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SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
A WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA
EXECUTIVE OFFICE: HOME OFFICE: ANNUITY SERVICE MAILING ADDRESS:
[One Sun Life Executive Park [Wilmington, DE] Sun Life of Canada (U.S.)
Wellesley Hills, MA 02481] Retirement Products and Services
P.O. Box [ # ]
Boston, MA [ Zip code ]
Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.) ("the Company") will pay an
annuity commencing on the Annuity Commencement Date by applying the adjusted
value of the Participant's Account in accordance with the settlement provisions.
If the Covered Person dies while the Contract is in effect and before the
Annuity Commencement Date, the Company may pay a Death Benefit to the
Beneficiary upon receipt of Due Proof of Death of the Participant. Under certain
circumstances, if the Participant dies before the Annuity Commencement Date, a
distribution is required by law. This Contract is the legal Contract. If there
is any conflict between the provisions of this Contract and any Certificate
issued in connection with it, the Contract is the controlling document.
All payments will be made to the persons and in the manner set forth in
this Contract. Provisions and endorsements printed or written by the Company on
the following pages form part of the Contract.
Signed by the Company at its Executive Office, Wellesley Hills,
Massachusetts on the Issue Date.
/s/ C. James Prieur /s/ Ellen B. King
C. James Prieur Ellen B. King
PRESIDENT SECRETARY
FLEXIBLE PAYMENT DEFERRED COMBINATION VARIABLE AND FIXED GROUP ANNUITY CONTRACT
NONPARTICIPATING
ALL PAYMENTS AND VALUES PROVIDED BY THIS CONTRACT WHEN BASED ON THE INVESTMENT
EXPERIENCE OF THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT ARE VARIABLE AND ARE NOT GUARANTEED AS TO
DOLLAR AMOUNT.
PAYMENTS AND VALUES BASED ON THE FIXED ACCOUNT ARE SUBJECT TO A MARKET VALUE
ADJUSTMENT FORMULA, THE OPERATION OF WHICH MAY RESULT IN UPWARD AND DOWNWARD
ADJUSTMENTS IN AMOUNTS PAYABLE TO A PARTICIPANT, INCLUDING WITHDRAWALS,
TRANSFERS AND AMOUNTS APPLIED TO PURCHASE AN ANNUITY. PAYMENTS FROM GUARANTEE
AMOUNTS WHICH ARE MADE WITHIN 30 DAYS PRIOR TO THE END OF A GUARANTEE PERIOD OR
THE WITHDRAWAL OF INTEREST CREDITED TO GUARANTEE AMOUNTS DURING THE CURRENT
ACCOUNT YEAR ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THE MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
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CONTRACT SPECIFICATIONS................................................. 4
DEFINITIONS............................................................. 5
FIXED AND VARIABLE ACCOUNTS............................................. 8
Fixed Account...................................................... 8
Variable Account and Sub-Accounts.................................. 8
Ownership of Assets................................................ 8
Investments of the Sub-Accounts.................................... 8
PURCHASE PAYMENTS...................................................... 8
Payments .......................................................... 8
Purchase Payment interest.......................................... 9
Account Continuation............................................... 9
Allocation of Net Purchase Payments................................ 9
CONTRACT VALUES DURING ACCUMULATION PERIOD.............................. 9
Participant's Account.............................................. 9
Variable Account Value............................................. 10
Crediting Variable Accumulation Units.............................. 10
Variable Accumulation Unit Value................................... 10
Variable Accumulation Value........................................ 10
Net Investment Factor.............................................. 10
Fixed Account Value................................................ 11
Guarantee Periods.................................................. 11
Guaranteed Interest Rates.......................................... 11
Fixed Accumulation Value........................................... 11
Transfer Privilege................................................. 12
Account Fee........................................................ 12
CASH WITHDRAWALS, WITHDRAWAL CHARGES AND MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT........ 13
Cash Withdrawals................................................... 13
Withdrawal Charges................................................. 13
Nursing Home Withdrawal Privilege.................................. 14
Market Value Adjustment............................................ 14
DEATH BENEFIT........................................................... 15
Death Benefit Provided by the Contract............................. 15
Election and Effective Date of Election............................ 15
Payment of Death Benefit........................................... 16
Amount of Death Benefit............................................ 16
SETTLEMENT PROVISIONS................................................... 17
General............................................................ 17
Election and Effective Date of Election............................ 17
Determination of Amount............................................ 17
Effect of Annuity Commencement Date on Participant's Account....... 18
Annuity Commencement Date.......................................... 18
Fixed Annuity Payments............................................. 18
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Variable Annuity Payments.......................................... 18
Annuity Unit Value................................................. 19
Exchange of Variable Annuity Units................................. 19
Account Fee........................................................ 19
Description of Annuity Options..................................... 19
Amounts Payable on Death of Payee.................................. 20
Annuity Payment Rates.............................................. 20
OWNERSHIP PROVISIONS.................................................... 22
Exercise of Contract Rights........................................ 22
Death of Participant............................................... 22
Voting of Fund Shares.............................................. 22
Periodic Reports................................................... 23
Designation and Change of Beneficiary.............................. 23
GENERAL PROVISIONS...................................................... 23
Age and Sex Misstatement........................................... 23
Contract........................................................... 24
Currency........................................................... 24
Determination of Values............................................ 24
Discontinuance of New Participants................................. 24
Governing Law...................................................... 24
Guarantees......................................................... 24
Incontestability................................................... 25
Modification....................................................... 25
Nonparticipating................................................... 25
Payments by the Company............................................ 25
Proof of Age....................................................... 25
Proof of Survival.................................................. 25
Splitting Units.................................................... 25
Rights Reserved by the Company..................................... 26
QUALIFIED CONTRACT PROVISIONS...........................................
RCH-GR-CONT-00-1 -3-
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CONTRACT SPECIFICATIONS
<TABLE>
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OWNER [ ]
CONTRACT TYPE [Non Qualified] or [Qualified plan under IRS
code section 401, 403(b) or 408A]
CONTRACT NUMBER [79-7900-111111]
ISSUE DATE [June 21, 1998]
INITIAL PURCHASE PAYMENT [$10,000][if IRA $2,000]
Minimum Additional Payment [$ 1,000]
Maximum Purchase Payment [Any purchase payment that would NOT cause
(without prior approval of the Company) Account Value to exceed $2,000,000]
ANNUAL ASSET CHARGES
Up to and including $1,000,000 [1.15%] or [1.30%] or [1.40%] or [1.55%]
[1.40% after Annuity Commencement Date for
Annuity Commencement Dates occurring within 7
years of Date of Coverage]
[1.15% after Annuity Commencement Date for
Annuity Commencement Dates occurring after 7
years from the Date of Coverage]
Over $1,000 000 [1.00%] or [1.15%]or [1.25%] or [1.40%]
[1.25% after Annuity Commencement Date for
Annuity Commencement Dates occurring after 7
years from the Date of Coverage]
[1.00% after Annuity Commencement Date for
Annuity Commencement Dates occurring after 7
years from Date of Coverage.]
ANNUITY OPTION [Deferred]
Minimum Annuity Purchase Amount [$5,000]
Minimum Initial Annuity Payment Amount [$50]
Account Fee After Annuity Commencement Date [$35]
ACCOUNT FEE [$35]
MAXIMUM ACCOUNT FEE [$50]
MINIMUM ACCOUNT VALUE FOR WAIVER OF ACCOUNT FEE [$75,000]
WITHDRAWAL CHARGES NUMBER OF COMPLETE WITHDRAWAL
ACCOUNT YEARS FROM TIME CHARGES
OF PAYMENT
[0-1 7%
2- 3 6%
4 5%
5 4%
6 3%
7+ 0%]
FREE WITHDRAWAL AMOUNT
INITIAL GUARANTEE PERIODS(S) ["1-10 Year" or "Non-Elected"]
FREE WITHDRAWAL AMOUNT [ 15%][of Purchase Payments irrespective of
whether such new Payments have been liquidated
or cumulative earnings.]
GUARANTEED INTEREST RATE ["1YR-4.5%, "3YR-5.6%" or "N/A"]
Minimum Guarantee Period Amount [$1,000]
Minimum Guarantee Interest Rate 3%
Market Value Adjustment ("b" Factor) [0%] Maximum 0.25%
CURRENT FEE PER TRANSFER [$0]
Maximum Fee Per Transfer [$25]
Maximum Number of Transfers per Year [12]
Minimum Transfer Amount [$1,000]
Minimum Remaining in Sub-Account after [$1,000]
Transfer
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BASIC DEATH BENEFIT
OPTIONAL DEATH BENEFIT (S) [The greatest of 1, 2, and 3 in the "Amount of
Death Benefit" provision.]
[EARNINGS ENHANCEMENT RIDER] [None]
[The Basic Death Benefit plus
- 40% of the lesser of Net Purchase Payments and
the Accumulation Account Value minus Net
Purchase Payments if the Participant is less than
70 years old on the Certificate Date.
- 25% of the lesser of Net Purchase Payments and
the Accumulation Account Value minus Net
Purchase Payments if the participant is between
70 and 79 years old on the Certificate Date]
[WHAT BENEFIT IS PAYABLE IN THE EVENT THE PARTICIPANT'S [If the spouse of the Participant chooses to continue
SPOUSE CHOOSES TO CONTINUE THE CERTIFICATE AFTER THE this Certificate after the Participant's death, the
PARTICIPANT'S DEATH?] amount payable under this Rider will be credited to
the Accumulation Account Value as of the Death
Benefit Date. Thereafter, the Rider will continue in
force and be payable upon the spouse's death. For
purposes of calculating this benefit upon the
spouse's death, the Accumulation Account Value on the
Participant's Death Benefit Date (inclusive of
any Death Benefit Amount increases) will be
considered the Initial Net Purchase Payment.. If a
benefit is payable on the spouse's Death Benefit
Date, the percentage payable (40% vs. 25%) will be
based on the spouse's age on the Date of Coverage]
[MAXIMUM ANNIVERSARY ACCOUNT VALUE RIDER] [and]
[The Basic Death Benefit and the highest
Accumulation Account Value on any Contract
Anniversary prior to the Participant's 81st birthday,
adjusted for any subsequent Purchase Payments and
Partial Withdrawals and Charges made between such
Account Anniversary and the Death Benefit Date.
