PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
Among
[INSURANCE COMPANY],
PIMCO VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST,
and
PIMCO FUNDS DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of the ___ day of , 199__ by and among
__________________, (the "Company"), an [insert state] life insurance company,
on its own behalf and on behalf of each segregated asset account of the Company
set forth on Schedule A hereto as may be amended from time to time (each account
hereinafter referred to as the "Account"), PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust (the
"Fund"), a Delaware business trust, and PIMCO Funds Distribution Company (the
"Underwriter"), a corporation.
WHEREAS, the Fund engages in business as an open-end management investment
company and is or will be available to act as the investment vehicle for
separate accounts established for variable life insurance and variable annuity
contracts (the "Variable Insurance Products") to be offered by insurance
companies which have entered into participation agreements with the Fund and
Underwriter ("Participating Insurance Companies");
WHEREAS, the shares of common stock of the Fund are divided into several
series of shares, each designated a "Portfolio" and representing the interest in
a particular managed portfolio of securities and other assets;
WHEREAS, the Fund will, to the extent necessary, obtain an order from the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") granting Participating Insurance
Companies and variable annuity and variable life insurance 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, (the "1940 Act") and Rules
6e-2(b)(15) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15) thereunder, if and to the extent necessary to
permit shares of the Fund to be sold to and held by variable annuity and
variable life insurance separate accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated
life insurance companies (the "Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order");
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the 1940 Act and shares of the Portfolios are registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act");
WHEREAS, Pacific Investment Management Company (the "Adviser"), which
serves as investment adviser to the Fund, is duly registered as an investment
adviser under the federal Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended;
WHEREAS, the Company has issued or will issue certain variable life
insurance and/or variable annuity contracts supported wholly or partially by the
Account (the "Contracts"), and said Contracts are listed in Schedule A hereto,
as it may be amended from time to time by mutual written agreement;
WHEREAS, the Account is duly established and maintained as a segregated
asset account, duly established by the Company, on the date shown for such
Account on Schedule A hereto, to set aside and invest assets attributable to the
aforesaid Contracts;
WHEREAS, the Underwriter, which serves as distributor to the Fund, is
registered as a broker dealer with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and is a member in good standing of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD"); and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Company intends to purchase shares in the Portfolios listed in
Schedule A hereto, as it may be amended from time to time by mutual written
agreement (the "Designated Portfolios") on behalf of the Account to fund the
aforesaid Contracts, and the Underwriter is authorized to sell such shares to
the Account at net asset value;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Company, the
Fund and the Underwriter agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. Sale of Fund Shares
1.1. The Fund has granted to the Underwriter exclusive authority
to distribute the Fund's shares, and has agreed to instruct, and has so
instructed, the Underwriter to make available to the Company for purchase on
behalf of the Account Fund shares of those Designated Portfolios selected by the
Underwriter. Pursuant to such authority and instructions, and subject to Article
X hereof, the Underwriter agrees to make available to the Company for purchase
on behalf of the Account, shares of those Designated Portfolios listed on
Schedule A to this Agreement, such purchases to be effected at net asset value
in accordance with Section 1.3 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
(i) Fund series (other than those listed on Schedule A) in existence now or that
may be established in the future will be made available to the Company only as
the Underwriter may so provide, and (ii) the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the
"Board") may suspend or terminate the offering of Fund shares of any Designated
Portfolio or class thereof, if such action is required by law or by regulatory
authorities having jurisdiction or if, 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, suspension or termination is necessary in the best
interests of the shareholders of such Designated Portfolio.
1.2. The Fund shall redeem, at the Company's request, any full or
fractional Designated Portfolio shares held by the Company on behalf of the
Account, such redemptions to be effected at net asset value in accordance with
Section 1.3 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Company
shall not redeem Fund shares attributable to Contract owners except in the
circumstances permitted in Section 10.3 of this Agreement, and (ii) the Fund may
delay redemption of Fund shares of any Designated Portfolio to the extent
permitted by the 1940 Act, and any rules, regulations or orders thereunder.
1.3. Purchase and Redemption Procedures
(a) The Fund hereby appoints the Company as an agent of the
Fund for the limited purpose of receiving purchase and redemption requests on
behalf of the Account (but not with respect to any Fund shares that may be held
in the general account of the Company) for shares of those Designated Portfolios
made available hereunder, based on allocations of amounts to the Account or
subaccounts thereof under the Contracts and other transactions relating to the
Contracts or the Account. Receipt of any such request (or relevant transactional
information therefor) on any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading
and on which the Fund calculates it net asset value pursuant to the rules of the
SEC (a "Business Day") by the Company as such limited agent of the Fund prior to
the time that the Fund calculates its net asset value as described from time to
time in the Fund Prospectus (which as of the date of execution of this Agreement
is 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time) shall constitute receipt by the Fund on that same
Business Day, provided that the Fund receives notice of such request by 9:30
a.m. Eastern Time on the next following Business Day.
(b) The Company shall pay for shares of each Designated
Portfolio on the same day that it notifies the Fund of a purchase request for
such shares. Payment for Designated Portfolio shares shall be made in federal
funds transmitted to the Fund by wire to be received by the Fund by 4:00 p.m.
Eastern Time on the day the Fund is notified of the purchase request for
Designated Portfolio shares (unless the Fund determines and so advises the
Company that sufficient proceeds are available from redemption of shares of
other Designated Portfolios effected pursuant to redemption requests tendered by
the Company on behalf of the Account). If federal funds are not received on
time, such funds will be invested, and Designated Portfolio shares purchased
thereby will be issued, as soon as practicable and the 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 borrowing 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. Upon receipt of federal funds so wired, such funds shall
cease to be the responsibility of the Company and shall become the
responsibility of the Fund.
(c) Payment for Designated Portfolio shares redeemed by the
Account or the Company shall be made in federal funds transmitted by wire to the
Company or any other designated person on the next Business Day after the Fund
is properly notified of the redemption order of such shares (unless redemption
proceeds are to be applied to the purchase of shares of other Designated
Portfolio in accordance with Section 1.3(b) of this Agreement), except that the
Fund reserves the right to redeem Designated Portfolio shares in assets other
than cash and to delay payment of redemption proceeds to the extent permitted
under Section 22(e) of the 1940 Act and any Rules thereunder, and in accordance
with the procedures and policies of the Fund as described in the then current
prospectus. The Fund shall not bear any responsibility whatsoever for the proper
disbursement or crediting of redemption proceeds by the Company, the Company
alone shall be responsible for such action.
(d) Any purchase or redemption request for Designated
Portfolio shares held or to be held in the Company's general account shall be
effected at the net asset value per share next determined after the Fund's
receipt of such request, provided that, in the case of a purchase request,
payment for Fund shares so requested is received by the Fund in federal funds
prior to close of business for determination of such value, as defined from time
to time in the Fund Prospectus.
1.4. The Fund shall use its best efforts to make the net asset
value per share for each Designated Portfolio available to the Company by 6:30
p.m. Eastern Time each Business Day, and in any event, as soon as reasonably
practicable after the net asset value per share for such Designated Portfolio is
calculated, and shall calculate such net asset value in accordance with the
Fund's Prospectus. Neither the Fund, any Designated Portfolio, the Underwriter,
nor any of their affiliates shall be liable for any information provided to the
Company pursuant to this Agreement which information is based on incorrect
information supplied by the Company or any other Participating Insurance Company
to the Fund or the Underwriter.
1.5. The Fund shall furnish notice (by wire or telephone followed
by written confirmation) to the Company as soon as reasonably practicable of any
income dividends or capital gain distributions payable on any Designated
Portfolio shares. The Company, on its behalf and on behalf of the Account,
hereby elects to receive all such dividends and distributions as are payable on
any Designated Portfolio shares in the form of additional shares of that
Designated Portfolio. The Company reserves the right, on its behalf and on
behalf of the Account, to revoke this election and to receive all such dividends
and capital gain distributions in cash. The Fund shall notify the Company
promptly of the number of Designated Portfolio shares so issued as payment of
such dividends and distributions.
1.6. Issuance and transfer of Fund shares shall be by book entry
only. Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or the Account.
Purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares shall be recorded in an
appropriate ledger for the Account or the appropriate subaccount of the Account.
1.7. (a) The parties hereto acknowledge that the arrangement
contemplated by this Agreement is not exclusive; the Fund's shares may be sold
to other insurance companies (subject to Section 1.8 hereof) and the cash value
of the Contracts may be invested in other investment companies, provided,
however, that until this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Article X, the
Company shall promote the Designated Portfolios on the same basis as other
funding vehicles available under the Contracts. Funding vehicles other than
those listed on Schedule A to this Agreement may be available for the investment
of the cash value of the Contracts, provided, however, (i) any such vehicle or
series thereof, has investment objectives or policies that are substantially
different from the investment objectives and policies of the Designated
Portfolios available hereunder; (ii) the Company gives the Fund and the
Underwriter 45 days written notice of its intention to make such other
investment vehicle available as a funding vehicle for the Contracts; and (iii)
unless such other investment company was available as a Funding vehicle for the
Contracts prior to the date of this Agreement and the Company has so informed
the Fund and the Underwriter prior to their signing this Agreement, the Fund or
Underwriter consents in writing to the use of such other vehicle, such consent
not to be unreasonably withheld.
(b) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the
Underwriter (unless otherwise required by applicable law), take any action to
operate the Account as a management investment company under the 1940 Act.
(c) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the
Underwriter (unless otherwise required by applicable law), induce Contract
owners to change or modify the Fund or change the Fund's distributor or
investment adviser.
(d) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the Fund,
induce Contract owners to vote on any matter submitted for consideration by the
shareholders of the Fund in a manner other than as recommended by the Board of
Trustees of the Fund.
1.8. The Underwriter and the Fund shall sell Fund shares only to
Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts and to persons or
plans ("Qualified Persons") that communicate to the Underwriter and the Fund
that they qualify to purchase shares of the Fund under Section 817(h) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and the regulations
thereunder without impairing the ability of the Account to consider the
portfolio investments of the Fund as constituting investments of the Account for
the purpose of satisfying the diversification requirements of Section 817(h).
The Underwriter and the Fund shall not sell Fund shares to any insurance company
or separate account unless an agreement complying with Article VI of this
Agreement is in effect to govern such sales, to the extent required. The Company
hereby represents and warrants that it and the Account are Qualified Persons.
The Fund reserves the right to cease offering shares of any Designated Portfolio
in the discretion of the Fund.
ARTICLE II. Representations and Warranties
2.1. The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts (a)
are, or prior to issuance will be, registered under the 1933 Act, or (b) are not
registered because they are properly exempt from registration under the 1933 Act
or will be offered exclusively in transactions that are properly exempt from
registration under the 1933 Act. The Company further represents and warrants
that the Contracts will be issued and sold in compliance in all material
respects with all applicable federal securities and state securities and
insurance 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, that it has legally and validly established
the Account prior to any issuance or sale thereof as a segregated asset account
under [insert state] insurance laws, and that it (a) has registered or, prior to
any issuance or sale of the Contracts, will register the 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, or alternatively (b) has not
registered the Account in proper reliance upon an exclusion from registration
under the 1940 Act. The Company shall register and qualify the Contracts or
interests therein as securities in accordance with the laws of the various
states only if and to the extent deemed advisable by the Company.
2.2. The Fund represents and warrants that Fund shares sold
pursuant to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act, duly
authorized for issuance and sold in compliance with applicable state and federal
securities laws and that the Fund is and shall remain registered under the ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇. The Fund 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 Fund shall register and qualify the
shares for sale in accordance with the laws of the various states only if and to
the extent deemed advisable by the Fund or the Underwriter.
2.3. The Fund may make payments to finance distribution expenses
pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. Prior to financing distribution
expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1, the Fund will have the Board, a majority of
whom are not interested persons of the Fund, formulate and approve a plan
pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act to finance distribution expenses.
2.4. The Fund makes no representations as to whether any aspect
of its operations, including, but not limited to, investment policies, fees and
expenses, complies with the insurance and other applicable laws of the various
states.
2.5. The Fund 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.
2.6. The Underwriter represents and warrants that it is a member
in good standing of the NASD and is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC.
The Underwriter further represents that it will sell and distribute the Fund
shares in accordance with any applicable state and federal securities laws.
2.7. The Fund and the Underwriter represent and warrant that all
of their trustees/directors, officers, employees, investment advisers, and other
individuals or entities dealing 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 the
minimum coverage as required currently by Rule 17g-1 of the 1940 Act or related
provisions as may be promulgated from time to time. The aforesaid bond shall
include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable
bonding company.
2.8. The Company represents and warrants that all of its
directors, officers, employees, and other individuals/entities employed or
controlled by the Company dealing with the money and/or securities of the
Account are covered by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage for the
benefit of the Account, in an amount not less than $5 million. The aforesaid
bond includes coverage for larceny and embezzlement and is issued by a reputable
bonding company. The Company agrees to hold for the benefit of the Fund and to
pay to the Fund any amounts lost from larceny, embezzlement or other events
covered by the aforesaid bond to the extent such amounts properly belong to the
Fund pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. The Company agrees to make all
reasonable efforts to see that this bond or another bond containing these
provisions is always in effect, and agrees to notify the Fund and the
Underwriter in the event that such coverage no longer applies.
ARTICLE III. Prospectuses and Proxy Statements; Voting
3.1. The Underwriter shall provide the Company with as many
copies of the Fund's current prospectus (describing only the Designated
Portfolios listed on Schedule A) or, to the extent permitted, the Fund's
profiles as the Company may reasonably request. The Company shall bear the
expense of printing copies of the current prospectus and profiles for the
Contracts that will be distributed to existing Contract owners, and the Company
shall bear the expense of printing copies of the Fund's prospectus and profiles
that are used in connection with offering the Contracts issued by the Company.
If requested by the Company in lieu thereof, the Fund shall provide such
documentation (including a final copy of the new prospectus on diskette at the
Fund's expense) and other assistance as is reasonably necessary in order for the
Company once each year (or more frequently if the prospectus for the Fund is
amended) to have the prospectus for the Contracts and the Fund's prospectus or
profile printed together in one document (such printing to be at the Company's
expense).
3.2. The Fund's prospectus shall state that the current Statement
of Additional Information ("SAI") for the Fund is available, and the Underwriter
(or the Fund), at its expense, shall provide a reasonable number of copies of
such SAI free of charge to the Company for itself and for any owner of a
Contract who requests such SAI.
3.3. The Fund shall provide the Company with information
regarding the Fund's expenses, which information may include a table of fees and
related narrative disclosure. for use in any prospectus or other descriptive
document relating to a Contract. The Company agrees that it will use such
information in the form provided. The Company shall provide prior written notice
of any proposed modification of such information, which notice will describe in
detail the manner in which the Company proposes to modify the information, and
agrees that it may not modify such information in any way without the prior
consent of the Fund.
3.4. The Fund, at its expense, shall provide the Company with
copies of its proxy material, reports to shareholders, and other communications
to shareholders in such quantity as the Company shall reasonably require for
distributing to Contract owners.
3.5. 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 Fund shares of such
portfolio for which instructions have been received,
so long as and to the extent that the SEC continues to interpret the 1940 Act to
require pass-through voting privileges for variable contract owners or to the
extent otherwise required by law. The Company will vote Fund shares held in any
segregated asset account in the same proportion as Fund shares of such portfolio
for which voting instructions have been received from Contract owners, to the
extent permitted by law.
3.6. Participating Insurance Companies shall be responsible for
assuring that each of their separate accounts participating in a Designated
Portfolio calculates voting privileges as required by the Shared Funding
Exemptive Order and consistent with any reasonable standards that the Fund may
adopt and provide in writing.
ARTICLE IV. Sales Material and Information This text is hidden, do not remove.
4.1. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished,
to the Fund or its designee, each piece of sales literature or other promotional
material that the Company develops and in which the Fund (or a Designated
Portfolio thereof) or the Adviser or the Underwriter is named. No such material
shall be used until approved by the Fund or its designee, and the Fund will use
its best efforts for it or its designee to review such sales literature or
promotional material within ten Business Days after receipt of such material.
The Fund or its designee reserves the right to reasonably object to the
continued use of any such sales literature or other promotional material in
which the Fund (or a Designated Portfolio thereof) or the Adviser or the
Underwriter is named, and no such material shall be used if the Fund or its
designee so object.
4.2. The Company shall not give any information or make any
representations or statements on behalf of the Fund or concerning the Fund or
the Adviser or the Underwriter in connection with the sale of the Contracts
other than the information or representations contained in the registration
statement or prospectus or SAI for the Fund shares, as such registration
statement and prospectus or SAI 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 or its designee or by the
Underwriter, except with the permission of the Fund or the Underwriter or the
designee of either.
4.3. The Fund and the Underwriter, or their designee, shall
furnish, or cause to be furnished, to the Company, each piece of sales
literature or other promotional material that it develops and in which the
Company, and/or its Account, is named. No such material shall be used until
approved by the Company, and the Company will use its best efforts to review
such sales literature or promotional material within ten Business Days after
receipt of such material. The Company reserves the right to reasonably object to
the continued use of any such sales literature or other promotional material in
which the Company and/or its Account is named, and no such material shall be
used if the Company so objects.
4.4. The Fund and the Underwriter shall not give any information
or make any representations on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company,
the Account, or the Contracts other than the information or representations
contained in a registration statement, prospectus (which shall include an
offering memorandum, if any, if the Contracts issued by the Company or interests
therein are not registered under the 1933 Act), or SAI for the Contracts, as
such registration statement, prospectus, or SAI may be amended or supplemented
from time to time, or in published reports for the 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 Fund will provide to the Company at least one complete
copy of all registration statements, prospectuses, SAIs, 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, promptly after the filing of such
document(s) with the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
4.6. The Company will provide to the Fund at least one complete
copy of all registration statements, prospectuses (which shall include an
offering memorandum, if any, if the Contracts issued by the Company or interests
therein are not registered under the 1933 Act), SAIs, 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 Contracts or the Account, promptly after
the filing of such document(s) with the SEC or other regulatory authorities. The
Company shall provide to the Fund and the Underwriter any complaints received
from the Contract owners pertaining to the Fund or the Designated Portfolio.
4.7. The Fund will provide the Company with as much notice as is
reasonably practicable of any proxy solicitation for any Designated Portfolio,
and of any material change in the Fund's registration statement, particularly
any change resulting in a change to the registration statement or prospectus for
any Account. The Fund will work with the Company so as to enable the Company to
solicit proxies from Contract owners, or to make changes to its prospectus or
registration statement, in an orderly manner. The Fund will make reasonable
efforts to attempt to have changes affecting Contract prospectuses become
effective simultaneously with the annual updates for such prospectuses.
4.8. For purposes of this Article IV, the phrase "sales
literature and other promotional materials" includes, but is not limited to, any
of the following that refer to the Fund or any affiliate of the Fund:
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, 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,
SAIs, shareholder reports, proxy materials, and any other communications
distributed or made generally available with regard to the Fund.
ARTICLE V. Fees and Expenses
5.1. The Fund and the Underwriter shall pay no fee or other
compensation to the Company under this Agreement, except that if the Fund or any
Portfolio adopts and implements a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 to finance
distribution expenses, then the Fund or Underwriter may make payments to the
Company or to the underwriter for the Contracts if and in amounts agreed to by
the Underwriter in writing, and such payments will be made out of existing fees
otherwise payable to the Underwriter, past profits of the Underwriter, or other
resources available to the Underwriter. Currently, no such payments are
contemplated.
5.2. All expenses incident to performance by the Fund under this
Agreement shall be paid by the Fund. The Fund 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 Fund, in
accordance with applicable state laws prior to their sale. The Fund shall bear
the expenses for the cost of registration and qualification of the Fund's
shares, preparation and filing of the Fund'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), the
preparation of all statements and notices required by any federal or state law,
and all taxes on the issuance or transfer of the Fund's shares.
5.3. The Company shall bear the expenses of distributing the
Fund's prospectus to owners of Contracts issued by the Company and of
distributing the Fund's proxy materials and reports to such Contract owners.
ARTICLE VI. Diversification and Qualification
6.1. The Fund will invest its assets in such a manner as to
ensure that the Contracts will be treated as annuity or life insurance
contracts, whichever is appropriate, under the Code and the regulations issued
thereunder (or any successor provisions). Without limiting the scope of the
foregoing, each Designated Portfolio has complied and will continue to comply
with Section 817(h) of the Code and Treasury Regulation ss.1.817-5, and any
Treasury interpretations thereof, relating to the diversification requirements
for variable annuity, endowment, or life insurance contracts, and any amendments
or other modifications or successor provisions to such Section or Regulations.
In the event of a breach of this Article VI by the Fund, it will take all
reasonable steps (a) to notify the 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.
6.2. The Fund represents that it is or will be qualified as a
Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Code, and that it will
make every effort to maintain such qualification (under Subchapter M or any
successor or similar provisions) 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.
6.3. The Company represents that the Contracts are currently, and
at the time of issuance shall be, treated as life insurance or annuity insurance
contracts, 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 the
Underwriter immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing the
Contracts have ceased to be so treated or that they might not be so treated in
the future. The 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 (or any successor or similar provision), shall identify such contract as a
modified endowment contract.
ARTICLE VII. Potential Conflicts
The following provisions shall apply only upon issuance of the Mixed and Shared
Funding Order and the sale of shares of the Fund to variable life insurance
separate accounts and the extent required under the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇.
7.1. The Board will monitor the Fund for the existence of any
material irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the Contract owners of
all separate accounts investing in the Fund. An irreconcilable material conflict
may arise for a variety of reasons, including: (a) an action by any state
insurance regulatory authority; (b) a change in applicable federal or state
insurance, tax, or securities laws or regulations, or a public ruling, private
letter ruling, no-action or interpretative letter, or any similar action by
insurance, tax, or securities regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative or
judicial decision in any relevant proceeding; (d) the manner in which the
investments of any Portfolio are being managed; (e) a difference in voting
instructions given by variable annuity contract and variable life insurance
contract owners; or (f) a decision by an insurer to disregard the voting
instructions of contract owners. The 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 Mixed and 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 Board members), 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 Fund or any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a different investment
medium, including (but not limited to) another Portfolio of the Fund, 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 contract
owners, or variable contract owners of one or more Participating Insurance
Companies) that votes in favor of such segregation, or offering to the affected
contract owners the option of making such a change; and (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 would preclude a majority vote, the
Company may be required, at the Fund's election, to withdraw the Account's
investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with respect to each
Account; provided, however, that such withdrawal and termination shall be
limited to the extent required by the foregoing material irreconcilable conflict
as determined by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board. Any such
withdrawal and termination must take place within six (6) months after the Fund
gives written notice that this provision is being implemented, and until the end
of that six month period the Fund shall continue to accept and implement orders
by the Company for the purchase (and redemption) of shares of the Fund.
7.5. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a
particular state insurance regulator's decision applicable to the Company
conflicts with the majority of other state regulators, then the Company will
withdraw the affected Account's investment in the Fund 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 Fund shall
continue to accept and implement orders by the Company for the purchase (and
redemption) of shares of the Fund.
7.6. For purposes of Section 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 Fund 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 Contract if an offer to do so has been declined by vote
of a majority of Contract owners materially adversely affected by the
irreconcilable material conflict. In the event that the Board determines that
any proposed action does not adequately remedy any irreconcilable material
conflict, then the Company will withdraw the Account's investment in the Fund
and terminate this Agreement within six (6) months after the Board informs the
Company in writing of the foregoing determination; provided, however, that such
withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by any such
material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the
disinterested members of the Board.
7.7. If and to the extent the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemption
Order or any amendment thereto contains terms and conditions different from
Sections 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 of this Agreement, then the
Fund and/or the Participating Insurance Companies, as appropriate, shall take
such steps as may be necessary to comply with the Mixed and Shared Funding
Exemptive Order, and Sections 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 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 the Mixed and Shared
Funding Exemptive Order or any amendment thereto. 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 Mixed and Shared
Funding Exemptive Order) on terms and conditions materially different from those
contained in the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order, then (a) the Fund
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
3.5, 3.6, 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 Fund and the Underwriter and each of its trustees/directors and officers,
and each person, if any, who controls the Fund or Underwriter within the meaning
of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or who is under common control with the
Underwriter (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" 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 or regulation, at common law or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or
actions in respect thereof) or settlements:
(i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statements of any material fact contained in
the registration statement, prospectus (which staff include
a written description of a Contract that is not registered
under the 1933 Act), or SAI 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 Fund for use
in the registration statement, prospectus or SAI 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 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, SAI, or
sales literature of the Fund not supplied by the Company or
persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of the
Company or its agents or persons under the Company's
authorization or control, with respect to the sale or
distribution of the Contracts or Fund Shares; or
(iii) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a registration
statement, prospectus, SAI, or sales literature of the Fund
or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading if such a statement or
omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to
the Fund by or on behalf of the Company; or
(iv) arise as a result of any material failure by the
Company to provide the services and furnish the materials
under the terms of this Agreement (including a failure,
whether unintentional or in good faith or otherwise, to
comply with the qualification requirements specified in
Article VI of this Agreement); or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Company in this
Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material
breach of this Agreement by the Company, 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 to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be
subject by reason of 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 its 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 an Indemnified Party, 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 Fund shares or the Contracts or the
operation of the Fund.
8.2. Indemnification by the Underwriter
8.2(a). The Underwriter 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
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" 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 or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect
thereof) or settlements:
(i) 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 SAI or sales
literature of the Fund (or any amendment or supplement to
any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, provided that this
agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified
Party if such statement or omission or such alleged
statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished to the Underwriter or
Fund by or on behalf of the Company for use in the
registration statement, prospectus or SAI for the Fund 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, SAI or
sales literature for the Contracts not supplied by the
Underwriter or persons under its control) or wrongful
conduct of the Fund 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 any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in a registration
statement, prospectus, SAI 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
Fund or the Underwriter; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund or the
Underwriter to provide the services and furnish the
materials under the terms of this Agreement (including a
failure of the Fund, whether unintentional or in good faith
or otherwise, to comply with the diversification and other
qualification requirements specified in Article VI of this
Agreement); or
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the 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 to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be
subject by reason of such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or
gross negligence in the performance or such Indemnified Party's duties or by
reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties
under this Agreement or to the Company or the Account, whichever is applicable.
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 than
on account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought
against the Indemnified Party, 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.
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 the Account.
8.3. Indemnification By the Fund
8.3(a). The Fund 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
(collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 8.3)
against any and all losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities (including
amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Fund) or litigation
(including legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may be
required to pay or may become subject under any statute or regulation, at common
law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, expenses, damages, liabilities
or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements, are related to the
operations of the Fund and:
(i) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund to
provide the services and furnish the materials under
the terms of this Agreement (including a failure,
whether unintentional or in good faith or otherwise, to
comply with the diversification and other qualification
requirements specified in Article VI of this
Agreement); or
(ii) arise out of or result from any material breach of
any representation and/or warranty made by the Fund in
this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other
material breach of this Agreement by the Fund;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.3(b) and
8.3(c) hereof.
8.3(b). The Fund shall not be liable under this
indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or litigation to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be
subject by reason of such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or
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 or to the Company, the Fund, the Underwriter or the
Account, whichever is applicable.
8.3(c). The Fund 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 Fund 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 Fund of any
such claim shall not relieve the Fund 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 Fund will be entitled to participate, at
its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Fund also shall be entitled to
assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the
action. After notice from the Fund to such party of the Fund'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 Fund 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 and the Underwriter agree promptly
to notify the Fund of the commencement of any litigation or proceeding against
it or any of its respective officers or directors in connection with the
Agreement, the issuance or sale of the Contracts, the operation of the Account,
or the sale or acquisition of shares of the Fund.
ARTICLE IX. Applicable Law
9.1. This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof
interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of California.
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 SEC
may grant (including, but not limited to, any Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive
Order) and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance
therewith. If, in the future, the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order
should no longer be necessary under applicable law, then Article VII shall no
longer apply.
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 with respect to
some or all Designated Portfolios, by three (3) months
advance written notice delivered to the other parties; or
(b) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and
the Underwriter based upon the Company's determination that
shares of the Fund are not reasonably available to meet the
requirements of the Contracts; or
(c) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and
the Underwriter in the event any of the Designated
Portfolio'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 Fund or Underwriter in the event that
formal administrative proceedings are instituted against the
Company by the NASD, the SEC, the Insurance Commissioner or
like official of any state or any other regulatory body
regarding the Company's duties under this Agreement or
related to the sale of the Contracts, the operation of any
Account, or the purchase of the Fund's shares; provided,
however, that the Fund or Underwriter determines in its sole
judgment exercised in good faith, that any such
administrative proceedings will have a material adverse
effect upon the ability of the Company to perform its
obligations under this Agreement; or
(e) termination by the Company in the event that formal
administrative proceedings are instituted against the Fund
or Underwriter by the NASD, the SEC, or any state securities
or insurance department or any other regulatory body;
provided, however, that the Company determines in its sole
judgment exercised in good faith, that any such
administrative proceedings will have a material adverse
effect upon the ability of the Fund or Underwriter to
perform its obligations under this Agreement; or
(f) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and
the Underwriter with respect to any Designated Portfolio in
the event that such Portfolio ceases to qualify as a
Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M or fails to
comply with the Section 817(h) diversification requirements
specified in Article VI hereof, or if the Company reasonably
believes that such Portfolio may fail to so qualify or
comply; or
(g) termination by the Fund or Underwriter by written notice to
the Company in the event that the Contracts fail to meet the
qualifications specified in Article VI hereof; or
(h) termination by either the Fund or the Underwriter by written
notice to the Company, if either one or both of the Fund or
the Underwriter respectively, shall determine, in their sole
judgment exercised in good faith, that the Company 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
(i) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and
the Underwriter, if the Company shall determine, in its sole
judgment exercised in good faith, that the Fund, Adviser, 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
(j) termination by the Fund or the Underwriter by written notice
to the Company, if the Company gives the Fund and the
Underwriter the written notice specified in Section
1.7(a)(ii) hereof and at the time such notice was given
there was no notice of termination outstanding under any
other provision of this Agreement; provided, however, any
termination under this Section 10.1(j) shall be effective
forty-five days after the notice specified in Section
1.7(a)(ii) was given; or
(k) termination by the Company upon any substitution of the
shares of another investment company or series thereof for
shares of a Designated Portfolio of the Fund in accordance
with the terms of the Contracts, provided that the Company
has given at least 45 days prior written notice to the Fund
and Underwriter of the date of substitution; or
(l) termination by any party in the event that the Fund's Board
of Trustees determines that a material irreconcilable
conflict exists as provided in Article VII.
10.2. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Fund
and the Underwriter shall, at the option of the Company, continue to make
available additional shares of the Fund 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"), unless the
Underwriter requests that the Company seek an order pursuant to Section 26(b) of
the 1940 Act to permit the substitution of other securities for the shares of
the Designated Portfolios. The Underwriter agrees to split the cost of seeking
such an order, and the Company agrees that it shall reasonably cooperate with
the Underwriter and seek such an order upon request. Specifically, the owners of
the Existing Contracts may be permitted to reallocate investments in the Fund,
redeem investments in the Fund and/or invest in the Fund upon the making of
additional purchase payments under the Existing Contracts (subject to any such
election by the Underwriter). 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. The parties
further agree that this Section 10.2 shall not apply to any terminations under
Section 10.1(g) of this Agreement.
10.3. The Company shall not redeem Fund shares attributable to
the Contracts (as opposed to Fund shares attributable to the Company's assets
held in the Account) except (i) as necessary to implement Contract owner
initiated or approved transactions, (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"), (iii) upon 45 days
prior written notice to the Fund and Underwriter, as permitted by an order of
the SEC pursuant to Section 26(b) of the 1940 Act, but only if a substitution of
other securities for the shares of the Designated Portfolios is consistent with
the terms of the Contracts, or (iv) as permitted under the terms of the
Contract. Upon request, the Company will promptly furnish to the Fund and the
Underwriter reasonable assurance that any redemption pursuant to clause (ii)
above is a Legally Required Redemption. Furthermore, except in cases where
permitted under the terms of the Contacts, the Company shall not prevent
Contract owners from allocating payments to a Portfolio that was otherwise
available under the Contracts without first giving the Fund or the Underwriter
45 days notice of its intention to do so.
10.4. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, each
party's obligation under Article VIII to indemnify the other parties shall
survive.
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 Fund: PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
If to the Company:
If to Underwriter: PIMCO Funds Distribution Company
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
ARTICLE XII. Miscellaneous
12.1. All persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to
the property of the Fund, and in the case of a series company, the respective
Designated Portfolios listed on Schedule A hereto as though each such Designated
Portfolio had separately contracted with the Company and the Underwriter for the
enforcement of any claims against the Fund. The parties agree that neither the
Board, officers, agents or shareholders of the Fund assume any personal
liability or responsibility for obligations entered into by or on behalf of the
Fund.
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 without the express
written consent of the affected party until such time as such information has
come into the public domain.
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.
12.6. Each party hereto shall cooperate with each other
party and all appropriate governmental authorities (including without limitation
the SEC, the NASD, and state insurance regulators) and shall permit such
authorities reasonable access to its books and records in connection with any
investigation or inquiry relating to this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby. Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, each party
hereto further agrees to furnish the [insert state] 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
variable annuity operations of the Company are being conducted in a manner
consistent with the [insert state] variable annuity laws and 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.
12.9. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be
furnished, to the Fund 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) filed with any state or federal regulatory
body or otherwise made available to the public, as soon
as practicable and in any event within 90 days after
the end of each fiscal year; and
(b) any registration statement (without exhibits) and
financial reports of the Company filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission or any state
insurance regulatory, as soon as practicable after the
filing 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 below.
COMPANY:
By its authorized officer
By:_____________________________
Title:__________________________
Date:___________________________
PIMCO VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
By its authorized officer
By:_____________________________
Title:__________________________
Date:___________________________
PIMCO FUNDS DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
By its authorized officer
By:_____________________________
Title:__________________________
Date:___________________________