EXHIBIT 99.8.j.
12/98
FUND PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
This Agreement is entered into as of the 3rd day of January, 2000, between
SAFECO Life Insurance Company ("Insurance Company"), a life insurance company
organized under the laws of the State of Washington, and ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Series
Trust II ("Fund"), a business trust organized under the laws of Delaware, with
respect to the Fund's portfolio or portfolios set forth on Schedule 1 hereto, as
such Schedule may be revised from time to time (the "Series"; if there are more
than one Series to which this Agreement applies, the provisions herein shall
apply severally to each such Series).
ARTICLE I 1.
DEFINITIONS
1.1. "Act" shall mean the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
1.2. "Board" shall mean the Board of Trustees of the Fund having the
responsibility for management and control of the Fund.
1.3. "Business Day" shall mean any day for which the Fund calculates net asset
value per share as described in the Fund's Prospectus.
1.4. "Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
1.5. "Contract" shall mean a variable annuity or variable life insurance
contract that uses the Fund as an underlying investment medium.
Individuals who participate under a group Contract are "Participants".
1.6. "Contractholder" shall mean any entity that is a party to a Contract with
a Participating Company.
1.7. "Disinterested Board Members" shall mean those members of the Board that
are not deemed to be "interested persons" of the Fund, as defined by the
Act.
1.8. "Participating Companies" shall mean any insurance company (including
Insurance Company), which offers variable annuity and/or variable life
insurance contracts to the public and which has entered into an agreement
with the Fund for the purpose of making Fund shares available to serve as
the underlying investment medium for the aforesaid Contracts.
1.9. "Plans" shall mean qualified pension and retirement benefit plans.
1.10. "Prospectus" shall mean the Fund's current prospectus and statement of
additional information, as most recently filed with the Commission, with
respect to the Series.
1.11. "Separate Account" shall mean any SAFECO Life Insurance Company variable
annuity or variable life separate account established by Insurance
Company in accordance with the laws of the State of Washington and listed
in Schedule 1 attached hereto.
1.12. "Software Program" shall mean the software program used by the Fund for
providing Fund and account balance information including net asset value
per share.
1.13. "Insurance Company's General Account(s)" shall mean the general
account(s) of Insurance Company and its affiliates which invest in the
Fund.
ARTICLE II 2.
REPRESENTATIONS
2.1 Insurance Company represents and warrants that (a) it is an insurance
company duly organized and in good standing under applicable law; (b) it
has legally and validly established the Separate Account pursuant to
Section 48.18A.020 of the Revised Washington Insurance Code for the
purpose of offering to the public certain individual variable annuity
contracts or variable life insurance policies; (c) to the extent
required, it has registered the Separate Account as a unit investment
trust under the Act to serve as the segregated investment account for the
Contracts; (d) each Separate Account is eligible to invest in shares
of the Fund without such investment disqualifying the Fund as an
investment medium for insurance company separate accounts supporting
variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance contracts; and
(e) each Separate Account shall comply with all applicable legal
requirements.
2.2 Insurance Company represents and warrants that (a) the Contracts will be
described in a registration statement filed under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended ("1933 Act"); (b) the Contracts will be issued and sold
in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and
state laws; and (c) the sale of the Contracts shall comply in all
material respects with state insurance law requirements. Insurance
Company agrees to inform the Fund promptly of any investment restrictions
imposed by state insurance law and applicable to the Fund.
2.3 Insurance Company represents and warrants that the income, gains and
losses, whether or not realized, from assets allocated to the Separate
Account are, in accordance with the applicable Contracts, to be credited
to or charged against such Separate Account without regard to other
income, gains or losses from assets allocated to any other accounts of
Insurance Company. Insurance Company represents and warrants that the
assets of the Separate Account are and will be kept separate from
Insurance Company's General Account and any other separate accounts
Insurance Company may have, and will not be charged with liabilities from
any business that Insurance Company may conduct or the liabilities of any
companies affiliated with Insurance Company.
2.4 Fund represents that the Fund is registered with the Commission under the
Act as an open-end management investment company and possesses, and shall
maintain, all legal and regulatory licenses, approvals, consents and/or
exemptions required for the Fund to operate and offer its shares as an
underlying investment medium for Participating Companies. The Fund has
established five portfolios and may in the future establish other
portfolios.
2.5 Fund 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 make every effort to maintain such
qualification (under Subchapter M or any successor or similar provision)
and that it will notify Insurance Company immediately upon having a
reasonable basis for believing that it has ceased to so qualify or that
it might not so qualify in the future.
2.6 Insurance Company represents and agrees that the Contracts are currently,
and at the time of issuance will be, treated as life insurance policies
or annuity contracts, whichever is appropriate, under applicable
provisions of the Code, and that it will make every effort to maintain
such treatment and that it will notify the Fund and its investment
adviser immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the
Contracts have ceased to be so treated or that they might not be so
treated in the future. Insurance Company agrees that any prospectus
offering a Contract that is a "modified endowment contract," as that term
is defined in Section 7702A of the Code, will identify such Contract as a
modified endowment contract (or policy).
2.7 Fund agrees that the Fund's assets shall be managed and invested in a
manner that complies with the requirements of Section 817(h) of the Code.
2.8 Insurance Company agrees that the Fund shall be permitted (subject to the
other terms of this Agreement) to make Series' shares available to other
Participating Companies and contractholders and to Plans.
2.9 Fund represents and warrants that any of its trustees, officers,
employees, investment advisers, and other individuals/entities who deal
with the money and/or securities of the Fund are and shall continue to be
at all times covered by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage for
the benefit of the Fund in an amount not less than that required by Rule
17g-1 under the Act. The aforesaid Bond shall include coverage for
larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable bonding
company.
2.10 Insurance Company represents and warrants that all of its employees and
agents who deal with the money and/or securities of the Fund are and
shall continue to be at all times covered by a blanket fidelity bond or
similar coverage in an amount not less than the coverage required to be
maintained by the Fund. The aforesaid Bond shall include coverage for
larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable bonding
company.
2.11 Insurance Company agrees that the Fund's investment adviser shall be
deemed a third party beneficiary under this Agreement and may enforce any
and all rights conferred by virtue of this Agreement.
ARTICLE III 3.
FUND SHARES
3.1 The Contracts funded through the Separate Account will provide for the
investment of certain amounts in the Series' shares
3.2 Fund agrees to make the shares of its Series available for purchase at
the then applicable net asset value per share by Insurance Company and
the Separate Account on each Business Day pursuant to rules of the
Commission. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fund may refuse to sell
the shares of any Series to any person, or suspend or terminate the
offering of the shares of any Series 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 its
fiduciary duties under federal and any applicable state laws, necessary
and in the best interests of the shareholders of such Series.
3.3 Fund agrees that shares of the Fund will be sold only to Participating
Companies and their separate accounts and to the general accounts of
those Participating Companies and their affiliates and to Plans. No
shares of any Series will be sold to the general public.
3.4 Fund shall use its best efforts to provide closing net asset value,
dividend and capital gain information for each Series available on a
per-share and Series basis to Insurance Company by 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time
on each Business Day. Any material errors in the calculation of net asset
value, dividend and capital gain information shall be reported
immediately upon discovery to Insurance Company. Non-material errors will
be corrected in the next Business Day's net asset value per share for the
Series in question.
3.5 At the end of each Business Day, Insurance Company will use the
information described in Sections 3.2 and 3.4 to calculate the Separate
Account unit values for the day. Using this unit value, Insurance Company
will process the day's Separate Account transactions received by it by
the close of trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange
(currently 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) to determine the net dollar amount of
Series shares which will be purchased or redeemed at that day's closing
net asset value per share for such Series. The net purchase or redemption
orders will be transmitted to the Fund by Insurance Company by 10:00 a.m.
Eastern Time on the Business Day next following Insurance Company's
receipt of that information. Subject to Sections 3.6 and 3.8, all
purchase and redemption orders for Insurance Company's General Accounts
shall be effected at the net asset value per share of the relevant Series
next calculated after receipt of the order by the Fund or its Transfer
Agent.
3.6 Fund appoints Insurance Company as its agent for the limited purpose of
accepting orders for the purchase and redemption of shares of each Series
for the Separate Account. Fund will execute orders for any Series at the
applicable net asset value per share determined as of the close of
trading on the day of receipt of such orders by Insurance Company acting
as agent ("effective trade date"), provided that the Fund receives notice
of such orders by 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the next following Business
Day and, if such orders request the purchase of Series shares, the
conditions specified in Section 3.8, as applicable, are satisfied. A
redemption or purchase request for any Series that does not satisfy the
conditions specified above and in Section 3.8, as applicable, will be
effected at the net asset value computed for such Series on the Business
Day immediately preceding the next following Business Day upon which such
conditions have been satisfied.
3.7 Insurance Company will make its best efforts to notify Fund in advance of
any unusually large purchase or redemption orders.
3.8 If Insurance Company's order requests the purchase of Series shares,
Insurance Company will pay for such purchases by wiring Federal Funds to
Fund or its designated custodial account on the day the order is
transmitted. Insurance Company shall make all reasonable efforts to
transmit to the Fund payment in Federal Funds by the close of the Federal
Reserve wire system on the Business Day the Fund receives the notice of
the order pursuant to Section 3.5. Fund will execute such orders at the
applicable net asset value per share determined as of the close of
trading on the effective trade date if Fund receives payment in Federal
Funds by the close of the Federal Reserve wire system on the Business Day
the Fund receives the notice of the order pursuant to Section 3.5. If
payment in Federal Funds for any purchase is not received on such
Business Day, Insurance Company shall promptly upon the Fund's request,
reimburse the Fund for any charges, costs, fees, interest or other
expenses incurred by the Fund in connection with any advances to, or
borrowings or overdrafts by, the Fund, or any similar expenses incurred
by the Fund, as a result of portfolio transactions effected by the Fund
based upon such purchase request. If Insurance Company's order requests
the redemption of Series shares valued at or greater than $1 million
dollars, the Fund may wire such amount to Insurance Company within seven
days of the order.
3.9 Fund has the obligation to ensure that Series shares are registered with
applicable federal agencies at all times.
3.10 Fund will confirm each purchase or redemption order made by Insurance
Company. Transfer of Series shares will be by book entry only. No share
certificates will be issued to Insurance Company. Insurance Company will
record shares ordered from Fund in an appropriate title for the
corresponding account.
3.11 Fund shall credit Insurance Company with the appropriate number of
shares.
3.12 On each ex-dividend date of the Fund or, if not a Business Day, on the
first Business Day thereafter, Fund shall communicate to Insurance
Company the amount of dividend and capital gain, if any, per share of
each Series. All dividends and capital gains of any Series shall be
automatically reinvested in additional shares of the relevant Series at
the applicable net asset value per share of such Series on the payable
date. Fund shall, on the day after the payable date or, if not a Business
Day, on the first Business Day thereafter, notify Insurance Company of
the number of shares so issued.
ARTICLE IV 4.
STATEMENTS AND REPORTS
4.1 Fund shall provide monthly statements of account as of the end of each
month for all of Insurance Company's accounts by the fifteenth (15th)
Business Day of the following month.
4.2 Fund shall distribute to Insurance Company copies of the Fund's
Prospectuses, proxy materials, notices, periodic reports and other
printed materials (which the Fund customarily provides to its
shareholders) in quantities as Insurance Company may reasonably request
for distribution to each Contractholder and Participant.
4.3 Fund will provide to Insurance Company at least one complete copy of all
registration statements, Prospectuses, 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 Fund or its shares, contemporaneously with the filing
of such document with the Commission or other regulatory authorities.
4.4 Insurance Company will provide to the Fund at least one copy of all
registration statements, Prospectuses, 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 Contracts or the Separate Account, contemporaneously
with the filing of such document with the Commission.
ARTICLE V 5.
EXPENSES
5.1 The charge to the Fund for all expenses and costs of the Series,
including but not limited to management fees, administrative expenses and
legal and regulatory costs, will be made in the determination of the
relevant Series' daily net asset value per share so as to accumulate to
an annual charge at the rate set forth in the Fund's Prospectus. Excluded
from the expense limitation described herein shall be brokerage
commissions and transaction fees and extraordinary expenses.
5.2 Except as provided in this Article V and, in particular in the next
sentence, Insurance Company shall not be required to pay directly any
expenses of the Fund or expenses relating to the distribution of its
shares. Insurance Company shall pay the following expenses or costs:
a. Such amount of the production expenses of any Fund materials,
including the cost of printing the Fund's Prospectus, or marketing
materials for prospective Insurance Company Contractholders and
Participants as the Fund's investment adviser and Insurance
Company shall agree from time to time.
b. Distribution expenses of any Fund materials or marketing materials
for prospective Insurance Company Contractholders and
Participants.
c. Distribution expenses of Fund materials or marketing materials for
Insurance Company Contractholders and Participants.
Except as provided herein, all other Fund expenses shall not be borne by
Insurance Company.
ARTICLE VI
EXEMPTIVE RELIEF
6.1 Insurance Company has reviewed a copy of the order dated December 1996 of
the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 6(c) of the Act and,
in particular, has reviewed the conditions to the relief set forth in the
related Notice. As set forth therein, Insurance Company agrees to report
any potential or existing conflicts promptly to the Board, and in
particular whenever contract voting instructions are disregarded, and
recognizes that it will be responsible for assisting the Board in
carrying out its responsibilities under such application. Insurance
Company agrees to carry out such responsibilities with a view to the
interests of existing Contractholders.
6.2 If a majority of the Board, or a majority of Disinterested Board Members,
determines that a material irreconcilable conflict exists with regard to
Contractholder investments in the Fund, the Board shall give prompt
notice to all Participating Companies. If the Board determines that
Insurance Company is responsible for causing or creating said conflict,
Insurance Company shall at its sole cost and expense, and to the extent
reasonably practicable (as determined by a majority of the Disinterested
Board Members), take such action as is necessary to remedy or eliminate
the irreconcilable material conflict. Such necessary action may include,
but shall not be limited to:
a. Withdrawing the assets allocable to the Separate Account from the
Series and reinvesting such assets in a different investment
medium, or submitting the question of whether such segregation
should be implemented to a vote of all affected Contractholders;
and/or
b. Establishing a new registered management investment company.
6.3 If a material irreconcilable conflict arises as a result of a decision by
Insurance Company to disregard Contractholder voting instructions and
said decision represents a minority position or would preclude a majority
vote by all Contractholders having an interest in the Fund, Insurance
Company may be required, at the Board's election, to withdraw the
Separate Account's investment in the Fund.
6.4 For the purpose of this Article, a majority of the Disinterested Board
Members shall determine whether or not any proposed action adequately
remedies any irreconcilable material conflict, but in no event will the
Fund be required to bear the expense of establishing a new funding medium
for any Contract. Insurance Company shall not be required by this Article
to establish a new funding medium for any Contract if an offer to do so
has been declined by vote of a majority of the Contractholders materially
adversely affected by the irreconcilable material conflict.
6.5 No action by Insurance Company taken or omitted, and no action by the
Separate Account or the Fund taken or omitted as a result of any act or
failure to act by Insurance Company pursuant to this Article VI shall
relieve Insurance Company of its obligations under, or otherwise affect
the operation of, Article V.
ARTICLE VII 7.
VOTING OF FUND SHARES
7.1 Fund shall provide Insurance Company with copies at no cost to Insurance
Company, of the Fund's proxy material, reports to shareholders and other
communications to shareholders in such quantity as Insurance Company
shall reasonably require for distributing to Contractholders or
Participants.
Insurance Company shall:
(a) solicit voting instructions from Contractholders or Participants
on a timely basis and in accordance with applicable law;
(b) vote the Series shares in accordance with instructions received
from Contractholders or Participants; and
(c) vote Series shares for which no instructions have been received in
the same proportion as Series shares for which instructions have
been received.
Insurance Company agrees at all times to votes its General Account shares
in the same proportion as Series shares for which instructions have been
received from Contractholders or Participants. Insurance Company further
agrees to be responsible for assuring that voting Series shares for the
Separate Account is conducted in a manner consistent with other
Participating Companies.
7.2 Insurance Company agrees that it shall not, without the prior written
consent of the Fund and its investment adviser, solicit, induce or
encourage Contractholders to change or supplement the Fund's current
investment adviser.
ARTICLE VIII 8.
MARKETING AND REPRESENTATIONS
8.1 The Fund or its underwriter shall periodically furnish Insurance Company
with the following documents, in quantities as Insurance Company may
reasonably request:
a. Current Prospectus and any supplements thereto;
b. other marketing materials.
Expenses for the production of such documents shall be borne by Insurance
Company in accordance with Section 5.2 of this Agreement.
8.2 Insurance Company shall designate certain persons or entities which shall
have the requisite licenses to solicit applications for the sale of
Contracts. No representation is made as to the number or amount of
Contracts that are to be sold by Insurance Company. Insurance Company
shall make reasonable efforts to market the Contracts and shall comply
with all applicable federal and state laws in connection therewith.
8.3 Insurance Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the
Fund, each piece of sales literature or other promotional material in
which the Fund, its investment adviser or the administrator is named, at
least five Business Days prior to its use. No such material shall be used
unless the Fund approves such material. Such approval (if given) must be
given within five Business Days after receipt of such material either
orally or in writing.
8.4 Insurance Company shall not give any information or make any
representations or statements on behalf of the Fund or concerning the
Fund or any Series in connection with the sale of the Contracts other
than the information or representations contained in the registration
statement or Prospectus, as may be amended or supplemented from time to
time, or in reports or proxy statements for the Fund, or in sales
literature or other promotional material approved by the Fund.
8.5 Fund shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to Insurance Company,
each piece of the Fund's sales literature or other promotional material
in which Insurance Company or the Separate Account is named, at least
five Business Days prior to its use. No such material shall be used
unless Insurance Company approves such material. Such approval (if given)
must be given within five Business Days after receipt of such material
either orally or in writing
8.6 Fund shall not, in connection with the sale of Series shares, give any
information or make any representations on behalf of Insurance Company or
concerning Insurance Company, the Separate Account, or the Contracts
other than the information or representations contained in a registration
statement or prospectus for the Contracts, as may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, or in published reports for the Separate
Account approved by Insurance Company, or in sales literature or other
promotional material approved by Insurance Company.
8.7 For purposes of this Agreement, the phrase "sales literature or other
promotional material" or words of similar import include, without
limitation, advertisements (such as material published, or designed for
use, in a newspaper, magazine or other periodical, radio, television,
telephone or tape recording, videotape display, signs or billboards,
motion pictures or other public media), sales literature (such as any
written communication distributed or made generally available to
customers or the public, including brochures, circulars, research
reports, market letters, form letters, seminar texts, or reprints or
excerpts of any other advertisement, sales literature, or published
article), educational or training materials or other communications
distributed or made generally available to some or all agents or
employees, registration statements, prospectuses, statements of
additional information, shareholder reports and proxy materials, and any
other material constituting sales literature or advertising under
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. rules, the Act or the
1933 Act.
ARTICLE IX 9.
INDEMNIFICATION
9.1 Insurance Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, its
investment adviser, any sub-investment adviser of a Series, and their
affiliates, and each of their directors, trustees, officers, employees,
agents and each person, if any, who controls or is associated with any of
the foregoing entities or persons within the meaning of the 1933 Act
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of Section 9.1),
against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities joint or
several (including any investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably
incurred in connection with, and any amounts paid in settlement of, any
action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted) for which the
Indemnified Parties may become subject, under the 1933 Act or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect to thereof) (i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in
information furnished by Insurance Company for use in the registration
statement or Prospectus or sales literature or advertisements of the Fund
or with respect to the Separate Account or Contracts, 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; (ii) arise out of or as a result of
conduct, statements or representations (other than statements or
representations contained in the Prospectus and sales literature or
advertisements of the Fund) of Insurance Company or its agents, with
respect to the sale and distribution of Contracts for which Series shares
are an underlying investment; (iii) arise out of the wrongful conduct of
Insurance Company or persons under its control with respect to the sale
or distribution of the Contracts or Series shares; (iv) arise out of
Insurance Company's incorrect calculation and/or untimely reporting of
net purchase or redemption orders; or (v) arise out of any breach by
Insurance Company of a material term of this Agreement or as a result of
any failure by Insurance Company to provide the services and furnish the
materials or to make any payments provided for in this Agreement.
Insurance Company will reimburse any Indemnified Party in connection with
investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or
action; provided, however, that with respect to clauses (i) and (ii)
above Insurance Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent
that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based
upon any untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such
registration statement, prospectus, sales literature, or advertisement in
conformity with written information furnished to Insurance Company by the
Fund specifically for use therein; and provided, further, that Insurance
Company shall not be liable for special, consequential or incidental
damages. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability
which Insurance Company may otherwise have.
9.2 The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Insurance Company and each
of its directors, officers, employees, agents and each person, if any,
who controls Insurance Company within the meaning of the 1933 Act against
any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which Insurance Company or
any such director, officer, employee, agent or controlling person may
become subject, under the 1933 Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) (1) arise
out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of any material fact contained in the registration statement or
Prospectus or sales literature or advertisements of the Fund; (2) arise
out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state in
the registration statement or Prospectus or sales literature or
advertisements of the Fund any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or
(3) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of any material fact contained in the registration statement or
Prospectus or sales literature or advertisements with respect to the
Separate Account or the Contracts and such statements were based on
information provided to Insurance Company by the Fund; and the Fund will
reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by Insurance
Company or any such director, officer, employee, agent or controlling
person in connection with investigating or defending any such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Fund will
not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim,
damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission made in such Registration Statement,
Prospectus, sales literature or advertisements in conformity with written
information furnished to the Fund by Insurance Company specifically for
use therein; and provided, further, that the Fund shall not be liable for
special, consequential or incidental damages. This indemnity agreement
will be in addition to any liability which the Fund may otherwise have.
9.3 The Fund shall indemnify and hold Insurance Company harmless against any
and all liability, loss, damages, costs or expenses which Insurance
Company may incur, suffer or be required to pay due to the Fund's (1)
incorrect calculation of the daily net asset value, dividend rate or
capital gain distribution rate of a Series; (2) incorrect reporting of
the daily net asset value, dividend rate or capital gain distribution
rate; and (3) untimely reporting of the net asset value, dividend rate or
capital gain distribution rate; provided that the Fund shall have no
obligation to indemnify and hold harmless Insurance Company if the
incorrect calculation or incorrect or untimely reporting was the result
of incorrect information furnished by Insurance Company or information
furnished untimely by Insurance Company or otherwise as a result of or
relating to a breach of this Agreement by Insurance Company; and
provided, further, that the Fund shall not be liable for special,
consequential or incidental damages.
9.4 Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Article of
notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if
a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party
under this Article, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement
thereof. The omission to so notify the indemnifying party will not
relieve the indemnifying party
from any liability under this Article IX, except to the extent that the
omission results in a failure of actual notice to the indemnifying party
and such indemnifying party is damaged solely as a result of the failure
to give such notice. In case any such action is brought against any
indemnified party, and it notified the indemnifying party of the
commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to
participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, assume the
defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified
party, and to the extent that the indemnifying party has given notice to
such effect to the indemnified party and is performing its obligations
under this Article, the indemnifying party shall not be liable for any
legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party
in connection with the defense thereof, other than reasonable costs of
investigation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in any such proceeding, any
indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the
fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such
indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii)
the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded
parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party
and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be
inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between
them. The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of
any proceeding effected without its written consent.
A successor by law of the parties to this Agreement shall be entitled to
the benefits of the indemnification contained in this Article IX.
9.5 Insurance Company shall indemnify and hold the Fund, its investment
adviser and any sub-investment adviser of a Series harmless against any
tax liability incurred by the Fund under Section 851 of the Code arising
from purchases or redemptions by Insurance Company's General Accounts or
the account of its affiliates.
ARTICLE X 10.
COMMENCEMENT AND TERMINATION
10.1 This Agreement shall be effective as of the date hereof and shall
continue in force until terminated in accordance with the provisions
herein.
10.2 This Agreement shall terminate without penalty as to one or more Series
at the option of the terminating party:
a. At the option of Insurance Company or the Fund at any time from
the date hereof upon 180 days' notice, unless a shorter time is
agreed to by the parties;
b. At the option of Insurance Company, if shares of any Series are
not reasonably available to meet the requirements of the Contracts
as determined by Insurance Company. Prompt notice of election to
terminate shall be furnished by Insurance Company, said
termination to be effective ten days after receipt of notice
unless the Fund makes available a sufficient number of shares to
meet the requirements of the Contracts within said ten-day period;
c. At the option of Insurance Company, upon the institution of formal
proceedings against the Fund by the Commission, National
Association of Securities Dealers or any other regulatory body,
the expected or anticipated ruling, judgment or outcome of which
would, in Insurance Company's reasonable judgment, materially
impair the Fund's ability to meet and perform the Fund's
obligations and duties hereunder. Prompt notice of election to
terminate shall be furnished by Insurance Company with said
termination to be effective upon receipt of notice;
d. At the option of the Fund, upon the institution of formal
proceedings against Insurance Company by the Commission, National
Association of Securities Dealers or any other regulatory body,
the expected or anticipated ruling, judgment or outcome of which
would, in the Fund's reasonable judgment, materially impair
Insurance Company's ability to meet and perform Insurance
Company's obligations and duties hereunder. Prompt notice of
election to terminate shall be furnished by the Fund with said
termination to be effective upon receipt of notice;
e. At the option of the Fund, if the Fund shall determine, in its
sole judgment reasonably exercised in good faith, that Insurance
Company has suffered a material adverse change in its business or
financial condition or is the subject of material adverse
publicity and such material adverse change or material adverse
publicity is likely to have a material adverse impact upon the
business and operation of the Fund or its investment adviser, the
Fund shall notify Insurance Company in writing of such
determination and its intent to terminate this Agreement, and
after considering the actions taken by Insurance Company and any
other changes in circumstances since the giving of such notice,
such determination of the Fund shall continue to apply on the
sixtieth (60th) day following the giving of such notice, which
sixtieth day shall be the effective date of termination;
f. Upon termination of the Investment Advisory Agreement between the
Fund and its investment adviser or its successors unless Insurance
Company specifically approves the selection of a new Fund
investment adviser. The Fund shall promptly furnish notice of such
termination to Insurance Company;
g. In the event the Fund's shares are not registered, issued or sold
in accordance with applicable federal law, or such law precludes
the use of such shares as the underlying investment medium of
Contracts issued or to be issued by Insurance Company. Termination
shall be effective immediately upon such occurrence without
notice. The Fund will notify Insurance Company as promptly as
practicable after such termination event;
h. At the option of the Fund upon a determination by the Board in
good faith that it is no longer advisable and in the best
interests of shareholders for the Fund to continue to operate
pursuant to this Agreement. Termination pursuant to this
Subsection (h) shall be effective upon notice by the Fund to
Insurance Company of such termination;
i. At the option of the Fund if the Contracts cease to qualify as
annuity contracts or life insurance policies, as applicable, under
the Code, or if the Fund reasonably believes that the Contracts
may fail to so qualify;
j. At the option of either party to this Agreement, upon another
party's breach of any material provision of this Agreement;
k. At the option of the Fund, if the Contracts are not registered,
issued or sold in accordance with applicable federal and/or state
law; or
l. Upon assignment of this Agreement, unless made with the written
consent of the non-assigning party.
Any such termination pursuant to Section 10.2a, 10.2d, 10.2e, 10.2f or
10.2k herein shall not affect the operation of Article V of this
Agreement. Any termination of this Agreement shall not affect the
operation of Article IX of this Agreement.
10.3 Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section
10.2 hereof, the Fund and its investment adviser may, at the option of
the Fund, continue to make available additional Series shares for so long
as the Fund desires pursuant to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement as provided below, for all Contracts in effect on the effective
date of termination of this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as
"Existing Contracts"). Specifically, without limitation, if the Fund so
elects to make additional Series shares available, the owners of the
Existing Contracts or Insurance Company, whichever shall have legal
authority to do so, shall be permitted to reallocate investments in the
Series, redeem investments in the Fund and/or invest in the Fund upon the
making of additional purchase payments under the Existing Contracts. In
the event of a termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 10.2
hereof, the Fund, as promptly as is practicable under the circumstances,
shall notify Insurance Company whether the Fund will continue to make
Series shares available after such termination. If Series shares continue
to be made available after such termination, the provisions of this
Agreement shall remain in effect and thereafter either the Fund or
Insurance Company may terminate the Agreement, as so continued pursuant
to this Section 10.3, upon prior written notice to the other party, such
notice to be for a period that is reasonable under the circumstances but,
if given by the Fund, need not be for more than six months.
ARTICLE XI 11.
AMENDMENTS
11.1 Any other changes in the terms of this Agreement shall be made by
agreement in writing between Insurance Company and Fund.
ARTICLE XII 12.
NOTICE
12.1 Each notice required by this Agreement shall be given by certified mail,
return receipt requested, to the appropriate parties at the following
addresses:
Insurance Company:
SAFECO Life Insurance Company
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Fund:
▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Series Trust II
c/▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Guaranty Trust Company
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Notice shall be deemed to be given on the date of receipt by the
addresses as evidenced by the return receipt.
ARTICLE XIII 13.
MISCELLANEOUS
13.1 This Agreement has been executed on behalf of the Fund by the undersigned
officer of the Fund in his capacity as an officer of the Fund. The
obligations of this Agreement shall only be binding upon the assets and
property of the Fund and shall not be binding upon any Trustee, officer
or shareholder of the Fund individually.
ARTICLE XIV 14.
LAW
14.1 This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the internal laws of
the State of New York, without giving effect to principles of conflict of
laws.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement to be duly
executed and attested as of the date first above written.
INSURANCE COMPANY
By:
--------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Its:
----------------
Vice-President
▇.▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇ SERIES TRUST II
By:
-----------------
Its:
----------------
SCHEDULE 1
NAME OF SERIES
▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ U.S. Disciplined Equity Portfolio
NAME OF REGISTERED SEPARATE ACCOUNTS
SAFECO Resource Variable Account B
SAFECO Separate Account C
SAFECO Separate Account SL
NAME OF NON-REGISTERED GROUP VARIABLE ANNUITY SEPARATE ACCOUNTS
SAFECO SafeFlex Separate Account D
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