as an investment vehicle for separate
accounts established for variable life insurance policies and variable annuity
contracts to be offered by insurance companies that have entered into
participation agreements with the Trust (the "Participating Insurance
Companies"); and
WHEREAS, the beneficial interest in the Trust is divided into several series
of shares, each series representing an interest in a particular managed
portfolio of securities and other assets (the "Portfolios"); and
WHEREAS, the Trust has received an order from the Securities and Exchange
Commission granting Participating Insurance Companies and their separate
accounts exemptions from the provisions of Section 9(a), 13(a), 15(a) and 15(b)
of 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 Trust to be sold to and held by
variable annuity and variable life insurance separate accounts of both
affiliated and unaffiliated life insurance companies and certain qualified
pension and retirement plans (the "Exemptive Order"); and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered certain variable life insurance policies
and/or variable annuity contracts under the 1933 Act (the "Contracts"); and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered each Account as a unit investment trust
under the 1940 Act; and
WHEREAS, said Accounts presently utilize as their investment vehicle another
investment company (the "Predecessor Investment Company"), but Company has
indicated its intention to secure necessary regulatory approvals to terminate
the agreements with the Predecessor Investment Company, and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to utilize shares of one or more Portfolios as
an investment vehicle of the Accounts upon completion of the termination of the
present arrangement with the Predecessor Investment Company.
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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the parties agree
as follows upon the termination of the arrangements with the Predecessor
Investment Company;
ARTICLE I
Sale of Trust Shares
1.1 The Trust shall make shares of its Portfolios available to the Accounts
at the net asset value next computed after receipt of such purchase order by the
Trust (or its agent), as established in accordance with the provisions of the
then current prospectus of the Trust. Shares of a particular Portfolio of the
Trust shall be ordered in such quantities and at such times as determined by the
Company to be necessary to meet the requirements of the Contracts. The Trustees
of the Trust (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, necessary in
the best interests of the shareholders of such Portfolio.
1.2 The Trust will redeem any full or fractional shares of any Portfolio
when requested by the Company on behalf of an Account at the net asset value
next computed after receipt of the Trust (or its agent) of the request for
redemption, as established in accordance with the provisions of the then current
prospectus of the Trust. The Trust shall make payment for such shares in
the manner established from time to time by the Trust, but in no event shall
payment be delayed for a greater period than is permitted by the 0000 Xxx.
1.3 For the purposes of Sections 1.1 and 1.2, the Trust hereby appoints the
Company: as its agent for the limited purpose of receiving and accepting
purchase and redemption orders resulting from investment in and payments under
the Contracts. Receipt by the Company shall constitute receipt by the Trust
provided that i) such orders are received by the Company in good order prior to
the time the net asset value of each Portfolio is priced in accordance with its
prospectus and ii) the Trust receives notice of such orders by 10:00 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 Trust
calculates its net asset value pursuant to the rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
1.4 Purchase orders that are transmitted to the Trust in accordance with
Section 1.3 shall be paid for no later than 12:00 noon New York time on the same
Business Day that the Trust receives notice of the order. Payments shall be made
in federal funds transmitted by wire.
1.5 Issuance and transfer of the Trust's shares will be by book entry only.
Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or the Account. Shares
ordered from the Trust will be recorded in the appropriate title for each
Account or the appropriate subaccount of each Account.
1.6 The Trust shall furnish prompt notice to the Company of any income
dividends or capital gain distributions payable on the Trust's shares. The
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
that Portfolio. The Trust shall notify the Company of the number of shares so
issued as payment of such dividends and distributions.
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1.7 The Trust shall make the net asset value per share for each Portfolio
available to the Company on a daily basis as soon as reasonably practical after
the net asset value per share is calculated and shall use its best efforts to
make such net asset value per share available by 6 p.m. New York time.
1.8 The Trust agrees that its shares will be sold only to Participating
Insurance Companies and their separate accounts and to certain qualified pension
and retirement plans to the extent permitted by the Exemptive Order. No shares
of any Portfolio will be sold directly to the general public. The Company agrees
that Trust shares will be used only for the purposes of funding the Contracts
and Accounts listed in Schedule A, as amended from time to time.
