EX-8 3 exh8.txt PARTICIPATION AGREEMENTS AND AMENDMENTS Exhibit 8(b) Participation Agreement as of October 8, 2002 Franklin Templeton Variable Insurance Products Trust Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc. Allstate Life Insurance Company Allstate Distributors, LLC CONTENTS Section Subject Matter 1. Parties and Purpose 2. Representations and Warranties 3. Purchase and Redemption of Trust Portfolio Shares 4. Fees, Expenses, Prospectuses, Proxy Materials and Reports 5. Voting 6. Sales Material, Information and Trademarks 7. Indemnification 8. Notices 9. Termination 10. Miscellaneous Schedules to this Agreement A. The Company B. Accounts of the Company C. Available Portfolios and Classes of Shares of the Trust; Investment Advisers D. Contracts of the Company E. Other Portfolios Available under the Contracts F. Rule 12b-1 Plans of the Trust G. Addresses for Notices H. Shared Funding Order 1. Parties and Purpose This agreement (the "Agreement") is between certain portfolios, specified below and in Schedule C, of Franklin Templeton Variable Insurance Products Trust, an open-end management investment company organized as a business trust under Massachusetts law (the "Trust"), Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc., a California corporation which is the principal underwriter for the Trust (the "Underwriter," and together with the Trust, "we" or "us") and the insurance company identified on Schedule a ("you") and your distributor, on your own behalf and on behalf of each segregated asset account maintained by you that is listed on Schedule B, as that schedule may be amended from time to time ("Account" or "Accounts"). The purpose of this Agreement is to entitle you, on behalf of the Accounts, to purchase the shares, and classes of shares, of portfolios of the Trust ("Portfolios") that are identified on Schedule C, solely for the purpose of funding benefits of your variable life insurance policies or variable annuity contracts ("Contracts") that are identified on Schedule D. This Agreement does not authorize any other purchases or redemptions of shares of the Trust. 2. Representations and Warranties 2.1 Representations and Warranties by You You represent and warrant that: 2.1.1 You are an insurance company duly organized and in good standing under the laws of your state of incorporation. 2.1.2 All of your directors, officers, employees, and other individuals or entities dealing with the money and/or securities of the Trust are and shall be at all times covered by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage for the benefit of the Trust, in an amount not less than $5 million. Such bond shall include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable bonding company. You agree to make all reasonable efforts to see that this bond or another bond containing such provisions is always in effect, and you agree to notify us in the event that such coverage no longer applies. 2.1.3 Each Account is a duly organized, validly existing segregated asset account under applicable insurance law and interests in each Account are offered exclusively through the purchase of or transfer into a "variable contract" within the meaning of such terms under Section 817 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Code") and the regulations thereunder. You will use your best efforts to continue to meet such definitional requirements, and will notify us immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that such requirements have ceased to be met or that they might not be met in the future. 2.1.4 Each Account either: (i) has been registered or, prior to any issuance or sale of the Contracts, will be registered as a unit investment trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("1940 Act"); or (ii) has not been so registered in proper reliance upon an exemption from registration under Section 3(c) of the 1940 Act; if the Account is exempt from registration as an investment company under Section 3(c) of the 1940 Act, you will use your best efforts to maintain such exemption and will notify us immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that such exemption no longer applies or might not apply in the future. 2.1.5 The Contracts or interests in the Accounts: (i) are or, prior to any issuance or sale will be, registered as securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"); or (ii) are not registered because they are properly exempt from registration under Section 3(a)(2) of the 1933 Act or will be offered exclusively in transactions that are properly exempt from registration under Section 4(2) or Regulation D of the 1933 Act, in which case you will make every effort to maintain such exemption and will notify us immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that such exemption no longer applies or might not apply in the future. 2.1.6 The Contracts: (i) will be sold by broker-dealers, or their registered representatives, who are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act") and who are members in good standing of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD"); (ii) will be issued and sold in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and state laws; and (iii) will be sold in compliance in all material respects with state insurance suitability requirements and NASD suitability guidelines. 2.1.7 The Contracts currently are and will be treated as annuity contracts or life insurance contracts under applicable provisions of the Code and you will use your best efforts to maintain such treatment; you will notify us immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that any of the Contracts have ceased to be so treated or that they might not be so treated in the future. 2.1.8 The fees and charges deducted under each Contract, in the aggregate, are reasonable in relation to the services rendered, the expenses expected to be incurred, and the risks assumed by you. 2.1.9 You will use shares of the Trust only for the purpose of funding benefits of the Contracts through the Accounts. 2.1.10 Contracts will not be sold outside of the United States. 2.1.11 With respect to any Accounts which are exempt from registration under the 1940 Act in reliance on 3(c)(1) or Section 3(c)(7) thereof: 2.1.11.1 the principal underwriter for each such Account and any subaccounts thereof is a registered broker-dealer with the SEC under the 1934 Act; 2.1.11.2 the shares of the Portfolios of the Trust are and will continue to be the only investment securities held by the corresponding subaccounts; and 2.1.11.3 with regard to each Portfolio, you, on behalf of the corresponding subaccount, will: (a) vote such shares held by it in the same proportion as the vote of all other holders of such shares; and (b) refrain from substituting shares of another security for such shares unless the SEC has approved such substitution in the manner provided in Section 26 of the 1940 Act. 2.1.12 You undertake and agree to comply, and to take full responsibility in complying with any and all laws, regulations, and other requirements relating to money laundering in theUnited States, including, without limitation, the International Money Laundering Abatement and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act of 2001 (Title III of the USA Patriot Act), hereinafter, collectively with the rules, regulations and orders promulgated thereunder, the "Act," and any requirements and/or requests in connection therewith, made by regulatory authorities, the Trust or the Underwriter or their duly appointed agents, either generally or in respect of a specific transaction, and/or in the context of a "primary money laundering concern" as defined in the Act. You agree as a condition precedent to any transaction taking or continuing to be in effect, to comply with any and all anti-money laundering laws, regulations, orders or requirements, and without prejudice to the generality of the above, to provide regulatory authorities, the Trust, the Underwriter or their duly appointed agents, with all necessary reports and information for them to fulfill their obligations, if any, under the Act for the purposes of the Trust, the Underwriter, or other third parties complying with any and all anti-money laundering requirements, including, without limitation, the enhanced due diligence obligations imposed by the Act, the filing of Currency Transaction Reports and/or of Suspicious Activity Reports obligations required by the Act, and/or the sharing of information requirements imposed by the Act. In the event satisfactory reports and information are not received within a reasonable time period from the date of the request, the Trust or the Underwriter reserve the right to reject any transaction and/or cease to deal with you and/or the Accounts. Further, you represent that you have not received notice of, and to your knowledge, there is no basis for, any claim, action, suit, investigation or proceeding that might result in a finding that you are not or have not been in compliance with the Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. You agree to notify the Trust and the Underwriter within a reasonable time period if the representation in the previous sentence is no longer true or if you have reasonable basis for believing that such representation may no longer be true. 2.2 Representations and Warranties by the Trust The Trust represents and warrants that: 2.2.1 It is duly organized and in good standing under the laws of the State of Massachusetts. 2.2.2 All of its directors, officers, employees and others dealing with the money and/or securities of a Portfolio are and shall be at all times covered by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage for the benefit of the Trust in an amount not less than the minimum coverage required by Rule 17g-1 or other regulations under the 1940 Act. Such bond shall include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and be issued by a reputable bonding company. 2.2.3 It is registered as an open-end management investment company under the 1940 Act. 2.2.4 Each class of shares of the Portfolios of the Trust is registered under the 1933 Act. 2.2.5 It will amend its registration statement under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of its shares. 2.2.6 It will comply, in all material respects, with the 1933 and 1940 Acts and the rules and regulations thereunder. 2.2.7 It is currently qualified as a "regulated investment company" under Subchapter M of the Code, it will make every effort to maintain such qualification, and will notify you immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that it has ceased to so qualify or that it might not so qualify in the future. 2.2.8 The Trust will use its best efforts to comply with the diversification requirements for variable annuity, endowment or life insurance contracts set forth in Section 817(h) of the Code, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including without limitation Treasury Regulation 1.817-5. Upon having a reasonable basis for believing any Portfolio has ceased to comply and will not be able to comply within the grace period afforded by Regulation 1.817-5, the Trust will notify you immediately and will take all reasonable steps to adequately diversify the Portfolio to achieve compliance. It currently intends for one or more classes of shares (each, a "Class") to make payments to finance its distribution expenses, including service fees, pursuant to a plan ("Plan") adopted under rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act ("Rule 12b-1"), although it may determine to discontinue such practice in the future. To the extent that any Class of the Trust finances its distribution expenses pursuant to a Plan adopted under rule 12b-1, the Trust undertakes to comply with any then current SEC interpretations concerning rule 12b-1 or any successor provisions. 2.1.10 It undertakes and agrees to comply, and to take full responsibility in complying with any and all laws, regulations, and other requirements relating to money laundering in theUnited States, including, without limitation, the International Money Laundering Abatement and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act of 2001 (Title III of the USA Patriot Act), hereinafter, collectively with the rules, regulations and orders promulgated thereunder, the "Act," and any requirements and/or requests in connection therewith, made by regulatory authorities, the Company or its duly appointed agents, either generally or in respect of a specific transaction, and/or in the context of a "primary money laundering concern" as defined in the Act. It agrees as a condition precedent to any transaction taking or continuing to be in effect, to comply with any and all anti-money laundering laws, regulations, orders or requirements, and without prejudice to the generality of the above, to provide regulatory authorities, the Company or their duly appointed agents, with all necessary reports and information for them to fulfill their obligations, if any, under the Act for the purposes of the Company, or other third parties complying with any and all anti-money laundering requirements, including, without limitation, the enhanced due diligence obligations imposed by the Act, the filing of Currency Transaction Reports and/or of Suspicious Activity Reports obligations required by the Act, and/or the sharing of information requirements imposed by the Act. In the event satisfactory reports and information are not received within a reasonable time period from the date of the request, the Company reserves the right to reject any transaction and/or cease to deal with itu and/or the Accounts. Further, it represents that it has not received notice of, and to its knowledge, there is no basis for, any claim, action, suit, investigation or proceeding that might result in a finding that it is not or has not been in compliance with the Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. It agrees to notify the Company within a reasonable time period if the representation in the previous sentence is no longer true or if it has reasonable basis for believing that such representation may no longer be true. 2.3 Representations and Warranties by the Underwriter The Underwriter represents and warrants that: 2.3.1 It is registered as a broker dealer with the SEC under the 1934 Act, and is a member in good standing of the NASD. Each investment adviser listed on Schedule C (each, an "Adviser") is duly registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and any applicable state securities law. 2.3.3 It undertakes and agrees to comply, and to take full responsibility in complying with any and all laws, regulations, and other requirements relating to money laundering in theUnited States, including, without limitation, the International Money Laundering Abatement and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act of 2001 (Title III of the USA Patriot Act), hereinafter, collectively with the rules, regulations and orders promulgated thereunder, the "Act," and any requirements and/or requests in connection therewith, made by regulatory authorities, the Company or its duly appointed agents, either generally or in respect of a specific transaction, and/or in the context of a "primary money laundering concern" as defined in the Act. It agrees as a condition precedent to any transaction taking or continuing to be in effect, to comply with any and all anti-money laundering laws, regulations, orders or requirements, and without prejudice to the generality of the above, to provide regulatory authorities, the Company or their duly appointed agents, with all necessary reports and information for them to fulfill their obligations, if any, under the Act for the purposes of the Company, or other third parties complying with any and all anti-money laundering requirements, including, without limitation, the enhanced due diligence obligations imposed by the Act, the filing of Currency Transaction Reports and/or of Suspicious Activity Reports obligations required by the Act, and/or the sharing of information requirements imposed by the Act. In the event satisfactory reports and information are not received within a reasonable time period from the date of the request, the Company reserves the right to reject any transaction and/or cease to deal with itu and/or the Accounts. Further, it represents that it has not received notice of, and to its knowledge, there is no basis for, any claim, action, suit, investigation or proceeding that might result in a finding that it is not or has not been in compliance with the Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. It agrees to notify the Company within a reasonable time period if the representation in the previous sentence is no longer true or if it has reasonable basis for believing that such representation may no longer be true. 2.4 Warranty and Agreement by Both You and Us We received an order from the SEC dated November 16, 1993 (file no. 812-8546), which was amended by a notice and an order we received on September 17, 1999 and October 13, 1999, respectively (file no. 812-11698) (collectively, the "Shared Funding Order," attached to this Agreement as Schedule H). The Shared Funding Order grants exemptions from certain provisions of the 1940 Act and the regulations thereunder to the extent necessary to permit shares of the Trust to be sold to and held by variable annuity and variable life insurance separate accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated life insurance companies and qualified pension and retirement plans outside the separate account context. You and we both warrant and agree that both you and we will comply with the "Applicants' Conditions" prescribed in the Shared Funding Order as though such conditions were set forth verbatim in this Agreement, including, without limitation, the provisions regarding potential conflicts of interest between the separate accounts which invest in the Trust and regarding contract owner voting privileges. In order for the Trust's Board of Trustees to perform its duty to monitor for conflicts of interest, you agree to inform us of the occurrence of any of the events specified in condition 2 of the Shared Funding Order to the extent that such event may or does result in a material conflict of interest as defined in that order. 3. Purchase and Redemption of Trust Portfolio Shares 3.1 We will make shares of the Portfolios available to the Accounts for the benefit of the Contracts. The shares will be available for purchase at the net asset value per share next computed after we (or our agent) receive a purchase order, as established in accordance with the provisions of the then current prospectus of the Trust. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust's Board of Trustees ("Trustees") may refuse to sell shares of any Portfolio to any person, or may suspend or terminate the offering of shares of any Portfolio if such action is required by law or by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction or if, in the sole discretion of the Trustees, they deem such action to be in the best interests of the shareholders of such Portfolio. Without limiting the foregoing, the Trustees have determined that there is a significant risk that the Trust and its shareholders may be adversely affected by investors whose purchase and redemption activity follows a market timing pattern, and have authorized the Trust, the Underwriter and the Trust's transfer agent to adopt procedures and take other action (including, without limitation, rejecting specific purchase orders) as they deem necessary to reduce, discourage or eliminate market timing activity. You agree to cooperate with us to assist us in implementing the Trust's restrictions on purchase and redemption activity that follows a market timing pattern. 3.2 We agree that shares of the Trust will be sold only to life insurance companies which have entered into fund participation agreements with the Trust ("Participating Insurance Companies") and their separate accounts or to qualified pension and retirement plans in accordance with the terms of the Shared Funding Order. No shares of any Portfolio will be sold to the general public. 3.3 You agree that all net amounts available under the Contracts shall be invested in: (i) the Company's general account; (ii) investment companies currently available as funding vehicles for the Contracts and appearing on Schedule E of this Agreement; or (iii) other investment companies, provided that you shall have given the Trust and the Underwriter thirty (30) days' advance written notice of your intention to add such other investment companies. 3.4 You shall be the designee for us for receipt of purchase orders and requests for redemption resulting from investment in and payments under the Contracts ("Instructions"). The Business Day on which such Instructions are received in proper form by you and time stamped by the close of trading will be the date as of which Portfolio shares shall be deemed purchased, exchanged, or redeemed as a result of such Instructions. Instructions received in proper form by you and time stamped after the close of trading on any given Business Day shall be treated as if received on the next following Business Day. You warrant that all orders, Instructions and confirmations received by you which will be transmitted to us for processing on a Business Day will have been received and time stamped prior to the Close of Trading on that Business Day. Instructions we receive after 9 a.m. Eastern Time shall be processed on the next Business Day. "Business Day" shall mean any day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which the Trust calculates its net asset value pursuant to the rules of the SEC and its current prospectus. 3.5 We shall calculate the net asset value per share of each Portfolio on each Business Day, and shall communicate these net asset values to you or your designated agent on a daily basis as soon as reasonably practical after the calculation is completed (normally by 6:30 p.m. Eastern time). 3.6 You shall submit payment for the purchase of shares of a Portfolio on behalf of an Account in federal funds transmitted by wire to the Trust or to its designated custodian, which must receive such wires no later than the close of the Reserve Bank, which is 6:00 p.m. East Coast time, on the Business Day following the Business Day as of which such purchases orders are made. 3.7 We will redeem any full or fractional shares of any Portfolio, when requested by you on behalf of an Account, at the net asset value next computed after receipt by us (or our agent) of the request for redemption, as established in accordance with the provisions of the then current prospectus of the Trust. We shall make payment for such shares in the manner we establish from time to time, but in no event shall payment be delayed for a greater period than is permitted by the 1940 Act. 3.8 Issuance and transfer of the Portfolio shares will be by book entry only. Stock certificates will not be issued to you or the Accounts. Portfolio shares purchased from the Trust will be recorded in the appropriate title for each Account or the appropriate subaccount of each Account. 3.9 We shall furnish, on or before the ex-dividend date, notice to you of any income dividends or capital gain distributions payable on the shares of any Portfolio. You hereby elect to receive all such income dividends and capital gain distributions as are payable on shares of a Portfolio in additional shares of that Portfolio, and you reserve the right to change this election in the future. We will notify you of the number of shares so issued as payment of such dividends and distributions. 3.10 Each party to this Agreement agrees that, in the event of a material error resulting from incorrect information or confirmations, the parties will seek to comply in all material respects with the provisions of applicable federal securities laws. 4. Fees, Expenses, Prospectuses, Proxy Materials and Reports 4.1 We shall pay no fee or other compensation to you under this Agreement except as provided on Schedule F, if attached. 4.2 We shall prepare and be responsible for filing with the SEC, and any state regulators requiring such filing, all shareholder reports, notices, proxy materials (or similar materials such as voting instruction solicitation materials), prospectuses and statements of additional information of the Trust. We shall bear the costs of preparation and filing of the documents listed in the preceding sentence, registration and qualification of the Trust's shares of the Portfolios. 4.3 We shall use reasonable efforts to provide you, on a timely basis, with such information about the Trust, the Portfolios and each Adviser, in such form as you may reasonably require, as you shall reasonably request in connection with the preparation of disclosure documents and annual and semi-annual reports pertaining to the Contracts. 4.4 At your option, we shall provide you, at our expense, with either: (i) for each Contract owner who is invested through the Account in a subaccount corresponding to a Portfolio ("designated subaccount"), one copy of each of the following documents on each occasion that such document is required by law or regulation to be delivered to such Contract owner who is invested in a designated subaccount: the Trust's current prospectus, annual report, semi-annual report and other shareholder communications, including any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing, pertaining specifically to the Portfolios ("Designated Portfolio Documents"); or (ii) a camera ready copy of such Designated Portfolio Documents in a form suitable for printing and from which information relating to series of the Trust other than the Portfolios has been deleted to the extent practicable. In connection with clause (ii) of this paragraph, we will pay for proportional printing costs for such Designated Portfolio Documents in order to provide one copy for each Contract owner who is invested in a designated subaccount on each occasion that such document is required by law or regulation to be delivered to such Contract owner, and provided the appropriate documentation is provided and approved by us. We shall provide you with a copy of the Trust's current statement of additional information, including any amendments or supplements, in a form suitable for you to duplicate. The expenses of furnishing, including mailing, to Contract owners the documents referred to in this paragraph shall be borne by you. For each of the documents provided to you in accordance with clause (i) of this paragraph 4.4, we shall provide you, upon your request and at your expense, additional copies. In no event shall we be responsible for the costs of printing or delivery of Designated Portfolio Documents to potential or new Contract owners or the delivery of Designated Portfolio Documents to existing contract owners. 4.5 We shall provide you, at our expense, with copies of any Trust-sponsored proxy materials in such quantity as you shall reasonably require for distribution to Contract owners who are invested in a designated subaccount. You shall bear the costs of distributing proxy materials (or similar materials such as voting solicitation instructions) to Contract owners. 4.6 You assume sole responsibility for ensuring that the Trust's prospectuses, shareholder reports and communications, and proxy materials are delivered to Contract owners in accordance with applicable federal and state securities laws. 5. Voting 5.1 All Participating Insurance Companies shall have the obligations and responsibilities regarding pass-through voting and conflicts of interest corresponding to those contained in the Shared Funding Order. 5.2 If and to the extent required by law, you shall: (i) solicit voting instructions from Contract owners; (ii) vote the Trust shares in accordance with the instructions received from Contract owners; and (iii) vote Trust shares for which no instructions have been received in the same proportion as Trust shares of such Portfolio for which instructions have been received; so long as and to the extent that the SEC continues to interpret the 1940 Act to require pass-through voting privileges for variable contract owners. You reserve the right to vote Trust shares held in any Account in your own right, to the extent permitted by law. 5.3 So long as, and to the extent that, the SEC interprets the 1940 Act to require pass-through voting privileges for Contract owners, you shall provide pass-through voting privileges to Contract owners whose Contract values are invested, through the Accounts, in shares of one or more Portfolios of the Trust. We shall require all Participating Insurance Companies to calculate voting privileges in the same manner and you shall be responsible for assuring that the Accounts calculate voting privileges in the manner established by us. With respect to each Account, you will vote shares of each Portfolio of the Trust held by an Account and for which no timely voting instructions from Contract owners are received in the same proportion as those shares held by that Account for which voting instructions are received. You and your agents will in no way recommend or oppose or interfere with the solicitation of proxies for Portfolio shares held to fund the Contracts without our prior written consent, which consent may be withheld in our sole discretion. 6. Sales Material, Information and Trademarks 6.1 For purposes of this Section 6, "Sales literature or other Promotional material" includes, but is not limited to, portions of the following that use any logo or other trademark related to the Trust, or Underwriter or its affiliates, or refer to the Trust: 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, electronic communication or other public media), sales literature (i.e., any written communication distributed or made generally available to customers or the public, including brochures, circulars, research reports, market letters, form letters, seminar texts, reprints or excerpts or any other advertisement, sales literature or published article or electronic communication), educational or training materials or other communications distributed or made generally available to some or all agents or employees in any media, and disclosure documents, shareholder reports and proxy materials. 6.2 You shall furnish, or cause to be furnished to us or our designee, at least one complete copy of each registration statement, prospectus, statement of additional information, private placement memorandum, retirement plan disclosure information or other disclosure documents or similar information, as applicable (collectively "Disclosure Documents"), as well as any report, solicitation for voting instructions, Sales literature or other Promotional materials, and all amendments to any of the above that relate to the Contracts or the Accounts prior to its first use. You shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to us or our designee each piece of Sales literature or other Promotional material in which the Trust or an Adviser is named, at least ten (10) Business Days prior to its proposed use. If we provide no comments or objections to the material within 10 days, the material may be used. 6.3 You and your agents shall not give any information or make any representations or statements on behalf of the Trust or concerning the Trust, the Underwriter or an Adviser, other than information or representations contained in and accurately derived from the registration statement or prospectus for the Trust shares (as such registration statement and prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time), annual and semi-annual reports of the Trust, Trust-sponsored proxy statements, or in Sales literature or other Promotional material approved by the Trust or its designee, except as required by legal process or regulatory authorities or with the written permission of the Trust or its designee. You shall send us a complete copy of each Disclosure Document and item of Sales literature or other Promotional materials in its final form within twenty (20) days of its first use. 6.4 We shall not give any information or make any representations or statements on behalf of you or concerning you, the Accounts or the Contracts other than information or representations, including naming you as a Trust shareholder, contained in and accurately derived from Disclosure Documents for the Contracts (as such Disclosure Documents may be amended or supplemented from time to time), or in materials approved by you for distribution, including Sales literature or other Promotional materials, except as required by legal process or regulatory authorities or with your written permission. 6.5 Except as provided in Section 6.2, you shall not use any designation comprised in whole or part of the names or marks "Franklin" or "Templeton" or any logo or other trademark relating to the Trust or the Underwriter without prior written consent, and upon termination of this Agreement for any reason, you shall cease all use of any such name or mark as soon as reasonably practicable. 6.6 You shall furnish to us ten (10) Business Days prior to its first submission to the SEC or its staff, any request or filing for no-action assurance or exemptive relief naming, pertaining to, or affecting, the Trust, the Underwriter or any of the Portfolios. 7. Indemnification 7.1 Indemnification By You 7.1.1 You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriter, the Trust and each of its Trustees, officers, employees and agents and each person, if any, who controls the Trust within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" and individually the "Indemnified Party" for purposes of this Section 7) against any and all losses, claims, damages, fines, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with your written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) or expenses (including the reasonable costs of investigating or defending any alleged loss, claim, damage, fines, liability or expense and reasonable legal counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) (collectively, "Losses"), to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute or regulation, or at common law or otherwise, insofar as such Losses are related to the sale or acquisition of shares of the Trust or the Contracts and 7.1.1.1 arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements or alleged untrue statements of any material fact contained in a Disclosure Document for the Contracts or in the Contracts themselves or in sales literature generated or approved by you on behalf of the Contracts or Accounts (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing) (collectively, "Company Documents" for the purposes of this Section 7), 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 indemnity shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and was accurately derived from written information furnished to you by or on behalf of the Trust for use in Company Documents or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Trust shares; or 7.1.1.2 arise out of or result from statements or representations (other than statements or representations contained in and accurately derived from Trust Documents as defined below in Section 7.2) or wrongful conduct of you or persons under your control, with respect to the sale or acquisition of the Contracts or Trust shares; or 7.1.1.3 arise out of or result from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in Trust Documents as defined below in Section 7.2 or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and accurately derived from written information furnished to the Trust by or on behalf of you; or 7.1.1.4 arise out of or result from any failure by you to provide the services or furnish the materials required under the terms of this Agreement; 7.1.1.5 arise out of or result from any material breach of any representation and/or warranty made by you in this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by you; or 7.1.1.6 arise out of or result from a Contract failing to be considered a life insurance policy or an annuity Contract, whichever is appropriate, under applicable provisions of the Code thereby depriving the Trust of its compliance with Section 817(h) of the Code. 7.1.2 You shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any Losses to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement or to the Trust or Underwriter, whichever is applicable. You shall also not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified you in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify you of any such claim shall not relieve you from any liability which it may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties, you shall be entitled to participate, at your own expense, in the defense of such action. Unless the Indemnified Party releases you from any further obligations under this Section 7.1, you also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from you to such party of your election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and you will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. 7.1.3 The Indemnified Parties will promptly notify you of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against them in connection with the issuance or sale of the Trust shares or the Contracts or the operation of the Trust. 7.2 Indemnification By The Underwriter 7.2.1 The Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless you, and each of your directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls you within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" and individually an "Indemnified Party" for purposes of this Section 7.2) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Underwriter, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) or expenses (including the reasonable costs of investigating or defending any alleged loss, claim, damage, liability or expense and reasonable legal counsel fees incurred in connection therewith) (collectively, "Losses") to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such Losses are related to the sale or acquisition of the shares of the Trust or the Contracts and: 7.2.1.1 arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements or alleged untrue statements of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement, prospectus or sales literature of the Trust (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing) (collectively, the "Trust Documents") 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 of such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to us by or on behalf of you for use in the Registration Statement or prospectus for the Trust or in sales literature (or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Trust shares; or 7.2.1.2 arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other than statements or representations contained in the Disclosure Documents or sales literature for the Contracts not supplied by the Underwriter or persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of the Trust, Adviser or Underwriter or persons under their control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Trust shares; or 7.2.1.3 arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Disclosure Document or sales literature covering the Contracts, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement or statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to you by or on behalf of the Trust; or 7.2.1.4 arise as a result of any failure by us to provide the services and furnish the materials under the terms of this Agreement (including a failure, whether unintentional or in good faith or otherwise, to comply with the qualification representation specified above in Section 2.2.7 and the diversification requirements specified above in Section 2.2.8); or 7.2.1.5 arise out of or result from any material breach of any representation and/or warranty made by the Underwriter in this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by the Underwriter; as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 7.2.2 and 7.2.3 hereof. 7.2.2 The Underwriter shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any Losses to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement or to you or the Accounts, whichever is applicable. 7.2.3 The Underwriter shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Underwriter in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Underwriter of any such claim shall not relieve the Underwriter from any liability which it may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties, the Underwriter will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof. Unless the Indemnified Party releases the Underwriter from any further obligations under this Section 7.2, the Underwriter also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from the Underwriter to such party of the Underwriter's election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Underwriter will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. 7.2.4 You agree promptly to notify the Underwriter of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against you or the Indemnified Parties in connection with the issuance or sale of the Contracts or the operation of each Account. 7.3 Indemnification By The Trust 7.3.1 The Trust agrees to indemnify and hold harmless you, and each of your directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls you within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 7.3) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Trust, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) or litigation (including legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties 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 result from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of the Board or any member thereof, are related to the operations of the Trust, and arise out of or result from any material breach of any representation and/or warranty made by the Trust in this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by the Trust; as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 7.3.2 and 7.3.3 hereof. It is understood and expressly stipulated that neither the holders of shares of the Trust nor any Trustee, officer, agent or employee of the Trust shall be personally liable hereunder, nor shall any resort be had to other private property for the satisfaction of any claim or obligation hereunder, but the Trust only shall be liable. 7.3.2 The Trust shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation incurred or assessed against any Indemnified Party as such may arise from such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement or to you, the Trust, the Underwriter or each Account, whichever is applicable. 7.3.3 The Trust shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Trust in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claims shall have been served upon such Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Trust of any such claim shall not relieve the Trust from any liability which it may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties, the Trust will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof. Unless the Indemnified Party releases the Trust from any further obligations under this Section 7.3, the Trust also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from the Trust to such party of the Trust's election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Trust will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. 7.3.4 You agree promptly to notify the Trust of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against you or the Indemnified Parties in connection with this Agreement, the issuance or sale of the Contracts, with respect to the operation of the Account, or the sale or acquisition of shares of the Trust. 8. Notices Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or certified mail to the other party at the address of such party set forth in Schedule G below or at such other address as such party may from time to time specify in writing to the other party. 9. Termination 9.1 This Agreement may be terminated by any party in its entirety or with respect to one, some or all Portfolios for any reason by sixty (60) days advance written notice delivered to the other parties. This Agreement shall terminate immediately in the event of its assignment by any party without the prior written approval of the other parties, or as otherwise required by law. 9.2 This Agreement may be terminated immediately by us upon written notice to you if: 9.2.1 (i) you breach any of the representations and warranties made in this Agreement; or (ii) you inform us that any of such representations and warranties may no longer be true or might not be true in the future; or (iii) any of such representations and warranties were not true on the effective date of this Agreement, are at any time no longer true, or have not been true during any time since the effective date of this Agreement; or 9.2.2 either one or both of the Trust or the Underwriter respectively, shall determine, in their sole judgment exercised in good faith, that you have suffered a material adverse change in your business, operations, financial condition or prospects since the date of this Agreement or are the subject of material adverse publicity; or 9.2.3 you give us the written notice specified above in Section 3.3 and at the same time you give us such notice there was no notice of termination outstanding under any other provision of this Agreement; provided, however, that any termination under this Section 9.2.3 shall be effective forty-five (45) days after the notice specified in Section 3.3 was given. 9.3 If this Agreement is terminated with respect to any Portfolio for any reason, except as required by the Shared Funding Order, we may, as mutually agreed, and pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, continue to make available additional shares of any Portfolio for any or all Contracts or Accounts existing on the effective date of termination of this Agreement. Upon liquidation of a Portfolio, or if this Agreement is terminated with respect to any Portfolio by the Trust's Board of Trustee's in the exercise of its duties and it determines it is a necessary and appropriate remedy for a material breach of the Agreement, including a violation of laws, the Trust may involuntarily redeem, at its option in kind or for cash, shares of any Portfolio, for any or all Contracts or Accounts existing on the effective date of termination of this Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated as required by the Shared Funding Order, its provisions shall govern. 9.4 The provisions of Sections 2 (Representations and Warranties) and 7 (Indemnification) shall survive the termination of this Agreement. All other applicable provisions of this Agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement, as long as shares of the Trust are held on behalf of Contract owners in accordance with Section 9.3, except that we shall have no further obligation to sell Trust shares with respect to Contracts issued after termination. 9.5 You shall not redeem Trust shares attributable to the Contracts (as opposed to Trust shares attributable to your assets held in the Account) except: (i) as necessary to implement Contract owner initiated or approved transactions; (ii) as required by state and/or federal laws or regulations or judicial or other legal precedent of general application (hereinafter referred to as a "Legally Required Redemption"); or (iii) as permitted by an order of the SEC pursuant to Section 26(b) of the 1940 Act. Upon request, you shall promptly furnish to us the opinion of your counsel (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to us) to the effect that any redemption pursuant to clause (ii) above is a Legally Required Redemption. Furthermore, you shall not prevent Contract owners from allocating payments to any Portfolio that has been available under a Contract without first giving us ninety (90) days advance written notice of your intention to do so. 10. Miscellaneous 10.1 The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the provisions of this Agreement or otherwise affect their construction or effect. 10.2 This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. 10.3 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. 10.4 This Agreement shall be construed and its provisions interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of California. It shall also be subject to the provisions of the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, to any orders of the SEC on behalf of the Trust granting it exemptive relief, and to the conditions of such orders. We shall promptly forward copies of any such orders to you. 10.5 The parties to this Agreement acknowledge and agree that all liabilities of the Trust arising, directly or indirectly, under this Agreement, of any and every nature whatsoever, shall be satisfied solely out of the assets of the Trust and that no Trustee, officer, agent or holder of shares of beneficial interest of the Trust shall be personally liable for any such liabilities. 10.6 The parties to this Agreement agree that the assets and liabilities of each Portfolio of the Trust are separate and distinct from the assets and liabilities of each other Portfolio. No Portfolio shall be liable or shall be charged for any debt, obligation or liability of any other Portfolio. 10.7 Each party to this Agreement shall cooperate with each other party and all appropriate governmental authorities (including without limitation the SEC, the NASD, and state insurance regulators) and shall permit such authorities reasonable access to its books and records in connection with any investigation or inquiry relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. 10.8 Each party shall treat as confidential all information of the other party which the parties agree in writing is confidential ("Confidential Information"). Except as permitted by this Agreement or as required by appropriate governmental authority (including, without limitation, the SEC, the NASD, or state securities and insurance regulators) the receiving party shall not disclose or use Confidential Information of the other party before it enters the public domain, without the express written consent of the party providing the Confidential Information. 10.9 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 to this Agreement are entitled to under state and federal laws. 10.10 The parties to this Agreement acknowledge and agree that this Agreement shall not be exclusive in any respect, except as provided above in Section 3.3. 10.11 Neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations created by it may be assigned by any party without the prior written approval of the other parties. 10.12 No provisions of this Agreement may be amended or modified in any manner except by a written agreement properly authorized and executed by both parties. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties have caused their duly authorized officers to execute this Agreement. The Company: Allstate Life Insurance Company By: ----------------------------------------------- Name: Timothy N. Vander Pas Title: Assistant Vice President Distributor for the Company: Allstate Distributors, LLC. --------------------------- By: ------------------------------------ Name: John R. Hunter Title: President The Trust: Franklin Templeton Variable Insurance Products Trust Only on behalf of each Portfolio listed on Schedule C hereof. By: ----------------------------------------------------- Name: Karen L. Skidmore Title: Assistant Vice President The Underwriter: Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc. By: -------------------------------------------- Name: Title: Schedule A The Company and its Distributor Allstate Life Insurance Company 3100 Sanders Road, M2A Northbrook, IL 60062 An Illinois Corporation Allstate Distributors, LLC. 3100 Sanders Road, M2A Northbrook, IL 60062 An Illinois Corporation Schedule B Accounts of the Company 1. Name: Allstate Life Insurance Company Separate Account A Date Established: February 5, 1999 SEC Registration Number: 811-09227 Schedule C Available Portfolios and Classes of Shares of the Trust; Investment Advisers
Franklin Templeton Variable Insurance Products Trust Investment Adviser Class 2 Shares Franklin Growth and Income Securities Fund Franklin Advisers, Inc. Franklin Small Cap Fund Franklin Advisers, Inc. Franklin Small Cap Value Securities Fund Franklin Advisers, Inc. Mutual Shares Securities Fund Franklin Mutual Advisers, LLC Templeton Developing Markets Securities Fund Templeton Asset Management Ltd. Templeton Foreign Securities Fund Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC Templeton Global Income Securities Fund - Franklin Advisers, Inc.
Schedule D Contracts of the Company
------- ----------- ------------------------------ ------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- Insurance Product Name Separate Account Name # Company Registered Y/N Registered Y/N Classes of Shares and Portfolios 1933 Act #, State Form ID 1940 Act # ------- ----------- ------------------------------ ------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------- ----------- ------------------------------ ------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- 01 Allstate Allstate Advisor Allstate Life Insurance Class 2 shares: -------------- Life Yes Company Separate Account A Franklin Growth & Income Securities Fund Insurance ??? Yes Franklin Small Cap Fund Company PA124 811-09227 Franklin Small Cap Value Securities Fund Mutual Shares Securities Fund Templeton Developing Markets Securities Fund Templeton Foreign Securities Fund Templeton Global Income Fund ------- ----------- ------------------------------ ------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------- ----------- ------------------------------ ------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- 02 Allstate Allstate Advisor Plus Allstate Life Insurance Class 2 shares: -------------- Life Yes Company Separate Account A Franklin Growth & Income Securities Fund Insurance ??? Yes Franklin Small Cap Fund Company PA151 811-09227 Franklin Small Cap Value Securities Fund Mutual Shares Securities Fund Templeton Developing Markets Securities Fund Templeton Foreign Securities Fund Templeton Global Income Fund ------- ----------- ------------------------------ ------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------- ----------- ------------------------------ ------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- 03 Allstate Allstate Advisor Preferred Allstate Life Insurance Class 2 shares: -------------- Life Yes Company Separate Account A Franklin Growth & Income Securities Fund Insurance ??? Yes Franklin Small Cap Fund Company PA152 811-09227 Franklin Small Cap Value Securities Fund Mutual Shares Securities Fund Templeton Developing Markets Securities Fund Templeton Foreign Securities Fund Templeton Global Income Fund ------- ----------- ------------------------------ ------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------- ----------- ------------------------------ ------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- 04 Allstate Allstate Advisor Apex Allstate Life Insurance Class 2 shares: -------------- Life Yes Company Separate Account A Franklin Growth & Income Securities Fund Insurance ??? Yes Franklin Small Cap Fund Company TBD 811-09227 Franklin Small Cap Value Securities Fund Mutual Shares Securities Fund Templeton Developing Markets Securities Fund Templeton Foreign Securities Fund Templeton Global Income Fund ------- ----------- ------------------------------ ------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------- ----------- ------------------------------ ------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------- ----------- ------------------------------ ------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------- ----------- ------------------------------ ------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- ------- ----------- ------------------------------ ------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------
Schedule E Other Portfolios Available under the Contracts Putnam VT The George Putnam Fund of Boston - Class IB Putnam VT Global Asset Allocation Fund - Class IB Putnam VT Growth and Income Fund - Class IB Putnam VT Health Sciences Fund - Class IB Putnam VT High Yield Fund - Class IB Putnam VT Income Fund - Class IB Putnam VT International Growth Fund - Class IB Putnam VT Investors Fund - Class IB Putnam VT Money Market Fund - Class IB Putnam VT New Opportunities Fund - Class IB Putnam VT New Value Fund - Class IB Putnam VT Research Fund - Class IB Putnam VT Utilities Growth and Income Fund - Class IB Putnam VT Vista Fund - Class IB Putnam VT Voyager Fund - Class IB LSA Aggressive Growth Fund LSA Focused Equity Fund LSA Mid Cap Value Fund Oppenheimer Aggressive Growth Fund/VA - Service Class Oppenheimer Global Securities Fund/VA - Service Class Oppenheimer High Income Fund/VA - Service Class Oppenheimer Main Street Growth & Income Fund/VA - Service Class Oppenheimer Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA - Service Class Oppenheimer Multiple Strategies Fund/VA - Service Class Oppenheimer Strategic Bond Fund/VA - Service Class Van Kampen LIT Emerging Growth Portfolio, Class II Van Kampen LIT Growth and Income Portfolio, Class II Van Kampen UIF Active International Allocation Portfolio, Class II Van Kampen UIF U.S. Real Estate Portfolio, Class II Van Kampen UIF Emerging Markets Debt Portfolio, Class II Schedule F Rule 12b-1 Plans Compensation Schedule Each Portfolio named below shall pay the following amounts pursuant to the terms and conditions referenced below under its Class 2 Rule 12b-1 Distribution Plan, stated as a percentage per year of Class 2's average daily net assets represented by shares of Class 2. Portfolio Name Maximum Annual Payment Rate Franklin Growth & Income Securities Fund 0.25% Franklin Small Cap Fund Franklin Small Cap Value Securities Fund Mutual Shares Securities Fund Templeton Developing Markets Securities Fund Templeton Foreign Securities Fund Templeton Global Income Fund Agreement Provisions If the Company, on behalf of any Account, purchases Trust Portfolio shares ("Eligible Shares") which are subject to a Rule 12b-1 plan adopted under the 1940 Act (the "Plan"), the Company may participate in the Plan. To the extent the Company or its affiliates, agents or designees (collectively "you") provide any activity or service which is primarily intended to assist in the promotion, distribution or account servicing of Eligible Shares ("Rule 12b-1 Services") or variable contracts offering Eligible Shares, the Underwriter, the Trust or their affiliates (collectively, "we") may pay you a Rule 12b-1 fee. "Rule 12b-1 Services" may include, but are not limited to, printing of prospectuses and reports used for sales purposes, preparing and distributing sales literature and related expenses, advertisements, education of dealers and their representatives, and similar distribution-related expenses, furnishing personal services to owners of Contracts which may invest in Eligible Shares ("Contract Owners"), education of Contract Owners, answering routine inquiries regarding a Portfolio, coordinating responses to Contract Owner inquiries regarding the Portfolios, maintaining such accounts or providing such other enhanced services as a Trust Portfolio or Contract may require, or providing other services eligible for service fees as defined under NASD rules. Your acceptance of such compensation is your acknowledgment that eligible services have been rendered. All Rule 12b-1 fees, shall be based on the value of Eligible Shares owned by the Company on behalf of its Accounts, and shall be calculated on the basis and at the rates set forth in the Compensation Schedule stated above. The aggregate annual fees paid pursuant to each Plan shall not exceed the amounts stated as the "annual maximums" in the Portfolio's prospectus, unless an increase is approved by shareholders as provided in the Plan. These maximums shall be a specified percent of the value of a Portfolio's net assets attributable to Eligible Shares owned by the Company on behalf of its Accounts (determined in the same manner as the Portfolio uses to compute its net assets as set forth in its effective Prospectus). The Rule 12b-1 fee will be paid to you within thirty (30) days after the end of the three-month periods ending in January, April, July and October. You shall furnish us with such information as shall reasonably be requested by the Trust's Boards of Trustees ("Trustees") with respect to the Rule 12b-1 fees paid to you pursuant to the Plans. We shall furnish to the Trustees, for their review on a quarterly basis, a written report of the amounts expended under the Plans and the purposes for which such expenditures were made. The Plans and provisions of any agreement relating to such Plans must be approved annually by a vote of the Trustees, including the Trustees who are not interested persons of the Trust and who have no financial interest in the Plans or any related agreement ("Disinterested Trustees"). Each Plan may be terminated at any time by the vote of a majority of the Disinterested Trustees, or by a vote of a majority of the outstanding shares as provided in the Plan, on sixty (60) days' written notice, without payment of any penalty. The Plans may also be terminated by any act that terminates the Underwriting Agreement between the Underwriter and the Trust, and/or the management or administration agreement between Franklin Advisers, Inc. and its affiliates and the Trust. Continuation of the Plans is also conditioned on Disinterested Trustees being ultimately responsible for selecting and nominating any new Disinterested Trustees. Under Rule 12b-1, the Trustees have a duty to request and evaluate, and persons who are party to any agreement related to a Plan have a duty to furnish, such information as may reasonably be necessary to an informed determination of whether the Plan or any agreement should be implemented or continued. Under Rule 12b-1, the Trust is permitted to implement or continue Plans or the provisions of any agreement relating to such Plans from year-to-year only if, based on certain legal considerations, the Trustees are able to conclude that the Plans will benefit each affected Trust Portfolio and class. Absent such yearly determination, the Plans must be terminated as set forth above. In the event of the termination of the Plans for any reason, the provisions of this Schedule F relating to the Plans will also terminate. You agree that your selling agreements with persons or entities through whom you intend to distribute Contracts will provide that compensation paid to such persons or entities may be reduced if a Portfolio's Plan is no longer effective or is no longer applicable to such Portfolio or class of shares available under the Contracts. Any obligation assumed by the Trust pursuant to this Agreement shall be limited in all cases to the assets of the Trust and no person shall seek satisfaction thereof from shareholders of the Trust. You agree to waive payment of any amounts payable to you by Underwriter under a Plan until such time as the Underwriter has received such fee from the Trust. The provisions of the Plans shall control over the provisions of the Participation Agreement, including this Schedule F, in the event of any inconsistency. You agree to provide complete disclosure as required by all applicable statutes, rules and regulations of all rule 12b-1 fees received from us in the prospectus of the Contracts. Schedule G Addresses for Notices To the Company: Allstate Life Insurance Company 3100 Sanders Road, M2A Northbrook, IL 60062 Attention: Timothy N. Vander Pas Assistant Vice President To the Trust: Franklin Templeton Variable Insurance Products Trust 1 Franklin Parkway San Mateo, California 94403 Attention: Karen L. Skidmore Assistant Vice President To the Underwriter: Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc. 1 Franklin Parkway San Mateo, California 94403 Attention: Philip J. Kearns Vice President Schedule H Shared Funding Order Templeton Variable Products Series Fund, et al. File No. 812-11698 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Release No. IC-24018 1999 SEC LEXIS 1887 September 17, 1999 ACTION: Notice of application for an amended order of exemption pursuant to Section 6(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") from the provisions of Sections 9(a), 13(a), 15(a) and 15(b) of the 1940 Act and Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15) thereunder. TEXT: Summary of Application: Templeton Variable Products Series Fund (the "Templeton Trust"), Franklin Templeton Variable Insurance Products Trust (formerly Franklin Valuemark Funds) (the "VIP Trust," and together with the Templeton Trust, the "Funds"), Templeton Funds Annuity Company ("TFAC") or any successor to TFAC, and any future open-end investment company for which TFAC or any affiliate is the administrator, sub-administrator, investment manager, adviser, principal underwriter, or sponsor ("Future Funds") seek an amended order of the Commission to (1) add as parties to that order the VIP Trust and any Future Funds and (2) permit shares of the Funds and Future Funds to be issued to and held by qualified pension and retirement plans outside the separate account context. Applicants: Templeton Variable Products Series Fund, Franklin Templeton Variable Insurance Products Trust, Templeton Funds Annuity Company or any successor to TFAC, and any future open-end investment company for which TFAC or any affiliate is the administrator, sub-administrator, investment manager, adviser, principal underwriter, or sponsor (collectively, the "Applicants"). Filing Date: The application was filed on July 14, 1999, and amended and restated on September 17, 1999. Hearing or Notification of Hearing: An order granting the application will be issued unless the Commission orders a hearing. Interested persons may request a hearing by writing to the Secretary of the Commission and serving Applicants with a copy of the request, personally or by mail. Hearing requests should be received by the Commission by 5:30 p.m., on October 12, 1999, and should be accompanied by proof of service on the Applicants in the form of an affidavit or, for lawyers, a certificate of service. Hearing requests should state the nature of the writer's interest, the reason for the request, and the issues contested. Persons who wish to be notified of a hearing may request notification by writing to the Secretary of the Commission. Addresses: Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20549-0609. Applicants: Templeton Variable Products Series Fund and Franklin Templeton Variable Insurance Products Trust, 777 Mariners Island Boulevard, San Mateo, California 94404, Attn: Karen L. Skidmore, Esq. For Further Information Contact: Kevin P. McEnery, Senior Counsel, or Susan M. Olson, Branch Chief, Office of Insurance Products, Division of Investment Management, at (202) 942-0670. Supplementary Information: The following is a summary of the application. The complete application is available for a fee from the SEC's Public Reference Branch, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549-0102 (tel. (202)942-8090). Applicants' Representations: 1. Each of the Funds is registered under the 1940 Act as an open-end management investment company and was organized as a Massachusetts business trust. The Templeton Trust currently consists of eight separate series, and the VIP Trust consists of twenty-five separate series. Each Fund's Declaration of Trust permits the Trustees to create additional series of shares at any time. The Funds currently serve as the underlying investment medium for variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies issued by various insurance companies. The Funds have entered into investment management agreements with certain investment managers ("Investment Managers") directly or indirectly owned by Franklin Resources, Inc. ("Resources"), a publicly owned company engaged in the financial services industry through its subsidiaries. 2. TFAC is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Resources. TFAC is the sole insurance company in the Franklin Templeton organization, and specializes in the writing of variable annuity contracts. The Templeton Trust has entered into a Fund Administration Agreement with Franklin Templeton Services, Inc. ("FT Services"), which replaced TFAC in 1998 as administrator, and FT Services subcontracts certain services to TFAC. FT Services also serves as administrator to all series of the VIP Trust. TFAC and FT Services provide certain administrative facilities and services for the VIP and Templeton Trusts. 3. On November 16, 1993, the Commission issued an order granting exemptive relief to permit shares of the Templeton Trust to be sold to and held by variable annuity and variable life insurance separate accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated life insurance companies (Investment Company Act Release No. 19879, File No. 812-8546) (the "Original Order"). Applicants incorporate by reference into the application the Application for the Original Order and each amendment thereto, the Notice of Application for the Original Order, and the Original Order, to the extent necessary, to supplement the representations made in the application in support of the requested relief. Applicants represent that all of the facts asserted in the Application for the Original Order and any amendments thereto remain true and accurate in all material respects to the extent that such facts are relevant to any relief on which Applicants continue to rely. The Original Order allows the Templeton Trust to offer its shares to insurance companies as the investment vehicle for their separate accounts supporting variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance contracts (collectively, the "Variable Contracts"). Applicants state that the Original Order does not (i) include the VIP Trust or Future Funds as parties, nor (ii) expressly address the sale of shares of the Funds or any Future Funds to qualified pension and retirement plans outside the separate account context including, without limitation, those trusts, plans, accounts, contracts or annuities described in Sections 401(a), 403(a), 403(b), 408(b), 408(k), 414(d), 457(b), 501(c)(18) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and any other trust, plan, contract, account or annuity that is determined to be within the scope of Treasury Regulation 1.817.5(f)(3)(iii) ("Qualified Plans"). 4. Separate accounts owning shares of the Funds and their insurance company depositors are referred to in the application as "Participating Separate Accounts" and "Participating Insurance Companies," respectively. The use of a common management investment company as the underlying investment medium for both variable annuity and variable life insurance separate accounts of a single insurance company (or of two or more affiliated insurance companies) is referred to as "mixed funding." The use of a common management investment company as the underlying investment medium for variable annuity and/or variable life insurance separate accounts of unaffiliated insurance companies is referred to as "shared funding." Applicants' Legal Analysis: 1. Applicants request that the Commission issue an amended order pursuant to Section 6(c) of the 1940 Act, adding the VIP Trust and Future Funds to the Original Order and exempting scheduled premium variable life insurance separate accounts and flexible premium variable life insurance separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies (and, to the extent necessary, any principal underwriter and depositor of such an account) and the Applicants from Sections 9(a), 13(a), 15(a) and 15(b) of the 1940 Act, and Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15) (and any comparable rule) thereunder, respectively, to the extent necessary to permit shares of the Funds and any Future Funds to be sold to and held by Qualified Plans. Applicants submit that the exemptions requested are appropriate in the public interest, consistent with the protection of investors, and consistent with the purposes fairly intended by the policy and provisions of the 1940 Act. 2. The Original Order does not include the VIP Trust or Future Funds as parties nor expressly address the sale of shares of the Funds or any Future Funds to Qualified Plans. Applicants propose that the VIP Trust and Future Funds be added as parties to the Original Order and the Funds and any Future Funds be permitted to offer and sell their shares to Qualified Plans. 3. Section 6(c) of the 1940 Act provides, in part, that the Commission, by order upon application, may conditionally or unconditionally exempt any person, security or transaction, or any class or classes of persons, securities or transactions from any provisions of the 1940 Act or the rules or regulations thereunder, if and to the extent that such exemption is necessary or appropriate in the public interest and consistent with the protection of investors and the purposes fairly intended by the policy and provisions of the 1940 Act. 4. In connection with the funding of scheduled premium variable life insurance contracts issued through a separate account registered under the 1940 Act as a unit investment trust ("UIT"), Rule 6e-2(b)(15) provides partial exemptions from various provisions of the 1940 Act, including the following: (1) Section 9(a), which makes it unlawful for certain individuals to act in the capacity of employee, officer, or director for a UIT, by limiting the application of the eligibility restrictions in Section 9(a) to affiliated persons directly participating in the management of a registered management investment company; and (2) Sections 13(a), 15(a) and 15(b) of the 1940 Act to the extent that those sections might be deemed to require "pass-through" voting with respect to an underlying fund's shares, by allowing an insurance company to disregard the voting instructions of contractowners in certain circumstances. 5. These exemptions are available, however, only where the management investment company underlying the separate account (the "underlying fund") offers its shares "exclusively to variable life insurance separate accounts of the life insurer, or of any affiliated life insurance company." Therefore, Rule 6e-2 does not permit either mixed funding or shared funding because the relief granted by Rule 6e-2(b)(15) is not available with respect to a scheduled premium variable life insurance separate account that owns shares of an underlying fund that also offers its shares to a variable annuity or a flexible premium variable life insurance separate account of the same company or of any affiliated life insurance company. Rule 6e-2(b)(15) also does not permit the sale of shares of the underlying fund to Qualified Plans. 6. In connection with flexible premium variable life insurance contracts issued through a separate account registered under the 1940 Act as a UIT, Rule 6e-3(T)(b)(15) also provides partial exemptions from Sections 9(a), 13(a), 15(a) and 15(b) of the 1940 Act. These exemptions, however, are available only where the separate account's underlying fund offers its shares "exclusively to separate accounts of the life insurer, or of any affiliated life insurance company, offering either scheduled contracts or flexible contracts, or both; or which also offer their shares to variable annuity separate accounts of the life insurer or of an affiliated life insurance company." Therefore, Rule 6e-3(T) permits mixed funding but does not permit shared funding and also does not permit the sale of shares of the underlying fund to Qualified Plans. As noted above, the Original Order granted the Templeton Trust exemptive relief to permit mixed and shared funding, but did not expressly address the sale of its shares to Qualified Plans. 7. Applicants note that if the Funds were to sell their shares only to Qualified Plans, exemptive relief under Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) would not be necessary. Applicants state that the relief provided for under Rule 6e-2(b)(15) and Rule 6e-3(T)(b)(15) does not relate to qualified pension and retirement plans or to a registered investment company's ability to sell its shares to such plans. 8. Applicants state that changes in the federal tax law have created the opportunity for each of the Funds to increase its asset base through the sale of its shares to Qualified Plans. Applicants state that Section 817(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), imposes certain diversification standards on the assets underlying Variable Contracts. Treasury Regulations generally require that, to meet the diversification requirements, all of the beneficial interests in the underlying investment company must be held by the segregated asset accounts of one or more life insurance companies. Notwithstanding this, Applicants note that the Treasury Regulations also contain an exception to this requirement that permits trustees of a Qualified Plan to hold shares of an investment company, the shares of which are also held by insurance company segregated asset accounts, without adversely affecting the status of the investment company as an adequately diversified underlying investment of Variable Contracts issued through such segregated asset accounts (Treas. Reg. 1.817-5(f)(3)(iii)). 9. Applicants state that the promulgation of Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15) under the 1940 Act preceded the issuance of these Treasury Regulations. Thus, Applicants assert that the sale of shares of the same investment company to both separate accounts and Qualified Plans was not contemplated at the time of the adoption of Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15). 10. Section 9(a) provides that it is unlawful for any company to serve as investment adviser or principal underwriter of any registered open-end investment company if an affiliated person of that company is subject to a disqualification enumerated in Section 9(a)(1) or (2). Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15) provide exemptions from Section 9(a) under certain circumstances, subject to the limitations on mixed and shared funding. These exemptions limit the application of the eligibility restrictions to affiliated individuals or companies that directly participate in the management of the underlying portfolio investment company. 11. Applicants state that the relief granted in Rule 6e-2(b)(15) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15) from the requirements of Section 9 limits, in effect, the amount of monitoring of an insurer's personnel that would otherwise be necessary to ensure compliance with Section 9 to that which is appropriate in light of the policy and purposes of Section 9. Applicants submit that those Rules recognize that it is not necessary for the protection of investors or the purposes fairly intended by the policy and provisions of the 1940 Act to apply the provisions of Section 9(a) to the many individuals involved in an insurance company complex, most of whom typically will have no involvement in matters pertaining to investment companies funding the separate accounts. 12. Applicants to the Original Order previously requested and received relief from Section 9(a) and Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15) to the extent necessary to permit mixed and shared funding. Applicants maintain that the relief previously granted from Section 9(a) will in no way be affected by the proposed sale of shares of the Funds to Qualified Plans. Those individuals who participate in the management or administration of the Funds will remain the same regardless of which Qualified Plans use such Funds. Applicants maintain that more broadly applying the requirements of Section 9(a) because of investment by Qualified Plans would not serve any regulatory purpose. Moreover, Qualified Plans, unlike separate accounts, are not themselves investment companies and therefore are not subject to Section 9 of the 1940 Act. 13. Applicants state that Rules 6e-2(b)(15)(iii) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15)(iii) provide exemptions from the pass-through voting requirement with respect to several significant matters, assuming the limitations on mixed and shared funding are observed. Rules 6e-2(b)(15)(iii)(A) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15)(iii)(A) provide that the insurance company may disregard the voting instructions of its contractowners with respect to the investments of an underlying fund or any contract between a fund and its investment adviser, when required to do so by an insurance regulatory authority (subject to the provisions of paragraphs (b)(5)(i) and (b)(7)(ii)(A) of the Rules). Rules 6e-2(b)(15)(iii)(B) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15)(iii)(A)(2) provide that the insurance company may disregard contractowners' voting instructions if the contractowners initiate any change in such company's investment policies, principal underwriter, or any investment adviser (provided that disregarding such voting instructions is reasonable and subject to the other provisions of paragraphs (b)(5)(ii) and (b)(7)(ii)(B) and (C) of the Rules). 14. Applicants assert that Qualified Plans, which are not registered as investment companies under the 1940 Act, have no requirement to pass-through the voting rights to plan participants. Applicants state that applicable law expressly reserves voting rights to certain specified persons. Under Section 403(a) of the Employment Retirement Income Security Act ("ERISA"), shares of a fund sold to a Qualified Plan must be held by the trustees of the Qualified Plan. Section 403(a) also provides that the trustee(s) must have exclusive authority and discretion to manage and control the Qualified Plan with two exceptions: (1) when the Qualified Plan expressly provides that the trustee(s) are subject to the direction of a named fiduciary who is not a trustee, in which case the trustees are subject to proper directions made in accordance with the terms of the Qualified Plan and not contrary to ERISA; and (2) when the authority to manage, acquire or dispose of assets of the Qualified Plan is delegated to one or more investment managers pursuant to Section 402(c)(3) of ERISA. Unless one of the two above exceptions stated in Section 403(a) applies, Qualified Plan trustees have the exclusive authority and responsibility for voting proxies. Where a named fiduciary to a Qualified Plan appoints an investment manager, the investment manager has the responsibility to vote the shares held unless the right to vote such shares is reserved to the trustees or the named fiduciary. Where a Qualified Plan does not provide participants with the right to give voting instructions, Applicants do not see any potential for material irreconcilable conflicts of interest between or among variable contract holders and Qualified Plan investors with respect to voting of the respective Fund's shares. Accordingly, Applicants state that, unlike the case with insurance company separate accounts, the issue of the resolution of material irreconcilable conflicts with respect to voting is not present with respect to such Qualified Plans since the Qualified Plans are not entitled to pass-through voting privileges. 15. Even if a Qualified Plan were to hold a controlling interest in one of the Funds, Applicants believe that such control would not disadvantage other investors in such Fund to any greater extent than is the case when any institutional shareholder holds a majority of the voting securities of any open-end management investment company. In this regard, Applicants submit that investment in a Fund by a Qualified Plan will not create any of the voting complications occasioned by mixed funding or shared funding. Unlike mixed or shared funding, Qualified Plan investor voting rights cannot be frustrated by veto rights of insurers or state regulators. 16. Applicants state that some of the Qualified Plans, however, may provide for the trustee(s), an investment adviser (or advisers), or another named fiduciary to exercise voting rights in accordance with instructions from participants. Where a Qualified Plan provides participants with the right to give voting instructions, Applicants see no reason to believe that participants in Qualified Plans generally or those in a particular Qualified Plan, either as a single group or in combination with participants in other Qualified Plans, would vote in a manner that would disadvantage Variable Contract holders. In sum, Applicants maintain that the purchase of shares of the Funds by Qualified Plans that provide voting rights does not present any complications not otherwise occasioned by mixed or shared funding. 17. Applicants do not believe that the sale of the shares of the Funds to Qualified Plans will increase the potential for material irreconcilable conflicts of interest between or among different types of investors. In particular, Applicants see very little potential for such conflicts beyond that which would otherwise exist between variable annuity and variable life insurance contractowners. 18. As noted above, Section 817(h) of the Code imposes certain diversification standards on the underlying assets of variable contracts held in an underlying mutual fund. The Code provides that a variable contract shall not be treated as an annuity contract or life insurance, as applicable, for any period (and any subsequent period) for which the investments are not, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Treasury Department, adequately diversified. 19. Treasury Department Regulations issued under Section 817(h) provide that, in order to meet the statutory diversification requirements, all of the beneficial interests in the investment company must be held by the segregated asset accounts of one or more insurance companies. However, the Regulations contain certain exceptions to this requirement, one of which allows shares in an underlying mutual fund to be held by the trustees of a qualified pension or retirement plan without adversely affecting the ability of shares in the underlying fund also to be held by separate accounts of insurance companies in connection with their variable contracts (Treas. Reg. 1.817-5(f)(3)(iii)). Thus, Applicants believe that the Treasury Regulations specifically permit "qualified pension or retirement plans" and separate accounts to invest in the same underlying fund. For this reason, Applicants have concluded that neither the Code nor the Treasury Regulations or revenue rulings thereunder presents any inherent conflict of interest. 20. Applicants note that while there are differences in the manner in which distributions from Variable Contracts and Qualified Plans are taxed, these differences will have no impact on the Funds. When distributions are to be made, and a Separate Account or Qualified Plan is unable to net purchase payments to make the distributions, the Separate Account and Qualified Plan will redeem shares of the Funds at their respective net asset value in conformity with Rule 22c-1 under the 1940 Act (without the imposition of any sales charge) to provide proceeds to meet distribution needs. A Qualified Plan will make distributions in accordance with the terms of the Qualified Plan. 21. Applicants maintain that it is possible to provide an equitable means of giving voting rights to Participating Separate Account contractowners and to Qualified Plans. In connection with any meeting of shareholders, the Funds will inform each shareholder, including each Participating Insurance Company and Qualified Plan, of information necessary for the meeting, including their respective share of ownership in the relevant Fund. Each Participating Insurance Company will then solicit voting instructions in accordance with Rules 6e-2 and 6e-3(T), as applicable, and its participation agreement with the relevant Fund. Shares held by Qualified Plans will be voted in accordance with applicable law. The voting rights provided to Qualified Plans with respect to shares of the Funds would be no different from the voting rights that are provided to Qualified Plans with respect to shares of funds sold to the general public. 22. Applicants have concluded that even if there should arise issues with respect to a state insurance commissioner's veto powers over investment objectives where the interests of contractowners and the interests of Qualified Plans are in conflict, the issues can be almost immediately resolved since the trustees of (or participants in) the Qualified Plans can, on their own, redeem the shares out of the Funds. Applicants note that state insurance commissioners have been given the veto power in recognition of the fact that insurance companies usually cannot simply redeem their separate accounts out of one fund and invest in another. Generally, time-consuming, complex transactions must be undertaken to accomplish such redemptions and transfers. Conversely, the trustees of Qualified Plans or the participants in participant-directed Qualified Plans can make the decision quickly and redeem their interest in the Funds and reinvest in another funding vehicle without the same regulatory impediments faced by separate accounts or, as is the case with most Qualified Plans, even hold cash pending suitable investment. 23. Applicants also state that they do not see any greater potential for material irreconcilable conflicts arising between the interests of participants under Qualified Plans and contractowners of Participating Separate Accounts from possible future changes in the federal tax laws than that which already exist between variable annuity contractowners and variable life insurance contractowners. 24. Applicants state that the sale of shares of the Funds to Qualified Plans in addition to separate accounts of Participating Insurance Companies will result in an increased amount of assets available for investment by the Funds. This may benefit variable contractowners by promoting economies of scale, by permitting increased safety of investments through greater diversification, and by making the addition of new portfolios more feasible. 25. Applicants assert that, regardless of the type of shareholders in each Fund, each Fund's Investment Manager is or would be contractually and otherwise obligated to manage the Fund solely and exclusively in accordance with that Fund's investment objectives, policies and restrictions as well as any guidelines established by the Board of Trustees of such Fund (the "Board"). The Investment Manager works with a pool of money and (except in a few instances where this may be required in order to comply with state insurance laws) does not take into account the identity of the shareholders. Thus, each Fund will be managed in the same manner as any other mutual fund. Applicants therefore see no significant legal impediment to permitting the sale of shares of the Funds to Qualified Plans. 26. Applicants state that the Commission has permitted the amendment of a substantially similar original order for the purpose of adding a party to the original order and has permitted open-end management investment companies to offer their shares directly to Qualified Plan in addition to separate accounts of affiliated or unaffiliated insurance companies which issue either or both variable annuity contracts or variable life insurance contracts. Applicants state that the amended order sought in the application is identical to precedent with respect to the conditions Applicants propose should be imposed on Qualified Plans in connection with investment in the Funds. Applicants' Conditions: If the requested amended order is granted, Applicants consent to the following conditions: 1. A majority of the Board of each Fund shall consist of persons who are not "interested persons" thereof, as defined by Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, and the rules thereunder and as modified by any applicable orders of the Commission, except that if this condition is not met by reason of the death, disqualification or bona fide resignation of any Board Member or Members, then the operation of this condition shall be suspended: (a) for a period of 45 days if the vacancy or vacancies may be filled by the remaining Board Members; (b) for a period of 60 days if a vote of shareholders is required to fill the vacancy or vacancies; or (c) for such longer period as the Commission may prescribe by order upon application. 2. The Board will monitor their respective Fund for the existence of any material irreconcilable conflict among the interests of the Variable Contract owners of all Separate Accounts investing in the Funds and of the Qualified Plan participants investing in the Funds. The Board will determine what action, if any, shall be taken in response to such conflicts. A material irreconcilable conflict may arise for a variety of reasons, including: (a) an action by any state insurance regulatory authority; (b) a change in applicable federal or state insurance, tax or securities laws or regulations, or a public ruling, private letter ruling, no-action or interpretive letter, or any similar action by insurance, tax or securities regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative or judicial decision in any relevant proceeding; (d) the manner in which the investments of the Funds are being managed; (e) a difference in voting instructions given by variable annuity contract owners, variable life insurance contract owners, and trustees of Qualified Plans; (f) a decision by an insurer to disregard the voting instructions of Variable Contract owners; or (g) if applicable, a decision by a Qualified Plan to disregard the voting instructions of Qualified Plan participants. 3. Participating Insurance Companies, the Investment Managers, and any Qualified Plan that executes a fund participation agreement upon becoming an owner of 10 percent or more of the assets of an Fund (a "Participating Qualified Plan"), will report any potential or existing conflicts of which it becomes aware to the Board of any relevant Fund. Participating Insurance Companies, the Investment Managers and the Participating Qualified Plans will be responsible for assisting the Board in carrying out its responsibilities under these conditions by providing the Board with all information reasonably necessary for the Board to consider any issues raised. This responsibility includes, but is not limited to, an obligation by each Participating Insurance Company to inform the Board whenever voting instructions of Contract owners are disregarded and, if pass-through voting is applicable, an obligation by each Participating Qualified Plan to inform the Board whenever it has determined to disregard Qualified Plan participant voting instructions. The responsibility to report such information and conflicts, and to assist the Board, will be contractual obligations of all Participating Insurance Companies investing in the Funds under their agreements governing participation in the Funds, and such agreements shall provide that these responsibilities will be carried out with a view only to the interests of the Variable Contract owners. The responsibility to report such information and conflicts, and to assist the Board, will be contractual obligations of all Participating Qualified Plans under their agreements governing participation in the Funds, and such agreements will provide that their responsibilities will be carried out with a view only to the interests of Qualified Plan participants. 4. If it is determined by a majority of the Board of a Fund, or by a majority of the disinterested Board Members, that a material irreconcilable conflict exists, the relevant Participating Insurance Companies and Participating Qualified Plans will, at their own expense and to the extent reasonably practicable as determined by a majority of the disinterested Board Members, take whatever steps are necessary to remedy or eliminate the material irreconcilable conflict, which steps could include: (a) in the case of Participating Insurance Companies, withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the Separate Account s from the Fund or any portfolio thereof and reinvesting such assets in a different investment medium, including another portfolio of an Fund or another Fund, or submitting the question as to whether such segregation should be implemented to a vote of all affected Variable Contract owners and, as appropriate, segregating the assets of any appropriate group (i.e., variable annuity contract owners or variable life insurance contract owners of one or more Participating Insurance Companies) that votes in favor of such segregation, or offering to the affected Variable Contract owners the option of making such a change; (b) in the case of Participating Qualified Plans, withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the Qualified Plans from the Fund and reinvesting such assets in a different investment medium; and (c) establishing a new registered management investment company or managed Separate Account. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a decision by a Participating Insurance Company to disregard Variable Contract owner voting instructions, and that decision represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote, then the insurer may be required, at the Fund's election, to withdraw the insurer's Separate Account investment in such Fund, and no charge or penalty will be imposed as a result of such withdrawal. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a Participating Qualified Plan's decision to disregard Qualified Plan participant voting instructions, if applicable, and that decision represents minority position or would preclude a majority vote, the Participating Qualified Plan may be required, at the Fund's election, to withdraw its investment in such Fund, and no charge or penalty will be imposed as a result of such withdrawal. The responsibility to take remedial action in the event of a determination by a Board of a material irreconcilable conflict and to bear the cost of such remedial action will be a contractual obligation of all Participating Insurance Companies and Participating Qualified Plans under their agreements governing participation in the Funds, and these responsibilities will be carried out with a view only to the interest of Variable Contract owners and Qualified Plan participants. 5. For purposes of Condition 4, a majority of the disinterested Board Members of the applicable Board will determine whether or not any proposed action adequately remedies any material irreconcilable conflict, but in no event will the relevant Fund or the Investment Managers be required to establish a new funding medium for any Contract. No Participating Insurance Company shall be required by Condition 4 to establish a new funding medium for any Variable Contract if any offer to do so has been declined by vote of a majority of the Variable Contract owners materially and adversely affected by the material irreconcilable conflict. Further, no Participating Qualified Plan shall be required by Condition 4 to establish a new funding medium for any Participating Qualified Plan if (a) a majority of Qualified Plan participants materially and adversely affected by the irreconcilable material conflict vote to decline such offer, or (b) pursuant to governing Qualified Plan documents and applicable law, the Participating Qualified Plan makes such decision without a Qualified Plan participant vote. 6. The determination of the Board of the existence of a material irreconcilable conflict and its implications will be made known in writing promptly to all Participating Insurance Companies and Participating Qualified Plans. 7. Participating Insurance Companies will provide pass-through voting privileges to Variable Contract owners who invest in registered Separate Accounts so long as and to the extent that the Commission continues to interpret the 1940 Act as requiring pass-through voting privileges for Variable Contract owners. As to Variable Contracts issued by unregistered Separate Accounts, pass-through voting privileges will be extended to participants to the extent granted by issuing insurance companies. Each Participating Insurance Company will also vote shares of the Funds held in its Separate Accounts for which no voting instructions from Contract owners are timely received, as well as shares of the Funds which the Participating Insurance Company itself owns, in the same proportion as those shares of the Funds for which voting instructions from contract owners are timely received. Participating Insurance Companies will be responsible for assuring that each of their registered Separate Accounts participating in the Funds calculates voting privileges in a manner consistent with other Participating Insurance Companies. The obligation to calculate voting privileges in a manner consistent with all other registered Separate Accounts investing in the Funds will be a contractual obligation of all Participating Insurance Companies under their agreements governing their participation in the Funds. Each Participating Qualified Plan will vote as required by applicable law and governing Qualified Plan documents. 8. All reports of potential or existing conflicts received by the Board of a Fund and all action by such Board with regard to determining the existence of a conflict, notifying Participating Insurance Companies and Participating Qualified Plans of a conflict, and determining whether any proposed action adequately remedies a conflict, will be properly recorded in the minutes of the meetings of such Board or other appropriate records, and such minutes or other records shall be made available to the Commission upon request. 9. Each Fund will notify all Participating Insurance Companies that separate disclosure in their respective Separate Account prospectuses may be appropriate to advise accounts regarding the potential risks of mixed and shared funding. Each Fund shall disclose in its prospectus that (a) the Fund is intended to be a funding vehicle for variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts offered by various insurance companies and for qualified pension and retirement plans; (b) due to differences of tax treatment and other considerations, the interests of various Contract owners participating in the Fund and/or the interests of Qualified Plans investing in the Fund may at some time be in conflict; and (c) the Board of such Fund will monitor events in order to identify the existence of any material irreconcilable conflicts and to determine what action, if any, should be taken in response to any such conflict. 10. Each Fund will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act requiring voting by shareholders (which, for these purposes, will be the persons having a voting interest in the shares of the Funds), and, in particular, the Funds will either provide for annual shareholder meetings (except insofar as the Commission may interpret Section 16 of the 1940 Act not to require such meetings) or comply with Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act, although the Funds are not the type of trust described in Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act, as well as with Section 16(a) of the 1940 Act and, if and when applicable, Section 16(b) of the 1940 Act. Further, each Fund will act in accordance with the Commission's interpretation of the requirements of Section 16(a) with respect to periodic elections of Board Members and with whatever rules the Commission may promulgate with respect thereto. 11. If and to the extent Rules 6e-2 or 6e-3(T) under the 1940 Act is amended, or proposed Rule 6e-3 under the 1940 Act 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 on terms and conditions materially different from any exemptions granted in the order requested in the application, then the Funds and/or Participating Insurance Companies and Participating Qualified Plans, as appropriate, shall take such steps as may be necessary to comply with such Rules 6e-2 and 6e-3(T), as amended, or proposed Rule 6e-3, as adopted, to the extent that such Rules are applicable. 12. The Participating Insurance Companies and Participating Qualified Plans and/or the Investment Managers, at least annually, will submit to the Board such reports, materials or data as the Board may reasonably request so that the Board may fully carry out obligations imposed upon it by the conditions contained in the application. Such reports, materials and data will be submitted more frequently if deemed appropriate by the Board. The obligations of the Participating Insurance Companies and Participating Qualified Plans to provide these reports, materials and data to the Board, when the Board so reasonably requests, shall be a contractual obligation of all Participating Insurance Companies and Participating Qualified Plans under their agreements governing participation in the Funds. 