Participation Agreement Value Line, Inc.

EX-99.H(VIII) 21 dex99hviii.htm PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT VALUE LINE, INC. Participation Agreement Value Line, Inc.

Exhibit (h)(viii)

PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

Among

VALUE LINE CENTURION FUND, INC.

VALUE LINE STRATEGIC ASSET MANAGEMENT TRUST

VALUE LINE SECURITIES, INC.

VALUE LINE, INC.

and

THE GUARDIAN INSURANCE & ANNUITY COMPANY, INC.

THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of the day of , 2003 by and among The Guardian Insurance & Annuity Company, Inc. (hereinafter the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, on its own behalf and on behalf of each separate account of the Company set forth on Schedule A hereto as may be amended from time to time (each such account hereinafter referred to as the “Account”), and Value Line Centurion Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation, Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust, a Massachusetts business trust, (hereinafter the “Fund” or “Funds”), Value Line Securities, Inc. a New York corporation (hereinafter the “Underwriter”), and Value Line, Inc., a New York corporation (hereinafter the “Adviser”).

WHEREAS, the Funds engage in business as open-end management investment companies and are available to act as investment vehicles for separate accounts established by insurance companies for individual and group life insurance policies and annuity contracts with variable accumulation and/or payout provisions (hereinafter referred to individually and/or collectively as “Variable Insurance Products”); and

WHEREAS, insurance companies desiring to utilize the Funds as investment vehicles under their Variable Insurance Products are required to enter into participation agreements with the Funds and the Underwriter (the “Participating Insurance Companies”); and

WHEREAS, the Funds intend to offer shares of the Funds, any one or more of which may be made available for Variable Insurance Products of Participating Insurance Companies and as set forth on Schedule B as may be amended from time to time by mutual agreement of the parties hereto, under this Agreement to the Accounts of the Company; and

WHEREAS, the Funds have obtained an order from the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting Participating Insurance Companies and Variable Insurance Product 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 Product separate accounts of both affiliated and unaffiliated life insurance companies (hereinafter the “Shared Funding Exemptive Order”); and

WHEREAS, the Funds are registered as open-end management investment companies under the 1940 Act and their shares are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (hereinafter the “1933 Act”); and

WHEREAS, the Adviser is duly registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and any applicable state securities laws; and

WHEREAS, the Adviser is the investment adviser of the Funds; and

WHEREAS, the Underwriter is registered as a broker/dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (hereinafter the “1934 Act”), is a member in good standing of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (hereinafter “NASD”) and serves as principal underwriter of the shares of the Funds; and

WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register certain Variable Insurance Products under the 1933 Act; and

WHEREAS, each Account is a duly organized, validly existing segregated asset account, established by resolution or under authority of the Board of Directors of the Company, on the date shown for such Account on Schedule A hereto, to set aside and invest assets attributable to the aforesaid Variable Insurance Products; and

WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register each Account as a unit investment trust under the 1940 Act; and

WHEREAS, to the extent permitted by applicable insurance laws and regulations, the Company intends to purchase shares of the Funds on behalf of each Account to fund certain of the aforesaid Variable Insurance Products and the Underwriter is authorized to sell such shares to each such Account at net asset value.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the Company, the Funds, the Underwriter and the Adviser agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

Fund Shares

1.1 The Fund and the Underwriter agree to make shares available for purchase by the Company and shall execute orders placed for each Account on a daily basis at the net asset value next computed after receipt by the Fund or its designee of such order. For purposes of this Section 1.1, the Company shall be the designee of the Fund and the Underwriter 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 10:00 a.m. Eastern time on the next following Business Day.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall use its best efforts to provide the Fund with notice of such orders by 10:00 a.m. Eastern 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 Securities and Exchange Commission, as set forth in the Fund’s prospectus and statement of additional information. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Trustees of the Fund (hereinafter the “Board”) may refuse to permit the Fund to sell shares of any Fund to any person, or suspend or terminate the offering of shares of any Fund 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, necessary in the best interests of the shareholders of such Fund.

1.2 The Fund and the Underwriter agree that shares of the Fund will be sold only to Participating Insurance Companies for their Variable Insurance Products. No shares of any Fund will be sold to the general public.

1.3 The Fund will not make its shares available for purchase by any insurance company or separate account unless an agreement containing provisions which afford the Company substantially the same protections currently provided by Sections 2.1, 2.4, 2.9, 3.4 and Article 7 of this Agreement is in effect to govern such sales.

