THE AIM LIFETIME PLUS(SM) II VARIABLE ANNUITY
Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York Prospectus dated December 30, 1999
P.O. Box 94038, Palatine, IL 60094-4038
Telephone Number: 1-800-692-4682
Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York ("Allstate Life of New York") is
offering the AIM Lifetime Plus(SM) II Variable Annuity, a group flexible premium
deferred variable annuity contract ("Contract"). This prospectus contains
information about the Contract that you should know before investing. Please
keep it for future reference.
The Contract currently offers 15 investment alternatives ("investment
alternatives"). The investment alternatives include 2 fixed account options
("Fixed Account Options") and 13 variable sub-accounts ("Variable Sub-Accounts")
of the Allstate Life of New York Separate Account A ("Variable Account"). Each
Variable Sub-Account invests exclusively in shares of one of the following funds
("Funds") of AIM Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.:
AIM V.I. Aggressive Growth Fund AIM V.I. Government Securities Fund
AIM V.I. Balanced Fund AIM V.I. Growth Fund
AIM V.I. Capital Appreciation Fund AIM V.I. Growth and Income Fund
AIM V.I. Capital Development Fund AIM V.I. High Yield Fund
AIM V.I. Diversified Income Fund AIM V.I. International Equity Fund
AIM V.I. Global Utilities Fund AIM V.I. Money Market Fund
AIM V.I. Value Fund
We (Allstate Life of New York) have filed a Statement of Additional Information,
dated December 30, 1999, with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). It
contains more information about the Contract and is incorporated herein by
reference, which means it is legally a part of this prospectus. Its table of
contents appears on page __ of this prospectus. For a free copy, please write or
call us at the address or telephone number above, or go to the SEC's Web site
(http:www.sec.gov). You can find other information and documents about us,
including documents that are legally part of this prospectus, at the SEC's Web
site (http:\\www.sec.gov).
The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved
or disapproved the securities described in this
prospectus, nor has it passed on the accuracy or the
adequacy of this prospectus. Anyone who tells you
otherwise is committing a federal crime.
The Contracts may be distributed through broker-dealers
IMPORTANT that have relationships with banks or other financial
NOTICES institutions or by employees of such banks. However,
the Contracts are not deposits, or obligations of, or
guaranteed by such institutions or any federal
regulatory agency. Investment in the Contracts
involves investment risks, including possible loss of
principal.
The Contracts are not FDIC insured.
The Contracts are only available in New York.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Page
<S> <C> <C>
Important Terms................................................................
Overview The Contract at a Glance.......................................................
How the Contract Works.........................................................
Expense Table..................................................................
Financial Information..........................................................
The Contract...................................................................
Purchases......................................................................
Contract Features Contract Value.................................................................
Investment Alternatives........................................................
The Variable Sub-Accounts.............................................
The Fixed Account Options.............................................
Transfers.............................................................
Expenses.......................................................................
Access To Your Money...........................................................
Income Payments................................................................
Death Benefits.................................................................
More Information:
Allstate Life of New York.............................................
The Variable Account..................................................
The Funds.............................................................
Other Information The Contract .........................................................
Qualified Plans ......................................................
Legal Matters.........................................................
Year 2000.............................................................
Taxes..........................................................................
Annual Reports and Other Documents.............................................
Performance Information........................................................
Appendix A - Illustration of a Market Value Adjustment ........................
Statement of Additional Information Table of Contents.........................
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
IMPORTANT TERMS
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This prospectus uses a number of important terms that you may not be familiar
with. The index below identifies the page that describes each term. The first
use of each term in this prospectus appears in highlights.
Page
Accumulation Phase............................................
Accumulation Unit ............................................
Accumulation Unit Value ......................................
Allstate Life of New York ("We")..............................
Anniversary Values............................................
Annuitant.....................................................
Automatic Additions Program ..................................
Automatic Fund Rebalancing Program............................
Beneficiary ..................................................
Cancellation Period ..........................................
*Contract ......................................................
Contract Anniversary..........................................
Contract Owner ("You") .......................................
Contract Value ...............................................
Contract Year................................................
Death Benefit Anniversary ....................................
Dollar Cost Averaging Option..................................
Dollar Cost Averaging Program.................................
Due Proof of Death............................................
Enhanced Death Benefit Option.................................
Fixed Account Options.........................................
Funds ........................................................
Guarantee Periods ...........................................
Income Plan ..................................................
Investment Alternatives ......................................
Issue Date ...................................................
Market Value Adjustment ......................................
Payout Phase..................................................
Payout Start Date.............................................
Preferred Withdrawal Amount...................................
Qualified Contracts ..........................................
Right to Cancel ..............................................
SEC...........................................................
Settlement Value ............................................
Systematic Withdrawal Program ................................
Treasury Rate ................................................
Valuation Date................................................
Variable Account .............................................
Variable Sub-Account .........................................
* The AIM Lifetime Plus II Variable Annuity is a group contract and
your ownership is represented by certificates. References to "Contract"
in this prospectus include certificates, unless the context requires
otherwise.
<PAGE>
THE CONTRACT AT A GLANCE
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The following is a snapshot of the Contract. Please read the remainder of this
prospectus for more information.
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Flexible Payments
You can purchase a Contract with an initial
purchase payment of $5,000 ($2,000 for
"Qualified Contracts," which are Contracts
issued with qualified plans). You can add
to your Contract as often and as much as
you like, but each payment must be at least
$500 ($100 for automatic purchase payments
to the variable investment options). You
must maintain a minimum account size of
$1,000.
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Right to Cancel You may cancel your Contract
within 10 days after receipt ("Cancellation
Period"). Upon cancellation we will return
your purchase payments adjusted to reflect
the investment experience of any amounts
allocated to the Variable Account.
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Expenses You will bear the following expenses:
o Total Variable Account annual
fees equal to 1.10% of
average daily net Assets
(1.30% if you select the
Enhanced Death Benefit Option)
o Annual contract maintenance charge of $35
(with certain exceptions)
o Withdrawal charges ranging from 0% to 7%
of payment withdrawn (with certain
exceptions)
o Transfer fee of $10 after 12th transfer
in any Contract Year (fee currently
waived)
o State premium tax (New York currently
does not impose one).
In addition, each Fund pays expenses that
you will bear indirectly if you invest in a
Variable Sub-Account.
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Investment
Alternatives The Contract offers 15 investment
alternatives including:
o 2 Fixed Account Options (which credit
interest at rates we guarantee), and
o 13 Variable Sub-Accounts investing in
Funds offering professional money
management by A I M Advisors, Inc.
To find out current rates being paid on the Fixed Account Options, or to
find out how the Variable Sub-Accounts have performed, please call us at
1-800-692-4682.
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<PAGE>
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Special Services For your convenience, we offer these
special services:
o Automatic Fund Rebalancing Program
o Automatic Additions Program
o Dollar Cost Averaging Program
o Systematic Withdrawal Program
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Income Payments You can choose fixed income
payments, variable income payments, or a
combination of the two. You can receive
your income payments in one of the
following ways:
o life income with guaranteed payments
o a joint and survivor life income with
guaranteed payments
o guaranteed payments for a specified
period (5 to 30 years)
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Death Benefits If you die before the Payout Start Date,
we will pay the death benefit described
in the Contract. We also offer an
Enhanced Death Benefit Option.
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Transfers Before the Payout Start Date, you may
transfer your Contract value ("Contract
Value") among the investment alternatives,
with certain restrictions.
We do not currently impose a fee upon
transfers. However, we reserve the right
to charge $10 per transfer after the 12th
transfer in each "Contract year," which we
measure from the date we issue your
contract or a Contract anniversary
("Contract Anniversary").
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Withdrawals You may withdraw some or all of your
Contract Value at anytime during the
Accumulation Phase.
In general, you must withdraw at least $50
at a time. A 10% federal tax penalty may
apply if you withdraw before you are 59
1/2 years old. A withdrawal charge and
Market Value Adjustment also may apply.
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<PAGE>
HOW THE CONTRACT WORKS
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The Contract basically works in two ways.
First, the Contract can help you (we assume you are the Contract owner)
save for retirement because you can invest in up to 15 investment alternatives
and pay no federal income taxes on any earnings until you withdraw them. You do
this during what we call the "Accumulation Phase" of the Contract. The
Accumulation Phase begins on the date we issue your Contract (we call that date
the "Issue Date") and continues until the Payout Start Date, which is the date
we apply your money to provide income payments. During the Accumulation Phase,
you may allocate your purchase payments to any combination of the Variable
Sub-Accounts and/or Fixed Account Options. If you invest in the Fixed Account
Options, you will earn a fixed rate of interest that we declare periodically. If
you invest in any of the Variable Sub-Accounts, your investment return will vary
up or down depending on the performance of the corresponding Funds.
Second, the Contract can help you plan for retirement because you can use
it to receive retirement income for life and/or for a pre-set number of years,
by selecting one of the income payment options (we call these "Income Plans")
described on page __. You receive income payments during what we call the
"Payout Phase" of the Contract, which begins on the Payout Start Date and
continues until we make the last payment required by the Income Plan you select.
During the Payout Phase, if you select a fixed income payment option, we
guarantee the amount of your payments, which will remain fixed. If you select a
variable income payment option, based on one or more of the Variable
Sub-Accounts, the amount of your payments will vary up or down depending on the
performance of the corresponding Funds. The amount of money you accumulate under
your Contract during the Accumulation Phase and apply to an Income Plan will
determine the amount of your income payments during the Payout Phase.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
The timeline below illustrates how you might use your Contract.
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Effective Payout Start
Date Accumulation Phase Date Payout Phase
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------>
You save for retirement
| | |
You buy You elect to receive income You can receive Or you can
a Contract payments or receive a lump income payments receive income
sum payment for a set period payments for life
</TABLE>
As the Contract owner, you exercise all of the rights and privileges
provided by the Contract. If you die, any surviving Contract owner, or if there
is none, the Beneficiary will exercise the rights and privileges provided by the
Contract. See "The Contract." In addition, if you die before the Payout Start
Date, we will pay a death benefit to any surviving Contract owner or, if none,
to your Beneficiary. See "Death Benefits."
Please call us at 1-800-692-4682 if you have any question about how the
Contract works.
<PAGE>
EXPENSE TABLE
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The table below lists the expenses that you will bear directly or indirectly
when you buy a Contract. The table and the examples that follow do not reflect
premium taxes because New York currently does not impose premium taxes on
annuities. For more information about Variable Account expenses, see "Expenses,"
below. For more information about Fund expenses, please refer to the
accompanying prospectuses for the Funds.
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CONTRACT OWNER TRANSACTION EXPENSES
Withdrawal Charge (as a percentage of purchase payments)*
Number of Complete Years
Since We Received the Purchase
Payment Being Withdrawn: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7+
Applicable Charge: 7% 6% 5% 4% 3% 2% 1% 0%
Annual Contract Maintenance Charge..............................$35.00**
Transfer Fee....................................................$10.00***
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* Each Contract Year, you may withdraw up to 15% of the Contract Value as
of the beginning of the Contract Year without incurring a withdrawal
charge or Market Value Adjustment.
** We will waive this charge in certain cases. See "Expenses."
***Applies solely to the thirteenth and subsequent transfers within a
Contract Year excluding transfers due to dollar cost averaging or
automatic fund rebalancing. We are currently waiving the transfer fee.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
VARIABLE ACCOUNT ANNUAL EXPENSES
(as a percentage of average daily net assets deducted from each Variable
Sub-Account)
Mortality and Expense Risk Charge..................................1.00%*
Administrative Expense Charge......................................0.10%
Total Variable Account Annual Expenses..............1.10%
----------
* If you select the Enhanced Death Benefit Option, the mortality and
expense risk charge is 1.20%.
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<PAGE>
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FUND ANNUAL EXPENSES (After Voluntary Reductions and Reimbursements) (as a
percentage of Portfolio average daily net assets)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Management Total Annual
Fund Fees Other Expenses Fund Expenses
<S> <C> <C> <C>
AIM V.I. Aggressive Growth Fund (1) 0.10% 1.06% 1.16%
AIM V.I. Balanced Fund (1) 0.00% 1.18% 1.18%
AIM V.I. Capital Appreciation Fund 0.62% 0.05% 0.67%
AIM V.I. Capital Development Fund (1) 0.00% 1.21% 1.21%
AIM V.I. Diversified Income Fund 0.60% 0.17% 0.77%
AIM V.I. Global Utilities Fund 0.65% 0.46% 1.11%
AIM V.I. Government Securities Fund 0.50% 0.26% 0.76%
AIM V.I. Growth Fund 0.64% 0.08% 0.72%
AIM V.I. Growth and Income Fund 0.61% 0.04% 0.65%
AIM V.I. High Yield Fund(1) 0.00% 1.13% 1.13%
AIM V.I. International Equity Fund 0.75% 0.16% 0.91%
AIM V.I. Money Market Fund 0.40% 0.18% 0.58%
AIM V.I. Value Fund 0.61% 0.05% 0.66%
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</TABLE>
(1) Figures shown in the table are for the year ended December 31, 1998. Absent
voluntary reductions and reimbursements for certain Funds, management fees,
other expenses, and total annual fund expenses expressed as a percentage of
average net assets of the Funds would have been as follows:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIM V.I. Aggressive Growth Fund 0.80% 3.82% 4.62%
AIM V.I. Balanced Fund 0.75% 2.08% 2.83%
AIM V.I. Capital Development Fund 0.75% 5.05% 5.80%
AIM V.I. High Yield Fund 0.63% 1.87% 2.50%
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EXAMPLE 1
The example below shows the dollar amount of expenses that you would bear
directly or indirectly if you:
o invested a $1,000 in a Variable Sub-Account,
o earned a 5% annual return on your investment,
o surrendered your Contract, or you began receiving income payments for a
specified period of less than 120 months, at the end of each time period,
and
o elected the Enhanced Death Benefit Option.
The example does not include any tax penalties you may be required to pay if you
surrender your Contract. This example does not include deductions for premium
taxes because New York does not charge premium taxes on annuities.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
SUB-ACCOUNT 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEAR 10 YEAR
- ----------- ------ ------- ------ -------
AIM V.I. Aggressive Growth $83 $119 $154 $267
AIM V.I. Balanced $83 $120 $155 $269
AIM V.I. Capital Appreciation $78 $105 $129 $215
AIM V.I. Capital Development $84 $121 $157 $272
AIM V.I. Diversified Income $79 $108 $134 $226
AIM V.I. Global Utilities $83 $118 $152 $262
AIM V.I. Government Securities $79 $107 $134 $225
AIM V.I. Growth $79 $106 $132 $221
AIM V.I. Growth and Income $78 $104 $128 $213
AIM V.I. High Yield $83 $118 $153 $264
AIM V.I. International Equity $81 $112 $142 $241
AIM V.I. Money Market $77 $102 $125 $205
AIM V.I. Value $78 $104 $129 $214
</TABLE>
EXAMPLE 2
Same assumptions as Example 1 above, except that you decided not to surrender
your Contract, or you began receiving income payments (for at least 120 months
if under an Income Plan for a specified period), at the end of each period.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
SUB-ACCOUNT 1 YEAR 3 YEARS 5 YEARS 10 YEARS
- ----------- ------ ------- ------- --------
AIM V.I. Aggressive Growth $24 $73 $125 $267
AIM V.I. Balanced $24 $74 $126 $269
AIM V.I. Capital Appreciation $19 $58 $100 $215
AIM V.I. Capital Development $24 $75 $128 $272
AIM V.I. Diversified Income $20 $61 $105 $226
AIM V.I. Global Utilities $23 $72 $122 $262
AIM V.I. Government Securities $20 $61 $104 $225
AIM V.I. Growth $19 $60 $102 $221
AIM V.I. Growth and Income $19 $57 $ 99 $213
AIM V.I. High Yield $23 $72 $124 $264
AIM V.I. International Equity $21 $65 $112 $241
AIM V.I. Money Market $18 $55 $ 95 $205
AIM V.I. Value $19 $58 $ 99 $214
</TABLE>
Please remember that you are looking at examples and not a representation of
past or future expenses. Your actual expenses may be lower or greater than those
shown above. Similarly, your rate of return may be lower or greater than 5%,
which is not guaranteed. The above examples assume the election of the Enhanced
Death Benefit Option, with a mortality and expense risk charge of 1.20%. If that
option was not elected, the expense figures shown above would be slightly lower.
To reflect the contract maintenance charge in the examples, we estimated an
equivalent percentage charge, based on an assumed average Contract size of
$50,000.
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
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To measure the value of your investment in the Variable Sub-Accounts during the
Accumulation Phase, we use a unit of measure we call the "Accumulation Unit."
Each Variable Sub-Account has a separate value for its Accumulation Units we
call "Accumulation Unit Value." Accumulation Unit Value is analogous to, but not
the same as, the share price of a mutual fund.
There are no Accumulation Unit Values to report because the Contracts were first
offered as of the date of this prospectus. The financial statements of the
Variable Account and Allstate Life of New York appear in the Statement of
Additional Information.
<PAGE>
THE CONTRACT
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CONTRACT OWNER
The AIM Lifetime Plus II Variable Annuity is a contract between you, the
Contract owner, and Allstate Life of New York, a life insurance company. As the
Contract owner, you may exercise all of the rights and privileges provided to
you by the Contract. That means it is up to you to select or change (to the
extent permitted):
o the investment alternatives during the Accumulation and Payout Phases,
o the amount and timing of your purchase payments and withdrawals,
o the programs you want to use to invest or withdraw money,
o the income payment plan you want to use to receive retirement income,
o the Annuitant (either yourself or someone else) on whose life the income
payments will be based,
o the Beneficiary or Beneficiaries who will receive the benefits that the
Contract provides when the last surviving Contract owner or Annuitant dies,
and
o any other rights that the Contract provides.
If you die, any surviving Contract owner or, if none, the Beneficiary may
exercise the rights and privileges provided to them by the Contract. The
Contract cannot be jointly owned by both a non-natural person and a natural
person.
You can use the Contract with or without a qualified plan. A qualified plan is a
personal retirement savings plan, such as an IRA or tax-sheltered annuity, that
meets the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code. Qualified plans may limit
or modify your rights and privileges under the Contract. We use the term
"Qualified Contract" to refer to a Contract issued with a qualified plan. See
"Qualified Plans" on page __.
ANNUITANT
The Annuitant is the individual whose life determines the amount and duration of
income payments (other than under Income Plans with guaranteed payments for a
specified period). You initially designate an Annuitant in your application. If
the Contract owner is a natural person you may change the Annuitant prior to the
Payout Start Date. In our discretion , we may permit you to designate a joint
Annuitant, who is a second person on whose life income payments depend, on or
after the Payout Start Date.
If the Annuitant dies prior to the Payout Start Date, the new Annuitant will be:
o the youngest Contract owner, otherwise
o the youngest Beneficiary.
BENEFICIARY
The Beneficiary is the person who may elect to receive the death benefit or
become the new Contract owner if the sole surviving Contract owner dies before
the Payout Start Date. If the sole surviving Contract owner dies after the
Payout Start Date, the Beneficiary will receive any guaranteed income payments
scheduled to continue.
You may name one or more Beneficiaries when you apply for a Contract. You may
change or add Beneficiaries at any time by writing to us, unless you have
designated an irrevocable Beneficiary. We will provide a change of Beneficiary
form to be signed and filed with us. Any change will be effective at the time
you sign the written notice, whether or not the Annuitant is living when we
receive the notice. Until we receive your written notice to change a
Beneficiary, we are entitled to rely on the most recent Beneficiary information
in our files. We will not be liable as to any payment or settlement made prior
to receiving the written notice. Accordingly, if you wish to change your
Beneficiary, you should deliver your written notice to us promptly.
If you do not name a Beneficiary or if the named Beneficiary is no longer living
and there are no other surviving Beneficiaries, the new Beneficiary will be:
o your spouse or, if he or she is no longer alive,
o your surviving children equally, or if you have no surviving children,
o your estate.
If more than one Beneficiary survives you (or the Annuitant if the Contract
owner is not a natural person), we will divide the death benefit among your
Beneficiaries according to your most recent written instructions. If you have
not given us written instructions, we will pay the death benefit in equal
amounts to the surviving Beneficiaries.
MODIFICATION OF THE CONTRACT
Only an Allstate Life of New York officer may approve a change in or waive any
provision of the Contract. Any change or waiver must be in writing. None of our
agents has the authority to change or waive the provisions of the Contract. We
may not change the terms of the Contract without your consent, except to conform
the Contract to applicable law or changes in the law. If a provision of the
Contract is inconsistent with state law, we will follow state law.
ASSIGNMENT
We will not honor an assignment of an interest in a Contract as collateral or
security for a loan. However, you may assign periodic income payments under the
Contract prior to the Payout Start Date. No Beneficiary may assign benefits
under the Contract until they are due. We will not be bound by any assignment
until the assignor signs it and files it with us. We are not responsible for the
validity of any assignment. Federal law prohibits or restricts the assignment of
benefits under many types of retirement plans and the terms of such plans may
themselves contain restrictions on assignments. An assignment may also result in
taxes or tax penalties. You should consult with an attorney before trying to
assign your Contract.
<PAGE>
PURCHASES
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MINIMUM PURCHASE PAYMENTS
Your initial purchase payment must be at least $5,000 ($2,000 for a Qualified
Contract). All subsequent purchase payments must be $500 or more. The maximum
purchase payment is $1,000,000 without prior approval. We reserve the right to
reduce the minimum purchase payment. You may make purchase payments at any time
prior to the Payout Start Date. We reserve the right to reject any application.
AUTOMATIC ADDITIONS PROGRAM
You may make subsequent purchase payments of at least $100 ($500 for allocation
to the Fixed Account Options) by automatically transferring amounts from your
bank account. Please consult with your sales representative for detailed
information.
ALLOCATION OF PURCHASE PAYMENTS
At the time you apply for a Contract, you must decide how to allocate your
purchase payments among the investment alternatives. The allocation you specify
on your application will be effective immediately. All allocations must be in
whole percents that total 100% or in whole dollars. You can change your
allocations by notifying us in writing. We reserve the right to limit the
availability of the investment alternatives.
We will allocate your purchase payments to the investment alternatives according
to your most recent instructions on file with us. Unless you notify us in
writing otherwise, we will allocate subsequent purchase payments according to
the allocation for the previous purchase payment. We will effect any change in
allocation instructions at the time we receive written notice of the change in
good order.