[5% PREMIUM ROLL-UP RIDER] [and]
[The Basic Death Benefit and your total purchase
payments plus interest accrued as follows:
- Interest will accrue on Purchase Payments
allocated to and transfers to the Variable
Account while they remain in the Variable
Account at 5% per year until the first day of the
month following the Participant's 80th birthday
or until Purchase Payment or amount
transferred has doubled in amount, whichever is
earlier.]
[HOW WILL THE BENEFITS OFFERED BY THESE RIDERS BE
CALCULATED IF BOTH ARE ELECTED?]
[MAXIMUM ANNIVERSARY ACCOUNT VALUE RIDER AND
5% PREMIUM ROLL-UP RIDER
The death benefit will equal the greatest of
the following values:
- Maximum Account Anniversary Account Value
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- 5% of Premium Rollup value
- the Basic Death Benefit]
[MAXIMUM ANNIVERSARY ACCOUNT VALUE RIDER AND
EARNINGS ENHANCEMENT RIDER
The death benefit will equal the greater of the
following values:
- Maximum Account Anniversary Account Value
- the Basic Death Benefit
PLUS
- The amount calculated under the Earnings
Enhancement Rider using the Basic Death
Benefit]
[5% PREMIUM ROLL-UP RIDER AND EARNINGS
ENHANCEMENT RIDER
The death benefit will equal the greater of the
following values:
- 5% Premium Rollup value
- the Basic Death Benefit
PLUS
THE AMOUNT CALCULATED UNDER THE EARNINGS
ENHANCEMENT RIDER USING THE BASIC DEATH BENEFIT]
[MAXIMUM ANNIVERSARY ACCOUNT VALUE RIDER,
5% PREMIUM ROLL-UP RIDER, AND EARNINGS
ENHANCEMENT RIDER
The death benefit will equal the greater of the
following values:
- Maximum Account Anniversary Account Value
- 5% Premium Rollup value
- the Basic Death Benefit
PLUS
THE AMOUNT CALCULATED UNDER THE EARNINGS
ENHANCEMENT RIDER USING THE BASIC DEATH BENEFIT
VALUE.]
</TABLE>
Available Fund Options:
[ ]
RCH-GR-CONT-00-1
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DEFINITIONS
Any reference in this Contract to "RECEIPT" and "RECEIVED" by the Company means
receipt at the Company's Annuity Service Mailing Address shown on the first page
of this Contract.
ACCOUNT YEARS AND ACCOUNT ANNIVERSARIES: The period of 365 days measured from
the Date of Coverage.
ACCUMULATION PERIOD: The period before the Annuity Commencement Date and during
the lifetime of the Participant.
ANNUITANT: The person or persons named in the Certificate Specifications page,
and on whose life the first annuity payment is to be made. If the Annuitant dies
prior to the Annuity Commencement Date, the new Annuitant will be the
Co-Annuitant, if any. If the Co-Annuitant dies or if no Co-Annuitant is named,
the Participant becomes the Annuitant upon the Annuitant's death prior to the
Annuity Commencement Date.
ANNUITY COMMENCEMENT DATE: The date on which the first annuity payment is to be
made. This date may not be earlier than the first Account Anniversary.
ANNUITY OPTION: The method for making annuity payments.
ANNUITY UNIT: A unit of measure used in the calculation of the amount of the
second and each subsequent Variable Annuity payment from the Variable Account.
APPLICATION: The document, if any, signed by each Participant that serves as his
or her application for participation under this Contract.
BENEFICIARY: Prior to the Annuity Commencement Date, the person or entity having
the right to receive the Death Benefit set forth in the Certificate, and, for a
Certificate issued under a Non-Qualified Contract, who, in the event of the
Participant's death, is the designated Beneficiary for purposes of Section 72(s)
of the Code. After the Annuity Commencement Date, the person or entity having
the right to receive any payments due under the Annuity Option elected, if
applicable, upon the death of the Payee. The Certificate must be owned by a
natural person or agent for a natural person for the Certificate to receive
favorable income tax treatment as an annuity.
CERTIFICATE: The document for each Participant which evidences the coverage of
the Participant under this Contract.
CODE: The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
COMPANY: Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (U.S.).
CONTRACT APPLICATION: The document, if any, signed by the Owner that evidences
the Owner's application for this Contract.
COVERED PERSON: The person upon whose death the Death Benefit will be paid.
DATE OF COVERAGE: The date on which a Participant's Certificate becomes
effective.
DEATH BENEFIT DATE: The date on which the death benefit election is effective,
which is the date on which the Company receives Due Proof of Death.
DUE PROOF OF DEATH: An original certified copy of an official death certificate,
an original certified copy of a decree of a court of competent jurisdiction as
to the finding of death, or any other proof satisfactory to the Company.
EXPIRATION DATE: The last day of a Guarantee Period.
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FIXED ACCOUNT: Part of the General Account of the Company, consisting of all
assets of the Company other than those allocated to a separate account of the
Company.
FIXED ANNUITY: An annuity with payments that do not vary as to dollar amount.
FUND(S): One or more open-end management investment companies or "mutual funds"
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
GUARANTEE AMOUNT: Any portion of a Participant's Account Value allocated to a
particular Guarantee Period with a particular Expiration Date (including
interest earned thereon).
GUARANTEE PERIOD: The period for which a Guaranteed Interest Rate is credited.
GUARANTEED INTEREST RATE: The rate of interest credited by the Company on a
compound annual basis during any Guarantee Period.
ISSUE DATE: The date on which the Contract becomes effective.
NET INVESTMENT FACTOR: An index applied by the Company to measure the investment
performance of a Sub-Account from one Valuation Period to the next. The Net
Investment Factor may be greater than, less than, or equal to one.
NET PURCHASE PAYMENT: The portion of a Purchase Payment that remains after the
deduction of any applicable front-end sales load or premium or similar tax, if
any.
NON-QUALIFIED CONTRACT: A contract used in connection with a retirement plan
which does not receive favorable federal income tax treatment under Sections
401, 403, 408 or 408A of the Code. The Participant's interest in the Contract
must be owned by a natural person or agent for a natural person for the Contract
to receive favorable income tax treatment as an annuity.
*OWNER: The person, persons or entity entitled to the ownership rights stated in
the Contract and in whose name or names the Contract is issued. The Owner may
designate a trustee or custodian of a retirement plan which meets the
requirements of Section 401, Section 408(c), Section 408(k), or Section 408(p)
of the Code to serve as legal owner of assets of a retirement plan, but the term
Owner, as used herein, refers to the organization entering into the Contract.
PARTICIPANT: The person named in the Certificate Specifications page who is
entitled to exercise all rights and privileges of ownership under the
Certificate, except as reserved by the Owner.
PARTICIPANT'S ACCOUNT: An account to which Net Purchase Payments are credited.
PARTICIPANT'S ACCOUNT VALUE: The variable accumulation value, if any, plus the
fixed accumulation value, if any, of a Participant's Account for any Valuation
Period.
PAYEE: A recipient of payments under the Contract.
PURCHASE PAYMENT (PAYMENT): The amount paid to the Company as consideration for
the benefits provided by the Contract.
QUALIFIED CONTRACT: A Contract used in connection with a retirement plan which
may receive favorable federal income tax treatment under Sections 401, 403, 408
or 408A of the Code.
SUB-ACCOUNT: That portion of the Variable Account that invests in shares of
specific series or sub-series of a Fund.
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VALUATION PERIOD: The period of time from one determination of Variable
Accumulation Unit and Annuity Unit values to the next subsequent determination
of these values. Such determination shall be made as of the close of the New
York Stock Exchange on each day that the Exchange is open for trading.
VARIABLE ACCOUNT: A separate account of the Company consisting of assets set
aside by the Company, the investment performance of which is kept separate from
that of the general assets of the Company.
VARIABLE ACCUMULATION UNIT: A unit of measure used in the calculation of the
value of the variable portion of a Participant's Account.
VARIABLE ANNUITY: An annuity with payments which vary as to dollar amount in
relation to the investment performance of specified Sub-Accounts of the Variable
Account.
-----------------------------------
* As Specified in the Contract Specifications page, unless changed.
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FIXED AND VARIABLE ACCOUNTS
FIXED ACCOUNT
The Fixed Account consists of all assets of the Company other than those
allocated to any separate account of the Company. Any portion of a Net Purchase
Payment allocated by a Participant to a Guarantee Period(s) will become part of
the Fixed Account.
VARIABLE ACCOUNT AND SUB-ACCOUNTS
The Variable Account to which the variable accumulation values and
Variable Annuity payments, if any, under the contract relate was established by
the Company pursuant to a resolution of its Board of Directors. The Company has
registered the Variable Account as a unit investment trust under the Investment
Company Act of 1940. That portion of the assets of the Variable Account equal to
the reserves and other Contract liabilities with respect to the Variable Account
shall not be chargeable with liabilities arising out of any other business the
Company may conduct.
The assets of the Variable Account are divided into Sub-Accounts. Each
Sub-Account invests exclusively in shares of a designated series or sub-series
of a Fund. The values of the Variable Accumulation Units and the Annuity Units
described in the contract reflect the investment performance of the
Sub-Accounts.