1.4 The Fund and the Underwriter agree to redeem for cash, on the Company’s request and in accordance with the Fund’s currently effective Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information 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 from each Account and receipt by such designee shall constitute receipt by the Fund; provided that the Underwriter receives notice of such request for redemption on the next following Business Day in accordance with the timing rules described in Section 1.1.

1.5 The Company agrees that purchases and redemptions of Fund shares offered by the then current prospectus of the Fund shall be made in accordance with the provisions of such prospectus. The Accounts of the Company, under which amounts may be invested in the Fund are listed on Schedule A attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, as such Schedule A may be amended from time to time by mutual written agreement of all of the parties hereto.

1.6 The Company will place separate orders to purchase or redeem shares of each Fund. Each order shall describe the net amount of shares and dollar amount of each Fund to be purchased or redeemed. In the event of net purchases, the Company shall pay for Fund shares on the next Business Day after an order to purchase Fund shares is made in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.1 hereof. Payment shall be in federal funds transmitted by wire. In the event of net redemptions, the Fund shall pay the redemption proceeds in federal funds transmitted by wire on the next Business Day after an order to redeem Fund shares is made in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.4 hereof.

1.7 Issuance and transfer of the Fund’s shares will be by book entry only. Share certificates will not be issued to the Company or any Account. Shares ordered from the Fund will be recorded in an appropriate title for each Account or the appropriate subaccount of each Account.

1.8 The Underwriter shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to furnish same day notice by 6:00 p.m. Eastern time (by wire or telephone, followed by written confirmation) to the Company of any dividends or capital gain distributions payable on the Fund’s shares. The Company hereby elects to receive all such dividends and capital gain distributions as are payable on the Fund shares in additional shares of that Fund. The Company reserves the right to revoke this election and to receive all such dividends and capital gain distributions in cash. The Fund shall notify the Company of the number of shares so issued as payment of such dividends and distributions.

1.9 The Underwriter shall make the net asset value per share of each Fund available to the Company on a daily basis as soon as reasonably practical after the net asset value per share is calculated and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to make such net asset value per share available by 6:00 p.m. Eastern time. In the event that Underwriter is unable to meet the 6:00 p.m. time stated immediately above, then Underwriter shall provide the Company with additional time to notify Underwriter of purchase or redemption orders pursuant to Sections 1.1 and 1.4, respectively above. Such additional time shall be equal to the additional time that Underwriter takes to make the net asset values available to the Company provided, however, that notification must be made by 10:00 a.m. Eastern time on the Business Day such order is to be executed, regardless of when net asset value is made available.

1.10 If Underwriter provides materially incorrect share net asset value information through no fault of the Company, the Company shall be entitled to an adjustment with respect to the Fund shares purchased or redeemed to reflect the correct net asset value per share. The determination of the materiality of any net asset value pricing error shall be based on the SEC’s recommended guidelines regarding such errors. The correction of any such errors shall be made at the Company level pursuant to the SEC’s recommended guidelines. Any material error in the calculation or reporting of net asset value per share, dividend or capital gain information shall be reported promptly upon discovery to the Company.

ARTICLE 2

Representations and Warranties

2.1 The Company represents and warrants that the interests of Accounts (the “Contracts”) are or will be registered and will maintain the registration under the 1933 Act and the regulations thereunder to the extent required by the 1933 Act; that the Contracts will be issued and sold in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations. The Company further represents and warrants that it is an insurance company duly organized and in good standing under applicable law and that it has legally and validly established each Account prior to any issuance or sale thereof as a segregated asset account under the Delaware Insurance Code and the regulations thereunder and has registered or, prior to any issuance or sale of the Contracts, will register and will maintain the registration of each Account as a unit investment trust in accordance with and to the extent required by the provisions of the 1940 Act and the

regulations thereunder to serve as a segregated investment account for the Contracts. The Company shall amend its registration statement for its contracts under the 1933 Act and the 1940 Act from time to time as required in order to effect the continuous offering of its Contracts.

