As Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 1997
Registration No. 333-29811
811-08269
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM N-4
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Pre-Effective Amendment No. [ ]
Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 [X]
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
Amendment No. 3 [X]
Variable Account J
(Exact Name of Registrant)
Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston
(Name of Depositor)
175 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02117
(Address of Depositor's Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Depositor's Telephone Number, including Area Code: 617-357-9500
Lee W. Rabkin, Esq.
Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston
175 Berkeley Street
Boston, MA 02117
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
Copies to:
James J. Klopper, Esq. Joan E. Boros, Esq.
Keyport Life Insurance Company and Katten Muchin & Zavis
125 High Street, 13th Floor 1025 Thomas Jefferson Street,
N.W.
Boston, MA 02110 Washington, DC 20007
Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: As soon as practicable after
the effective date of this Registration Statement.
It is proposed that this filing will become effective:
( ) immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
(X) on November 15, 1997 pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
( ) 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485
( ) on [date] pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485
Title of Securities Being Registered: Units of Interest in the Separate
Account under the Contracts
No filing fee is due because an indefinite amount of securities is deemed
to have been registered in reliance on Section 24(f) of the Investment
Company Act of 1940.
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Exhibit List on Page ____
CONTENTS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT
The Facing Sheet
The Contents Page
Cross-Reference Sheet
PART A
Prospectus
PART B
Statement of Additional Information
PART C
Items 24 - 32
The Signatures
Exhibits
<PAGE>
VARIABLE ACCOUNT J
LIBERTY LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF BOSTON
CROSS REFERENCE TO ITEMS REQUIRED
BY FORM N-4
N-4 Item Caption in Prospectus
1. Cover Page
2. Glossary of Special Terms
3. Summary of Expenses
4. Performance Information
5. Liberty Life and the Variable Account
Eligible Funds
6. Deductions
7. Allocations of Purchase Payments
Transfer of Variable Account Value
Substitution of Eligible Funds and Other Variable Account
Changes
Modification of the Certificate
Death Provisions for Non-Qualified Certificates
Death Provisions for Qualified Certificates
Certificate Ownership
Assignment
Partial Withdrawals and Surrender
Annuity Benefits
Suspension of Payments
Inquiries by Certificate Owners
8. Annuity Provisions
9. Death Provisions for Non-Qualified Certificates
Death Provisions for Qualified Certificates
Annuity Options
10. Purchase Payments and Applications
Variable Account Value
Valuation Periods
Net Investment Factor
Sales of the Certificates
11. Partial Withdrawals and Surrender
Option A: Income For a Fixed Number of Years
Right to Revoke
12. Tax Status
13. Legal Proceedings
14. Table of Contents - Statement of Additional Information
Caption in Statement of Additional Information
15. Cover Page
16. Table of Contents
17. Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston
18. Safekeeping of Assets, Experts
19. Not applicable
20. Principal Underwriter
21. Investment Performance
22. Variable Annuity Benefits
23. Financial Statements
<PAGE>
This Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement of Form N-4 which
initially became effective on July 15, 1997 (the "Registration Statement")
is being filed pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended. The prospectus, SAI and exhibits which are amended hereby
initially became effective on July 30, 1997, in Post-Effective Amendment
No. 1. This Amendment relates only to the prospectus, SAI, and exhibits
included in this Amendment and does not otherwise delete, amend, or
supersede any information contained in the Registration Statement.
<PAGE>
PART A
<PAGE>
November 15, 1997 Prospectus for
LIBERTY
ADVISOR VARIABLE ANNUITY
Including Fund Prospectuses for
THE ALGER AMERICAN FUND
ALLIANCE VARIABLE PRODUCTS SERIES FUND, INC.
LIBERTY VARIABLE INVESTMENT TRUST
MFS VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST
STEINROE VARIABLE INVESTMENT TRUST
NOT May lose value
FDIC No bank guarantee
INSURED
<PAGE>
Distributed by:
Keyport Financial Services Corp.
125 High Street, Boston, MA 02110-2712
Issued by:
Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston
175 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02117
Liberty Life Service Office
125 High Street, Boston, MA 02110-2712
LAVAP 11/97
____Yes.I would like to receive the Liberty Advisor Variable Annuity
Statement of Additional Information.
____Yes.I would like to receive the Statement of Additional Information for
the Eligible Funds of:
____ The Alger American Fund
____ Alliance Variable Products Series Fund, Inc.
____ Liberty Variable Investment Trust
____ MFS Variable Insurance Trust
____ SteinRoe Variable Investment Trust
Name
Address
City State Zip
<PAGE>
BUSINESS REPLY MAIL
FIRST CLASS MAIL PERMIT NO. 6719 BOSTON, MA
POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE
LIBERTY LIFE SERVICE OFFICE
125 HIGH STREET
BOSTON, MA 02110-9773
NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.
<PAGE>
GROUP FLEXIBLE PURCHASE PAYMENT
DEFERRED VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACT
ISSUED BY
Variable Account J
OF
LIBERTY LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF BOSTON
This Prospectus offers Group Variable Annuity Contracts (the "Contracts")
and the related Certificates (the "Certificates") that are designed to fund
benefits under certain group arrangements including those that qualify for
special tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code").
As required by certain states, the Certificates may be offered as
individual contracts. Unless otherwise noted or the context so requires
all references to the Certificates include the Contracts and the individual
Contracts. The Certificates are offered on a flexible payment basis.
The variable annuity Contract (form number DVA(1)NY) and the Certificates
described in this prospectus provide for accumulation of Certificate Values
on a variable basis, and also on a fixed basis, and payments of periodic
annuity payments on either a variable or a fixed basis. The Certificates
are designed for use by individuals for retirement planning purposes.
This prospectus generally describes only the variable features of the
Certificate (for a summary of the fixed features, see Appendix A on Page
28). If the Certificate Owner elects to have Certificate Values accumulated
on a variable basis, Purchase Payments will be allocated to a segregated
investment account of Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston ("Liberty
Life"), designated Variable Account J ("Variable Account").
The Variable Account invests in shares of the following investment
companies at their net asset value: The Alger American Fund ("Alger
American Fund")- Alger American Growth Portfolio ("Alger Growth") and Alger
American Small Capitalization Portfolio ("Alger Small Cap"); Alliance
Variable Products Series Fund, Inc. ("Alliance Series Fund") - Global Bond
Portfolio ("Alliance Global Bond") and Premier Growth Portfolio ("Alliance
Premier Growth"); Liberty Variable Investment Trust ("Liberty Trust")
(formerly named Keyport Variable Investment Trust)-- Colonial Growth and
Income Fund, Variable Series ("Colonial Growth and Income"); Colonial
International Fund for Growth, Variable Series ("Colonial Int'l Fund for
Growth"); Colonial Strategic Income Fund, Variable Series ("Colonial
Strategic Income"); Colonial U.S. Stock Fund, Variable Series ("Colonial
U.S. Stock"); Liberty All-Star Equity Fund, Variable Series ("Liberty All-
Star Equity"); Newport Tiger Fund, Variable Series ("Newport Tiger"); and
Stein Roe Global Utilities Fund, Variable Series ("Stein Roe Global
Utilities"); MFS Variable Insurance Trust ("MFS Trust") -- MFS Emerging
Growth Series ("MFS Emerging Growth") and MFS Research Series ("MFS
Research"); and SteinRoe Variable Investment Trust ("SteinRoe Trust") --
Stein Roe Balanced Fund, Variable Series ("Stein Roe Balanced"); Stein Roe
Growth Stock Fund, Variable Series ("Stein Roe Growth Stock"); Stein Roe
Money Market Fund, Variable Series ("Stein Roe Money Market"); Stein Roe
Mortgage Securities Fund, Variable Series ("Stein Roe Mortgage
Securities"); and Stein Roe Special Venture Fund, Variable Series ("Stein
Roe Special Venture").
The Variable Account may offer other forms of the Contracts and
Certificates with features, and fees and charges which vary from the
Certificates, and provide for investment in other Sub-accounts which may
invest in different or additional mutual funds. Other Contracts and
Certificates will be described in separate prospectuses and statements of
additional information.
A Statement of Additional Information dated the same as this prospectus has
been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is herein
incorporated by reference. It is available, at no charge, by writing the
Principal Underwriter, Keyport Financial Services Corp. at 125 High Street,
Boston, MA 02110, by calling (800) 437-4466, or by returning the postcard
on the back cover of this prospectus. A table of contents for the
Statement of Additional Information is on Page 27.
The Certificates may be sold by or through banks or other depository
institutions. The Contract and Certificates: are not insured by the FDIC;
are not a deposit or other obligation of, or guaranteed by, the depository
institution; and are subject to investment risks, including the possible
loss of principal amount invested.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR
ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
THIS PROSPECTUS SETS FORTH THE INFORMATION A PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR SHOULD
KNOW BEFORE INVESTING. THE PROSPECTUS SHOULD BE RETAINED FOR FUTURE
REFERENCE.
THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFERING IN ANY STATE OR
JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFERING MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE. NO PERSON IS
AUTHORIZED BY LIBERTY LIFE TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS, OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, IN
CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, AND IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH UNAUTHORIZED
INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON.
The date of this prospectus is November 15, 1997
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Glossary of Special Terms 3
Summary of Expenses 4
Synopsis 7
Performance Information 8
Liberty Life and the Variable Account 8
Purchase Payments and Applications 8
Investments of the Variable Account 10
Allocations of Purchase Payments 10
Eligible Funds 10
Transfer of Variable Account Value 13
Substitution of Eligible Funds and Other Variable
Account Changes 14
Deductions 14
Deductions for Certificate Maintenance Charge 14
Deductions for Mortality and Expense Risk Charge 14
Deductions for Daily Distribution Charge 15
Deductions for Contingent Deferred Sales Charge 15
Deductions for Transfers of Variable Account Value 16
Deductions for Premium Taxes 16
Deductions for Income Taxes 16
Total Variable Account Expenses 16
Other Services 16
The Certificates 18
Variable Account Value 18
Valuation Periods 18
Net Investment Factor 18
Modification of the Certificate 18
Right to Revoke 19
Death Provisions for Non-Qualified Certificates 19
Death Provisions for Qualified Certificates 20
Certificate Ownership 20
Assignment 20
Partial Withdrawals and Surrender 21
Annuity Provisions 21
Annuity Benefits 21
Income Date and Annuity Option 21
Change in Income Date and Annuity Option 21
Annuity Options 21
Variable Annuity Payment Values 23
Proof of Age, Sex, and Survival of Annuitant 23
Suspension of Payments 23
Tax Status 23
Introduction 23
Taxation of Annuities in General 23
Qualified Plans 25
Tax-Sheltered Annuities 25
Individual Retirement Annuities 25
Corporate Pension and Profit-Sharing Plans 25
Deferred Compensation Plans with Respect to Service
for State and Local Governments 25
Variable Account Voting Privileges 26
Sales of the Certificates 26
Legal Proceedings 26
Inquiries by Certificate Owners 26
Table of Contents_Statement of Additional Information 27
Appendix A_The Fixed Account (also known as the Modified
Guaranteed Annuity Account) 28
Appendix B_Telephone Instructions 31
<PAGE>
GLOSSARY OF SPECIAL TERMS
Accumulation Unit: An accounting unit of measure used to calculate Variable
Account Value.
Annuitant: The Annuitant is the natural person to whom any annuity payments
will be made starting on the Income Date. The Annuitant may not be over
age 90 on the Certificate Date (age 75 for Qualified Certificates).
Certificate Anniversary: The same month and day as the Certificate Date in
each subsequent year of the Certificate.
Certificate Date: The effective date of the Certificate; it is shown on
the Certificate Schedule.
Certificate Owner: The person (or persons in the case of joint ownership)
who possesses all the ownership rights under the Certificate. The primary
Certificate Owner may not be over age 90 on the Certificate Date (age 75
for Qualified Certificates and age 90 for a joint Owner).
Certificate Value: The sum of the Variable Account Value and the Fixed
Account Value.
Certificate Withdrawal Value: The Certificate Value increased or decreased
by a limited Market Value Adjustment less any premium taxes and Certificate
Maintenance Charge and applicable Contingent Deferred Sales Charges.
Certificate Year: Any period of 12 months commencing with the Certificate
Date and each Certificate Anniversary thereafter shall be a Certificate
Year.
Covered Person: The person(s) identified on the Certificate Schedule whose
death may result in an Adjustment of Certificate Value, a waiver of any
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges and a waiver of any Market Value
Adjustment or whose medically necessary stay in a hospital or nursing
facility may allow the Certificate Owner to be eligible for either a total
or partial waiver of the Contingent Deferred Sales Charge.
Designated Beneficiary: The person who may be entitled to receive benefits
following the death of the Annuitant, Certificate Owner, or joint
Certificate Owner. The Designated Beneficiary will be the first person
among the following who is alive on the date of death: primary Certificate
Owner; joint Certificate Owner; primary beneficiary; contingent
beneficiary; and if none of the above is alive, the primary Certificate
Owner's estate. If the primary Certificate Owner and joint Certificate
Owner are both alive, they will be the Designated Beneficiary together.
Eligible Funds: The mutual funds that are eligible investments for the
Variable Account under the Certificates.
Fixed Account: Part of Liberty Life's general account to which Purchase
Payments may be allocated or Certificate Values may be transferred.
Fixed Account Value: The value of all Fixed Account amounts accumulated
under the Certificate prior to the Income Date.
Guarantee Period Anniversary: An anniversary of a Guarantee Period's Start
Date.
Guarantee Period Month: The first Guarantee Period Month is the monthly
period which begins on the Start Date. Subsequent Guarantee Period Months
begin on the same day in the ensuing months.
Guarantee Period Year: The first Guarantee Period Year is the annual
period which begins on the Start Date. Subsequent Guarantee Period Years
begin on each Guaranteed Period Anniversary.
In Force: The status of the Certificate before the Income Date so long as
it is not totally surrendered, the Certificate Value under a Certificate
does not go to zero, and there has not been a death of the Annuitant or any
Certificate Owner that will cause the Certificate to end within at most
five years of the date of death.
Income Date: The date on which annuity payments are to begin.
Non-Qualified Certificate: Any Certificate that is not issued under a
Qualified Plan.
Office: Liberty Life's Service Office, which is 125 High Street, Boston,
Massachusetts 02110.
Qualified Certificate: Certificates issued under Qualified Plans.
Qualified Plan: A retirement plan established pursuant to the provisions of
Sections 401, 403(b) or 408(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. Liberty Life
treats Section 457 plans as Qualified Plans.
Start Date: The date an amount is first allocated to a Guarantee Period.
Variable Account: A separate investment account of Liberty Life into which
Purchase Payments under the Certificates may be allocated. The Variable
Account is divided into Sub-Accounts ("Sub-Account") that correspond to the
Eligible Funds in which they invest.
Variable Account Value: The value of all Variable Account amounts
accumulated under the Certificate prior to the Income Date.
Written Request: A request written on a form satisfactory to Liberty Life,
signed by the Certificate Owner and a disinterested witness, and filed at
Liberty Life's Office.
<PAGE>
SUMMARY OF EXPENSES
The expense summary format below, including the examples, was adopted by
the Securities and Exchange Commission to assist the owner of a variable
annuity certificate in understanding the transaction and operating expenses
the owner will directly or indirectly bear under a certificate. The values
reflect expenses of the Variable Account as well as the Eligible Funds
under the Certificates. The expenses shown for the Eligible Funds and the
examples should not be considered a representation of future expenses.
Certificate Owner Transaction Expenses
Sales Load Imposed on Purchases: 0%
Maximum Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
(as a percentage of Purchase Payments): 7%1
Years from Date of Payment Sales Charge
1 7%
2 6%
3 5%
4 4%
5 3%
6 2%
7 1%
8 or later 0%
Maximum Total Certificate Owner Transaction Expenses
(as a percentage of Purchase Payments): 7%
Annual Certificate Maintenance Charge2 $36
The Certificate Maintenance Charge will be waived before the Income Date
if:
(i) the Certificate Value is greater than or equal to $40,000 on the
Certificate Anniversary date this charge is imposed, or
(ii) Purchase Payments of at least $2,000 have been made in the prior
Certificate Year and there has been no partial withdrawal in the prior
Certificate Year.
The Certificate Maintenance Charge will be waived on and after the Income
Date for the current year if:
(i) variable annuity Option A (Income for a Fixed Number of Years) is
applicable; and
(ii) at the time of the first payment of the year, the present value
of all the remaining payments (see "Option A" on Page 22) is greater than
or equal to $40,000.
Variable Account Annual Expenses
(as a percentage of average net assets)
Mortality and Expense Risk Charge: 1.25%
Distribution Charge:. .15%
Total Variable Account Annual Expenses: 1.40%
Alger American Fund, Alliance Series Fund, Liberty Trust, MFS Trust, and
SteinRoe Trust Annual Expenses3
(as a percentage of average net assets)
Total Fund
Operating
Expenses After
Management Other Any Expense
Fund Fees Expenses Reimbursements4
Alger Growth .75% .04% .79%
Alger Small Cap .85% .03% .88%
Alliance Global Bond .44% .50% .94%(1.15%)4
Alliance Premier Growth .72% .23% .95%(1.23%)4
Colonial Growth & Income .65% .14% .79%
Colonial Int'l Fund for Growth .90% .50% 1.40%
Colonial Strategic Income .65% .15% .80%(.86%)4
Colonial U.S. Stock .80% .15% .95%
Liberty All-Star Equity .80% .13% .93%
Newport Tiger .90% .37% 1.27%
Stein Roe Global Utilities .65% .16% .81%
MFS Emerging Growth .75% .25% 1.00%(1.16%)4
MFS Research .75% .25% 1.00%(1.48%)4
Stein Roe Balanced .60% .07% .67%
Stein Roe Growth Stock .65% .08% .73%
Stein Roe Money Market .50% .15% .65%
Stein Roe Mortgage Securities .55% .15% .70%(.72)
Stein Roe Special Venture .65% .10% .75%
THE ABOVE EXPENSES FOR THE ELIGIBLE FUNDS WERE PROVIDED BY THE FUNDS.
LIBERTY LIFE HAS NOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED THE ACCURACY OF THE
INFORMATION.
Example #1 _ Assuming surrender of the Certificate at the end of the
periods shown.5
A $1,000 investment in each Sub-Account listed would be subject to the
expenses shown, assuming 5% annual return on assets.
Sub-Account 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
Alger Growth $ 93 $122 $162 $319
Alger Small Cap 94 125 167 331
Alliance Global Bond 94 127 170 338
Alliance Premier Growth 94 127 171 340
Colonial Growth & Income 93 122 162 319
Colonial Int'l Fund for Growth 99 141 195 395
Colonial Strategic Income 93 123 162 321
Colonial U.S. Stock 94 127 171 340
Liberty All-Star Equity 94 127 170 337
Newport Tiger 97 137 188 379
Stein Roe Global Utilities 93 123 163 322
MFS Emerging Growth 95 129 174 346
MFS Research 95 129 174 346
Stein Roe Balanced 91 119 155 304
Stein Roe Growth Stock 92 120 159 312
Stein Roe Money Market 91 118 154 301
Stein Roe Mortgage Securities 92 120 157 308
Stein Roe Special Venture 92 121 160 314
Example #2 _ Assuming annuitization of the Certificate at the end of the
periods shown.5
A $1,000 investment in each Sub-Account listed would be subject to the
expenses shown, assuming 5% annual return on assets.
Sub-Account 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
Alger Growth 23 73 132 319
Alger Small Cap 24 76 137 331
Alliance Global Bond 24 78 140 338
Alliance Premier Growth 24 78 141 340
Colonial Growth & Income 23 73 132 319
Colonial Int'l Fund for Growth 29 93 165 395
Colonial Strategic Income 23 74 132 321
Colonial U.S. Stock 24 78 141 340
Liberty All-Star Equity 24 78 140 337
Newport Tiger 27 88 158 379
Stein Roe Global Utilities 23 74 133 322
MFS Emerging Growth 25 80 144 346
MFS Research 25 80 144 346
Stein Roe Balanced 21 70 125 304
Stein Roe Growth Stock 22 71 129 312
Stein Roe Money Market 21 69 124 301
Stein Roe Mortgage Securities 22 70 127 308
Stein Roe Special Venture 23 72 130 314
Example #3 _ Assuming the Certificate stays in force through the periods
shown.
A $1,000 investment in each Sub-Account listed would be subject to the same
expenses shown in Example #2, assuming 5% annual return on assets.
1Contingent Deferred Sales Charges are deducted only if the Certificate is
totally or partially surrendered. A surrender will not incur the Charge
percentage shown as follows:
1. In any Certificate Year, Certificate Owners may withdraw an aggregate
amount, not to exceed, at the time of withdrawal, the Certificate's
earnings, which equal: (a) the Certificate Value, less (b) the portion of
the Purchase Payments not previously withdrawn.
2. In any Certificate Year after the first, Certificate Owners may
withdraw, in addition to the amount available in 1., the amount by which
10% of the Certificate Value as of the preceding Certificate Anniversary
exceeds the amount available in 1.
2This charge will be waived on the first Certificate Anniversary and in
certain other instances (see "Deductions for Certificate Maintenance
Charge"). Liberty Life reserves the right to impose a transfer fee after
prior notice to Certificate Owners, but currently does not impose any
charge. Premium taxes are not shown. Liberty Life deducts the amount of
premium taxes, if any, when paid unless Liberty Life elects to defer such
deduction.
3All Trust and Fund expenses are for 1996 with the exception of those for
Liberty All-Star Equity, which are estimated since Liberty All-Star Equity
commenced operations in November, 1997. The Alliance Series Fund, Liberty
Trust (Colonial Strategic Income only), MFS Trust, and SteinRoe Trust
(Stein Roe Mortgage Securities only) expenses reflect such Fund's or
Trust's adviser's agreement to reimburse expenses above certain limits (see
footnote 4).
4Expense information shown for Alliance Series Fund has been restated to
reflect current fees and is net of voluntary expense reimbursements. The
Alliance Series Fund Adviser has agreed to continue such reimbursements for
the foreseeable future. Each percentage shown in the parentheses is what
the total expenses would have been in the absence of expense reimbursement:
for Alliance Global Bond - 1.15%; and for Alliance Premier Growth - 1.23%.
Liberty Trust's manager has agreed until 4/30/98 to reimburse all expenses,
including management fees, in excess of the following percentage of the
average annual net assets of each Fund, so long as such reimbursement would
not result in the Fund's inability to qualify as a regulated investment
company under the Internal Revenue Code: 1.00% for Colonial Growth &
Income, Stein Roe Global Utilities, Liberty All-Star Equity and Colonial
U.S. Stock; 1.75% for Colonial Int'l Fund for Growth and Newport Tiger; and
.80% for Colonial Strategic Income. For Colonial Strategic Income the total
.80% shown in the table is after expense reimbursement and the .86% shown
in the parentheses is what the total for 1996 would have been in the
absence of expense reimbursement.
MFS Trust's Adviser has agreed to bear, subject to reimbursement, expenses
for each of the two Eligible Funds shown such that each Fund's total
operating expenses shall not exceed, on an annualized basis, 1.25% of the
average daily net assets of the Fund from January 1, 1997 through December
31, 1998, and 1.50% of the average daily net assets of the Fund from
January 1, 1999 through December 31, 2004; provided however, that this
obligation may be terminated or revised at any time. Each percentage shown
in the parentheses is what the total expenses would have been in the
absence of expense reimbursement: for MFS Emerging Growth - 1.16%; and for
MFS Research - 1.48%.