1.9 The Trust agrees that all Participating Insurance Companies shall have
the obligations and responsibilities regarding pass-through voting and conflicts
of interest corresponding to those contained in Section 2.8 and Article IV of
this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
Obligations of the Parties
2.1 The Trust shall prepare and be responsible for filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission 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 the Trust. The Trust shall bear the costs of
registration and qualification of its shares, preparation and filing of the
documents listed in this Section 2.1 and all taxes to which an issuer is
subject on the issuance and transfer of its shares.
2.2 At the option of the Company, the Trust shall either (a) provide the
Company (at the Company's expense) with as many copies of the Trust's current
prospectus, annual report, semi-annual report and other shareholder
communications, including any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing,
as the Company shall reasonably request; or (b) provide the Company with a
camera ready copy of such documents in a form suitable for printing. The Trust
shall provide the Company with a copy of its statement of additional information
in a form suitable for duplication by the Company. The Trust (at its expense)
shall provide the Company with copies of any Trust-sponsored proxy materials in
such quantity as the Company shall reasonably require for distribution to
Contract owners.
2.3 (a) The Company shall bear the costs of printing and distributing the
Trust's prospectus, statement of additional information, shareholder reports and
other shareholder communications to owners of and applicants for policies for
which the Trust is serving or is to serve as an investment vehicle. The Company
shall bear the costs of distributing proxy materials (or similar materials such
as voting solicitation instructions) to Contract owners. The Company assumes
sole responsibility for ensuring that such materials are delivered to Contract
owners in accordance with applicable federal and state securities laws.
(b) If the Company elects to include any materials provided by the
Trust, specifically prospectuses, SAIs, shareholder reports and proxy
materials, on its web site or in any other computer or electronic format, the
Company assumes sole responsibility for maintaining such materials in the form
provided by the Trust and for promptly replacing such materials with all updates
provided by the Trust.
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2.4 The Company agrees and acknowledges that the Trust's adviser, Janus
Capital Corporation ("Janus Capital"), is the sole owner of the name and xxxx
"Xxxxx" and that all use of any designation comprised in whole or part of Janus
(a "Xxxxx Xxxx") under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of Janus
Capital. Except as provided in Section 2.5, the Company shall not use any Xxxxx
Xxxx on its own behalf or on behalf of the Accounts or Contracts in any
registration statement, advertisement, sales literature or other materials
relating to the Accounts or Contracts without the prior written consent of Janus
Capital. Upon termination of this Agreement for any reason, the Company shall
cease all use of any Xxxxx Xxxx(s) as soon as reasonably practicable.
2.5 The Company shall furnish, or cause to be furnished, to the Trust or its
designee, a copy of each Contract prospectus or statement of additional
information in which the Trust or its investment adviser is named prior to the
filing of such document with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company
shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the Trust or its designee,
each piece of sales literature or other promotional material in which the Trust
or its investment adviser is named, at least fifteen Business Days prior to its
use. No such material shall be used if the Trust or its designee reasonably
objects to such use within fifteen Business Days after receipt of such material.
2.6 The Company shall not give any information or make any representations
or statements on behalf of the Trust or concerning the Trust or its investment
adviser in connection with the sale of the Contracts other than information or
representations contained in and accurately derived from the registration
statement or prospectus for the Trust shares (as such registration statement and
prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time), reports of the
Trust, Trust-sponsored proxy statements, or in sales literature or other
promotional material approved by the Trust or its designee, except as required
by legal process or regulatory authorities or with the written permission of the
Trust or its designee,
2.7 The Trust shall not give any information or make any representations or
statements on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company, the Accounts or
the Contracts other than information or representations contained in and
accurately derived from the registration statement or prospectus for the
Contracts (as such registration statement and prospectus may be amended or
supplemented from time to time), or in materials approved by the Company for
distribution including sales literature or other promotional materials, except
as required by legal process or regulatory authorities or with the written
permission of the Company.
2.8 So long as, and to the extent that the Securities and Exchange
Commission interprets the 1940 Act to require pass-through voting privileges for
variable policyowners, the Company will provide pass-through voting privileges
to owners of policies whose cash values are invested, through the Accounts, in
shares of the Trust. The Trust shall require all Participating Insurance
Companies to calculate voting privileges in the same manner and the Company
shall be responsible for assuring that the Accounts calculate voting privileges
in the manner established by the Trust. With respect to each Account, the
Company will vote shares of the Trust held by the Account and for which no
timely voting instructions from policyowners are received as well as shares it
owns that are held by that Account, in the same proportion as those shares for
which voting instructions are received. The Company and its agents will in no
way recommend or oppose or interfere with the solicitation of proxies for Trust
shares held by Contract owners without the prior written consent of the Trust,
which consent may be withheld in the Trust's sole discretion.
