1
Pruco Life Insurance Company
Phoenix, Arizona 85014
A Stock Company Subsidiary of
The Prudential Insurance Company of America
INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED VARIABLE
ANNUITY CONTRACT
Nonparticipating
ANNUITY PAYMENTS AND VALUES PROVIDED BY THIS CONTRACT, WHEN BASED ON THE
INVESTMENT EXPERIENCE OF THE SEPARATE ACCOUNT, ARE VARIABLE AND ARE NOT
GUARANTEED AS TO DOLLAR AMOUNT.
This is an annuity contract. Subject to the provisions of the Contract, and in
consideration of any Purchase Payments you make and we accept, we will make
Annuity Payments starting on the Annuity Date shown on the Contract Data pages.
Please read the Contract carefully; it is a legal contract between you and Pruco
Life Insurance Company. Expense charges applicable to the Contract are shown on
the Contract Data pages. If you have a question about the Contract, or a claim,
see your representative or contact the Annuity Service Center.
Right to Cancel Contract
This Contract may be returned within [10] days after you receive it. It can be
mailed or delivered to either us, at the Annuity Service Center, or the
representative who sold it to you. Return of this Contract by mail is effective
on being postmarked, properly addressed and postage prepaid. The returned
Contract will be canceled upon our receipt, and we will return your money in
accordance with applicable law. Under certain circumstances, we have the right
to allocate Purchase Payment(s) to the Money Market Subaccount until the
expiration of the Right to Cancel period. If we so allocate Purchase Payment(s),
we will refund the Purchase Payment(s), less any withdrawals, in the event of
cancellation under the terms of this paragraph.
READ YOUR CONTRACT CAREFULLY
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CONTRACT DATA PAGES
DEFINITIONS
PURCHASE PAYMENTS
CREDITS
2
CONTRACT VALUE
VARIABLE SEPARATE ACCOUNT
CONTRACT MAINTENANCE CHARGE
TRANSFERS
WITHDRAWALS
PROTECTED VALUE
GUARANTEED MINIMUM INCOME BENEFIT
GUARANTEED MINIMUM DEATH BENEFIT
ANNUITY AND SETTLEMENT OPTIONS
BENEFICIARY
SUSPENSION OR DEFERRAL OF PAYMENTS OR TRANSFERS FROM THE
SEPARATE ACCOUNT
GENERAL PROVISIONS
VALUES AND BENEFITS
ANNUITY SETTLEMENT TABLES
PURCHASE PAYMENTS:
Initial Purchase Payment:
Minimum Subsequent Purchase Payment: $1,000. For IRA
contracts, the Minimum Subsequent Purchase Payment is $1,000. The
Minimum Subsequent Purchase Payment for automatic purchase plans, if available,
is $100.
Annual Purchase Payment Limits: The total of all Purchase Payments made into
this Contract in the first Contract Year may not exceed [$20,000,000]. The total
of all Purchase Payments made into this Contract in any Contract Year after the
first Contract Year may not exceed [$2,000,000]. Purchase Payments of greater
value may be allowed with our prior approval.
Aggregate Purchase Payment Limit: The total of all Purchase Payments made into
this Contract may not exceed [$20,000,000]. Purchase Payments of greater value
may be allowed with our prior approval.
CREDIT PAYMENT:
3
[4%] of Initial Purchase Payment.
CREDIT VESTING SCHEDULE:
Number of Contract Anniversaries
Since Date of Each Purchase Payment
Vested Percentage
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0%
10%
20%
4
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
100%]
BENEFICIARY:
As designated by Owner at Contract Date unless changed in accordance with the
Contract provisions.
CONTRACT MAINTENANCE CHARGE:
If your Contract Value is less than $50,000, we will charge a Contract
Maintenance Charge of the lesser of $30 or 2% of the Contract Value. This charge
is deducted on the Contract Anniversary and when a surrender of the Contract
occurs, if the Contract Value at the time is then less than $50,000. The
Contract Maintenance Charge will be deducted on a pro-rata basis from all
Allocation Options to which your Contract Value is allocated. During the Annuity
Period, we reserve the right to assess an annual Contract Maintenance Charge of
$30. The decision to assess this charge may depend on the Annuity or Settlement
Option selected. We reserve the right to increase the Contract Maintenance
Charge, but it will not exceed $60 per Contract Year, and to raise the Contract
Value amount over which we will waive the Contract Maintenance Charge.
INSURANCE CHARGE:
This charge depends on whether you have elected the Guaranteed
Minimum Death Benefit ("GMDB") feature and on the GMDB Protected Value option
that you have elected. This charge is deducted daily from the assets in each of
the Subaccounts. If you do not elect the GMDB feature, you do not elect a GMDB
Protected Value option, and your death benefit is equal to the base death
benefit as described in the Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit section of the
Contract.
5
[ ] You have not elected the GMDB
feature. Therefore, the daily rate is [0.00380909%], which is equivalent to an
annual rate of [1.40%].
[ ] You have elected the GMDB feature and the GMDB
Protected Value option of the Roll-Up. Therefore, the daily rate is
[0.00434896%], which is equivalent to an annual rate of [1.60%].
[ ] You have elected the GMDB feature and the GMDB
Protected Value option of the Step-Up. Therefore, the daily rate is
[0.00434896%], which is equivalent to an annual rate of [1.60%].
[ ] You have elected the GMDB feature and the GMDB
Protected Value option of the greater of the Roll-Up and Step-Up. Therefore, the
daily rate is [0.00461849%], which is equivalent to an annual rate of [1.70%].
GUARANTEED MINIMUM INCOME BENEFIT ("GMIB") CHARGE:
If you elect the GMIB, the charge
depends on the GMIB Protected Value option that you have elected. The charge is
calculated daily and deducted on each Contract Anniversary and upon a full and
certain partial withdrawals. The charge is deducted pro-rata from all Allocation
Options to which your Contract Value is allocated.
[ ] You have elected the GMIB and the GMIB Protected
Value option of the Roll-Up. Therefore, the daily rate is [0.00068408%], which
is equivalent to an annual rate of [0.25%].
[[ ] You have elected the GMIB and the GMIB Protected
Value option of the Step-Up. Therefore, the daily rate is [0.00068408%], which
is equivalent to an annual rate of [0.25%].
[ ] You have elected the GMIB and the GMIB Protected
Value option of the greater of the Roll-Up and Step-Up. Therefore, the daily
rate is [0.00095723%], which is equivalent to an annual rate of [0.35%].]
[ ] You have not elected the GMIB, and, therefore, there is no charge.
ALLOCATION OPTIONS:
VARIABLE INVESTMENT OPTIONS:
The following variable investment options are available through allocation to
subaccounts of the Pruco Life Flexible Premium Variable Annuity Account. We
reserve the right to limit the availability of the below options, if necessary,
in order to comply with federal, state or local law.
[The Prudential Series Fund
Xxxxx Venture Value
Fidelity Large Cap Value
Prudential Large Cap Value Index
6
Wellington Growth and Income
MFS Capital Opportunities
Prudential Stock Index
Alliance Premier Growth
Xxxxxxxx Growth
Xxxxxxx Large Cap Growth
Prudential Large Cap Growth Index
Fidelity Small/Mid Cap Value
Prudential Small Cap Value Index
Prudential Emerging Growth
Wellington Capital Appreciation
MFS Mid Cap Growth
MFS New Discovery
Prudential Small Cap Growth Index
PIMCO Total Return
PIMCO High Yield
Strategic Partners Focused Growth Fund
Prudential Money Market
Alliance Technology
Conservative Lifestyle Portfolio
Moderate Lifestyle Portfolio
Moderately Aggressive Lifestyle Portfolio
Aggressive Lifestyle Portfolio
Xxxxxxxx International
Prudential Global
Deutsche International Equity
Prudential International Index]
7
ALLOCATION GUIDELINES:
Currently, you may select any Allocation Option which is available at the time
the Purchase Payment or transfer is made. However, an amount of at least 1% of
the Invested Purchase Payment must be allocated to any Allocation Option.
Allocations made pursuant to automatic rebalancing or dollar cost-averaging are
not subject to these limitations. We reserve the right to limit the availability
of the above Allocation Options, if necessary, in order to comply with federal,
state or local law.
TRANSFERS:
Number of Transfers Permitted: Currently, there are no limits on the number of
transfers that can be made among Subaccounts. We reserve the right to change
this, but the Owner will always be allowed at least 12 transfers among
Subaccounts in a Contract Year.
Transfer Charge: The Transfer Charge for each transfer after the first 12 in a
Contract Year is $25. The charge is taken pro-rata from the Allocation Options
from which the transfer is made. Transfers made due to automatic rebalancing or
dollar cost-averaging will not be counted for purposes of the Transfer Charge.
We reserve the right to increase this charge, but it will not exceed $30.
Minimum Amount to be Transferred: Subject to the restrictions contained in the
Contract on transfers, the minimum transfer amount is $250 or your entire
interest in any Allocation Option, if less. This requirement is waived if the
transfer is pursuant to automatic rebalancing or dollar cost-averaging.
WITHDRAWALS:
Withdrawal Charge: The Withdrawal Charge is a percentage of the amount withdrawn
that is subject to a charge, and depends on the number of Contract Anniversaries
that have elapsed since a Purchase Payment was made.
Number of Contract
Anniversaries Since Date
of Each Purchase
Payment
Withdrawal
8
Charge
[0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
8%
8%
7%
6%
5%
4%
9
3%
2%
1%
0%]
Charge-Free Amount: A certain amount (the Charge-Free Amount) may be withdrawn
without incurring a Withdrawal Charge. The Charge-Free Amount available in any
current Contract Year is calculated as of the Contract Anniversary date and is
equal to 10% of the sum of all Purchase Payments received in excess of all
Purchase Payments withdrawn and is applied on a first-in, first-out basis.
Minimum Amount Which May Be Withdrawn: The minimum amount which may be withdrawn
is [$250]. The minimum amount which may be withdrawn under a systematic
withdrawal plan is [$100].
Minimum Contract Value Which Must Remain in the Contract After a Withdrawal: The
minimum Contract Value which must remain in the Contract in order to keep the
Contract inforce after a withdrawal is $2,000.
ENDORSEMENTS:
[Individual Retirement Annuity Endorsement]
ANNUITY SERVICE CENTER:
[Annuity Service Center
P.O. Box 14215
New Brunswick, NJ 08906-4215]
DEFINITIONS
ACCUMULATION PERIOD: The period from, and
including, the Contract Date to, but excluding, the Annuity Date.
ADJUSTED CONTRACT VALUE: The Contract Value as
of the Annuity Date less any applicable Premium Tax Charge and less any Credit
subject to recapture under the vesting schedule shown on the Contract Data
pages. The applicable Annuity Table is applied to this amount to determine the
initial Annuity Payment.
10
ALLOCATION OPTIONS: Those investment options available under the Contract as of
any given time to which Contract Value may be allocated. Allocation Options as
of the Contract Date are shown on the Contract Data pages.
ANNUITANT: The person named on the first page upon whose continuation of life
any Annuity Payment involving life contingencies depends. If the Annuitant dies
before the Annuity Date, the Co-Annuitant, if applicable, becomes the Annuitant,
if the requirements for changing Annuity Date are met (see definition of Annuity
Date). If there is no surviving or eligible Co-Annuitant, and the Annuitant was
not the Owner, the Owner becomes the Annuitant. You then have 60 days from the
date we receive due proof of death of the Annuitant or Co-Annuitant to name a
new Annuitant. If no new Annuitant is named during that 60 day period, the Owner
will remain the Annuitant. You may not change an Annuitant or Co-Annuitant and
may add or remove an Annuitant or Co-Annuitant only with our prior approval.
ANNUITY DATE: The date the first Annuity or Settlement Payment to the Payee is
due. The Annuity Date is shown on the original Contract Data pages. You must
have our permission to change the Annuity Date. If there is a new Annuitant due
to the death of the Annuitant, and the new Annuitant is older than the prior
Annuitant, the Annuity Date will be based on the age of the new Annuitant;
however any such changed Annuity Date must be at least three years after the
Contract Date, must be earlier than the date shown on the Contract Data pages,
cannot be later than the Contract Anniversary next following the new Annuitant's
90th birthday and must be consistent with applicable law at the time.
ANNUITY OR SETTLEMENT PAYMENTS: The series of payments made to you or any named
payee after the Annuity Date as described under the Annuity or Settlement Option
selected.
ANNUITY PERIOD: The period of time, beginning on the Annuity Date, during which
Annuity or Settlement Payments are made.
ANNUITY SERVICE CENTER: The office indicated on the Contract Data pages to
which notices, requests and Purchase Payments must be sent. All sums payable to
us under the Contract must be sent to the Annuity Service Center. The Annuity
Service Center address may be changed at any time. You will be notified in
advance and in writing of any change in address.
BENEFICIARY: The person(s) or entity(ies) who has the right to receive the
death benefit when the last survivor of the Owner or Joint Owner dies (or the
first to die of the Owner or Joint Owner if the Owner and Joint Owner are not
spouses at the time of the Owner's or Joint Owner's death). The Owner must be
the primary Beneficiary of the Joint Owner, and the Joint Owner must be the
primary Beneficiary of the Owner.
BUSINESS DAY: Any day the New York Stock Exchange
11
and the Company are open for business.
CHARGE-FREE AMOUNT: The Charge-Free Amount is a
portion of the Contract Value that may be withdrawn without incurring a
Withdrawal Charge.
CO-ANNUITANT: The person shown on the Contract Data
pages who becomes the Annuitant upon the death of the Annuitant before the
Annuity Date. No Co-Annuitant may be designated if the Owner is a non-natural
person.
COMPANY: Pruco Life Insurance Company, an Arizona
corporation.
CONTRACT ANNIVERSARY: The same day and month as
the Contract Date in each later year.
CONTRACT DATE: The date shown on the Contract
Data pages on which the first Contract Year begins.
CONTRACT SURRENDER VALUE: The Contract Value
less any applicable Premium Tax Charge, Withdrawal Charge, Credit recapture,
GMIB Charge or Contract Maintenance Charge.
CONTRACT VALUE: The dollar value as of any Business Day prior to the Annuity
Date of all amounts accumulated under this Contract.
