PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT
AMONG
MFS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST,
PAN-AMERICAN ASSURANCE COMPANY
AND
MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this ____ day of ____ 2001, by and
among MFS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST, a Massachusetts business trust (the
"Trust"), Pan-American Assurance Company, a Louisiana 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 MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY, a
Delaware corporation ("MFS").
WHEREAS, the Trust 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 Trust are divided into
several series of shares, each representing the interests in a particular
managed pool of securities and other assets;
WHEREAS, certain series of shares of the Trust are divided into two
separate share classes, an Initial Class and a Service Class, and the Trust on
behalf of the Service Class has adopted a Rule 12b-1 plan under the 1940 Act
pursuant to which the Service Class pays a distribution fee;
WHEREAS, the series of shares of the Trust (each, a "Portfolio," and,
collectively, the "Portfolios") and the classes of shares of those Portfolios
(the "Shares") offered by the Trust to the Company and the Accounts are set
forth on Schedule A attached hereto;
WHEREAS, MFS 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 Trust'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 trusts under the 1940 Act (unless exempt therefrom);
WHEREAS, MFS Fund Distributors, Inc. (the "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, Pan-American Financial Services, Inc., 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 the Shares of the Portfolios as
specified in Schedule A attached hereto on behalf of the Accounts to fund the
Policies, and the Trust intends to sell such Shares to the Accounts at net asset
value;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Trust, MFS,
and the Company agree as follows:
ARTICLE I. Sale of Trust Shares
1.1. The Trust agrees to sell to the Company those Shares which the
Accounts order (based on orders placed by Policy holders prior to the
close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the
"NYSE") 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
Trust or its designee of the order for the Shares. For purposes of
this Section 1.1, the Company shall be the designee of the Trust for
receipt of such orders from Policy owners and receipt by such designee
shall constitute receipt by the Trust; provided that the Trust
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
NYSE is open for trading and on which the Trust calculates its net
asset value pursuant to the rules of the SEC.
1.2. The Trust 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 Trust calculates its net
asset value pursuant to rules of the SEC and the Trust shall calculate
such net asset value on each day which the NYSE is open for trading.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Trustees of the Trust (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 Trust and MFS agree that the Shares will be sold only to insurance
companies which have entered into participation agreements with the
Trust and MFS (the "Participating Insurance Companies") and their
separate accounts, qualified pension and retirement plans and MFS or
its affiliates. The Trust and MFS will not sell Trust 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 Trust or its agents.
1.4. The Trust 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 prior to the close of regular trading on the NYSE on
that Business Day), executing such requests on a daily basis at the
net asset value next computed after receipt by the Trust or its
designee of the request for redemption. For purposes of this Section
1.4, the Company shall be the designee of the Trust for receipt of
requests for redemption from Policy owners and receipt by such
designee shall constitute receipt by the Trust; provided that the
Trust 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 Trust, the Company and the
Trust 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 Trust 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 Trust will be recorded in an appropriate title for the
Accounts or the appropriate subaccounts of the Accounts.
1.8. The Trust 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 Trust shall notify the Company
of the number of Shares so issued as payment of such dividends and
distributions.
1.9. The Trust 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 Trust 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 Trust takes
to make the net asset value available to the Company. If the Trust provides
materially incorrect share net asset value information, the Trust 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
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 has registered or, prior to any issuance
or sale of the Policies, will register the Accounts as unit investment
trusts 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 Trust or MFS 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 Pan-American Financial Services,
Inc., 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 Pan-American Financial Services, Inc. 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 Trust and MFS 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 Trust is and shall remain registered under the 1940 Act. The Trust
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 Trust 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 Trust.
2.5. MFS represents and warrants that the Underwriter is a member in good
standing of the NASD and is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC. The
Trust and MFS represent that the Trust and 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 Trust represents that it is lawfully organized and validly existing
under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that it does and
will comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act and any applicable
regulations thereunder.
2.7. MFS 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 Trust in compliance in all material respects with any
applicable federal securities laws and with the securities laws of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. MFS represents and warrants that it is not
subject to state securities laws other than the securities laws of The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that it is exempt from registration as an
investment adviser under the securities laws of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts.
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
3.1. At least annually, the Trust 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 Trust 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 Trust 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 Trust 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 Trust 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
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
Trust or its designee provides the Trust's prospectus in a "camera ready"
or diskette format, the Trust shall be responsible for providing the
prospectus in the format in which it or MFS 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
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 Trust or its designee. The
Trust 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 Trust 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 Trust or its designee shall provide the Company free of charge copies,
if and to the extent applicable to the Shares, of the Trust'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.
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 Trust 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
Trust and MFS 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
4.1. The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the Trust or
its designee, each piece of sales literature or other promotional material
in which the Trust, MFS, any other investment adviser to the Trust, or any
affiliate of MFS are named, at least three (3) Business Days prior to its
use. No such material shall be used if the Trust, MFS, 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 Trust, MFS, any other investment adviser to the
Trust, or any affiliate of MFS or concerning the Trust 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 Trust, or in sales literature or other promotional
material approved by the Trust, MFS or their respective designees, except
with the permission of the Trust, MFS or their respective designees. The
Trust, MFS 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 Trust, MFS 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 or prospective Policy
owners) is so used, and neither the Trust, MFS 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 Trust 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 Trust and MFS shall not give, and agree that the Underwriter shall not
give, 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 Trust and MFS may not alter any material so provided by
the Company or its designee (including, without limitation, presenting or
delivering such material in a different medium, e.g., electronic or
internet) without the prior written consent of the Company. The parties
hereto agree that this Section 4.4. is neither intended to designate nor
otherwise imply that MFS is an underwriter or distributor of the Policies.
4.5. The Company and the Trust (or its designee in lieu of the Company or the
Trust, 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 Trust or its Shares, prior to or contemporaneously with
the filing of such document with the SEC or other regulatory authorities.
The Company and the Trust 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 Trust 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. No party shall use any other party's names, logos, trademarks or service
marks, whether registered or unregistered, without the prior written
consent of such other party, or after written consent therefor has been
revoked, provided that separate consent is not required under this Section
4.6 to the extent that consent to use a party's name, logo, trademark or
service mark in connection with a particular piece of advertising or sales
literature has previously been giving by a party under Sections 4.2 and 4.4
of this Agreement. The Company shall not use in advertising, publicly or
otherwise the name of the Trust, MFS or any of their affiliates nor any
trade name, trademark, trade device, servicemark, symbol or any
abbreviation, contraction or simulation thereof of the Trust, MFS, or their
affiliates without the prior written consent of the Trust or MFS in each
instance. The Trust and MFS shall not use in advertising, publicly or
otherwise the name of the Company or any of its affiliates nor any trade
name, trademark, trade device, servicemark, symbol or any abbreviation,
contraction or simulation thereof of the Company or its affiliates without
the prior written consent of the Company in each instance.
4.7. The Trust and MFS 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 Trust's registration statement, particularly any
change resulting in change to the registration statement or prospectus or
statement of additional information for any Account. The Trust and MFS 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
Trust and MFS will make reasonable efforts to attempt to have changes
affecting Policy prospectuses become effective simultaneously with the
annual updates for such prospectuses.
4.8. 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
5.1. The Trust 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
Trust, except that, to the extent the Trust or any Portfolio has adopted
and implemented a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act to finance
distribution and for Shareholder servicing expenses, then the Trust may
make payments to the Company or to the underwriter for the Policies in
accordance with such plan. 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 Trust and/or
to the Accounts.
5.2. The Trust 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 Trust's
registration statement, and payment of filing fees and registration fees;
preparation and filing of the Trust'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 Trust 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 Trust's prospectuses and proxy
materials to owners of Policies funded by the Shares and any expenses
permitted to be paid or assumed by the Trust pursuant to a plan, if any,
under Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act. The Trust 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 Trust'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.
5.4. MFS will monthly reimburse the Company certain of the administrative costs
and expenses incurred by the Company as a result of operations necessitated
by the beneficial ownership by Policy owners of shares of the Portfolios of
the Trust, equal to 0.15% per annum of the aggregate net assets of the
Trust attributable to variable life or variable annuity contracts offered
by the Company or its affiliates. In no event shall such fee be paid by the
Trust, its shareholders or by the Policy holders.
ARTICLE VI. Diversification and Related Limitations
6.1. The Trust and MFS represent and warrant that each Portfolio of the Trust
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 Trust and MFS 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
7.1. The Trust agrees that the Board, constituted with a majority of
disinterested trustees, will monitor each Portfolio of the Trust 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 Trust. 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 trustees 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
Trust'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 Trust or any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a
different investment medium, including (but not limited to) another
Portfolio of the Trust, or submitting to a vote of all affected contract
owners whether to withdraw assets from the Trust 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 trustees 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 Trust each of
the Accounts designated by the disinterested trustees and terminate this
Agreement within six (6) months after the Board informs the Company in
writing of the foregoing determination; provided, however, that such
withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required to
remedy any such material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a
majority of the disinterested trustees 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 Trust 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
8.1. Indemnification by the Company
The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, MFS, any
affiliates of MFS, and each of their respective directors/trustees, officers and
each person, if any, who controls the Trust or MFS 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 Trust or MFS 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 additional information or sales
literature or other promotional material of the Trust 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 Trust, 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 Trust 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 Trust
The Trust 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 Trust) 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 Trust (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 Trust, MFS, 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
Trust or in sales literature or other promotional material for the
Trust (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 Trust, MFS, 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 Trust 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 Trust, MFS or the Underwriter; or
(d) arise out of or result from any material breach of any representation
and/or warranty made by the Trust 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 Trust; 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 Trust 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 Trust 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 trust 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.
8.4. Neither the Company nor the Trust 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, trustees, 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.
ARTICLE X. Notice of Formal Proceedings
The Trust, MFS, 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 Trust by
the Company; or
(c) at the option of the Trust or MFS 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 Trust by the NASD, the SEC, or any state securities or
insurance department or any other regulatory body regarding the
Trust's or MFS' duties under this Agreement or related to the sale of
the Shares; or
(e) at the option of the Company, the Trust or MFS 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 Trust of the Date of any proposed vote or
other action taken to replace the Shares; or
(f) termination by either the Trust or MFS by written notice to the
Company, if either one or both of the Trust or MFS 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 Trust and MFS, if
the Company shall determine, in its sole judgment exercised in good
faith, that the Trust or MFS 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 Trust of its intention to do so.
11.5. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Trust and MFS
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 Trust
upon the making of additional purchase payments under the Existing Policies.
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 Trust:
MFS Variable Insurance Trust
500 Boylston Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02116
Facsimile No.: (617) 954-6624
Attn: Stephen E. Cavan, Secretary
If to the Company:
Pan-American Financial Advisors
601 Poydras Street, Suite 2600
New Orleans, LA 70130
Facsimile No.: (504) 566-3859
Attn: Patrick Toole
Copy to:
Pan-American Life Insurance Company
601 Poydras Street, 12th Floor Legal Department
New Orleans, LA 70130
Facsimile No.: (504) 566-3787
Attn: Patrick Toole
If to MFS:
Massachusetts Financial Services Company
500 Boylston Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02116
Facsimile No.: (617) 954-6624
Attn: Stephen E. Cavan, General Counsel
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.
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 Trust's Declaration of Trust is on file with the
Secretary of State of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Company
acknowledges that the obligations of or arising out of this instrument are not
binding upon any of the Trust's trustees, officers, employees, agents or
shareholders individually, but are binding solely upon the assets and property
of the Trust 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 Trust 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.
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.
PAN-AMERICAN ASSURANCE COMPANY
By its authorized officer,
By:
-------------------------------------------------
Title:
----------------------------------------------
MFS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST,
on behalf of the Portfolios
By its authorized officer and not individually,
By:
-------------------------------------------------
James R. Bordewick, Jr.
Assistant Secretary
MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY
By its authorized officer,
By:
-------------------------------------------------
Jeffrey L. Shames
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
As of ____________________
SCHEDULE A
Accounts, Policies and Portfolios
Subject to the Participation Agreement
======================================= ================================ ====================== ====================================
Name of Separate
Account and Date Policies Funded Share Class Portfolios
Established by by Separate Account (Initial or Applicable to Policies
Board of Directors Service Class)
======================================= ================================ ===================== ===================================
Pan-American Initial MFS Money Market Series
Separate Account A MFS Total Return Series
MFS Investors Trust Series
MFS Emerging Growth Series
MFS Investors Growth Stock Series
MFS Utilities Series
MFS Mid Cap Growth Series
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