SteinRoe Trust's adviser has voluntarily agreed until 4/30/98 to reimburse
all expenses, including management fees, in excess of the following
percentage of the average annual net assets of each Fund, so long as such
reimbursement would not result in the Fund's inability to qualify as a
regulated investment company under the Internal Revenue Code: .80% for
Stein Roe Special Venture and Stein Roe Growth Stock; .65% for Stein Roe
Money Market; .75% for Stein Roe Balanced; and .70% for Stein Roe Mortgage
Securities. For Stein Roe Mortgage Securities, the total .70% shown in the
table is after expense reimbursement and the .72% shown in the parentheses
is what the total for 1996 would have been in the absence of expense
reimbursement.
5The annuity is designed for retirement planning purposes. Surrenders
prior to the Income Date are not consistent with the long-term purposes of
the Certificate and the applicable tax laws.
The examples should not be considered a representation of past or future
expenses and charges of the Sub-Accounts. Actual expenses may be greater
or less than those shown. Similarly, the assumed 5% annual rate of return
is not an estimate or a guarantee of future investment performance. See
"Deductions" in this prospectus, "Management of the Fund" in the
prospectuses for Alger American Fund and the Alliance Series Fund, "Trust
Management Organizations" and "Expenses of the Funds" in the prospectus for
Liberty Trust, "Management of the Series" and "Expenses" in the prospectus
for MFS Trust, and "How the Funds are Managed" in the prospectus for
SteinRoe Trust.
SYNOPSIS
The following Synopsis should be read in conjunction with the detailed
information in this prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information.
Please refer to the Glossary of Special Terms for the meaning of certain
defined terms. Variations from the information appearing in this prospectus
due to individual state requirements are described in supplements which are
attached to this prospectus, or in endorsements to the Certificates, as
appropriate.
The Certificate allows Certificate Owners to allocate Purchase Payments to
the Variable Account and also to the Fixed Account. The Variable Account
is a separate investment account maintained by Liberty Life. The Fixed
Account is part of Liberty Life's "general account", which consists of all
Liberty Life's assets except the Variable Account and the assets of other
separate investment accounts maintained by Liberty Life. Certificate
Owners may allocate payments to, and receive annuity payments from the
Variable Account and/or the Fixed Account. If the Certificate Owner
allocates payments to the Variable Account, the accumulation values and
annuity payments will fluctuate according to the investment experience of
the Sub-Accounts chosen. If the Certificate Owner allocates payments to
the Fixed Account, the accumulation values will increase at guaranteed
interest rates and annuity payments will be of a fixed amount. Fixed
Account Values are subject to a limited market value adjustment. (See
"Liberty Life and the Variable Account" on Page 8 for more information on
the Variable Account and Appendix A on Page 28 for more information on the
Fixed Account.) If the Certificate Owner allocates payments to both
Accounts, then the accumulation values and annuity payments will be
variable in part and fixed in part.
The Certificate permits Purchase Payments to be made on a flexible Purchase
Payment basis. The minimum initial payment is $5,000. The minimum amount
for each subsequent payment is $1,000 or such lesser amount as Liberty Life
may permit from time to time (currently $250). (See "Purchase Payments" on
Page 9.)
There are no deductions made from Purchase Payments for sales charges at
the time of purchase. A Contingent Deferred Sales Charge may be deducted
in the event of a total or partial surrender (see "Partial Withdrawals and
Surrender" on Page 21). The Contingent Deferred Sales Charge is based on a
graded table of charges. The charge will not exceed 7% of that portion of
the amount surrendered that represents Purchase Payments made during the
seven years immediately preceding the request for surrender. (See
"Deductions for Contingent Deferred Sales Charge" on Page 15.)
Liberty Life deducts a Mortality and Expense Risk Charge, which is equal on
an annual basis to 1.25% of the average daily net asset values in the
Variable Account attributable to the Certificates. (See "Deductions for
Mortality and Expense Risk Charge" on Page 14.) Liberty Life also deducts a
daily distribution charge which is equal on an annual basis to .15% of the
same values. (See "Deductions for Daily Distribution Charge" on Page 15.)
Liberty Life deducts an annual Certificate Maintenance Charge (currently
$36.00) from the Variable Account Value for administrative expenses. Prior
to the Income Date, Liberty Life reserves the right to change this charge
for future years. Liberty Life will in certain instances waive this charge.
(See "Deductions for Certificate Maintenance Charge" on Page 14.)
Liberty Life reserves the right to deduct a charge of $25 for each transfer
in excess of 12 per Certificate Year but currently does not do so. (See
"Transfer of Variable Account Value" on Page 13.)
Premium taxes will be charged against the Certificate Value. Currently
such premium taxes range from 0% to 5.0%. (See "Deductions for Premium
Taxes" on Page 16.)
There are no federal income taxes on increases in the value of a
Certificate until a distribution occurs, in the form of a lump sum payment,
annuity payments, or the making of a gift or assignment of the Certificate.
A federal penalty tax (currently 10%) may also apply. (See "Tax Status" on
Page 23.)
The Certificate allows the Certificate Owner to revoke the Certificate
generally within 10 days of delivery (see "Right to Revoke" on Page 19).
Liberty Life will refund the Certificate Value as of the date the returned
Certificate is received by Liberty Life, plus any distribution charges
previously deducted. The Certificate Owner thus will bear the investment
risk during the revocation period.
The full financial statements for Liberty Life are in the Statement of
Additional Information.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
The Variable Account may from time to time advertise certain performance
information concerning its various Sub-Accounts.
Certain of the Eligible Funds have been available for Liberty Life and/or
non-Liberty Life variable annuity contracts for periods prior to the
commencement of the offering of the Certificates described in this
prospectus. Any performance information for such periods will be based on
the historical results of the Eligible Funds being applied to the
Certificate for the specified time periods.
Performance information is not intended to indicate either past performance
under an actual Certificate or future performance.
The Sub-Accounts may advertise total return information for various periods
of time. Total return performance information is based on the overall
percentage change in value of a hypothetical investment in the specific Sub-
Account over a given period of time.
Average annual total return information shows the average percentage change
in the value of an investment in the Sub-Account from the beginning date of
the measuring period to the end of that period. This standardized version
of average annual total return reflects all historical investment results,
less all charges and deductions applied against the Sub-Account and a
Certificate (including any Contingent Deferred Sales Charge that would
apply if a Certificate Owner surrendered the Certificate at the end of each
period indicated). Average total return does not take into account any
premium taxes and would be lower if these taxes were included.
In order to calculate average annual total return, Liberty Life divides the
change in value of a Sub-Account under a Certificate surrendered on a
particular date by a hypothetical $1,000 investment in the Sub-Account made
by the Certificate Owner at the beginning of the period illustrated. The
resulting total rate for the period is then annualized to obtain the
average annual percentage change during the period. Annualization assumes
that the application of a single rate of return each year during the period
will produce the ending value, taking into account the effect of
compounding.
The Sub-Accounts may present additional total return information computed
on a different basis.
First, the Sub-Accounts may present total return information computed on
the same basis as described above, except deductions will not include the
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. This presentation assumes that the
investment in the Certificate continues beyond the period when the
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge applies, consistent with the long-term
investment and retirement objectives of the Certificate. The total return
percentage will thus be higher under this method than the standard method
described above.
Second, the Sub-Accounts may present total return information calculated by
dividing the change in a Sub-Account's Accumulation Unit value over a
specified time period by the Accumulation Unit value of that Sub-Account at
the beginning of the period. This computation results in a 12-month change
rate or, for longer periods, a total rate for the period which Liberty Life
annualizes in order to obtain the average annual percentage change in the
Accumulation Unit value for that period. The change percentages do not
take into account the Contingent Deferred Sales Charge, the Certificate
Maintenance Charge and premium tax charges. The percentages would be lower
if these charges were included.
The Stein Roe Money Market Sub-Account is a money market Sub-Account that
also may advertise yield and effective yield information. The yield of the
Sub-Account refers to the income generated by an investment in the Sub-
Account over a specifically identified 7-day period. This income is
annualized by assuming that the amount of income generated by the
investment during that week is generated each week over a 52-week period
and is shown as a percentage. The yield reflects the deduction of all
charges assessed against the Sub-Account and a Certificate but does not
take into account Contingent Deferred Sales Charges and premium tax
charges. The yield would be lower if these charges were included.
The effective yield of the Stein Roe Money Market Sub-Account is calculated
in a similar manner but, when annualizing such yield, income earned by the
Sub-Account is assumed to be reinvested. This compounding effect causes
effective yield to be higher than yield.
LIBERTY LIFE AND THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT
Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston was incorporated on September 17,
1963 as a stock life insurance company. Its executive and administrative
offices are at 175 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02117.
Liberty Life writes individual life insurance on both a participating and a
non-participating basis and group life and health insurance and individual
and group annuity contracts on a non-participating basis. The variable
annuity contracts described in this prospectus are issued on a non-
participating basis. Liberty Life is licensed to do business in all states
and in the District of Columbia. However, the contracts described in this
prospectus are currently offered only in New York. Liberty Life has been
rated "A" by A.M. Best and Company, independent analysts of the insurance
industry. The Best's A rating is in the second highest rating category,
which also includes a lower rating of A-. Best's Ratings merely reflect
Best's opinion as to the relative financial strength of Liberty Life and
Liberty Life's ability to meet its contractual obligations to its
policyholders. Even though assets in the Variable Account are held
separately from Liberty Life's other assets, ratings of Liberty Life may
still be relevant to Certificate Owners since not all of Liberty Life's
contractual obligations relate to payments based on those segregated assets
(e.g., see "Death Provisions" on pages 19-20 for Liberty Life's obligation
after certain deaths to increase the Certificate Value if it is less than
the guaranteed minimum death value amount).
Liberty Life is a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Liberty Mutual
Insurance Company and Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company. Liberty Mutual
Insurance Company is a multi-line insurance and financial services
institution.
The Variable Account was established by Liberty Life pursuant to the
provisions of Massachusetts Law on June 2, 1997. The Variable Account meets
the definition of "separate account" under the federal securities laws. The
Variable Account is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission
as a unit investment trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Such
registration does not involve supervision of the management of the Variable
Account or Liberty Life by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Obligations under the Certificates are the obligations of Liberty Life.
Although the assets of the Variable Account are the property of Liberty
Life, these assets are held separately from the other assets of Liberty
Life and are not chargeable with liabilities arising out of any other
business Liberty Life may conduct. Income, capital gains and/or capital
losses, whether or not realized, from assets allocated to the Variable
Account are credited to or charged against the Variable Account without
regard to the income, capital gains, and/or capital losses arising out of
any other business Liberty Life may conduct. Thus, Liberty Life does not
guarantee the investment performance of the Variable Account. The Variable
Account Value and the amount of variable annuity payments will vary with
the investment performance of the investments in the Variable Account.
PURCHASE PAYMENTS AND APPLICATIONS
The initial Purchase Payment is due on the Certificate Date. The minimum
initial Purchase Payment is $5,000. Additional Purchase Payments can be
made at the Certificate Owner's option. Each subsequent Purchase Payment
must be at least $1,000 or such lesser amount as Liberty Life may permit
from time to time (currently $250). Liberty Life may reject any Purchase
Payment.
If the application for a Certificate is in good order and it calls for
amounts to be allocated to the Variable Account, Liberty Life will apply
the initial Purchase Payment to the Variable Account and credit the
Certificate with Accumulation Units within two business days of receipt.
If the application for a Certificate is not in good order, Liberty Life
will attempt to get it in good order within five business days. If it is
not complete at the end of this period, Liberty Life will inform the
applicant of the reason for the delay and that the Purchase Payment will be
returned immediately unless the applicant specifically consents to Liberty
Life's keeping the Purchase Payment until the application is complete.
Once the application is complete, the Purchase Payment will be applied
within two business days of its completion. Liberty Life has reserved the
right to reject any application.
Liberty Life confirms, in writing, to the Certificate Owner the allocation
of all Purchase Payments and the re-allocation of values after any
requested transfer. Liberty Life must be notified immediately by the
Certificate Owner of any processing error.
Liberty Life will permit others to act on behalf of an applicant in certain
instances, including the following two examples. First, Liberty Life will
accept an application for a Certificate that contains a signature signed
under a power of attorney if a copy of that power of attorney is submitted
with the application. Second, Liberty Life will issue a Certificate that
is replacing an existing life insurance or annuity policy that was issued
by either Liberty Life or an affiliated company without having previously
received a signed application from the applicant. Certain dealers or other
authorized persons such as employers and Qualified Plan fiduciaries will
inform Liberty Life of an applicant's answers to the questions in the
application by telephone or by order ticket and cause the initial Purchase
Payment to be paid to Liberty Life. If the information is in good order,
Liberty Life will issue the Certificate with a copy of an application
completed with that information. The Certificate will be delivered to the
Certificate Owner with a letter from Liberty Life that will give the
Certificate Owner an opportunity to respond to Liberty Life if any of the
application information is incorrect. Alternatively, Liberty Life's letter
may request the Certificate Owner to confirm the correctness of the
information by signing either a copy of the application or a Certificate
delivery receipt that ratifies the application in all respects (in either
case, a copy of the signed document would be returned to Liberty Life for
its permanent records). All purchases are confirmed, in writing, to the
applicant by Liberty Life. Liberty Life's liability under a Certificate
extends only to amounts so confirmed.
INVESTMENTS OF THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT
Allocations of Purchase Payments
Purchase Payments applied to the Variable Account will be invested in one
or more of the Eligible Fund Sub-Accounts designated as permissible
investments in accordance with the selection made by the Certificate Owner
in the application. Any selection must specify the percentage of the
Purchase Payment that is allocated to each Sub-Account or must specify the
asset allocation model selected. (See "Other Services, The Programs" on
Page 16). The percentage for each Sub-Account, if not zero, must be at
least 5% and must be a whole number. A Certificate Owner may change the
allocation percentages without fee, penalty or other charge. Allocation
changes must be made by Written Request unless the Certificate Owner has by
Written Request authorized Liberty Life to accept telephone allocation
instructions from the Certificate Owner or from a person acting for the
Certificate Owner as an attorney-in-fact under a power of attorney. By
authorizing Liberty Life to accept telephone changes, a Certificate Owner
agrees to accept and be bound by the conditions and procedures established
by Liberty Life from time to time. The current conditions and procedures
are in Appendix B and Certificate Owners authorizing telephone allocation
instructions will be notified, in advance, of any changes.
The Variable Account is segmented into Sub-Accounts. Each Sub-Account
contains the shares of one of the Eligible Funds and such shares are
purchased at net asset value. Eligible Funds and Sub-Accounts may be added
or withdrawn as permitted by applicable law. The Sub-Accounts in the
Variable Account and the corresponding Eligible Funds currently are as
follows:
Eligible Funds of Alger American Fund Sub-Accounts
Alger Growth Alger Growth Sub-Account
Alger Small Cap Alger Small Cap Sub-Account
Eligible Funds of Alliance Series Fund Sub-Accounts
Alliance Global Bond Alliance Global Bond Sub-
Account
Alliance Premier Growth Alliance Premier Growth Sub-
Account
Eligible Funds of Liberty Trust Sub-Accounts
Colonial Growth & Income Colonial Growth & Income Sub-
Account
Colonial Int'l Fund for Growth Colonial Int'l Fund for Growth
Sub-Account
Colonial Strategic Income Colonial Strategic Income Sub-
Account
Colonial U.S. Stock Colonial U.S. Stock Sub-
Account
Liberty All-Star Equity Liberty All-Star Equity Sub-
Account
Newport Tiger Newport Tiger Sub-Account
Stein Roe Global Utilities Stein Roe Global Utilities
Sub-Account
Eligible Funds of MFS Trust Sub-Accounts
MFS Emerging Growth MFS Emerging Growth Sub-
Account
MFS Research MFS Research Sub-Account
Eligible Funds of SteinRoe Trust Sub-Accounts
Stein Roe Balanced Stein Roe Balanced Sub-Account
Stein Roe Growth Stock Stein Roe Growth Stock Sub-
Account
Stein Roe Money Market Stein Roe Money Market Sub-
Account
Stein Roe Mortgage Securities Stein Roe Mortgage Securities
Sub-Account
Stein Roe Special Venture Stein Roe Special Venture
Sub-Account
Eligible Funds
The Eligible Funds which are the permissible investments of the Variable
Account are the separate funds listed above of Alger American Fund,
Alliance Series Fund, Liberty Trust, MFS Trust and SteinRoe Trust, and any
other mutual funds with which Liberty Life and the Variable Account may
enter into a participation agreement for the purpose of making such mutual
funds available as Eligible Funds under certain Certificates.
Fred Alger Management, Inc. ("Alger Management") is the investment manager
for both Eligible Funds of Alger American Fund. Alger Management has been
in the business of providing investment advisory services since 1964.
Alliance Capital Management L.P. is the investment advisor for both
Eligible Funds of Alliance Series Fund. AIGAM International Limited serves
as sub-adviser for Alliance Global.
Liberty Advisory Services Corp. ("LASC")(formerly named Keyport Advisory
Services Corp.), an affiliate of Liberty Life, is the manager for Liberty
Trust and its Eligible Funds. Colonial Management Associates, Inc.
("Colonial"), an affiliate of Liberty Life, serves as sub-adviser for the
Eligible Funds (except for Newport Tiger, Stein Roe Global Utilities and
Liberty All-Star Equity). Colonial has provided investment advisory
services since 1931. Newport Fund Management, Inc., an affiliate of Liberty
Life, serves as sub-adviser for Newport Tiger. Liberty Asset Management
Company, an affiliate of Liberty Life, serves as sub-adviser for Liberty
All-Star Equity and the current portfolio managers are J.P. Morgan
Investment Management Inc., Oppenheimer Capital, Wilke/Thompson Capital
Management Inc., Westwood Management Corp. and Palley-Needelman Asset
Management, Inc.
Massachusetts Financial Services Company ("MFS") is the investment advisor
for both Eligible Funds of MFS Trust. MFS is America's oldest mutual fund
organization. MFS and its predecessor organizations have a history of money
management dating from 1924 and the founding of the first mutual fund in
the United States, Massachusetts Investors Trust.
Stein Roe & Farnham Incorporated ("Stein Roe") is the investment adviser
for each Eligible Fund of SteinRoe Trust and sub-adviser for Stein Roe
Global Utilities. In 1986, Stein Roe was organized and succeeded to the
business of Stein Roe & Farnham, a partnership. Stein Roe is an affiliate
of Liberty Life. Stein Roe and its predecessor have provided investment
advisory and administrative services since 1932.
The investment objectives of the Eligible Funds are briefly described
below. More detailed information, including investor considerations
related to the risks of investing in a particular Eligible Fund, may be
found in the current prospectus for that Fund. An investor should read
that prospectus carefully before selecting a fund for investing. The
prospectus is available, at no charge, from a salesperson or by writing the
Principal Underwriter, Keyport Financial Services Corp. at 125 High Street,
Boston, MA 02110 or by calling (800) 437-4466.
Eligible Funds of Alger
American Fund and Variable Account
Sub-Accounts Investment Objective
Alger Growth Long-term capital appreciation
(Alger Growth Sub-Account)
Alger Small Cap Long-term capital appreciation.
(Alger Small Cap Sub-Account)
Eligible Funds of Alliance Series
Fund and Variable Account
Sub-Accounts Investment Objective
Alliance Global Bond A high level of return from a
(Alliance Global Bond combination of current income and
Sub-Account) capital appreciation by investing
in a globally diversified
portfolio of high quality debt
securities denominated in the U.S.
Dollar and a range of foreign
currencies.
Alliance Premier Growth Growth of capital rather than
(Alliance Premier Growth current income.
Sub-Account)
Eligible Funds of Liberty Trust
and Variable Account
Sub-Accounts Investment Objective
Colonial Growth & Income Primarily income and long-term
(Colonial Growth & Income capital growth and, secondarily,
Sub-Account)(formerly named preservation of capital.
Colonial-Keyport Growth and
Income Fund)
Colonial Int'l Fund for Growth Long-term capital growth, by
(Colonial Int'l Fund for Growth investing primarily in non-U.S.
Sub-Account)(formerly named equity securities.
Colonial-Keyport Int'l Fund for
Growth)
Colonial Strategic Income A high level of current income, as
(Colonial Strategic Income is consistent with prudent risk and
Sub-Account)(formerly named maximizing total return, by
Colonial-Keyport Strategic diversifying investments primarily
Income Fund) in U.S. and foreign government and
high yield, high risk corporate
debt securities.
Colonial U.S. Stock Long-term capital growth by
(Colonial U.S. Stock Sub Account) investing primarily in large
(formerly named Colonial-Keyport capitalization equity securities.
U.S. Stock Fund)
Liberty All-Star Equity Total investment return, comprised
(Liberty All-Star Equity Sub-Account) of long-term capital appreciation
and current income, through
investment primarily in a
diversified portfolio of equity
securities.
Newport Tiger
(Newport Tiger Sub-Account)(formerly Long term capital growth by
named Newport-Keyport Tiger Fund) investing primarily in equity
securities of companies located in
the nine Tigers of Asia (Hong Kong,
Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan,
Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia,
China and the Philippines).
Stein Roe Global Utilities
(Stein Roe Global Utilities Sub- Current income and long-term growth
Account) (formerly named Colonial- of capital and income.
Keyport Utilities Fund)
Eligible Funds of MFS Trust
and Variable Account
Sub-Accounts Investment Objective
MFS Emerging Growth Long-term growth of capital.
(MFS Emerging Growth Sub-Account)
MFS Research Long-term growth of capital and
(MFS Research Sub-Account) future income.
Eligible Funds of SteinRoe Trust
and Variable Account
Sub-Accounts Investment Objective
Stein Roe Balanced High total investment return
(Stein Roe Balanced through investment in a changing
Sub-Account) (formerly named SteinRoe mix of securities.
Managed Assets Fund)
Stein Roe Growth Stock Long-term growth of capital through
(Stein Roe Growth Stock investment primarily in common
Sub-Account)(formerly named SteinRoe stocks.
Managed Growth Stock Fund)
Stein Roe Money Market High current income from short-term
(Stein Roe Money Market money market instruments while
Sub-Account)(formerly named SteinRoe emphasizing preservation of capital
Cash Income Fund) and maintaining excellent
liquidity.
Stein Roe Mortgage Securities Highest possible level of current
(Stein Roe Mortgage Securities income consistent with safety of
Sub-Account)(formerly named SteinRoe principal and maintenance of
Mortgage Securities Income Fund) liquidity through investment
primarily in mortgage-backed
securities.
Stein Roe Special Venture Capital growth by investing
(Stein Roe Special Venture primarily in common stocks,
Sub-Account)(formerly named SteinRoe convertible securities, and other
Capital Appreciation Fund) securities selected for prospective
capital growth.
There is no assurance that the Eligible Funds will achieve their stated
objectives.
All the Eligible Funds are funding vehicles for variable annuity contracts
and variable life insurance policies offered by separate accounts of
Liberty Life and of insurance companies affiliated and unaffiliated with
Liberty Life. The risks involved in this "mixed and shared funding" are
disclosed in the Eligible Fund prospectuses under the following captions:
Alger American Fund - "Participating Insurance Companies and Plans";
Alliance Series Fund - "Introduction to the Fund"; Liberty Trust - "The
Trust"; MFS Trust - "Investment Concept of the Trust"; and SteinRoe Trust -
"The Trust".
Transfer of Variable Account Value
Certificate Owners may transfer Variable Account Value from one Sub-Account
to another Sub-Account and/or to the Fixed Account.
The Certificate allows Liberty Life to charge a transfer fee and to limit
the number of transfers that can be made in a specified time period.
Certificate Owners should be aware that transfer limitations may prevent a
Certificate Owner from making a transfer on the date he or she wants to,
with the result that the Certificate Owner's future Certificate Value may
be lower than it would have been had the transfer been made on the desired
date.
Currently, Liberty Life has no limit on the number or frequency of
transfers, and it is not charging a transfer fee of $25 for each transfer
in excess of 12 per Certificate Year. For transfers under different
Certificates that are being requested under powers of attorney with a
common attorney-in-fact or that are, in Liberty Life's determination, based
on the recommendation of a common investment adviser or broker/dealer,
there is a transfer limitation of one transfer every 30 days or such
shorter time period as Liberty Life may permit.
