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ALLMERICA FINANCIAL LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY
FIRST ALLMERICA FINANCIAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS
FLEXIBLE PAYMENT DEFERRED VARIABLE AND FIXED ANNUITY
CONTRACTS
FULCRUM FUND VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACTS
This Prospectus provides important information about
The Fulcrum Fund variable annuity contract issued by
Allmerica Financial Life Insurance and Annuity
Company (in all jurisdictions except Hawaii and New
York) and First Allmerica Financial Life Insurance
Company in New York and Hawaii. The contract is a
flexible payment tax- deferred combination variable
and fixed annuity offered on both a group and
individual basis.
The Variable Account, known as the Fulcrum Separate
Account is subdivided into Sub- Accounts. Each
Sub-Account offered under this contract invests
exclusively in shares of one of the following
PLEASE READ THIS investment portfolios:
PROSPECTUS CAREFULLY
BEFORE INVESTING AND
KEEP IT FOR FUTURE
REFERENCE.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
THE FULCRUM TRUST LAZARD RETIREMENT SERIES, INC.
-------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
<C> <S> <C>
ANNUITIES INVOLVE Global Interactive/Telecomm Portfolio Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio
RISKS INCLUDING International Growth Portfolio
POSSIBLE LOSS OF Growth Portfolio MFS-REGISTERED TRADEMARK- VARIABLE INSURANCE
PRINCIPAL. Value Portfolio TRUST-SM-
Strategic Income Portfolio -------------------------------
MFS-Registered Trademark- Emerging Growth Series
ALLMERICA INVESTMENT TRUST MFS-Registered Trademark- Growth With Income
------------------------- Series
Money Market Fund
OPPENHEIMER VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUNDS
AIM VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC. -----------------------------------
--------------------------------- Oppenheimer Aggressive Growth Fund/VA
AIM V.I. Value Fund Oppenheimer Main Street Growth & Income Fund/VA
DELAWARE GROUP PREMIUM FUND, INC. PBHG INSURANCE SERIES FUND, INC.
--------------------------------- --------------------------------
Small Cap Value Series PBHG Select 20 Portfolio
Delaware Balanced Series
</TABLE>
The Fixed Account is part of the Company's General
Account and pays an interest rate guaranteed for
one year from the time a payment is received. The
Guarantee Period Accounts offer fixed rates of
interest for specified periods ranging from 3 to
10 years. A Market Value Adjustment is applied to
payments removed from a Guarantee Period Account
before the end of the specified period. The Market
Value Adjustment may be positive or negative.
Payments allocated to a Guarantee Period Account
are held in the Company's Separate Account GPA
(except in California where they may be allocated
THIS ANNUITY IS to the General Account).
NOT: A Statement of Additional Information dated May 1,
- A BANK DEPOSIT OR 1999 containing more information about this
OBLIGATION; annuity is on file with the Securities and
- FEDERALLY INSURED; Exchange Commission and is incorporated by
- ENDORSED BY ANY reference into this Prospectus. A copy may be
BANK OR obtained free of charge by completing the attached
GOVERNMENTAL request card or by calling Allmerica Investments,
AGENCY. Inc., at 1-800-917-1909. The Table of Contents of
the Statement of Additional Information is listed
on page 3 of this Prospectus.
This Prospectus and the Statement of Additional
Information can also be obtained from the
Securities and Exchange Commission's website
(http://www.sec.gov).
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT
APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE SECURITIES OR
DETERMINED THAT THE INFORMATION IS TRUTHFUL OR
COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
DATED MAY 1, 1999
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
SPECIAL TERMS.............................................................. 4
SUMMARY OF FEES AND EXPENSES............................................... 6
SUMMARY OF CONTRACT FEATURES............................................... 15
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION.................................................... 21
DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPANIES, THE VARIABLE ACCOUNTS, AND THE UNDERLYING
FUNDS..................................................................... 22
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES......................................... 25
DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTRACT................................................ 27
A. Payments............................................................. 27
B. Right to Cancel Individual Retirement Annuity........................ 27
C. Right to Cancel All Other Contracts.................................. 28
D. Transfer Privilege................................................... 28
Automatic Transfers and Automatic Account Rebalancing
Options...................................................... 28
E. Surrender............................................................ 29
F. Withdrawals.......................................................... 30
Systematic Withdrawals......................................... 30
Life Expectancy Distributions.................................. 31
G. Death Benefit........................................................ 31
Death of the Annuitant Prior to the Annuity Date............... 31
Death of an Owner Who is Not Also the Annuitant Prior to the
Annuity Date................................................. 32
Payment of the Death Benefit Prior to the Annuity Date......... 32
Death of the Annuitant On or After the Annuity Date............ 32
H. The Spouse of the Owner as Beneficiary............................... 32
I. Assignment........................................................... 33
J. Electing the Form of Annuity and the Annuity Date.................... 33
K. Description of Variable Annuity Payout Options....................... 34
L. Annuity Benefit Payments............................................. 35
Determination of the First Variable Annuity Benefit Payment.... 35
The Annuity Unit............................................... 35
Determination of the Number of Annuity Units................... 36
Dollar Amount of Subsequent Variable Annuity Benefit
Payments..................................................... 36
M. Optional Minimum Guaranteed Annuity Payout Rider...................... 36
N. NORRIS Decision...................................................... 38
O. Computation of Values................................................ 38
The Accumulation Unit.......................................... 38
Net Investment Factor.......................................... 39
CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS..................................................... 39
A. Variable Account Deductions.......................................... 39
Mortality and Expense Risk Charge.............................. 39
Administrative Expense Charge.................................. 40
Other Charges.................................................. 40
B. Contract Fee......................................................... 40
C. Optional Minimum Guaranteed Annuity Payout Rider Charge.............. 40
D. Premium Taxes........................................................ 41
E. Surrender Charge..................................................... 41
Charge for Surrender and Withdrawals........................... 42
Reduction or Elimination of Surrender Charge and Additional
Amounts Credited............................................. 42
Withdrawal Without Surrender Charge............................ 43
Surrenders..................................................... 44
Charge at the Time Annuity Benefit Payments Begin.............. 44
F. Transfer Charge...................................................... 44
GUARANTEE PERIOD ACCOUNTS.................................................. 45
</TABLE>
2
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<TABLE>
<S> <C>
FEDERAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS................................................. 47
A. Qualified and Non-Qualified Contracts................................ 48
B. Taxation of the Contracts in General................................. 48
Withdrawals Prior to Annuitization............................. 48
Annuity Payouts After Annuitization............................ 48
Penalty on Distribution........................................ 48
Assignments or Transfers....................................... 49
Nonnatural Owners.............................................. 49
Deferred Compensation Plans of State and Local Governments
and Tax-Exempt Organizations................................. 49
C. Tax Withholding...................................................... 49
D. Provisions Applicable to Qualified Employer Plans.................... 50
Corporate and Self Employed Pension and Profit Sharing Plans... 50
Individual Retirement Annuities................................ 50
Tax-Sheltered Annuities........................................ 50
Texas Optional Retirement Program.............................. 51
STATEMENTS AND REPORTS..................................................... 51
LOANS (QUALIFIED CONTRACTS ONLY)........................................... 51
ADDITION, DELETION OR SUBSTITUTION OF INVESTMENTS.......................... 51
CHANGES TO COMPLY WITH LAW AND AMENDMENTS.................................. 52
VOTING RIGHTS.............................................................. 52
DISTRIBUTION............................................................... 53
SERVICE AND DISTRIBUTION FEES.............................................. 53
LEGAL MATTERS.............................................................. 54
YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE....................................................... 54
FURTHER INFORMATION........................................................ 55
APPENDIX A -- MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FIXED ACCOUNT..................... A-1
APPENDIX B -- SURRENDER CHARGES AND THE MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT............ B-1
APPENDIX C -- THE DEATH BENEFIT............................................ C-1
APPENDIX D -- CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION.............................. D-1
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
GENERAL INFORMATION AND HISTORY............................................ 2
TAXATION OF THE CONTRACT, THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT AND THE COMPANY............. 3
SERVICES................................................................... 3
UNDERWRITERS............................................................... 3
ANNUITY BENEFIT PAYMENTS................................................... 4
EXCHANGE OFFER............................................................. 5
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION.................................................... 7
TAX-DEFERRED ACCUMULATION.................................................. 12
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS....................................................... F-1
</TABLE>
3
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SPECIAL TERMS
ACCUMULATED VALUE: the total value of all Accumulation Units in the Sub-Accounts
plus the value of all accumulations in the Fixed Account and Guarantee Period
Accounts credited to the Contract, on any date before the Annuity Date.
ACCUMULATION UNIT: a unit of measure used to calculate the value of a
Sub-Account before annuity benefit payments begin.
ANNUITANT: the person designated in the Contract upon whose life annuity benefit
payments are to be made.
ANNUITY DATE: the date on which annuity benefit payments begin. This date may
not be greater than the first day of the month before the Annuitant's 90th
birthday.
ANNUITY UNIT: a unit of measure used to calculate the value of the periodic
annuity benefit payments under the Contract.
COMPANY: unless otherwise specified, any reference to the "Company" shall refer
exclusively to Allmerica Financial Life Insurance and Annuity Company for
contracts issued in all jurisdictions except Hawaii and New York and exclusively
to First Allmerica Financial Life Insurance Company for contracts issued in
Hawaii and New York.
FIXED ACCOUNT: an investment option under the Contract that guarantees principal
and a fixed minimum interest rate and which is part of the Company's General
Account.
FIXED ANNUITY PAYOUT: an annuity payout option providing for annuity benefit
payments which remain fixed in amount throughout the annuity benefit payment
period selected.
GENERAL ACCOUNT: all the assets of the Company other than those held in a
separate account.
GUARANTEE PERIOD: the number of years that a Guaranteed Interest Rate is
credited.
GUARANTEE PERIOD ACCOUNT: an account which corresponds to a Guaranteed Interest
Rate for a specified Guarantee Period.
GUARANTEED INTEREST RATE: the annual effective rate of interest, after daily
compounding, credited to a Guarantee Period Account.
MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT: a positive or negative adjustment assessed if any
portion of a Guarantee Period Account is withdrawn or transferred prior to the
end of its Guarantee Period.
OWNER (OR YOU): the person, persons or entity entitled to exercise the rights
and privileges under the Contract. Joint Owners are permitted if one of the two
is the Annuitant.
SUB-ACCOUNT: a subdivision of the Variable Account investing exclusively in the
shares of a corresponding portfolio of The Fulcrum Trust (formerly The
Palladian-SM- Trust) ("Fulcrum"), a corresponding fund of Allmerica Investment
Trust (the "Trust"), a corresponding fund of AIM Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.,
("AVIF"), a corresponding series of Delaware Group Premium Fund, Inc. ("DGPF"),
a corresponding portfolio of Lazard Retirement Series, Inc. ("Lazard"), a
corresponding series of MFS Variable Insurance Trust (the "MFS Trust"), a
corresponding fund of Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds ("Oppenheimer"), or a
corresponding portfolio of PBHG Insurance Series Fund, Inc. ("PBHG").
4
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SURRENDER VALUE: the Accumulated Value of the Contract on full surrender after
application of any Contract fee, surrender charge, and Market Value Adjustment.
UNDERLYING FUNDS (OR FUNDS): Global Interactive/Telecomm Portfolio,
International Growth Portfolio, Growth Portfolio, Value Portfolio and Strategic
Income Portfolio of The Fulcrum Trust; Money Market Fund of Allmerica Investment
Trust; AIM V.I. Value Fund of AVIF; Delaware Balanced Series and Small Cap Value
Series of DGPF; Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio of Lazard; MFS
Emerging Growth Series and MFS Growth With Income Series of the MFS Trust;
Oppenheimer Aggressive Growth Fund/VA and Oppenheimer Main Street Growth &
Income Fund/VA of Oppenheimer; and PBHG Select 20 Portfolio of PBHG.
VALUATION DATE: a day on which the net asset value of the shares of any of the
Funds is determined and unit values of the Sub-Accounts are determined.
Valuation dates currently occur on each day on which the New York Stock Exchange
is open for trading, and on such other days (other than a day during which no
payment, withdrawal, or surrender of a Contract was received) when there is a
sufficient degree of trading in an Underlying Fund's portfolio securities such
that the current unit value of the Sub-Accounts may be materially affected.
VARIABLE ACCOUNT: the Fulcrum Separate Account, one of the Company's Separate
Accounts, consisting of assets segregated from other assets of the Company. The
investment performance of the assets of the Variable Account is determined
separately from the other assets of the Company and are not chargeable with
liabilities arising out of any other business which the Company may conduct.
VARIABLE ANNUITY PAYOUT: an annuity payout option providing for payments varying
in amount in accordance with the investment experience of certain of the
Underlying Funds.
5
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SUMMARY OF FEES AND EXPENSES
There are certain fees and expenses that you will bear under the Fulcrum Fund
Contract. The purpose of the following tables is to assist you in understanding
these fees and expenses. The tables show (1) charges under your Contract, (2)
annual expenses of the Sub-Accounts, and (3) annual expenses of the Underlying
Funds. In addition to the charges and expenses described below, premium taxes
are applicable in some states and deducted as described under "D. Premium
Taxes."
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEARS FROM DATE
(1) CONTRACT CHARGES OF PAYMENT CHARGE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------- -----------
<S> <C> <C>
SURRENDER CHARGE:* 0-1 7%
This charge may be assessed upon surrender, withdrawal or 2 6%
annuitization under any commutable period certain option or a 3 5%
noncommutable period certain option of less than ten years. The 4 4%
charge is a percentage of payments applied to the amount 5 3%
surrendered (in excess of any amount that is free of surrender 6 2%
charge) within the indicated time period. 7 1%
More than 7 0%
TRANSFER CHARGE: None
The Company currently makes no charge for transfers, and
guarantees that the first 12 transfers in a Contact year will
not be subject to a transfer charge. For each subsequent
transfer, the Company reserves the right to assess a charge,
guaranteed never to exceed $25, to reimburse the Company for the
costs of processing the transfer.
ANNUAL CONTRACT FEE: $ 30
The $30 Contract fee is deducted annually and upon surrender
when Accumulated Value is less than $100,000. The Contract fee
is currently waived for Contracts issued to and maintained by
the trustee of a 401(k) plan.
OPTIONAL RIDER CHARGES:
(The annual charge is deducted on a monthly basis at the end of
each month.)
On an annual basis as a percentage of Accumulated Value, the
charge is:
Optional Minimum Guaranteed Annuity Payout Rider with a 0.25%
ten-year waiting period:
Optional Minimum Guaranteed Annuity Payout Rider with a 0.15%
fifteen-year waiting period:
(2) ANNUAL SUB-ACCOUNT EXPENSES:
(on an annual basis as a percentage of average daily net assets)
Mortality and Expense Risk Charge: 1.25%
Administrative Expense Charge: 0.20%
-----------
Total Annual Expenses: 1.45%
-----------
-----------
</TABLE>
* From time to time the Company may allow a reduction of the surrender charge,
the period during which the charges apply, or both, and/or credit additional
amounts on Contracts when (1) Contracts are sold to individuals or groups of
individuals in a manner which reduces sales expenses, or (2) where the Owner or
the Annuitant on the date of issue is within certain classes of eligible
persons. For more information, see "REDUCTION OR ELIMINATION OF SURRENDER CHARGE
AND ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS CREDITED."
6
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(3) ANNUAL UNDERLYING FUND EXPENSES:
In addition to the charges described above, certain fees and expenses are
deducted from the assets of the Underlying Funds. The levels of fees and
expenses vary among the Funds. For more information concerning fees and
expenses, see the prospectuses of the Funds.
The following table gives certain fee and expense information for the Funds for
1998. However, a performance-based management fee is provided for under the
Management Agreements for the Portfolios of The Fulcrum Trust (the
"Portfolios"). The base fee is 2.00%, but the actual fee may vary from between
0.00% to 4.00%, depending on a Portfolio's performance. Because of the
possibility of wide variations in the management fees from year-to-year,
hypothetical expense information assuming fees of 0.00%, 2.00% and 4.00%, is
shown below under "MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PERFORMANCE FEES OF THE FULCRUM
TRUST."
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TOTAL FUND
MANAGEMENT FEE OTHER EXPENSES EXPENSES
(AFTER ANY (AFTER ANY (AFTER ANY WAIVERS/
FUND VOLUNTARY WAIVERS) REIMBURSEMENTS) REIMBURSEMENTS)
- ------------------------------------ ------------------- ----------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Global Interactive/Telecomm
Portfolio.......................... 1.96%(1) 1.50%(2) 3.46%
Oppenheimer Aggressive Growth
Fund/VA............................ 0.69% 0.02% 0.71%
MFS Emerging Growth Series.......... 0.75% 0.10% 0.85%
Small Cap Value Series.............. 0.75% 0.10% 0.85%(5)
Lazard Retirement International
Equity Portfolio................... 0.75% 0.50%(6)(7) 1.25%
International Growth Portfolio...... 0.05%(1) 1.50%(2) 1.55%
PBHG Select 20 Portfolio............ 0.84% 0.36% 1.20%(8)
Growth Portfolio.................... 0.00%(3) 1.20%(2) 1.20%
Value Portfolio..................... 0.30%(1) 1.20%(2) 1.50%
AIM V.I. Value Fund................. 0.61% 0.05% 0.66%
MFS Growth With Income Series....... 0.75% 0.13% 0.88%
Oppenheimer Main Street Growth &
Income Fund/VA..................... 0.74% 0.05% 0.79%
Delaware Balanced Series............ 0.65% 0.10% 0.75%(5)
Strategic Income Portfolio.......... 0.67%(1) 1.50%(2) 2.17%
Money Market Fund................... 0.26% 0.06% 0.32%(4)
</TABLE>
(1) A performance based advisory fee is in effect, which fee may vary anywhere
from 0.00% to 4.00%.
(2) These numbers have been restated to reflect the expense limitations in
effect during 1999. (Different expense limitations were in effect during 1998.)
AFIMS has voluntarily agreed to limit operating expenses and reimburse those
expenses to the extent that the Portfolio's "Other Expenses" during 1999 (i.e.,
expenses other than management fees) exceed the following expense limitations
(expressed as an annualized percentage of average daily net assets): 1.50% for
the Global Interactive/Telecomm Portfolio, 1.50% for the International Growth
Portfolio, 1.20% for the Growth Portfolio, 1.20% for the Value Portfolio, and
1.50% for the Strategic Income Portfolio. These limitations are in effect
through December 31, 1999. Without the effect of the expense limitations, the
1998 "Other Expenses" ratios would have been the following: 3.69% for the Global
Interactive/Telecomm Portfolio, 5.09% for the International Growth Portfolio,
5.04% for the Growth Portfolio, 3.00% for the Value Portfolio, and 6.49% for the
Strategic Income Portfolio.
(3) Effective August 1, 1998, a new Portfolio Manager, Analytic Investors, Inc.,
is in place for the Growth Portfolio. The Manager and the Portfolio Manager have
voluntarily agreed to limit their fee from August 1, 1998 through July 31, 1999
to the lesser of the following two rates: (1) 0.80%, the rate specified in the
Portfolio Manager Agreement; or (2) the rate that would have applied under the
prior Portfolio Manager Agreement with the prior portfolio manager. The latter
rate varies based on prior performance.
7
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(4) Under the Management Agreement with Allmerica Investment Trust, AFIMS has
declared a voluntary expense limitation of 0.60% for the Money Market Fund, but
the expenses of the Money Market Fund did not exceed the cap in 1998.The
limitation may be terminated at any time.
(5) Effective May 1, 1999 through October 31, 1999, Delaware Management Company
has voluntarily agreed to waive its management fees and reimburse Small Cap
Value Series and Delaware Balanced Series for expenses in order that Total Fund
Expenses will not exceed 0.85% and 0.80%, respectively. The fee ratios shown
above have been restated, as necessary, to reflect changes in expense
limitations effective May 1, 1999. The declaration of a voluntary expense
limitation does not bind the investment adviser to declare future expense
limitations with respect to these series. Pursuant to a vote of the Fund's
shareholders on March 17, 1999, a new management fee structure based on average
daily net assets was approved. The above ratios have been restated to reflect
the new management fee structure which took effect on May 1, 1999.
(6) Lazard Asset Management, the Portfolio's investment advisor, has voluntarily
agreed to waive its fees and reimburse the Lazard Retirement International
Equity Portfolio if total operating expenses exceed 1.25% of average net assets.
Total portfolio operating expenses prior to waivers and/or reimbursements by the
investment advisor, total 48.67%, annualized, at December 31, 1998.
(7) Other Expenses for the Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio
include a 12b-1 fee which is deducted from Portfolio assets at a maximum annual
rate of 0.25% of the average daily value of the Portfolio's net assets. A
portion or all of the 12b-1 fee may be used to reimburse the Company for certain
administrative and distribution support services provided to the Lazard
Retirement International Equity Portfolio.
(8) Other Expenses are based on amounts for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1998. The adviser to PBHG Select 20 Portfolio has agreed to waive or limit the
management fees and to assume other expenses of the portfolio to the extent
necessary to limit the Total Fund Expenses to not more than 1.20% of the average
daily net assets of the portfolio. Absent such fee waivers/expense
reimbursements, the Management Fees, Other Expenses and Total Fund Expenses for
the PBHG Select 20 Portfolio were 0.85%, 0.36% and 1.21%, respectively.
The Underlying Fund information above was provided by the Underlying Funds and
was not independently verified by the Company.
EXPENSE EXAMPLES The following examples demonstrate the cumulative expenses
which an Owner would pay at 1, 3, 5, and 10-year intervals, assuming the 1998
expenses set forth above, a $1,000 investment in a Sub-Account and a 5% annual
return on assets. As required by rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC"), the Contract fee is reflected in the examples by a method designed to
show the "average" impact on an investment in the Variable Account. The total
Contract fees collected are divided by the total average net assets attributable
to the Contracts. The resulting percentage is 0.04%, and the amount of the
Contract fee is assumed to be $0.40 in the examples. The Contract fee is
deducted only when the Accumulated Value is less than $100,000. Lower costs
apply to Contracts issued to a 401(k) plan.