OWNERSHIP OF ASSETS
The Company shall have exclusive and absolute ownership and control of its
assets, including all assets of the Sub-Accounts. The Company reserves the right
to transfer assets of a Sub-Account, in excess of the reserves and other policy
liabilities with respect to that Sub-Account, to another Sub-Account or to the
Company's General Account.
INVESTMENTS OF THE SUB-ACCOUNTS
All amounts allocated to a Sub-Account will be used to purchase shares of
a specific series or sub-series of a Fund. The Fund shares available on the
Issue Date are shown on the Contract Specifications page; more series and/or
Funds may be subsequently added or deleted. Each Fund is an open-end management
investment company ("mutual fund") registered under the Investment Company Act
of 1940. Any and all distributions made by a Fund with respect to shares held by
a Sub-Account will be reinvested to purchase additional shares of that Fund at
net asset value. Deductions from the Sub-Accounts will, in effect, be made by
reducing the number of Accumulation Units attributable to a Participant's
Account. Each Sub-Account will be fully invested in Fund shares at all times.
PURCHASE PAYMENTS
PAYMENTS
All Purchase Payments are to be paid to the Company at its Annuity Service
Mailing Address. The amount of Purchase Payments may vary; however, the Company
will not accept an initial Purchase Payment for any Certificate which is less
than the minimum amount set forth on the Certificate Specifications page, and
each additional Purchase Payment must be at least the minimum additional amount
specified on the Certificate Specifications page. In addition, the prior
approval of the Company is required before it will accept a Purchase Payment
which would cause the Participant's Account Value to exceed the maximum Purchase
Payment amount specified on the Certificate Specifications page. If the
Participant's Account Value exceeds such maximum amount, no additional Purchase
Payments will be allocated without the prior approval of the Company.
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PURCHASE PAYMENT INTEREST
Purchase Payments will be credited with interest at the rate shown on the
Certificate Specifications page. A Participant may choose between two Purchase
Payment Interest options: Option A provides for the crediting of interest at the
rate shown on the Specification Page to each Purchase Payment made during the
first Account Year. On each Five Year Anniversary, additional interest (called
"Five Year Anniversary Interest") will be credited to the Participant's Account
Value at the rate shown on the Specification Page. Option B provides for the
crediting of interest at the rate shown on the Specification Page to all
Purchase Payment accepted by the Company. If no option is elected on or before
the Date of Coverage, Option A will automatically apply.
Interest under either option will be credited during the same Valuation
Period that the Purchase Payment is received (or on any Five Year Anniversary if
Option A is elected) and allocated to the Sub-Accounts and/or Fixed Account in
the same proportion as the Net Purchase Payment is allocated. If Option A was
elected, any Five Year Anniversary Interest will be proportionally allocated to
the Sub-Accounts and/or the Fixed Account (excluding any Fixed Account if used
to support a dollar cost averaging transfer program) based on their respective
values.
No interest will be credited if the Certificate is returned pursuant to
the Right To Return provision.
ACCOUNT CONTINUATION
Account shall be continued automatically in full force during the lifetime
of the Participant until the Annuity Commencement Date A Participant's or until
the Participant's Account is surrendered.
ALLOCATION OF NET PURCHASE PAYMENTS
The Net Purchase Payment is that portion of a Purchase Payment that
remains after deduction of any applicable front-end sales load and premium tax
or similar tax. Each Net Purchase Payment will, upon receipt by the Company, be
allocated to the Participant's Account, either to the Sub-Accounts or to the
Fixed Account or to both the Sub-Accounts and the Fixed Account in accordance
with the allocation factors specified in the Application, or as subsequently
changed by the Participant. Purchase Payment Interest will be credited on a
proportional basis to the same Sub-Accounts and/or Fixed Accounts as Net
Purchase Payments. Purchase Payment interest will be credited on a proportional
basis to the same Sub-Accounts and/or Fixed Accounts as Net Purchase Payments.
The allocation factors for new Purchase Payments among the Guarantee
Periods and the Sub-Accounts may be changed by the Participant at any time by
giving notice of the change to the Company, in accordance with the Company's
procedures then in effect. The Participant may effect such change directly, or
through an authorized third party, subject to the Company's approval given in
its sole discretion, and further subject to adherence to such Company procedures
as may be adopted from time to time. Any change will take effect with the first
Purchase Payment received with or after receipt of notice of the change by the
Company and will continue in effect until subsequently changed.
CONTRACT VALUES DURING ACCUMULATION PERIOD
PARTICIPANT'S ACCOUNT
The Company will establish a Participant's Account for each Participant
under this Contract and will maintain the Participant's Account during the
Accumulation Period. The Participant's Account Value for any Valuation Period is
equal to the variable accumulation value, if any, plus the fixed accumulation
value, if any, of the Participant's Account for that Valuation Period.
RCH-GR-CONT-00-1 -9-
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VARIABLE ACCOUNT VALUE
CREDITING VARIABLE ACCUMULATION UNITS
Upon receipt of a Purchase Payment by the Company, all or that portion, if
any, of the Net Purchase Payment to be allocated to the Sub-Accounts will be
credited to the Participant's Account in the form of Variable Accumulation
Units. The number of particular Variable Accumulation Units to be credited is
determined by dividing the dollar amount allocated to the particular Sub-Account
by the Variable Accumulation Unit value of the particular Sub-Account for the
Valuation Period during which the Purchase Payment is received by the Company.
VARIABLE ACCUMULATION UNIT VALUE
The Variable Accumulation Unit value for each Sub-Account was established
at $10.00 for the first Valuation Period of the particular Sub-Account. The
Variable Accumulation Unit value for the particular Sub-Account for any
subsequent Valuation Period is determined by methodology which is the
mathematical equivalent of multiplying the Variable Accumulation Unit value for
the particular Sub-Account for the immediately preceding Valuation Period by the
Net Investment Factor for the particular Sub-Account for such subsequent
Valuation Period. The Variable Accumulation Unit value for each Sub-Account for
any Valuation Period is the value determined as of the end of the particular
Valuation Period and may increase, decrease or remain constant from Valuation
Period to Valuation Period in accordance with the Net Investment Factor
described below.
VARIABLE ACCUMULATION VALUE
The variable accumulation value, if any, of a Participant's Account for
any Valuation Period is equal to the sum of the value of all Variable
Accumulation Units of each Sub-Account credited to the Participant's Account for
such Valuation Period. The variable accumulation value of each Sub-Account is
determined by multiplying the number of Variable Accumulation Units, if any,
credited to each Sub-Account by the Variable Accumulation Unit value of the
particular Sub-Account for such Valuation Period.
NET INVESTMENT FACTOR
The Net Investment Factor is an index applied to measure the investment
performance of a Sub-Account from one Valuation Period to the next. The Net
Investment Factor may be greater than, less than, or equal to one; therefore,
the value of a Variable Accumulation Unit may increase, decrease or remain
unchanged.
The Net Investment Factor for any Sub-Account for any Valuation Period is
determined by dividing (a) by (b) and then subtracting (c) from the result
where:
(a) is the net result of:
1) the net asset value of a Fund share held in the Sub-Account
determined as of the end of the Valuation Period, plus
2) the per share amount of any dividend or other distribution
declared by the Fund on the shares held in the Sub-Account
if the ex-dividend date occurs during the Valuation Period,
plus or minus
3) a per share credit or charge with respect to any taxes paid
or reserved for by the Company during the Valuation Period
which are determined by the Company to be attributable to
the operation of the Sub-Account;
RCH-GR-CONT-00-1 10
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(b) is the net asset value of a Fund share held in the Sub-Account
determined as of the end of the preceding Valuation Period; and
(c) is the asset charge factor determined by the Company for the
Valuation Period to reflect the charges for assuming the mortality
and expense risks and administrative expense risks.
The asset charge factor for any Valuation Period is equal to the daily
asset charge factor multiplied by the number of 24 hour periods in the Valuation
Period. The daily asset charge factor will be determined by the Company based
upon the Annual Asset Charge shown on the Certificate Specifications Page.
FIXED ACCOUNT VALUE
GUARANTEE PERIODS
The Participant elects one or more Guarantee Period(s) from among those
made available by the Company. The period(s) elected will determine the
Guaranteed Interest Rate(s). A Purchase Payment or the portion (at least equal
to the minimum Guarantee Period amount set forth on the Certificate
Specifications page) thereof (or amount transferred in accordance with the
"Transfer Privilege" provision described below) allocated to a particular
Guarantee Period, less any applicable premium taxes or similar taxes and any
amounts subsequently withdrawn, will earn interest at the Guaranteed Interest
Rate in effect during the Guarantee Period. Initial Guarantee Periods begin on
the date a Net Purchase Payment is applied (or, in the case of a transfer, on
the effective date of the transfer) and end when the number of calendar years in
the Guaranteed Period elected (measured from the end of the calendar month in
which the amount was allocated to the Guaranteed Period) has elapsed. The last
day of a Guarantee Period is the Expiration Date. Subsequent Guarantee Periods
begin on the first day following the Expiration Date.
Any portion of a Participant's Account Value allocated to a particular
Guarantee Period with a particular Expiration Date (including interest earned
thereon) is referred to as a Guarantee Amount. As a result of additional
Purchase Payments, renewals and transfers of portions of the Participant's
Account Value, Guarantee Amounts allocated to Guarantee Periods of the same
duration may have different Expiration Dates, and each Guarantee Amount will be
treated separately for purposes of determining any market value adjustment.
The Company will notify the Participant in writing at least 45 and no more
than 75 days prior to the Expiration Date for any Guarantee Amount. A new
Guarantee Period of the same duration as the previous Guarantee Period will
commence automatically at the end of the previous Guarantee Period unless the
Company receives, in writing prior to the end of such Guarantee Period, an
election by the Participant of a different Guarantee Period from among those
being offered by the Company at such time, or instructions to transfer all or a
portion of the Guarantee Amount to one or more Sub-Accounts in accordance with
the "Transfer Privilege" provision. Each new Guarantee Amount must be at least
the amount set forth on the Certificate Specifications page unless it is equal
to the entire Guarantee Amount being transferred.
