EXHIBIT (3)(a)
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PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
BY AND BETWEEN
PFL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY ON ITS OWN BEHALF
AND ON BEHALF OF THE MUTUAL FUND ACCOUNT,
AND AFSG SECURITIES CORPORATION.
PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
THIS PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT made and effective as of the 1st
day of March, 2000, by and between AFSG SECURITIES CORPORATION ("AFSG"), a
Pennsylvania corporation, and PFL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY ("PFL"), an Iowa
corporation, on its own behalf and on behalf the separate investment accounts of
PFL set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part hereof (collectively,
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the "Account").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Account was established or acquired by PFL under the laws of
the State of Iowa, pursuant to a resolution of PFL's Board of Directors in order
to set aside the investment assets attributable to certain flexible premium,
multi-funded annuity contracts ("Contracts") issued by PFL;
WHEREAS, PFL has registered or will register the Account with the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") as a unit investment trust under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act");
WHEREAS, PFL has registered or will register the Contracts under the
Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act");
WHEREAS, AFSG is and will continue to be registered as a broker-dealer with
the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act"), and a member
of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") prior to
the offer and sale of the Contracts; and
WHEREAS, PFL proposes to have the Contracts sold and distributed through
AFSG, and AFSG is willing to sell and distribute such Contracts under the terms
stated herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as
follows:
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1. Appointment as Distributor/Principal Underwriter. PFL grants to AFSG the
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exclusive right to be, and AFSG agrees to serve as, distributor and principal
underwriter of the Contracts during the term of this Agreement. AFSG agrees to
use its best efforts to solicit applications for the Contracts and otherwise
perform all duties and functions which are necessary and proper for the
distribution of the Contracts.
2. Prospectus. AFSG agrees to offer the Contracts for sale in accordance
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with the registration statements and prospectus therefor then in effect. AFSG is
not authorized to give any information or to make any representations concerning
the Contracts other than those contained in the current prospectus therefor
filed with the SEC or in such sales literature as may be authorized by PFL.
3. Considerations. All premiums, purchase payments or other moneys payable
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under the Contracts shall be remitted promptly in full together with such
application, forms and any other required documentation to PFL or its designated
servicing agent and shall become the exclusive property of PFL. Checks or money
orders in payment under the Contracts shall be drawn to the order of "PFL Life
Insurance Company" and funds may be remitted by wire if prior written approval
is obtained from PFL.
4. Copies of Information. On behalf of the Account, PFL shall furnish AFSG
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with copies of all prospectuses, financial statements and other documents which
AFSG reasonably requests for use in connection with the distribution of the
Contracts.
5. Representations. AFSG represents that it is (a) duly registered as a
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broker-dealer under the 1934 Act, (b) a member in good standing of the NASD and
(c) to the extent necessary to offer the Contracts, duly registered or otherwise
qualified under the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction. AFSG
shall be responsible for carrying out its sales and underwriting obligations
hereunder in continued compliance with the NASD Rules and federal and state
securities and insurance laws and regulations. Further, AFSG represents and
warrants that it will
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adopt, abide by and enforce the principles set forth in the Principles and Code
of Ethical Market Conduct of the Insurance Marketplace Standards Association as
adopted by the Company.
6. Other Broker-Dealer Agreements. AFSG is hereby authorized to enter into
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written sales agreements with other independent broker-dealers for the sale of
the Contracts. All such sales agreements entered into by AFSG shall provide that
each independent broker-dealer will assume full responsibility for continued
compliance by itself and by its associated persons with the NASD Rules and
applicable federal and state securities and insurance laws, shall provide that
each independent broker-dealer will adopt, abide by and enforce the principles
set forth in the Principles and Code of Ethical Market Conduct of the Insurance
Marketplace Standards Association as adopted by the Company, and shall be in
such form and contain such other provisions as PFL may from time to time
require. All associated persons of such independent broker-dealers soliciting
applications for the Contracts shall be duly and appropriately registered by the
NASD and licensed and appointed by PFL for the sale of Contracts under the
insurance laws of the applicable states or jurisdictions in which such Contracts
may be lawfully sold. All applications for Contracts solicited by such
broker-dealers through their representatives, together with any other required
documentation and premiums, purchase payments and other moneys, shall be handled
as set forth in paragraph 3 above.
7. Insurance Licensing and Appointments. PFL shall apply for the proper
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insurance licenses and appointments in appropriate states or jurisdictions for
the designated persons associated with AFSG or with other independent
broker-dealers that have entered into sales agreements with AFSG for the sale of
Contracts, provided that PFL reserves the right to refuse to appoint any
proposed registered representative as an agent or broker, and to terminate an
agent or broker once appointed.
8. Recordkeeping. PFL and AFSG shall cause to be maintained and preserved
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for the periods prescribed such accounts, books, and other documents as are
required of them by the
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1940 Act, and 1934 Act, and any other applicable laws and regulations. The
books, accounts and records of PFL, of the Account, and of AFSG as to all
transactions hereunder shall be maintained so as to disclose clearly and
accurately the nature and details of the transactions. PFL (or such other entity
engaged by PFL for this purpose), on behalf of and as agent for AFSG, shall
maintain AFSG's books and records pertaining to the sale of Contracts to the
extent as mutually agreed upon from time to time by PFL and AFSG; provided that
such books and records shall be the property of AFSG, and shall at all times be
subject to such reasonable periodic, special or other audit or examination by
the SEC, NASD, any state insurance commissioner and/or all other regulatory
bodies having jurisdiction. PFL shall be responsible for sending on behalf of
and as agent for AFSG all required confirmations on customer transactions in
compliance with applicable regulations, as modified by an exemption or other
relief obtained by PFL. AFSG shall cause PFL to be furnished with such reports
as PFL may reasonably request for the purpose of meeting its reporting and
recordkeeping requirements under the insurance laws of the State of Iowa and any
other applicable states or jurisdictions. PFL agrees that its records relating
to the sale of Contracts shall be subject to such reasonable periodic, special
or other audit or examination by the SEC, NASD, and any state insurance
commissioner and/or all other regulatory bodies having jurisdiction.
9. Commissions. PFL shall have the responsibility for paying on behalf of
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AFSG (a) any compensation to other independent broker-dealers and their
associated persons due under the terms of any sales agreements entered into
pursuant to paragraph 6 above, between AFSG and such broker-dealers as agreed to
by PFL and (b) all commissions or other fees to associated persons of AFSG which
are due for the sale of the Contracts in the amounts and on such terms and
conditions as PFL and AFSG determine. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, no
broker-dealer, associated person or other individual or entity shall have an
interest in any deductions or other fees payable to AFSG as set forth herein.
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10. Expense Reimbursement. PFL shall reimburse AFSG for all costs and
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expenses incurred by AFSG in furnishing the services, materials, and supplies
required by the terms of this Agreement.
11. Indemnification. PFL agrees to indemnify AFSG for any losses incurred
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as a result of any action taken or omitted by AFSG, or any of its officers,
agents or employees, in performing their responsibilities under this Agreement
in good faith and without willful misfeasance, gross negligence, or reckless
disregard of such obligations.
12. Regulatory Investigations. AFSG and PFL agree to cooperate fully in any
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insurance or judicial regulatory investigation or proceeding arising in
connection with Contracts distributed under this Agreement. AFSG and PFL further
agree to cooperate fully in any securities regulatory inspection, inquiry,
investigation or proceeding or any judicial proceeding with respect to PFL,
AFSG, their affiliates and their representatives to the extent that such
inspection, inquiry, investigation or proceeding or judicial proceeding is in
connection with Contracts distributed under this Agreement. Without limiting the
foregoing:
(a) AFSG will be notified promptly of any customer complaint or notice of
any regulatory inspection, inquiry investigation or proceeding or judicial
proceeding received by PFL with respect to AFSG or any representative or which
may affect PFL's issuance of any Contracts marketed under this Agreement; and
(b) AFSG will promptly notify PFL of any customer complaint or notice of
any regulatory inspection, inquiry, investigation or judicial proceeding
received by AFSG or any representative with respect to PFL or its affiliates in
connection with any Contracts distributed under this Agreement.
In the case of a customer complaint, AFSG and PFL will cooperate in
investigating such complaint and shall arrive at a mutually satisfactory
response.
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13. Termination.
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(a) This Agreement may be terminated by either party hereto upon 60 days'
prior written notice to the other party.
(b) This Agreement may be terminated upon written notice of one party to
the other party hereto in the event of bankruptcy or insolvency of such party to
which notice is given.
(c) This Agreement may be terminated at any time upon the mutual written
consent of the parties hereto.
(d) AFSG shall not assign or delegate its responsibilities under this
Agreement without the written consent of PFL.
(e) Upon termination of this Agreement, all authorizations, rights and
obligations shall cease except the obligations to settle accounts hereunder,
including payments or premiums or contributions subsequently received for
Contracts in effect at the time of termination or issued pursuant to
applications received by PFL prior to termination.
14. Regulatory Impact. This Agreement shall be subject to, among other
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laws, the provisions of the 1940 Act and the 1934 Act and the rules,
regulations, and rulings thereunder and of the NASD, from time to time in
effect, including such exemptions from the 1940 Act as the SEC may grant, and
the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance therewith.
AFSG shall submit to all regulatory and administrative bodies having
jurisdiction over the operations of the Account, present or future; and will
provide any information, reports or other material which any such body by reason
of this Agreement may request or require pursuant to applicable laws or
regulations.
15. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made
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invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this
Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
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16. Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be construed, enforced and governed
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by the laws of the State of Iowa.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
signed by their respective duly authorized officials as of the day and year
first above written.
AFSG SECURITIES CORPORATION PFL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: President Title: President
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EXHIBIT A
1. PFL Endeavor Variable Annuity Account
2. PFL Endeavor Platinum Variable Annuity Account
3. PFL Endeavor Target Account
4. PFL Retirement Builder Variable Annuity Account
5. PFL ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Variable Annuity Account
6. PFL Life Variable Annuity Account A
7. PFL Life Variable Annuity Account C
8. PFL Life Variable Annuity Account D
9. PFL Life Variable Annuity Account E
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