We will credit the initial purchase payment that accompanies your completed
application to your Contract within 2 business days after we receive the payment
at our servicing center. If your application is incomplete, we will ask you to
complete your application within 5 business days. If you do so, we will credit
your initial purchase payment to your Contract within that 5 business day
period. If you do not, we will return your purchase payment at the end of the 5
business day period unless you expressly allow us to hold it until you complete
the application. We will credit subsequent purchase payments to the Contract at
the close of the business day on which we receive the purchase payment at our
service center located at P.O. Box 94038, Palatine, Illinois, 60094.
We are open for business each day Monday through Friday that the New York Stock
Exchange is open for business. We also refer to these days as "Valuation Dates."
Our business day closes when the New York Stock Exchange closes, usually 4 p.m.
Eastern Time (3 p.m. Central Time). If we receive your purchase payment after 3
p.m. Central Time on any Valuation Date, we will credit your purchase payment
using the Accumulation Unit Values computed on the next Valuation Date.
RIGHT TO CANCEL
You may cancel the Contract by returning it to us within the Cancellation
Period, which is the 10 day period after you receive the Contract. You may
return it by delivering it or mailing it to us. If you exercise this "Right to
Cancel," the Contract terminates and we will pay you the full amount of your
purchase payments allocated to the Fixed Account Options. We will return your
purchase payments allocated to the Variable Account after an adjustment to
reflect investment gain or loss that occurred from the date of allocation
through the date of cancellation. If your Contract is qualified under Section
408 of the Internal Revenue Code, we will refund the greater of any purchase
payments or the Contract Value.
<PAGE>
CONTRACT VALUE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On the issue date, the Contract Value is equal to the initial purchase payment.
Thereafter, your Contract Value at any time during the Accumulation Phase is
equal to the sum of the value of your Accumulation Units in the Variable
Sub-Accounts you have selected, plus the value of your interest in the Fixed
Account Options.
ACCUMULATION UNITS
To determine the number of Accumulation Units of each Variable Sub-Account to
allocate to your Contract, we divide (i) the amount of the purchase payment or
transfer you have allocated to a Variable Sub-Account by (ii) the Accumulation
Unit Value of that Variable Sub-Account next computed after we receive your
payment or transfer. For example, if we receive a $10,000 purchase payment
allocated to a Variable Sub-Account when the Accumulation Unit Value for the
Sub-Account is $10, we would credit 1,000 Accumulation Units of that Variable
Sub-Account to your Contract. Withdrawals and transfers from a Variable
Sub-Account would, of course, reduce the number of Accumulation Units of that
Sub-Account allocated to your Contract.
ACCUMULATION UNIT VALUE
As a general matter, the Accumulation Unit Value for each Variable Sub-Account
will rise or fall to reflect:
o changes in the share price of the Fund in which the Variable Sub-Account
invests, and
o the deduction of amounts reflecting the mortality and expense risk charge,
administrative expense charge, and any provision for taxes that have
accrued since we last calculated the Accumulation Unit Value.
We determine contract maintenance charges, withdrawal charges, and transfer fees
(currently waived) separately for each Contract. They do not affect Accumulation
Unit Value. Instead, we obtain payment of those charges and fees by redeeming
Accumulation Units. For details on how we calculate Accumulation Unit Value,
please refer to the Statement of Additional Information.
We determine a separate Accumulation Unit Value for each Variable Sub-Account on
each Valuation Date. We also determine a separate set of Accumulation Unit
Values reflecting the cost of the Enhanced Death Benefit Option described on
page __ below.
You should refer to the prospectus for the Funds that accompanies this
prospectus for a description of how the assets of each Fund are valued, since
that determination directly bears on the Accumulation Unit Value of the
corresponding Variable Sub-Account and, therefore, your Contract Value.
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT ALTERNATIVES: The Variable Sub-Accounts
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You may allocate your purchase payments to up to 13 Variable Sub-Accounts. Each
Variable Sub-Account invests in the shares of a corresponding Fund. Each Fund
has its own investment objective(s) and policies. We briefly describe the Funds
below.
For more complete information about each Fund, including expenses and risks
associated with the Fund, please refer to the accompanying prospectus for the
Fund. You should carefully review the Fund prospectuses before allocating
amounts to the Variable Sub-Accounts. A I M Advisors, Inc. serves as the
investment advisor to each Fund.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C>
Fund: Each Fund Seeks:
- ------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIM V.I. Aggressive Growth Fund* Long-term growth of capital
- ------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIM V.I. Balanced Fund As high a total return as possible, consistent with preservation of
capital
- ------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIM V.I. Capital Appreciation Fund Growth of capital
- ------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIM V.I. Capital Development Fund Long-term growth of capital
- ------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIM V.I. Diversified Income Fund High level of current income
- ------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIM V.I. Global Utilities Fund High level of current income and a secondary objective of growth of
capital
- ------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIM V.I. Government Securities Fund High level of current income consistent with reasonable concern for
safety of principal
- ------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIM V.I. Growth Fund Growth of capital
- ------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIM V.I. Growth and Income Fund Growth of capital with a secondary objective of current income
- ------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIM V.I. High Yield Fund High level of current income
- ------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIM V.I. International Equity Fund Long-term growth of capital
- ------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIM V.I. Money Market Fund As high a level of current income as is consistent with the preservation
of capital and liquidity
- ------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIM V.I. Value Fund Long-term growth of capital
- ------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
* Due to the sometime limited availability of common stocks of small-cap
companies that meet the investment criteria for AIM V.I. Aggressive Growth
Fund, the Fund may periodically suspend or limit the offering of its shares.
The Fund will be closed to new participants when Fund assets reach $200
million. If the Fund is closed, Contract owners maintaining an allocation of
Contract Value in that Fund will nevertheless be permitted to allocate
additional purchase payments to the Fund.
Amounts you allocate to Variable Sub-Accounts may grow in value, decline in
value, or grow less than you expect, depending on the investment performance of
the Funds in which those Variable Sub-Accounts invest. You bear the investment
risk that the Funds might not meet their investment objectives. Shares of the
Funds are not deposits, or obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed by any bank
and are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal
Reserve Board or any other agency.
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT ALTERNATIVES : The Fixed Account Options
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You may allocate all or a portion of your purchase payments to the Fixed
Account. You may choose from among 2 Fixed Account Options, including a Dollar
Cost Averaging Fixed Account Option ("Dollar Cost Averaging Option"), and the
option to invest in one or more Guarantee Periods. The Fixed Account Options may
not be available in all states. Please consult with your sales representative
for current information. The Fixed Account supports our insurance and annuity
obligations. The Fixed Account consists of our general assets other than those
in segregated asset accounts. We have sole discretion to invest the assets of
the Fixed Account, subject to applicable law. Any money you allocate to a Fixed
Account Option does not entitle you to share in the investment experience of the
Fixed Account.
DOLLAR COST AVERAGING OPTION
You may establish a Dollar Cost Averaging Program, as described on page __, by
allocating purchase payments to the Dollar Cost Averaging Option. Purchase
payments that you allocate to the Dollar Cost Averaging Option will earn
interest for up to a 1 year period at the current rate in effect at the time of
allocation. We will credit interest daily at a rate that will compound over the
year to the annual interest rate we guaranteed at the time of allocation. You
may transfer each purchase payment and associated interest out of the Dollar
Cost Averaging Option to the other investment alternatives in up to twelve equal
monthly installments. At the end of 12 months from the date of a purchase
payment allocation to the Dollar Cost Averaging Account, any remaining portion
of the purchase payment and interest in the Dollar Cost Averaging Account will
be allocated to other investment alternatives as defined by the current Dollar
Cost Averaging Account allocation. You may not transfer funds from other
investment alternatives to the Dollar Cost Averaging Option.
The interest rates we credit for the Dollar Cost Averaging Option will never be
less than 3% annually.
Transfers out of the Dollar Cost Averaging Option do not count towards the 12
transfers you can make without paying a transfer fee.
We may declare different interest rates for different amounts allocated to the
Dollar Cost Averaging Option depending on when they were allocated. For current
interest rate information, please contact your Financial Advisor or our Customer
Service unit at 1-800-692-4682.
GUARANTEE PERIODS
Each payment or transfer allocated to a Guarantee Period earns interest at a
specified rate that we guarantee for a period of years. Guarantee Periods may
range from 1 to 10 years. We are currently offering Guarantee Periods of 1, 3,
5, 7, and 10 years in length. In the future we may offer Guarantee Periods of
different lengths or stop offering some Guarantee Periods. You select one or
more Guarantee Periods for each purchase payment or transfer. If you do not
select the Guarantee Period for a purchase payment or transfer, we will assign
the shortest Guarantee Period available under the Contract for such payment or
transfer.
We reserve the right to limit the number of additional purchase payments that
you may allocate to this Option. Please consult with your sales representative
for more information.
Interest Rates
We will tell you what interest rates and Guarantee Periods we are offering at a
particular time. We may declare different interest rates for Guarantee Periods
of the same length that begin at different times. We will not change the
interest rate that we credit to a particular allocation until the end of the
relevant Guarantee Period.
We have no specific formula for determining the rate of interest that we will
declare initially or in the future. We will set those interest rates based on
investment returns available at the time of the determination. In addition, we
may consider various other factors in determining interest rates including
regulatory and tax requirements, our sales commission and administrative
expenses, general economic trends, and competitive factors. We determine the
interest rates to be declared in our sole discretion. We can neither predict nor
guarantee what those rates will be in the future. For current interest rate
information, please contact your sales representative or Allstate Life of New
York at 1-800-692-4682. The interest rate will never be less than the minimum
guaranteed amount stated in the Contract.
How We Credit Interest
We will credit interest daily to each amount allocated to a Guarantee Period at
a rate that compounds to the effective annual interest rate that we declared at
the beginning of the applicable Guarantee Period. The following example
illustrates how a purchase payment allocated to a Guarantee Period would grow,
given an assumed Guarantee Period and effective annual interest rate:
Purchase Payment..............................$10,000
Guarantee Period..............................5 years
Annual Interest Rate........................... 4.50%
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
END OF CONTRACT YEAR
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
YEAR 1 YEAR 2 YEAR 3 YEAR 4 YEAR 5
------ ------ ------ ------ ------
Beginning Contract Value $10,000.00
X (1 + Annual Interest Rate) X 1.045
$10,450.00
Contract Value at end of Contract Year $10,450.00
X (1 + Annual Interest Rate) X 1.045
$10,920.25
Contract Value at end of Contract Year $10,920.25
X (1 + Annual Interest Rate) X 1.045
$11,411.66
Contract Value at end of Contract Year $11,411.66
X (1 + Annual Interest Rate) X 1.045
$11,925.19
Contract Value at end of Contract Year $11,925.19
X (1 + Annual Interest Rate) X 1.045
$12,461.82
</TABLE>
Total Interest Credited During Guarantee Period = $2,461.82 ($12,461.82
- -$10,000)
This example assumes no withdrawals during the entire 5 year Guarantee Period.
If you were to make a partial withdrawal, you may be required to pay a
withdrawal charge. In addition, the amount withdrawn may be increased or
decreased by a Market Value Adjustment that reflects changes in interest rates
since the time you invested the amount withdrawn. The hypothetical interest rate
is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to predict future interest
rates to be declared under the Contract. Actual interest rates declared for any
given Guarantee Period may be more or less than shown above but will never be
less than the guaranteed minimum rate stated in the Contract.
Renewals
At least 15 but not more than 45 days prior to the end of each Guarantee Period,
we will mail you a notice asking you what to do with your money, including the
accrued interest. During the 30-day period after the end of the Guarantee
Period, you may:
1) take no action. We will automatically apply your money to a new
Guarantee Period of the shortest duration available. The new Guarantee
Period will begin on the day the previous Guarantee Period ends. The
new interest rate will be our then current declared rate for a
Guarantee Period of that length; or
2) instruct us to apply your money to one or more new Guarantee Periods of
your choice. The new Guarantee Period(s) will begin on the day the
previous Guarantee Period ends. The new interest rate will be our then
current declared rate for those Guarantee Periods; or
3) instruct us to transfer all or a portion of your money to one or more
Variable Sub-Accounts. We will effect the transfer on the day we
receive your instructions. We will not adjust the amount transferred to
include a Market Value Adjustment; or
4) withdraw all or a portion of your money. You may be required to pay a
withdrawal charge, but we will not adjust the amount withdrawn to
include a Market Value Adjustment. You may also be required to pay
premium taxes and withholding (if applicable). The amount withdrawn
will be deemed to have been withdrawn on the day the previous
Guarantee Period ends. Unless you specify otherwise, amounts not
withdrawn will be applied to a new Guarantee Period of the shortest
duration available. The new Guarantee Period will begin on the day
the previous Guarantee Period ends.
Under our Automatic Laddering Program ("Automatic Laddering Program"), you may
choose, in advance, to use Guarantee Periods of the same length for all
renewals. You can select this Program at any time during the Accumulation Phase,
including on the Issue Date. We will apply renewals to Guarantee Periods of the
selected length until you direct us in writing to stop. We may stop offering
this Program at any time. For additional information on the Automatic Laddering
Program, please call our Customer Service unit at 1-800-692-4682.
Market Value Adjustment
All withdrawals in excess of the Preferred Withdrawal Amount, transfers, and
amounts applied to an Income Plan from a Guarantee Period, other than those
taken during the 30 day period after such Guarantee Period expires, are subject
to a Market Value Adjustment. A positive Market Value Adjustment also may apply
upon payment of a death benefit from amounts currently invested in a Guarantee
Period (unless paid or applied during the 30 day period after such Guarantee
Period expires). We will not apply a Market Value Adjustment to a transfer you
make as part of a Dollar Cost Averaging Program. We also will not apply a Market
Value Adjustment to a withdrawal you make:
o within the Preferred Withdrawal Amount as described on page __, or
o to satisfy the IRS minimum distribution rules for the Contract.
We apply the Market Value Adjustment to reflect changes in interest rates from
the time you first allocate money to a Guarantee Period to the time it is
removed from that Guarantee Period. We calculate the Market Value Adjustment by
comparing the Treasury Rate for a period equal to the Guarantee Period at its
inception to the Treasury Rate for a period equal to the time remaining in the
Guarantee Period when you remove your money. "Treasury Rate" means the U.S.
Treasury Note Constant Maturity Yield as reported in Federal Reserve Bulletin
Release H.15.
The Market Value Adjustment may be positive or negative, depending on changes in
interest rates. As such, you bear the investment risk associated with changes in
interest rates. If interest rates increase significantly, the Market Value
Adjustment and any withdrawal charge, premium taxes, and income tax withholding
(if applicable) could reduce the amount you receive upon full withdrawal of your
Contract Value to an amount that is less than the purchase payment plus interest
at the minimum guaranteed interest rate under the Contract. Death benefits will
not be subject to a negative Market Value Adjustment.
Generally, if the Treasury Rate at the time you allocate money to a Guarantee
Period is higher than the applicable current Treasury Rate for a period equal to
the time remaining in the Guarantee Period, then the Market Value Adjustment
will result in a higher amount payable to you or transferred. Conversely, if the
Treasury Rate at the time you allocate money to a Guarantee Period is lower than
the applicable Treasury Rate for a period equal to the time remaining in the
Guarantee Period, then the Market Value Adjustment will result in a lower amount
payable to you or transferred.
For example, assume that you purchase a Contract and you select an initial
Guarantee Period of 5 years and the 5 year Treasury Rate for that duration is
4.50%. Assume that at the end of 3 years, you make a partial withdrawal. If, at
that later time, the current 2 year Treasury Rate is 4.20%, then the Market
Value Adjustment will be positive, which will result in an increase in the
amount payable to you. Conversely, if the current 2 year Treasury Rate is 4.80%,
then the Market Value Adjustment will be negative, which will result in a
decrease in the amount payable to you.
The formula for calculating Market Value Adjustments is set forth in Appendix A
to this prospectus, which also contains additional examples of the application
of the Market Value Adjustment.
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT ALTERNATIVES: Transfers
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRANSFERS DURING THE ACCUMULATION PHASE
During the Accumulation Phase, you may transfer Contract Value among the
investment alternatives. You may not transfer Contract Value into the Dollar
Cost Averaging Option. You may request transfers in writing on a form that we
provided or by telephone according to the procedure described below. We
currently do not assess, but reserve the right to assess, a $10 charge on each
transfer in excess of 12 per Contract Year. We treat transfers to or from more
than one Fund on the same day as one transfer. Transfers you make as part of a
Dollar Cost Averaging Program or Automatic Fund Rebalancing Program do not count
against the 12 free transfers per Contract Year.
We will process transfer requests that we receive before 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time
on any Valuation Date using the Accumulation Unit Values for that Date. We will
process requests completed after 4:00 p.m. on any Valuation Date using the
Accumulation Unit Values for the next Valuation Date. The Contract permits us to
defer transfers from the Fixed Account for up to 6 months from the date we
receive your request. If we decide to postpone transfers from the Fixed Account
Options for 10 days or more, we will pay interest as required by applicable law.
Any interest would be payable from the date we receive the transfer request to
the date we make the transfer.
If you transfer an amount from a Guarantee Period other than during the 30 day
period after such Guarantee Period expires, we will increase or decrease the
amount by a Market Value Adjustment.
We reserve the right to waive any transfer restrictions.
TRANSFERS DURING THE PAYOUT PHASE
During the Payout Phase, you may make transfers among the Variable Sub-Accounts
to change the relative weighting of the Variable Sub-Accounts on which your
variable income payments will be based. In addition, you will have a limited
ability to make transfers from the Variable Sub-Accounts to increase the
proportion of your income payments consisting of fixed income payments. You may
not, however, convert any portion of your right to receive fixed income payments
into variable income payments.
You may not make any transfers for the first 6 months after the Payout Start
Date. Thereafter, you may make transfers among the Variable Sub-Accounts or make
transfers from the Variable Sub-Accounts to increase the proportion of your
income payments consisting of fixed income payments. Your transfers must be at
least 6 months apart.
TELEPHONE TRANSFERS
You may make transfers by telephone by calling 1-800-692-4682, if you first send
us a completed authorization form. The cut off time for telephone transfer
requests is 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. In the event that the New York Stock
Exchange closes early, i.e., before 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, or in the event that
the Exchange closes early for a period of time but then reopens for trading on
the same day, we will process telephone transfer requests as of the close of the
Exchange on that particular day. We will not accept telephone requests received
at any telephone number other than the number that appears in this paragraph or
received after the close of trading on the Exchange.
We may suspend, modify or terminate the telephone transfer privilege at any time
without notice.
We use procedures that we believe provide reasonable assurance that the
telephone transfers are genuine. For example, we tape telephone conversations
with persons purporting to authorize transfers and request identifying
information. Accordingly, we disclaim any liability for losses resulting from
allegedly unauthorized telephone transfers. However, if we do not take
reasonable steps to help ensure that a telephone authorization is valid, we may
be liable for such losses.
DOLLAR COST AVERAGING PROGRAM
Through the Dollar Cost Averaging Program, you may automatically transfer a set
amount at regular intervals during the Accumulation Phase from any Variable
Sub-Account, the Dollar Cost Averaging Option, or the 3, 5, 7 or 10 year
Guarantee Periods, to any Variable Sub-Account. The interval between transfers
may be monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually. Transfers made through
dollar cost averaging must be $50 or more.
We will not charge a transfer fee for transfers made under this Program, nor
will such transfers count against the 12 transfers you can make each Contract
Year without paying a transfer fee. In addition, we will not apply the Market
Value Adjustment to these transfers.
The theory of dollar cost averaging is that if purchases of equal dollar amounts
are made at fluctuating prices, the aggregate average cost per unit will be less
than the average of the unit prices on the same purchase dates. However,
participation in this program does not assure you of a greater profit from your
purchases under the Program nor will it prevent or necessarily reduce losses in
a declining market.
Call or write us for instructions on how to enroll.
AUTOMATIC FUND REBALANCING PROGRAM
Once you have allocated your money among the Variable Sub-Accounts, the
performance of each Sub-Account may cause a shift in the percentage you
allocated to each Sub-Account. If you select our Automatic Fund Rebalancing
Program, we will automatically rebalance the Contract Value in each Variable
Sub-Account and return it to the desired percentage allocations.
We will rebalance your account each quarter according to your instructions. We
will transfer amounts among the Variable Sub-Accounts to achieve the percentage
allocations you specify. You can change your allocations at any time by
contacting us in writing or by telephone. The new allocation will be effective
with the first rebalancing that occurs after we receive your request. We are not
responsible for rebalancing that occurs prior to receipt of your request.
Example:
Assume that you want your initial purchase payment split among 2
Variable Sub-Accounts. You want 40% to be in the AIM V.I. Diversified
Income Variable Sub-Account and 60% to be in the AIM V.I. Growth
Variable Sub-Account. Over the next 2 months the bond market does very
well while the stock market performs poorly. At the end of the first
quarter, the AIM V.I. Diversified Income Variable Sub-Account now
represents 50% of your holdings because of its increase in value. If
you choose to have your holdings rebalanced quarterly, on the first day
of the next quarter we would sell some of your units in the AIM V.I.
Diversified Income Variable Sub-Account and use the money to buy more
units in the AIM V.I. Growth Variable Sub-Account so that the
percentage allocations would again be 40% and 60% respectively.
The Automatic Fund Rebalancing Program is available only during the Accumulation
Phase. The transfers made under the Program do not count towards the 12
transfers you can make without paying a transfer fee, and are not subject to a
transfer fee.
Fund rebalancing is consistent with maintaining your allocation of investments
among market segments, although it is accomplished by reducing your Contract
Value allocated to the better performing segments.
<PAGE>
EXPENSES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As a Contract owner, you will bear, directly or indirectly, the charges and
expenses described below.
CONTRACT MAINTENANCE CHARGE
During the Accumulation Phase, on each Contract Anniversary, we will deduct a
$35 contract maintenance charge from your Contract Value invested in each
Variable Sub-Account in proportion to the amount invested. We also will deduct a
full contract maintenance charge if you withdraw your entire Contract Value,
unless your Contract qualifies for a waiver, described below. During the Payout
Phase, we will deduct the charge proportionately from each income payment.
The charge is for the cost of maintaining each Contract and the Variable
Account. Maintenance costs include expenses we incur in billing and collecting
purchase payments; keeping records; processing death claims, cash withdrawals,
and policy changes; proxy statements; calculating Accumulation Unit Values and
income payments; and issuing reports to Contract owners and regulatory agencies.