GUARANTEED INTEREST RATES
The Company periodically will establish an applicable Guaranteed Interest
Rate for each Guarantee Period offered by the Company. These rates will be
guaranteed for the duration of the respective Guarantee Periods.
No Guaranteed Interest Rate will be less than the minimum rate per year
set forth on the Certificate Specifications page, compounded annually.
FIXED ACCUMULATION VALUE
Upon receipt of a Purchase Payment by the Company, all or that portion, if
any, of the Net Purchase
RCH-GR-CONT-00-1 11
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Payment which is allocated to the Fixed Account will be credited to the
Participant's Account and allocated to the Guarantee Period(s) selected by the
Participant. The fixed accumulation value, if any, of a Participant's Account
for any Valuation Period is equal to the sum of the values of all Guarantee
Amounts credited to the Participant's Account for such Valuation Period.
TRANSFER PRIVILEGE
At any time during the Accumulation Period the Participant may transfer
all or part of the Participant's Account Value to one or more Sub-Accounts or
Guarantee Periods, subject to the conditions set forth below. Except as
described below, a transfer will generally be effective on the date the request
for transfer is received by the Company.
Transfers involving Sub-Accounts will reflect the purchase or cancellation
of Variable Accumulation Units having an aggregate value equal to the dollar
amount being transferred to or from a particular Sub-Account. The purchase or
cancellation of such units shall be made using Variable Accumulation Unit values
of the applicable Sub-Account for the Valuation Period during which the transfer
is effective. Transfers to a Guarantee Period will result in a new Guarantee
Period for the amount being transferred. Any such Guarantee Period will begin on
the effective date of the transfer and end on the Expiration Date. The amount
transferred into such Guarantee Period will earn interest at the Guaranteed
Interest Rate declared by the Company for that Guarantee Period as of the
effective date of the transfer.
Transfers will be subject to the following conditions: (1) not more than
12 transfers may be made in any Account Year; a minimum of 30 calendar days must
elapse between the transfers made to or from the Fixed Account or among
Guarantee periods within the Fixed Account; (2) the amount being transferred
from a Sub-Account may not be less than the amount set forth on the Certificate
Specifications page unless the total Participant's Account Value attributable to
a Sub-Account is being transferred; (3) any Participant's Account Value
remaining in a Sub-Account may not be less than the amount set forth on the
Certificate Specifications page; and (4) the total Participant's Account Value
attributable to the Guarantee Amount must be transferred, except for an
"interest out" transfer (I.E., the entire amount of interest credited to all
Guarantee Amounts during the current Account Year is transferred to one or more
Sub-Accounts). In addition, transfers of a Guarantee Amount (except interest
credited to such Guarantee Amount during the current Account Year) will be
subject to the market value adjustment described below unless the transfer is
effective within 30 days prior to the Expiration Date applicable to the
Guarantee Amount. Transfers involving Variable Accumulation Units shall be
subject to such terms and conditions as may be imposed by the Funds. Similarly,
the Company reserves the right in its sole discretion to delay the effective
date of any transfer involving the Fixed Account for reasons similar to those
underlying delays of transfers among Sub-Accounts. The Company also reserves the
right in its sole discretion to refuse or delay all transfer requests initiated
on behalf of a Participant by any third party authorized by the Participant to
make such requests. Currently, there is no charge for transfers; however, the
Company reserves the right to impose a charge for each transfer as shown on the
Certificate Specifications page. The Company reserves the right to limit the
amount which may be transferred from the Sub-Accounts to the Fixed Account.
ACCOUNT FEE
Prior to the Annuity Commencement Date, on each Account Anniversary the
Company will deduct from the value of each Participant's Account an annual
account fee to reimburse the Company for administrative expenses relating to the
contract and the Participant's Account. In Account Years one through five the
account fee is equal to the lesser of the amount specified on the Certificate
Specifications page and 2% of the Participant's Account Value; thereafter the
account fee may be changed annually, but in no event may it exceed the lesser of
the maximum amount specified on the Certificate Specifications page and 2% of
the Participant's Account Value. The account fee will be deducted on a PRO RATA
basis from amounts allocated to each Guarantee Period and each Sub-Account in
which the Participant's Account is invested at the time of such deduction. If a
Participant's Account is surrendered for its full value on other than an Account
Anniversary, the account fee will be deducted in full at the time of such
surrender. The Company will waive the account fee when either (a) the entire
Participant's Account Value has been
RCH-GR-CONT-00-1 12
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allocated to the Fixed Account during the entire previous Account Year, or (b)
the Participant's Account Value is greater than the amount specified on the
Certificate Specifications page on the Account Anniversary. On the Annuity
Commencement Date the value of the Participant's Account will be reduced by a
proportionate amount of the account fee to reflect the time elapsed between the
last Account Anniversary and the day before the Annuity Commencement Date.
After the Annuity Commencement Date an annual account fee in an amount
specified on the Certificate Specifications page will be deducted in equal
amounts from each Variable Annuity payment made during the year. No such
deduction is made from Fixed Annuity payments.
CASH WITHDRAWALS, WITHDRAWAL CHARGES AND MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT
CASH WITHDRAWALS
At any time before the Annuity Commencement Date, the Participant may
elect to receive a cash withdrawal payment from the Company by filing with the
Company at its Annuity Service Mailing Address, a written election in such form
as the Company may require. Any such election shall specify the amount of the
withdrawal and will be effective on the date that it is received by the Company.
Any cash withdrawal payment will be paid within seven days from the date the
election becomes effective, except as the Company may be permitted to defer such
payment in accordance with the Investment Company Act of 1940. The Company
reserves the right to defer the payment of amounts withdrawn from the Fixed
Account for a period not to exceed six months from the date written request for
such withdrawal is received by the Company.
The Participant may request a full surrender or a partial withdrawal. A
full surrender will result in a cash withdrawal payment equal to the value of
the Participant's Account at the end of the Valuation Period during which the
election becomes effective less the account fee, plus or minus any applicable
market value adjustment, and less any applicable withdrawal charge. A partial
withdrawal (I.E., a payment of an amount less than that paid under a full
surrender) will result in the cancellation of a portion of the Participant's
Account Value with an aggregate dollar value equal to the dollar amount of the
cash withdrawal payment, plus or minus any applicable market value adjustment
and plus any applicable withdrawal charge.
In the case of a partial withdrawal, the Participant may instruct the
Company as to the amounts to be withdrawn from each Sub-Account and/or Guarantee
Amount. If not so instructed, the Company will effect the partial withdrawal PRO
RATA from each Sub-Account and Guarantee Amount in which the Participant's
Account Value is invested at the end of the Valuation Period during which the
withdrawal becomes effective. If a partial withdrawal is requested which would
leave a Participant's Account Value less than the account fee, then such partial
withdrawal will be treated as a full surrender.
Cash withdrawals from a Sub-Account will result in the cancellation of
Variable Accumulation Units attributable to the Participant's Account with an
aggregate value on the effective date of the withdrawal equal to the total
amount by which the Sub-Account is reduced. The cancellation of such units will
be based on the Variable Accumulation Unit value(s) of the Sub-Account(s) for
the Valuation Period during which the cash withdrawal is effective.
All cash withdrawals of any Guarantee Amount, except those effective
within 30 days prior to the Expiration Date of such Guarantee Amount or the
withdrawal of interest credited to such Guarantee Amount during the current
Account Year, will be subject to the market value adjustment described below.
WITHDRAWAL CHARGES
If a cash withdrawal is made, a withdrawal charge may be assessed by the
Company. The amount of any withdrawal charge is determined as follows:
RCH-GR-CONT-00-1 13
<PAGE>
* OLD PAYMENTS AND NEW PAYMENTS: With respect to a particular Account
Year, new Payments are those Payments made in that Account Year or
in the eight immediately preceding Account Years; and old Payments
are those Payments not defined as new Payments.
* ORDER OF LIQUIDATION: For purposes of a full surrender or partial
withdrawal, each withdrawal is allocated first to any previously
unliquidated Payments (on a first-in, first-out basis) until all
Purchase Payments have been liquidated. Any remaining balance that
is withdrawn will be considered "earnings" as defined below.
* FREE WITHDRAWAL AMOUNT: As defined in the Contract Specifications
Page
* MAXIMUM WITHDRAWAL AMOUNT WITHOUT A WITHDRAWAL CHARGE: The maximum
amount that can be withdrawn without a withdrawal charge in an
Account Year is equal to the sum of: (a) the free withdrawal amount.
and (b) any previously unliquidated old Payments.
* AMOUNT SUBJECT TO WITHDRAWAL CHARGE: For any partial withdrawal or
full surrender, the amount subject to withdrawal charge is the
amount of the partial withdrawal or full surrender less the maximum
withdrawal amount without a withdrawal charge, up to a maximum of
the sum of all unliquidated new Payments.
* WITHDRAWAL CHARGE PERCENTAGE: The withdrawal charge percentage
varies according to the number of complete Account Years between the
Account Year in which a Purchase Payment was credited to the
Participant's Account and the Account Year in which it is withdrawn.
* AMOUNT OF WITHDRAWAL CHARGE: The amount of the withdrawal charge is
determined by multiplying the amount subject to a withdrawal charge
by the withdrawal charge percentage(s) set forth on the Certificate
Specifications page.
No withdrawal charge is imposed upon amounts applied to purchase an
annuity. For any Qualified Certificate, the free withdrawal amount
in any Account Year will be the greater of the free withdrawal
amount described above and any amounts required to be withdrawn to
comply with the minimum distribution requirements of the Code. This
applies only to the portion of the required minimum distribution
attributable to that Qualified Certificate.
