exv8wcc

Ex-8(cc)

FUND PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

THIS AGREEMENT is executed as of February 1, 2011, and effective as of April 1, 2011 by and among BLACKROCK VARIABLE SERIES FUNDS, INC., an open-end management investment company organized as a MaryLand corporation (the “Fund”), BLACKROCK INVESTMENTS, LLC (“BRIL”), a broker-dealer registered as such under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Underwriter”), and ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, a life insurance company organized under the laws of the state of Ohio (“Company”), on its own behalf and on behalf of each separate account of the Company set forth on Schedule A, as may be amended from time to time (each, an “Account,” and, collectively, the “Accounts”).

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, the Fund has filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to register itself as an open-end management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and to register the offer and sale of its shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”); and

WHEREAS, the Fund desires to act as an investment vehicle for separate accounts established for variable life insurance policies and variable annuity contracts to be offered by insurance companies that have entered into participation agreements with the Fund (the “Participating Insurance Companies”); and

WHEREAS, the Underwriter is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), is a member in good standing of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and acts as principal underwriter of the shares of the Fund; and

WHEREAS, the capital stock of the Fund is divided into several series of shares, each series representing an interest in a particular managed portfolio of securities and other assets; and

WHEREAS, the several series of shares of the Fund offered by the Fund to the Company and the Accounts are set forth on Schedule B, as may be amended from time to time (each, a “Portfolio,” and, collectively, the “Portfolios”); and

WHEREAS, the Fund has received an order from the SEC granting Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts exemptions 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, 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 (the “Shared Fund Exemptive Order”); and

WHEREAS, BlackRock Advisors, LLC (“BAL”) is duly registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and is the Fund’s investment adviser; and

WHEREAS, the Company has registered or will register under the 1933 Act certain variable life insurance policies and/or variable annuity contracts funded or to be funded through one or more of the Accounts (the “Contracts”); 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 in one or more of the Portfolios (the “Shares”) on behalf of the Accounts to fund the Contracts, and the Fund intends to sell such Shares to the relevant Accounts at such Shares’ net asset value.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of their mutual promises, the parties agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1
Sale of the Fund Shares

1.1 (a) Subject to Sections 1.2 and 1.3, the Fund shall make shares of the Portfolios available to the Accounts at the most recent net asset value provided to the Company prior to receipt of such purchase order by the Fund (or the Fund’s transfer agent), in accordance with the operational procedures mutually agreed to by the Fund and the Company from time to time and the provisions of the then current prospectuses of the Portfolios. Shares of a particular Portfolio of the Fund shall be ordered in such quantities and at such times as determined by the Company to be necessary to meet the requirements of the Contracts. The Directors of the Fund (the “Directors”) may refuse to sell shares of any Portfolio to any person (including the Company and the Accounts), or suspend or terminate the offering of shares of any Portfolio, if such action (1) is required by law or by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction or (2) is, in the sole discretion of the Directors 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 Portfolio.

(b) Subject to Sections 1.2 and 1.3, the Fund will redeem any full or fractional shares of any Portfolio when requested by the Company on behalf of an Account at the most recent net asset value provided to the Company prior to receipt by the Fund (or the Fund’s transfer agent) of the request for redemption, in accordance with the operational procedures mutually agreed to by the Fund and the Company from time to time and the provisions of the then current prospectuses of the Portfolios. The Fund shall make payment for such shares in accordance with Section 1.2, but in no event shall payment be delayed for a greater period than is permitted by the 1940 Act (including any Rule or order of the SEC thereunder).

1.2 (a) Fund/SERV Transactions. If the parties choose to use the National Securities Clearing Corporation’s Mutual Fund Settlement, Entry and Registration Verification (“Fund/SERV”) system, the following provisions shall apply:

Application of NSCC Rules. The Company and the Fund or its designee will be bound by the rules of the National Securities Clearing Corporation (“NSCC”). Without limiting the generality of the following provisions of this section, the Company and the Fund or its designee each will perform any and all duties, functions, procedures and responsibilities assigned to it and as otherwise established by the NSCC applicable to Fund/SERV and the Networking Matrix Level utilized.

Transmission of Information Through NSCC’s Networking System. Any information transmitted through NSCC’s Networking system (“Networking”) by any party to the other and pursuant to this Section 1.2(a) will be accurate, complete, and in the format prescribed by the NSCC. Each party will adopt, implement and maintain procedures reasonably designed to ensure the accuracy of all transmissions through Networking and to limit the access to, and the inputting of data into, Networking to persons specifically authorized by such party.

Fund or its designee, by Fund/SERV, the net aggregate purchase or redemption orders for that Business Day (if any) for each Account received by the Close of Trading on such Business Day (the “Trade Date”) no later than 5:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the Business Day following the Trade Date. All orders received by the Company after the Close of Trading on a Business Day shall not be transmitted to NSCC prior to the following Business Day. The Fund or its designee shall treat all orders communicated to the Fund or its designee in accordance with this provision as if received prior to the Close of Trading on the Trade Date.

Price Corrections. Any correction to a Portfolio’s share price will be submitted through the Mutual Fund Profile with the correct price and applicable date. If a correction is dated later than trade date plus one, a facsimile shall be sent to the Company in addition to the Mutual Fund Profile submission.