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2.9 The Company shall notify the Trust of any applicable state insurance
laws that restrict the Portfolios' investments or otherwise affect the operation
of the Trust and shall notify the Trust of any changes in such laws.
ARTICLE III
Representations and Warranties
3.1 The Company represents and warrants that it is an insurance company duly
organized and in good standing under the laws of the State of Wisconsin and that
it has legally and validly established each Account as a segregated asset
account under such law on the date set forth in Schedule A.
3.2 The Company represents and warrants that each Account has been
registered or, prior to any issuance or sale of the Contracts, will be
registered as a unit investment trust in accordance with the provisions of the
0000 Xxx.
3.3 The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts or interests in
the Accounts (1) are or, prior to issuance, will be registered as securities
under the 1933 Act or, alternatively (2) are not registered because they are
properly exempt from registration under the 1933 Act or will be offered
exclusively in transactions that are properly exempt from registration under the
1933 Act. The Company further represents and warrants that the Contracts will be
issued and sold in compliance in all material respects with all applicable
federal and state laws; and the sale of the Contracts shall comply in all
material respects with state insurance suitability requirements.
3.4 The Company represents and warrants that any of Company's trading
systems that interact with the Trust via any form of automated feed prior to,
during and after the calendar year 2000 will recognize accurate century data,
and user interfaces and operation environments will comply with Year 2000
application standards.
3.5 The Trust represents and warrants that it is duly organized and validly
existing under the laws of the State of Delaware.
3.6 The Trust represents and warrants that the Trust shares offered and sold
pursuant to this Agreement will be registered under the 1933 Act and the Trust
shall be registered under the 1940 Act prior to any issuance or sale of such
shares. The Trust shall amend its registration statement under the 1933 Act and
the 1940 Act from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous
offering of its shares. The Trust 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 the Trust.
3.7 The Trust represents and warrants that the investments of each Portfolio
will comply with the diversification requirements set forth in Section 817(h) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder.
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ARTICLE IV
Potential Conflicts
4.1 The parties acknowledge that the Trust's shares may be made available
for investment to other Participating Insurance Companies. In such event, the
Trustees will monitor the Trust for the existence of any material irreconcilable
conflict between the interests of the contract owners of all Participating
Insurance Companies. An irreconcilable material conflict may arise for a variety
of reasons, including: (a) an action by any state insurance regulatory
authority; (b) a change in applicable federal or state insurance, tax, or
securities laws or regulations, or a public ruling, private letter ruling,
no-action or interpretative letter, or any similar action by insurance, tax, or
securities regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative or judicial decision in
any relevant proceeding; (d) the manner in which the investments of any
Portfolio are being managed; (e) a difference in voting instructions given by
variable annuity contract and variable life insurance contract owners; or (f) a
decision by an insurer to disregard the voting instructions of contract owners.
The Trustees shall promptly inform the Company if they determine that an
irreconcilable material conflict exists and the implications thereof.
4.2 The Company agrees to promptly report any potential or existing
conflicts of which it is aware to the Trustees. The Company will assist the
Trustees in carrying out their responsibilities under the Exemptive Order by
providing the Trustees with all information reasonably necessary for the
Trustees to consider any issues raised including, but not limited to,
information as to a decision by the Company to disregard Contract owner voting
instructions.
4.3 If it is determined by a majority of the Trustees, or a majority of its
disinterested Trustees, that a material irreconcilable conflict exists that
affects the interests of Contract owners, the Company shall, in cooperation with
other Participating Insurance Companies whose contract owners are also affected,
at its expense and to the extent reasonably practicable (as determined by the
Trustees) take whatever steps are necessary to remedy or eliminate the
irreconcilable material conflict, which steps could include: (a) withdrawing the
assets allocable to some or all of the Accounts from the Trust or any
Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a different investment medium,
including (but not limited to) another Portfolio of the Trust, or submitting the
question of whether or not such segregation should be implemented to a vote of
all affected Contract owners and, as appropriate, segregating the assets of any
appropriate group (i.e., annuity contract owners, life insurance contract
owners, or variable contract owners of one or more Participating Insurance
Companies) that votes in favor of such segregation, or offering to the affected
Contract owners the option of making such a change; and (b) establishing a new
registered management investment company or managed separate account.