NURSING HOME WITHDRAWAL PRIVILEGE
The Company will waive the withdrawal charge arising from a full surrender
if: (1) at least one year has elapsed since the Certificate's Date of Coverage,
and (2) the Participant is confined to an eligible nursing home and has been
confined there for at least the preceding one hundred eighty (180) days. Proof
of the Participant's confinement to an eligible nursing home must be provided to
the Company at its Annuity Service Mailing Address in such form as the Company
may require.
For purposes of this section, an eligible nursing home is a licensed
hospital or licensed skilled or intermediate care nursing facility at which
medical treatment is available on a daily basis and daily medical records are
kept for each patient.
MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT
Any cash withdrawal (which for purposes of this section includes non
dollar cost averaging transfers and amounts applied to purchase an annuity) of a
Guarantee Amount, other than a withdrawal effective within 30 days prior to the
Expiration Date of the Guarantee Amount, or the withdrawal of interest credited
on such Guarantee
RCH-GR-CONT-00-1 14
<PAGE>
Amount during the current Account Year, will be subject to a market value
adjustment.
The market value adjustment will reflect the relationship between the
current rate (as described in the formula below) for the amount being withdrawn
and the Guaranteed Interest Rate applicable to the amount being withdrawn. It
also reflects the time remaining in the applicable Guarantee Period.
The market value adjustment will be determined by multiplying the amount
being withdrawn after the deduction of any applicable account fee and before
deduction of any applicable withdrawal charge by the market value adjustment
factor. The market value adjustment factor is:
N/12
[(1 + I)/(1 + J+b)] -1
where,
I is the Guaranteed Interest Rate being credited to the Guarantee Amount
subject to the market value adjustment,
J is the Guaranteed Interest Rate declared by the Company, as of the
effective date of the application of the market value adjustment, for current
allocations to Guarantee Periods equal to the balance of the Guarantee Period of
the Guarantee Amount subject to the market value adjustment, rounded to the next
higher number of complete years. For any Guarantee Period of less than one year
J is the Guaranteed Interest Rate we declare at the for a Guarantee Period of
the same length as your Guarantee Period (the current rate);
b is a factor which the Company will determine for each Certificate and
which is set forth on the Certificate Specifications page and which will not
exceed .25%, and
N is the number of complete months remaining in the Guarantee Period of
the Guarantee Amount subject to the market value adjustment.
In the determination of J, if the Company does not currently offer the
applicable Guarantee Period, then the rate will be determined by linear
interpolation of the current rates for Guarantee Periods that are available.
DEATH BENEFIT
DEATH BENEFIT PROVIDED BY THE CONTRACT
If the Covered Person dies while this Contract and the applicable
Certificate are in effect and before the Annuity Commencement Date, the Company,
upon receipt of Due Proof of Death of the Covered Person, may pay a Death
Benefit to the Beneficiary in accordance with this Death Benefit provision. If
the Covered Person is not a natural person, the Annuitant is considered the
Participant for the purpose of this Death Benefit provision.
If there is no designated Beneficiary living on the date of death of the
Covered Person, the Company will pay the Death Benefit upon receipt of Due Proof
of Death of the Covered Person or the Beneficiary, if applicable, in one sum to
the estate of the deceased Covered Person. If the death of the Covered Person
occurs on or after the Annuity Commencement Date, no Death Benefit will be
payable under the Contract except as may be provided under the form of annuity
elected.
ELECTION AND EFFECTIVE DATE OF ELECTION
During the lifetime of the Participant and prior to the Annuity
Commencement Date, the Participant may elect to have the Death Benefit applied
under one or more of the Annuity Options in accordance with the Contract's
settlement provisions to effect a Variable Annuity or a Fixed Annuity or a
combination of both for the Beneficiary as Payee after the death of the
Participant. This election may be made or subsequently revoked by filing with
the
RCH-GR-CONT-00-1 15
<PAGE>
Company at its Annuity Service Mailing Address, a written election or revocation
of an election in such form as the Company may require. Any election or
revocation of an election of a method of settlement of the Death Benefit by the
Participant will become effective on the date it is received by the Company. For
the purposes of the "Payment of Death Benefit" section below, any election of
the method of settlement of the Death Benefit by the Participant which is in
effect on the date of death of the Participant will be deemed effective on the
date Due Proof of Death of the Participant is received by the Company.
If no election of a method of settlement of the Death Benefit by the
Participant is in effect on the date of death of the Participant, the
Beneficiary may elect (a) to receive the Death Benefit in the form of a cash
payment, in which event the Participant's Account will be canceled; or (b) to
have the Death Benefit applied under one or more of the Annuity Options in
accordance with the settlement provisions to effect, on the Annuity Commencement
Date determined in the "Payment of Death Benefit" section below, a Variable
Annuity or a Fixed Annuity or a combination of both for the Beneficiary as
Payee. In no event shall any method of settlement be exercised which would
violate the mandatory distribution requirements of Section 72(s) of the Code.
For additional options available if the designated Beneficiary is the surviving
spouse, please refer to the section of this Contract entitled "OWNERSHIP
PROVISIONS - Death of Participant."
The election of a method of settlement may be made by filing with the
Company at its Annuity Service Mailing Address, a written election in such form
as the Company may require. Any written election of a method of settlement of
the Death Benefit by the Beneficiary will become effective on the later of: (a)
the date the election is received by the Company; or (b) the date Due Proof of
Death of the Participant is received by the Company. If a written election by
the Beneficiary is not received by the Company within 60 days following the date
Due Proof of Death of the Participant is received by the Company, the
Beneficiary shall be deemed to have elected a cash payment as of the last day of
such 60 day period.
PAYMENT OF DEATH BENEFIT
If the Death Benefit is to be paid in cash, payment will be made within
seven days of the Death Benefit Date, except as the Company may be permitted to
defer any such payment in accordance with the Investment Company Act of 1940. If
settlement under one or more of the Annuity Options is elected, the Annuity
Commencement Date will be the first day of the second calendar month following
the effective date of the election and the Participant's Account will be
maintained in effect until the Annuity Commencement Date.
AMOUNT OF DEATH BENEFIT
The Death Benefit is determined as of the Death Benefit Date.
If the Covered Person was age 85 or less on the Date of Coverage, the
Death Benefit is equal to the greatest of:
(1) the Participant's Account Value for the Valuation Period in which the
Death Benefit Date occurs; and
(2) the amount which would have been payable in the event of a full
surrender of the Participant's Account on the Death Benefit Date;
(3) Net Purchase Payments, adjusted for any partial withdrawals, as of the
Death Benefit Date; and
(4) any Optional Death Benefit, if elected on or before the Date of
Coverage, as shown on the Certificate Specifications page.
If the Participant was age 86 or older on the Date of Coverage, the Death
Benefit will be equal to (2) above.
RCH-GR-CONT-00-1 16
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A partial withdrawal will affect the amount payable under (3) and (4) on a
basis proportional to the reduction in Participant's Account Value brought about
by such withdrawal. That is, any partial withdrawal will reduce the death
benefit amount to an amount equal to the death benefit amount immediately before
the withdrawal multiplied by the ratio of the Participant's Account Value
immediately after the withdrawal to the Participant's Account Value immediately
before the withdrawal.
If (2) or (3) is operative, the Participant's Account Value will be
increased by the excess of (2) or (3) over (1) and the increase will be
allocated to the Sub-Accounts based on the respective values of the Sub-Accounts
on the Death Benefit Date. If the "Maximum Account Anniversary Value" or " 5%
Premium Rollup Rider" Optional Death Benefit(s) is/are elected and is/are
operative, the Participant's Account Value will be increased by the excess of
(4) over (1) and the increase will be allocated as described above. If no
portion of the Participant's Account is allocated to the Sub-Accounts, the
entire increase will be allocated to the Sub-Account invested in either a money
market Fund, if available, or the Company's General Account.
SETTLEMENT PROVISIONS
GENERAL
On the Annuity Commencement Date, the adjusted value of the Participant's
Account as determined in accordance with the "Determination of Amount" provision
below will be applied, as specified by the Participant, under one or more of the
Annuity Options provided in the Contract or under such other settlement options
as may be agreed to by the Company. However, if the amount to be applied under
any Annuity Option is less than the Minimum Annuity Purchase Amount, set forth
on the Certificate Specifications page, or if the first annuity payment payable
in accordance with such option is less than the Minimum Initial Annuity Payment
Amount set forth on the Certificate Specifications page, the Company will pay
the amount to be applied in a single payment to the Payee.
After the Annuity Commencement Date, no change of Annuity Option is
permitted and no payments may be requested under the Cash Withdrawals provision
of the Contract. Exchanges of Variable Annuity Units are permitted.
ELECTION AND EFFECTIVE DATE OF ELECTION
During the lifetime of the Participant and prior to the Annuity
Commencement Date, the Participant may elect to have the adjusted value of the
Participant's Account applied on the Annuity Commencement Date under one or more
of the Annuity Options provided in the Contract. If more than one person is
named as Annuitant, due to the designation of a Co-Annuitant, the Participant
may elect to name one of such persons to be the sole Annuitant as of the Annuity
Commencement Date.
The Participant may also change any election but any election or change of
election must be effective at least 30 days prior to the Annuity Commencement
Date. This election or change of election may be made by filing with the Company
as its Annuity Service Mailing Address, a written election or change of election
in such form as the Company may require. Any such election or change of election
will become effective on the date it is received by the Company. If no such
election is in effect on the 30th day prior to the Annuity Commencement Date,
the adjusted value of the Participant's Account will be applied under Annuity
Option B, for a life annuity with 120 monthly payments certain. If there is no
election of a sole Annuitant in effect on the 30th day prior to the Annuity
Commencement date, the person designated as Co-Annuitant will be the Payee under
the applicable Annuity Option.