8
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(1)(A) IF, AT THE END OF THE APPLICABLE TIME PERIOD, YOU SURRENDER YOUR CONTRACT
OR ANNUITIZE* UNDER A COMMUTABLE PERIOD CERTAIN OPTION OR A NONCOMMUTABLE PERIOD
CERTAIN OPTION OF LESS THAN TEN YEARS, OR ANY FIXED PERIOD CERTAIN OPTION, YOU
WOULD PAY THE FOLLOWING EXPENSES ON A $1,000 INVESTMENT, ASSUMING A 5% ANNUAL
RETURN ON ASSETS, AND NO RIDER:**
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FUND 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
- ------------------------------------------------------- ----------- ---------- ---------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Global Interactive/Telecomm Portfolio.................. $ 109 $192 $275 $499
Oppenheimer Aggressive Growth Fund/VA.................. $ 102 $171 $241 $437
MFS Emerging Growth Series............................. $ 85 $119 $154 $268
Small Cap Value Series................................. $ 85 $119 $154 $268
Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio....... $ 89 $131 $174 $307
International Growth Portfolio......................... $ 91 $139 $188 $336
PBHG Select 20 Portfolio............................... $ 88 $129 $171 $302
Growth Portfolio....................................... $ 88 $129 $171 $302
Value Portfolio........................................ $ 91 $138 $185 $331
AIM V.I. Value Fund.................................... $ 83 $114 $145 $248
MFS Growth With Income Series.......................... $ 85 $120 $156 $271
Oppenheimer Main Street Growth & Income Fund/VA........ $ 84 $117 $151 $262
Delaware Balanced Series............................... $ 84 $116 $149 $258
Strategic Income Portfolio............................. $ 97 $156 $217 $392
Money Market Fund...................................... $ 80 $104 $128 $213
</TABLE>
(1)(B) IF, AT THE END OF THE APPLICABLE TIME PERIOD, YOU SURRENDER YOUR CONTRACT
OR ANNUITIZE* UNDER A COMMUTABLE PERIOD CERTAIN OPTION OR A NONCOMMUTABLE PERIOD
CERTAIN OPTION OF LESS THAN TEN YEARS, OR ANY FIXED PERIOD CERTAIN OPTION, YOU
WOULD PAY THE FOLLOWING EXPENSES ON A $1,000 INVESTMENT, ASSUMING A 5% ANNUAL
RETURN ON ASSETS, AND ELECTION OF A MINIMUM GUARANTEED ANNUITY PAYOUT RIDER**
WITH A TEN-YEAR WAITING PERIOD:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FUND 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
- ------------------------------------------------------- ----------- ---------- --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Global Interactive/Telecomm Portfolio.................. $ 112 $199 $286 $518
Oppenheimer Aggressive Growth Fund/VA.................. $ 104 $178 $252 $457
MFS Emerging Growth Series............................. $ 87 $126 $166 $292
Small Cap Value Series................................. $ 87 $126 $166 $292
Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio....... $ 91 $138 $185 $331
International Growth Portfolio......................... $ 94 $146 $200 $359
PBHG Select 20 Portfolio............................... $ 90 $136 $183 $326
Growth Portfolio....................................... $ 90 $136 $183 $326
Value Portfolio........................................ $ 93 $145 $197 $354
AIM V.I. Value Fund.................................... $ 85 $121 $157 $274
MFS Growth With Income Series.......................... $ 87 $127 $168 $295
Oppenheimer Main Street Growth & Income Fund/VA........ $ 87 $125 $163 $287
Delaware Balanced Series............................... $ 86 $123 $161 $283
Strategic Income Portfolio............................. $ 100 $163 $228 $414
Money Market Fund...................................... $ 82 $111 $140 $239
</TABLE>
9
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(2)(A) IF, AT THE END OF THE APPLICABLE TIME PERIOD, YOU ANNUITIZE* UNDER A LIFE
OPTION OR A NONCOMMUTABLE PERIOD CERTAIN OPTION OF TEN YEARS OR LONGER, OR IF
YOU DO NOT SURRENDER OR ANNUITIZE THE CONTRACT, YOU WOULD PAY THE FOLLOWING
EXPENSES ON A $1,000 INVESTMENT, ASSUMING A 5% ANNUAL RETURN ON ASSETS AND NO
RIDER:**
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FUND 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
- ------------------------------------------------------- --------- ----------- ----------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Global Interactive/Telecomm Portfolio.................. $50 $ 150 $ 249 $499
Oppenheimer Aggressive Growth Fund/VA.................. $42 $ 127 $ 214 $437
MFS Emerging Growth Series............................. $24 $ 73 $ 125 $268
Small Cap Value Series................................. $24 $ 73 $ 125 $268
Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio....... $28 $ 85 $ 145 $307
International Growth Portfolio......................... $31 $ 94 $ 160 $336
PBHG Select 20 Portfolio............................... $27 $ 84 $ 143 $302
Growth Portfolio....................................... $27 $ 84 $ 143 $302
Value Portfolio........................................ $30 $ 93 $ 157 $331
AIM V.I. Value Fund.................................... $22 $ 67 $ 116 $248
MFS Growth With Income Series.......................... $24 $ 74 $ 127 $271
Oppenheimer Main Street Growth & Income Fund/VA........ $23 $ 71 $ 122 $262
Delaware Balanced Series............................... $23 $ 70 $ 120 $258
Strategic Income Portfolio............................. $37 $ 112 $ 190 $392
Money Market Fund...................................... $18 $ 57 $ 98 $213
</TABLE>
(2)(B) IF, AT THE END OF THE APPLICABLE TIME PERIOD, YOU ANNUITIZE* UNDER A LIFE
OPTION OR A NONCOMMUTABLE PERIOD CERTAIN OPTION OF TEN YEARS OR LONGER, OR IF
YOU DO NOT SURRENDER OR ANNUITIZE THE CONTRACT, YOU WOULD PAY THE FOLLOWING
EXPENSES ON A $1,000 INVESTMENT, ASSUMING A 5% ANNUAL RETURN ON ASSETS AND
ELECTION OF A MINIMUM GUARANTEED ANNUITY PAYOUT RIDER** WITH A TEN-YEAR WAITING
PERIOD:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FUND 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
- ------------------------------------------------------- --------- ----------- ---------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Global Interactive/Telecomm Portfolio.................. $52 $ 157 $261 $518
Oppenheimer Aggressive Growth Fund/VA.................. $45 $ 135 $226 $457
MFS Emerging Growth Series............................. $26 $ 81 $138 $292
Small Cap Value Series................................. $26 $ 81 $138 $292
Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio....... $30 $ 93 $157 $331
International Growth Portfolio......................... $33 $ 101 $172 $359
PBHG Select 20 Portfolio............................... $30 $ 91 $155 $326
Growth Portfolio....................................... $30 $ 91 $155 $326
Value Portfolio........................................ $33 $ 100 $169 $354
AIM V.I. Value Fund.................................... $24 $ 75 $128 $274
MFS Growth With Income Series.......................... $27 $ 82 $139 $295
Oppenheimer Main Street Growth & Income Fund/VA........ $26 $ 79 $135 $287
Delaware Balanced Series............................... $25 $ 78 $133 $283
Strategic Income Portfolio............................. $39 $ 120 $201 $414
Money Market Fund...................................... $21 $ 65 $111 $239
</TABLE>
* The Contract fee is not deducted after annuitization. A surrender charge may
be assessed at the time of annuitization if you elect a noncommutable period
certain option of less than ten years or any commutable period certain option.
No charge is assessed if you elect any life contingency option or a
noncommutable period certain option of ten years or longer.
10
<PAGE>
** If the Minimum Guaranteed Annuity Payout Rider is exercised, you may only
annuitize under a fixed annuity payout option involving a life contingency at
the guaranteed annuity purchase rates listed under the Annuity Option Tables in
your Contract.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PERFORMANCE FEES OF THE FULCRUM TRUST
The tables below show the expenses of the Portfolios of The Fulcrum Trust as if
the Portfolios paid performance based management fees of 0.00%, 2.00%, and
4.00%, respectively.
A performance-based management fee is currently in effect for the Portfolios of
The Fulcrum Trust, other than the Growth Portfolio. The base fee is 2.00%, but
the actual fee may vary from between 0.00% to 4.00%, depending on the
Portfolio's performance. The base fee of 2.00% will be paid if the Portfolio's
performance (net of all fees and expenses, including the management fee) is
between 1.5 and 3.0 percentage points higher than the applicable benchmark
index. A fee of 4.00% will be paid only if the Portfolio's performance (net of
all fees and expenses, including the management fee) is at least 7.5 percentage
points higher than the applicable benchmark index. No fee will apply if the
Portfolio's performance is more than 3.0 percentage points lower than the
applicable benchmark index; see the prospectus of The Fulcrum Trust for more
details. Because of this variation, expense information assuming fees of 0.00%,
2.00% and 4.00% is shown below. The fee, however, could be any figure between
0.00% and 4.00%. In 1998, the actual management fees were 1.96% for the Global
Interactive/Telecomm Portfolio, 0.05% for the International Growth Portfolio,
0.00% for the Growth Portfolio, 0.30% for the Value Portfolio and 0.47% for the
Strategic Income Portfolio.
For the first 12 full calendar months after a new Portfolio Manager is hired
(or, in the case of a Portfolio that had only one Portfolio Manager, for the
first 12 full calendar months of operations), the advisory agreement sets the
management fee at an annual rate of 0.80% of the Portfolio's average daily net
assets. As of the date of this prospectus, this initial fee is relevant for only
one Portfolio -- the Growth Portfolio. Effective August 1, 1998, a new Portfolio
Manager, Analytic Investors, Inc. ("Analytic"), is in place for the Growth
Portfolio. The Manager and the Portfolio Manager have voluntarily agreed to
limit their fee from August 1, 1998 through July 31, 1999 to the lesser of the
following two rates: (1) 0.80%, the rate specified in the Portfolio Manager
Agreement; or (2) the rate that would have applied under the prior Portfolio
Manager Agreement with the prior portfolio manager. The latter rate varies based
on prior performance. For more information, see Footnotes 3 and 4, below, and
the prospectus for The Fulcrum Trust.
EXAMPLE 1 -- ASSUMING ADVISORY FEE OF 0.00% FOR THE PORTFOLIOS OF THE FULCRUM
TRUST.
(For the fee to be 0.00% a Portfolio's performance, net of all fees and
expenses, would have to be more than 3.0 percentage points below the benchmark
index.)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OTHER EXPENSES
(AFTER ANY TOTAL
MANAGEMENT APPLICABLE OPERATING
FUND FEES REIMBURSEMENT) EXPENSES
- ------------------------------------------------- ---------------- ------------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Global Interactive/Telecomm Portfolio............ 0.00%(1) 1.50%(2) 1.50%
International Growth Portfolio................... 0.00%(1) 1.50%(2) 1.50%
Growth Portfolio................................. 0.00%(4) 1.20%(2) 1.20%
Value Portfolio.................................. 0.00%(1) 1.20%(2) 1.20%
Strategic Income Portfolio....................... 0.00%(1) 1.50%(2) 1.50%
Money Market Fund................................ 0.26% 0.06% 0.32%(3)
</TABLE>
11
<PAGE>
EXAMPLE 2 -- ASSUMING ADVISORY FEE OF 2.00% FOR THE PORTFOLIOS OF THE FULCRUM
TRUST.
(For the fee to be 2.00%, a Portfolio's performance, net of all fees and
expenses, would have to be between 1.5 and 3.0 percentage points higher than the
benchmark index.)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OTHER EXPENSES
(AFTER ANY TOTAL
MANAGEMENT APPLICABLE OPERATING
FUND FEES REIMBURSEMENT) EXPENSES
- ------------------------------------------------- ---------------- ------------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Global Interactive/Telecomm Portfolio............ 2.00%(1) 1.50%(2) 3.50%
International Growth Portfolio................... 2.00%(1) 1.50%(2) 3.50%
Growth Portfolio................................. 2.00%(4) 1.20%(2) 3.20%
Value Portfolio.................................. 2.00%(1) 1.20%(2) 3.20%
Strategic Income Portfolio....................... 2.00%(1) 1.50%(2) 3.50%
Money Market Fund................................ 0.26% 0.06% 0.32%(3)
</TABLE>
EXAMPLE 3 -- ASSUMING ADVISORY FEE OF 4.00% FOR THE PORTFOLIOS OF THE FULCRUM
TRUST.
(For the fee to be 4.00%, a Portfolio's performance, net of all fees and
expenses, would have to be at least 7.5 percentage points higher than the
benchmark index.)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OTHER EXPENSES
(AFTER ANY TOTAL
MANAGEMENT APPLICABLE OPERATING
FUND FEES REIMBURSEMENT) EXPENSES
- ------------------------------------------------- ---------------- ------------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Global Interactive/Telecomm Portfolio............ 4.00%(1) 1.50%(2) 5.50%
International Growth Portfolio................... 4.00%(1) 1.50%(2) 5.50%
Growth Portfolio................................. 4.00%(4) 1.20%(2) 5.20%
Value Portfolio.................................. 4.00%(1) 1.20%(2) 5.20%
Strategic Income Portfolio....................... 4.00%(1) 1.50%(2) 5.50%
Money Market Fund................................ 0.26% 0.06% 0.32%(3)
</TABLE>
(1) A performance based advisory fee is in effect, which fee may vary anywhere
from 0.00% to 4.00%.
(2) AFIMS has voluntarily agreed to limit operating expenses and reimburse those
expenses to the extent that the Portfolio's "Other Expenses" during 1999 (i.e.,
expenses other than management fees) exceed the following expense limitations
(expressed as an annualized percentage of average daily net assets): 1.50% for
the Global Interactive/Telecomm Portfolio, 1.50% for the International Growth
Portfolio, 1.20% for the Growth Portfolio, 1.20% for the Value Portfolio, and
1.50% for the Strategic Income Portfolio. There were different expense
limitations in effect during 1998. The limitations are in effect through
December 31, 1999. Without the effect of the expense limitations, the 1998
"Other Expenses" ratios would have been the following: 3.69% for the Global
Interactive/Telecomm Portfolio, 5.09% for the International Growth Portfolio,
5.04% for the Growth Portfolio, 3.00% for the Value Portfolio, and 6.49% for the
Strategic Income Portfolio.
(3) Under the Management Agreement with Allmerica Investment Trust, AFIMS has
declared a voluntary expense limitation of 0.60% for the Money Market Fund, but
the expenses of the Money Market Fund did not exceed the cap in 1998. The
limitation may be terminated at any time.
(4) Effective August 1, 1998, a new Portfolio Manager, Analytic Investors, Inc.,
is in place for the Growth Portfolio. The Manager and the Portfolio Manager have
voluntarily agreed to limit their fee from August 1, 1998 through July 31, 1999
to the lesser of the following two rates: (1) 0.80%, the rate specified in the
Portfolio Manager Agreement; or (2) the rate that would have applied under the
prior Portfolio Manager Agreement with the prior portfolio manager. The latter
rate varies based on prior performance.
12
<PAGE>
EXAMPLES BASED ON HYPOTHETICAL PERFORMANCE FEES OF THE PORTFOLIOS OF THE FULCRUM
TRUST.
The information given under the following hypothetical examples should not be
considered a representation of past or future expenses. Actual expenses may be
greater or lesser than those shown. In particular, because the advisory fee of
the five Portfolios of The Fulcrum Trust may vary from 0.00% to 4.00% depending
on performance, three separate examples are provided: Example (1) assumes that
no advisory fee is paid for each of the five Portfolios; Example (2) assumes
that the advisory fee for the five Portfolios is paid at the annual rate of
2.00%; and Example (3) assumes that the advisory fee is paid at the annual rate
of 4.00%.
(1) IF, AT THE END OF THE APPLICABLE TIME PERIOD, YOU SURRENDER THE CONTRACT OR
ANNUITIZE* UNDER A COMMUTABLE PERIOD CERTAIN OPTION OR A NONCOMMUTABLE PERIOD
CERTAIN OPTION OF LESS THAN TEN YEARS, OR ANY FIXED PERIOD CERTAIN OPTION, YOU
WOULD PAY THE FOLLOWING EXPENSES ON A $1,000 INVESTMENT, ASSUMING A 5% ANNUAL
RETURN ON ASSETS:
EXAMPLE 1 -- ASSUMING ADVISORY FEE OF 0.00% FOR THE PORTFOLIOS OF THE FULCRUM
TRUST.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FUND 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
- ------------------------------------------------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Global Interactive/Telecomm Portfolio.................. $ 91 $ 138 $ 185 $ 331
International Growth Portfolio......................... $ 91 $ 138 $ 185 $ 331
Growth Portfolio....................................... $ 88 $ 129 $ 171 $ 302
Value Portfolio........................................ $ 88 $ 129 $ 171 $ 302
Strategic Income Portfolio............................. $ 91 $ 138 $ 185 $ 331
</TABLE>
EXAMPLE 2 -- ASSUMING ADVISORY FEE OF 2.00% FOR THE PORTFOLIOS OF THE FULCRUM
TRUST.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FUND 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
- ------------------------------------------------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Global Interactive/Telecomm Portfolio.................. $ 110 $ 193 $ 277 $ 502
International Growth Portfolio......................... $ 110 $ 193 $ 277 $ 502
Growth Portfolio....................................... $ 107 $ 185 $ 263 $ 478
Value Portfolio........................................ $ 107 $ 185 $ 263 $ 478
Strategic Income Portfolio............................. $ 110 $ 193 $ 277 $ 502
</TABLE>
EXAMPLE 3 -- ASSUMING ADVISORY FEE OF 4.00% FOR THE PORTFOLIOS OF THE FULCRUM
TRUST.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FUND 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
- ------------------------------------------------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Global Interactive/Telecomm Portfolio.................. $ 129 $ 246 $ 360 $ 642
International Growth Portfolio......................... $ 129 $ 246 $ 360 $ 642
Growth Portfolio....................................... $ 126 $ 239 $ 348 $ 623
Value Portfolio........................................ $ 126 $ 239 $ 348 $ 623
Strategic Income Portfolio............................. $ 129 $ 246 $ 360 $ 642
</TABLE>
13
<PAGE>
(2) IF, AT THE END OF THE APPLICABLE TIME PERIOD, YOU ANNUITIZE* UNDER A LIFE
OPTION OR A NONCOMMUTABLE PERIOD CERTAIN OPTION OF TEN YEARS OR LONGER, OR IF
YOU DO NOT SURRENDER OR ANNUITIZE THE CONTRACT, YOU WOULD PAY THE FOLLOWING
EXPENSES ON A $1,000 INVESTMENT, ASSUMING A 5% ANNUAL RETURN ON ASSETS:
EXAMPLE 1 -- ASSUMING ADVISORY FEE OF 0.00% FOR THE PORTFOLIOS OF THE FULCRUM
TRUST
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FUND 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
- ------------------------------------------------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Global Interactive/Telecomm Portfolio.................. $ 30 $ 93 $ 157 $ 331
International Growth Portfolio......................... $ 30 $ 93 $ 157 $ 331
Growth Portfolio....................................... $ 27 $ 84 $ 143 $ 302
Value Portfolio........................................ $ 27 $ 84 $ 143 $ 302
Strategic Income Portfolio............................. $ 30 $ 93 $ 157 $ 331
</TABLE>
EXAMPLE 2 -- ASSUMING ADVISORY FEE OF 2.00% FOR THE PORTFOLIOS OF THE FULCRUM
TRUST
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FUND 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
- ------------------------------------------------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Global Interactive/Telecomm Portfolio.................. $ 50 $ 151 $ 251 $ 502
International Growth Portfolio......................... $ 50 $ 151 $ 251 $ 502
Growth Portfolio....................................... $ 47 $ 142 $ 238 $ 478
Value Portfolio........................................ $ 47 $ 142 $ 238 $ 478
Strategic Income Portfolio............................. $ 50 $ 151 $ 251 $ 502
</TABLE>
EXAMPLE 3 -- ASSUMING ADVISORY FEE OF 4.00% FOR THE PORTFOLIOS OF THE FULCRUM
TRUST(1)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FUND 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
- ------------------------------------------------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Global Interactive/Telecomm Portfolio.................. $ 70 $ 207 $ 337 $ 642
International Growth Portfolio......................... $ 70 $ 207 $ 337 $ 642
Growth Portfolio....................................... $ 67 $ 198 $ 325 $ 623
Value Portfolio........................................ $ 67 $ 198 $ 325 $ 623
Strategic Income Portfolio............................. $ 70 $ 207 $ 337 $ 642
</TABLE>
(1) In order to have a 5% annual return and a management fee of 4%, the
performance of the Portfolios of The Fulcrum Trust would have to be 9% before
the deduction of the 4% fee resulting in performance of 5% and the benchmark
index would have to decrease at least 2.5 percentage points (meaning the
Portfolio's performance after fees and expenses was at least 7.5 percentage
points better than the benchmark index.)
As required in rules promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the
"1940 Act"), the Contract fee is reflected in the examples by a method to show
the "average" impact on an investment in the Variable Account. The total
Contract fees collected are divided by the total average net assets attributable
to the Contracts. The resulting percentage is 0.04%, and the amount of the
Contract fee is assumed to be $0.40 in the examples. The Contract fee is
deducted only when the Accumulated Value is less than $100,000. Lower costs
apply to Contracts issued to a 401(k) plan.
* The Contract fee is not deducted after annuitization. No surrender charge is
assessed at the time of annuitization under an option including a life
contingency or under a noncommutable period certain option of ten years or
longer.
14
<PAGE>
SUMMARY OF CONTRACT FEATURES
WHAT IS THE FULCRUM FUND VARIABLE ANNUITY?
The Fulcrum Fund Variable Annuity contract ("Contract") is an insurance contract
designed to help you, the Owner, accumulate assets for your retirement or other
important financial goals on a tax-deferred basis. The Contract combines the
concept of professional money management with the attributes of an annuity
contract. Features available through the Contract include:
- - a customized investment portfolio;
- - experienced professional investment advisers who are paid on an incentive fee
basis;
- - tax deferral on earnings;
- - guarantees that can protect your family during the accumulation phase;
- - income payments that you can receive for life;
- - issue age up to your 90th birthday.
he Contract has two phases: an accumulation phase and, if you choose to
annuitize, an annuity payout phase. During the accumulation phase, you may
allocate your initial payment and any additional payments you choose to make
among the Sub-Accounts investing in the portfolios of securities (the
"Underlying Funds"), to the Guarantee Period Accounts, and to the Fixed Account.
You select the investment options most appropriate for your investment needs. As
those needs change, you may also change your allocation without incurring any
tax consequences. Your Contract's Accumulated Value is based on the investment
performance of the Funds and any accumulations in the Guarantee Period and Fixed
Accounts. No income taxes are paid on any earnings under the Contract unless you
withdraw money. In addition, during the accumulation phase, your beneficiaries
receive certain protections and guarantees in the event of the Annuitant's
death. See discussion below: "WHAT HAPPENS UPON DEATH DURING THE ACCUMULATION
PHASE?"
WHAT HAPPENS IN THE ANNUITY PAYOUT PHASE?
During the annuity payout phase, the Annuitant can receive income based on
several annuity payout options. You choose the annuity payout option and the
date for annuity benefit payments to begin. You also decide whether you want
variable annuity benefit payments based on the investment performance of certain
Funds, fixed-amount annuity benefit payments with payment amounts guaranteed by
the Company, or a combination of fixed-amount and variable annuity benefit
payments. Among the payout options available during the annuity payout phase
are:
- - periodic payments for your lifetime (assuming you are the Annuitant);
- - periodic payments for your life and the life of another person selected by
you;
- - periodic payments for your lifetime with any remaining guaranteed payments
continuing to your beneficiary for ten years in the event that you die before
the end of ten years;
- - periodic payments over a specified number of years (1 to 30); under this
option you may reserve the right to convert remaining payments to a lump-sum
payout by electing a "commutable" option.
15
<PAGE>
An optional Minimum Guaranteed Annuity Payout Rider is available during the
accumulation phase in most jurisdictions for a separate monthly charge. See "M.
Optional Minimum Guaranteed Annuity Payout Rider" under "Description of the
Contract." If elected, the Rider guarantees the Annuitant a minimum amount of
fixed lifetime income during the annuity payout phase, subject to certain
conditions. On each Contract anniversary a Minimum Guaranteed Annuity Payout
Benefit Base is determined. The Minimum Guaranteed Annuity Payout Benefit Base
(less any applicable premium taxes) is the value that will be annuitized should
you exercise the Rider. In order to exercise the Rider, a fixed annuitization
option involving a life contingency must be selected. Annuitization under this
Rider will occur at the guaranteed annuity purchase rates listed under the
Annuity Option Tables in your Contract. The Minimum Guaranteed Annuity Payout
Benefit Base is equal to the greatest of:
(a) the Accumulated Value increased by any positive Market Value Adjustment, if
applicable; or
(b) the Accumulated Value on the effective date of the Rider compounded daily at
the annual rate of 5% plus gross payments made thereafter compounded daily
at the annual rate of 5%, starting on the date each payment is applied,
reduced proportionately to reflect withdrawals; or
(c) the highest Accumulated Value on any Contract anniversary since the Rider
effective date, as determined after positive adjustments have been made for
subsequent payments and any positive Market Value Adjustment, if applicable,
and negative adjustments have been made for subsequent withdrawals.
For each withdrawal described in (b) and (c) above, the proportionate reduction
is calculated by multiplying the (b) or (c) value, whichever is applicable,
determined immediately prior to the withdrawal by the following fraction:
amount of the withdrawal
----------------------------------------------------------
Accumulated Value determined immediately prior to the withdrawal
WHO ARE THE KEY PERSONS UNDER THE CONTRACT?
The Contract is between you, (the "Owner"), and us, Allmerica Financial Life
Insurance and Annuity Company (for contracts issued in all jurisdictions except
Hawaii and New York) or First Allmerica Financial Life Insurance Company (for
contracts issued in Hawaii and New York). Each Contract has an Owner (or an
Owner and a Joint Owner, in which case one of the two must be the Annuitant), an
Annuitant and one or more beneficiaries. As Owner, you make payments, choose
investment allocations and select the Annuitant and beneficiary. The Annuitant
is the individual who receives annuity benefit payments under the Contract. The
beneficiary is the person who receives any payment on the death of the Owner or
Annuitant.
HOW MUCH CAN I INVEST AND HOW OFTEN?
The number and frequency of payments are flexible, subject to the minimum and
maximum payments stated in "A. Payments."