4.4 If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a decision by
the Company to disregard Contract owner voting instructions and that decision
represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote, the Company
may be required, at the Trust's election, to withdraw the affected Account's
investment in the Trust and terminate this Agreement with respect to such
Account; provided, however, that such withdrawal and termination shall be
limited to the extent required by the foregoing material irreconcilable conflict
as determined by a majority of the disinterested Trustees. Any such withdrawal
and termination must take place within six (6) months after the Trust gives
written notice that this provision is being implemented. Until the end of such
six (6) month period, the Trust shall continue to accept and implement orders by
the Company for the purchase and redemption of shares of the Trust.
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4.5 If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a particular state
insurance regulator's decision applicable to the Company conflicts with the
majority of other state regulators, then the Company will withdraw the affected
Account's investment in the Trust and terminate this Agreement with respect to
such Account within six (6) months after the Trustees inform 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 Trustees. Until the
end of such six (6) month period, the Trust shall continue to accept and
implement orders by the Company for the purchase and redemption of shares of the
Trust.
4.6 For purposes of Sections 4.3 through 4.6 of this Agreement, a majority
of the disinterested Trustees shall determine whether any proposed action
adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict, but in no event will
the Company be required to establish a new funding medium for the Contracts if
an offer to do so has been declined by vote of a majority of Contract owners
materially adversely affected by the irreconcilable material conflict. In the
even that the Trustees determine that any proposed action does not adequately
remedy any irreconcilable material conflict, then the Company will withdraw the
Account's investment in the Trust and terminate this Agreement within six (6)
months after the Trustees inform the Company in writing of the foregoing
determination; provided, however, that such withdrawal and termination shall be
limited to the extent required by any such material irreconcilable conflict as
determined by a majority of the disinterested Trustees.
4.7 The Company shall at least annually submit to the Trustees such reports,
materials or data as the Trustees may reasonably request so that the Trustees
may fully carry out the duties imposed upon them by the Exemptive Order, and
said reports, materials and data shall be submitted more frequently if deemed
appropriate by the Trustees.
4.8 If and to the extent that Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) are amended, or
Rule 6e-3 is adopted, to provide exemptive relief from any provision of the 1940
Act or the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to mixed or shared funding
(as defined in the Exemptive Order) on terms and conditions materially different
from those contained in the Exemptive Order, then the Trust and/or the
Participating Insurance Companies, as appropriate, shall take such steps as may
be necessary to comply with Rules 6e-2 and 6e-3(T), as amended, and Rule 6e-3,
as adopted, to the extent such rules are applicable.
ARTICLE V
INDEMNIFICATION
5.1 Indemnification By the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless the Trust and each of its Trustees, officers, employees and agents and
each person, if any, who controls the Trust within the meaning of Section 15 of
the 1933 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this
Article V) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including
amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Company) or expenses
(including the reasonable costs of investigating or defending the alleged loss,
claim, damage, liability or expense and reasonable legal counsel fees incurred
in connection therewith) (collectively, "Losses"), to which the Indemnified
Parties may become subject under any statute or regulation, or at common law or
otherwise, insofar as such Losses:
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(a) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements or alleged
untrue statements of any material fact contained in a registration statement
or prospectus for the Contracts or in the Contracts themselves or in sales
literature generated or approved by the Company on behalf of the Contracts
or Accounts (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing)
(collectively, "Company Documents" for the purposes of this Article V), 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 indemnity 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 was accurately
derived from written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of
the Trust for use in Company Documents or otherwise for use in connection
with the sale of the Contracts or Trust shares; or
(b) arise out of or result from statements or representations (other
than statements or representations contained in and accurately derived from
Trust Documents as defined in Section 5.2(a)) or wrongful conduct of the
Company or persons under its control, with respect to the sale or
acquisition of the Contracts or Trust shares; or
(c) arise out of or result from any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in Trust Documents as defined in
Section 5.2(a) 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 was made in
reliance upon and accurately derived from written information furnished to
the Trust by or on behalf of the Company; or
(d) arise out of or result from any failure by the Company to provide
the services or furnish the materials required 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 the Company in this Agreement or
arise out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by
the Company.
