Registration 333-11493 Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) THE SCHWAB FIXED ANNUITY A FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED FIXED ANNUITY Distributed by CHARLES SCHWAB & CO., INC. _____________________________________________ Issued by GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY This prospectus describes interests under a flexible premium deferred annuity contract, The Schwab Fixed Annuity (the "Contract"). The Contract is issued either on a group basis or as individual contracts by Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company (the "Company"). Participation in a group contract will be accounted for by the issuance of a certificate showing an interest under the group contract. The certificate and the individual contract are hereafter both referred to as the "Contract." Your investment in the Contract may be allocated to the available Guarantee Periods. You are allowed to select one or more Guarantee Periods, each of which offers you a specified interest rate for a specified period. There may be a Market Value Adjustment on the amounts withdrawn from the Guarantee Period Fund prior to maturity. This Contract may not be available in all states. The minimum initial investment is $5,000 ($2,000 if an IRA) or $1,000 if made under an Automatic Contribution Plan ("ACP"). The minimum subsequent Contribution is $500 (or $100 per month if made under an ACP). A maximum surrender charge of three percent may be applicable for amounts withdrawn in the first three years. The Contract provides a Free Look Period of 10 days from your receipt of the Contract (or longer, if required by state law), during which time you may cancel your investment in the Contract. Contributions will be allocated directly into the specified Guarantee Period(s). Amounts allocated to a Guarantee Period may be subject to a Market Value Adjustment which could result in receipt of more or less than your Contributions if you surrender, Transfer, make a partial withdrawal, apply amounts to purchase an annuity or take a distribution upon the death of the Owner or Annuitant before a Guarantee Period Maturity Date. Whether such a result actually occurs depends on the timing of the transaction, the amount of the Market Value Adjustment and the interest rate credited. The interest rate in subsequent Guarantee Periods may be more or less than the rate of a previous Guarantee Period. THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. NO PERSON IS AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY TO GIVE INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION, OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERS CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFERING IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFERING MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE. PLEASE READ THIS PROSPECTUS AND KEEP IT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. Prospectus Dated July 1, 1997 The Contracts are not deposits of, or guaranteed or endorsed by any bank, nor are the Contracts federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board or any other government agency. The Contracts involve certain investment risks, including possible loss of principal. To Place Orders and for Annuity Account Information: Contact the Schwab Annuity Service Center at 800-838-0650 or P.O. Box 7666, San Francisco, California 94120-7666. A b o u t This Prospectus: This prospectus concisely presents important information you should have before investing in the Contract. Please read it carefully and retain it for future reference. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page DEFINITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i KEY FEATURES OF THE ANNUITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 FEE TABLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 THE GUARANTEE PERIOD FUND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 THE MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 APPLICATION AND CONTRIBUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 TRANSFERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 CASH WITHDRAWALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 TELEPHONE TRANSACTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 DEATH BENEFIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 PAYMENT OPTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 FEDERAL TAX MATTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 ASSIGNMENTS OR PLEDGES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 DISTRIBUTION OF THE CONTRACTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 RIGHTS RESERVED BY THE COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 LEGAL MATTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 EXPERTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 AVAILABLE INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 APPENDIX A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 APPENDIX B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F-1 _________________________________________________________________ THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFERING IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFERING MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE. NO DEALER, SALESPERSON, OR OTHER PERSON IS AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH OTHER INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED ON. _________________________________________________________________ The Contract is not available in all states. _________________________________________________________________ DEFINITIONS _________________________________________________________________ Accumulation Period - The period between the Effective Date and the Payment Commencement Date. Annuitant - The person named in the application upon whose life the payment of an annuity is based and who will receive annuity payments. If a Contingent Annuitant is named, then the Annuitant will be considered the Primary Annuitant. While the Annuitant is living and at least 30 days prior to the annuity commencement date, the Owner may, by Request, change the Annuitant. Annuity Account - An account established by the Company in the name of the Owner that reflects all account activity under this Contract. Annuity Account Value - The sum of the value of all Guarantee Periods credited to the Owner under the Annuity Account; less Transfers, partial withdrawals, amounts applied to an annuity option, periodic withdrawals, charges deducted under the Contract and, less Premium Tax, if any. Annuity Payment Period - The period beginning on the annuity commencement date and continuing until all annuity payments have been made under the Contract. Automatic Contribution Plan ("ACP") - A plan which allows for automatic periodic Contributions. The Contribution amount will be withdrawn from a designated pre-authorized account and automatically credited to the Annuity Account. Beneficiary - The person(s) designated by the Owner, in the application, or as subsequently changed by the Owner by Request, to receive any death benefit which may become payable under the terms of the Contract. If the surviving spouse of an Owner is the surviving Joint Owner, the surviving spouse will become the Beneficiary upon such Owner's death and may elect to take the death benefit, if any, or elect to continue the Contract in force. Company - Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company, the issuer of this annuity, located at 8515 East Orchard Road, Englewood, Colorado 80111. Contingent Annuitant - The person named in the application, unless later changed by the Owner by Request while the Annuitant is alive and before annuity payments have commenced, who becomes the Annuitant when the Primary Annuitant dies. No new Contingent Annuitant may be designated after the death of the Primary Annuitant. Contributions - Purchase amounts received under the Contract prior to any Premium Tax or other deductions. Effective Date - The date on which the first Contribution is credited to the Annuity Account. Guarantee Period - One of the periods of time available in the Guarantee Period Fund during which the Company will credit a stated rate of interest. i The Company may stop offering any term at any time for new Contributions. Amounts allocated to one or more Guaranteed Periods may be subject to a Market Value Adjustment. Guarantee Period Fund - A fixed interest investment option in which amounts allocated will be credited a stated rate of interest for the applicable Guarantee Period(s). Guarantee Period Maturity Date - The last day of any Guarantee Period. Guaranteed Interest Rate - The minimum interest rate applicable to each Guarantee Period equal to an annual effective rate in effect at the time the Contribution is made and as reflected in written confirmation of the Contribution. This is the minimum rate allowed by law and is subject to change in accordance with changes in applicable law. Individual Retirement Annuity (IRA) - An annuity contract used in a retirement savings program that is intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 408 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Market Value Adjustment - An adjustment which may be made to amounts paid out before the Guarantee Period Maturity Date due to surrenders, partial withdrawals, Transfers, amounts applied to the periodic withdrawal option or to purchase an annuity, and distributions resulting from death of the Owner or Annuitant, as applicable. Market Value Adjustments may increase or decrease the amount payable on one of the above-described distributions. A negative adjustment may result in an effective interest rate lower than the applicable Guaranteed Interest Rate, and the value of the Contribution(s) allocated to the Guarantee Period being less than the Contribution(s) made. The Market Value Adjustment is detailed on page 6. Non-Qualified Annuity Contract - An annuity contract which is not intended to be part of a qualified retirement plan and is not intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 408 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Owner (Joint Owner) or You - The person(s), while the Annuitant is living, named in the Contract Data Page who is entitled to exercise all rights and privileges under the Contract. Joint Owners must be husband and wife as of the date the Contract is issued. The Annuitant will be the Owner unless otherwise indicated in the application. If a Contract is purchased as an IRA, the Owner and the Annuitant must be the same individual and no Joint Owner may be named. Any reference to Owner in the singular tense shall include the plural, and vice versa, as applicable. Payment Commencement Date - The date on which annuity payments or periodic withdrawals commence under a payment option. The Payment Commencement Date must be at least one year after the Effective Date of the Contract. If a Payment Commencement Date is not shown on the Contract Data Page, annuity payments will commence on the first day of the month of the Annuitant's 91st birthday. The Payment Commencement Date may be changed by the Owner within 60 days prior to commencement of annuity payments or it may be changed by the Beneficiary upon the death of the Owner. If this is an IRA, payments which ii satisfy the minimum distribution requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, must begin no later than the Owner's attainment of age 70 1/2. Premium Tax - The amount of tax, if any, charged by a state or other governmental authority. Request - Any written, telephoned, or computerized instruction in a form satisfactory to the Company and received at the Schwab Annuity Service Center (or other annuity service center subsequently named) from the Owner or the Owner's designee (as specified in a form acceptable to the Company) or the Beneficiary (as applicable) as required by any provision of the Contract or as required by the Company. All Requests are subject to any action taken or payment made by the Company before it was processed. Schwab Annuity Service Center - P.O. Box 7666, San Francisco, California 94120-7666, telephone 800-838-0650. Simplified Employee Pension - An individual retirement annuity (IRA) which may accept contributions from one or more employers under a retirement savings program intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 408(k) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Surrender Value - The Annuity Account Value with a Market Value Adjustment, if applicable, and/or any surrender charge, if applicable, on the effective date of the surrender, less Premium Tax, if any. Transaction Date - The date on which any Contribution or Request from the Owner will be processed by the Company at the Schwab Annuity Service Center. Contributions and Requests received after 4:00 p.m. EST/EDT will be deemed to have been received on the next business day. Requests will be processed each day that the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading. Transfer - To move money among the Guaranteed Periods. We, our, us, or GWL&A: Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company. iii KEY FEATURES OF THE ANNUITY The Contract currently allows Owners to invest in the Guarantee Period Fund which is comprised of Guarantee Periods, each of which has its own stated rate of interest and its own maturity date. The stated rate of interest for the Guarantee Period will depend on the date the Guarantee Period is established and the duration of the Guarantee Period you select from among those available. The rates declared are subject to a minimum (Guaranteed Interest Rate), but the Company may declare higher rates (the stated rate of interest). The Guaranteed Interest Rate will be disclosed in the written confirmation. The stated rate of interest will not be less than the Guaranteed Interest Rate and will also be disclosed in the written confirmation. Amounts withdrawn or transferred from a Guarantee Period prior to the Guarantee Period Maturity Date may be subject to a Market Value Adjustment. (See "Market Value Adjustment, p.6.) The Contract may not be available in all states or jurisdictions. Please consult with your representative or call the Schwab Annuity Service Center for more information. Who should invest. The Contract is designed for investors who are seeking long-term tax deferred asset accumulation on a fixed interest rate basis. The Contract can be used for retirement or other long-term investment purposes. The deferral of income taxes is particularly attractive to investors in high federal and state tax brackets who have already fully taken advantage of their ability to make IRA contributions or "pre-tax" contributions to their employer sponsored retirement or savings plans. How to Invest. You must complete a Contract application form, in order to invest in the Contract, and pay by check or instruct us to transfer funds from your Schwab account. The minimum initial investment is $5,000 (or $2,000 if in an IRA). Subsequent investments must be at least $500. The minimum initial investment may be reduced to $1,000 should the Owner agree to make additional $100 per month minimum recurring deposits through an ACP. Free Look Period. The Contract provides for a Free Look Period which allows you to cancel your investment generally within 10 days of your receipt of the Contract. You can cancel the Contract during the Free Look Period by delivering or mailing the Contract to the Schwab Annuity Service Center. The cancellation is not effective unless we receive a notice which is postmarked before the end of the Free Look Period. If the Contract is returned, the Contract will be void from the start and the Annuity Account Value will be refunded. These procedures may vary where required by state law. (See "Application and Contributions," p. 8.) Allocation of the Initial Investment. Your initial investment in the Guarantee Period Fund will be directly allocated to the Guarantee Period(s) specified in the application. Charges and Deductions Under the Contract. The Contract is a "low load" annuity and, as such, imposes no sales charge when Contributions are made, and only a maximum surrender charge of three percent if funds are withdrawn in the first three Contract years. 1 No Contract Maintenance Charge will be deducted from your Annuity Account Value. There will be a transfer fee of $10 for each Transfer in excess of twelve Transfers per calendar year. (See "Charges and Deductions," p. 13.) Depending on your state of residence, we may deduct a charge for Premium Tax from purchase payments or amounts withdrawn or at the Payment Commencement Date. (See "Charges and Deductions," p. 13.) The Market Value Adjustment may increase or decrease the amount Transferred or withdrawn from the value of a Guarantee Period if the Guarantee Period is broken prior to the Guarantee Period Maturity Date. A negative adjustment may result in an effective interest rate lower than the stated rate of interest for the applicable Guarantee Period and the Guaranteed Interest Rate and the value of the Contribution(s) allocated to the Guarantee Period being less than the Contribution(s) made. (See "Market Value Adjustment," p. 6.) Switching Investments. You may switch Contributions among the Guarantee Periods as often as you like with no immediate tax consequences. You may make a Transfer Request to the Schwab Annuity Service Center. A transfer fee may apply. (See "Charges and Deductions," p. 13.) Amounts Transferred out of a Guarantee Period prior to the Guarantee Period Maturity Date may be subject to a Market Value Adjustment. (See "Market Value Adjustment," p. 6.) Full and Partial Withdrawals. You may withdraw all or part of your Annuity Account Value before the earlier of the annuity commencement date you selected or the Annuitant's or Owner's death. Withdrawals may be taxable and if made prior to age 59 1/2 may be subject to a 10% penalty tax. Withdrawals from a Guarantee Period prior to the Guarantee Period Maturity Date may be subject to Market Value Adjustment. (See "Market Value Adjustment," p. 6.) Amounts withdrawn also may be subject to a surrender charge. (See "Charges and Deductions," p. 13.) The minimum partial withdrawal prior to the Market Value Adjustment is $500. There is no limit on the number of withdrawals made. The Company may delay payment of withdrawals from the Guarantee Period Fund by up to 6 months. (See "Cash Withdrawals," p. 9.) Annuity Options. Beginning on the first day of the month immediately following the annuity commencement date you select, you may receive annuity payments on a fixed basis. (The default date is the first day of the month that the Annuitant attains age 91.) A wide range of annuity options are available to provide flexibility in choosing an annuity payment schedule that meets your particular needs. These annuity options include payment options designed to provide payments for life (for either a single or joint life), with or without a guaranteed minimum number of payments. (See "Payment Options," p. 14.) Death Benefit. The amount of the death benefit, if payable before annuity payments commence, will be the greater of (a) the Annuity Account Value with a Market Value Adjustment, if applicable, as of the date a Request for payment is received, less Premium Tax, if any; or (b) the sum of Contributions paid, less partial withdrawals and Periodic Withdrawals, less charges deducted under the Contract, if any, less Premium Tax, if any. (See "Death Benefit," p. 11.) 2 Customer Service. Schwab's professional representatives are available toll-free to assist you. If you have any questions about your Contract, please telephone the Schwab Annuity Service Center (800-838-0650) or write to the Schwab Annuity Service Center at P.O. Box 7666, San Francisco, California 94120-7666. All inquiries should include the Contract number and the Owner's name. As a Contract Owner you will receive periodic statements confirming any transactions relating to your Contract, as well as a quarterly statement and an annual report. 3 ________________________________________________________________ FEE TABLE _________________________________________________________________ The purpose of this table is to assist you in understanding the various costs and expenses that you will bear directly or indirectly when investing in the Contract. The information set forth should be considered together with the narrative provided under the heading "Charges and Deductions" In addition to the expenses listed below, Premium Tax may be applicable. Contract Owner Transaction Expenses Sales Load None Surrender Fee Maximum 3% Transfer Fee (First 12 Per Year) 1/ None Contract Maintenance Charge None 1/ There is a $10 fee for each Transfer in excess of twelve in any contract year. 4 _________________________________________________________________ GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY _________________________________________________________________ The Company is a stock life insurance company originally organized under the laws of the state of Kansas as the National Interment Association. Its name was changed to Ranger National Life Insurance Company in 1963 and to Insuramerica Corporation prior to changing to its current name in 1982. In September of 1990, GWL&A redomesticated and is now organized under the laws of the state of Colorado. GWL&A is authorized to engage in the sale of life insurance, accident and health insurance and annuities. It is qualified to do business in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 49 states in the United States. GWL&A is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Great-West Life Assurance Company ("Great-West Life"). Great-West Life is a subsidiary of Great-West Lifeco Inc., a holding company. Great-West Lifeco Inc. is in turn a subsidiary of Power Financial Corporation, a financial services company. Power Corporation of Canada, a holding and management company, has voting control of Power Financial Corporation. Mr. Paul Desmarais, through a group of private holding companies, which he controls, has voting control of Power Corporation of Canada. _________________________________________________________________ THE GUARANTEE PERIOD FUND _________________________________________________________________ Guarantee Period Fund Contributions under the Contract will be deposited to, and accounted for, in a non-unitized separate account established by the Company under Section 10-7-401, et. seq. of the Colorado Insurance Code. A non-unitized separate account is a separate account in which the Owner does not participate in the performance of the assets through unit values. Therefore, Owner's do not receive a unit ownership of assets accounted for in this separate account. The assets accrue solely to the benefit of the Company and any gain or loss in the separate account is borne entirely by the Company. For amounts contributed, Owners will receive the Contract guarantees made by the Company. Contributions will be allocated to one or more Guarantee Periods of a duration selected by the Owner from those currently being offered by the Company. Every Guarantee Period offered by the Company will have a duration of at least one year. Contributions will be credited on the Transaction Date. Each Guarantee Period will have its own stated rate of interest and Guarantee Period Maturity Date. The stated rate of interest applicable to a 5 Guarantee Period will depend on the date the Guarantee Period is established and the duration chosen by the Owner. As of the date of this prospectus, Guarantee Periods with annual durations of 1 to 10 years are offered only in those states where the Contract is available. The Guarantee Periods may be changed in the future; however, any such modification will not have an impact on any Guarantee Period then in effect. T h e value of amounts in each Guarantee Period is the Owner's Contributions, less Premium Tax, if any, in that Guarantee Period, plus interest earned, less amounts distributed, withdrawn (in whole or in part), Transferred or applied to an annuity option, periodic withdrawals, and charges deducted under the Contract. If a Guarantee Period is broken, a Market Value Adjustment may be assessed. Any such amount withdrawn or Transferred from a Guarantee Period will be paid in accordance with the MVA formula. (See "Market Value Adjustment," p. 6.) 6 Investments The Company intends to invest in assets which, in the aggregate, have characteristics, especially cash flow patterns, reasonably related to the characteristics of its liabilities. Various techniques will be used to achieve the objective of close aggregate matching of assets and liabilities. The Company will primarily invest in investment-grade fixed income securities including: Securities issued by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities, which issues may or may not be guaranteed by the U.S. Government. Debt securities which have an investment grade, at the time of purchase, within the four highest grades assigned by Moody's Investment Services, Inc. (Aaa, Aa, A or Baa), Standard & Poor's Corporation (AAA, AA, A or BBB) or any other nationally recognized rating service. Other debt instruments, including, but not limited to, issues of banks or bank holding companies and of corporations, which obligations, although not rated by Moody's, Standard & Poor's, or other nationally recognized rating firms, are deemed by the Company's management to have an investment quality comparable to securities which may be purchased as stated above. Commercial paper, cash or cash equivalents, and other short-term investments having a maturity of less than one year which are considered by the Company's management to have investment quality comparable to securities which may be purchased as stated above. In addition, the Company may invest in futures and options. Financial futures and related options thereon and options on securities are purchased solely for non-speculative hedging purposes. The Company may sell a futures contract or purchase a put option on futures or securities to protect the value of securities held in or to be sold for the general account or the non-unitized separate account in the event the securities prices are anticipated to decline. Similarly, if securities prices are expected to rise, the Company may purchase a futures contract or a call option thereon against anticipated positive cash flow or may purchase options on securities. WHILE THE FOREGOING GENERALLY DESCRIBES THE INVESTMENT STRATEGY FOR THE GUARANTEE PERIOD FUND, THE COMPANY IS NOT OBLIGATED TO INVEST THE ASSETS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE GUARANTEE PERIOD FUND ACCORDING TO ANY PARTICULAR STRATEGY, EXCEPT AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY COLORADO AND OTHER STATE INSURANCE LAWS, NOR WILL THE STATED RATE OF INTEREST THAT THE COMPANY ESTABLISHES NECESSARILY RELATE TO THE PERFORMANCE OF THE NON-UNITIZED SEPARATE ACCOUNT. Subsequent Guarantee Periods Prior to the date annuity payments commence, you may invest the value of amounts held in a maturing Guarantee Period in any Guarantee Period that we offer at that time. On the quarterly statement issued prior to the end of any 7 Guarantee Period, we will notify you of the upcoming maturity of a Guarantee Period. THE GUARANTEE PERIOD AVAILABLE FOR NEW CONTRIBUTIONS MAY BE CHANGED AT ANY TIME, INCLUDING BETWEEN THE DATE OF NOTIFICATION OF A MATURING GUARANTEE PERIOD AND THE DATE A SUBSEQUENT GUARANTEE PERIOD BEGINS. Information regarding the current Guarantee Periods then available and their stated rate of interest may be obtained by calling the Schwab Annuity Service Center at: 1-800-838-0650. If the Company receives no direction from the Contract Owner by the Guarantee Period Maturity Date, the Company will automatically allocate the amount from the maturing Guarantee Period to a Guarantee Period equal in duration to the one just ended. If at that time, the duration previously chosen is no longer available, the amount will be allocated to the next shortest available Guarantee Period duration. In any event, a Guarantee Period will not renew for a term equal in duration to the one just ended if the Guarantee Period will mature after the Payment Commencement Date. No Guarantee Period may mature later than six months after a Payment Commencement Date. For example, if a 3-year Guarantee Period matures and the Payment Commencement Date begins 1 3/4 years from the Guarantee Period Maturity Date, the matured value will be transferred to a 2-year Guarantee Period. Breaking A Guarantee Period Any Transfer, withdrawal or the selection of an annuity option prior to the Guarantee Period Maturity Date will be known as breaking a Guarantee Period. When a Request to break a Guarantee Period is received, the Guarantee Period that is closest to the Guarantee Period Maturity Date will be broken first. If a Guarantee Period is broken, a Market Value Adjustment may be assessed. The Market Value Adjustment may increase or decrease the value of the amount Transferred or withdrawn from the Guarantee Period Fund. The Market Value Adjustment may reduce the value of amounts held in a Guarantee Period below the amount of your Contribution(s) allocated to that Guarantee Period. (See "Market Value Adjustment," p. 6.) Interest Rates Declared rates are effective annual rates of interest. The rate is guaranteed throughout the Guarantee Period. FOR GUARANTEE PERIODS NOT YET IN EFFECT, GWL&A MAY DECLARE INTEREST RATES DIFFERENT THAN THOSE CURRENTLY IN EFFECT. When a subsequent Guarantee Period begins, the rate applied will not be less than the rate then applicable to new Contracts of the same type with the same Guarantee Period. The stated rate of interest must be at least equal to the Guaranteed Interest Rate. The Company may declare higher rates. The Guaranteed Interest Rate is based on the applicable state standard non-forfeiture law. Please see Appendix A for the standard non-forfeiture law rate applicable to the state in which the Contract was issued. 8 The determination of the stated rate of interest is influenced by, but does not necessarily correspond to, interest rates available on fixed income investments which the Company may acquire using funds deposited into the Guarantee Period Fund. In addition, the Company will consider other items in determining the stated rate of interest including regulatory and tax requirements, sales commissions and administrative expenses borne by the Company, general economic trends, and competitive factors. Market Value Adjustment Distributions from the amounts allocated to a Guarantee Period due to a full surrender or partial withdrawal, Transfer, application of amounts to the periodic withdrawal option or to purchase an annuity, or distributions resulting from the death of the Owner or Annuitant prior to a Guarantee Period Maturity Date will be subject to a Market Value Adjustment ("MVA"). A MVA may increase or decrease the amount payable on one of the above described distributions. Amounts available for a full surrender or partial withdrawal is the amount requested plus the MVA less any applicable surrender charge. The amount available for a Transfer is the amount requested plus the MVA. The MVA is calculated by multiplying the amount Requested by the Market Value Adjustment Factor ("MVAF"). The MVA reflects the relationship as of the time of its calculation between (a) the U.S. Treasury Strip ask side yield as published in the Wall Street Journal on the last business day of the week prior to the date the stated rate of interest was established for the Guarantee Period; and (b) the U.S. Treasury Strip ask side yield as published in the Wall Street Journal on the last business day of the week prior to the week the Guarantee Period is broken. There would be a downward adjustment if Treasury rates at the time the Guarantee Period is broken exceed Treasury rates when the Guarantee Period was created. There would be an upward adjustment if Treasury rates at the time the Guarantee Period is broken, are lower than when the Guarantee Period was created. The MVA factor is the same for all Contracts. 1. The formula used to determine the MVA is: MVA = (amount applied) X (MVAF) The Market Value Adjustment Factor (MVAF) is: MVAF = {[(1 + i)/(1 + j +.10%)] N/12} - 1 where: a) i is the U.S. Treasury Strip ask side yield as published in the Wall Street Journal on the last business day of the week prior to the date the stated rate of interest was established for the Guarantee Period. The term of i is measured in years and equals the term of the Guarantee Period; 9 b) j is the U.S. Treasury Strip ask side yield as published in the Wall Street Journal on the last business day of the week prior to the week the Guarantee Period is broken. The term of j equals the remaining term to maturity of the Guarantee Period, rounded up to the higher number of years; and c) N is the number of complete months remaining until maturity. If i + j differ by less than .10%, the MVA will equal 0. If N is less than 6, the MVA will equal 0. 2. The Market Value Adjustment will apply to any Guarantee Period six or more months prior to the Guarantee Period Maturity Date in each of the following situations: a) Transfer to another Guarantee Period or to an Investment Division offered under this Contract; or b) S u r renders, partial withdrawals, annuitization or Periodic Withdrawals; or c) A single sum payment upon death of the Owner or Annuitant. 3. The Market Value Adjustment will not apply to any Guarantee Period having fewer than six months prior to the Guarantee Period Maturity Date in each of the following situations: a) Transfer to an Investment Division offered under this Contract; or b) S u r renders, partial withdrawals, annuitization or Periodic Withdrawals. c) A single sum payment upon death of the Owner or Annuitant. See Appendix B for Illustrations of the MVA. 10 _________________________________________________________________ APPLICATION AND CONTRIBUTIONS _________________________________________________________________ Contributions All Contributions may be paid at the Schwab Annuity Service Center by a check payable to the Company or by transfer to the Company of available funds from your Schwab account. The initial Contribution for the Contract must be at least $5,000 (or $2,000 if for an IRA). Subsequent Contributions must be at least $500. This minimum initial investment may be reduced to $1,000, but only if you participate in an Automatic Contribution Plan and contribute at least $100 per month through a recurring deposit. A confirmation will be issued to you upon the acceptance of each Contribution. Your Contract will be issued and your Contribution generally will be accepted and credited within two business days after receipt of an acceptable application and receipt of the initial Contribution at the Schwab Annuity Service Center. All Contributions can be paid to the Schwab Annuity Service Center by check (payable to GWL&A) or by instructing Schwab to transfer to GWL&A available funds or amounts from your account with Schwab. Acceptance is subject to there being sufficient information in a form acceptable to us and we reserve the right to reject any application or Contribution. The Schwab Annuity Service Center will process your application and Contributions. If your application is complete and your initial Contribution is being transferred from funds available in your Schwab account, then the Contribution will generally be credited within two business days following receipt of the application. If your application is incomplete, the Schwab Annuity Service Center will either complete the application from information Schwab has on file, or contact you for the additional information. No transfer of funds will be made from your Schwab account until your application is complete. The funds will be credited as Contributions to the Contract when they are transferred. If your Contribution is by check, and the application is complete, Schwab will use its best efforts to credit the Contribution on the day of receipt, but in all such cases it will be credited to your Contract within two business days of receipt. If your application is incomplete, the Schwab Annuity Service Center will complete the application from information Schwab has on file or contact you by telephone to obtain the required information. If your application remains incomplete for five business days, we will return to you both the check and the application unless you consent to our retaining the initial Contribution and crediting it as soon as the requirements are fulfilled. A Contract may be returned within ten days after receipt, or longer where required by law ("Free Look Period"). During the Free Look Period, all contributions will be processed as follows: 11 (1) Contributions allocated to one or more of the then available Guarantee Periods will be allocated as directed, effective upon the Transaction Date at the stated rate and Guarantee Period Maturity Date then effective. (2) If the Contract is returned, the contract will be void from the start and the greater of: (a) Contributions received or (b) the Annuity Account Value less surrenders, withdrawals and distributions, will be refunded. Exercising the return privilege requires the return of the Contract to the Company or to the Schwab Annuity Service Center. Additional Contributions may be made at any time prior to the Payment C o mmencement Date, as long as the Annuitant is living. Additional Contributions must be at least $500 or $100 per month if under an ACP. Total Contributions may exceed $1,000,000 with our prior approval. The Company reserves the right to modify the limitations set forth in this section. 12 _________________________________________________________________ TRANSFERS _________________________________________________________________ In General Prior to the Payment Commencement Date you may Transfer all or part of your Annuity Account Value among the available Guarantee Periods by telephone or by sending a Request to the Schwab Annuity Service Center. The Request must specify the amounts being Transferred, the Guarantee Period(s) from which the Transfer is to be made, and the Guarantee Period(s) that will receive the Transfer. Currently, there is no limit on the number of Transfers you can make during any Contract Year. There is no charge for the first twelve Transfers each Contract Year, but there will be a charge of $10 for each additional Transfer in each Contract Year. We reserve the right to limit the number of Transfers you make. The charge will be deducted from the amount transferred. All Transfers made on a single Transaction Date will be aggregated to count as only one Transfer toward the twelve free Transfers. A Transfer generally will be effective on the date the Request for Transfer is received by the Schwab Annuity Service Center if received before 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Under current law, there will not be any tax liability to you if you make a Transfer. When a Transfer is made before the Guarantee Period Maturity Date, the amount Transferred may be subject to a Market Value Adjustment. (See "Market Value Adjustment," p. 6.) A Request for Transfer from amounts in a Guarantee Period made prior to the Guarantee Period Maturity Date for Transfers on the Guarantee Period Maturity Date will not be counted for the purpose of determining any Transfer Fee on Transfers in excess of the twelve Transfers per year if these Transfers are to take place on the Guarantee Period Maturity Date. Possible Restrictions We reserve the right without prior notice to modify, restrict, suspend or eliminate the Transfer privileges (including telephone Transfers) at any time. We reserve the right to require that all Transfer Requests be made by the Owner and not by an Owner's designee and to require that each Transfer Request be made by a separate communication to us. We also reserve the right to request that each Transfer Request be submitted in writing and be manually signed by the Owner; facsimile Transfer Requests may not be allowed. _________________________________________________________________ CASH WITHDRAWALS _________________________________________________________________ 13 Withdrawals You (the Owner) may withdraw from the Contract all or part of your Annuity Account Value at any time during the life of the Annuitant and prior to the date annuity payments commence by Request at the Schwab Annuity Service Center subject to the rules below. Federal or state laws, rules or regulations may apply. The amount payable to you if you surrender your Contract is your Annuity Account Value, with a Market Value Adjustment, if any, and a surrender charge, if applicable, on the effective date of the surrender, and less any applicable Premium Tax. No withdrawals may be made after the date annuity payments commence. A Request for a partial withdrawal will result in a reduction in your Annuity Account Value equal to the sum of the dollar amount withdrawn. A Market Value Adjustment may apply. (See "Market Value Adjustment," p. 6.) In addition, the partial withdrawal may be subject to a surrender charge. The partial withdrawal proceeds may be greater or less than the amount requested, depending on the effect of the Market Value Adjustment, and the surrender charge. The minimum partial withdrawal before application of the MVA is $500. Partial withdrawals are unlimited; however, you must specify the Guarantee Period(s) from which the withdrawal is to be made. After any partial withdrawal, if the remaining Annuity Account Value is less than $2,000, then a full surrender may be required. The following terms apply: (a) No partial withdrawals are permitted after the date annuity payments commence. (b) A partial withdrawal will be effective upon the Transaction Date. (c) A partial withdrawal may be subject to the Market Value Adjustment provisions, the Guarantee Period Fund provisions of the Contract, and the terms of the attached Guarantee Period Fund Rider(s), if any. (d) A partial withdrawal may be subject to a surrender charge. Withdrawals may be taxable (this includes Periodic Withdrawals, discussed below). Moreover, the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") provides that a 10% penalty tax may be imposed on the taxable portions of certain early withdrawals. The Code generally requires us to withhold federal income tax from withdrawals. However, generally you will be entitled to elect, in writing, not to have tax withholding apply unless withholding is mandatory for your Contract. Withholding applies to the portion of the withdrawal which is included in your income and subject to federal income tax. The tax withholding rate is 10% of the taxable amount of the withdrawal. Withholding applies only if the taxable amount of the withdrawal is at least $200. Some states also require withholding for state income taxes. (See "Federal Tax Matters," p. 17.) 14 Withdrawal Requests must be in writing to ensure that your instructions regarding withholding are followed. In the absence of an adequate election, the Request will not be processed. After a withdrawal of all of your total Annuity Account Value, or at any time that your Annuity Account Value is zero, all your rights under the Contract will terminate. Since IRAs are offered by this prospectus, reference should be made to the applicable provisions of the Code for any additional limitations or restrictions on cash withdrawals. 15 _________________________________________________________________ TELEPHONE TRANSACTIONS _________________________________________________________________ We will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated by telephone are genuine and if we follow such procedures we will not be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. However, we may be liable for such losses if we do not follow those reasonable procedures. The procedures we will follow for telephone transactions may include requiring some form of personal identification prior to acting on instructions received by telephone, providing written confirmation of the transaction, and/or tape recording the instructions given by telephone. We reserve the right to suspend telephone transaction privileges at any time, for some or all Contracts, and for any reason. Withdrawals are not permitted by telephone. _________________________________________________________________ DEATH BENEFIT _________________________________________________________________ Payment of Death Benefit Before the date annuity payments commence, the death benefit, if any, will be equal to the greater of: (a) the Annuity Account Value with an MVA, if applicable, as of the date the Request for payment is received, less Premium Tax, if any, or (b) the sum of Contributions paid, less partial withdrawals and/or Periodic Withdrawals, less Premium Tax, if any. The death benefit will become payable following the Company's receipt of a Request from the Beneficiary. When an Owner or the Annuitant dies before the annuity commencement date and a death benefit is payable to a Beneficiary, the death benefit proceeds will remain invested in accordance with the allocation instructions given by the Owner(s) until new allocation instructions are Requested by the Beneficiary or until the death benefit is actually paid to the Beneficiary. The death benefit will be determined as of the date payments commence. Subject to the distribution rules set forth below, payment of the death benefit may be Requested to be made as follows: A. Proceeds from the Guarantee Period(s) 1. payment in a single sum with respect to which a Market Value Adjustment may apply; or 2. payment under any of the annuity options provided under this Contract with respect to which a Market Value Adjustment may apply; or 3. payment on the Guarantee Period Maturity Date so that a Market Value Adjustment will not apply. In any event, no payment of benefits provided under the Contract will be allowed that does not satisfy the requirements of Section 72(s) of the Code and any other applicable federal or state laws, rules or regulations. 16 DISTRIBUTION RULES 1. Death of Annuitant Upon the death of the Annuitant while the Owner is living, and before the annuity commencement date, the Company will pay the death benefit to the Beneficiary unless there is a Contingent Annuitant. If a Contingent Annuitant was named by the Owner(s) prior to the Annuitant's death, and the Annuitant dies before the annuity commencement date while the Owner and Contingent Annuitant are living, no death benefit will be payable by reason of the Annuitant's death and the Contingent Annuitant will become the Annuitant. If the Annuitant dies after the date annuity payments commence and before the entire interest has been distributed, any benefit payable must be distributed to the Beneficiary in accordance with and at least as rapidly as under the payment option applicable to the Annuitant on the Annuitant's date of death. If a corporation or other non-individual is an Owner, or if the deceased Annuitant is an Owner, the death of the Annuitant will be treated as the death of an Owner and the Contract will be subject to the "Death of Owner" provisions described below. 2. Death of Owner If the Owner is not the Annuitant: (1) If there is a Joint Owner who is the surviving spouse of the deceased Owner, the Joint Owner will become the Owner and Beneficiary and may elect to take the death benefit or elect to continue the Contract in force. (2) In all other cases, the Company will pay the death benefit to the Beneficiary even if a Joint Owner (who was not the Owner's spouse on the date of the Owner's death), the Annuitant and/or the Contingent Annuitant are alive at the time of the Owner's death, unless the sole Beneficiary is the deceased Owner's surviving spouse and the Beneficiary elects to become the Owner and Annuitant and to continue the Contract in force. If the Owner is not the Annuitant, and the Owner dies after annuity payments commence and before the entire interest has been distributed while the Annuitant is living, any benefit payable will continue to be distributed to the Annuitant at least as rapidly as under the payment option applicable on the Owner's death. All rights granted the Owner under the Contract will pass to any surviving Joint Owner and, if none, to the Annuitant. If the Owner is the Annuitant (Owner/Annuitant): 17 (1) If there is a Joint Owner who is the surviving spouse of the deceased Owner and a Contingent Annuitant, the Joint Owner will become the Owner and the Beneficiary, the Contingent Annuitant will become the Annuitant, and the Contract will continue in force. (2) If there is a Joint Owner who is the surviving spouse of the deceased Owner but no Contingent Annuitant, the Joint Owner will become the Owner, Annuitant and Beneficiary and may elect to take the death benefit or continue the Contract in force. (3) In all other cases, the Company will pay the death benefit to the Beneficiary, even if a Joint Owner (who was not the Owner's spouse on the date of the Owner's death), Annuitant and/or Contingent Annuitant are alive at the time of the Owner's death, unless the sole Beneficiary is the deceased Owner's surviving spouse and the Beneficiary Requests to become the Owner and Annuitant and to continue the Contract in force. Any death benefit payable to the Beneficiary upon an Owner's death will be distributed as follows: (1) If the Owner's surviving spouse is the person entitled to receive benefits upon the Owner's death, the surviving spouse will be treated as the Owner and will be allowed to take the death benefit or continue the Contract in force; or (2) If the Beneficiary is a non-spouse individual, she/he may elect, not later than one year after the Owner's date of death, to receive the death benefit in either a single sum or payment under any of the fixed annuity options available under the Contract, provided that (a) such annuity is distributed in substantially equal installments over the life or life expectancy of the Beneficiary or over a period not extending b e y o nd the life expectancy of the Beneficiary; and (b) such distributions begin not later than one year after the Owner's date of death. If no election is received by the Company from a non-spouse Beneficiary such that substantially equal installments have begun not later than one year after the Owner's date of death, then the entire amount must be distributed within five years of the Owner's date of death. The death benefit will be determined as of the date the payments commence; or (3) If a corporation or other non-individual entity is entitled to receive benefits upon the Owner's death, the death benefit must be completely distributed within five years of the Owner's date of death. Beneficiary You may select one or more Beneficiaries. If more than one Beneficiary is selected, unless you indicate otherwise, they will share equally in any death benefit payable. You may change the Beneficiary any time before the Annuitant's death. 18 You may, while the Annuitant is living, change the Beneficiary by Request. A change of Beneficiary will take effect as of the date the Request is processed by the Schwab Annuity Service Center, unless a certain date is specified by the Owner. If the Owner dies before the Request was processed, the change will take effect as of the date the Request was made, unless the Company has already made a payment or otherwise taken action on a designation or change before receipt or processing of such Request. A beneficiary designated irrevocably may not be changed without the written consent of that Beneficiary, except as allowed by law. The interest of any Beneficiary who dies before the Owner or the Annuitant will terminate at the death of the Beneficiary. The interest of any Beneficiary who dies at the time of, or within 30 days after, the death of an Owner or the Annuitant will also terminate if no benefits have been paid to such Beneficiary, unless the Owner otherwise indicates by Request. The benefits will then be paid as though the Beneficiary had died before the deceased Owner or Annuitant. If no Beneficiary survives the Owner or Annuitant, as applicable, the Company will pay the death benefit proceeds to the Owner's estate. If the surviving spouse of an Owner is the surviving Joint Owner, the surviving spouse will become the Beneficiary upon such Owner's death and may elect to take the death benefit or may elect to continue the Contract in force. If there is no surviving Joint Owner, and no named Beneficiary is alive at the time at the time of an Owner's death, any benefits payable will be paid to the Owner's estate. Contingent Annuitant While the Annuitant is living, the Owner(s) may, by Request, designate or change a Contingent Annuitant from time to time. A change of Contingent Annuitant will take effect as of the date the Request is processed at the Schwab Annuity Service Center, unless a certain date is specified by the Owner(s). 19 _________________________________________________________________ CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS _________________________________________________________________ No deductions are made from Contributions except for any applicable Premium Tax. Therefore, the full amount of the Contributions (less any applicable Premium Tax) are invested in the Contract. As more fully described below, charges under the Contract are assessed only as deductions for Premium Tax, if applicable, for certain Transfers, and as a Surrender Charge, if applicable. In addition, a Market Value Adjustment may apply to withdrawals and surrenders, Transfers, amounts applied to purchase an annuity, and distributions resulting from death of the Owner or Annuitant if the amounts held in a Guarantee Period are paid out prior to the Guarantee Period Maturity Date. Surrender Charge A maximum Surrender Charge of three percent (3%) will be applied to amounts withdrawn/distributed within the first three Contract years. The Surrender Charge applies to the amounts withdrawn/distributed after they have been adjusted by any MVA. The applicable Surrender Charge will decrease over time as indicated in the table below. Years Completed Percentage of Distribution 1 3% 2 2% 3 1% 4+ 0% The Contract describes specific situations in which there is no Surrender Charge, such as death, annuitization, other than in a single sum, and Periodic Withdrawals of at least 36 months. Premium Tax We may be required to pay state premium taxes or retaliatory taxes currently ranging from 0% to 3.5% in connection with Contributions or values under the Contracts. Depending upon applicable state law, we will deduct charges for the premium taxes we incur with respect to a particular Contract from the Contributions, from amounts withdrawn, or from amounts applied on the Payment Commencement Date. In some states, charges for both direct premium taxes and retaliatory premium taxes may be imposed at the same or different times with respect to the same Contribution, depending on applicable state law. 20 Transfer Fee There will be a $10 charge for each Transfer in excess of twelve Transfers in any calendar year. We do not expect a profit from the transfer fee for excess Transfers. Other Taxes Under present laws, we will incur state or local taxes (in addition to the Premium Tax described above) in several states. No charges are currently made for taxes other than Premium Tax. However, we reserve the right to deduct charges in the future for federal, state, and local taxes or the economic burden resulting from the application of any tax laws that we determine to be attributable to the Contracts. _________________________________________________________________ PAYMENT OPTIONS _________________________________________________________________ Periodic Withdrawal Option The Owner may Request that all or part of the Annuity Account Value be applied to a Periodic Withdrawal Option. The amount applied to a Periodic Withdrawal is the Annuity Account Value with an MVA, if applicable, less Premium Tax or Surrender Charges, if any. In Requesting Periodic Withdrawals, the Owner must elect: - The withdrawal frequency of either 12-, 6-, 3-, or 1-month intervals; - A withdrawal amount; a minimum of $100 is required; - The calendar day of the month on which withdrawals will be made; - One withdrawal option; and - The allocation of withdrawals from the Owner's Guarantee Period(s) as follows: 1) Prorate the amount to be paid across all Guarantee Periods in proportion to the assets in each sub-account; or 2) Select the Guarantee Period(s) from which withdrawals will be made. Once the Guarantee Periods have been depleted, the Company will automatically prorate the remaining withdrawals against all remaining available Guarantee Periods unless the Owner Requests the selection of another Guarantee Period. The Owner may elect to change the withdrawal option and/or the frequency once each calendar year. While Periodic Withdrawals are being received: 21 1. the Owner may continue to exercise all contractual rights that are available prior to electing an annuity option, except that no Contributions may be made; 2. for Periodic Withdrawals from Guarantee Periods six or more months prior to its Guarantee Period Maturity Date, a Market Value Adjustment, if applicable, will be assessed; 3. the Owner may keep the same Guarantee Periods as were in force before periodic withdrawals began; 4. charges and fees under the Contract continue to apply; and 5. maturing Guarantee Periods renew into the shortest Guarantee Period then available. Periodic Withdrawals will cease on the earlier of the date: 1. the amount elected to be paid under the option selected has been reduced to zero; 2. the Annuity Account Value is zero; or 3. the Owner Requests that withdrawals stop; 4. an Owner or the Annuitant dies. The Owner must elect one of the following five (5) withdrawal options: 1. Income for a Specified Period for at least thirty-six (36) months - The Owner elects the duration over which withdrawals will be made. The amount paid will vary based on the duration. 2. Income of a Specified Amount for at least thirty-six(36) months - The Owner elects the dollar amount of the withdrawals. Based on the amount elected, the duration may vary; or 3. Interest Only - The withdrawals will be based on the amount of interest credited to the Guarantee Period Fund between each withdrawal; or 4. Minimum Distribution - If this is an IRA contract, the Owner may Request minimum distributions as specified under Code Section 401(a)(9); or 5. Any Other Form for a period of at least thirty-six (36) months - Any other form of Periodic Withdrawal which is acceptable to the Company. If Periodic Withdrawals cease, the Owner may resume making Contributions. The Owner may elect to restart a Periodic Withdrawal program; however, the Company may limit the number of times the Owner may restart a Periodic Withdrawal program. Periodic Withdrawals may be taxable, subject to withholding and subject to the 10% penalty tax. IRAs are subject to complex rules with respect to restrictions on and taxation of distributions, including the applicability of penalty taxes. A competent tax adviser should be consulted before a Periodic Withdrawal Option is requested. (See "Federal Tax Matters," p. 17.) 22 Annuity Date The date annuity payments commence may be chosen when the Contract is purchased or at a later date. This date must be at least one year after the initial Contribution. This selection may be changed, by Request, at any time up to 30 days before the annuity date. In the absence of an earlier election, the annuity date is the first day of the month of the Annuitant's 91st birthday. If an option has not been elected within 30 days of the annuity commencement date, the Annuity Account Value will be applied under Annuity Payment Option 3, discussed below, to provide payments for life with a guaranteed period of 20 years. Under section 401(a)(9) of the Code, a Contract which is purchased and used in connection with an Individual Retirement Account or with certain other plans qualifying for special federal income tax treatment is subject to complex "minimum distribution" requirements, which require that distributions under such a plan must begin by a specific date, and also that the entire interest of the plan participant must be distributed within certain specified periods under formulas that specify minimum annual distributions. The application of the minimum distribution requirements to each person will vary according to the person's age and other circumstances. A prospective purchaser may wish to consult a competent tax adviser regarding the application of the minimum distribution requirements. (See "Federal Tax Matters," p. 17.) Annuity Options An annuity option may be selected by the Owner when the Contract is purchased, or at a later date. This selection may be changed, by Request, at any time up to 30 days before the annuity date. In the absence of an election, payments will automatically commence on the annuity date as described above. The amount to be applied is the Annuity Account Value on the annuity date. The minimum amount that may be withdrawn from the Annuity Account Value to purchase an annuity payment option is $2,000 with an MVA, if applicable. If the amount is less than $2,000, the Company may pay the amount in a single sum subject to the Contract provisions applicable to a partial withdrawal. Payments may be elected to be received monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually. Payments to be made under the annuity payment option selected must be at least $50. The Company reserves the right to make payments using the most frequent payment interval which produces a payment of not less than $50. The maximum amount that may be applied under any payment option is $1,000,000, unless prior approval is obtained from the Company. A single sum payment may be elected. If it is, then the amount to be paid is the Surrender Value. If an owner elects an annuity option, then the amount to be applied is the Annuity Account Value, as of the annuity commencement date with an MVA, if applicable, less any applicable Premium Tax. 23 Annuity Payment Options Option 1: Income of Specified Amount The amount applied under this option may be paid in equal annual, semiannual, quarterly or monthly installments of the dollar amount elected for not more than 240 months. Upon death of the Annuitant, the Beneficiary will begin to receive the remaining payments at the same interval that was elected by the Owner. Option 2: Income for a Specified Period Payments are paid annually, semiannually, quarterly or monthly, as elected, for a selected number of years not to exceed 240 months. Upon death of the Annuitant, the Beneficiary will begin to receive the remaining payments at the same interval that was elected by the Owner. Option 3: Fixed Life Annuity with Guaranteed Period This option provides for monthly payments during a designated period and thereafter throughout the lifetime of the Annuitant. The designated period may be 5, 10, 15 or 20 years. Upon death of the Annuitant, for each remaining designated period, the amounts payable under this payment option will be paid to the Beneficiary. Option 4: Fixed Life Annuity This annuity is payable monthly during the lifetime of the Annuitant, terminating with the last payment due prior to the death of the Annuitant. Since no minimum number of payments is guaranteed, this option may offer the maximum level of monthly payments of the annuity options. It is possible that only one payment may be made if the Annuitant died before the date on which the second payment was due. No other payments nor death benefits would be payable. 24 Option 5: Any Other Form This option allows an Owner the ability to choose any other form of annuity which is acceptable to the Company. *** For annuity options involving life income, the actual age and/or sex of the Annuitant will affect the amount of each payment. We reserve the right to ask for satisfactory proof of the Annuitant's age. We may delay annuity payments until satisfactory proof is received. Since payments to older Annuitants are expected to be fewer in number, the amount of each annuity payment under a selected annuity form will be greater for older Annuitants than for younger Annuitants. If the age of the Annuitant has been misstated, the payments established will be made on the basis of the correct age. If payments were too large because of misstatement, the difference with interest may be deducted by the Company from the next payment or payments. If payments were too small, the difference with interest may be added by the Company to the next payment. This interest is at an annual effective rate which will not be less than the Guaranteed Interest Rate. The Payment Commencement Date and annuity options available for IRAs may also be controlled by endorsements, the plan documents, or applicable law. Once payments start under the annuity form selected by the Owner: (a) no changes can be made in the annuity form, (b) no additional Contributions will be accepted under the Contract, and (c) no further withdrawals, other than withdrawals made to provide annuity benefits, will be allowed. *** A portion or the entire amount of the annuity payments may be taxable as ordinary income. If, at the time the annuity payments begin, we have not received a proper written election not to have federal income taxes withheld, we must by law withhold such taxes from the taxable portion of such annuity payments and remit that amount to the federal government (an election not to have taxes withheld is not permitted for certain Qualified Contracts). State income tax withholding may also apply. (See "Federal Tax-Matters," below.) _________________________________________________________________ FEDERAL TAX MATTERS _________________________________________________________________ Introduction The following discussion is a general description of federal income tax considerations relating to the Contracts and is not intended as tax advice. Further, this discussion is based on the assumption that the Contract qualifies as an annuity contract for federal income tax purposes. This 25 discussion is not intended to address the tax consequences resulting from all of the situations in which a person may be entitled to or may receive a distribution under the Contract. Any person concerned about these tax implications should consult a competent tax adviser before initiating any transaction. This discussion is based upon our understanding of the present federal income tax laws as they are currently interpreted by the Internal Revenue Service. No representation is made as to the likelihood of the continuation of the present federal income tax laws or of the current interpretation by the Internal Revenue Service. Moreover, no attempt has been made to consider any applicable state or other tax laws. T h e C ontract may be purchased on a non-tax qualified basis ("Non-Qualified Contract") or purchased and used in connection with IRAs. The ultimate effect of federal income taxes on the amounts held under a Contract, on annuity payments, and on the economic benefit to you, the Annuitant, or the Beneficiary may depend on the type of Contract, and on the tax status of the individual concerned. In addition, certain requirements must be satisfied in purchasing an IRA and receiving distributions from an IRA in order to continue receiving favorable tax treatment. Therefore, purchasers of IRAs should seek competent legal and tax advice regarding the suitability of the Contract for their situation, the applicable requirements, and the tax treatment of the rights and benefits of the Contract. The following discussion assumes that an IRA is purchased with proceeds from and/or Contributions that qualify for the intended special federal income tax treatment. Tax Status The Company is taxed as a life insurance company under Part I of Subchapter L of the Code. Taxation of Annuities In General Section 72 of the Code governs taxation of annuities in general. An Owner who is a natural person generally is not taxed on increases (if any) in the value of an Annuity Account Value until distribution occurs by withdrawing all or part of the Annuity Account Value (e.g., withdrawals or annuity p a y m ents under the annuity form elected). However, under certain circumstances, the Owner may be subject to taxation currently. In addition, an assignment, pledge, or agreement to assign or pledge any portion of the Annuity Account Value generally will be treated as a distribution. The taxable portion of a distribution (in the form of a single sum payment or an annuity) is taxable as ordinary income. An IRA Contract may not be assigned as collateral. The Owner of any annuity contract who is not a natural person (e.g. a corporation) generally must include in income any increase in the excess of the Annuity Account Value over the "investment in the contract" (discussed below) during each taxable year. The rule does not apply where the non-natural person is the nominal owner of a Contract and the beneficial owner is a natural person. The rule also does not apply in the following 26 circumstances: (1) where the annuity Contract is acquired by the estate of a decedent, (2) where the Contract is held under an IRA, (3) where the Contract is a qualified funding asset for a structured settlement, and (4) where the Contract is purchased on behalf of an employee upon termination of a qualified plan. A prospective Owner that is not a natural person may wish to discuss these matters with a competent tax adviser. The following discussion generally applies to a Contract owned by a natural person. Withdrawals In the case of a withdrawal under an IRA, including withdrawals under the Periodic Withdrawal Option, a ratable portion of the amount received may be non-taxable. The amount of the non-taxable portion is generally determined by the ratio of the "investment in the contract" to the individual's total accrued benefit under the retirement plan. The "investment in the contract" generally equals the amount of any nondeductible Contributions paid by or on behalf of any individual. Special tax rules may be available for certain distributions from an IRA. With respect to Non-Qualified Contracts, partial withdrawals, including Periodic Withdrawals, are generally treated as taxable income to the extent that the Annuity Account Value immediately before the withdrawal exceeds the "investment in the contract" at that time. If a partial withdrawal is made from a Guarantee Period which is subject to a Market Value Adjustment, then the Annuity Account Value immediately before the withdrawal will not be altered to take into account the Market Value Adjustment. As a result, for purposes of determining the taxable portion of the partial withdrawal, the Annuity Account Value will not reflect the amount, if any, deducted from or added to the Guarantee Period due to the Market Value Adjustment. Full surrenders are treated as taxable income to the extent that the amount received exceeds the "investment in the contract." The taxable portion of any annuity payment is taxed at ordinary income tax rates. Annuity Payments Although the tax consequences may vary depending on the annuity form elected under the Contract, in general, only the portion of the annuity payment that represents the amount by which the Annuity Account Value exceeds the "investment in the contract" will be taxed; after the investment in the contract is recovered, the full amount of any additional annuity payments is taxable. For fixed annuity payments, in general there is no tax on the portion of each payment which represents the same ratio that the "investment in the contract" bears to the total expected value of the annuity payments for the term of the payments; however, the remainder of each annuity payment is taxable. Once the investment in the Contract has been fully recovered, the full amount of any additional annuity payments is taxable. If the annuity payments cease as a result of an Annuitant's death before full recovery of the "investment in the contract," you should consult a competent tax adviser regarding the deductibility of the unrecovered amount. 27 Penalty Tax In the case of a distribution pursuant to a Non-Qualified Contract, there may be imposed a federal income tax penalty equal to 10% of the amount treated as taxable income. In general, however, there is no penalty tax on distributions: (1) made on or after the date on which the Owner attains age 59 1/2; (2) made as a result of death or disability of the Owner; or (3) received in substantially equal periodic payments as a life annuity or a joint and survivor annuity for the lives or life expectancies of the Owner and a "designated beneficiary." Other exemptions or tax penalties may apply to certain distributions pursuant to an IRA. For more details regarding these exemptions or penalties consult a competent tax adviser. Taxation of Death Benefit Proceeds Amounts may be distributed from the Contract because of the death of an Owner or the Annuitant. Generally such amounts are includible in the income of the recipient as follows: (1) if distributed in a lump sum, they are taxed in the same manner as a full surrender, as described above, or (2) if distributed under an annuity form, they are taxed in the same manner as annuity payments, as described above. Distribution-at-Death Rules In order to be treated as an annuity contract, the terms of the Contract must provide the following two distribution rules:(A) if any Contract Owner dies on or after the date annuity payments commence, and before the entire interest in the Contract has been distributed, the remainder of his/her interest will not be distributed under a slower distribution schedule than that provided for in the method in effect on the Contract Owner's death; and (B) if any Contract Owner dies before the date annuity payments commence, his/her entire interest must generally be distributed within five years after the date of death provided that if such interest is payable to a designated Beneficiary, then such interest may be made over the life of that designated Beneficiary or over a period not extending beyond the life expectancy of that Beneficiary, so long as payments commence within one year after the Contract Owner's death. If the sole designated Beneficiary is the spouse of the Contract Owner, the Contract may be continued in the name of the spouse as Contract Owner. The designated Beneficiary is the natural person designated by the terms of the Contract or by the Contract Owner as the individual to whom ownership of the contract passes by reason of the Contract Owner's death. If the Contract Owner is not an individual, then for purposes of the distribution at death rules, the Primary Annuitant is considered the Contract Owner. In addition, when the Contract Owner is not an individual, a change in the Primary Annuitant is treated as the death of the Contract Owner. Transfers, Assignments, or Exchanges A Transfer of ownership of a Contract, the designation of an Annuitant, Payee or other Beneficiary who is not also the Owner, or the exchange of a Contract may result in adverse tax consequences to the Owner that are not discussed herein. An Owner contemplating any such designation, transfer, 28 assignment, or exchange of a Contract should contact a competent tax adviser with respect to the potential tax effects of such a transaction. Multiple Contracts All deferred, non-qualified annuity contracts that are issued by the Company (or our affiliates) to the same Owner during any calendar year will be treated as one annuity contract for purposes of determining the amount includible in gross income under section 72(e) of the Code. Amounts received under any such Contract may be taxable (and may be subject to the 10% Penalty Tax) to the extent of the combined income in all such Contracts. In addition, the Treasury Department has specific authority to issue regulations that prevent the avoidance of section 72(e) through the serial purchase of annuity contracts or otherwise. Congress has also indicated that the Treasury Department may have authority to treat the combination purchase of an immediate annuity contract and separate deferred annuity contracts as a single annuity contract under its general authority to prescribe rules as may be necessary to enforce the income tax laws. Withholding Annuity distributions generally are subject to withholding for the recipient's federal income tax liability at rates that vary according to the type of distribution and the recipient's tax status. Recipients, however, generally are provided the opportunity to elect not to have tax withheld from distributions. Certain distributions from IRAs are subject to mandatory federal income tax withholding. Possible Changes in Taxation In past years, legislation has been proposed that would have adversely modified the federal taxation of certain annuities. For example, one such proposal would have changed the tax treatment of non-qualified annuities that did not have "substantial life contingencies" by taxing income as it is credited to the annuity. There is always the possibility that the tax treatment of annuities could change by legislation or other means (such as IRS regulations, revenue rulings, judicial decisions, etc.). Moreover, it is also possible that any change could be retroactive (that is, effective prior to the date of the change). Section 1035 Exchanges Code Section 1035 provides that no gain or loss shall be recognized on the exchange of one annuity contract for another. A replacement contract obtained in a tax-free exchange of contracts succeeds to the status of the original contract. Special rules apply to Contracts issued prior to August 14, 1982. Prospective Owners wishing to take advantage of a Section 1035 exchange should consult their tax adviser. 29 Individual Retirement Annuities The Contract may be used with IRAs as described in Section 408 of the Code which permits eligible individuals to contribute to an individual retirement program known as an Individual Retirement Annuity. Also, certain kinds of distributions from certain types of qualified and non-qualified retirement plans may be "rolled over" following the rules set out in the Code to maintain favorable tax treatment, to an Individual Retirement Annuity. The sale of a Contract for use with an IRA may be subject to special disclosure requirements of the Internal Revenue Service. Purchasers of the Contract for use with IRA's will be provided with supplemental information required by the Internal Revenue Service or other appropriate agency. Such purchasers will have the right to revoke their purchase within seven days of purchase of the IRA Contract. Various tax penalties may apply to contributions in excess of specified limits, aggregate distributions in excess of $150,000 annually, distributions that do not satisfy specified requirements, and certain other transactions. The Contract will be amended as necessary to conform to the requirements of the Code. Purchasers should seek competent advice as to the suitability of the Contract for use with IRA's. If a Contract is issued in connection with an employer's Simplified Employee Pension ("SEP") plan, Owners, Annuitants and Beneficiaries are cautioned that the rights of any person to any of the benefits under the Contract may be subject to the terms and conditions of the plan itself, regardless of the terms and conditions of the Contract. If a Contract is purchased to fund an IRA the Annuitant must also be the Owner. In addition, if a Contract is purchased to fund an IRA, minimum distributions must commence not later than April 1st of the calendar year following the calendar year in which you attain age 70 1/2. You should consult your tax adviser concerning these matters. The Contract and prototype IRA endorsement have been submitted for IRS approval and determination that they are acceptable under Section 408 of the Code, so that each individual who purchases a Contract with an IRA endorsement will be considered to have adopted a retirement savings program that satisfies the requirements of Section 408 of the Code. The IRS approval is a determination only as to the form of the Contract and does not represent a determination of the merits of the Contract. At the time the Initial Contribution is paid, a prospective purchaser must specify whether he or she is purchasing a Non-Qualified Contract or an IRA. If the initial Contribution is derived from an exchange or surrender of another annuity contract, we may require that the prospective purchaser provide information with regard to the federal income tax status of the previous annuity contract. We will require that persons purchase separate Contracts if they desire to invest monies qualifying for different annuity tax treatment under the Code. Each such separate Contract would require the minimum initial Contribution stated above. Additional Contributions under a Contract must qualify for the same federal income tax treatment as the initial Contribution under the Contract; we will not accept an additional Contribution under a Contract if the federal income tax treatment of such Contribution would be different from that of the initial Contribution. 30 Seek Tax Advice The foregoing discussion of the federal income tax consequences is only a brief summary and is not intended as tax advice. Further, the federal income tax consequences discussed herein reflect our understanding of current law and the law may change. Federal estate tax consequences and state and local estate, inheritance, and other tax consequences of ownership or receipt of distributions under a Contract depend on the individual circumstances of each Owner or recipient of the distribution. A COMPETENT TAX ADVISER SHOULD BE CONSULTED FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. _________________________________________________________________ ASSIGNMENTS OR PLEDGES _________________________________________________________________ Generally, rights in the Contract may be assigned or pledged for loans at any time during the life of the Annuitant; however, if the Contract is an IRA, the Owner may not assign the Contract as collateral. If a non-IRA Contract is assigned, the interest of the assignee has priority over the interest of the Owner and the interest of the Beneficiary. Any amount payable to the assignee will be paid in a single sum. A copy of any assignment must be submitted to the Company at the Schwab Annuity Service Center. Any assignment is subject to any action taken or payment made by the Company before the assignment was processed. The Company is not responsible for the validity or sufficiency of any assignment. If any portion of the Annuity Account Value is assigned or pledged for a loan, it may be treated as a distribution. A competent tax adviser should be consulted for further information. _________________________________________________________________ DISTRIBUTION OF THE CONTRACTS _________________________________________________________________ Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. ("Schwab") is the distributor of the Contracts. Schwab is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a broker/dealer and is a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"). Its principal offices are located at 101 Montgomery, San Francisco, California 94104, telephone 800-838-0650. Certain administrative services are provided by Schwab to assist the Company in the processing of the Contracts, which services are described in written agreements between Schwab and the Company. The Company has agreed to indemnify Schwab (and its agents, employees, and controlling persons) for certain damages arising out of the sale of the Contracts, including those arising under the securities laws. 31 _________________________________________________________________ SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA _________________________________________________________________ The following is a summary of certain financial data of the Company. This summary has been derived in part from, and should be read in conjunction with, the financial statements of the Company included elsewhere in this prospectus. Three months Years Ended December 31, Ended (in Millions) 3/31/97 3/31/96 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 INCOME STATEMENT DATA Premiums and other income $262 $294 $1,199 $1,067 $1,000 $696 $245 Net investment income 218 206 837 835 768 792 661 Realized investment gains(losses) (5) 2 (21) 8 (72) 25 (4) Total Revenues 475 $502 $2,015 $1,910 $1,696 $1,513 $902 Total benefits and expenses $424 $439 $1,824 $1,733 $1,594 $1,417 $844 Income tax and expenses 19 14 56 49 28 31 cumulative effect of adopting a new accounting method for income taxes 0 0 0 0 0 0 (23) Net income $ 32 $ 49 $ 135 $ 128 $ 74 $65 $ 63 BALANCE SHEET DATA Investment assets $12,484 $12,292 $12,717 $12,473 $11,791 $11,592 $10,771 Separate account assets 5,854 4,390 5,485 3,999 2,555 1,680 937 Total assets 19,570 17,946 19,351 17,682 15,616 14,296 12,948 Total policy liabilities 11,589 11,397 11,687 11,492 10,929 10,592 10,352 Total shareholder's equity 1,034 1,971 1,034 993 777 821 769 32 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS The Company Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company (the "Company") is a stock life insurance company originally organized under the laws of the State of Kansas in 1907 as the National Interment Association. Its name was changed to Ranger National Life Insurance Company in 1963 and to Insuramerica Corporation prior to changing to its current name in 1982. In September of 1990, the Company redomesticated and is now organized under the laws of the State of Colorado. The Company is authorized to engage in the sale of life insurance, accident and health insurance and annuities. It is qualified to do business in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and in all states in the United States except New York. The Company operates in one business segment as a provider of life, health and annuity products; however, the business operations of the Company will be discussed in terms of major business units, which are: Employee Benefits - life, health, disability income and 401(k) products for group clients. Financial Services - accumulation and payout annuity products for both group and individual clients, primarily Services in the public/non-profit sector, as well as insurance products for individual clients. 33 Investment Operations - management of assets, both general funds and separate accounts which segregate, from the Company's general account, the assets and liabilities of contractholders of variable products ("Separate Accounts") Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations of the Company for first quarter of 1997 and 1996 and the three years ended December 31, 1996 follows. In connection with, and because it desires to take advantage of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Company cautions readers regarding certain forward-looking statements contained in the following discussion and elsewhere in this prospectus and in any other statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company, whether or not in future filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements are statements not based on historical information and which relate to future operations, strategies, financial results, or other developments. In particular, statements using verbs such as "expect," "anticipate," "believe," or words of similar import generally involve forward-looking statements which represent the Company's beliefs concerning future or projected levels of sales of the Company's products, investment spreads or yields, or the earnings or profitability of the Company's activities. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Company's control and many of which, with respect to future business decisions, are subject to change. These uncertainties and contingencies can affect actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, t h e Company. Whether or not actual results differ materially from f o r w a r d-looking statements may depend on numerous foreseeable and unforeseeable events or developments, some of which may be national in scope, such as general economic conditions and interest rates, some of which may be related to the insurance industry generally, such as pricing competition, regulatory developments and industry consolidation, and others of which may relate to the Company specifically, such as credit, volatility and other risks associated with the Company's investment portfolio, and other factors. Readers are also directed to consider other risks and uncertainties discussed in documents filed with the SEC. . Comparison of First Three Months Ended March 31, 1997 and 1996 Pursuant to a December 31, 1993 agreement between the Company and The Great-West Life Assurance Company (the "Parent Corporation") whereby the Company assumed responsibility for the Parent Corporation's income tax liability for fiscal years prior to 1994, the Company had previously recorded a contingent liability provision. The Company's 1996 results of operations include a release of $26 million from the provision to reflect the resolution 34 of 1988 and 1989 tax issues with the Internal Revenue Service. Excluding this amount from 1996 earnings would have resulted in net income increasing 39% from 1996 to 1997. The growth in income from recurring operations is attributable to several factors: higher fee income from assets under management, higher margins on investment products, and better mortality and morbidity. Also during the first quarter of 1996, the Company strengthened reserves in the individual annuity product line which negatively impacted net income. Premiums and other income decreased 11% from $294 million in 1996 to $262 million in 1997. The release of contingent liability discussed above was included in the premium and other income line in 1996. Excluding this income, the decrease would have only been 2% which reflects a 4% reduction in group life and health premiums due to high termination rates associated with price sensitivity and competition among managed care companies. Net investment income increased from $206 million in 1996 to $218 million in 1997. This growth in net investment income is a direct result of the growth of investment assets which was partially offset by a lower effective yield on investments. The actual earned rate for the first quarter of 1997 was 7.13% versus 7.27% for the first quarter of 1996. Realized investment gains (losses) changed from a net realized capital gain of $2 million in 1996 to a net realized capital loss of $5 million in 1997. The increase in interest rates in the first quarter of 1997 resulted in realized losses totaling $3 million on the sale of fixed maturities, while lower interest rates in the first quarter of 1996 contributed to $4 million of fixed maturity gains. Provisions for asset losses were $2 million in 1997 versus $3 million in 1996. Total benefits and expenses decreased 3% in 1997 due to the reduction in group health claims which is consistent with the premium decrease discussed previously. The effective income tax rate was reduced in 1996 by the release of the contingent liability discussed above which was not taxable. Investment assets decreased from December 31, 1996 to March 31, 1997 by $233 million. At the same time separate account assets increased $369 million. This reflects the continued trend of contractholders moving to variable products and away from the more traditional guaranteed products. Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 1996 and 1995 The Company's consolidated net income increased 5% to $134.6 million, when compared to 1995. Premiums and other income increased 12% from $1,067.4 million in 1995 to $1,199.2 million in 1996. The 1996 premiums included $164.8 million of reinsurance premium associated with the recapture of a block of participating individual insurance business from Great-West Life. This transaction did not impact consolidated net income, as it was offset by an increase in reserves 35 (see discussion of policy benefits below). Therefore, premiums and other income from operations were down from 1995 levels, which reflects a 7% reduction in group life and health premiums due to high termination rates associated with price sensitivity and competition from managed care companies. Net investment income increased $1.5 million from $835.1 million in 1995 to $836.6 million in 1996. This change reflected an increase in the amount of invested assets of $243.8 million, which was largely offset by a lower effective yield on investments purchased in late 1995 and early 1996. The increase in invested assets is primarily the result of growth in policy loans on the Corporate-Owned Life Insurance ("COLI") business. The Company's realized investment gains (losses) changed from a net realized gain of $7.5 million in 1995 to a net realized loss of $21.1 million in 1996. The increase in interest rates in 1996 resulted in realized losses on the sale of fixed maturities totaling $11.6 million, while lower interest rates contributed to $28.2 million of fixed maturity gains recorded in 1995. The 50% improvement in the provision for asset losses helped to partially offset the fixed maturities capital losses, as the change in provision was reduced from $22.0 million in 1995 to $10.6 million in 1996. Total benefits and expenses includes life and other policy benefits, increase in reserves, interest paid or credited to contractholders, expenses, and dividends to policyholders. The increase of 5% from $1,733.3 million in 1995 to $1,824.3 million in 1996 is primarily the result of the increase in reserves of $164.8 million associated with the recapture of insurance from Great-West Life. After this adjustment the total benefits and expenses actually decreased from 1995 to 1996. This is the result of a reduction in group health claims which is consistent with the premium decrease discussed previously. Net income in 1996 also reflects a $25.6 million release of a previously recorded contingent liability that the Company assumed from Great-West Life in 1993. The release was triggered by the resolution of 1988 and 1989 tax issues with the Internal Revenue Service. The effective income tax rates were reduced in 1996 by the release of the contingent liability which was not taxable and in 1995 by the release of a $13.3 million deferred tax valuation allowance in a subsidiary investment company. Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 1995 and 1994 The Company's consolidated net income increased 73% in 1995, compared with 1994. The majority of the increase was in the Financial Services unit where the asset intensive lines benefited from a combination of lower mortgage writedowns and capital gains from sales in the fixed maturities portfolio, as described below. Premiums and other income increased 7% from $1,000.1 million in 1994 to $1,067.4 million in 1995, as the result of an increase in group life and 36 health premiums which were augmented by the acquisition of blocks of business from Confederation Life Insurance Company and Life of Georgia. Net investment income increased $67.4 million in 1995 to a total of $835.1 million reflecting an increase in invested assets from $11.8 billion to $12.5 billion in 1995. The increase was driven by the growth in policy loans associated with COLI business. The Company's realized gains (losses) changed from a net realized loss of $71.9 million in 1994 to a net realized gain of $7.5 million in 1995. The provision for asset losses, included in realized losses, continued to decline as the $22.0 million in 1995 was $12.2 million lower than the $34.2 million recorded in 1994, as the mortgage portfolio continued to improve. Interest rates decreased in 1995, leading to capital gains on the sale of fixed maturities of $28.2 million which were better than the $39.8 million of losses recorded in 1994. Total benefits and expenses increased 9% in 1995 to a total of $1,733.3 million. This increase reflects the growth in the group life and health block of business, and its impact on the increase in group health claims and operating expenses. The effective income tax in 1995 and 1994 was lower than the statutory rate due to a reduction of $13.3 million and $7.1 million, respectively, in the deferred tax asset valuation allowance held in a real estate subsidiary. Investment Operations The Company's primary investment objective is to acquire assets whose durations and cash flows reflect the characteristics of the Company's liabilities, while meeting industry, size, issuer and geographic diversification standards. Formal liquidity and credit quality parameters have also been established. The Company follows rigorous procedures to control interest rate risk and observes strict asset and liability matching guidelines. These guidelines are designed to ensure that even in changing interest rate environments the Company's assets will always be able to meet the cash flow and income r e q u i rements of its liabilities. Through dynamic modeling, using state-of-the-art software to analyze the effects of a wide range of possible market changes upon investments and policyholder benefits, the Company ensures that its investment portfolio is appropriately structured to fulfill financial obligations to its policyholders. A summary of the Company's invested assets (Millions) follows: 1996 1995 Fixed maturities, available for sale, at fair value $ 6,206 $ 6,263 Fixed maturities, held at maturity, at amortized cost 1,993 2,054 Mortgage loans 1,488 1,713 37 Real estate and common stock 88 70 Short-term investments 419 135 Policy loans 2,523 2,238 $12,717 $12,473 Fixed Maturities Fixed maturity investments include publicly traded bonds, privately placed bonds and public and private structured assets. This latter category c o n t ains both asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, including collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMOs"). The Company's strategy related to structured assets is to focus on those with lower volatility and minimal credit risk. The Company does not invest in higher risk CMOs such as interest-only and principal-only strips, and currently has no plans to invest in such securities. Private placement investments are generally less marketable than publicly traded assets, yet they typically offer covenant protection which allows the Company, if necessary, to take appropriate action to protect its investment. The Company believes that the cost of the additional monitoring and analysis required by private placements is more than offset by their enhanced yield. One of the Company's primary objectives is to ensure that its fixed maturity portfolio is maintained at a high average quality, so as to limit credit risk. In excess of 85% of the value of the securities in this portfolio are rated by external rating agencies. If not externally rated, the securities are rated by the Company on a basis intended to be similar to that of the rating agencies. The distribution of the fixed maturity portfolio (both available for sale and held to maturity) by credit rating is summarized as: Credit Rating 1996 1995 AAA 45.9% 43.9% AA 8.1 8.0 A 23.7 26.8 BBB 20.9 19.2 BB and Below (non-investment grade) 1.4 2.1 TOTAL 100.0% 100.0% At December 31, 1996, the Company had one bond in default in the amount of $8 million, and one potentially problematic bond, with a carrying value of $6.4 million, which, although current, is judged by management as likely to require either restructuring or other types of relief. Both bonds are carried at their estimated net realizable values. Their combined total of $14.4 million is a relatively low proportion of the total fixed maturity portfolio (less than .2%) as the high credit quality of the portfolio limits the 38 Company's exposure to problematic bonds. At December 31, 1995, there were no bonds in default and only one potentially problematic security, with a carrying value of $7.4 million. Mortgage Loans During 1996, the mortgage portfolio declined 13% to $1.5 billion, net of i m pairment reserves. The Company has not actively sought new loan opportunities since 1989 and, as such, has experienced an ongoing reduction in this portfolio's balance. The Company follows a comprehensive approach to the management of mortgage loans which includes ongoing analysis of key mortgage characteristics such as debt service coverage, net collateral cash flow, property condition, loan to value ratios and market conditions. Collateral valuations are performed for those mortgages which, after review, are determined by management to present possible risks and exposures. These valuations are then incorporated into the determination of the Company's allowance for credit losses. Effective January 1, 1995, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Nos. 114 and 118 (see Note 1 to the financial statements), both of which deal with accounting for impaired loans (defined as those loans upon which the Company will likely collect less than all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the agreement). As the Company already provided for impairment reserves through its allowance procedures, the adoption of the new standards had no material effect upon the Company's financial position. The average balance of impaired loans continued to remain low at $39.1 million in 1996 compared with $29.1 million in 1995, and foreclosures totaled $14.0 million and $37.0 million in 1996 and 1995, respectively. The low levels of problematic mortgages relative to the Company's overall balance sheet are due to the ongoing decrease in the size of the mortgage portfolio, the Company's active loan management program and improvement in market conditions. Occasionally, the Company elects to restructure certain loans if the economic benefits to the Company are believed to be more advantageous than those achieved by acquiring the collateral through foreclosure. At December 31, 1996 and 1995, the Company's loan portfolio included $68.3 million and $89.2 million, respectively, of non-impaired restructured loans. Real Estate and Common Stock The Company's real estate portfolio is composed primarily of properties acquired through the foreclosure of troubled mortgages. The Company operates a wholly owned real estate subsidiary which attempts to maximize the value of these properties through rehabilitation, leasing and sale. The Company anticipates limited, if any, investments in voluntary real estate assets during 1997. 39 The common stock portfolio is composed of mutual fund seed money and some private equity investments. The Company anticipates a limited participation in the stock markets in 1997. 40 Derivatives The Company uses certain derivatives, such as futures, options, and swaps, for purposes of hedging interest rate and foreign exchange risk. These derivatives, when taken alone, may subject the Company to varying degrees of market and credit risk; however, when used for hedging, these instruments typically reduce risk. The Company controls the credit risk of its financial contracts through credit approvals, limits and monitoring procedures. Note 6 to the financial statements (page 46) contains a summary of the Company's outstanding financial hedging derivatives. Other General economic conditions improved during 1996, including improvement or stabilization in many real estate markets. If present market conditions continue, the Company does not expect to recognize any asset chargeoffs or restructurings which would result in a material adverse effect upon the Company's financial condition in 1997. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES The Company's operations have liquidity requirements that vary among the principal product lines. Life insurance and pension plan reserves are primarily long-term liabilities. Accident and health reserves, including long-term disability, consist of both short-term and long-term liabilities. Life insurance and pension plan reserve requirements are usually stable and p r e dictable, and are supported primarily by long-term, fixed income investments. Accident and health claim demands are stable and predictable but generally shorter term, requiring greater liquidity. Generally, the Company has met its operating requirements by maintaining appropriate levels of liquidity in its investment portfolio and utilizing positive cash flows from operations. Liquidity for the Company has remained strong, as evidenced by significant amounts of short-term investments and cash, which totaled $544.2 million and $225.8 million as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively. During 1996, cash increased $34.2 million to $125.2 million as of December 31, 1996. This increase primarily reflects the positive cash flow from operating activities ($712.4 million). The increase was partially offset by net investment purchases($127.7 million), contract withdrawals ($413.6 million), net repurchase agreement payments ($88.6 million) and payment of dividends on stock ($56.7 million). During 1995, cash decreased $40.7 million due to contract withdrawals ($217.2 million), net repurchase agreement payments ($191.2 million), net 41 investment purchases ($27.4 million), and payment of dividends on stock ($49.0 million). Cash flow from operating activities was $458.1 million. The 1994 increase in cash primarily reflects cash flows from operating activities net of withdrawals and net investment purchases. Funds provided from premiums and fees, investment income and maturities of investment assets are reasonably predictable and normally exceed liquidity requirements for payment of claims, benefits and expenses. However, since the timing of available funds cannot always be matched precisely to commitments, imbalances may arise when demands for funds exceed those on hand. Also, a demand for funds may arise as a result of the Company taking advantage of current investment opportunities. The Company's capital resources represent funds available for long-term business commitments and primarily consist of retained earnings and proceeds from the issuance of commercial paper and equity securities. Capital resources provide protection for policyholders and the financial strength to support the underwriting of insurance risks, and allow for continued business growth. The amount of capital resources that may be needed is determined by the Company's senior management and Board of Directors as well as by regulatory requirements. The allocation of resources to new long-term business commitments is designed to achieve an attractive return, tempered by considerations of risk and the need to support the Company's existing business. The Company's financial strength provides the capacity and flexibility to enable it to raise funds in the capital markets through the issuance of commercial paper. The Company continues to be well capitalized, with sufficient borrowing capacity to meet the anticipated needs of its business. The Company had $84.7 million of commercial paper outstanding at December 31, 1996, compared with $84.9 million at December 31, 1995. The commercial paper has been given a rating of A-1+ by Standard & Poor's Corporation and a rating of P-1 by Moody's Investors Service, each being the highest rating available. ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS In 1996, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of." The implementation of this statement had no material effect on the Company's results of operations, liquidity or financial condition. Effective January 1, 1995, the Company adopted SFAS No. 114, "Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan" and SFAS No. 118, "Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan - Income Recognition and Disclosures". As the Company was already providing for impairment of loans through an allowance for credit losses, the implementation of these statements had no material effect on the Company's financial condition. See Note 6 to the financial statements for further information (page 46). In 1994, the Company implemented SFAS No. 115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities". The cumulative effect as of January 1, 1994 of adopting SFAS No. 115 increased the opening balance of 42 stockholder's equity by $6.5 million to reflect the net unrealized gains on securities classified as available-for-sale (previously carried at the lower of aggregated amortized cost or fair value) and the corresponding adjustments to deferred policy acquisition costs, policy reserves, and amounts allocable to the liability for undistributed earnings on participating business, all net of income taxes. During the fourth quarter of 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued a guide to implementation of SFAS No. 115, which permits a one-time opportunity to reclassify securities subject to SFAS No. 115. Consequently, the Company reassessed the classification of its investment portfolio in December 1995 and reclassed securities totaling $2.1 billion from held-to-maturity to available-for-sale. In connection with this reclassification, an unrealized gain, net of related policyholder amounts and deferred income taxes, of $23.4 million was recognized in stockholder's equity at the date of transfer. In connection with the employee transfer discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements on page 42, the Company in 1997 will apply the provisions of SFAS No. 87, "Employers Accounting for Pensions, SFAS No. 106, "Employers' Accounting for Post Retirement Benefits Other Than Pensions, and SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation". Previously employee expenses (including costs for benefit plans) were transferred from Great-West Life to the Company through administrative services agreements. Accordingly, the implementation of these standards will have no material effect on the financial results of the Company. Regulation General The Company must comply with the insurance laws of all jurisdictions in which its is licensed to do business. Although the intent of regulation varies, most jurisdictions have laws and regulations governing rates, solvency, standards of business conduct and various insurance and investment products. The form and content of statutory financial reports and the type and concentration of investments are also regulated. The Company's operations and accounts are subject to examination by the Colorado Insurance Division and other regulators at specified intervals. The latest financial examination by the Colorado Insurance Division was completed in 1997, and covered the 5-year period ending December 31, 1995. This examination produced no significant adverse findings regarding the Company. Solvency Regulation T h e National Association of Insurance Commissioners has adopted risk-based capital rules for life insurance companies. These rules recommend a specified level of capital depending upon the types and quality of investments held, the types of business written, and the types of liabilities maintained. Depending on the ratio of the insurer's adjusted capital to its risk based capital, the insurer could be subject to various regulatory actions 43 ranging from increased scrutiny to conservatorship. Based on the Company's December 31, 1996 statutory financial reports, the Company was well within these rules. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners Insurance Regulatory Information System ratios are another set of tools used by regulators to provide an "early warning" as to when a company may require special attention. There are twelve categories of financial data with defined usual ranges for each. For 1996, the Company was within the usual ranges in all categories. Insurance Holding Company Regulations The Company is subject to insurance holding company regulations in Colorado. These regulations contain certain restrictions and reporting requirements for transactions between an insurer and its affiliates, including payment of dividends. They also regulate changes in control of an insurance company. Securities Laws The Company is subject to various levels of regulation under federal securities laws. Certain of the Company's Separate Accounts and the mutual funds used as funding vehicles for those Separate Accounts, and variable insurance and annuity products are registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Securities Act of 1933. Guaranty Funds Under insurance guaranty fund laws existing in all states, insurers doing business in those states can be assess (up to prescribed limits) for certain obligations of insolvent insurance companies. The Company has established a reserve of $9.1 million as of December 31, 1996 to cover future assessments of known insolvencies. The Company has historically recovered more than half of the guaranty fund assessments through statutorily permitted premium tax offsets. The Company has a prepaid asset associated with guaranty fund assessments of $5.6 million at December 31, 1996. Canadian Regulation Because the Company is a subsidiary of Great-West Life, which is a Canadian company, the Office of Superintendent of Financial Institutions Canada conducts periodic examinations of the Company and approves certain investments in subsidiary companies. Ratings The Company is rated by a number of nationally recognized rating agencies. The ratings represent the opinion of the rating agencies on the financial strength of the Company and its ability to meet the obligations of its insurance policies. 44 Rating Agency Measurement Rating A.M. Best Company Financial Condition and Operating Performance A++* Duff & Phelps Corporation Claims Paying Ability AAA* Standard & Poor's Corporation Claims Paying Ability AA+** Moody's Investors Service Insurance Financial Strength Aa2*** * Highest ratings available ** Second highest rating out of 17 rating categories *** Third highest rating out of 19 rating categories Miscellaneous A portion of the Company's business is "seasonal" in nature in the sense that reported claims in the group health line of business are generally higher in the first quarter. No customer accounted for 10% or more of the Company's consolidated revenues in 1996. In addition, no unit of the Company's business is dependent on a single customer or a few customers, the loss of which would have a significant effect on the Company or any of its business units. The loss of business from any one, or a few, independent brokers or agents would not have a material adverse effect on the Company of any of its business units. The Company had approximately 4,200 employees at January 1, 1997. The executive offices of the Company consist of a 517,633 square foot office complex located in Englewood, Colorado. The office complex is owned by a subsidiary of the Company. The Company leases sales and claims offices throughout the United States. Directors and Officers Set forth below is information concerning the Company's directors and executive officers, together with their principal occupation for the past five years. Unless otherwise indicated, all of the directors and executive officers have been engaged for not less than five years in their present principal occupations or in another executive capacity with the companies or firms identified. Directors Principal Occupation Last 5 Years James Balog Company Director since March 1993; previously Chairman, Lambert Brussels Capital Corporation James W. Burns, O.C. Chairman of the Boards of Lifeco(1) and Great-West Life; Deputy Chairman, PCC (2) 45 Orest T. Dackow President and Chief Executive Officer, Lifeco Paul Desmarais, Jr. C h airman and Co-Chief Executive Officer, PCC; Chairman, PFC/3/ Robert G. Graham C o mpany Director since January 1996; previously Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Inter-City Products Corporation Robert Gratton Chairman of the Board of GWL&A; President and Chief Executive Officer, PFC N. Berne Hart Company Director since February 1992; previously Chairman of the Board, United Banks of Colorado, Inc. Kevin P. Kavanagh Company Director since April 1992; previously President and Chief Executive Officer, Lifeco William Mackness Company Director since July 1995; previously Dean, Faculty of Management, University of Manitoba William T. McCallum President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company; President and Chief Executive Officer (U.S. Operations), Great-West Life Jerry E.A. Nickerson Chairman of the Board, H.B. Nickerson & Sons Limited The Honourable P. Michael Pitfield, P.C., Q.C. Vice-Chairman, PCC; Member of the Senate of Canada Michel Plessis-Be'lair, F.C.A. Vice-Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, PCC; Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, PFC Ross J. Turner Chairman, Genstar Investment Corporation Brian E. Walsh Partner, Trinity L.P. since January 1996; previously Managing Director and Co-head, Global Investment Bank, Bankers Trust Company 46 1 Great-West Lifeco, Inc. 2 Power Corporation of Canada 3 Power Financial Corporation Executive Officers Principal Occupation Last 5 Years ------------------- ---------------------------------- William T. McCallum President and Chief Executive President and Chief Executive Officer, of GWL&A; President and Officer Chief Executive Officer (U.S. Operations), Great-West Life Dennis Low Executive Vice President, Financial Executive Vice President, Services, GWL&A and Great-West Life Financial Services Alan D. MacLennan Executive Vice President, Employee Executive Vice President, Benefits, GWL&A and Great-West Life Employee Benefits Robert D. Bond Senior Vice President, Financial Senior Vice President, Services, GWL&A and Great-West Life; Financial Services prior to May 1992, National Director, Public Marketing, Aetna Life Insurance Company John A. Brown Senior Vice President, Sales, Senior Vice President, Financial Services, GWL&a and Great- Sales, Financial Services West Life John T. Hughes Senior Vice President, Chief Senior Vice President, Chief Investment Officer, GWL&A; Senior Investment Officer Vice President, Chief Investment Officer (U.S. Operations), Great-West Life Robert E. Kavanagh Senior Vice President, Employee Senior Vice President, Benefits, Sales, GWL&A and Great-West Employee Benefits, Sales Life D. Craig Lennox Senior Vice President, General Senior Vice President, Counsel and Secretary, GWL&A; Senior General Counsel and Secretary Vice President and Chief U.S. Legal Officer, Great-West Life Steve H. Miller Senior Vice President, Employee Senior Vice President, Benefits, Sales, GWL&A and Great-West Employee Benefits, Sales Life 47 James D. Motz Executive Vice President, Employee Executive Vice President, Benefits Operations, GWL&A and Great- Employee Benefits Operations West Life Martin L. Rosenbaum Senior Vice President, Employee Senior Vice President, Benefits Operations, GWL&A and Great- Employee Benefits, Operations West Life Douglas L. Wooden Senior Vice President, Financial Senior Vice President, Services, GWL&A and Great-West Life Financial Services 48 Executive Compensation The following table sets out all compensation paid by Great-West Life and its subsidiaries in respect of the individuals who were, at December 31, 1996, the Chief Executive Officer and the other four most highly compensated executive officers of GWL&A (collectively the "Named Executive Officers") for services rendered to GWL&A and Great-West Life in all capacities for fiscal years ended 1994, 1995 and 1996 respectively. Name and Year Annual Long-Term Principal Compensation(1) Compensation Awards Position Salary Bonus Securities Under ($) ($) Options Granted (2) W.T. McCallum, 1996 561,818 370,500 300,000 President and 1995 523,958 351,000 Chief Executive 225,000(3) None Officer 1994 476,750 318,500 None D. Low, 1996 325,000 146,250 150,000 Executive Vice 1995 305,000 152,500 None President, Financial Services 1994 285,000 142,500 None J. T. Hughes, 1996 312,000 136,968 80,000 Senior Vice 1995 301,000 150,500 None President, Chief Investment Officer 1994 290,000 145,000 None A.D. McLennan, 1996 325,000 115,000 150,000 Executive Vice 1995 312,000 125,000 None President, Employee 1994 300,000 97,890 None Benefits D.L. Wooden, 1996 287,000 143,500 100,000 Senior Vice 1995 275,500 137,500 None President, Financial 1994 265,000 142,500 None Services (1) The aggregate of perquisites and other personal benefits, securities or property provided to each Named Executive Officer in 1996 did not exceed the 49 lesser of $50,000 and 10% of the total of the individual's annual salary and bonus. (2) The options are for common shares of Great-West Lifeco ("Lifeco Options"). Lifeco Options are granted by Great-West Lifeco pursuant to the Great-West Lifeco Stock Option Plan which was approved by the Great-West Lifeco shareholders on April 24, 1996. Lifeco Options become exercisable 20% per year commencing on the first anniversary of the date of the grant and expire 10 years after the date of the grant. (3) A special one-time bonus payment with respect to long-term performance. The following table describes options granted to the Named Executive Officers during the most recently completed fiscal year. All options are Lifeco Options granted pursuant to the Great-West Lifeco Stock Option Plan. Lifeco Options are issued with an exercise price in Canadian dollars. Canadian dollar amounts have been translated to U.S. dollars at a rate of 1/1.37. 50 Potential realizable Individual Grants value at assumed annual rates of stock price appreciation for term Name Options Percent Exercise Expiration 5 % 10% granted of total or base date ($) ($) options granted to employees in fiscal year W. T. McCallum 300,000 10.42 12.376697 July 22, 2,335,080 5,917,950 2006 D. Low 150,000 5.21 12.376697 July 22, 1,167,540 2,958,795 2006 J. T. Hughes 80,000 2.78 12.376697 July 22, 622,688 1,578,024 2006 A. D. MacLennan 150,000 5.21 12.376697 July 22, 1,167,540 2,958,795 2006 D. L. Wooden 100,000 3.47 12.376697 July 22, 778,360 1,972,530 2006 Prior to April 24, 1996, the Named Executive Officers participated in the Power Financial Employee Share Option Plan pursuant to which options to acquire common shares of Power Financial ("PFC Options") were granted. The following table describes all Lifeco Options and all PFC Options exercised in 1996, and all unexercised Lifeco Options and PFC Options held as of December 31, 1996, by the Named Executive Officers. PFC Options and Lifeco Options are issued with an exercise price in Canadian dollars. Canadian dollar amounts have been translated to U.S. dollars at a rate of 1/1.37. 51 Name Securities Aggregate Unexercised Options at Value of Unexercised -in-the- Acquired Value FY-End the-Money Options at on Realized ($) Exercise ($) Exercisable Unexer- Exer- Unexer- ciseable cisable cisable <C > W. T. McCallum 26,000(1) 300,000(2) 658,659(1) 940,276(2) D. Low 6,700(1) 100,892 37,300(1) 150,000(2) 944,922(1) 470,138(2) J. T. Hughes 60,000(1) 80,000(2) 1,214,781(1) 250,740(2) A. D. MacLennan 150,000(2) 470,138(2) D. L. Wooden 44,000(1) 100,000(2) 911,916(1) 313,425(2) (1) PFC Options (2) Lifeco Options Pension Plan Tables The following table sets out the pension benefits payable to the Named Executive Officers by Great-West Life or the Company, as of December 31, 1996. Employees' Pension Plan Renumeration($) Years of Service 15 20 25 30 35 400,000 120,000 160,000 200,000 240,000 240,000 52 500,000 150,000 200,000 250,000 300,000 300,000 600,000 180,000 240,000 300,000 360,000 360,000 700,000 210,000 280,000 350,000 420,000 420,000 800,000 240,000 320,000 400,000 480,000 480,000 900,000 270,000 360,000 450,000 540,000 540,000 1,000,000 300,000 400,000 500,000 600,000 600,000 The Named Executive Officers have the following years of service: Name Years of Service W. T. McCallum 30 D. Low 31 J. T. Hughes 6 A. D. MacLennan 30 D. L. Wooden 5 For W.T. McCallum, the benefits shown are payable commencing December 31, 2000, and remuneration is the average of the highest 36 consecutive months of compensation during the last 86 months of employment. For D. Low, J.T. Hughes, A.D. MacLennan and D.L. Wooden, the benefits shown are payable upon the attainment of age 62, and remuneration is the average of the highest 60 consecutive months of compensation during the last 86 months of employment. Compensation includes salary and bonuses prior to any deferrals. The normal form of pension is a life only annuity. Other optional forms of pension payment are available on an actuarially equivalent basis. The benefits listed in the table are subject to deduction for social security and other retirement benefits. Directors of the Company The following sets out remuneration paid by the Company to its directors. For each director of the Company who is not also a director of Great-West Life, the Company pays an annual fee of $12,500, and a meeting fee of $1,000 for each meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof attended. With the exception of the President and Chief Executive Officer of Great-West Lifeco, and the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, for each director of the Company who is also a director of Great-West Life, the Company pays a meeting fee of $1,000 for each meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof attended which is not coincident with a Great-West Life meeting. In addition, all directors are reimbursed for incidental expenses. 53 The above amounts are paid in the currency of the country of residence of the director. Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation Prior to January 1, 1997, all of the Company's executive officers were employees of Great-West Life (effective January 1, 1997, they became employees of the Company). For 1996, executive officer compensation was paid by Great-West Life and compensation was determined by the United States Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of Great-West Life (the "U.S. Executive Committee"). The following individuals served as members of the U.S. Executive Committee during 1996. R. Gratton N.B. Hart J.W. Burns K.P. Kavanagh O.T. Dackow W. Mackness P. Desmarais, Jr. W.T. McCallum R.G. Graham P.M. Pitfield W.T. McCallum, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, is a member of the U.S. Executive Committee. Mr. McCallum participated in executive compensation matters generally but was not present when his own compensation was discussed or determined. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners As of March 1, 1997, the following sets out the beneficial owners of more than 5% of the Company's voting securities: (1) 100% of the Company's 7,032,000 outstanding common shares are owned by The Great-West Life Assurance Company, 100 Osborne Street North, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3C 3A5. (2) 99.5% of the outstanding common shares of The Great-West Life Assurance Company are owned by Great-West Lifeco Inc., 100 Osborne Street North, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3C 3A5. (3) 86.5% of the outstanding common shares of Great-West Lifeco Inc. are owned by Power Financial Corporation, 751 Victoria Square, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2Y 2J3. (4) 68.1% of the outstanding common shares of Power Financial Corporation are owned by 171263 Canada Inc., 751 Victoria Square, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2Y 2J3. (5) 100% of the outstanding common shares of 171263 Canada Inc. are owned by Marquette Communications Corporation, 751 Victoria Square, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2Y 2J3. (6) 100% of the outstanding common shares of Marquette Communications Corporation are owned by Power Corporation of Canada, 751 Victoria Square, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2Y 2J3. 54 (7) Mr. Paul Desmarais, 751 Victoria Square, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2Y 2J3, through a group of private holding companies, which he controls, has voting control of Power Corporation of Canada. Security Ownership of Management The following table sets out the number of equity securities, and exercisable options for equity securities, of the Company or any of its parents or subsidiaries, beneficially owned, as of March 1, 1997, by (i) the directors of the Company; (ii) the Named Executive Officers; and (iii) the directors and executive officers of the Company as a group. 55 Company The Great- West Great- Power Power Life West Financial Corporation Assurance Lifeco Corporation of Canada Company Inc. (1) (2) (3) (4) Directors J. Balog - - - - J. W. Burns 50 56,000 4,000 203,320 165,500 options O. T. Dackow 16 35,089 5,400 - 40,000 options P. Desmarais, Jr. 50 30,000 - 120,000 188,250 options R. G. Graham - - - - R. Gratton - 165,000 155,000 2,500 150,000 options N. B. Hart - - - - K. P. Kavanagh 50 23,626 - - W. Mackness - - - - W. T. McCallum 17 34,202 16,000 - 52,000 options J.E. A. Nickerson - - - - P. M. Pitfield - 50,000 40,000 80,000 99,500 options M.Plessis-Be'lair - 10,000 1,000 32,900 58,250 options R. J. Turner - - - - B. E. Walsh - - - - 56 Named Executive Officers ------------------------ W. T. McCallum 17 34,200 16,000 - 52,000 options D. Low - 7,846 74,600 options - J. T. Hughes - 4,467 120,000 options - A. D. MacLennan - 9,011 - - D. L. Wooden - - 88,000 options - Directors and Executive Officers as a Group 183 484,381 221,400 438,720 494,600 options 660,500 options (1) All holdings are common shares of The Great-West Life Assurance Company. (2) All holdings are common shares of Great-West Lifeco Inc. (3) All holdings are common shares, or where indicated, exercisable options for common shares, of Power Financial Corporation. (4) All holdings are subordinate voting shares, or where indicated, exercisable options for subordinate voting shares, of Power Corporation of Canada. None of the share holdings set out above exceed 1% of the total shares of the class outstanding. _________________________________________________________________ RIGHTS RESERVED BY THE COMPANY _________________________________________________________________ The Company reserves the right to make certain changes if, in its judgment, they would best serve the interests of Owners and Annuitants or would be appropriate in carrying out the purposes of the Contracts. Any changes will be made only to the extent and in the manner permitted by applicable laws. Also, when required by law, the Company will obtain your approval of the changes and approval from any appropriate regulatory authority. Such approval may not be required in all cases, however. Examples of the changes the Company may make include: - To make any changes required by the Internal Revenue Code or by any other applicable law in order to continue treatment of the Contract as an annuity. - To make any other necessary technical changes in the Contract in order to conform with any action the above provisions permit the Company to take, including to change the way the Company assess charges, but without increasing as to any then outstanding Contract the aggregate amount of the types of charges which the Company has guaranteed. 57 _________________________________________________________________ LEGAL PROCEEDINGS _________________________________________________________________ The Company is currently not a party to, and its property is not currently subject to, any material legal proceedings. The lawsuits to which the Company is a party are, in the opinion of management, in the ordinary course of business, and are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial results, conditions or prospects of the Company. _________________________________________________________________ LEGAL MATTERS _________________________________________________________________ Advice regarding certain legal matters concerning the federal securities laws applicable to the issue and sale of the Contract has been provided by Jorden Burt Berenson & Johnson LLP. The organization of the Company, the Company's authority to issue the Contract, and the validity of the form of the Contract have been passed upon by Ruth B. Lurie, Vice President, Counsel and Associate Secretary of the Company. _________________________________________________________________ EXPERTS _________________________________________________________________ The consolidated financial statements of Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company at December 31, 1996 and 1995, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1996 included in this prospectus have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their report appearing herein, and are included in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing. 58 _________________________________________________________________ AVAILABLE INFORMATION _________________________________________________________________ We have filed a registration statement ("Registration Statement") with the Commission under the 1933 Act relating to the Contracts offered by this prospectus. This prospectus has been filed as a part of the Registration Statement and does not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement and exhibits thereto. Reference is hereby made to the Registration Statement and exhibits for further information relating to us and the Contracts. Statements contained in this prospectus, as to the content of the Contracts and other legal instruments, are summaries. For a complete statement of the terms thereof, reference is made to the instruments as filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement. The Registration Statement and its exhibits may be inspected and copied at the offices of the Commission located at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and in accordance therewith we file reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports and other information can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities on the Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington D.C., and at the Commission's Regional Offices located at 75 Park Place, New York, New York, and Northwestern Atrium Center, 500 West Madison Street, Site 1400, Chicago, Illinois. Copies of such materials also can be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. The commission maintains a Web Site that contains reports and information statements and other information regarding the Company, which files such documents electronically with the Commission, at the following address: http://www.sec.gov. 59 Appendix A The standard nonforfeiture rate in all states, other than those listed below is 3% Florida 0% Mississippi 0% Oklahoma 0% 60 Appendix B On the following pages are four examples of Market Value Adjustments illustrating (1) increasing interest rates, (2) decreasing interest rates, (3) flat interest rates (i and j are within .10% of each other), and (4) less than 6 months to maturity. Example #1 - Increasing Interest Rates Deposit: $25,000 on November 1, 1996 Maturity Date: December 31, 2005 Interest Guarantee Period: 10 years i: assumed to be 6.15% Surrender Date: July 1, 2000 j: 7.00% Amount Surrendered: $10,000 N: 65 MVAF = {[(1 + i)/(1 + j + .10%)]N/12} - 1 = {[1.0615/1.071]65/12} - 1 = .952885 - 1 = -.047115 MVA = (amount Transferred or surrendered) x MVAF = $10,000 x - .047115 = - $471.15 Surrender Value = (amount Transferred or surrendered + MVA) x (1 - Surrender Charge) = ($10,000 + - $471.15) x (1 - 0) = $9,528.85 Example #2 - Decreasing Interest Rates Deposit: $25,000 on November 1, 1996 Maturity Date: December 31, 2005 Interest Guarantee Period: 10 years i: assumed to be 6.15% Surrender Date: July 1, 2000 j: 5.00% Amount Surrendered: $10,000 N: 65 MVAF = {[(1 + i)/(1 + j + .10%)]N/12} - 1 = {[1.0615/1.05]65/12} - 1 = .0055323 MVAF = (amount Transferred or surrendered) x MVAF = $10,000 x .0055323 = $553.23 Surrender Value = (amount Transferred or surrendered + MVA) 61 = ($10,000 + $553.23) x (1 - Surrender Charge) = $10,553.23 x (1 - 0) Example #3 - Flat Interest Rates (i and j are within .10% of each other) Deposit: $25,000 on November 1, 1996 Maturity Date: December 31, 2005 Interest Guarantee Period: 10 years i: assumed to be 6.15% Surrender Date: July 1, 2000 j: 6.24% Amount Surrendered: $10,000 N: 65 MVAF = {[(1 + i)/(1 + j + .10%)]N/12} - 1 = {[1.0615/1.0634]65/12} - 1 = .99036 - 1 = -.00964 However, [i-j] <.10%, so MVAF = 0 MVAF = (amount Transferred or surrendered) x MVAF = $10,000 x 0 = $0 Surrender Value = (amount Transferred or surrendered + MVA) x (1 - Surrender Charge) = ($10,000 + $0) x (1 - 0) = $10,000 Example #4 - N<6 (less than 6 months to maturity) Deposit: $25,000 on November 1, 1996 Maturity Date: December 31, 2005 Interest Guarantee Period: 10 years i: assumed to be 6.15% Surrender Date: July 1, 2005 j: 7.00% Amount Surrendered: $10,000 N: 5 MVAF = {[(1 + i)/(1 + j + .10%)]N/12} - 1 = {[1.0615/1.071]5/12} - 1 = .99629 - 1 = -.00371 However, N<6, so MVAF = 0 MVAF = (amount Transferred or surrendered) x MVAF = $10,000 x 0 = $0 Surrender Value = (amount Transferred or surrendered + MVA) x (1 - Surrender Charge) 62 = ($10,000 + $0) x (1 - 0) = $10,000 63 ITEM 1 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Dollars in Thousands) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 1997 1996 REVENUES: Annuity contract charges and premiums $28,196 $ 22,773 Life, accident, and health premiums earned 233,381 271,668 Net investment income 218,016 205,542 Net realized (losses) gains on investments (4,943) 1,733 474,650 501,716 BENEFITS AND EXPENSES: Life and other policy benefits 123,821 128,477 Increase in reserves 15,829 36,749 Interest paid or credited to contractholders 138,865 148,436 Provision for policyholders' share of earnings on participating business 857 1,689 Dividends to policyholders 19,460 10,128 _________ _________ 298,832 325,479 Commissions 25,577 27,938 Operating expenses 95,614 81,536 Premium taxes 3,791 3,991 ________ ________ 423,814 438,944 64 INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 50,836 62,772 PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES: Current 13,369 14,594 Deferred 5,618 (622) _________ ________ 18,987 13,972 NET INCOME $31,849 $48,800 See notes to consolidated financial statements. 65 GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Dollars in Thousands) (Unaudited) March 31, December 31, ASSETS 1997 1996 INVESTMENTS: Fixed Maturities: Held-to-maturity, at amortized cost $2,039,956 $1,992,681 (fair value $2,045,982 and $2,041,064) Available-for-sale, at fair value 6,041,357 6,206,478 (amortized cost $6,075,596 and $6,151,519) Mortgage loans on real estate, net 1,424,901 1,487,575 Common stock 45,840 19,715 Real estate, net 74,391 67,967 Policy loans 2,515,880 2,523,477 Short-term investments, available-for-sale (cost approximates fair value) 341,386 419,008 ---------- ----------- Total Investments 12,483,711 12,716,901 Cash 108,564 125,182 Reinsurance receivable 204,851 196,958 Deferred policy acquisition costs 286,762 282,780 Investment income due and accrued 174,799 198,441 Other assets 161,978 57,244 Premiums in course of collection 69,478 74,693 Deferred income taxes 226,784 214,404 Separate account assets 5,853,547 5,484,631 --------- ---------- TOTAL ASSETS $19,570,474 $19,351,234 See notes to consolidated financial statements. (Continued) 66 GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Dollars in Thousands) (Unaudited) March 31, December 31, LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY 1997 1996 POLICY BENEFIT LIABILITIES: Policy reserves $10,909,215 $11,022,595 Policy and contract claims 384,135 372,327 Policyholders' funds 170,115 153,867 Experience refunds 65,092 87,399 Provision for policyholders' dividends 60,093 51,279 GENERAL LIABILITIES: Due to Parent Corporation 126,154 151,431 Repurchase agreements 285,134 286,736 Commercial paper 89,319 84,682 Other liabilities 459,914 488,818 Undistributed earnings on participating business 133,470 133,255 Separate account liabilities 5,853,547 5,484,631 --------- --------- Total Liabilities 18,536,188 18,317,020 STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY: Preferred stock, $1 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized: Series A, cumulative, 1500 shares authorized, liquidation value of $100,000 per share, 600 shares issued and outstanding 60,000 60,000 Series B, cumulative, 1500 shares authorized, liquidation value of $100,000 per share, 200 shares issued and outstanding 20,000 20,000 Series C, cumulative, 1500 shares authorized, none outstanding Series D, cumulative, 1500 shares authorized, none outstanding Series E, non-cumulative, 2,000,000 shares authorized, liquidation value of $20.90 41,800 41,800 per share, issued, and outstanding 67 Common stock, $1 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 7,032,000 shares issued and outstanding 7,032 7,032 Additional paid-in capital 679,748 664,265 Net unrealized gains on securities available-for-sale, net (14,761) 14,951 Retained earnings 240,467 226,166 Total Stockholder's Equity 1,034,286 1,034,214 --------- ---------- TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY $19,570,474 $19,351,234 See notes to consolidated financial statements. 68 GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Dollars in Thousands) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 1997 1996 OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net income $31,849 $48,800 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Gain allocated to participating policyholders 4,466 1,689 Amortization of investments 2,165 6,452 Realized losses (gains) on disposal of investments and write-downs of mortgage loans and real estate 4,943 (1,732) Amortization 8,627 9,219 Deferred income taxes 5,869 (724) Changes in assets and liabilities: Policy benefit liabilities 156,118 172,039 Reinsurance receivable (7,893) (1,045) Accrued interest and other receivables 28,857 (12,186) Other, net (129,792) 11,775 --------- -------- Net cash provided by operating activities 105,209 234,287 INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Proceeds from sales, maturities, and redemptions of investments: Fixed maturities Held-to-maturity Maturities and redemptions 82,772 129,720 Available-for-sale Sales 649,743 995,472 Maturities and redemptions 209,557 180,989 Mortgage loans 50,485 75,502 Real estate 3,898 187 Common stock 842 1,714 69 Purchases of investments: Fixed maturities Held-to-maturity (129,067) (59,259) Available-for-sale (712,737) (1,301,551) Real estate (1,486) (755) Common stock (26,961) --------- ----------- Net cash provided by investing activities 127,046 22,019(Continued) 70 GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Dollars in Thousands) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 1997 1996 FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Contract withdrawals, net of deposits $(224,566) $(217,667) Due to Parent Corporation (25,277) (16,214) Dividends paid (17,548) (13,557) Net commercial paper borrowings (repayments 4,637 (9,098) Net repurchase agreements repayments (1,602) (6,530) Capital contributions 15,483 ---------- ---------- Net cash used in financing activities (248,873) (263,066) ---------- ---------- NET DECREASE IN CASH (16,618) (6,760) CASH, BEGINNING OF YEAR 125,182 90,939 -------- ------- CASH, END OF PERIOD $108,564 $84,179 See notes to consolidated financial statements. (Concluded) 71 GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Amounts in Thousands, except Share Amounts) (Unaudited) 1. GENERAL The consolidated financial statements and related notes of Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company (the Company) have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applicable to interim financial reporting and do not include all of the information and footnotes required for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 1996. The results of operations for the quarter ended are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ended December 31, 1997. 2. TRANSFER OF EMPLOYEES Effective January 1, 1997, all employees of the U.S. Operations of the Company's Parent, The Great-West Life Assurance Company, were transferred to the Company. All related employee benefit plan assets and liabilities were also transferred from the Parent Corporation to the Company. The transfer did not have a material effect on the Company's operating expenses as the costs associated with the employees and benefit plans were charged previously to the Company under the administrative service agreements between the Company and its Parent. 3. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS The Company's defined benefit pension plan (pension plan) covers substantially all of its employees. The benefits are based on years of service, age at retirement, and the compensation during the last seven years of employment. The Company's funding policy is to contribute annually the maximum amount that can be deducted for federal income tax purposes. Contributions are intended to provide not only for benefits attributed to service to date but also for those expected to be earned in the future. Investments of the pension plan are managed by the Company and invested primarily in investment contracts and separate accounts. The Company's Parent had previously accounted for the pension plan under the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA) guidelines and had recorded a prepaid pension asset of $19,091. As generally accepted accounting principles do not materially differ from CICA guidelines and the transfer is between related parties, the prepaid pension asset was transferred at cost. As a result, the Company recorded the following effective January 1, 1997: 72 Prepaid Undistribued pension cost $19,091 earnings on $3,608 participating business Stockholder's Equity 15,483 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ $ 19,091 $ 19,091 73 The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 87, "Employers Accounting for Pensions" effective January 1, 1997 immediately following the transfer. The following table sets forth the pension plan's funded status and amounts recognized in the Company's statement of financial position at January 1, 1997 in accordance with SFAS No. 87: Actuarial present value of benefit obligations: Accumulated benefit obligation, including vested benefits of $74,386 $(77,500) Projected benefit obligation for service rendered to date (95,175) Plan assets at fair value 139,690 __________ Plan assets in excess of projected benefit obligation 44,515 Unrecognized net obligation at January 1, 1997 being recognized over 15 years (25,422) Prepaid pension cost included in other ___________ assets $ 19,091 The weighted-average discount rate and rate of increase in future compensation levels used in determining the actuarial present value of the projected benefit obligation were 7.5% and 5.0%, respectively. The Company also sponsors a post-retirement medical plan (medical plan) which provides health benefits to employees who have worked for 15 years and attained age 65 while in service with the Company. The medical plan is contributory and contains other cost sharing features which may be adjusted annually for the expected general inflation rate. The Company's policy will be to fund the cost of the medical plan benefits in amounts determined at the discretion of management. The Plan as of January 1, 1997 was not funded. The Parent Company was not required under CICA guidelines to record any liability related to the Plan. Effective January 1, 1997 on the date of transfer, the Company has adopted SFAS No. 106, "Post-retirement Benefits Other Than Pensions." The Company has elected to delay recognition of the unfunded accumulated post-retirement benefit obligation and has set up a transition obligation to amortize over 20 years. 74 The following table sets forth the medical plan status of December 31, 1996: Accumulated post-retirement benefit obligation: Retirees $(4,939) Fully eligible active plan participants (1,751) Other active plan participants (9,470) _________ (16,160) Unrecognized net transition obligation at January 1, 1997 being recognized over 20 years 16,160 ___________ Accrued post-retirement benefit cost $ 0 ____________ ____________ For measurement purposes, a 7.5% annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered health care benefits was assumed. The health care cost trend rate assumption has a significant effect on the amounts reported. To illustrate, increasing the assumed health care cost trend rates by 1% point in each year would increase the accumulated post-retirement benefit obligation as of January 1, 1997 by $2,977. The weighted average discount rate used in determining the accumulated post-retirement benefit obligation was 7.5%. 4. OTHER The Company is involved in various legal proceedings which arise in the ordinary course of its business. In the opinion of management, after consultation with counsel, the resolution of these proceedings should not have a material adverse effect on its financial position or results of operations. 75 Deloitte & Touche LLP Suite 3600 555 Seventeenth Street Denver, Colorado 80202-3942 Tel: (303) 292-5400 Fax: (303) 312-4000 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS S REPORT To the Board of Directors and Stockholder of Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company: We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company (a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Great-West Life Assurance Company) and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholder's equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 32, 1996. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company and subsidiaries of the December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1996 in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP January 25, 1997 76 GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995 (Dollars in Thousands) ASSETS 1996 1995 INVESTMENTS: Fixed Maturities: Held-to-maturity, at amortized cost (fair $ 1,992,681 $2,054,204 value $2,041,064 and $2,158,043) Available-for-sale, at fair value 6,206,478 6,263,187 (amortized cost $6,151,519 and $6,087,969) Common stock 19,715 9,440 Mortgage loans on real estate, net 1,487,575 1,713,195 Real estate, net 67,967 60,454 Policy loans 2,523,477 2,237,745 Short-term investments, available-for-sale 419,008 134,835 (cost approximates fair value) Total Investments 12,716,901 12,473,060 Cash 125,182 90,939 Reinsurance receivable 196,958 333,924 Deferred policy acquisition costs 282,780 278,526 Investment income due and accrued 198,441 211,922 Other assets 57,244 40,038 Premiums in course of collection 74,693 85,990 Deferred income taxes 214,404 168,941 Separate account assets 5,484,631 3,998,878 TOTAL ASSETS $ 19,351,234 $17,682,218 See notes to consolidated financial statements. 77 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY 1996 1995 POLICY BENEFIT LIABILITIES: Policy reserves $11,022,595 $10,845,935 Policy and contract claims 372,327 359,791 Policyholders' funds 153,867 154,872 Experience refunds 87,399 83,562 Provision for policyholders' dividends 51,279 47,760 GENERAL LIABILITIES: Due to Parent Corporation 151,431 149,974 Repurchase agreements 286,736 375,299 Commercial paper 84,682 84,854 Other liabilities 488,818 451,555 Undistributed earnings on participating business 133,255 136,617 Separate account liabilities 5,484,631 3,998,878 Total Liabilities 18,317,020 16,689,097 STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY: Preferred stock, $1 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized: Series A, cumulative, 1500 shares authorized, liquidation value of $100,000 per share, 600 shares issued and outstanding 60,000 60,000 Series B, cumulative, 1500 shares authorized, liquidation value of $100,000 per share, 200 shares issued and outstanding 20,000 20,000 Series C, cumulative, 1500 shares authorized, none outstanding Series D, cumulative, 1500 shares authorized, none outstanding Series E, non-cumulative, 2,000,000 shares authorized, liquidation value of $20.90 per share, issued, and outstanding 41,800 41,800 Common stock, $1 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 7,032,000 shares issued and outstanding 7,032 7,032 78 Additional paid-in capital 664,265 657,265 Net unrealized gains on securities 14,951 58,763 available-for-sale, net Retained earnings 226,166 148,261 Total Stockholder's Equity 1,034,214 993,121 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY $19,351,234 $ 17,682,218 79 GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995, AND 1994 (Dollars in Thousands) 1996 1995 1994 REVENUES: Annuity contract charges and $91,881 $ 79,816 $ 61,122 premiums Life, accident, and health premiums earned (net of premiums ceded totaling $(104,250) , $60,880 and $48,115) 1,107,367 987,611 938,947 Net investment income 836,642 835,046 767,646 Net realized gains (losses) on (21,078) 7,465 (71,939) investments 2,014,812 1,909,938 1,695,776 BENEFITS AND EXPENSES: Life and other policy benefits (net of reinsurance recoveries totaling $52,675, $43,574, and $18,937) 515,750 557,469 548,950 Increase in reserves 229,198 98,797 64,834 Interest paid or credited to contractholders 561,786 562,263 529,118 Provision for policyholders' share of earnings (losses) on participating business (7) 2,027 (725) Dividends to policyholders 49,237 48,150 42,094 1,355,964 1,268,706 1,184,271 Commissions 106,561 122,926 120,058 Operating expenses 336,719 314,810 261,311 Premium taxes 25,021 26,884 27,402 1,824,265 1,733,326 1,593,042 80 INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 190,547 176,612 102,734 PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES: Current 77,134 88,366 65,070 Deferred (21,162) (39,434) (36,614) 55,972 48,932 28,456 NET INCOME $134,575 $ 127,680 $ 74,278 See notes to consolidated financial statements. 81 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995, AND 1994 (Dollars in Thousands) Preferred Stock Shares Amount BALANCE, JANUARY 1, 1994 2,000,800 $121,800 Adjustment to beginning balance for change in accounting method for investment securities Change in net unrealized gains (losses) Capital contributions Dividends Net income BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 1994 2,000,800 121,800 Change in net realized gains (losses) Dividends Net income BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 1995 2,000,800 121,800 Change in net unrealized gains (losses) Capital contributions Dividends Net income BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 1996 2,000,800 $121,800 See notes to consolidated financial statements. 82 GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995, AND 1994 (Dollars in Thousands) (continued) Common Stock Shares Amount BALANCE, JANUARY 1, 1994 7,032,000 $7,032 Adjustment to beginning balance for change in accounting method for investment securities Change in net unrealized gains (losses) Capital contributions Dividends Net income BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 1994 7,032,000 7,032 Change in net realized gains (losses) Dividends Net income BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 1995 7,032,000 7,032 Change in net unrealized gains (losses) Capital contributions Dividends Net income BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 1996 7,032,000 $7,032 See notes to consolidated financial statements. 83 GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995, AND 1994 (Dollars in Thousands) (Continued) Net Additional Unrealized Paid-In Gains Capital (Losses) BALANCE, JANUARY 1, 1994 $ 656,793 $ 0 Adjustment to beginning balance for change in accounting method for investment securities 6,515 Change in net unrealized gains (losses) (84,942) Capital contributions 472 Dividends Net income BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 1994 657,265 (78,427) Change in net realized gains (losses) 137,190 Dividends Net income BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 1995 657,265 58,763 Change in net unrealized gains (losses) (43,812) Capital contributions 7,000 Dividends Net income BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 1996 664,265 $14,951 See notes to consolidated financial statements. 84 GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995, AND 1994 (Dollars in Thousands) (Continued) Retained Earnings (Deficit) Total BALANCE, JANUARY 1, 1994 $ 35,721 $821,346 Adjustment to beginning balance for change in accounting method for investment securities 6,515 Change in net unrealized gains (losses) (84,942) Capital contributions 472 Dividends (40,438) (40,438) Net income 74,278 74,278 BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 1994 69,561 777,231 Change in net realized gains (losses) 137,190 Dividends (48,980) (48,980) Net income 127,680 127,680 BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 1995 148,261 993,121 Change in net unrealized gains (losses) (43,812) Capital contributions 7,000 Dividends (56,670) (56,670) Net income 134,575 134,575 BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 1996 $226,166 $1,034,214 See notes to consolidated financial statements. 85 GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995, AND 1994 (Dollars in Thousands) 1996 1995 1994 OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net income $ 134,575 $127,680 $ 74,278 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Gain (loss) allocated to participating policyholders (7) 2,027 (725) Amortization of investments 15,518 26,725 36,978 Realized losses (gains) on disposal of investments and write-downs of mortgage loans and real estate 21,078 (7,465) 71,939 Amortization 49,454 49,464 29,197 Deferred income taxes (20,258) (39,763) (38,631) Changes in assets and liabilities: Policy benefit liabilities 358,393 346,975 93,998 Reinsurance receivable 136,966 (38,776) (25,868) Accrued interest and other receivables 24,778 (17,617) (26,032) Other, net (8,076) 8,834 96,950 Net cash provided by operating activities 712,421 458,084 312,084 INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Proceeds from sales, maturities, and redemption of investments: Fixed maturities Held-to-maturity Sales 18,821 16,014 86 Maturities and redemptions 516,838 655,993 1,034,324 Available-for-sale Sales 3,569,608 4,211,649 1,753,445 Maturities and redemptions 803,369 253,747 141,299 Mortgage loans 235,907 260,960 291,102 Real estate 2,607 4,401 29,868 Common stock 1,888 178 Purchases of investments: Fixed maturities Held-to-maturity (453,787) (490,228) (673,567) Available-for-sale (4,753,154) (4,932,566) (2,606,028) Mortgage loans (23,237) (683) (9) Real estate (15,588) (5,302) (9,253) Common stock (12,113) (4,218) (2,063) Net cash used in investing activities (127,662) (27,426) (24,690) (Continued) 87 GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995, AND 1994 (Dollars in Thousands) 1996 1995 1994 FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Contract withdrawals, net of $(413,568) $ (217,190) $(238,166) deposits Due to Parent Corporation 1,457 (9,143) (13,078) Dividends paid (56,670) (48,980) (40,438) Net commercial paper (172) (4,832) 89,686 (repayments) borrowings Net repurchase agreements (88,563) (191,195) (39,244) repayments Capital contributions 7,000 Net cash used in financing (550,516) (471,340) (241,240) activities NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH 34,243 (40,682) 46,154 CASH, BEGINNING OF YEAR 90,939 131,621 85,467 CASH, END OF YEAR $125,182 $ 90,939 $131,621 SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION Cash paid during the year for: Income taxes $103,700 $ 83,841 $68,892 Interest 15,414 17,016 12,229 See notes to consolidated financial statements. (Concluded) 88 GREAT-WEST LIFE & ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995, AND 1994 (Amounts in Thousands, except Share Amounts) 1. ORGANIZATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Organization - Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company (the Company) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Great-West Life Assurance Company (the Parent Corporation). The Company is an insurance company domiciled in the State of Colorado. The Company offers a wide range of life insurance, health insurance, and retirement and investment products to individuals, businesses, and other private and public organizations throughout the United States. Basis of Presentation - The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All material intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Certain reclassifications have been made to the 1995 and 1994 financial statements to conform with the basis of presentation used in 1996. Investments - Investments are reported as follows: 1. Management determines the classification of fixed maturities at the time of purchase. Fixed maturities are classified as held-to-maturity when the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold the securities to maturity. Held-to-maturity securities are stated at amortized cost unless fair value is less than cost and the decline is deemed to be other than temporary, in which case they are written down to fair value and a new cost basis is established. Fixed maturities not classified as held-to-maturity are classified as available-for-sale. Available- for-sale securities are carried at fair value, with 89 the net unrealized gains and losses reported as a separate component of stockholder's equity. The net unrealized gains and losses in derivative financial instruments used to hedge available-for-sale securities are included in the separate component of stockholder s equity. The amortized cost of fixed maturities classified as held-to-maturity or available-for-sale is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts using the effective interest method over the estimated life of the related bonds. Such amortization is included in net investment income. Realized gains and losses, and declines in value judged to be other-than-temporary are included in net realized gains (losses) on investments. 2. Mortgage loans on real estate are carried at their unpaid balances adjusted for any unamortized premiums or discounts and any valuation reserves. Interest income is accrued on the unpaid principal balance. Discounts and premiums are amortized to net investment income using the effective interest method. Accrual of interest is discontinued on any impaired loans where collection of interest is doubtful. The Company maintains an allowance for credit losses at a level that, in management s opinion, is sufficient to absorb possible credit losses on its impaired loans and to provide adequate provision for any possible future losses in the portfolio. Management s judgement is based on past loss experience, current and projected economic conditions, and extensive situational analysis of each individual loan. Effective January 1, 1995, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 114 "Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan" and SFAS No. 118 "Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a Loan-Income Recognition and Disclosures". In accordance with these standards, a mortgage loan is considered to be 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 measurement of impaired loans is based on the fair value of the collateral. As the Company was already providing for impairment of loans through an allowance for credit losses, the implementation of these 90 statements had no material effect on the Company's financial statements. 3. Real estate is carried at the lower of cost or fair value, net of costs of disposal. Effective January 1, 1996, the Company adopted SFAS No. 121 "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed Of". The implementation of this statement had no material effect on the Company s financial statements. 4. Investments in common stock are carried at fair value. 5. Policy loans are carried at their unpaid balances. 6. Short-term investments include securities purchased with initial maturities of one year or less and are carried at amortized cost. The Company considers short-term investments to be available-for-sale and amortized cost approximates fair value. Gains and losses realized on disposal of investments are determined on a specific identification basis. Cash - Cash includes only amounts in demand deposit accounts. Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs - Policy acquisition costs, which consist of sales commissions and other costs that vary with and are primarily related to the production of new and renewal business, have been deferred to the extent recoverable. Deferred costs associated with the annuity products are being amortized over the life of the contracts in proportion to the emergence of gross profits. Retrospective adjustments of these amounts are made when the Company revises its estimates of current or future gross profits. Deferred costs associated with traditional life insurance are amortized over the premium paying period of the related policies in proportion to premium revenues recognized. Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs totaled $47,089, $48,054, and $28,199 in 1996, 1995, and 1994, respectively. Separate Account - Separate account assets and related liabilities are carried at fair value. The Company s separate accounts invest in shares of Maxim Series Fund, Inc., a diversified, open-end management investment company which is an affiliate of the Company, shares of other external mutual funds, or government or corporate bonds. 91 Life Insurance and Annuity Reserves - Life insurance and annuity policy reserves with life contingencies of $5,242,753, and $4,675,175 at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively, are computed on the basis of estimated mortality, investment yield, withdrawals, future maintenance and settlement expenses, and retrospective experience rating premium refunds. Annuity contract reserves without life contingencies of $5,779,842 and $6,170,760, at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively, are established at the contractholder's account value. Reinsurance - Policy reserves ceded to other insurance companies are carried as reinsurance receivable on the balance sheet (See Note 3). The cost of reinsurance related to long-duration contracts is accounted for over the life of the underlying reinsured policies using assumptions consistent with those used to account for the underlying policies. Policy and Contract Claims - Policy and contract claims include provisions for reported claims in process of settlement, valued in accordance with the terms of the related policies and contracts, as well as provisions for claims incurred and unreported based primarily on prior experience of the Company. Participating Fund Account - Participating life and annuity policy reserves are $3,591,077 and $3,339,316 at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively. Participating business approximates 50.3% of the Company's ordinary life insurance in force and 92.2% of ordinary life insurance premium income at December 31, 1996. The liability for undistributed earnings on participating business was decreased by $3,362 in 1996, which represented $7 of losses on participating business, a reduction of $2,924 to reflect the net change in unrealized gains on securities classified as available- for-sale, net of certain adjustments to policy reserves and income taxes, and a decrease of $431 due to reinsurance transactions (See Note 2). The amount of dividends to be paid from undistributed earnings on participating business is determined annually by the Board of Directors. Amounts allocable to participating policyholders are consistent with established Company practice. The Company has established a Participating Policyholder Experience Account (PPEA) for the benefit of all participating policyholders which is included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. Earnings 92 associated with the operation of the PPEA are credited to the benefit of all participating policyholders. In the event that the assets of the PPEA are insufficient to provide contractually guaranteed benefits, the Company must provide such benefits from its general assets. The Company has also established a Participation Fund Account (PFA) for the benefit of the participating policyholders previously transferred to the Company from the Parent under an assumption reinsurance transaction. The PFA is part of the PPEA. The assets and liabilities associated with these policies are segregated in the accounting records of the Company. Earnings derived from the operation of the PFA accrue solely for the benefit of the acquired participating policyholders. Recognition of Premium Income and Benefits and Expenses - Life insurance premiums are recognized as earned. Annuity premiums with life contingencies are recognized as received. Accident and health premiums are earned on a monthly pro rata basis. Revenues for annuity and other contracts without significant life contingencies consist of contract charges for the cost of insurance, contract administration, and surrender fees that have been assessed against the contract account balance during the period. Benefits and expenses on policies with life contingencies are associated with premium income by means of the provision for future policy benefit reserves, resulting in recognition of profits over the life of the contracts. The average crediting rate on annuity products was approximately 6.8% in 1996. Income Taxes - Income taxes are recorded using the asset and liability approach which requires, among other provisions, the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company's financial statements or tax returns. In estimating future tax consequences, all expected future events (other than the enactments or changes in the tax laws or rules) are considered. Although realization is not assured, management believes it is more likely than not that the deferred tax asset, net of a valuation allowance, will be realized. Repurchase Agreements and Securities Lending - The Company enters into repurchase agreements with third- party broker-dealers in which the Company sells securities and agrees to repurchase substantially similar securities at a specified date and price. Such agreements are accounted for as collateralized borrowings. Interest expense on repurchase agreements is 93 recorded at the coupon interest rate on the underlying securities. The repurchase fee received or paid is amortized over the term of the related agreement and recognized as an adjustment to investment income. The Company will implement Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 125 Accounting for Transfer and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities in 1998 as it relates to repurchase agreements and securities lending arrangements. Management estimates the effect of the change will not be material. Derivatives - The Company engages in hedging activities to manage interest rate and foreign exchange risk (See Note 6). 2. RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS On October 31, 1996 the Company recaptured certain pieces of an individual participating insurance block of business previously reinsured to the Parent Corporation on December 31, 1992. The Company recorded, at estimated fair value, the following at October 31, 1996 as a result of this transaction: Assets Liabilities and Stockholder s Equity Cash $ 162,000 Policy reserves $ 164,839 Mortgages 19,753 Due to parent 9,180 corporation Other 118 Deferred income taxes 1,283 Undistributed Stockholder s equity 7,000 earnings on participating 431 business $182,302 182,302 The Company and the Parent Corporation have a number of service agreements whereby the Parent Corporation administers, distributes, and underwrites business for the Company and administers the Company's investment portfolio. Certain operating expenses represent allocations made by the Parent Corporation to the Company for services provided pursuant to these service agreements. These transactions are summarized as follows: 94 Years Ended December 31, 1996 1995 1994 Investment management expense (included in net investment income) $ 14,800 $ 15,182 $ 13,841 Administrative and underwriting payments (included in operating expenses) 304,599 301,529 269,020 Effective January 1, 1997 all employees of the U.S. operations of the Parent Corporation and the related benefit plans were transferred to the Company. All related employee benefit plan assets and liabilities were transferred from the Parent Corporation to the Company with no material impact on the Company s financial position. There will not be any material effect on the Company s operating expenses as the costs associated with the employees and these benefit plans are reflected in the present service agreements. At December 31, 1996 and 1995, due to Parent Corporation includes $31,639 and $27,814 due on demand and $119,792 and $122,160 of notes payable which bear interest and mature at various dates. These notes may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time without penalty; the issuer may not demand payment before the maturity date. The Company also has available an arrangement to obtain advances from the Parent Corporation to fund short-term liquidity needs. The due on demand to the Parent Corporation bears interest at the public bond rate (7.0% and 6.4% at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively) while the remainder bear interest at various rates. 3. REINSURANCE In the normal course of business, the Company seeks to limit its exposure to loss on any single insured and to recover a portion of benefits paid by ceding risks to other insurance enterprises under excess coverage and co- insurance contracts. The Company retains a maximum of $1.5 million of coverage per individual life. 95 Reinsurance contracts do not relieve the Company from its obligations to policyholders. Failure of reinsurers to honor their obligations could result in losses to the Company; consequently, allowances are established for amounts deemed uncollectible. The Company evaluates the financial condition of its reinsurers and monitors concentrations of credit risk arising from similar geographic regions, activities, or economic characteristics of the reinsurers to minimize its exposure to significant losses from reinsurer insolvencies. At December 31, 1996 and 1995, reinsurance receivables with a carrying value of $196,958 and $333,924, respectively, were due primarily from the Parent Corporation. Total reinsurance premiums assumed from the Parent Corporation were $1,693, $1,606 and $2,438, in 1996, 1995, and 1994, respectively. The Company considers all accident and health policies to be short-duration contracts. The following schedule details life insurance in force and life and accident/health premiums: Ceded Primarily to Gross the Parent Amount Corporation December 31, 1996: Life insurance in force: Individual $23,409,823 $5,246,079 Group 47,682,237 Total $71,092,060 $5,246,079 Premiums: Life insurance $334,127 $(111,743) Accident/health 592,577 7,493 Total $926,704 $(104,250) 96 December 31, 1995: Life insurance in force: Individual $22,388,520 $7,200,882 Group $48,415,592 $ Total $ 70,804,112 $ 7,200,882 Premiums: Life insurance $339,342 $51,688 Accident/health 623,626 9,192 Total $962,968 $60,880 December 31, 1994: Life insurance in force: Individual $21,461,590 $7,411,811 Group 48,948,669 Total $70,410,259 $7,411,811 Premiums: Life insurance $322,263 $42,946 Accident/health 579,650 5,169 Total $901,913 $48,115 97 (Continued) Assumed Primarily Percentage From of Amount Other Net Assumed to Companies Amount Net December 31, 1996: Life insurance in force: Individual $3,482,118 $21,645,862 16.1% Group 1,817,511 49,499,748 3.7% Total $5,299,629 $71,145,610 Premiums: Life insurance $19,633 $465,503 4.2% Accident/health 56,780 641,864 8.8% Total $76,413 $1,107,367 December 31, 1995: Life insurance in force: Individual $3,476,784 $18,664,422 18.6% Group 1,954,313 50,369,905 3.9% Total $5,431,097 69,034,327 Premiums: Life insurance $21,028 $308,682 6.8% Accident/health 64,495 678,929 9.5% Total $85,523 $987,611 December 31, 1994: Life insurance in force: Individual $3,415,596 $17,465,375 19.6% Group 2,102,228 51,050,897 4.1% Total $5,517,824 $68,516,272 98 Premiums: Life insurance $22,009 $301,326 7.3% Accident/health 63,140 637,621 9.9% Total $85,149 $938,947 99 4. NET INVESTMENT INCOME Net investment income is summarized as follows: Years Ended December 31, 1996 1995 1994 Investment income: Fixed maturities and short-term investments $ 601,913 $ 591,561 $555,103 Mortgage loans on real estate 140,823 171,008 182,544 Real estate 5,292 3,936 5,700 Policy loans 175,746 163,547 116,060 Other 3,319 927,095 930,052 859,407 Investment expenses, including interest on amounts charged by the Parent Corporation of $11,282, $10,778, and $11,145 90,453 95,006 91,761 Net investment income $ 836,642 $ 835,046 $767,646 100 5. NET REALIZED GAINS (LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS Net realized gains (losses) on investments are as follows: Years Ended December 31, 1996 1995 1994 Realized gains (losses): Fixed Maturities $ (11,624) $28,166 $(39,775) Mortgage loans on real 1,143 1,309 2,120 estate Real estate (10) (102) Provisions (10,597) (22,000) (34,182) Net realized gains (losses) on investments $ (21,078) $7,465 $(71,939) 101 6. SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS Fixed maturities owned at December 31, 1996 are summarized as follows: Gross Amortized Unrealized Cost Gains Held-to-Maturity: U.S. Treasury Securities and obligations of U.S. Government Agencies: Collateralized mortgage $ $ obligations Direct mortgage pass- through certificates Other 10,935 630 Collateralized mortgage obligations Public utilities 284,954 12,755 Corporate bonds 1,634,745 41,195 Foreign governments 12,577 556 State and municipalities 49,470 1,051 $1,992,681 $56,187 102 Available-for-Sale: U.S. Treasury Securities and obligations of U.S. Government Agencies: Collateralized mortgage obligations $658,612 $8,058 Direct mortgage pass- through certificates 844,291 5,093 Other 359,220 596 Collateralized mortgage obligations 614,773 13,619 Public utilities 628,382 6,523 Corporate bonds 2,907,875 56,551 Foreign governments 110,013 1,762 State and municipalities 28,353 21 $6,151,519 $92,223 103 SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS (continued) Gross Estimated Unrealized Fair Carrying Losses Value Value Held-to-Maturity: U.S. Treasury Securities and obligations of U.S. Government Agencies: Collateralized mortgage $ $ $ obligations Direct mortgage pass-through certificates Other 106 11,459 10,935 Collateralized mortgage obligations Public utilities 320 297,389 284,954 Corporate bonds 7,360 1,668,580 1,634,745 Foreign governments 3 13,130 12,577 State and municipalities 15 50,506 49,470 7,804 $ 2,041,064 $1,992,681 Available-for-Sale: U.S. Treasury Securities and obligations of U.S. Government Agencies: Collateralized mortgage obligations 3,700 $ 662,970 $662,970 Direct mortgage pass- through certificates 10,908 838,476 838,476 Other 2,686 357,130 357,130 Collateralized mortgage obligations 3,553 624,839 624,839 Public utilities 5,375 629,530 629,530 Corporate bonds 5,250 2,959,176 2,959,176 Foreign governments 5,673 106,102 106,102 State and municipalities 119 28,255 28,255 37,264 $ 6,206,478 $6,206,478 104 6. SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS [Continued] Fixed maturities owned at December 31, 1995 are summarized as follows: Gross Amortized Unrealized Cost Gains Held-to-Maturity: U.S. Treasury Securities and obligations of U.S. Government Agencies: Collateralized mortgage obligations $ $ Direct mortgage pass-through certificates Other 11,107 1,093 Collateralized mortgage obligations Public utilities 269,671 22,084 Corporate bonds 1,732,046 83,583 Foreign governments 18,596 1,087 State and municipalities 22,784 1,966 $2,054,204 $109,813 Available-for-Sale: U.S. Treasury Securities and obligations of U.S. Government Agencies: Collateralized mortgage obligations $561,475 $9,983 Direct mortgage pass-through certificates 794,056 11,980 Other 561,736 7,703 Collateralized mortgage obligations 490,074 18,044 Public utilities 581,482 16,607 Corporate bonds 2,943,918 121,537 Foreign governments 141,362 5,021 State and municipalities 13,866 22 $6,087,969 $190,897 105 6. SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS (Continued) Gross Estimated Unrealized Fair Carrying Losses Value Value Held-to-Maturity: U.S. Treasury Securities and obligations of U.S. Government Agencies: Collateralized mortgage $ $ $ obligations Direct mortgage pass-through certificates Other 12,200 11,107 Collateralized mortgage obligations Public utilities 95 291,660 269,671 Corporate bonds 5,867 1,809,762 1,732,046 Foreign governments 12 19,671 18,596 State and municipalities 24,750 22,784 $5,974 $2,158,043 $2,054,204 106 Available-for-Sale: U.S. Treasury Securities and obligations of U.S. Government Agencies: Collateralized mortgage $1,948 $569,510 $569,510 obligations Direct mortgage pass-through certificates 2,233 803,803 803,803 Other 39 569,400 569,400 Collateralized mortgage obligations 3,304 504,814 504,814 Public utilities 2,425 595,664 595,664 Corporate bonds 26 3,065,429 3,065,429 Foreign governments 5,644 140,739 140,739 State and municipalities 60 13,828 13,828 $15,679 $6,263,187 $6,263,187 Most of the collateralized mortgage obligations consist of planned amortization classes with final stated maturities of two to thirty years and average lives of less than one to fourteen years. Prepayments on all mortgage-backed securities are monitored monthly and amortization of the premium and/or the accretion of the discount associated with the purchase of such securities is adjusted by such prepayments. The cumulative effect as of January 1, 1994 of adopting SFAS No. 115 "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities," increased the opening balance of stockholders' equity by $6,515 to reflect the net unrealized gains on securities classified as available- for-sale (previously carried at the lower of aggregate amortized cost or fair value) and the corresponding adjustments to deferred policy acquisition costs, policy reserves, and amounts allocable to the liability for undistributed earnings on participating business, all net of income taxes. In November 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued a special report entitled A Guide to Implementation of SFAS 115 on Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities . In accordance with the adoption of this guidance, the Company reassessed the classification of its investment 107 portfolio in December 1995 and reclassed securities totalling $2,119,814 from held-to-maturity to available- for-sale. In connection with this reclassification, an unrealized gain, net of related adjustments (see above), of $23,449 was recognized in stockholder s equity at the date of transfer. The estimated fair value of fixed maturities that are publicly traded are obtained from an independent pricing service. To determine fair value for fixed maturities not actively traded, the Company utilized discounted cash flows calculated at current market rates on investments of similar quality and term. The amortized cost and estimated fair value of fixed maturity investments at December 31, 1996, by projected maturity, are shown below. Actual maturities will likely differ from these projections because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. Held-to-Maturity Amortized Estimated Cost Fair Value Due in one year or less $197,135 $ 200,356 Due after one year through five years 840,192 860,192 Due after five years through ten years 621,900 641,103 Due after ten years 140,061 145,287 Mortgage-backed securities Asset-backed securities 193,393 194,126 $1,992,681 $ 2,041,064 Available-for-Sale Amortized Estimated Cost Fair Value Due in one year or less $294,236 $308,805 Due after one year through five years 1,294,892 1,300,473 108 Due after five years through ten years 934,312 940,880 Due after ten years 422,179 432,721 Mortgage-backed securities 2,117,676 2,126,285 Asset-backed securities 1,088,224 1,097,314 $6,151,519 $6,206,478 Proceeds from sales of securities available-for-sale were $3,569,608, $4,211,649, and $1,753,445 during 1996, 1995, and 1994, respectively. The realized gains on such sales totaled $24,919, $39,755, and $7,030 for 1996, 1995, and 1994, respectively. The realized losses totaled $40,748, $15,516, and $50,612 for 1996, 1995, and 1994, respectively. During 1996, 1995, and 1994 held-to- maturity securities with an amortized cost of $0, $18,087, and $15,300 were sold due to credit deterioration with insignificant realized gains and losses. At December 31, 1996 and 1995, pursuant to fully collateralized securities lending arrangements, the Company had loaned $230,419 and $343,351 of fixed maturities, respectively. The Company makes limited use of derivative financial instruments to manage interest rate and foreign exchange risk. Such hedging activity consists of interest rate swap agreements, interest rate floors and caps, and foreign currency exchange contracts. Interest rate floors and caps are interest rate protection instruments that require the payment by a counter-party to the Company of an interest differential. This differential represents the difference between current interest rates and an agreed-upon rate, the strike rate, applied to a notional principal amount. Interest rate swap agreements are used to convert the interest rate on certain fixed maturities from a floating rate to a fixed rate. Interest rate swap transactions generally involve the exchange of fixed and floating rate interest payment obligations without the exchange of the underlying principal amounts. Foreign currency exchange contracts are used to hedge the foreign exchange rate risk associated with bonds denominated in other than U.S. dollars. The differential paid or received on interest rate and amounts received under interest rate floor and cap agreements are recognized as an adjustment to net investment income on the accrual method. Gains and losses on foreign exchange contracts are deferred and 109 recognized in net investment income when the hedged transactions are realized. Although derivative financial instruments taken alone may expose the Company to varying degrees of market and credit risk when used solely for hedging purposes, these instruments typically reduce overall market and interest rate risk. The Company controls the credit risk of its financial contracts through credit approvals, limits, and monitoring procedures. As the Company generally enters into transactions only with high quality institutions, no losses associated with non-performance on derivative financial instruments have occurred or are expected to occur. 110 The following table summarizes the financial hedge instruments: Notional Strike/Swap December 31, 1996 Amount Rate Maturity Interest Rate Floor 100,000 4.5% [LIBOR] 1999 Interest Rate Caps 260,000 11.0% to 11.82% 2000 to 2001 [CMT] Interest Rate Swaps 187,847 6.203% to 9.35% 01/98 to 02/2003 Foreign Currency 61,012 N/A 09/98 to 03/2003 Exchange Contracts Notional Strike/Swap December 31, 1995 Amount Rate Maturity Interest Rate Floor 100,000 4.5% [LIBOR] 1999 Interest Rate Cap 100,000 11.0% [CMT] 2000 Interest Rate Swaps 165,000 6.203% to 9.35% 01/98 to 2/2002 Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts 66,650 N/A 10/96 to 09/98 LIBOR - London Interbank Offered Rate CMT - Constant Maturity Treasury Rate The Company has established specific investment guidelines designed to emphasize a diversified and geographically dispersed portfolio of mortgages collateralized by commercial and industrial properties located in the United States. The Company's policy is to obtain collateral sufficient to provide loan-to-value ratios of not greater than 75% at the inception of the mortgages. At December 31, 1996 approximately 32% and 10% of the Company's mortgage loans were collateralized by real estate located in California and Michigan, respectively. The following represents impairments and other information under SFAS No. 114: 111 1996 1995 Impaired Loans Loans with related allowance for credit losses of $2,793 and $654 $16,443 $3,254 Loans with no related allowance for credit losses 31,709 20,424 Average balance of impaired loans during the year 39,064 29,150 Interest income recognized [while 923 675 impaired] Interest income received and recorded [while impaired] using the cash basis method of recognition 1,130 857 As part of an active loan management policy and in the interest of maximizing the future return of each individual loan, the Company may from time to time alter the original terms of certain loans. These restructured loans, all performing in accordance with their modified terms that are not impaired, aggregated $68,254, and $89,160 at December 31, 1996, and 1995, respectively. The following table presents changes in the allowance for credit losses since January 1, 1995 (date of the adoption of SFAS No. 114): 1996 1995 Balance, beginning of year $63,994 $57,987 Provision for loan losses 4,470 15,877 Chargeoffs (3,468) (10,480) Recoveries 246 610 Balance, end of year $65,242 $63,994 7. COMMERCIAL PAPER The Company has a commercial paper program which is partially supported by a $50,000 standby letter-of- credit. At December 31, 1996, commercial paper 112 outstanding has maturities ranging from 49 to 123 days and interest rates ranging from 5.4% to 5.6%. At December 31, 1995, maturities ranged from 25 to 160 days and interest rates ranged from 5.7% to 5.9%. 8. ESTIMATED FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS The following table provides estimated fair value for all assets and liabilities and hedge contracts considered to be financial instruments: December 31, 1996 Carrying Estimated Amount Fair Value ASSETS: Fixed maturities and short-term investments $8,618,167 $8,666,550 Mortgage loans on real estate 1,487,575 1,506,162 Policy loans 2,523,477 2,523,477 Common stock 19,715 19,715 LIABILITIES: Annuity contract reserves without life contingencies 5,779,842 5,821,404 Policyholders' funds 153,867 153,867 Due to Parent Corporation 151,431 154,479 Repurchase agreements 286,736 286,736 Commercial paper 84,682 84,682 HEDGE CONTRACTS: Interest rate floor 62 124 Interest rate cap 173 173 Interest rate swaps 4,746 4,746 Foreign currency exchange (8,954) (8,954) contracts 113 December 31, 1995 Carrying Estimated Amount Fair Value ASSETS: Fixed maturities and short-term investments $8,452,226 $8,556,065 Mortgage loans on real estate 1,713,195 1,749,514 Policy loans 2,237,745 2,237,745 Common stock 9,440 9,440 LIABILITIES: Annuity contract reserves without life contingencies 6,170,760 6,268,749 Policyholders' funds 154,872 154,872 Due to Parent Corporation 149,974 152,347 Repurchase agreements 375,299 375,299 Commercial paper 84,854 84,854 HEDGE CONTRACTS: Interest rate floor 84 1,320 Interest rate cap 90 90 Interest rate swaps 10,052 10,052 Foreign currency exchange contracts (4,604) (4,604) 114 The estimated fair value of financial instruments has been determined using available market information and appropriate valuation methodologies. However, considerable judgment is necessarily required to interpret market data to develop the estimates of fair value. Accordingly, the estimates presented are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company could realize in a current market exchange. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts. Mortgage loans fair value estimates generally are based on a discounted cash flow basis. A discount rate "matrix" is incorporated whereby the discount rate used in valuing a specific mortgage generally corresponds to that mortgage's remaining term. The rates selected for inclusion in the discount rate "matrix" reflect rates that the Company would quote if placing loans representative in size and quality to those currently in the portfolio. Policy loans accrue interest generally at variable rates with no fixed maturity dates and, therefore, estimated fair value approximates carrying value. The fair value of annuity contract reserves without life contingencies is estimated by discounting the cash flows to maturity of the contracts, utilizing current credited rates for similar products. The estimated fair value of policyholders funds is the same as the carrying amount as the Company can change the crediting rates with 30 days notice. The estimated fair value of due to Parent Corporation is based on discounted cash flows at current market spread rates on high quality investments. The carrying value of repurchase agreements and commercial paper is a reasonable estimate of fair value due to the short-term nature of the liabilities. The estimated fair value of financial hedge instruments, all of which are held for other than trading purposes, is the estimated amount the Company would receive or pay to terminate the agreement at each year-end, taking into consideration current interest rates and other relevant factors. Included in the net gain position for interest 115 rates swaps are $160 and $0 of unrealized losses in 1996 and 1995, respectively. Included in the net loss position for foreign currencies exchange contracts are $8,954 and $5,497 loss exposures in 1996 and 1995, respectively. See note 6 for additional information on policies regarding estimated fair value of fixed maturities. 9.FEDERAL INCOME TAXES The following is a reconciliation between the federal income tax rate and the Company s effective rate: 1996 1995 1994 Federal tax rate 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% Change in tax rate resulting from: Investment income not subject to (1.0) (0.5) (1.0) federal tax Release of contingent liability (4.7) Change in valuation allowance 0.8 (7.8) (6.9) State and environmental taxes 0.7 0.7 0.9 Other, net (1.4) 0.3 (0.3) Total 29.4% 27.7% 27.7% Temporary differences which give rise to the deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 1996 and 1995 are as follows: 1996 Deferred Deferred Tax Tax Asset Liability Policyholder reserves $ 151,239 $ Deferred policy acquisition costs 57,031 Deferred acquisition cost proxy tax 70,413 Investment assets 35,658 Net operating loss carryforwards 12,295 116 Tax credits and other 5,366 Subtotal 274,971 57,031 Valuation allowance (3,536) Total Deferred Taxes $271,435 $57,031 1995 Deferred Deferred Tax Tax Asset Liability Policyholder reserves $ 162,073 $ Deferred policy acquisition costs 55,542 Deferred acquisition cost proxy tax 58,481 Investment assets 16,372 Net operating loss carryforwards 17,588 Tax credits and other 4,786 Subtotal 242,928 71,914 Valuation allowance (2,073) Total Deferred Taxes $ 240,855 $71,914 Amounts related to investment assets above include $8,530 and $33,735 related to the unrealized gains on the Company's fixed maturities available-for-sale at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively. The Company files a separate tax return and, therefore, losses incurred by subsidiaries cannot be offset against operating income of the Company. At December 31, 1996, the Company s subsidiaries have approximately $35,128 of net operating loss carryforwards, expiring through the year 2011. The tax benefit of subsidiaries net operating loss carryforwards, net of a valuation allowance of $1,612 are included in the deferred tax assets. The Company's valuation allowance was increased/(decreased) in 1996, 1995, and 1994 by $1,463, $(13,145), and $(6,278), respectively, primarily as a result of taxable income in subsidiaries which was greater than expected and the resulting re-evaluation by management of future estimated taxable income in the subsidiaries. Under pre-1984 life insurance company income tax laws, a portion of life insurance company gain from operations was not subject to current income taxation but was accumulated, for tax purposes, in a memorandum account designated as "policyholders' surplus account." The aggregate accumulation in the account is $7,742 and the Company does not anticipate any transactions which would cause any part of 117 the amount to become taxable. Accordingly, no provision has been made for possible future federal income taxes on this accumulation. Pursuant to a December 31, 1993 agreement between the Company and its Parent whereby the Company assumed responsibility for the Parent Corporation s income tax liability for fiscal years prior to 1994, the Company had previously recorded a contingent liability provision. The Company s 1996 results of operations include a release of $25,600 from the provision, to reflect the resolution of 1988 and l989 tax issues with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Audits of tax years 1990 and 1991 are in the process of being finalized. The IRS is currently auditing tax years 1992 and 1993. In the opinion of Company management, the amounts paid or accrued are adequate; however, it is possible that the Company s accrued amounts may change as a result of the completion of the IRS audits. 10. STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY, DIVIDEND RESTRICTIONS, AND OTHER MATTERS All of the Company's outstanding series of preferred stock are owned by the Parent Corporation. The dividend rate on the Series A Stated Rate Auction Preferred Stock (STRAPS) is 7.3% through December 30, 2002. The Series A STRAPS are redeemable at the option of the Company on or after December 29, 2002 at a price of $100,000 per share, plus accumulated and unpaid dividends. The dividend rate on the Series B Straps is 5.8% through December 30, 1997. The Series B STRAPS are redeemable at the option of the Company on or after December 29, 1997 at a price of $100,000 per share, plus accumulated and unpaid dividends. The Company's Series E 7.5% non-cumulative, non-redeemable preferred shares are redeemable by the Company after April 1, 1999. The shares are convertible into common shares at the option of the holder on or after September 30, 1999, at a conversion price negotiated between the holder and the Company or at a formula determined conversion price in accordance with the share conditions. The Company received $472 of contributed capital in the form of deferred tax assets from the Parent Corporation during 1994 in connection with reinsurance transactions with the Parent. The Company's net income and capital and surplus, as determined in accordance with statutory accounting principles and practices for December 31 are as follows: 118 1996 1995 1994 (Unaudited) Net Income $ 180,635 $ 114,931 $ 70,091 Capital and Surplus 713,324 653,479 621,589 The maximum amount of dividends which can be paid to stockholders by insurance companies domiciled in the State of Colorado is subject to restrictions relating to statutory surplus and statutory net gain from operations. Statutory surplus and net gains from operations at December 31, 1996 were $584,492 and $182,044 (unaudited), respectively. The Company should be able to pay up to $182,044 (unaudited) of dividends without regulatory approval in 1997. Dividends of $8,587, $9,217, and $7,475, were paid on preferred stock in 1996, 1995, and 1994, respectively. In addition, dividends of $48,083, $39,763, and $32,963, were paid on common stock in 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. Dividends are paid as determined by the Board of Directors. The Company is involved in various legal proceedings which arise in the ordinary course of its business. In the opinion of management, after consultation with counsel, the resolution of these proceedings should not have a material adverse effect on its financial position or results of operations. 119