2.2 The Fund and the Underwriter represent and warrant that Fund shares sold pursuant to this Agreement shall be registered under the 1933 Act and the regulations thereunder to the extent required by the 1933 Act, duly authorized for issuance in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware and sold in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws and regulations and that the Fund is and shall remain registered under the 1940 Act and the regulations thereunder to the extent required by 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 and the Adviser represent that the Fund is currently qualified as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and that each will make every effort to maintain such qualification (under Subchapter M or any successor or similar provision) and that each will notify the Company immediately upon having a reasonable basis for believing that the Fund has ceased to so qualify or that the Fund might not so qualify in the future.

2.4 The Company represents that each Account is and will continue to be a “segregated account” under applicable provisions of the Code and that each Contract is and will be treated as a “variable contract” 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 Account or Contract has 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 a board of directors, 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.

2.7 The Fund and the Adviser represent that the Fund is duly organized and validly existing under the laws of their respective states of organization and that the Fund does and will comply in all material respects with the 1940 Act.

2.8 The Underwriter represents and warrants that it is and shall remain duly registered under all applicable federal and state laws and regulations and that it will perform its obligations for the Fund and the Company in compliance with the laws and regulations of its state of domicile and any applicable state and federal laws and regulations.

2.9 The Company represents and warrants that all of its directors, officers, employees, investment advisers, and other individuals/entities dealing with the money and/or securities of the Fund are and shall continue to be at all times covered by a blanket fidelity bond or similar coverage for the benefit of the Company and/or the Fund that is reasonable and customary in light of the Company’s obligations under this Agreement. The aforesaid includes coverage for larceny and embezzlement and shall be 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 Advisers in the event that such coverage no longer applies.

ARTICLE 3

Prospectuses, Reports to Shareholders and Proxy Statements, Voting

3.1 The Fund shall provide the Company with as many printed copies of the Fund’s current prospectus and statement of additional information as the Company may reasonably request. If requested by the Company in lieu of providing printed copies the Fund shall provide camera-ready film or computer diskettes containing the Fund’s prospectus and statement of additional information, and such other assistance as is reasonably necessary in order for the Company once each year (or more frequently if the prospectus and/or statement of additional information for the Fund is amended during the year) to have the prospectus for the Contracts and the Fund’s prospectus printed together in one document or separately. The Company may elect to print the Fund’s prospectus and/or its statement of additional information in combination with other fund companies’ prospectuses and statements of additional information.

3.2(a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 3.2, all expenses of preparing, setting in type and printing and distributing Fund prospectuses and statements of additional information shall be the expense of the Company. For prospectuses and statements of additional information provided by the Company to its existing owners of Contracts in order to update disclosure as required by the 1933 Act and/or the 1940 Act, the cost of setting in type, printing and distributing 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 and/or statement of additional information, the Fund shall bear the cost of typesetting to provide the Fund’s prospectus and/or statement of additional information to the Company in the format in which the Fund is accustomed to formatting prospectuses and statements of additional information, respectively, and the Company shall bear the expense of adjusting or changing the format to conform with any of its prospectuses and/or statements of additional information. 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, and y is the Fund’s per unit cost of printing the Fund’s prospectuses. The same procedures shall be followed with respect to the Fund’s statement of additional information. The Fund shall not pay any costs of typesetting, printing and distributing the Fund’s prospectus and/or statement of additional information to prospective Contract owners.

3.2(c) 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 typesetting, printing or distributing any of the foregoing documents other than those actually distributed to existing Contract owners.

3.2(d) The Fund shall pay no fee or other compensation to the Company under this Agreement, except that if the Fund adopts and implements a plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 to finance distribution expenses, then the Underwriter may make payments to the Company or to the underwriter for the Contracts if and in amounts agreed to by the Underwriter in writing.

3.2(e) All expenses, including expenses to be borne by the Fund pursuant to Section 3.2 hereof, incident to performance by the Fund under this Agreement shall be paid by the Fund. The Fund shall see to it that all its shares are registered and authorized for issuance in accordance with applicable federal law and, if and to the extent deemed advisable by the Fund, in accordance with applicable state laws prior to their sale. The Fund shall bear the expenses for the cost of registration and qualification of the Fund’s shares.

3.3 The Fund’s statement of additional information shall be obtainable from the Fund, the Underwriter, the Company or such other person as the Fund may designate.