Any such election may specify the proportion of the adjusted value of the
Participant's Account to be applied to provide a Fixed Annuity and/or a Variable
Annuity. In the event the election does not so specify, then the portion of the
adjusted value of the Participant's Account to be applied to provide a Fixed
Annuity and/or a Variable Annuity will be determined on a PRO RATA basis from
the composition of the Participant's Account on the Annuity
RCH-GR-CONT-00-1 17
<PAGE>
Commencement Date.
The Annuity Options in the Contract may also be elected as provided in the
"Death Benefit" section of the contract.
DETERMINATION OF AMOUNT
The adjusted value of the Participant's Account is applied to provide a
Variable Annuity or a Fixed Annuity or a combination of both. This value shall
be equal to the Participant's Account Value for the Valuation Period which ends
immediately preceding the Annuity Commencement Date, minus a proportionate
amount of the account fee to reflect the time elapsed between the last Account
Anniversary and the day before the Annuity Commencement Date, plus or minus any
applicable market value adjustment and minus any applicable premium or similar
tax.
EFFECT OF ANNUITY COMMENCEMENT DATE ON PARTICIPANT'S ACCOUNT
The Participant's Account will be canceled on the Annuity Commencement
Date.
ANNUITY COMMENCEMENT DATE
The Annuity Commencement Date is set forth on the Certificate
Specifications page. This date may be changed from time to time by the
Participant provided that each change is effective at least 30 days prior to the
then current Annuity Commencement Date and the new Annuity Commencement Date is
a date which is: (1) at least 30 days after the effective date of the change;
(2) the first day of a month; and (3) not later than the first day of the first
month following the Annuitant's 95th birthday, unless otherwise restricted, in
the case of a Qualified Contract, by the retirement plan or by applicable law.
For a Charitable Remainder Trust, the age in (3) is the Annuitant's 100th
birthday. If more than one person is named as Annuitant, due to the designation
of a Co-Annuitant, the Annuity Commencement Date will not be later than the
first day of the first month following the 95th birthday of the youngest of
those persons so named(100th birthday in the case of a Charitable Remainder
Trust). Any change of the Annuity Commencement Date may be made by filing with
the Company at its Annuity Service Mailing Address, a written designation of a
new Annuity Commencement Date in such form as the Company may require. Any such
change will become effective on the date the designation is received by the
Company.
The Annuity Commencement Date may also be changed by an election of a
settlement option as provided in the "Death Benefit" section of this Contract.
FIXED ANNUITY PAYMENTS
The dollar amount of each Fixed Annuity payment shall be determined in
accordance with the annuity payment rates shown on pages 19 and 20, which are
based on the minimum guaranteed interest rate of 3% per year or, if more
favorable to the Payee(s), in accordance with the annuity payment rates
published by the Company and in use on the Annuity Commencement Date.
VARIABLE ANNUITY PAYMENTS
The dollar amount of the first Variable Annuity payment shall be
determined in accordance with the annuity payment rates shown on pages 19 and
20, which are based on an assumed interest rate of 3% per year.
All Variable Annuity payments other than the first are determined by means
of Annuity Units credited with respect to the particular Payee. The number of
Annuity Units to be credited in respect of a particular Sub-Account is
determined by dividing that portion of the first Variable Annuity payment
attributable to that Sub-Account by the
RCH-GR-CONT-00-1 18
<PAGE>
Annuity Unit value of that Sub-Account for the Valuation Period which ends
immediately preceding the Annuity Commencement Date. The resulting number of
Annuity Units of each Sub-Account credited with respect to the Payee remains
fixed unless an exchange of Annuity Units is made pursuant to the Exchange of
Variable Annuity Units section below. The dollar amount of each Variable Annuity
payment after the first may increase, decrease or remain constant, and is equal
to the sum of the amounts determined by multiplying the number of Annuity Units
of a particular Sub-Account credited with respect to the Payee by the Annuity
Unit value for the particular Sub-Account for the Valuation Period which ends
immediately preceding the due date of each subsequent Variable Annuity payment.
ANNUITY UNIT VALUE
The Annuity Unit value for each Sub-Account was established at $10.00 for
the first Valuation Period of the particular Sub-Account. The Annuity Unit value
for the particular Sub-Account for any subsequent Valuation Period is determined
by multiplying the Annuity Unit value for the particular Sub-Account for the
immediately preceding Valuation Period by the Net Investment Factor for the
particular Sub-Account for the current Valuation Period and then multiplying
that product by a factor to neutralize the assumed interest rate of 3% per year
used to establish the annuity payment rates found in the Contract.
EXCHANGE OF VARIABLE ANNUITY UNITS
After the Annuity Commencement Date the Payee may, by filing a written
request with the Company at its Annuity Service Mailing Address, exchange the
value of a designated number of Annuity Units of a particular Sub-Account then
credited with respect to such Payee for other Annuity Units, the value of which
would be such that the dollar amount of an annuity payment made on the date of
the exchange would be unaffected by such exchange. The maximum number of
exchanges that may be made in any Account Year is set forth on the Certificate
Specifications page.
Exchanges may be made among the Sub-Accounts only. Exchange shall be made
using the Annuity Unit values for the Valuation Period during which the request
for exchange is received by the Company.
ACCOUNT FEE
After the Annuity Commencement Date an annual account fee equal to the
amount specified on the Certificate Specifications page will be deducted in
equal amounts from each Variable Annuity payment made during the year as
provided in the "Contract Values During Accumulation Period" section of this
Contract. No such deduction is made from Fixed Annuity payments.
DESCRIPTION OF ANNUITY OPTIONS
Annuity Options A, B, C and D are available on either a Fixed Annuity or a
Variable Annuity basis.
- Annuity Option A. Life Annuity: Monthly payments during the
lifetime of the Payee. These payments will terminate at the death of
the Payee without any provision for continuation of payments to a
Beneficiary.
- Annuity Option B. Life Annuity with 60, 120, 180 or 240 Monthly
Payments Certain: Monthly payments during the lifetime of the Payee and
in any event for sixty (60), one hundred twenty (120), one hundred
eighty (180) or two hundred forty (240) months certain as elected.
RCH-GR-CONT-00-1 19
<PAGE>
- Annuity Option C. Joint and Survivor Annuity: Monthly payments
payable during the joint lifetime of the Payee and a designated second
person and during the lifetime of the survivor. During the lifetime of
the survivor variable monthly payments, if any, will be determined
using the percentage chosen at the time of the election of this option
of the number of each type of Annuity Unit credited with respect to the
Payee, and each fixed monthly payment, if any, will be equal to the
same percentage of the Fixed Monthly payment payable during the joint
lifetime of the Payee and designated second person.
- Annuity Option D. Monthly Payments for a Specified Period
Certain: Monthly payments for any specified period of time (at least
(5) years but not exceeding thirty (30) years), as elected. Monthly
payments for a Specified Period Certain of 5 to 9 years is not
available during the first seven account years.
AMOUNTS PAYABLE ON DEATH OF PAYEE
In the event of the death of the Payee on or after the Annuity
Commencement Date, the Company will pay any remaining payments under any Annuity
Option then in effect to the Payee's designated Beneficiary as they become due.
If there is no designated Beneficiary entitled to these remaining payments then
living, the Company will pay the amount specified in the schedule below for any
Annuity Option then in effect in one sum to the deceased Payee's estate. Any
Beneficiary who becomes entitled to any remaining payments under any Annuity
Option may elect to receive the amount specified in the schedule below for such
option in one sum. In the event of the death of a Beneficiary who has become
entitled to receive any remaining payments under any Annuity Option, the Company
will pay the amount specified for such option in the schedule below in one sum
to the deceased Beneficiary's estate. All payments made in one lump sum by the
Company, as provided in this paragraph, are made in lieu of paying any remaining
payments under the Annuity Option then in effect.
Option Amount
------ ------
B The discounted value of the remaining payments, if any, for the
certain period.
D The discounted value of the remaining payments, if any, for the
certain period.
In the case of Options B and D the discounted value will be based, for
payments being made on a variable basis, on interest compounded annually at the
assumed interest rate and on the assumptions that the particular Annuity Unit
values applicable to the remaining payments will be the particular Annuity Unit
values for the Valuation Period which ends on the day before the date of the
determination and that the discounted value will remain unchanged thereafter.
ANNUITY PAYMENT RATES
The annuity payment rate tables below show, for each $1,000 applied, the
dollar amount of both (a) the first monthly Variable Annuity payment based on
the assumed interest rate of 3% and (b) the monthly Fixed Annuity payment, when
the payment is based on the minimum guaranteed interest rate of 2.5% per year.
The mortality table used in determining the annuity payment rates for
Annuity Options A, B and C is the 2000 Individual Annuitant Mortality Table A.
In using this mortality table, ages of Annuitants will be reduced by one year
for Annuity Commencement Dates occurring during the years 2010-2019, reduced by
two years for Annuity Commencement Dates occurring during the decade 2020-2029,
and so on.
The annuity payment rates in the tables shown below reflect rates of
mortality appropriate for Annuity Commencement Dates occurring during the years
2000-2009. Thus, for Annuity Commencement Dates occurring in the decade
2010-2019 the term ADJUSTED AGE as used in the tables below, means actual age
less one year. ADJUSTED AGE shall mean actual age less two years for Annuity
Commencement Dates occurring during the decade
RCH-GR-CONT-00-1 20
<PAGE>
2020-2029, and so on.
ADJUSTED AGES will be determined based on the actual age(s) of the
Annuitant(s), in completed years and months, as of the Annuity Commencement
Date. The tables below show annuity payment rates for exact ADJUSTED AGES; rates
for ADJUSTED AGES expressed in completed years and months will be based on
straight line interpolation between the appropriate annuity payment rates.