Acceptance; Delayed Settlement. All orders are subject to acceptance by the Fund or its designee and become effective only upon confirmation by the Fund or its designee. Upon confirmation, the Fund or its designee will verify total purchases and redemptions and the closing share position for each Account. In the case of delayed settlement, the Fund or its designee shall make arrangements for the settlement of redemptions by wire no later than the time permitted for settlement of redemption orders by the 1940 Act. Such wires should be sent to:

PNC Bank, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
ABA#: 041000124
Account Title: Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company
Depository Account
Account No.: 4206146281

(b) Manual Transactions. If the parties choose not to use Fund/SERV, if there are technical problems with Fund/SERV, or if the parties are not able to transmit or receive information through Fund/SERV, the following provisions shall apply:

Next Day Transmission of Orders. On each Business Day, the Company shall aggregate and calculate the net purchase and redemption orders for each Account received by the Company prior to the Close of Trading on such Business Day. The Company shall communicate to the Fund or its designee by facsimile, by telephone or by any other method agreed upon by the parties, the net aggregate purchase or redemption orders (if any) for each Account received by the Close of Trading on such Business Day (the “Trade Date”) no later than 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time (or such other time as may be agreed upon by the parties from time to time) on the Business Day following the Trade Date. The Fund or its designee shall treat all orders communicated to the Fund or its designee in accordance with this provision as if received prior to the Close of Trading on the Trade Date.

Order Form. The Company will use its best efforts to transmit net purchase and redemption orders to the Fund or its designee in accordance with written instructions previously provided by the Fund or its designee to the Company.

Price Corrections. Any correction to a Portfolio’s share price shall be communicated to the Company as soon as practicable by facsimile or by electronic transmission, and will include the incorrect price, the correct price, the applicable date, and, to the extent communicated to Fund shareholders, the reason for the adjustment.

Settlement. With respect to net purchase orders communicated by the Company to the Fund or its designee by 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time (or such other time as may be agreed by the parties from time to time) on the Business Day following the Trade Date, the Company will use its best efforts to initiate by wire transfer to the Fund or its designee payment for such purchases by

1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the Business Day following the Trade Date. Unless otherwise informed in writing, purchase wires should be sent to:

PNC Bank, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
ABA#: 041000124
Account Title: Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company
Depository Account
Account No.: 4206146281

With respect to net redemption orders communicated by the Company to the Fund or its designee by 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time (or such other time as may be agreed by the parties from time to time) on the Business Day following the Trade Date, the Fund or its designee will use its best efforts to initiate by wire transfer to the Company proceeds of such redemptions by 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the Business Day following the Trade Date. Unless otherwise informed in writing, redemption wires should be sent to:

PNC Bank, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
ABA#: 041000124
Account Title: Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company
Depository Account
Account No.: 4206146281

(c) “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. “Close of Trading” shall mean the close of the New York Stock Exchange (generally, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time).

1.3 (a) The Company will not aggregate orders received from its Contract owners after Close of Trading with orders received before Close of Trading. Orders received by Company before Close of Trading will receive that day’s net asset value and orders received by Company after Close of Trading will receive the next day’s net asset value.

(b) The Fund may reject purchase and redemption orders that do not comply with the applicable provisions of Sections 1.1 and 1.2.

(c) In the event that the Company and the Fund agree to use a form of written or electronic communication that is not capable of recording the time, date and recipient of any communication and confirming good transmission, the Company agrees that it shall be responsible for confirming that any communication sent by the Company was in fact received by the Fund or its designee, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

(d) The Fund and its designees shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall be fully protected from all liability in acting upon, the instructions of persons designated by the Company as individuals authorized to give instructions with respect to the purchase and redemption of shares of the Portfolios.

1.4 In the event that the Company shall fail to pay in a timely manner for any purchase order validly received by the Fund or its designee pursuant to Sections 1.1 and 1.2, the Company shall hold the Fund or its designee harmless from any losses reasonably sustained by the Fund or its designee as the result of acting in reliance on such purchase order. In the event that the Fund or its designee shall fail to pay in a timely manner for any redemption order validly received by the Fund or its designee pursuant to Sections 1.1 and 1.2, the Fund shall hold the Company harmless from any

losses reasonably sustained by the Company as the result of acting in reliance on such redemption order.

1.5 Issuance and transfer of shares of the Portfolios will be by book entry only. Share certificates will not be issued to the Company or the Accounts. Shares ordered from the Fund will be recorded in the appropriate title for each Account or the appropriate sub-account of each Account.

1.6 The Fund or its designee shall furnish prompt written notice to the Company of any income, dividends or capital gain distribution payable on Shares. The Company hereby elects to receive all such income, dividends and capital gain distributions as are payable on a Portfolio’s Shares in additional Shares of that Portfolio. The Fund shall notify the Company in writing of the number of Shares so issued as payment of such income, dividends and distributions. Any material error in the calculation or reporting of income, dividends or capital gain distributions shall be reported to the Company in writing promptly upon discovery.

1.7 The Fund shall make the net asset value per share for each Portfolio 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 its best efforts to make such net asset value per share available by 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. If the Fund provides materially incorrect share net asset value information, it shall make an adjustment to the number of shares purchased or redeemed for any affected Account to reflect the correct net asset value per share. Any material error in the calculation or reporting of a Portfolio’s net asset value per share shall be reported to the Company in writing promptly upon discovery.

1.8 The Company agrees that it will not take any action to operate an Account as a management investment company under the 1940 Act without the Fund’s and the Underwriter’s prior written consent.

1.9 The Fund agrees that its Shares will be sold only to Participating Insurance Companies and their separate accounts. No Shares of any Portfolio will be sold directly to the general public. The Company agrees that Shares will be used only for the purposes of funding the Contracts and Accounts listed in Schedule A, as amended from time to time.

1.10 The Fund agrees that all Participating Insurance Companies shall have the obligations and responsibilities regarding conflicts of interest corresponding to those contained in Article 4 of this Agreement.

1.11 The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase orders, including exchanges, for any reason, including if the Fund, in its sole opinion, believes the Company’s Contract owner(s) is engaging in short-term or excessive trading into and out of a Portfolio or otherwise engaging in trading that may be disruptive to a Portfolio (“Market Timing”). The Company agrees to cooperate with the Underwriter and the Fund (a) to monitor for Market Timing by its Contract owners, and (b) to prevent Market Timing from occurring by or because of Contract owners. Failure of the Fund to reject any purchase orders that might be deemed to be Market Timing shall not constitute a waiver of the Fund’s rights under this section. Pursuant to Rule 22c-2 of the 1940 Act, the Fund, the Underwriter and the Company agree to comply with the terms included in Schedule C attached hereto.

ARTICLE 2
Obligations of the Parties

2.1 The Fund shall prepare and be responsible for filing with the SEC and any state securities 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 Fund required to be so filed. The Fund shall bear the costs of registration and qualification of its Shares, preparation and filing of the documents listed in this Section 2.1 and all taxes to which an issuer is subject on the issuance and transfer of its Shares.

2.2 (a) The Underwriter or its designee shall provide the Company, free of charge, with as many copies of the current prospectuses for the Shares as the Company may reasonably request for distribution to existing Contract owners whose Contracts are funded by such Shares. The Underwriter or its designee shall provide the Company, at the Company’s expense, with as many copies of the current prospectuses for the Shares as the Company may reasonably request for distribution to prospective purchasers of Contracts.

(b) The Underwriter or its designee shall provide the Company, free of charge, with as many copies of prospectus supplements for the Shares as the Company may reasonably request for distribution to existing Contract owners whose Contracts are funded by such Shares. The Underwriter or its designee shall provide the Company, at the Company’s expense, with as many copies of such supplements as the Company may reasonably request for distribution to prospective purchasers of Contracts.

2.3 The prospectuses for the Shares shall state that the statement of additional information for the Shares is available from the Fund or its designee. The Fund or its designee, at its expense, shall print and provide such statement of additional information to the Company (or a master of such statement suitable for duplication by the Company) for distribution to any owner of a Contract funded by the Shares. The Fund or its designee, at the Company’s expense, shall print and provide such statement to the Company (or a master of such statement suitable for duplication by the Company) for distribution to a prospective purchaser who requests such statement.

2.4 The Underwriter or its designee shall provide the Company free of charge copies, if and to the extent applicable to the Shares, of the Fund’s proxy materials, reports to shareholders and other communications to shareholders in such quantity as the Company shall reasonably request for distribution to Contract owners.

2.5 If requested by the Company, in lieu of providing a paper copy of a prospectus, a prospectus supplement or a shareholder report, the Underwriter or its designee shall provide such document to the Company, free of charge, in a camera ready format or an electronic format agreed upon by the parties. In the event that the Company requests that the Underwriter or its designee provide a document in a “camera ready” format or an electronic format, (a) the Underwriter or its designee shall be responsible solely for providing such document in the format in which it is accustomed to formatting the document and shall bear the expense of providing the document in such format, and (b) the Company shall bear the expense of any adjustments or changes to such format.

2.6 The costs of typesetting and printing Fund prospectuses (including supplements thereto), Fund statements of additional information (including supplements thereto), Fund proxy materials, annual reports and other communications with shareholders of the Fund and the costs of distributing such documents to existing contract owners and prospective contract owners shall be allocated between the Fund and the Company pursuant to the terms set out in Schedule D, as may be amended from time to time.

2.7 The Company shall furnish, or cause to be furnished, to the Fund or its designee, a copy of language that would be used in any prospectus for the Contracts or statement of additional information for the Contracts in which the Fund, the Underwriter or BAL (“Fund Parties”) is named at least ten Business Days prior to the designated effective date of such prospectus or statement of additional information. Upon request, the Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, to the Fund or its designee, each prospectus supplement and each piece of sales literature or other promotional material in which the Fund, the Underwriter or BAL is named, at least ten Business Days prior to its use. No such prospectus, statement of additional information, prospectus supplement or sales literature or other promotional material shall be used if any of the Fund Parties reasonably objects to such use within five Business Days after receipt of the document.

2.8 If any of the following materials have been distributed to Contract owners, at the reasonable request of the Fund or its designee, the Company shall furnish, or shall cause to be furnished, as soon as practical, to the Fund or its designee copies of such materials:

(a)

the Company’s annual financial report, if any;

(b)

the Company’s quarterly or other financial reports, if any; and

(c)

any proxy statement or other materials related to a meeting of the Contract owners.

2.9 The Company shall not give any information or make any representations or statements on behalf of the Fund or Underwriter or concerning the Fund, the Underwriter or BAL in connection with the Contracts other than information or representations contained in or accurately derived from the registration statement or prospectuses for the Shares (as such registration statement and prospectuses may be amended or supplemented from time to time), reports of the Fund, Fund-sponsored proxy statements, or sales literature or other promotional material approved by the Fund or Underwriter, except with the written permission of the Fund or Underwriter.

2.10 Neither the Fund nor the Underwriter shall give any information or make any representations or statements on behalf of the Company or concerning the Company, the Accounts or the Contracts other than information or representations contained in or accurately derived from the registration statements or prospectuses for the Contracts (as such registration statements or prospectuses may by amended or supplemented from time to time), except with the written permission of the Company.

2.11 The Company shall amend the registration statements of the Contracts under the 1933 Act and registration statements for each Account under the 1940 Act 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 to the extent required by applicable securities laws and insurance laws of the various states.

2.12 The Fund shall 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. If the Fund determines that notice filings are appropriate, the Fund shall use its best efforts to make such notice filings in accordance with the laws of such jurisdictions reasonably requested by the Company.

2.13 Solely with respect to Contracts and Accounts that are subject to the 1940 Act, so long as, and to the extent that the SEC interprets the 1940 Act to require pass-through voting privileges for variable Contract owners: (a) the Company will provide pass-through voting privileges to owners of Contracts whose cash values are invested, through the Accounts, in Shares of the Fund; (b) the Fund shall require all Participating Insurance Companies to calculate voting privileges in the same manner and the Company shall be responsible for assuring that the Accounts calculate voting

privileges in the manner established by the Fund; (c) with respect to each Account, the Company will vote Shares of the Fund held by the Account and for which no timely voting instructions from Contract owners are received, as well as Shares held by the Account that are owned by the Company for their general accounts, in the same proportion as the Company votes Shares held by the Account for which timely voting instructions are received from Contract owners; and (d) the Company and its agents will in no way recommend or oppose or interfere with the solicitation of proxies for Fund Shares held by Contract owners without the prior written consent of the Fund, which consent may be withheld in the Fund’s sole discretion.

