Exhibit (8)(e)
FUND PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
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THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this ____ day of ____ 199_, by and
among DREYFUS VARIABLE INVESTMENT FUND, a ____________________ corporation (the
"Fund"), THE UNITED STATES LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, a
New York corporation (the "Company") on its own behalf and on behalf of each of
the segregated asset accounts of the Company set forth in Schedule A hereto, as
may be amended from time to time (the "Accounts"), and the Fund's underwriter
__________________________________________, a Delaware corporation
("Underwriter").
WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment company
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), and its
shares are registered or will be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "1933 Act");
WHEREAS, shares of beneficial interest of the Fund are divided into several
series of shares, each representing the interests in a particular managed pool
of securities and other assets;
WHEREAS, the series of shares of the Fund offered by the Fund to the Company
and the Accounts are set forth on Schedule A attached hereto (each, a
"Portfolio," and, collectively, the "Portfolios");
WHEREAS, THE UNDERWRITER is duly registered as an investment adviser under
the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and any applicable state
securities law, and is the Fund's investment adviser;
WHEREAS, the Company will issue certain variable annuity and/or variable life
insurance contracts (individually, the "Policy" or, collectively, the
"Policies") which, if required by applicable law, will be registered under the
1933 Act;
WHEREAS, the Accounts are duly organized, validly existing segregated asset
accounts, established by resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company, to
set aside and invest assets attributable to the aforesaid variable annuity
and/or variable life insurance contracts that are allocated to the Accounts (the
Policies and the Accounts covered by this Agreement, and each corresponding
Portfolio covered by this Agreement in which the Accounts invest, is specified
in Schedule A attached hereto as may be modified from time to time);
WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register the Accounts as unit
investment Funds under the 1940 Act (unless exempt therefrom);
WHEREAS, Underwriter is registered as a broker-dealer with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (hereinafter the "1934 Act"), and is a member in good standing of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD");
WHEREAS, American General Securities Incorporated ("AGSI"), the Underwriter
for the individual variable annuity and the variable life policies, is
registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC under the 1934 Act and is a member in
good standing of the NASD; and
WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and
regulations, the Company intends to purchase shares in one or more of the
Portfolios specified in Schedule A attached hereto (the "Shares") on behalf of
the Accounts to fund the Policies, and the Fund intends to sell such Shares to
the Accounts at net asset value;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Fund, the
Underwriter, and the Company agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. SALE OF FUND SHARES
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1.1. The Fund agrees to sell to the Company those Shares which the
Accounts order (based on orders placed by Policy holders on that Business
Day, as defined below) and which are available for purchase by such
Accounts, executing such orders on a daily basis at the net asset value
next computed after receipt by the Fund or its designee of the order for
the Shares. For purposes of this Section 1.1, the Company shall be the
designee of the Fund for receipt of such orders from Policy owners and
receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund; provided
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that the Fund receives notice of such orders by 9:30 a.m. New York time on
the next following Business Day. "Business Day" shall mean any day on
which the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "NYSE") is open for trading
and on which the Fund calculates its net asset value pursuant to the rules
of the SEC.
1.2. The Fund agrees to make the Shares available indefinitely for
purchase at the applicable net asset value per share by the Company and the
Accounts on those days on which the Fund calculates its net asset value
pursuant to rules of the SEC and the Fund shall calculate such net asset
value on each day which the NYSE is open for trading. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Board of Fundees of the Fund (the "Board") may refuse to
sell any Shares to the Company and the Accounts, or suspend or terminate
the offering of the Shares if such action is required by law or by
regulatory authorities having jurisdiction or is, in the sole discretion of
the Board acting in good faith and in light of its fiduciary duties under
federal and any applicable state laws, necessary in the best interest of
the Shareholders of such Portfolio.
1.3. The Fund and the Underwriter agree that the Shares will be sold only
to insurance companies which have entered into participation agreements
with the Fund and the Underwriter (the "Participating Insurance Companies")
and their separate accounts, qualified pension and retirement plans and the
Underwriter or its affiliates. The Fund and the Underwriter will not sell
Fund shares to any insurance company or separate account unless an
agreement containing provisions substantially the same as Articles III and
VII of this Agreement is in effect to govern such sales. The Company will
not resell the Shares except to the Fund or its agents.
1.4. The Fund agrees to redeem for cash, on the Company's request, any
full or fractional Shares held by the Accounts (based on orders placed by
Policy owners on that Business Day), executing such requests on a daily
basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by the Fund or its
designee of the request for redemption. For purposes of this Section 1.4,
the Company shall be the designee of the Fund for receipt of requests for
redemption from Policy owners and
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receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund; provided
that the Fund receives notice of such request for redemption by 9:30 a.m.
New York time on the next following Business Day.
1.5. Each purchase, redemption and exchange order placed by the Company
shall be placed separately for each Portfolio and shall not be netted with
respect to any Portfolio. However, with respect to payment of the purchase
price by the Company and of redemption proceeds by the Fund, the Company
and the Fund shall net purchase and redemption orders with respect to each
Portfolio and shall transmit one net payment for all of the Portfolios in
accordance with Section 1.6 hereof.
1.6. In the event of net purchases, the Company shall pay for the Shares
by 2:00 p.m. New York time on the next Business Day after an order to
purchase the Shares is made in accordance with the provisions of Section
1.1. hereof. In the event of net redemptions, the Fund shall pay the
redemption proceeds by 2:00 p.m. New York time on the next Business Day
after an order to redeem the shares is made in accordance with the
provisions of Section 1.4. hereof. All such payments shall be in federal
funds transmitted by wire.
1.7. Issuance and transfer of the Shares will be by book entry only.
Stock certificates will not be issued to the Company or the Accounts. The
Shares ordered from the Fund will be recorded in an appropriate title for
the Accounts or the appropriate subaccounts of the Accounts.
1.8. The Fund shall furnish same day notice (by wire or telephone followed
by written confirmation) to the Company of any dividends or capital gain
distributions payable on the Shares. The Company hereby elects to receive
all such dividends and distributions as are payable on a Portfolio's Shares
in additional Shares of that Portfolio. The Fund shall notify the Company
of the number of Shares so issued as payment of such dividends and
distributions.
1.9. The Fund or its custodian shall make the net asset value per share
for each Portfolio available to the Company on each Business Day as soon as
reasonably practical after the net asset value per share is calculated and
shall use its best efforts to make such net asset value per share available
by 6:30 p.m. New York time. In the event that the Fund is unable to meet
the 6:30 p.m. time stated herein, it shall provide additional time for the
Company to place orders for the purchase and redemption of Shares. Such
additional time shall be equal to the additional time which the Fund takes
to make the net asset value available to the Company. If the Fund provides
materially incorrect share net asset value information, the Fund shall make
an adjustment to the number of shares purchased or redeemed for the
Accounts to reflect the correct net asset value per share. Any material
error in the calculation or reporting of net asset value per share,
dividend or capital gains information shall be reported promptly upon
discovery to the Company.
ARTICLE II. CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS
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2.1. The Company represents and warrants that the Policies are or will be
registered under the 1933 Act or are exempt from or not subject to
registration thereunder, and that the Policies will be issued, sold, and
distributed in compliance in all material respects with all applicable
state and federal laws, including without limitation the 1933 Act, the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and the 1940
Act. The Company further represents and warrants that it is an insurance
company duly organized and in good standing under applicable law and that
it has legally and validly established the Account as a segregated asset
account under applicable law and
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has registered or, prior to any issuance or sale of the Policies, will
register the Accounts as unit investment Funds in accordance with the
provisions of the 1940 Act (unless exempt therefrom) to serve as segregated
investment accounts for the Policies, and that it will maintain such
registration for so long as any Policies are outstanding. The Company shall
amend the registration statements under the 1933 Act for the Policies and
the registration statements under the 1940 Act for the Accounts from time
to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of the
Policies or as may otherwise be required by applicable law. The Company
shall register and qualify the Policies for sales in accordance with the
securities laws of the various states only if and to the extent deemed
necessary by the Company.
2.2. The Company represents and warrants that the Policies are currently
and at the time of issuance will be treated as life insurance, endowment or
annuity contract under applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), that it will maintain such treatment and
that it will notify the Fund or the Underwriter immediately upon having a
reasonable basis for believing that the Policies have ceased to be so
treated or that they might not be so treated in the future.
2.3. The Company represents and warrants that AGSI, the Underwriter for
the individual variable annuity and the variable life policies, is a member
in good standing of the NASD and is a registered broker-dealer with the
SEC. The Company represents and warrants that the Company and AGSI will
sell and distribute such policies in accordance in all material respects
with all applicable state and federal securities laws, including without
limitation the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, and the 1940 Act.
2.4. The Fund and the Underwriter represent and warrant that the Shares
sold pursuant to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act,
duly authorized for issuance and sold in compliance with the laws of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and all applicable federal and state
securities laws and that the Fund is and shall remain registered under the
1940 Act. 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 necessary by the Fund.
2.5. 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 will sell and distribute the Shares in accordance in all
material respects with all applicable state and federal securities laws,
including without limitation the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, and the 1940 Act.
2.6. The Fund represents that it is lawfully organized and validly
existing under the laws of ________________________________and that it does
and will comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act and any
applicable regulations thereunder.
2.7. the Underwriter represents and warrants that it is and shall remain
duly registered under all applicable federal securities laws and that it
shall perform its obligations for the Fund in compliance in all material
respects with any applicable federal securities laws and with the
securities laws of ________________________________ the Underwriter
represents and warrants that it is not subject to state securities laws
other than the securities laws of ______________________________________and
that it is exempt from registration as an investment adviser under the
securities laws of _______________________________________.
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2.8. No less frequently than annually, the Company shall submit to the
Board such reports, material or data as the Board may reasonably request so
that it may carry out fully the obligations imposed upon it by the
conditions contained in the exemptive application pursuant to which the SEC
has granted exemptive relief to permit mixed and shared funding (the "Mixed
and Shared Funding Exemptive Order").
ARTICLE III. PROSPECTUS AND PROXY STATEMENTS; VOTING
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3.1. At least annually, the Fund or its designee shall provide the
Company, free of charge, with as many copies of the current prospectus
(describing only the Portfolios listed in Schedule A hereto) for the Shares
as the Company may reasonably request for distribution to existing Policy
owners whose Policies are funded by such Shares. The Fund or its designee
shall provide the Company, at the Company's expense, with as many copies of
the current prospectus for the Shares as the Company may reasonably request
for distribution to prospective purchasers of Policies. If requested by
the Company in lieu thereof, the Fund or its designee shall provide such
documentation (including a "camera ready" copy of the new prospectus as set
in type or, at the request of the Company, as a diskette in the form sent
to the financial printer) and other assistance as is reasonably necessary
in order for the parties hereto once each year (or more frequently if the
prospectus for the Shares is supplemented or amended) to have the
prospectus for the Policies and the prospectus for the Shares printed
together in one document; the expenses of such printing to be apportioned
between (a) the Company and (b) the Fund or its designee in proportion to
the number of pages of the Policy and Shares' prospectuses, taking account
of other relevant factors affecting the expense of printing, such as
covers, columns, graphs and charts; the Fund or its designee to bear the
cost of printing the Shares' prospectus portion of such document for
distribution to owners of existing Policies funded by the Shares and the
Company to bear the expenses of printing the portion of such document
relating to the Accounts; provided, however, that the Company shall bear
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all printing expenses of such combined documents where used for
distribution to prospective purchasers or to owners of existing Policies
not funded by the Shares. In the event that the Company requests that the
Fund or its designee provides the Fund's prospectus in a "camera ready" or
diskette format, the Fund shall be responsible for providing the prospectus
in the format in which it or the Underwriter is accustomed to formatting
prospectuses and shall bear the expense of providing the prospectus in such
format (e.g., typesetting expenses), and the Company shall bear the expense
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of adjusting or changing the format to conform with any of its
prospectuses.
3.2. The prospectus for the Shares shall state that the statement of
additional information for the Shares is available from the Fund or its
designee. The Fund or its designee, at its expense, shall print and
provide such statement of additional information to the Company (or a
master of such statement suitable for duplication by the Company) for
distribution to any owner of a Policy funded by the Shares. The Fund or
its designee, at the Company's expense, shall print and provide such
statement to the Company (or a master of such statement suitable for
duplication by the Company) for distribution to a prospective purchaser who
requests such statement or to an owner of a Policy not funded by the
Shares.
3.3. The Fund or its designee shall provide the Company free of charge
copies, if and to the extent applicable to the Shares, of the Fund's proxy
materials, reports to Shareholders and other communications to Shareholders
in such quantity as the Company shall reasonably require for distribution
to Policy owners.
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3.4. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 3.1, 3.2, and 3.3 above,
or of Article V below, the Company shall pay the expense of printing or
providing documents to the extent such cost is considered a distribution
expense. Distribution expenses would include by way of illustration, but
are not limited to, the printing of the Shares' prospectus or prospectuses
for distribution to prospective purchasers or to owners of existing
Policies not funded by such Shares.
3.5. The Fund hereby notifies the Company that it may be appropriate to
include in the prospectus pursuant to which a Policy is offered disclosure
regarding the potential risks of mixed and shared funding.
3.6. If and to the extent required by law, the Company shall:
(a) solicit voting instructions from Policy owners;
(b) vote the Shares in accordance with instructions received from
Policy owners; and
(c) vote the Shares for which no instructions have been received in
the same proportion as the Shares of such Portfolio for which
instructions have been received from Policy owners;
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.
The Company will in no way recommend action in connection with or oppose or
interfere with the solicitation of proxies for the Shares held for such
Policy owners. The Company reserves the right to vote shares held in any
segregated asset account in its own right, to the extent permitted by law.
Participating Insurance Companies shall be responsible for assuring that
each of their separate accounts holding Shares calculates voting privileges
in the manner required by the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order.
The Fund and the Underwriter will notify the Company of any changes of
interpretations or amendments to the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive
Order.
ARTICLE IV. SALES MATERIAL AND INFORMATION
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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 in which the Fund, the Underwriter, any other investment adviser
to the Fund, or any affiliate of the Underwriter are named, at least three
(3) Business Days prior to its use. No such material shall be used if the
Fund, the Underwriter, or their respective designees reasonably objects to
such use within three (3) Business Days after receipt of such material.
4.2. The Company shall not give any information or make any
representations or statement on behalf of the Fund, the Underwriter, any
other investment adviser to the Fund, or any affiliate of the Underwriter
or concerning the Fund or any other such entity in connection with the sale
of the Policies other than the information or representations contained in
the registration statement, prospectus or statement of additional
information for the Shares, as such registration statement, prospectus and
statement of additional information 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, the
Underwriter or their respective designees, except with the
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permission of the Fund, the Underwriter or their respective designees. The
Fund, the Underwriter or their respective designees each agrees to respond
to any request for approval on a prompt and timely basis. The Company shall
adopt and implement procedures reasonably designed to ensure that
information concerning the Fund, the Underwriter or any of their affiliates
which is intended for use only by brokers or agents selling the Policies
(i.e., information that is not intended for distribution to Policy owners
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or prospective Policy owners) is so used, and neither the Fund, the
Underwriter nor any of their affiliates shall be liable for any losses,
damages or expenses relating to the improper use of such broker only
materials.
4.3. The Fund or its designee shall furnish, or shall cause to be
furnished, to the Company or its designee, each piece of sales literature
or other promotional material in which the Company and/or the Accounts is
named, at least three (3) Business Days prior to its use. No such material
shall be used if the Company or its designee reasonably objects to such use
within three (3) Business Days after receipt of such material.
4.4. The Fund and the Underwriter shall not give, and agree that any
information or make any representations on behalf of the Company or
concerning the Company, the Accounts, or the Policies in connection with
the sale of the Policies other than the information or representations
contained in a registration statement, prospectus, or statement of
additional information for the Policies, as such registration statement,
prospectus and statement of additional information may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, or in reports for the Accounts, or in sales
literature or other promotional material approved by the Company or its
designee, except with the permission of the Company. The Company or its
designee agrees to respond to any request for approval on a prompt and
timely basis. The parties hereto agree that this Section 4.4. is neither
intended to designate nor otherwise imply that the Underwriter is an
underwriter or distributor of the Policies.
4.5. The Company and the Fund (or its designee in lieu of the Company or
the Fund, as appropriate) will each provide to the other at least one
complete copy of all registration statements, prospectuses, statements of
additional information, reports, proxy statements, sales literature and
other promotional materials, applications for exemptions, requests for no-
action letters, and all amendments to any of the above, that relate to the
Policies, or to the Fund or its Shares, prior to or contemporaneously with
the filing of such document with the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
The Company and the Fund shall also each promptly inform the other of the
results of any examination by the SEC (or other regulatory authorities)
that relates to the Policies, the Fund or its Shares, and the party that
was the subject of the examination shall provide the other party with a
copy of relevant portions of any "deficiency letter" or other
correspondence or written report regarding any such examination.
4.6. The Fund and the Underwriter will provide the Company with as much
notice as is reasonably practicable of any proxy solicitation for any
Portfolio, and of any material change in the Fund's registration statement,
particularly any change resulting in change to the registration statement
or prospectus or statement of additional information for any Account. The
Fund and the Underwriter will cooperate with the Company so as to enable
the Company to solicit proxies from Policy owners or to make changes to its
prospectus, statement of additional information or registration statement,
in an orderly manner. The Fund and the Underwriter will make reasonable
efforts to attempt to have changes affecting Policy prospectuses become
effective simultaneously with the annual updates for such prospectuses.
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4.7. For purpose of this Article IV and Article VIII, the phrase "sales
literature or other promotional material" includes but is not limited to
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), and sales literature (such as brochures, circulars,
reprints or excerpts or any other advertisement, sales literature, or
published articles), distributed or made generally available to customers
or the public, educational or training materials or communications
distributed or made generally available to some or all agents or employees.
ARTICLE V. FEES AND EXPENSES
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5.1. The Fund shall pay no fee or other compensation to the Company under
this Agreement, and the Company shall pay no fee or other compensation to
the Fund, except that if the Fund or any Portfolio adopts and implements a
plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act to finance distribution and
Shareholder servicing expenses, then, subject to obtaining any required
exemptive orders or regulatory approvals, the Fund may make payments to the
Company or to the Underwriter for the Policies if and in amounts agreed to
by the Fund in writing. Each party, however, shall, in accordance with the
allocation of expenses specified in Articles III and V hereof, reimburse
other parties for expenses initially paid by one party but allocated to
another party. In addition, nothing herein shall prevent the parties hereto
from otherwise agreeing to perform, and arranging for appropriate
compensation for, other services relating to the Fund and/or to the
Accounts.
5.2. The Fund or its designee shall bear the expenses for the cost of
registration and qualification of the Shares under all applicable federal
and state laws, including preparation and filing of the Fund's registration
statement, and payment of filing fees and registration fees; preparation
and filing of the Fund's proxy materials and reports to Shareholders;
setting in type and printing its prospectus and statement of additional
information (to the extent provided by and as determined in accordance with
Article III above); setting in type and printing the proxy materials and
reports to Shareholders (to the extent provided by and as determined in
accordance with Article III above); the preparation of all statements and
notices required of the Fund by any federal or state law with respect to
its Shares; all taxes on the issuance or transfer of the Shares; and the
costs of distributing the Fund's prospectuses and proxy materials to owners
of Policies funded by the Shares and any expenses permitted to be paid or
assumed by the Fund pursuant to a plan, if any, under Rule 12b-1 under the
1940 Act. The Fund shall not bear any expenses of marketing the Policies.
5.3. The Company shall bear the expenses of distributing the Shares'
prospectus or prospectuses in connection with new sales of the Policies and
of distributing the Fund's Shareholder reports to Policy owners. The
Company shall bear all expenses associated with the registration,
qualification, and filing of the Policies under applicable federal
securities and state insurance laws; the cost of preparing, printing and
distributing the Policy prospectus and statement of additional information;
and the cost of preparing, printing and distributing annual individual
account statements for Policy owners as required by state insurance laws.
ARTICLE VI. DIVERSIFICATION AND RELATED LIMITATIONS
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6.1. The Fund and the Underwriter represent and warrant that each
Portfolio of the Fund will meet the diversification requirements of Section
817 (h) (1) of the Code and Treas. Reg. 1.817-5, relating to the
diversification requirements for variable annuity, endowment, or life
insurance contracts, as they may be amended from time to time (and any
revenue rulings, revenue procedures, notices, and other published
announcements of the Internal Revenue Service interpreting these sections),
as if those requirements applied directly to each such Portfolio.
6.2. The Fund and the Underwriter represent that each Portfolio will elect
to be qualified as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the
Code and that they will maintain such qualification (under Subchapter M or
any successor or similar provision).
ARTICLE VII. POTENTIAL MATERIAL CONFLICTS
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7.1. The Fund agrees that the Board, constituted with a majority of
disinterested Fundees, will monitor each Portfolio of the Fund for the
existence of any material irreconcilable conflict between the interests of
the variable annuity contract owners and the variable life insurance policy
owners of the Company and/or affiliated companies ("contract owners")
investing in the Fund. The Board shall have the sole authority to
determine if a material irreconcilable conflict exists, and such
determination shall be binding on the Company only if approved in the form
of a resolution by a majority of the Board, or a majority of the
disinterested Fundees of the Board. The Board will give prompt notice of
any such determination to the Company.
7.2. The Company agrees that it will be responsible for assisting the
Board in carrying out its responsibilities under the conditions set forth
in the Fund's exemptive application pursuant to which the SEC has granted
the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order by providing the Board, as it
may reasonably request, with all information necessary for the Board to
consider any issues raised and agrees that it will be responsible for
promptly reporting any potential or existing conflicts of which it is aware
to the Board including, but not limited to, an obligation by the Company to
inform the Board whenever contract owner voting instructions are
disregarded. The Company also agrees that, if a material irreconcilable
conflict arises, it will at its own cost remedy such conflict up to and
including (a) withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the
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 to a vote of all affected contract
owners whether to withdraw assets from the Fund or any Portfolio and
reinvesting such assets in a different investment medium and, as
appropriate, segregating the assets attributable to any appropriate group
of contract owners that votes in favor of such segregation, or offering to
any of the affected contract owners the option of segregating the assets
attributable to their contracts or policies, and (b) establishing a new
registered management investment company and segregating the assets
underlying the Policies, unless a majority of Policy owners materially
adversely affected by the conflict have voted to decline the offer to
establish a new registered management investment company.
7.3. A majority of the disinterested Fundees of the Board shall determine
whether any proposed action by the Company adequately remedies any material
irreconcilable conflict. In the event that the Board determines that any
proposed action does not adequately remedy any material irreconcilable
conflict, the Company will withdraw from investment in the Fund each of the
Accounts designated by the disinterested Fundees and terminate this
Agreement within six (6) months after the Board informs the Company in
writing of the foregoing determination; provided,
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however, that such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the
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extent required to remedy any such material irreconcilable conflict as
determined by a majority of the disinterested Fundees of the Board.
7.4. 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 Rule 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 and 7.4 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
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8.1. Indemnification by the Company
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The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, the
Underwirter, any affiliates of the Underwirter, and each of their
respective directors/Fundees, officers and each person, if any, who
controls the Fund or the Underwirter within the meaning of Section 15 of
the 1933 Act, and any agents or employees of the foregoing (each an
"Indemnified Party," or 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 expenses (including reasonable counsel fees) to which
any Indemnified Party may become subject under any statute, regulation, at
common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or settlements are
related to the sale or acquisition of the Shares or the Policies and:
(a) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in the
registration statement, prospectus or statement of additional
information for the Policies or contained in the Policies or
sales literature or other promotional material for the Policies
(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 reasonable
reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to
the Company or its designee by or on behalf of the Fund or the
Underwirter for use in the registration statement, prospectus or
statement of additional information for the Policies or in the
Policies or sales literature or other promotional material (or
any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in connection
with the sale of the Policies or Shares; or
(b) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations
(other than statements or representations contained in the
registration statement, prospectus, statement of
-10-
additional information or sales literature or other promotional
material of the Fund not supplied by the Company or its
designee, or persons under its control and on which the Company
has reasonably relied) or wrongful conduct of the Company or
persons under its control, with respect to the sale or
distribution of the Policies or Shares; or
(c) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
a material fact contained in the registration statement,
prospectus, statement of additional information, or sales
literature or other promotional 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 statement or statements
therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made
in reliance upon information furnished to the Fund by or on
behalf of the Company; or
(d) 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; or
(e) arise as a result of any failure by the Company to provide the
services and furnish the materials under the terms of this
Agreement;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of this Article VIII.
8.2. Indemnification by the Fund
---------------------------
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, and any agents or
employees of the foregoing (each an "Indemnified Party," or 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 Fund) or expenses (including
reasonable counsel fees) to which any Indemnified Party may become subject
under any statute, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) or
settlements are related to the sale or acquisition of the Shares or the
Policies and:
(a) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in the
registration statement, prospectus, statement of additional
information or sales literature or other promotional material 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 statement 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
reasonable reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished to the Fund, the Underwriter or their respective
designees by or on behalf of the Company for use in the
registration statement, prospectus or statement of additional
information for the Fund or in sales literature or other
-11-
promotional material for the Fund (or any amendment or
supplement) or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of
the Policies or Shares; or
(b) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations
(other than statements or representations contained in the
registration statement, prospectus, statement of additional
information or sales literature or other promotional material
for the Policies not supplied by the Fund, the Underwriter or
any of their respective designees or persons under their
respective control and on which any such entity has reasonably
relied) or wrongful conduct of the Fund or persons under its
control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the
Policies or Shares; or
(c) arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of
a material fact contained in the registration statement,
prospectus, statement of additional information, or sales
literature or other promotional literature of the Accounts or
relating to the Policies, 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
(d) arise out of or result from any material breach of any
representation and/or warranty made by the Fund in this
Agreement (including a failure, whether unintentional or in good
faith or otherwise, to comply with the diversification
requirements specified in Article VI of this Agreement) or arise
out of or result from any other material breach of this
Agreement by the Fund; or
(e) arise out of or result from the materially incorrect or untimely
calculation or reporting of the daily net asset value per share
or dividend or capital gain distribution rate; or
(f) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund to provide the
services and furnish the materials under the terms of the
Agreement;
as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of this Article VIII.
8.3. In no event shall the Fund be liable under the indemnification
provisions contained in this Agreement to any individual or entity,
including without limitation, the Company, or any Participating Insurance
Company or any Policy holder, with respect to any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses that arise out of or result from (i) a breach of
any representation, warranty, and/or covenant made by the Company hereunder
or by any Participating Insurance Company under an agreement containing
substantially similar representations, warranties and covenants; (ii) the
failure by the Company or any Participating Insurance Company to maintain
its segregated asset account (which invests in any Portfolio) as a legally
and validly established segregated asset account under applicable state law
and as a duly registered unit investment Fund under the provisions of the
1940 Act (unless exempt therefrom); or (iii) the failure by the Company or
any Participating Insurance Company to maintain its variable annuity and/or
variable life insurance contracts (with respect to which any Portfolio
serves as an underlying funding vehicle) as life insurance, endowment or
annuity contracts under applicable provisions of the Code.
-12-
8.4. Neither the Company nor the Fund shall be liable under the
indemnification provisions contained in this Agreement with respect to any
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses to which an Indemnified
Party would otherwise be subject by reason of such Indemnified Party's
willful misfeasance, willful misconduct, or gross negligence in the
performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such
Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this
Agreement.
8.5. Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Party under this Section
8.5. of notice of commencement of any action, such Indemnified Party will,
if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party
under this section, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement
thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not
relieve it from any liability which it may have to any Indemnified Party
otherwise than under this section. In case any such action is brought
against any Indemnified Party, and it notified the indemnifying party of
the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to
participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, assume the defense
thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such Indemnified Party. After notice
from the indemnifying party of its intention to assume the defense of an
action, the Indemnified Party shall bear the expenses of any additional
counsel obtained by it, and the indemnifying party shall not be liable to
such Indemnified Party under this section for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with the
defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.
8.6. Each of the parties agrees promptly to notify the other parties of
the commencement of any litigation or proceeding against it or any of its
respective officers, directors, Fundees, employees or 1933 Act control
persons in connection with the Agreement, the issuance or sale of the
Policies, the operation of the Accounts, or the sale or acquisition of
Shares.
8.7. A successor by law of the parties to this Agreement shall be entitled
to the benefits of the indemnification contained in this Article VIII. The
indemnification provisions contained in this Article VIII shall survive any
termination of this Agreement.
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 Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
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 and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in
accordance therewith.
-13-
ARTICLE X. NOTICE OF FORMAL PROCEEDINGS
----------------------------
The Fund, the Underwirter, and the Company agree that each such party shall
promptly notify the other parties to this Agreement, in writing, of the
institution of any formal proceedings brought against such party or its
designees by the NASD, the SEC, or any insurance department or any other
regulatory body regarding such party's duties under this Agreement or related to
the sale of the Policies, the operation of the Accounts, or the purchase of the
Shares.
ARTICLE XI. TERMINATION
-----------
11.1. This Agreement shall terminate with respect to the Accounts, or one,
some, or all Portfolios:
(a) at the option of any party upon six (6) months' advance written
notice to the other parties; or
(b) at the option of the Company to the extent that the Shares of
Portfolios are not reasonably available to meet the
requirements of the Policies or are not "appropriate funding
vehicles" for the Policies, as reasonably determined by the
Company. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
Shares of a Portfolio would not be "appropriate funding
vehicles" if, for example, such Shares did not meet the
diversification or other requirements referred to in Article VI
hereof; or if the Company would be permitted to disregard
Policy owner voting instructions pursuant to Rule 6e-2 or 6e-
3(T) under the 1940 Act. Prompt notice of the election to
terminate for such cause and an explanation of such cause shall
be furnished to the Fund by the Company; or
(c) at the option of the Fund or the Underwirter upon institution
of formal proceedings against the Company by the NASD, the SEC,
or any insurance department or any other regulatory body
regarding the Company's duties under this Agreement or related
to the sale of the Policies, the operation of the Accounts, or
the purchase of the Shares; or
(d) at the option of the Company upon institution of formal
proceedings against the Fund by the NASD, the SEC, or any state
securities or insurance department or any other regulatory body
regarding the Fund's or THE UNDERWRITER' duties under this
Agreement or related to the sale of the Shares; or
(e) at the option of the Company, the Fund or the Underwirter upon
receipt of any necessary regulatory approvals and/or the vote
of the Policy owners having an interest in the Accounts (or any
subaccounts) to substitute the shares of another investment
company for the corresponding Portfolio Shares in accordance
with the terms of the Policies for which those Portfolio Shares
had been selected to serve as the underlying investment media.
The Company will give thirty (30) days' prior written notice to
the Fund of the Date of any proposed vote or other action taken
to replace the Shares; or
-14-
(f) termination by either the Fund or the Underwirter by written
notice to the Company, if either one or both of the Fund or the
Underwirter 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
(g) termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and
the Underwirter, if the Company shall determine, in its sole
judgment exercised in good faith, that the Fund or the
Underwirter has suffered a material adverse change in this
business, operations, financial condition or prospects since
the date of this Agreement or is the subject of material
adverse publicity; or
(h) at the option of any party to this Agreement, upon another
party's material breach of any provision of this Agreement; or
(i) upon assignment of this Agreement, unless made with the written
consent of the parties hereto.
11.2. The notice shall specify the Portfolio or Portfolios, Policies and,
if applicable, the Accounts as to which the Agreement is to be terminated.
11.3. It is understood and agreed that the right of any party hereto to
terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 11.1(a) may be exercised for
cause or for no cause.
11.4. Except as necessary to implement Policy owner initiated
transactions, or as required by state insurance laws or regulations, the
Company shall not redeem the Shares attributable to the Policies (as
opposed to the Shares attributable to the Company's assets held in the
Accounts), and the Company shall not prevent Policy owners from allocating
payments to a Portfolio that was otherwise available under the Policies,
until thirty (30) days after the Company shall have notified the Fund of
its intention to do so.
11.5. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Fund and the
Underwirter shall, at the option of the Company, continue to make available
additional shares of the Portfolios pursuant to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, for all Policies in effect on the effective date of
termination of this Agreement (the "Existing Policies"), except as
otherwise provided under Article VII of this Agreement. Specifically,
without limitation, the owners of the Existing Policies shall be permitted
to transfer or reallocate investment under the Policies, redeem investments
in any Portfolio and/or invest in the Fund upon the making of additional
purchase payments under the Existing Policies.
-15-
ARTICLE XII. NOTICES
-------
Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or certified
mail, overnight courier or facsimile 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:
Name
Address
City, State, Zip
Facsimile No.:_______________
Attention: _____________
If to the Company:
Name
Address
City, State, Zip
Facsimile No.:_______________
Attention: _____________
If to The Underwriter:
Name
Address
City, State, Zip
Facsimile No.:_______________
Attention: _____________
ARTICLE XIII. MISCELLANEOUS
-------------
13.1. Subject to the requirement of legal process and regulatory
authority, each party hereto shall treat as confidential the names and
addresses of the owners of the Policies and all information reasonably
identified as confidential in writing by any other party hereto and, except
as permitted by this Agreement or as otherwise required by applicable law
or regulation, 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 it may come into the
public domain.
13.2. 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.
13.3. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in one or more
counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the
same instrument.
-16-
13.4. 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.
13.5. The Schedule attached hereto, as modified from time to time, is
incorporated herein by reference and is part of this Agreement.
13.6. Each party hereto shall cooperate with each other party in
connection with inquiries by appropriate governmental authorities
(including without limitation the SEC, the NASD, and state insurance
regulators) relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby.
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. A copy of the Fund's Declaration of Fund is on file
___________________________________________________. The Company
acknowledges that the obligations of or arising out of this instrument are
not binding upon any of the Fund's Fundees, officers, employees, agents or
shareholders individually, but are binding solely upon the assets and
property of the Fund in accordance with its proportionate interest
hereunder. The Company further acknowledges that the assets and
liabilities of each Portfolio are separate and distinct and that the
obligations of or arising out of this instrument are binding solely upon
the assets or property of the Portfolio on whose behalf the Fund has
executed this instrument. The Company also agrees that the obligations of
each Portfolio hereunder shall be several and not joint, in accordance with
its proportionate interest hereunder, and the Company agrees not to proceed
against any Portfolio for the obligations of another Portfolio.
-17-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to
be executed in its name and on its behalf by its duly authorized representative
and its seal to be hereunder affixed hereto as of the date specified above.
THE UNTIED STATES LFE INSURANCE COMPANY IN THE CITY OF
NEW YORK,
By its authorized officer,
By:_____________________________________
Title:__________________________________
DREYFUS VARIABLE INSURANCE FUND,
on behalf of the Portfolios
By its authorized officer and not individually,
By:_____________________________________
Title: _________________________________
(Underwirter)
By its authorized officer,
By:______________________________________
Title:___________________________________
-18-
SCHEDULE A
LIST OF PARTICIPATING FUNDS
- ---------------------------
. Small Cap Portfolio
. Quality Bond Portfolio
ACCOUNS
- -------
The United States Life Insurance Company in the
City of New York Separate Account USL VL-R
-19-