5.2 Indemnification By the Trust. The Trust agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless the Company and each of its directors, officers, employees and agents
and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section
15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of
this Article V) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities
(including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Trust) or
expenses (including the reasonable costs of investigating or defending any
alleged loss, claim, damage, liability or expense and reasonable legal counsel
fees incurred in connection therewith) (collectively,"losses"), to which the
Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute or regulation, or at
common law or otherwise, insofar as such Losses:
(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 for the Trust (or any amendment or supplement
thereto), (collectively, "Trust Documents" for the purposes of this Article
V), 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 indemnity
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 was
accurately derived from written information furnished to the Trust by or on
behalf of the Company for use in Trust Documents or otherwise for use in
connection with the sale of the Contracts or Trust shares; or
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(b) arise out of or result from statements or representations (other
than statements or representations contained in and accurately derived from
Company Documents) or wrongful conduct of the Trust or persons under its
control, with respect to the sale or acquisition of the Contracts or Trust
shares; or
(c) arise out of or result from any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in Company Documents 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 was made in reliance upon and accurately derived from
written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Trust;
or
(d) arise out of or result from any failure by the Trust to provide the
services or furnish the materials required 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 the Trust in this Agreement or arise
out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by the
Trust.
5.3 Neither the Company nor the Trust shall be liable under the
indemnification provisions of Sections 5.1 or 5.2, as applicable, with respect
to any Losses incurred or assessed against an Indemnified Party that arise from
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.
5.4 Neither the Company nor the Trust shall be liable under the
indemnification provisions of Section 5.1 or 5.2, as applicable, with respect to
any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless such Indemnified Party shall
have notified the other party in writing within a reasonable time after the
summons, or other first written notification, giving information of the nature
of the claim shall have been served upon or otherwise received by such
Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of
service upon or other notification to any designated agent), but failure to
notify the party against whom indemnification is sought of any such claim shall
not relieve that party from any liability which it may have to the Indemnified
Party in the absence of Section 5.1 and 5.2.
5.5 In case any such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties, the
indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate, as its own expense, in the
defense of such action. The indemnifying party also shall be entitled to assume
the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the party named in
the action. After notice from the indemnifying party to the Indemnified Party of
an election to assume such defense, 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 the Indemnified 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.
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ARTICLE VI
TERMINATION
6.1 This Agreement may be terminated by either party for any reason by
ninety (90) days advance written notice delivered to the other party. However,
this agreement shall remain in effect for such time after the 90 day period has
expired as is necessary for the Company to obtain regulatory approval for
substitution of the Trust Separate Accounts as listed in Schedule A, (provided
the Company takes reasonably prompt action to obtain the approval.)
6.2 Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Trust shall, at
the option of the Company, continue to make available additional shares of the
Trust (or any Portfolio) pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement
for all Contracts in effect on the effective date of termination of this
Agreement, provided that the Company continues to pay the costs set forth in
Section 2.3
6.3 The provisions of Article V shall survive the termination of this
Agreement, and the provisions of Article IV and Section 2.8 shall survive the
termination of this Agreement as long as shares of the Trust are held on behalf
of Contract owners in accordance with Section 6.2.
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ARTICLE VII
NOTICES
Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or certified
mail to the other party at the address of such party set forth below or at such
other address as such party may from time to time specify in writing to the
other party.
If to the Trust:
Janus Aspen Series
000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: General Counsel
If to the Company:
Sentry Life Insurance Company
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
With a copy to:
Legal Department
Sentry Life Insurance Company
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxx Xxxxx
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
8.1 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.
8.2 This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
8.3 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.
8.4 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof interpreted
under and in accordance with the laws of State of Colorado.
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8.5 The parties to this Agreement acknowledge and agree that all liabilities
of the Trust arising, directly or indirectly, under this Agreement, of any and
every nature whatsoever, shall be satisfied solely out of the assets of the
Trust and that no Trustee, officer, agent or holder of shares of beneficial
interest of the Trust shall be personally liable for any such liabilities.