ARTICLE 3
Representations and Warranties

3.1 The Company represents and warrants that it is an insurance company duly organized and in good standing under the laws of the State of Ohio, with full power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver and perform its duties and comply with its obligations under this Agreement and has established each Account as a separate account under such law and the Accounts comply in all material respects with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.

3.2 The Company represents and warrants that it 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 separate account for the Contracts. The Company further represents and warrants that the Contracts will be registered under the 1933 Act prior to any issuance or sale of the Contracts; the Contracts will be issued in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and state laws.

3.3 The Company represents and warrants that the Contracts are currently and at the time of issuance will be treated as annuity contracts or life insurance policies, whichever is appropriate, under applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Code”), and represents that it will use its best efforts to maintain such treatment. The Company will notify the Fund and the Underwriter immediately in writing 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.

3.4 The Fund represents and warrants that it is duly organized and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland, with full power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver and perform its duties and comply with its obligations under this Agreement and has established each Portfolio as a series of the Fund under such law and the Fund and the Portfolios comply in all material respects with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.

3.5 The Fund represents and warrants that it has registered as a management investment trust in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act. The Fund further represents and warrants that the Fund Shares offered and sold pursuant to this Agreement will be registered under the 1933 Act prior to any offer or sale of such Fund shares; the Fund shares will be offered and sold in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and state laws.

3.6 The Underwriter represents and warrants that it is duly organized and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with full power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver and perform its duties and comply with its obligations under this Agreement and is a member in good standing of the FINRA and complies in all material respects with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations and all applicable FINRA rules.

3.7 The Fund represents and warrants that each Portfolio currently complies with the diversification requirements set forth in Section 817(h) of the Code and Section 1.817-5 of the regulations under the Code, and represents that it will use its best efforts to maintain each Portfolio’s compliance with such requirements. The Fund will notify the Company immediately in writing upon having a reasonable basis for believing that a Portfolio has ceased to so comply or that a Portfolio might not so comply in the future. In the event of a breach of this Section 3.7 by the Fund, it will take all reasonable steps to adequately diversify the Portfolio so as to achieve compliance within the grace period afforded by Section 1.817-5 of the regulations under the Code.

3.8 The Fund represents and warrants that each Portfolio is currently qualified as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Code, and represents that it will use its best efforts to maintain qualification of each Portfolio as a RIC. The Fund will notify the Company immediately in writing upon having a reasonable basis for believing that a Portfolio has ceased to so qualify or that it might not so qualify in the future. In the event of a breach of this Section 3.8 by the Fund, it will take all reasonable steps so as to achieve compliance.

3.9 The Company hereby certifies that it has established and maintains an anti-money laundering (“AML”) program that includes written policies, procedures and controls reasonably designed to prevent the Accounts from being used to launder money or finance terrorist activity and reasonable and practicable risk-based procedures to identify its Contract owners and has undertaken appropriate due diligence efforts to “know its customers” in accordance with all applicable anti-money laundering regulations in its jurisdiction including, but not limited to, the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 (the “Patriot Act”). The Company further confirms that it will monitor for suspicious activity in accordance with the requirements of the Patriot Act and any other applicable regulations. The Company agrees to provide the Fund with such information as it may reasonably request, including but not limited to, the filling out of questionnaires, attestations and other documents, to enable the Fund to fulfill its obligations under the Patriot Act, and, upon its request, to file a notice pursuant to Section 314 of the Patriot Act and the implementing regulations related thereto to permit the voluntary sharing of information between the parties hereto. Upon filing such a notice the Company agrees to forward a copy to the Fund, and further agrees to comply with all requirements under the Patriot Act and implementing regulations concerning the use, disclosure, and security of any information that is shared.

3.10 The Company acknowledges and agrees that it is the responsibility of the Company to determine investment restrictions under state insurance law applicable to any Portfolio as a result of the Accounts’ investment therein, and that the Fund shall bear no responsibility to the Company for any such determination or the correctness of such determination. The Company has determined that the investment restrictions set forth in the current Fund Prospectuses are sufficient to comply with all investment restrictions under state insurance laws that are currently applicable to the Portfolios as a result of the Accounts’ investment therein. The Company shall inform the Fund of any additional investment restrictions imposed by state insurance law after the date of this agreement that may become applicable to the Fund or any Portfolio from time to time as a result of the Accounts’ investment therein. Upon receipt of any such information from the Company, the Fund shall determine whether it is in the best interests of shareholders to comply with any such restrictions. If the Fund determines that it is not in the best interests of shareholders to comply with a restriction determined to be applicable by the Company, the Fund shall so inform the Company, and the Fund and the Company shall discuss alternative accommodations in the circumstances and shall use their best efforts to reach a mutually agreed upon accommodation.

3.11 The Company represents and warrants that each Account is a “segregated asset account” and that 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 Code and the regulations thereunder, and represents that it will use its best efforts to continue to meet

such definitional requirements. The Company will notify the Fund immediately in writing 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.

3.12 The Company represents and warrants that its policies and procedures concerning the processing and transmission of orders are reasonably designed to prevent or detect on a timely basis orders received after Close of Trading from being aggregated with orders received before Close of Trading and to minimize late transmission of orders.

ARTICLE 4
Potential Conflicts

4.1 The parties acknowledge that the Fund’s Shares may be made available for investment to other Participating Insurance Companies. In such event, the Directors 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 an insurer to disregard the voting instructions of contract owners. The Directors shall promptly inform the Company in writing if they determine that an irreconcilable material conflict exists and the implications thereof.

4.2 The Company agrees to promptly report any potential or existing conflicts of which it is aware to the Directors. The Company will assist the Directors in carrying out their responsibilities under the Shared Fund Exemptive Order by providing the Directors with all information reasonably necessary for them to consider any issues raised including, but not limited to, information as to a decision by the Company to disregard Contract owner voting instructions.