The dollar amount of each annuity payment for any adjusted age or
combination of adjusted ages not shown below or for any other form of Annuity
Option agreed to by the Company will be quoted by the Company on request.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AMOUNT OF FIRST MONTHLY ANNUITY PAYMENT PER $1,000
SINGLE LIFE ANNUITY(INTEREST AT 3.0%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPTION A OPTION B
LIFE ANNUITY LIFE ANNUITY WITH PAYMENTS CERTAIN
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
60 PAYMENTS 120 PAYMENTS 180 PAYMENTS 240 PAYMENTS
ADJUSTED -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AGE MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
20 2.98 2.91 2.98 2.91 2.98 2.90 2.98 2.90 2.97 2.90
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RCH-GR-CONT-00-1 21
<PAGE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
25 3.08 2.99 3.08 2.99 3.07 2.99 3.07 2.98 3.07 2.98
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
30 3.19 3.09 3.19 3.09 3.19 3.09 3.19 3.08 3.18 3.08
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
35 3.34 3.21 3.34 3.21 3.34 3.21 3.33 3.21 3.32 3.20
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40 3.53 3.37 3.53 3.37 3.52 3.37 3.51 3.36 3.49 3.35
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
45 3.77 3.57 3.77 3.57 3.76 3.56 3.73 3.55 3.70 3.53
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50 4.07 3.82 4.07 3.82 4.04 3.81 4.00 3.79 3.94 3.76
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
55 4.46 4.15 4.45 4.14 4.41 4.12 4.34 4.09 4.23 4.03
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
60 4.97 4.58 4.95 4.57 4.88 4.53 4.74 4.46 4.55 4.35
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
65 5.68 5.17 5.64 5.15 5.48 5.07 5.22 4.92 4.88 4.71
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
70 6.67 6.01 6.56 5.95 6.23 5.78 5.73 5.47 5.16 5.05
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
75 8.02 7.22 7.77 7.08 7.08 6.67 6.19 6.02 5.36 5.31
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
80 9.92 9.02 9.32 8.65 7.95 7.66 6.54 6.47 5.46 5.44
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
85 12.56 11.71 11.17 10.68 8.69 8.55 6.75 6.72 5.50 5.49
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
90 16.17 15.54 13.14 12.87 9.20 9.15 6.84 6.83 5.51 5.51
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OPTION C
JOINT AND SURVIVOR ANNUITY
(ASSUMED ELECTION OF JOINT AND TWO-THIRDS SURVIVOR)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADJUSTED AGE ADJUSTED AGE OF FEMALE
OF MALE
55 60 65 70 75
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
55 4.11 4.31 4.53 4.77 5.04
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
60 4.29 4.52 4.79 5.09 5.42
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
65 4.48 4.76 5.09 5.46 5.88
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
70 4.70 5.02 5.41 5.88 6.41
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
75 4.91 5.28 5.74 6.31 6.99
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OPTION D
PAYMENTS FOR A SPECIFIED PERIOD CERTAIN
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YEARS AMOUNT YEARS AMOUNT YEARS AMOUNT
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
10 9.61 17 6.22 24 4.84
11 8.86 18 5.96 25 4.70
12 8.23 19 5.72 26 4.58
13 7.71 20 5.51 27 4.47
14 7.25 21 5.31 28 4.37
15 6.86 22 5.14 29 4.27
16 6.52 23 4.98 30 4.18
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AMOUNT OF FIRST MONTHLY ANNUITY PAYMENT PER $1,000
SINGLE LIFE ANNUITY(INTEREST AT 2.5%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OPTION A OPTION B
LIFE ANNUITY LIFE ANNUITY WITH PAYMENTS CERTAIN
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
60 PAYMENTS 120 PAYMENTS 180 PAYMENTS 240 PAYMENTS
ADJUSTED -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AGE MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE MALE FEMALE
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
20 2.67 2.59 2.67 2.59 2.67 2.59 2.67 2.59 2.67 2.59
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
25 2.77 2.68 2.77 2.68 2.77 2.68 2.77 2.68 2.77 2.68
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RCH-GR-CONT-00-1 22
<PAGE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
30 2.90 2.79 2.90 2.79 2.89 2.79 2.89 2.79 2.89 2.78
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
35 3.05 2.92 3.05 2.92 3.05 2.92 3.04 2.91 3.03 2.91
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40 3.24 3.08 3.24 3.08 3.24 3.08 3.23 3.07 3.21 3.06
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
45 3.49 3.29 3.48 3.28 3.47 3.28 3.45 3.27 3.42 3.25
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50 3.79 3.54 3.79 3.54 3.77 3.53 3.73 3.51 3.67 3.48
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
55 4.18 3.87 4.17 3.87 4.13 3.85 4.08 3.82 3.97 3.76
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
60 4.70 4.31 4.67 4.30 4.61 4.26 4.48 4.20 4.30 4.09
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
65 5.40 4.90 5.36 4.88 5.22 4.81 4.97 4.67 4.63 4.45
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
70 6.38 5.73 6.28 5.68 5.97 5.52 5.48 5.22 4.92 4.81
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
75 7.73 6.94 7.49 6.82 6.83 6.41 5.96 5.78 5.12 5.07
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
80 9.62 8.74 9.05 8.38 7.71 7.42 6.31 6.23 5.22 5.21
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
85 12.25 11.41 10.91 10.42 8.46 8.32 6.52 6.50 5.27 5.26
------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
90 15.86 15.23 12.89 12.62 8.98 8.93 6.61 6.61 5.27 5.27
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OPTION C
JOINT AND SURVIVOR ANNUITY
(ASSUMED ELECTION OF JOINT AND TWO-THIRDS SURVIVOR)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADJUSTED AGE ADJUSTED AGE OF FEMALE
OF MALE
55 60 65 70 75
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
55 3.83 4.03 4.25 4.49 4.75
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
60 4.01 4.25 4.52 4.82 5.14
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
65 4.20 4.49 4.82 5.19 5.60
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
70 4.41 4.74 5.14 5.60 6.14
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
75 4.61 4.99 5.46 6.03 6.71
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
OPTION D
PAYMENTS FOR A SPECIFIED PERIOD CERTAIN
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YEARS AMOUNT YEARS AMOUNT YEARS AMOUNT
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
10 9.39 17 6.00 24 4.60
11 8.64 18 5.73 25 4.46
12 8.02 19 5.49 26 4.34
13 7.49 20 5.27 27 4.22
14 7.03 21 5.08 28 4.12
15 6.64 22 4.90 29 4.02
16 6.30 23 4.74 30 3.93
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
RCH-GR-CONT-00-1 23
<PAGE>
OWNERSHIP PROVISIONS
EXERCISE OF CONTRACT RIGHTS
The Contract shall belong to the Owner. Unless any Contract rights and
privileges have been expressly reserved by the Owner, the Participant shall be
entitled to exercise all rights and privileges in connection with such
Participant's Certificate. In any case, such rights and privileges can be
exercised without the consent of the Beneficiary (other than an irrevocable
Beneficiary) or any other person. Such rights and privileges may be exercised
only during the lifetime of the Participant and prior to the Annuity
Commencement Date, except as otherwise provided in the Contract.
The Annuitant becomes the Payee on and after the Annuity Commencement
Date. The Beneficiary becomes the Payee on the death of the Participant prior to
the Annuity Commencement date, or on the death of the Annuitant after the
Annuity Commencement Date. Such Payees may thereafter exercise such rights and
privileges, if any, of ownership which continue.
DEATH OF PARTICIPANT
If a Participant under a Non-Qualified Contract dies prior the Annuity
Commencement Date, that Participant's Account must be distributed to the
"designated Beneficiary" (as defined below) either (1) as a lump sum within five
years after the date of death of the Participant, or (2) as an annuity over some
period not greater than the life or expected life of the designated Beneficiary,
with annuity payment beginning within one year after the date of death of the
Participant. For this purpose (and for purposes of Section 72(s) of the Code),
the person named as Beneficiary shall be considered the designated Beneficiary,
and if no person then living has been so named, then the Annuitant shall
automatically be the designated Beneficiary. If the designated Beneficiary is
the surviving spouse of the deceased Participant, the spouse can elect to
continue the Certificate in the spouse's own name as Participant, in which case
the mandatory distribution requirements will apply on the spouse's death. As
designated Beneficiary, the surviving spouse may also choose to have the
Participant's Account distributed as an annuity over some period not greater
than his or her life or expected life, with annuity payments beginning within
one year after the date of death of the Participant.
If the Payee dies on or after the Annuity Commencement Date and before the
entire accumulation under such Participant's Account has been distributed, the
remaining portion of such Participant's Account, if any, must be distributed as
least as rapidly as the method of distribution then in effect.
In any case in which a non-natural person constitutes a holder of the
Certificate for the purposes of Section 72(s) of the Code, (1) the distribution
requirements described above shall apply upon the death of any Annuitant, and
(2) a change in any Annuitant shall be treated as the death of such Annuitant.
In all cases, no Participant or Beneficiary shall be entitled to exercise
any rights that would adversely affect the treatment of the Contract as an
annuity Contract under the Code.
VOTING OF FUND SHARES
The Company will vote Fund shares held by the Sub-Accounts at meetings of
shareholders of the Funds, but will follow voting instructions received from
persons having the right to give voting instructions. The Owner or Participant,
as the case may be, is the person having the right to give voting instructions
prior to the Annuity Commencement Date. On or after the Annuity Commencement
Date the Payee is the person having such voting rights. Any shares attributable
to the Company and any Fund shares for which no timely voting instructions have
been received will be voted by the Company in the same proportion as the shares
for which instructions are received from persons have such voting rights.