8.6 Each party shall cooperate with 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 book and records in connection with any investigation or inquiry relating
to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
8.7 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.
8.8 The parties to this Agreement acknowledge and agree that this Agreement
shall not be exclusive in any respect.
8.9 Neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder may be
assigned by either party without the prior written approval of the other party.
8.10 No provisions of this Agreement may be amended or modified in any
manner except by a written agreement properly authorized and executed by both
parties.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused their duly authorized officers
to execute this Participation Agreement as of the date and year first above
written.
JANUS ASPEN SERIES
By: /s/ Xxxxxx Xxxx
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Name: Xxxxxx Xxxx
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Title: Assistant V.P.
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SENTRY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By: /s/ X. X'Xxxxxx
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Name: Xxxxxxx X. X'Xxxxxx
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Title: Secretary
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Schedule A
Separate Accounts and Associated Contracts
NAME OF SEPARATE ACCOUNT
DATE ESTABLISHED BY CONTRACTS FUNDED
BOARD OF DIRECTORS BY SEPARATE ACCOUNT DESIGNATED PORTFOLIO
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Sentry Variable Life Account II Individual Flexible Janus Aspen Series
Established August 2, 1983 Purchase Payment ------------------
Deferred Variable Annuity Growth
Aggressive Growth
Capital Appreciation
Worldwide Growth
Balanced
Sentry Variable Life Account Flexible Premium Janus Aspen Series
Established February 12, 1985 Variable Life Insurance ------------------
Growth
Aggressive Growth
Capital Appreciation
Worldwide Growth
Balanced
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June 1, 1999
SENTRY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
0000 XXXXX XXXXX XX
XXXXXXX XXXXX XX 00000
Dear Xxxxx,
This letter sets forth the agreement between Sentry Life Insurance Company
(the "Company"), and Janus Capital Corporation (the "Adviser"), concerning
certain administrative services.
1. Administrative Services and Expenses. Administrative services for the
separate accounts of the Company (the "Accounts") which invests in one or
more portfolios (collectively, the "Portfolios") of Janus Aspen Series (the
"Trust") pursuant to the Participation Agreement between the Company and the
Trust dated June 1, 1999, (the "Participation Agreement"), and for
purchasers of variable annuity or life insurance contracts (the "Contracts")
issued through the Accounts are the responsibility of the Company.
Administrative services for the Portfolios, in which the Accounts invest,
and for purchasers of shares of the Portfolios, are the responsibility of
the Trust. The administrative services the Company intends to provide to the
Trust and its Portfolios are set forth in Schedule A attached to this letter
agreement, which may be amended from time to time.
2. Service Fee. In consideration of the anticipated administrative expense
savings resulting to the Trust from the Company's services, the Adviser
agrees to pay the Company a fee ("Service Fee"), computed daily and paid
monthly in arrears, at an annual rate equal to fifteen (15) basis points
(0.15%) of the average monthly value of the shares of the Portfolios held
in the Accounts, such payments to commence following the month in which the
average monthly value of investments by the Accounts reaches $50 million.
The Service Fee will be correspondingly suspended if the average monthly
value of such investments drops below $50 million in any month.
For purposes of this Paragraph 2, the average monthly value of the shares of
the Portfolios will be based on the sum of the daily net asset values of the
Portfolios (as calculated by the Portfolios) on each calendar day in a month
divided by the number of calendar days in the month.
3. Nature of Payments. The parties to this letter agreement recognize and agree
that the Adviser's payments to the Company relate to administrative services
to the Trust only and do not constitute payment in any manner for
administrative services provided by the Company to the Account or to the
Contracts, for investment advisory services or for costs of distribution of
Contracts or of shares of the Portfolios, and that these payments are not
otherwise related to investment advisory or distribution services or
expenses.