WHAT ARE MY INVESTMENT CHOICES?
You may allocate payments among the Sub-Accounts investing in the following
Funds, the Guarantee Period Accounts, and the Fixed Account. You have a choice
of fifteen Funds:
- - Global Interactive/Telecomm Portfolio of The Fulcrum Trust
Managed by GAMCO Investors, Inc.
16
<PAGE>
- - Oppenheimer Aggressive Growth Fund/VA
Managed by OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
- - MFS Emerging Growth Series
Managed by Massachusetts Financial Services Company
- - Small Cap Value Series
Managed by Delaware Management Company
- - Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio
Managed by Lazard Asset Management
- - International Growth Portfolio of The Fulcrum Trust
Managed by Bee & Associates Incorporated
- - PBHG Select 20 Portfolio
Managed by Pilgrim Baxter & Associates, Ltd.
- - Growth Portfolio of The Fulcrum Trust
Managed by Analytic Investors, Inc.
- - Value Portfolio of The Fulcrum Trust
Managed by GAMCO Investors, Inc.
- - AIM V.I. Value Fund
Managed by A I M Advisors, Inc.
- - MFS Growth With Income Series
Managed by Massachusetts Financial Services Company
- - Oppenheimer Main Street Growth & Income Fund/VA
Managed by OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
- - Delaware Balanced Series
Managed by Delaware Management Company
- - Strategic Income Portfolio of The Fulcrum Trust
Managed by Allmerica Asset Management, Inc.
- - Money Market Fund of Allmerica Investment Trust
Managed by Allmerica Asset Management, Inc.
CERTAIN FUNDS MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE IN SOME STATES.
This range of investment choices enables you to allocate your money among the
Funds to meet your particular investment needs. For a more detailed description
of the Funds, see "INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES."
GUARANTEE PERIOD ACCOUNTS. Assets supporting the guarantees under the Guarantee
Period Accounts are held in the Company's Separate Account GPA, a non-unitized
insulated separate account, except in California where assets are held in the
Company's General Account. Values and benefits calculated on the basis of
Guarantee Period Account allocations, however, are obligations of the Company's
General Account. Amounts allocated to a Guarantee Period Account earn a
Guaranteed Interest Rate declared by the Company. The level
17
<PAGE>
of the Guaranteed Interest Rate depends on the number of years of the Guarantee
Period selected. The Company may offer up to nine Guarantee Periods ranging from
three to ten years in duration. Once declared, the Guaranteed Interest Rate will
not change during the duration of the Guarantee Period. If amounts allocated to
a Guarantee Period Account are transferred, surrendered or applied to any
annuity option at any time other than the day following the last day of the
applicable Guarantee Period, a Market Value Adjustment will apply that may
increase or decrease the account's value. For more information about the
Guarantee Period Accounts and the Market Value Adjustment, see "GUARANTEE PERIOD
ACCOUNTS."
The Guarantee Period Accounts may not be available in all states.
FIXED ACCOUNT. The Fixed Account is part of the General Account which consists
of all the Company's assets other than those allocated to the Variable Account
and any other separate account. Allocations to the Fixed Account are guaranteed
as to principal and a minimum rate of interest. Additional excess interest may
be declared periodically at the Company's discretion. Furthermore, the initial
rate in effect on the date an amount is allocated to the Fixed Account is
guaranteed for one year from that date. For more information about the Fixed
Account, see APPENDIX A, "MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FIXED ACCOUNT."
WHO ARE THE INVESTMENT ADVISERS?
The following are the investment advisers of the Funds:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FUND INVESTMENT ADVISER
- ------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Global Interactive/Telecomm Portfolio GAMCO Investors, Inc.
Oppenheimer Aggressive Growth Fund/VA OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
MFS Emerging Growth Series Massachusetts Financial Services Company
Small Cap Value Series Delaware Management Company
Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio Lazard Asset Management
International Growth Portfolio Bee & Associates Incorporated
PBHG Select 20 Portfolio Pilgrim Baxter & Associates, Ltd.
Growth Portfolio Analytic Investors, Inc.
Value Portfolio GAMCO Investors, Inc.
AIM V.I. Value Fund A I M Advisors, Inc.
MFS Growth With Income Series Massachusetts Financial Services Company
Oppenheimer Main Street Growth & Income Fund/VA OppenheimerFunds, Inc.
Delaware Balanced Series Delaware Management Company
Strategic Income Portfolio Allmerica Asset Management, Inc.
Money Market Fund Allmerica Asset Management, Inc.
</TABLE>
For more information, see "DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPANIES, THE VARIABLE ACCOUNTS
AND THE UNDERLYING FUNDS."
CAN I MAKE TRANSFERS AMONG THE ACCOUNTS?
Yes. Prior to the Annuity Date, you may transfer among the Sub-Accounts, the
Guarantee Period Accounts, and the Fixed Account. You will incur no current
taxes on transfers while your money remains in the Contract. See "D. Transfer
Privilege." The first 12 transfers in a Contract year are guaranteed to be free
of a transfer charge. For each subsequent transfer in a Contract year, the
Company does not currently charge but reserves the right to assess a processing
charge guaranteed never to exceed $25 for processing these transfers.
WHAT IF I NEED MY MONEY BEFORE MY ANNUITY PAYOUT PHASE BEGINS?
You may surrender your Contract or make withdrawals any time before your annuity
payout phase begins. Each year you can take without a surrender charge the
greatest of 100% of cumulative earnings, 15% of the
18
<PAGE>
Contract's Accumulated Value or, if you are both an Owner and the Annuitant, an
amount based on your life expectancy. (Similarly, no surrender charge will apply
if an amount is withdrawn based on the Annuitant's life expectancy if the Owner
is a trust or other nonnatural person.) A 10% tax penalty may apply to amounts
deemed to be income if you are under age 59 1/2. Additional amounts may be
withdrawn at any time but payments that have not been invested in the Contract
for more than seven years may be subject to a surrender charge. (A Market Value
Adjustment, which may increase or decrease the value of your account, may apply
to any withdrawal made from a Guarantee Period Account prior to the expiration
of the Guarantee Period.)
In addition, you may withdraw all or a portion of your money without a surrender
charge if, after the Contract is issued and before age 65, you become disabled.
Also, except in New York and New Jersey where not permitted by state law, you
may withdraw money without a surrender charge if, after the Contract is issued,
you are admitted to a medical care facility or diagnosed with a fatal illness.
For details and restrictions, see "Reduction or Elimination of Surrender Charge
and Additional Amounts Credited."
WHAT HAPPENS UPON DEATH DURING THE ACCUMULATION PHASE?
If the Annuitant, Owner or Joint Owner should die before the Annuity Date, a
death benefit will be paid to the beneficiary. Upon the death of the Annuitant
(or an Owner who is also an Annuitant), the death benefit is equal to the
greatest of:
- - The Accumulated Value increased by any positive Market Value Adjustment;
- - Gross payments, compounded daily at the annual rate of 5% (5% compounding not
available in Hawaii and New York), decreased proportionately to reflect
withdrawals; or
- - The death benefit that would have been payable on the most recent Contract
anniversary, increased for subsequent payments and decreased proportionately
for subsequent withdrawals.
This guaranteed death benefit works in the following way assuming no withdrawals
are made. On the first anniversary, the death benefit will be equal to the
greater of (a) the Accumulated Value (increased by any positive Market Value
Adjustment) or (b) gross payments compounded daily at the annual rate of 5%
(except in Hawaii and New York where (b) equals gross payments). The higher of
(a) or (b) will then be locked in until the second anniversary, at which time
the death benefit will be equal to the greatest of (a) the Contract's then
current Accumulated Value increased by any positive Market Value Adjustment; (b)
gross payments compounded daily at the annual rate of 5% (gross payments in
Hawaii and New York) or (c) the locked-in value of the death benefit at the
first anniversary. The greatest of (a), (b) or (c) will be locked in until the
next Contract anniversary. This calculation will then be repeated on each
anniversary while the Contract remains in force and prior to the Annuity Date.
As noted above, the values of (b) and (c) will be decreased proportionately if
withdrawals are taken.
If an Owner who is not also the Annuitant dies during the accumulation phase,
the death benefit will equal the Accumulated Value of the Contract increased by
any positive Market Value Adjustment.
(If the Annuitant dies after the Annuity Date but before all guaranteed annuity
benefit payments have been made, the remaining payments will be paid to the
beneficiary at least as rapidly as under the annuity option in effect. See "G.
Death Benefit.")
WHAT CHARGES WILL I INCUR UNDER MY CONTRACT?
If the Accumulated Value is less than $100,000 on each Contract anniversary and
upon surrender, the Company will deduct a $30 Contract fee from the Contract.
The Contract fee is waived for Contracts issued to and maintained by a trustee
of a 401(k) plan.
19
<PAGE>
Should you decide to surrender the Contract, make withdrawals, or receive
payments under certain annuity payout options, you may be subject to a surrender
charge. If applicable, this charge will be between 1% and 7% of payments
withdrawn, based on when the payments were originally made.
A deduction for state and local premium taxes, if any, may be made as described
under "C. Premium Taxes."
The Company will deduct, on a daily basis, an annual Mortality and Expense Risk
Charge and Administrative Expense Charge equal to 1.25% and 0.20%, respectively,
of the average daily net assets invested in each Underlying Fund. The Funds will
incur certain management fees and expenses which are more fully described in
"Other Charges" and in the prospectuses of the Underlying Funds, which accompany
this Prospectus.
Subject to state availability, the Company offers the following optional Rider
that may be elected by the Owner. A separate monthly charge is made for the
Rider which is deducted from the Accumulated Value at the end of each month
within which the Rider has been in effect. The applicable charge is assessed by
multiplying the Accumulated Value on the last day of each month and on the date
the Rider is terminated by 1/12th of the following annual percentage rates:
Minimum Guaranteed Annuity Payout Rider with a ten-year waiting
period. 0.25%
Minimum Guaranteed Annuity Payout Rider with a fifteen-year waiting
period. 0.15%
For a description of this Rider, see "C. Optional Minimum Guaranteed Annuity
Payout Rider Charge" under "CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS," and "M. Optional Minimum
Guaranteed Annuity Payout Rider" under "DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTRACT."
CAN I EXAMINE THE CONTRACT?
Yes. Your Contract will be delivered to you after your purchase. If you return
the Contract to the Company within ten days of receipt, the Contract will be
canceled. (There may be a longer period in certain states; see the "Right to
Examine" provision on the cover of your Contract.) If you cancel the Contract,
you will receive a refund of any amounts allocated to the Fixed and Guarantee
Period Accounts and the Accumulated Value of any amounts allocated to the
Sub-Accounts (plus any fees or charges that may have been deducted.) However, if
state law requires, or if the Contract was issued as an Individual Retirement
Annuity ("IRA") you will generally receive a refund of your entire payment. (In
certain states this refund may be the greater of (1) your entire payment or (2)
the amounts allocated to the Fixed and Guarantee Period Accounts plus the
Accumulated Value of amounts in the Sub-Accounts, plus any fees or charges
previously deducted.). See "B. Right to Cancel Individual Retirement Annuity"
and "C. Right to Cancel All Other Contracts."
CAN I MAKE FUTURE CHANGES UNDER MY CONTRACT?
You can make several changes after receiving the Contract:
- - You may assign your ownership to someone else, except under certain qualified
plans.
- - You may change the beneficiary, unless you have designated a beneficiary
irrevocably.
- - You may change your allocation of payments.
- - You may make transfers of accumulated value among your current investments
without any tax consequences.
- - You may cancel the Contract within ten days of delivery (or longer if
required by state law).
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PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
This Contract first was offered to the public in 1997. The Company, however, may
advertise "total return" and "average annual total return" performance
information based on (1) the periods that the Sub-Accounts have been in
existence and (2) the periods that the Underlying Funds have been in existence.
Both the total return and yield figures are based on historical earnings and are
not intended to indicate future performance.
The total return of a Sub-Account refers to the total of the income generated by
an investment in the Sub-Account and of the changes in the value of the
principal (due to realized and unrealized capital gains or losses) for a
specified period, reduced by Variable Account charges, and expressed as a
percentage.
The average annual total return represents the average annual percentage change
in the value of an investment in the Sub-Account over a given period of time. It
represents averaged figures as opposed to the actual performance of a
Sub-Account, which will vary from year to year.
The yield of the Sub-Account investing in the Money Market Fund refers to the
income generated by an investment in the Sub-Account over a seven-day period
(which period will be specified in the advertisement). This income is then
"annualized" by assuming that the income generated in the specific week is
generated over a 52-week period. This annualized yield is shown as a percentage
of the investment. The "effective yield" calculation is similar but, when
annualized, the income earned by an investment in the Sub-Account is assumed to
be reinvested. Thus the effective yield will be slightly higher than the yield
because of the compounding effect of this assumed reinvestment.
The yield of a Sub-Account investing in a Fund other than the Money Market Fund
refers to the annualized income generated by an investment in the Sub-Account
over a specified 30-day or one-month period. The yield is calculated by assuming
that the income generated by the investment during that 30-day or one- month
period is generated each period over a 12-month period and is shown as a
percentage of the investment.
Quotations of average annual total return for the periods that the Sub-Accounts
have been in existence are calculated in the manner prescribed by the SEC and
show the percentage rate of return of a hypothetical initial investment of
$1,000 for the most recent one, five and ten year period or for a period
covering the time the Sub-Account has been in existence, if less than the
prescribed periods. The calculation is adjusted to reflect the deduction of the
annual Sub-Account asset charge of 1.45%, the Underlying Fund charges, the $30
annual Contract fee and the surrender charge which would be assessed if the
investment were completely withdrawn at the end of the specified period. The
calculation is not adjusted to reflect the deduction of the optional Minimum
Guaranteed Annuity Payout Rider charge. Quotations of supplemental average total
returns for the periods that the Sub-Accounts have been in existence are
calculated in exactly the same manner and for the same periods of time except
that it does not reflect the Contract fee and assumes that the Contract is not
surrendered at the end of the periods shown.
Additional performance may also be shown calculated in exactly the same manner
as described above, however, the period of time may be based on the Underlying
Fund's lifetime, which may predate the Sub-Account's inception date. These
performance calculations are based on the assumption that the Sub-Account
corresponding to the applicable Underlying Fund was actually in existence
throughout the stated period and that the contractual charges and expenses
during that period were equal to those currently assessed under the Contract.
For more detailed information about these performance calculations, including
actual formulas and performance numbers, see the SAI.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION FOR ANY SUB-ACCOUNT REFLECTS ONLY THE PERFORMANCE OF A
HYPOTHETICAL INVESTMENT IN THE SUB-ACCOUNT DURING THE TIME PERIOD ON WHICH THE
CALCULATIONS ARE BASED. PERFORMANCE
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INFORMATION SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN LIGHT OF THE INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND
POLICIES AND RISK CHARACTERISTICS OF THE UNDERLYING FUND IN WHICH THE
SUB-ACCOUNT INVESTS AND THE MARKET CONDITIONS DURING THE GIVEN TIME PERIOD, AND
SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS A REPRESENTATION OF WHAT MAY BE ACHIEVED IN THE
FUTURE.
Performance information for a Sub-Account may be compared, in reports and
promotional literature, to: (1) the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price
Index ("S&P 500"), Dow Jones Industrial Average ("DJIA"), Shearson Lehman
Aggregate Bond Index or other unmanaged indices so that investors may compare
the Sub-Account results with those of a group of unmanaged securities widely
regarded by investors as representative of the securities markets in general;
(2) other groups of variable annuity separate accounts or other investment
products tracked by Lipper, Inc., a widely used independent research firm which
ranks mutual funds and other investment products by overall performance,
investment objectives, and assets, or tracked by other services, companies,
publications, or persons, who rank such investment products on overall
performance or other criteria; or (3) the Consumer Price Index (a measure for
inflation) to assess the real rate of return from an investment in the
Sub-Account. Unmanaged indices may assume the reinvestment of dividends but
generally do not reflect deductions for administrative and management costs and
expenses. In addition, relevant broad-based indices and performance from
independent sources may be used to illustrate the performance of certain
contract features.
At times, the Company may also advertise the ratings and other information
assigned to it by independent rating organizations such as A.M. Best Company
("A.M. Best"), Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's"), Standard & Poor's
Insurance Rating Services ("S&P") and Duff & Phelps. A.M. Best's and Moody's
ratings reflect their current opinion of the Company's relative financial
strength and operating performance in comparison to the norms of the life/health
insurance industry. S&P's and Duff & Phelps' ratings measure the ability of an
insurance company to meet its obligations under insurance policies it issues and
do not measure the ability of such companies to meet other non-policy
obligations. The ratings also do not relate to the performance of the Funds.
DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPANIES, THE VARIABLE ACCOUNTS AND
THE UNDERLYING FUNDS
THE COMPANIES. Allmerica Financial Life Insurance and Annuity Company
("Allmerica Financial") is a life insurance company organized under the laws of
Delaware in July 1974. Its Principal Office is located at 440 Lincoln Street,
Worcester, MA 01653, telephone 508-855-1000. Allmerica Financial is subject to
the laws of the state of Delaware governing insurance companies and to
regulation by the Commissioner of Insurance of Delaware. In addition, Allmerica
Financial is subject to the insurance laws and regulations of other states and
jurisdictions in which it is licensed to operate. As of December 31, 1998,
Allmerica Financial had over $14 billion in assets and over $26 billion of life
insurance in force.
Effective October 1, 1995, Allmerica Financial changed its name from SMA Life
Assurance Company to Allmerica Financial Life Insurance and Annuity Company.
Allmerica Financial is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of First Allmerica
Financial Life Insurance Company which, in turn, is a wholly owned subsidiary of
Allmerica Financial Corporation ("AFC").
First Allmerica Financial Life Insurance Company ("First Allmerica"), organized
under the laws of Massachusetts in 1844, is among the five oldest life insurance
companies in America. As of December 31, 1998, First Allmerica and its
subsidiaries had over $27 billion in combined assets and over $48 billion of
life insurance in force. Effective October 16, 1995, First Allmerica converted
from a mutual life insurance company known as State Mutual Life Assurance
Company of America to a stock life insurance company and adopted its present
name. First Allmerica is a wholly owned subsidiary of AFC. First Allmerica's
principal office ("Principal Office") is located at 440 Lincoln Street,
Worcester MA 01653, telephone 508-855-1000.
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First Allmerica is subject to the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
governing insurance companies and to regulation by the Commissioner of Insurance
of Massachusetts. In addition, First Allmerica is subject to the insurance laws
and regulations of other states and jurisdictions in which it is licensed to
operate.
Both companies are charter members of the Insurance Marketplace Standards
Association ("IMSA"). Companies that belong to IMSA subscribe to a rigorous set
of standards that cover the various aspects of sales and service for
individually sold life insurance and annuities. IMSA members have adopted
policies and procedures that demonstrate a commitment to honesty, fairness and
integrity in all customer contacts involving sales and service of individual
life insurance and annuity products.
THE VARIABLE ACCOUNTS. Each Company maintains a separate account called the
Fulcrum Separate Account (the "Variable Account"). The Variable Accounts were
authorized by votes of the Board of Directors of the Companies on June 13, 1996.
Each Variable Account meets the definition of a "separate account" under federal
securities laws and is registered with the SEC as a unit investment trust under
the 1940 Act. This registration does not involve the supervision or management
of investment practices or policies of the Variable Accounts by the SEC.
The Fulcrum Separate Account is a separate investment account of the Company
with fifteen Sub-Accounts. The assets used to fund the variable portions of the
Contracts are set aside in Sub-Accounts kept separate from the general assets of
the Company. Each Sub-Account is administered and accounted for as part of the
general business of the Company. The income, capital gains, or capital losses of
each Sub-Account, however, are allocated to each Sub-Account, without regard to
any other income, capital gains, or capital losses of the Company. Under
Delaware and Massachusetts law, the assets of the Variable Account may not be
charged with any liabilities arising out of any other business of the Company.
The Company reserves the right, subject to compliance with applicable law, to
change the names of the Variable Account and the Sub-Accounts.
THE FULCRUM TRUST. The Fulcrum Trust (previously known as the Palladian-SM-
Trust) was established as a Massachusetts business trust on September 8, 1993,
and is registered with the SEC as a management investment company. Five
investment portfolios of The Fulcrum Trust (the "Portfolios") are currently
available under the Contract.
Allmerica Financial Investment Management Services, Inc. ("AFIMS") serves as
overall manager of The Fulcrum Trust and is responsible for general investment
supervisory services to the Portfolios. The Fulcrum Trust and AFIMS have
retained several Portfolio Managers to manage the assets of each Portfolio.
AFIMS is located at 440 Lincoln Street, Worcester, MA 01653.
The five Portfolios of The Fulcrum Trust and their respective Portfolio Managers
are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PORTFOLIO PORTFOLIO MANAGER
- ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Global Interactive/Telecomm Portfolio GAMCO Investors, Inc.
International Growth Portfolio Bee & Associates Incorporated
Growth Portfolio Analytic Investors, Inc.
Value Portfolio GAMCO Investors, Inc.
Strategic Income Portfolio Allmerica Asset Management, Inc.
</TABLE>
Allmerica Asset Management, Inc. ("AAM") is an affiliate of the Company and of
AFIMS. The other Portfolio Managers are not affiliated with the Company or with
AFIMS.
The Fulcrum Trust currently pays AFIMS and the Portfolio Managers a monthly fee
(the "management fee") based on the average daily net assets of each Portfolio.
For the first year that a new Portfolio Manager is hired (or, in the case of a
Portfolio that has had only one Portfolio Manager, for the first year of
operations) the
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advisory fee is set at an annual rate of 0.80% of the Portfolio's average daily
net assets. After the twelfth full calendar month has elapsed, the
performance-based fee will be in effect. As of the date of this prospectus, this
first year fee arrangement is in effect for only one Portfolio- the Growth
Portfolio. Effective August 1, 1998, a new Portfolio Manager, Analytic
Investors, Inc. ("Analytic"), is in place for the Growth Portfolio. The Manager
and the Portfolio Manager have voluntarily agreed to limit their fee from August
1, 1998 through July 31, 1999 to the lesser of the following two rates: (1)
0.80%, the rate specified in the Portfolio Manager Agreement; or (2) the rate
that would have applied under the prior Portfolio Manager Agreement with the
prior portfolio manager. The latter rate varies based on prior performance.
Other than for the Growth Portfolio, each Portfolio Manager is currently paid on
an incentive fee basis, which could result in either higher than average
management fees or, possibly, no management fee at all, depending on how well
each Portfolio Manager performs. There are two components to the management fee:
the basic fee and the incentive fee. The management fee is structured to vary
based upon the Portfolio's performance (after expenses) compared to that of an
appropriate market benchmark selected for that Portfolio. The management fee
schedule provides for an incentive performance fee for superior performance, and
provides for lower fee for sub-par performance. The base fee is 2.00%, but may
vary from 0.00% to 4.00% depending on the Portfolio's performance.
ALLMERICA INVESTMENT TRUST. Allmerica Investment Trust is an open-end,
diversified, management investment company registered with the SEC under the
1940 Act.
Allmerica Investment Trust was established as a Massachusetts business trust on
October 11, 1984, for the purpose of providing a vehicle for the investment of
assets of various variable accounts established by the Company or other
insurance companies. The Money Market Fund of Allmerica Investment Trust is
available under the Contract; certain other funds of Allmerica Investment Trust
are not currently offered under the Contract. Shares of the Trust are not
offered to the general public but solely to such variable accounts.
AFIMS is the investment manager of Allmerica Investment Trust and, subject to
the direction of the Board of Trustees, handles the day-to-day affairs of the
Trust. AFIMS has entered into a Sub-Adviser Agreement with its affiliate, AAM,
for investment management services for the Money Market Fund. Under the
Sub-Adviser Agreement, AAM is authorized to engage in portfolio transactions on
behalf of the Money Market Fund, subject to such general or specific
instructions as may be given by the Trustees. Both AFIMS and AAM are located at
440 Lincoln Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01653.
For providing its services under the Management Agreement, AFIMS will receive a
fee, computed daily at an annual rate based on the average daily net asset value
of the Money Market Fund as follows: 0.35% on net asset value up to $50,000,000;
0.25% on the next $200,000,000; and 0.20% on the remainder. The fee is paid from
the assets of the Money Market Fund. AFIMS is solely responsible for the payment
of all fees for investment management services to AAM, which will be a fee of
0.10%, computed daily at an annual rate based on the average daily net asset
value of the Money Market Fund.