3.4 If and to the extent required by law the Company shall distribute all proxy material furnished by the Fund to Contract Owners to whom voting privileges are required to be extended and shall:

(1)

solicit voting instructions from Contract owners;

(2)

vote the Fund shares in accordance with instructions received from Contract owners; and

(3)

vote Fund shares for which no instructions have been received in the same proportion as Fund shares for which instructions have been received, so long as and to the extent that the Securities and Exchange Commission continues to interpret the 1940 Act to require passthrough voting privileges for variable contract owners. The Company reserves the right to vote Fund shares held in any segregated asset account in its own right, to the extent permitted by law.

3.5 The Fund will comply with all provisions of the 1940 Act requiring voting by shareholders, and in particular the Fund will either provide for annual meetings (except insofar as the Securities and Exchange Commission may interpret Section 16 not to require such meetings) or comply with Section 16(c) of the 1940 Act (although the Fund is not one of the trusts described in Section 16(c) of that Act) as well as with Sections 16(a) and, if and when applicable, 16(b). Further, the Fund will act in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s interpretation of the requirements of Section 16(a) with respect to periodic elections of directors and with whatever rules the Commission may promulgate with respect thereto.

ARTICLE 4

Sales Material and Information

4.1 The Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the Fund, the Underwriter or their designee, each piece of sales literature or other promotional material (as defined in Section 4.5) prepared by the Company or any person contracting with the Company in which the Fund, the Adviser or the Underwriter is named, at least ten Business Days prior to its use. No such material shall be used if the Fund, the Adviser, the Underwriter or their designee reasonably objects to such use within ten Business Days after receipt of such material.

4.2 Neither the Company nor any person contracting with the Company shall 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 Fund prospectus, as such registration statement or Fund prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in reports to shareholders or proxy statements for the Fund, or in sales literature or other promotional material approved by the Fund or its designee, except with the permission of the Fund or its designee.

4.3 The Fund shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the Company or its designee, each piece of sales literature or other promotional material (as defined in Section 4.5) prepared by the Fund in which the Company or its Accounts, are named at least ten Business Days prior to its use. No such material shall be used if the Company or its designee reasonably objects to such use within ten Business Days after receipt of such material.

4.4 Neither the Fund nor the Underwriter shall give any information or make any representations on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company, each Account, or the Contracts, other than the information or representations contained in a registration statement or prospectus for the Contracts, as such registration statement or prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or in published reports or solicitations for voting instruction for each Account which are in the public domain or approved by the Company for distribution to Contract owners, or in sales literature or other promotional material approved by the Company or its designee, except with the permission of the Company.

4.5 For purposes of this Article 4, the phrase “sales literature or other promotional material” includes, but is not limited to, any of the following: advertisements (such as material published, or designed for use in, a newspaper, magazine, or other periodical, radio, television, telephone or tape recording, videotape display, signs or billboards, motion pictures, or other public media), sales literature (i.e., any written communication distributed or made generally available to customers or the public, including brochures, circulars, research reports, market letters, form letters, seminar texts, reprints or excerpts of any other advertisement, sales literature, or published article), educational or training materials or other communications distributed or made generally available to some or all agents or employees, and registration statements, prospectuses, statements of additional information, shareholder reports, and proxy materials.

ARTICLE 5

Distribution and Service Plans

5.1 The Fund is subject to a plan adopted under Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act pursuant to which, as described in the current prospectus of each Fund, the Fund may sell multiple classes of its shares with a varying combination of distribution fees, service fees, exchange features, conversion rights, voting rights, expense allocations and investment requirements.

5.2 Should the Company wish to participate in the Fund’s distribution plan with respect to a class of shares of the Fund pursuant to Rule 12b-1 (the “Rule 12b-1 Plan”) under the 1940 Act, or the Fund’s service plan (the “Service Plan”), each as described in the current prospectus of each Fund, with respect to a class of shares of the Fund, it is understood that the Company must be approved by the Board of Trustees of the Fund. Pursuant to the Rule 12b-1 Plan and the Service Plan, the Underwriter is authorized to remit payments at rates specified in the respective plans with respect to the net asset value of shares maintained by the Company for distribution-related services and/or personal services to Contract owners accounts provided. If the Company wishes to participate in these plans and receive the aforementioned remittance, the Company must enter into a separate agreement specifically regarding these plans. Pursuant to these aforementioned separate agreements, for Contracts issued on or after May 1, 2003, the Company or Guardian Investor Services LLC (the “Broker-Dealer”), as appropriate, will receive a total annual fee of [information omitted as confidential] of the value of each Fund’s assets in the Accounts as specified in Schedule A. For Contracts issued before May 1, 2003, the Company or the Broker-Dealer, as appropriate, will receive a total annual fee of [information omitted as confidential] of the value of each Fund’s assets in the Accounts as specified in Schedule A. The foregoing fee will be paid to the Company or the Broker-Dealer, as appropriate, on a quarterly basis, and in this regard payment of such fee will be made to the Company or the Broker-Dealer within 30 days following the end of each calendar quarter.