We cannot increase the charge. We will waive this charge if:
o total purchase payments equal $50,000 or more, or
o all money is allocated to the Fixed Account Options, as of the Contract
Anniversary.
After the Payout Start Date, we will waive this charge if:
o as of the Payout Start Date, total purchase payments are $50,000 or more,
or
o all income payments are fixed amount income payments.
MORTALITY AND EXPENSE RISK CHARGE
We deduct a mortality and expense risk charge daily at an annual rate of 1.00%
of the daily net assets you have invested in the Variable Sub-Accounts (1.20% if
you select the Enhanced Death Benefit Option). The mortality and expense risk
charge is for all the insurance benefits available with your Contract (including
our guarantee of annuity rates and the death benefits), for certain expenses of
the Contract, and for assuming the risk (expense risk) that the current charges
will be sufficient in the future to cover the cost of administering the
Contract. If the charges under the Contract are not sufficient, then we will
bear the loss. We charge an additional .20% for the Enhanced Death Benefit
Option to compensate us for the additional risk that we accept by providing the
rider.
We guarantee the mortality and expense risk charge and we cannot increase it. We
assess the mortality and expense risk charge during both the Accumulation Phase
and the Payout Phase.
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE CHARGE
We deduct an administrative expense charge daily at an annual rate of 0.10% of
the average daily net assets you have invested in the Variable Sub-Accounts. We
intend this charge to cover actual administrative expenses that exceed the
revenues from the contract maintenance charge. There is no necessary
relationship between the amount of administrative charge imposed on a given
Contract and the amount of expenses that may be attributed to that Contract. We
assess this charge each day during the Accumulation Phase and the Payout Phase.
We guarantee that we will not raise this charge.
TRANSFER FEE
We do not currently impose a fee upon transfers among the investment
alternatives. However, we reserve the right to charge $10 per transfer after the
12th transfer in each Contract Year. We will not charge a transfer fee on
transfers that are part of a Dollar Cost Averaging or Automatic Fund Rebalancing
Program.
WITHDRAWAL CHARGE
We may assess a withdrawal charge of up to 7% of the purchase payment(s) you
withdraw in excess of the Preferred Withdrawal Amount, adjusted by a Market
Value Adjustment. The charge declines annually to 0% after 7 complete years from
the day we receive the purchase payment being withdrawn. A schedule showing how
the charge declines appears on page __. During each Contract Year, you can
withdraw up to 15% of the Contract Value as of the beginning of that Contract
Year without paying the charge. Unused portions of this 15% "Preferred
Withdrawal Amount" are not carried forward to future Contract Years.
We determine the withdrawal charge by:
o multiplying the percentage corresponding to the number of complete years
since we received the purchase payment being withdrawn, times
o the part of each purchase payment withdrawal that is in excess of the
Preferred Withdrawal Amount, adjusted by a Market Value Adjustment.
We will deduct withdrawal charges, if applicable, from the amount paid. For
purposes of the withdrawal charge, we will treat withdrawals as coming from the
oldest purchase payments first. However, for federal income tax purposes, please
note that withdrawals are considered to have come first from earnings in the
Contract. Thus, for tax purposes, earnings are considered to come out first,
which means you pay taxes on the earnings portion of your withdrawal.
We do not apply a withdrawal charge in the following situations:
o on the Payout Start Date (a withdrawal charge may apply if you elect to
receive income payments for a specified period of less than 120 months);
o the death of the Contract owner (Annuitant if Contract owner is not a
natural person);
o withdrawals taken to satisfy IRS minimum distribution rules for the
Contract; and
o withdrawals made after all purchase payments have been withdrawn.
We use the amounts obtained from the withdrawal charge to pay sales commissions
and other promotional or distribution expenses associated with marketing the
Contracts. To the extent that the withdrawal charge does not cover all sales
commissions and other promotional or distribution expenses, we may use any of
our corporate assets, including potential profit which may arise from the
mortality and expense risk charge or any other charges or fee described above,
to make up any difference.
Withdrawals may be subject to tax penalties or income tax and a Market Value
Adjustment. You should consult your own tax counsel or other tax advisers
regarding any withdrawals.
PREMIUM TAXES
Currently, we do not make deductions for premium taxes under the Contract
because New York does not charge premium taxes on annuities. We may deduct taxes
that may be imposed in the future from purchase payments or the Contract Value
when the tax is incurred or at a later time.
DEDUCTION FOR VARIABLE ACCOUNT INCOME TAXES
We are not currently maintaining a provision for taxes. In the future, however,
we may establish a provision for taxes if we determine, in our sole discretion,
that we will incur a tax as a result of the operation of the Variable Account.
We will deduct for any taxes we incur as a result of the operation of the
Variable Account, whether or not we previously made a provision for taxes and
whether or not it was sufficient. Our status under the Internal Revenue Code is
briefly described in the Statement of Additional Information.
OTHER EXPENSES
Each Fund deducts advisory fees and other expenses from its assets. You
indirectly bear the charges and expenses of the Funds whose shares are held by
the Variable Sub-Accounts. These fees and expenses are described in the
accompanying prospectus for the Funds. For a summary of these charges and
expenses, see pages ___ above. We may receive compensation from A I M Advisors,
Inc., for administrative services we provide to the Funds.
<PAGE>
ACCESS TO YOUR MONEY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can withdraw some or all of your Contract Value at any time prior to the
Payout Start Date. Withdrawals also are available under limited circumstances on
or after the Payout Start Date. See "Income Plans" on page __.
The amount payable upon withdrawal is the Contract Value next computed after we
receive the request for a withdrawal at our service center, adjusted by any
Market Value Adjustment, less any withdrawal charges, contract maintenance
charges, income tax withholding, penalty tax, and any premium taxes. We will pay
withdrawals from the Variable Account within 7 days of receipt of the request,
subject to postponement in certain circumstances.
You can withdraw money from the Variable Account or the Fixed Account Options.
To complete a partial withdrawal from the Variable Account, we will cancel
Accumulation Units in an amount equal to the withdrawal and any applicable
withdrawal charge and premium taxes.
You must name the investment alternative from which you are taking the
withdrawal. If none is named, then the withdrawal request is incomplete and
cannot be honored.
In general, you must withdraw at least $50 at a time. You also may withdraw a
lesser amount if you are withdrawing your entire interest in a Variable
Sub-Account.
If you request a total withdrawal, you must return your Contract to us.
POSTPONEMENT OF PAYMENTS
We may postpone the payment of any amounts due from the Variable Account under
the Contract if:
1) The New York Stock Exchange is closed for other than usual weekends or
holidays, or trading on the Exchange is otherwise restricted;
2) An emergency exists as defined by the SEC; or
3) The SEC permits delay for your protection.
In addition, we may delay payments or transfers from the Fixed Account Options
for up to 6 months or shorter period if required by law. If we delay payment or
transfer for 10 days or more, we will pay interest as required by law. Any
interest would be payable from the date we receive the withdrawal request to the
date we make the payment or transfer.
SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PROGRAM
You may choose to receive systematic withdrawal payments on a monthly,
quarterly, semi-annual, or annual basis at any time prior to the Payout Start
Date. The minimum amount of each systematic withdrawal is $50. Systematic
Withdrawals are not available from the Dollar Cost Averaging Option. At our
discretion, systematic withdrawals may not be offered in conjunction with the
Dollar Cost Averaging Program or the Automatic Fund Rebalancing Program.
Depending on fluctuations in the net asset value of the Variable Sub-Accounts
and the value of the Fixed Account Options, systematic withdrawals may reduce or
even exhaust the Contract Value. Income taxes may apply to systematic
withdrawals. Please consult your tax advisor before taking any withdrawal.
We will make systematic withdrawal payments to you or your designated payee. We
may modify or suspend the Systematic Withdrawal Program and charge a processing
fee for the service. If we modify or suspend the Systematic Withdrawal Program,
existing systematic withdrawal payments will not be affected.
MINIMUM CONTRACT VALUE
If your request for a partial withdrawal would reduce the amount in any
Guarantee Period to less than $500, we will treat it as a request to withdraw
the entire amount invested in such Guarantee Period. If your request for a
partial withdrawal would reduce the Contract Value to less than $1,000, we may
treat it as a request to withdraw your entire Contract Value. We will, however,
ask you to confirm your withdrawal request before terminating your Contract. If
we terminate your Contract, we will distribute to you its Contract Value,
adjusted by any applicable Market Value Adjustment, less withdrawal and other
charges, income tax withholding, and premium taxes. Your Contract will terminate
if you withdraw all of your Contract Value.
<PAGE>
INCOME PAYMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PAYOUT START DATE
You select the Payout Start Date in your application. The Payout Start Date is
the day that we apply your money to an Income Plan. The Payout Start Date must
be no later than the Annuitant's 90th birthday.
You may change the Payout Start Date at any time by notifying us in writing of
the change at least 30 days before the scheduled Payout Start Date. Absent a
change, we will use the Payout Start Date stated in your Contract.
INCOME PLANS
An "Income Plan" is a series of payments on a scheduled basis to you or to
another person designated by you. You may choose and change your choice of
Income Plan until 30 days before the Payout Start Date. If you do not select an
Income Plan, we will make income payments in accordance with Income Plan 1 with
guaranteed payments for 10 years. After the Payout Start Date, you may not make
withdrawals (except as described below) or change your choice of Income Plan.
Three Income Plans are available under the Contract. Each is available to
provide:
o fixed income payments;
o variable income payments; or
o a combination of the two.
The three Income Plans are:
Income Plan 1 -- Life Income with Guaranteed Payments. Under this
plan, we make periodic income payments for at least as long as the
Annuitant lives. If the Annuitant dies before we have made all of the
guaranteed income payments, we will continue to pay the remainder of
the guaranteed income payments as required by the Contract.
Income Plan 2 -- Joint and Survivor Life Income with Guaranteed
Payments. Under this plan, we make periodic income payments for at
least as long as either the Annuitant or the joint Annuitant is alive.
If both the Annuitant and the joint Annuitant die before we have made
all of the guaranteed income payments, we will continue to pay the
remainder of the guaranteed income payments as required by the
Contract.
Income Plan 3 -- Guaranteed Payments for a Specified Period (5 Years
to 30 Years). Under this plan, we make periodic income payments for
the period you have chosen. These payments do not depend on the
Annuitant's life. Income payments for less than 120 months may be
subject to a withdrawal charge. We will deduct the mortality and
expense risk charge from variable income payments even though we may
not bear any mortality risk.
The length of any guaranteed payment period under your selected Income Plan
generally will affect the dollar amounts of each income payment. As a general
rule, longer guarantee periods result in lower income payments, all other things
being equal. For example, if you choose an Income Plan with payments that depend
on the life of the Annuitant but with no minimum specified period for guaranteed
payments, the income payments generally will be greater than the income payments
made under the same Income Plan with a minimum specified period for guaranteed
payments.
If you choose Income Plan 1 or 2, or, if available, another Income Plan with
payments that continue for the life of the Annuitant or joint Annuitant, we may
require proof of age and sex of the Annuitant or joint Annuitant before starting
income payments, and proof that the Annuitant or joint Annuitant is alive before
we make each payment. Please note that under such Income Plans, if you elect to
take no minimum guaranteed payments, it is possible that the payee could receive
only 1 income payment if the Annuitant and any joint Annuitant both die before
the second income payment, or only 2 income payments if they die before the
third income payment, and so on.
Generally, you may not make withdrawals after the Payout Start Date. One
exception to this rule applies if you are receiving variable income payments
that do not depend on the life of the Annuitant (such as under Income Plan 3).
In that case you may terminate the Variable Account portion of the income
payments at any time and receive a lump sum equal to the present value of the
remaining variable payments due. A withdrawal charge may apply. We deduct
applicable premium taxes from the Contract Value at the Payout Start Date.
We may make other Income Plans available. You may obtain information about them
by writing or calling us.
You must apply at least the Contract Value in the Fixed Account Options on the
Payout Start Date to fixed income payments. If you wish to apply any portion of
your Fixed Account Option balance to provide variable income payments, you
should plan ahead and transfer that amount to the Variable Sub-Accounts prior to
the Payout Start Date. If you do not tell us how to allocate your Contract Value
among fixed and variable income payments, we will apply your Contract Value in
the Variable Account to variable income payments and your Contract Value in the
Fixed Account Options to fixed income payments.
We will apply your Contract Value, adjusted by a Market Value Adjustment, less
applicable taxes to your Income Plan on the Payout Start Date. If the Contract
owner has not made any purchase payments for at least 3 years preceding the
Payout Start Date, and either the Contract Value is less than $2,000 or not
enough to provide an initial payment of at least $20, and state law permits, we
may:
o terminate the Contract and pay you the Contract Value, adjusted by any
Market Value Adjustment and less any applicable taxes, in a lump sum
instead of the periodic payments you have chosen, or
o reduce the frequency of your payments so that each payment will be at least
$20.
VARIABLE INCOME PAYMENTS
The amount of your variable income payments depends upon the investment results
of the Variable Sub-Accounts you select, the premium taxes you pay, the age and
sex of the Annuitant, and the Income Plan you choose. We guarantee that the
payments will not be affected by (a) actual mortality experience and (b) the
amount of our administration expenses.
We cannot predict the total amount of your variable income payments. Your
variable income payments may be more or less than your total purchase payments
because (a) variable income payments vary with the investment results of the
underlying Funds and (b) the Annuitant could live longer or shorter than we
expect based on the tables we use.
In calculating the amount of the periodic payments in the annuity tables in the
Contract, we assumed an annual investment rate of 3%. If the actual net
investment return of the Variable Sub-Accounts you choose is less than this
assumed investment rate, then the dollar amount of your variable income payments
will decrease. The dollar amount of your variable income payments will increase,
however, if the actual net investment return exceeds the assumed investment
rate. The dollar amount of the variable income payments stays level if the net
investment return equals the assumed investment rate. Please refer to the
Statement of Additional Information for more detailed information as to how we
determine variable income payments.
FIXED INCOME PAYMENTS
We guarantee income payment amounts derived from any Fixed Account Option for
the duration of the Income Plan. We calculate the fixed income payments by:
1) adjusting the portion of the Contract Value in any Fixed Account Option on
the Payout Start Date by any applicable Market Value Adjustment;
2) deducting any applicable premium tax; and
3) applying the resulting amount to the greater of (a) the appropriate value
from the income payment table in your Contract or (b) such other value as
we are offering at that time.
We may defer making fixed income payments for a period of up to 6 months or such
shorter time as state law may require. If we defer payments for 10 business days
or more, we will pay interest as required by law from the date we receive the
withdrawal request to the date we make payment.
CERTAIN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
The Contracts offered by this prospectus contain income payment tables that
provide for different payments to men and women of the same age. However, we
reserve the right to use income payment tables that do not distinguish on the
basis of sex to the extent permitted by law. In certain employment-related
situations, employers are required by law to use the same income payment tables
for men and women. Accordingly, if the Contract is to be used in connection with
an employment-related retirement or benefit plan, you should consult with legal
counsel as to whether the purchase of a Contract is appropriate. For qualified
plans, where it is appropriate, we may use income payment tables that do not
distinguish on the basis of sex.
<PAGE>
DEATH BENEFITS
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We will pay a death benefit if, prior to the Payout Start Date:
1) any Contract owner dies or,
2) the Annuitant dies, if the Contract owner is not a natural person.
We will pay the death benefit to the new Contract owner as determined
immediately after the death. The new Contract owner would be a surviving
Contract owner or, if none, the Beneficiary(ies). In the case of the death of an
Annuitant, we will pay the death benefit to the current Contract owner.
A request for payment of the death benefit must include "Due Proof of Death." We
will accept the following documentation as Due Proof of Death:
o a certified copy of a death certificate,
o a certified copy of a decree of a court of competent jurisdiction as to the
finding of death, or
o any other proof acceptable to us.
DEATH BENEFIT AMOUNT
Prior to the Payout Start Date, the death benefit is equal to the greatest of:
1) the Contract Value as of the date we determine the death benefit, or
2) the Settlement Value (that is, the amount payable on a full withdrawal of
Contract Value) on the date we determine the death benefit, or
3) the sum of all purchase payments reduced by a withdrawal adjustment, as
defined below, or
4) the highest Contract Value calculated on each Death Benefit Anniversary
prior to the date we determine the death benefit, increased by purchase
payments made since that Death Benefit Anniversary and reduced by a
withdrawal adjustment as defined below.
When a death benefit is paid, only a positive MVA amount, if any, is applied to
the account value attributable to amounts withdrawn from Guarantee Period(s).
A "Death Benefit Anniversary" is every seventh Contract Anniversary during the
Accumulation Phase. For example, the 7th, 14th, and 21st Contract Anniversaries
are the first three Death Benefit Anniversaries.
The "withdrawal adjustment" is equal to (a) divided by (b), with the result
multiplied by (c), where:
(a) is the withdrawal amount;
(b) is the Contract Value immediately prior to the withdrawal; and
(c) is the value of the applicable death benefit alternative immediately
prior to the withdrawal.
ENHANCED DEATH BENEFIT OPTION
The Enhanced Death Benefit Option, is an optional benefit that you may select.
This Option is only available if the oldest Contract owner is between the ages
of 0 and 80 on the Issue Date. If the Contract owner is a living individual, the
Enhanced Death Benefit applies only for the death of the Contract owner. If the
Contract owner is not a living individual, the enhanced death benefit applies
only for the death of the Annuitant. For Contracts with the Enhanced Death
Benefit Rider, the death benefit will be the greatest of (1) through (4) above,
or (5) the Enhanced Death Benefit, described below. When a death benefit is
paid, only a positive aggregate MVA amount, if any, is applied to the account
value attributable to amounts withdrawn from Guaranteed Period(s).
The enhanced death benefit will never be greater than the maximum death benefit
allowed by any nonforfeiture laws which govern the Contract.
Enhanced Death Benefit. The Enhanced Death Benefit on the Issue Date is equal to
the initial purchase payment. On each Contract Anniversary, we will recalculate
your Enhanced Death Benefit to equal the greater of your Contract Value on that
date, or the most recently calculated Enhanced Death Benefit . We also will
recalculate your Enhanced Death Benefit whenever you make an additional purchase
payment or a partial withdrawal. Additional purchase payments will increase the
Enhanced Death Benefit dollar-for-dollar. Withdrawals will reduce the Enhanced
Death Benefit by an amount equal to a withdrawal adjustment computed in the
manner described above under "Death Benefit Amount." In the absence of any
withdrawals or purchase payments, the Enhanced Death Benefit will be the
greatest of all Contract Anniversary Contract Values on or before the date we
calculate the death benefit.
We will calculate Anniversary Values for each Contract Anniversary prior to the
oldest Contract owner's or the Annuitant's, if the Contract owner is not a
natural person, 85th birthday. After age 85, we will recalculate the Enhanced
Death Benefit only for purchase payments and withdrawals. The Enhanced Death
Benefit will never be greater than the maximum death benefit allowed by any
non-forfeiture laws which govern the Contract.
Death Benefit Payments
A death benefit will be paid:
1) if the Contract owner elects to receive the death benefit distributed in a
single payment within 180 days of the date of death, and
2) if the death benefit is paid as of the day the value of the death benefit
is determined.
Otherwise, the Settlement Value will be paid. We reserve the right to extend the
180 day period when we will pay the death benefit. The Settlement Value paid
will be the Settlement Value next computed on or after the requested
distribution date for payment, or on the mandatory distribution date of 5 years
after the date of death.
In any event, the entire value of the Contract must be distributed within 5
years after the date of death unless an Income Plan is elected or a surviving
spouse continues the Contract in accordance with the provisions described below.
If the Contract owner eligible to receive the death benefit is not a natural
person, the Contract owner may elect to receive the distribution upon death in
one or more distributions.
If the Contract owner is a natural person, the Contract owner may elect to
receive the death benefit either in one or more distributions, or by periodic
payments through an Income Plan. Payments from the Income Plan must begin within
one year of the date of death and must be payable throughout:
o the life of the Contract owner; or
o a period not to exceed the life expectancy of the Contract owner; or
o the life of the Contract owner with payments guaranteed for a period not to
exceed the life expectancy of the Contract owner.
If the surviving spouse of the deceased Contract owner is the new Contract
owner, then the spouse may elect one of the options listed above or may continue
the Contract in the Accumulation Phase as if the death had not occurred. The
Contract may only be continued once. On the day the Contract is continued, the
Contract Value will be the death benefit at the end of the Valuation Date after
we receive due proof of death. Prior to the Payout Start Date, the death benefit
of the continued Contract will be the greater of:
(a) the sum of all purchase payments reduced by a withdrawal adjustment, as
defined in the death benefit provision, or
(b) the Contract Value on the date we determine the death benefit.
<PAGE>
MORE INFORMATION
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ALLSTATE LIFE OF NEW YORK
Allstate Life of New York is the issuer of the Contract. Allstate Life of New
York is a stock life insurance company organized under the laws of the State of
New York. Allstate Life of New York was incorporated in 1967 and was known as
"Financial Life Insurance Company" from 1967 to 1978. From 1978 to 1984,
Allstate Life of New York was known as "PM Life Insurance Company." Since 1984
the company has been known as "Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York."
Allstate Life of New York is currently licensed to operate in New York. Our home
office is One Allstate Drive, Farmingville, New York 11738. Our servicing center
is in Northbrook, Illinois.
Allstate Life of New York is a wholly owned subsidiary of Allstate Insurance
Company, a stock property-liability insurance company incorporated under the
laws of Illinois. With the exception of the directors qualifying shares, all of
the outstanding capital stock of Allstate Insurance Company is owned by The
Allstate Corporation.
Several independent rating agencies regularly evaluate life insurers'
claims-paying ability, quality of investments, and overall stability. A.M. Best
Company assigns Allstate Life of New York the financial performance rating of
A+(g). Standard & Poor's Insurance Rating Services assigns an AA+ (Very Strong)
financial strength rating and Moody's assigns an Aa2 (Excellent) financial
strength rating to Allstate Life of New York. These ratings do not reflect the
investment performance of the Variable Account. We may from time to time
advertise these ratings in our sales literature.
THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT
Allstate Life of New York established the Allstate Life of New York Separate
Account A on December 15, 1995. We have registered the Variable Account with the
SEC as a unit investment trust. The SEC does not supervise the management of the
Variable Account or Allstate Life of New York.
