EXHIBIT 99 (8)(ii)
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
AMONG
RYDEX VARIABLE TRUST,
RYDEX DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
AND
JEFFERSON NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
DATED AS OF
MAY 1, 2003
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
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ARTICLE I Purchase of Trust Shares 2
ARTICLE II Representations and Warranties 4
ARTICLE III Prospectuses, Reports to Shareholders and Proxy Statements; Voting 6
ARTICLE IV Sales Material and Information 7
ARTICLE V Fees and Expenses 9
ARTICLE VI Diversification 9
ARTICLE VII Potential Conflicts 9
ARTICLE VIII Indemnification 11
ARTICLE IX Applicable Law 16
ARTICLE X Termination 16
ARTICLE XI Notices 17
ARTICLE XII Miscellaneous 17
SCHEDULE A Separate Accounts and Associated Contracts 21
SCHEDULE B Proxy Voting Procedures 22
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of the 1st day of May, 2003,
by and among Jefferson National Life Insurance Company (hereinafter the
"Company"), a Texas corporation, on its own behalf and on behalf of each
separate account of the Company set forth on Schedule A hereto as may be amended
from time to time (each such account hereinafter referred to as the "Account"),
RYDEX VARIABLE TRUST (hereinafter the "Trust"), a
Delaware business trust, and
RYDEX DISTRIBUTORS, INC. (hereinafter the "Underwriter"), a Maryland
corporation.
WHEREAS, the Trust engages in business as an open-end management
investment company and is available to act as (i) the investment vehicle for
separate accounts established by insurance companies for individual and group
life insurance policies and individual and group annuity contracts with variable
accumulation and/or pay-out provisions (hereinafter referred to individually
and/or collectively as "Variable Insurance Products") and (ii) the investment
vehicle for certain qualified pension and retirement plans (hereinafter
"Qualified Plans"); and
WHEREAS, insurance companies desiring to utilize the Trust as an
investment vehicle under their Variable Insurance Products enter into
participation agreements with the Trust and the Underwriter (the "Participating
Insurance Companies");
WHEREAS, beneficial interests in the Trust are divided into several
series of interests or shares, each representing the interest in a particular
managed portfolio of securities and other assets, any one or more of which may
be made available under this Agreement, as may be amended from time to time by
mutual agreement of the parties hereto (each such series is hereinafter referred
to as a "Fund"); and
WHEREAS, the Trust has obtained an order from the Securities and
Exchange Commission, dated February 25, 1999 (File No. 812-11344), granting
Participating Insurance Companies and Variable Insurance Product separate
accounts exemptions from the provisions of Sections 9(a), 13(a), 15(a), and
15(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (hereinafter the "1940
Act"), and Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15) thereunder, to the extent
necessary to permit shares of a Fund to be sold to and held by Variable
Insurance Product separate accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated life
insurance companies and Qualified Plans (hereinafter the "Shared Funding
Exemptive Order"); and
WHEREAS, the Trust is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the 1940 Act and its shares are registered under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (hereinafter the "1933 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Underwriter is registered as a broker/dealer under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (hereinafter the "1934 Act"), is a
member in good standing of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
(hereinafter "NASD") and serves as principal underwriter of the shares of the
Trust; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register certain Variable
Insurance Products under the 1933 Act; and
WHEREAS, each Account is a duly organized, validly existing segregated
asset account, established by resolution or under authority of the Board of
Directors of the Company, on the date shown for such Account on Schedule A
hereto, to set aside and invest assets attributable to the aforementioned
Variable Insurance Products; and
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register each Account as a
unit investment trust under the 1940 Act; and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Company intends to purchase shares in the Funds on behalf of
each Account to fund certain of the aforementioned Variable Insurance Products
and the Underwriter is authorized to sell such shares to each such Account at
net asset value;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the
Company, the Trust and each Underwriter agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. PURCHASE OF TRUST SHARES
1.1. The Trust agrees to make available for purchase by the
Company shares of the Trust and shall execute orders placed for each Account on
a daily basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by the Trust or
its designee of such order. For purposes of this Section 1.1, the Company shall
be the designee of the Trust for receipt of such orders from each Account and
receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the Trust; provided that
the Trust receives the final order by 9:00 a.m. Eastern 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.
1.2. The Trust, so long as this Agreement is in effect, agrees to
make its shares available indefinitely for purchase at the applicable net asset
value per share by the Company and its Accounts on those days on which the Trust
calculates its net asset value pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission and the Trust shall use reasonable efforts to calculate such net
asset value on each day which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Trustees of the Trust (hereinafter
the "Board") may refuse to permit the Trust to sell shares of any Fund to any
person, or suspend or terminate the offering of shares of any Fund if such
action is required by law or by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction or
is, in the sole discretion of the Board 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 Fund.
1.3. The Trust agrees that shares of the Trust will be sold only
to Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts and to certain
Qualified Plans all in accordance with the requirement of Section 817(h)(1) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Code") and Treasury regulation
1.817-5(f). No shares of any Fund will be sold to the general public.
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1.4. The Trust will not make its shares available for purchase by
any insurance company or separate account unless an agreement containing
provisions substantially the same as in Section 1.3 of Article I, Section 3.5 of
Article III, Article VI and Article VII of this Agreement is in effect to govern
such sales.