Liberty Life is also limiting each transfer to a maximum of $500,000 or
such greater amount as Liberty Life may permit. All transfers requested
for a Certificate on the same day will be treated as a single transfer and
the total combined transfer amount will be subject to the $500,000
limitation. If the $500,000 limitation is exceeded, no amount of the
transfer will be executed by Liberty Life.
In applying the $500,000 limitation, Liberty Life may treat as one transfer
all transfers requested by a Certificate Owner for multiple Certificates he
or she owns. If the $500,000 limitation is exceeded for multiple transfers
requested on the same day that are treated as a single transfer, no amount
of the transfer will be executed by Liberty Life.
In applying the $500,000 limitation to transfers requested by a common
attorney-in-fact or investment adviser, Liberty Life will treat as one
transfer all transfers requested under different Certificates that are
being requested under powers of attorney with a common attorney-in-fact or
that are, in Liberty Life's determination, based on the recommendation of a
common investment adviser or broker/dealer. If the $500,000 limitation is
exceeded for multiple transfers requested on the same day that are treated
as a single transfer, no amount of the transfer will be executed by Liberty
Life. If a transfer is executed under one Certificate and, within the next
30 days, a transfer request for another Certificate is determined by
Liberty Life to be related to the executed transfer under this paragraph's
rules, the transfer request will not be executed by Liberty Life. In order
for it to be executed, it would need to be requested again after the 30 day
period has expired and it, along with any other transfer requests that are
collectively treated as a single transfer, would need to total less than
$500,000.
Liberty Life's interest in applying these limitations is to protect the
interests of both Certificate Owners who are not engaging in significant
transfer activity and Certificate Owners who are engaging in such activity.
Liberty Life has determined that the actions of Certificate Owners engaging
in significant transfer activity among Sub-Accounts may cause an adverse
effect on the performance of the Eligible Fund for the Sub-Account
involved. The movement of Sub-Account values from one Sub-Account to
another may prevent the appropriate Eligible Fund from taking advantage of
investment opportunities because it must maintain a liquid position in
order to handle redemptions. Such movement may also cause a substantial
increase in Fund transaction costs which must be indirectly borne by
Certificate Owners.
Certificate Owners will be notified, in advance, of the imposition of any
transfer fee or of a change in the limitation on the number of transfers.
The fee will not exceed the lesser of $25 and the cost of effecting a
transfer.
Transfers must be made by Written Request unless the Certificate Owner has
by Written Request authorized Liberty Life to accept telephone transfer
requests from the Certificate Owner or from a person acting for the
Certificate Owner as an attorney-in-fact under a power of attorney. By
authorizing Liberty Life to accept telephone transfer instructions, a
Certificate Owner agrees to accept and be bound by the conditions and
procedures established by Liberty Life from time to time. The current
conditions and procedures are in Appendix B and Certificate Owners
authorizing telephone transfers will be notified, in advance, of any
changes. Written transfer requests may be made by a person acting for the
Certificate Owner as an attorney-in-fact under a power of attorney.
Transfer requests received by Liberty Life before the close of trading on
the New York Stock Exchange (currently 4:00 PM Eastern Time) will be
initiated at the close of business that day. Any requests received later
will be initiated at the close of the next business day. Each request from
a Certificate Owner to transfer value will be executed by both redeeming
and acquiring Accumulation Units on the day Liberty Life initiates the
transfer.
If 100% of any Sub-Account's value is transferred and the allocation
formula for Purchase Payments includes that Sub-Account, then the
allocation formula for future Purchase Payments will automatically change
unless the Certificate Owner instructs otherwise. For example, if the
allocation formula is 50% to Sub-Account A and 50% to Sub-Account B and all
of Sub-Account A's value is transferred to Sub-Account B, the allocation
formula will change to 100% to Sub-Account B unless the Certificate Owner
instructs otherwise.
Substitution of Eligible Funds and Other Variable Account Changes
If the shares of any of the Eligible Funds should no longer be available
for investment by the Variable Account or if in the judgment of Liberty
Life's management further investment in such fund shares should become
inappropriate in view of the purpose of the Certificate, Liberty Life may
add or substitute shares of another Eligible Fund or of another mutual fund
for Eligible Fund shares already purchased under the Certificate. No
substitution of Fund shares in any Sub-Account may take place without prior
approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission and notice to
Certificate Owners, to the extent required by the Investment Company Act of
1940.
Liberty Life has also reserved the right, subject to compliance with the
law as currently applicable or subsequently changed: (a) to operate the
Variable Account in any form permitted under the Investment Company Act of
1940 or in any other form permitted by law; (b) to take any action
necessary to comply with or obtain and continue any exemptions from the
Investment Company Act of 1940 or to comply with any other applicable law;
(c) to transfer any assets in any Sub-Account to another Sub-Account, or to
one or more separate investment accounts, or to Liberty Life's general
account; or to add, combine or remove Sub-Accounts in the Variable Account;
and (d) to change the way Liberty Life assesses charges, so long as the
aggregate amount is not increased beyond that currently charged to the
Variable Account and the Eligible Funds in connection with the
Certificates.
DEDUCTIONS
Deductions for Certificate Maintenance Charge
Liberty Life has responsibility for all administration of the Certificates
and the Variable Account. Liberty Life has sub-contracted to an affiliate
the actual day-to-day administration of the Certificates, for which it pays
a fee. This administration includes, but is not limited to, preparation of
the Certificates, maintenance of Certificate Owners' records, and all
accounting, valuation, regulatory and reporting requirements. Liberty Life
makes a Certificate Maintenance Charge for such services during the
accumulation and annuity payment periods. At the present time the
Certificate Maintenance Charge is $36 per Certificate Year. PRIOR TO THE
INCOME DATE THE CERTIFICATE MAINTENANCE CHARGE IS NOT GUARANTEED AND MAY BE
CHANGED BY LIBERTY LIFE. The Certificate Maintenance Charge will be waived
before the Income Date if:
(i) it is the first Certificate Anniversary, or
(ii) the Certificate Value is greater than or equal to $40,000 on the
Certificate Anniversary date this charge is imposed, or
(iii) Purchase Payments of at least $2,000 have been made in the prior
Certificate Year and there has been no partial withdrawal in the prior
Certificate Year.
The Certificate Maintenance Charge will be waived on and after the Income
Date for the current year if:
(i) variable annuity Option A (Income for a Fixed Number of Years) is
applicable; and
(ii) at the time of the first payment of the year, the present value of all
of the remaining payments (see "Option A" on Page 22) is greater than or
equal to $40,000.
Prior to the Income Date, the full amount of the charge will be deducted
from the Variable Account Value on each Certificate Anniversary and on the
date of any total surrender not falling on the Certificate Anniversary. On
the Income Date, a pro-rata portion of the charge due on the next
Certificate Anniversary will be deducted from the Variable Account Value.
This pro-rata charge covers the period from the prior Certificate
Anniversary to the Income Date. For example, if the Income Date occurs 73
days after that prior anniversary, then one-fifth (i.e., 73 days/365 days)
of the annual charge would be deducted on the Income Date. The charge will
be deducted from each Sub-Account in the proportion that the value of each
bears to the Variable Account Value.
Once annuity payments begin on the Income Date or once they begin after
surrender benefits are applied under a settlement option, the yearly cost
of the Certificate Maintenance Charge for a payee's annuity will be the
same as the yearly amount in effect immediately before the annuity payments
begin. Liberty Life may not later change the amount of the Certificate
Maintenance Charge deducted from the annuity payments. The charge will be
deducted on a pro-rata basis from each annuity payment. For example, if
annuity payments are monthly, then one-twelfth of the annual charge will be
deducted from each payment.
Deductions for Mortality and Expense Risk Charge
Although variable annuity payments made to Annuitants will vary in
accordance with the investment performance of the investments of the
Variable Account, they will not be affected by the mortality experience
(death rate) of persons receiving such payments or of the general
population. Liberty Life guarantees the Death Benefits described below
(see "Death Provisions"). Liberty Life assumes an expense risk since the
Certificate Maintenance Charge after the Income Date will stay the same and
not be affected by variations in expenses.
To compensate it for assuming mortality and expense risks, for each
Valuation Period Liberty Life deducts from each Sub-Account a Mortality and
Expense Risk Charge equal on an annual basis to 1.25% of the average daily
net asset value of the Sub-Account. The charge is deducted during both the
accumulation and annuity periods (i.e., both before and after the Income
Date). Less than the full charge will be deducted from Sub-Account values
attributable to Certificates issued to employees of Liberty Life and other
persons specified in "Sales of the Certificates".
Deductions for Daily Distribution Charge
Liberty Life also deducts from each Sub-Account each Valuation Period a
daily Distribution Charge equal on an annual basis to 0.15% of the average
daily net asset value of the Sub-Account. This charge compensates Liberty
Life for certain sales distribution expenses relating to the Certificate.
This charge will not be deducted from Sub-Account values attributable to
Certificates that have reached the maximum cumulative distribution charge
limit defined below and to Certificates issued to employees of Liberty Life
and other persons specified in "Sales of the Certificates". The charge is
also not deducted from Sub-Account values attributable to Annuity Units.
Liberty Life may decide not to deduct the charge from Sub-Account values
attributable to a Certificate issued in an internal exchange or transfer of
an annuity contract of Liberty Life's general account.
Deductions for Contingent Deferred Sales Charge
A sales charge is not deducted from the Certificate's Purchase Payments
when initially received. However, a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge may
be deducted upon a surrender.
In order to determine whether a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge will be
due upon a partial or total surrender, Liberty Life maintains a separate
set of records. These records identify the date and amount of each
Purchase Payment made to the Certificate and the Certificate Value over
time.
Certificate Owners will be permitted to make partial surrenders during the
Accumulation Period without incurring a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge,
as follows:
1. In any Certificate Year, Certificate Owners may withdraw an aggregate
amount not to exceed, at the time of the withdrawal, the Certificate's
earnings, which equal: (a) the Certificate Value, less (b) the portion of
the Purchase Payments not previously withdrawn.
2. In any Certificate Year after the first, Certificate Owners may
withdraw, in addition to the amount available in 1., the amount by which
10% of the Certificate Value as of the preceding Certificate Anniversary
exceeds the amount available in 1.
Contingent Deferred Sales Charges, as discussed below, will be deducted
with respect to withdrawals in excess of these amounts.
In computing the applicable charge amounts, the amount of any surrender in
any Certificate Year after the first as set forth in 2. above, will be
deducted from the Purchase Payments in chronological order from the oldest
to the most recent until the amount is fully deducted. Any amount so
deducted will not be subject to a charge.
The following additional amounts will be deducted from the Purchase
Payments in the same chronological order: the amount of any surrender in
the first Certificate Year in excess of the amount set forth in 1. above
and the amount of any surrender in any later Certificate Year in excess of
the combined amount set forth in 1. and 2. above. The Contingent Deferred
Sales Charge for each Purchase Payment from which a deduction is made will
be equal to (a) multiplied by (b), where:
(a) is the amount so deducted; and
(b) is the applicable percentage for the number of years that have elapsed
from the date of that payment to the date of surrender. Years are
measured from the month and day of payment to the same month and day
in each subsequent calendar year. The percentages applicable to each
Purchase Payment during the seven years after the date of its payment
are: 7% during year 1; 6% during year 2; 5% during year 3; 4% during
year 4; 3% during year 5; 2% during year 6; 1% during year 7; and 0%
thereafter.
The applicable Contingent Deferred Sales Charges for each Purchase Payment
are then totaled. The lesser of this total amount and the Certificate's
maximum cumulative distribution charge will be deducted from the
Certificate Value in the same manner as the surrender amount. The maximum
cumulative distribution charge is equal to (a) less (b), where (a) is 9% of
the total Purchase Payments made to the Certificate and (b) is the sum of
all prior Contingent Deferred Sale Charge deductions from the Certificate
Value and all prior Variable Account daily distribution charges applicable
to the Certificate from the 0.15% distribution charge factor. After each
surrender, Liberty Life's records will be adjusted to reflect any
deductions made from the applicable Purchase Payments.
Example: Two Purchase Payments were made one year apart for $5,000 and
$7,000. The Certificate Value has grown to an assumed $13,200 when the
Certificate Owner decides to withdraw $8,000. The Certificate Value at the
beginning of the Certificate Year of surrender was $13,000. The Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge percentages at the time of surrender are an assumed
5% for the $5,000 payment and 6% for the $7,000 payment. The portion of
the surrender representing the Certificate's earnings ($13,200 less
$12,000, or $1,200) would not be subject to charges. Since $1,200 is less
than the amount guaranteed not to have charges (10% of $13,000, or $1,300),
an additional $100 would not be subject to charges. This $100 would be
deducted from the oldest Purchase Payment, reducing it from $5,000 to
$4,900. The $1,200 increase in value plus the additional $100 leaves
$6,700 ($8,000 - 1,200 - 100) to be deducted. This $6,700 would be
deducted from the $4,900 of the first payment still left and $1,800 of the
second payment. The total Contingent Deferred Sales Charge would be $4,900
multiplied by the applicable 5% and $1,800 times the applicable 6%, or a
total of $353. The distribution charge records would now reflect $0 for
the 1st payment and $5,200 for the 2nd payment. The $8,000 requested plus
the $353 charge would be deducted from Certificate Values under the rules
specified in "Partial Withdrawals and Surrender" on Page 21.
The Contingent Deferred Sales Charge, when it is applicable, will be used
to cover the expenses of selling the Certificate, including compensation
paid to selling dealers and the cost of sales literature. Any expenses not
covered by the charge will be paid from Liberty Life's general account,
which may include monies deducted from the Variable Account for the
Mortality and Expense Risk Charge. A dealer selling the Certificate may
receive up to 6.00% of Purchase Payments with additional compensation later
based on the Certificate Value of those payments. During certain time
periods selected by Liberty Life and Keyport Financial Services Corp., the
percentage may increase to 6.25%.
The Contingent Deferred Sales Charge will be waived in the event a Covered
Person is confined in a medical facility in accordance with the provisions
and conditions of an endorsement relating to such confinements.
The Contingent Deferred Sales Charge will be eliminated under Certificates
issued to employees of Liberty Life and other persons specified in "Sales
of the Certificates".
Liberty Life may reduce or change to 0% any Contingent Deferred Sales
Charge percentage under a Certificate issued in an internal exchange or
transfer of an annuity contract of Liberty Life's general account.
Liberty Life may allow, under the Systematic Withdrawal Program and under
other permitted circumstances, all or part of the amount in 2. above to
also be available in the first Certificate Year. If so, the amount in 2.
above will be calculated by substituting the initial Purchase Payment for
the Certificate Value.
Deductions for Transfers of Variable Account Value
The Certificate allows Liberty Life to charge a transfer fee. Currently no
fee is being charged. Certificate Owners will be notified, in advance, of
the imposition of any fee. The fee will not exceed the lesser of $25 and
the cost of effecting a transfer.
Deductions for Premium Taxes
Liberty Life deducts the amount of any premium taxes levied by any state or
governmental entity when paid unless Liberty Life elects to defer such
deduction. It is not possible to describe precisely the amount of premium
tax payable on any transaction involving the Certificate offered hereby.
Such premium taxes depend, among other things, on the type of Certificate
(Qualified or Non-Qualified), on the state of residence of the Certificate
Owner, the state of residence of the Annuitant, the status of Liberty Life
within such states, and the insurance tax laws of such states. For New
York Certificates, the current premium tax rate is 0%.
Deductions for Income Taxes
Liberty Life will deduct from any amount payable under the Certificate any
income taxes that a governmental authority requires Liberty Life to
withhold with respect to that amount. See "Income Tax Withholding" and
"Tax-Sheltered Annuities".
Total Variable Account Expenses
Total Variable Account expenses in relation to the Certificate will be the
Certificate Maintenance Charge, the Mortality and Expense Risk Charge, and
the Daily Sales Charge.
The value of the assets in the Variable Account will reflect the value of
Eligible Fund shares and therefore the deductions from and expenses paid
out of the assets of the Eligible Funds. These deductions and expenses are
described in the Eligible Fund prospectuses.
OTHER SERVICES
The Programs. Liberty Life offers several investment related programs
which are available only prior to the Income Date: Asset Allocation;
Dollar Cost Averaging; Systematic Investment; and Systematic Withdrawal
Programs. A Rebalancing Program is available prior to and after the Income
Date. Under each Program, the related transfers between and among Sub-
Accounts and the Fixed Account are not counted as one of the twelve free
transfers. Each of the Programs has its own requirements, as discussed
below. Liberty Life reserves the right to terminate any Program.
If the Certificate Owner has submitted the required telephone authorization
form, certain changes may be made by telephone. For those Programs
involving transfers, Owners may change instructions by telephone with
regard to which Sub-Accounts or the Fixed Account Certificate Value may be
transferred. The current conditions and procedures are described in
Appendix B.
Dollar Cost Averaging Program. Liberty Life offers a Dollar Cost Averaging
Program that Certificate Owners may participate in by Written Request. The
program periodically transfers Accumulation Units from the Stein Roe Money
Market Sub-Account or the One-Year Guarantee Period of the Fixed Account to
other Sub-Accounts selected by the Certificate Owner. The program allows a
Certificate Owner to invest in Variable Sub-Accounts over time rather than
having to invest in those Sub-Accounts all at once. The program is
available for initial and subsequent Purchase Payments and for Certificate
Value transferred into the Stein Roe Money Market Sub-Account or the One-
Year Guarantee Period. Under the program, Liberty Life makes automatic
transfers on a periodic basis out of the Stein Roe Money Market Sub-Account
or the One-Year Guarantee Period into one or more of the other available
Sub-Accounts (Liberty Life reserves the right to limit the number of Sub-
Accounts the Certificate Owner may choose but there are currently no
limits).
The Certificate Owner by Written Request must specify the Stein Roe Money
Market Sub-Account or the One Year Guarantee Period from which the
transfers are to be made, the monthly amount to be transferred (minimum
$100) and the Sub-Account(s) to which the transfers are to be made. The
first transfer will occur at the close of the Valuation Period that
includes the 30th day after the receipt of the Certificate Owner's Written
Request. Each succeeding transfer will occur one month later (e.g., if the
30th day after the receipt date is April 8, the second transfer will occur
at the close of the Valuation Period that includes May 8). When the
remaining value is less than the monthly transfer amount, that remaining
value will be transferred and the program will end. Before this final
transfer, the Certificate Owner may extend the program by allocating
additional Purchase Payments to the Stein Roe Money Market Sub-Account or
the One Year Guarantee Period or by transferring Certificate Value to the
Stein Roe Money Market Sub-Account or the One Year Guarantee Period. The
Certificate Owner may, by Written Request or by telephone, change the
monthly amount to be transferred, change the Sub-Account(s) to which the
transfers are to be made, or end the program. The program will
automatically end if the Income Date occurs. Liberty Life reserves the
right to end the program at any time by sending the Certificate Owner a
notice one month in advance.
Written or telephone instructions must be received by Liberty Life by the
end (currently 4:00 PM Eastern Time) of the business day preceding the next
scheduled transfer in order to be in effect for that transfer. Telephone
instructions are subject to the conditions and procedures established by
Liberty Life from time to time. The current conditions and procedures
appear in Appendix B, and Certificate Owners in a dollar cost averaging
program will be notified, in advance, of any changes.
Asset Allocation Program. Certificate Owners may select from five asset
allocation model portfolios developed by Ibbotoson Associates (Model A -
Capital Preservation, Model B - Income and Growth, Model C - Moderate
Growth, Model D - Growth, and Model E - Aggressive Growth). If a
Certificate Owner elects one of the models, initial and subsequent Purchase
Payments will automatically be allocated among the Sub-Accounts in the
model. Only one model may be used in a Certificate at a time. Certificate
Owners may use a questionnaire and scoring system to determine the model
which corresponds to their risk tolerance and time horizons.
Periodically Ibbotoson Associates will review the models and may determine
that a reconfiguration of the Sub-Accounts and percentage allocations among
those Sub-Accounts is appropriate. Certificate Owners will receive
notification prior to any reconfiguration.
The Fixed Account is not available in any asset allocation model. A
Certificate Owner may allocate initial or subsequent Purchase Payments, or
Certificate Value, between an asset allocation model and the Fixed Account.
Rebalancing Program. In accordance with the Certificate Owner's election
of the relative Purchase Payment percentage allocations, Liberty Life will
automatically rebalance the Certificate Value of each Sub-Account
quarterly. On the last day of the calendar quarter, Liberty Life will
automatically rebalance the Certificate Value in each of the Sub-Accounts
to match the current Purchase Payment percentage allocations. The Program
may be terminated at any time and the percentages may be altered by Written
Request. The requested change must be received at the Office ten (10) days
prior to the end of the calendar quarter. Certificate Value allocated to
the Fixed Account is not subject to automatic rebalancing. After the
Income Date, automatic rebalancing applies only to variable annuity
payments and Liberty Life will rebalance the number of Annuity Units in
each Sub-Account (Annuity Units are used to calculate the amount of each
Sub-Account annuity payment; see "Variable Annuity Benefits" in the
Statement of Additional Information.)
Systematic Investment Program. Purchase Payments may be made by monthly
draft against the bank account of any Certificate Owner who has completed
and returned to Liberty Life a Systematic Investment Program application
and authorization form. The application and authorization form may be
obtained from Liberty Life or from the sales representative. Each
Systematic Investment Program Purchase Payment is subject to a current
minimum of $50.
Systematic Withdrawal Program. To the extent permitted by law, Liberty
Life will make monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annual distributions of
a predetermined dollar amount to the Certificate Owner that has enrolled in
the Systematic Withdrawal Program. Under the Program, all distributions
will be made directly to the Certificate Owner and will be treated for
federal tax purposes as any other withdrawal or distribution of Certificate
Value. (See "Tax Status".) The Certificate Owner may specify the amount
of each partial withdrawal, subject to a minimum of $100. Systematic
withdrawals may be made from any Sub-Account or Guarantee Period of the
Fixed Account. In each Certificate Year, portions of Certificate Value may
be withdrawn without the imposition of any Contingent Deferred Sales
Charge ("Free Withdrawal Amount"). If withdrawals pursuant to the Program
are greater than the Free Withdrawal Amount, the amount of the withdrawals
greater than the Free Withdrawal Amount will be subject to the applicable
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge. Any unrelated voluntary partial
withdrawal a Certificate Owner makes during a Certificate Year will be
aggregated with withdrawals pursuant to the Program to determine the
applicability of any Contingent Deferred Sales Charge under the Certificate
provisions regarding partial withdrawals.
Unless the Certificate Owner specifies the Sub-Account or Sub-Accounts or
the Fixed Account from which withdrawals of Certificate Value shall be made
or if the amount in a specified Sub-Account is less than the predetermined
amount, Liberty Life will make withdrawals under the Program in the manner
specified for partial withdrawals in "Partial Withdrawals and Surrender".
All Sub-Account withdrawals under the Program will be effected by canceling
the number of Accumulation Units equal in value to the amount to be
distributed to the Certificate Owner and any applicable Contingent Deferred
Sales Charge.
The Program may be combined with all other Programs except the Systematic
Investment Program.
It may not be advisable to participate in the Systematic Withdrawal Program
and incur a Contingent Deferred Sales Charge when making additional
Purchase Payments under the Certificate.
THE CERTIFICATES
Variable Account Value
The Variable Account Value for a Certificate is the sum of the value of
each Sub-Account to which values are allocated under a Certificate. The
value of each Sub-Account is determined at any time by multiplying the
number of Accumulation Units attributable to that Sub-Account by the
Accumulation Unit value for that Sub-Account at the time of determination.