5.3 The Company’s acceptance of this Agreement constitutes a representation that it will adopt policies and procedures to comply with Rule 18f-3 under the 1940 Act, with respect to when the Company may appropriately make available the various classes of shares of the Fund and that it will make available such shares only in accordance therewith.

ARTICLE 6

Diversification

6.1 The Fund will use commercially reasonable efforts to 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 event the Fund ceases to so qualify, it will take all reasonable steps (a) to notify Company of such event and (b) to adequately diversify the Fund so as to achieve compliance within the grace period afforded by Regulation 817-5.

ARTICLE 7

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. 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 Fund are being managed; (e) a difference in voting instructions given by variable annuity contract owners 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 will report any potential or existing material irreconcilable conflict of which it is aware to the Board. This includes, but is not limited to, an obligation by the Company to inform the Board whenever contract owner voting instructions are disregarded.

7.3 If it is determined by a majority of the Board, or a majority of its disinterested trustees, that a material irreconcilable conflict exists, the Company and other Participating Insurance Companies shall, at their expense and to the extent reasonably practicable (as determined by a majority of the disinterested 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 and reinvesting such assets in a different investment medium, including (but not limited to) another 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 policy owners, or variable contract owners of one or more Participating Insurance Companies) that votes in favor of such segregation, or offering to the affected contract owners the option of making such a change; and (2) establishing a new registered management investment company or managed separate account. No charge or penalty will be imposed as a result of such withdrawal. The Company agrees that it bears the responsibility to take remedial action in the event of a Board determination of an irreconcilable material conflict and the cost of such remedial action, and these responsibilities will be carried out with a view only to the interests of Contract owners.

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 Accounts investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with respect to such Account (at the Company’s expense); 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. No charge or penalty will be imposed as a result of such withdrawal. The Company agrees that it bears the responsibility to take remedial action in the event of a Board determination of an irreconcilable material conflict and the cost of such remedial action, and these responsibilities will be carried out with a view only to the interests of Contract owners.

7.5 For purposes of Sections 7.3 through 7.4 of this Agreement, a majority of the disinterested members of the Board shall determine whether any proposed action adequately remedies any irreconcilable material conflict, but in no event will the Fund be required to establish a new funding medium for the Contracts. The Company shall not be required by Section 7.3 through 7.4 to establish a new funding medium for the 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.

7.6 If and to the extent that Rule 6e-2 and Rule 6e-3(T) are amended, or Rule 6e-3 is adopted, to provide exemptive relief from any provision of the 1940 Act or the rules promulgated thereunder with respect to mixed or shared funding (as defined in the Shared Funding Exemptive Order) on terms and conditions materially different from those contained in the Shared Funding Exemptive Order, then the Fund and/or the Participating Insurance Companies, as appropriate, shall take such steps as may be necessary to comply with Rules 6e-2 and 6e-3(T), as amended, and Rule 6e-3, as adopted, to the extent such rules are applicable.

7.7 Each of the Company and the Adviser 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 obligations imposed upon them by the provisions hereof and in the Shared Funding Exemptive Order, and said reports, materials and data shall be submitted more frequently if deemed appropriate by the Board. All reports received by the Board of potential or existing conflicts, and all Board action with regard to determining the existence of a conflict, notifying Participating Insurance Companies of a conflict, and determining whether any proposed action adequately remedies a conflict, shall be properly recorded in the minutes of the Board or other appropriate records, and such minutes or other records shall be made available to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.

ARTICLE 8

Indemnification

8.1 Indemnification By The Company

8.1(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Funds, the Underwriter, the Adviser and each member of their respective Boards and 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 final and non-appealable decisions by a court of law, 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:

(1)

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

(2)

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 the Underwriter) 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

(3)

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 statement or 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

(4)

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

(5)

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.

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 a final and non-appealable decision by a court of law that 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 was the sole cause of the action.

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 30 days after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Company of any such claim shall not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have to the indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties, the Company shall be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof. 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 this Agreement, the issuance or sale of the Fund shares or the Contracts, or the operation of the Fund.

8.2 Indemnification by Underwriter

8.2(a) The Underwriter agrees, with respect to each Fund that it distributes, 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 final

and non-appealable decisions by a court of law 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 that it distributes or the Contracts and:

(1)

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 or the Underwriter 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 Fund shares; or

(2)

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, the Underwriter or persons under their respective control and other than statements or representations authorized by the Company) or unlawful conduct of the Fund or Underwriter or persons under their control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Fund shares; or

(3)

arise out of or as a result of any untrue statement of 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 and in conformity with information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Fund or the Underwriter; or

(4)

arise as a result of any failure by the Fund or the Underwriter to provide the services and furnish the materials under the terms of this Agreement; or

(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 Section 8.2(b) and 8.2(c) hereof.

8.2(b) The Underwriter shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or litigation incurred or assessed against an Indemnified Party as such may arise from a final and non-appealable decision by a court of law that 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 was the sole cause of the action.

8.2(c) The Underwriter shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Underwriter in writing within 30 days 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. The Underwriter also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from the Underwriter to such party of the Underwriter’s election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Party shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by it, and the Underwriter will not be liable to such party under this Agreement for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such party independently in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.

8.2(d) The Company agrees promptly to notify the Underwriter of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers or directors in connection with this Agreement, the issuance or sale of the Contracts or the operation of each Account.

8.3 Indemnification by the Adviser

8.3(a) The Adviser agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and 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 final and non-appealable decisions by a court of law 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 Adviser or the Fund and:

(1)

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 Adviser, the Fund or the Underwriter 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 Fund shares; or

(2)

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, the Adviser or persons under its control and other than statements or representations authorized by the Company) or unlawful conduct of the Fund, the Adviser or persons under their control, with respect to the sale or distribution of the Contracts or Fund shares; or

(3)

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 the Adviser; or

(4)

arise as a result of any failure by the Adviser to provide the services and furnish the materials under the terms of this Agreement; or

(5)

arise out of or result from any material breach of any representation and/or warranty made by the Fund or the Adviser in this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by the Fund or the Adviser, including without limitation any failure by the Fund to comply with the conditions of Article 6 hereof.

8.3(b) The Adviser 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 a final and non-appealable decision by a court of law that 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 was the sole cause of the action.

8.3(c) The Adviser shall not be liable under this indemnification provision with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the Adviser in writing within 30 days after the summons or other first legal process giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon such Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of such service on any designated agent), but failure to notify the Adviser of any such claim shall not relieve the Adviser from any liability which it may have to the Indemnified Party against whom such action is brought otherwise than on account of this indemnification provision. In case any such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties, the Adviser will be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense thereof. The Adviser also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to the party named in the action. After notice from the Adviser to such party of the Adviser’s election to assume the defense thereof, the Indemnified Parties shall bear the fees and expenses of any additional counsel retained by them, and the Adviser will not be liable to such parties 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 to promptly notify the Adviser of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against it or any of its officers or directors in connection with this Agreement, the issuance or sale of the Contracts, with respect to the operation of each Account, or the sale or acquisition of shares of the Adviser.

ARTICLE 9

Applicable Law

9.1 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

9.2 This Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the 1933, 1934 and 1940 Acts, and the rules and regulations and rulings thereunder, including such exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as the Securities and Exchange Commission may grant (including, but not limited to, the Shared Funding Exemptive Order) and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance therewith.

ARTICLE 10

Termination

10.1 This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until the first to occur of:

(a)

termination by any party for any reason upon six months advance written notice delivered to the other parties; or

(b)

termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund, the Adviser and the Underwriter with respect to any Fund based upon the Company’s determination that shares of such Fund are not reasonably available to meet the requirements of the Contracts. Reasonable advance notice of election to terminate shall be furnished by the Company, said termination to be effective ten days after receipt of notice unless the fund makes available a sufficient number of shares to reasonably meet the requirements of the Account within said ten day period; or

(c)

termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund, the Adviser and the Underwriter with respect to any Fund in the event any of the Fund’s shares are not registered, issued or sold in accordance with applicable state and/or federal law or such law precludes the use of such shares as the underlying investment medium of the Contracts issued or to be issued by the Company. The terminating party shall give prompt notice to the other parties of its decision to terminate; or

(d)

termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund, the Adviser and the Underwriter with respect to any Fund in the event that such Fund ceases to qualify as a Regulated Investment Company under Subchapter M of the Code or under any successor or similar provision; or

(e)

termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund and the Underwriter with respect to any Fund in the event that such Fund fails to meet the diversification requirements specified in Article 6 hereof, or

(f)

termination by either the Fund, the Adviser or the Underwriter by written notice to the Company, if either one or more of the Fund, the Adviser or the Underwriter, shall determine, in its or their sole judgment exercised in good faith, that the Company and/or their affiliated companies has suffered a material adverse change in its business, operations, financial condition or prospects since the date of this Agreement or is the subject of material adverse publicity, provided that the Fund, the Adviser or the Underwriter will give the Company sixty days’ advance written notice of such determination of its intent to terminate this Agreement, and provided further that after consideration of the actions taken by the Company and any other changes in circumstances since the giving of such notice, the determination of the Fund, the Adviser or the Underwriter shall continue to apply on the 60th day since giving of such notice, then such 60th day shall be the effective date of termination, or

(g)

termination by the Company by written notice to the Fund, the Adviser and the Underwriter, if the Company shall determine, in its sole judgment exercised in good faith, that either the Fund, the Adviser or the Underwriter has suffered a material adverse change in its business, operations, financial condition or prospects since the date of this Agreement provided that the Company will give the Fund, the Adviser and the Underwriter sixtydays’ advance written notice of such determination of its intent to terminate this Agreement, and provided further that if in light of the actions taken by the Fund, the Adviser or the Underwriter and any other changes in circumstances since the giving of such notice, such material adverse change still pertains, on the 60th day since giving of such notice, then such 60th day shall be the effective date of termination; or

(h)

termination by any party upon the other party’s breach of any representation in Section 2 or any material provision of this Agreement which breach has not been cured to the satisfaction of the terminating party within ten days after written notice of such breach is delivered to the Fund or the Company, as the case may be; or

(i)

termination by the Fund, Adviser or Underwriter by written notice to the Company in the event an Account or Contract is not registered or sold in accordance with applicable federal or state law or regulation, or the Company fails to provide passthrough voting privileges as specified in Section 3.4.

10.2 Effect of Termination. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Fund shall at the option of the Company, continue to make available additional shares of the Fund pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for all Contracts in effect on the effective date of termination of this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as “Existing Contracts”) unless such further sale of Fund shares is proscribed by law, regulation or applicable regulatory body, or unless the Fund determines that liquidation of the Fund following termination of this Agreement is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders. Specifically, without limitation, the owners of the Existing

Contracts shall be permitted to direct reallocation of investments in the Fund, redemption of investments in the Fund and/or investment in the Fund upon the making of additional purchase payments under the Existing Contracts. The parties agree that this Section 10.2 shall not apply to any terminations under Article 7 and the effect of such Article 7 terminations shall be governed by Article 7 of this Agreement.

10.3 The Company shall not redeem Fund shares attributable to the Contracts (as distinct from Fund shares attributable to the Company’s assets held in the Account) except (i) as necessary to implement Contract Owner initiated or approved transactions, or (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, the Company will promptly furnish to the Fund and the Underwriter the opinion of counsel for the Company (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Fund and the Underwriter) to the effect that any redemption pursuant to clause (ii) above is a Legally Required Redemption. Furthermore, except in cases where permitted under the terms of the Contracts, the Company shall not prevent Contract Owners from allocating payments to a Fund that was otherwise available under the Contracts without first giving the Fund or the Adviser ninety days notice of its intention to do so.

ARTICLE 11

Notices

11.1 Any notice shall be sufficiently given when sent by registered or certified mail to the other party at the address of such party set forth below or at such other address as such party may from time to time specify in writing to the other party.

If to the Fund:

Value Line Centurion Fund, Inc.

Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust

220 East 42nd Street

New York, New York 10017

Attention: Peter Lowenstein, Esq.

If to Underwriter:

Value Line Securities, Inc.

220 East 42nd Street

New York, New York 10017

Attention: David Henigson, Vice President, Value Line Securities, Inc.

If to Adviser:

Value Line, Inc.

220 East 42nd Street

New York, New York 10017

Attention: Jean B. Buttner, Chairman & CEO, Value Line, Inc.

If to the Company:

The Guardian Insurance & Annuity Company, Inc.

7 Hanover Square

New York, New York 10004

Attention: Equity Counsel

ARTICLE 12

Foreign Tax Credits

12.1 The Fund and Adviser agree to consult in advance with the Company concerning whether any series of the Fund qualifies to provide a foreign tax credit pursuant to Section 853 of the Code.

ARTICLE 13

Miscellaneous

13.1 All persons dealing with the Fund must look solely to the property of the Fund for the enforcement of any claims against the Fund as neither the Board, officers, agents or shareholders assume any personal liability for obligations entered into on behalf of the Fund. Each of the Company, Adviser and Underwriter acknowledges and agrees that, as provided by Article 8, Section 8.1, of the Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, the shareholders, trustees, officers, employees and other agents of the Fund shall not personally be bound by or liable for matters set forth hereunder, nor shall resort be had to their private property for the satisfaction of any obligation or claim hereunder. A Certificate of Trust referring to the Fund’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust is on file with the Secretary of State of Massachusetts.

13.2 Subject to the requirements of legal process and regulatory authority, each party hereto shall treat as confidential the names and addresses of the owners of the Contracts and all information reasonably identified as confidential in writing by any other party hereto and, except as permitted by this Agreement, shall not disclose, disseminate or utilize such names and addresses and other confidential information until such time as it may come into the public domain without the express written consent of the affected party.

13.3 The captions in this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only and in no way define or delineate any of the provisions hereof or otherwise affect their construction or effect.

13.4 This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

13.5 If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute, rule or otherwise, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby.

13.6 Each party hereto shall cooperate with each other party and all appropriate governmental authorities (including without limitation the Securities and Exchange Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers 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.

13.7 The rights, remedies and obligations contained in this Agreement are cumulative and are in addition to any and all rights, remedies and obligations at law or in equity, which the parties hereto are entitled to under state and federal laws.

13.8 This Agreement or any of the rights and obligations hereunder may not be assigned by any party without the prior written consent of all parties hereto; provided, however, that the Adviser may assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder to any affiliate of or company under common control with the Adviser if such assignee is duly licensed and registered to perform the obligations of the Adviser under this Agreement.

13.9 This Agreement, which includes and incorporates the Schedules referred to herein, states the entire understanding among the parties with respect to its subject matter, and supercedes all prior negotiations and other written or oral communications among the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, including but not limited to, the following written Agreements: Agreement between Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust and The Guardian Insurance & Annuity Company, Inc., dated May 1, 1993; Agreement between Value Line Centurion Fund, Inc. and The Gaurdian Insurance & Annuity Company, Inc., dated May 1, 1993; and two Agreements between Value Line, Inc. and The Guardian Insurance & Annuity Company, Inc., both dated July 1, 1996.

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 as of the date specified above.


THE GUARDIAN INSURANCE & ANNUITY COMPANY, INC. on behalf of itself and each of its Accounts named in Schedule A, as amended from time to time.

By:

VALUE LINE CENTURION FUND, INC.

By:

VALUE LINE STRATEGIC ASSET MANAGEMENT TRUST

By:

VALUE LINE SECURITIES, INC.

By:

VALUE LINE, INC.

By:

SCHEDULE A

SEPARATE ACCOUNTS AND CONTRACTS


Name of Separate Account and Date Established by Board of Directors		Form Numbers and Names of Contracts Funded by Separate Account

Separate Account E Asset 1996		The Guardian Investor Retirement Manager Form IVA - 2020

Separate Account F 2000		The Guardian C+C Variable Annuity Form IVA - 2040

Separate Account Q March 14, 2002		The Guardian Investor Income Access Variable Annuity Form IVA - 2050

Separate Account A 1981		Value Guard II Form IVA - 2006

Separate Account D August 1989		The Guardian Investor Form IVA - 2008

Separate Account C (August 10, 1988)		SelectGuard Variable Life

Separate Account B (November 1984)		ValuePlus Variable Life

Separate Account K (November 18, 1993)		Park Avenue Life ‘95 Park Avenue Life ‘97 Park Avenue Life Millennium

Separate Account M (February 27, 1997)		Variable Universal Life ‘97

Separate Account N (September 23, 1999)		Variable Universal Life Millennium Series Survivorship Variable Universal Life - Millennium Series

SCHEDULE B

PARTICIPATING FUNDS

Value Line Centurion Fund, Inc.

Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust