The net option value as of a Market Close is a percentage equal to:
| 1) | the value of the ATM Call Option calculated for the Market Close, multiplied by the Upside Participation Rate; minus |
| 2) | the value of the OTM Put Option calculated for the Market Close. |
The amortized option cost is a percentage equal to:
| 1) | the net option value for the Strategy calculated for the beginning of the Term; multiplied by |
| 2) | the number of days remaining until the final Market Close of the Term divided by 2192 . |
ATM Call Option
The ATM Call Option is a hypothetical call option that will pay the holder an amount equal to the percentage increase, if any, in the Russell 2000 Index from the last Market Close on or before the start of the Term to the final Market Close of the Term.
OTM Put Option
The OTM Put Option is a hypothetical put option that will pay the holder an amount equal to the percentage decrease, if any, in the Russell 2000 Index from the last Market Close on or before the start of the Term to the final Market Close of the Term, but only to the extent the percentage decrease exceeds the Buffer for the Term.
Option Values
The values of the ATM Call Option and OTM Put Option are calculated by us using a market standard model for valuing an option. Each value is stated as a percentage of the index value at the last Market Close on or before the first day of the Term.
Upside Participation Rate
The Upside Participation Rate is the portion of the increase in the index value for a Term taken into account to determine the Gain, if any for that Term. We will set the Upside Participation Rate for each initial or renewal Term of this Strategy before the first day of that Term. For a given Term, we may set a different Upside Participation Rate for amounts attributable to Purchase Payments received on different dates. The Upside Participation Rate for each Term of this Strategy shall never be less than 5%.
Buffer
The Buffer is the decrease in the value of the Russell 2000 Index for a Term that is disregarded when determining the Loss, if any, for that Term. The Buffer for each Term of this Strategy is 10%.
Trading Cost
Trading Cost is the estimated cost of selling the hypothetical option before the end of a Term. It is a percentage set by us from time to time to reflect the average difference between the Option Values and market bid prices.
Market Close
A Market Close for this Strategy is the official closing of the markets on which the securities that comprise the index are traded on each day that is a Market Day.
Merger of Crediting Strategies
At the end of a Term, this Strategy shall merge into and become a part of the Russell 2000 1-Year Indexed Strategy designated by the Company on a nondiscriminatory basis. If at the end of a Term there is no Russell 2000 1-Year Indexed Strategy available, then this Strategy shall merge into and become a part of the S&P 500 1-Year Indexed Strategy designated by the Company on a nondiscriminatory basis. Unless moved under the reallocation provision of the Contract, the value of this Strategy at the end of a Term shall be applied to a new Term of such 1-Year Indexed Strategy.