The Accumulation Unit value is an accounting unit of measure used to
determine the change in an Accumulation Unit's value from Valuation Period
to Valuation Period.
Each Purchase Payment that is made results in additional Accumulation Units
being credited to the Certificate and the appropriate Sub-Account
thereunder. The number of additional units for any Sub-Account will equal
the amount allocated to that Sub-Account divided by the Accumulation Unit
value for that Sub-Account at the time of investment.
Valuation Periods
The Variable Account is valued each Valuation Period using the net asset
value of the Eligible Fund shares. A Valuation Period is the period
commencing at the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on each
Valuation Date and ending at the close of trading for the next succeeding
Valuation Date. A Valuation Date is each day that the New York Stock
Exchange is open for business. The New York Stock Exchange is currently
closed on weekends, New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,
Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day,
Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Net Investment Factor
Variable Account Value will fluctuate in accordance with the investment
results of the underlying Eligible Funds. In order to determine how these
fluctuations affect value, Liberty Life utilizes an Accumulation Unit
value. Each Sub-Account has its own Accumulation Units and value per Unit.
The Unit value applicable during any Valuation Period is determined at the
end of that period.
When Liberty Life first purchased Eligible Fund shares on behalf of the
Variable Account, Liberty Life valued each Accumulation Unit at a specified
dollar amount. The Unit value for each Sub-Account in any Valuation Period
thereafter is determined by multiplying the value for the prior period by a
net investment factor. This factor may be greater or less than 1.0;
therefore, the Accumulation Unit may increase or decrease from Valuation
Period to Valuation Period. Liberty Life calculates a net investment
factor for each Sub-Account by dividing (a) by (b) and then subtracting (c)
(i.e., (a/b) - c), where:
(a) is equal to:
(i) the net asset value per share of the Eligible Fund at the end of
the
Valuation Period; plus
(ii) the per share amount of any distribution made by the Eligible
Fund if the
"ex-dividend" date occurs during that same Valuation Period.
(b) is the net asset value per share of the Eligible Fund at the end of
the prior Valuation Period.
(c) is equal to:
(i) the Valuation Period equivalent of the Mortality and Expense Risk
Charge; plus
(ii) the Valuation Period equivalent of the daily Distribution Charge;
plus
(iii) a charge factor, if any, for any tax provision established by Liberty
Life as a result of the operations of that Sub-Account.
If a Certificate ever reaches the maximum cumulative sales charge limit
defined in "Deductions for Contingent Deferred Sales Charge" on Page 15,
Unit values without (c)(ii) above will be used thereafter. For
Certificates issued to employees of Liberty Life and other persons
specified in "Sales of the Certificates", Unit values with .35% in (c)(i)
above and without (c)(ii) above will be used. Unit values without (c)(ii)
above may be used for certain Certificates issued in an internal exchange
or transfer (see "Deductions for Daily Distribution Charge").
Modification of the Certificate
Only Liberty Life's President or Secretary may agree to alter the
Certificate or waive any of its terms. Any changes must be made in writing
and with the Certificate Owner's consent, except as may be required by
applicable law.
Right to Revoke
The Certificate Owner may return the Certificate within 10 days after he or
she receives it by delivering or mailing it to Liberty Life's Service
Office. The return of the Certificate by mail will be effective when the
postmark is affixed to a properly addressed and postage-prepaid envelope.
The returned Certificate will be treated as if Liberty Life never issued it
and Liberty Life will refund the Certificate Value.
DEATH PROVISIONS FOR NON-QUALIFIED CERTIFICATES
Death of Primary Owner, Joint Owner or Certain Non-Owner Annuitant. These
provisions apply if, before the Income Date while the Certificate is In
Force, the primary Certificate Owner or any Joint Certificate Owner dies
(whether or not the decedent is also the Annuitant) or the Annuitant dies
under a Certificate with a non-natural Certificate Owner such as a trust.
The Designated Beneficiary will control the Certificate after such a
death.
If the decedent's surviving spouse (if any) is the sole Designated
Beneficiary, the surviving spouse will automatically become the new sole
primary Certificate Owner as of the decedent's date of death. And, if the
Annuitant is the decedent, the new Annuitant will be any living contingent
annuitant, otherwise the surviving spouse. The Certificate may continue
until another death occurs (i.e., until the death of the Annuitant, primary
Certificate Owner or joint Certificate Owner). Except for this paragraph,
all of "Death Provisions" will apply to that subsequent death.
In all other cases, the Certificate may continue up to five years from the
date of death. During this period, the Designated Beneficiary may exercise
all ownership rights, including the right to make transfers or partial
surrenders or the right to totally surrender the Certificate for its
Surrender Value. If the Certificate is still in effect at the end of the
five-year period, Liberty Life will automatically end it then by paying the
Certificate Value to the Designated Beneficiary. If the Designated
Beneficiary is not then alive, Liberty Life will pay any person(s) named by
the Designated Beneficiary in a Written Request; otherwise the Designated
Beneficiary's estate.
The Covered Person under this paragraph shall be the decedent if he or she
is the first to die of the primary Certificate Owner, Joint Certificate
Owner, Annuitant, or, if there is a non-natural Certificate Owner such as a
trust, the Annuitant shall be the Covered Person. If the Covered Person
dies, the Certificate Value will be increased, as provided below, if it is
less than the Death Benefit Amount ("DBA"). The DBA is:
The DBA at issue is the initial Purchase Payment. Thereafter, the DBA is
calculated for each Valuation Period by adding any additional Purchase
Payments, and deducting any partial withdrawals, including any applicable
surrender charge. This resulting amount is the "net Purchase Payment death
benefit". The Certificate Value for each Certificate Anniversary (the
"Anniversary Value") before the 81st birthday of the Covered Person is
determined. Each Anniversary Value is increased by any Purchase Payments
made after that anniversary. This resultant value is then decreased by an
amount calculated at the time of any partial withdrawal made after that
anniversary. The amount is calculated by taking the amount of any partial
withdrawal, and dividing by the Certificate Value immediately preceding the
partial withdrawal, and then multiplying by the Anniversary Value
immediately preceding the withdrawal. The greatest Anniversary Value, as
so adjusted, (the "greatest Anniversary Value") is the DBA unless the net
Purchase Payment death benefit is higher. The net Purchase Payment death
benefit will be the DBA if such amount is higher than the greatest
Anniversary Value.
When Liberty Life receives due proof of the Covered Person's death, Liberty
Life will compare, as of the date of death, the Certificate Value to the
DBA. If the Certificate Value was less than the DBA, Liberty Life will
increase the current Certificate Value by the amount of the difference.
Note that while the amount of the difference is determined as of the date
of death, that amount is not added to the Certificate Value until Liberty
Life receives due proof of death. The amount to be credited will be
allocated to the Variable Account and/or the Fixed Account based on the
Purchase Payment allocation selection that is in effect when Liberty Life
receives due proof of death. Whether or not the Certificate Value is
increased because of this minimum death provision, the Designated
Beneficiary may, by the later of the 90th day after the Covered Person's
death and the 60th day after Liberty Life is notified of the death,
surrender the Certificate for the Certificate Withdrawal Value without any
applicable Contingent Deferred Sales Charge being deducted. For a
surrender after the applicable 90 or 60 day period and for a surrender at
any time after the death of a non-Covered Person, any applicable Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge would be deducted. If the Certificate is not
surrendered, it will continue for the time period specified above.
Payment of Benefits. Instead of receiving a lump sum, the Certificate
Owner or any Designated Beneficiary may direct by Written Request that
Liberty Life pay any benefit of $5,000 or more under an annuity payment
option that meets the following: (a) the first payment to the Designated
Beneficiary must be made no later than one year after the date of death;
(b) payments must be made over the life of the Designated Beneficiary or
over a period not extending beyond that person's life expectancy; and (c)
any payment option that provides for payments to continue after the death
of the Designated Beneficiary will not allow the successor payee to extend
the period of time over which the remaining payments are to be made.
Death of Certain Non-Certificate Owner Annuitant. These provisions apply
if, before the Income Date while the Certificate is In Force, (a) the
Annuitant dies, (b) the Annuitant is not a Certificate Owner, and (c) the
Certificate Owner is a natural person. The Certificate will continue after
the Annuitant's death. The new Annuitant will be any living contingent
annuitant, otherwise the primary Certificate Owner. If the Annuitant is the
first to die of the Certificate's primary Certificate Owner, Joint
Certificate Owner and Annuitant, then the Annuitant is the Covered Person
and the Certificate Value will be increased, as provided below, if it is
less than the Death Benefit Amount ("DBA"), as defined above. When Liberty
Life receives due proof of the Annuitant's death, Liberty Life will
compare, as of the date of death, the Certificate Value to the DBA. If the
Certificate Value was less than the DBA, Liberty Life will increase the
current Certificate Value by the amount of the difference. Note that while
the amount of the difference is determined as of the date of death, that
amount is not added to the Certificate Value until Liberty Life receives
due proof of death. The amount to be credited will be allocated to the
Variable Account and/or the Fixed Account based on the Purchase Payment
allocation selection that is in effect when Liberty Life receives due proof
of death. Whether or not the Certificate Value is increased because of
this minimum death provision, the Certificate Owner may surrender the
Certificate within 90 days of the date of the Annuitant's death for the
Certificate Withdrawal Value without any applicable Contingent Deferred
Sales Charge being deducted. For a surrender after 90 days, any applicable
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge would be deducted.
DEATH PROVISIONS FOR QUALIFIED CERTIFICATES
Death of Annuitant. If the Annuitant dies before the Income Date while the
Certificate is In Force, the Designated Beneficiary will control the
Certificate after such a death. The Certificate Value will be increased,
as provided below, if it is less than the Death Benefit Amount ("DBA") as
defined above. When Liberty Life receives due proof of the Annuitant's
death, Liberty Life will compare, as of the date of death, the Certificate
Value to the DBA. If the Certificate Value was less than the DBA, Liberty
Life will increase the current Certificate Value by the amount of the
difference. Note that while the amount of the difference is determined as
of the date of death, that amount is not added to the Certificate Value
until Liberty Life receives due proof of death. The amount to be credited
will be allocated to the Variable Account and/or the Fixed Account based on
the Purchase Payment allocation selection that is in effect when Liberty
Life receives due proof of death. Whether or not the Certificate Value is
increased because of this minimum death provision, the Designated
Beneficiary may, by the later of the 90th day after the Annuitant's death
and the 60th day after Liberty Life is notified of the death, surrender the
Certificate for the Certificate Withdrawal Value without any applicable
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge being deducted. For a surrender after the
applicable 90 or 60 day period, any applicable Contingent Deferred Sales
Charge would be deducted.
If the Certificate is not surrendered, it may continue for the time period
permitted by the Internal Revenue Code provisions applicable to the
particular Qualified Plan. During this period, the Designated Beneficiary
may exercise all ownership rights, including the right to make transfers or
partial withdrawals or the right to totally surrender the Certificate for
its Certificate Withdrawal Value. If the Certificate is still in effect at
the end of the period, Liberty Life will automatically end it then by
paying the Certificate Withdrawal Value (without the deduction of any
applicable Contingent Deferred Sales Charge) to the Designated Beneficiary.
If the Designated Beneficiary is not alive then, Liberty Life will pay any
person(s) named by the Designated Beneficiary in a Written Request;
otherwise the Designated Beneficiary's estate.
Payment of Benefits. Instead of receiving a lump sum, the Certificate
Owner or any Designated Beneficiary may direct by Written Request that
Liberty Life pay any benefit of $5,000 or more under an annuity payment
option that meets the following: (a) the first payment to the Designated
Beneficiary must be made no later than one year after the date of death;
(b) payments must be made over the life of the Designated Beneficiary or
over a period not extending beyond that person's life expectancy; and (c)
any payment option that provides for payments to continue after the death
of the Designated Beneficiary will not allow the successor payee to extend
the period of time over which the remaining payments are to be made.
CERTIFICATE OWNERSHIP
The Certificate Owner shall be the person designated in the application.
The Certificate Owner may exercise all the rights of the Certificate.
Joint Certificate Owners are permitted but not contingent Certificate
Owners.
The Certificate Owner may by Written Request change the Certificate Owner,
primary beneficiary, contingent beneficiary or contingent annuitant. An
irrevocably-named person may be changed only with the written consent of
such person.
Because a change of Certificate Owner by means of a gift (i.e., a transfer
without full and adequate consideration) may be a taxable event, a
Certificate Owner should consult a competent tax adviser as to the tax
consequences resulting from such a transfer.
Any Qualified Certificate may have limitations on transfer of ownership. A
Certificate Owner should consult the Plan Administrator and a competent tax
adviser as to the tax consequences resulting from such a transfer.
ASSIGNMENT
The Certificate Owner may assign the Certificate at any time. A copy of
any assignment must be filed with Liberty Life. The Certificate Owner's
rights and those of any revocably-named person will be subject to the
assignment. Any Qualified Certificate may have limitations on
assignability.
Because an assignment may be a taxable event, a Certificate Owner should
consult a competent tax adviser as to the tax consequences resulting from
any such assignment.
PARTIAL WITHDRAWALS AND SURRENDER
The Certificate Owner may make partial withdrawals from the Certificate.
Liberty Life must receive a Written Request and the minimum amount to be
withdrawn must be at least $300 or such lesser amount as Liberty Life may
permit in conjunction with a Systematic Withdrawal Program. If the
Certificate Value after a partial withdrawal would be below $2,500, Liberty
Life will treat the request as a withdrawal of only the excess amount over
$2,500. The amount withdrawn will include any applicable Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge and therefore the amount actually withdrawn may be
greater than the amount of the surrender check requested. Unless the
request specifies otherwise, the total amount withdrawn will be deducted
from all Sub-Accounts of the Variable Account in the ratio that the value
in each Sub-Account bears to the total Variable Account Value. If there is
no value, or insufficient value, in the Variable Account, then the amount
surrendered, or the insufficient portion, will be deducted from the Fixed
Account in the ratio that each Guarantee Period's value bears to the total
Fixed Account Value.
The Certificate Owner may totally surrender the Certificate by making a
Written Request. Surrendering the Certificate will end it. Upon
surrender, the Certificate Owner will receive the Certificate Withdrawal
Value.
Liberty Life will pay the amount of any surrender within seven days of
receipt of such request. Alternatively, the Certificate Owner may purchase
for himself or herself an annuity option with any surrender benefit of at
least $5,000. Liberty Life's consent is needed to choose an option if the
Certificate Owner is not a natural person.
Annuity options based on life contingencies cannot be surrendered after
annuity payments have begun. Option A, which is not based on life
contingencies, may be surrendered if a variable payout has been selected.
Because of the potential tax consequences of a full or partial surrender, a
Certificate Owner should consult a competent tax adviser regarding a
surrender.
ANNUITY PROVISIONS
Annuity Benefits
If the Annuitant is alive on the Income Date and the Certificate is In
Force, payments will begin under the annuity option or options the
Certificate Owner has chosen. The amount of the payments will be
determined by applying the Certificate Value increased or decreased by a
limited Market Value Adjustment of Fixed Account Value described in
Appendix A (less any premium taxes not previously deducted and less any
applicable Certificate Maintenance Charge) on the Income Date in accordance
with the option selected.
Income Date and Annuity Option
The Certificate Owner may select an Income Date and an Annuity Option at
the time of application. If the Certificate Owner does not select an
Annuity Option, Option B will automatically be designated. If the
Certificate Owner does not select an Income Date for the Annuitant, the
Income Date will automatically be the earlier of (i) Annuitant's 90th
birthday and the 10th Certificate Anniversary and (ii) any maximum date
permitted under state law.
Change in Income Date and Annuity Option
The Certificate Owner may choose or change an Annuity Option or the Income
Date by making a Written Request to Liberty Life at least 30 days prior to
the Income Date. However, any Income Date must be: (a) for fixed annuity
options, not earlier than the first Certificate Anniversary; and (b) not
later than the earlier of (i) the later of the Annuitant's 90th birthday
and the 10th Certificate Anniversary and (ii) any maximum date permitted
under state law.
Annuity Options
The Annuity Options are:
Option A: Income for a Fixed Number of Years;
Option B: Life Income with 10 Years of Payments Guaranteed; and
Option C: Joint and Last Survivor Income.
Other options may be arranged by mutual consent. Each option is available
in two forms -- as a variable annuity for use with the Variable Account and
as a fixed annuity for use with Liberty Life's general account Fixed
Account. Variable annuity payments will fluctuate while fixed annuity
payments will not. The dollar amount of each fixed annuity payment will be
determined by deducting from the Fixed Account Value increased or decreased
by a limited Market Value Adjustment described in Appendix A any applicable
premium taxes not previously deducted and then dividing the remainder by
$1,000 and multiplying the result by the greater of: (a) the applicable
factor shown in the appropriate table in the Certificate; or (b) the factor
currently offered by Liberty Life at the time annuity payments begin. This
current factor may be based on the sex of the payee unless to do so would
be prohibited by law.
If no Annuity Option is selected, Option B will automatically be applied.
Unless the Certificate Owner chooses otherwise, Variable Account Value,
(less any applicable premium taxes not previously deducted and less any
applicable Certificate Maintenance Charge) will be applied to a variable
annuity option and Fixed Account Value increased or decreased by a limited
Market Value Adjustment described in Appendix A (less any applicable
premium taxes not previously deducted) will be applied to a fixed annuity
option. Any premium taxes will be deducted proportionately from both the
Variable Account Value and Fixed Account Value. Whether variable or fixed,
the same Certificate Value applied to each option will produce a different
initial annuity payment as well as different subsequent payments.
The payee is the person who will receive the sum payable under an annuity
option. Any annuity option that provides for payments to continue after
the death of the payee will not allow the successor payee to extend the
period of time over which the remaining payments are to be made.
If the amount available to apply under any variable or fixed option is less
than $5,000, Liberty Life has reserved the right to pay such amount in one
sum to the payee in lieu of the payment otherwise provided for.
Annuity payments will be made monthly unless quarterly, semi-annual or
annual payments are chosen by Written Request. However, if any payment
provided for would be or becomes less than $100, Liberty Life has the right
to reduce the frequency of payments to such an interval as will result in
each payment being at least $100.
Option A: Income For a Fixed Number of Years. Liberty Life will pay an
annuity for a chosen number of years, not fewer than 5 nor over 50 (a
period of years over 30 may be chosen only if it does not exceed the
difference between age 100 and the Annuitant's age on the date of the first
payment). At any time while variable annuity payments are being made, the
payee may elect to receive the following amount: (a) the present value of
the remaining payments, commuted at the interest rate used to create the
annuity factor for this option (this interest rate is 5% per year unless 3%
per year is chosen by Written Request at the time the option is selected);
less (b) any Contingent Deferred Sales Charge due by treating the value
defined in (a) as a total surrender. (See "Deductions for Contingent
Deferred Sales Charge".) Instead of receiving a lump sum, the payee may
elect another payment option and the amount applied to the option will not
be reduced by the charge defined in (b) above. If, at the death of the
payee, Option A payments have been made for fewer than the chosen number of
years:
(a) payments will be continued during the remainder of the period to the
successor payee; or
(b) that successor payee may elect to receive in a lump sum the present
value of the remaining payments, commuted at the interest rate used to
create the annuity factor for this option. For the variable annuity,
this interest rate is 5% per year unless 3% per year had been chosen
by the payee at the time the option was selected.
The Mortality and Expense Risk Charge is deducted during the Option A
payment period if a variable payout has been selected, but Liberty Life has
no mortality risk during this period.
If annual payments are chosen for Option A and a variable payout has been
selected, Liberty Life has available a "stabilizing" payment option that
may be chosen. Each annual payment will be determined as described in
"Variable Annuity Payment Values". Each annual payment will then be placed
in Liberty Life's general account, from which it will be paid out in twelve
equal monthly payments. The sum of the twelve monthly payments will exceed
the annual payment amount because of an interest rate factor used by
Liberty Life that will vary from year to year. The commutation method
described above for calculating the present value of remaining payments
applies to the annual payments. Any monthly payments remaining before the
next annual payment will be commuted at the interest rate used to determine
that year's monthly payments.
See "Annuity Payments" on Page 24 for the manner in which Option A may be
taxed.
Option B: Life Income with 10 Years of Payments Guaranteed. Liberty Life
will pay an annuity during the lifetime of the payee. If, at the death of
the payee, payments have been made for fewer than 10 years:
(a) payments will be continued during the remainder of the period to the
successor payee; or
(b) that successor payee may elect to receive in a lump sum the present
value of the remaining payments, commuted at the interest rate used to
create the annuity factor for this option. For the variable annuity,
this interest rate is 5% per year unless 3% per year had been chosen
by the payee at the time the option was selected.
The amount of the annuity payments will depend on the age of the payee on
the Income Date and it may also depend on the payee's sex.
Option C: Joint and Last Survivor Income. Liberty Life will pay an annuity
for as long as either the payee or a designated second natural person is
alive. The amount of the annuity payments will depend on the age of both
persons on the Income Date and it may also depend on each person's sex. IT
IS POSSIBLE UNDER THIS OPTION TO RECEIVE ONLY ONE ANNUITY PAYMENT IF BOTH
PAYEES DIE AFTER THE RECEIPT OF THE FIRST PAYMENT OR TO RECEIVE ONLY TWO
ANNUITY PAYMENTS IF BOTH PAYEES DIE AFTER RECEIPT OF THE SECOND PAYMENT AND
SO ON.
Variable Annuity Payment Values
The amount of the first variable annuity payment is determined by Liberty
Life using an annuity purchase rate that is based on an assumed annual
investment return of 5% per year, unless 3% is chosen by Written Request.
Subsequent variable annuity payments will fluctuate in amount and reflect
whether the actual investment return of the selected Sub-Account(s) (after
deducting the Mortality and Expense Risk Charge) is better or worse than
the assumed investment return. The total dollar amount of each variable
annuity payment will be equal to: (a) the sum of all Sub-Account payments;
less (b) the pro-rata amount of the annual Certificate Maintenance Charge.
Currently, a payee may instruct Liberty Life to change the Sub-Account(s)
used to determine the amount of the variable annuity payments unlimited
times every 12 months.
Proof of Age, Sex, and Survival of Annuitant
Liberty Life may require proof of age, sex or survival of any payee upon
whose age, sex or survival payments depend. If the age or sex has been
misstated, Liberty Life will compute the amount payable based on the
correct age and sex. If income payments have begun, any underpayments
Liberty Life may have made will be paid in full with the next annuity
payment. Any overpayments, unless repaid in one sum, will be deducted from
future annuity payments until Liberty Life is repaid in full.
SUSPENSION OF PAYMENTS
Liberty Life reserves the right to postpone surrender payments from the
Fixed Account for up to six months. Liberty Life reserves the right to
suspend or postpone any type of payment from the Variable Account for any
period when: (a) the New York Stock Exchange is closed other than customary
weekend or holiday closings; (b) trading on the Exchange is restricted; (c)
an emergency exists as a result of which it is not reasonably practicable
to dispose of securities held in the Variable Account or determine their
value; or (d) the Securities and Exchange Commission permits delay for the
protection of security holders. The applicable rules and regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission shall govern as to whether the
conditions described in (b) and (c) exist.
TAX STATUS
Introduction
The Certificate is designed for use by individuals in retirement plans
which may or may not be Qualified Plans under the provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code (the "Code"). The ultimate effect of federal income
taxes on the Certificate Value, on annuity payments, and on the economic
benefit to the Certificate Owner, Annuitant or Designated Beneficiary
depends on the type of retirement plan for which the Certificate is
purchased and upon the tax and employment status of the individual
concerned. The discussion contained herein is general in nature and is not
intended as tax advice. Each person concerned should consult a competent
tax adviser. No attempt is made to consider any applicable state or other
tax laws. Moreover, the discussion herein is based upon Liberty Life's
understanding of current federal income tax laws as they are currently
interpreted. No representation is made regarding the likelihood of
continuation of those current federal income tax laws or of the current
interpretations by the Internal Revenue Service.