13. If a Qualified Plan should ever become a holder of ten percent or more of the assets of a Fund, such Qualified Plan will execute a participation agreement with the Fund that includes the conditions set forth herein to the extent applicable. A Qualified Plan will execute an application containing an acknowledgment of this condition upon such Qualified Plan's initial purchase of the shares of any Fund. Conclusion: Applicants assert that, for the reasons summarized above, the requested exemptions are appropriate in the public interest and consistent with the protection of investors and the purposes fairly intended by the policy and provisions of the 1940 Act. For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, pursuant to delegated authority. Templeton Variable Products Series Fund, et al. File No. 812-11698 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Release No. IC-24079 1999 SEC LEXIS 2177 October 13, 1999 ACTION: Order Granting Exemptions TEXT: Templeton Variable Products Series Fund ("Templeton Trust"), Franklin Templeton Variable Insurance Products Trust ("VIP Trust"), Templeton Funds Annuity Company ("TFAC") or any successor to TFAC, and any future open-end investment company for which TFAC or any affiliate is the administrator, sub-administrator, investment manager, adviser, principal underwriter, or sponsor ("Future Funds") filed an application on July 14, 1999, and an amendment on September 17, 1999 seeking an amended order of the Commission pursuant to Section 6(c) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 ("1940 Act") exempting them from the provisions of Sections 9(a), 13(a), 15(a) and 15(b) of the 1940 Act and Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15). The prior order (Rel. No. IC-19879) granted exemptive relief to permit shares of the Templeton Trust to be sold to and held by variable annuity and variable life insurance separate accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated life insurance companies. The proposed relief would amend the prior order to add as parties to that order the VIP Trust and any Future Funds and to permit shares of the Templeton Trust, the VIP Trust, and Future Funds to be issued to and held by qualified pension and retirement plans outside the separate account context. A notice of the filing of the application was issued on September 17, 1999 (Rel. No. IC-24018). The notice gave interested persons an opportunity to request a hearing and stated that an order granting the application would be issued unless a hearing should be ordered. No request for a hearing has been filed, and the Commission has not ordered a hearing. The matter has been considered, and it is found that granting the requested exemptions is appropriate in the public interest and consistent with the protection of investors and the purposes intended by the policy and provisions of the 1940 Act. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to Section 6(c) of the 1940 Act, that the requested exemptions from Sections 9(a), 13(a), 15(a) and 15(b) of the 1940 Act, and Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15) thereunder, be, and hereby are, granted, effective forthwith. For the Commission, by the Division of Investment Management, pursuant to delegated authority. Exhibit 8(c) PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT Among LSA VARIABLE SERIES TRUST, LSA ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC And ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY THIS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), made and entered into as of the tenth Day of October 2001, by and among Allstate Life Insurance Company (hereinafter the "Company"), on its own behalf and on behalf of each separate account of the Company named in Schedule 1 to this Agreement (collectively, the "Accounts"), LSA Variable Series Trust (the "Fund") and LSA Asset Management LLC (the "Manager"). WHEREAS, the Fund is an open-end management investment company and is available to act as the investment vehicle for separate accounts now in existence or to be established in the future for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts and other tax-deferred products offered by insurance companies (the "Participating Insurance Companies"); WHEREAS, the beneficial interest in the Fund is divided into several series of shares, each designated a "Portfolio", (collectively, the "Portfolios") and each representing the interests in a particular managed pool of securities and other assets; WHEREAS, the Fund has obtained an order from the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), dated October 4, 1999 (File No. 812-11656) (hereinafter, the "Order") granting relief to the Fund, the Manager and any subsequently registered open-end investment companies that in the future are advised by the Manager, or by any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Manager. Specifically, the Order provides exemptions from Section 15(a) of the 1940 Act and Rule 18f-2 thereunder, subject to the conditions set forth in the application, to permit investment advisers other than the Manager, to serve and act as an investment sub-adviser to one or more portfolios of the Fund (the "Adviser(s)") pursuant to written agreements between the Manager and each Adviser that have been approved by the Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") but which have not been approved by a vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of each portfolio. The Order also provides exemptions from: certain registration statement disclosure requirements of Items 3, 6(a)(1)(ii) and 15(a)(3) of Form N1-A and Item 3 of Form N-14; certain proxy statement disclosure requirements of Items 22(a)(3)(iv), (c)(1)(ii), (c)(1)(iii), (c)(8) and (c)(9) of Schedule 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; certain semi-annual reporting disclosure requirements of Item 48 of Form N-SAR; and, certain financial statement disclosure requirements of Sections 6-07(2)(a), (b), and (c) of Regulation S-X which may be deemed to require various disclosures regarding advisory fees paid to the Advisers; 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 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"): WHEREAS, the Manager is duly registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940: WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register certain variable annuity and/or life insurance contracts under the 1933 Act (the "Contracts") (unless an exemption from registration is available); WHEREAS, the Accounts are or will be 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 Contracts and the Accounts; WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register the Accounts as unit investment trusts under the 1940 Act (unless an exemption from registration is available); WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and regulations, the Company intends to purchase shares in the Portfolios (as named in Schedule 2 to this Agreement and as may be amended from time to time by mutual consent of the parties) on behalf of the Accounts to fund the Contracts (as named in Schedule 3 to this Agreement and as may be amended from time to time by mutual consent of the parties) and the Fund is authorized to sell such shares to the Accounts at net asset value; and NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Fund, the Manager and the Company agree as follows: ARTICLE I. Sale of Fund Shares 1.1. The Fund agrees to sell to the Company those shares of the Fund which the Company orders on behalf of the Account, 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 of the Fund. For purposes of this Section 1.1, the Company shall be the designee of the Fund for receipt of such orders from each Account and receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund; provided that the Fund receives notice of such order by 9:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on the next following Business Day. "Business Day" shall mean any day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which the Fund calculates its net asset value pursuant to the rules of the SEC. 1.2. The Company will pay for Fund shares on the next Business Day after it places an order to purchase Fund shares in accordance with Section 1.1. Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire or by a credit for any shares redeemed. 1.3 The Fund agrees to make Fund shares available for purchase at the applicable net asset value per share by the Company for its Accounts (as named in Schedule 1 to this Agreement and as may be amended from time to time by mutual consent of the parties) on those days on which the Fund calculates its net asset value pursuant to the rules of the SEC; provided, however, that the Board may refuse to sell shares of any Portfolio to any person, or suspend or terminate the offering of shares of any Portfolio 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 their fiduciary duties under federal and any applicable state laws, in the best interests of the shareholders of any Portfolio. 1.4 The Fund agrees to redeem, upon the Company's request, any full or fractional shares of the Fund held by the Company, 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 and receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund; provided that the Fund receives written (or facsimile) notice of such request for redemption by 9:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on the next following Business Day. Payment shall be made within the time period specified in the Fund's prospectus or statement of additional information, in federal funds transmitted by wire to the Company's account as designated by the Company in writing from time to time. 1.5 The Company shall pay for the Fund shares on the next Business Day after an order to purchase shares is made in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.4. Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire pursuant to the instructions of the Fund's treasurer or by a credit for any shares redeemed. 1.6 The Company agrees to purchase and redeem the shares of the Portfolios named In Schedule 2 offered by the Fund's then current prospectus and statement of additional information in accordance with the provisions of such prospectus and statement of additional information. 1.7 Net Asset Value. The Fund shall use its best efforts to inform the Company of the net asset value per share for each Portfolio available to the Company by 6:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time or as soon as reasonably practicable after the net asset value per share for such Portfolio is calculated. The Fund shall calculate such net asset value in accordance with the prospectus for such Portfolio. In the event that net asset values are not communicated to the Company by such time, the Company agrees to use its best efforts to include the net asset value when received in its next business cycle for purposes of calculating purchase orders and requests for redemption. However, if net asset values are not available for an inclusion in the next business cycle and purchase orders/redemptions are not able to be calculated and available to the Company to execute within the time-frame identified in Section 2.3 (a), the Fund shall reimburse and make the Company whole for any losses incurred as a result of such delays. 1.8 Pricing Errors. Any material errors in the calculation of the net asset value, dividends or capital gain information shall be reported to the Fund promptly upon discovery by the Company. An error shall be deemed "material" based on the Company's interpretation of the SEC's position and policy with regard to materiality, as it may be modified from time to time. Neither the Fund, the Manager, nor any of their affiliates shall be liable for any information provided to the Company pursuant to this Agreement which information is based on incorrect information supplied by or on behalf of the Company or any other Participating Company to the Fund or the Manager. The Fund shall make the Company whole for any payments or adjustments to the number of shares in the Account that are reasonably demonstrated to be required as a result of pricing errors. ARTICILE II. Representations and Warranties 2.1 The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts are or will be registered under the 1933 Act; that the Contracts will be issued and sold in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and state laws and that sale of the Contracts shall comply in all material respects with state insurance suitability requirements. The Company further represents and warrants that is an insurance company duly organized and in good standing under applicable law and that it has legally and validly established each Account prior to any issuance or sale thereof as a segregated asset account under laws of the State of Illinois and has registered or, prior to any issuance or sale of the Contracts, will register each Account as a unit investment trust in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act to serve as a segregated investment account for the Contracts. 2.2 The Fund represents and warrants that Fund shares sold pursuant to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act, duly authorized for issuance and sold in compliance with the applicable laws of the State of Delaware 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 advisable by the Fund. 2.3 The Fund represents that it is currently qualified as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and that it will make every effort to maintain such qualification (under Subchapter M or any successor or similar provision) and that it will notify the Company immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that it has ceased to so qualify or that it might not so qualify in the future. 2.4 The Company represents that the Contracts are currently treated as life insurance policies or annuity contracts, under applicable provisions of the Code and that it will make every effort to maintain such treatment and that it will notify the Fund immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Contracts have ceased to be so treated or that they might not be so treated in the future. 2.5 The Fund represents that to the extent that it decides to finance distribution expenses pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, the Fund undertakes to have its Board, a majority of whom are not interested persons of the Fund, formulate and approve any plan under Rule 12b-1 to finance distribution expenses. 2.6 The Fund makes no representation as to whether any aspect of Its operations (including, but not limited to, fees and expenses and investment policies) complies with the insurance laws or regulations of the various states except that the Fund represents that the Fund's investment policies, fees and expenses are and shall at all times remain in compliance with the applicable laws of the State of Delaware and the Fund represents that its operations are and shall at all times remain in material compliance with the applicable laws of the State of Delaware to the extent required to perform this Agreement. 2.7 The Fund represents that it is lawfully organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware and that it does and will comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act. 2.8 The Manager represents and warrants that it is and shall remain duly registered in all material respects under all applicable federal and state securities laws and that it will perform its obligations for the Fund in compliance in all material respects with the laws of its state of domicile and any applicable state and federal securities laws. The Manager further represents that it will make reasonable efforts to verify that all subadvisers are similarly registered. 2.9 The Fund represents and warrants that its trustees, officers, employees, and other individuals/entities, if any, dealing with the money and/or securities of the Fund are and shall continue to be at all times covered by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage for the benefit of the Fund in an amount not less than the minimal coverage as required currently by Rule 17g-(1) of the 1940 Act or related provisions as may be promulgated from time to time. The aforesaid blanket fidelity bond shall include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable bonding company. 2.10 The Company represents and warrants that all of its directors, officers, employees, investment advisers, and other individuals/entities, if any, dealing with the money and/or securities of the Fund are covered by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage, in an amount not less $5 million. The aforesaid includes coverage for larceny and embezzlement is issued by a reputable bonding company. The Company agrees to make all reasonable efforts to see that this bond or another bond containing these provisions is always in effect, and agrees to notify the Fund and the Manager in the event that such coverage no longer applies. ARTICLE III. Sales Material, Prospectuses and Other Reports 3.1 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 or the Manager is named, at least five Business Days prior to its use. No such material shall be used if the Fund or its designee reasonably objects to such use within five Business Days after receipt of such material. 3.2 Except with the express permission of the Fund, the Company shall not give any information or make any representations or statements on behalf of the Fund or concerning the Fund in connection with the sale of the Contracts other than the information or representations contained in the registration statement or prospectus for the Fund shares, as such registration statement and prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in reports or proxy statements for the Fund, or in sales literature or other promotional material approved by the Fund or its designee. 3.3 For purposes of this Article III, the phrase "sales literature or other promotional material" shall mean 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 billboard or electronic media), and sales literature (such as brochures, circulars, market letters and form letters), distributed or made generally available to customers or the public. 3.4 The Fund shall provide a copy of its current prospectus within a reasonable period of its effective filing date, and provide other assistance as is reasonably necessary in order for the Company once each year (or more frequently if the prospectus for the Fund is supplemented or amended) to have the prospectus for the Contracts and the prospectus for the Fund printed together in one document (such printing to be at the Company's expense). The Manager shall be permitted to review and approve the typeset form of the Fund's prospectus prior to such printing. 3.5 The Fund or the Manager shall provide the Company with either: (i) a copy of the Fund's proxy material, reports to shareholders, other information relating to the Fund necessary to prepare financial reports, and other communications to shareholders for printing and distribution to Contract owners at the Company's expense, or (ii) camera ready and/or printed copies, if appropriate, of such material for distribution to Contract owners at the Company's expense, within a reasonable period of the filing date for definitive copies of such material. The Manager shall be permitted to review and approve the typeset form of such proxy material, shareholder reports and communications prior to such printing. ARTICLE IV. Fees and Expenses 4.1 The Fund and Manager 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 or Manager, except as provided herein. 4.2 All expenses incident to performance by each party of its respective duties under this Agreement shall be paid by that party. The Fund shall ensure that all its shares are registered and authorized for issuance in accordance with applicable federal law and, if and to the extent advisable by the Fund, in accordance with applicable state laws prior to their sale. The Fund shall bear the expenses for the cost of registration and qualification of the Fund's shares, preparation and filing of the Fund's prospectus and registration statement, proxy materials and reports, and the preparation of all statements and notices required by any federal or state law. 4.3 The Fund, at its expense, shall provide the Company with copies of its proxy statements, reports to shareholders, and other communications (except for prospectuses and statements of additional information, which are covered in section 3.4) to shareholders in such quantity as the Company shall reasonably require for distributing to Contract owners. The Fund shall bear the expense of mailing such proxy materials in the event the proxy vote is a result of actions initiated by the Fund. 4.4 In the event the Fund adds one or more additional Portfolios and the parties desire to make such Portfolios available to the respective Contract owners as an underlying investment medium, a new Schedule 3 which shall be an amendment to this Agreement shall be executed by the parties authorizing the issuance of shares of the new Portfolios to the particular Account. The amendment may also provide for the sharing of expenses for the establishment of new Portfolios among Participating Insurance Companies desiring to invest in such Portfolios and the provision of funds as the initial investment in the new Portfolios. 4.5 Except as provided in this Section 4.5, all expenses of preparing, setting in type and printing and distributing Fund prospectuses and statements of additional information, or supplements thereto, shall be the expense of the Company. For prospectuses and statements of additional information provided by the Company to its existing owners of Contracts who currently own shares of one or more of the Fund's Portfolios, in order to update disclosure as required by the 1933 Act and/or the 1940 Act, the cost of printing shall be borne by the Fund. If the Company chooses to receive camera-ready film or computer diskettes in lieu of receiving printed copies of the Fund's prospectus, the Fund shall bear the cost of typesetting to provide the Fund's prospectus to the Company in the format in which the Fund is accustomed to formatting prospectuses, and the Company shall bear the expense of adjusting or changing the format to conform with any of its prospectuses. In such event, the Fund will reimburse the Company in an amount equal to the product of x and y where x is the number of such prospectuses distributed to owners of the Contracts who currently own shares of one or more of the Fund's Portfolios, and y is the Fund's per unit cost of typesetting and printing the Fund's prospectus. The same procedure shall be followed with respect to the Fund's statement of additional information. The Company agrees to provide the Fund or its designee with such information as may be reasonably requested by the Fund to assure that the Fund's expenses do not include the cost of printing, typesetting, and distributing any prospectuses or statements of additional information other than those actually distributed to existing owners of the Contracts who currently own shares of one or more of the Fund's Portfolios. ARTICLE V. Conditions of the Order: Applicable Law --------------------------------------- 5.1 The Company has reviewed a copy of the Order, and in particular, has reviewed the conditions to the requested relief set forth therein. The Company agrees to be bound by the responsibilities of a Participating Insurance Company as set forth in the Order. 5.2 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware. 5.3 This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the 1933, 1934 and 1940 Acts, and the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder, including such exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as the SEC may grant (including, but not limited to, the Order) and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance therewith. ARTICLE VI. Diversification 6.1 The Fund will at all times invest money from the Contracts in such a manner as to ensure that the Contracts will be treated as variable contracts under the Code and the regulations issued thereunder. Without limiting the scope of the foregoing, the Fund will at all times comply with Section 817(h) of the Code and Treasury Regulation 1.817-5, relating to the diversification requirements for variable annuity, endowment, or life insurance contracts and any amendments or other modifications to such Section or Regulations. In the even of a breach of this Article VI by the Fund, it will take all reasonable steps (a) to notify Company of such breach and (b) to adequately diversify the Fund so as to achieve compliance within the grace period afforded by Regulation 817-5. The Fund shall provide the Company information reasonably requested in relation to Section 817(h) diversification requirements, including quarterly reports and annual certifications. ARTICLE VII. Potential Conflicts 7.1 The Board will monitor the Fund for the existence of any material irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the contract owners of all separate accounts investing in the Fund. A material irreconcilable conflict may arise for a variety of reasons, including: (a) an action by any state insurance regulatory authority: (b) a change in applicable federal or state insurance, tax, or securities laws or regulations, or a public ruling, private letter ruling, no-action or interpretative letter, or any similar action by insurance. tax, or securities regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative or judicial decision in any relevant proceeding; (d) the manner in which the investments of any Portfolio are being managed; (e) a difference in voting instructions given by Variable Insurance Product owners; or (f) a decision by a Participating Insurance Company to disregard the voting instructions of contract owners. The Board shall promptly inform the Company if it determines that an irreconcilable material conflict exists and the implications thereof. ARTICLE VIII. Indemnification 8.1 Indemnification By The Company 8.1(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and each member of the Board and officers, and each Adviser and each director and officer of each Adviser, and each person, if any, who controls the Fund or the Adviser within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" and individually, "Indemnified Party", for purposes of this Section 8.1) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Company) or litigation (including legal and other expenses), to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute, 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 Fund's shares or the Contracts and: (i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements or alleged untrue statements of any material fact contained in the registration statement or prospectus for the Contracts or contained in the Contracts or sales literature for the Contracts (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, provided that this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Fund for use in the registration statement or prospectus for the Contracts or in the Contracts or sales literature (or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares; or (ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other than statements or representations contained in the registration statement, prospectus or sales literature of the Fund not supplied by the Company, or persons under its control and other than statements or representations authorized by the Fund or an Adviser) or unlawful conduct of the Company or persons under its control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Fund shares; or (iii)arise out of or as a result of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a registration statement, prospectus, or sales literature of the Fund or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading if such a statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Fund by or on behalf of the Company; or (iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Company to provide the services and furnish the materials under the terms of this Agreement; or (v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any representation and/or warranty made by the Company in this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by the Company, as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Sections 8.1(b) and 8.1 (c) hereof. 