1.5. The Trust agrees to redeem for cash, on the Company's
request, any full or fractional shares of a Trust held by the Company, executing
such requests on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed after
receipt by the Trust or its designee of the request for redemption. Subject to
and in accordance with applicable laws, and subject to written consent of the
Company, the Trust may redeem shares for assets other than cash. For purposes of
this Section 1.5, the Company shall be the designee of the Trust for receipt of
requests for redemption from each Account and receipt by such designee shall
constitute receipt by the Trust; provided that the Trust receives the final
request by 9:00 a.m. Eastern time on the next following Business Day.
1.6. The Company agrees that purchases and redemptions of Fund
shares offered by the then current prospectus of the Trust shall be made in
accordance with the provisions of such prospectus. The Variable Insurance
Products issued by the Company, under which amounts may be invested in the Trust
(hereinafter the "Contracts"), are listed on Schedule A attached hereto and
incorporated herein by reference, as such Schedule A may be amended from time to
time by mutual written agreement of all of the parties hereto.
1.7. The Company shall pay for Trust shares on the next Business
Day after an order to purchase Trust shares is made in accordance with the
provisions of Section 1.1 hereof. Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted
by wire. For purposes of Section 2.9 and 2.10, upon receipt by the Trust of the
federal funds so wired, such funds shall cease to be the responsibility of the
Company and shall become the responsibility of the Trust.
1.8. Issuance and transfer of the Trust's shares will be by book
entry only. Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or any Account.
Shares ordered from the Trust will be recorded in an appropriate title for each
Account or the appropriate subaccount of each Account.
1.9. The Trust shall furnish same day notice (by electronic
means, wire or telephone, followed by written confirmation) to the Company of
any income, dividends or capital gain distributions payable on Fund shares. The
Company hereby elects to receive all such income dividends and capital gain
distributions as are payable on the Fund shares in additional shares of that
Fund. The Company reserves the right to revoke this election and to receive all
such income dividends and capital gain distributions in cash. The Trust shall
notify the Company of the number of shares so issued as payment of such
dividends and distributions.
1.10. The Trust shall make the net asset value per share for each
Fund available to the Company on a daily basis as soon as reasonably practical
after the net asset value per share is calculated (normally by 6:30 p.m. Eastern
time) and shall use its best efforts to make such net asset value per share
available by 7:00 p.m. Eastern time.
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ARTICLE II. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
2.1. The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts are
or will be registered under the 1933 Act; that the Contracts will be issued and
sold in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and
state laws and that the sale of the Contracts shall comply in all material
respects with state insurance suitability requirements. The Company further
represents and warrants that it is an insurance company duly organized and in
good standing under applicable law and that it has legally and validly
established each Account prior to any issuance or sale thereof as a segregated
asset account under Texas state insurance laws and has registered or, prior to
any issuance or sale of the Contracts, will register each Account as a unit
investment trust in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act to serve as a
segregated investment account for the Contracts.
2.2. The Trust represents and warrants that Trust shares sold
pursuant to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act, duly
authorized for issuance and sold in compliance with the laws of the State of
Delaware and all applicable federal and state securities laws and that the Trust
is and shall remain registered under the 1940 Act. The Trust shall amend the
registration statement for its shares under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act from
time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of its
shares. The Trust shall register and qualify the shares for sale in accordance
with the laws of the various states, to the extent required by applicable state
law.
2.3. The Trust represents that it is currently qualified as a
Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the "Code"), and that it will maintain such qualification
(under Subchapter M or any successor or similar provision) and that it will
notify the Company immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that
it has ceased to so qualify or that it might not so qualify in the future.
2.4. The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts are
currently treated as life insurance policies or annuity contracts, under
applicable provisions of the Code and that it will make every effort to maintain
such treatment and that it will notify the Trust immediately upon having a
reasonable basis for believing that the Contracts have ceased to be so treated
or that they might not be so treated in the future.
2.5. The Trust represents that to the extent that it decides to
finance distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, it will
have a board of trustees, a majority of whom are not interested persons of the
Trust, formulate and approve any plan under Rule 12b-1 to finance distribution
expenses.
2.6. The Trust represents that the Trust's investment policies,
fees and expenses are and shall at all times remain in compliance with the laws
of the State of
Delaware and the Trust represents that their respective
operations are and shall at all times remain in material compliance with the
laws of the State of
Delaware to the extent required to perform this Agreement.
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2.7. The Trust represents that it is lawfully organized and
validly existing under the laws of the State of
Delaware and that it does and
will comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act.
2.8. The Underwriter represents and warrants that it is and shall
remain duly registered in all material respects to the extent under all
applicable federal and state securities laws and that it will perform its
obligations for the Trust in compliance in all material respects with the laws
of its state of domicile and any applicable state and federal securities laws.
2.9. The Trust represents and warrants that its directors,
officers, employees dealing with the money and/or securities of the Trust are
and shall continue to be at all times covered by a blanket fidelity bond or
similar coverage for the benefit of the Trust in an amount not less than the
minimum coverage as required by Rule 17g-(1) under the 1940 Act or related
provisions as may be promulgated from time to time. The aforesaid blanket
fidelity bond shall include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be
issued by a reputable bonding company.