4.3 If it is determined by a majority of the Directors, or a majority of the Fund’s Directors who are not affiliated with the Adviser or the Underwriter (the “Disinterested Directors”), 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 Directors) take whatever steps are necessary 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 Contracts 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 (b) establishing a new registered management investment company or managed separate account.

4.4 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 Directors. Any such withdrawal and termination must take place within 30 days after the Fund gives written notice that this provision is being implemented, subject to applicable law but in any event consistent with the terms of the Shared Fund Exemptive Order. Until the end of such 30 day period, the Fund shall continue to accept and implement orders by the Company for the purchase and redemption of Shares.

4.5 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 30 days after the Fund 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 Directors. Until the end of such 30 day period, the Fund shall continue to accept and implement orders by the Company for the purchase and redemption of shares of the Fund.

4.6 For purposes of section 4.3 through 4.6 of this Agreement, a majority of the Disinterested Directors 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 vote of a majority of Contract owners materially adversely affected by the irreconcilable material conflict. In the event that the Directors determine that any proposed action does not adequately remedy any irreconcilable material conflict, then the Company will withdraw the affected Account’s investment in the Fund and terminate this Agreement with respect to such Account within 30 days after the Directors inform 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 Directors.

4.7 Upon request, the Company shall submit to the Directors such reports, materials or data as the Directors may reasonably request so that the Directors may fully carry out the duties imposed upon them by the Shared Fund Exemptive Order.

4.8 If and to the extent that (a) 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 application for the Shared Fund Exemptive Order) on terms and conditions materially different from those contained in the application for the Shared Fund Exemptive Order, or (b) the Shared Fund Exemptive Order is granted on terms and conditions that differ from those set forth in this Article 4, then the Fund and/or the Participating Insurance Companies, as appropriate, shall take such steps as may be necessary (a) 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, or (b) to conform this Article 4 to the terms and conditions contained in the Shared Fund Exemptive Order, as the case may be.

ARTICLE 5
Indemnification

5.1 The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund Parties and each of their respective Directors, officers, employees and agents and each person, if any, who controls a Fund Party within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act (collectively, the “Indemnified Parties” for purposes of this Article 5) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including

amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Company) 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 or regulation, or at common law or otherwise, insofar as such Losses:

(a) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements or alleged untrue statements of any material fact contained in the registration statements or prospectuses for the Contracts or in the Contracts themselves or in sales literature for the Contracts or the Accounts generated or approved by the Company (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing) (collectively, “Company Documents” for the purposes of this Article 5), 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 the Company by or on behalf of the Fund or Underwriter for use in Company Documents or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Shares; or

(b) arise out of or result from statements or representations (other than statements or representations contained in and accurately derived from Fund Documents as defined in Section 5.2(a)) or wrongful conduct of the Company or persons under its control, with respect to the sale or acquisition of the Contracts or Shares; or

(c) arise out of or result from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in Fund Documents as defined in Section 5.2(a) 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 Fund or Underwriter by or on behalf of the Company; or

(d) arise out of or result from any failure by the Company to provide the services or furnish the materials required under the terms of this Agreement; or

(e) 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.

5.2 The Underwriter and the Fund agree severally to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each of its directors, officers, employees and agents 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 Article 5) against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities (including amounts paid in settlement with the written consent of the Fund Parties) 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 or regulation, or at common law or otherwise, insofar as such Losses:

(a) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements or alleged untrue statements of any material fact contained in the registration statement or prospectuses for the Fund or the Portfolios or in sales literature for the Fund or the Portfolios generated or approved by the Fund (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing) (collectively, “Fund Documents” for the purposes of this Article 5), 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 the Fund Parties by or on behalf of the Company for use in Fund Documents or otherwise for use in connection with the sale of the Contracts or Shares; or

(b) arise out of or result from statements or representations (other than statements or representations contained in and accurately derived from Company Documents as defined in Section 5.1(a)) or wrongful conduct of a Fund Party or persons under its respective control, with respect to the sale or acquisition of the Contracts or Shares; or

(c) arise out of or result from any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in Company Documents as defined in Section 5.1(a) 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 Company by or on behalf of the Fund Parties; or

(d) arise out of or result from any failure by the Underwriter or the Fund to provide the services or furnish the materials required under the terms of this Agreement; or

(e) arise out of or result from any material breach of any representation and/or warranty made by the Underwriter or the Fund in this Agreement or arise out of or result from any other material breach of this Agreement by the Underwriter or the Fund.

5.3 Neither the Company, the Underwriter nor the Fund shall be liable under the indemnification provisions of Section 5.1 or 5.2, as applicable, with respect to any Losses incurred or assessed against any Indemnified Party to the extent such Losses arise out of or result 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 its obligations or duties under this Agreement.

5.4 Neither the Company, the Underwriter nor the Fund shall be liable under the indemnification provisions of Section 5.1 or 5.2, as applicable, with respect to any claim made against an Indemnified Party unless such Indemnified Party shall have notified the other party in writing within a reasonable time after the summons, or other first written notification, giving information of the nature of the claim shall have been served upon or otherwise received by such Indemnified Party (or after such Indemnified Party shall have received notice of service upon or other notification to any designated agent), but failure to notify the party against whom indemnification is sought of any such claim shall not relieve that party from any liability that it may have to the Indemnified Party in the absence of Sections 5.1 and 5.2.

In case any such action is brought against the Indemnified Parties, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in the defense of such action. The indemnifying party also shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the party named in such action. After notice from the indemnifying party to the Indemnified Party of an election to assume such defense, 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 the Indemnified 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.

ARTICLE 6
Termination

6.1 This Agreement may be terminated by any party for any reason by sixty (60) days’ advance written notice delivered to the other parties.

6.2 This Agreement may be terminated at the option of the Fund or the Underwriter upon written notice delivered to the Company if (A) the SEC, the insurance commission of any state or any other regulatory body institutes formal proceedings against the Company regarding the Company’s duties under this Agreement or related to the sale of the Contracts, the operation of the Accounts, the administration of the Contracts or the purchase of the Shares, or (B) the Fund or the Underwriter reasonably believes that an expected or anticipated ruling, judgment or outcome would materially impair the Company’s ability to meet and perform the Company’s obligations and duties hereunder.

6.3 This Agreement may be terminated at the option of the Fund or the Underwriter upon written notice delivered to the Company if (A) the Internal Revenue Service determines that the Contracts cease to qualify as annuity contracts or life insurance policies, as applicable, under the Code, or (B) the Fund or Underwriter reasonably believes that the Contracts may fail to so qualify.

6.4 This Agreement may be terminated at the option of the Fund or the Underwriter upon written notice delivered to the Company if the Fund or the Underwriter determines, in its sole judgment exercised in good faith, that either (1) the Company has suffered a material adverse change in its business or financial condition, (2) the Company has been the subject of material adverse publicity that is likely to have a material adverse impact upon the business and operations of either the Fund or the Underwriter, or (3) the Company breaches any obligation under this Agreement in a material respect and such breach continues unremedied for thirty (30) days after receipt by the Company of notice in writing from the Fund or Underwriter of such breach.

6.5 This Agreement may be terminated at the option of the Company upon written notice delivered to the Fund and the Underwriter if (A) the Internal Revenue Service determines that any Portfolio fails to qualify as a RIC under the Code or fails to comply with the diversification requirements of Section 817(h) of the Code and the Fund, upon the Company’s written request, fails to provide reasonable assurance that it will take action to cure such failure, or (B) the Company determines, in its sole judgment exercised in good faith, that either (1) the Fund or the Underwriter has suffered a material adverse change in its business or financial condition, (2) the Fund or the Underwriter has been the subject of material adverse publicity that is likely to have a material adverse impact upon the business and operations of the Company, or (3) the Fund or Underwriter breaches any obligation under this Agreement in a material respect and such breach continues unremedied for thirty (30) days after receipt of notice in writing to the Fund or the Underwriter from the Company of such breach.

6.6 Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, the Fund will, upon the mutual agreement of the parties hereto, continue to make available additional shares of the Fund pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for all existing Contracts in effect on the effective date of termination of this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as “Existing Contracts”). Specifically, without limitation, if the Fund and Underwriter so agree to make additional Shares available, the owners of the Existing Contracts will be permitted to reallocate investments in the Fund (as in effect on such date), redeem investments in the Fund and/or invest in the Fund upon the making of additional purchase payments under the Existing Contracts.

6.7 In the event of a termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Article 6, the Fund and the Underwriter shall promptly notify the Company in writing whether the Underwriter and the Fund will continue to make Shares available after such termination. If the Underwriter and the Fund will continue to make Shares so available, (A) the provisions of this Agreement shall remain in effect except for Section 6.1 and (B) thereafter the Fund, the Underwriter or the Company may terminate the Agreement as so continued pursuant to this Section 6.7 upon prior written notice to the other parties, such notice to be for a period that is reasonable under the circumstances but need not be greater than six months.

6.8 The provisions of Article 5 shall survive the termination of this Agreement, and the provisions of Articles 2 and 4 shall survive the termination of this Agreement as Long as shares of the Fund are held on behalf of Contract owners in accordance with Section 6.7.

ARTICLE 7
Notices

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


		To the Fund:		With a copy to:
		BlackRock Variable Series Funds, Inc.		BlackRock, Inc.
		Attention: Brian Schmidt		Attn: Robert Connolly General Counsel
		55 East 52^nd Street		40 East 52^nd Street
		New York, NY 10055		New York, NY 10022

		To the Underwriter:		With a copy to:
		BlackRock Investments, LLC		BlackRock Investments, LLC
		Attn: Frank Porcelli		Attn: Rick Froio
		40 East 52^nd Street		40 East 52^nd Street
		New York, NY 10022		New York, NY 10022

		If to the Company:		With a copy to:
		Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company		Great American Financial Resources, Inc.
		Attn: Mark Muething		Attn: John Gruber
		250 East Fifth Street		525 Vine Street
		Cincinnati, OH 45202		Cincinnati, OH 45202

ARTICLE 8
Miscellaneous

8.1 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.

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

8.3 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.

8.4 This Agreement shall be construed and the provisions hereof interpreted under and in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without reference to the conflict of laws provisions thereof, and shall, to the extent applicable, be subject to the provisions of the 1933, 1934, and 1940 Acts, and the rules, regulations and rulings thereunder, including such exemptions from those statutes, rules and regulations as the SEC may grant and the terms hereof shall be interpreted and construed in accordance therewith.

8.5 The parties to this Agreement acknowledge and agree that the Fund is a Maryland corporation, and that all liabilities of the Fund arising, directly or indirectly, under this Agreement, of any and every nature whatsoever, shall be satisfied solely out of the assets of the relevant Portfolio(s) of the Fund and that no Director, officer, agent or holder of Shares of the Fund shall be personally liable for any such liabilities.

8.6 Each party shall cooperate with each other party and all appropriate governmental authorities (including without limitation the SEC, the FINRA and state insurance regulators) and shall permit such authorities reasonable access to its books and records in connection with any investigation or inquiry relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

8.7 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, to which the parties hereto are entitled under state and federal laws.

8.8 The parties to this Agreement acknowledge and agree that this Agreement shall not be exclusive in any respect.

8.9 Neither this Agreement nor any rights or obligations hereunder may be assigned by either party without the prior written approval of the other parties.

8.10 No provisions of this Agreement may be amended or modified in any manner except by a written agreement properly authorized and executed by all parties.

