AMENDMENT NO. 2 to the VARIABLE ANNUITY GMDB REINSURANCE AGREEMENT, effective October 1, 2002, between MERRILL LYNCH LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY (the “CEDING COMPANY”) and ACE TEMPEST LIFE REINSURANCE LTD. (the “REINSURER”)

Exhibit 7(a)(1)
Amendment No. 2
to the
GMDB Reinsurance Agreement between MLLIC
and
ACE Tempest Life Reinsurance LTD.

AMENDMENT NO. 2

to the

VARIABLE ANNUITY GMDB REINSURANCE AGREEMENT,
effective October 1, 2002,

between

XXXXXXX XXXXX LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
(the “CEDING COMPANY”)

and

ACE TEMPEST LIFE REINSURANCE LTD.
(the “REINSURER”)

Effective August 1, 2008, this Amendment is hereby attached to and becomes a part of the above-described Reinsurance Treaty. It is mutually agreed that the Agreement will be updated to properly reflect fund changes and endorsements. In addition, it is mutually agreed that the Agreement will be amended to clarify the reinsurer approval process for retail fee increases and the addition of new riders with asset charges.

To effect these changes, the following provisions of the Agreement are hereby amended:

	•		Schedule X-x, Contracts Subject to this Reinsurance Agreement is hereby replaced by the attached Schedule X-x
	•		Schedule B-2, Subaccounts Subject to this Reinsurance Agreement is hereby replaced by the attached Schedule B-2
	•		Article III, Effective Date, Term, and Terminations is hereby replaced by the attached Article III.
	•		Article XVII — Notices is hereby replaced by the attached Article XVII-Notices

This amendment is effective only if fully executed on or before September 30, 2008.

Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Life Insurance Company

ACE Tempest Life Reinsurance Ltd.

By

/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Rlieg

By

/s/ Xxxx Xxxxx

Name

Xxxxxxx X. Rlieg

Name

Xxxx Xxxxx

Title

Vice President

Title

SVP & Chief Pricing Officer

Date

July 11, 2008

Date

July 7, 2008

Xxxxxxx Xxxxx and ACE Tempest Re GMDB

SCHEDULE X-x

Contracts Subject to this Reinsurance Agreement

Form
Number*		Policy Description
ML-VA-002		Retirement Plus
ML-043		1-year ratchet to age 00
XX-000		1-year ratchet to age 80
Other Endorsements
ML-048		Death Benefit Enhancement Xxxxx
XX-049		Death Benefit Enhancement Rider
ML077		GMIB Rider for Retirement Plus
ML077-4		Annuity Payout Rates for GMIB Rider: Ret Plus
ML077-4-UNI		Annuity Payout Rates for GMIB Rider: Ret Plus

* Includes any state specific variation of the above-described forms as of the EFFECTIVE DATE and any subsequent state specific variation, if such subsequent state specific variation does not have any impact on the risk assumed by the REINSURER. The CEDING COMPANY shall notify the REINSURER of any state specific variation after the EFFECTIVE DATE which could have any impact on the risk assumed by the REINSURER and such variation shall be treated the same as a policy form change under Article IV, Section B, provided that the REINSURER shall not unreasonably refuse to approve such subsequent state specific variation.

Xxxxxxx Xxxxx and ACE Tempest Re GMDB

SCHEDULE B-2

Subaccounts Subject to this Reinsurance Agreement

Retirement Plus

BlackRock Variable Series Funds, Inc.

BlackRock Balanced Capital X.X.Xxxx **

BlackRock Basic Value X.X.Xxxx

BlackRock Total Return X.X.Xxxx

BlackRock Money Market X.X.Xxxx *

BlackRock Fundamental Growth X.X.Xxxx

BlackRock Global Allocation X.X.Xxxx

BlackRock Global Growth X.X.Xxxx

BlackRock Government Income X.X.Xxxx

BlackRock High Income X.X.Xxxx

BlackRock S&P 500 Index X.X.Xxxx

BlackRock International Value V.I. Fund

BlackRock Large Cap Core X.X.Xxxx

BlackRock Large Cap Growth V.I. Fund

BlackRock Large Cap Value X.X.Xxxx

BlackRock Value Opportunities X.X.Xxxx

BlackRock Utilities and Telecommunications X.X.Xxxx **

MLIG Variable Insurance Trust

Xxxxxx/Lord Xxxxxx Mid Cap Value Portfolio

Xxxxxx/Xxxxxxxx Mid Cap Growth Portfolio

Xxxxxx/Allianz NFJ Small Cap Value Portfolio

Xxxxxx/XX Xxxxxx Small Cap Growth Portfolio

Xxxxxx/Delaware Trend Portfolio

Xxxxxx/Lord Xxxxxx Affiliated Portfolio

Xxxxxx/Allianz CCM Capital Appreciation Portfolio

AIM Variable Insurance Funds

AIM X.X.Xxxxxxx Appreciation Fund

AIM V.I.Core Equity Fund

AllianceBernstein Variable Products Series Fund, Inc.

AllianceBernstein Large Cap Growth Portfolio

AllianceBernstein Global Technology Portfolio

American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc.

VP International Fund

VP Ultra Fund

Xxxxx Variable Account Fund, Inc.

Xxxxx Value Portfolio

Federated Insurance Series

Federated Capital Appreciation Fund II

Federated Xxxxxxxx Fund II

MFS Variable Insurance Trust

MFS Emerging Growth Series

PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust

Total Return Portfolio

Xxx Xxxxxx Life Investment Trust

Xxxxxxxx Portfolio

*		Available both through Account A and Account B
**		Closed to allocations of new premium payments and incoming transfers

Xxxxxxx Xxxxx and ACE Tempest Re GMDB

ARTICLE III — EFFECTIVE DATE, TERM AND TERMINATION

A. This Agreement covers individual ANNUITY CONTRACTs issued by the CEDING COMPANY that:

	(i)		are identified by form in Schedule B-1;
	(ii)		have elected no optional benefit rider forms for which a retail fee is assessed other than those forms listed on Schedule B-1.
	(iii)		have accounts invested in the investment funds listed in Schedule B-2;
	(iv)		are issued within the limits and rules described in Schedule C-1;
	(v)		are in compliance with all of the other terms and provisions of this Agreement;
	(vi)		are issued on or after the EFFECTIVE DATE and prior to the date this Agreement ceases to cover new ANNUITY CONTRACTS; and
	(vii)		are ACTIVE CONTRACTS.

B.		This Agreement will cease to cover new ANNUITY CONTRACTS issued by the CEDING COMPANY on the earlier of (i) October 31, 2005 or (ii) the date that the sum of all cumulative RETAIL ANNUITY PREMIUMS exceeds the limit provided in Schedule C-2, paragraph 3.
C.		This Agreement will terminate with respect to each ANNUITY CONTRACT subject to it, as of the TERMINATION DATE.
D.		The CEDING COMPANY shall have the option of terminating this Agreement for new business, existing business, or both, by giving ninety (90) days advance notice to the REINSURER, after the occurrence of any of the following:

	1.		REINSURER’s Standard and Poor’s Rating is reduced to a “BBB” or lower. REINSURER must report any adverse change in Standard and Poor’s Rating to CEDING COMPANY within fifteen (15) days of the change. Any notice of termination given by the CEDING COMPANY enabled by such rating reduction shall be deemed withdrawn if REINSURER’s Standard and Poor’s Rating is restored to a level higher than “BBB” during the 90 day notice period;
	2.		An order is entered appointing a receiver, conservator or trustee for management of REINSURER or a proceeding is commenced for rehabilitation, liquidation, supervision or conservation of REINSURER;
	3.		REINSURER’s U.S. GAAP surplus position is reduced to 70% or less of its U.S. GAAP surplus position as of December 31, 2001. The REINSURER must report such a reduction within fifteen (15) days after it occurs. The REINSURER’s surplus position as of December 31, 2001 is provided in Schedule H. Any notice of termination given by the CEDING COMPANY

Xxxxxxx Xxxxx and ACE Tempest Re GMDB

enabled by such surplus reduction shall be deemed withdrawn if REINSURER’s U.S. GAAP surplus position is restored to a level higher than 70% of its U.S. GAAP surplus position as of December 31, 2001 during the 90 day notice period.

E. The REINSURER shall have the option of terminating this Agreement for new business, existing business or both by giving ninety (90) days advance written notice to the CEDING COMPANY after the occurrence of any of the following:

	1.		The CEDING COMPANY fails to provide timely submissions of all material data required to be provided in accordance with Schedule G, provided that the REINSURER’s notice of termination identifies whether new contracts, existing contracts or both will be terminated and provided further that the REINSURER’s notice of termination shall be deemed withdrawn if the CEDING COMPANY, within 90 days after the date the REINSURER’s notice of termination is given, provides to the REINSURER all data submissions then in arrears.
	2.		The CEDING COMPANY fails to pay premium due on or before the REMITTANCE DATE. In the event that premium due is not paid by the REMITTANCE DATE, the REINSURER shall have the right to terminate this agreement by giving ninety (90) days advance notice of termination to the CEDING COMPANY. If all premiums in default and interest in accordance with Article III, paragraph F are received by the REINSURER within the ninety (90) day notice period, the Agreement will remain in effect and the notice of termination deemed withdrawn. If premium remains in default as of the close of the last day of the ninety (90) day notice period, the REINSURER’s liability for all risks reinsured associated with the defaulted premiums under this Agreement will terminate.

F. Except as otherwise provided herein, upon termination of this Agreement for existing business, the REINSURER shall have no reinsurance liability with respect to any ANNUITY CONTRACT. Notwithstanding termination of reinsurance as provided herein, the REINSURER shall continue to be liable to the CEDING COMPANY for all unpaid GMDB CLAIMS reported prior to the date this Agreement is terminated, and the CEDING COMPANY shall continue to be liable to the REINSURER for all unpaid MONTHLY REINSURANCE PREMIUMS earned by the REINSURER under this Agreement until the date the Agreement is terminated. Any net amounts due from either party after termination are subject to a daily interest charge equal to 1/365 times the sum of (a) and (b), where (a) is the 3 month LIBOR rate on the preceding MONTHLY VALUATION DATE as published in the Wall Street Journal; and (b) is 1.00%. Interest is assessed from the REMITTANCE DATE until the date paid.

Xxxxxxx Xxxxx and ACE Tempest Re GMDB

ARTICLE XVII — NOTICES

A.		All notices required to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed delivered if personally delivered, sent via reputable overnight carrier, sent via facsimile with evidence of successful transmission, or dispatched by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the parties as follows:
		Xxxxx Xxxxx Transamerica Capital Management 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx XX Xxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000 Fax: (000) 000-0000
		With a copy to: Transamerica Capital Management 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx XX Xxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000 Attn: TCM Legal Department Fax: (000) 000-0000
		Chief Financial Officer ACE Tempest Life Reinsurance Ltd. Xxx XXX Xxxxxxxx, 00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, XX 00 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx: (000) 000-0000                    Fax: (000) 000-0000
B.		Notice shall be deemed given on the date it is received in accordance with the foregoing. Any party may change the person and/or the address to which notices are to be sent by notifying the other party of such change of address in writing in accordance with the foregoing.

Xxxxxxx Xxxxx and ACE Tempest Re GMDB