We own the assets of the Variable Account. The Variable Account is a segregated
asset account under New York law. That means we account for the Variable
Account's income, gains and losses separately from the results of our other
operations. It also means that only the assets of the Variable Account that are
in excess of the reserves and other Contract liabilities with respect to the
Variable Account are subject to liabilities relating to our other operations.
Our obligations arising under the Contracts are general corporate obligations of
Allstate Life of New York.
The Variable Account consists of 13 Variable Sub-Accounts which are available
through the Contracts. Each Variable Sub-Account invests in a corresponding
Fund. We may add new Variable Sub-Accounts or eliminate one or more of them, if
we believe marketing, tax, or investment conditions so warrant. We do not
guarantee the investment performance of the Variable Account, its Sub-Accounts
or the Funds. We may use the Variable Account to fund our other annuity
contracts. We will account separately for each type of annuity contract funded
by the Variable Account.
THE FUNDS
Dividends and Capital Gain Distributions. We automatically reinvest all
dividends and capital gains distributions from the Funds in shares of the
distributing Fund at their net asset value.
Voting Privileges. As a general matter, you do not have a direct right to vote
the shares of the Funds held by the Variable Sub-Accounts to which you have
allocated your Contract Value. Under current law, however, you are entitled to
give us instructions on how to vote those shares on certain matters. Based on
our present view of the law, we will vote the shares of the Funds that we hold
directly or indirectly through the Variable Account in accordance with
instructions that we receive from Contract owners entitled to give such
instructions.
As a general rule, before the Payout Start Date, the Contract owner or anyone
with a voting interest is the person entitled to give voting instructions. The
number of shares that a person has a right to instruct will be determined by
dividing the Contract Value allocated to the applicable Variable Sub-Account by
the net asset value per share of the corresponding Fund as of the record date of
the meeting. After the Payout Start Date, the person receiving income payments
has the voting interest. The payee's number of votes will be determined by
dividing the reserve for such Contract allocated to the applicable Variable
Sub-account by the net asset value per share of the corresponding Fund. The
votes decrease as income payments are made and as the reserves for the Contract
decrease.
We will vote shares attributable to Contracts for which we have not received
instructions, as well as shares attributable to us, in the same proportion as we
vote shares for which we have received instructions, unless we determine that we
may vote such shares in our own discretion. We will apply voting instructions to
abstain on any item to be voted on a pro-rata basis to reduce the votes eligible
to be cast.
We reserve the right to vote Fund shares as we see fit without regard to voting
instructions to the extent permitted by law. If we disregard voting
instructions, we will include a summary of that action and our reasons for that
action in the next semi-annual financial report we send to you.
Changes in Funds. If the shares of any of the Funds are no longer available for
investment by the Variable Account or if, in our judgment, further investment in
such shares is no longer desirable in view of the purposes of the Contract, we
may eliminate that Fund and substitute shares of another eligible investment
fund. Any substitution of securities will comply with the requirements of the
1940 Act. We also may add new Variable Sub-Accounts that invest in additional
mutual funds. We will notify you in advance of any changes.
Conflicts of Interest. Certain of the Funds sell their shares to Variable
Accounts underlying both variable life insurance and variable annuity contracts.
It is conceivable that in the future it may be unfavorable for variable life
insurance Variable Accounts and variable annuity Variable Accounts to invest in
the same Fund. The boards of directors of these Funds monitor for possible
conflicts among Variable Accounts buying shares of the Funds. Conflicts could
develop for a variety of reasons. For example, differences in treatment under
tax and other laws or the failure by a Variable Account to comply with such laws
could cause a conflict. To eliminate a conflict, a Fund's board of directors may
require a Variable Account to withdraw its participation in a Fund. A Fund's net
asset value could decrease if it had to sell investment securities to pay
redemption proceeds to a Variable Account withdrawing because of a conflict.
THE CONTRACT
Distribution. Allstate Life Financial Services Inc. ("ALFS"), located at 3100
Sanders Road, Northbrook, IL 60062-7154, serves as distributor of the Contracts.
ALFS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Allstate Life Insurance Company. ALFS is a
registered broker dealer under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended ("Exchange Act"), and is a member of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc.
We will pay commissions to broker-dealers who sell the Contracts. Commissions
paid may vary, but we estimate that the total commissions paid on all Contract
sales will not exceed 8% of any purchase payments. Sometimes, we also pay the
broker-dealer a persistency bonus in addition to the standard commissions. A
persistency bonus is not expected to exceed 1.2%, on an annual basis, of the
purchase payments considered in connection with the bonus. These commissions are
intended to cover distribution expenses. In some states, Contracts may be sold
by representatives or employees of banks which may be acting as broker-dealers
without separate registration under the Exchange Act, pursuant to legal and
regulatory exceptions.
Allstate Life of New York does not pay ALFS a commission for distribution of the
Contracts. The underwriting agreement with ALFS provides that we will reimburse
ALFS for any liability to Contract owners arising out of services rendered or
Contracts issued.
Administration. We have primary responsibility for all administration of the
Contracts and the Variable Account.
We provide the following administrative services, among others:
o issuance of the Contracts;
o maintenance of Contract owner records;
o Contract owner services;
o calculation of unit values;
o maintenance of the Variable Account; and
o preparation of Contract owner reports.
We will send you Contract statements and transaction confirmations at least
annually. The annual statement details values and specific Contract data for
each particular Contract. You should notify us promptly in writing of any
address change. You should read your statements and confirmations carefully and
verify their accuracy. You should contact us promptly if you have a question
about a periodic statement. We will investigate all complaints and make any
necessary adjustments retroactively, but you must notify us of a potential error
within a reasonable time after the date of the questioned statement. If you wait
too long, we will make the adjustment as of the date that we receive notice of
the potential error.
We also will provide you with additional periodic and other reports, information
and prospectuses as may be required by federal securities laws.
QUALIFIED PLANS
If you use the Contract with a qualified plan, the plan may impose different or
additional conditions or limitations on withdrawals, waivers of withdrawal
charges, death benefits, Payout Start Dates, income payments, and other Contract
features. In addition, adverse tax consequences may result if qualified plan
limits on distributions and other conditions are not met. Please consult your
qualified plan administrator for more information.
LEGAL MATTERS
Freedman, Levy, Kroll & Simonds, Washington, D.C., has advised Allstate Life of
New York on certain federal securities law matters. All matters of New York law
pertaining to the Contracts, including the validity of the Contracts and
Allstate Life of New York's right to issue such Contracts under New York
insurance law, have been passed upon by Michael J. Velotta, General Counsel of
Allstate Life of New York.
YEAR 2000
Allstate Life of New York is heavily dependent upon complex computer systems for
all phases of its operations, including customer service, and policy and
contract administration. Since many of Allstate Life of New York's older
computer software programs recognize only the last two digits of the year in any
date, some software may fail to operate properly in or after the year 1999, if
the software is not reprogrammed or replaced, ("Year 2000 Issue"). Allstate Life
of New York believes that many of its counterparties and suppliers also have
Year 2000 Issues which could affect Allstate Life of New York. In 1995, Allstate
Insurance Company commenced a plan intended to mitigate and/or prevent the
adverse effects of Year 2000 Issues. These strategies include normal development
and enhancement of new and existing systems, upgrades to operating systems
already covered by maintenance agreements and modifications to existing systems
to make them Year 2000 compliant. The plan also includes Allstate Life of New
York actively working with its major external counterparties and suppliers to
assess their compliance efforts and Allstate Life of New York's exposure to
them. Allstate Life of New York presently believes that it will resolve the Year
2000 Issue in a timely manner, and the financial impact will not materially
affect its results of operations, liquidity or financial position. Year 2000
costs are and will be expensed as incurred.
<PAGE>
TAXES
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The following discussion is general and is not intended as tax advice. Allstate
Life of New York makes no guarantee regarding the tax treatment of any Contract
or transaction involving a Contract.
Federal, state, local and other tax consequences of ownership or receipt of
distributions under an annuity contract depend on your individual circumstances.
If you are concerned about any tax consequences with regard to your individual
circumstances, you should consult a competent tax adviser.
Taxation of Annuities in General
Tax Deferral. Generally, you are not taxed on increases in the Contract Value
until a distribution occurs. This rule applies only where:
1) the Contract owner is a natural person,
2) the investments of the Variable Account are "adequately
diversified" according to Treasury Department regulations, and
3) Allstate Life of New York is considered the owner of the Variable
Account assets for federal income tax purposes.
Non-natural Owners. As a general rule, annuity contracts owned by non-natural
persons such as corporations, trusts, or other entities are not treated as
annuity contracts for federal income tax purposes. The income on such contracts
is taxed as ordinary income received or accrued by the owner during the taxable
year. Please see the Statement of Additional Information for a discussion of
several exceptions to the general rule for Contracts owned by non-natural
persons.
Diversification Requirements. For a Contract to be treated as an annuity for
federal income tax purposes, the investments in the Variable Account must be
"adequately diversified" consistent with standards under Treasury Department
regulations. If the investments in the Variable Account are not adequately
diversified, the contract will not be treated as an annuity contract for federal
income tax purposes. As a result, the income on the Contract will be taxed as
ordinary income received or accrued by the owner during the taxable year.
Although Allstate New York does not have control over the Funds or their
investments, we expect the Funds to meet the diversification requirements.
Ownership Treatment. The IRS has stated that you will be considered the owner of
Variable Account assets if you possess incidents of ownership in those assets,
such as the ability to exercise investment control over the assets. At the time
the diversification regulations were issued, the Treasury Department announced
that the regulations do not provide guidance concerning circumstances in which
investor control of the Variable Account investments may cause an investor to be
treated as the owner of the Variable Account. The Treasury Department also
stated that future guidance would be issued regarding the extent that owners
could direct sub-account investments without being treated as owners of the
underlying assets of the Variable Account.
Your rights under the Contract are different than those described by the IRS in
rulings in which it found that contract owners were not owners of Variable
Account assets. For example, you have the choice to allocate premiums and
Contract Values among more investment alternatives. Also, you may be able to
transfer among investment alternatives more frequently than in such rulings.
These differences could result in you being treated as the owner of the Variable
Account. If this occurs, income and gain from the Variable Account assets would
be includible in your gross income. Allstate New York does not know what
standards will be set forth in any regulations or rulings which the Treasury
Department may issue. It is possible that future standards announced by the
Treasury Department could adversely affect the tax treatment of your Contract.
We reserve the right to modify the Contract as necessary to attempt to prevent
you from being considered the federal tax owner of the assets of the Variable
Account. However, we make no guarantee that such modification to the Contract
will be successful.
Taxation of Partial and Full Withdrawals. If you make a partial withdrawal under
a non-Qualified Contract, amounts received are taxable to the extent the
Contract Value, without regard to surrender charges, exceeds the investment in
the Contract. The investment in the Contract is the gross premium paid for the
Contract minus any amounts previously received from the Contract if such amounts
were properly excluded from your gross income. If you make a partial withdrawal
under a Qualified Contract, the portion of the payment that bears the same ratio
to the total payment that the investment in the Contract (i.e., nondeductible
IRA contributions, after tax contributions to qualified plans) bears to the
contract value, is excluded from your income. If you make a full withdrawal
under a non-Qualified Contract or a Qualified Contract, the amount received will
be taxable only to the extent it exceeds the investment in the contract.
"Nonqualified distributions" from Roth IRAs are treated as made from
contributions first and are included in gross income only to the extent that
distributions exceed contributions. "Qualified distributions" from Roth IRAs are
not included in gross income. "Qualified distributions" are any distributions
made more than 5 taxable years after the taxable year of the first contribution
to any Roth IRA and which are:
o made on or after the date the individual attains age 59 1/2,
o made to a beneficiary after the Contract owner's death,
o attributable to the Contract owner being disabled, or
o for a first time home purchase (first time home purchases are subject to a
lifetime limit of $10,000).
If you transfer a non-Qualified Contract without full and adequate consideration
to a person other than your spouse (or to a former spouse incident to a
divorce), you will be taxed on the difference between the Contract Value and the
investment in the Contract at the time of transfer. Except for certain Qualified
Contracts, any amount you receive as a loan under a Contract, and any assignment
or pledge (or agreement to assign or pledge) of the Contract Value is treated as
a withdrawal of such amount or portion.
Taxation of Annuity Payments. Generally, the rule for income taxation of annuity
payments received from a non-Qualified Contract provides for the return of your
investment in the Contract in equal tax-free amounts over the payment period.
The balance of each payment received is taxable. For fixed annuity payments, the
amount excluded from income is determined by multiplying the payment by the
ratio of the investment in the Contract (adjusted for any refund feature or
period certain) to the total expected value of annuity payments for the term of
the contract. If you elect variable annuity payments, the amount excluded from
taxable income is determined by dividing the investment in the Contract by the
total number of expected payments. The annuity payments will be fully taxable
after the total amount of the investment in the Contract is excluded using these
ratios. If you die, and annuity payments cease before the total amount of the
investment in the Contract is recovered, the unrecovered amount will be allowed
as a deduction for your last taxable year.
Taxation of Annuity Death Benefits. Death of a Contract owner, or death of the
Annuitant if the Contract is owned by a non-natural person, will cause a
distribution of death benefits from a Contract. Generally, such amounts are
included in income as follows:
1) if distributed in a lump sum, the amounts are taxed in the same manner
as a full withdrawal, or
2) if distributed under an annuity option, the amounts are taxed in the
same manner as an annuity payment. Please see the Statement of
Additional Information for more detail on distribution at death
requirements.
Penalty Tax on Premature Distributions. A 10% penalty tax applies to the taxable
amount of any premature distribution from a non-Qualified Contract. The penalty
tax generally applies to any distribution made prior to the date you attain age
59 1/2. However, no penalty tax is incurred on distributions:
1) made on or after the date the Contract owner attains age 59 1/2;
2) made as a result of the Contract owner's death or disability;
3) made in substantially equal periodic payments over the owner's life or
life expectancy,
4) made under an immediate annuity; or
5) attributable to investment in the contract before August 14, 1982.
You should consult a competent tax advisor to determine if any other exceptions
to the penalty apply to your situation. Similar exceptions may apply to
distributions from Qualified Contracts.
Aggregation of Annuity Contracts. All non-qualified deferred annuity contracts
issued by Allstate Life of New York (or its affiliates) to the same Contract
owner during any calendar year will be aggregated and treated as one annuity
contract for purposes of determining the taxable amount of a distribution.
TAX QUALIFIED CONTRACTS
Contracts may be used as investments with certain qualified plans such as:
o Individual Retirement Annuities or Accounts (IRAs) under Section 408 of the
Code;
o Roth IRAs under Section 408A of the Code;
o Simplified Employee Pension Plans under Section 408(k) of the Code;
o Savings Incentive Match Plans for Employees (SIMPLE) Plans under Section
408(p) of the Code;
o Tax Sheltered Annuities under Section 403(b) of the Code;
o Corporate and Self Employed Pension and Profit Sharing Plans; and
o State and Local Government and Tax-Exempt Organization Deferred
Compensation Plans.
In the case of certain qualified plans, the terms of the plans may govern the
right to benefits, regardless of the terms of the Contract.
Restrictions Under Section 403(b) Plans. Section 403(b) of the Tax Code provides
tax-deferred retirement savings plans for employees of certain non-profit and
educational organizations. Under Section 403(b), any Contract used for a 403(b)
plan must provide that distributions attributable to salary reduction
contributions made after December 31, 1988, and all earnings on salary reduction
contributions, may be made only:
1) on or after the date the employee
o attains age 59 1/2,
o separates from service,
o dies,
o becomes disabled, or
2) on account of hardship (earnings on salary reduction contributions may
not be distributed on the account of hardship).
These limitations do not apply to withdrawals where Allstate Life of New York is
directed to transfer some or all of the Contract Value to another 403(b) plan.
INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING
Allstate Life of New York is required to withhold federal income tax at a rate
of 20% on all "eligible rollover distributions" unless you elect to make a
"direct rollover" of such amounts to an IRA or eligible retirement plan.
Eligible rollover distributions generally include all distributions from
Qualified Contracts, excluding IRAs, with the exception of:
1) required minimum distributions, or
2) a series of substantially equal periodic payments made over a period
of at least 10 years, or,
3) over the life (joint lives) of the participant (and beneficiary).
Allstate Life of New York may be required to withhold federal and state income
taxes on any distributions from non-Qualified Contracts or Qualified Contracts
that are not eligible rollover distributions, unless you notify us of your
election to not have taxes withheld.
<PAGE>
ANNUAL REPORTS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allstate Life of New York's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1998 and quarterly reports on 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31,
1999 and June 30, 1999 are incorporated herein by reference, which means that
they are legally a part of this prospectus.
After the date of this prospectus and before we terminate the offering of the
securities under this prospectus, all documents or reports we file with the SEC
under the Exchange Act are also incorporated herein by reference, which means
that they also legally become a part of this prospectus.
Statements in this prospectus, or in documents that we file later with the SEC
and that legally become a part of this prospectus, may change or supersede
statements in other documents that are legally part of this prospectus.
Accordingly, only the statement that is changed or replaced will legally be a
part of this prospectus.
We file our Exchange Act documents and reports, including our annual and
quarterly reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q electronically on the SEC's "EDGAR"
system using the identifying number CIK No. 0000948255. The SEC maintains a Web
site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other
information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC. The
address of the site is http://www.sec.gov. You also can view these materials at
the SEC's Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20549. For more information on the operations of SEC's Public Reference Room,
call 1-800-SEC-0330.
If you have received a copy of this prospectus, and would like a free copy of
any document incorporated herein by reference (other than exhibits not
specifically incorporated by reference into the text of such documents), please
write or call us at Customer Service, P.O. Box 94038, Palatine, Illinois
60094-4038 (telephone: 1-800-692-4682).
<PAGE>
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We may advertise the performance of the Variable Sub-Accounts, including yield
and total return information. Yield refers to the income generated by an
investment in a Variable Sub-Account over a specified period. Total return
represents the change, over a specified period of time, in the value of an
investment in a Variable Sub-Account after reinvesting all income distributions.
All performance advertisements will include, as applicable, standardized yield
and total return figures that reflect the deduction of insurance charges, the
contract maintenance charge, and withdrawal charge. Performance advertisements
also may include total return figures that reflect the deduction of insurance
charges, but not the contract maintenance or withdrawal charges. The deduction
of such charges would reduce the performance shown. In addition, performance
advertisements may include aggregate, average, year-by-year, or other types of
total return figures.
Performance information for periods prior to the inception date of the Variable
Sub-Accounts will be based on the historical performance of the corresponding
Funds for the periods beginning with the inception dates of the Funds and
adjusted to reflect current Contract expenses. You should not interpret these
figures to reflect actual historical performance of the Variable Account.
We may include in advertising and sales materials tax deferred compounding
charts and other hypothetical illustrations that compare currently taxable and
tax deferred investment programs based on selected tax brackets. Our
advertisements also may compare the performance of our Variable Sub-Accounts
with: (a) certain unmanaged market indices, including but not limited to the Dow
Jones Industrial Average, the Standard & Poor's 500, and the Shearson Lehman
Bond Index; and/or (b) other management investment companies with investment
objectives similar to the underlying funds being compared. In addition, our
advertisements may include the performance ranking assigned by various
publications, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Fortune, Money,
Barron's, Business Week, USA Today, and statistical services, including Lipper
Analytical Services Mutual Fund Survey, Lipper Annuity and Closed End Survey,
the Variable Annuity Research Data Survey, and SEI.
<PAGE>
APPENDIX A
MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT
The Market Value Adjustment is based on the following:
I = the Treasury Rate for a maturity equal to the applicable Guarantee
Period for the week preceding the establishment of the Guarantee Period.
N = the number of whole and partial years from the date we receive the
withdrawal, transfer or death benefit request, or from the Payout Start
Date to the end of the Guarantee Period.
J = the Treasury Rate for a maturity of length N for the week preceding
the receipt of the withdrawal, transfer, death benefit, or income payment
request. If a note with a maturity of length N is not available, a
weighted average will be used. If N is one year or less, J will be the
1-year Treasury Rate.
Treasury Rate means the U.S. Treasury Note Constant Maturity yield as
reported in Federal Reserve Bulletin Release H.15.
The Market Value Adjustment factor is determined from the following formula:
.9 X (I - J) X N
To determine the Market Value Adjustment, we will multiply the Market Value
Adjustment factor by the amount transferred, withdrawn (in excess of the
Preferred Withdrawal Amount), paid as a death benefit, or applied to an Income
Plan, from a Guarantee Period at any time other than during the 30 day period
after such Guarantee Period expires.
<PAGE>
EXAMPLES OF MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT
Purchase Payment: $10,000 allocated to a Guarantee Period
Guarantee Period: 5 years
Guaranteed Interest Rate: 4.50%
5 Year Treasury Rate at the time the
Guarantee Period is established: 4.50%
Full Surrender: End of Contract Year 3
NOTE: These examples assume that premium taxes are not applicable.
EXAMPLE 1: (Assumes declining interest rates)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
Step 1. Calculate Contract Value at End of Contract Year 3: 10,000.00 X (1.0450)3 = $11,411.66
Step 2. Calculate the Preferred Withdrawal Amount: .15 X 10,000.00 = $1,500.00
Step 3. Calculate the Market Value Adjustment: I = 4.5%
J = 4.2%
730 Days
--------
N = 365 days = 2
Market Value Adjustment Factor: .9 X (I-J) X N
= .9 X (.045 - .042) X (730/365) = .0054
Market Value
Adjustment =
Market Value
Adjustment
Factor X
Amount Subject
to Market
Value
Adjustment:
= .0054 X 11,411.66-1,500.00 = $53.52
Step 4. Calculate the Withdrawal Charge: .05 X (10,000.00 - 1,500.00 + 53.52 )=$427.68
Step 5. Calculate the amount received by Customers as a
result of full withdrawal at the end of Contract Year 3: 11,411.66 - 427.68 + 53.52 = $11,037.50
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
EXAMPLE 2: (Assumes rising interest rates)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
Step 1. Calculate Contract Value at End of Contract Year 3: 10,000.00 X (1.045)3 = $11,411.66
Step 2. Calculate the Preferred Withdrawal Amount: .15 X (10,000.00) = $1,500.00
Step 3. Calculate the Market Value Adjustment: I = 4.5%
J = 4.8%
730 days
--------
N = 365 days = 2
Market Value Adjustment Factor: .9 X (I-J) X N
= .9 X (.045 - .048) X (730/365) = -.0054
Market Value Adjustment = Market Value Adjustment Factor
X Amount Subject to Market Value Adjustment
-.0054 X (11,411.66 - 1,500) = - $53.52
Step 4. Calculate the Withdrawal Charge: -.05 X (10,000.00 - 1,500 - 53.52) = $422.32
Step 5. Calculate the amount received by customers as a
result of full withdrawal at the end of Contract Year 3: 11,411.66 - 422.32 - 53.52 = $10,935.82
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Description Page
Additions, Deletions or Substitutions of Investments.........................