CONTRACT YEAR: A year which starts on the Contract Date or on a Contract
Anniversary.
CREDIT: An amount we add to your Contract Value at
the time an Invested Purchase Payment is credited to the Contract Value.
EARNINGS: The excess of the Contract Value over the
sum of all Purchase Payments made and not yet withdrawn and non-vested Credits
not yet recaptured.
ELIGIBLE HOSPITAL: An institution that meets either
of the following requirements:
It is accredited as a hospital under the Hospital Accreditation Program of the
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations; or
It is legally operated, has 24-hour a day supervision by a staff
of doctors, has 24-hour a day nursing service by registered graduate nurses, and
either:
It mainly provides general inpatient medical care and treatment of sick and
injured persons by the use of medical, diagnostic and major surgical facilities.
All such facilities are located in it or are under its control; or
It mainly provides specialized inpatient medical care and treatment of sick or
injured persons by the use of medical and diagnostic facilities (including x-ray
and laboratory). All such facilities are located in it, are under its control,
or are available to it under a written agreement with a hospital (as defined
above) or with a specialized provider of these facilities.
12
An eligible hospital is not an institution, or part of one, that: (a) furnishes
mainly homelike or custodial care, or training in the routines of daily living;
or (b) is mainly a school.
ELIGIBLE NURSING HOME: An institution or special nursing
unit of a hospital that meets at least one of the following requirements:
It is Medicare approved as a provider of skilled nursing care services;
It is licensed as a skilled nursing home or as an intermediate
care facility by the state it is located in; or
It meets all the following requirements:
It is licensed as a nursing home by the state it is located in;
Its main function is to provide skilled, intermediate, or
custodial nursing care;
It is engaged in providing continuous room and board accommodations
to 3 or more persons;
It is under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN) or licensed
practical nurse (LPN);
It maintains a daily medical record of each patient; and
It maintains control and records for all medications dispensed.
GOOD ORDER: An instruction received at the Annuity
Service Center, utilizing such forms, signatures and datings as we require, that
is sufficiently complete and clear that we do not need to exercise any
discretion to follow such instructions. We will notify you if an instruction is
not in Good Order.
INVESTED PURCHASE PAYMENTS: The balance of each
Purchase Payment after we make any applicable deduction for: (1) Premium Tax
Charge; and (2) charge for any other type of tax (or component thereof) measured
by or based upon the amount of the Purchase Payment we receive.
JOINT OWNER: The spouse of the Owner, if named on
the Contract Data pages as the Joint Owner, who shares ownership rights with the
Owner as defined under this Contract. You may add, change or remove a Joint
Owner, subject to our underwriting rules. The Contract may never have more than
one Joint Owner. No Joint Owner is permitted for IRAs or other qualified
contracts.
OWNER: The person or entity named on the Contract
Data pages who has ownership rights as defined under the Contract provided that,
if a Joint Owner is named, the Owner shares ownership rights with the Joint
Owner. You may change the Owner subject to our underwriting rules. Any change of
an Owner will be effective when we process the request.
13
PAYEE: The person who has a right to receive Annuity
or Settlement Payments under the Annuity and Settlement Options provision of
this Contract. The Payee can be designated as revocable or irrevocable at your
discretion. If you do not designate a Payee at least 5 Business Days before the
Annuity Date, the Owner will become the Payee.
PREMIUM TAX CHARGE: A charge which may be deducted
from Purchase Payments or Contract Value for premium taxes owed by us to any
governmental entity.
PURCHASE PAYMENT: A payment you make to this
Contract.
SUBACCOUNT: Variable Separate Account assets are
divided into Subaccounts. Assets of each Subaccount will be invested in shares
of a Variable Investment Option.
TERMINALLY ILL: We consider someone terminally
ill who has a life expectancy of six months or less. Proof of Terminal Illness
must include a certification by a licensed physician.
VARIABLE INVESTMENT OPTION: Those investment
options available under the Contract through the Subaccounts as of any given
time. Variable Investment Options as of the Contract Date are shown on the
Contract Data pages.
VARIABLE SEPARATE ACCOUNT: A segregated asset
account maintained by us to support this and certain other contracts. The
segregated asset account(s) available as of the Contract Date is shown on the
Contract Data pages.
WE, OUR AND US: Pruco Life Insurance Company.
WITHDRAWAL CHARGES: A charge assessed on partial
or full withdrawals or upon settlement (depending on the payout option chosen)
during the Withdrawal Charge Period. The Withdrawal Charge equals a percentage,
shown on the Contract Data pages, of the amount subject to the charge.
WITHDRAWAL CHARGE PERIOD: The number of Contract
Anniversaries since each Purchase Payment during which Withdrawal Charges are
applied to withdrawals of amounts in the Contract. The Withdrawal Charge Period
is shown on the Contract Data pages.
YOU AND YOUR: The Owner of the Contract if
there is no Joint Owner; if there is a Joint Owner, the Owner and Joint Owner
acting jointly. If we receive written authorization from both the Owner and
Joint Owner in Good Order, then, upon our consent, we will allow either to
represent the entire ownership interest in the Contract, until that
authorization has been revoked by either party. This Contract will treat the
Owner as having contributed 100% of the Purchase Payments. Therefore, we will
treat the Owner as the taxpayer with respect to all distributions made under the
Contract while he or she is the Owner, whether or not a Joint Owner is also
named.
14
PURCHASE PAYMENTS
PURCHASE PAYMENTS: The initial Purchase Payment
must be paid on the Contract Date. In general, subsequent Purchase Payments may
be made at any time before the Annuity Date. However, no Purchase Payments may
be made on or after the sole or older of the Owner's or Joint Owner's, or
Annuitant's 80th birthday, and we reserve the right to decline any Purchase
Payment. The Minimum Subsequent Purchase Payment, Annual Purchase Payment Limits
and Aggregate Purchase Payment Limit are shown on the Contract Data pages.
ALLOCATION OF PURCHASE PAYMENTS: Invested
Purchase Payments are allocated to one or more of the Allocation Options in
accordance with your selection. The allocation of the initial Invested Purchase
Payment is made in accordance with your selection made on the Contract Date. You
may change the allocation of future Invested Purchase Payments at any time. If,
after the Initial Purchase Payment, we receive a Purchase Payment without
allocation instructions, we will allocate the corresponding Invested Purchase
Payment in the same proportion as the most recent Purchase Payment you made
(unless that was a Purchase Payment you directed us to allocate on a
one-time-only basis.) Assuming that all other requirements are received in Good
Order, we reserve the right to allocate your initial Invested Purchase Payment
to the Money Market Subaccount until we receive your allocation selection. In
addition, the Company has reserved the right to allocate the initial Invested
Purchase Payment to the Money Market Subaccount under the Right to Cancel
Contract provision set forth on the face page of this Contract. All allocations
of Invested Purchase Payments are subject to the Allocation Guidelines shown on
the Contract Data pages.
Currently, you may select as many of the available Allocation Options as you
wish. However, we reserve the right to limit this in the future. If the Purchase
Payment and forms required to issue a Contract are in Good Order, the initial
Invested Purchase Payment will be credited to your Contract within two (2)
Business Days after receipt at the Annuity Service Center. Additional Invested
Purchase Payments will be credited to your Contract as of the Business Day they
are received.
CREDITS
We add a Credit amount to your Contract Value with each Invested Purchase
Payment. Each Credit amount is allocated to the Contract Value when the
applicable Invested Purchase Payment is credited to your Contract Value. The
Credit is allocated to the Variable Investment Options in the same percentages
as the Invested Purchase Payment to which it relates.
The Credit percentage may be determined
by the amount of the Purchase Payment. The Credit percentage for your initial
Purchase Payment is shown on the Contract Data pages. The Credit percentage on
subsequent Purchase Payments will vary, but is guaranteed to be at least 3% of
the Purchase Payment.
Each Credit is subject to its own vesting schedule which is shown on the
Contract Data pages. If you make a withdrawal of all or part of a Purchase
15
Payment, the non-vested portion of the Credit attributable to that Purchase
Payment will be recaptured in accordance with the vesting schedule. Withdrawals
of Purchase Payments are taken on a first-in, first-out basis. The Credit
recapture is in addition to any Withdrawal Charges that may be applicable.
If you exercise your Right to Cancel the Contract, the entire Credit will be
recaptured.
CONTRACT VALUE
Your Contract Value is the total of all amounts credited to your Contract as of
any Business Day as a result of your initial Invested Purchase Payment and the
increases and decreases described below.
On the Contract Date, the Contract Value is equal to the initial Invested
Purchase Payment and the Credit amount. After that, the Contract Value as of any
Business Day is determined by starting with the Contract Value at the end of the
previous day and adjusting it for items that increase it or decrease it.
Items that increase the Contract Value are: Invested Purchase Payments, Credit
amounts and positive investment performance in a Subaccount.
Items that decrease the Contract Value are: withdrawals and the charges and
Credit recaptures associated with them; negative investment performance in a
Subaccount; Insurance Charge; Contract Maintenance Charge, if applicable; GMIB
Charge, if applicable; Transfer Charge; and any Premium Tax Charge or other tax
charge.
Investment results are credited daily and the Insurance Charge is deducted
daily. The Contract Maintenance Charge is deducted annually as of the Contract
Anniversary and upon a total withdrawal. The GMIB Charge is deducted annually as
of the Contract Anniversary and pro-rata upon a total and certain partial
withdrawals. Other charges are assessed only if the appropriate event occurs.
VARIABLE SEPARATE ACCOUNT
THE VARIABLE SEPARATE ACCOUNT: The Variable
Separate Account is designated on the Contract Data pages. It consists of assets
we have set aside and have kept separate from the rest of our assets and those
of our other separate accounts. The assets of the Variable Separate Account,
equal to reserves and other liabilities of your Contract and those of other
owners, will not be charged with liabilities arising out of any other business
we may conduct.
The Variable Separate Account assets are divided into Subaccounts. The assets of
the Subaccount are allocated to the Variable Investment Option(s) shown on the
Contract Data pages. We may restructure, eliminate or combine Subaccounts or add
to or eliminate Variable Investment Option(s) from those shown. You may be
permitted to transfer your Contract Value or allocate Invested Purchase Payments
to the additional Subaccount(s). However, the right to make such transfers or
allocations will be limited by any terms and conditions we may impose.
16
Should the shares of any Variable Investment Option(s) become unavailable for
investment by the Variable Separate Account, we deem further investment in the
shares inappropriate, or if required for tax reasons, we may limit further
purchase of such shares or substitute shares of another Variable Investment
Option for shares already purchased.
VALUATION OF ASSETS: The value of the shares
held by the Subaccounts in the Variable Investment Options will be based on the
net asset value of the Investment Option on each Business Day.
INSURANCE CHARGE: Each Business Day, we deduct
an Insurance Charge from the Subaccounts of the Variable Separate Account which
is equivalent, on an annual basis, to the amount shown on the Contract Data
pages. The amount of the Insurance Charge is based on whether you have elected
the GMDB and on the GMDB Protected Value option that you elect, if any.
CONTRACT MAINTENANCE CHARGE
We deduct an annual Contract Maintenance Charge shown on the Contract Data
pages. We determine your Contract Value as of your Contract Anniversary and make
any deductions required on a pro-rata basis from all Allocation Options to which
your Contract Value is allocated. If a total withdrawal is made on other than a
Contract Anniversary, we will determine your Contract Value and make a deduction
for the Contract Maintenance Charge the same as we would if it were a Contract
Anniversary.
TRANSFERS DURING THE ACCUMULATION PERIOD: A
transfer is subject to the following:
the maximum number of transfers which may be made, the maximum number of
transfers which are not subject to a Transfer Charge and the minimum amount
which may be transferred are shown on the Contract Data pages;
a Transfer Charge is deducted if a transfer exceeds the maximum number of free
transfers. The Transfer Charge is shown on the Contract Data pages. The Transfer
Charge is deducted from the amount which is transferred;
a transfer will be effected as of the end of the Business Day when we receive a
request in Good Order;
we are not responsible for the consequences resulting from a
transfer made in accordance with your instructions;
your right to make transfers is subject to modification if we
determine, in our sole opinion, that the exercise of the right by one or
more Owners is, or would be, to the disadvantage of other Owners or if
required to do so by applicable laws or regulations. Restrictions may
be applied in any manner reasonably designed to prevent any use of the
transfer right which is considered by us to be to the disadvantage of
other Owners or to ensure compliance with such laws or regulations.
17
A modification could be applied to transfers to or from one or more
of the Subaccounts and could include, but not be limited to:
the requirement of a minimum time period between each transfer;
not accepting a transfer request of an agent acting under
a power of attorney on behalf of more than one Owner;
limiting the dollar amount that may be transferred among
the Subaccounts by an Owner at any one time; or
restricting the number of transfers per year.
[No transfers are permitted after the Annuity Date.]
WITHDRAWALS
WITHDRAWALS: During the Accumulation Period, you
may, upon a request in Good Order, make a total or partial withdrawal of the
Contract Surrender Value. You may specify the Allocation Option(s) from which a
withdrawal will be taken. If you do not so specify, we will take the withdrawal
on a pro-rata basis from all Allocation Option(s) to which your Contract Value
is allocated.
We will pay the amount of any withdrawal within seven (7) days of receipt of
request in Good Order unless the "Suspension or Deferral of Payments Provision"
is in effect.
Each partial withdrawal must be for an amount which is not less than the amount
shown on the Contract Data pages. The minimum Contract Value which must remain
in the Contract after a partial withdrawal in order to keep the Contract inforce
is shown on the Contract Data pages. If the amount of the withdrawal requested
would reduce the Contract Value below this minimum, we will give you the maximum
amount available that, with the Withdrawal Charge, would not reduce the Contract
Value below such minimum. Special rules may apply for IRAs.
WITHDRAWAL CHARGE: A Withdrawal Charge may apply
if you make a withdrawal during the Withdrawal Charge Period for a Purchase
Payment. The amount of the Withdrawal Charge varies with the number of Contract
Anniversaries that have elapsed since each Purchase Payment was made, and is a
percentage, shown on the Contract Data pages, of the amount withdrawn that is
subject to the charge. If a withdrawal is effective on the day before a Contract
Anniversary, the Withdrawal Charge percentage used will be the one as of the
following Contract Anniversary. If you request a partial withdrawal, we will
deduct an amount from the Contract Value that is sufficient to pay the
Withdrawal Charge, and recapture any Credit subject to recapture under the
vesting schedule, and provide you the amount requested.
For purposes of determining the Withdrawal Charge, withdrawals of the
Charge-Free Amount will be taken first from Purchase Payments, on a first-in,
first-out basis. Withdrawals in excess of the Charge-Free Amount will come first
from Purchase Payments, also on a first-in, first-out basis, and will be subject
to Withdrawal Charges, if applicable, even if Earnings are available on that
date. Once all Purchase Payments have been withdrawn, further
18
withdrawals will be taken from any remaining Earnings. Earnings are not
subject to Withdrawal Charges.
We will waive all Withdrawal Charges upon receipt of due proof that the Owner or
Joint Owner is Terminally Ill, or has been confined to an Eligible Nursing Home
or Eligible Hospital continuously for at least three months from the Contract
Date. This waiver is not available if the Contract has been assigned. In
addition, any Credits subject to recapture under the vesting schedule will be
recaptured.
Withdrawal Charges will never be greater than that permitted by any applicable
law or regulation. Withdrawal Charges may be assessed upon settlement.
PROTECTED VALUE
The Protected Value is the amount which is:
applied to the guaranteed annuity purchase rates to produce the
Guaranteed Minimum Income Benefit ("GMIB"); or
applied to provide a Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefit ("GMDB")
for your beneficiaries.
If you elect the GMIB or GMDB features, you must elect, as
applicable, a Protected Value option for the GMIB ("GMIB Protected Value
option") and for the GMDB ("GMDB Protected Value option"). Certain Protected
Value options may not be available. The Protected Value is calculated daily and,
subject to the Protected Value option that you elect, if any, as shown on the
Contract Data pages, and the restrictions described below, can be equal to (1)
or (2) or to the greater of (1) and (2), where:
is the "Roll-Up." The Roll-Up is equal to the total
Invested Purchase Payments made increased daily at an effective annual
interest rate of 5% starting on the date that each Invested Purchase Payment is
made, until the cap is reached ("Roll-Up Cap"), and is proportionally reduced by
the effect of withdrawals. The Roll-Up Cap is equal to the sum of two times each
Invested Purchase Payment and is proportionally reduced by the effect of
withdrawals. Once the Roll-Up Cap is reached, the Roll-Up will be increased by
subsequent Invested Purchase Payments and proportionally reduced by the effect
of withdrawals; and
is the "Step-Up." Before the first Contract Anniversary, the
Step-Up is the initial Invested Purchase Payment increased by subsequent
Invested Purchase Payments and proportionally reduced by the effect of
withdrawals. The Step-Up on each Contract Anniversary will be reset to the
greater of the previous Step-Up and the Contract Value as of such Contract
Anniversary. Between Contract Anniversaries, the Step-Up will be increased by
Invested Purchase Payments and proportionally reduced by the effect of
withdrawals. If the calculation of the GMIB is to be done at a time when any
Credit applied to a Purchase Payment is still within the vesting period for that
Purchase Payment, as shown on the Contract Data pages, the Step-Up will first be
adjusted to recapture the applicable percentage of the Credit. If the
calculation of the GMDB is to be done at a time when any
19
Credit applied to a Purchase Payment has been applied either within one year
prior to the date of death or after the date of death, the Step-Up will first be
adjusted to recapture the portion of that Credit that is not vested. If the
calculation of the GMDB is to be done at a time when any Credit applied to a
Purchase Payment has been applied one year or more before the date of death, the
Step-Up will not be adjusted to recapture that Credit.
After the Contract Anniversary coinciding with or next following the sole or
older Owner's 80th birthday, we stop increasing the Protected Value, except by
subsequent Invested Purchase Payments made on or after such Contract
Anniversary. This means that, as applicable, we do not increase the Roll-Up by
the effective annual interest rate, and we do not increase the Step-Up by any
appreciation in the Contract Value. But when you make a withdrawal on or after
such Contract Anniversary, we still reduce the Protected Value proportionally by
the effect of that withdrawal.
Where the words "proportionally reduced by the effect of withdrawals" are used,
the withdrawal reduces those values in the same proportion as it reduces the
Contract Value. We calculate the proportion by dividing the Contract Value after
the withdrawal (including Withdrawal Charges) by the Contract Value immediately
prior to the withdrawal. The resulting percentage is multiplied by the
applicable values (before the withdrawal) in determining the Protected Value.
GUARANTEED MINIMUM INCOME BENEFIT
The GMIB is a feature providing for the option to receive a guaranteed minimum
income benefit with payments for life with a period certain. The GMIB is only
available if you elect the GMDB. If available at that time, the GMIB feature
must be elected when you purchase your Contract. Once elected, this election is
not revocable until the end of the seventh Contract Year. Once the GMIB election
is revoked, it cannot be reinstated. The amount of the GMIB Charge is based on
the available GMIB Protected Value option that you elect. The calculation of the
GMIB payout amount is described below. You may exercise the GMIB payout option
after the Waiting Period. The Exercise Periods run for 30 days and begin on each
Contract Anniversary after the Waiting Period ends.
GMIB Payout Amount: The GMIB Payout Amount
is based on the age and sex of the Annuitant and Co-Annuitant, if applicable.
After first deducting charges for any applicable taxes attributable to premiums,
the GMIB payout amount will equal the greater of:
the GMIB Protected Value as of the date the exercise of the GMIB payout option
is effective applied to the guaranteed annuity purchase rates and based on the
period certain as described below; and
the Adjusted Contract Value as of the date the exercise of the GMIB payout
option is effective applied to the current annuity purchase rates then in use
and based on the period certain as described below.
Guaranteed Annuity Purchase Rates: The guaranteed annuity purchase
rates are attached to this Contract and are based on 1. and 2., below:
20
the Guaranteed Interest Rate
The guaranteed interest rate used to calculate the guaranteed annuity purchase
rates is based on the Contract Anniversary coinciding with or immediately
preceding the date the exercise of the GMIB payout option is effective:
Contract Anniversary
Guaranteed Interest Rate
10-14
15 +
3.0%
3.5%
the Guaranteed Mortality Rate
The guaranteed mortality rate used to calculate the guaranteed annuity purchase
rates is based on the Annuity 2000 valuation mortality table, with two-year age
setbacks, ten-year generational setback and projected mortality improvements
(modified Scale G), shown in the tables on page 20.
GMIB Annuity Payout Options:
There are two GMIB annuity payout options available:
GMIB Option 1: Single Life Payout Option: We
will make monthly payments for as long as the Annuitant lives, with payments for
a period certain. No payments are due after the death of the Annuitant or, if
later, the end of the period certain.
GMIB Option 2: Joint Life Payout Option: In
the case of an Annuitant and Co-Annuitant, we will make monthly payments for the
joint lifetime of the Annuitant and Co-Annuitant, with payments for a period
certain. Upon the death of the Annuitant or Co-Annuitant, payments will continue
during the remaining lifetime of the survivor at 100% of the original monthly
payment if the survivor is the Annuitant and, upon expiration of the period
certain, will be reduced to 50% of the original monthly payment if the survivor
is the Co-Annuitant. No payments are due after the death of the survivor of the
Annuitant and Co-Annuitant or, if later, the end of the period certain.
21
There is no right of withdrawal under either payout option. Other payout
frequencies may be available such as quarterly, semi-annually and annually.
The period certain for the GMIB is based on the Annuitant's age on the date the
exercise of the GMIB payout option is effective, as follows:
Age
Period Certain
80 or less
81
82
83
84
85-90
10
9
8
7
6
5
Exercise of the GMIB Payout Option: You may exercise the GMIB payout option by
contacting us at the Annuity Service Center. We will
22
provide you with the necessary forms and inform you of any other information
that we require for you to exercise this option. The exercise of the GMIB payout
option will be effective when we receive all documentation and other information
that we need at the Annuity Service Center during the Exercise Period. The
Exercise Period for the GMIB payout option begins on any Contract Anniversary
Date after the end of the applicable Waiting Period, shown below. Such Exercise
Period ends 30 days after that Contract Anniversary Date, but no later than the
Contract Anniversary following the Annuitant's age 90.
Waiting Period: The Waiting Period is based on the age
of the sole or older of the Annuitant and Co-Annuitant at issue. The Waiting
Period is as follows:
Age
At Issue
Contract Anniversary on which
Waiting Period Ends
0-45
46
47
48
49
50-80
15
14
13
23
12
11
10
GMIB Charge: To compensate us for
assuming the risks associated with the GMIB, we charge an annual GMIB Charge.
The fee is equal to a percentage of the average daily GMIB Protected Value and
is deducted: 1) on each Contract Anniversary; 2) upon choice of an option under
the Annuity and Settlement Options section of the contract; 3) upon revocation
of the GMIB election; 4) upon a full withdrawal; and 5) upon a partial
withdrawal if the Contract Value remaining after such partial withdrawal is not
enough to cover the then applicable GMIB Charge. The fee is pro-rated based on
the portion of the Contract Year for which the GMIB was in effect. The amount of
the fee is based on the GMIB Protected Value option that you elect. The GMIB
Charge based on your election is shown on the Contract Data pages.
The fee is withdrawn from each investment option in the same proportion that the
value of the Contract Value allocated to an investment option bears to the total
Contract Value. Upon a full withdrawal or if the Contract Value remaining after
a partial withdrawal is not enough to cover the then applicable GMIB Charge, the
GMIB Charge is deducted from the amount paid.
No GMIB Charge is charged after the Annuity Date, after revocation of the GMIB
option, or after exercise of the GMIB payout option. Because we do not impose a
new Waiting Period for each subsequent Purchase Payment, if you elect the GMIB,
we reserve the right to limit subsequent Purchase Payments if we discover that
by the timing of your Purchase Payments and withdrawals, your GMIB Protected
Value is increasing in ways that are not intended. In determining whether to
limit Purchase Payments, we will look at Purchase Payments which are
disproportionately larger than the initial Purchase Payment and other actions
that may artificially increase the GMIB Protected Value.
GUARANTEED MINIMUM DEATH BENEFIT
The GMDB is a feature providing for the option to receive an enhanced death
benefit upon the death of the sole or last surviving Owner during the
Accumulation Period. If available at that time, the GMDB feature must be elected
when you purchase your Contract. The amount of the GMDB is based on the GMDB
Protected Value option that you elect (see Protected Value section above). If
the calculation of the death benefit is to be done at a time when any Credit
applied to a Purchase Payment has been applied within one year of the date of
death, the Contract Value will first be adjusted to
24
recapture the portion of that Credit that is not vested. If the calculation
of the death benefit is to be done at a time when any Credit applied to a
Purchase Payment has been applied one year or more from the date of death, the
Contract Value will not be adjusted to recapture that Credit.
If you have elected the GMDB feature, and if a sole or last surviving Owner dies
before the Annuity Date, the death benefit payable to your beneficiary will be
as described below:
Upon receipt of due proof of death and any other documentation we need, the
beneficiary is entitled to receive a death benefit equal to the greater of:
the Contract Value, adjusted as described above, as of the date
we receive due proof of death and any other documentation we need; and
the GMDB Protected Value as of the date we receive due proof of death and any
other documentation we need.
If you do not elect the GMDB feature, upon receipt of due proof of death and any
other documentation we need, the beneficiary is entitled to receive a base death
benefit equal to the greater of:
the Contract Value, adjusted as described above, as of the date
we receive due proof of death and any other documentation we need; and
the initial Invested Purchase Payment increased by subsequent Invested Purchase
Payments and reduced by the effect of withdrawals.
If the ownership of the Contract changes as a result of an assignment, the value
of the death benefit will be reset to the Contract Value as of the date of the
assignment. Such value will be treated as a Purchase Payment made on that date
for purposes of computing the death benefit.
The Beneficiary may, within 60 days of providing proof of death, elect to take
the death benefit under one of the death benefit payout options listed below,
provided that any payout option shall not include a period certain that exceeds
the life expectancy of the Beneficiary. The Beneficiary will be the sole
measuring life in determining the amount of any such payout option. If no payout
option is selected within the 60 days, the death benefit will be payable as a
lump sum.
If the primary Beneficiary of the Owner is the spouse of the Owner at the time
of the Owner's death, the Contract will continue and the spouse will become the
Owner. If the primary Beneficiary of the Joint Owner is the spouse of the Joint
Owner at the time of the Joint Owner's death, the Contract will continue. In
either case, the spouse may, within 60 calendar days of providing proof of
death, elect to take the Adjusted Contract Value under any of the payout options
available under this Contract. If the Contract continues, and the new Annuitant
is older than the prior
25
Annuitant, the Annuity Date will be based on the age of
the new Annuitant.
If the Owner and Joint Owner are not spouses at the time of the Owner or Joint
Owner's death, the Contract will not continue, the amount payable will equal the
Adjusted Contract Value, and the Beneficiary will be required to choose one of
the death benefit payout options described below. In that event, the payout
described in Choice 2 and the beginning of the distribution described in Choice
3 will be based on the date of death of the first to die of the Owner or Joint
Owner.
The death benefit payout options are:
Choice 1 lump sum payment of
the death benefit; or
Choice 2 the payment of the
entire death benefit within 5 years of the date of death of the last to survive
of the
Owner or Joint Owner; or
Choice 3 payment of the death
benefit under an Annuity or Settlement Option over the lifetime of the
Beneficiary or over a period not extending beyond the life expectancy of the
Beneficiary with distribution beginning within one year of the date of death of
the last to survive of the Owner or Joint Owner.
If the Owner and Joint Owner are spouses at the death of the first to die of the
Owner and Joint Owner, any portion of the death benefit not applied under Choice
3 within one year of the date of death of the survivor must be distributed
within 5 years of the survivor's date of death. If the Owner and Joint Owner are
not spouses at the death of the first to die of the Owner and Joint Owner, any
portion of the death benefit, which is equal to the Adjusted Contract Value, not
applied under Choice 3 within one year of the date of death of the first to die
must be distributed within 5 years of the date of death of the first to die.
Once a death benefit becomes payable, the Payee's interest in any Annuity
Benefit under the Contract will cease.
If a lump sum payment is requested, the amount will be paid within seven (7)
days of receipt of proof of death and the election, unless the Suspension or
Deferral of Payments Provision is in effect.
DEATH OF ANNUITANT DURING THE ACCUMULATION PERIOD: If
the Annuitant dies before the Annuity Date, the Co-Annuitant, if applicable,
becomes the Annuitant. If there is no surviving Co-Annuitant, and the Annuitant
was not the
26
Owner, the Owner becomes the Annuitant. You have the right to name a
new Annuitant within 60 days. If the Owner is a non-natural person, the death of
the Annuitant will be treated as the death of the Owner, a new Annuitant may not
be designated, and the Annuitant will be deemed to be the Owner for purposes of
determining the death benefit.
DEATH OF ANNUITANT DURING THE ANNUITY PERIOD: If the
Annuitant dies on or after the Annuity Date, the Settlement Option then in
effect will govern whether or not we will continue to make any payments. The
death of a non-Annuitant Owner or Joint Owner has no effect on the payout during
the Annuity Period.
PAYMENT OF DEATH BENEFIT: We will require due
proof of death and any other documentation we request in Good Order before any
death benefit is paid. All death benefits will be paid in accordance with
applicable law or regulations governing death benefit payments.
SPECIAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS: There are special
tax rules that apply to IRA and other qualified contracts during both the
Accumulation Period and Annuity Period governing distributions upon the death of
the Owner. These rules are contained in provisions in the attached endorsements
and supersede any other distribution rules contained in the Contract.
The preceding provisions regarding the death of the Owner are intended to
satisfy the distribution at death requirements of section 72(s) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. We reserve the right to amend this Contract by
subsequent endorsement as necessary to comply with applicable tax requirements,
if any, which are subject to change from time to time. Such additional
endorsements, if necessary to comply with amended tax requirements, will be
mailed to you and become effective within 30 days of mailing, unless you notify
us in writing, within that time frame, that you reject the endorsement.
ANNUITY AND SETTLEMENT OPTIONS
GENERAL: On the Annuity Date, the Adjusted
Contract Value will be applied under the Annuity or Settlement Option you have
selected. If the payment under any option selected would be less than $20 per
month, we reserve the right to pay out the Adjusted Contract Value in a lump
sum. We guarantee that the dollar amount of each payment, once determined, will
not be affected by variations in mortality or expense experience.
SELECTION OF AN ANNUITY OR SETTLEMENT OPTION: You
may select an Annuity or Settlement Option by notifying us of the selected
option in Good Order. If no Annuity or Settlement Option is selected, or if the
chosen Option is not received in Good Order, Option 2, Life Income Annuity
Option, will automatically be applied. You may, at any time prior to the Annuity
Date, by a request in Good Order 30 days in advance, select and/or change the
Annuity or Settlement Option.
ANNUITY AND SETTLEMENT OPTIONS: This Contract
provides for payments under one of the Annuity or Settlement Options described
below. Any other Annuity or Settlement Option acceptable to us may be selected.
27
OPTION 1 - FIXED PERIOD ANNUITY OPTION. We will
make equal payments for a period you choose up to 25 years. At your choice, we
will make such payments annually, semi-annually, quarterly or monthly. Table 1
shows the minimum amounts we will pay.
OPTION 2 - LIFE INCOME ANNUITY OPTION. We will
make payments for as long as the Annuitant lives, with payments certain for 120
months. At your choice, we will make such payments annually, semi-annually,
quarterly or monthly. Table 2 shows the minimum amounts we will pay.
OPTION 3 - INTEREST PAYMENT SETTLEMENT OPTION. We will
credit interest on the Adjusted Contract Value at the rate of at least 3% until
you request payment of all or part of the Adjusted Contract Value. At your
choice, we will pay interest on the Adjusted Contract Value not yet withdrawn
annually, semi-annually, quarterly or monthly. You may request full or partial
payment of the Adjusted Contract Value provided, however, that if a partial
payment is requested, the amount of any Adjusted Contract Value remaining after
such requested amount is paid must be at least $1,000. This option is not
available for qualified contracts.
OTHER ANNUITY OR SETTLEMENT OPTIONS: We may offer
or consent to other settlement options, including life income annuity options
with payments certain for a period of other than 120 months. Contact the
representative who sold you the Contract or call the toll-free number listed on
your quarterly statement for information.
ANNUITY: Unless you designate another Payee, you will
be the Payee of the Annuity Payments. The Adjusted Contract Value will be
applied to the applicable Annuity Table contained in this Contract based upon
the Annuity Option you have selected. The amount of the first payment for each
$1,000 of Adjusted Contract Value is shown in the Annuity Tables. If when
Annuity Payments begin we are using tables of annuity rates for these Contracts
which result in larger Annuity Payments, we will use those tables instead.
Annuity Payments will depend on the age and sex of the Annuitant, where
permitted.
WITHDRAWAL CHARGES: If you choose Option 1 for a
period of fewer than 5 years or Option 3, the Adjusted Contract Value will be
subject to a Withdrawal Charge which will be applied in the same way as if you
had made a full withdrawal on the Annuity Date. Any amount used to provide
income under Option 1 for a period of 5 years or more or under Option 2 will be
applied without charge. If you choose any other method of payment not described
in this Contract, we will tell you if it is subject to a Withdrawal Charge.
BENEFICIARY
BENEFICIARY: The Beneficiary designation in effect
on the Contract Date will remain in effect until changed. The Beneficiary is
entitled to receive the benefits to be paid at the death of the last to die of
the Owner or Joint Owner (or the first to die of the Owner or Joint Owner if the
Owner and Joint Owner are not spouses at the time of the Owner's or Joint
Owner's death) during the Accumulation Period. The Owner must be the primary
Beneficiary of the Joint Owner, and the Joint Owner must be the primary
Beneficiary of the
28
Owner. Other than primary Beneficiaries, Beneficiaries must
be the same for both the Owner and Joint Owner.
When a Beneficiary is designated, any relationship shown is to the Owner unless
otherwise specified.
To show priority among Beneficiaries, we will label the classes, so that the
class with first priority is called the primary class, the class with next
priority is called the secondary class, and so on. The following statements
apply to Beneficiaries unless the Contract Data pages, Contract endorsement or
any change request that we have processed specifies otherwise:
One who survives the last to die of the Owner and Joint Owner will have the
right to be paid only if no one in a prior class survives the last to die of the
Owner and Joint Owner.
One who has the right to be paid will be the only one paid if no one else in the
same class survives the last to die of the Owner and Joint Owner.
Two or more in the same class who have the right to be paid will be paid in
equal shares.
If no one survives the sole Owner, we will pay in one sum to the Owner's estate.
When there is insufficient evidence to determine the order of death then, unless
state law prohibits, we will deem the Owner to be the last survivor and make
payment to the Owner's Beneficiary.
Before we make a payment, we have the right to decide what proof we need of the
identity, age or any other facts about any persons designated as Beneficiaries.
If Beneficiaries are not designated by name and we make payment(s) based on that
proof, we will not have to make the payment(s) again.
CHANGE OF BENEFICIARY: To initiate a change
of Beneficiary, call the toll-free number listed on your statement or contact
the representative who sold you the Contract. We may also ask you to send us the
Contract. The change will take effect only when we process the request. Then,
any previous Beneficiary's interest will end as of the date we receive the
request in Good Order, even if the Owner or Joint Owner is not living when we
process the request. We will not be liable for any payment made or action taken
before we record the change.
SUSPENSION OR DEFERRAL OF PAYMENTS OR TRANSFERS
FROM THE SEPARATE ACCOUNT
We reserve the right to suspend or postpone payments from the Separate Account
for a withdrawal or transfer for any period when:
the New York Stock Exchange is closed (other than customary
weekend and holiday closings);
29
trading on the New York Stock Exchange is restricted;
an emergency exists as a result of which disposal of shares of the Investment
Options held in the Separate Account is not reasonably practicable or it is not
reasonably practicable to determine the value of such shares; or
during any other period when the Securities and Exchange
Commission, by order, so permits for the protection of Owners;
provided that applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission will govern as to whether the conditions described in (2) and (3)
exist.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
THE CONTRACT: The entire Contract consists of
this Contract, and any attached application, endorsements or riders. This
Contract may be changed or altered only by our President or Secretary. Any
change, modification or waiver must be made in writing. This Contract may not be
modified by us without your consent except as may be required by applicable law,
including changes necessary to comply with IRS requirements for annuity
contracts, or as set forth in this Contract.
ASSIGNMENT OF A CONTRACT: A request in Good
Order specifying the terms of an assignment of a Contract must be provided to
the Annuity Service Center. We are under no obligation to verify the
assignment's validity or sufficiency. We will not be liable for any payment made
or action taken before we record the assignment. If any Owner is living on the
Annuity Date and an assignment is in effect on that date, we have the right to
pay the Contract Surrender Value in one lump sum to the assignee where notice in
Good Order is received. Partial assignments, collateral or otherwise, are not
allowed without our approval. We reserve the right to restrict or refuse any
assignment.
An assignment which results in a change of ownership will affect the value of
the death benefit. Please see the section of the Contract entitled, "Guaranteed
Minimum Death Benefit," for more information.
We will not be responsible for the validity or tax consequences of any
assignment. Any assignment made after the death benefit has become payable will
be valid only with our consent.
If the Contract is assigned, your rights may only be exercised with the consent
of the assignee of record.
NON-PARTICIPATING IN SURPLUS: This Contract
does not share in any distribution of our profits or surplus.
INCONTESTABILITY: We will not contest this
Contract. We consider all statements made in the application for this
Contract to be representations, not warranties.
30
MISSTATEMENT OF AGE OR SEX: We may require
proof of age of the Annuitant before making any life contingent Annuity Payment
provided for by this Contract. If the age or sex of the Annuitant has been
misstated, the amount payable will be the amount that the Contract Value would
have provided at the true age or sex.
Once Annuity Payments have begun, any underpayments, with interest at 5%, will
be made up in one sum with the next Annuity Payment, and overpayments, with
interest at 5%, will be deducted from the future Annuity Payments until the
total is repaid.
CONTRACT SETTLEMENT: This Contract
must be returned to us upon any settlement.
REPORTS: We will send you a report four
times each calendar year until the Annuity Date showing your Contract Value and
other relevant information about your Contract. We will also furnish an annual
report of the Separate Account. These reports will be sent to your last known
address.
TAXES: Any taxes, including any Premium
Taxes and any other type of tax (or component thereof) measured by or based upon
any portion of the Purchase Payment we receive, paid to any governmental entity
will be charged against the Contract Value, unless a deduction was made for this
tax in calculating the Invested Purchase Payment amount. We will, in our sole
discretion, determine when taxes have resulted from: the investment experience
of the Separate Account; receipt by us of the Purchase Payment(s); or
commencement of Annuity Payments. We may, at our discretion, pay taxes when due
and deduct that amount from the Contract Value at a later date. Payment at an
earlier date does not waive any right we may have to deduct amounts at a later
date. We reserve the right to establish a provision for federal income taxes if
we determine, in our sole discretion, that we will incur a tax as a result of
the operation of the Separate Account. We will deduct for any income taxes
incurred by it as a result of the operation of the Separate Account whether or
not there was a provision for taxes and whether or not it was sufficient. We
will deduct any withholding taxes required by applicable law.
EVIDENCE OF SURVIVAL: Before we make a
payment, we have the right to require proof of continued life and any other
documentation we need to make a payment. We can require this proof for any
person whose life or death determines whether or to whom we must make the
payment.
PROTECTION OF PROCEEDS: No Beneficiary
may commute, encumber, alienate or assign any payments under this Contract
before they are due. To the extent permitted by law, no payments will be subject
to the debts, contracts or engagements of any Beneficiary or to any judicial
process to levy upon or attach the same for payment thereof.
VALUES AND BENEFITS
31
Any cash values, paid up annuities and death benefits that may be available
under this Contract are not less than the minimum benefits required by the law
of any state in which this Contract is delivered.
ANNUITY SETTLEMENT TABLES
Tables 1 and 2 below are applied to the Adjusted Contract Value to compute the
minimum amount of the annuity payment. Table 1 is used to compute the minimum
annuity payment under Option 1 (Fixed Period Annuity Option). Table 2 is used to
compute the minimum annuity payment under Option 2 (Life Income Annuity Option).
If the GMIB was elected, Table 2 or Table 3, as applicable, is applied to the
GMIB Protected Value to compute the GMIB payout amount. Table 2 is used to
compute the GMIB payout amount when annuitization occurs on or immediately after
Contract Anniversaries 10 through 14, with 120 payments certain. Table 3 is used
to compute the GMIB payout amount when annuitization occurs on or immediately
after Contract Anniversaries 15 or later, with 120 payments certain. For
annuitants of attained age 81 or more, the certain period is less than 10 years.
The rates in Tables 1, 2 and 3 are applied per $1000 of Adjusted Contract Value
or GMIB Protected Value, as applicable.
The annuity payments in Tables 2 and 3 are based on the Annuitant's Adjusted Age
and sex. The Adjusted Age is the Annuitant's age last birthday prior to the date
on which the first Annuity payment is due, adjusted as shown in the "Translation
of Adjusted Age" Table.
When we computed the amounts shown in Tables 2 and 3, we adjusted the Annuity
2000 Mortality Table to an age last birthday basis, less two years, with
projected mortality improvements (modified Scale G). We used an interest rate of
3% per year in preparing Table 2; we used an interest rate of 3 1/2% in
preparing Table 3.
We will calculate annuities for other certain periods using the same interest
and mortality assumptions as in Tables 2 and 3.
INDIVIDUAL FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED VARIABLE ANNUITY
CONTRACT. NON-PARTICIPATING. ANNUITY PAYMENTS AND VALUES PROVIDED BY THIS
CONTRACT, WHEN BASED ON THE INVESTMENT EXPERIENCE OF THE SEPARATE
ACCOUNT, ARE
VARIABLE AND ARE NOT GUARANTEED AS TO DOLLAR AMOUNT.