8.11 Exhibits and Schedules; Entire Agreement

All Exhibits and Schedules to this Agreement, as they may be amended from time to time, are by this reference incorporated into and made a part of this Agreement. This Agreement (including the Exhibits and Schedules hereto), constitute the entire agreement between the parties as to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all agreements, representations and warranties, written or oral, regarding such subject matter.

Schedule B

Portfolios and Classes of BlackRock Variable Series Funds, Inc. offered to Separate Accounts of Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company

Available share classes of:


FUND NAME	CLASS	CUSIP	TICKER
BlackRock Balanced Capital V.I. Fund	I	09253L108	AMBLI
BlackRock Basic Value V.I. Fund	I	09253L405	BAVLI
BlackRock Basic Value V.I. Fund	II	09253L504	BAVII
BlackRock Basic Value V.I. Fund	III	09253L603	BVIII
BlackRock Fundamental Growth V.I. Fund	I	09253L843	FDGRI
BlackRock Global Allocation V.I. Fund	I	09253L777	GLALI
BlackRock Global Allocation V.I. Fund	II	09253L769	GLAII
BlackRock Global Allocation V.I. Fund	III	09253L751	GAIII
BlackRock Global Growth V.I. Fund	I	09253L819	GLGRI
BlackRock Global Growth V.I. Fund	III	09253L785	GGIII
BlackRock International Value V.I. Fund	I	09253L645	IVVVI
BlackRock Large Cap Core V.I. Fund	I	09253L611	LGCCI
BlackRock Large Cap Core V.I. Fund	II	09253L595	LGCII
BlackRock Large Cap Core V.I. Fund	III	09253L587	LCIII
BlackRock Large Cap Growth V.I. Fund	I	09253L579	LGGGI
BlackRock Large Cap Growth V.I. Fund	III	09253L553	LGIII
BlackRock Large Cap Value V.I. Fund	I	09253L546	LCATT
BlackRock Large Cap Value V.I. Fund	II	09253L538	LCBTT
BlackRock Large Cap Value V.I. Fund	III	09253L520	LVIII
BlackRock Total Return V.I. Fund	I	09253L702	CRBDI

BlackRock Government Income V.I. Fund	I	09253L744	GVBDI
BlackRock High Income V.I. Fund	I	09253L710	HICUI
BlackRock Total Return V.I. Fund	I	09253L702	CRBDI

BlackRock S&P 500 Index V.I. Fund	I	09253L678	IDXVI
BlackRock S&P 500 Index V.I. Fund	II	09253L660	IXVII

BlackRock Money Market V.I. Fund *	I	09253L876	DMMKI


•		No Distribution Plan fees or Administrative Service fees shall be paid for the BlackRock Money Market V.I. Fund

B-1

Schedule C

For Schedule C, the following terms shall have the following meanings, unless a different meaning is clearly required by the contexts:

The term “Intermediary” shall mean Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company, which is an insurance company separate account.

The term “Fund” shall mean BlackRock Variable Series Funds, Inc., and includes (i) an investment adviser to or administrator for the Fund; and (ii) the transfer agent for the Fund. The term not does include any “excepted funds” as defined in SEC Rule 22c-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940.¹

The term “Shares” means the interests of Shareholders corresponding to the redeemable securities of record issued by the Fund under the Investment Company Act of 1940 that are held by the Intermediary.

The term “Shareholder” means the holder of interests in a variable annuity or variable life insurance contract issued by the Intermediary (“Contract”), or a participant in an employee benefit plan with a beneficial interest in a Contract.

The term “Shareholder-Initiated Transfer Purchase” means a transaction that is initiated or directed by a Shareholder that results in a transfer of assets within a Contract to a Fund, but does not include the following: (i) transactions that are executed automatically pursuant to a contractual or systematic program or enrollment such as transfer of assets within a Contract to a Fund as a result of “dollar cost averaging” programs, insurance company approved asset allocation programs, or automatic rebalancing programs; (ii) transactions that are executed pursuant to a Contract death benefit; (iii) one-time step-up in Contract value pursuant to a Contract death benefit; (iv) allocation of assets to a Fund through a Contract as a result of payments such as loan repayments, scheduled contributions, retirement plan salary reduction contributions, or planned premium payments to the Contract; or (v) prearranged transfers at the conclusion of a required free look period.

The term “Shareholder-Initiated Transfer Redemption” means a transaction that is initiated or directed by a Shareholder that results in a transfer of assets within a Contract out of a Fund, but does not include transactions that are executed: (i) automatically pursuant to a contractual or systematic program or enrollments such as transfers of assets within a Contract out of a Fund as a result of annuity payouts, loans, systematic withdrawal programs, insurance company approved asset allocation programs and automatic rebalancing programs; (ii) as a result of any deduction of charges or fees under a Contract; (iii) within a Contract out of a Fund as a result of scheduled withdrawals or surrenders from a Contract; or (iv) as a result of payment of a death benefit from a Contract.

1. Agreement to Provide Information. Intermediary agrees to provide the Fund or its designee, upon written request of BRIL or the Fund, (A) the taxpayer identification number (“TIN”), the Individual/International Taxpayer Identification Number (“ITIN”), or other government issued identifier (“GII”) and the Contract owner number or participant account number associated with the Shareholder, if known, of any or all Shareholder(s) of the account, and (B) the amount, date, and transaction type (purchase, redemption, transfer, or exchange) of every purchase, redemption,


¹		As defined in SEC Rule 22c-2(b), term “excepted fund” means any: (1) money market fund; (2) fund that issues securities that are listed on a national exchange; and (3) fund that affirmatively permits short-term trading of its securities, if its prospectus clearly and prominently discloses that the fund permits short-term trading of its securities and that such trading may result in additional costs for the fund.

C-1

transfer, or exchange of Shares held through an account maintained by the Intermediary during the period covered by the request. Unless otherwise specifically requested by the Fund, the Intermediary shall only be required to provide information relating to Shareholder-Initiated Transfer Purchases or Shareholder-Initiated Transfer Redemptions.

2. Period Covered by Request. Requests must set forth a specific period, which generally will not exceed 90 days from the date of the request, for which transaction information is sought. BRIL and/or the Fund may request transaction information older than 90 days from the date of the request as they deem necessary to investigate compliance with policies (including, but not limited to, polices of the Fund regarding market-timing and the frequent purchasing and redeeming or exchanges of Fund shares or any other inappropriate trading activity) established or utilized by the Fund for the purpose of eliminating or reducing any dilution of the value of the outstanding shares issued by the Fund (the “Policies”). Requests for Shareholder information shall be made no more frequently than quarterly except as the Fund, BRIL or their designee deems necessary to investigate compliance with the Policies.

3. Form and Timing of Response. (a) Intermediary agrees to provide, promptly, but in any event not later than five (5) business days after receipt of a request from the Fund, BRIL or their designee, the requested information specified in Section 1. If requested by the Fund, BRIL or their designee, Intermediary agrees to use best efforts to determine promptly, but in any event not later than five (5) business days after receipt of a request, whether any specific person about whom it has received the identification and transaction information specified in Section 1 is itself a financial intermediary (as defined in Rule 22c-2) (“indirect intermediary”) and, upon further request of the Fund, BRIL or their designee, promptly, but in any event not later than five (5) business days after receipt of a request, either (i) provide (or arrange to have provided) the information set forth in Section 1 for those Shareholders who hold an account with an indirect intermediary or (ii) restrict or prohibit the indirect intermediary from purchasing, in nominee name on behalf of other persons, securities issued by the Fund. Intermediary additionally agrees to inform the Fund whether it plans to perform (i) or (ii).

(b) Responses required by this paragraph must be communicated in writing and in a format mutually agreed upon by the Fund, BRIL or their designee and the Intermediary; and

(c) To the extent practicable, the format for any transaction information provided to the Fund, BRIL or their designee should be consistent with the NSCC Standardized Data Reporting Format.

4. Limitations on Use of Information. BRIL and the Fund agree not to use the information received pursuant to this Agreement for any purpose other than as necessary to comply with the provisions of Rule 22c-2 or to fulfill other regulatory requests or legal requirements subject to the privacy provisions of Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (Public Law 106-102) and comparable state laws.

5. Agreement to Restrict Trading. Intermediary agrees to execute written instructions from BRIL or the Fund to restrict or prohibit further purchases or exchanges of Shares by a Shareholder that has been identified by BRIL or the Fund, in their sole discretion, as having engaged in transactions of Fund Shares (directly or indirectly through the Intermediary’s account) that violate the Policies. Unless otherwise directed by the Fund, any such restrictions or prohibitions shall only apply to Shareholder-Initiated Transfer Purchases or Shareholder- Initiated Transfer Redemptions that are effected directly or indirectly through Intermediary. Instructions must be received by Intermediary at the following address, or such other address that Intermediary may communicate to BRIL or the Fund in writing from time to time, including, if applicable, an e-mail and/or facsimile telephone number:

C-2


Mailing Address:		Email Address:
Annuity Investors Life Insurance Company		kmclaughlin@gafri.com
Attn: Karen McLaughlin 525-13A
525 Vine Street		Facsimile Telephone Number:
Cincinnati OH 45202		513.412.1470
		Attn: Karen McLaughlin

6. Form of Instructions. Instructions to restrict or prohibit trading must include the TIN, ITIN, or GII and the specific individual Contract owner number or participant account number associated with the Shareholder, if known, and the specific restriction(s) to be executed, including how long the restriction(s) is(are) to remain in place. If the TIN, ITIN, GII or the specific individual Contract owner number or participant account number associated with the Shareholder is not known, the instructions must include an equivalent identifying number of the Shareholder(s) or account(s) or other agreed upon information to which the instruction relates.

7. Timing of Response. Intermediary agrees to execute instructions to restrict or prohibit trading as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than five (5) business days after receipt of the instructions by the Intermediary.

8. Confirmation by Intermediary. Intermediary will provide written confirmation to BRIL and the Fund that instructions to restrict or prohibit trading have been executed. Intermediary agrees to provide confirmation as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than ten (10) business days after the instructions have been executed.

9. Construction of the Schedule; Fund Participation Agreement. This Schedule C supplements the Fund Participation Agreement. To the extent the terms of this Schedule C conflict with the terms of the Fund Participation Agreement, the terms of this Schedule C shall control.

C-3

Schedule D

Schedule D Expenses


ITEM	FUNCTION	PARTY RESPONSIBLE FOR EXPENSE
FUND PROSPECTUS

Update:	Typesetting	Fund

New Sales:	Printing Distribution	Company Company

Existing Owners:	Printing Distribution	Fund Fund

STATEMENTS OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION	Same as Prospectus

PROXY MATERIALS OF THE FUND	Typesetting Printing Distribution	Fund Fund Fund

ANNUAL REPORTS AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS WITH SHAREHOLDERS OF THE FUND

All:	Typesetting	Fund

Marketing:	Printing Distribution	Company Company

Existing Owners:	Printing Distribution	Fund Fund

OPERATIONS OF FUND	All operations and related expenses, including the cost of registration and qualification of the Fund’s shares, preparation and filing of Fund’s prospectus and registration statement, proxy materials and reports, the preparation of all statements and notices required by any federal or state law and all taxes on the issuance of the Fund’s shares, and all costs of management of the business affairs of the Fund.	Fund

D-1


BLACKROCK VARIABLE SERIES FUNDS, INC.
By:	/s/ Ben Archibald
	Name:	BEN ARCHIBALD
	Title:	Assistant Secretary

BLACKROCK INVESTMENT, LLC
By:	/s/ Frank Porcelli
	Name:	FRANK PORCELLI
	Title:	MANAGING DIRECTOR

ANNUITY INVESTORS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By:	/s/ John P. Gruber
	Name:	JOHN P. GRUBER
	Title:	SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT