PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
AMONG
FIRST SECURITY BENEFIT LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY
OF NEW YORK,
NORTHERN LIGHTS VARIABLE TRUST,
AND
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, LLC
THIS AGREEMENT, dated as of the ___ day of _________________, 2008, by
and among First Security Benefit Life Insurance and Annuity Company of New York,
(the "Company"), a stock life insurance company organized under the laws of the
State of New York, on its own behalf and on behalf of each segregated asset
account of the Company that purchases shares in a Designated Portfolio (as
"Designated Portfolio" is defined below; each such segregated asset account an
"Account"), the Northern Lights Variable Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the
"Fund"), on behalf of the Designated Portfolios (as defined below), and ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
Investment Management, LLC (the "Adviser"), a Texas Limited Liability
Corporation.
WHEREAS, the shares of beneficial interest/common stock of the Fund are
divided into several series of shares, each representing the interest in a
particular managed portfolio of securities and other assets (each a
"Portfolio"); and
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment
company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") and shares of
the Portfolios are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"1933 Act"); and
WHEREAS, the Adviser, which serves as investment adviser to the Fund,
is duly registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of
1940, as amended; and
WHEREAS, the Company has issued or will issue certain variable annuity
contracts supported wholly or partially by the Account (the "Contracts"), and
WHEREAS, the Account is duly established and maintained as a segregated
asset account, duly established by the Company to set aside and invest assets
attributable to the aforesaid Contracts; and
WHEREAS, 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;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Company,
the Fund and the Adviser agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. Sale of Fund Shares
1.1. Subject to Article X hereof, the Fund agrees to make available to the
Company for purchase on behalf of the Account, shares of the Designated
Portfolios, such purchases to be effected at net asset value in accordance with
Section 1.3 of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Portfolios
(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 Fund
may so provide, and (ii) the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") may
suspend or terminate the offering of shares of any Designated Portfolio or class
thereof upon written notice to the Company, 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
and 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, 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 and accepting 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 and acceptance of any such request (or
relevant transactional information therefore) on any day the New York Stock
Exchange is open for trading and on which a Designated Portfolio calculates its
net asset value (a "Business Day") pursuant to the rules of the Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC"), by the Company as such limited agent of the Fund
prior to the time that the Fund ordinarily calculates its net asset value as
described from time to time in the Fund's prospectus shall constitute receipt
and acceptance by the Designated Portfolio 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 Business 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 or other designated person by wire to be received by
3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the Business 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, or unless the Fund otherwise
determines and so advises the Company to delay the date of payment, to the
extent the Fund may do so under the 1940 Act). 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.
2
(c) Payment for Designated Portfolio shares redeemed by the Account or the
Company shall be made by the Fund in federal funds transmitted by wire to the
Company or any other designated person by 3 p.m. Eastern Time on the same
Business Day 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 Portfolios in accordance with Section 1.3(b) of this
Agreement), except that the Fund reserves the right 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.
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 and acceptance 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's 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. If the Fund provides the Company with materially incorrect
share net asset value information, the Company on behalf of the Account, shall
be entitled to an adjustment to the number of shares purchased or redeemed to
reflect the correct share net asset value. Any material error in the calculation
of the net asset value per share, dividend or capital gain information shall be
reported promptly to the Company upon discovery. In the event that any such
material error is the result of the gross negligence of the Fund, or its
designated agent for calculating the net asset value, any administrative or
other costs or losses incurred for correcting underlying Contract owner accounts
shall be at the Adviser's expense.
1.5. The Fund shall use its best efforts to furnish notice (by wire or
telephone followed by written confirmation) to the Company of any income
dividends or capital gain distributions payable on any Designated Portfolio
shares by the record date, but in no event later than 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time on
the ex-dividend date. 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.
Share 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 and the cash value of the Contracts may be invested in other
investment companies.
(b) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the Adviser (unless
otherwise required by applicable law), take any action to operate the Account as
a management investment company under the 1940 Act.
3
(c) The Company shall not, without prior notice to the Adviser (unless
otherwise required by applicable law), induce Contract owners to change or
modify the Fund or change the Fund's 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.
1.8 The parties may agree, in lieu of the procedures set forth above in
this Article 1, to place and settle trades for Fund shares through a clearing
corporation. In the event that such a clearing corporation is used, the parties
agree to abide by the rules of the clearing corporation.
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. The Company further represents and warrants that the Company
will file or register the Contracts with the appropriate insurance regulator in
those states where such filing or registration is required under state insurance
laws or regulations. 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 as a segregated asset account
under New York 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 ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇.
2.2. The Fund represents and warrants that Designated Portfolio shares sold
pursuant to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act, shall be 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.
2.3. The Fund represents and warrants 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, including, without
limitation, Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act.
2.4. The Adviser represents and warrants that it is registered as an
investment adviser with the SEC and that it does and will comply in all material
respects with the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, including, without
limitation, Rule 206(4)-7 under the Investment Advisers Act.
2.5. The Fund and the Adviser represent and warrant that all of their
trustees/directors, officers, employees, 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
4
bond shall include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by
a reputable bonding company.
ARTICLE III. Prospectuses and Proxy Statements; Voting
3.1. The Fund shall provide the Company with as many printed copies of the
current prospectus, current Statement of Additional Information ("SAI"),
supplements, proxy statements, and annual or semi-annual reports of each
Designated Portfolio as the Company may reasonably request to deliver to
existing Contract owners and for marketing of the Contracts. If requested by the
Company in lieu thereof, the Fund shall provide such documents (including a
"camera-ready" copy of such documents as set in type, a diskette in the form
sent to the financial printer, or an electronic copy of the documents in a
format suitable for posting on the Company's website, all as the Company may
reasonably request) and such other assistance as is reasonably necessary in
order for the Company to have prospectuses, SAIs, supplements and annual or
semi-annual reports for the Contracts and the Fund printed together in a single
document or posted on the Company's web-site or printed individually by the
Company if it so chooses. The expenses associated with printing and providing
such documentation shall be as set forth in Article V.
3.2. The Fund's prospectus shall state that the current SAI for the Fund is
available.
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
substantially in the form provided. The Company shall provide prior written
notice of any proposed modification of such information, which notice will
describe 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, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
3.4. So long as, and to the extent 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 shall, at the Company's
option, follow one of the two methods described below to provide pass-through
voting privileges to contract owners:
(a) Provide a list of Contract owners with value allocated to a Designated
Portfolio as of the record date to the Fund or its agent in order to permit the
Fund to send solicitation material and gather voting instructions from Contract
owners on behalf of the Company. The Company shall also provide such other
information to the Fund as is reasonably necessary in order for the Fund to
properly tabulate votes for Fund initiated proxies. In the event that the
Company chooses this option, the Fund shall be responsible for properly "echo
voting" shares of a Designated Portfolio for which no voting instructions have
been received.
(b) Solicit voting instructions from Contract holders itself and vote
shares of the Designated Portfolio in accordance with instructions received from
Contract holders. The Company shall vote the shares of the Designated Portfolios
for which no instructions have been received in the same proportion as shares of
the Designated Portfolio for which instructions have been received.
3.5 The Company reserves the right to vote Fund shares held in its general
account in its own right, to the extent permitted by applicable laws.
5
ARTICLE IV. Sales Material and Information
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 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 five
(5) 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 is named, and no such material shall be used
if the Fund or its designee so objects.
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 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, except with the permission of the Fund or its designee.
4.3. The Fund and the Adviser, 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 the
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 five (5) 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 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, 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 Designated Portfolios or their 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
6
other regulatory authorities. The Company shall provide to the Fund and the
Adviser any complaints received from the Contract owners pertaining to the Fund
or a 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. The Adviser shall provide (or cause its affiliates to provide) the
Company with sales material acceptable to the Company to be used in marketing
the Dent Portfolio as an investment option in the Contract.
ARTICLE V. Fees and Expenses
5.1. The Fund shall pay no fee or other compensation to the Company under
this Agreement, except that if the Fund or any Designated Portfolio adopts and
implements a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act to finance
distribution expenses, then the Fund may make payments to the Company or to the
underwriter for the Contracts if and in amounts agreed to by the Fund in
writing.
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 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 Fund will pay or cause to be paid the expenses associated with
printing, mailing, distributing, solicitation and tabulation of proxy materials
to Contract owners with respect to proxies related to the Fund, consistent with
applicable provisions of the 1940 Act. The Fund shall also bear the expense of
printing and postage with respect to Fund prospectuses, annual and semi-annual
reports and all other Fund reports delivered to existing Contract owners with
value allocated to one or more Designated Portfolios (regardless of whether such
documents are printed by the Fund or the Company). In the event that the Company
chooses to print prospectuses, annual and/or semi-annual reports (and/or any
other Fund report) delivered to existing Contract owners with value allocated to
one or more Designated Portfolios with such documents for other funds or
portfolios, the Fund shall only be required to pay its pro-rata expense of such
printing costs.
5.4. The Company shall bear the expense of distributing all prospectuses
and reports to prospective Contract owners. The Company shall bear the expense
of printing copies of the prospectus for the Contracts for use with prospective
Contract owners. The Company shall bear the expenses incident to (including the
costs of printing) sales literature and other promotional material that the
Company develops and in which the Fund (or a Designated Portfolio thereof) is
named.
7
5.5. The Adviser shall bear the expense of printing the sales material
contemplated in Section 4.8 in quantities reasonably specified by the Company.
The Company shall bear the expense of distributing such sales material.
ARTICLE VI. 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 Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Code") and
the regulations issued thereunder (or any successor provisions). Without
limiting the scope of the foregoing, each Designated Portfolio represents and
warrants that it 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 and warrants that it is qualified as a regulated
investment company under Subchapter M of the Code and that it will 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 maintain
such treatment, and that it will notify the Fund 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. Exemptive Order
Prior to offering the shares of any Designated Portfolio in variable life
insurance contracts of any insurance company, the Fund shall seek and obtain a
customary "mixed and shared funding order" from the SEC, provided that the Fund
shall not be required to obtain such an order if the SEC adopts a rule obviating
the need for such an order and the Fund complies with such rule.
Article VIII. Indemnification
8.1 Indemnification by the Company
8.1(a). The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of the
Fund and the Adviser and each of its trustees/directors and officers, and each
person, if any, who controls the Fund or Adviser within the meaning of Section
15 of the 1933 Act or who is under common control with the Fund or the Adviser
(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
8
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 shall 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 or the Adviser 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
(ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations by
or on behalf of the Company (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
(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 for use in
the registration statement, prospectus or SAI of the Fund or in sales
literature; 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; 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
9
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
reasonably 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 Adviser
8.2(a). The Adviser 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 Adviser) 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 Adviser 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 by or on
behalf of the Fund or the Adviser (other than statements or representations
contained in the registration statement, prospectus, SAI or sales
literature for the Contracts not supplied by the Fund or the Adviser) or
wrongful conduct of the Adviser or the Fund 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
10
therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance
upon information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Adviser or
the Fund; or
(iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund or the Adviser 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 or on behalf of the Adviser or the Fund in this
Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach of this
Agreement by or on behalf of the Adviser or the Fund;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.2(b) and
8.2(c) hereof.
8.2(b). The Adviser 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 Adviser 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 Adviser 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 Adviser of any
such claim shall not relieve the Adviser 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 Adviser will be entitled to participate, at
its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Adviser also shall be entitled to
assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the party
named in the action. After notice from the Adviser to such party of the
Adviser'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
Adviser will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or
other expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection
with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
8.2(d). The Company agrees promptly to notify the Adviser 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
11
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 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 Adviser 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 by or on
behalf of the Fund or the Adviser (other than statements or representations
contained in the registration statement, prospectus, SAI or sales
literature for the Contracts not supplied by the Fund or the Adviser) or
wrongful conduct of the Adviser or the Fund 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 Adviser or the Fund; or
(iv) 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
(v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any representation
and/or warranty made by or on behalf of the Fund in this Agreement or arise
out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by or on
behalf of 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
12
reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement or to the
Company 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 reasonably 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 agrees 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 New York,
without regard to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.
9.2. This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the 1933 and
1940 Acts as well as the Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules and
regulations and rulings thereunder, including such exemptions from those
statutes, rules and regulations as the SEC may grant, and the terms hereof
shall be interpreted and construed in accordance therewith.
ARTICLE X. Termination
10.1. This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until the
first to occur of:
(a) termination by any party, for any reason with respect to some or
all Designated Portfolios, by six (6) months advance written
notice delivered to the other parties; or
(b) termination by the Company by written notice to the other parties
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 other parties
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
13
(d) termination by the Fund or Adviser by written notice to the
Company in the event that formal administrative proceedings are
instituted against the Company by the Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority ("FINRA"), 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 Designated Portfolios'
shares; provided, however, that the Fund or Adviser 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 by written notice to the other parties
in the event that formal administrative proceedings are
instituted against the Fund or Adviser by the SEC or any state
securities 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 Adviser to perform its obligations under this Agreement; or
(f) termination by the Company by written notice to the other parties
in the event that any Designated Portfolio ceases to qualify as a
regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code or
fails to comply with the Section 817(h) diversification
requirements specified in Article VI hereof, or if the Company
reasonably believes that any such Portfolio may fail to so
qualify or comply with either provision; or
(g) termination by either the Fund or the Adviser by written notice
to the other parties, if either one or both the Fund and the
Adviser, 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
(h) termination by the Company by written notice to the other
parties, if the Company shall determine, in its sole judgment
exercised in good faith, that the Fund or the Adviser 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 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 Adviser of the date of
substitution.
10.2. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Fund and the
Adviser 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
Company seeks 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.
Specifically, the owners of the Existing Contracts shall be permitted to
reallocate
14
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 Company).
10.3. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, each party's
obligation under Article VIII to indemnify the other parties shall survive.
Article XI Contractholder Information
11.1 The Company agrees to provide the Fund, upon written request (which
may include electronic writings and facsimile transmissions, a "Request"),
the taxpayer identification number (the "TIN"), the
Individual/International Taxpayer Identification Number ("ITIN") or other
government-issued identifier ("GII"), if known, of any person that is a
party to a Contract that uses a Portfolio of the Fund as an underlying
investment medium by investments through the Company or its affiliates
(individually, a "Contractholder" or collectively, the "Contractholders")
who have purchased, redeemed, transferred or exchanged Shares held through
an Account during the period covered by the Request and the amount, date,
name or other identifier of any investment professional(s) associated with
the Contractholders or Account (if known), and transaction type (purchase,
redemption, transfer, or exchange) of every purchase, redemption, transfer,
or exchange of Shares.
(a) Requests must set forth a specific period, not to exceed 90 days
from the date of the Request for which transaction information is sought. The
Fund may request transaction information older than 90 days from the date of the
Request as it deems necessary to investigate compliance with policies
established by the Fund for the purpose of eliminating or reducing any dilution
of the value of its Shares.
(b) The Company agrees to transmit the requested information that is on
its books and records to the Fund or its designee promptly, but in any event not
later than ten (10) Business Days after receipt of a Request. To the extent
practicable, the format for any transaction information provided to the Fund
should be consistent with the National Securities Clearing Corporation
Standardized Data Report Format, or any other format acceptable to the Fund.
(c) The Fund agrees not to use the information received for marketing
or any other similar purpose without the prior written consent of the Company.
11.2 The Company agrees to execute a Request from the Fund to restrict or
prohibit further purchases or exchanges of Shares by a Contractholder that
has been identified by the Fund as having engaged in transactions in Shares
(directly or indirectly through an Account) that violate policies
established by the Fund for the purpose of eliminating or reducing any
dilution of the value of its Shares.
(a) Such Request must include the TIN, ITIN or GII, if known, and the
specific restriction(s) to be executed. If the TIN, ITIN or GII is not known,
the instructions must include an equivalent identifying number of the
Contractholder(s) or Account(s) or other agreed upon information to which the
instruction relates.
(b) The Company agrees to execute the Request as soon as reasonably
practicable, but not later than five (5) Business Days after receipt of the
instructions by the Company.
15
(c) The Company agrees to provide written confirmation to the Fund as
soon as reasonably practicable that the Request has been executed, but not later
than ten (10) Business Days after the Request has been executed.
11.3 Company will use best efforts to determine, promptly upon the request
of the Fund, whether any specific person or entity about whom the Fund has
received information pursuant to Section 11.1 of this Agreement is an
"indirect intermediary" as defined in Rule 22c-2 of the 1940 Act (the
"Rule") (an "Indirect Intermediary") and, upon further Request from the
Fund, promptly after receipt of such Request either:
(a) provide (or arrange to have provided) the identification and
transaction information set forth in Section 11.1(a) of this Agreement regarding
a Contractholder who holds Shares through the Indirect Intermediary; or
(b) restrict or prohibit the Indirect Intermediary from purchasing
Shares on behalf of itself or other persons.
The Company agrees to inform the Fund whether it plans to perform (a) or
(b) above.
ARTICLE XII. 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 Company: First Security Benefit Life Insurance and Annuity
Company of New York
Attention General Counsel
One Security Benefit Place
Topeka, Kansas 66636 - 0001
If to the Fund: Dent Strategic Portfolio
c/o Gemini Fund Services, LLC
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
If to Adviser: ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ Investment Management, LLC
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
ARTICLE XIII. Miscellaneous
13.1. All persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the property of
the respective Designated Portfolios listed on Schedule A hereto as though
each such Designated Portfolio had separately contracted with the Company
and the Adviser 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.
13.2. Subject to the requirements of legal process and regulatory
authority, the Fund and the Adviser shall treat as confidential the names
and addresses of the owners of the
16
Contracts. Each party shall treat as confidential 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 information without the express written consent of the
affected party until such time as such information has come into the public
domain.
13.3. 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.
13.4. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the
same instrument.
13.5. 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.
13.6. Each party hereto shall cooperate with each other party and all
appropriate governmental authorities (including without limitation the SEC,
FINRA, 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 New York 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 insurance operations of the Company are being
conducted in a manner consistent with the New York insurance laws and
regulations and any other applicable law or regulations.
13.7. 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.
13.8. 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.
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.
First Security Benefit Life
Insurance and Annuity Company of New York By its authorized officer
By: __________________
Title: __________________
Date: __________________
17
Northern Lights Variable Fund Trust (on behalf By its authorized officer
of the Designated Portfolios)
By: _________________
Title: _________________
Date: _________________
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ Investment Management, LLC By its authorized officer
By: _________________
Title: _________________
Date: _________________
18
February 20, 2008
SCHEDULE A
DESIGNATED PORTFOLIO(S)
Dent Strategic Portfolio
A-1