The Contract.................................................................
Purchase of Contracts...............................................
Tax-free Exchanges (1035 Exchanges, Rollovers and Transfers)........
Performance Information......................................................
Calculation of Accumulation Unit Values......................................
Calculation of Variable Income Payments......................................
General Matters..............................................................
Incontestability....................................................
Settlements.........................................................
Safekeeping of the Variable Account's Assets........................
Premium Taxes.......................................................
Tax Reserves........................................................
Federal Tax Matters..........................................................
Qualified Plans..............................................................
Experts......................................................................
Financial Statements.........................................................
-----------------------------------------------
This prospectus does not constitute an offering in any jurisdiction in which
such offering may not lawfully be made. We do not authorize anyone to provide
any information or representations regarding the offering described in this
prospectus other than as contained in this prospectus.
<PAGE>
[back cover]
<PAGE>
THE AIM LIFETIME PLUS(sm) II VARIABLE ANNUITY
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York Statement of Additional Information
Allstate Life of New York Separate Account A dated December 30, 1999
One Allstate Drive, Farmingville, New York 11738
</TABLE>
Service Center
P.O. Box 94038, Palatine, Il 60094-4038]
1 (800) 692-4682
This Statement of Additional Information supplements the information in the
prospectus for the AIM Lifetime Plus(sm) II Variable Annuity. This Statement of
Additional Information is not a prospectus. You should read it with the
prospectus, dated December 30, 1999, for the Contract. You may obtain a
prospectus by calling or writing us at the address or telephone number listed
above.
Except as otherwise noted, this Statement of Additional Information uses the
same defined terms as the prospectus.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Description Page
Additions, Deletions or Substitutions of Investments
The Contract
Purchase of Contracts
Tax-free Exchanges (1035 Exchanges, Rollovers
and Transfers)
Performance Information
Calculation of Accumulation Unit Values
Calculation of Variable Income Payments
General Matters
Incontestability
Settlements
Safekeeping of the Variable Account's Assets
Premium Taxes
Tax Reserves
Federal Tax Matters
Qualified Plans
Experts
Financial Statements
<PAGE>
ADDITIONS, DELETIONS OR SUBSTITUTIONS OF INVESTMENTS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We may add, delete, or substitute the Fund shares held by any Variable
Sub-Account to the extent the law permits. We may substitute shares of any Fund
with those of another Fund of the same or different mutual fund if the shares of
the Fund are no longer available for investment, or if we believe investment in
any Fund would become inappropriate in view of the purposes of the Variable
Account.
We will not substitute shares attributable to a Contract owner's interest in a
Variable Sub-Account until we have notified the Contract owner of the change,
and until the Securities and Exchange Commission has approved the change, to the
extent such notification and approval are required by law. Nothing contained in
this Statement of Additional Information shall prevent the Variable Account from
purchasing other securities for other series or classes of contracts, or from
effecting a conversion between series or classes of contracts on the basis of
requests made by Contract owners.
We also may establish additional Variable Sub-Accounts or series of Variable
Sub-Accounts. Each additional Variable Sub-Account would purchase shares in a
new Fund of the same or different mutual fund. We may establish new Variable
Sub-Accounts when we believe marketing needs or investment conditions warrant.
We determine the basis on which we will offer any new Variable Sub-Accounts in
conjunction with the Contract to existing Contract owners. We may eliminate one
or more Variable Sub-Accounts if, in our sole discretion, marketing, tax or
investment conditions so warrant.
We may, by appropriate endorsement, change the Contract as we believe necessary
or appropriate to reflect any substitution or change in the Funds. If we believe
the best interests of persons having voting rights under the Contracts would be
served, we may operate the Variable Account as a management company under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 or we may withdraw its registration under such
Act if such registration is no longer required.
<PAGE>
THE CONTRACT
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Contract is primarily designed to aid individuals in long-term financial
planning. You can use it for retirement planning regardless of whether the
retirement plan qualifies for special federal income tax treatment.
PURCHASE OF CONTRACTS
We offer the Contracts to the public through banks as well as brokers licensed
under the federal securities laws and state insurance laws. The principal
underwriter for the Variable Account, Allstate Life Financial Services, Inc.
("ALFS"), distributes the Contracts. ALFS is an affiliate of Allstate Life of
New York. The offering of the Contracts is continuous. We do not anticipate
discontinuing the offering of the Contracts, but we reserve the right to do so
at any time.
TAX-FREE EXCHANGES (1035 EXCHANGES, ROLLOVERS AND TRANSFERS)
We accept purchase payments that are the proceeds of a Contract in a transaction
qualifying for a tax-free exchange under Section 1035 of the Internal Revenue
Code ("Code"). Except as required by federal law in calculating the basis of the
Contract, we do not differentiate between Section 1035 purchase payments and
non-Section 1035 purchase payments.
We also accept "rollovers" and transfers from Contracts qualifying as
tax-sheltered annuities ("TSAs"), individual retirement annuities or accounts
("IRAs"), or any other Qualified Contract that is eligible to "rollover" into an
IRA. We differentiate among non-Qualified Contracts, TSAs, IRAs and other
Qualified Contracts to the extent necessary to comply with federal tax laws. For
example, we restrict the assignment, transfer, or pledge of TSAs and IRAs so the
Contracts will continue to qualify for special tax treatment. A Contract owner
contemplating any such exchange, rollover or transfer of a Contract should
contact a competent tax adviser with respect to the potential effects of such a
transaction.
<PAGE>
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From time to time we may advertise the "standardized," "non-standardized," and
"adjusted historical" total returns of the Variable Sub-Accounts, as described
below. Please remember that past performance is not an estimate or guarantee of
future performance and does not necessarily represent the actual experience of
amounts invested by a particular Contract owner.
STANDARDIZED TOTAL RETURNS
A Variable Sub-Account's standardized total return represents the average annual
total return of that Sub-Account over a particular period. We compute
standardized total return by finding the annual percentage rate that, when
compounded annually, will accumulate a hypothetical $1,000 purchase payment to
the redeemable value at the end of the one, five or ten year period, or for a
period from the date of commencement of the Variable Sub-Account's operations,
if shorter than any of the foregoing. We use the following formula prescribed by
the SEC for computing standardized total return:
1000(1 + T)n = ERV
where:
T = average annual total return
ERV = ending redeemable value of a hypothetical $1,000 payment
made at the beginning of 1, 5, or 10 year periods or
shorter period
n = number of years in the period
1000 = hypothetical $1,000 investment
When factoring in the withdrawal charge assessed upon redemption, we exclude the
Preferred Withdrawal Amount, which is the amount you can withdraw from the
Contract without paying a withdrawal charge. We also use the withdrawal charge
that would apply upon redemption at the end of each period. Thus, for example,
when factoring in the withdrawal charge for a one year standardized total return
calculation, we would use the withdrawal charge that applies to a withdrawal of
a purchase payment made one year prior.
When factoring in the contract maintenance charge, we pro rate the charge by
dividing (i) the contract maintenance charges by (ii) the average Contract size
of $50,000. We then multiply the resulting percentage by a hypothetical $1,000
investment.
The standardized total returns for the Variable Sub-Accounts for the periods
ended June 30, 1999 are set out below. No standardized total returns are shown
for the AIM V.I. Money Market Variable Sub-Account. In addition, no standardized
total returns are shown of the AIM V.I. Aggressive Growth, AIM V.I. Balanced,
AIM V.I. Capital Development, and AIM V.I. High Yield Variable Sub-Accounts, as
the inception date of these Sub-Accounts is October 25, 1999.
The AIM Lifetime Plus II Variable Annuity Contracts will be first offered to the
public on January 17, 2000. Accordingly, performance figures for the Variable
Sub-Accounts prior to that date reflect the historical performance of the
Variable Sub-Accounts, adjusted to reflect the current level of charges that
apply to the Variable Sub-Accounts under the Contracts, including the withdrawal
charge and contract maintenance charge described above.
The inception dates of the Variable Sub-Accounts are as follows:
AIM V.I. Capital Appreciation October 14, 1996
AIM V.I. Diversified Income October 14, 1996
AIM V.I. Global Utilities October 14, 1996
AIM V.I. Government Securities October 14, 1996
AIM V.I. Growth October 14, 1996
AIM V.I. Growth & Income October 14, 1996
AIM V.I. International Equity October 14, 1996
AIM V.I. Value October 14, 1996
AIM V.I. Aggressive Growth October 25, 1999
AIM V.I. Balanced October 25, 1999
AIM V.I. Capital Development October 25, 1999
AIM V.I. High Yield October 25, 1999
(WITHOUT THE ENHANCED DEATH BENEFIT OPTION)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Variable Sub-Account One Year Five Years Since Inception
<S> <C> <C> <C>
AIM V.I. Capital Appreciation 22.59% 15.71% 15.54%
AIM V.I. Diversified Income -2.98% 5.20% 4.28%
AIM V.I. Global Utilities 10.42% 13.68% 12.71%
AIM V.I. Government Securities -2.72% 4.04% 3.03%
AIM V.I. Growth 30.89% 31.67% 17.99%
AIM V.I. Growth & Income 27.80% 19.85% 18.63%
AIM V.I. International Equity 14.37% 10.44% 11.32%
AIM V.I. Value 30.89% 21.67% 17.99%
(WITH THE ENHANCED DEATH BENEFIT OPTION)
Variable Sub-Account One Year Five Years Since Inception
AIM V.I. Capital Appreciation 22.84% 15.94% 9.69%
AIM V.I. Diversified Income -2.78% 5.41% 1.82%
AIM V.I. Global Utilities 10.64% 13.90% 14.16%
AIM V.I. Government Securities -2.52% 4.25% 2.38%
AIM V.I. Growth 31.15% 21.91% 20.98%
AIM V.I. Growth & Income 28.05% 20.09% 18.82%
AIM V.I. International Equity 14.60% 10.66% 9.52%
AIM V.I. Value 30.32% 20.61% 20.75%
</TABLE>
NON-STANDARDIZED TOTAL RETURNS
From time to time, we also may quote average annual total returns that do not
reflect the withdrawal charge. We calculate these "non-standardized total
returns" in exactly the same way as the standardized total returns described
above, except that we replace the ending redeemable value of the hypothetical
account for the period with an ending redeemable value for the period that does
not take into account any charges on amounts surrendered.
In addition, we may advertise the total return over different periods of time by
means of aggregate, average, year-by-year or other types of total return
figures. Such calculations would not reflect deductions for withdrawal charges
which may be imposed on the Contracts which, if reflected, would reduce the
performance quoted. The formula for computing such total return quotations
involves a per unit change calculation. This calculation is based on the
Accumulation Unit Value at the end of the defined period divided by the
Accumulation Unit Value at the beginning of such period, minus 1. The periods
included in such advertisements are "year-to-date" (prior calendar year end to
the day of the advertisement); "year to most recent quarter" (prior calendar
year end to the end of the most recent quarter); "the prior calendar year"; "
'n' most recent Calendar Years"; and "Inception (commencement of the
Sub-account's operation) to date" (day of the advertisement).
The non-standardized total returns for the Variable Sub-Accounts for the periods
ended June 30, 1999 are set out below. No non-standardized total returns are
shown for the AIM V.I. Money Market Variable Sub-Account. In addition, no
standardized total returns are shown of the AIM V.I. Aggressive Growth, AIM V.I.
Balanced, AIM V.I. Capital Development, and AIM V.I. High Yield Variable
Sub-Accounts, as the inception date of these Sub-Accounts is October 25, 1999.
Performance figures for periods prior to the availability of the Contracts
reflect the historical performance of the Variable Sub-Accounts, adjusted to
reflect the current level of charges that apply to the Variable Sub-Accounts
under the Contracts, excluding any charges imposed or amounts surrendered.
The inception date of each Variable Sub-Account appears under "Standardized
Total Returns," above.
(WITHOUT THE ENHANCED DEATH BENEFIT OPTION)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Variable Sub-Account One Year Five Years Since Inception*
<S> <C> <C> <C>
AIM V.I. Capital Appreciation 30.40% 10.70% 16.04%
AIM V.I. Diversified Income -2.92% 6.78% 4.75%
AIM V.I. Global Utilities 17.46% 11.06% 12.94%
AIM V.I. Government Securities -2.66% 5.54% 3.50%
AIM V.I. Growth 39.23% 14.89% 18.51%
AIM V.I. Growth & Income 35.94% 13.71% 19.44%
AIM V.I. International Equity 21.66% 7.14% 11.81%
AIM V.I. Value 38.35% 13.80% 19.40%
(WITH THE ENHANCED DEATH BENEFIT OPTION)
Variable Sub-Account One Year Five Years Since Inception*
AIM V.I. Capital Appreciation 30.66% 10.88% 11.70%
AIM V.I. Diversified Income -2.73% 6.95% 3.69%
AIM V.I. Global Utilities 17.70% 11.23% 16.24%
AIM V.I. Government Securities -2.46% 5.71% 4.26%
AIM V.I. Growth 39.51% 15.07% 23.19%
AIM V.I. Growth & Income 36.21% 13.90% 20.99%
AIM V.I. International Equity 21.90% 7.32% 11.53%
AIM V.I. Value 38.62% 13.98% 22.96%
</TABLE>
ADJUSTED HISTORICAL TOTAL RETURNS
We may advertise the total return for periods prior to the date that the
Variable Sub-Accounts commenced operations. We will calculate such "adjusted
historical total returns" using the historical performance of the underlying
Funds and adjusting such performance to reflect the current level of charges
that apply to the Variable Sub-Accounts under the Contract, the contract
maintenance charge and the appropriate withdrawal charge.
The adjusted historical total returns for the Variable Sub-Accounts for the
periods ended June 30, 1999 are set out below. No adjusted historical total
returns are shown for the AIM V.I. Money Market Variable Sub-Account.
The following list provides the inception date for the Fund corresponding to
each of the Variable Sub-Accounts included in the tables.
Inception Date of
Variable Sub-Account Corresponding Fund
- -------------------- ------------------
AIM V.I. Aggressive Growth May 1, 1998
AIM V.I. Balanced May 1, 1998
AIM V.I. Capital Appreciation May 5, 1993
AIM V.I. Capital Development May 1, 1998
AIM V.I. Diversified Income May 5, 1993
AIM V.I. Global Utilities May 2, 1994
AIM V.I. Government Securities May 5, 1993
AIM V.I. Growth May 5, 1993
AIM V.I. Growth & Income May 2, 1994
AIM V.I. High Yield May 1, 1998
AIM V.I. International Equity May 5, 1993
AIM V.I. Value Fund May 5, 1993
(WITHOUT THE ENHANCED DEATH BENEFIT OPTION)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
10 Years or
Variable Sub-Account One Year Five Years Since Inception of
Fund (if less)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
AIM V.I. Aggressive Growth 35.24% N/A 6.22%
AIM V.I. Balanced 14.95% N/A 10.22%
AIM V.I. Capital Appreciation 30.66% 10.88% 11.70%
AIM V.I. Capital Development 17.37% N/A -6.69%
AIM V.I. Diversified Income -2.73% 6.95% 3.69%
AIM V.I. Global Utilities 17.70% 11.23% 16.24%
AIM V.I. Government Securities -2.46% 5.71% 4.26%
AIM V.I. Growth 39.51% 15.07% 23.19%
AIM V.I. Growth & Income 36.21% 13.90% 20.99%
AIM V.I. International Equity 5.30% N/A -3.13%
AIM V.I. High Yield 21.90% 7.32% 11.53%
AIM V.I. Value 38.62% 13.98% 22.96%
(WITH THE ENHANCED DEATH BENEFIT OPTION)
10 Years or
Variable Sub-Account One Year Five Years Since Inception of
Fund (if less)
AIM V.I. Aggressive Growth 38.98% N/A 6.00%
AIM V.I. Balanced 14.72% N/A 10.00%
AIM V.I. Capital Appreciation 30.40% 10.70% 16.04%
AIM V.I. Capital Development 17.14% N/A -6.88%
AIM V.I. Diversified Income -2.92% 6.78% 4.75%
AIM V.I. Global Utilities 17.46% 11.06% 12.94%
AIM V.I. Government Securities -2.66% 5.54% 3.50%
AIM V.I. Growth 39.23% 14.89% 18.51%
AIM V.I. Growth & Income 35.94% 13.71% 19.44%
AIM V.I. International Equity 5.09% N/A -3.32%
AIM V.I. High Yield 21.66% 7.14% 11.81%
AIM V.I. Value 38.35% 13.80% 19.40%
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
Calculation of Accumulation Unit Values
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The value of Accumulation Units will change each Valuation Period according to
the investment performance of the Fund shares purchased by each Variable
Sub-Account and the deduction of certain expenses and charges. A "Valuation
Period" is the period from the end of one Valuation Date and continues to the
end of the next Valuation Date. A Valuation Date ends at the close of regular
trading on the New York Stock Exchange (currently 3:00 p.m.
Central Time).
The Accumulation Unit Value of a Variable Sub-Account for any Valuation Period
equals the Accumulation Unit Value as of the immediately preceding Valuation
Period, multiplied by the Net Investment Factor (described below) for that
Sub-Account for the current Valuation Period.
NET INVESTMENT FACTOR
The Net Investment Factor for a Valuation Period is a number representing the
change, since the last Valuation Period, in the value of Sub-account assets per
Accumulation Unit due to investment income, realized or unrealized capital gain
or loss, deductions for taxes, if any, and deductions for the mortality and
expense risk charge and administrative expense charge. We determine the Net
Investment Factor for each Variable Sub-Account for any Valuation Period by
dividing (A) by (B) and subtracting (C) from the result, where:
(A) is the sum of:
(1) the net asset value per share of the Fund underlying the
Variable Sub-Account determined at the end of the current
Valuation Period; plus,
(2) the per share amount of any dividend or capital gain
distributions made by the Fund underlying the Variable
Sub-Account during the current Valuation Period;
(B) is the net asset value per share of the Fund underlying the Variable
Sub-Account determined as of the end of the immediately preceding
Valuation Period; and
(C) is the sum of the annualized mortality and expense risk and
administrative expense charges divided by the number of days in the
current calendar year and then multiplied by the number of calendar days
in the current Valuation Period.
<PAGE>
CALCULATION OF VARIABLE INCOME PAYMENTS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We calculate the amount of the first variable income payment under an Income
Plan by applying the Contract Value allocated to each Variable Sub-Account less
any applicable premium tax charge deducted at the time, to the income payment
tables in the Contract. We divide each such portion of the first variable
annuity income payment by the Variable Sub-Account's then current Annuity Unit
value to determine the number of annuity units ("Annuity Units") upon which
later income payments will be based. To determine income payments after the
first, we simply multiply the number of Annuity Units determined in this manner
for each Variable Sub-Account by the then current Annuity Unit value ("Annuity
Unit Value") for that Variable Sub-Account.
CALCULATION OF ANNUITY UNIT VALUES
Annuity Units in each Variable Sub-Account are valued separately and Annuity
Unit Values will depend upon the investment experience of the particular Fund in
which the Variable Sub-Account invests. We calculate the Annuity Unit Value for
each Variable Sub-Account at the end of any Valuation Period by:
o multiplying the Annuity Unit Value at the end of the immediately preceding
Valuation Period by the Variable Sub-Account's Net Investment Factor
(described in the preceding section) for the Period; and then
o dividing the product by the sum of 1.0 plus the assumed investment rate for
the Valuation Period.
The assumed investment rate adjusts for the interest rate assumed in the
income payment tables used to determine the dollar amount of the first variable
income payment, and is at an effective annual rate which is disclosed in the
Contract.
We determine the amount of the first variable income payment paid under an
Income Plan using the income payment tables set out in the Contracts. The
Contracts include tables that differentiate on the basis of sex, except in
states that require the use of unisex tables.
<PAGE>
GENERAL MATTERS
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
INCONTESTABILITY
We will not contest the Contract after we issue it.
SETTLEMENTS
The Contract must be returned to us prior to any settlement. We must receive due
proof of the Contract owner(s) death (or Annuitant's death if there is a
non-natural Contract owner) before we will settle a death claim.
SAFEKEEPING OF THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT'S ASSETS
We hold title to the assets of the Variable Account. We keep the assets
physically segregated and separate and apart from our general corporate assets.
We maintain records of all purchases and redemptions of the Fund shares held by
each of the Variable Sub-Accounts.
The Funds do not issue stock certificates. Therefore, we hold the Variable
Account's assets in open account in lieu of stock certificates. See the Funds'
prospectuses for a more complete description of the custodian of the Funds.
PREMIUM TAXES
Applicable premium tax rates depend on the Contract owner's state of residency
and the insurance laws and our status in those states where premium taxes are
incurred. Premium tax rates may be changed by legislation, administrative
interpretations, or judicial acts. The State of New York currently does not
impose a premium tax.
TAX RESERVES
We do not establish capital gains tax reserves for any Variable Sub-Account nor
do we deduct charges for tax reserves because we believe that capital gains
attributable to the Variable Account will not be taxable. However, we reserve
the right to deduct charges to establish tax reserves for potential taxes on
realized or unrealized capital gains.
<PAGE>
FEDERAL TAX MATTERS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION IS GENERAL AND IS NOT INTENDED AS TAX ADVICE. WE MAKE
NO GUARANTEE REGARDING THE TAX TREATMENT OF ANY CONTRACT OR TRANSACTION
INVOLVING A CONTRACT.
Federal, state, local and other tax consequences of ownership or receipt of
distributions under an annuity contract depend on the individual circumstances
of each person. If you are concerned about any tax consequences with regard to
your individual circumstances, you should consult a competent tax adviser.
TAXATION OF ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
Allstate Life of New York is taxed as a life insurance company under Part I of
Subchapter L of the Internal Revenue Code. Since the Variable Account is not an
entity separate from Allstate Life of New York, and its operations form a part
of Allstate Life of New York, it will not be taxed separately as a "Regulated
Investment Company" under Subchapter M of the Code. Investment income and
realized capital gains of the Variable Account are automatically applied to
increase reserves under the contract. Under existing federal income tax law,
Allstate Life of New York believes that the Variable Account investment income
and capital gains will not be taxed to the extent that such income and gains are
applied to increase the reserves under the contract. Accordingly, Allstate Life
of New York does not anticipate that it will incur any federal income tax
liability attributable to the Variable Account, and therefore Allstate Life of
New York does not intend to make provisions for any such taxes. If Allstate Life
of New York is taxed on investment income or capital gains of the Variable
Account, then Allstate Life of New York may impose a charge against the Variable
Account in order to make provision for such taxes.
EXCEPTIONS TO THE NON-NATURAL OWNER RULE
There are several exceptions to the general rule that annuity contracts held by
a non-natural owner are not treated as annuity contracts for federal income tax
purposes. Contracts will generally be treated as held by a natural person if the
nominal owner is a trust or other entity which holds the Contract as agent for a
natural person. However, this special exception will not apply in the case of an
employer who is the nominal owner of an annuity contract under a non-qualified
deferred compensation arrangement for its employees. Other exceptions to the
non-natural owner rule are: (1) contracts acquired by an estate of a decedent by
reason of the death of the decedent; (2) certain qualified contracts; (3)
contracts purchased by employers upon the termination of certain qualified
plans; (4) certain contracts used in connection with structured settlement
agreements, and (5) contracts purchased with a single premium when the annuity
starting date is no later than a year from purchase of the annuity and
substantially equal periodic payments are made, not less frequently than
annually, during the annuity period.
IRS REQUIRED DISTRIBUTION AT DEATH RULES
In order to be considered an annuity contract for federal income tax purposes,
an annuity contract must provide: (1) if any owner dies on or after the annuity
start date but before the entire interest in the contract has been distributed,
the remaining portion of such interest must be distributed at least as rapidly
as under the method of distribution being used as of the date of the owner's
death; (2) if any owner dies prior to the annuity start date, the entire
interest in the contract will be distributed within five years after the date of
the owner's death. These requirements are satisfied if any portion of the
owner's interest which is payable to (or for the benefit of) a designated
beneficiary is distributed over the life of such beneficiary (or over a period
not extending beyond the life expectancy of the beneficiary) and the
distributions begin within one year of the owner's death. If the owner's
designated beneficiary is the surviving spouse of the owner, the contract may be
continued with the surviving spouse as the new owner. If the owner of the
contract is a non-natural person, then the annuitant will be treated as the
owner for purposes of applying the distribution at death rules. In addition, a
change in the annuitant on a contract owned by a non-natural person will be
treated as the death of the owner.
<PAGE>
QUALIFIED PLANS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Contract may be used with several types of qualified plans. The tax rules
applicable to participants in such qualified plans vary according to the type of
plan and the terms and conditions of the plan itself. Adverse tax consequences
may result from excess contributions, premature distributions, distributions
that do not conform to specified commencement and minimum distribution rules,
excess distributions and in other circumstances. Contract owners and
participants under the plan and annuitants and beneficiaries under the Contract
may be subject to the terms and conditions of the plan regardless of the terms
of the Contract.
INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ANNUITIES
Section 408 of the Code permits eligible individuals to contribute to an
individual retirement program known as an Individual Retirement Annuity (IRA).
Individual Retirement Annuities are subject to limitations on the amount that
can be contributed and on the time when distributions may commence. Certain
distributions from other types of qualified plans may be "rolled over" on a
tax-deferred basis into an Individual Retirement Annuity. An IRA generally may
not provide life insurance, but it may provide a death benefit that equals the
greater of the premiums paid and the Contract's Cash Value. The Contract
provides a death benefit that in certain circumstances may exceed the greater of
the payments and the Contract Value. It is possible that the death benefit could
be viewed as violating the prohibition on investment in life insurance contracts
with the result that the Contract would not be viewed as satisfying the
requirements of an IRA.
ROTH INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ANNUITIES
Section 408A of the Code permits eligible individuals to make nondeductible
contributions to an individual retirement program known as a Roth Individual
Retirement Annuity. Roth Individual Retirement Annuities are subject to
limitations on the amount that can be contributed and on the time when
distributions may commence. "Qualified distributions" from Roth Individual
Retirement Annuities are not includible in gross income. "Qualified
distributions" are any distributions made more than five taxable years after the
taxable year of the first contribution to the Roth Individual Retirement
Annuity, and which are made on or after the date the individual attains age 59
1/2, made to a beneficiary after the owner's death, attributable to the owner
being disabled or for a first time home purchase (first time home purchases are
subject to a lifetime limit of $10,000). "Nonqualified distributions" are
treated as made from contributions first and are includible in gross income to
the extent such distributions exceed the contributions made to the Roth
Individual Retirement Annuity. The taxable portion of a "nonqualified
distribution" may be subject to the 10% penalty tax on premature distributions.
Subject to certain limitations, a traditional Individual Retirement Account or
Annuity may be converted or "rolled over" to a Roth Individual Retirement
Annuity. The taxable portion of a conversion or rollover distribution is
includible in gross income, but is exempted from the 10% penalty tax on
premature distributions.
SIMPLIFIED EMPLOYEE PENSION PLANS
Section 408(k) of the Code allows employers to establish simplified employee
pension plans for their employees using the employees' individual retirement
annuities if certain criteria are met. Under these plans the employer may,
within specified limits, make deductible contributions on behalf of the
employees to their individual retirement annuities. Employers intending to use
the Contract in connection with such plans should seek competent advice. In
particular, employers should consider that an IRA generally may not provide life
insurance, but it may provide a death benefit that equals the greater of the
premiums paid and the contract's cash value. The Contract provides a death
benefit that in certain circumstances may exceed the greater of the payments and
the Contract Value.
SAVINGS INCENTIVE MATCH PLANS FOR EMPLOYEES (SIMPLE PLANS)
Sections 408(p) and 401(k) of the Code allow employers with 100 or fewer
employees to establish SIMPLE retirement plans for their employees. SIMPLE plans
may be structured as a SIMPLE retirement account using an employee's IRA to hold
the assets or as a Section 401(k) qualified cash or deferred arrangement. In
general, a SIMPLE plan consists of a salary deferral program for eligible
employees and matching or nonelective contributions made by employers. Employers
intending to use the Contract in conjunction with SIMPLE plans should seek
competent tax and legal advice.
TAX SHELTERED ANNUITIES
Section 403(b) of the Code permits public school employees and employees of
certain types of tax-exempt organizations (specified in Section 501(c)(3) of the
Code) to have their employers purchase annuity contracts for them, and subject
to certain limitations, to exclude the purchase payments from the employees'
gross income. An annuity contract used for a Section 403(b) plan must provide
that distributions attributable to salary reduction contributions made after
12/31/88, and all earnings on salary reduction contributions, may be made only
on or after the date the employee attains age 59 1/2, separates from service,
dies, becomes disabled or on the account of hardship (earnings on salary
reduction contributions may not be distributed for hardship). These limitations
do not apply to withdrawals where Allstate Life of New York is directed to
transfer some or all of the Contract Value to another 403(b) plan.
CORPORATE AND SELF-EMPLOYED PENSION AND PROFIT SHARING PLANS
Sections 401(a) and 403(a) of the Code permit corporate employers to establish
various types of tax favored retirement plans for employees. The Self-Employed
Individuals Retirement Act of 1962, as amended, (commonly referred to as "H.R.
10" or "Keogh") permits self-employed individuals to establish tax favored
retirement plans for themselves and their employees. Such retirement plans may
permit the purchase of annuity contracts in order to provide benefits under the
plans.
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATION
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLANS
Section 457 of the Code permits employees of state and local governments and
tax-exempt organizations to defer a portion of their compensation without paying
current taxes. The employees must be participants in an eligible deferred
compensation plan. To the extent the Contracts are used in connection with an
eligible plan, employees are considered general creditors of the employer and
the employer as owner of the contract has the sole right to the proceeds of the
contract. Generally, under the non-natural owner rules, such Contracts are not
treated as annuity contracts for federal income tax purposes. Under these plans,
contributions made for the benefit of the employees will not be includible in
the employees' gross income until distributed from the plan. However, under a
Section 457 plan all the compensation deferred under the plan must remain solely
the property of the employer, subject only to the claims of the employer's
general creditors, until such time as made available to the employee or a
beneficiary.
<PAGE>
EXPERTS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The financial statements of Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York as of
December 31, 1998 and 1997 and for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 1998 and the financial statements of Allstate Life of New York
Separate Account A as of December 31, 1998 and for each of the two years in the
period ended December 31, 1998 appearing in the Statement of Additional
Information (which is incorporated by reference in the prospectus of Allstate
Life of New York Separate Account A of Allstate Life Insurance Company of New
York) have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors as stated
in their reports appearing herein, and are included in reliance upon the reports
of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
<PAGE>
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The financial statements of the Variable Account and Allstate Life of New York
and the accompanying Reports of Independent Auditors appear on the pages that
follow. The financial statements of Allstate Life of New York included herein
should be considered only as bearing upon the ability of Allstate Life of New
York to meet its obligations under the Contracts.
<PAGE>
Financial Statements
Index
-----
Page
----
Independent Auditors' Report...............................................F-1
Financial Statements:
Statements of Financial Position,
December 31, 1998 and 1997...............................F-2
Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income for the Years Ended
December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996.........................F-3
Statements of Shareholder's Equity for the Years Ended
December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996.........................F-4
Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended
December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996.........................F-5
Notes to Financial Statements.....................................F-6
Schedule IV - Reinsurance for the Years Ended
December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996.........................F-22
Schedule V - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996.........................F-23
18
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SHAREHOLDER OF ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF
NEW YORK:
We have audited the accompanying Statements of Financial Position of Allstate
Life Insurance Company of New York (the "Company", an affiliate of The Allstate
Corporation) as of December 31, 1998 and 1997, and the related Statements of
Operations and Comprehensive Income, Shareholder's Equity and Cash Flows for
each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1998. Our audits also
included Schedule IV - Reinsurance and Schedule V Valuation and Qualifying
Accounts. These financial statements and financial statement schedules are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements and financial statement schedules based on
our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, such financial statements present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 1998 and
1997, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three
years in the period ended December 31, 1998 in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, Schedule IV - Reinsurance,
and Schedule V - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts, when considered in relation
to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all
material respects, the information set forth therein.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Chicago, Illinois
February 19, 1999
F-1
<PAGE>
ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
December 31,
------------
($ in thousands) 1998 1997
---- ----
ASSETS
Investments
Fixed income securities, at fair value
(amortized cost $1,648,972 and $1,510,110) $1,966,067 $1,756,257
Mortgage loans 145,095 114,627
Short-term 76,127 9,513
Policy loans 29,620 27,600
---------- ----------
Total investments 2,216,909 1,907,997
Deferred acquisition costs 87,830 71,946
Accrued investment income 22,685 21,725
Reinsurance recoverables 2,210 1,726
Cash 3,117 393
Other assets 9,887 6,167
Separate Accounts 366,247 308,595
---------- ----------
TOTAL ASSETS $2,708,885 $2,318,549
========== ==========
LIABILITIES
Reserve for life-contingent contract benefits $1,208,104 $1,084,409
Contractholder funds 703,264 607,474
Current income taxes payable 14,029 1,419
Deferred income taxes 25,449 16,990
Other liabilities and accrued expenses 23,463 10,985
Payable to affiliates, net 38,835 5,267
Separate Accounts 366,247 308,595
---------- ----------
TOTAL LIABILITIES 2,379,391 2,035,139
---------- ----------
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES (NOTE 10)
SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY
Common stock, $25 par value, 80,000 shares
authorized, issued and outstanding 2,000 2,000
Additional capital paid-in 45,787 45,787
Retained income 198,801 171,144
Accumulated other comprehensive income:
Unrealized net capital gains 82,906 64,479
---------- ----------
Total accumulated other comprehensive income 82,906 64,479
---------- ----------
TOTAL SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY 329,494 283,410
---------- ----------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY $2,708,885 $2,318,549
========== ==========
See notes to financial statements.
F-2
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Year Ended December 31,
-----------------------
($ in thousands) 1998 1997 1996
---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C>
REVENUES
Premiums and contract charges (net of reinsurance
ceded of $3,204, $3,087 and $2,273) $ 119,052 $ 118,963 $ 117,106
Net investment income 134,413 124,887 112,862
Realized capital gains and losses 4,697 701 (1,581)
--------- --------- ---------
258,162 244,551 228,387
--------- --------- ---------
COSTS AND EXPENSES
Contract benefits (net of reinsurance recoveries
of $997, $1,985 and $2,827) 183,839 179,872 172,772
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs 7,029 5,023 6,512
Operating costs and expenses 24,703 23,644 16,874
--------- --------- ---------
215,571 208,539 196,158
--------- --------- ---------
INCOME FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE 42,591 36,012 32,229
Income tax expense 14,934 13,296 11,668
--------- --------- ---------
NET INCOME 27,657 22,716 20,561
--------- --------- ---------
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Change in unrealized net capital gains and losses 18,427 27,627 (37,561)
--------- --------- ---------
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME $ 46,084 $ 50,343 $ (17,000)
========= ========= =========
<FN>
See notes to financial statements.
</FN>
</TABLE>
F-3
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY
December 31,
------------
($ in thousands) 1998 1997 1996
---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C>
COMMON STOCK $ 2,000 $ 2,000 $ 2,000
--------- --------- ---------
ADDITIONAL CAPITAL PAID-IN 45,787 45,787 45,787
--------- --------- ---------
RETAINED INCOME
Balance, beginning of year 171,144 148,428 127,867
Net income 27,657 22,716 20,561
--------- --------- ---------
Balance, end of year 198,801 171,144 148,428
--------- --------- ---------
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Balance, beginning of year 64,479 36,852 74,413
Change in unrealized net capital gains and losses 18,427 27,627 (37,561)
--------- --------- ---------
Balance, end of year 82,906 64,479 36,852
--------- --------- ---------
Total shareholder's equity $ 329,494 $ 283,410 $ 233,067
========= ========= =========
<FN>
See notes to financial statements.
</FN>
</TABLE>
F-4
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Year Ended December 31,
-----------------------
($ in thousands) 1998 1997 1996
---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income $ 27,657 $ 22,716 $ 20,561
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
cash provided by operating activities
Amortization and other non-cash items (34,890) (31,112) (26,172)
Realized capital gains and losses (4,697) (701) 1,581
Interest credited to contractholder funds 41,200 31,667 25,817
Changes in:
Life-contingent contract benefits
and contractholder funds 53,343 68,114 75,217
Deferred acquisition costs (16,693) (10,781) (6,859)
Accrued investment income (960) (1,404) (1,493)
Income taxes payable 13,865 (158) 1,986
Other operating assets and liabilities (15,014) 9,949 (5,963)
--------- --------- ---------
Net cash provided by operating activities 63,811 88,290 84,675
--------- --------- ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from sales of fixed income securities 65,281 15,723 28,454
Investment collections
Fixed income securities 159,648 120,061 72,751
Mortgage loans 5,855 5,365 12,508
Investment purchases
Fixed income securities (292,444) (236,984) (236,252)
Mortgage loans (24,252) (35,200) (10,325)
Change in short-term investments, net (55,846) 16,342 (18,598)
Change in policy loans, net (2,020) (2,241) (2,574)
--------- --------- ---------
Net cash used in investing activities (143,778) (116,934) (154,036)
--------- --------- ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Contractholder fund deposits 137,473 79,384 115,420
Contractholder fund withdrawals (54,782) (51,374) (46,504)
--------- --------- ---------
Net cash provided by financing activities 82,691 28,010 68,916
--------- --------- ---------
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH 2,724 (634) (445)
CASH AT BEGINNING OF YEAR 393 1,027 1,472
--------- --------- ---------
CASH AT END OF YEAR $ 3,117 $ 393 $ 1,027
========= ========= =========
<FN>
See notes to financial statements.
</FN>
</TABLE>
F-5
<PAGE>
ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
($ IN THOUSANDS)
1. GENERAL
BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The accompanying financial statements include the accounts of Allstate Life
Insurance Company of New York (the "Company"), a wholly owned subsidiary of
Allstate Life Insurance Company ("ALIC"), which is wholly owned by Allstate
Insurance Company ("AIC"), a wholly owned subsidiary of The Allstate Corporation
(the "Corporation"). These financial statements have been prepared in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles.
To conform with the 1998 presentation, certain amounts in the prior years'
financial statements and notes have been reclassified.
NATURE OF OPERATIONS
The Company markets a broad line of life insurance and savings products in the
State of New York. Life insurance includes traditional products such as whole
life and term life insurance, as well as universal life and other
interest-sensitive life products. Savings products include deferred annuities,
such as variable annuities and fixed rate single and flexible premium annuities,
and immediate annuities such as structured settlement annuities. The Company
distributes its products using a combination of Allstate agents, which include
life specialists as well as banks, independent insurance agents, brokers and
direct marketing.
Structured settlement annuity contracts issued by the Company are long-term in
nature and involve fixed guarantees relating to the amount and timing of benefit
payments. Annuity contracts and life insurance policies issued by the Company
are subject to discretionary withdrawal or surrender by customers, subject to
applicable surrender charges. In low interest rate environments, funds from
maturing investments, particularly those supporting long-term structured
settlement annuity obligations, may be reinvested at substantially lower
interest rates than those which prevailed when the funds were previously
invested.
The Company monitors economic and regulatory developments which have the
potential to impact its business. There continues to be proposed federal and
state regulation and legislation that, if passed, would allow banks greater
participation in the securities and insurance businesses. Such events would
present an increased level of competition for sales of the Company's products.
Furthermore, the market for deferred annuities and interest-sensitive life
insurance is enhanced by the tax incentives available under current law. Any
legislative changes which lessen these incentives are likely to negatively
impact the demand for these products.
Additionally, traditional demutualizations of mutual insurance companies and
enacted and pending state legislation to permit mutual insurance companies to
convert to a hybrid structure known as a mutual holding company could have a
number of significant effects on the Company by (1) increasing industry
competition through consolidation caused by mergers and acquisitions related to
the new corporate form of business; and (2) increasing competition in capital
markets.
Although the Company currently benefits from agreements with financial services
entities who market and distribute its products, change in control of these
non-affliliated entities with which the Company has alliances could have a
detrimental effect on the Company's sales.
F-6
<PAGE>
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
INVESTMENTS
Fixed income securities include bonds and mortgage-backed and asset-backed
securities. All fixed income securities are carried at fair value and may be
sold prior to their contractual maturity ("available for sale"). The difference
between amortized cost and fair value, net of deferred income taxes, certain
deferred acquisition costs, and reserves for life and annuity policy benefits,
is reflected as a component of shareholder's equity. Provisions are recognized
for declines in the value of fixed income securities that are other than
temporary. Such writedowns are included in realized capital gains and losses.
Mortgage loans are carried at outstanding principal balance, net of unamortized
premium or discount and valuation allowances. Valuation allowances are
established for impaired loans when it is probable that contractual principal
and interest will not be collected. Valuation allowances for impaired loans
reduce the carrying value to the fair value of the collateral or the present
value of the loan's expected future repayment cash flows discounted at the
loan's original effective interest rate. Valuation allowances on loans not
considered to be impaired are established based on consideration of the
underlying collateral, borrower financial strength, current and expected market
conditions, and other factors.
Short-term investments are carried at cost or amortized cost which approximates
fair value, and includes collateral received in connection with securities
lending activities. Policy loans are carried at the unpaid principal balances.
Investment income consists primarily of interest and dividends on short-term
investments. Interest is recognized on an accrual basis and dividends are
recorded at the ex-dividend date. Interest income on mortgage-backed and
asset-backed securities is determined on the effective yield method, based on
estimated principal repayments. Accrual of income is suspended for fixed income
securities and mortgage loans that are in default or when the receipt of
interest payments is in doubt. Realized capital gains and losses are determined
on a specific identification basis.
DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Company utilizes futures contracts which are derivative financial
instruments. When futures contracts meet specific criteria they may be
designated as accounting hedges and accounted for on either a fair value or
deferral basis, depending upon the nature of the hedge strategy and the method
used to account for the hedged item. Derivatives that are not designated as
accounting hedges are accounted for on a fair value basis.
If, subsequent to entering into a hedge transaction, the futures contract
becomes ineffective (including if the the occurrence of a hedged anticipatory
transaction is no longer probable), the Company terminates the derivative
position. Gains and losses on these terminations are reported in realized
capital gains and losses in the period they occur. The Company may also
terminate derivatives as a result of other events or circumstances. Gains and
losses on these terminations are either deferred and amortized over the
remaining life of either the hedge or the hedged item, whichever is shorter, or
are reported in shareholder's equity, consistent with the accounting for the
hedged item. Futures contracts must reduce the primary market risk exposure on
an enterprise or transaction basis in conjunction with the hedge strategy; be
designated as a hedge at the inception of the transaction; and be highly
correlated with the fair value of, or interest income or expense associated
with, the hedged item at inception and throughout the hedge period.
DEFERRAL ACCOUNTING Under deferral accounting, gains and losses on futures
contracts are deferred on the statement of financial position and recognized in
earnings in conjunction with earnings on the hedged item. The Company accounts
for interest rate futures contracts as hedges using deferral accounting for
anticipatory investment purchases and sales when the criteria for futures
(discussed above) are met. In addition, anticipated transactions must be
probable of occurrence and their significant terms and characteristics
identified.
F-7
<PAGE>
Changes in fair values of these types of derivatives are initially deferred as
other liabilities and accrued expenses. Once the anticipated transaction occurs,
the deferred gains or losses are considered part of the cost basis of the asset
and reported net of tax in shareholder's equity or recognized as a gain or loss
from disposition of the asset, as appropriate. The Company reports initial
margin deposits on futures in short-term investments. Fees and commissions paid
on these derivatives are also deferred as an adjustment to the carrying value of
the hedged item.
RECOGNITION OF PREMIUM REVENUES AND CONTRACT CHARGES
Premiums for traditional life insurance and certain life-contingent annuities
are recognized as revenue when due. Accident and disability premiums are earned
on a pro rata basis over the policy period. Revenues on universal life-type
insurance policies are comprised of contract charges and fees, and are
recognized when assessed against the policyholder account balance. Revenues on
investment contracts include contract charges and fees for contract
administration and surrenders. These revenues are recognized when levied against
the contract balance. Gross premium in excess of the net premium on limited
payment contracts are deferred and recognized over the contract period.
REINSURANCE
The Company has reinsurance agreements whereby certain premiums and contract
benefits are ceded and reflected net of such reinsurance in the statements of
operations and comprehensive income. Reinsurance recoverable and the related
reserves for life-contingent contract benefits and contractholder funds are
reported separately in the statements of financial position. The Company
continues to have primary liability as the direct insurer for risks reinsured.
DEFERRED ACQUISITION COSTS
Certain costs of acquiring life and annuity business, principally agents'
remuneration, premium taxes, certain underwriting costs and direct mail
solicitation expenses are deferred and amortized to income. For traditional life
insurance, limited payment contracts and accident and disability insurance,
these costs are amortized in proportion to the estimated revenues on such
business. For universal life-type policies and investment contracts, the costs
are amortized in relation to the present value of estimated gross profits on
such business. Changes in the amount or timing of estimated gross profits will
result in adjustments in the cumulative amortization of these costs. To the
extent that unrealized gains or losses on fixed income securities carried at
fair value would result in an adjustment of deferred acquisition costs had those
gains or losses actually been realized, the related unamortized deferred
acquisition costs are recorded as a reduction of the unrealized gains or losses
included in shareholder's equity.
INCOME TAXES
The income tax provision is calculated under the liability method and presented
net of reinsurance. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded based on
the difference between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and
liabilities at the enacted tax rates. The principal assets and liabilities
giving rise to such differences are insurance reserves and deferred acquisition
costs. Deferred income taxes also arise from unrealized capital gains and losses
on fixed income securities carried at fair value.
SEPARATE ACCOUNTS
The Company issues flexible premium deferred variable annuities, the assets and
liabilities of which are legally segregated and reflected in the accompanying
statements of financial position as assets and liabilities of the Separate
Accounts. The Company's Separate Accounts consist of: Allstate Life of New York
Variable Annuity Account, Allstate Life of New York Variable Annuity Account II
and Allstate Life of New York Separate Account A. Each of the Separate Accounts
are unit investment trusts registered with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
F-8
<PAGE>
Assets of the Separate Accounts are carried at fair value. Investment income and
realized capital gains and losses of the Separate Accounts accrue directly to
the contractholders and, therefore, are not included in the Company's statements
of operations and comprehensive income. Revenues to the Company from the
Separate Accounts consist of contract maintenance fees, administration fees and
mortality and expense risk charges.
RESERVES FOR LIFE-CONTINGENT CONTRACT BENEFITS
The reserve for life-contingent contract benefits, which relates to traditional
life insurance, group retirement annuities and structured settlement annuities
with life contingencies, disability insurance and accident insurance, is
computed on the basis of assumptions as to future investment yields, mortality,
morbidity, terminations and expenses. These assumptions, which for traditional
life insurance are applied using the net level premium method, include
provisions for adverse deviation and generally vary by such characteristics as
type of coverage, year of issue and policy duration. Reserve interest rates
ranged from 4.0% to 11.0% during 1998. To the extent that unrealized gains on
fixed income securities would result in a premium deficiency had those gains
actually been realized, the related increase in reserves is recorded as a
reduction of the unrealized gains included in shareholder's equity.
CONTRACTHOLDER FUNDS
Contractholder funds arise from the issuance of individual or group policies and
contracts that include an investment component, including most fixed annuities
and universal life policies. Payments received are recorded as interest-bearing
liabilities. Contractholder funds are equal to deposits received and interest
credited to the benefit of the contractholder less withdrawals, mortality
charges and administrative expenses. During 1998, credited interest rates on
contractholder funds ranged from 3.46% to 11.00% for those contracts with fixed
interest rates and from 3.50% to 7.75% for those with flexible rates.
OFF-BALANCE-SHEET FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Commitments to extend mortgage loans have only off-balance-sheet risk because
their contractual amounts are not recorded in the Company's statements of
financial position.
USE OF ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes.
Actual results could differ from those estimates.
NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
In 1998, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
("SFAS") No. 125, "Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets
and Extinguishment of Liabilities" under the guidance of SFAS No. 127 "Deferral
of the Effective Date of Certain Provisions of FASB Statement No. 125". As a
result, the Company has recorded an asset and corresponding liability
representing the collateral received in connection with the Company's securities
lending program.
In 1998, the Company adopted SFAS No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income."
Comprehensive income is a measurement of certain changes in shareholder's equity
that result from transactions and other economic events other than transactions
with shareholders. For the Company, these consist of changes in unrealized gains
and losses on the investment portfolio (See Note 9).
In 1998, the Company adopted SFAS No. 131, "Disclosures about Segments of an
Enterprise and Related Information." SFAS 131 redefines how segments are
determined and requires additional segment disclosures for both annual and
interim financial reporting. The Company has identified itself as a single
operating segment.
F-9
<PAGE>
PENDING ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
In December 1997, the Accounting Standards Executive Committee of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants issued Statement of Position ("SOP")
97-3, "Accounting by Insurance and Other Enterprises for Insurance-related
Assessments." The SOP is required to be adopted in 1999. The SOP provides
guidance concerning when to recognize a liability for insurance-related
assessments and how those liabilities should be measured. Specifically,
insurance-related assessments should be recognized as liabilities when all of
the following criteria have been met: 1) an assessment has been imposed or it is
probable that an assessment will be imposed, 2) the event obligating an entity
to pay an assessment has occurred and 3) the amount of the assessment can be
reasonably estimated. The Company is currently evaluating the effects of this
SOP on its accounting for insurance-related assessments. Certain information
required for compliance is not currently available and therefore the Company is
studying alternatives for estimating the accrual. In addition, industry groups
are working to improve the information available. Adoption of this standard is
not expected to be material to the results of operations or financial position
of the Company.
In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 133,
"Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities." SFAS No. 133
replaces existing pronouncements and practices with a single, integrated
accounting framework for derivatives and hedging activities. The requirements
are effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 1999. Earlier
application is encouraged but is only permitted as of the beginning of any
fiscal quarter after issuance. This statement requires that all derivatives be
recognized on the balance sheet at fair value. Derivatives that are not hedges
must be adjusted to fair value through income. If the derivative is a hedge,
depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of derivatives
will either be offset against the change in fair value of the hedged assets,
liabilities, or firm commitments through earnings or recognized in other
comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings.
Additionally, the change in fair value of a derivative which is not effective as
a hedge will be immediately recognized in earnings. The Company expects to adopt
SFAS No. 133 as of January 1, 2000. Based on existing interpretations of the
requirements of SFAS No. 133, the impact of adoption is not expected to be
material to the results of operations or financial position of the Company.
3. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
REINSURANCE
The Company has reinsurance agreements with ALIC in order to limit aggregate and
single exposure on large risks. A portion of the Company's premiums and policy
benefits are ceded to ALIC and reflected net of such reinsurance in the
statements of operations and comprehensive income. Reinsurance recoverable and
the related reserve for life-contingent contract benefits and contractholder
funds are reported separately in the statements of financial position. The
Company continues to have primary liability as the direct insurer for risks
reinsured.
F-10
<PAGE>
The following amounts were ceded to the ALIC under reinsurance agreements.
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
-----------------------
($ in thousands) 1998 1997 1996
---- ---- ----
Premiums $ 2,519 $ 2,171 $ 1,383
Policy benefits 315 327 1,662
Included in the reinsurance recoverable at December 31, 1998 and 1997 are
amounts due from the ALIC of $532 and $342, respectively.
STRUCTURED SETTLEMENT ANNUITIES
AIC, through an affiliate, purchased $12,747, $12,766 and $15,610 of structured
settlement annuities from the Company in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively. Of
these amounts, $5,152, $3,468 and $8,517 relate to structured settlement
annuities with life contingencies and are included in premium income in 1998,
1997 and 1996, respectively. Additionally, the reserve for life-contingent
contract benefits was increased by approximately 94% of such premium received in
each of these years.
BUSINESS OPERATIONS
The Company utilizes services performed by AIC and ALIC and business facilities
owned or leased, and operated by AIC in conducting its business activities. The
Company reimburses AIC and ALIC for the operating expenses incurred on behalf of
the Company. The cost to the Company is determined by various allocation methods
and is primarily related to the level of services provided. Operating expenses,
including compensation and retirement and other benefit programs, allocated to
the Company were $32,326, $27,632 and $23,134 in 1998, 1997 and 1996,
respectively. A portion of these expenses relate to the acquisition of life and
annuity business which are deferred and amortized over the contract period.
4. INVESTMENTS
FAIR VALUES
The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, and fair value for fixed
income securities are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AMORTIZED GROSS UNREALIZED FAIR
COST GAINS LOSSES VALUE
---- ----- ------ -----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
AT DECEMBER 31, 1998
U.S. government and agencies $ 443,930 $ 179,455 $ (1) $ 623,384
Municipal 31,617 2,922 (19) 34,520
Corporate 848,289 121,202 (899) 968,592
Mortgage-backed securities 291,520 14,294 (700) 305,114
Asset-backed securities 33,616 869 (28) 34,457
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total fixed income securities $1,648,972 $ 318,742 $ (1,647) $1,966,067
========== ========== ========== ==========
AT DECEMBER 31, 1997
U.S. government and agencies $ 416,203 $ 126,824 $ (212) $ 542,815
Municipal 35,382 2,449 (22) 37,809
Corporate 803,935 103,700 (479) 907,156
Mortgage-backed securities 215,465 13,442 (166) 228,741
Asset-backed securities 39,125 642 (31) 39,736
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total fixed income securities $1,510,110 $ 247,057 $ (910) $1,756,257
========== ========== ========== ==========
</TABLE>
F-11
<PAGE>
SCHEDULED MATURITIES
The scheduled maturities for fixed income securities are as follows at December
31, 1998:
AMORTIZED FAIR
COST VALUE
---- -----
Due in one year or less $ 14,903 $ 15,087
Due after one year through five years 79,333 84,372
Due after five years through ten years 227,770 250,208
Due after ten years 1,001,830 1,276,829
---------- ----------
1,323,836 1,626,496
Mortgage- and asset-backed securities 325,136 339,571
---------- ----------
Total $1,648,972 $1,966,067
========== ==========
Actual maturities may differ from those scheduled as a result of prepayments by
the issuers.
NET INVESTMENT INCOME
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER, 31 1998 1997 1996
---- ---- ----
Fixed income securities $124,100 $116,763 $104,583
Mortgage loans 10,309 7,896 7,113
Other 2,940 2,200 2,942
-------- -------- --------
Investment income, before expense 137,349 126,859 114,638
Investment expense 2,936 1,972 1,776
-------- -------- --------
Net investment income $134,413 $124,887 $112,862
======== ======== ========
REALIZED CAPITAL GAINS AND LOSSES
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 1996
---- ---- ----
Fixed income securities $ 4,755 $ 955 $(1,522)
Mortgage loans (65) (221) (59)
Other 7 (33) --
------- ------- -------
Realized capital gains and losses 4,697 701 (1,581)
Income tax 1,644 245 (553)
------- ------- -------
Realized capital gains and losses, after tax $ 3,053 $ 456 $(1,028)
======= ======= =======
Excluding calls and prepayments, gross gains of $2,905, $471 and $480 and gross
losses of $164, $105 and $2,308 were realized on sales of fixed income
securities during 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.
F-12
<PAGE>
UNREALIZED NET CAPITAL GAINS
Unrealized net capital gains on fixed income securities included in
shareholder's equity at December 31, 1998 are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COST/ GROSS UNREALIZED UNREALIZED
AMORTIZED COST FAIR VALUE GAINS LOSSES NET GAINS
-------------- ---------- ----- ------ ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Fixed income securities $ 1,648,972 $ 1,966,067 $ 318,742 $ (1,647) $ 317,095
=========== =========== =========== ===========
Reserve for life-contingent
contract benefits (187,706)
Deferred income taxes (44,642)
Deferred acquisition costs
and other (1,841)
-----------
Unrealized net capital gains $ 82,906
===========
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CHANGE IN UNREALIZED NET CAPITAL GAINS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 1997 1996
---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Fixed income securities $ 70,948 $ 123,519 $ (82,847)
Reserves for life contingent-contract benefits (42,251) (80,155) 24,300
Deferred income taxes (9,922) (14,876) 20,224
Deferred acquisition costs and other (348) (861) 762
--------- --------- ---------
Increase (decrease) in unrealized net
capital gains $ 18,427 $ 27,627 $ (37,561)
========= ========= =========
</TABLE>
INVESTMENT LOSS PROVISIONS AND VALUATION ALLOWANCES
Pretax provisions for investment losses, principally relating to other than
temporary declines in value of fixed income securities and valuation allowances
on mortgage loans were $114, $261 and $208 in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.
MORTGAGE LOAN IMPAIRMENT
A mortgage loan is impaired when it is probable that the Company will be unable
to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan
agreement.
The Company had no impaired loans at December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996.
Interest income is recognized on a cash basis for impaired loans carried at the
fair value of the collateral, beginning at the time of impairment. For other
impaired loans, interest is accrued based on the net carrying value. There were
no impaired loans during 1998 and 1997. In 1996, the Company recognized interest
income of $281 on impaired loans, which was received in cash during the year.
The average recorded investment in impaired loans was $5,154 during 1996.
Valuation allowances for mortgage loans at December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996 were
$600, $486 and $225, respectively. There were no direct write-downs of mortgage
loan valuation allowances for the years ended December 31, 1998 and 1997. For
the year ended December 31, 1996, direct write-downs of mortgage loan valuation
allowances were $1,431. Net (reductions) additions to the mortgage loan
valuation allowances were $114, $261 and $(296) for the years ended December 31,
1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.
F-13
<PAGE>
INVESTMENT CONCENTRATION FOR MUNICIPAL BOND AND COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE PORTFOLIOS
AND OTHER INVESTMENT INFORMATION
The Company maintains a diversified portfolio of municipal bonds. The largest
concentrations in the portfolio are presented below. Except for the following,
holdings in no other state exceeded 5% of the portfolio at December 31, 1998 and
1997:
(% of municipal bond portfolio carrying value) 1998 1997
---- ----
Ohio 30.2% 28.4%
Illinois 21.1 19.8
California 17.4 22.7
Maryland 8.2 8.0
Minnesota 5.9 5.5
New York 5.7 5.4
Maine 5.3 5.6
The Company's mortgage loans are collateralized by a variety of commercial real
estate property types located throughout the United States. Substantially all of
the commercial mortgage loans are non-recourse to the borrower. The states with
the largest portion of the commercial mortgage loan portfolio are listed below.
Except for the following, holdings in no other state exceeded 5% of the
portfolio at December 31, 1998 and 1997:
(% of commercial mortgage portfolio carrying value) 1998 1997
---- ----
California 41.9% 47.7%
New York 26.3 30.5
Illinois 15.8 15.3
New Jersey 6.9 -
Pennsylvania 6.2 3.3
The types of properties collateralizing the commercial mortgage loans at
December 31, are as follows:
(% of commercial mortgage portfolio carrying value) 1998 1997
---- ----
Retail 39.5% 38.8%
Warehouse 19.2 25.4
Apartment complex 18.5 14.9
Office buildings 11.7 15.3
Industrial 5.5 4.9
Other 5.6 .7
------ ------
100.0% 100.0%
===== =====
F-14
<PAGE>
The contractual maturities of the commercial mortgage loan portfolio as of
December 31, 1998, for loans that were not in foreclosure are as follows:
NUMBER OF LOANS CARRYING VALUE PERCENT
--------------- -------------- -------
1999 1 $ 2,832 2.0%
2000 4 7,762 5.3
2001 5 7,066 4.9
2002 2 6,154 4.2
Thereafter 31 121,281 83.6
-------- -------- --------
Total 43 $145,095 100.0%
======== ======== ========
In 1998, there were no commercial mortgage loans which were contractually due.
SECURITIES ON DEPOSIT
At December 31, 1998, fixed income securities with a carrying value of $2,109
were on deposit with regulatory authorities as required by law.
5. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
In the normal course of business, the Company invests in various financial
assets, incurs various financial liabilities and enters into agreements
involving derivative financial instruments and other off-balance-sheet financial
instruments. The fair value estimates of financial instruments presented below
are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company might pay or receive
in actual market transactions. Potential taxes and other transaction costs have
not been considered in estimating fair value. The disclosures that follow do not
reflect the fair value of the Company as a whole since a number of the Company's
significant assets (including deferred acquisition costs and reinsurance
recoverables) and liabilities (including traditional life and universal
life-type insurance reserves and deferred income taxes) are not considered
financial instruments and are not carried at fair value. Other assets and
liabilities considered financial instruments such as accrued investment income
and cash are generally of a short-term nature. Their carrying values are assumed
to approximate fair value.
FINANCIAL ASSETS
The carrying value and fair value of financial assets at December 31, are as
follows:
1998 1997
---- ----
CARRYING FAIR CARRYING FAIR
VALUE VALUE VALUE VALUE
----- ----- ----- -----
Fixed income securities $1,966,067 $1,966,067 $1,756,257 $1,756,257
Mortgage loans 145,095 154,872 114,627 120,849
Short-term investments 76,127 76,127 9,513 9,513
Policy loans 29,620 29,620 27,600 27,600
Separate Accounts 366,247 366,247 308,595 308,595
Carrying value and fair value include the effects of derivative financial
instruments where applicable.
F-15
<PAGE>
Fair values for fixed income securities are based on quoted market prices where
available. Non-quoted securities are valued based on discounted cash flows using
current interest rates for similar securities. Mortgage loans are valued based
on discounted contractual cash flows. Discount rates are selected using current
rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with similar
characteristics, using similar properties as collateral. Loans that exceed 100%
loan-to-value are valued at the estimated fair value of the underlying
collateral. Short-term investments are highly liquid investments with maturities
of less than one year whose carrying value approximates fair value.
The carrying value of policy loans approximates its fair value. Separate
Accounts assets are carried in the statements of financial position at fair
value based on quoted market prices.
FINANCIAL LIABILITIES
The carrying value and fair value of financial liabilities at December 31, are
as follows:
1998 1997
---- ----
CARRYING FAIR CARRYING FAIR
VALUE VALUE VALUE VALUE
----- ----- ----- -----
Contractholder funds on
investment contracts $512,239 $518,448 $437,449 $466,136
Separate Accounts 366,247 366,247 308,595 308,595
The fair value of contractholder funds on investment contracts is based on the
terms of the underlying contracts. Reserves on investment contracts with no
stated maturities (single premium and flexible premium deferred annuities) are
valued at the account balance less surrender charges. The fair value of
immediate annuities and annuities without life contingencies with fixed terms is
estimated using discounted cash flow calculations based on interest rates
currently offered for contracts with similar terms and durations. Separate
Accounts liabilities are carried at the fair value of the underlying assets.
DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The only derivative financial instruments used by the Company are interest rate
futures contracts. The Company primarily uses this derivative financial
instrument to reduce its exposure to market risk, specifically interest rate
risk, in conjunction with asset/liability management. The Company does not hold
or issue these instruments for trading purposes.
The following table summarizes the contract amount, credit exposure, fair value
and carrying value of the Company's derivative financial instruments:
CARRYING
VALUE
CONTRACT CREDIT FAIR ASSETS/
AMOUNT EXPOSURE VALUE (LIABILITIES)
------ -------- ----- -------------
AT DECEMBER 31, 1998
- --------------------
Financial futures contracts $15,000 $ -- $ (15) $ (223)
AT DECEMBER 31, 1997
- --------------------
Financial futures contracts $29,800 $ -- $ (153) $ (810)
Carrying value is representative of deferred gains and losses.
F-16
<PAGE>
The contract amounts are used to calculate the exchange of contractual payments
under the agreements and are not representative of the potential for gain or
loss on these agreements.
Credit exposure represents the Company's potential loss if all of the
counterparties failed to perform under the contractual terms of the contracts
and all collateral, if any, became worthless. This exposure is measured by the
fair value of contracts with a positive fair value at the reporting date. The
Company manages its exposure to credit risk primarily by establishing risk
control limits. To date, the Company has not incurred any losses on derivative
financial instruments due to counterparty nonperformance.
Fair value is the estimated amount that the Company would receive (pay) to
terminate or assign the contracts at the reporting date, thereby taking into
account the current unrealized gains or losses of open contracts. Dealer and
exchange quotes are used to value the Company's derivatives.
Financial futures are commitments to either purchase or sell designated
financial instruments at a future date for a specified price or yield. They may
be settled in cash or through delivery. As part of its asset/liability
management, the Company generally utilizes futures contracts to manage its
market risk related to anticipatory investment purchases and sales, as well as
other risk management purposes. Futures used as hedges of anticipatory
transactions pertain to identified transactions which are probable to occur and
are generally completed within 90 days. Futures contracts have limited
off-balance-sheet credit risk as they are executed on organized exchanges and
require security deposits, as well as the daily cash settlement of margins.
Market risk is the risk that the Company will incur losses due to adverse
changes in market rates and prices. Market risk exists for all of the derivative
financial instruments that the Company currently holds, as these instruments may
become less valuable due to adverse changes in market conditions. The Company
mitigates this risk through established risk control limits set by senior
management. In addition, the change in the value of the Company's derivative
financial instruments designated as hedges are generally offset by the change in
the value of the related assets and liabilities.
OFF-BALANCE-SHEET FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Commitments to extend mortgage loans are agreements to lend to a borrower
provided there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. The
Company enters these agreements to commit to future loan fundings at a
predetermined interest rate. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates
or other termination clauses. Commitments to extend mortgage loans, which are
secured by the underlying properties, are valued based on estimates of fees
charged by other institutions to make similar commitments to similar borrowers.
The Company had no mortgage loan commitments at December 31, 1998. At December
31, 1997 the Company had $18,000 in mortgage loan commitments which had a fair
value of $180.
F-17
<PAGE>
6. INCOME TAXES
The Company joins the Corporation and its other eligible domestic subsidiaries
(the "Allstate Group") in the filing of a consolidated federal income tax return
and is party to a federal income tax allocation agreement (the "Allstate Tax
Sharing Agreement"). Under the Allstate Tax Sharing Agreement, the Company pays
to or receives from the Corporation the amount, if any, by which the Allstate
Group's federal income tax liability is affected by virtue of inclusion of the
Company in the consolidated federal income tax return. Effectively, this results
in the Company's annual income tax provision being computed, with adjustments,
as if the Company filed a separate return.