Neither the Variable Account nor the Company is under any duty to provide
information concerning the voting instruction rights of persons who may have
such rights under retirement or deferred compensation plans, other than rights
afforded by the Investment Company Act of 1940, nor do they have any duty to
inquire as to the
RCH-GR-CONT-00-1 24
<PAGE>
instructions received or the authority of Owners, Participants, or others to
instruct on the voting of Fund shares. Except as the Variable Account or the
Company has actual knowledge to the contrary, the instructions given by Owners,
Participants and Payees will be valid as they affect the Variable Account, the
Company and any others having voting instruction rights with respect to the
Variable Account.
All Fund proxy material, together with an appropriate form to be used to
give voting instructions, will be provided to each Owner, each Participant and
each Payee having the right to give voting instructions at least 10 days prior
to each meeting of the shareholders of the Fund. The number of particular Fund
shares as to which each such person is entitled to give instructions will be
determined by the Company as of a date not more than 90 days prior to each such
meeting. Prior to the Annuity Commencement Date, the number of Fund shares as to
which voting instructions may be given to the Company is determined by dividing
the value of all the Variable Accumulation Units of the particular Sub-Account
credited to the Participant's Account by the net asset value of one Fund share
as of the same date. On or after the Annuity Commencement Date, the number of
Fund shares as to which such instructions may be given by a Payee is determined
by dividing the reserve held by the Company in the particular Sub-Account with
respect to the particular Payee by the net asset value of a Fund share as of the
same date.
PERIODIC REPORTS
During the Accumulation Period the Company will send to the Participant,
or such other person having voting rights, at least once during each Account
Year, a statement showing the number, type and value of Accumulation Units
credited to the Participant's Account and the fixed accumulation value of such
account, which statement shall be accurate as of a date not more than two months
previous to the date of mailing. In addition, every person having voting rights
will receive such reports or prospectuses concerning the Variable Account and
each Fund as may be required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the
Securities Act of 1933. The Company will also send such statements reflecting
transactions in the Participant's Account as may be required by applicable laws,
rules and regulations.
DESIGNATION AND CHANGE OF BENEFICIARY
The Beneficiary designation contained in any Application will remain in
effect until changed.
Subject to the rights of an irrevocable Beneficiary, the designation of
Beneficiary may be changed or revoked. Any change or revocation must be filed
with the Company at its Annuity Service Mailing Address in such form as the
Company may require. The change or revocation will not be binding upon the
Company until it is received by the Company. When it is so received the change
or revocation will be effective as of the date on which the Beneficiary
designation or revocation was signed, but the change or revocation will be
without prejudice to the Company on account of any payment made or any action
taken by the Company before the Company receives and acknowledges the change or
revocation.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
AGE AND SEX MISSTATEMENT
If any date of birth or sex, or both, has been misstated in the
Application, if any, or elsewhere, the amounts payable pursuant to the Contract
will be the amounts which would have been provided using the correct age or sex,
or both. Any deficiency in payments already made by the Company shall be paid
promptly and any excess in the payments already made by the Company shall be
charged against the benefits falling due after the adjustment.
RCH-GR-CONT-00-1 25
<PAGE>
CONTRACT
The Contract is issued in consideration of the Contract Application, if
any, and payment of the initial Purchase Payment. This Contract and the Contract
Application, if any, a copy of which may be attached, constitute the entire
Contract. All statements made in the Contract Application and any Participant's
Application will be deemed representations and not warranties, and no statement
will void the Contract or a Participant's interest therein or be used in defense
to a claim unless it is contained in such Contract Application or Participant's
Application, if any, or in any similar document of that Participant and a copy
is attached to the Contract or Certificate, as applicable, at issue. Only the
President, a Vice President, the Actuary or the Secretary of the Company has
authority to agree on behalf of the Company to any alteration of the Contract or
any Certificate, or to any waiver of the rights or requirements of the Company.
CURRENCY
All amounts due under the Contract are payable in U.S. dollars, lawful
money of the United States of America.
DETERMINATION OF VALUES
The method of determination by the Company of the Net Investment Factor
and the number and value of Accumulation Units and Annuity Units shall be
conclusive upon the Owner, the Participant, any Payee and any Beneficiary.
DISCONTINUANCE OF NEW PARTICIPANTS
The Company, by giving 30 days' prior written notice to the Owner, may
limit or discontinue the acceptance of new Applications and the issuance of new
Certificates under this Contract. Such limitation or discontinuance shall have
no effect on rights or benefits with respect to any Participant's Account
established prior to the effective date of such limitation or discontinuance.
GOVERNING LAW
This Contract and all Certificates issued in connection with it will be
governed by the laws of the jurisdiction where the Contract Application is
signed.
GUARANTEES
Subject to the Net Investment Factor provision, the Company guarantees
that the dollar amount of Variable Annuity payments made during the lifetime of
the Payee(s) will not be adversely affected by the actual mortality experience
of the Company or by the actual expenses incurred by the Company in excess of
the expense deductions provided for in the Contract and other Contracts
providing benefits which vary in accordance with the investment performance of
the Sub-Accounts.
INCONTESTABILITY
This Contract is incontestable, subject to the "Age and Sex
Misstatements", "Proof of Age" and "Proof of Survival" provisions contained
herein.
RCH-GR-CONT-00-1 26
<PAGE>
MODIFICATION
Upon notice to the Owner, the Participant(s) or the Payee(s) during the
annuity period, this Contract may be modified by the Company, but only if such
modification (a) is necessary to make the Contract or the Variable Account
comply with any law or regulation issued by a governmental agency to which the
Company or the Variable Account is subject; or (b) is necessary to assure
continued qualification of the Contract under the Code or other federal or state
laws relating to retirement annuities or annuity contracts; or (c) is necessary
to reflect a change in the operation of the Variable Account or the
Sub-Accounts; (d) provides additional Variable Account and/or Fixed Account
options; or (e) as may otherwise be in the best interests of Owners,
Participants or Payees, as applicable. In the event of any such modification,
the Company may make appropriate endorsement to the Contract to reflect such
modification.
In addition, upon 60 days' prior written notice to the Owner, the Contract
may be modified by the Company to change the withdrawal charges, account fees,
mortality and expense risk charges, administrative expense charges, the tables
used in determining the amount of the first monthly Variable Annuity and Fixed
Annuity payments and the formula used to calculate the market value adjustment,
provided that any such modification shall apply only to Participant's Accounts
established after the effective date of the modification. All of the charges and
the annuity tables which are provided in the Contract prior to any such
modification will remain in effect permanently, unless improved by the Company,
with respect to Participant's Accounts established prior to the effective date
of such modification.
NONPARTICIPATING
The Contract is nonparticipating and will not share in any profits or
surplus earnings of the Company and therefore, no dividends are payable.
PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY
All sums payable by the Company pursuant to the Contract are payable only
at its Executive Office or such other place as may be designated by the Company.
The Company may require surrender of the Contract upon final payment of all sums
payable by the Company pursuant to the Contract.
PROOF OF AGE
The Company shall have the right to require evidence of the age of any
Payee under Annuity Options A, B, and C prior to the Annuity Commencement Date.
PROOF OF SURVIVAL
The Company shall have the right to require evidence of the survival of
any Payee under Annuity Options A, B and C at the time any payment payable to
such Payee is due.
SPLITTING UNITS
The Company reserves the right to split or combine the value of Variable
Accumulation Units, Annuity Units or any of them. In effecting any such change
of unit values, strict equity will be preserved and no change will have a
material effect on the benefits or other provisions of this Contract.
RIGHTS RESERVED BY THE COMPANY
RCH-GR-CONT-00-1 27
<PAGE>
The Company reserves the right, to the extent permitted by law, to: (1)
deregister the Variable Account under the Investment Company Act of 1940; (2)
combine any two or more Variable Accounts; (3) operate the Variable Account as a
management investment company or any other form permitted by law; (4) substitute
shares of a Fund for shares of another investment company if shares of such Fund
are not available, or if, in the Company's judgment, further investment in such
Fund's shares is no longer appropriate; (5) add or delete Funds, or series or
sub-series thereof, and corresponding Sub-Accounts; (6) add or remove Guarantee
Periods available at any time for election by a Participant; and (7) restrict or
eliminate any of the voting rights of Participants (or Owners) or other persons
who have voting rights as to the Variable Account.
RCH-GR-CONT-00-1 28
<PAGE>
SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA (U.S.)
A WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF SUN LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY OF CANADA
Executive Office: Home Office:
ONE SUN LIFE EXECUTIVE PARK WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
WELLESLEY HILLS, MASSACHUSETTS 02481
Annuity Service Mailing Address:
SUN LIFE OF CANADA (U.S.)
RETIREMENT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
P.O. BOX [ # ]
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS [ ZIP CODE ]
FLEXIBLE PAYMENT DEFERRED COMBINATION VARIABLE AND FIXED GROUP
ANNUITY CONTRACT NONPARTICIPATING
ALL PAYMENTS AND VALUES PROVIDED BY THIS CONTRACT WHEN BASED ON THE
INVESTMENT EXPERIENCE OF THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT ARE VARIABLE AND ARE NOT
GUARANTEED AS TO DOLLAR AMOUNT.
PAYMENTS AND VALUES BASED ON THE FIXED ACCOUNT ARE SUBJECT TO A MARKET
VALUE ADJUSTMENT FORMULA, THE OPERATION OF WHICH MAY RESULT IN UPWARD AND
DOWNWARD ADJUSTMENTS IN AMOUNTS PAYABLE TO A PARTICIPANT, INCLUDING
WITHDRAWALS, TRANSFERS AND AMOUNTS APPLIED TO PURCHASE AN ANNUITY.
PAYMENTS MADE FROM GUARANTEE AMOUNTS WHICH ARE WITHIN 30 DAYS PRIOR TO
THE END OF A GUARANTEE PERIOD OR THE WITHDRAWAL OF INTEREST CREDITED TO
GUARANTEE AMOUNTS DURING THE CURRENT ACCOUNT YEAR ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THE
MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT.
RCH-GR-CONT-00-1 29