2.10. The Company represents and warrants that all of its
directors, officers, employees dealing with the money and/or securities of the
Trust are and shall continue to be covered by a blanket fidelity bond or similar
coverage for the benefit of the Company and the Separate Account in an amount
not less than the minimum coverage as required by Rule 17g-1 under the 1940 Act
or related provisions as may be promulgated from time to time. The aforesaid
blanket fidelity bond shall include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and
shall be issued by a reputable bonding company.
ARTICLE III. PROSPECTUSES, REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS AND PROXY STATEMENTS; VOTING
3.1. The Trust or its designee shall provide the Company with as
many printed copies of the Trust's current prospectus and statement of
additional information as the Company may reasonably request. If requested by
the Company, in lieu of providing printed copies the Trust shall provide
camera-ready film or computer diskettes containing the Trust's prospectus and
statement of additional information, or shall provide the same electronically in
..pdf format, and such other assistance as is reasonably necessary in order for
the Company once each year (or more frequently if the prospectus and/or
statement of additional information for the Trust is amended during the year) to
have the prospectus for the Contracts and the Trust's prospectus printed
together in one document, and to have the statement of additional information
for the Trust and the statement of additional information for the Contracts
printed together in one document. Alternatively, the Company may print the
Trust's prospectus and/or its statement of additional information in combination
with other trusts or companies' prospectuses and statements of additional
information, together with the prospectus and/or statement of additional
information for the Contracts.
3.2. Except as provided in this Section 3.2., all expenses of
printing and distributing Trust prospectuses and statements of additional
information shall be the expense of the Company. For prospectuses and statements
of additional information provided by the Company to its existing owners of
Contracts in order to update disclosure as required by the 1933 Act and/or the
1940 Act,
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the cost of printing shall be borne by the Trust. The Trust will provide
camera-ready film or computer diskettes in lieu of receiving printed copies of
the Trust's prospectus. The Company agrees to provide the Trust or its designee
with such information as may be reasonably requested by the Trust to assure that
the Trust's expenses do not include the cost of printing any prospectuses or
statements of additional information other than those actually distributed to
existing owners of the Contracts.
3.3. The Trust's statement of additional information shall be
obtainable from the Trust, the Company or such other person as the Trust may
designate, as agreed upon by the parties.
3.4. The Trust, at its expense, shall provide the Company with
copies of its proxy statements, reports to shareholders, and other
communications (except for prospectuses and statements of additional
information, which are covered in section 3.1) to shareholders in such quantity
as the Company shall reasonably require for distributing to Contract owners.
3.5. If and to the extent required by law the Company shall:
(i) solicit voting instructions from Contract owners;
(ii) vote the Fund shares in accordance with
instructions received from Contract owners;
and
(iii) vote Fund shares for which no instructions have
been received in the same proportion as Trust
shares of such Fund for which instructions
have been received,
so long as and to the extent that the Securities and Exchange Commission
continues to interpret the 1940 Act to require pass-through voting privileges
for variable contract owners. The Company reserves the right to vote Fund shares
held in any Account in its own right, to the extent permitted by law. The Trust
and the Company shall follow the procedures, and shall have the corresponding
responsibilities, for the handling of proxy and voting instruction
solicitations, as set forth in Schedule B attached hereto and incorporated
herein by reference. Participating Insurance Companies shall be responsible for
ensuring that each of their separate accounts participating in a Fund calculates
voting privileges in a manner consistent with the standards set forth on
Schedule B, which standards will also be provided to the other Participating
Insurance Companies.
3.6. The Trust will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act
requiring voting by shareholders, and in particular the Trust will either
provide for annual meetings or comply with Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act
(although the Trust is not one of the trusts described in Section 16(c) of that
Act) as well as with Sections 16(a) and, if and when applicable, 16(b). Further,
the Trust will act in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission's
interpretation of the requirements of Section 16(a) with respect to periodic
elections of directors and with whatever rules the Commission may promulgate
with respect thereto.
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3.7. The Trust shall use reasonable efforts to provide Trust
prospectuses, reports to shareholders, proxy materials and other Trust
communications (or camera-ready equivalents) to the Company sufficiently in
advance of the Company's mailing dates to enable the Company to complete, at
reasonable cost, the printing, assembling and distribution of the communications
in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The Trust shall, upon
request by the Company, provide to the Company Trust prospectuses, reports to
shareholders, proxy materials and other Trust communications electronically in
..pdf format.
ARTICLE IV. SALES MATERIAL AND INFORMATION
4.1. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished,
to the Underwriter, each piece of sales literature or other promotional material
in which the Trust or the Underwriter is named, at least five Business Days
prior to its use. No such material shall be used if the Trust or its designee
reasonably objects to such use within five Business Days after receipt of such
material.
4.2. The Company shall not give any information or make any
representations or statements on behalf of the Trust or concerning the Trust in
connection with the sale of the Contracts other than the information or
representations contained in the registration statement or prospectus for the
Trust, as such registration statement and prospectus may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, or in reports or proxy statements for the Trust,
or in sales literature or other promotional material approved by the Trust or
its designee, except with the permission of the Trust.
4.3. The Trust or its designee shall furnish, or shall cause to
be furnished, to the Company or its designee, each piece of sales literature or
other promotional material in which the Company or its separate account(s) or
Contracts are named at least five Business Days prior to its use. No such
material shall be used if the Company or its designee reasonably objects to such
use within five Business Days after receipt of such material.
4.4. The Trust and the Underwriter shall not give any information
or make any representations on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company,
each Account, or the Contracts, other than the information or representations
contained in a registration statement or prospectus for the Contracts, as such
registration statement and prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time
to time, or in published reports for each Account which are in the public domain
or approved by the Company for distribution to Contract owners, or in sales
literature or other promotional material approved by the Company or its
designee, except with the permission of the Company.
4.5. The Trust will provide to the Company at least one complete
copy of all registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional
information, reports, proxy statements, sales literature and other promotional
materials, applications for exemptions, requests for no-action letters, and all
amendments to any of the above, that relate to the Trust or its shares,
contemporaneously with the filing of such document with the Securities and
Exchange Commission or other regulatory authorities.
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4.6. The Company will provide to the Trust at least one complete
copy of all registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional
information, reports, solicitations for voting instructions, sales literature
and other promotional materials, applications for exemptions, requests for no
action letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that relate to the
investment in the Trust under the Contracts, contemporaneously with the filing
of such document with the Securities and Exchange Commission or other regulatory
authorities.
4.7. For purposes of this Article IV, the phrase "sales
literature or other promotional material" includes, but is not limited to, any
of the following that refer to the Trust or any affiliate of the Trust:
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 (i.e., any written communication distributed or made generally
available to customers or the public, including brochures, circulars, research
reports, market letters, form letters, seminar texts, reprints or excerpts of
any other advertisement, sales literature, or published article), educational or
training materials or other communications distributed or made generally
available to some or all agents or employees, and registration statements,
prospectuses, statements of additional information, shareholder reports, and
proxy materials.
ARTICLE V. FEES AND EXPENSES
5.1. The Trust shall pay no fee or other compensation to the
Company under this Agreement, except that if the Trust or any Fund adopts and
implements a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 to finance distribution expenses or a
shareholder servicing plan to finance investor services, then payments may be
made to the Company, or to the underwriter for the Contracts, or to other
service providers if and in amounts agreed upon by the parties.
5.2. All expenses incident to performance by the Trust under this
Agreement shall be paid by the Trust. The Trust shall see to it that all its
shares are registered and authorized for issuance in accordance with applicable
federal law and, if and to the extent deemed advisable by the Trust, in
accordance with applicable state laws prior to their sale. The Trust shall bear
the expenses for the cost of registration and qualification of Fund shares,
preparation and filing of the Trust's prospectus and registration statement,
proxy materials and reports, setting the prospectus in type, setting in type and
printing the proxy materials and reports to shareholders (including the costs of
printing a prospectus that constitutes an annual report), distributing the Trust
proxy materials to owners of Contracts, the preparation of all statements and
notices required by any federal or state law, and all taxes on the issuance or
transfer of Fund shares.
5.3. The Company shall bear the expenses of distributing the
Trust's prospectus, proxy materials and reports to owners of Contracts issued by
the Company, other than the expenses of distributing prospectuses and statements
of additional information to existing contract owners.
ARTICLE VI. DIVERSIFICATION
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6.1. The Trust will at all times invest money from the Contracts
in such a manner as to ensure that the Contracts will be treated as variable
contracts under the Code and the regulations issued thereunder. Without limiting
the scope of the foregoing, the Trust will at all times comply with Section
817(h) of the Code and Treasury Regulation 1.817-5, relating to the
diversification requirements for variable annuity, endowment, or life insurance
contracts and any amendments or other modifications to such Section or
Regulations. In the event of a breach of this Article VI by a Fund, the Trust
will take all reasonable steps (a) to notify Company of such breach and (b) to
adequately diversify the Fund so as to achieve compliance within the grace
period afforded by Regulation 1.817-5.
ARTICLE VII. POTENTIAL CONFLICTS
7.1. The Board will monitor the Trust for the existence of any
material irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the contract owners of
all separate accounts investing in the Trust. 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 Fund are being managed; (e) a difference in voting
instructions given by Variable Insurance Product owners; or (f) a decision by a
Participating Insurance Company to disregard the voting instructions of contract
owners. The Board shall promptly inform the Company if it determines that an
irreconcilable material conflict exists and the implications thereof.
7.2. The Company will report any potential or existing conflicts
of which it is aware to the Board. The Company will assist the Board in carrying
out its responsibilities under the Shared Funding Exemptive Order, by providing
the Board with all information reasonably necessary for the Board to consider
any issues raised. This includes, but is not limited to, an obligation by the
Company to inform the Board whenever contract owner voting instructions are
disregarded.
7.3. If it is determined by a majority of the Board, or a
majority of its disinterested members, that a material irreconcilable conflict
exists, the Company and other Participating Insurance Companies shall, at their
expense and to the extent reasonably practicable (as determined by a majority of
the disinterested directors), take whatever steps are necessary to remedy or
eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict, up to and including: (1)
withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the separate accounts from
the Trust or any Fund and reinvesting such assets in a different investment
medium, including (but not limited to) another Fund of the Trust, or submitting
the question whether such segregation should be implemented to a vote of all
affected Contract owners and, as appropriate, segregating the assets of any
appropriate group (I.E., annuity contract owners, life insurance policy owners,
or variable contract owners of one or more Participating Insurance Companies)
that votes in favor of such segregation, or offering to the affected contract
owners the option of making such a change; and (2) establishing a new registered
management investment company or managed separate account.
7.4. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a
decision by the Company to disregard contract owner voting instructions and that
decision represents a minority position or
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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 (at the Company's
expense); provided, however that such withdrawal and termination shall be
limited to the extent required by the foregoing material irreconcilable conflict
as determined by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board.
7.5. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a
particular state insurance regulator's decision applicable to the Company
conflicts with the position of 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 months after
the Board informs the Company in writing that it has determined that such
decision has created an irreconcilable material conflict; provided, however,
that such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by
the foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of
the disinterested members of the Board. Until the end of the foregoing six month
period, the Underwriter and Trust shall continue to accept and implement orders
by the Company for the purchase (and redemption) of shares of the Trust.
7.6. For purposes of Sections 7.3 through 7.6 of this Agreement,
a majority of the disinterested members of the Board shall determine whether any
proposed action adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict, but in
no event will the Trust be required to establish a new funding medium for the
Contracts. The Company shall not be required by Section 7.3 to establish a new
funding medium for the Contracts if an offer to do so has been declined by vote
of a majority of Contract owners materially adversely affected by the
irreconcilable material conflict.
7.7. If and to the extent that Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) are
amended, or Rule 6e-3 is adopted, to provide exemptive relief from any provision
of the 1940 Act or the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to mixed or
shared funding (as defined in the Shared Funding Exemptive Order) on terms and
conditions materially different from those contained in the Shared Funding
Exemptive Order, then (a) 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; and (b) Sections 3.4, 3.5, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4,
and 7.5 of this Agreement shall continue in effect only to the extent that terms
and conditions substantially identical to such Sections are contained in such
Rule(s) as so amended or adopted.
ARTICLE VIII. INDEMNIFICATION
8.1. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY
8.1(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trust
and each member of the Board and each officer and employee of the Trust, the
Underwriter and each director, officer and employee of the Underwriter, and each
person, if any, who controls the Trust, or the Underwriter within the meaning of
Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, an "Indemnified Parties" and
individually, "Indemnified Party," for purposes of this Section 8.1) against any
and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in
settlement with the written consent of the Company) or litigation (including
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,
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damages, liabilities, or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements
are related to the sale or acquisition of Fund shares or the Contracts and:
(i) 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
statement of additional information for the Contracts or
contained in the Contracts or sales literature for the
Contracts (or any amendment or supplement to any of the
foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the omission
or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, provided that this
agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified
Party if such statement or omission or such alleged
statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished to the Company by or
on behalf of the Trust for use in the registration statement
or prospectus or statement of additional information for the
Contracts or in the Contracts or sales literature (or any
amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in connection
with the sale of the Contracts or Trust shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations (other than statements or representations
contained in the registration statement, prospectus,
statement of additional information or sales literature of
the Trust not supplied by the Company, or persons under its
control and other than statements or representations
authorized by the Trust or the Underwriter) or unlawful
conduct of the Company or persons under its control, with
respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or
Trust shares; or
(iii) arise out of or result from any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
a registration statement, prospectus, statement of
additional information or sales literature of the Trust 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 a statement or
omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished to the Trust by or on behalf of the
Company; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Company
to provide the services and furnish the materials under the
terms of this Agreement; or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach
of any representation or warranty made by the Company in
this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other
material breach of this Agreement by the Company, as limited
by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.1(b)
and 8.1(c) hereof.
8.1(b). The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation
incurred or assessed against an Indemnified Party as such may arise from such
Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence
11
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.
8.1(c). The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless
such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Company in writing within a
reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of
such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Company of any
such claim shall not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to
the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on
account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought
against the Indemnified Parties, the Company shall be entitled to participate,
at its own expense, in the defense of such action. The Company also shall be
entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party
named in the action. After notice from the Company to such party of the
Company's election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall
bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the
Company will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or
other expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection
with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
8.1(d). The Indemnified Parties will promptly notify the Company of
the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against them in connection
with the issuance or sale of the Trust shares or the Contracts or the operation
of the Trust.
8.2. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE UNDERWRITER
8.2(a). The Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company and each of its directors, officers and employees and each person, if
any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act
(collectively, an "Indemnified Parties" and individually, "Indemnified Party,"
for purposes of this Section 8.2) against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of
the Underwriter) or litigation (including legal and other expenses) to which the
Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute, 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 shares of a Fund or the Contracts and:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of any
material fact contained in the registration
statement, prospectus, statement of
additional information or sales literature of
the Trust (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 the Trust by or on behalf of the
Company for
12
use in the registration statement,
prospectus, statement of additional
information for the Trust or in sales
literature (or any amendment or supplement)
or otherwise for use in connection with the
sale of the Contracts or Fund shares; or
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or
representations (other than statements or
representations contained in the registration
statement, prospectus, statement of
additional information or sales literature
for the Contracts not supplied by the Trust
or persons under its control and other than
statements or representations authorized by
the Company) or unlawful conduct of the
Trust, Underwriter(s) or Underwriter or
persons under their control, with respect to
the sale or distribution of the Contracts or
Fund shares; or
(iii) arise out of or as a result of any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in a registration
statement, prospectus, statement of
additional information or sales literature
covering the Contracts, or any amendment
thereof or supplement thereto, or the
omission or alleged omission to state therein
a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statement or
statements therein not misleading, if such
statement or omission was made in reliance
upon information furnished to the Company by
or on behalf of the Trust; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Trust to
provide the services and furnish the
materials under the terms of this Agreement,
or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach
of any representation and/or warranty made by
the Trust or Underwriter in this Agreement or
arise out of or result from any other
material breach of this Agreement by the
Underwriter; as limited by and in accordance
with the provisions of Sections 8.2(b) and
8.2(c) hereof.
8.2(b). The Underwriter shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities, or litigation incurred or assessed against an Indemnified Party as
such may arise from such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or
gross negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by
reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties
under this Agreement.
8.2(c). The Underwriter shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified
Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Underwriter in
writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process
giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of
such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Underwriter of
any such claim shall not relieve the Underwriter from any liability which it may
have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise
13
than on account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is
brought against the Indemnified Parties, the Underwriter will be entitled to
participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Underwriter also
shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to
the party named in the action. After notice from the Underwriter to such party
of the Underwriter's election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified
Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it,
and the Underwriter will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for
any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in
connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of
investigation.
8.2(d). The Company agrees promptly to notify the Underwriter of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers
or directors in connection with the issuance or sale of the Contracts or the
operation of each Account.
8.3. INDEMNIFICATION BY THE TRUST
8.3(a). The Trust agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company,
and each of its directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the
Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (hereinafter
collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" and individually, "Indemnified Party,"
for purposes of this Section 8.3) against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of
the Trust) or litigation (including legal and other expenses) to which the
Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute, at common law or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or
actions in respect thereof) or settlements result from the gross negligence, bad
faith or willful misconduct of the Board or any member thereof, and are related
to the operations of the Trust and:
(i) arise as a result of any failure by the Trust to
provide the services and furnish the
materials under the terms of this Agreement;
or
(ii) 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;
8.3(b). The Trust shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation
incurred or assessed against an Indemnified Party as may arise from such
Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the
performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified
Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement.
8.3(c). The Trust shall not be liable under this indemnification
provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless
such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Trust in writing within a
reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving
information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such
Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of
such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Trust of any
such claim shall not relieve the Trust from any liability which it may have to
the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on
account of this
15
indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought against the
Indemnified Parties, the Trust will be entitled to participate, at its own
expense, in the defense thereof. The Trust also shall be entitled to assume the
defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action.
After notice from the Trust to such party of the Trust's election to assume the
defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any
additional counsel retained by it, and the Trust will not be liable to such
party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred
by such party independently in connection with the defense thereof other than
reasonable costs of investigation.
8.3(d). The Company agrees promptly to notify the Trust of the
commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its
respective officers or directors in connection with this Agreement, the issuance
or sale of the Contracts, with respect to the operation of either Account, or
the sale or acquisition of shares of the Trust.
ARTICLE IX. APPLICABLE LAW
9.1. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the substantive laws of the State of
Delaware.
9.2. This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the
1933, 1934 and 1940 Acts, and the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder,
including such exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as the
Securities and Exchange Commission may grant (including, but not limited to, the
Shared Funding Exemptive Order) and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and
construed in accordance therewith.
ARTICLE X. TERMINATION
10.1. This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until
the first to occur of:
(a) termination by any party for any reason by one hundred and
eighty (180) days advance written notice delivered to the
other parties; or
(b) termination by the Company by written notice to the Trust
and the Underwriter with respect to any Fund based upon the
Company's determination that shares of such Fund are not
reasonably available to meet the requirements of the
Contracts; or
(c) termination by the Company by written notice to the Trust
and the Underwriter with respect to any Fund in the event
any of the Fund's shares are not registered, issued or sold
in accordance with applicable state and/or federal law or
such law precludes the use of such shares as the underlying
investment media of the Contracts issued or to be issued by
the Company; or
(d) termination by the Company by written notice to the Trust
and the Underwriter with respect to any Fund in the event
that such Fund ceases to qualify as a Regulated Investment
Company under Subchapter M of the Code or under any
successor or
15
similar provision, or if the Company reasonably believes
that the Trust may fail to so qualify; or
(e) termination by the Company by written notice to the Trust
and the Underwriter with respect to any Fund in the event
that such Fund falls to meet the diversification
requirements specified in Article VI hereof; or
(f) termination by the Trust by written notice to the Company if
the Trust shall determine, in its sole judgment exercised in
good faith, that the Company and/or its affiliated companies
has suffered a material adverse change in its business,
operations, financial condition or prospects since the date
of this Agreement or is the subject of material adverse
publicity, or
(g) termination by the Company by written notice to the Trust
and the Underwriter, if the Company shall determine, in its
sole judgment exercised in good faith, that either the Trust
or the Underwriter has suffered a material adverse change in
its business, operations, financial condition or prospects
since the date of this Agreement or is the subject of
material adverse publicity; or
10.2. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Trust
shall, at the option of the Company, continue to make available additional
shares of the Trust pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for
all Contracts in effect on the effective date of termination of this Agreement
(hereinafter referred to as "Existing, Contracts"). Specifically, without
limitation, the owners of the Existing Contracts shall be permitted to direct
reallocation of investments in the Trust, redemption of investments in the Trust
and investment in the Trust upon the making of additional purchase payments
under the Existing Contracts. The parties agree that this Section 10.2 shall not
apply to any terminations under Article VII and the effect of such Article VII
terminations shall be governed by Article VII of this Agreement.
10.3. The Company shall not redeem Trust shares attributable to
the Contracts (as distinct from Trust shares attributable to the Company's
assets held in the Account) except (i) as necessary to implement Contract Owner
initiated or approved transactions, or (ii) as required by state and/or federal
laws or regulations or judicial or other legal precedent of general application
(hereinafter referred to as a "Legally Required Redemption") or (iii) as
permitted by an order of the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to
Section 26(b) of the 1940 Act. Upon request, the Company will promptly furnish
to the Trust the opinion of counsel for the Company (which counsel shall be
reasonably satisfactory to the Trust) to the effect that any redemption pursuant
to clause (ii) above is a Legally Required Redemption. Furthermore, except in
cases where permitted under the terms of the Contracts, the Company shall not
prevent Contract Owners from allocating payments to a Fund that was otherwise
available under the Contracts without first giving the Trust 90 days prior
written notice of its intention to do so.
16
ARTICLE XI. 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:
Rydex Variable Trust
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
If to Underwriter:
Rydex Distributors, Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
If to the Company:
Jefferson National Life Insurance Company
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: General Counsel
ARTICLE XII. MISCELLANEOUS
12.1. All persons dealing with the Trust must look solely to the
property of the Trust for the enforcement of any claims against the Trust as
neither the Board, officers, agents or shareholders assume any personal
liability for obligations entered into on behalf of the Trust.
12.2. Subject to the requirements of legal process and regulatory
authority, each party hereto shall treat as confidential the names and addresses
of the owners of the Contracts and all information reasonably identified as
confidential in writing by any other party hereto and, except as permitted by
this Agreement, shall not disclose, disseminate or utilize such names and
addresses and other confidential information until such time as it may come into
the public domain without the express written consent of the affected party.
12.3. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience
of reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof
or otherwise affect their construction or effect.
12.4. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
12.5. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made
invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of the
Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
17
12.6. Each party hereto 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 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.
Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, each party hereto further
agrees to furnish the California Insurance Commissioner with any information or
reports in connection with services provided under this Agreement which such
Commissioner may request in order to ascertain whether the insurance operations
of the Company are being conducted in a manner consistent with the California
Insurance Regulations and any other applicable law or regulations.
12.7. The rights, remedies and obligations contained in this
Agreement are cumulative and are in addition to any and all rights, remedies and
obligations at law or in equity, which the parties hereto are entitled to under
state and federal laws.
12.8. This Agreement or any of the rights and obligations
hereunder may not be assigned by any party without the prior written consent of
all parties hereto; provided, however, that an Underwriter may assign this
Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder to any affiliate of or company
under common control with the Underwriter, if such assignee is duly licensed and
registered to perform the obligations of the Underwriter under this Agreement.
12.9. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished,
to the Trust or its designee copies of the following reports:
(a) the Company's annual statement (prepared under
statutory accounting principles) and annual report
(prepared under generally accepted accounting
principles ("GAAP"), if any), as soon as practical and
in any event within 90 days after the end of each
fiscal year;
(b) the Company's quarterly statements (statutory) (and
GAAP, if any), as soon as practical and in any event
within 45 days after the end of each quarterly period:
(c) any registration statement (without exhibits) and
financial reports of the Company filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission or any state
insurance regulator, as soon as practical after the
filing thereof;
(d) any other report submitted to the Company by
independent accountants in connection with any annual,
interim or special audit made by them of the books of
the Company, as soon as practical after the receipt
thereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this
Agreement to be executed in its name and on its behalf by its duly authorized
representative and its seal to be hereunder affixed hereto as of the date
specified above.
18
JEFFERSON NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By:
------------------------------
Its:
------------------------------
RYDEX VARIABLE TRUST
By:
------------------------------
Its:
------------------------------
RYDEX DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
By:
------------------------------
Its:
------------------------------
19
SCHEDULE A
SEPARATE ACCOUNTS AND ASSOCIATED CONTRACTS
Shares of the Funds of the Trust shall be made available as
investments for the following Separate Accounts:
NAME OF SEPARATE ACCOUNT AND
DATE ESTABLISHED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS
---------------------------------------
Jefferson National Variable Annuity Account C 1980
Jefferson National Variable Annuity Account E November 12, 1993
Jefferson National Variable Annuity Account F September 26, 1997
Jefferson National Variable Annuity Account G January 18, 1996
Jefferson National Variable Annuity Account H November 1, 1999
Jefferson National Variable Annuity Account I August 23, 2000
Jefferson National Variable Account L February 22, 2000
Jefferson National Advisor Variable Annuity Account April 15, 1996
FORM NUMBER AND NAME OF CONTRACT
FUNDED BY SEPARATE ACCOUNT
CVIC-2000
CVIC-2001
CVIC-2004
CVIC-2005
22-4056
22-4025
32-4000
32-4002
32-4003
22-4047
22-4048
22-4061
20
SCHEDULE B
PROXY VOTING PROCEDURES
The following is a list of procedures and corresponding responsibilities for the
handling of proxies and voting instructions relating to the Trust. The defined
terms herein shall have the meanings assigned in the
Participation Agreement
except that the term "Company" shall also include the department or third party
assigned by the Company to perform the steps delineated below.
1 The proxy proposals are given to the Company by the Trust as early as
possible before the date set by the Trust for the shareholder meeting to enable
the Company to consider and prepare for the solicitation of voting instructions
from owners of the Contracts and to facilitate the establishment of tabulation
procedures. At this time the Trust will inform the Company of the Record,
Mailing and Meeting dates. This will be done verbally approximately two months
before meeting.
2 Promptly after the Record Date, the Company will perform a "tape run", or
other activity, which will generate the names, addresses and number of units
which are attributed to each contract owner/policyholder (the "Customer") as of
the Record Date. Allowance should be made for account adjustments made after
this date that could affect the status of the Customers' accounts as of the
Record Date.
Note: The number of proxy statements is determined by the activities described
in this Step #2. The Company will use its best efforts to call in the number of
Customers to the Trust , as soon as possible, but no later than two weeks after
the Record Date.
3 The Trust's Annual Report must be sent to each Customer by the Company
either before or together with the Customers' receipt of voting, instruction
solicitation material. The Trust will provide the last Annual Report to the
Company pursuant to the terms of Section 3.3 of the Agreement to which this
Schedule relates.
4 The text and format for the Voting Instruction Cards ("Cards" or "Card")
is provided to the Company by the Trust. The Company, at its expense, shall
produce and personalize the Voting Instruction Cards. The Trust or its affiliate
must approve the Card before it is printed. Allow approximately 2-4 business
days for printing information on the Cards. Information commonly found on the
Cards includes:
a name (legal name as found on account registration)
b address
c Trust or account number
d coding to state number of units
e individual Card number for use in tracking and verification of votes
(already on Cards as printed by the Trust).
21
(This and related steps may occur later in the chronological process due to
possible uncertainties relating to the proposals.)
5 During this time, the Trust will develop, produce and pay for the Notice
of Proxy and the Proxy Statement (one document). Printed and folded notices and
statements will be sent to Company for insertion into envelopes (envelopes and
return envelopes are provided and paid for by the Company). Contents of envelope
sent to Customers by the Company will include:
a Voting Instruction Card(s)
b one proxy notice and statement (one document)
c return envelope (postage pre-paid by Company) addressed to the Company or
its tabulation agent
d "urge buckslip" - optional, but recommended. (This is a small, single
sheet of paper that requests Customers to vote as quickly as possible and that
their vote is important. One copy will be supplied by the Trust.)
e cover letter - optional, supplied by Company and reviewed and approved in
advance by the Trust
6 The above contents should be received by the Company approximately 3-5
business days before mail date. Individual in charge at Company reviews and
approves the contents of the mailing package to ensure correctness and
completeness. Copy of this approval sent to the Trust.
7 Package mailed by the Company.
* The Trust must allow at least a 15-day solicitation time to the Company as
the shareowner. (A 5-week period is recommended.) Solicitation time is
calculated as calendar days from (but NOT including,) the meeting, counting
backwards.
8 Collection and tabulation of Cards begins. Tabulation usually takes place
in another department or another vendor depending on process used. An often used
procedure is to sort Cards on arrival by proposal into vote categories of all
yes, no, or mixed replies, and to begin data entry.
Note: Postmarks are not generally needed. A need for postmark information would
be due to an insurance company's internal procedure and has not been required by
the Trust in the past.
9 Signatures on Card checked against legal name on account registration
which was printed on the Card.
Note: For Example, if the account registration is under "▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇,
Trustee," then that is the exact legal name to be printed on the Card and is the
signature needed on the Card.
10 If Cards are mutilated, or for any reason are illegible or are not signed
properly, they are sent back to Customer with an explanatory letter and a new
Card and return envelope. The mutilated or illegible Card is disregarded and
considered to be NOT RECEIVED for purposes of vote tabulation. Any Cards that
have been "kicked out" (e.g. mutilated, illegible) of the procedure are "hand
verified," i.e., examined as to why they did not complete the system. Any
questions on those Cards are usually remedied individually.
22
11 There are various control procedures used to ensure proper tabulation of
votes and accuracy of that tabulation. The most prevalent is to sort the Cards
as they first arrive into categories depending upon their vote; an estimate of
how the vote is progressing may then be calculated. If the initial estimates and
the actual vote do not coincide, then an internal audit of that vote should
occur. This may entail a recount.
12 The actual tabulation of votes is done in units which is then converted to
shares. (It is very important that the Trust receives the tabulations stated in
terms of a percentage and the number of SHARES.) The Trust must review and
approve tabulation format.
13 Final tabulation in shares is verbally given by the Company to the Trust
on the morning of the meeting not later than 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. The Trust
may request an earlier deadline if reasonable and if required to calculate the
vote in time for the meeting.
14 A Certification of Mailing and Authorization to Vote Shares will be
required from the Company as well as an original copy of the final vote. The
Trust will provide a standard form for each Certification.
15 The Company will be required to box and archive the Cards received from
the Customers. In the event that any vote is challenged or if otherwise
necessary for legal, regulatory, or accounting purposes, the Trust will be
permitted reasonable access to such Cards.
16 All approvals and "signing-off' may be done orally, but must always be
followed up in writing.
23