Taxation of Annuities in General
Section 72 of the Code governs taxation of annuities in general. There are
no income taxes on increases in the value of a Certificate until a
distribution occurs, in the form of a full surrender, a partial surrender,
an assignment or gift of the Certificate, or annuity payments. A trust or
other entity owning a Non-Qualified Certificate other than as an agent for
an individual is taxed differently; increases in the value of a Certificate
are taxed yearly whether or not a distribution occurs.
Surrenders, Assignments and Gifts. A Certificate Owner who fully
surrenders his or her Certificate is taxed on the portion of the payment
that exceeds his or her cost basis in the Certificate. For Non-Qualified
Certificates, the cost basis is generally the amount of the Purchase
Payments made for the Certificate and the taxable portion of the surrender
payment is taxed as ordinary income. For Qualified Certificates, the cost
basis is generally zero and the taxable portion of the surrender payment is
generally taxed as ordinary income subject to special 5-year income
averaging for lump-sum distributions received before January 1, 2000. A
Designated Beneficiary receiving a lump sum surrender benefit after the
death of the Annuitant or Certificate Owner is taxed on the portion of the
amount that exceeds the Certificate Owner's cost basis in the Certificate.
If the Designated Beneficiary elects to receive annuity payments within 60
days of the decedent's death, different tax rules apply. See "Annuity
Payments" below. For Non-Qualified Certificates, the tax treatment
applicable to Designated Beneficiaries may be contrasted with the income-
tax-free treatment applicable to persons inheriting and then selling mutual
fund shares with a date-of-death value in excess of their basis.
Partial withdrawals received under Non-Qualified Certificates prior to
annuitization are first included in gross income to the extent Certificate
Value exceeds Purchase Payments. Then, to the extent the Certificate Value
does not exceed Purchase Payments, such withdrawals are treated as a non-
taxable return of principal to the Certificate Owner. For partial
withdrawals under a Qualified Certificate, payments are treated first as a
non-taxable return of principal up to the cost basis and then a taxable
return of income. Since the cost basis of Qualified Certificates is
generally zero, partial surrender amounts will generally be fully taxed as
ordinary income.
A Certificate Owner who assigns or pledges a Non-Qualified Certificate is
treated as if he or she had received the amount assigned or pledged and
thus is subject to taxation under the rules applicable to partial
withdrawals or surrenders. A Certificate Owner who gives away the
Certificate (i.e., transfers it without full and adequate consideration) to
anyone other than his or her spouse is treated for income tax purposes as
if he or she had fully surrendered the Certificate.
A special computational rule applies if Liberty Life issues to the
Certificate Owner, during any calendar year, (a) two or more Certificates
or (b) one or more Certificates and one or more of Liberty Life's other
annuity contracts. Under this rule, the amount of any distribution
includable in the Certificate Owner's gross income is to be determined
under Section 72(e) of the Code by treating all the Liberty Life contracts
as one contract. Liberty Life believes that this means the amount of any
distribution under one Certificate will be includable in gross income to
the extent that at the time of distribution the sum of the values for all
the Certificates or contracts exceeds the sum of the cost bases for all the
contracts.
Annuity Payments. The non-taxable portion of each variable annuity payment
is determined by dividing the cost basis of the Certificate that is
allocated to Variable Account Value by the total number of expected
payments while the non-taxable portion of each fixed annuity payment is
determined by an "exclusion ratio" formula which establishes the ratio that
the cost basis of the Certificate that is allocated to Fixed Account Value
bears to the total expected value of annuity payments for the term of the
annuity. The remaining portion of each payment is taxable. Such taxable
portion is taxed at ordinary income rates. For Qualified Certificates, the
cost basis is generally zero. With annuity payments based on life
contingencies, the payments will become fully taxable once the payee lives
longer than the life expectancy used to calculate the non-taxable portion
of the prior payments. Because variable annuity payments can increase over
time and because certain payment options provide for a lump sum right of
commutation, it is possible that the IRS could determine that variable
annuity payments should not be taxed as described above but instead should
be taxed as if they were received under an agreement to pay interest. This
determination would result in a higher amount (up to 100%) of certain
payments being taxable.
With respect to the "stabilizing" payment option available under Annuity
Option A, pursuant to which each annual payment is placed in Liberty Life's
general account and paid out with interest in twelve equal monthly
payments, it is possible the IRS could determine that receipt of the first
monthly payout of each annual payment is constructive receipt of the entire
annual payment. Thus, the total taxable amount for each annual payment
would be accelerated to the time of the first monthly payout and reported
in the tax year in which the first monthly payout is received.
Penalty Tax. Payments received by Certificate Owners, Annuitants, and
Designated Beneficiaries under Certificates may be subject to both ordinary
income taxes and a penalty tax equal to 10% of the amount received that is
includable in income. The penalty tax is not imposed on amounts received:
(a) after the taxpayer attains age 59-1/2; (b) in a series of substantially
equal payments made for life or life expectancy; (c) after the death of the
Certificate Owner (or, where the Certificate Owner is not a human being,
after the death of the Annuitant); (d) if the taxpayer becomes totally and
permanently disabled; or (e) under a Non-Qualified Certificate's annuity
payment option that provides for a series of substantially equal payments,
provided only one Purchase Payment is made to the Certificate, the
Certificate is not issued as a result of a Section 1035 exchange, and the
first annuity payment begins in the first Certificate Year.
Income Tax Withholding. Liberty Life is required to withhold federal
income taxes on taxable amounts paid under Certificates unless the
recipient elects not to have withholding apply. Liberty Life will notify
recipients of their right to elect not to have withholding apply. See "Tax-
Sheltered Annuities" (TSAs) for an alternative type of withholding that may
apply to distributions from TSAs that are eligible for rollover to another
TSA or an individual retirement annuity or account (IRA).
Section 1035 Exchanges. A Non-Qualified Certificate may be purchased with
proceeds from the surrender of an existing annuity contract. Such a
transaction may qualify as a tax-free exchange pursuant to Section 1035 of
the Code. It is Liberty Life's understanding that in such an event: (a)
the new Certificate will be subject to the distribution-at-death rules
described in "Death Provisions for Non-Qualified Certificates"; (b)
Purchase Payments made between August 14, 1982 and January 18, 1985 and the
income allocable to them will, following an exchange, no longer be covered
by a "grandfathered" exception to the penalty tax for a distribution of
income that is allocable to an investment made over ten years prior to the
distribution; and (c) Purchase Payments made before August 14, 1982 and the
income allocable to them will, following an exchange, continue to receive
the following "grandfathered" tax treatment under prior law: (i) the
penalty tax does not apply to any distribution; (ii) partial withdrawals
are treated first as a non-taxable return of principal and then a taxable
return of income; and (iii) assignments are not treated as surrenders
subject to taxation. Liberty Life's understanding of the above is
principally based on legislative reports prepared by the Staff of the
Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation.
Diversification Standards. The U.S. Secretary of the Treasury has issued
regulations that set standards for diversification of the investments
underlying variable annuity contracts (other than pension plan contracts).
The Eligible Funds are designed to be managed to meet the diversification
requirements for the Certificate as those requirements may change from time
to time. If the diversification requirements are not satisfied, the
Certificate would not be treated as an annuity contract. As a consequence
to the Certificate Owner, income earned on a Certificate would be taxable
to the Certificate Owner in the year in which diversification requirements
were not satisfied, including previously non-taxable income earned in prior
years. As a further consequence, Liberty Life would be subjected to
federal income taxes on assets in the Variable Account.
The Secretary of the Treasury announced in September 1986 that he expects
to issue regulations which will prescribe the circumstances in which a
Certificate Owner's control of the investments of a segregated asset
account may cause the Certificate Owner, rather than the insurance company,
to be treated as the owner of the assets of the account. The regulations
could impose requirements that are not reflected in the Certificate.
Liberty Life, however, has reserved certain rights to alter the Certificate
and investment alternatives so as to comply with such regulations. Since
the regulations have not been issued, there can be no assurance as to the
content of such regulations or even whether application of the regulations
will be prospective. For these reasons, Certificate Owners are urged to
consult with their own tax advisers.
Qualified Plans
The Certificate is designed for use with several types of Qualified Plans.
The tax rules applicable to participants in such Qualified Plans vary
according to the type of plan and the terms and conditions of the plan
itself. Therefore, no attempt is made herein to provide more than general
information about the use of the Certificate with the various types of
Qualified Plans. Participants under such Qualified Plans as well as
Certificate Owners, Annuitants, and Designated Beneficiaries are cautioned
that the rights of any person to any benefits under such Qualified Plans
may be subject to the terms and conditions of the plans themselves
regardless of the terms and conditions of the Certificate issued in
connection therewith. Following are brief descriptions of the various
types of Qualified Plans and of the use of the Certificate in connection
therewith. Purchasers of the Certificate should seek competent advice
concerning the terms and conditions of the particular Qualified Plan and
use of the Certificate with that Plan.
Tax-Sheltered Annuities
Section 403(b) of the Code permits public school employees and employees of
certain types of charitable, educational and scientific organizations
specified in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code to purchase annuity contracts
and, subject to certain contribution limitations, exclude the amount of
Purchase Payments from gross income for tax purposes. However, such
Purchase Payments may be subject to Social Security (FICA) taxes. This
type of annuity contract is commonly referred to as a "Tax-Sheltered
Annuity" (TSA).
Section 403(b)(11) of the Code contains distribution restrictions.
Specifically, benefits may be paid, through surrender of the Certificate or
otherwise, only (a) when the employee attains age 59-1/2, separates from
service, dies or becomes totally and permanently disabled (within the
meaning of Section 72(m)(7) of the Code) or (b) in the case of hardship. A
hardship distribution must be of employee contributions only and not of any
income attributable to such contributions. Section 403(b)(11) does not
apply to distributions attributable to assets held as of December 31, 1988.
Thus, it appears that the law's restrictions would apply only to
distributions attributable to contributions made after 1988, to earnings on
those contributions, and to earnings on amounts held as of 12/31/88. The
Internal Revenue Service has indicated that the distribution restrictions
of Section 403(b)(11) are not applicable when TSA funds are being
transferred tax-free directly to another TSA issuer, provided the
transferred funds continue to be subject to the Section 403(b)(11)
distribution restrictions.
Liberty Life will notify a Certificate Owner who has requested a
distribution from a Certificate if all or part of such distribution is
eligible for rollover to another TSA or to an individual retirement annuity
or account (IRA). Any amount eligible for rollover treatment will be
subject to mandatory federal income tax withholding at a 20% rate if the
Certificate Owner receives the amount rather than directing Liberty Life by
Written Request to transfer the amount as a direct rollover to another TSA
or IRA.
Individual Retirement Annuities
Section 408(b) of the Code permits eligible individuals to contribute to an
individual retirement program known as an "Individual Retirement Annuity."
These Individual Retirement Annuities are subject to limitations on the
amount which may be contributed, the persons who may be eligible, and on
the time when distributions may commence. In addition, distributions from
certain types of Qualified Plans may be placed on a tax-deferred basis into
an Individual Retirement Annuity.
Corporate Pension and Profit-Sharing Plans
Sections 401(a) and 403(a) of the Code permit corporate employers to
establish various types of retirement plans for employees. Such retirement
plans may permit the purchase of the Certificate to provide benefits under
the plans.
Deferred Compensation Plans With Respect to Service for State and Local
Governments
Section 457 of the Code, while not actually providing for a Qualified Plan
as that term is normally used, provides for certain deferred compensation
plans that enjoy special income tax treatment with respect to service for
tax-exempt organizations, state governments, local governments, and
agencies and instrumentalities of such governments. The Certificate can be
used with such plans. Under such plans, a participant may specify the form
of investment in which his or her participation will be made. However, all
such investments are owned by and subject to the claims of general
creditors of the sponsoring employer.
VARIABLE ACCOUNT VOTING PRIVILEGES
In accordance with its view of present applicable law, Liberty Life will
vote the shares of the Eligible Funds held in the Variable Account at
regular and special meetings of the shareholders of the Eligible Funds in
accordance with instructions received from persons having the voting
interest in the Variable Account. Liberty Life will vote shares for which
it has not received instructions in the same proportion as it votes shares
for which it has received instructions.
However, if the Investment Company Act of 1940 or any regulation thereunder
should be amended or if the present interpretation thereof should change,
and as a result Liberty Life determines that it is permitted to vote the
shares of the Eligible Funds in its own right, it may elect to do so.
The person having the voting interest under a Certificate prior to the
Income Date shall be the Certificate Owner. The number of shares held in
each Sub-Account which are attributable to each Certificate Owner is
determined by dividing the Certificate Owner's Variable Account Value in
each Sub-Account by the net asset value of the applicable share of the
Eligible Fund. The person having the voting interest after the Income Date
under an annuity payment option shall be the payee. The number of shares
held in the Variable Account which are attributable to each payee is
determined by dividing the reserve for the annuity payments by the net
asset value of one share. During the annuity payment period, the votes
attributable to a payee decrease as the reserves underlying the payments
decrease.
The number of shares in which a person has a voting interest will be
determined as of the date coincident with the date established by the
respective Eligible Fund for determining shareholders eligible to vote at
the meeting of the Fund and voting instructions will be solicited by
written communication prior to such meeting in accordance with the
procedures established by the Eligible Fund.
Each person having the voting interest in the Variable Account will receive
periodic reports relating to the Eligible Fund(s) in which he or she has an
interest, proxy material and a form with which to give such voting
instructions with respect to the proportion of the Eligible Fund shares
held in the Variable Account corresponding to his or her interest in the
Variable Account.
SALES OF THE CERTIFICATES
Keyport Financial Services Corp. ("KFSC") serves as the Principal
Underwriter for the Certificate described in this prospectus. The
Certificate will be sold by salespersons who represent Liberty Life
Assurance Company of Boston, an affiliate of KFSC, as variable annuity
agents and who are registered representatives of broker/dealers who have
entered into distribution agreements with KFSC. KFSC is registered under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is a member of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. It is located at 125 High Street,
Boston, Massachusetts 02110.
Different Certificates may be sold (1) to a person who is an officer,
director, or employee of Liberty Life, or an affiliate of Liberty Life, a
trustee or officer of an Eligible Fund, an employee of the investment
adviser or sub-investment adviser of an Eligible Fund, or an employee or
associated person of an entity which has entered into a sales agreement
with the Principal Underwriter for the distribution of Certificates, or (2)
to any Qualified Plan established for such a person. Such Certificates may
be different from the Certificates sold to others in that (1) they are not
subject to the deduction for the Certificate Maintenance Charge, the asset-
based Sales charge or the Contingent Deferred Sales Charge and (2) they
have a Mortality and Expense Risk Charge of 0.35% per year.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
There are no legal proceedings to which the Variable Account or the
Principal Underwriter are a party. Liberty Life is engaged in various
kinds of routine litigation which in its judgment is not of material
importance in relation to the total capital and surplus of Liberty Life.
INQUIRIES BY CERTIFICATE OWNERS
Certificate Owners with questions about their Certificates may write
Liberty Life Service Office, 125 High Street, Boston, MA 02110, or call
(800) 367-3653.
TABLE OF CONTENTS-STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Page
Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston 2
Variable Annuity Benefits 2
Variable Annuity Payment Values 2
Re-Allocating Sub-Account Payments 4
Safekeeping of Assets 4
Principal Underwriter 4
Experts 4
Investment Performance 5
Yields for Stein Roe Money Market Sub-Account 6
Financial Statements 7
Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston 9
<PAGE>
APPENDIX A
THE FIXED ACCOUNT (ALSO KNOWN AS THE MODIFIED GUARANTEED ANNUITY ACCOUNT)
Introduction
This Appendix describes the Fixed Account option available under the
Certificate.
FIXED ACCOUNT VALUES PROVIDED BY THE CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO A MARKET
VALUE ADJUSTMENT, THE OPERATION OF WHICH MAY RESULT IN UPWARD OR DOWNWARD
ADJUSTMENTS IN AMOUNTS TRANSFERRED AND AMOUNTS PAID (INCLUDING WITHDRAWALS,
SURRENDERS, DEATH BENEFITS, AND AMOUNTS APPLIED TO PURCHASE ANNUITY
PAYMENTS) TO A CERTIFICATE OWNER OR OTHER PAYEE. IN NO EVENT WILL THE
DOWNWARD MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT ELIMINATE INTEREST AT THE RATE OF 3% PER
YEAR APPLIED TO THE AMOUNT ALLOCATED TO A GUARANTEED PERIOD. PAYMENTS MADE
FROM FIXED ACCOUNT VALUES AT THE END OF THEIR GUARANTEE PERIOD ARE NOT
SUBJECT TO THE MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT.
Purchase Payments allocated to the Fixed Account option become part of
Liberty Life's general account. Because of applicable exemptive and
exclusionary provisions, interests in the Fixed Account options have not
been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 ("1933 Act"), nor is the
general account an investment company under the Investment Company Act.
Accordingly, neither the general account, the Fixed Account option, nor any
interest therein, is subject to regulation under the 1933 Act or the
Investment Company Act. Liberty Life understands that the Securities and
Exchange Commission has not reviewed the disclosure in the prospectus
relating to the general account and the Fixed Account option.
Investments in the Fixed Account and Capital Protection Plus
Purchase Payments will be allocated to the Fixed Account in accordance with
the selection made by the Certificate Owner in the application. Any
selection must specify that percentage of the Purchase Payment that is to
be allocated to each Guarantee Period of the Fixed Account. The
percentage, if not zero, must be at least 5%. The Certificate Owner may
change the allocation percentages without fee, penalty or other charge.
Allocation changes must be made by Written Request unless the Certificate
Owner has by Written Request authorized Liberty Life to accept telephone
allocation instructions from the Certificate Owner. By authorizing Liberty
Life to accept telephone changes, a Certificate Owner agrees to accept and
be bound by the conditions and procedures established by Liberty Life from
time to time. The current conditions and procedures are in Appendix B and
Certificate Owners authorizing telephone allocation instructions will be
notified, in advance, of any changes.
Liberty Life currently offers Guarantee Periods of 1, 3, 5, and 7 years.
Liberty Life may change at any time the number of Guarantee Periods it
offers under newly-issued and in-force Certificates, as well as the length
of those Guarantee Periods. If Liberty Life stops offering a particular
Guarantee Period, existing Fixed Account Value in such Guarantee Period
would not be affected until the end of the Period (at that time, a Period
of the same length would not be a transfer option). Each Guarantee Period
currently offered is available for initial and subsequent Purchase Payments
and for transfers of Certificate Value.
Liberty Life offers a Capital Protection Plus program that a Certificate
Owner may request. Under this program, Liberty Life will allocate part of
the Purchase Payment to the Guarantee Period selected by the Certificate
Owner so that such part, based on that Guarantee Period's interest rate in
effect on the date of allocation, will equal at the end of the Guarantee
Period the total Purchase Payment. The rest of the Purchase Payment will be
allocated to the Sub-Account(s) of the Variable Account based on the
Certificate Owner's allocation. If any part of the Fixed Account Value is
surrendered or transferred before the end of the Guarantee Period, the
Value at the end of that Period will not equal the original Purchase
Payment amount.
For an example of Capital Protection Plus, assume Liberty Life receives a
Purchase Payment of $10,000 when the interest rate for the 7-year Guarantee
Period is 6.75% per year. Liberty Life will allocate $6,331 to that
Guarantee Period because $6,331 will increase at that interest rate to
$10,000 after 7 years. The remaining $3,669 of the payment will be
allocated to the Sub-Account(s) selected by the Certificate Owner.
Fixed Account Value
The Fixed Account Value at any time is equal to:
(a) all Purchase Payments allocated to the Fixed Account plus the interest
subsequently credited on those payments; plus
(b) any Variable Account Value transferred to the Fixed Account plus the
interest subsequently credited on the transferred value; less
(c) any prior partial withdrawals from the Fixed Account, including any
charges therefor; less
(d) any Fixed Account Value transferred to the Variable Account.
Interest Credits
Liberty Life will credit interest daily (based on an annual compound
interest rate) to Purchase Payments allocated to the Fixed Account at rates
declared by Liberty Life for Guarantee Periods of one or more years from
the month and day of allocation. Any rate set by Liberty Life will be at
least 3% per year.
Liberty Life's method of crediting interest means that Fixed Account Value
might be subject to different rates for each Guarantee Period the
Certificate Owner has selected in the Fixed Account. For purposes of this
section, Variable Account Value transferred to the Fixed Account and Fixed
Account Value renewed for another Guarantee Period shall be treated as a
Purchase Payment allocation.
Application of Market Value Adjustment
Any surrender, withdrawal, transfer, or application to an Annuity Option of
Fixed Account Value from a Guarantee Period of three years or more is
subject to a limited Market Value Adjustment, unless: (1) the effective
date of the transaction is at the end of the Guarantee Period; or (2) the
effective date of a surrender is within 90 days of the date of death of the
first Covered Person to die.
If a Market Value Adjustment applies to either a surrender or the
application to an Annuity Option, then any negative Market Value Adjustment
amount will be deducted from the Certificate Value and any positive Market
Value Adjustment amount will be added to the Certificate Value. If a Market
Value Adjustment applies to either a partial withdrawal or a transfer, then
any negative Market Value Adjustment amount will be deducted from the
partial withdrawal or transfer amount after the withdrawal or transfer
amount has been deducted from the Fixed Account Value, and any positive
Market Value Adjustment amount will be added to the applicable amount after
it has been deducted from the Fixed Account Value.
No Market Value Adjustment is ever applicable to Guarantee Periods of fewer
than three years.
Effect of Market Value Adjustment
A Market Value Adjustment reflects the change in prevailing current
interest rates since the beginning of a Guarantee Period. The Market Value
Adjustment may be positive or negative, but any negative Adjustment may be
limited in amount (see Market Value Adjustment Factor below).
Generally, if the Treasury Rate for the Guarantee Period is lower than the
Treasury Rate for a new Guarantee Period with a length equal to the time
remaining in the Guarantee Period, then the application of the limited
Market Value Adjustment will result in a reduction of the amount being
surrendered, withdrawn, transferred, or applied to an Annuity Option.
Similarly, if the Treasury Rate for the Guarantee Period is higher than the
Treasury Rate for a new Guarantee Period with a length equal to the time
remaining in the Guarantee Period, then the application of the Market Value
Adjustment will result in an increase in the amount being surrendered,
withdrawn, transferred, or applied to an Annuity Option.
The Market Value Adjustment will be applied before the deduction of any
applicable surrender charges or applicable taxes.
Market Value Adjustment Factor
The Market Value Adjustment is computed by multiplying the amount being
surrendered, withdrawn, transferred, or applied to a Payment Option, by the
Market Value Adjustment Factor. The Market Value Adjustment Factor is
calculated as the larger of Formula (1) or (2):
(1) (1+a)/(1+b)(n/12) - 1
where:
"a" is the Treasury Rate for the number of Guarantee Period Years in the
Guarantee Period;
"b" is the Treasury Rate for a period equal to the time remaining (rounded
up to the next whole number of Guarantee Period Years) to the expiration of
the Guarantee Period; and
"n" is the number of complete Guarantee Period Months remaining before the
expiration of the Guarantee Period.
(2) (1.03)/(1+i)(y+d/#) - 1
where:
"i" is the Guaranteed Interest Rate for the Guarantee Period;
"y" is the number of complete Guarantee Period Years that have elapsed in the
Guarantee Period;
"d" is the number of days since the last Guarantee Period Anniversary or,
if "y" is zero, the number of days since the start of the Guarantee Period;
and
"#" is the number of days in the current Guarantee Period Year (i.e., the
sum of "d" and the number of days until the next Guarantee Period
Anniversary).