AIM VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC. AIM Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. ("AVIF"),
an open-end, series, management investment company, was organized as a Maryland
corporation on January 22, 1993, and is registered with the SEC under the 1940
Act. The investment adviser for the AIM V.I. Value Fund is A I M Advisors, Inc.
("AIM"), 11 Greenway Plaza, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77046-1173. AIM was organized
in 1976, and, together with its subsidiaries, manages or advises approximately
90 investment company portfolios encompassing a broad range of investment
objectives.
DELAWARE GROUP PREMIUM FUND, INC. Delaware Management Company ("Delaware
Management") is the investment adviser for the Small Cap Value Series and the
Delaware Balanced Series, two series of Delaware Group Premium Fund, Inc.
("DGPF"). DGPF, a Maryland corporation organized on February 19, 1987, is an
open-end management investment company registered with the SEC under the 1940
Act. Delaware Management and its predecessors have been managing the funds in
the Delaware Investments family since
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<PAGE>
1938. On December 31, 1998, Delaware Management and its affiliates within
Delaware Investments, were supervising in the aggregate more than $45 billion in
assets in the various institutional or separately managed and investment company
accounts.
LAZARD RETIREMENT SERIES, INC. Lazard Asset Management ("LAM"), a division of
Lazard Freres & Co. LLC, is the investment adviser of Lazard Retirement
International Equity Portfolio, a portfolio of Lazard Retirement Series, Inc.
("Lazard"). Lazard, a Maryland corporation organized on February 13, 1997, is an
open-end management investment company registered with the SEC under the 1940
Act. Lazard and LAM are located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York
10112. LAM and its affiliates provide investment management services to Lazard's
other portfolios and client discretionary accounts with assets totaling
approximately $71 billion as of December 31, 1999.
MFS-REGISTERED TRADEMARK- VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST-SM-. MFS Variable Insurance
Trust (the "MFS Trust"), a Massachusetts business trust organized on February 1,
1994, is an open-end management investment company registered with the SEC under
the 1940 Act. The investment adviser of MFS Emerging Growth Series and MFS
Growth With Income Series is Massachusetts Financial Services Company ("MFS"),
America's oldest mutual fund organization. MFS and its predecessor organizations
have a history of money management dating from 1924. Net assets under management
of the MFS organization were approximately $97.9 billion on behalf of
approximately 3.7 million investor accounts as of December 31, 1998.
OPPENHEIMER VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUNDS. Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds
("Oppenheimer") was organized as a Massachusetts business trust in 1984 and is
an open-end, diversified management investment company registered with the SEC
under the 1940 Act. The investment adviser for the Oppenheimer Aggressive Growth
Fund/VA and the Oppenheimer Main Street Growth & Income Fund/VA is
OppenheimerFunds, Inc. ("OppenheimerFunds"), which (including subsidiaries)
advises investment company portfolios having over $95 billion in assets as of
December 31, 1998. OppenheimerFunds has operated as an investment adviser since
1959.
PBHG INSURANCE SERIES FUND, INC. PBHG Insurance Series Fund, Inc. ("PBHG") is
an open-end, management investment company registered with the SEC under the
1940 Act, which was incorporated in Maryland in 1997. Pilgrim Baxter &
Associates, Ltd. ("Pilgrim Baxter") is the investment adviser for the PBHG
Select 20 Portfolio. Pilgrim Baxter is a professional investment management firm
and registered investment adviser that, along with its predecessors, has been in
business since 1982. Pilgrim Baxter currently has discretionary management
authority with respect to over $12 billion in assets and provides advisory
services to pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable institutions,
corporations, trusts, and other investment companies. The principal business
address of Pilgrim Baxter is 825 Duportail Road, Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087.
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
A summary of investment objectives of each of the Funds is set forth below. More
detailed information regarding the investment objectives, restrictions and
risks, expenses paid by the Funds, and other relevant information regarding the
Funds may be found in the prospectuses of the Underlying Funds which accompany
this Prospectus and should be read carefully before investing. The Statements of
Additional Information of the Trusts are available upon request. There can be no
assurance that the investment objectives of the Funds can be achieved or that
the value of a Contract will equal or exceed the aggregate amount of the
payments made under the Contract.
GLOBAL INTERACTIVE/TELECOMM PORTFOLIO -- seeks to make money for investors
primarily by investing globally in equity securities of companies engaged in the
development, manufacture or sale of interactive and/ or telecommunications
services and products.
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OPPENHEIMER AGGRESSIVE GROWTH FUND/VA -- seeks to achieve capital appreciation
by investing in "growth-type" companies.
MFS-REGISTERED TRADEMARK- EMERGING GROWTH SERIES -- seeks to provide long-term
growth of capital by investing primarily in common stocks of foreign and
domestic issuers.
SMALL CAP VALUE SERIES -- seeks capital appreciation by investing primarily in
small cap common stocks whose market value appears low relative to their
underlying value or future earnings and growth potential. Emphasis will also be
placed on securities of companies that may be temporarily out of favor or whose
value is not yet recognized by the market.
LAZARD RETIREMENT INTERNATIONAL EQUITY PORTFOLIO -- seeks capital appreciation.
This Portfolio invests primarily in the equity securities of non-United States
companies that the Investment Adviser considers inexpensively priced relative to
the return on total capital or equity.
INTERNATIONAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO -- seeks to make money for investors by investing
internationally for long-term capital appreciation, primarily in equity
securities.
PBHG SELECT 20 PORTFOLIO -- seeks long-term growth of capital. The portfolio
invests primarily in equity securities of a limited number of larger
capitalization companies (no more than 20 issuers) that, in Pilgrim Baxter's
opinion, have a strong earnings growth outlook and potential for capital
appreciation.
GROWTH PORTFOLIO -- seeks to make money for investors by investing primarily in
securities selected for their long-term growth prospects.
VALUE PORTFOLIO -- seeks to make money for investors by investing primarily in
companies that the Portfolio Manager believes are undervalued and that by virtue
of anticipated developments may, in the Portfolio Manager's judgment, achieve
significant capital appreciation.
AIM V.I. VALUE FUND -- seeks to achieve long-term growth of capital by investing
primarily in equity securities judged by its adviser to be undervalued relative
to the current or projected earnings of the companies issuing the securities, or
relative to current market values of assets owned by the companies issuing the
securities or relative to the equity market generally. Income is a secondary
objective.
MFS-REGISTERED TRADEMARK- GROWTH WITH INCOME SERIES -- seeks to provide
reasonable current income and long-term growth of capital and income.
OPPENHEIMER MAIN STREET GROWTH & INCOME FUND/VA -- seeks a high total return
(which includes growth in the value of its shares as well as current income)
from equity and debt securities. From time to time this Fund may focus on small
to medium capitalization common stocks, bonds and convertible securities.
DELAWARE BALANCED SERIES -- seeks a balance of capital appreciation, income and
preservation of capital. It uses a dividend-oriented valuation strategy to
select securities issued by established companies that are believed to
demonstrate potential for income and capital growth.
STRATEGIC INCOME PORTFOLIO -- seeks to make money for investors by investing for
high current income and capital appreciation in a variety of fixed-income
securities.
MONEY MARKET FUND -- seeks to obtain maximum current income consistent with the
preservation of capital and liquidity.
If there is a material change in the investment policy of a Fund, the Owner will
be notified of the change. If the Owner has Accumulated Value allocated to that
Fund, he or she may have the Accumulated Value reallocated
26
<PAGE>
without charge to another Fund or to the Fixed Account or a Guarantee Period
Account, where available, on written request received by the Company within 60
days of the later of (1) the effective date of such change in the investment
policy, or (2) the receipt of the notice of the Owner's right to transfer.
DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTRACT
A. PAYMENTS
The Company issues a Contract when its underwriting requirements, which include
receipt of the initial payment and allocation instructions by the Company at its
Principal Office are met. These requirements also may include the proper
completion of an application; however, where permitted, the Company may issue a
Contract without completion of an application and/or signature for certain
classes of annuity Contracts.
Payments are to be made payable to the Company. A net payment is equal to the
payment received less the amount of any applicable premium tax. The initial net
payment is credited to the Contract and allocated among the requested accounts
as of the date that all issue requirements are properly met. If all issue
requirements are not completed within five business days of the Company's
receipt of the initial payment, the payment will be returned immediately unless
the Owner specifically consents to the holding of it pending completion of the
outstanding issue requirements. Subsequent payments will be credited as of the
Valuation Date received at the Principal Office, on the basis of accumulation
unit value next determined after receipt.
Payments may be made to the Contract at any time prior to the Annuity Date.
Currently, the initial payment must be at least $25,000. Under a salary
deduction or monthly automatic payment plan, the minimum initial payment is $50.
In all cases, each subsequent payment must be at least $50. Where the
contribution on behalf of an employee under an employer-sponsored retirement
plan is less than $600 but more than $300 annually, the Company may issue a
contract on the employee, if the plan's average annual contribution per eligible
plan participant is at least $600. The minimum allocation to a Guarantee Period
Account is $1,000. If less than $1,000 is allocated to a Guarantee Period
Account, the Company reserves the right to apply that amount to the Money Market
Fund.
Generally, unless otherwise requested, all payments will be allocated among the
accounts in the same proportion that the initial net payment is allocated, or,
if subsequently changed, according to the most recent allocation instructions.
The Owner may change allocation instructions for new payments pursuant to a
written or telephone request. If telephone requests are elected by the Owner, a
properly completed authorization must be on file before telephone requests will
be honored. The policy of the Company and its agents and affiliates is that they
will not be responsible for losses resulting from acting upon telephone requests
reasonably believed to be genuine. The Company will employ reasonable procedures
to confirm that instructions communicated by telephone are genuine; otherwise,
the Company may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent
instructions. The procedures the Company follows for transactions initiated by
telephone may include requirements that callers on behalf of the Owner identify
themselves by name and identify the Annuitant by name, date of birth and social
security number or PIN number. All transfer instructions by telephone are tape
recorded.
B. RIGHT TO CANCEL INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ANNUITY
An individual purchasing a Contract intended to qualify as an IRA may cancel the
Contract at any time within ten days after receipt of the Contract and receive a
refund. In order to cancel the Contract, the Owner must mail or deliver the
Contract to the representative through whom the Contract was purchased, to the
Principal Office at 440 Lincoln Street, Worcester, MA 01653, or to any local
office of the Company. Mailing or delivery must occur on or before ten days
after receipt of the Contract for cancellation to be effective.
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<PAGE>
Within seven days the Company will provide a refund equal to the greater of (1)
gross payments, or (2) the Accumulated Value plus any amounts deducted under the
Contract or by the Funds for taxes, charges or fees.
The liability of the Variable Account under this provision is limited to the
Owner's Accumulated Value in the Sub-Accounts on the date of cancellation. Any
additional amounts refunded to the Owner will be paid by the Company.
C. RIGHT TO CANCEL ALL OTHER CONTRACTS
An Owner may cancel the Contract at any time within ten days after receipt of
the Contract (or longer if required by state law) and receive a refund. In most
states, the Company will pay the Owner an amount equal to the sum of (1) the
difference between the payment received, including fees, and any amount
allocated to the Variable Account, and (2) the Accumulated Value of amounts
allocated to the Variable Account as of the date the request is received. If the
Contract was purchased as an IRA or issued in a state that requires a full
refund of the initial payment(s), the IRA cancellation right described above
will be used. At the time the Contract is issued, the "Right to Examine"
provision on the cover of the Contract will specifically indicate what the
refund will be and the time period allowed to exercise the right to cancel.
In order to comply with New York regulations concerning the purchase of a new
annuity contract to replace an existing life or annuity contract (a
"replacement"), an Owner who purchases the Contract in New York as a replacement
may cancel within 60 days after receipt. In order to cancel the Contract, the
Owner must mail or deliver it to the Company's Principal Office or to one of its
authorized representatives. The Company will refund an amount equal to the
Surrender Value plus all fees and charges and the Contract will be void from the
beginning.
D. TRANSFER PRIVILEGE
At any time prior to the Annuity Date, the Owner may transfer amounts among
accounts upon written or telephone request to the Company. As of the date of
this Prospectus, transfers may be made to and among all of the available
Sub-Accounts. However, should additional Funds be added to the Contract, the
Company reserves the right to limit the number of Sub-Accounts which may be used
during the life of the Contract. As discussed in "A. Payments" above, a properly
completed authorization form must be on file before telephone requests will be
honored. Transfer values will be effected at the Accumulation Value next
computed after receipt of the transfer order. In Oregon and Massachusetts,
payments and transfers to the Fixed Account are subject to certain restrictions.
See APPENDIX A, "MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FIXED ACCOUNT."
Transfers to a Guarantee Period Account must be at least $1,000. If the amount
to be transferred to a Guarantee Period Account is less than $1,000, the Company
may transfer that amount to the Sub-Account which invests in the Money Market
Fund. Transfers from a Guarantee Period Account prior to the expiration of the
Guarantee Period will be subject to a Market Value Adjustment.
The first 12 transfers in a Contract year are guaranteed to be free of any
transfer charge. The Company does not currently charge for additional transfers
but reserves the right to assess a charge, guaranteed never to exceed $25, to
reimburse it for the expense of processing these additional transfers.
AUTOMATIC TRANSFERS (DOLLAR COST AVERAGING) AND AUTOMATIC ACCOUNT REBALANCING
OPTIONS. The Owner may elect automatic transfers of a predetermined dollar
amount, not less than $100, on a periodic basis (monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly,
semi-annually or annually) from the Strategic Income Portfolio, Money Market
Fund or the Fixed Account (the "source account") to one or more Funds. Automatic
transfers may not be made into the Fixed Account, the Guarantee Period Accounts
or, if applicable, the Fund being used as the source account. If an automatic
transfer would reduce the balance in the source account to less than $100, the
entire balance will be transferred proportionately to the chosen Funds.
Automatic transfers will continue until
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the amount in the source account on a transfer date is zero or the Owner's
request to terminate the option is received by the Company. If additional
amounts are allocated to the source account after its balance has fallen to
zero, this option will not restart automatically, and the Owner must provide a
new request to the Company.
To the extent permitted by state law, the Company reserves the right, from time
to time, to credit an enhanced interest rate to certain initial and/or
subsequent payments which are deposited into the Fixed Account and which utilize
the Fixed Account as the source account for the payment from which to process
automatic transfer. For more information see APPENDIX A, "MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
THE FIXED ACCOUNT."
The Owner may request automatic rebalancing of Sub-Account allocations on a
monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual basis in accordance with
percentage allocations specified by the Owner. As frequently as specified by the
Owner, the Company will review the percentage allocations in the Funds and, if
necessary, transfer amounts to ensure conformity with the designated percentage
allocation mix. If the amount necessary to re-establish the mix on any scheduled
date is less than $100, no transfer will be made. Automatic Account Rebalancing
will continue until the Owner's request to terminate or change the option is
received by the Company. If additional amounts are allocated to the source
account after its balance has fallen to zero, this option will not restart
automatically and the Owner must provide a new request to the Company. As such,
subsequent payment allocated in a manner different from the percentage
allocation mix in effect on the date the payment is received will be reallocated
in accordance with the existing mix on the next scheduled date unless the
Owner's timely request to change the mix or terminate the option is received by
the Company.
The Company reserves the right to limit the number of Funds that may be utilized
for automatic transfers and rebalancing, and to discontinue either option upon
advance written notice. The first automatic transfer or rebalancing and all
subsequent transfers or rebalancing effected in a Contract year under a request
count as one transfer for purposes of the 12 transfers guaranteed to be free of
a transfer charge in each Contract year. Currently, Dollar Cost Averaging and
Automatic Account Rebalancing may not be in effect simultaneously. Either option
may be elected at no additional charge when the Contract is purchased or at a
later date.
E. SURRENDER
At any time prior to the Annuity Date, the Owner may surrender the Contract and
receive its Accumulated Value, less applicable charges and adjusted for any
Market Value Adjustment ("Surrender Amount"). The Owner must return the Contract
and a signed, written request for surrender, satisfactory to the Company, to the
Principal Office. The Surrender Value will be calculated based on the Contract's
Accumulated Value as of the Valuation Date on which the request and the Contract
are received at the Principal Office.
Before the Annuity Date, a surrender charge may be deducted when a Contract is
surrendered if payments have been credited to the Contract during the last seven
full Contract years. See "CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS." The Contract fee will be
deducted upon surrender of the Contract.
After the Annuity Date, only Contracts annuitized under a commutable period
certain option may be surrendered. The amount payable is the commuted value of
any unpaid installments, computed on the basis of the assumed interest rate
incorporated in such annuity benefit payments. No surrender charge is imposed
after the Annuity Date.
Any amount surrendered is normally payable within seven days following the
Company's receipt of the surrender request. The Company reserves the right to
defer surrenders and withdrawals of amounts in each Sub-Account in any period
during which (1) trading on the New York Stock Exchange is restricted as
determined by the SEC or such Exchange is closed for other than weekends and
holidays, (2) the SEC has by order permitted such suspension, or (3) an
emergency, as determined by the SEC, exists such that disposal of portfolio
securities or valuation of assets of each separate account is not reasonably
practicable.
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The Company reserves the right to defer surrenders and withdrawals of amounts
allocated to the Company's Fixed Account and Guarantee Period Accounts for a
period not to exceed six months.
The surrender rights of Owners who are participants under Section 403(b) plans
or who are participants in the Texas Optional Retirement Program ("Texas ORP")
are restricted; see "Tax-Sheltered Annuities" and "Texas Optional Retirement
Program."
For important tax consequences which may result from surrender, see "FEDERAL TAX
CONSIDERATIONS."
F. WITHDRAWALS
At any time prior to the Annuity Date, an Owner may withdraw a portion of the
Accumulated Value of his or her Contract, subject to the limits stated below.
The Owner must submit a signed, written request for withdrawal, satisfactory to
the Company, to the Principal Office. The written request must indicate the
dollar amount the Owner wishes to receive and the accounts from which such
amount is to be withdrawn. The amount withdrawn equals the amount requested by
the Owner plus any applicable surrender charge, as described under "CHARGES AND
DEDUCTIONS." In addition, amounts withdrawn from a Guarantee Period Account
prior to the end of the applicable Guarantee Period will be subject to a Market
Value Adjustment, as described under "GUARANTEE PERIOD ACCOUNTS."
Where allocations have been made to more than one account, a percentage of the
withdrawal may be allocated to each such account. A withdrawal from a
Sub-Account will result in cancellation of a number of units equivalent in value
to the amount withdrawn, computed as of the Valuation Date that the request is
received at the Principal Office.
Each withdrawal must be in a minimum amount of $100. Except in New York where no
specific balance is required, no withdrawal will be permitted if the Accumulated
Value remaining under the Contract would be reduced to less than $1,000.
Withdrawals will be paid in accordance with the time limitations described under
"E. Surrender."
After the Annuity Date, only Contracts under which future variable annuity
benefit payments are limited to a specified period may be withdrawn. A
withdrawal after the Annuity Date will result in cancellation of a number of
Annuity Units equivalent in value to the amount withdrawn.
For important restrictions on withdrawals which are applicable to Owners who are
participants under Section 403(b) plans or under the Texas ORP, see
"Tax-Sheltered Annuities" and "Texas Optional Retirement Program."
For important tax consequences which may result from surrender and withdrawals,
see "FEDERAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS."
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWALS. The Owner may elect an automatic schedule of
withdrawals (systematic withdrawals) from amounts in the Sub-Accounts and/or the
Fixed Account on a monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual basis.
Systematic withdrawals from Guarantee Period Accounts are not available. The
minimum amount of each withdrawal is $100, and will be subject to any applicable
withdrawal charges. If elected at the time of purchase, the Owner must designate
in writing the specific dollar amount of each withdrawal and the percentage of
this amount which should be taken from each designated Sub-Account and/ or the
Fixed Account. Systematic withdrawals then will begin on the date indicated on
the application. If elected after the issue date, the Owner may elect, by
written request, a specific dollar amount and the percentage of this amount to
be taken from each designated Sub-Account and/or the Fixed Account.
Alternatively, the Owner may elect to withdraw a specific percentage of the
Accumulated Value calculated as of the withdrawal dates, and may designate the
percentage of this amount which should be taken from each
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account. The first withdrawal will take place on the date the written request is
received at the Principal Office or, if later, on a date specified by the Owner.
If a withdrawal would cause the remaining Accumulated Value to be less than
$1,000, systematic withdrawals may be discontinued. Systematic withdrawals will
cease automatically on the Annuity Date. The Owner may change or terminate
systematic withdrawals only by written request to the Principal Office.
LIFE EXPECTANCY DISTRIBUTIONS. Prior to the Annuity Date, an Owner who also is
the Annuitant may elect to make a series of systematic withdrawals from the
Contract according to the Company's life expectancy distribution ("LED") option
by returning a properly signed LED request form to the Principal Office.
The Owner may elect monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual LED
distributions, and may terminate the LED option at any time. Under contracts
issued in Hawaii and New York, the LED option will terminate automatically on
the maximum Annuity Date permitted under the Contract, at which time an Annuity
Option must be selected.
If an Owner elects the Company's LED option, in each calendar year a fraction of
the Accumulated Value is withdrawn without a surrender charge based on the
Owner's then life expectancy (or the joint life expectancy of the Owner and a
beneficiary.) The numerator of the fraction is 1 (one) and the denominator of
the fraction is the remaining life expectancy of the Owner, as determined
annually by the Company. The resulting fraction, expressed as a percentage, is
applied to the Accumulated Value at the beginning of the year to determine the
amount to be distributed during the year. Under the Company's LED option, the
amount withdrawn from the Contract changes each year, because life expectancy
changes each year that a person lives. For example, actuarial tables indicate
that a person age 70 has a life expectancy of 16 years, but a person who attains
age 86 has a life expectancy of another 6.5 years. Where the Owner is a trust or
other nonnatural person, the Owner may elect the LED option based on the
Annuitant's life expectancy.
(Note: this option may not produce annual distributions that meet the definition
of "substantially equal periodic payments" as defined under Code Section 72(t).
As such, the withdrawals may be treated by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as
premature distributions from the Contract and may be subject to a 10% federal
tax penalty. Owners seeking distributions over their life under this definition
should consult their tax advisor. For more information, see "FEDERAL TAX
CONSIDERATIONS," "B. Taxation of the Contracts in General." In addition, if the
amount necessary to meet the substantially equal periodic payment definition is
greater than the Company's LED amount, a surrender charge may apply to the
amount in excess of the LED amount.)
The Company may discontinue or change the LED option at any time, but not with
respect to election of the option made prior to the date of any change in the
LED option.
G. DEATH BENEFIT
In the event that the Annuitant, Owner or Joint Owner, if applicable, dies while
the Contract is in force, the Company will pay the Beneficiary a death benefit,
except where the Contract is continued in force as provided below in "H. The
Spouse of the Owner as Beneficiary." The amount of the death benefit and the
time requirements for receipt of payment may vary depending upon whether the
Annuitant or an Owner dies first and whether death occurs prior to or after the
Annuity Date.
DEATH OF THE ANNUITANT PRIOR TO THE ANNUITY DATE. At the death of the Annuitant
(including an Owner who is also the Annuitant), the benefit is equal to the
greatest of (1) the Accumulated Value under the Contract increased by any
positive Market Value Adjustment; (2) gross payments, compounded daily at the
annual rate of 5% starting on the date each payment is applied, decreased
proportionately to reflect withdrawals (except in Hawaii and New York where (b)
equals gross payments decreased proportionately to reflect withdrawals) --
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for each withdrawal, the proportionate reduction is calculated as the death
benefit under this option immediately prior to the withdrawal multiplied by the
withdrawal amount and divided by the Accumulated Value immediately prior to the
withdrawal; or (3) the death benefit that would have been payable on the most
recent Contract anniversary, increased for subsequent payments and decreased
proportionately for subsequent withdrawals.
This guaranteed death benefit works in the following way assuming no withdrawals
are made. On the first anniversary, the death benefit will be equal to the
greater of (a) the Accumulated Value (increased by any positive Market Value
Adjustment) or (b) gross payments compounded daily at the annual rate of 5%
(except in Hawaii and New York where (b) equals gross payments). The higher of
(a) or (b) will then be locked in until the second anniversary, at which time
the death benefit will be equal to the greatest of (a) the Contract's then
current Accumulated Value increased by any positive Market Value Adjustment; (b)
gross payments compounded daily at the annual rate of 5% (gross payments in
Hawaii and New York) or (c) the locked-in value of the death benefit at the
first anniversary. The greatest of (a), (b) or (c) will be locked in until the
next Contract anniversary. This calculation will then be repeated on each
anniversary while the Contract remains in force and prior to the Annuity Date.
As noted above, the values of (b) and (c) will be decreased proportionately if
withdrawals are taken. See APPENDIX C, "THE DEATH BENEFIT" for specific examples
of death benefit calculations.
DEATH OF AN OWNER WHO IS NOT ALSO THE ANNUITANT PRIOR TO THE ANNUITY DATE. If
an Owner who is not also the Annuitant dies before the Annuity Date, the death
benefit will be the Accumulated Value increased by any positive Market Value
Adjustment. The death benefit will never be reduced by a negative Market Value
Adjustment.
PAYMENT OF THE DEATH BENEFIT PRIOR TO THE ANNUITY DATE. The death benefit
generally will be paid to the Beneficiary in one sum within seven business days
of the receipt of due proof of death at the Principal Office unless the Owner
has specified a death benefit annuity option. Instead of payment in one sum, the
Beneficiary may, by written request, elect to:
(1) defer distribution of the death benefit for a period no more than five
years from the date of death; or
(2) receive a life annuity or an annuity for a period certain not extending
beyond the Beneficiary's life expectancy, with annuity benefit payments
beginning one year from the date of death.
If distribution of the death benefit is deferred under (1) or (2), any value in
the Guarantee Period Accounts will be transferred to the Sub-Account investing
in the Money Market Fund. The excess, if any, of the death benefit over the
Accumulated Value will also be added to the Money Market Fund. The Beneficiary
may, by written request, effect transfers and withdrawals during the deferral
period and prior to annuitization under (2), but may not make additional
payments. The death benefit will reflect any earnings or losses experienced
during the deferral period. If there are multiple beneficiaries, the consent of
all is required.
With respect to the death benefit, the Accumulated Value under the Contract will
be based on the unit values next computed after due proof of the death has been
received.
DEATH OF THE ANNUITANT ON OR AFTER THE ANNUITY DATE. If the Annuitant's death
occurs on or after the Annuity Date but before completion of all guaranteed
annuity benefit payments, any unpaid amounts or installments will be paid to the
Beneficiary. The Company must pay out the remaining payments at least as rapidly
as under the payment option in effect on the date of the Annuitant's death.
H. THE SPOUSE OF THE OWNER AS BENEFICIARY
The Owner's spouse, if named as the sole primary beneficiary, may by written
request continue the Contract in lieu of receiving the amount payable upon death
of the Owner. Upon such election, the spouse will become the
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Owner and Annuitant subject to the following: (1) any value in the Guarantee
Period Accounts will be transferred to the Money Market Fund; (2) the excess, if
any, of the death benefit over the Contract's Accumulated Value will also be
added to the Money Market Fund. Additional payments may be made; however, a
surrender charge will apply to these amounts if they have not been invested in
the Contract for more than seven years. All other rights and benefits provided
in the Contract will continue, except that any subsequent spouse of such new
Owner will not be entitled to continue the Contract upon such new Owner's death.
I. ASSIGNMENT
The Contract, other than one sold in connection with certain qualified plans,
may be assigned by the Owner at any time prior to the Annuity Date and while the
Annuitant is alive. The Company will not be deemed to have knowledge of an
assignment unless it is made in writing and filed at the Principal Office. The
Company will not assume responsibility for determining the validity of any
assignment. If an assignment of the Contract is in effect on the Annuity Date,
the Company reserves the right to pay to the assignee, in one sum, that portion
of the Surrender Value of the Contract to which the assignee appears to be
entitled. The Company will pay the balance, if any, in one sum to the Owner in
full settlement of all liability under the Contract. The interest of the Owner
and of any beneficiary will be subject to any assignment.
For important tax liability which may result from assignments, see "FEDERAL TAX
CONSIDERATIONS."
J. ELECTING THE FORM OF ANNUITY AND THE ANNUITY DATE
The Owner selects the Annuity Date. To the extent permitted by state law, the
Annuity Date may be the first day of any month (1) before the Annuitant's 85th
birthday, if the Annuitant's age on the issue date of the Contract is 75 or
under; or (2) within ten years from the issue date of the Contract and before
the Annuitant's 90th birthday, if the Annuitant's age on the issue date is
between 76 and 90. The Owner may elect to change the Annuity Date by sending a
request to the Principal Office at least one month before the Annuity Date. The
new Annuity Date must be the first day of any month occurring before the
Annuitant's 90th birthday and must be within the life expectancy of the
Annuitant. The Company shall determine such life expectancy at the time a change
in Annuity Date is requested. In no event will the maximum annuitization age
exceed 90. The Code and the terms of qualified plans impose limitations on the
age at which annuity benefit payments may commence and the type of annuity
option selected. See "FEDERAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS" for further information.
Subject to certain restrictions described below, the Owner has the right (1) to
select the annuity option under which annuity benefit payments are to be made,
and (2) to determine whether payments are to be made on a fixed basis, a
variable basis, or a combination fixed and variable basis. Annuity benefit
payments are determined according to the annuity tables in the Contract, by the
annuity option selected, and by the investment performance of the Sub-Accounts
selected. To the extent a fixed annuity payout is selected, Accumulated Value
will be transferred to the Fixed Account of the Company, and the annuity benefit
payments will be fixed in amount. See APPENDIX A, "MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE
FIXED ACCOUNT."
Under a variable annuity payout option, a payment equal to the value of the
fixed number of Annuity Units in the Sub-Accounts is made monthly, quarterly,
semiannually or annually. Since the value of an Annuity Unit in a Sub-Account
will reflect the investment performance of the Sub-Account, the amount of each
annuity benefit payment will vary.
The annuity option selected must produce an initial payment of at least $50 (a
lower amount may be required in some states). The Company reserves the right to
increase this minimum amount. If the annuity payout option(s) selected do(es)
not produce an initial payment which meet this minimum, a single payment may be
made. Once the Company begins making annuity benefit payments, the Annuitant
cannot make withdrawals
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or surrender the annuity benefit, except in the case where a commutable period
certain option has been elected. Only beneficiaries entitled to receive
remaining payments for a period certain may elect to instead receive a lump sum
settlement.
If the Owner does not elect an option, a variable life annuity with periodic
payments guaranteed for ten years will be purchased. Changes in either the
Annuity Date or annuity option can be made up to one month prior to the Annuity
Date.
If the Owner exercises the Minimum Guaranteed Annuity Payout Rider, annuity
benefit payments must be made under a fixed annuity payout option involving a
life contingency and will be determined based on the guaranteed annuity purchase
rates listed under the Annuity Option Tables in the Contract.
K. DESCRIPTION OF VARIABLE ANNUITY PAYOUT OPTIONS
The Company provides the variable annuity payout options described below.
Currently, variable annuity payout options may be funded through the
Sub-Accounts investing in the Value Portfolio, the Growth Portfolio, the
International Growth Portfolio and the Strategic Income Portfolio.
The Company also provides these same annuity payout options funded through the
Fixed Account (fixed annuity payout option). Regardless of how payments were
allocated during the accumulation period, any of the variable annuity options or
the fixed-amount options may be selected, or any of the variable annuity options
may be selected in combination with any of the fixed-amount annuity options.
Other annuity options may be offered by the Company. IRS regulations may not
permit certain of the available annuity options when used in connection with
certain qualified Contracts.
VARIABLE LIFE ANNUITY WITH PAYMENTS GUARANTEED FOR TEN YEARS. This variable
annuity is payable periodically during the lifetime of the payee with the
guarantee that if the payee should die before all payments have been made, the
remaining annuity benefit payments will continue to the Beneficiary.
VARIABLE LIFE ANNUITY PAYABLE PERIODICALLY DURING THE LIFETIME OF THE ANNUITANT
ONLY. This variable annuity is payable during the payee's life. It would be
possible under this option for the payee to receive only one annuity benefit
payment if the payee dies prior to the due date of the second annuity benefit
payment, two annuity benefit payments if the payee dies before the due date of
the third annuity benefit payment, and so on. Payments, however, will continue
during the lifetime of the payee, no matter how long he or she lives.
UNIT REFUND VARIABLE LIFE ANNUITY. This is an annuity payable periodically
during the lifetime of the Annuitant with the guarantee that if (1) exceeds (2)
then periodic variable annuity benefit payments will continue to the Beneficiary
until the number of such payments equals the number determined in (1).
Where: (1) is the dollar amount of the Accumulated Value at
annuitization divided by the dollar amount of the first
payment, and
(2) is the number of payments paid prior to the death of the
payee.
JOINT AND SURVIVOR VARIABLE LIFE ANNUITY. This variable annuity is payable
jointly to two payees during their joint lifetime, and then continues thereafter
during the lifetime of the survivor. The amount of each payment to the survivor
is based on the same number of Annuity Units which applied during the joint
lifetime of the two payees. One of the payees must be either the person
designated as the Annuitant in the Contract or the Beneficiary. There is no
minimum number of payments under this option.
JOINT AND TWO-THIRDS SURVIVOR VARIABLE LIFE ANNUITY. This variable annuity is
payable jointly to two payees during their joint lifetime, and then continues
thereafter during the lifetime of the survivor. The amount of each periodic
payment to the survivor, however, is based upon two-thirds of the number of
Annuity Units
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which applied during the joint lifetime of the two payees. One of the payees
must be the person designated as the Annuitant in the Contract or the
Beneficiary. There is no minimum number of payments under this option.
PERIOD CERTAIN VARIABLE ANNUITY. This variable annuity has periodic payments
for a stipulated number of years ranging from one to 30 and may be commutable or
noncommutable. A commutable option provides the payee with the right to request
a lump sum payment of an remaining balance after annuity payments have
commenced. Under a noncommutable period certain option, the Annuitant may not
request a lump sum payment.
It should be noted that the period certain option does not involve a life
contingency. In computing payments under this option, the Company deducts a
charge for annuity rate guarantees, which includes a factor for mortality risks.
Although not contractually required to do so, the Company currently follows a
practice of permitting persons receiving payments under the period certain
option to elect to convert to a variable annuity payout involving a life
contingency. The Company may discontinue or change this practice at any time,
but not with respect to election of the option made prior to the date of any
change in this practice. See "FEDERAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS" for a discussion of
the possible adverse tax consequences of selecting a period certain option.
L. ANNUITY BENEFIT PAYMENTS
DETERMINATION OF THE FIRST VARIABLE ANNUITY BENEFIT PAYMENT. The amount of the
first monthly payment depends upon the selected variable annuity option, the sex
(however, see "N. NORRIS Decision" below) and age of the Annuitant, and the
value of the amount applied under the annuity option ("annuity value"). The
Contract provides annuity rates that determine the dollar amount of the first
periodic payment under each variable annuity option for each $1,000 of applied
value. From time to time, the Company may offer its Owners both fixed and
variable annuity rates more favorable than those contained in the Contract. Any
such rates will be applied uniformly to all Owners of the same class.
The dollar amount of the first periodic annuity benefit payment is calculated
based upon the type of annuity option chosen, as follows:
- - For life annuity options and noncommutable period certain options of ten
years or more (six or more years under New York Contracts), the dollar amount
is determined by multiplying (1) the Accumulated Value applied under that
option (after application of any Market Value Adjustment and less premium
tax, if any) divided by $1,000, by (2) the applicable amount of the first
monthly payment per $1,000 of value.
- - For commutable period certain options and any period certain option of less
than ten years (less than six years under New York Contracts), the dollar
amount is determined by multiplying (1) the Surrender Value less premium
taxes, if any, applied under that option (after application of any Market
Value Adjustment and less premium tax, if any) divided by $1,000, by (2) the
applicable amount of the first monthly payment per $1,000 of value.
- - For a death benefit annuity, the annuity value will be the amount of the
death benefit.
The first periodic annuity benefit payment is based upon the Accumulated Value
as of a date not more than four weeks preceding the date that the first annuity
benefit payment is due. The Company transmits variable annuity benefit payments
for receipt by the payee by the first of a month. Variable annuity benefit
payments are currently based on unit values as of the 15th day of the preceding
month.
THE ANNUITY UNIT. On and after the Annuity Date, the Annuity Unit is a measure
of the value of the monthly annuity benefit payments under a variable annuity
option. The value of an Annuity Unit in each Sub-Account initially was set at
$1.00. The value of an Annuity Unit under a Sub-Account on any Valuation Date
thereafter is equal to the value of such unit on the immediately preceding
Valuation Date, multiplied by the net
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investment factor of the Sub-Account for the current Valuation Period and
divided by the assumed interest rate for the current Valuation Period The
assumed interest rate, discussed below, is incorporated in the variable annuity
options offered in the Contract.
DETERMINATION OF THE NUMBER OF ANNUITY UNITS. The dollar amount of the first
variable annuity benefit payment is divided by the value of an Annuity Unit of
the selected Sub-Account(s) to determine the number of Annuity Units represented
by the first payment. This number of Annuity Units remains fixed under all
annuity options except the joint and two-thirds survivor annuity option.
DOLLAR AMOUNT OF SUBSEQUENT VARIABLE ANNUITY BENEFIT PAYMENTS. The dollar
amount of each periodic variable annuity benefit payment after the first will
vary with the value of the Annuity Units of the selected Sub-Account(s). The
dollar amount of each subsequent variable annuity benefit payment is determined
by multiplying the fixed number of Annuity Units (derived from the dollar amount
of the first payment, as described above) with respect to a Sub-Account by the
value of an Annuity Unit of that Sub-Account on the applicable Valuation Date.
The variable annuity options offered by the Company are based on a 3.5% assumed
interest rate, which affects the amounts of the variable annuity benefit
payments. Variable annuity benefit payments with respect to a Sub-Account will
increase over periods when the actual net investment result of the Sub-Account
exceeds the equivalent of the assumed interest rate. Variable annuity benefit
payments will decrease over periods when the actual net investment results are
less than the equivalent of the assumed interest rate.
For an illustration of a calculation of a variable annuity benefit payment using
a hypothetical example, see "Annuity Benefit Payments" in the SAI.
If the Owner elects the Minimum Guaranteed Annuity Payout Rider, at
annuitization the annuity benefit payments provided under the Rider (by applying
the guaranteed annuity factors to the Minimum Guaranteed Annuity Payout Benefit
Base), are compared to the payments that would otherwise be available with the
Rider. If annuity benefit payments under the Rider are higher, the Owner may
exercise the Rider, provided that the conditions of the Rider are met. If
annuity benefit payments under the Rider are lower, the Owner may choose not to
exercise the Rider and instead annuitize under current annuity factors. See "M.
Optional Minimum Guaranteed Annuity Payout Rider," below.
M. OPTIONAL MINIMUM GUARANTEED ANNUITY PAYOUT RIDER
An optional Minimum Guaranteed Annuity Payout Rider is available for a separate
monthly charge. The Minimum Guaranteed Annuity Payout Rider guarantees a minimum
amount of fixed annuity lifetime income during the annuity payout phase, subject
to the conditions described below. On each Contract anniversary a Minimum
Guaranteed Annuity Payout Benefit Base is determined. The Minimum Guaranteed
Annuity Payout Benefit Base (less any applicable premium taxes) is the value
that will be annuitized if the Rider is exercised. In order to exercise the
Rider, a fixed annuitization option involving a life contingency must be
selected. Annuitization under this Rider will occur at the guaranteed annuity
purchase rates listed under the Annuity Option Tables in the Contract. The
Minimum Guaranteed Annuity Payout Benefit Base is equal to the greatest of:
(a) the Accumulated Value increased by any positive Market Value Adjustment,
if applicable;or
(b) the Accumulated Value on the effective date of the Rider compounded
daily at the annual rate of 5% plus gross payments made thereafter
compounded daily at the annual rate of 5%, starting on the date each
payment is applied, reduced proportionately to reflect withdrawals; or
(c) the highest Accumulated Value on any Contract anniversary since the
Rider effective date, as determined after positive adjustments have been
made for subsequent payments and any positive
36
<PAGE>
Market Value Adjustment, if applicable, and negative adjustments have
been made for subsequent withdrawals.
For each withdrawal described in (b) and (c) above, the proportionate reduction
is calculated by multiplying the (b) or (c) value, whichever is applicable,
determined immediately prior to the withdrawal by the following fraction:
amount of the withdrawal
----------------------------------------------------------
Accumulated Value determined immediately prior to the withdrawal
CONDITIONS OF ELECTION OF THE MINIMUM GUARANTEED ANNUITY PAYOUT RIDER.
- - The Owner may elect the Minimum Guaranteed Annuity Payout Rider at Contract
issue or at any time thereafter, however, if the Rider is not elected within
thirty days after Contract issue or within thirty days after a Contract
anniversary date, the effective date of the Rider will be the following
Contract anniversary date.
- - The Owner may not elect a Rider with a ten-year waiting period if at the time
of election the Annuitant has reached his or her 78th birthday. The Owner may
not elect a Rider with a fifteen-year waiting period if at the time of
election the Annuitant has reached his or her 73rd birthday.
EXERCISING THE MINIMUM GUARANTEED ANNUITY PAYOUT RIDER.
- - The Owner may only exercise the Minimum Guaranteed Annuity Payout Rider
within thirty days after any Contract anniversary following the expiration of
a ten or fifteen-year waiting period from the effective date of the Rider.
- - The Owner may only annuitize under a fixed annuity payout option involving a
life contingency as provided under "K. Description of Variable Annuity Payout
Options."
- - The Owner may only annuitize at the guaranteed annuity purchase rates listed
under the Annuity Option Tables in the Contract.
TERMINATION OF THE MINIMUM GUARANTEED ANNUITY PAYOUT RIDER.
- - The Owner may not terminate the Minimum Guaranteed Annuity Payout Rider prior
to the seventh Contract anniversary after the effective date of the Rider,
unless such termination occurs on or within thirty days after any Contract
anniversary and in conjunction with the repurchase of a Minimum Guaranteed
Annuity Payout Rider with a waiting period of equal or greater length at its
then current price, if available.
- - After the seventh Contract anniversary from the effective date of the Rider
the Owner may terminate the Rider at any time.
- - The Owner may repurchase a Rider with a waiting period equal to or greater
than the Rider then in force at the new Rider's then current price, if
available, however, repurchase may only occur on or within thirty days of a
Contract anniversary.
- - Other than in the event of a repurchase, once terminated the Rider may not be
purchased again.
- - The Rider will terminate upon surrender of the Contract or the date that a
death benefit is payable if the Contract is not continued under "H. The
Spouse of the Owner as Beneficiary" (see "DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTRACT").
From time to time the Company may illustrate minimum guaranteed income amounts
under the Minimum Guaranteed Annuity Payout Rider for individuals based on a
variety of assumptions, including varying rates of
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<PAGE>
return on the value of the Contract during the accumulation phase, annuity
payout periods, annuity payout options and Minimum Guaranteed Annuity Payout
Rider waiting periods. Any assumed rates of return are for purposes of
illustration only and are not intended as a representation of past or future
investment rates of return.
For example, the illustration below assumes an initial payment of $100,000 for
an Annuitant age 60 (at issue) and exercise of a Minimum Guaranteed Annuity
Payout Rider with a ten-year waiting period. The illustration assumes that no
subsequent payments or withdrawals are made and that the annuity payout option
is a Life Annuity With Payments Guaranteed For 10 Years. The values below have
been computed based on a 5% net rate of return and are the guaranteed minimums
that would be received under the Mimumum Guaranteed Annuity Payout Rider.
The minimum guaranteed benefit base amounts are the values that will be
annuitized. Minimum guaranteed annual income values are based on a fixed annuity
payout.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MINIMUM
CONTRACT GUARANTEED MINIMUM
ANNIVERSARY BENEFIT GUARANTEED
AT EXERCISE BASE ANNUAL INCOME(1)
- ------------- ----------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C>
10 $ 162,889 $ 12,153
15 $ 207,892 $ 17,695
</TABLE>
(1) Other fixed annuity options involving a life contingency other than Life
Annuity With Payments Guaranteed for 10 Years are available. See "K. Description
of Variable Annuity Payout Options."
The Minimum Guaranteed Annuity Payout Rider does not create Accumulated Value or
guarantee performance of any investment option. Because this Rider is based on
conservative actuarial factors, the level of lifetime income that it guarantees
may often be less than the level that would be provided by application of
Accumulated Value at current annuity factors. Therefore, the Rider should be
regarded as a safety net. As described above, withdrawals will reduce the
benefit base.
NOTE: Adding the Minimum Guaranteed Annuity Payout Rider after the issue date
and/or repurchasing the benefit will impact the Program to Protect Principal and
Provide Growth Potential offered under the GPA Accounts since the Minimum
Guaranteed Annuity Payout Rider charges are deducted on a pro-rata basis from
all accounts including the GPA Accounts. See "GUARANTEE PERIOD ACCOUNTS."
N. NORRIS DECISION
In the case of Arizona Governing Committee v. Norris, the United States Supreme
Court ruled that, in connection with retirement benefit options offered under
certain employer-sponsored employee benefit plans, annuity options based on
sex-distinct actuarial tables are not permissible under Title VII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964. The ruling requires that benefits derived from contributions
paid into a plan after August 1, 1983 be calculated without regard to the sex of
the employee. Annuity benefits attributable to payments received by the Company
under a Contract issued in connection with an employer-sponsored benefit plan
affected by the Norris decision will be based on the greater of (1) the
Company's unisex Non-Guaranteed Current Annuity Option Rates or (2) the
guaranteed unisex rates described in such Contract, regardless of whether the
Annuitant is male or female.
O. COMPUTATION OF VALUES
THE ACCUMULATION UNIT. Each net payment is allocated to the accounts selected
by the Owner. Allocations to the Sub-Accounts are credited to the Contract in
the form of Accumulation Units. Accumulation Units are credited separately for
each Sub-Account. The number of Accumulation Units of each Sub-Account credited
to the Contract is equal to the portion of the net payment allocated to the
Sub-Account, divided by the dollar value of the applicable Accumulation Unit as
of the Valuation Date the payment is received at the Principal Office. The
number of Accumulation Units resulting from each payment will remain fixed
unless changed by
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<PAGE>
a subsequent split of Accumulation Unit value, a transfer, a withdrawal, or
surrender. The dollar value of an Accumulation Unit of each Sub-Account varies
from Valuation Date to Valuation Date based on the investment experience of that
Sub-Account and will reflect the investment performance, expenses and charges of
its Funds. The value of an Accumulation Unit was set at $1.00 on the first
Valuation Date for each Sub-Account.
Allocations to Guarantee Period Accounts and the Fixed Account are not converted
into Accumulation Units, but are credited interest at a rate periodically set by
the Company. See APPENDIX A, "MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FIXED ACCOUNT" AND
"GUARANTEE PERIOD ACCOUNTS."
The Accumulated Value under the Contract is determined by (1) multiplying the
number of Accumulation Units in each Sub-Account by the value of an Accumulation
Unit of that Sub-Account on the Valuation Date, (2) adding the products, and (3)
adding the amount of the accumulations in the Fixed Account and Guarantee Period
Accounts, if any.
NET INVESTMENT FACTOR. The Net Investment Factor is an index that measures the
investment performance of a Sub-Account from one Valuation Period to the next.
This factor is equal to 1.000000 plus the result from dividing (1) by (2) and
subtracting (3) and (4) where:
(1) is the investment income of a Sub-Account for the Valuation Period,
including realized or unrealized capital gains and losses during the
Valuation Period, adjusted for provisions made for taxes, if any;
(2) is the value of that Sub-Account's assets at the beginning of the
Valuation Period;
(3) is a charge for mortality and expense risks equal to 1.25% on an annual
basis of the daily value of the Sub-Account's assets; and
(4) is an administrative charge of 0.20% on an annual basis of the daily
value of the Sub-Account's assets.
The dollar value of an Accumulation Unit as of a given Valuation Date is
determined by multiplying the dollar value of the corresponding Accumulation
Unit as of the immediately preceding Valuation Date by the appropriate net
investment factor.
For an illustration of Accumulation Unit calculation using a hypothetical
example see the SAI.
CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS
Deductions under the Contract and charges against the assets of the Sub-Accounts
are described below. Other deductions and expenses paid out of the assets of the
Funds are described in the prospectuses and SAIs of the Underlying Funds.
A. VARIABLE ACCOUNT DEDUCTIONS
MORTALITY AND EXPENSE RISK CHARGE. The Company assesses a charge against the
assets of each Sub-Account to compensate for certain mortality and expense risks
its has assumed. The charge is imposed during both the accumulation phase and
the annuity payout phase. The mortality risk arises from the Company's guarantee
that it will make annuity benefit payments in accordance with annuity rate
provisions established at the time the Contract is issued for the life of the
Annuitant (or in accordance with the annuity payout option selected), no matter
how long the Annuitant (or other payee) lives and no matter how long all
Annuitants as a class live. Therefore, the mortality charge is deducted during
the annuity payout phase on all contracts, including those that do not involve a
life contingency, even though the Company does not bear direct mortality risk
with respect to variable annuity settlement options that do not involve life
contingencies. The expense risk
39
<PAGE>
arises from the Company's guarantee that the charges it makes will not exceed
the limits described in the Contract and in this Prospectus.
If the charge for mortality and expense risks is not sufficient to cover actual
mortality experience and expenses, the Company will absorb the losses. If
expenses are less than the amounts provided to the Company by the charge, the
difference will be a profit to the Company. To the extent this charge results in
a profit to the Company, such profit will be available for use by the Company
for, among other things, the payment of distribution, sales and other expenses.
The mortality and expense risk charge is assessed daily at an annual rate of
1.25% of each Sub-Account's assets. This charge may not be increased. Since
mortality and expense risks involve future contingencies which are not subject
to precise determination in advance, it is not feasible to identify specifically
the portion of the charge which is applicable to each. The Company estimates
that a reasonable allocation might be 0.80% for mortality risk and 0.45% for
expense risk.
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE CHARGE. The Company assesses each Sub-Account with a
daily charge at an annual rate of 0.20% of the average daily net assets of the
Sub-Account. The charge is imposed during both the accumulation phase and the
annuity payout phase. The daily Administrative Expense Charge is assessed to
help defray administrative expenses actually incurred in the administration of
the Sub-Account, without profits. There is no direct relationship, however,
between the amount of administrative expenses imposed on a given contract and
the amount of expenses actually attributable to that contract.
Deductions for the Contract fee (described below under "B. Contract Fee") and
for the Administrative Expense Charge are designed to reimburse the Company for
the cost of administration and related expenses and are not expected to be a
source of profit. The administrative functions and expense assumed by the
Company in connection with the Variable Account and the Contract include, but
are not limited to, clerical, accounting, actuarial and legal services, rent,
postage, telephone, office equipment and supplies, expenses of preparing and
printing registration statements, expense of preparing and typesetting
prospectuses and the cost of printing prospectuses not allocable to sales
expense, filing and other fees.
OTHER CHARGES. Because the Sub-Accounts purchase shares of the Underlying
Funds, the value of the net assets of the Sub-Accounts will reflect the
investment advisory fee and other expenses incurred by the Funds. The
prospectuses and SAIs of the Underlying Funds contain additional information
concerning expenses of the Funds.
B. CONTRACT FEE
A $30 Contract fee currently is deducted on the Contract anniversary date and
upon full surrender of the Contract when the Accumulated Value is less than
$100,000. The Contract fee is waived for contracts issued to and maintained by
the trustee of a 401(k) plan. Where Contract value has been allocated to more
than one account, a percentage of the total Contract fee will be deducted from
the value in each account. The portion of the charge deducted from each account
will be equal to the percentage which the value in that account bears to the
Accumulated Value under the Contract. The deduction of the Contract fee from a
Sub-Account will result in cancellation of a number of Accumulation Units equal
in value to the percentage of the charge deducted from that account.
Where permitted by law, the Contract fee also may be waived for Contracts where,
on the issue date, either the Owner or the Annuitant is within the following
class of individuals ("eligible persons"): employees and registered
representatives of any broker dealer which has entered into a sales agreement
with the Company to sell the Contract; employees of the Company, its affiliates
and subsidiaries; officers, directors, trustees and employees of any of the
Funds; investment managers or Sub-Advisers; and the spouses of and immediate
family members residing in the same household with such eligible persons.
"Immediate family members" means children, siblings, parents and grandparents.
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<PAGE>
C. OPTIONAL MINIMUM GUARANTEED ANNUITY PAYOUT RIDER CHARGE
Subject to state availability, the Company offers an optional Minimum Guaranteed
Annuity Payout Rider that may be elected by the Owner. A separate monthly charge
is made for the Rider. On the last day of each month and on the date the Rider
is terminated, a charge equal to 1/12th of the applicable annual rate (see table
below) is made against the Accumulated Value of the Contract at that time. The
charge is made through a pro-rata reduction of the Accumulated Value of the
Sub-Accounts, the Fixed Account and the Guarantee Period Accounts (based on the
relative value that the Accumulation Units of the Sub-Accounts, the dollar
amounts in the Fixed Account and the dollar amounts in the Guarantee Period
Accounts bear to the total Accumulated Value).
The applicable charge is assessed on the Accumulated Value on the last day of
each month and on the date the Rider is terminated, multiplied by 1/12th of the
following annual percentage rates:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Minimum Guaranteed Annuity Payout Rider with ten-year waiting period....... 0.25%
Minimum Guaranteed Annuity Payout Rider with fifteen-year waiting period... 0.15%
</TABLE>
For a description of the Rider, see "M. Optional Minimum Guaranteed Annuity
Payout Rider" under "DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTRACT," above.
D. PREMIUM TAXES
Some states and municipalities impose a premium tax on variable annuity
contracts. State premium taxes currently range up to 3.5%. The Company makes a
charge for state and municipal premium taxes, when applicable, and deducts the
amount paid as a premium tax charge. The current practice of the Company is to
deduct the premium tax charge in one of two ways:
(1) if the premium tax was paid by the Company when payments were received,
the premium tax charge is deducted on a pro-rata basis when withdrawals
are made, upon surrender of the Contract, or when annuity benefit
payments begin (the Company reserves the right instead to deduct the
premium tax charge for these contracts at the time the payments are
received); or
(2) the premium tax charge is deducted in total when annuity benefit
payments begin.
In no event will a deduction be taken before the Company has incurred a tax
liability under applicable state law
If no amount for premium tax was deducted at the time the payment was received,
but subsequently tax is determined to be due prior to the Annuity Date, the
Company reserves the right to deduct the premium tax from the Contract value at
the time such determination is made.
E. SURRENDER CHARGE
No charge for sales expense is deducted from payments at the time the payments
are made. A surrender charge is deducted, however, from the Accumulated Value of
the Contract in the case of surrender of and/or withdrawals from the Contract or
at the time annuity benefit payments begin, within certain time limits described
below.
For purposes of determining the surrender charge, the Accumulated Value is
divided into three categories: (1) New Payments -- payments received by the
Company during the seven years preceding the date of the surrender; (2) Old
Payments -- accumulated payments invested in the Contract for more than seven
years; and (3) the amount available under the Withdrawal Without Surrender
Charge provision. See "Withdrawal Without Surrender Charge" below. For purposes
of determining the amount of any surrender charge,
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<PAGE>
surrenders will be deemed to be taken first from amounts available as a
Withdrawal Without Surrender Charge, if any; then from any Old Payments, and
then from New Payments. Amounts available as a Withdrawal Without Surrender
Charge, followed by Old Payments, may be withdrawn from the Contract at any time
without the imposition of a surrender charge. If a withdrawal is attributable
all or in part to New Payments, a surrender charge may apply.
CHARGE FOR SURRENDER AND WITHDRAWALS. If a Contract is surrendered, or if New
Payments are withdrawn while the Contract is in force and before the Annuity
Date, a surrender charge may be imposed. The amount of the charge will depend
upon the number of years that any New Payments, to which the withdrawal is
attributed have remained credited under the Contract. Amounts withdrawn are
deducted first from Old Payments. Then, for the purpose of calculating surrender
charges for New Payments, all amounts withdrawn are assumed to be deducted first
from the oldest New Payment and then from the next oldest New Payment and so on,
until all New Payments have been exhausted pursuant to the first-in-first-out
("FIFO") method of accounting. (See "FEDERAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS" for a
discussion of how withdrawals are treated for income tax purposes.)
The Surrender Charge is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEARS FROM DATE CHARGE AS PERCENTAGE OF
OF PAYMENT NEW PAYMENTS WITHDRAWN
- ------------------------------ ------------------------------
<S> <C>
0-1 7%
2 6%
3 5%
4 4%
5 3%
6 2%
7 1%
More than 7 0%
</TABLE>
The amount withdrawn equals the amount requested by the Owner plus the surrender
charge, if any. The charge is applied as a percentage of the New Payments
withdrawn, but in no event will the total surrender charge exceed a maximum
limit of 7% of total gross New Payments. Such total charge equals the aggregate
of all applicable surrender charges for surrender, withdrawals, and
annuitization.
REDUCTION OR ELIMINATION OF SURRENDER CHARGE AND ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS
CREDITED. Where permitted by state law, the Company will waive the surrender
charge in the event that an Owner (or the Annuitant, if the Owner is not an
individual) becomes physically disabled after the issue date of the Contract and
before attaining age 65. Under New York Contracts, the disability also must
exist for a continuous period of at least four months. The Company may require
proof of such disability and continuing disability, including written
confirmation of receipt and approval of any claim for Social Security Disability
Benefits and reserves the right to obtain an examination by a licensed physician
of its choice and at its expense. In addition, except in New York and New Jersey
where not permitted by state law, the Company will waive the in the event that
an Owner (or the Annuitant, if the Owner is not an individual) is: (1) admitted
to a medical care facility and remains confined there until the later of one
year after the issue date or 90 consecutive days or (2) first diagnosed by a
licensed physician as having a fatal illness after the issue date of the
Contract.
For purposes of the above provision, "medical care facility" means any
state-licensed facility or, in a state that does not require licensing, a
facility that is operating pursuant to state law, providing medically necessary
inpatient care which is prescribed in writing by a licensed "physician" and
based on physical limitations which prohibit daily living in a non-institutional
setting; "fatal illness" means a condition diagnosed by a licensed "physician"
which is expected to result in death within two years of the diagnosis; and
"physician" means a person other than the Owner, Annuitant or a member of one of
their families who is state licensed to give medical care or treatment and is
acting within the scope of that license.
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<PAGE>
Where surrender charges have been waived under any of the situations discussed
above, no additional payments under the Contract will be accepted, unless
required by state law.
In addition, where permitted by state law, the Company may reduce or waive
surrender charges and/or credit additional amounts on Contracts issued where
either the Owner or the Annuitant on the issue date is within the following
class of individuals ("eligible persons"): employees and registered
representatives of any broker-dealer which has entered into a Sales Agreement
with the Company to sell the Contract; employees of the Company, its
subsidiaries and affiliates; officers, directors, trustees and employees of any
of the Funds, investment managers or sub-advisers; and the spouses, children and
other legal dependants (under age 21) of such eligible persons.
In addition, from time to time the Company may reduce the amount of the
surrender charge, the period during which it applies, or both, and/or credit
additional amounts on the Contract when the Contract is sold to individuals or
groups of individuals in a manner that reduces sales expenses. The Company will
consider (1) the size and type of group; (2) the total amount of payments to be
received and the manner in which payments are remitted; (3) the purpose for
which the Contract is being purchased and whether that purpose makes it likely
that costs and expenses will be reduced; (4) other transactions where sales
expenses are likely to be reduced; or (5) the level of commissions paid to
selling broker-dealers or certain financial institutions with respect to
contracts within the same group or class (for example, broker-dealers who offer
the Contract in connection with financial planning services offered on a
fee-for-service basis). Finally, if permitted under state law, surrender charges
may be waived under Section 403(b) Contracts where the amount withdrawn is being
contributed to a life insurance policy issued by the Company as part of the
individual's Section 403(b) plan. Any reduction or elimination in the amount or
duration of the surrender charge will not discriminate unfairly among Owners.
The Company will not make any changes to this charge where prohibited by law.
Pursuant to Section 11 of the 1940 Act and Rule 11a-2 thereunder, the surrender
charge is modified to effect certain exchanges of existing contracts issued by
the Company for this Contract. See "Exchange Offer" in the SAI.
WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT SURRENDER CHARGE. In each calendar year, the Company will
waive the surrender charge, if any, on an amount ("Withdrawal Without Surrender
Charge") equal to the greatest of (1), (2) or (3):
Where: (1) is: The Accumulated Value as of the Valuation Date coincident with
or next following the date of receipt of the request for
withdrawal, reduced by total gross payments not previously
withdrawn ("Cumulative Earnings")
Where: (2) is: 15% of the Accumulated Value as of the Valuation Date
coincident with or next following the date of receipt of the
request for withdrawal, reduced by the total amount of any
prior withdrawals made in the same calendar year to which no
surrender charge was applied.
Where: (3) is: The amount calculated under the Company's life expectancy
distribution (see "Life Expectancy Distributions" above)
whether or not the withdrawal was part of such distribution
(applies only if the Annuitant is also an Owner).
For example, an 81-year-old Owner/Annuitant with an Accumulated Value of
$15,000, of which $1,000 is Cumulative Earnings, would have a Withdrawal Without
Surrender Charge of $2,250, which is equal to the greatest of:
(1) Cumulative Earnings ($1,000);
(2) 15% of Accumulated Value ($2,250); or
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<PAGE>
(3) LED of 10.2% of Accumulated Value ($1,530).
The Withdrawal Without Surrender Charge will first be deducted from Cumulative
Earnings. If the Withdrawal Without Surrender Charge exceeds Cumulative
Earnings, the excess amount will be deemed withdrawn from payments not
previously withdrawn on a last-in-first-out ("LIFO") basis. If more than one
withdrawal is made during the year, on each subsequent withdrawal the Company
will waive the surrender charge, if any, until the entire Withdrawal Without
Surrender Charge amount has been withdrawn. Amounts withdrawn from a Guarantee
Period Account prior to the end of the applicable Guarantee Period will be
subject to a Market Value Adjustment.
SURRENDERS. In the case of a complete surrender, the amount received by the
Owner is equal to the entire Accumulated Value under the Contract, net of the
applicable surrender charge on New Payments, the Contract fee and any applicable
tax withholding, and adjusted for any applicable Market Value Adjustment.
Subject to the same rules applicable to withdrawals, the Company will not assess
a surrender charge on an amount equal to the greater of the Withdrawal Without
Surrender Charge amount, described above, or the life expectancy distribution,
if applicable.
Where an Owner who is a trustee under a pension plan surrenders, in whole or in
part, the Contract on a terminating employee, the trustee will be permitted to
reallocate all or a part of the total Accumulated Value under the Contract to
other Contracts issued by the Company and owned by the trustee, with no
deduction for any otherwise applicable surrender charge. Any such reallocation
will be at the unit values for the Sub-Accounts as of the Valuation Date on
which a written, signed request is received at the Principal Office.
For further information on surrender and withdrawal, including minimum limits on
amount withdrawn and amounts remaining under the Contract in the case of
withdrawal, and important tax considerations, see "E. Surrender" and "F.
Withdrawals" under "DESCRIPTION OF CONTRACT," and see "FEDERAL TAX
CONSIDERATIONS."
CHARGE AT THE TIME ANNUITY BENEFIT PAYMENTS BEGIN. If the Owner chooses a
commutable period certain option or a noncommutable period certain option for
less than ten years (less than six years under New York contracts) , a surrender
charge will be deducted from the Accumulated Value of the Contract if the
Annuity Date occurs at any time when a surrender charge would still apply had
the Contract been surrendered on the Annuity Date.
No surrender charge is imposed at the time of annuitization in any Contract year
under an option involving a life contingency or for any noncommutable period
certain option for ten years or more (six or more years under New York
contracts). A Market Value Adjustment, however, may apply. See "GUARANTEE PERIOD
ACCOUNTS."
If an owner of a fixed annuity contract issued by the Company wishes to elect a
variable annuity option, the Company may permit such owner to exchange, at the
time of annuitization, the fixed contract for the Contract offered in this
Prospectus. The proceeds of the fixed contract, minus any surrender charge
applicable under the fixed contract if a period certain option is chosen, will
be applied towards the variable annuity option desired by the Owner. The number
of Annuity Units under the option will be calculated using the Annuity Unit
values as of the 15th of the month preceding the Annuity Date.
F. TRANSFER CHARGE
The Company currently makes no charge for processing transfers. The Company
guarantees that the first 12 transfers in a Contract year will be free of
transfer charge, but reserves the right to assess a charge, guaranteed never to
exceed $25, for each subsequent transfer in a Contract year to reimburse it for
the expense of processing transfers. For more information, see "D. Transfer
Privilege."
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<PAGE>
GUARANTEE PERIOD ACCOUNTS
Due to certain exemptive and exclusionary provisions in the securities laws,
interests in the Guarantee Period Accounts and the Company's Fixed Account are
not registered as an investment company under the provisions of the 1933 Act or
the 1940 Act. Accordingly, the staff of the SEC has not reviewed the disclosures
in this Prospectus relating to the Guarantee Period Accounts or the Fixed
Account. Nevertheless, disclosures regarding the Guarantee Period Accounts and
the Fixed Account of this Contract or any benefits offered under these accounts
may be subject to the provisions of the 1933 Act relating to the accuracy and
completeness of statements made in this Prospectus.
INVESTMENT OPTIONS. In most jurisdictions, Guarantee Periods ranging from three
through ten years may be available under the Contract. Each Guarantee Period
Account established for the Owner is accounted for separately in a non-unitized
segregated account, except in California where it is accounted for in the
Company's General Account. Each Guarantee Period Account provides for the
accumulation of interest at a Guaranteed Interest Rate. The Guaranteed Interest
Rate on amounts allocated or transferred to a Guarantee Period Account is
determined from time to time by the Company in accordance with market
conditions. Once an interest rate is in effect for a Guarantee Period Account,
however, the Company may not change it during the duration of the Guarantee
Period. In no event will the Guaranteed Interest Rate be less than 3%.
To the extent permitted by law, the Company reserves the right at any time to
offer Guarantee Periods with durations that differ from those which were
available when the Contract initially was issued and to stop accepting new
allocations, transfers or renewals to a particular Guarantee Period.
Owners may allocate net payments or make transfers from any of the Sub-Accounts,
the Fixed Account or an existing Guarantee Period Account to establish a new
Guarantee Period Account at any time prior to the Annuity Date. (In Oregon and
Massachusetts, payments and transfers to the Fixed Account are subject to
certain restrictions. See APPENDIX A.) Transfers from a Guarantee Period Account
on any date other than on the day following the expiration of that Guarantee
Period will be subject to a Market Value Adjustment. The Company establishes a
separate investment account each time the Owner allocates or transfers amounts
to a Guarantee Period Account except that amounts allocated to the same
Guarantee Period on the same day will be treated as one Guarantee Period
Account. The minimum that may be allocated to establish a Guarantee Period
Account is $1,000. If less than $1,000 is allocated, the Company reserves the
right to apply that amount to the Money Market Fund. The Owner may allocate
amounts to any of the Guarantee Periods available.
At least 45 days, but not more than 75 days, prior to the end of a Guarantee
Period, the Company will notify the Owner in writing of the expiration of that
Guarantee Period. At the end of a Guarantee Period the Owner may transfer
amounts to the Sub-Accounts, the Fixed Account or establish a new Guarantee
Period Account of any duration then offered by the Company without a Market
Value Adjustment. If reallocation instructions are not received at the Principal
Office before the end of a Guarantee Period, the account value will be
automatically applied to a new Guarantee Period Account with the same duration
unless (1) less than $1,000 would remain in the Guarantee Period Account on the
expiration date; or (2) the Guarantee Period would extend beyond the Annuity
Date or is no longer available. In such cases, the Guarantee Period Account
value will be transferred to the Money Market Fund. Where amounts have been
automatically renewed into a new Guarantee Period, it is the Company's current
practice to give the Owner an additional 30 days to transfer out of the
Guarantee Period Account without application of a Market Value Adjustment. This
practice may be discontinued or changed at the Company's discretion. Under
Contracts issued in New York, the Company will transfer monies out of the
Guarantee Period Account without application of a Market Value Adjustment if the
Owner's request is received within ten days of the renewal date.
MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT. No Market Value Adjustment will be applied to
transfers, withdrawals, or a surrender from a Guarantee Period Account on the
expiration of its Guarantee Period. In addition, no negative Market Value
Adjustment will be applied to a death benefit although a positive Market Value
Adjustment, if any, will be applied to increase the value of the death benefit
when based on the Contract's Accumulated
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Value. See "Death Benefit." All other transfers, withdrawals, or a surrender
prior to the end of a Guarantee Period will be subject to a Market Value
Adjustment, which may increase or decrease the account value. Amounts applied
under an annuity option are treated as withdrawals when calculating the Market
Value Adjustment. The Market Value Adjustment will be determined by multiplying
the amount taken from each Guarantee Period Account before deduction of any
Surrender Charge by the market value factor. The market value factor for each
Guarantee Period Account is equal to:
[(1+i)/(1+j)](n/365) - 1
where: i is the Guaranteed Interest Rate expressed as a decimal (for example:
3% = 0.03) being credited to the current Guarantee Period;
j is the new Guaranteed Interest Rate, expressed as a decimal, for a
Guarantee Period with a duration equal to the number of years
remaining in the current Guarantee Period, rounded to the next higher
number of whole years. If that rate is not available, the Company
will use a suitable rate or index allowed by the Department of
Insurance; and
n is the number of days remaining from the effective Valuation Date to
the end of the current Guarantee Period.
Based on the application of this formula, the value of a Guarantee Period
Account will increase after the Market Value Adjustment is applied if the then
current market rates are lower than the rate being credited to the Guarantee
Period Account. Similarly, the value of a Guarantee Period Account will decrease
after the Market Value Adjustment is applied if the then current market rates
are higher than the rate being credited to the Guarantee Period Account. The
Market Value Adjustment is limited, however, so that even if the account value
is decreased after application of a Market Value Adjustment, it will equal or
exceed the Owner's principal plus 3% earnings per year less applicable Contract
fees. Conversely, if the then current market rates are lower and the account
value is increased after the Market Value Adjustment is applied, the increase in
value also is affected by the minimum guaranteed rate of 3% such that the amount
that will be added to the Guarantee Period Account is limited to the difference
between the amount earned and the 3% minimum guaranteed earnings. For examples
of how the Market Value Adjustment works, see APPENDIX B, "SURRENDER CHARGES AND
THE MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT."
PROGRAM TO PROTECT PRINCIPAL AND PROVIDE GROWTH POTENTIAL. Under this feature,
the Owner elects a Guarantee Period and one or more Sub-Accounts. The Company
will then compute the proportion of the initial payment that must be allocated
to the Guarantee Period selected, assuming no transfers or withdrawals
(including withdrawals made as part of a pro-rata deduction for charges under a
Minimum Guaranteed Annuity Payout Rider purchased or repurchased after issue),
in order to ensure that on the last day of the Guarantee Period, the value in
the Guarantee Period Account will equal the amount of the entire initial
payment. The required amount then will be allocated to the preselected Guarantee
Period Account and the remaining balance to the other investment options
selected by the Owner in accordance with the procedures described in "A.
Payments."
WITHDRAWALS. Prior to the Annuity Date, the Owner may make withdrawals of
amounts held in the Guarantee Period Accounts. Withdrawals from these accounts
will be made in the same manner and be subject to the same rules as set forth
under "E. Surrender" and "F. Withdrawals." In addition, the following provisions
also apply to withdrawals from a Guarantee Period Account: (1) a Market Value
Adjustment will apply to all withdrawals, including Withdrawals Without
Surrender Charge, unless made at the end of the Guarantee Period; and (2) the
Company reserves the right to defer payments of amounts withdrawn from a
Guarantee Period Account for up to six months from the date it receives the
withdrawal request. If deferred for 30 days or more, the Company will pay
interest on the amount deferred at a rate of at least 3%.
In the event that a Market Value Adjustment applies to a withdrawal of a portion
of the value of a Guarantee Period Account, it will be calculated on the amount
requested and deducted or added to the amount remaining in the Guarantee Period
Account. If the entire amount in a Guarantee Period Account is requested, the
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adjustment will be made to the amount payable. If a surrender charge applies to
the withdrawal, it will be calculated as set forth under "D. Surrender Charge"
after application of the Market Value Adjustment.
FEDERAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The effect of federal income taxes on the value of a Contract, on withdrawals or
surrenders, on annuity benefit payments, and on the economic benefit to the
Owner, Annuitant, or beneficiary depends upon a variety of factors. The
following discussion is based upon the Company's understanding of current
federal income tax laws as they are interpreted as of the date of this
Prospectus. No representation is made regarding the likelihood of continuation
of current federal income tax laws or of current interpretations by the IRS. In
addition, this discussion does not address state or local tax consequences that
may be associated with this Contract.
IT SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED THAT THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION OF FEDERAL INCOME TAX
ASPECTS OF AMOUNTS RECEIVED UNDER VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACTS IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE,
DOES NOT PURPORT TO COVER ALL SITUATIONS, AND IS NOT INTENDED AS TAX ADVICE. A
QUALIFIED TAX ADVISER ALWAYS SHOULD BE CONSULTED WITH REGARD TO THE APPLICATION
OF LAW TO INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
The Company intends to make a charge for any effect which the income, assets, or
existence of the Contract, the Variable Account or the Sub-Accounts may have
upon its tax. The Variable Account presently is not subject to tax, but the
Company reserves the right to assess a charge for taxes should the Variable
Account at any time become subject to tax. Any charge for taxes will be assessed
on a fair and equitable basis in order to preserve equity among classes of
Owners and with respect to each separate account as though that separate account
were a separate taxable entity.
The Variable Account is considered a part of and taxed with the operations of
the Company. The Company is taxed as a life insurance company under Subchapter L
of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code"). The Company files a consolidated tax
return with its affiliates.
The IRS has issued regulations relating to the diversification requirements for
variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts under Section 817(h) of
the Code. The regulations prescribed by the Treasury Department provide that the
investments of a segregated asset account underlying a variable annuity contract
are adequately diversified if no more than 55% of the value of its assets is
represented by any one investment, no more than 70% by any two investments, no
more than 80% by any three investments, and no more than 90% by any four
investments. Under this section of the Code, if the investments are not
adequately diversified, the Contract will not be treated as an annuity contract,
and therefore the income on the Contract, for any taxable year of the Owner,
would be treated as ordinary income received or accrued by the Owner. It is
anticipated that the Portfolios of the Fund in this Contract will comply with
the current diversification requirements. In the event that future IRS
regulations and/or rulings would require Contract modifications in order to
remain in compliance with the diversification standards, the Company will make
reasonable efforts to comply, and it reserves the right to make such changes as
it deems appropriate for that purpose.
In addition, traditionally in order for a variable annuity contract to qualify
for tax deferral, the Company, and not the variable contract owner, must be
considered to be the owner for tax purposes of the assets in the segregated
asset account underlying the variable annuity contract. In certain
circumstances, however, variable annuity contract owners may now be considered
the owners of these assets for federal income tax purposes. Specifically, the
IRS has stated in published rulings that a variable annuity contract owner may
be considered the owner of segregated account assets if the contract owner
possesses incidents of ownership in those assets, such as the ability to
exercise investment control over the assets. The Treasury Department has also
announced, in connection with the issuance of regulations concerning investment
diversification, that those regulations do not provide guidance governing the
circumstances in which investor control of the investments of a segregated asset
account may cause the investor (i.e., the contract owner), rather than the
insurance company, to be treated as the owner of the assets in the account. This
announcement also states that guidance
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would be issued by way of regulations or rulings on the "extent to which
policyholders may direct their investments to particular sub-accounts without
being treated as owners of the underlying assets." As of the date of this
Prospectus, no such guidance has been issued. The Company therefore additionally
reserves the right to modify the Contract as necessary in order to attempt to
prevent a contract owner from being considered the owner of a pro rata share of
the assets of the segregated asset account underlying the variable annuity
contracts.
A. QUALIFIED AND NON-QUALIFIED CONTRACTS
From a federal tax viewpoint there are two types of variable annuity contracts:
"qualified" contracts and "non-qualified" contracts. A qualified contract is one
that is purchased in connection with a retirement plan which meets the
requirements of Sections 401, 403, or 408 of the Code, while a non-qualified
contract is one that is not purchased in connection with one of the indicated
retirement plans. The tax treatment for certain withdrawals or surrenders will
vary, depending on whether they are made from a qualified contract or a non-
qualified contract. For more information on the tax provisions applicable to
qualified contracts, see "D. Provisions Applicable to Qualified Employer Plans"
below.
B. TAXATION OF THE CONTRACTS IN GENERAL
The Company believes that the Contract described in this Prospectus will, with
certain exceptions (see "Nonnatural Owners" below), be considered an annuity
contract under Section 72 of the Code. Please note, however, if the Owner
chooses an Annuity Date beyond the Owner's 85th birthday, it is possible that
the Contract may not be considered an annuity for tax purposes, and therefore,
the Owner will be taxed on the annual increase in Accumulated Value. The Owner
should consult tax and financial advisors for more information. This section
governs the taxation of annuities. The following discussion concerns annuities
subject to Section 72.
WITHDRAWALS PRIOR TO ANNUITIZATION. With certain exceptions, any increase in
the Contract's Accumulated Value is not taxable to the Owner until it is
withdrawn from the Contract. If the Contract is surrendered or amounts are
withdrawn prior to the Annuity Date, any withdrawal of investment gain in value
over the cost basis of the Contract will be taxed as ordinary income. Under the
current provisions of the Code, amounts received under an annuity contract prior
to annuitization (including payments made upon the death of the annuitant or
owner), generally are first attributable to any investment gains credited to the
contract over the taxpayer's "investment in the contract." Such amounts will be
treated as gross income subject to federal income taxation. "Investment in the
Contract" is the total of all payments to the Contract which were not excluded
from the Owner's gross income less any amounts previously withdrawn which were
not included in income. Section 72(e)(11)(A)(ii) requires that all non-qualified
deferred annuity contracts issued by the same insurance company to the same
owner during a single calendar year be treated as one contract in determining
taxable distributions.
ANNUITY PAYOUTS AFTER ANNUITIZATION. When annuity benefit payments are
commenced under the Contract, generally a portion of each payment may be
excluded from gross income. The excludable portion generally is determined by a
formula that establishes the ratio that the cost basis of the Contract bears to
the expected return under the Contract. The portion of the payment in excess of
this excludable amount is taxable as ordinary income. Once all cost basis in the
Contract is recovered, the entire payment is taxable. If the annuitant dies
before the cost basis is recovered, a deduction for the difference is allowed on
the annuitant's final tax return.
PENALTY ON DISTRIBUTION. A 10% penalty tax may be imposed on the withdrawal of
investment gains if the withdrawal is made prior to age 59 1/2. The penalty tax
will not be imposed on withdrawals taken on or after age 59 1/2, or if the
withdrawal follows the death of the Owner (or, if the Owner is not an
individual, the death of the primary Annuitant, as defined in the Code) or, in
the case of the Owner's "total disability" (as defined in the Code).
Furthermore, under Section 72 of the Code, this penalty tax will not be imposed,
irrespective of age, if
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the amount received is one of a series of "substantially equal" periodic
payments made at least annually for the life or life expectancy of the payee.
This requirement is met when the Owner elects to have distributions made over
the Owner's life expectancy, or over the joint life expectancy of the Owner and
beneficiary. The requirement that the amount be paid out as one of a series of
"substantially equal" periodic payments is met when the number of units
withdrawn to make each distribution is substantially the same. Any modification,
other than by reason of death or disability, of distributions which are part of
a series of substantially equal periodic payments that occurs before the Owner's
age 59 1/2 or five years, will subject the Owner to the 10% penalty tax on the
prior distributions.
In a Private Letter Ruling, the IRS took the position that where distributions
from a variable annuity contract were determined by amortizing the accumulated
value of the contract over the taxpayer's remaining life expectancy (such as
under the Contract's LED option), and the option could be changed or terminated
at any time, the distributions failed to qualify as part of a "series of
substantially equal payments" within the meaning of Section 72 of the Code. The
distributions, therefore, were subject to the 10% federal penalty tax. This
Private Letter Ruling may be applicable to an Owner who receives distributions
under any LED-type option prior to age 59 1/2. Subsequent Private Letter
Rulings, however, have treated LED-type withdrawal programs as effectively
avoiding the 10% penalty tax. The position of the IRS on this issue is unclear.
ASSIGNMENTS OR TRANSFERS. If the Owner transfers (assigns) the Contract to
another individual as a gift prior to the Annuity Date, the Code provides that
the Owner will incur taxable income at the time of the transfer. An exception is
provided for certain transfers between spouses. The amount of taxable income
upon such taxable transfer is equal to any investment gain in value over the
Owner's cost basis at the time of the transfer. The transfer also is subject to
federal gift tax provisions. Where the Owner and Annuitant are different
persons, the change of ownership of the Contract to the Annuitant on the Annuity
Date, as required under the Contract, is a gift and will be taxable to the Owner
as such; however, the Owner will not incur taxable income. Instead, the
Annuitant will incur taxable income upon receipt of annuity benefit payments as
discussed above.
NONNATURAL OWNERS. As a general rule, deferred annuity contracts owned by
"nonnatural persons" (e.g., a corporation) are not treated as annuity contracts
for federal tax purposes, and the investment income attributable to
contributions made after February 28, 1986 is taxed as ordinary income that is
received or accrued by the owner during the taxable year. This rule does not
apply to annuity contracts purchased with a single payment when the annuity date
is no later than a year from the issue date or to deferred annuities owned by
qualified employer plans, estates, employers with respect to a terminated
pension plan, and entities other than employers, such as a trust, holding an
annuity as an agent for a natural person. This exception, however, will not
apply in cases of any employer who is the owner of an annuity contract under a
non-qualified deferred compensation plan.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLANS OF STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND TAX-EXEMPT
ORGANIZATIONS. Under Section 457 of the Code, deferred compensation plans
established by governmental and certain other tax-exempt employers for their
employees may invest in annuity contracts. Contributions and investment earnings
are not taxable to employees until distributed. With respect to payments made
after February 28, 1986, however, a contract owned by a state or local
government or a tax-exempt organization will not be treated as an annuity under
Section 72. In addition, plan assets are treated as property of the employer,
and are subject to the claims of the employer's general creditors.
C. TAX WITHHOLDING
The Code requires withholding with respect to payments or distributions from
non-qualified contracts and IRAs, unless a taxpayer elects not to have
withholding. A 20% withholding requirement applies to distributions from most
other qualified contracts. In addition, the Code requires reporting to the IRS
of the amount of income received with respect to payment or distributions from
annuities.
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The tax treatment of certain withdrawals or surrenders of the non-qualified
Contracts offered by this Prospectus will vary according to whether or not the
amount withdrawn or surrendered is allocable to an investment in the Contract
made before or after certain dates.
D. PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO QUALIFIED EMPLOYER PLANS
The tax rules applicable to qualified retirement plans, as defined by the Code,
are complex and vary according to the type of plan. Benefits under a qualified
plan may be subject to that plan's terms and conditions irrespective of the
terms and conditions of any annuity contract used to fund such benefits. As
such, the following is simply a general description of various types of
qualified plans that may use the Contract. Before purchasing any annuity
contract for use in funding a qualified plan, more specific information should
be obtained.
A qualified Contract may include special provisions (endorsements) changing or
restricting rights and benefits otherwise available to an Owner of a
non-qualified Contract. Individuals purchasing a qualified Contract should
review carefully any such changes or limitations which may include restrictions
to ownership, transferability, assignability, contributions, and distributions.
CORPORATE AND SELF-EMPLOYED ("H.R. 10" AND "KEOGH") PENSION AND PROFIT SHARING
PLANS. Sections 401(a), 401(k) and 403(a) of the Code permit business employers
and certain associations to establish various types of tax-favored retirement
plans for employees. The Self-Employed Individuals' Tax Retirement Act of 1962,
as amended, permits Self-Employed individuals to establish similar plans for
themselves and their employees. Employers intending to use qualified Contracts
in connection with such plans should seek competent advice as to the suitability
of the Contract to their specific needs and as to applicable Code limitations
and tax consequences.
The Company can provide prototype plans for certain pension or profit sharing
plans for review by the plan's legal counsel. For information, ask your
financial representative.
INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ANNUITIES. Section 408 of the Code permits eligible
individuals to contribute to an individual retirement program known as an
Individual Retirement Annuity ("IRA"). Note: this term covers all IRAs permitted
under Section 408(b) of the Code, including Roth IRAs. IRAs are subject to
limits on the amounts that may be contributed, the persons who may be eligible,
and on the time when distributions may commence. In addition, certain
distributions from other types of retirement plans may be "rolled over," on a
tax-deferred basis, to an IRA. Purchasers of an IRA Contract will be provided
with supplementary information as may be required by the IRS or other
appropriate agency, and will have the right to cancel the Contract as described
in this Prospectus. See "B. Right to Cancel Individual Retirement Annuities."
Eligible employers that meet specified criteria may establish simplified
employee pension plans (SEP-IRAs) or SIMPLE IRA plans for their employees using
the employees IRAs. Employer contributions that may be made to such plans are
larger than the amounts that may be contributed to regular IRAs and may be
deductible to the employer.
TAX-SHELTERED ANNUITIES ("TSAS"). Under the provisions of Section 403(b) of the
Code, payments made to annuity contracts purchased for employees under annuity
plans adopted by public school systems and certain organizations which are tax
exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code are excludable from the gross income
of such employees to the extent that total annual payments do not exceed the
maximum contribution permitted under the Code. Purchasers of TSA Contracts
should seek competent advice as to eligibility, limitations on permissible
payments and other tax consequences associated with the Contracts.
Withdrawals or other distributions attributable to salary reduction
contributions (including earnings thereon) made to a TSA contract after December
31, 1988, may not begin before the employee attains age 59 1/2, separates from
service, dies or becomes disabled. In the case of hardship, an Owner may
withdraw amounts
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contributed by salary reduction, but not the earnings on such amounts. Even
though a distribution may be permitted under these rules (e.g., for hardship or
after separation from service), it may be subject to a 10% penalty tax as a
premature distribution, in addition to income tax.
TEXAS OPTIONAL RETIREMENT PROGRAM. Distributions under a TSA Contract issued to
participants in the Texas Optional Retirement Program may not be received except
in the case of the participant's death, retirement or termination of employment
in the Texas public institutions of higher education. These additional
restrictions are imposed under the Texas Government Code and a prior opinion of
the Texas Attorney General.
STATEMENTS AND REPORTS
The Owner is sent a report semi-annually which provides certain financial
information about the Funds. At least annually, but possibly as frequent as
quarterly, the Company will furnish a statement to the Owner containing
information about his or her Contract, including Accumulation Unit Values and
other information as required by applicable law, rules and regulations . The
Company will also send a confirmation statement to Owners each time a
transaction is made affecting the Contract Value. (Certain transactions made
under recurring payment plans such as Dollar Cost Averaging may in the future be
confirmed quarterly rather than by immediate confirmations.) The Owner should
review the information in all statements carefully. All errors or corrections
must be reported to the Company immediately to assure proper crediting to the
Contract. The Company will assume that all transactions are accurately reported
on confirmation statements and quarterly/ annual statements unless the Owner
notifies the Principal Office in writing within 30 days after receipt of the
statement.
LOANS (QUALIFIED CONTRACTS ONLY)
Loaned amounts will first be withdrawn from Sub-Account and Fixed Account values
on a pro-rata basis until exhausted. Thereafter, any additional amounts will be
withdrawn from the Guarantee Period Accounts (pro-rata by duration and LIFO
(last-in, first-out) within each duration), subject to any applicable Market
Value Adjustments. The maximum loan amount will be determined under the
Company's maximum loan formula. The minimum loan amount is $1,000. Loans will be
secured by a security interest in the Contract and the amount borrowed will be
transferred to a loan asset account within the Company's General Account, where
it will accrue interest at a specified rate below the then-current loan rate.
Generally, loans must be repaid within five years or less, and repayments must
be made quarterly and in substantially equal amounts. Repayments will be
allocated pro rata in accordance with the most recent payment allocation, except
that any allocations to a Guarantee Period Account will instead be allocated to
the Money Market Fund.
ADDITION, DELETION OR SUBSTITUTION OF INVESTMENTS
The Company reserves the right, subject to applicable law, to make additions to,
deletions from, or substitutions for the shares that are held in the
Sub-Accounts or that the Sub-Accounts may purchase. If the shares of any Fund
are no longer available for investment or if in the Company's judgment further
investment in any Fund should become inappropriate in view of the purposes of
the Variable Account or the affected Sub-Account, the Company may redeem the
shares of that Fund and substitute shares of another registered open-end
management company. The Company will not substitute any shares attributable to a
Contract interest in a Sub-Account without notice to the Owner and prior
approval of the SEC and state insurance authorities, to the extent required by
the 1940 Act or other applicable law. The Variable Account may, to the extent
permitted by law, purchase other securities for other contracts or permit a
conversion between contracts upon request by the Owner.
The Company also reserves the right to establish additional sub-accounts of the
Variable Account, each of which would invest in shares corresponding to a new
fund or in shares of another investment company having a specified investment
objective. Subject to applicable law and any required SEC approval, the Company
may, in its sole discretion, establish new sub-accounts or eliminate one or more
Sub-Accounts if marketing needs,
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tax considerations or investment conditions warrant. Any new sub-accounts may be
made available to existing Owners on a basis to be determined by the Company.
Shares of the Funds also are issued to variable accounts of the Company and its
affiliates which issue variable life contracts ("mixed funding"). Shares of the
Funds are also issued to other unaffiliated insurance companies ("shared
funding"). Shares of the Funds may be offered to certain qualified retirement
plans. It is conceivable that in the future such mixed funding, shared funding
or sales to qualified plans may be disadvantageous for variable life owners,
variable annuity owners or plan participants. Although the Company and the
Trustees of the Underlying Funds do not currently foresee any such disadvantages
to variable life insurance owners, variable annuity owners or plan participants,
the Company and the respective Trustees intend to monitor events in order to
identify any material conflicts and to determine what action, if any, should be
taken in response thereto. If the Trustees were to conclude that separate funds
should be established for variable life and variable annuity separate accounts,
the Company may be required to bear the attendant expenses.
If any of these substitutions or changes are made, the Company may, by
appropriate endorsement, change the Contract to reflect the substitution or
change and will notify Owners of all such changes. If the Company deems it to be
in the best interest of Owners, and subject to any approvals that may be
required under applicable law, the Variable Account or any Sub-Accounts may be
operated as a management company under the 1940 Act, may be deregistered under
the 1940 Act if registration is no longer required, or may be combined with
other Sub-Accounts or other separate accounts of the Company.
The Company reserves the right, subject to compliance with applicable law, to
(1) transfer assets from the Variable Account or Sub-Accounts to another of the
Company's separate accounts or sub-accounts having assets of the same class, (2)
to operate the Variable Account or any Sub-Account as a management investment
company under the 1940 Act or in any other form permitted by law, (3) to
deregister the Variable Account under the 1940 Act in accordance with the
requirements of the 1940 Act, (4) to substitute the shares of any other
registered investment company for the Fund shares held by a Sub-Account, in the
event that Fund shares are unavailable for investment, or if the Company
determines that further investment in such Fund shares is inappropriate in view
of the purpose of the Sub-Account, (5) to change the methodology for determining
the net investment factor, and (6) to change the names of the Variable Account
or of the Sub-Accounts. In no event will the changes described above be made
without notice to Owners in accordance with the 1940 Act.
CHANGES TO COMPLY WITH LAW AND AMENDMENTS
The Company reserves the right, without the consent of Owners, to suspend sales
of the Contract as presently offered, and to make any change to provisions of
the Contract to comply with, or give the Owners the benefit of, any federal or
state statute, rule or regulations, including but not limited to requirements
for annuity contracts and retirement plans under the Code and pertinent
regulations or any state statute or regulation. Any such changes will apply
uniformly to all Contracts that are affected. You will be given written notice
of such changes.
VOTING RIGHTS
The Company will vote Fund shares held by each Sub-Account in accordance with
instructions received from Owners and, after the Annuity Date, from the
Annuitants. Each person having a voting interest in a Sub-Account will be
provided with proxy materials of the Fund together with a form with which to
give voting instructions to the Company. Shares for which no timely instructions
are received will be voted in proportion to the instructions which are received.
The Company also will vote shares in a Sub-Account that it owns and which are
not attributable to contracts in the same proportion. If the 1940 Act or any
rules thereunder should be amended or if the present interpretation of the 1940
Act or such rules should change, and as a result the Company determines that it
is permitted to vote shares in its own right, whether or not such shares are
attributable to the Contract, the Company reserves the right to do so.
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The number of votes which an Owner or Annuitant may cast will be determined by
the Company as of the record date established by the Fund. During the
accumulation phase, the number of Fund shares attributable to each Owner will be
determined by dividing the dollar value of the Accumulation Units of the
Sub-Account credited to the contract by the net asset value of one Fund share.
During the annuity payout phase, the number of Fund shares attributable to each
Annuitant will be determined by dividing the reserve held in each Sub-Account
for the Annuitant's variable annuity by the net asset value of one Fund share.
Ordinarily, the Annuitant's voting interest in the Fund will decrease as the
reserve for the variable annuity is depleted.
DISTRIBUTION
The Contract offered by this Prospectus may be purchased from certain
independent broker-dealers which are registered under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 and members of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
("NASD"). The Contract also is offered through Allmerica Investments, Inc.,
which is the principal underwriter and distributor of the Contract. Allmerica
Investments, Inc., 440 Lincoln Street, Worcester, MA 01653, is a registered
broker-dealer, member of the NASD, and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of
First Allmerica.
The Company pays commissions, not to exceed 6.5% of payments, to broker-dealers
which sell the Contract. Alternative commission schedules are available with
lower initial commission amounts based on payments, plus ongoing annual
compensation of up to 1% of Contract value. To the extent permitted by NASD
rules, promotional incentives or payments may also be provided to such broker-
dealers based on sales volumes, the assumption of wholesaling functions, or
other sales-related criteria. Additional payments may be made for other services
not directly related to the sale of the Contract, including the recruitment and
training of personnel, production of promotional literature, and similar
services.
The Company intends to recoup commissions and other sales expenses through a
combination of anticipated surrender charges and profits from the Company's
General Account, which may include amounts derived from mortality and expense
risk charges. Commissions paid on the Contract, including additional incentives
or payments, do not result in any additional charge to Owners or to the Variable
Account. Any surrender charges assessed on the Contract will be retained by the
Company.
Owners may direct any inquiries to their financial representative or to
Allmerica Investments, Inc., 440 Lincoln Street, Worcester, MA 01653, telephone
1-800-917-1909.
SERVICE AND DISTRIBUTION FEES
The Company receives fees from the investment advisers or other service
providers of certain Underlying Funds in return for providing certain services
to Owners. Currently, the Company receives service fees with respect to the AIM
V.I. Value Fund at an annual rate equal to 0.15% of total average quarterly net
assets less than $100 million and 0.20% of total average quarterly net assets of
$100 million or more, the Company receives service fees with respect to the PBHG
Select 20 Portfolio at an annual rate not to exceed 0.20% of the average daily
net asset value of the shares of the portfolio held by the Variable Account.
With respect to the Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio, the
Company receives service fees at an annual rate of 0.25% of the average daily
net asset value of the shares of the portfolio held by the Variable Account. The
Company receives service fees with respect to the Oppenheimer Aggressive Growth
Fund and the Oppenheimer Growth & Income Fund at an annual rate of 0.20% of
average net asset value of the shares of the funds held by the Variable Account.
The Company also receives service fees with respect to the MFS Emerging Growth
Series and the MFS Growth With Income Series at an annual rate not to exceed
0.20% of the net asset value of the MFS Trust attributable to contracts offered
by the Company. The Company may in the future render services for which it will
receive compensation from the investment advisers or other service providers of
other Underlying Funds.
53
<PAGE>
Currently, the Company also receives a 12b-1 fee from Lazard of 0.25% as
reimbursement for certain administrative and distribution support services
provided to the Lazard Retirement International Equity Portfolio.
LEGAL MATTERS
There are no legal proceedings pending to which the Variable Account is a party,
or to which the assets of the Variable Account are subject. The Company and the
Principal Underwriter are not involved in any litigation that is of material
importance in relation to their total assets or that relates to the Variable
Account.
YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE
The Year 2000 issue is the result of computer programs being written using two
digits rather than four to define the applicable year. Any of the Company's
computer programs that have date-sensitive software may recognize a date using
"00" as the year 1900 rather than the year 2000. This could result in a system
failure or miscalculations causing disruptions of operations, including, among
other things, a temporary inability to process transactions, send invoices or
engage in similar normal business activities.
Based on a third party assessment, the Company determined that significant
portions of its software required modification or replacement to enable its
computer systems to properly process dates beyond December 31, 1999. The Company
is presently completing the process of modifying or replacing existing software
and believes that this action will resolve the Year 2000 issue. However, if such
modifications and conversions are not made, or are not completed timely, or
should there be serious unanticipated interruptions from unknown sources, the
Year 2000 issue could have a material adverse impact on the operations of the
Company. Specifically, the Company could experience, among other things, an
interruption in its ability to collect and process premiums, process claim
payments, safeguard and manage its invested assets, accurately maintain
policyholder information, accurately maintain accounting records, and perform
customer service. Any of these specific events, depending on duration, could
have a material adverse impact on the results of operations and the financial
position of the Company.
The Company has initiated formal communications with all of its suppliers to
determine the extent to which the Company is vulnerable to those third parties'
failure to remediate their own Year 2000 issue. The Company's total Year 2000
project cost and estimates to complete the project include the estimated costs
and time associated with the Company's involvement on a third party's Year 2000
issue, and are based on presently available information. However, there can be
no guarantee that the systems of other companies on which the Company's systems
rely will be timely converted, or that a failure to convert by another company,
or a conversion that is incompatible with the Company's systems, would not have
material adverse effect on the Company. The Company does not believe that it has
material exposure to contingencies related to the Year 2000 issue for the
products it has sold. Although the Company does not believe that there is a
material contingency associated with the Year 2000 project, there can be no
assurance that exposure for material contingencies will not arise.
The cost of the Year 2000 project will be expensed as incurred and is being
funded primarily through a reallocation of resources from discretionary projects
and a reduction in systems maintenance and support costs. Therefore, the Year
2000 project is not expected to result in any significant incremental technology
cost and is not expected to have a material effect on the results of operations.
The Company and its affiliates have incurred and expensed approximately $54
million related to the assessment, plan development and substantial completion
of the Year 2000 project, through December 31, 1998. The total remaining cost of
the project is estimated between $20-30 million.
54
<PAGE>
FURTHER INFORMATION
A Registration Statement under the 1933 Act relating to this offering has been
filed with the SEC. Certain portions of the Registration Statement and
amendments have been omitted in this Prospectus pursuant to the rules and
regulations of the SEC. The omitted information may be obtained from the SEC's
principal office in Washington, DC, upon payment of the SEC's prescribed fees.
55
<PAGE>
APPENDIX A
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FIXED ACCOUNT
Because of exemption and exclusionary provisions in the securities laws,
interests in the Fixed Account are not generally subject to regulation under the
provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 or the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Disclosures regarding the fixed portion of the annuity contract and the Fixed
Account may be subject to the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933
concerning the accuracy and completeness of statements made in the Prospectus.
The disclosures in this APPENDIX A have not been reviewed by the SEC.
The Fixed Account is part of the Company's General Account and is made up of all
of the general assets of the Company other than those allocated to the separate
account. Allocations to the Fixed Account become part of the assets of the
Company and are used to support insurance and annuity obligations. A portion or
all of net payments may be allocated to accumulate at a fixed rate of interest
in the Fixed Account. Such net amounts are guaranteed by the Company as to
principal and a minimum rate of interest. Under the Contract, the minimum
interest which may be credited on amounts allocated to the Fixed Account is 3%
compounded annually. Additional "Excess Interest" may or may not be credited at
the sole discretion of the Company.
If the Contract is surrendered, or if an amount in excess of the Withdrawal
Without Surrender Charge is withdrawn, while the Contract is in force and before
the Annuity Date, a surrender charge is imposed if such event occurs before the
payments attributable to the surrender or withdrawal have been credited to the
Contract at least seven full contract years.
In Massachusetts, payments and transfers to the Fixed Account are subject to the
following restrictions:
If a Contract is issued prior to the Annuitant's 60th birthday,
allocations to the Fixed Account will be permitted until the Annuitant's
61st birthday. On and after the Annuitant's 61st birthday, no additional
Fixed Account allocations will be accepted. If a Contract is issued on
or after the Annuitant's 60th birthday, up through and including the
Annuitant's 81st birthday, Fixed Account allocations will be permitted
during the first Contract year. On and after the first Contract
anniversary, no additional allocations to the Fixed Account will be
permitted. If a Contract is issued after the Annuitant's 81st birthday,
no payments to the Fixed Account will be permitted at any time.
If an allocation designated as a Fixed Account allocation is received at the
Principal Office during a period when the Fixed Account is not available due to
the limitations outlined above, the monies will be allocated to the Money Market
Fund.
In Oregon, no payment to the Fixed Account will be permitted if a Contract is
issued after the Annuitant's 81st birthday.
To the extent permitted by state law, the Company reserves the right, from time
to time, to credit an enhanced interest rate to certain initial and/or
subsequent payments ("eligible payments") which are deposited into the Fixed
Account under an Automatic Transfer Option (dollar cost averaging election) that
uses the Fixed Account as the source account from which automatic transfers are
then processed. The following are not considered eligible payments: amounts
transferred into the Fixed Account from the Variable Account and/or the
Guarantee Period Accounts; amounts already in the Fixed Account at the time an
eligible payment is deposited and amounts transferred to the Contract from
another annuity contract issued by the Company. The Company reserves the right
to extend the period of time that the enhanced rate will apply. For more
information, please contact your financial representative or call
1-800-917-1909.
A-1
<PAGE>
APPENDIX B
SURRENDER CHARGES AND THE MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT
PART 1: SURRENDER CHARGES
FULL SURRENDER
Assume a Payment of $50,000 is made on the issue date and no additional payments
are made. Assume there are no withdrawals and that the Withdrawal Without
Surrender Charge is equal to the greater of 15% of the current Accumulated Value
or the accumulated earnings in the Contract. The table below presents examples
of the surrender charge resulting from a full surrender, based on hypothetical
Accumulated Values.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
HYPOTHETICAL WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT SURRENDER
ACCOUNT ACCUMULATED SURRENDER CHARGE CHARGE SURRENDER
YEAR VALUE AMOUNT PERCENTAGE CHARGE
- --------------- ------------ ------------------- ----------------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1 $54,000.00 $ 8,100.00 7% $ 3,213.00
2 58,320.00 8,748.00 6% 2,974.32
3 62,985.60 12,985.60 5% 2,500.00
4 68,024.45 18,024.45 4% 2,000.00
5 73,466.40 23,466.40 3% 1,500.00
6 79,343.72 29,343.72 2% 1,000.00
7 85,691.21 35,691.21 1% 500.00
8 92,546.51 42,546.51 0% 0.00
</TABLE>
WITHDRAWAL
Assume a Payment of $50,000 is made on the issue date and no additional payments
are made. Assume that the Withdrawal Without Surrender Charge is equal to the
greater of 15% of the current Accumulated Value or the accumulated earnings in
the contract and there are withdrawals as detailed below. The table below
presents examples of the surrender charge resulting from withdrawals, based on
hypothetical Accumulated Values.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
HYPOTHETICAL WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT SURRENDER
ACCOUNT ACCUMULATED SURRENDER CHARGE CHARGE SURRENDER
YEAR VALUE WITHDRAWAL AMOUNT PERCENTAGE CHARGE
- --------------- ------------ ------------ ------------------- ----------------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1 $54,000.00 $0.00 $ 8,100.00 7% $ 0.00
2 58,320.00 0.00 8,748.00 6% 0.00
3 62,985.60 0.00 12,985.60 5% 0.00
4 68,024.45 30,000.00 18,024.45 4% 479.02
5 41,066.40 10,000.00 6,159.96 3% 115.20
6 33,551.72 5,000.00 5,032.76 2% 0.00
7 30,835.85 10,000.00 4,625.38 1% 53.75
8 22,502.72 15,000.00 3,375.41 0% 0.00
</TABLE>
PART 2: MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT
The market value factor is: [(1+i)/(1+j)](n/365)-1
The following examples assume:
1. The payment was allocated to a ten-year Guarantee Period Account with a
Guaranteed Interest Rate of 8%.
2. The date of surrender is seven years (2,555 days) from the expiration date.
B-1
<PAGE>
3. The value of the Guarantee Period Account is equal to $62,985.60 at the end
of three years.
4. No transfers or withdrawals affecting this Guarantee Period Account have
been made.
5. Surrender charges, if any, are calculated in the same manner as shown in the
examples in Part 1.
NEGATIVE MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT (UNCAPPED)
Assume that on the date of surrender, the current rate (j) is 10.00% or 0.10
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
The market value factor = [(1+i)/(1+j)](n/365) -1
= [(1+.08)/(1+.10)](2555/365) -1
= (.98182)(7) -1
= -.12054
The market value adjustment = the market value factor multiplied by the withdrawal
= -.12054X$62,985.60
= -$7,592.11
</TABLE>
POSITIVE MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT (UNCAPPED)
Assume that on the date of surrender, the current rate (j) is 7.00% or 0.07
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
The market value factor = [(1+i)/(1+j)](n/365) -1
= [(1+.08)/(1+.07)](2555/365) -1
= (1.0093)(7) -1
= .06694
The market value adjustment = the market value factor multiplied by the withdrawal
= .06694X$62,985.60
= $4,216.26
</TABLE>
NEGATIVE MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT (CAPPED)
Assume that on the date of surrender, the current rate (j) is 11.00% or 0.11
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
The market value factor = [(1+i)/(1+j)](n/365) -1
= (1+.08)/(1+.11)](2555/365) -1
= (.97297)(7) -1
= -.17454
The market value adjustment = Minimum of the market value factor multiplied by the
withdrawal or the negative of the excess interest earned
over 3%
= Minimum of (-.17454X$62,985.60 or -$8,349.25)
= Minimum of (-$10,993.51 or -$8,349.25)
= -$8,349.25
</TABLE>
B-2
<PAGE>
POSITIVE MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT (CAPPED)
Assume that on the date of surrender, the current rate (j) is 6.00% or 0.06
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
The market value factor = [(1+i)/(1+j)](n/365) -1
= [(1+.08)/(1+.06)](2555/365) -1
= (1.01887)(7) -1
= .13981
The market value adjustment = Minimum of the market value factor multiplied by the
withdrawal or the excess interest earned over 3%
The market value factor = Minimum of (.13981X$62,985.60 or $8,349.25)
= Minimum of ($8,806.02 or $8,349.25)
= $8,349.25
</TABLE>
B-3
<PAGE>
APPENDIX C
THE DEATH BENEFIT
PART 1: DEATH OF THE ANNUITANT
DEATH BENEFIT ASSUMING NO WITHDRAWALS
Assume a payment of $50,000 is made on the issue date and no additional payments
are made. Assume there are no withdrawals and that the Death Benefit Effective
Annual Yield is equal to 5%. The table below presents examples of the Death
Benefit based on the Hypothetical Accumulated Values.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
HYPOTHETICAL HYPOTHETICAL
CONTRACT ACCUMULATED MARKET VALUE DEATH DEATH DEATH HYPOTHETICAL
YEAR VALUE ADJUSTMENT BENEFIT (A) BENEFIT (B) BENEFIT (C) DEATH BENEFIT
- ------------- ------------ ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1 $53,000.00 $ 0.00 $53,000.00 $52,500.00 $50,000.00 $ 53,000.00
2 53,530.00 500.00 54,030.00 55,125.00 53,000.00 55,125.00
3 58,883.00 0.00 58,883.00 57,881.25 55,125.00 58,883.00
4 52,994.70 500.00 53,494.70 60,775.31 58,883.00 60,775.31
5 58,294.17 0.00 58,294.17 63,814.08 60,775.31 63,814.08
6 64,123.59 500.00 64,623.59 67,004.78 63,814.08 67,004.78
7 70,535.95 0.00 70,535.95 70,355.02 67,004.78 70,535.95
8 77,589.54 500.00 78,089.54 73,872.77 70,535.95 78,089.54
9 85,348.49 0.00 85,348.49 77,566.41 78,089.54 85,348.49
10 93,883.34 0.00 93,883.34 81,444.73 85,348.49 93,883.34
</TABLE>
Death Benefit (a) is the Accumulated Value increased by any positive Market
Value Adjustment. Death Benefit (b) is the gross payments compounded annually at
5% decreased proportionately to reflect withdrawals. Death Benefit (c) is the
death benefit that would have been payable on the most recent Contract
anniversary, increased for subsequent payments, and decreased proportionately
for subsequent withdrawals.
The Hypothetical Death Benefit is equal to the greatest of Death Benefits (a),
(b), or (c).
DEATH BENEFIT ASSUMING WITHDRAWALS
Assume a payment of $50,000 is made on the issue date and no additional payments
are made. Assume there are withdrawals as detailed in the table below and that
the Death Benefit Effective Annual Yield is equal to 5%. The table below
presents examples of the Death Benefit based on the Hypothetical Accumulated
Value.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
HYPOTHETICAL HYPOTHETICAL
CONTRACT ACCUMULATED MARKET VALUE DEATH DEATH DEATH HYPOTHETICAL
YEAR VALUE WITHDRAWALS ADJUSTMENT BENEFIT (A) BENEFIT (B) BENEFIT (C) DEATH BENEFIT
- ------------- ------------ ------------ ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1 $53,000.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $53,000.00 $52,500.00 $50,000.00 $ 53,000.00
2 53,530.00 0.00 500.00 54,030.00 55,125.00 53,000.00 55,125.00
3 3,883.00 50,000.00 0.00 3,883.00 4,171.13 3,972.50 4,171.13
4 3,494.70 0.00 500.00 3,994.70 4,379.68 4,171.13 4,379.68
5 3,844.17 0.00 0.00 3,844.17 4,598.67 4,379.68 4,598.67
6 4,228.59 0.00 500.00 4,728.59 4,828.60 4,598.67 4,828.60
7 4,651.45 0.00 0.00 4,651.45 5,070.03 4,828.60 5,070.03
8 5,116.59 0.00 500.00 5,616.59 5,323.53 5,070.03 5,616.59
9 5,628.25 0.00 0.00 5,628.25 5,589.71 5,616.59 5,628.25
10 691.07 5,000.00 0.00 691.07 712.70 683.44 712.70
</TABLE>
C-1
<PAGE>
Death Benefit (a) is the Accumulated Value increased by any positive Market
Value Adjustment. Death Benefit (b) is the gross payments compounded annually at
5%, decreased proportionately to reflect withdrawals. Death Benefit (c) is the
death benefit that would have been payable on the most recent Contract
anniversary, increased for subsequent payments, and decreased proportionately
for subsequent withdrawals.
The Hypothetical Death Benefit is equal to the greatest of Death Benefits (a),
(b), or (c).
PART 2: DEATH OF THE OWNER WHO IS NOT THE ANNUITANT
Assume a payment of $50,000 is made on the issue date and no additional payments
are made. Assume there are no partial withdrawals. The table below presents
examples of the Death Benefit based on the Hypothetical Accumulated Values.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
HYPOTHETICAL HYPOTHETICAL
CONTRACT ACCUMULATED MARKET VALUE HYPOTHETICAL
YEAR VALUE ADJUSTMENT DEATH BENEFIT
- ------------- ------------ ------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
1 $53,000.00 $ 0.00 $ 53,000.00
2 53,530.00 500.00 54,030.00
3 58,883.00 0.00 58,883.00
4 52,994.70 500.00 53,494.70
5 58,294.17 0.00 58,294.17
6 64,123.59 500.00 64,623.59
7 70,535.95 0.00 70,535.95
8 77,589.54 500.00 78,089.54
9 85,348.49 0.00 85,348.49
10 93,883.34 0.00 93,883.34
</TABLE>
The Hypothetical Death Benefit is the Accumulated Value increased by any
positive Market Value Adjustment.
C-2
<PAGE>
APPENDIX D
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ALLMERICA FINANCIAL LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITY COMPANY
FULCRUM SEPARATE ACCOUNT
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
---------------------
SUB-ACCOUNT 1998 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- ---------
<S> <C> <C>
GLOBAL INTERACTIVE/TELECOMM PORTFOLIO
Unit Value:
Beginning of Period........................................................................ 1.295 0
End of Period.............................................................................. 1.665 1.295
Number of Units Outstanding at End of Period (in thousands).................................. 2,359 1,592
OPPENHEIMER AGGRESSIVE GROWTH FUND/VA
Unit Value:
Beginning of Period........................................................................ 0 0
End of Period.............................................................................. 1.296 0
Number of Units Outstanding at End of Period (in thousands).................................. 3 0
MFS EMERGING GROWTH SERIES
Unit Value:
Beginning of Period........................................................................ 0 0
End of Period.............................................................................. 1.327 0
Number of Units Outstanding at End of Period (in thousands).................................. 23 0
SMALL CAP VALUE SERIES
Unit Value:
Beginning of Period........................................................................ 0 0
End of Period.............................................................................. 1.203 0.000
Number of Units Outstanding at End of Period (in thousands).................................. 92 0
LAZARD RETIREMENT INTERNATIONAL EQUITY PORTFOLIO
Unit Value:
Beginning of Period........................................................................ 0 0
End of Period.............................................................................. 1.118 0
Number of Units Outstanding at End of Period (in thousands).................................. 207 0
INTERNATIONAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO
Unit Value:
Beginning of Period........................................................................ 0.907182 0
End of Period.............................................................................. 0.823 0.907
Number of Units Outstanding at End of Period (in thousands).................................. 3,084 3,438
PBHG SELECT 20 PORTFOLIO
Unit Value:
Beginning of Period........................................................................ 0 0
End of Period.............................................................................. 1.260 0
Number of Units Outstanding at End of Period (in thousands).................................. 201 0
GROWTH PORTFOLIO
Unit Value:
Beginning of Period........................................................................ 1.055 0
End of Period.............................................................................. 1.045 1.055
Number of Units Outstanding at End of Period (in thousands).................................. 4,044 3,964
</TABLE>
D-1
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
---------------------
SUB-ACCOUNT 1998 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- ---------
<S> <C> <C>
VALUE PORTFOLIO
Unit Value:
Beginning of Period........................................................................ 1.243 0
End of Period.............................................................................. 1.317 1.243
Number of Units Outstanding at End of Period (in thousands).................................. 5,759 4,264
AIM V.I. VALUE FUND
Unit Value:
Beginning of Period........................................................................ 0 0
End of Period.............................................................................. 1.297 0
Number of Units Outstanding at End of Period (in thousands).................................. 232 0
MFS GROWTH WITH INCOME SERIES
Unit Value:
Beginning of Period........................................................................ 0 0
End of Period.............................................................................. 1.204 0
Number of Units Outstanding at End of Period (in thousands).................................. 165 0
OPPENHEIMER MAIN STREET GROWTH & INCOME FUND/VA
Unit Value:
Beginning of Period........................................................................ 0 0
End of Period.............................................................................. 1.214 0
Number of Units Outstanding at End of Period (in thousands).................................. 277 0
DELAWARE BALANCED SERIES
Unit Value:
Beginning of Period........................................................................ 0 0
End of Period.............................................................................. 1.173 0
Number of Units Outstanding at End of Period (in thousands).................................. 303 0
STRATEGIC INCOME PORTFOLIO
Unit Value:
Beginning of Period........................................................................ 1.028306 0
End of Period.............................................................................. 1.080 1.028
Number of Units Outstanding at End of Period (in thousands).................................. 1,652 1,604
MONEY MARKET FUND
Unit Value:
Beginning of Period........................................................................ 1.032 0
End of Period.............................................................................. 1.073 1.032
Number of Units Outstanding at End of Period (in thousands).................................. 3,109 440
</TABLE>
D-2
<PAGE>
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
FIRST ALLMERICA FINANCIAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
FULCRUM SEPARATE ACCOUNT
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
--------------------
SUB-ACCOUNT 1998 1997
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C>
GLOBAL INTERACTIVE/TELECOMM PORTFOLIO
Unit Value:
Beginning of Period............................................................................ 1.105 0.000
End of Period.................................................................................. 1.420 1.105
Number of Units Outstanding at End of Period (in thousands)...................................... 678 211
OPPENHEIMER AGGRESSIVE GROWTH FUND/VA
Unit Value:
Beginning of Period............................................................................ 0.000 N/A
End of Period.................................................................................. 1.296 N/A
Number of Units Outstanding at End of Period (in thousands)...................................... 0 N/A
MFS EMERGING GROWTH SERIES
Unit Value:
Beginning of Period............................................................................ 0.000 N/A
End of Period.................................................................................. 1.327 N/A
Number of Units Outstanding at End of Period (in thousands)...................................... 0 N/A
SMALL CAP VALUE SERIES
Unit Value:
Beginning of Period............................................................................ 0.000 N/A
End of Period.................................................................................. 1.204 N/A
Number of Units Outstanding at End of Period (in thousands)...................................... 0 N/A
LAZARD RETIREMENT INTERNATIONAL EQUITY PORTFOLIO
Unit Value:
Beginning of Period............................................................................ 0.000 N/A
End of Period.................................................................................. 1.118 N/A
Number of Units Outstanding at End of Period (in thousands)...................................... 0 N/A
INTERNATIONAL GROWTH PORTFOLIO
Unit Value:
Beginning of Period............................................................................ 0.881 0.000
End of Period.................................................................................. 0.800 0.881
Number of Units Outstanding at End of Period (in thousands)...................................... 144 85
PBHG SELECT 20 PORTFOLIO
Unit Value:
Beginning of Period............................................................................ 0.000 N/A
End of Period.................................................................................. 1.260 N/A
Number of Units Outstanding at End of Period (in thousands)...................................... 0 N/A
GROWTH PORTFOLIO
Unit Value:
Beginning of Period............................................................................ 0.867 0.000
End of Period.................................................................................. 0.858 0.867
Number of Units Outstanding at End of Period (in thousands)...................................... 504 313
VALUE PORTFOLIO
Unit Value:
Beginning of Period............................................................................ 1.049 0.000
End of Period.................................................................................. 1.111 1.049
Number of Units Outstanding at End of Period (in thousands)...................................... 1,032 483
</TABLE>
D-3
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
--------------------
SUB-ACCOUNT 1998 1997
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C>
AIM V.I. VALUE FUND
Unit Value:
Beginning of Period............................................................................ 0.000 N/A
End of Period.................................................................................. 1.298 N/A
Number of Units Outstanding at End of Period (in thousands)...................................... 0 N/A
MFS GROWTH WITH INCOME SERIES
Unit Value:
Beginning of Period............................................................................ 0.000 N/A
End of Period.................................................................................. 1.204 N/A
Number of Units Outstanding at End of Period (in thousands)...................................... 0 N/A
OPPENHEIMER MAIN STREET GROWTH & INCOME FUND/VA
Unit Value:
Beginning of Period............................................................................ 0.000 N/A
End of Period.................................................................................. 1.214 N/A
Number of Units Outstanding at End of Period (in thousands)...................................... 0 N/A
DELAWARE BALANCED SERIES
Unit Value:
Beginning of Period............................................................................ 0.000 N/A
End of Period.................................................................................. 1.174 N/A
Number of Units Outstanding at End of Period (in thousands)...................................... 0 N/A
STRATEGIC INCOME PORTFOLIO
Unit Value:
Beginning of Period............................................................................ 0.998 0.000
End of Period.................................................................................. 1.048 0.998
Number of Units Outstanding at End of Period (in thousands)...................................... 320 41
MONEY MARKET FUND
Unit Value:
Beginning of Period............................................................................ 1.010 0.000
End of Period.................................................................................. 1.050 1.010
Number of Units Outstanding at End of Period (in thousands)...................................... 16 8
</TABLE>
D-4