8.1(b) The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation incurred or assessed against an Indemnified Party as such may arise from such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations or duties under this Agreement. 8.1(c) The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Company in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Company of any such claim shall not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this indemnification provisions. In case any such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties, the Company shall be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense of such action. The Company also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from the Company to such party of the Company's election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Company will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. 8.1(d). The Indemnified Parties will promptly notify the Company of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against them in connection with the issuance or sale of the Fund shares or the Contracts or the operation of the Fund. 8.2 Indemnification by the Manager 8.2(a). The Manager agrees, with respect to each Portfolio that it manages, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each of its directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" and individually, "Indemnified Party," for purposes of this Section 8.2) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Adviser) or litigation (including legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject under any statute, 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 shares of the Portfolio that it manages or the Contracts and: (i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the registration statement or prospectus or sales literature of the Fund (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, provided that this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Fund by or on behalf of the Company for use in the registration statement or prospectus for the Fund or in sales literature (or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Portfolio shares; or (ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other than statements or representations contained in the registration statement, prospectus or sales literature for the Contracts not supplied by the Fund or persons under its control and other than statements or representations authorized by the Company) or unlawful conduct of the Fund or Manager(s) or persons under their control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the Con-tracts or Portfolio shares; or (iii) arise out of or as a result of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a registration statement, prospectus, or sales literature covering the Contracts, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement or statements therein not misleading, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Fund; or (iv) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund to provide the services and furnish the materials under the terms of this Agreement; or (v) arise out of or result from any material breach of any representation and/or warranty made by the Manager in this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by the Manager; as limited by and in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.2(b) and 8.2(c) hereof. 8.2(b). The Manager shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation incurred or assessed against an Indemnified Party as such may arise from such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement. 8.2(c). The Manager shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Manager in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Manager of any such claim shall not relieve the Manager from any liability which it may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties, the Manager will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Manager also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from the Manager to such party of the Manager's election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Manager will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. 8.2(d). The Company agrees promptly to notify the Manager of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers or directors in connection with the issuance or sale of the Contracts or the operation of each Account. 8.3 Indemnification by the Fund 8.3(a). The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, and each of its directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (hereinafter collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" and individually, "Indemnified Party," for purposes of this Section 8.3) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Fund) or litigation (including legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties may 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 result from the gross negligence (except for failure to comply with Section 6.1 of this Agreement for which the standard is negligence), bad faith or willful misconduct of the Board or any member thereof, are related to the operations of the Fund and: (i) arise as a result of any failure by the Fund to provide the services and furnish the materials under the terms of this Agreement (including any failure to comply with Section 6.1 of this Agreement); or (ii) arise out of or result from any material breach of any representation and/or warranty made by the Fund in this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by the Fund; 8.3(b). The Fund shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation incurred or assessed against an Indemnified Party as may arise from such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement. 8.3(c). The Fund shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Fund in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Fund of any such claim shall not relieve the Fund from any liability which it may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties, the Fund will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Fund also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from the Fund to such party of the Fund's election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Fund will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. 8.3(d). The Company agrees promptly to notify the Fund of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its respective officers or directors in connection with this Agreement, the issuance or sale of the Contracts, with respect to the operation of either Account, or the sale or acquisition of shares of the Fund. ARTICLE IX. Termination 9.1 This Agreement shall terminate with respect to some or all Portfolios: (a) at the option of any party upon six months advance written notice to the other parties at the address specified in Section X of this Agreement; or (b) at the option of the Company to the extent that shares of Portfolios are not reasonably available to meet the requirements of its Contracts or are not appropriate funding vehicles for the Contracts, as determined by the Company reasonably and in good faith. Prompt written notice of the election to terminate for such cause and an explanation of such cause shall be furnished by the Company. 9.2. It is understood and agreed that the right of any party hereto to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(a) may be exercised for cause or for no cause. ARTICLE X. Notices Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or certified mail to the other party at the address of such party set forth below or at such other address as such party may from time to time specify in writing to the other parties to this Agreement. If to the Fund: LSA Variable Series Trust 3100 Sanders Road Northbrook, Illinois 60062 ATTN: Law Department, J5B If to the Manager: LSA Asset Management LLC 3100 Sanders Road Northbrook, Illinois 60062 ATTN: Law Department, J5B If to the Company: Allstate Life Insurance Company 3100 Sanders Road Northbrook, Illinois 60062 ATTN: Law Department, J5B ARTICLE XI. Miscellaneous 11.1 Subject to the requirements of legal process and regulatory authority, each party hereto shall treat as confidential the names and addresses of the owners of the Contracts and all information reasonably identified as confidential in writing by any other party hereto and, except as permitted by the Agreement, shall not disclose, disseminate or utilize such names and addresses and other confidential information without the express written consent of the affected party until such time as it may come into the public domain. 11.2 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. 11.3 This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. 11.4 If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, status, rule, or otherwise, the remainder of the Agreement shall not be affected thereby. 11.5 Each party hereto shall cooperate with all appropriate governmental authorities (including without limitation the SEC, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and state insurance regulators) and shall permit such authorities reasonable access to its books and records in connection with any investigation or inquiry relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Each party hereto shall promptly notify the other parties to this Agreement, by written notice to the addresses specified in Section V, of any such investigation or inquiry. 11.6 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. 11.7 It is understood by the parties that this Agreement is not an exclusive arrangement. 11.8 The Company and the Manager each understand and agree that the obligations of the Fund under this Agreement are not binding upon any shareholder of the Fund personally, but bind only the Fund and the Fund's property; the Company and the Manager separately represent that each has notice of the provisions of the Declaration of Trust of the Fund disclaiming shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Fund. 11.9 This Agreement shall not be assigned by any party hereto without the prior written consent of all the parties. 11.10 This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement between the parties and supercedes all prior communications, agreements and understandings, oral or written, between the parties regarding the subject matter hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be executed and ratified in its name and on its behalf by its duly authorized representative as of the day and year above written. ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY By:____________________________________ Title: __________________________________ LSA VARIABLE SERIES TRUST By: ___________________________________ Title:__________________________________ LSA ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC By: ___________________________________ Title: __________________________________ IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be executed and ratified in its name and on its behalf by its duly authorized representative as of the day and year above written. ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY By: ___________________________________ Title: __________________________________ LSA VARIABLE SERIES TRUST By: ___________________________________ Title: __________________________________ LSA ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC By: ___________________________________ Title: __________________________________ IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be executed and ratified in its name and on its behalf by its duly authorized representative as of the day and year above written. ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY By: ___________________________________ Title: __________________________________ LSA VARIABLE SERIES TRUST By: ___________________________________ Title: __________________________________ LSA ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC By: ___________________________________ Title: __________________________________ Schedule 1 Separate Accounts Allstate Financial Advisors Separate Account I Schedule 2 Authorized Portfolios LSA Variable Series Trust Aggressive Growth Fund LSA Variable Series Trust Balanced Fund LSA Variable Series Trust Basic Value Fund LSA Variable Series Trust Blue Chip Fund LSA Variable Series Trust Capital Appreciation Fund LSA Variable Series Trust Disciplined Equity Fund LSA Variable Series Trust Diversified Mid-Cap Fund LSA Variable Series Trust Emerging Growth Equity Fund LSA Variable Series Trust Focused Equity Fund LSA Variable Series Trust Growth Equity Fund LSA Variable Series Trust Mid Cap Value Fund LSA Variable Series Trust Value Equity Fund Schedule 3 Contracts Allstate Financial Personal Retirement Manager Exhibit 8(d) AMENDMENT NO. 1 To PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT Among LSA VARIABLE SERIES TRUST, LSA ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC And ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY THIS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), made and entered into as of the first day of June 2002, by and among Allstate Life Insurance Company (hereinafter the "Company"), on its own behalf and on behalf of one or more of its separate accounts, LSA Variable Series Trust (the "Fund") and LSA Asset Management LLC (the "Manager"). WHEREAS, effective October 10, 2001, the parties hereto entered into a Participation Agreement ("Participation Agreement") which describes, among other things, the respective duties and obligations of the Company, the Fund and the Manager; and WHEREAS, the parties agree that the Participation Agreement should be amended in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Fund, the Manager and the Company agree as follows: Section 1. Amendment to Article VII of Participation Agreement 1.1 Unless otherwise indicated, defined terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Participation Agreement. 1.2 The parties agree that, effective as of the date of this Agreement, Article VII of the Participation Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and is replaced with the following section, which now shall be deemed Article VII of such agreement: ARTICLE VII. Potential Material Irreconcilable Conflicts 7.1 The parties acknowledge that the Fund's shares may be made available for investment to other Participating Insurance Companies that are affiliated with the Company, and that the separate accounts of such companies may serve as investment vehicles for both variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts. In such event, the trustees ("Trustees") of the Fund will monitor the Fund for the existence of any material irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the contract owners of all Participating Insurance Companies. An irreconcilable material conflict may arise for a variety of reasons, including: (a) an action by any state insurance regulatory authority; (b) a change in applicable federal or state insurance, tax, or securities laws or regulations, or a public ruling, private letter ruling, no-action or interpretative letter, or any similar action by insurance, tax, or securities regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative or judicial decision in any relevant proceeding; (d) the manner in which the investments of any Portfolio are being managed; (e) a difference in voting instructions given by variable annuity contract and variable life insurance contract owners; or (f) a decision by a Participating Insurance Company to disregard the voting instructions of contract owners. The Board shall promptly inform the Company if it determines that an irreconcilable material conflict exists and the implications thereof. 7.2 The Company agrees to promptly report any potential or existing conflicts of which it is aware to the Board. The Company will assist the Board in carrying out its specified responsibilities under this Article VII by providing the Board with all information reasonably necessary for the Board to consider any issues raised including, but not limited to, information regarding a decision by the Company to disregard Contract owner voting instructions. 7.3 If it is determined by a majority of the Trustees, or a majority of the Board's disinterested Trustees, that a material irreconcilable conflict exists that affects the interests of Contract owners, the Company shall, in cooperation with other Participating Insurance Companies whose contract owners are also affected, at its expense and to the extent reasonably practicable (as determined by the Board) take whatever steps are necessary or appropriate to remedy or eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict, which steps could include: (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 the question of whether or not such segregation should be implemented to a vote of all affected Contract owners and, as appropriate, segregating the assets of any appropriate group (i.e., annuity contract owners, life insurance contract owners, or variable contract owners of one or more Participating Insurance Companies) that votes in favor of such segregation, or offering to the affected Contract owners the option of making such a change; or (b) establishing a new registered management investment company or managed separate account. 7.4 If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a decision by the Company to disregard Contract owner voting instructions and that decision represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote, the Company may be required, at the Fund's election, to withdraw the affected Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with respect to such Account; provided, however, that such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by the foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the disinterested Trustees. Any such withdrawal and termination must take place within six (6) months after the Fund gives written notice that this provision is being implemented. Until the end of such six (6) month period, the Fund shall continue to accept and implement orders by the Company for the purchase and redemption of shares of the Fund. 7.5 If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a particular state insurance regulator's decision applicable to the Company conflicts with the majority of other state regulators, then the Company will withdraw the affected Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with respect to such Account within six (6) months after the Board informs the Company in writing that it has determined that such decision has created an irreconcilable material conflict; provided, however, that such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by the foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the disinterested Trustees. Until the end of such six (6) month period, the Fund shall continue to accept and implement orders by the Company for the purchase and redemption of shares of the Fund. 7.6 For purposes of Sections 7.3 through 7.6 of this Agreement, a majority of the disinterested Trustees shall determine whether any proposed action adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict, but in no event will the Company be required to establish a new funding medium for the Contracts if an offer to do so has been declined by a vote of a majority of Contract owners materially adversely affected by the irreconcilable material conflict. In the event that the Board determines that any proposed action does not adequately remedy any irreconcilable material conflict, then the Company will withdraw the Account's investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement within six (6) months after the Board informs the Company in writing of the foregoing determination; provided, however, that such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by any such material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the disinterested Trustees. 7.7 The Company shall at least annually submit to the Board such reports, materials or data as the Board may reasonably request so that the Board may fully carry out the duties imposed upon it in accordance with the requirements of this Article VII and, upon request, such reports, material and data shall be submitted more frequently and, in any other format, if deemed appropriate by the Board. 7.8 If and to the extent that Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) are amended, or Rule 6e-3 is adopted, to provided exemptive relief from any provision of the 1940 Act or the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to mixed or shared funding on terms and conditions materially different from those contained in this Article VII, then the Fund or the Participating Insurance Companies, as appropriate, shall take such steps as may be necessary to comply with Rules 6e-2 and 6e-3(T), as amended, and Rule 6e-3, as adopted, to the extent such rules may be applicable. Section 2. Miscellaneous 2.1 The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and do not define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. 2.2 This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all such counterparts, taken together, shall constitute one and the same instrument. 2.3 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. 2.4 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, to which the parties hereto are entitled under applicable state and federal laws. 2.5 This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and understanding between the parties and supercedes all prior communications, agreements and understandings, oral or written, between the parties regarding the subject matter hereof. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the Participation Agreement, then the terms of this Agreement shall supercede such conflicting terms of the Participation Agreement. [the remainder of this page is intentionally blank] IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be executed and ratified in its name, and on its behalf, by its duly authorized representative as of the day and year first above written. ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY By: ----------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- Title: Sr. Vice President ----------------------------------------------- LSA VARIABLE SERIES TRUST By: ----------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- Title: President ----------------------------------------------- LSA ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC By: ----------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------- Title: Chief Operating Officer ----------------------------------------------- Exhibit 8(e) AMENDMENT NO. 2 To PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT Among LSA VARIABLE SERIES TRUST, LSA ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC And ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY THIS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), made and entered into as of the ___ day of _____ 2002, by and among Allstate Life Insurance Company (hereinafter the "Company"), on its own behalf and on behalf of one or more of its separate accounts, LSA Variable Series Trust (the "Fund") and LSA Asset Management LLC (the "Manager"). WHEREAS, effective October 10, 2001, the parties hereto entered into a participation agreement ("Participation Agreement") which describes, among other things, the respective duties and obligations of the Company, the Fund and the Manager; and WHEREAS, the Participation Agreement was amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto effective as of June 1, 2002; WHEREAS, the parties agree that the Participation Agreement should be further amended in accordance with the terms of this Agreement; NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Fund, the Manager and the Company agree as follows: Section 1. Amendment to Schedule 1, Schedule 2 & Schedule 3 ------------------------------------------------ 1.1 Unless otherwise indicated, defined terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Participation Agreement. 1.2 The parties agree that, effective as of the date of this Agreement, Schedule 1, Schedule 2 and Schedule 3 of the Participation Agreement are hereby deleted in their entirety and are hereby replaced with the following schedules: Schedule 1 Separate Accounts Allstate Financial Advisors Separate Account 1 Allstate Life Insurance Company Separate Account A * * * * * Schedule 2 Authorized Portfolios 1. LSA Variable Series Trust Aggressive Growth Fund* 2. LSA Variable Series Trust Balanced Fund 3. LSA Variable Series Trust Basic Value 4. LSA Variable Series Trust Blue Chip Fund 5. LSA Variable Series Trust Capital Appreciation Fund 6. LSA Variable Series Trust Disciplined Equity 7. LSA Variable Series Trust Diversified Mid-Cap Fund 8. LSA Variable Series Trust Emerging Growth Equity Fund 9. LSA Variable Series Trust Focused Equity Fund* 10. LSA Variable Series Trust Growth Equity Fund 11. LSA Variable Series Trust Mid Cap Value Fund* 12. LSA Variable Series Trust Value Equity Fund * Previously made available as an underlying separate account investment option. * * * * * Schedule 3 Contracts Allstate Financial Personal Retirement Manager Allstate Advisor Allstate Advisor Plus Allstate Advisor Preferred Allstate Advisor Apex * * * * * Section 2. Miscellaneous 2.1 The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and do not define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. 2.2 This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all such counterparts, taken together, shall constitute one and the same instrument. 2.3 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. 2.4 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, to which the parties hereto are entitled under applicable state and federal laws. 2.5 This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and understanding between the parties and supercedes all prior communications, agreements and understandings, oral or written, between the parties regarding the subject matter hereof. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the Participation Agreement, then the terms of this Agreement shall supercede such conflicting terms of the Participation Agreement. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Agreement to be executed and ratified in its name, and on its behalf, by its duly authorized representative as of the day and year first above written. ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY By:____________________________________ Title: __________________________________ LSA VARIABLE SERIES TRUST By: ___________________________________ Title:__________________________________ LSA ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC By: ___________________________________ Title: __________________________________ Exhibit 8(f) PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT Among OPPENHEIMER VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUNDS, OPPENHEIMERFUNDS, INC. and ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY THIS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), made and entered into as of the 8th day of October, 2002 by and among Allstate Life Insurance Company (hereinafter the "Company"), on its own behalf and on behalf of each separate account of the Company named in Schedule 1 to this Agreement, as may be amended from time to time by mutual consent (hereinafter collectively the "Accounts"), Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds (hereinafter the "Fund") and OppenheimerFunds, Inc. (hereinafter the "Adviser"). WHEREAS, the Fund is an open-end management investment company and is available to act as the investment vehicle for separate accounts now in existence or to be established at any date hereafter for variable life insurance policies, variable annuity contracts and other tax-deferred products (collectively, the "Variable Insurance Products") offered by insurance companies (hereinafter "Participating Insurance Companies"); WHEREAS, the beneficial interest in the Fund is divided into several series of shares, each designated a "Portfolio", and each representing the interests in a particular managed pool of securities and other assets; WHEREAS, the Fund has obtained an order from the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), dated July 16, 1986 (File No. 812-6324) granting Participating Insurance Companies and variable annuity and variable life insurance separate accounts exemptions from the provisions of sections 9(a), 13(a), 15(a), and 15(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (hereinafter the "1940 Act") and Rules 6e-2(b)(15) and 6e-3(T)(b)(15) thereunder, to the extent necessary to permit shares of the Fund to be sold to and held by variable annuity and variable life insurance separate accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated life insurance companies (hereinafter the "Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order") WHEREAS, the Fund is registered as an open-end management investment company under the 1940 Act and its shares are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (hereinafter the "1933 Act"); WHEREAS, the Adviser is duly registered as an investment adviser under the federal Investment Advisers Act of 1940; WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register certain variable annuity and/or life insurance contracts under the 1933 Act (hereinafter "Contracts") (unless an exemption from registration is available); WHEREAS, the Accounts are or will be 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 contracts (the Separate Account(s) covered by the Agreement are specified in Schedule 1 attached hereto, as may be modified by mutual consent from time to time); WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register the Accounts as unit investment trusts under the 1940 Act (unless an exemption from registration is available); WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and regulations, the Company intends to purchase shares in the Portfolios (the Portfolios covered by this Agreement are specified in Schedule 2 attached hereto as may be modified by mutual consent from time to time), on behalf of the Accounts to fund the Contracts, and the Fund is authorized to sell such shares to unit investment trusts such as the Accounts at net asset value; and NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Fund, the Adviser and the Company agree as follows: ARTICLE I. Purchase and Redemption of Fund Shares -------------------------------------- 1.1. The Fund agrees to sell to the Company those shares of the Fund which the Company orders on behalf of the 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 of the Fund. For purposes of this Section 1.1, the Company shall be the designee of the Fund for receipt of such orders from each Account and receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund; provided that the Fund receives written (or facsimile) notice of such order 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 is open for trading and on which the Fund calculates its net asset value pursuant to the rules of the SEC. 1.2. The Company shall pay for Fund shares by 2:00 P.M. New York time on the next Business Day after it places an order to purchase Fund shares in accordance with Section 1.1 hereof. Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire or by a credit for any shares redeemed. 1.3. The Fund agrees to make Fund shares available for purchase by the Company for their separate Accounts listed in Schedule 1 on those days on which the Fund calculates its net asset value pursuant to rules of the SEC; provided, however, that the Board of Trustees of the Fund (hereinafter the "Trustees") may refuse to sell shares of any Portfolio to any person, or suspend or terminate the offering of shares of any Portfolio if such action is required by law or by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction or is, in the sole discretion of the Trustees, acting in good faith and in light of their fiduciary duties under federal and any applicable state laws, in the best interests of the shareholders of any Portfolio (including without limitation purchase orders that individually or together with other contemporaneous orders represent large transactions in shares of any Portfolio held for a relatively brief period of time). Such shares shall be purchased at the applicable net asset value per share, increased by any initial sales charge, if the Fund's prospectus then in effect imposes such a charge on such purchases. 1.4. The Fund agrees to redeem, upon the Company's request, any full or fractional shares of the Fund held by the Company, 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, reduced by any redemption fee or deferred sales charge, if the Fund's prospectus in effect as of the date of such redemption imposes such a fee or charge on such redemptions. For purposes of this Section 1.4, the Company shall be the designee of the Fund for receipt of requests for redemption and receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund; provided that the Fund receives written (or facsimile) notice of such request for redemption by 9:30 a.m. New York time on the next following Business Day; however the Company undertakes to use its best efforts to provide such notice to the Fund by no later than 9:00 A.M. New York time on the next following Business Day. Payment shall be made within the time period specified in the Fund's prospectus or statement of additional information, provided, however, that if the Fund does not pay for the Fund shares that are redeemed on the next Business Day after a request to redeem shares is made, then the Fund shall apply any such delay in redemptions uniformly to all holders of shares of that Portfolio. Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire to the Company's bank accounts as designated by the Company in writing from time to time. 1.5. The Company agrees to purchase and redeem the shares of the Portfolios named in Schedule 2 offered by the then current prospectus and statement of additional information of the Fund in accordance with the provisions of such prospectus and statement of additional information. The Company shall not permit any person other than a Contract owner to give instructions to the Company which would require the Company to redeem or exchange shares of the Fund. ARTICLE II. Representations and Warranties 2.1. The Company represents and warrants that the securities deemed to be issued by the Accounts under the Contracts are or will be registered under the 1933 Act (unless an exemption from registration is available) and, that the Contracts will be issued, offered and sold in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations, including without limitation state insurance suitability requirements and National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") conduct rules. The Company further represents and warrants that it is an insurance company duly organized and in good standing under applicable state law and that it has legally and validly established the Accounts prior to the issuance or sale of units thereof as a segregated asset account and has registered the Accounts as unit investment trusts in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act (unless an exemption from registration is available) to serve as segregated investment accounts for the Contracts, and that it will maintain such registration for so long as any Contracts are outstanding or until registration is no longer required under federal and state securities laws. The Company shall amend the registration statement under the 1933 Act for the Contracts and the registration statement under the 1940 Act for the Accounts from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of the Contracts or as may otherwise be required by applicable law. The Company shall register and qualify the Contracts for sale 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, for purposes other than diversification under Section 817 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended (the "Code"), that the Contracts are currently and at the time of issuance will be treated as life insurance or annuity contracts under applicable provisions of the Code and the regulations issued thereunder, and that it will make every effort to maintain such treatment and that it will notify the Fund and the Adviser immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Contracts have ceased to be so treated or that they might not be so treated in the future. In addition, the Company represents and warrants that the Accounts are a "segregated asset accounts" and that interests in the Accounts are offered exclusively through the purchase of or transfer into a "variable contract" within the meaning of such terms under Section 817 of the Code and the regulations issued thereunder (and any amendments or other modifications to such section or such regulations (and any revenue rulings, revenue procedures, notices and other published announcements of the Internal Revenue Service interpreting these provisions). The Company shall continue to meet such definitional requirements, and it will notify the Fund and the Adviser immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that such requirements have ceased to be met or that they might not be met in the future. The Company represents and warrants that it will not purchase Fund shares with assets derived from tax-qualified retirement plans except indirectly, through Contracts purchased in connection with such plans. 2.3. Subject to Section 2.5 hereof, the Company represents and warrants that the Contracts are currently and at the time of issuance will be treated as life insurance or annuity contracts under applicable provisions of the Code and that it will make every effort to maintain such treatment and that it will notify the Fund and the Adviser immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Contracts have ceased to be so treated or that they might not be so treated in the future. 2.4. The Fund represents and warrants that Fund shares sold pursuant to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act and duly authorized for issuance and sold in accordance with applicable state and federal law and that the Fund is and shall remain registered under the 1940 Act for as long as the Fund shares are sold. The Fund shall amend the registration statement for its shares under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of its shares. The Fund shall register and qualify the shares for sale in accordance with the laws of the various states only if and to the extent deemed advisable by the Fund. 2.5. The Fund will at all times invest money from the Contracts in such a manner as to ensure that the Contracts will be treated as variable contracts under the Code and the regulations issued thereunder. Without limiting the scope of the foregoing, the Fund represents and warrants that each Portfolio of the Fund will comply with Section 817(h) of the Code and Treasury Regulation 1.817-5, relating to the diversification requirements for variable annuity, endowment, or life insurance contracts and any amendments or other modifications to such Section or Regulations (and any revenue rulings, revenue procedures, notices, and other published announcements of the Internal Revenue Service interpreting these provisions). In the event the Fund should fail to so qualify, it will take all reasonable steps (a) to notify the Company of such breach and (b) to resume compliance with such diversification requirement within the grace period afforded by Treasury Regulation 1.817.5. The Fund and Adviser represent that each Portfolio is qualified as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Code and that it will maintain such qualification (under Subchapter M or any successor provision), and that it will notify the Company immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that it has ceased to so qualify or that it might not so qualify in the future. 2.6. If the Contracts purchase shares of a series and class of the Fund that have adopted a plan under Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act to finance distribution expenses (a "12b-1 Plan"), the Company agrees to provide the Trustees any information as may be reasonably necessary for the Trustees to review the Fund's 12b-1 Plan or Plans. 2.7. The Fund represents that it is lawfully organized and validly existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and that it does and will comply with applicable provisions of the 1940 Act. 2.8. The Adviser represents and warrants that it is and will remain duly registered under all applicable federal and state securities laws and that it shall perform its obligations for the Fund in compliance with any applicable state and federal securities laws. 2.9. The Fund and Adviser each represent and warrant that all of its respective directors, trustees, officers, employees, investment advisers, and transfer agent of the Fund are and shall continue to be at all times covered by a blanket fidelity bond (which may, at the Fund's election, be in the form of a joint insured bond) or similar coverage for the benefit of the Fund in an amount not less than the minimal coverage as required currently by Section 17(g) and Rule 17g-1 of the 1940 Act or related provisions as may be promulgated from time to time. The aforesaid Bond shall include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable insurance company. The Adviser agrees to make all reasonable efforts to see that this bond or another bond containing these provisions is always in effect, and agrees to notify the Company in the event that such coverage no longer applies. 2.10. The Company represents and warrants that all of its directors, officers, employees, agents, investment advisers, and other individuals and entities dealing with the money and/or securities of the Fund are covered by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage in an amount not less than the equivalent of U.S. $10 million. The aforesaid bond shall include coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be issued by a reputable insurance company. The Company agrees that any amount received under such bond in connection with claims that derive from arrangements described in this Agreement will be paid by the Company for the benefit of the Fund. The Company agrees to make all reasonable efforts to see that this bond or another bond containing these provisions is always in effect, and agrees to notify the Fund and the Adviser in the event that such coverage no longer applies. 2.11. The Fund and the Adviser represent that they will make a good faith effort to (a) materially comply with any applicable state insurance law restrictions with which the Fund must comply to perform its obligations under this Agreement, provided, however, that the Company provide specific notification of such restrictions to the Fund and the Adviser in advance and in writing,; and (b) furnish information to the Company about the Fund not otherwise available to the Company which is required by state insurance law to enable the Company to obtain the authority needed to issue the Contracts in any applicable state. ARTICLE III. Sales Material, Prospectuses and Other Reports ---------------------------------------------- 3.1. 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 or the Adviser is named, at least ten Business Days prior to its use. No such material shall be used if the Fund or its designee reasonably object to such use within ten Business Days after receipt of such material. "Business Day" shall mean any day in which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading and in which the Fund calculates its net asset value pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. 3.2. The Company shall not give any information or make any representations or statements on behalf of the Fund or concerning the Fund in connection with the sale of the Contracts other than the information or representations contained in the registration statement or prospectus for the Fund shares, as such registration statement and prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in reports or proxy statements for the Fund, or in sale literature or other promotional material approved by the Fund or its designee, except with the permission of the Fund. 3.3. For purposes of this Article III, the phrase "sales literature or other promotional material" means 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 billboard or electronic media), and sales literature (such as brochures, circulars, market letters and form letters), distributed or made generally available to customers or the public. 3.4. The Fund shall provide a copy of its current prospectus within a reasonable period of its filing date, and provide other assistance as is reasonably necessary in order for the Company once each year (or more frequently if the prospectus for the Fund is supplemented or amended) to have the prospectus for the Contracts and the Fund's prospectus printed together in one document (such printing to be at the Company's expense). The Adviser shall be permitted to review and approve the typeset form of the Fund's Prospectus prior to such printing. 3.5. The Fund or the Adviser shall provide the Company with either: (i) a copy of the Fund's proxy material, reports to shareholders, other information relating to the Fund necessary to prepare financial reports, and other communications to shareholders for printing and distribution to Contract owners at the Company's expense, or (ii) camera ready and/or printed copies, if appropriate, of such material for distribution to Contract owners at the Company' expense, within a reasonable period of the filing date for definitive copies of such material. The Adviser shall be permitted to review and approve the typeset form of such proxy material, shareholder reports and communications prior to such printing. 3.6. In the event a meeting of shareholders of the Fund (or any Portfolio) is called by the Trustees, the Company shall: (i) solicit voting instructions from Contract owners; (ii) vote the Portfolio(s) shares held in the Account in accordance with instructions received from Contract owners; (iii) vote Portfolio shares held in the Account for which no instructions have been received, as well as Portfolio shares held by the Company, in the same proportion as Portfolio(s) shares for which instructions have been received from Contract 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; and (iv) take responsibility for assuring that the Accounts calculate voting privileges in a manner consistent with other Participating Insurance Companies. The Fund and Adviser agree to assist the Company and the other Participating Insurance Companies in carrying out this responsibility. ARTICLE IV. Fees and Expenses 4.1. The Fund and Adviser 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 or Adviser, except as provided herein. 4.2. All expenses incident to performance by each party of its respective duties under this Agreement shall be paid by that party. The Fund shall see to it that all its shares are registered and authorized for issuance in accordance with applicable federal law and, if and to the extent advisable by the Fund, in accordance with applicable state laws prior to their sale. The Fund shall bear the expenses for the cost of registration and qualification of the Fund's shares, preparation and filing of the Fund's prospectus and registration statement, proxy materials and reports, and the preparation of all statements and notices required by any federal or state law. 4.3. The Company shall bear the expenses of typesetting, printing and distributing the Fund's prospectus, proxy materials and reports to owners of Contracts issued by the Company. 4.4. In the event the Fund adds one or more additional Portfolios and the parties desire to make such Portfolios available to the respective Contract owners as an underlying investment medium, a new Schedule 2 or an amendment to this Agreement shall be executed by the parties authorizing the issuance of shares of the new Portfolios to the particular Accounts. The amendment may also provide for the sharing of expenses for the establishment of new Portfolios among Participating Insurance Companies desiring to invest in such Portfolios and the provision of funds as the initial investment in the new Portfolios. ARTICLE V. Potential Conflicts 5.1. The Board of Trustees of the Fund (the "Board") will monitor the Fund for the existence of any material irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the Contract owners of all separate accounts investing in the Fund. An irreconcilable material conflict may arise for a variety of reasons, including: (a) an action by any state insurance regulatory authority; (b) a change in applicable federal or state insurance, tax, or securities laws or regulations, or a public ruling, private letter ruling, no-action or interpretative letter, or any similar action by insurance, tax, or securities regulatory authorities; (c) an administrative or judicial decision in any relevant proceeding; (d) the manner in which the investments of any Portfolio are being managed; (e) a difference in voting instructions given by participating insurance companies or by variable annuity contract and variable life insurance contract owners; or (f) a decision by an insurer to disregard the voting instructions of Contract owners. The Board shall promptly inform the Company if it determines that an irreconcilable material conflict exists and the implications thereof. 5.2. The Company has reviewed a copy of the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order, and in particular, has reviewed the conditions to the requested relief set forth therein. The Company agrees to be bound by the responsibilities of a participating insurance company as set forth in the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order, including without limitation the requirement that the Company report any potential or existing conflicts of which it is aware to the Board. The Company will assist the Board in carrying out its responsibilities in monitoring such conflicts under the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order, by providing the Board in a timely manner with all information reasonably necessary for the Board to consider any issues raised. This includes, but is not limited to, an obligation by the Company to inform the Board whenever Contract owner voting instructions are disregarded and by confirming in writing, at the Fund's request, that the Company are unaware of any such potential or existing material irreconcilable conflicts. 5.3. If it is determined by a majority of the Board, or a majority of its disinterested Trustees, that a material irreconcilable conflict exists, the Company shall, at its expense and to the extent reasonably practicable (as determined by a majority of the disinterested Trustees), take whatever steps are necessary to remedy or eliminate the irreconcilable material conflict, up to and including: (1) withdrawing the assets allocable to some or all of the separate accounts from the Fund or any Portfolio and reinvesting such assets in a different investment medium, including (but not limited to) another Portfolio of the Fund, or submitting the question whether such segregation should be implemented to a vote of all affected Contract owners and, as appropriate, segregating the assets of any appropriate group (i.e., annuity contract owners, life insurance contract owners, or variable contract owners of one or more Participating Insurance Companies) that votes in favor of such segregation, or offering to the affected Contract owners the option of making such a change; and (2) establishing a new registered management investment company or managed separate accounts. The Company's obligations under this Section 5.3 shall not depend on whether other affected participating insurance companies fulfill a similar obligation. 5.4. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because of a decision by the Company to disregard Contract owner voting instructions and that decision could conflict with the majority of Contract owner instructions, the Company may be required, at the Fund's election, to withdraw the Accounts' investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement; provided, however, that such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by the foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board. Any such withdrawal and termination must take place within six (6) months after the Fund gives written notice that this provision is being implemented, and until the end of the six month period the Fund shall continue to accept and implement orders by the Company for the purchase and redemption of shares of the Fund. 5.5. If a material irreconcilable conflict arises because a particular state insurance regulator's decision applicable to the Company conflicts with the majority of other state regulators, then the Company will withdraw the Accounts' investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement within six months after the Board informs the Company in writing that it has determined that such decision has created an irreconcilable material conflict; provided, however, that such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by the foregoing material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board. Until the end of the foregoing six month period, the Fund shall continue to accept and implement orders by the Company for the purchase and redemption of shares of the Fund, subject to applicable regulatory limitation. 5.6. For purposes of Sections 5.3 through 5.6 of this Agreement, a majority of the disinterested members of the Board shall determine whether any proposed action adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict, but in no event will the Fund be required to establish a new funding medium for the Contracts. The Company shall not be required by Section 5.3 to establish a new funding medium for Contracts if an offer to do so has been declined by vote of a majority of Contract owners materially adversely affected by the irreconcilable material conflict. In the event that the Board determines that any proposed action does not adequately remedy any irreconcilable material conflict, then the Company will withdraw the particular Accounts' investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement within six (6) months after the Board informs the Company in writing of the foregoing determination, provided, however, that such withdrawal and termination shall be limited to the extent required by any such material irreconcilable conflict as determined by a majority of the disinterested members of the Board. ARTICLE VI. Applicable Law 6.1 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. 6.2. This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the 1933 Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the 1940 Act, and the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder, including such exemption from those statutes, rules and regulations as the Securities and Exchange Commission may grant (including, but not limited to, the Mixed and Shared Funding Exemptive Order) and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance therewith, provided however that the term "Registration Statement or Prospectus for the Variable Contracts" and terms of similar import shall include (i) any offering circular or similar document and sales literature or other promotional materials used to offer and/or sell the variable Contracts in compliance with the private offering exemption in the 1933 Act and applicable federal and state laws and regulations, and (ii) the term "Registration Statement" and "Prospectus" as defined in the 1933 Act. ARTICLE VII. Termination 7.1 This Agreement shall terminate: (a) at the option of any party upon six month's advance written notice to the other parties; (b) at the option of the Company to the extent that shares of Portfolios are not reasonably available to meet the requirements of its Contracts or are not appropriate funding vehicles for the Contracts, as determined by the Company reasonably and in good faith. Prompt notice of the election to terminate for such cause and an explanation of such cause shall be furnished by the Company; (c) as provided in Article V; (d) at the option of the Fund or the Adviser upon institution of formal proceedings against the Company (or its parent) by the NASD, the SEC, the insurance commission of any state or any other regulatory body having jurisdiction over that party, which would have a material adverse effect on the Company's ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement; (e) at the option of the Company upon institution of formal proceedings against the Fund or the Adviser (or its parent) by the NASD, the SEC, or any state securities or insurance department or any other regulatory body having jurisdiction over that party, which would have a material adverse effect on the Adviser's or the Fund's ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement; (f) at the option of the Company or the Fund upon receipt of any necessary regulatory approvals or the vote of the Contract owners having an interest in the Account (or any subaccount) to substitute the shares of another investment company for the corresponding Portfolio shares of the Fund in accordance with the terms of the Contracts for which those Portfolio shares have been selected to serve as the underlying investment media. The Company will give 45 days prior written notice to the Fund of the date of any proposed vote or other action taken to replace the Fund's shares; (g) at the option of the Company or the Fund upon a determination by a majority of the Board, or a majority of the disinterested Board members, that an irreconcilable material conflict exists among the interests of (i) all Contract owners of variable insurance products of all separate accounts or (ii) the interests of the Participating Insurance Companies investing in the Fund as delineated in Article VII of this Agreement; (h) at the option of the Company if the Fund ceases to qualify as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Code, or under any successor or similar provision, or if the Company reasonably believes that the Fund may fail to so qualify; (i) at the option of the Company if the Fund fails to meet the diversification requirements specified in section 2.5 hereof or if the Company reasonably believes that the Fund will fail to meet such requirements; (j) at the option of any party to this Agreement, upon another party's failure to cure a material breach of any provision of this Agreement within thirty days after written notice thereof; (k) at the option of the Company, if the Company determines in its sole judgment exercised in good faith, that either the Fund or the Adviser has suffered a material adverse change in its business, operations or financial condition since the date of this Agreement or is the subject of material adverse publicity which is likely to have a material adverse impact upon the business and operations of the Company; (l) at the option of the Fund or the Adviser, if the Fund or Adviser respectively, shall determine in its sole judgment exercised in good faith, that the Company has suffered a material adverse change in its business, operations or financial condition since the date of this Agreement or is the subject of material adverse publicity which is likely to have a material adverse impact upon the business and operations of the Fund or the Adviser; or (m) subject to the Fund's compliance with Section 2.5 hereof, at the option of the Fund in the event any of the Contracts are not issued or sold in accordance with applicable requirements of federal and/or state law. 7.2. It is understood and agreed that the right of any party hereto to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.1(a) may be exercised for cause or for no cause. ARTICLE VIII. Indemnification 8.1. Indemnification By The Company (a). The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund and the Adviser, each member of their Board of Trustees or Board of Directors, each of their officers and each person, if any, who controls the Fund within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 8.1) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Company) or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses), to which the Indemnified Parties 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 Fund's shares or the Contracts and: (i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the registration statement, prospectus or statement of additional information for the Contracts or contained in sales literature or other promotional material for the Contracts (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances which they were made; provided that this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Fund or the Adviser for use in the registration statement, prospectus or statement of additional information for the Contracts or sales literature (or any amendment or supplement) or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Fund shares; or (ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations by or on behalf of the Company (other than statements or representations contained in the Fund registration statement, Fund prospectus or sales literature or other promotional material of the Fund not supplied by the Company or persons under its control) or wrongful conduct of the Company or persons under its control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Fund shares, provided any such statement or representation or such wrongful conduct was not made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing, via fax or via electronic means, to the Company by or on behalf of the Advisor or the Fund; or (iii)arise out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Fund registration statement, Fund prospectus, statement of additional information or sales literature or other promotional material of the Fund or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances in which they were made, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished in writing, via fax or via electronic means, to the Fund or the Adviser by or on behalf of the Company or persons under its control; or (iv) arise out of or result from any material breach of this Agreement by the Company. except to the extent provided in Sections 8.1(b) and 8.3 hereof. This indemnification shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have. (b). The Company shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement. 8.2. Indemnification by Adviser and Fund 8.2(a)(1). The Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each of its directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties" for purposes of this Section 8.2) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Adviser) or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties 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 Fund's shares or the Contracts and: (i) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the registration statement, prospectus, statement of additional information or sales literature of the Fund (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances in which they were made; provided that this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement or omission or such alleged statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing, via fax or via electronic means, to the Adviser or the Fund by or on behalf of the Company for use in the Fund registration statement, prospectus or statement of additional information, or sales literature or other promotional material for the Contracts or of the Fund; or (ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other than statements or representations contained in the Contracts or in the Contract registration statement, the Contract prospectus, statement of additional information, or sales literature or other promotional material for the Contracts not supplied by the Adviser or the Fund or persons under the control of the Adviser or the Fund respectively) or wrongful conduct of the Adviser or persons under its control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts, provided any such statement or representation or such wrongful conduct was not made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing, via fax or via electronic means, to the Adviser or the Fund by or on behalf of the Company; or (iii)arise out of any untrue statement or allegedly untrue statement of a material fact contained in a registration statement, prospectus, statement of additional information or sales literature covering the Contracts (or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement or statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances in which they were made, if such statement or omission was made in reliance upon information furnished in writing, via fax or via electronic means, to the Company by or on behalf of the Fund or persons under the control of the Adviser; or (iv) arise out of or result from any material breach of this Agreement by the Adviser; except to the extent provided in Sections 8.2(b) and 8.3 hereof. This indemnification shall be in addition to any liability which the Adviser may otherwise have. 8.2(a)(2) The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Indemnified Parties [as defined in Section 8.2(a)(1)] against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Fund) or litigation (including reasonable legal and other expenses) to which the Indemnified Parties 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 operations of the Fund or the sale or acquisition of the Fund's shares and: (i) arise out of or are based upon (a) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact or (b) the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading, if such fact, statement or omission is contained in the registration statement for the Fund or the Contracts, or in the prospectus or statement of additional information for the Contracts or the Fund, or in any amendment to any of the foregoing, or in sales literature or other promotional material for the Contracts or of the Fund, provided, however, that this agreement to indemnify shall not apply as to any Indemnified Party if such statement, fact or omission or such alleged statement, fact or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing, via fax or via electronic means, to the Adviser or the Fund by or on behalf of the Indemnified Party; or (ii) arise out of or as a result of statements or representations (other than statements or representations contained in the Contracts or in the Contract registration statement, the Contract prospectus, statement of additional information, or sales literature or other promotional material for the Contracts not supplied by the Adviser or the Fund or persons under the control of the Adviser or the Fund respectively) or wrongful conduct of the Fund or persons under its control with respect to the sale or distribution of Contracts, provided any such statement or representation or such wrongful conduct was not made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing, via fax or via electronic means, to the Adviser or the Fund by or on behalf of the Company; or (iii)arise out of or result from any material breach of this Agreement by the Fund (including a failure to comply with the diversification requirements specified in Section 2.5 of this Agreement); except to the extent provided in Section 8.2(b) and 8.3 hereof. This indemnification shall be in addition to any liability which the Fund may otherwise have. (b). The Fund and Adviser shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation to which an Indemnified Party would otherwise be subject by reason of such Indemnified Party's willful misfeasance, bad faith, or gross negligence in the performance of such Indemnified Party's duties or by reason of such Indemnified Party's reckless disregard of obligations and duties under this Agreement. 8.3 Indemnification Procedure Any person obligated to provide indemnification under this Article VIII ("indemnifying party" for the purpose of this Section 8.3) shall not be liable under the indemnification provisions of this Article VIII with respect to any claim made against a party entitled to indemnification under this Article VIII ("indemnified party" for the purpose of this Section 8.3) unless such indemnified party shall have notified the indemnifying party in writing within a reasonable time after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such indemnified party (or after such party shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the indemnifying party of any such claim shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability which it may have to the indemnified party against whom such action is brought under the indemnification provisions of this Article VIII, except to the extent that the failure to notify results in the failure of actual notice to the indemnifying party and such indemnifying party is damaged solely as a result of failure to give such notice. In case any such action is brought against the indemnified party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof. The indemnifying party also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of the indemnifying party's election to assume the defense thereof, the indemnified party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the indemnifying party will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation, unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. 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. Notices Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or certified mail to the other party at the address of such party set forth below or at such other address as such party may from time to time specify to the other party. If to the Fund: Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds 498 Seventh Avenue, 14th Floor New York, NY 10018 Attn: General Counsel If to the Adviser: OppenheimerFunds, Inc. 498 Seventh Avenue, 14th Floor New York, NY 10018 Attn: General Counsel If to the Company: Allstate Life Insurance Company 3100 Sanders Road, M2A Northbrook, IL 60062 Attn: Timothy N. Vander Pas ARTICLE X. Miscellaneous 10.1. The Company represents and warrants that any Contracts eligible to purchase shares of the Fund and offered and/or sold in private placements will comply in all material respects with the exemptions from the registration requirements of the 1933 Act and applicable federal and state laws and regulations. 10.2. Subject to the requirements of legal process and regulatory authority, each party hereto shall treat as confidential the names and addresses of the owners of the Contracts and all information reasonably identified as confidential in writing by any other party hereto and, except as permitted by (i) this Agreement and (ii) by Title V, Subtitle A of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act and by regulations adopted thereunder by regulators having jurisdiction over the parties hereto, 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. 10.3. The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect. 10.4. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. 10.5. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of the Agreement shall not be affected thereby. 10.6. Each party hereto shall cooperate with, and promptly notify each other party and all appropriate governmental authorities (including without limitation the Securities and Exchange Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and state insurance regulators) and shall permit such authorities reasonable access to its books and records in connection with any investigation or inquiry relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. 10.7. 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. 10.8. It is understood by the parties that this Agreement is not an exclusive arrangement in any respect. 10.9. The Company and the Adviser each understand and agree that the obligations of the Fund under this Agreement are not binding upon any Trustee or shareholder of the Fund personally, but bind only the Fund with respect to the Portfolio and the Portfolio's property; the Company and the Adviser each represent that it has notice of the provisions of the Declaration of Trust of the Fund disclaiming Trustee and shareholder liability for acts or obligations of the Fund. 10.10. This Agreement shall not be assigned by any party hereto without the prior written consent of all the parties. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the Adviser may transfer or assign its rights, duties and obligations hereunder or interest herein to any entity owned, directly or indirectly, by Oppenheimer Acquisition Corp. (the Adviser's parent corporation) or to a successor in interest pursuant to a merger, reorganization, stock sale, asset sale or other transaction, without the consent of the Company, as long as (i) that assignee agrees to assume all the obligations imposed on the Adviser by this Agreement, and (ii) the Fund consents to that assignment. 10.11. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement between the parties and supercedes all prior communications, agreements and understandings, oral or written, between the parties regarding the subject matter hereof. 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 as of the date specified below. ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY By: __________________________________ Timothy N. Vander Pas Title: Assistant Vice President Date: ________________________________ OPPENHEIMER VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUNDS By: __________________________________ Robert G. Zack Title: Secretary Date: ________________________________ OPPENHEIMERFUNDS, INC. By: ---------------------------------- Robert G. Zack Title: Senior Vice President Date: ________________________________ SCHEDULE 1 Separate Accounts Products Allstate Financial Advisors Separate Account I Select Directions Allstate PRM Allstate Life Separate Account A Allstate Advisor Allstate Advisor Plus Allstate Advisor Preferred Allstate Advisor Apex SCHEDULE 2 Portfolios of Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds shown below do not include service class shares unless expressly indicated: Bond Fund/VA Capital Appreciation Fund/VA Global Securities Fund/VA High Income Fund/VA Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA Aggressive Growth Fund/VA - Service Class Global Securities Fund/VA - Service Class High Income Fund/VA - Service Class Main Street Growth & Income Fund/VA - Service Class Main Street Small Cap Fund/VA - Service Class Multiple Strategies Fund/VA - Service Class Strategic Bond Fund/VA - Service Class Exhibit 8(h) AMENDMENT NO. 2 --------------- To The PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT Among VAN KAMPEN LIFE INVESTMENT TRUST, VAN KAMPEN FUNDS INC., VAN KAMPEN ASSET MANAGEMENT INC., And ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY WHEREAS, Allstate Life Insurance Company ("Company"), Van Kampen Life Investment Trust ("Fund"), Van Kampen Funds Inc. ("Underwriter") and Van Kampen Asset Management Inc. ("Adviser") have previously entered into a Participation Agreement dated October 1, 2001 ("Agreement"); and WHEREAS, the Fund has agreed to provide Class II Shares to the separate accounts listed in Schedule A of the Agreement; and WHEREAS, each of the parties hereto desires to amend and restate Schedules A and B to the Agreement. NOW, THEREFORE, each of the parties hereby amends the Agreement as follows: 1. Schedule A is hereby amended and restated, and replaced in its entirety by the Schedule A attached ----------- ---------- hereto. 2. Schedule B is hereby amended and restated, and replaced in its entirety by the Schedule B attached ----------- ---------- hereto. 3. All capitalized terms used in this Amendment No. 2 shall have the meaning assigned in the Agreement. Except as set forth in this Amendment No. 2, no other modifications or changes are made to the Agreement. 4. This Amendment No. 2 may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together will be deemed one and the same document. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties have caused this Amendment No. 2 to be executed in their names and on their behalf and through their duly authorized offices, as of this 8tht day of October, 2002. ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY ---------------------------------------- By: Timothy N. Vander Pas Title: Assistant Vice President VAN KAMPEN LIFE INVESTMENT TRUST ----------------------------------------- By: Title: VAN KAMPEN FUNDS INC. ----------------------------------------- By: Title: VAN KAMPEN ASSET MANAGEMENT INC. -------------------------------- By: Title: SCHEDULE A SEPARATE ACCOUNTS AND CONTRACTS Name of Separate Account and Form Numbers and Names of Contracts Date Established by Board of Directors Funded by Separate Account ALLSTATE FINANCIAL ADVISORS Select Directions SEPARATE ACCOUNT I LU4518 April 30, 1999 Allstate PRM LU10150 ALLSTATE LIFE Allstate Advisor SEPARATE ACCOUNT A PA124 February 5, 1999 Allstate Advisor Plus PA151 Allstate Advisor Preferred PA 152 Allstate Advisor Apex TBD SCHEDULE B PARTICIPATING VAN KAMPEN LIFE INVESTMENT TRUST PORTFOLIOS Emerging Growth Portfolio - Class II Shares Growth and Income Portfolio - Class II Shares