In Formulas (1) and (2), all references to Guarantee Period, Guarantee
Period Anniversary, Guarantee Period Month, and Guarantee Period Year
relate to the Guarantee Period from which is being taken the amount being
surrendered, withdrawn, transferred, or applied to an Annuity Option.
As stated above, the Formula (2) amount will apply only if it is greater
than the Formula (1) amount. This will occur only when the Formula (1)
amount is negative and the Formula (2) amount is a smaller negative number.
Formula (2) thus ensures that a full (normal) negative Market Value
Adjustment of Formula (1) will not apply to the extent it would decrease
the Guarantee Period's Fixed Account Value (before the deduction of any
applicable surrender charges or any applicable taxes) below the following
amount:
(a) the amount allocated to the Guarantee Period; less
(b) any prior systematic or partial withdrawal amounts; less
(c) any prior amounts transferred to the Variable Account or to
another Guarantee Period in the Fixed Account; plus
(d) interest on the above items (a) through (c) credited annually at
a rate of 3% per year.
Treasury Rates
The Treasury Rate for a Guarantee Period is the interest rate in the
Treasury Constant Maturity Series, as published by the Federal Reserve
Board, for a maturity equal to the number of years specified in "a" and "b"
in Formula (1) above. Weekly Series are published at the beginning of the
following week. To determine "a", Liberty Life uses the weekly Series first
published on or after the most recent Determination Date which occurs on or
before the Start Date for the Guarantee Period, except that if the Start
Date is the same as the Determination Date or the date of publication, or
any date in between, Liberty Life instead uses the weekly Series first
published after the prior Determination Date. To determine "b", Liberty
Life uses the weekly Series first published on or after the most recent
Determination Date which occurs on or before the date on which the Market
Value Adjustment Factor is calculated, except that if the calculation date
is the same as the Determination Date or the date of publication, or any
date in between, Liberty Life instead uses the weekly Series first
published after the prior Determination Date. The Determination Dates are
the last business day prior to the first and fifteenth of each calendar
month.
If the number of years specified in "a" or "b" is not equal to a maturity
in the Treasury Constant Maturity Series, the Treasury Rate will be
determined by straight line interpolation between the interest rates of the
next highest and next lowest maturities.
If the Treasury Constant Maturity Series becomes unavailable, Liberty Life
will adopt a comparable constant maturity index or, if such a comparable
index also is not available, Liberty Life will replicate calculation of the
Treasury Constant Maturity Series Index based on U.S. Treasury Security
coupon rates.
End of A Guarantee Period
Liberty Life will notify a Certificate Owner in writing at least 30 days
prior to the end of a Guarantee Period. At the end of the Guarantee Period,
Liberty Life will automatically transfer the Guarantee Period's Fixed
Account Value to the Money Market Sub-Account of the Variable Account
unless Liberty Life previously received a Certificate Owner's Written
Request of: (1) election of a new Guarantee Period from among those being
offered by Liberty Life at that time; or (2) instructions to transfer the
ending Guarantee Period's Fixed Account Value to one or more Sub-accounts
of the Variable Account. A new Guarantee Period cannot be longer than the
number of years remaining until the Income Date.
Transfers of Fixed Account Value
The Certificate Owner may transfer Fixed Account Value from one Guarantee
Period to another or to one or more Sub-Accounts of the Variable Account
subject to any applicable Market Value Adjustment. If the Fixed Account
Value represents multiple Guarantee Periods, the transfer request must
specify from which values the transfer is to be made.
The Certificate allows Liberty Life to limit the number of transfers that
can be made in a specified time period. Currently, Liberty Life is
limiting Variable Account and Fixed Account transfers to generally
unlimited transfers per calendar year with a $500,000 per transfer dollar
limit. See "Transfer of Variable Account Value". These limitations will
not apply to any transfer made at the end of a Guarantee Period.
Certificate Owners will be notified, in advance, of a change in the
limitation on the number of transfers.
Transfer requests must be by Written Request unless the Certificate Owner
has authorized Liberty Life by Written Request to accept telephone transfer
instructions from the Certificate Owner or from a person acting for the
Certificate Owner as an attorney-in-fact under a power of attorney. By
authorizing Liberty Life to accept telephone transfer instructions, a
Certificate Owner agrees to accept and be bound by the conditions and
procedures established by Liberty Life from time to time. The current
conditions and procedures are in Appendix B and Certificate Owners
authorizing telephone transfers will be notified, in advance, of any
changes. Written transfer requests may be made by a person acting for the
Certificate Owner as an attorney-in-fact under a power of attorney.
Transfer requests received by Liberty Life before the close of trading on
the New York Stock Exchange (currently 4:00 PM Eastern Time) will be
executed at the close of business that day. Any requests received later
will be executed at the close of the next business day.
The amount of the transfer will be deducted from the specified values in
the manner stated in the next section below.
If 100% of a Guarantee Period's value is transferred and the current
allocation for Purchase Payments includes that Guarantee Period, then the
allocation formula for future Purchase Payments will automatically change
unless the Certificate Owner instructs otherwise. For example, if the
allocation formula is 50% to the one-year Guarantee Period and 50% to Sub-
Account A and all Fixed Account Value is transferred to Sub-Account A, the
allocation formula will change to 100% to Sub-Account A.
<PAGE>
APPENDIX B
TELEPHONE INSTRUCTIONS
Telephone Transfers of Certificate Values
1. If there are Joint Certificate Owners, both must authorize Liberty
Life to accept telephone instructions but either Certificate Owner may give
Liberty Life telephone instructions.
2. All callers will be required to identify themselves. Liberty Life
reserves the right to refuse to act upon any telephone instructions in
cases where the caller has not sufficiently identified himself/herself to
Liberty Life's satisfaction.
3. Neither Liberty Life nor any person acting on its behalf shall be
subject to any claim, loss, liability, cost or expense if it or such person
acted in good faith upon a telephone instruction, including one that is
unauthorized or fraudulent; however, Liberty Life will employ reasonable
procedures to confirm that a telephone instruction is genuine and, if
Liberty Life does not, Liberty Life may be liable for losses due to an
unauthorized or fraudulent instruction. The Certificate Owner thus bears
the risk that an unauthorized or fraudulent instruction that is executed
may cause the Certificate Value to be lower than it would be had no
instruction been executed.
4. All conversations will be recorded with disclosure at the time of the
call.
5. The application for the Certificate may allow a Certificate Owner to
create a power of attorney by authorizing another person to give telephone
instructions. Unless prohibited by state law, such power will be treated
as durable in nature and shall not be affected by the subsequent
incapacity, disability or incompetency of the Certificate Owner. Either
Liberty Life or the authorized person may cease to honor the power by
sending written notice to the Certificate Owner at the Certificate Owner's
last known address. Neither Liberty Life nor any person acting on its
behalf shall be subject to liability for any act executed in good faith
reliance upon a power of attorney.
6. Telephone authorization shall continue in force until (a) Liberty Life
receives the Certificate Owner's written revocation, (b) Liberty Life
discontinues the privilege, or (c) Liberty Life receives written evidence
that the Certificate Owner has entered into a market timing or asset
allocation agreement with an investment adviser or with a broker/dealer.
7. Telephone transfer instructions received by Liberty Life's Service
Office at 800-367-3653 before the close of trading on the New York Stock
Exchange (currently 4:00 P.M. Eastern Time) will be initiated that day
based on the unit value prices calculated at the close of that day.
Instructions received after the close of trading on the NYSE will be
initiated the following business day.
8. Once instructions are accepted by Liberty Life, they may not be
canceled.
9. All transfers must be made in accordance with the terms of the
Certificate and current prospectus. If the transfer instructions are not
in good order, Liberty Life will not execute the transfer and will notify
the caller within 48 hours.
10. If 100% of any Sub-Account's value is transferred and the allocation
formula for Purchase Payments includes that Sub-Account, then the
allocation formula for future Purchase Payments will change accordingly
unless Liberty Life receives telephone instructions to the contrary. For
example, if the allocation formula is 50% to Sub-Account A and 50% to Sub-
Account B and all of Sub-Account A's value is transferred to Sub-Account B,
the allocation formula will change to 100% to Sub-Account B unless Liberty
Life is instructed otherwise.
Telephone Changes to Purchase Payment Allocation Percentages
Numbers 1-6 above are applicable.
<PAGE>
PART B
<PAGE>
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
GROUP FLEXIBLE PURCHASE PAYMENT
DEFERRED VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACT
ISSUED BY
VARIABLE ACCOUNT J
OF
LIBERTY LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF BOSTON ("Liberty Life")
This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus but it relates
to, and should be read in conjunction with, the Liberty Advisor variable
annuity prospectus dated November 15, 1997. The prospectus is available,
at no charge, by writing Keyport Financial Sercives Corp. at 125 High
Street, Boston, MA 02110 or by calling (800) 437-4466.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston...................................2
Variable Annuity Benefits..................................................2
Variable Annuity Payment Values..........................................2
Re-Allocating Sub-Account Payments.......................................4
Safekeeping of Assets......................................................4
Principal Underwriter......................................................4
Experts....................................................................4
Investment Performance.....................................................5
Yields for Stein Roe Money Market Sub-Account............................6
FinancialStatements................. ......................................7
Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston.................................9
The date of this statement of additional information is November 15, 1997.
<PAGE>
LIBERTY LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF BOSTON
Liberty Mutual Insurance Company ("Liberty Mutual") and Liberty Mutual Fire
Insurance Company ("Liberty Mutual Fire") are the ultimate corporate
parents of Liberty Life. Liberty Mutual and Liberty Mutual Fire ultimately
control Liberty Life through the following intervening holding company
subsidiary: Liberty Mutual Property-Casualty Holding Corporation. Liberty
Mutual is a multi-line insurance company. For additional information about
Liberty Life, see page 8 of the prospectus.
VARIABLE ANNUITY BENEFITS
Variable Annuity Payment Values
For each variable payment option, the total dollar amount of each
periodic payment will be equal to: (a) the sum of all Sub-Account payments;
less (b) the pro-rata amount of the annual Certificate Maintenance Charge.
The first payment for each Sub-Account will be determined by deducting
any applicable Certificate Maintenance Charge and any applicable state
premium taxes and then dividing the remaining value of that Sub-Account by
$1,000 and multiplying the result by the greater of: (a) the applicable
factor from the Certificate's annuity table for the particular payment
option; or (b) the factor currently offered by Liberty Life at the time
annuity payments begin. This current factor may be based on the sex of the
payee unless to do so would be prohibited by law.
The number of Annuity Units for each Sub-Account will be determined by
dividing such first payment by the Sub-Account Annuity Unit value for the
Valuation Period that includes the date of the first payment. The number
of Annuity Units remains fixed for the annuity payment period. Each
Sub-Account payment after the first one will be determined by multiplying
(a) by (b), where: (a) is the number of Sub-Account Annuity Units; and (b)
is the Sub-Account Annuity Unit value for the Valuation Period that
includes the date of the particular payment.
Variable annuity payments will fluctuate in accordance with the
investment results of the underlying Eligible Funds. In order to determine
how these fluctuations affect annuity payments, Liberty Life uses an
Annuity Unit value. Each Sub-Account has its own Annuity Units and value
per Unit. The Annuity Unit value applicable during any Valuation Period is
determined at the end of such period.
When Liberty Life first purchased Eligible Fund shares on behalf of
the Variable Account, Liberty Life valued each Annuity Unit for each Sub-
Account at a specified dollar amount. The Unit value for each Sub-Account
in any Valuation Period thereafter is determined by multiplying the value
for the prior period by a net investment factor. This factor may be
greater or less than 1.0; therefore, the Annuity Unit may increase or
decrease from Valuation Period to Valuation Period. For each assumed
annual investment rate (AIR), Liberty Life calculates a net investment
factor for each Sub-Account by dividing (a) by (b), where:
(a) is equal to the net investment factor as defined in the
prospectus without any deduction for the sales charge defined in
(c)(ii) of the net investment factor formula; and
(b) is the assumed investment factor for the current Valuation
Period. The assumed investment factor adjusts for the interest
assumed in determining the first variable annuity payment. Such
factor for any Valuation Period shall be the accumulated value,
at the end of such period, of $1.00 deposited at the beginning of
such period at the assumed annual investment rate (AIR). The AIR
for Annuity Units based on the Certificate's annuity tables is 5%
per year. An AIR of 3% per year is also currently available upon
Written Request.
With a particular AIR, payments after the first one will increase or
decrease from month to month based on whether the actual annualized
investment return of the selected Sub-Account(s) (after deducting the
Mortality and Expense Risk Charge) is better or worse than the assumed AIR
percentage. If a given amount of Sub-Account value is applied to a
particular payment option, the initial payment will be smaller if a 3% AIR
is selected instead of a 5% AIR but, all other things being equal, the
subsequent 3% AIR payments have the potential for increasing in amount by a
larger percentage and for decreasing in amount by a smaller percentage.
For example, consider what would happen if the actual annualized investment
return (see the first sentence of this paragraph) is 9%, 5%, 3%, or 0%
between the time of the first and second payments. With an actual 9%
return, the 3% AIR and 5% AIR payments would both increase in amount but
the 3% AIR payment would increase by a larger percentage. With an actual
5% return, the 3% AIR payment would increase in amount while the 5% AIR
payment would stay the same. With an actual return of 3%, the 3% AIR
payment would stay the same while the 5% AIR payment would decrease in
amount. Finally, with an actual return of 0%, the 3% AIR and 5% AIR
payments would both decrease in amount but the 3% AIR payment would
decrease by a smaller percentage. Note that the changes in payment amounts
described above are on a percentage basis and thus do not illustrate when,
if ever, the 3% AIR payment amount might become larger than the 5% AIR
payment amount. Note though that if Option A (Income for a Fixed Number of
Years) is selected and payments continue for the entire period, the 3% AIR
payment amount will start out being smaller than the 5% AIR payment amount
but eventually the 3% AIR payment amount will become larger than the 5% AIR
payment amount.
<PAGE>
Re-Allocating Sub-Account Payments
The number of Annuity Units for each Sub-Account under any variable
annuity option will remain fixed during the entire annuity payment period
unless the payee makes a written request for a change. Currently, a payee
can instruct Liberty Life to change the Sub-Account(s) used to determine
the amount of the variable annuity payments 1 time every 12 months. The
payee's request must specify the percentage of the annuity payment that is
to be based on the investment performance of each Sub-Account. The
percentage for each Sub-Account, if not zero, must be at least 5% and must
be a whole number. At the end of the Valuation Period during which Liberty
Life receives the request, Liberty Life will: (a) value the Annuity Units
for each Sub-Account to create a total annuity value; (b) apply the new
percentages the payee has selected to this total value; and (c) recompute
the number of Annuity Units for each Sub-Account. This new number of units
will remain fixed for the remainder of the payment period unless the payee
requests another change.
SAFEKEEPING OF ASSETS
Liberty Life is responsible for the safekeeping of the assets of the
Variable Account.
Liberty Life has responsibility for providing all administration of
the Certificates and the Variable Account. This administration includes,
but is not limited to, preparation of the Contracts and Certificates,
maintenance of Certificate Owners' records, and all accounting, valuation,
regulatory and reporting requirements. Liberty Life has contracted with
Keyport Life Insurance Company, an affiliate, to provide all administration
for the Contracts and Certificates, as its agent. Keyport Life Insurance
Company's compensation is based on the number of Certificates and on the
Certificate Value of these Certificates.
PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER
The Contract and Certificate, which are offered continuously, are
distributed by Keyport Financial Services Corp. ("KFSC"), which is an
affiliate of Liberty Life.
EXPERTS
The financial statements of Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston
at December 31, 1996, and for the year then ended appearing in this
Statement of Additional Information have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP,
independent auditors, as set forth in their report thereon appearing
elsewhere herein, and are included in reliance upon such report given upon
the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The financial statements of Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston
as of December 31, 1995 and for each of the years in the two-year period
ended December 31, 1995 included herein have been included herein in
reliance on the report of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent certified
public accountants appearing elsewhere herein, and upon the authority of
said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE
The Variable Account may from time to time quote performance
information concerning its various Sub-Accounts. A Sub-Account's
performance may also be compared to the performance of sub-accounts used
with variable annuities offered by other insurance companies. This
comparative information may be expressed as a ranking prepared by Financial
Planning Resources, Inc. of Miami, FL (The VARDS Report), Lipper Analytical
Services, Inc., or by Morningstar, Inc. of Chicago, IL (Morningstar's
Variable Annuity Performance Report), which are independent services that
compare the performance of variable annuity sub-accounts. The rankings are
done on the basis of changes in accumulation unit values over time and do
not take into account any charges (such as sales charges or administrative
charges) that are deducted directly from contract values.
Ibbotson Associates of Chicago, IL provides historical returns from
1926 on capital markets in the United States. The Variable Account may
quote the performance of its Sub-Accounts in conjunction with the long-term
performance of capital markets in order to illustrate general long-term
risk versus reward investment scenarios. Capital markets tracked by
Ibbotson Associates include common stocks, small company stocks, long-term
corporate bonds, long-term government bonds, U.S. Treasury Bills, and the
U.S. inflation rate. Historical total returns are determined by Ibbotson
Associates for: Large Company Stocks, represented by the Standard and
Poor's Composite Stock Price Index (an unmanaged weighted index of 90
stocks prior to March 1957 and 500 stocks thereafter of industrial,
transportation, utility and financial companies widely regarded by
investors as representative of the stock market); Small Company Stocks,
represented by the fifth capitalization quintile (i.e., the ninth and tenth
deciles) of stocks on the New York Stock Exchange for 1926-1981 and by the
performance of the Dimensional Fund Advisors Small Company 9/10 (for ninth
and tenth deciles) Fund thereafter; Long Term Corporate Bonds, represented
beginning in 1969 by the Salomon Brothers Long-Term High-Grade Corporate
Bond Index, which is an unmanaged index of nearly all Aaa and Aa rated
bonds, represented for 1946-1968 by backdating the Salomon Brothers Index
using Salomon Brothers' monthly yield data with a methodology similar to
that used by Salomon Brothers in computing its Index, and represented for
1925-1945 through the use of the Standard and Poor's monthly High-Grade
Corporate Composite yield data, assuming a 4% coupon and a 20-year
maturity; Long-Term Government Bonds, measured each year using a portfolio
containing one U.S. government bond with a term of approximately twenty
years and a reasonably current coupon; U.S. Treasury Bills, measured by
rolling over each month a one-bill portfolio containing, at the beginning
of each month, the shortest-term bill having not less than one month to
maturity; Inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index for all Urban
Consumers, not seasonably adjusted, since January, 1978 and by the Consumer
Price Index before then. The stock capital markets may be contrasted with
the corporate bond and U.S. government securities capital markets. Unlike
an investment in stock, an investment in a bond that is held to maturity
provides a fixed rate of return. Bonds have a senior priority to common
stocks in the event the issuer is liquidated and interest on bonds is
generally paid by the issuer before it makes any distributions to common
stock owners. Bonds rated in the two highest rating categories are
considered high quality and present minimal risk of default. An additional
advantage of investing in U.S. government bonds and Treasury bills is that
they are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government and
thus have virtually no risk of default. Although government securities
fluctuate in price, they are highly liquid.
Yields for Stein Roe Money Market Sub-Account
Yield and effective yield percentages for the Stein Roe Money Market Sub-
Account are calculated using the method prescribed by the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Both yields reflect the deduction of the annual 1.40%
asset-based Certificate charge. Both yields also reflect, on an allocated
basis, the Certificate's annual $36 Certificate Maintenance Charge that is
collected after the first Certificate Anniversary. Both yields do not
reflect Contingent Deferred Sales Charges and premium tax charges. The
yields would be lower if these charges were included. The following are
the standardized formulas:
Yield equals: (A - B - 1) X 365
C 7
Effective Yield Equals: (A - B)365/7 - 1
C
Where:
A = the Accumulation Unit value at the end of the 7-day period.
B = hypothetical Certificate Maintenance Charge for the 7-day
period. The assumed annual charge is equal to the $36 Certificate
charge multiplied by a fraction equal to the average number of
Certificates with Stein Roe Money Market Sub-Account value during
the 7-day period divided by the average total number of
Certificates during the 7-day period. This annual amount is
converted to a 7-day charge by multiplying it by 7/365. It is
then equated to an Accumulation Unit size basis by multiplying it
by a fraction equal to the average value of one SteinRoe Cash
Income Accumulation Unit during the 7-day period divided by the
average Certificate Value in Stein Roe Money Market Sub-Account
during the 7-day period.
C = the Accumulation Unit value at the beginning of the 7-day
period.
The yield formula assumes that the weekly net income generated by an
investment in the Stein Roe Money Market Sub-Account will continue over an
entire year. The effective yield formula also annualizes seven days of net
income but it assumes that the net income is reinvested over the year.
This compounding effect causes effective yield to be higher than the yield.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Variable Account recently commenced operations and therefore no
financial statements are included. The financial statements of Liberty
Life are provided as relevant to its ability to meet its financial
obligations under the Certificates.
<PAGE>
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
<PAGE>
Report of Independent Auditors
The Board of Directors
Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Liberty Life Assurance
Company of Boston (the Company) as of December 31, 1996, and the related
statements of income, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for the year
then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the
Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free
of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis,
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used
and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the
overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit
provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of Liberty Life Assurance
Company of Boston at December 31, 1996, and the results of its operations
and its cash flows for the year then ended, in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles.
February 28, 1997 Ernst & Young LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
<PAGE>
Independent Auditors' Report
The Board of Directors
Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston:
We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Liberty Life Assurance
Company of Boston as of December 31, 1995, and the related statements of
income, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the
two-year period then ended. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free
of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis,
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used
and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the
overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits
provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of Liberty Life Assurance
Company of Boston as of December 31, 1995 and the results of its operations
and its cash flows for each of the years in the two-year period then ended,
in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
February 16, 1996
<PAGE>
Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston
Balance Sheets
December 31
1996 1995
(In Thousands)
Assets
Investments:
Fixed maturities, available for sale $1,737,187 $1,522,447
Equity securities, available for sale 4,122 4,191
Policy loans 45,345 40,672
Short-term investments 78,715 121,471
Other invested assets 38,281 32,339
Total investments 1,903,650 1,721,120
Cash and cash equivalents 34,372 64,801
Amounts recoverable from reinsurers 48,800 36,919
Premiums receivable 8,421 4,974
Investment income due and accrued 20,820 17,275
Deferred policy acquisition costs 77,424 62,762
Other assets 7,050 7,545
Assets held in separate accounts 1,097,040 899,519
Total assets $3,197,577 $2,814,915
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:
Liabilities:
Future Policy benefits $ 936,842 $ 809,042
Policyholders' and beneficiaries' funds 548,153 441,619
Policy and contract claims 30,394 19,344
Dividends to policyholders 12,919 12,309
Experience rating refund reserves 2,400 1,190
Liability for participating policies 68,504 65,256
Federal income taxes payable 542 -
Deferred federal income taxes 73,973 93,158
Due to Parent 8,907 9,334
Accrued expenses and other liabilities 117,144 191,894
Liabilities related to separate accounts 1,097,040 899,519
Total liabilities 2,896,818 2,542,665
Stockholders' equity:
Common stock, $312.50 par value; 8,000
shares authorized, issued and outstanding 2,500 2,500
Additional paid-in capital 52,500 2,500
Net unrealized gains on investments,
net of federal income taxes of $43,793
and $66,391 81,330 122,875
Cumulative foreign currency translations,
net of federal income taxes of $612 and $515 1,139 957
Retained earnings 163,290 143,418
Total stockholders' equity 300,759 272,250
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $3,197,577 $2,814,915
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
<PAGE>
Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston
Statements of Income
Year Ended December 31
1996 1995 1994
(In Thousands)
Revenues:
Premiums, net $283,965 $197,017 $130,606
Net investment income 122,527 108,721 97,022
Realized gains on investments 6,722 5,091 3,043
Contractholder charges and assessments 5,759 5,428 4,943
Other revenues 4,469 4,323 3,776
Total revenues 423,442 320,580 239,390
Benefits and expenses:
Death and other policy benefits 173,281 126,029 110,158
Recoveries from reinsurers on ceded claims (11,454) (10,489) (5,858)
Provision for future policy benefits and
other policy liabilities 121,347 88,903 41,609
Interest credited to policyholders 32,252 27,527 18,347
Change in deferred policy acquisition costs (15,247) (11,101) (9,921)
General expenses 69,926 52,555 38,381
Insurance taxes and licenses 6,956 4,997 3,550
Dividends to policyholders 12,610 12,277 11,671
Total benefits and expenses 389,671 290,698 207,937
Income from continuing operations before
federal income taxes and earnings of
participating policies 33,771 29,882 31,453
Federal income taxes 10,327 10,782 11,003
Income from continuing operations before
earnings of participating policies 23,444 19,100 20,450
Earnings of participating policies net
of federal income tax benefit of $2,514
in 1996, $2,581 in 1995 and $835 in 1994 3,247 3,397 1,545
Income from continuing operations 20,197 15,703 18,905
Discontinued operations:
Loss from operations on discontinued
group health, net of federal income
(benefits) taxes of ($175) in 1996, ($1,236)
in 1995 and $100 in 1994 (325) (2,267) 24
Net income $ 19,872 $ 13,436 $ 18,929
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston
Statements of Stockholders' Equity
Years Ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
(In Thousands)
Net
Unrealized Cumulative
Additional Gains Foreign
Common Paid-In (Losses) on Currency Retained
Stock Capital Investments Translations Earnings Total
Balance at
January 1, 1994 $2,500 2,500 105,774 203 111,053 $222,030
Net income 18,929 18,929
Net unrealized
gains (losses) on
investments, net
of deferred
federal income
taxes of ($425) (93,500) (93,500)
Cumulative foreign
currency translations,
net of deferred
federal income taxes
of ($140) 260 260
Balance at
December 31, 1994 2,500 2,500 12,274 463 129,982 147,719
Net income 13,436 13,436
Net unrealized
gains (losses) on
investments, net
of deferred
federal income
taxes of ($59,758) 110,601 110,601
Cumulative foreign
currency translations,
net of deferred
federal income taxes
of ($267) 494 494
Balance at
December 31, 1995 2,500 2,500 122,875 957 143,418 272,250
Additional Paid-In
Capital 50,000 50,000
Net income 19,872 19,872
Net unrealized
gains (losses) on
investments, net
of deferred
federal income
taxes of $22,598 (41,545) (41,545)
Cumulative foreign
currency translations,
net of deferred federal
income taxes
of ($97) 182 182
Balance at
December 31, 1996 $2,500 52,500 81,330 1,139 163,290 $300,759
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
<PAGE>
Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston
Statements of Cash Flows
Years ended December 31
1996 1995 1994
(In Thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Premiums collected $ 280,613 $ 197,607 $ 127,716
Investment income received 98,899 89,412 80,817
Other considerations received 10,331 9,421 22,599
Policyholder claims paid (124,297) (96,494) (123,676)
Surrender benefits paid (33,748) (5,927) (5,317)
Policyholder dividends paid (12,008) (11,685) (11,081)
General expenses paid (67,834) (56,736) (41,915)
Insurance taxes and licenses paid (3,959) (6,000) (6,346)
Federal income taxes paid, including
capital gains taxes (5,858) (12,878) (4,897)
Intercompany net receipts (426) 9,201 (16,620)
Other receipts (payments) 12,218 (2,782) (6,904)
Net cash flows provided by operating
activities 153,931 113,139 14,376
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from fixed maturities sold 128,493 41,763 66,835
Proceeds from fixed maturities matured 91,292 75,084 124,347
Cost of fixed maturities acquired (480,206) (224,725) (315,121)
Proceeds from equity securities sold 125,997 87,449 45,632
Cost of equity securities acquired (122,197) (86,390) (45,898)
Change in policy loans (4,673) (4,087) (3,827)
Investment cash in transit 126 (182) 34
Proceeds from short-term investments
sold or matured 833,144 485,257 902,371
Cost of short-term investments acquired (790,040) (566,870) (879,643)
Proceeds from other long-term investments
sold 5,997 4,320 2,657
Cost of other long-term investments
acquired (6,904) (13,427) (5,772)
Net cash used in investing activities (218,971) (201,808) (108,385)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Additional paid-in capital 50,000 - -
Policyholders' deposits on investment
contracts 139,579 62,019 124,565
Policyholders' withdrawals from
investment contracts (65,343) (62,314) (30,608)
Change in securities loaned (89,625) 148,710 93,957
Net cash provided by financing activities 34,611 148,415 (52)
Change in cash and cash equivalents (30,429) 59,746 5,107
Cash and cash equivalents,
beginning of year 64,801 5,055
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year $ 34,372 $ 64,801 $ 5,055
Reconciliation of net income to net cash
flows from operating activities:
Net income $ 19,872 $ 13,436 $ 18,929
Adjustments to reconcile net income to
net cash flows from operating
activities:
Realized capital gains on investments (6,722) (5,091) (3,211)
Accretion of bond discount (20,271) (17,822) (16,297)
Interest credited to policyholders 32,252 27,543 18,347
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Proceeds from securities loaned 89,625 (148,710) -
Amounts recoverable from reinsurers (11,881) 4,897 (16,735)
Premiums receivable (3,447) 413 (418)
Investment income due and accrued (3,545) (1,409) (1,336)
Deferred policy acquisition costs (15,247) (10,888) (9,921)
Other assets 495 1,354 (1,846)
Future policy benefits 127,800 88,924 45,660
Policy and contract claims 11,050 (1,523) (494)
Dividends to policyholders 610 567 590
Experience rating refund liabilities 1,210 (510) 550
Liability for participating policies 3,248 3,397 1,544
Federal income taxes payable 542 (5,830) 4,643
Deferred federal income taxes 3,805 3,235 1,563
Due to Parent (427) 9,201 (16,620)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities (75,038) 151,955 (5,454)
Net cash flows provided by
operating activities $ 153,931 $ 113,139 $ 14,376
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
<PAGE>
Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston
Notes to Financial Statements
December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
(In Thousands)
1. Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies
Organization
Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston ("The Company") is domiciled in
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Company is directly owned 100% by
Liberty Mutual Property-Casualty Holding Corporation, a subsidiary directly
owned 90% by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company and 10% by Liberty Mutual
Fire Insurance Company ("Liberty Mutual").
The Company insures life, annuity and accident and health risks for groups
and individuals. The Company also issues structured settlement contracts
and administers separate account contracts. The Company is licensed and
sells its products in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of financial
statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the
reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial
statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
year. Actual amounts could subsequently differ from such estimates.
Investments
Fixed maturity and equity securities are classified as available for sale
and are carried at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on fixed
maturity and equity securities are reported as a separate component of
stockholders' equity, net of applicable deferred income taxes.
For the mortgage-backed bond portion of the fixed maturity investment
portfolio, the Company recognizes income using a constant effective yield
based on anticipated prepayments over the estimated economic life of the
security. When actual prepayments differ significantly from anticipated
prepayments, the effective yield is recalculated to reflect actual payments
to date and anticipated future payments and any resulting adjustments are
included in investment income.
Short-term investments include investments with maturities of less than one
year at the date of acquisition.
Other invested assets, specifically investments in limited partnerships,
are accounted for using the equity method.
Policy loans are reported at unpaid loan balances.
Realized capital gains and losses are determined on the specific
identification basis.
Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
Policy acquisition costs are the costs of acquiring new business which vary
with, and are primarily related to, the production of new business. Such
costs include commissions, costs of policy underwriting, and variable
agency expenses. Acquisition costs related to traditional life insurance
and certain long-duration group accident and health insurance, to the
extent recoverable from future policy revenues, are deferred and amortized
over the premium-paying period of the related policies using assumptions
consistent with those used in computing policy benefit reserves. For
universal life insurance and investment products, to the extent recoverable
from future gross profits, deferred policy acquisition costs are amortized
generally in proportion to the present value of expected gross profits from
surrender charges and investment, mortality, and expense margins. Deferred
policy acquisition costs are adjusted for amounts relating to unrealized
gains and losses on fixed maturity and equity securities the Company has
designated as available for sale. This adjustment, net of tax, is included
with the change in net unrealized gains or losses that is credited or
charged directly to stockholders' equity. Deferred policy acquisition costs
have decreased for this adjustment by $585 and $2,834 at December 31, 1996
and 1995, respectively.
The Company began deferring acquisition costs relating to group life and
disability insurance as of January 1, 1995. Costs relating to these
policies are amortized straight line over a five year period. Anticipated
premium revenue was estimated using the same assumptions which were used
for computing liabilities for future policy benefits.
Recognition of Traditional Life Premium Revenue and Related Expenses
Premiums on traditional life insurance policies are recognized as revenue
when due. Benefits and expenses are associated with premiums so as to
result in the recognition of profits over the life of the policies. This
association is accomplished by providing liabilities for future policy
benefits and the deferral and subsequent amortization of acquisition costs.
Recognition of Universal Life Revenue and Policy Account Balances
Revenues from universal life policies represent investment income from the
related invested assets and amounts assessed against policyholders.
Included in such assessments are mortality charges, surrender charges paid
and administrative fees. Policy account balances consist of consideration
received plus credited interest, less accumulated policyholder charges,
assessments and withdrawals. Credited interest rates were between 5.75% and
6.3% in 1996 and between 6.3% and 6.5% in 1995 and 1994.
Investment Contracts
The Company writes certain annuity and structured settlement contracts
without mortality risk which are accounted for as investment contracts.
Revenues for investment contracts consist of investment income from the
related invested assets, with profits recognized to the extent investment
income earned exceeds the amount credited to the contract. This method of
computing the liability for future policy benefits effectively results in
recognition of profits over the benefit period. Policy account balances
consist of consideration received plus credited interest less policyholder
withdrawals. Credited interest rates were between 5.35% and 7.05% in 1996,
between 5.6% and 7.25% in 1995, and between 5.0% and 5.25% in 1994 for
annuity contracts. Credited interest rates were between 6.2% and 11.4% in
1996, 1995 and 1994 for structured settlement contracts.
Future Policy Benefits
Liabilities for future policy benefits for traditional life policies have
been computed using the net level premium method based on estimated future
investment yield, mortality and withdrawal experience. Interest rate
assumptions were between 4.5% and 10.25% for all years of issue. Mortality
assumptions have been calculated principally on an experience multiple
applied to the 1955-60 and 1965-70 Select and Ultimate Basic Tables for
issued prior to 1986, the 1986 Bragg Non-Smoker/Smoker Select and Ultimate
Basic Tables for 1986 to 1992 issues, and the 1991 Bragg Non-Smoker/Smoker
Select and Ultimate Basic Tables for 1993 and subsequent issues. Withdrawal
assumptions are generally based on the Company's experience.
The liability for future policy benefits with respect to structured
settlement contracts with life contingencies and single premium group
annuities (group pension) is determined based on interest crediting rates
between 6.2% and 11.4%, and the mortality assumptions are based on the 1971
GAM and IAM tables.
Future policy benefits for long-term disability cases are computed using
the 1987 Commissioners' Group Disability Table adjusted for the Company's
experience.
Policy and Contract Claims
Accident and health business policy and contract claims principally include
claims in course of settlement and claims incurred but not reported, which
are determined based on a formula derived as a result of the Company's past
experience. Claims liabilities may be more or less than the amounts paid
when the claims are ultimately settled. Such differences are considered
changes in estimates and are recorded in the statement of income in the
year the claims are settled.
Reinsurance
All assets and liabilities related to reinsurance ceded contracts are
reported on a gross basis in the accompanying balance sheets. The
accompanying statements of operations reflect premiums, benefits and
settlement expenses net of reinsurance ceded.
Reinsurance premiums, commissions, expense reimbursements, benefits and
reserves related to reinsured business are accounted for on bases
consistent with those used in accounting for original policies issued and
the terms of the reinsurance contracts.
Federal Income Taxes
The Company has adopted the asset and liability method of accounting for
income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are
recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences
between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and
liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and
liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to
taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are
expected to be recovered or settled. The effect of a change in tax rates on
deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period
that includes the enactment date.
Participating Policies
Participating policies approximate 33% and 35% of life insurance in force
at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively, and 18% and 56% of individual
life insurance premium revenue in 1996 and 1995, respectively. Dividends to
participating policyholders are calculated as the sum of the difference
between the assumed mortality, interest and loading, and the actual
experience of the Company relating to participating policyholders. As a
result of statutory regulations, the major portion of earnings from
participating policies inures to the benefit of the participating
policyholders and is not available to stockholders. Undistributed earnings
of the participating block of business is represented by the liability for
participating policies in the accompanying balance sheets. The payment of
dividends to stockholders is further restricted by insurance laws of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Foreign Currency Translations
The Company enters into certain transactions that are denominated in a
currency other than the U.S. dollar. Functional currencies are assigned to
foreign currencies. The resulting translation adjustments from such
transactions are accumulated and then converted to U.S. dollars. The
unrealized gain or loss from this translation is recorded as a separate
component of stockholders' equity, net of deferred federal income taxes.
The translations are calculated using current exchange rates for the
balance sheet and average exchange rates for the statement of operations.
Separate Accounts
Separate account assets and liabilities reported in the accompanying
balance sheets represent funds that are separately administered,
principally for annuity contracts, and for which the contractholder, rather
than Liberty Life Assurance, bears the investment risk. Separate account
contractholders have no claim against the assets of the general account of
Liberty Life Assurance. Separate account assets are reported at market
value. The operations of the separate accounts are not included in the
accompanying financial statements. Fees charged on separate account
policyholder deposits are included in other income.
Reclassification
Certain 1995 balances have been reclassified to permit comparison with the
1996 presentation.
2. Investments
Fixed Maturities
The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, and fair value of
investments in fixed maturities are summarized as follows:
December 31, 1996
Gross Gross
Amortized Unrealized Unrealized Fair
Cost Gains Losses Value
U.S. Treasury securities and
obligations of U.S government
corporations and agencies $ 408,214 $ 86,080 $ (1,195) $ 493,099
Debt securities issued by
foreign governments 24,762 87 (256) 24,593
Corporate securities 614,901 29,667 (3,864) 640,704
U.S. government guaranteed
mortgage-backed securities 567,343 16,402 (4,954) 578,791
Total fixed maturities $1,615,220 $132,236 $(10,269) $1,737,187
At December 31, 1995
Gross Gross
Amortized Unrealized Unrealized Fair
Cost Gains Losses Value
U.S. Treasury securities and
obligations of U.S government
corporations and agencies $ 380,296 $116,737 $ (37) $ 496,996
Debt securities issued by
foreign governments 19,651 1,839 (7) 21,483
Corporate securities 313,686 18,727 (2,797) 329,616
U.S. government guaranteed
mortgage-backed securities 621,282 53,523 (453) 674,352
Total fixed maturities $1,334,915 $190,826 $ (3,294) $1,522,447
The amortized cost and fair value of the Company's investment in fixed
maturities by contractual maturity is summarized as follows:
At December 31, 1996
Amortized Fair
Cost Value
Maturity in one year or less $ 29,651 $ 30,279
Maturity after one year through five years 169,258 172,798
Maturity after five years through ten years 313,404 335,973
Maturity after ten years 535,564 619,346
U.S. government guaranteed mortgage-
backed securities 567,343 578,791
Total fixed maturities $1,615,220 $1,737,187
The expected maturities in the foregoing table may differ from contractual
maturities because certain borrowers may have the right to call or prepay
obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.
Gross gains of $1,462 and $811, and gross losses of $1,411, and $445 were
realized on the sales of fixed maturities respectively.
At December 31, 1996, bonds with an admitted asset value of $14,232 were on
deposit with state insurance departments to satisfy regulatory
requirements.
Equity Securities and Other Invested Assets
Unrealized gains and losses on investments in equity securities, available
for sale and other invested assets are recorded in a separate component of
stockholders' equity and do not affect operations. The cost, gross
unrealized gains and losses on, and the fair value of, those investments
are summarized as follows:
At December 31, 1996
Gross Gross
Unrealized Unrealized Fair
Cost Gains Losses Value
Equity securities $ 3,098 $ 1,241 $ (217) $ 4,122
Other invested assets 32,729 6,462 (910) 38,281
Total $35,827 $ 7,703 $(1,127) $42,403
At December 31, 1995
Gross Gross
Unrealized Unrealized Fair
Cost Gains Losses Value
Equity securities $ 3,086 $ 1,105 -- $ 4,191
Other invested assets 28,874 4,045 $ (580) 32,339
Total $31,960 $ 5,150 $ (580) $36,530
Net Investment Income
Major categories of the Company's net investment income are summarized as
follows:
Year ended December 31
1996 1995 1994
Investment income:
Fixed maturities $118,365 $104,779 $ 95,837
Equity securities 83 214 22
Policy loans 2,672 2,397 2,111
Short-term investments and cash equivalents 1,633 2,034 1,711
Other invested assets 1,476 878 342
Gross investment income 124,229 110,302 100,023
Less: Investment expenses 1,702 1,581 1,942
Discontinued operations -- -- 1,059
Net investment income $122,527 $108,721 $ 97,022
Realized Capital Gains on Investments
Realized capital gains on investments were derived from the following
sources:
Year ended December 31
1996 1995 1994
Fixed maturities $ 61 $ 366 $ 1,752
Equity securities 3,812 3,441 434
Short-term investments -- -- (4)
Other invested assets 2,849 1,284 1,029
Less: Discontinued operations -- 168
Realized capital gains on investments $ 6,722 $ 5,091 $ 3,043
Concentration of Investments
There were no investments in a single entity's fixed maturities in excess
of ten percent of stockholders' equity at December 31, 1996 and 1995,
respectively.
3. Reinsurance
Certain premiums and benefits are assumed from and ceded to other insurance
companies under various reinsurance agreements. Reinsurance assumed is not
significant. The ceded reinsurance agreements provide the Company with
increased capacity to write larger risks and maintain its exposure to loss
within capital resources.
The Company generally reinsures risks on life insurance policies over two
hundred fifty thousand dollars as well as selected risks of lesser amounts.
Life insurance in force and premium information is summarized as follows:
Year ended December 31, 1996
Assumed Ceded to
Direct From Other Other Net
Amount Companies Companies Amount
Life insurance in force $25,127,732 $64,767 $1,699,677 $23,492,822
Premiums:
Group life and disability $ 193,209 $ 55 10,070 183,194
Individual life and annuity 103,191 2,939 5,536 100,594
Group pension 177 - - 177
Total premiums $ 296,577 $ 2,994 $ 15,606 $ 283,965
Year ended December 31, 1995
Assumed Ceded to
Direct From Other Other Net
Amount Companies Companies Amount
Life insurance in force $17,374,371 $56,753 $1,110,191 $16,320,933
Premiums:
Group life and disability $ 105,415 $ 68 $ 12,223 $ 93,260
Individual life and annuity 103,732 123 2,477 101,378
Group pension 2,379 - - 2,379
Total premiums $ 211,526 $ 191 $ 14,700 $ 197,017
Amounts payable or recoverable for reinsurance on policy and contract
liabilities are not subject to periodic or maximum limits. At December 31,
1996, the Company's reinsurance recoverables are not material and no
individual reinsurer owed the Company an amount that was equal to or
greater than 3% of the Company's surplus.
Amounts recoverable from reinsurers are presented as an asset in the
accompanying financial statements and are summarized as follows:
At December 31
1996 1995
Group life and health $ 25,952 $ 19,377
Individual life and annuity 22,848 17,542
Total amounts recoverable from reinsurers $ 48,800 $ 36,919
4. Federal Income Taxes
The Company is included in a consolidated federal income tax return with
Liberty Mutual and its other subsidiaries. Under a written tax sharing
agreement, approved by the Board of Directors, Liberty Mutual collects from
and refunds to the subsidiaries the amount of taxes or benefits determined
as if Liberty Mutual and the subsidiaries filed separate returns.
Federal income tax expense (benefit) attributable to income from operations
was composed of the following:
Year ended December 31
1996 1995 1994
Continuing operations:
Current $ 7,011 $ 7,848 $ 9,559
Deferred 3,316 2,934 1,444
Federal income tax (benefit) expense $10,327 10,782 $11,003
Year ended December 31
1996 1995 1994
Discontinued operations:
Current $ (175) $ (1,236) $ (19)
Deferred 0 0 119
Federal income tax (benefit) expense $ (175) $ (1,236) $ 100
A reconciliation of federal income tax expense as recorded in the
statements of income with expected federal income tax expense computed at
the applicable federal tax rate of 35% is summarized as follows:
Year ended December 31
1996 1995 1994
Expected income tax expense $ 11,820 $ 10,458 $11,009
Adjustments to income taxes resulting from:
Reconciliation of prior year tax return (1,226) 401 -
Other, net (267) (77) (6)
Federal income tax expense $ 10,327 $10,782 $11,003
The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant
portions of deferred tax assets and deferred liabilities are summarized as
follows:
Year ended December 31
1996 1995 1994
Deferred tax assets:
Dividends to policyholders $ 3,349 $ 3,230 $ 3,242
Experience rating reserves - 14 102
Unearned interest on policy loans 303 283 -
Unearned group premium adjustment 962 585 448
Accrued surrender charges on deposit funds 401 - -
1987 disability reserve tax adjustment - 215 334
Other 60 29 281
Total deferred tax assets 5,075 4,356 4,407
Deferred tax liabilities:
Future policy benefits (11,760) (11,181) (12,002)
Deferred acquisition costs (18,818) (16,201) (13,742)
Bonds purchased at market discount (2,273) (1,769) (1,509)
Bonds market valuation adjustment (41,493) (64,788) (5,916)
Unrealized gain on other long-term
investments (2,300) (1,603) (717)
Reconciliation of taxes on other long-term
investments (951) (829) (134)
Cumulative foreign currency translations (612) (515) (248)
Deferred and uncollected premium adjustment (653) (565) (337)
Experience rating reserves (133) 0 0
Other (55) (63) -
Total deferred tax liabilities $(79,048) $(97,514) $(34,605)
Net deferred tax liability $(73,973) $(93,158) $(30,198)
The Company is required to establish a valuation allowance for any portion
of the deferred tax asset that management believes will not be realized. In
the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that the Company will
realize the benefit of the deferred tax assets, and, therefore, no such
valuation allowance has been established.
Prior to 1984, a portion of the Company's income was not taxed, but was
accumulated in a "policyholders' surplus account". In the event that those
amounts are distributed to stockholders', or the balance of the account
exceeds certain limitations under the Internal Revenue Code, the excess
amounts would become taxable at current rates. The policyholders' surplus
account balance at December 31, 1996 was approximately $4,000. Management
does not intend to take actions nor does management expect any events to
occur that would cause federal income taxes to become payable on that
amount. However, if such taxes were assessed, the amount of taxes payable
would be approximately $1,400.
5. Unpaid Claims Liability for Group Accident and Health Business
The following table provides a reconciliation of the beginning and ending
balances of unpaid claim liabilities, net of reinsurance recoverables:
Year ended December 31
1996 1995
Unpaid claim liabilities, at beginning of year $ 102,089 $ 76,630
Less: reinsurance recoverables 203 444
Net balance at beginning of year 101,886 76,186
Claims incurred related to:
Current year 104,526 52,747
Prior years 18,176 6,813
Total incurred 122,702 59,560
Claims paid related to:
Current year 34,342 15,413
Prior years 27,449 18,447
Total paid 61,791 33,860
Net balance at end of year 162,797 101,886
Plus: reinsurance recoverables 238 203
Balance, Unpaid claim liabilities,at end of year $ 163,035 $ 102,089
During 1996, approximately $17,000 of long-term disability business was
accepted from unaffiliated companies through buyout contracts. In return
for future premiums, as underwritten by the Company, the Company accepted
the risk for covered lines under those contacts, including certain claims
which were already in payment status. These claims, which were incurred in
1995 or earlier, were not included in the December 31, 1995 claim reserves
and liabilities but are included as prior years incurred claims at December
31, 1996. The claims incurred related to prior years increased by $6,813 in
1995 due to changes in estimates of prior year insured events.