Prior to Sears, Roebuck and Co.'s ("Sears") distribution ("Sears distribution")
on June 30, 1995 of its 80.3% ownership in the Corporation to Sears
shareholders, the Allstate Group joined with Sears and its domestic business
units (the "Sears Group") in the filing of a consolidated federal income tax
return (the "Sears Tax Group") and were parties to a federal income tax
allocation agreement (the "Tax Sharing Agreement"). Under the Tax Sharing
Agreement, the Company, through the Corporation, paid to or received from the
Sears Group the amount, if any, by which the Sears Tax Group's federal income
tax liability was affected by virtue of inclusion of the Company in the
consolidated federal income tax return.
As a result of the Sears distribution, the Allstate Group was no longer included
in the Sears Tax Group, and the Tax Sharing Agreement was terminated.
Accordingly, the Allstate Group and Sears Group entered into a new tax sharing
agreement, which adopts many of the principles of the Tax Sharing Agreement and
governs their respective rights and obligations with respect to federal income
taxes for all periods prior to the Sears distribution, including the treatment
of audits of tax returns for such periods.
The Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") has completed its review of the Allstate
Group's federal income tax returns through the 1993 tax year. Any adjustments
that may result from IRS examinations of tax returns are not expected to have a
material impact on the financial position, liquidity or results of operations of
the Company.
The components of the deferred income tax assets and liabilities at December 31,
are as follows:
1998 1997
---- ----
DEFERRED ASSETS
Life and annuity reserves $ 41,073 $ 34,084
Difference in tax bases of investments -- 742
Discontinued operations 364 364
Other postretirement benefits 328 352
Other assets 2,023 255
-------- --------
Total deferred assets 43,788 35,797
-------- --------
DEFERRED LIABILITIES
Unrealized net capital gains (44,642) (34,720)
Deferred acquisition costs (20,573) (15,821)
Difference in tax bases of investments (1,784) --
Prepaid commission expense (790) (792)
Other liabilities (1,448) (1,454)
-------- --------
Total deferred liabilities (69,237) (52,787)
-------- --------
Net deferred liability $(25,449) $(16,990)
======== ========
F-18
<PAGE>
Although realization is not assured, management believes it is more likely than
not that the deferred tax assets will be realized based on the assumptions that
certain levels of income will be achieved.
The components of income tax expense for the year ended December 31, are as
follows:
1998 1997 1996
-------- -------- --------
Current $ 13,679 $ 14,874 $ 11,411
Deferred 1,255 (1,578) 257
-------- -------- --------
Total income tax expense $ 14,934 $ 13,296 $ 11,668
======== ======== ========
The Company paid income taxes of $3,788, $13,350 and $11,968 in 1998, 1997 and
1996, respectively. The Company had a current income tax liability of $14,029
and $1,419 at December 31, 1998 and 1997, respectively.
A reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax rate to the effective
income tax rate on income from operations for the year ended December 31, is as
follows:
1998 1997 1996
------ ------ ------
Statutory federal income tax rate 35.0% 35.0% 35.0%
State income tax expense 1.6 2.2 2.4
Other (1.5) (.3) (1.2)
------ ------ ------
Effective income tax rate 35.1% 36.9% 36.2%
====== ====== ======
Prior to January 1, 1984, the Company was entitled to exclude certain amounts
from taxable income and accumulate such amounts in a "policyholder surplus"
account. The balance in this account at December 31, 1998, approximately $389,
will result in federal income taxes payable of $136 if distributed by the
Company. No provision for taxes has been made as the Company has no plan to
distribute amounts from this account. No further additions to the account have
been permitted since the Tax Reform Act of 1984.
7. STATUTORY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
PERMITTED STATUTORY ACCOUNTING PRACTICES
The Company prepares its statutory financial statements in accordance with
accounting principles and practices prescribed or permitted by the New York
Department of Insurance. Prescribed statutory accounting practices include a
variety of publications of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners
("NAIC"), as well as state laws, regulations and general administrative rules.
Permitted statutory accounting practices encompass all accounting practices not
so prescribed. The Company does not follow any permitted statutory accounting
practices that have a significant impact on statutory surplus or statutory net
income.
The NAIC's codification initiative has produced a comprehensive guide of revised
statutory accounting principles. While the NAIC has approved a January 1, 2001
implementation date for the newly developed guidance, companies must adhere to
the implementation date adopted by their state of domicile. The Company's state
of domicile, New York, is continuing its comparison of codification and current
statutory accounting requirements to determine necessary revisions to existing
state laws and regulations. The requirements are not expected to have a material
impact on the statutory surplus of the Company.
F-19
<PAGE>
DIVIDENDS
The ability of the Company to pay dividends is dependent on business conditions,
income, cash requirements of the Company and other relevant factors. Under New
York Insurance Law, a notice of intention to distribute any dividend must be
filed with the New York Superintendent of Insurance not less than 30 days prior
to the distribution. Such proposed declaration is subject to the
Superintendent's disapproval.
8. BENEFIT PLANS
PENSION PLANS
Defined benefit pension plans, sponsored by the Corporation, cover domestic
full-time employees and certain part-time employees. Benefits under the pension
plans are based upon the employee's length of service, average annual
compensation and estimated social security retirement benefits. The
Corporation's funding policy for the pension plans is to make annual
contributions in accordance with accepted actuarial cost methods. The costs to
the Company included in net income were $382, $597 and $490 for the pension
plans in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.
POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS OTHER THAN PENSIONS
The Corporation also provides certain health care and life insurance benefits
for retired employees. Qualified employees may become eligible for these
benefits if they retire in accordance with the Corporation's established
retirement policy and are continuously insured under the Corporation's group
plans or other approved plans for ten or more years prior to retirement. The
Corporation shares the cost of the retiree medical benefits with retirees based
on years of service, with the Corporation's share being subject to a 5% limit on
annual medical cost inflation after retirement. The Corporation's postretirement
benefit plans currently are not funded. The Corporation has the right to modify
or terminate these plans.
PROFIT SHARING FUND
Employees of the Corporation and its domestic subsidiaries are also eligible to
become members of The Savings and Profit Sharing Fund of Allstate Employees
("Allstate Plan"). The Corporation's contributions are based on the
Corporation's matching obligation and performance.
The Company's contribution to the Allstate Plan was $567, $164 and $111 in 1998,
1997 and 1996, respectively.
F-20
<PAGE>
9. OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
The components of other comprehensive income on a pretax and after-tax basis for
the year ended December 31, are as follows:
<TABLE>
1998 1997 1996
------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------
After- After- After-
Pretax Tax tax Pretax Tax tax Pretax Tax tax
------ --- --- ------ --- --- ------ --- ---
Unrealized capital gains
and losses:
- --------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Unrealized holding gains
(losses) arising during
the period $75,817 $(26,536) $49,281 $ 124,702 $(43,645) $ 81,057 $(86,096) $ 30,133 $(55,963)
Adjustments to unrealized
capital gains and losses
arising during the period:
Deferred acquisition costs (348) 122 (226) (861) 301 (560) 762 (267) 495
Reserve for life insurance
policy benefits (42,251) 14,788 (27,463) (80,155) 28,054 (52,101) 24,300 (8,505) 15,795
------- -------- ------- --------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Net unrealized holding
gains arising during the
period 33,218 (11,626) 21,592 43,686 (15,290) 28,396 (61,034) 21,361 (39,673)
------- -------- ------- --------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Less: reclassification
adjustment for realized
net capital gains included
in net income 4,869 (1,704) 3,165 1,183 (414) 769 (3,249) 1,137 (2,112)
------- -------- ------- --------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
Unrealized net capital
gains (losses) 28,349 (9,922) 18,427 42,503 (14,876) 27,627 (57,785) 20,224 (37,561)
------- -------- ------- --------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE
INCOME $28,349 $ (9,922) $18,427 $ 42,503 $(14,876) $ 27,627 $(57,785) $ 20,224 $(37,561)
======= ======== ======= ========= ======== ======== ======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
REGULATIONS AND LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company's business is subject to the effect of a changing social, economic
and regulatory environment. Public and regulatory initiatives have varied and
have included employee benefit regulation, controls on medical care costs,
removal of barriers preventing banks from engaging in the securities and
insurance business, tax law changes affecting the taxation of insurance
companies, the tax treatment of insurance products and its impact on the
relative desirability of various personal investment vehicles, and proposed
legislation to prohibit the use of gender in determining insurance rates and
benefits. The ultimate changes and eventual effects, if any, of these
initiatives are uncertain.
From time to time the Company is involved in pending and threatened litigation
in the normal course of its business in which claims for monetary damages are
asserted. In the opinion of management, the ultimate liability, if any, arising
from such pending or threatened litigation is not expected to have a material
effect on the results of operations, liquidity or financial position of the
Company.
F-21
<PAGE>
ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
SCHEDULE IV--REINSURANCE
($ in thousands)
GROSS NET
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 AMOUNT CEDED AMOUNT
- ---------------------------- ------ ----- ------
Life insurance in force $12,656,826 $ 857,500 $11,799,326
=========== =========== ===========
Premiums and contract charges:
Life and annuities $ 116,678 $ 2,541 $ 114,137
Accident and health 5,578 663 4,915
----------- ----------- -----------
$ 122,256 $ 3,204 $ 119,052
=========== =========== ===========
GROSS NET
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 AMOUNT CEDED AMOUNT
- ---------------------------- ------ ----- ------
Life insurance in force $11,339,990 $ 721,040 $10,618,950
=========== =========== ===========
Premiums and contract charges:
Life and annuities $ 116,167 $ 2,185 $ 113,982
Accident and health 5,883 902 4,981
----------- ----------- -----------
$ 122,050 $ 3,087 $ 118,963
=========== =========== ===========
GROSS NET
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 AMOUNT CEDED AMOUNT
- ---------------------------- ------ ----- ------
Life insurance in force $ 9,962,300 $ 553,628 $ 9,408,672
=========== =========== ===========
Premiums and contract charges:
Life and annuities $ 114,296 $ 1,398 $ 112,898
Accident and health 5,083 875 4,208
----------- ----------- -----------
$ 119,379 $ 2,273 $ 117,106
=========== =========== ===========
F-22
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
SCHEDULE V--VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
($ in thousands)
BALANCE AT CHARGED TO BALANCE AT
BEGINNING COSTS AND END OF
OF PERIOD EXPENSES DEDUCTIONS PERIOD
--------- -------- ---------- ------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998
- ----------------------------
Allowance for estimated losses
on mortgage loans $ 486 $ 114 $ - $ 600
============ ============ ============ ============
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997
- ----------------------------
Allowance for estimated losses
on mortgage loans $ 225 $ 261 $ - $ 486
============ ============ ============ ============
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
- ----------------------------
Allowance for estimated losses
on mortgage loans $ 1,952 $ (296) $ 1,431 $ 225
============ ============ ============ ============
</TABLE>
F-23
<PAGE>
ALLSTATE LIFE OF NEW YORK SEPARATE ACCOUNT A
Financial Statements as of December 31, 1998
and for the periods ended December 31, 1998
and December 31, 1997, and
Independent Auditors' Report
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
To the Board of Directors and Shareholder of
Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York:
We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets of each of the
sub-accounts ("portfolios" for purposes of this report) that comprise Allstate
Life of New York Separate Account A (the "Account"), a Separate Account of
Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York, an affiliate of The Allstate
Corporation, as of December 31, 1998, and the related statements of operations
and changes in net assets for the years ended December 31, 1998 and December 31,
1997 of the Capital Appreciation, Diversified Income, Global Utilities,
Government Securities, Growth, Growth and Income, International Equity, Money
Market, and Value portfolios of the AIM Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. that
comprise the Account. These financial statements are the responsibility of the
Account's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included
confirmation of securities owned at December 31, 1998. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, such financial statements present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial position of each of the portfolios that comprise the
Account as of December 31, 1998, and the results of their operations for the
year then ended and the changes in their net assets for each of the two years in
the period then ended, of each of the portfolios comprising the Account, in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Chicago, Illinois
March 18, 1999
<PAGE>
ALLSTATE LIFE OF NEW YORK SEPARATE ACCOUNT A
STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS
DECEMBER 31, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
($ and shares in thousands)
ASSETS
Investments in the AIM Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. Portfolios:
Capital Appreciation, 171 shares (cost $3,829) $ 4,305
Diversified Income, 161 shares (cost $1,824) 1,765
Global Utilities, 23 shares (cost $364) 395
Government Securities, 320 shares (cost $3,576) 3,573
Growth, 169 shares (cost $3,615) 4,187
Growth and Income, 278 shares (cost $5,421) 6,604
International Equity, 100 shares (cost $1,818) 1,964
Money Market, 968 shares (cost $968) 968
Value, 272 shares (cost $6,060) 7,152
--------------
Total assets 30,913
LIABILITIES
Payable to Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York:
Accrued contract maintenance charges 8
--------------
Net assets $ 30,905
==============
See notes to financial statements.
2
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ALLSTATE LIFE OF NEW YORK SEPARATE ACCOUNT A
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
($ in thousands)
AIM Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. Portfolios
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the Year Ended December 31, 1998
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital Diversi- Globa Govt. Growth Inter-
Appreci- fied Utili- Securi- and national Money
ation Income ties ties Growth Income Equity Market Value
------- ------ ------- ------- ------- ------- -------- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
INVESTMENT INCOME
Dividends $ 115 $ 114 $ 8 $ 95 $ 264 $ 89 $ 16 $ 38 $ 327
Charges from Allstate Life Insurance
Company of New York:
Mortality and expense risk (45) (18) (3) (15) (36) (62) (21) (10) (61)
Administrative expense (4) (1) -- (1) (3) (5) (2) (1) (4)
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Net investment income (loss) 66 95 5 79 225 22 (7) 27 262
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAINS
(LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS
Realized gains (losses) from sales of
investments:
Proceeds from sales 574 233 124 551 243 395 227 352 342
Cost of investments sold 573 225 125 442 214 377 222 352 310
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Net realized gains (losses) 1 8 (1) 109 29 18 5 -- 32
Change in unrealized gains (losses) 458 (86) 24 (23) 542 1,076 166 -- 1,022
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Net gains (losses) on investments 459 (78) 23 86 571 1,094 171 -- 1,054
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
CHANGE IN NET ASSETS RESULTING
FROM OPERATIONS $ 525 $ 17 $ 28 $ 165 $ 796 $ 1,116 $ 164 $ 27 $ 1,316
======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
<FN>
See notes to financial statements
</FN>
</TABLE>
3
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ALLSTATE LIFE OF NEW YORK SEPARATE ACCOUNT A
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
($ in thousands)
AIM Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. Portfolios
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the Year Ended December 31, 1998
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital Diversi- Globa Govt. Growth Inter-
Appreci- fied Utili- Securi- and national Money
ation Income ties ties Growth Income Equity Market Value
------- ------ ------- ------- ------- ------- -------- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
FROM OPERATIONS
Net investment income (loss) $ 66 $ 95 $ 5 $ 79 $ 225 $ 22 $ (7) $ 27 $ 262
Net realized gains (losses) 1 8 (1) 109 29 18 5 -- 32
Change in unrealized gains (losses) 458 (86) 24 (23) 542 1,076 166 -- 1,022
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ -------
Change in net assets resulting from
operations 525 17 28 165 796 1,116 164 27 1,316
FROM CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS
Deposits 2,056 1,223 357 2,725 2,076 3,227 716 510 3,273
Benefit payments (30) (33) (5) -- (7) (82) (7) (37) (7)
Payments on termination (115) (38) (4) (9) (100) (162) (33) (16) (104)
Contract maintenance charges (2) -- -- (1) (1) (2) (1) -- (3)
Transfers among the portfolios and with
the Fixed Account - net (183) (99) (94) 268 31 76 42 32 236
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ -------
Change in net assets resulting from
capital transactions 1,726 1,053 254 2,983 1,999 3,057 717 489 3,395
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ -------
INCREASE IN NET ASSETS 2,251 1,070 282 3,148 2,795 4,173 881 516 4,711
NET ASSETS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR 2,053 695 113 424 1,391 2,429 1,082 452 2,439
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------ -------
NET ASSETS AT END OF YEAR $ 4,304 $ 1,765 $ 395 $ 3,572 $ 4,186 $ 6,602 $ 1,963 $ 968 $ 7,150
======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
<FN>
See notes to financial statements.
</FN>
</TABLE>
4
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ALLSTATE LIFE OF NEW YORK SEPARATE ACCOUNT A
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
($ and units in thousands, except value per unit)
AIM Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. Portfolios
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the Year Ended December 31, 1997
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital Diversi- Global Govt. Growth Inter-
Appreci- fied Utili- Securi- and national Money
ation Income ties ties Growth Income Equity Market Value
------- ------ ------- ------- ------- ------- -------- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
FROM OPERATIONS
Net investment income (loss) $ 12 $ (3) $ -- $ (3) $ 39 $ (10) $ 13 $ 10 $ 67
Net realized gains 1 -- -- -- 1 3 1 -- 2
Change in unrealized gains (losses) 17 30 7 20 31 106 (22) -- 70
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Change in net assets resulting from
operations 30 27 7 17 71 99 (8) 10 139
FROM CAPITAL TRANSACTIONS
Deposits 1,832 570 106 406 1,279 2,277 988 694 2,294
Benefit payments -- -- -- -- -- (49) -- (75) (49)
Payments on termination (10) (5) -- -- (11) (20) (2) (16) (19)
Contract maintenance charges -- -- -- -- -- (1) -- -- (1)
Transfers among the portfolios and with
the Fixed Account - net 113 53 -- 1 25 60 39 (206) 9
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Change in net assets resulting from
capital transactions 1,935 618 106 407 1,293 2,267 1,025 397 2,234
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
INCREASE IN NET ASSETS 1,965 645 113 424 1,364 2,366 1,017 407 2,373
NET ASSETS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR 88 50 -- -- 27 63 65 45 66
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
NET ASSETS AT END OF YEAR $ 2,053 $ 695 $ 113 $ 424 $ 1,391 $ 2,429 $ 1,082 $ 452 $ 2,439
======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
Net asset value per unit at end of year $ 12.74 $ 11.79 $ 13.52 $ 10.83 $ 14.34 $ 14.50 $ 12.60 $ 10.74 $ 13.52
======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
Units outstanding at end of year 161 59 8 39 97 168 86 42 180
======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= =======
<FN>
See notes to financial statements.
</FN>
</TABLE>
5
<PAGE>
ALLSTATE LIFE OF NEW YORK SEPARATE ACCOUNT A
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
TWO YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. ORGANIZATION
Allstate Life of New York Separate Account A (the "Account"), a unit
investment trust registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, is a Separate Account of Allstate
Life Insurance Company of New York ("ALNY"). The assets of the Account are
legally segregated from those of ALNY. ALNY is wholly owned by Allstate
Life Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Allstate Insurance
Company, which is wholly owned by The Allstate Corporation.
ALNY issues certain annuity contracts, the deposits of which are invested
at the direction of the contractholder in the sub-accounts ("portfolios"
for purposes of this report) that comprise the Account. Contractholders
bear all investment risk for amounts allocated to the Account. The
portfolios invest in the AIM Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. (the "Fund").
ALNY provides insurance and administrative services to the contractholders
for a fee.
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Valuation of Investments - Investments consist of shares of the Fund and
are stated at fair value based on quoted market prices at December 31,
1998.
Investment Income - Investment income consists of dividends declared by the
Fund and is recognized on the date of record.
Realized Gains and Losses - Realized gains and losses represent the
difference between the proceeds from sales of portfolio shares by the
Account and the cost of such shares, which is determined on a weighted
average basis.
Federal Income Taxes - The Account intends to qualify as a segregated asset
account as defined in the Internal Revenue Code ("Code"). As such, the
operations of the Account are included with and taxed as a part of ALNY.
ALNY is taxed as a life insurance company under the Code. No federal income
taxes are payable by the Account in 1998 as the Account did not generate
taxable income.
3. CONTRACT CHARGES
ALNY assumes mortality and expense risks related to the operations of the
Account and deducts charges daily at a rate equal to 1.35% per annum of the
daily net assets of the Account. ALNY guarantees that the amount of this
charge will not increase over the life of the contract.
ALNY deducts administrative expense charges daily at a rate equal to .10%
per annum of the daily net assets of the Account.
If aggregate deposits are less than $50,000, ALNY will deduct an annual
maintenance fee of $35 on each contract anniversary.
4. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The investments of the Account are carried at fair value, based upon quoted
market prices. Accrued contract maintenance charges are of a short-term
nature. It is assumed that their carrying value approximates fair value.
6
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
5. UNITS ISSUED AND REDEEMED
(Units in whole amounts) Unit activity during 1998
-------------------------
Units Units Accumulation
Outstanding Outstanding Unit Value
December 31, Units Units December 31, December 31,
1997 Issued Redeemed 1998 1998
--------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Investments in the AIM Variable
Insurance Funds, Inc. Portfolio:
Capital Appreciation Portfolio 161,013 184,864 (58,541) 287,336 $ 14.98
Diversified Income Portfolio 58,958 110,754 (23,068) 146,644 12.03
Global Utilities Portfolio 8,276 32,920 (15,778) 25,418 15.52
Government Securities Portfolio 39,009 329,878 (66,904) 301,983 11.83
Growth Portfolio 97,039 150,194 (26,402) 220,831 18.95
Growth and Income Portfolio 167,625 228,614 (34,349) 361,890 18.24
International Equity Portfolio 85,934 69,780 (18,816) 136,898 14.34
Money Market Portfolio 42,128 76,593 (31,711) 87,010 11.13
Value Fund Portfolio 180,440 251,601 (26,795) 405,246 17.64
<FN>
Units relating to accrued contract maintenance charges are included in units
redeemed.
</FN>
</TABLE>
7
<PAGE>
PART C
27. NUMBER OF CONTRACT OWNERS
AIM Lifetime Plus:
As of December 30, 1999, there were 461 nonqualified contracts and 818 qualified
contracts.
AIM Lifetime Plus II Variable Annuity:
As of December 30, 1999, the offering of the AIM Lifetime Plus II Variable
Annuity Contract had not commenced.