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4. Representations and Warranties.
a. The Adviser represents and warrants that in the event the Trustees of
the Trust approve the payment of all or any portion of the Service Fee
by the Trust, the Trust will calculate in the same manner the Service
Fee to all insurance companies that have entered into Service Fee
arrangements with the Adviser and/or the Trust (the "Participating
Insurance Companies").
b. The Company represents and warrants that: (1) it and its employees and
agents meet the requirements of applicable law, including but not
limited to federal and state securities law and state insurance law,
for the performance of services contemplated herein; and (2) it will
not purchase Trust shares of the Portfolios with Account assets derived
from tax-qualified retirement plans except indirectly, through
Contracts purchased in connection with such plans and that the Service
Fee does not include any payment to the Company that is prohibited
under the Employee Retirement Income Securities Act of 1974 ("ERISA")
with respect to any assets of a Contract owner invested in a Contract
using the Portfolios as investment vehicles.
c. The Company represents, warrants and agrees that: (1) the payment of
the Service Fee by the Adviser is designed to reimburse the Company for
providing administrative services to the Trust that the Trust would
customarily pay and does not represent reimbursement to the Company for
providing administrative services to the Contract or Account as
described in Section 26 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the
"1940 Act") and the rules and regulations thereunder; (2) no portion of
the Service Fee will be rebated by the Company to any Contract owner;
and (3) if required by applicable law, the Company will disclose to
each Contract owner the existence of the Service Fee received by the
Company pursuant to this letter agreement in a form consistent with the
requirements of applicable law and will disclose the amount of the
Service Fee, if any, that is paid by the Trust.
5. Indemnification
a. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Adviser and its
directors, officers, and employees from any and all loss, liability and
expense resulting from any gross negligence or willful wrongful act of
the Company in performing its services under this letter agreement,
from the inaccuracy or breach of any representation made in this letter
agreement, or from a breach of a material provision of this letter
agreement, except to the extent such loss, liability or expense is the
result of the Adviser's willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross
negligence in the performance of its duties.
b. The Advisor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its
directors, officers, agents and employees from any and all loss,
liability and expense resulting from any gross negligence or willful
wrongful act of the Adviser in performing its services under this
letter agreement, from the inaccuracy or breach of any representation
made in this letter agreement, or from a breach of a material provision
of this letter agreement, except to the extent such loss, liability or
expense is the result of the Company's willful misfeasance, bad faith
or gross negligence in the performance of its duties.
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6. Termination.
a. Either party may terminate this letter agreement, without penalty, on
sixty (60) days' written notice to the other party.
b. This letter agreement will terminate at the option of either party in
the event of the termination of the Participation Agreement.
c. This letter agreement will terminate immediately upon the determination
of either party, with the advice of counsel, that the payment of the
Service Fee is in conflict with applicable law.
7. Amendment. This letter agreement may be amended only upon mutual agreement
of the parties hereto in writing.
8. Confidentiality. The terms of this letter agreement will be treated as
confidential and will not be disclosed to the public or any outside party
except with each party's prior written consent, as required by law or
judicial process or as provided in paragraph 4c herein.
9. Assignment. This letter agreement may not be assigned (as that term is
defined in the 0000 Xxx) by either party without the prior written approval
of the other party, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld, except
that the Adviser may assign its obligations under this letter agreement,
including the payment of all or any portion of the Service Fee, to the Trust
upon thirty (30) days' written notice to the Company.
10. Governing Law. This letter agreement will be construed and the provisions
hereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of
Colorado.
11. Counterparts. This letter agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of
which will be deemed an original but all of which will together constitute
one and the same instrument.
If this letter agreement is consistent with your understanding of the matters we
discussed concerning administrative expense payments, kindly sign below and
return a signed copy to us.
Very truly yours,
JANUS CAPITAL CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
--------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
------------------------------------
Title: Vice President
-----------------------------------
SENTRY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. X'Xxxxxx
--------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx X. X'Xxxxxx
------------------------------------
Title: Secretary
-----------------------------------
Attachment: Schedule A
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SCHEDULE A
Pursuant to the letter agreement to which this Schedule is attached, the Company
will perform administrative services including, but not limited to, the
following:
1. Print and mail to Contract owners copies of the Portfolios' prospectuses,
proxy materials, periodic fund reports to shareholders and other materials that
the Trust is required by law or otherwise to provide to its shareholders.
2. Provide Contract owner services including, but not limited to, financial
consultants' advice with respect to inquiries related to the Portfolios (not
including information about performance or related to sales) and communicating
with Contract owners about Portfolio (and subaccount) performance.
3. Provide other administrative support for the Trust as mutually agreed to
by the Company and the Adviser and relieve the Trust of other usual or
incidental administrative services provided to individual Contract owners.
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