6. Risk-Based Capital and Retained Earnings
Life insurance companies are subject to certain Risk-Based Capital ("RBC")
requirements as specified by the NAIC. Under those requirements, the amount
of capital and surplus maintained by a life insurance company is to be
determined based on the various risk factors related to it. At December 31,
1996, the Company meets the RBC requirements.
The payment of dividends by the Company to stockholders is limited and
cannot be made except from earned profits. The maximum amount of dividends
that may be paid by life insurance companies without prior approval of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Insurance Commissioner is subject to
restrictions relating to statutory surplus and net gain from operations.
According to a resolution voted by the Board of Directors of Liberty Life
Assurance, not more than the larger of 10% of statutory profits on
participating business or fifty cents per thousand dollars of participating
business in force in a given year may accrue to the benefit of
stockholders. The amount of statutory unassigned surplus (deficit) held for
the benefit of participating policyholders is $(1,245) and for the
stockholders is $83,428 at December 31, 1996. Dividends paid to
policyholders were $12,008 and there were no dividends paid to stockholders
in 1996.
7. Commitments and Contingencies
The Company is named as a defendant in various legal actions arising
principally from claims made under insurance policies and contracts. Those
actions are considered by the Company in estimating reserves for policy and
contract liabilities. The Company's management believes that the resolution
of those actions will not have a material effect on the Company's financial
position or results of operations.
The Company is subject to insurance guaranty fund laws in the states in
which it does business. These laws assess insurance companies amounts to be
used to pay benefits to policyholders and claimants of insolvent insurance
companies. Many states allow these assessments to be credited against
future premium taxes. At December 31, 1996 and 1995, the Company has
accrued $888 and $842, respectively, of premium tax deductions. The Company
recognizes its obligations for guaranty fund assessments when it receives
notice that an amount is payable to a guaranty fund. Expenses incurred for
guaranty fund assessments were $150 and $472 in 1996 and 1995,
respectively.
8. Separate Accounts
Separate Accounts held by the Company represent primarily funds which are
administered for pension plans. The assets consist of common stock, long-
term bonds, real estate and short-term investments. Except for long-term
bonds which are carried at amortized cost, the assets are carried at
estimated fair value. Investment income and changes in asset values do not
affect the operating results of the Company. Separate Accounts business is
maintained independently from the general account of the Company. The
Company provides administrative services for these contracts. Fees earned
by the Company related to these contracts included in other considerations
were $1,503 and $1,434 for the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995,
respectively.
9. Employee Benefits
The Company shares personnel with Liberty Mutual which has a non-
contributory defined benefit pension plan covering employees who have
attained age twenty-one and have completed one year of service. Benefits
are based on years of service and the employee's "final average
compensation" which is the employee's average annual compensation for the
highest five consecutive calendar years during the ten years immediately
preceding retirement. Liberty Mutual's funding and accounting policies are
to contribute annually the maximum amount that can be deducted for federal
income tax purposes and to charge such contributions to expense in the year
deductible for income tax purposes. Liberty Mutual's pension cost charged
to operations for the entire plan in 1996 and 1995 was $15,541 and $26,432
respectively. The Company's allocated pension cost in 1996 and 1995 was
$395 and $628, respectively.
As of January 1, 1996 and 1995, the actuarial present value of accumulated
vested and nonvested benefits for the entire plan, based on a valuation
interest rate of 8% in 1996 and 1995, approximated $657,550 and $607,595,
respectively, and the net assets, at fair market value, available for plan
benefits approximated $994,643 and $776,859 in 1996 and 1995, respectively.
Assets of the plan consist primarily of investments in life insurance
company separate accounts and a collective investment trust fund. At
January 1, 1996 and 1995, separate account investments of the Company,
included in plan assets at fair market value, amounted to approximately
$696,384 and $521,220 respectively.
10. Postretirement Benefits
Liberty Mutual provides certain health care and life insurance benefits
("postretirement") for retired employees. Substantially all employees may
become eligible for these benefits if they reach retirement age while
working for the Liberty Companies. Alternatively, retirees may elect
certain prepaid health care benefit plans. Life insurance benefits are
based upon a participant's final compensation subject to the plan maximum.
Liberty Mutual records the costs of its postretirement benefits by the
accrual accounting method and has elected to amortize its transition
obligation for retirees and fully eligible or vested employees over 20
years. The unamortized transition obligation was $155,840 and $165,580 at
December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
Net postretirement benefit costs for Liberty Mutual were approximately
$26,239 in 1996 and $30,979 in 1995 and includes the expected cost of such
benefits for newly eligible or vested employees, interest cost, gains and
losses arising from differences between actuarial assumptions and actual
experience, and amortization of the transition obligation. Liberty Mutual
made payments of $13,000 in 1996 and $14,000 in 1995, as claims were
incurred.
At December 31, 1996 and December 31, 1995, the accrued unfunded
postretirement benefit obligation for Liberty Mutual's retirees and other
fully eligible plan participants was $59,023 and $45,848, respectively. The
accumulated benefit obligation for non-vested employees was $96,742 and
$86,357 at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively. The discount rates
used in determining the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation were
7.25% and 7% in 1996 and 1995, respectively, and the health care cost trend
rates were 10.75% and 11.25%, graded to 5% over 10 years, in 1996 and 1995,
respectively.
The Company's share of postretirement benefit costs were approximately $236
and $282 for 1996 and 1995, respectively.
The health care cost trend rate assumption has a significant effect on the
amount reported. To illustrate, increasing the assumed health care cost
trend rates by one percentage point in each year would increase the
postretirement benefit obligation of the entire plan as of December 31,
1996 by approximately $13,899, and the estimated eligibility cost and
interest cost components of net periodic postretirement benefit cost for
1996 by approximately $1,699.
11. Related Party Transactions
Under a Service Agreement between the Company and Liberty Mutual, the
latter provides personnel, office space, equipment, computer processing and
other services. The Company reimburses Liberty Mutual for these services at
cost, and for any other special services supplied at the Company's request.
Substantially all of the Company's insurance expenses incurred in 1996 and
1995 related to this agreement.
The Company insures the group term life and disability risks for Liberty
Mutual employees. Premiums associated with these policies amounted to
$13,903 and $14,755 in 1996 and 1995, respectively.
The Company insures key officers of Liberty Mutual Group under an Optional
Life Insurance Plan. Premiums associated with this plan amounted to $4,967
and $4,278 in 1996 and 1995, respectively.
Liberty Mutual purchased structured settlement annuity contracts, with and
without life contingencies, from the Company. Premiums under these
contracts amounted to $91,754 and $78,567 in 1996 and 1995, respectively.
The related policy and contract reserves with respect to all structured
settlement annuity contracts purchased by Liberty Mutual amounted to
$441,220 and $386,565 at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively.
Liberty Mutual deposited $16,107 and $2,761 with the Company in 1996 and
1995, respectively, to fund certain Liberty Mutual environmental claim
transactions. Such amounts have been included in deposit type fund revenues
for the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995, as well as in the liability
for premium and other deposit funds.
In 1996, Keyport Life Insurance Company began ceding 100% of the premiums
and benefits of certain structured settlement annuity contracts, with and
without life contingencies, to the Company. Premiums under these contracts
amounted to $3,194 in 1996. The related policy and contract reserves with
respect to these structured settlement annuity contracts assumed by the
Company amounted to $2,601 at December 31, 1996.
12. Fair Value of Financial Instruments
Fair values generally represent quoted market value prices for securities
traded in the public marketplace, or analytically determined values using
bid or closing prices for securities not traded in the public marketplace.
The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in
estimating the "fair value" disclosures for financial instruments in the
accompanying financial statements and notes thereto:
Fixed Maturities
Fair values for publicly traded fixed maturities are determined using
values reported by an independent pricing service. Fair values of private
placement fixed maturities are determined by obtaining market indications
from various broker-dealers.
Cash and Short-term Investments
The carrying amounts reported in the accompanying balance sheets for these
financial instruments approximate their fair values.
Policy Loans
The carrying amounts reported in the accompanying balance sheets for these
financial instruments approximate their fair values.
Investment Contracts
The fair values for the Company's liabilities under investment-type
insurance contracts are estimated using discounted cash flow calculations,
based on interest rates currently being offered for similar contracts with
maturities consistent with those remaining for the contracts being valued.
Policy Account Balances
The fair values of the Company's liabilities for insurance contracts other
than investment-type contracts are not required to be disclosed. However,
the fair values of liabilities under all insurance contracts are taken into
consideration in the Company's overall management of interest rate risk,
such that the Company's exposure to changing interest rates is minimized
through the matching of investment maturities with amounts due under
insurance contracts.
The carrying amount and fair value of the Company's financial instruments
are summarized a follows:
December 31, 1996 December 31, 1995
Carrying Fair Carrying Fair
Amount Value Amount Value
Fixed maturities $1,737,187 $1,737,187 $1,522,447 $1,522,447
Equity securities 4,122 4,122 4,191 4,191
Other invested assets 38,281 38,281 32,339 32,339
Policy loans 45,345 45,345 40,672 40,672
Short-term investments 78,715 78,715 121,471 121,471
Individual and group annuities 153,927 153,742 150,562 149,223
Other policyholder funds
left on deposit 8,009 8,009 7,527 7,527
13. Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
Details with respect to deferred policy acquisition costs are summarized as
follows:
Year ended December 31
1996 1995
Balance, beginning of year $ 62,762 $ 54,283
Additions 16,114 14,143
Amortization (867) (2,830)
Valuation adjustment for unrealized
gain on fixed maturities (585) (2,834)
Balance, end of year $ 77,424 $ 62,762
14. Segment Information
Revenues and income from continuing operations before federal income taxes
and earnings of participating policies for each of the Company's segments
are summarized as follows:
Year ended December 31
1996 1995 1994
Revenues from continuing operations:
Group life and disability $203,911 $108,132 $ 84,872
Individual life and annuity 186,696 175,960 116,966
Group pension 32,835 36,488 37,552
Total revenues from continuing operations $423,442 $320,580 $239,390
Income from continuing operations before federal
income taxes and earnings from participating
policies:
Group life and disability $ 8,377 $ 5,723 $ 11,559
Individual life and annuity 24,319 22,444 18,284
Group pension 1,075 1,715 1,610
Total income from continuing operations
before federal income taxes and
earnings of participating policies $ 33,771 $ 29,882 $ 31,453
15. Reconciliation to Statutory-Basis Accounting
The Company is required to file statutory financial statements with state
insurance regulatory authorities. Accounting principles used to prepare
statutory financial statements differ from the financial statements
reported herein which are prepared on the basis of generally accepted
accounting principles.
Reconciliations of statutory net income and capital and surplus, as
determined using statutory accounting principles, to the amounts included
in the accompanying financial statements are summarized as follows:
Year ended December 31
Net income: 1996 1995 1994
Statutory basis, net income $ 3,554 $ 6,952 $ 4,289
Increases/(decreases)
Deferred policy acquisition costs 15,247 11,101 9,921
Policy reserves 9,631 2,779 8,971
Participating policies (3,248) (3,397) (1,545)
Deferred federal income taxes (3,316) (2,934) (1,563)
Deferred premiums (1,859) (1,763) (1,644)
Interest maintenance reserve (526) (439) 687
Other 389 1,137 (187)
Net income as reported herein $ 19,872 $ 13,436 $ 18,929
Year ended December 31
Stockholders' equity: 1996 1995 1994
Statutory basis, capital and surplus $137,933 $ 84,441 $ 76,434
Increases/(decreases)
Deferred policy acquisition costs 77,424 65,597 54,283
Policy reserves 102,214 92,583 88,531
Participating policies (68,504) (65,256) (61,859)
Asset valuation reserve 11,773 9,372 6,969
Interest maintenance reserve 4,327 4,853 5,292
Deferred federal income taxes (73,973) (93,158) (30,198)
Deferred premiums (17,346) (15,487) (9,970)
Net unrealized gain on fixed maturities 121,967 184,696 17,077
Other 4,944 4,609 1,160
Stockholders' equity as reported herein $300,759 $272,250 $147,719
16. Discontinued Operations
On December 31, 1993, the Company discontinued its Group Medical insured
and administrative services line of business. Substantially all of the
insured operating assets and future policy liabilities, as of December 31,
1993, were ceded to Liberty Mutual effective January 1, 1994, until the
termination date of the contracts. After termination there is no additional
insurance risk associated with this particular line of business and all
insured operating assets and future policy liabilities will be
extinguished.
<PAGE>
PART C
<PAGE>
Item 24. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(a) Financial Statements:
Included in Part B:
Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston:
Balance Sheets for the years ended December 31,
1996 and 1995.
Statements of Income for the years ended December
31, 1996, 1995, and 1994.
Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the years
ended December 31, 1996 and 1995.
Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended
December 31, 1996 and 1995.
Notes to Financial Statements
(b) Exhibits:
* (1) Resolution of the Board of Directors establishing
Variable Account J
(2) Not applicable
* (3a) Principal Underwriter's Agreement
* (3b) Specimen Agreement between Principal Underwriter
and Dealer
** (3c) Manning & Napier Broker/Dealer's Agreement
* (4a) Form of Group Variable Annuity Contract of Liberty
Assurance Company of Boston
* (4b) Form of Variable Annuity Certificate of Liberty
Life Assurance Company of Boston
* (4c) Form of Tax-Sheltered Annuity Endorsement
* (4d) Form of Individual Retirement Annuity Endorsement
* (4e) Form of Corporate/Keogh 401(a) Plan Endorsement
* (4f) Form of Unisex Endorsement
** (4g) Specimen Group Variable Annuity Contract of
Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston (M&N)
** (4h) Specimen Variable Annuity Certificate of Liberty
Life Assurance Company of Boston (M&N)
*** (4i) Specimen Group Variable Annuity Contract of
Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston (LA)
*** (4j) Specimen Variable Annuity Certificate of Liberty
Life Assurance Company of Boston (LA)
* (5a) Form of Application for a Group Variable Annuity
Contract
* (5b) Form of Application for a Group Variable Annuity
Certificate
*** (6a) Articles of Incorporation of Liberty Life
Assurance Company of Boston
* (6b) By-Laws of Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston
(7) Not applicable
* (8a) Form of Participation Agreement
** (8b) Participation Agreement Among Manning & Napier
Insurance Fund, Inc., Manning & Napier Investor Services,
Inc., Manning & Napier Advisors, Inc., and Liberty Life
Assurance Company of Boston
** (8c) Participation Agreement By and Among Liberty Life
Assurance Company of Boston, SteinRoe Variable Investment
Trust and Keyport Financial Services Corp.
*** (8d) Participation Agreement Among MFS Variable Insurance Trust,
Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston, and Massachusetts
Financial Services Corp.
*** (8e) Participation Agreement Among The Alger American Fund,
Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston, and Fred Alger and
Company, Incorporated
*** (8f) Participation Agreement Among Alliance Variable Products
Series Fund, Inc., Alliance Fund Distributors, Inc.,
Alliance Capital Management L.P., and Liberty Life Assurance
Company of Boston.
*** (8g) Amended and Restated Participation Agreement By
and Among Keyport Variable Investment Trust, Keyport
Financial Services Corp., Keyport Life Insurance Company and
Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston.
*** (9) Opinion and Consent of Counsel
(10) Consents of Independent Auditors
(11) Not applicable
(12) Not applicable
+ (13) Schedule for Computations of Performance
Quotations
* (15) Chart of Affiliations
* (16) Powers of Attorney
* (17) Specimen Tax-Sheltered Annuity Acknowledgement
* (18) Administrative Services Agreement
** (27) Financial Data Schedule
* Incorporated by reference to Registration Statement (File No. 333-
29811; 811-08269) filed on or about June 18, 1997.
** Incorporated by reference to Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to
Registration Statement (File No. 333-29811; 811-08269) filed on or
about June 27, 1997.
*** Incorporated by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to
Registration Statement (File No. 333-29811; 811-08269) filed on or
about July 17, 1997.
+ To be Filed by Amendment.
Item 25. Officers and Directors of the Depositor.
Name and
Business Address* Position and Offices with Depositor
Gary L. Countryman Chairman of the Board & Chief Exec. Officer
Edmund F. Kelly President and CAO
Morton E. Spitzer Exec. VP and COO-Individual
Jean M. Scarrow Exec. VP and COO-Group
J. Phillip Bruen Vice President
Edwin J. Campbell Vice President
J. Paul Condrin, III Vice President
A. Alexander Fontanes Vice President
Andrew M. Girdwood, Jr. Vice President
Richard W. Hadley Vice President
Elizabeth P. Jefferson Vice President
Richard B. Lassow Vice President
Merrill J. Mack Vice President
Douglas T. Maines Vice President
John S. O'Donnell Vice President
Gerard A. Paolino Vice President
Steven M. Sentler Vice President
John A. Tymochko Vice President
Barry S. Gilvar Secretary
Elliot J. Williams Treasurer
Gerald H. Dolan Assistant Treasurer
Bernard Gillen Assistant Treasurer
James W. Jakobek Assistant Treasurer
Diane S. Bainton Assistant Secretary
Katherine Desiderio Assistant Secretary
Christine T. Devine Assistant Secretary
James R. Pugh Assistant Secretary
Directors
John B. Conners J. Paul Condrin, III Morton E. Spitzer
Gary L. Countryman Edmund F. Kelly Jean M. Scarrow
A. Alexander Fontanes Christopher C. Mansfield
*175 Berkeley Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02117, unless noted otherwise
Item 26. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the Depositor
or Registrant.
The Depositor controls the Registrant, and is an affiliate of
Keyport Financial Services Corp. (KFSC), a Massachusetts corporation
functioning as a broker/dealer of securities. KFSC files separate financial
statements. Both are ultimately owned by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company.
The Depositor is an affiliate of Liberty Advisory Services Corp.
(LASC), a Massachusetts corporation functioning as an investment advisor.
LASC files separate financial statements and is ultimately owned by Liberty
Mutual Insurance Company.
Chart for the affiliations of the Depositor is incorporated by
reference to the Registration Statement (Files No. 333-29811; 811-08269)
filed on or about June 18, 1997.
Item 27. Number of Contract Owners.
None
Item 28. Indemnification.
Directors and officers of the Depositor and the principal
underwriter are covered persons under Directors and Officers/Errors and
Omissions liability insurance policies. Insofar as indemnification for
liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to
directors and officers under such insurance policies, or otherwise, the
Depositor has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment
by the Depositor of expenses incurred or paid by a director or officer in
the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by
such director or officer in connection with the variable annuity contracts,
the Depositor will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has
been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against
public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
Item 29. Principal Underwriters.
Keyport Financial Services Corp. (KFSC) is principal underwriter
of the SteinRoe Variable Investment Trust and the Liberty Variable
Investment Trust, which offer eligible funds for variable annuity and
variable life insurance contracts. KFSC is also principal underwriter for
Variable Account K of Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston and for the
KMA Variable Account, Variable Account A and Keyport Variable Account-I of
Keyport Life Insurance Company and for the Independence Variable Annuity
Account and Independence Variable Life Account of Independence Life and
Annuity Company both are affiliated companies of Liberty Life.
The directors and officers are:
Name and Principal Position and Offices
Business Address* with Underwriter
John W. Rosensteel Chairman of the Board and President
John E. Arant III Director and Vice President and Sales Officer
William L. Dixon Vice President-Compliance Officer
Francis E. Reinhart Director and Vice President-Administration
Rogelio P. Japlit Treasurer
James J. Klopper Clerk
Donald A. Truman Assistant Clerk
*125 High Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110.
Item 30. Location of Accounts and Records.
Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston, 175 Berkeley St., Boston, MA
02117
Keyport Life Insurance Company, 125 High St., Boston, MA 02110
Item 31. Management Services.
Not applicable.
Item 32. Undertakings.
The Registrant undertakes to file a post-effective amendment to this
Registration Statement as frequently as is necessary to ensure that the
audited financial statements in the Registration Statement are never more
than 16 months old for so long as payments under the variable annuity
contracts may be accepted.
The Registrant undertakes to include either (1) as part of any
application to purchase a contract offered by the prospectus, a space that
an applicant can check to request a Statement of Additional Information, or
(2) a post card or similar written communication affixed to or included in
the prospectus that the applicant can remove to send for a Statement of
Additional Information.
The Registrant undertakes to deliver any Statement of Additional
Information and any financial statements required to be made available
under this Form promptly upon written or oral request.
Registrant represents that it is relying on the November 28, 1988 no-
action letter (Ref. No. IP-6-88) relating to variable annuity contracts
offered as funding vehicles for retirement plans meeting the requirements
of Section 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code. Registrant further
represents that it has complied with the provisions of paragraphs (1) - (4)
of that letter. Specimen of acknowledgement form used to comply with
paragraph (4) is incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement
Form N-4 (Files No. 333-29811; 811-08269) filed on or about June 18, 1997.
Representation
Depositor represents that the fees and charges deducted under the
contract, in the aggregate, are reasonable in relation to the services
rendered, the expenses expected to be incurred, and the risks assumed by
the Depositor. Further, this representation applies to each form of the
contract described in a prospectus and statement of additional information
included in this Registration Statement.
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
As required by the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company
Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements
for effectiveness of this Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b)
under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf, in the City of Boston and State of
Massachusetts, on this 14th day of November, 1997.
Variable Account J
(Registrant)
BY: Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston
(Depositor)
BY: /s/Elliot J. Williams
Elliot J. Williams, Treasurer
<PAGE>
As required by the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has
been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.
/s/GARY L. COUNTRYMAN* /s/EDMUND F. KELLY*
GARY L. COUNTRYMAN EDMUND F. KELLY
Chairman of the Board President
/s/J. PAUL CONDRIN,III* /s/ELLIOT J. WILLIAMS 11/14/97
J. PAUL CONDRIN, III ELLIOT J. WILLIAMS Date
Director Treasurer
/s/JOHN B. CONNERS*
JOHN B. CONNERS
Director
/s/A. ALEXANDER FONTANES*
A. ALEXANDER FONTANES
Director
/s/EDMUND F. KELLY*
EDMUND F. KELLY
Director
/s/CHRISTOPHER C. MANSFIELD*
CHRISTOPHER C. MANSFIELD
Director
*BY: /s/ELLIOT J. WILLIAMS 11/14/97
/s/JEAN M. SCARROW* Elliot J. Williams Date
JEAN M. SCARROW Attorney-in-Fact
Director
/s/MORTON E. SPITZER*
MORTON E. SPITZER
Director
*Elliot J. Williams has signed this document on th indicated date on behalf
of each of the above Directors and Officers of the Depositor pursuant to
powers of attorney duly executed by such persons and included as Exhibit 16
in the Registration Statement (Files No. 333-29811; 811-08269)
filed on or about June 18, 1997.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Page
(10) Consents of Independent Auditors
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 10
<PAGE>
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in
the Statement of Additional Information and to the use of our report dated
February 28, 1997, with respect to the financial statements of Liberty Life
Assurance Company of Boston, included in this Post-Effective Amendment No.
2 to the Registration Statement (Form N-4, Nos. 333-29811; 811-08269).
Boston, Massachusetts /s/Ernst & Young LLP
November 14, 1997
<PAGE>
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Board of Directors
Liberty Life Assurance Company:
We consent to the use of our report dated February 16, 1996 with respect to
the financial statements of Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston
included herein and to the reference to our firm under the heading
"Experts" in the Statement of Additional Information.
/s/KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
November 14, 1997
